A/N – I’ve been rereading Lions once again. I wanted to explore the largely overlooked friendship between Ammar and Almalik. I don’t know if I’ve quite grasped it yet, but I might keep trying…

Justification

“He has not been truly anointed,” spoke the young, ambitious governor of Cartada. “All men know this.”

Ammar did not reply. Almalik spoke truly, he knew – Mustafar was only the last of four puppet khalifs this year – and yet something deep inside him hesitated. To kill a khalif, even one who had not been truly anointed…

“Silvenes is dying, Ammar. Old, blind Mustafar cannot hold back the fall.”

“And you can?”

“If we are rid of these puppet khalifs, yes. There were lions once in Al-Rassan – isn’t that what you poets say?”

Ammar looked at his companion, fierce, heavy-set, handsome – charismatic Almalik of Cartada, who had just revealed a great deal about himself with that last comment.

“Come, old friend,” Almalik said persuasively, placing a hand on his arm. “Will you do this one thing for me?”

The old man had praised his youthful verses. And yet, for Almalik, beloved friend, trusted companion…

“Yes,” he said finally. “For you, ‘Malik - and Al-Rassan.”