SL Part 6j - Desert Destiny - Return to Carnia

[Kamenwati]

Kamenwati's Return to Carnia

The letters that Briseis had written to him had finally arrived… and the tall man slipped upon some pillows in the antechamber next to the new Amir… Reading them with a smile upon his face… he sent a servant into the Amir’s chambers.

Granted an immediate audience, Kam limped from his wounds and stopping before the Amir, he bowed deeply. “Oh Gracious ibn Tumart… Your humble servant begs permission to find my woman…By the Grace of Allah, my work here is complete… The Tamazgha is free of terror and tyranny once more…”

The Amir raises his hand beckoning Kam closer… “Yes Kamewati… Allah is graceful and we are free to live our lives as he commands… You shall always have a place by my side…” the man spoke softly. “Is it true that a woman has captured the interest of a warrior of the Tamazgha?”

Kam smiled and bowed deep once more. “Yes Oh Gracious One… The woman that loves me is in Carnia… the land of our Christian brethren… Would it not be wise to embrace those who benefacted our freedom?”

The Amir stroked his chin thinking. Then in soft words, he smiled and spoke… “In my teaching, I found that God is all powerful and merciful… and I see that since the Christians aided us, instead of taking our lands, that God serves not only us, but them… I believe, unlike many, that Christians and Muslim can live together as equal men under God.” He summoned his scribe… then set the man to writing… “I hereby bequeath that the Tamazgha shall welcome all Christians with open arms… as long as they abide by our laws and customs… and that Kamenwati… once of the Egyptians… and brother to the Berber… Warlord of the Tamazgha… shall now become the Tamazgha Ambassador to Carnia and the Gaelics…”

Kam dropped to his knees, his hands outspread… “This humble servant thanks God and the ibn Tumart… I swear that I shall do thy bidding my master and Gracious One.”

After a few moments of protocol, the Scribe hands Kamenwati his papers designating him as the Royal Advisor and Tamazgha Ambassador to Carnia and the Gaelic Nations. He bows, accepting the papers with both hands… and slowly backs away, and after exiting the Amir’s chambers, he turns, stands erect and walks out toward the docks.

There upon the piers, lined along the wooden dock, were the leaders that served under Kam… and with a hand shake and a hug to each one… Kam finally boarded the ship…

Meanwhile in Carnia.....

In Carnia, Briseis had continued to spend her days with the council and afternoons resting. She was sure her fatigue would wear off when Kam got home. She spent evenings in her room enjoying company with Octavius as they took strolls down memory lane. Most times she listened to stories of him and her father and smiled. There was no ill will towards either of them for the life she had led. It was not their fault for the laws of the land and besides, if she had not been brought up a slave, she never would have met Kam.

Nights were beautiful in Carnia, the stars seemed to dominate the sky and twinkled brightly even in the middle of a light ridden city. Except for the night that the palace hallways were ripped with the screams of agony. Briseis stateroom doors burst open as the ladies maid screamed down the hallway. "We need a healer!"

Hours into the night, screamed ripped from Briseis’ rooms. Octavius was pacing outside the halls along with the Emperor, both barred from entering the room as the healer had been the last to go in and maid's came and went bringing hot water, blankets and towels… and leaving with bloody rags only made the men more nervous. At one point, Octavius dropped to his knees in prayer.

Finally as dawn crested the isle and began to shed light on the city, the healer emerged wiping the blood from his hands. "My lords, the lady shall live…" He mused solemnly and exhausted.

"What happened?" Octavius asked as the Emperor let out a sigh of relief. He found Briseis gentle but honest ways a welcoming change in his court.

"The Lady had a miscarriage, Lord Octavius, the lady is asking for you..." The healer replied as some of the ladies attending followed out of the room still carrying blankets and towels laden in blood.

Sweeping into the room, Octavius shut the doors behind him and went to join Briseis on the bed. She looked as if death had touched her and then decided against taking her. Her all ready pale but beautiful skin was waxy and all most translucent. "Briseis…" He hummed as he took her hand and kissed it. She was like a daughter to him.

"Octavius.." Briseis hummed in a soft whispering voice, her eyes half open, her hand weakly squeezing at Octavius hand. "Please don't tell... Kam…" She barely got her love's name out as she lost consciousness.

Two Days later......

