SL Part 6 - Desert Destiny

[Kamenwati]

“I asked if it were a mirage, and he said yes. I said it was a dream, and he agreed, but said it was the desert's dream not his. For the desert is a land of illusion, a place in the mind, a shimmering mirage of riches, mystery, and death; existing only to reflect their images back to us as they’d like to be seen. Hollow vessels to be rinsed of our own ambitions, wants, and desires, just waiting to be filled with the cool water of gracious illusions.”

In the emerging bourgeois economy of Skye’s realm of influence, the potential success of merchants grew ever greater. More and more people began to have the means to purchase more and more goods, and so the demand for such goods increased. Foreign spices, silks, and other products of demand were brought from around the world.

The main players in the trade game were Skye, Spain, France, and the Desert Nations of Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Egypt. In an ongoing battle to control trade routes, the competition between these countries were fierce, at times escalating into violent confrontations.

Trade and Commerce focus changed very little but fluctuations did include different products, especially spices, from Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt, Damascus in Syria, Baghdad, and other great cities, which became important commerce and trading centers because of their strategic location, astride the trade routes to India, Persia and the Mediterranean. The products were then carried across the Mediterranean to the Italian seaports and then on to the major towns and cities of Europe.

Adam knew the relationships between merchants and their agents and representatives were usually maintained for life, and even lasted from generation to generation. These consolidated relationships sometimes coexisted with other sporadic ones, established for the purposes of one single commercial transaction.

People risked their lives and made, or lost, their fortunes by carrying valuable commodities from where they were produced to where they were needed. In days past, when journeys were measured in months and weeks, only items that did not spoil could be traded over long distances, such as silk and porcelain from China, pepper and textiles from India, spices from the islands of Southeast Asia, pearls and gems from Sri Lanka, ivory, gold, and ostrich feathers from Africa, and other non-spoilage commodities. The bad state of the roads, the little security they offered to travellers, the extortions of all kinds to which foreign merchants were subjected, and the system of fines and tolls which each landowner thought right to exact, before letting merchandise pass through his domains, all created obstacles to the development of trade and commerce.

Security was one of the Mo’r Triath’s key issues to control. He often displayed considerable concern over the security of the world’s sea lanes and their attendant chokepoints, which were considered vulnerable to threats against free trade. He sought improvements to trade and commerce by issuing proclamations locally, and assisting in foreign efforts, in improving the roads and security. In the near future, commerce and trade would become safe and more general; the coasts would be protected from piratical incursions; lighthouses would be erected at dangerous points to prevent shipwrecks; and future treaties of commerce with foreign nations, including even the most distant, guaranteed the liberty and security of traders abroad.

Meanwhile, Spain was building their efforts for the Reconquista... To reconsolidate the realms of Espania and to oust the Muslims... And in the throes of civil war, the Straits became a point of contention between Spain and the Gaelic nations... Spain stated under Reconquista, the Strait belonged to them... and has even sent small forces to the very tip, crossing over into Morocco, threatening the free trade thru the Strait. Privateers, with Letter of Marque, would prey on non-Spanish ships... The Gaelic Nations, and their fleet of modern warships began to patrol the waters.

Of late, there has been an intensive attempt to distort and falsify recorded Berber history, very often even by painting dark periods of Moroccan history as glorious and progressive, to suit the selfish and perverted interests of the ruling Amir. These attempts relates to the life and deeds of the grand Amir, Amîr al-Mu'minîn, Abu Said Uthman… called the “Leader of the Faithful, Messenger of Allah”… Most of his active life as Amir of Morocco was spent waging wars of territorial annexation and Islamic conversions. A soft spoken man, Abu Said was short tempered and violent. He was quick to enslave and put those, who went against his rule, to death. His reign was one filled with greed, barbarism, and subversion, all in the name if Islam; but in reality, it was his greed for material items and power. Not a bit of blood was spilt by him, but much, by those who he commanded. It is rumored that he even poisoned his Father so he could be Amir.

In the years of his reign, the people of Morocco, and those neighboring countries suffered barbarism likened to that of the Dark Ages... Oppressive and tyrannical was his reign... powered by greed, he sought to rule with an iron fist... depraving his own people and decimating his neighbors.

Nothing was to be seen on the roads leading to the neighboring countries for a distance of 10 leagues, nothing was found but only scattered limbs and mutilated bodies of non-Islamics. The country of Morocco was thrown into a general dismay which was much increased by the cruelty of Abu Said, who sent his invading cavalry and massacred all those who refused his desires... None escaped, even without sparing women and children; so that the army advancing under the conduct of this insane man... instead of meeting with continued resistance... found villages, fortresses, temples, churches, and every habitable place forsaken and deserted.

