Proceed in stealth

The reasons why you chose this route are still valid, even though it will be very difficult. As the sentry makes a pass around the harem tent again, you scuttle out from your hiding place and dart across to the tent wall, laying down flat with your cloak covering you completely. Carefully, you withdraw a shard of flint from a pocket of your tunic and make a tiny slit in the tent fabric, enough for you to peek through. The flint is sharper than steel and cuts the thick canvas easily, but you can drop it in the dirt and it will go unnoticed, unlike a knife.

The interior of the tent is lit by a single, softy-glowing oil lamp. You can see right away that this is indeed the harem, as there are four women who sleep upon pillows at the center of the tent, dressed in wisps of silk which would be considered scandalously immodest if they were to emerge. To the right is the flap which leads to the Sultan's tent, and to the left is a large man wearing a loincloth and holding a spear - the eunuch guard.

Quickly, you pull Bwana's blowgun from your sleeve and point it through the slit toward the guard. You have never used the weapon before, and there is no second dart; you must make it count! Aiming as carefully as you can, you inhale and blow sharply into the ivory mouthpiece. The eunuch immediately winces and puts a hand to his neck, as if he has been stung; he blinks rapidly several times, shakes his head, makes as if to call out an alarm... and then slumps to the floor, landing heavily on the pillows. One of the women stirs, but you can take no further time to watch; the sentry is coming around!

With your flint, you enlarge the slit to half the length of your body, and quickly roll through the hole, snatching a pair of pillows to cover it from the inside. You then hold your breath and wait...

The sentry walks past, never slowing his step. You allow yourself a quiet sigh of relief, and then turn toward where the women are sleeping.

One of them, the one who stirred before, opens her eyes and sees you!

You immediately drop your hood to reveal your crown upon your head, and desperately hold a finger to your lips to beg her to be silent. She draws in breath as if to scream... but then her eyes go wide as she realizes who you must be. Her head turns to where the eunuch was keeping watch, and when she sees that he has slumped onto his face, she looks ready to scream again!

"He is not hurt," you whisper just loudly enough for her to hear. "I swear, I will not harm any of you. Please, I beg of you, give me a chance to explain before you raise the alarm!"