[Kamenwati]

From the Desert to Carnia

Unexpectedly, the ship sailed into the capital of Carnia, the grand city of Agora… The Flag of the Berber upon the mast… and on its deck, waiting to dis-embark, was a tall, bearded man, his long hair hanging down to his shoulders… this white robes of the Berber Ambassador flowing gently behind him as he walked…

The dignitary that met Kam at the docks was local… and urged the Berber Ambassador to rest in his hotel room until a meeting with the Emperor could be properly arranged… Kam just smiled and spoke softly… “If you offer your assistance in making my stay more comfortable… Can you summon the Lady of Lycia… I hear she is in the city…? She is a friend of mine…” and the dignitary smiled and said he would try…

Kam nodded and followed the man to the nearest hotel… one that was complement to his status. There he would clean himself up and remain in his robes of ambassadorship.

After two days abed, Briseis had been allowed to sit up in a chair on the terrace of her rooms within the palace. The council was winding down and Octavius had said soon it would be time for him to go home and when she was strong enough, travel to the lands of her father and the home he had occupied now as her own. Little did Octavius know, she planned to stay in town until Kam arrived. It was perhaps the miscarriage that she still felt so utterly tired and heavy-hearted, though she showed it not to any, not even Octavius that learning she had carried a child and not known it until she had lost it, that her heart was broken.

She would not tell Kam what had happened, Allah willing, he would return home long after she was well, and would need to never know. Why make him carry this burden as she did? He thought she could not conceive, well she could, but it seemed to do no good. No baby would ever survive her body or so the latest Healer had commented. The wind was blowing in from the east this afternoon and she hummed in a soft sigh as she readjusted the blanket over her lap and laid back against the cushions positioned behind her back.

As much as she wanted to enjoy the day, her thoughts were on Kam. She had been dreaming of a battle strong and hard, of an arrow piercing his leg when she had awoken in pain. The memory of the dream and of the events after made her clutch the blanket against her stomach as she bowed her head. Had he received the letters she sent? Was he safe? Had he freed his people? All these questions seemed destined to be unanswered for now when the door opened and Octavius lead the messenger inside.

The local magistrate would swiftly make his way to the residence of the Lady of Lycia… Bowing before her… “Oh Glorious Lady of Lycia, I have a request for your presence from the Berber Magistrate of the Tamazgha… His Gracious Lord is requesting the presence of the Emporer and a treaty, but wishes to see you first.” And he remained bowed, supple before the Lady. Would she know it was Kam knowing how he had progressed in status… or would she be surprised at her requestor, thinking Kam still in the Tamazgha?

"Briseis, you still are not well. Allow me to go in your stead…" Octavius intervened.

Briseis turned a confused look from first the magistrate then to Octavius and her confusion slowly turned into a smile of gratitude for the man who had raised her in her father’s stead. "Thank you Octavius, but I cannot allow this to rule my life. If the Berber Magistrate wishes to see me, then he shall see me."

With help she had been dressed, her hair arranged and a silken toga of a deep blue sea color and then lead to the Hotel in which the Ambassador was staying. She waited while the Carnian Magistrate went to inform Kam that the lady had arrived… then was led upstairs to his staterooms which included a sitting room where the maids had set up lunch in anticipation of the meeting. Octavius who had insisted on helping Briseis there, let go of her arm as the town magistrate opened the door for her. Her face was still waxen and pale but she offered Octavius a smile which tilted the look on her face for the better for a moment before being lead inside and the Local Magistrate bowed for the lady.

"Your Lordship, the Lady of Lycia has arrived…" He announced with a rise from his bow and backed out to close the door behind him.

“Show her in…” he responded. Kam, dressed in white robes, his hair long, touching his shoulders, the beard of his face now fully grown, rose from the bench-chair, standing and waiting to receive the Lady of Lycia… He stood feet spread shoulder width apart, his hands upon his hips… and as the woman entered… he bowed from the waist, his hand rolling from his chest to his face in the traditional Berber manner… “Salam walaykoom…” he said in the formal Berber greeting, as he then moved to meet her in the middle of the room… the limp slightly noticeable.

Would she recognize him? For he seemed to grow a bit older in her absence, the hair length and beard making him appear older than he actually was. As he extended his hand, his right index finger now wore the signet of the Berber Ambassador. His attempt to smile was failing as he attempted to hide his identity. “I am pleased you could come to meet me on such short notice…” he said in the odd-sounding Berber language.