Wherever he turned, Abu Said found no opponent; and every inhabitable place was forsaken and the poor inhabitants who fled to the woods and mountains in the inclement season experienced anguish to behold their houses in flames, fruit-trees cut down, cattles destroyed, and temples burnt. By means of messengers dispatched to woods and mountains, Abu Said promised pardon and mercy to his enemies, who had fled. However, as soon as the unfortunate people returned on his promise of mercy and pardon, The Amir saw to it that they were all hanged to death, their wives and children reduced to slavery.

The army of Abu said Uthman butchered everybody who refused to heed his desires... Most of the men and women were hanged... mothers were hanged with children tied to the necks of their mothers... Christians who refused to be 'honored' with Islam, were ordered to be killed by hanging then and there; or... naked Christians were tied to the saddles of horses and made the horses move about till the bodies of the helpless victims were tom to pieces. Churches were ordered to be burnt, desecrated, and destroyed. Christian women were forced to marry Moroccan men and similarly his men could enslave Christian women.

Upon the seas, Abu Said Uthman set upon his navy... a crude, ill-equipped navy... but one willing to die for the Amir and Allah... Thousands upon thousands of men would be shuttled across the Strait into Espania for his destructive campaigns... slaves by the thousands would fuel his ships... ships that would cause international crisis...

In the middle, lay the Straits of Gibraltar... a vital link of the Great Ocean and the Middle Sea... a passageway, that King Adam I, of the Gaelic Nations desired to keep open and free from monarchal control....

Kamenwati had met with the new King... and gained approval for actions unsanctioned by Skye... A small army of 200, armed and supplied by Skye... left the capital city... their destination – Morocco... especially the cities of Tangiers and Fez... Behind them sailed two of the newest warships out of Stornoway... sailing under the Griffin Flag... Ordered there by the new King to safeguard Skye interests in the region.

Egypt had formed an alliance with Skye, thru the mediation of Kamenwati, and Lord General Maahes Asad Aziem... Now an army of 25,000 is sailing along the Tamazgha (meaning Land of the Imazighen, or Free) coast... its destination Morocco, in support of the Gaelic Nations... Its reason was to end the slaughter of Egyptians in the Tamazgha by the Amir Uthman...

Skye, and the Gaelic Nations had emerged as a powerhouse among Nations... and its new King would be drawn into a war he did not wish to fight... and a lone man set upon revenge for the decimation of his family, his countrymen, and the enslavement of his woman...

This is Desert Destiny...

NOTE: This Story will be extensive and cover many areas.

A Reluctant Journey

Winds of change

The Picnic

Truth or Dare

In Turas Lan....

Moments ago, upon another rooftop… startled by the movements of two people along the rooftop, a man, hidden in the shadows, watched. He watched the pair as they eluded to an affair of consensual intimacy. Murmuring in a language from afar, the man’s own senses sparked from watching… “Kamenwati… I see why you have abandoned your task… tis this slave more important than your Amir’s desires? Our country dies and you live… Maybe the Amir would be better served by this knowledge and this girl…” The man, clothed in secrecy, watched from the adjacent rooftop, and in his voyeurism, developed a plan to accomplish his own mission – Kill the traitor – and now the addition of kidnapping the girl for a prize.

The shadows disappeared with the rising of the sun… and yet Kamenwati sat up with an odd expression upon his face. It was not of one with satisfaction upon his face but one of concern. He looked around, then rose and put on his trousers, then the white shirt…all the while looking around the adjacent rooftops. Glancing back at Bri as she redressed. “I feel something is amiss…” he looked around again and back to her. “It feels as if we were watched…”

He had seen enough… sufficient to form a decision… She would become a prize for the Amir… and the target of attention would die by a blade… This, and more he vowed to himself, reassuring a place upon the Amir’s war council. And the King of Skye? He too would die by the very same blade Kamenwati would…

As the sun rose above the horizon, he knew he would have to disappear until the time was right. He blew a kiss in her direction and slide back into the morning shadows, to fade with the darkness of night as it lost color with the sun.

