The Falconer of the Sultan | صَقّارُ السُّلْطان
"In the royal hunting grounds, a master falconer captures more than prey when the Sultan's neglected sister seeks refuge from palace intrigue in his humble tent."
صَقّارُ السُّلْطان
The Falconer of the Sultan
الفصل الأول: سَيِّدُ الصُّقور
Chapter One: Master of Falcons
في صَحْراءِ مِصْرَ، حَيْثُ يَخْرُجُ السُّلْطانُ المَمْلوكِيُّ لِلصَّيْدِ كُلَّ خَريفٍ، كانَ طارِقٌ أَشْهَرَ صَقّارٍ في المَمْلَكَةِ. يَداهُ السَّمْراوانِ عَرَفَتا كَيْفَ تُرَوِّضانِ أَشْرَسَ الصُّقورِ.
In the Egyptian desert, where the Mamluk Sultan went hunting every autumn, Tariq was the most famous falconer in the kingdom. His brown hands knew how to tame the fiercest falcons.
كانَ في الثّامِنَةِ وَالثَّلاثينَ، رَجُلاً طَويلاً بِجَسَدٍ مَنْحوتٍ مِنَ الحَياةِ في الصَّحْراءِ. عَيْناهُ صَفْراوانِ كَعَيْنَيْ صُقورِهِ، وَوَجْهُهُ الحادُّ الوَسيمُ كانَ مَحَطَّ نَظَرِ كَثيراتٍ.
He was thirty-eight, a tall man with a body sculpted from desert life. His eyes yellow as his falcons' eyes, and his sharp handsome face was the object of many gazes.
لكِنَّهُ كانَ يُفَضِّلُ صُقورَهُ عَلى النِّساءِ. حَتّى جاءَتْ هِيَ.
But he preferred his falcons over women. Until she came.
الفصل الثاني: شَقيقَةُ السُّلْطان
Chapter Two: The Sultan's Sister
في مَوْسِمِ الصَّيْدِ ذلِكَ العامِ، جاءَتْ مَعَ المَوْكِبِ المَلَكِيِّ امْرَأَةٌ لَمْ يَرَها طارِقٌ مِنْ قَبْلُ. كانَتْ نَسْرينَ، شَقيقَةَ السُّلْطانِ، الأَرْمَلَةَ التي رَفَضَتِ الزَّواجَ مَرَّةً أُخْرى.
In that year's hunting season, a woman Tariq had never seen came with the royal procession. She was Nasreen, the Sultan's sister, the widow who had refused to marry again.
في الثّانِيَةِ وَالثَّلاثينَ، كانَتِ امْرَأَةً مَهيبَةً. جَسَدُها مُمْتَلِئٌ تَحْتَ ثِيابِها الفاخِرَةِ، وَوَجْهُها جَميلٌ رَغْمَ الكِبْرِياءِ الذي يَكْسوهُ.
At thirty-two, she was a majestic woman. Her body full beneath her luxurious clothes, her face beautiful despite the pride that covered it.
"أَنْتَ الصَّقّارُ؟" سَأَلَتْهُ بِتَرَفُّعٍ.
"Are you the falconer?" she asked haughtily.
"نَعَمْ، يا سَيِّدَتي."
"Yes, my lady."
"أُريدُ أَنْ أَتَعَلَّمَ الصَّيْدَ بِالصُّقورِ."
"I want to learn falconry."
"هذِهِ رِياضَةٌ صَعْبَةٌ، يا سَيِّدَتي. تَحْتاجُ صَبْراً."
"This is a difficult sport, my lady. It requires patience."
"أَنا صَبورَةٌ أَكْثَرَ مِمّا تَظُنُّ."
"I am more patient than you think."
الفصل الثالث: دُروسُ التَّرْويض
Chapter Three: Lessons in Taming
يَوْماً بَعْدَ يَوْمٍ، كانَتْ نَسْرينُ تَأْتي إلى خَيْمَتِهِ لِتَتَعَلَّمَ. كانَ يُعَلِّمُها كَيْفَ تَحْمِلُ الصَّقْرَ، كَيْفَ تُطْعِمُهُ، كَيْفَ تُطْلِقُهُ وَتَسْتَعيدُهُ.
Day after day, Nasreen came to his tent to learn. He taught her how to hold the falcon, how to feed it, how to release it and retrieve it.
"الصَّقْرُ يَشْعُرُ بِخَوْفِكِ،" قالَ لَها ذاتَ يَوْمٍ. "إذا خِفْتِ، لَنْ يَحْتَرِمَكِ."
"The falcon senses your fear," he told her one day. "If you fear, it will not respect you."
"أَنا لا أَخافُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ."
"I fear nothing."
"كُلُّ إنْسانٍ يَخافُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ."
"Every person fears something."
نَظَرَتْ إلَيْهِ. "وَأَنْتَ، يا صَقّارُ، مِمّا تَخافُ؟"
She looked at him. "And you, falconer, what do you fear?"