The robe she wore was of a shimmering blue woven with a foam green color, the way she moved made it look as if she had taken a swim in the ocean and come from the waves, the water coming with her into the dress she now wore, or toga more like it. This one was bare shouldered, sans sleeves, she felt naked and her cheeks blushed giving her a least a little color as the Magistrate waved her into the room and then closed the door behind her. Her eyes swept over the room then paused on the gentleman in his robes that spoke plainly he was an Ambassador. Being sick, she had been out of the loop on what was going on in the war, though she had her dreams, she could not bring herself to rely on them. His bow made her smile and cringe all in the same moment. The movement reminded her of Kam and her heart squeezed with pain.

Slowly she moved to meet him in the middle of the room and pressing the skirts of her toga dress back she curtsied as best she could while humming "My Lord" though when she brought her head up, her hand followed to press against her temple to ease the way the room spun around her. "Forgive me, that made me slightly dizzy" She hummed in a small laugh, for as much blood as she had lost days before, she still seemed to have enough to fill her cheeks with embarrassment. It was safe to say she did not recognize him with a full beard and long hair and especially in robes different than the ones he normally inhabited. It was clear she didn't take on the role of Lady of Lycia very well, or a noble really, for she found it hard to meet his eye looking rather around the room and the floor then to him.

As she staggered slightly, he made a slight motion toward her, but as she corrected herself, he withdrew. “M’Lady, I see you are not well… I pray to All Most Gracious Allah, you are well…” There he stood a bit concerned, but continued the charade.

"You will forgive me, I hope, I am newly made Lady of Lycia and not very well accustomed to the standards of Carnia. I was born here but not....um raised in nobility." and she stopped biting at her lower lip as she shifted from one foot to the other fidgeting with her fingernails as she winced at her manners. "I am surprised, My Lord, that you would ask to see me before the Emperor." She paused clasping her hands in front of her.

He smiled a bit, the beard moving ever so slightly. “In my vast experience, I have found it most helpful to meet the true force behind a nation… not some embellished blowhard…”

"Is there word from the battlefield? My Husband, Kamenwati, is there word from him?" This time her eyes rose to his, all most pleading there was news and that it not be bad before sweeping away again in uncertainty of fully looking at him. She did not feel she lied in calling Kam her husband, she had given herself to him the night before she left for Carnia, had plainly said there would never be another but him. He had promised to marry her that night as well but as far as she was concerned, they were married; all that was required now was a 'wedding' for the people. Oh how her heart begged that there was word, how her heart prayed that he was coming home to her.

The man stood erect, his hands going to his hips. “Come, let us sit… we can speak more…” and he offered her a chair…

As he watched her sit, he could see that she was not the best of health. Despite the slightly noticeable limp, he pulled the chair closer to her. “My Lady, the battle is won… Abu Said fled, like the coward he is… his power has been vanquished and a new Amir sits upon the pillows of power, and the Tamazgha is free once more… and Carnia, and Skye, was influential to that success. It is said that YOU…” he points a finger at her… “…was most influential… that yer powers of persuasion were enough to swing the tide in the Carnian Senate.” He smiled… “And that is most appreciated…”

“Your husband?” he got an odd look in his eyes… “Kamenwati?… ah yes… such a grand warrior… not much of a politician, but I presume he would make a good husband… He is a bit used… wounded slightly, but lives… no less the powerful man he is…” He wanted to laugh, but refrained…

He wanted to carry on the charade, but his desire to hold her was too great. His hand reached out for hers… Taking it gently, he could see her resistance, but he spoke softly… “Lady of Lycia… Your husband is closer than yu think…” he smiled… “Maybe we should formalize the feelings we have my dear…” and he gave her the usual wink and smile he often gave her back in Skye.

At his odd look, she nearly dropped her cup mistaking the look in fear that he was one amongst the dead. Her hand tightened instead on the cup as he seemed to realize who she was talking about and she realized then he had been confused as to her calling him husband when it was not quite legal, yet. At hearing him say Kam was 'a bit used', her eyes shot him all most a dark look but on that gentle face, it looked...slightly off.

"My husband is not used. My husband is kind and gentle and cares deeply for his people. It is one of the things I love most about him. If he had to lay down his life for them, he would and it is that reason he is one of the most amazing men I have ever known and I would honor him for such a sacrifice if it came to that, but that does not sir, make him used. He is a great warrior and perhaps politics is not a strong suit of his but it is not a fault and there is nothing can ever be said about him to be cruel that I would believe."