Now fully dressed, and the feeling waned, he went to kneel in front of Briseis… His dark skinned hand pushing back errant curls… “My princess… my mermaid…my future… I am a man whole now… yu complete me… and miracles have revealed themselves…” He wanted to tell her how fantastic she was and how he loved her, but he knew no words would suffice… he could only look at her in such a way that only one in love could…

The winds of morning were harsh, bringing fresh cool air from the sea not very far away, it was not unpleasant but Briseis shuddered as if something slimy and disgusting has just been blown across her skin. A kiss on the wind perhaps? The feeling passed as she felt the heated fingers of Kam brushing against her hair and she couldn't help but smile as her head tilted to look up into deep chocolate brown eyes. Her hand rose to capture his within her hair, stilling the motion as she slid her hand with his down to her cheek and pressing the still hot with embarrassment cheek against the palm of his hand. In this moment the shame she felt slid away. She still had so much she wanted to tell him, so much he needed to understand before he choose to stay with her but with her words she found her throat closed to everything she wanted to say and tightening with the emotion she was unable to put words to and release back to him.

Taking her hand he led her from the rooftop and down into the shop to her bedroom… there, near the mattress, he urged her to knee before him… then he too knelt in front of her. With a smirk, he slid his hand under the mattress and pulled out a pouch. “Close yer eyes… and hold out her hands…”

As he pulled her up, she obeyed, like a most willing slave but paused, pulling him to a stop only for a moment to protest about leaving the stuff on the roof. One look from his smiling face as he pulled her off the roof and she went silent again all the way back through the alley and through the shop and back up the stairs to the bedroom she was silent, a brow cokeed upward in wonder of what he was doing. That curiosity on her face only grew as he gently urged her to a kneel beside the mattress, her hands moved to his wrists at her shoulders as he urged her down, aiding his weight as she moved to her knees.

"Kam... just what..." She laughed as she shook her head. She wasn't denying him his request but she was not used to him surprising her. She liked surprising and spoiling him, seeing the look his face was worth whatever the amount the surprise cost, even if it cost nothing, it pleased her. With a sigh, she shifted on her knees, tilted her head back to give him one more look, though it wasn't harsh or questioning, it was the look of a woman completely in love. Sighing she licked at her lips and allowed her lids to slide closed over her eyes as she cupped her hands and held them out as he has asked her to do.

And when she obeyed and held out her hands…. He poured the contents of the pouch into her palms… and as she opened her eyes, she would see every piece of her Mother’s jewelry… “I wanted this to be given upon a special event…” he smirked… “And I would say last night was…” then he blinked his chocolate eyes and smiled.

Pressing her lips together, she was holding her breath just waiting. She had seen his hand sliding under his pillow as her eyes closed. What was he doing? Her heart began to drum a quick beat with her chest, excitement. Was this what it felt like when she surprised him? She felt the weight of the jewelry hitting her hands. The cool metal and beads were familiar in her hands, she all most knew what they were when she opened her eyes, all most but it was different holding the earrings and necklace in her hand than wearing them. Yet every day she felt the missing weight from her neck and ears, she had never gotten used to them being gone. She felt her breath exhaling from her lips and yet she still hadn't opened her eyes, her thumbs stroking over the beading attached to the metal near the neckline of the jewelry while some of the dangling parts of it cascaded over her palms and dangled towards the floor. Swallowing she inhaled a deep breath and tilted her head down as her lids slid up to reveal the sapphire jewel blue of her eyes.

No, this could feel nothing like what she had done for him. Everything she had done for him, the lake...the roof, it all seemed so corny compared to this. Her mother’s jewelry stared back up at her. Was it her imagination or did it feel as if her mother had suddenly appeared for the briefest moment in that jewelry as she took in the sight of it again? She felt the sting of tears welling in her eyes till the liquid spilled over the brim of her lower eyelid and fell against her cheeks. "How... I... my mother... made..." She couldn't form her words right, several sentences ran through her mind and only a few misplaced words came out instead.

Kamenwati smiled brightly, the dark chocolate eyes seemed to sparkle… It felt good to watch her expression… her stuttered words…

Suddenly she was upon him, the jewelry held tightly in one palm as her arms wrapped about his neck and she pressed tight to him. "Thank you…" She breathed deeply against his ear as she held him close. Her cheek pressed against his own as her lids slid closed again pressing two more tears down her cheeks. She shuddered within his arms but this was not built passion nor rising emotions of gratitude, this was fear again. Had they really been watched up on the roof top? Was this because of her? Her head tilted against his as she pressed her face against his neck for a moment before lifting it. "Please, Kam, this means the world to me, because of this, I have no right to ask favors of you... but you..."

He smiled at her appreciation of his gift, and chuckled when she embraced him. “And yu mean the world to me… Ask what…”[/i] his statement was broken off by her impatience.