"أَخافُ مِنَ الأَشْياءِ التي لا أَسْتَطيعُ تَرْويضَها."
"I fear things I cannot tame."
"مِثْلَ ماذا؟"
"Such as?"
"مِثْلَ المَشاعِرِ."
"Such as feelings."
الفصل الرابع: العاصِفَةُ الرَّمْلِيَّة
Chapter Four: The Sandstorm
في إحْدى الأَمْسِياتِ، هَبَّتْ عاصِفَةٌ رَمْلِيَّةٌ مُفاجِئَةٌ. نَسْرينُ كانَتْ في خَيْمَةِ طارِقٍ، بَعيدَةً عَنِ المُخَيَّمِ الرَّئيسِيِّ.
One evening, a sudden sandstorm arose. Nasreen was in Tariq's tent, far from the main camp.
"لا تَسْتَطيعينَ العَوْدَةَ في هذِهِ العاصِفَةِ،" قالَ.
"You cannot return in this storm," he said.
"ماذا سَيَقولُ النّاسُ؟"
"What will people say?"
"سَيَقولونَ إنَّكِ كُنْتِ ذَكِيَّةً بِالبَقاءِ آمِنَةً."
"They will say you were wise to stay safe."
جَلَسا يَسْمَعانِ صَوْتَ الرِّياحِ تَعْصِفُ بِالخَيْمَةِ. الوَقْتُ يَمُرُّ بِبُطْءٍ، وَالصَّمْتُ بَيْنَهُما يَزْدادُ ثِقَلاً.
They sat listening to the wind battering the tent. Time passed slowly, and the silence between them grew heavier.
"لِماذا لَمْ تَتَزَوَّجي مَرَّةً أُخْرى؟" سَأَلَها فَجْأَةً.
"Why did you not marry again?" he suddenly asked.
"لِأَنَّ الرِّجالَ يُريدونَ مَكانَتي، لا جَسَدي."
"Because men want my position, not my body."
"هذا مُسْتَحيلٌ."
"That's impossible."
"ماذا تَعْني؟"
"What do you mean?"
"أَعْني أَنَّ أَيَّ رَجُلٍ يَراكِ سَيُريدُ جَسَدَكِ أَوَّلاً."
"I mean any man who sees you would want your body first."
الفصل الخامس: الصَّيْدُ الأَكْبَر
Chapter Five: The Greatest Prey
اقْتَرَبَتْ مِنْهُ. "وَأَنْتَ، يا صَقّارُ، هَلْ تُريدُ جَسَدي؟"
She approached him. "And you, falconer, do you want my body?"
"يا سَيِّدَتي، أَنا مُجَرَّدُ خادِمٍ..."
"My lady, I am merely a servant..."
"لَمْ أَسْأَلْكَ عَنْ مَكانَتِكَ. سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ رَغْبَتِكَ."
"I did not ask about your position. I asked about your desire."
نَظَرَ إلَيْها. عَيْناهُ الصَّفْراوانِ تَشْتَعِلانِ بِنارٍ كَتومَةٍ.
He looked at her. His yellow eyes burning with suppressed fire.
"نَعَمْ، أُريدُكِ. مُنْذُ اللَّحْظَةِ الأُولى التي رَأَيْتُكِ فيها."
"Yes, I want you. Since the first moment I saw you."
أَزالَتْ عَباءَتَها. ثَوْبُها الدّاخِلِيُّ كَشَفَ جَسَداً أَكْثَرَ امْتِلاءً مِمّا تَوَقَّعَ. نَهْداها ضَخْمانِ مُتَدَلِّيانِ، وَبَطْنُها مُسْتَديرَةٌ ناعِمَةٌ، وَوِرْكاها عَريضَتانِ قَوِيَّتانِ.
She removed her cloak. Her inner garment revealed a body fuller than he expected. Her breasts enormous and pendulous, her belly round and soft, her hips wide and strong.
"خُذْني،" قالَتْ. "رَوِّضْني كَما تُرَوِّضُ صُقورَكَ."
"Take me," she said. "Tame me as you tame your falcons."
الفصل السادس: التَّرْويضُ
Chapter Six: The Taming
أَمْسَكَها بِقُوَّةٍ وَقَبَّلَها. شَفَتاهُ خَشِنَتانِ لكِنَّهُما ماهِرَتانِ. يَداهُ الماهِرَتانِ بِتَرْويضِ الصُّقورِ بَدَأَتا تَتَحَسَّسانِ جَسَدَها.
He gripped her with force and kissed her. His lips rough but skilled. His hands skilled at taming falcons began to feel her body.
أَزالَ ثَوْبَها فَظَهَرَتْ عارِيَةً أَمامَهُ. جَسَدُها الأَبْيَضُ المُمْتَلِئُ في ضَوْءِ المِصْباحِ الخافِتِ كانَ مَنْظَراً يَسْلُبُ العَقْلَ.