She sighed, her hand cupping her chin as her fingers went to her mouth to silence herself. She was never cruel or so outspoken but when it came to Kam and people calling him....well used, it called as if a disservice to her heart and she could not abide it. Even through her rant though, her voice was soft and gentle so that it was hard to tell that it had angered her.

Lids lowered to kiss at her cheeks as she hummed in a sigh and a hum of happiness. "Allah be praised" she hummed and her hand fell away from her cheek only to be lifted up into his own hands. Her eyes shot open and this time it was her turn to get an odd look to her face as she inched back in her chair but his hand squeezed her own.

He spoke just as her mouth opened and she closed it, her head tilting slightly to the side as he gave her that familiar wink and smile he often gave her in the past. Her mouth opened again as she gasped and she wanted to say his name but her mouth closed again of its own accord.

"Kam?" She finally whispered his name inching this time to the front of her chair rather than further back into it. Her hand squeezed his tightly as her free hand rose to touch at his bearded face. "Oh…" She sighed and then laughed as she stroked at his cheek.

"It is you…" She hummed in a gentle note as her thumb stroked at his cheek and then her hand was falling and actually shoving at his shoulder though it was no more then a butterfly kiss for all the weight she put into it. "Oh, how could you do that to me! You...oh I was about to worry about telling you the Ambassador hit on me!" She laughed her cheeks flushing anew as she leaned forward, her forehead leaning against his own.

Slowly her arm curled around his shoulders to the back of his neck, her head rose pulling him in as her lips met his own. She moaned softly into that kiss and then broke away, her arm snaking from behind his neck once more as her hand found his cheek to stroke it again.

"I didn't recognize you, your hair is so much longer, your beard...you look older.." Those striking blue eyes of hers which seemed as if they could peer through the soul cast over his face as she examined his own face and she smiled. "You come home to me the old man to take a young bride to make the other men jealous?" She teased as those plush faint rose lips pulled into a smile.

Kam’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her in close, his white robes almost causing her to disappear. A bearded face kisses her neck and shoulders. “Yu taste good woman… and what is wrong with looking the sophisticated Ambassador I am… Besides, what’s wrong with a younger woman…?” he teased in her ear.

He wanted to make love to her, and his hands told her what he desired… what he did not know was the extent of her health issues.

He felt a bit odd at her push away, but he smiled as he released her, thinking something was wrong, but not asking what… “Sit Lady of Lycia… tell me of the news here… How will Carnia receive the new Tamazgha Republic?” Oh, he looked the most dignified of Ambassadors.

"It's still so strange to hear that name." She hummed in a laugh, embarrassed to push him away, feeling guilty for not sharing what had happened with him as much as she was sure she was protecting him. She took his hands as they sat down together on a double bench plush with cushions beneath the behind to cushion it. "The news?" She laughed and shook her head. "I am less of a diplomat then you are, my love. The Emperor is working hard to decide how things will be run. Now the council gathers to hear ideas and argue about which ways they want to remain and which they are willing to change, it is not much but the Emperor has final vote and so for all their arguing, things may still change for many of the Lords of Carnia."

Kamenwati chuckles… “Me, a politician… I only convinced the Amir for me to be an Ambassador to be with yu… The Emperor sending troops to help solidified my cause…” then he smiled. And he canted his head… “I would like to listen to the Senate when they reconvene…”

She paused there taking one of her hands out of his and ran it against his bearded cheek. She could not stop looking at him, could not stop touching him. He was here...her eyes brimmed with tears threatening to shed down her cheeks. She had missed him so, that now she ached with happiness that she could finally see and talk to him. "I am sure the Emperor will welcome your coming and the chance to align anew with the Tamazgha Republic. Things will be different now with Secundus on the throne and a new Amir in Tamazgha. If you have announced your arrival and wish to see him, then I am certain it will be soon. There is also to be a great banquet in honor of the victory both of our sides have seen. After that, we will be able to go home... to our new home, Lycia. My father’s plantation is there. I have not been there since I was a little girl and the circumstances were so very different."

He pressed into her hand, and his brown eyes sparkled. “WE shall see my lady of Lycia…”

Again she stopped her hand falling away from his cheek and laid over his hand in hers sandwiching it between her own two. "Tell me of your news now, most handsome and regal Ambassador." She grinned, there was a teasing to her tone but nothing but make the pride of him on her face shine all the brighter.

“I have no news… I am just glad to be home with yu…” and they lounged in the room together, discussing her letters, what he saw in the Tamazgha, and a bit of their future…