Her head lifted off his shoulder, head tilting so she could look him sapphire to chocolate eyes "You mean as much to me as this jewelry, I am... was lost without it, it is a part of me, always has been. You are now a part of me as much as my own beating heart or rising chest for air. If we're being watched... because you.... because you left your post, your life in Morocco for me, then promise me you will make that life safe for me, so that you may stay with me. It is the only selfish thing I can ask."

His expression changed from joy to concern when she mentioned being watched. “I will make OUR lives safe… I swear my life upon it…” he gave her words of reassurance… but in the deepest reaches of his mind, he knew that the Amir’s wrath can reach Skye. Many plans went thru his mind in such a momentary flash; his eyes looked to her and he tried to smile.

The jewelry was pressed against the fold of her robes between her thighs as her hands lifted to cup his cheeks. "You know your Amir, will he really let you disappear here and be happy? I don't know him and he scares me, he wants to punish the General because he doesn't want that life. That conjures unpleasant and terrifying thoughts of what he would do to you. The Duke is a good man, so I hear, he can protect you... he can help you... perhaps even your Lands. At least think about it, that is all I can ask of you."

She had to ask that question… his eyes flashed away, then quickly back to her. “If I stay in Turas Lan, I am sure the Amir cannot reach me here… I am safe in the Duke’s realm…” he tried to smile. Would she know he told a slight lie? He could lie with the best of spies… even forge documents… even kill without even a hint of remorse… but he found it everso difficult to lie to her. It even pained him, but he needed to calm her fears… at least until he could make plans. He had decided to stay with her, despite the long-term effects of his decision to forego his mission. He had to see the King of Skye… [/color]

Meanwhile, the voyeur was making plans of his own… he had seen enough… and knew his mission. And once accomplished, he would be glorified in the eyes of the Amir… He knew weaknesses of his prey… He sat back upon the roof’s ledge again and watched thru the window… “Foolish imbecile…”[/i][/color] [/font]

[Kamenwati]

The pair had enjoyed the rooftop and many more evenings of the like… Both had proclaimed their affection for one another. Truth had been declared and a long term connection had been revealed… Now, they spent days doing their own things, making the appearance they were not a couple… but the evenings were spent together, sometimes playing games, just talking, or making love to one another…

With each passing day, the couple grew in strength in the relationship, but each knowing outside, in public, they were still strangers… Both unbeknownst of a growing danger…

The man bought time… he watched the couple from afar… his main concern was the man… Kamenwati was now considered a traitor to his homeland… trading his position for the love of a slave, in this land of strange people… Making a plan to kill Kamenwati was difficult, as he was far too careful… but the female… she knew nothing of the danger and did not watch her patterns… This would prove beneficial.

She had believed him, when he said the Amir could not reach him in Turas Lan, she had no reason not to believe him but the heavy feeling hung as she clung to him in an embrace. They had been watched and while at first her cheeks had flamed with embarrassment, her heart now thundered with worry despite his reassurance. Still the day returned with the dawn… the sun seemed to melt away lingering thoughts of danger to the just the warmth of his smile and day continued, time continued and days melted into night only to surrender again until dawn.

The activities of the day were unimportant except for her work. The same day in and day out, she devoted her life to the care of women and the precious cargo, the precious life they held with them. She was still virtually unknown in Skye, it was a complete turnaround for Briseis, to go from the most treasured Midwife of Carnia to just some midwife with a rundown shop slowly being restored from neglect. Yet each day was a reminder that once she had been only a slave and even when she was freed she was simply a midwives' assistant and had to grow there.

It seemed the days of her captivity were long gone, etched in a stone that seemed worn with time as if it had been centuries ago rather than a few simple years. Time had wings and when one wasn't watching it, it flew on the wings of space, leaving behind memories burned into the heart and soul of those it touched. There was nothing unusual about the days that passed for the quiet couple. Separated by day, bound by love during the night… They were as if part of one of Briseis fairy tales where the prince and princess were cursed to be apart during the day, unable to touch or show affection except in the comfort of the shadows of night. This did not bother Briseis, as oddly as it sounded, leading a double life was not something new to her. Though she had been freed and worked hard for the midwife of Carnia before her death, Briseis had still felt and still acted the slave and even when she pushed such feelings away to do her duty to her patients, in the darkness of night, she retreated to a corner and felt the weight of the pasts whispers that she was still a slave.

Those days were gone and the walls no longer whispered such things. These days the walls stayed silent, soaking in the memories of two people who had made a connection. In the presence of others, she was still sweet and docile and with Kam she was no different, still sweet and still docile, especially when he gave her one of his winning smiles that made her melt; but she was not without her teasing and amusing moments. In the quiet of the night when the city slept, she could be his without fear. Gone was the day they were being watched. It was there in the back of her mind but lost on the bliss she found in his company whether it was talking, playing games or making love.