He removed her gown and she appeared naked before him. Her white, full body in the dim lamplight was a sight that stole reason.
"أَنْتِ أَجْمَلُ فَريسَةٍ صِدْتُها،" قالَ وَهُوَ يَرْكَعُ أَمامَها.
"You are the most beautiful prey I have hunted," he said as he knelt before her.
فَتَحَ فَخِذَيْها وَبَدَأَ يَلْعَقُ زَهْرَتَها. لِسانُهُ يَتَحَرَّكُ بِدِقَّةِ صَقّارٍ يَعْرِفُ كَيْفَ يُسَيْطِرُ.
He opened her thighs and began to lick her flower. His tongue moving with the precision of a falconer who knows how to control.
"آهٍ!" صَرَخَتْ. "اسْتَمِرَّ!"
"Ah!" she cried. "Continue!"
الفصل السابع: الطَّيَرانُ الحُرّ
Chapter Seven: Free Flight
لَعِقَها حَتّى وَصَلَتْ إلى ذُرْوَتِها الأُولى، صارِخَةً كَصَقْرٍ يُطْلَقُ مِنْ قَيْدِهِ.
He licked her until she reached her first peak, crying out like a falcon released from its bonds.
ثُمَّ قامَ وَخَلَعَ ثِيابَهُ. جَسَدُهُ السَّمْراوِيُّ المَفْتولُ في ضَوْءِ المِصْباحِ كانَ كَجَسَدِ صَقْرٍ بَشَرِيٍّ. ذَكَرُهُ مُنْتَصِبٌ كَسَيْفٍ.
Then he rose and removed his clothes. His brown, coiled body in the lamplight was like that of a human falcon. His member erect like a sword.
"اسْتَلْقي عَلى الفِراشِ،" أَمَرَها.
"Lie on the bed," he commanded.
أَطاعَتْ بِدونِ سُؤالٍ. كانَتْ تُريدُ أَنْ يَقودَها، أَنْ يُرَوِّضَها.
She obeyed without question. She wanted him to lead, to tame her.
دَخَلَها بِقُوَّةٍ. صَرَخَتْ مِنَ اللَّذَّةِ وَالدَّهْشَةِ.
He entered her with force. She cried out from pleasure and astonishment.
"أَنْتَ ضَخْمٌ!" أَنَّتْ.
"You are enormous!" she moaned.
"وَأَنْتِ ضَيِّقَةٌ كَقَبْضَةِ قُفّازِ الصَّيْدِ."
"And you are tight as the grip of a hunting glove."
الفصل الثامن: العَوْدَةُ إلى العُشِّ
Chapter Eight: Return to the Nest
تَحَرَّكَ بِقُوَّةٍ وَإيقاعٍ، كَصَقْرٍ يَهْبِطُ عَلى فَريسَتِهِ. نَهْداها الضَّخْمانِ يَهْتَزّانِ مَعَ كُلِّ دَفْعَةٍ، وَأَرْدافُها تَرْتَطِمُ بِالفِراشِ.
He moved with force and rhythm, like a falcon descending on its prey. Her enormous breasts swayed with each thrust, her buttocks striking the bed.
"أَقْوى!" صَرَخَتْ. "لا تُعامِلْني كَأَميرَةٍ!"
"Harder!" she cried. "Don't treat me as a princess!"
زادَ قُوَّتَهُ حَتّى صارَ صَوْتُ ارْتِطامِ جَسَدَيْهِما يُغَطّي صَوْتَ العاصِفَةِ.
He increased his force until the sound of their bodies colliding covered the sound of the storm.
"أَنا قَريبَةٌ!" صَرَخَتْ.
"I am close!" she cried.
"وَأَنا أَيْضاً!"
"And I as well!"
بِدَفَعاتٍ قَوِيَّةٍ أَخيرَةٍ، وَصَلا مَعاً. صَرَخَ طارِقٌ وَأَفْرَغَ نَفْسَهُ داخِلَها، وَصَرَخَتْ هِيَ صَرْخَةً طَويلَةً.
With final powerful thrusts, they arrived together. Tariq cried out and emptied himself inside her, and she let out a long cry.
الخاتِمَة
Epilogue
انْتَهَتِ العاصِفَةُ مَعَ الفَجْرِ. لكِنَّ شَيْئاً بَدَأَ بَيْنَهُما لَنْ يَنْتَهِيَ.
The storm ended with dawn. But something had begun between them that would not end.
أَقْنَعَتْ نَسْرينُ أَخاها السُّلْطانَ بِأَنْ يُهْدِيَها طارِقاً "صَقّاراً خاصّاً". وَهكَذا أَصْبَحَ يَعيشُ في قَصْرِها، يُعَلِّمُها الصَّيْدَ نَهاراً، وَيَصْطادُها لَيْلاً.
Nasreen convinced her brother the Sultan to gift her Tariq as her "personal falconer." And so he came to live in her palace, teaching her falconry by day, and hunting her by night.
انْتَهَتِ القِصَّة | The End