Though Briseis knew very well she was leading a double life, one as a single midwife and the other as a companion to her one true mate in life, there was a significant change in the woman that was hard to hide. When she shopped for food, she shopped for more than one, never explaining her actions of course but there were also the other items she bought, one of the first was a new table with four chairs instead of the broken down mess she had called a table before. This one had been artfully crafted seemed to mold like clay rather than the wood it actually was. It was still small, made for a small family of four but Briseis was no longer seeing stories of other people in her head but stories of her own, a future for her and Kam. Of course she had the table delivered only after she had Kam safely tucked away in the back room of the shop while the men brought it upstairs but little by little the small shop was coming to life with more toys and clothing, items for the expecting mother and for the coming baby but the most change came upstairs.

First it was the table and then new dishes and pans for cooking, then curtains for the fixed windows, a new hutch in which to put everything, a dresser for him and for her which she was slowly filling with clothing she made for both him and herself, and finally the old mattress, despite its memories was tossed out for a new bed along with a new mattress which she especially ordered to sit low to the ground in which Briseis had decorated with orange, yellow, pink and blue drapery to hang from the ceiling which she assumed was custom of his homeland. She wanted to make this a home for him, since he had decided to stay here with her.

Every day she continued her routine, checking up with patients, sometimes thrown off by an early birth or being called in when an expected birth was taking place but every night she lingered in the market to find something new for home, their home. Sometimes when her patients were in no need of her and with no appointments, she spent time at the beach, still picking up stray pieces of sea glass to shape into jewelry she hid away in the hutch, or the one wind chime she had made actually hanging over the roof of the shop. The last and sparsest were dance lessons with Ada which were very slowly progressing.

It was all the same and yet a shadow loomed, she was not dumb to it but shaking it off as anxiety for the day to be over to spend time with Kam for the minute she saw him, she lit up and the worries drained away. She never voiced this looming feeling to him, it was nothing more than anxiety. So she thought...

Kamenwati would perform menial tasks about the city during the day, and would indulge in the contented life at night with Briseis… whether they just sat and told stories of their past, their plans for future, or if they frolicked all night… Ignorant of what lurked in the shadows, he considered himself out of the Amir’s reach…

He had followed her to the woman’s house and waited… he could not help but chuckle at the girl giving dance lessons… “A teacher of dance? Soon yu shall entertain my Amir…” and he waited. He watched the girl walk the stoned road back toward her cottage, and in the dark of night, at its shadowed-most point, he stepped from behind the alleyway, his hand covering her mouth, he leaned her back against his knee until her back would feel to break. The other man then grabbed her legs as they carried her into the alley, far from peering eyes… A cart came forth and the two men tossed her into the cart then jumped in… soon to be sped away from where she was suppose to be…

Her breathing was buffing out in white smoke against the cold night as she held the cloak tightly about her as she left Ada shop and headed the through the streets towards home. All ready her heart was pounding with anxiety of seeing Kam having spent the day away from him. She was so thoroughly hooked on him. He was her addiction and the day was never complete until she was in his arms.

So wrapped in her thoughts of her exotic prince at home, she didn't notice the shadows were not staying put and a body loomed in the darkness until the hand clasped over her mouth. Even with it there she tried to scream, eyes widening in fear as her blood ran as cold as the night. "Moohhh Mohhh" She shook her head against the hand, trying so hard to dislodge it to scream, to alert someone to her plight and yet she was unable to do so, pulled back, bending till her back screamed in pain in arching so harshly. All ready tears streaked down her face against the hand that stayed like iron against her mouth as her feet were heaved upward and yet through it all she struggled, pushing, shoving, trying to kick. Thrown into the cart, she let out a huff of breath as the force of landing pulled it out of her "KA-" Her shrill voice rose only two syllables before the hand was against her mouth again and another was holding her down into the cart as it lurched into movement, horses whining against the dark as it sped off into the night.

Kam was asleep on the mattress when he heard a noise downstairs… thinking it was Bri, he pretended to be asleep… a crash startled him and he rose, standing atop the stairs looking down… “Yu alright Bri?” Then he noticed that the flicker of light rose fast, smoke rose, and into his path flames roared at the breeze… “Allah be praised, what is going o… oh chyt…” as the flames engulfed the room ever so quickly… the heat barely tolerable…

Moving up further, onto the roof, the small cottage was engulfed in flames… “He had to find Bri…!!!” the thought… then jumped down to the ground, twisting his ankle… As he hobbled away, he looked back at their residence as it began to crumble and fall deeper into flames.

Just then a masked man came up behind him and kicked his good leg from under him… as he lay upon his back, the man held a familiar dagger to his throat… “Yer girl is gone… a gift of the Amir… Yu should have done what yu were ordered, Kamenwati…”

Angered by the man’s attack and threat, Kam shifted and kicked the man with the good foot… and soon a brawl began… for more than five minutes, the fight continued. His attacker was highly trained, as he defeated Kam, with a jab of the dagger to his side… and disappeared into the night, as he sank into the dirt of the alley, his home destroyed and burning to the ground, the wound seeping blood into the dirt.

As the flames engulfed the house, feet pounded against the pavement as people rushed from their homes and late night workings in their shop. Screams went up for water. None of them wanting another incident like the under dark. At least the snow-painted roofs and some on the ground, would keep the flames at bay, it could not creep as it had in the dryness of fall. They were not attempting to save the house, it was all ready to far gone but buckets of water were heaved to stem the rage of the fire from the rubble.

"Hey... Hey... Here! Here!" A voice echoed against the alley before feet shuffled against the ground at his side and a petite hand grasped gently against his face. "MiLord? Sir..." A gentle feminine voice floated against the night to his ear before the body beside him shifted, speaking to someone else. "Get something to carry him, he's wounded, we need to get him to the infirmary, Go!"

The body shifted again, tearing of cloth and then no doubt pain as the unknown woman pressed a cloth against his side hard to stop the flow of blood. "MiLord...can you hear me? Stay with me.."

Kam just wanted to disappear… he was not known here in Skye… He had made it a point to keep a low profile… The girl before him was blurry… How long had he lay in the dirt? What happened? Where was Bri? All this and more fluxed his mind all at once… Now he was being seen by many people… he HAD to get away before he was caught.

Briseis did not know how far away she was from the shop now nor where they are as the bodies held her down from view of her surroundings, the hand still upon her mouth told her at least that were still in hearing range of help if she screamed but as much as her heart was pounding of fear, it beat furious against her chest when the acid smell of smoke reached her nostrils making her stomach twist painfully with the urge to throw up. She shoved hard against the bodies, peeking over the side of the cart to see the smoke rising up and out over the frozen night and her eyes went wide again.

One of the bodies laughed, she wasn't sure who it was but she was pulled hard back against a chest with a hand still covering her mouth. "He's dead now little one.." the voice hissed within her ear and the tears flowed again as this time her throat ached with the scream that rose through it and was muffled through the hand at her mouth. Her body shook with the pain that raked throughout her body but not from her throat but her heart. It couldn't be true! Her eyelids slid closed against the assault of tears. Kam... Kam... where are you...? I need you… speak to me... be near me... I can't survive unless I know you're with me.... her mind hummed as her body shook against the tears she shed until the pain and fear was to much that she slumped against the body behind her. There was no need to muffle her now that she had fallen unconscious.

At some point he had passed out, it was better for him as he was moved to the infirmary and his wound stitched up and rubbed with a salve and wrapped to keep it from getting infected. The mystery woman had not left his side though and as he stirred she moved from the chair at his bedside to sit on the side of his bed.

The blur had turned to darkness… For how long? Where was he? Question upon question formed… Dark brown eyes peered from open lids… Focus, finally !!

"Are you awake Sir? Can you hear me?" The voice spoke gently against his ear though the woman stayed posed sitting up rather than leaning over him now. "You're in the infirmary. You were stabbed..." As if he didn't know. "I am sorry we could not save your home. It was too far gone by the time we got the flames out but we found you in time. You could have bled out."

He moved his head a bit, nodding… “Yes…” Those dark eyes scanned the area, then back to the girl nodding… “My home? Gone?” then stark realization hit… “Bri? My woman, where is she? Did they find her?” he seemed anxious… ready to get up to find her… His accent a bit odd to the girl.

The bed shifted as the woman got up and moved about then returned as his blanket was pulled back and the dressing at his side removed slowly to change it. When he jerked, her hands pushed gently at his chest. "I'm just changing your dressings Sir... easy or you will pull your stitches... I'm a novice in the infirmary, my name is Amber... Amber Night, funny huh?" The girl hummed in a laugh as she set about her work of changing his dressings out with a brand new smear of salve to protect from infection before she was wrapping dressings around the stitching again.

He watched her, glancing down to his wound… “ooww…” as she jerked off the bandage… then looked back at her as she introduced herself… “Thank you Amber Night…” All names seemed funny, or odd, to him… and his, too, would appear odd to those in Skye… even though he would not offer it to her.

Attempting to sit up, he looked at her as she pushed him back down… “I must go find Briseis…”

Amber seemed confused "your woman?" realization hit her and she corrected it "Oh you mean your wife..." She stopped there to look down at his hand; yes she was looking for a wedding ring. "I am sorry...the house was destroyed in a matter of minutes, they....didn't find a body and no one else was found around the home." She finished dressing his wounds and replaced the blanket before moving back to her own chair when the name he was saying registered in her mind. "Oh! The midwife...oh...the place that burnt down. I didn't know she was married.."

He was in pain from the knife wound, but he was clear headed… “umm, yes my wife… we married in secret M’Lady…months ago” lieing, even though the ancient accent marred his English.

When he attempted to sit up again she slid to the end of her chair and held out a hand. "I can't stop you but you really should rest for a few days, I can call someone, the patrol to look for Briseis...."

Laying back, Kam nodded… “Yes M’Lady… rest…”

The door opened and Amber shifted in the chair to look at the dark head of the stranger at the door. One of the nightly patrol, probably with more information on the fire and now with her information on Briseis, she had things to tell him. "Excuse me..." She spoke to Kam as she lifted off her chair and moved to the waiting gentleman.

"How's he doing?" The male spoke as Amber reached him.

"Awake but seems confused. The place that burnt down was the midwife Briseis shop....I think this man is her husband but I've never heard she was married and never saw her with anyone...Do you think perhaps they could of fought? There's been no sign of Briseis and he was stabbed..." Amber spoke looking back at Kam and then back before ushering the gentleman out the door as she left it open and pulled him down the hall but their voices were still distinguishable until they moved to far down the hall to be hear through the open door.

"I don't think this was an accident Elliot, perhaps we should alert the Duke and Duchess?" Amber voice lifted up as they moved out of the doorway.

Kam could not hear them, but he had been in situations like this before where he was a suspect… especially in the land that was not his… His gut, and his past experience made him react… While the female was outside the room with the male, Kam collected his shirt and looked for a door… a window… something…

One last look toward the pair, and a look to the door on the far side of the Infirmary, sweeping his feet to the side, he stood… His ankle ached… testing the weight, he silently moved toward the far door…

Halfway across the large room, he glanced back and the man the woman spoke with was after him… Pulling over tables and trays to block his path, Kam exited the door, slamming it shut. Instead of a corridor to the door, his path was across the hall and out thru a window… Dropping down into the garden he hobbled quickly across the once-flowered area, thru a gable down another corridor…

Luckily, he had done some odd jobs in the garden and back rooms of the Infirmary and found himself using his work areas to escape the man. Once in the streets, he began to use backways and alleys to his advantage… “I must get outta the city…” he murmured to himself as he painfully hobbled toward the docks…

Looking for a ship that was ready for departure, he limped along the piers and wharfs… “YOU STOP!!!” came from behind him… he looked left… then right… the guards were converging on him… Cursing in his native tongue, he had nowhere to go… Looking behind him, he swore again… then dove into the icy waters of Turas Lan Bay…

The first thing that assaulted her senses was the sway back and forth underneath her body; the second was the smell, a wet dirt smell....and mold. Groaning, her hand dripped the soft lining against a wooden bunk and instantly she felt the stiffness in her body from laying a nearly hard surface. She had to have been out for a while she reasoned, as she rolled to her backside groaning again as the stiffness of her limbs was nearly painful. Blinking her eyes, she fought against the darkness of where she was, where was she anyway? Light filtered through the boards above her head, small cracks of it but not enough to illuminate the room. Realization of the events hit her like a slap in the face and her face twisted even in the darkness as she fought a stave of pain within her heart that was slowly creeping to her throat.

"Looky here… she's awake" A voice spoke in the darkness but nothing answered. The person obviously speaking to himself, or her.

Rolling against the thin mattress on the bunk, she faced the shadows of the outline of the person talking. "Wha...Where...Why?” Her voice a hoarse whisper, apart from the pain of heartache, her throat stung in the need for liquid.

The figure in the corner shifted but didn't approach. "Where? On a ship to see the Amir, why....that's not my problem. Now there's a cup beside you with water...take a drink little one, don't need you dyin' on me..."

Slowly she shifted to take the cup from the floor and shift to sit up before tossing the cup back, gulping until the cup ran dry with the water. It made the parched ache of her throat less, but not the pain of her stiff muscles nor her aching heart.

"…and there's a gift for you too...there by your hand...I'm sure the Amir would..." the figure stopped to hiss, a menacing sound that had Briseis shuddering "…love to see it on you when we arrive."

Previously, prior to them kidnapping Briseis, the men broke into her home and found her mother’s jewelry… Paying a good sum of money for the material and the making of the dancer’s outfit. These men had done much preparation, in surveillance and coordination, prior to kidnapping the girl.

Moving her hand along the mattress, she hit the cloth covered object and lifted it, pulling back the corners to reveal in the dull light the blue sparkling jewels of her mother’s jewelry. Instantly Briseis started to tear up again, unable to stop herself, she let out a strangled cry as her shoulders sank and her fingers balled around the jewelry.

"Hush now beautiful...hush now…" A box shuffled against the floor as the figure pushed off it to move towards her reaching out to grip her face and pull it up to meet his.

Briseis gasped with what she saw, not that she reckoned the figure but the horrible scar over his right eye that left his right eye completely cloudy to sight.

"Don't want those beautiful blue sapphire eyes to be all ugly from puffy redness..." He rumbled as if talking to a lover which made Briseis shudder and yank her chin out of his grasp, which in turn only made him laugh. "The traitor made you brave slave girl...but I know your ways, I've always known your ways, I should...I've trained girls like you."

Pulling her face away from his, her shoulders shrank as she crouched low against the mattress to get away from his gaze. As he spoke, each nerve in her body seemed as if it were being shocked as her fingers curled into the mattress. So this was it? She was going to be a slave again.

"Nadir...stop fooling around!" A new voice called from the steps, this one gruffer as if he had been punched in the throat. "You better get that girl prepared soon, don't want to be bring a gutter rat to the Amir" Boots hit the steps, going upward and a door slammed.

Now she knew the name, Nadir, and he was staring at her with anticipation.

"Forget the traitor, girl, he's dead, and besides, you might not mind the Amir… and don't worry, I won't touch a pet of the Amir's but...I'm going to enjoy...preparing you..."

Elsewhere.... The shock of the water nearly insensated the man, one use to warmer places… but his powerful muscles, though tight, worked against the current. Kamenwati was a powerful swimmer… and despite the numbing cold, he swam farther and farther from the pier… Occasionally, he would come up for air, only to dive back down and swim farther… With each stroke, his mind concentrated more and more on finding Bri…

More than 500 yards out into the bay, lay a ship… his destination… diving down once more, he swam hard… By the time he reached the ship, he was near exhaustion… and the sun was setting behind the city. Shivering, as he tread water, he noticed the anchor rope and made his way to it.

Up the rope, hand over hand, he ascended. To the rails of the deck, which he slid over quietly. Laying upon the deck, he breathed heavily, looking around. Seeing the watch officer on the aft deck, he rested.

What next? He thought… What do I do now? His head thumped against the deck as he pondered his situation. “Allah, forgive me for my transgressions… My heart is true… and now saddened by the greed of evil men… aid me in time of need…”

The look in Nadir eyes frightened her. She was not so stupid as to not know the look in his eyes, his mouth was practically gapping and ready to drool at what he considered preparing her. Briseis though was no stranger to being prepared. It had happened once before, the festival of Mother Rome. She had been washed by a dozen hands, her hair teased and painfully pulled in brushing and braided, ceremonial clothing and then paraded like a prized bull. It had been the most miserable night of her life and her old Master saw to it after that she would never go through that again. His wife had paid, with her life. His second wife, The Gods save her had been such a kind young woman. She focused on the memories as she was put into the tub of warm water and her hair again pulled and tugged on to the aching point in being washed, the whole time, her knees drawn up, her arms covering her breasts. At first she had not minded, the water was warm but then she had refused to be washed on her body by not moving. Nadir yanked her from the tub and had made her stand naked in the corner for hours while the water in the tub went cold with the icy seas just outside the ships shallow walls. He had commanded her again to move her arms, she refused standing with arms covering her modesty, that was when the first bucket had been thrown on her. After the fourth or fifth, she had stopped counting, she was so cold.

She was always given a few minutes to cool off, for the shock of the cold water hitting her to wear off. Another bucket was sloshed into the tub and Briseis tensed waiting for it. For several seconds nothing happened and then the water was thrown and Briseis gasped as the water hit her. Icy cold it felt like a dagger stabbing her all over her body as it dribbled down her head and over her bare shoulders and the fold of one arm that was hiding her breasts while the other hid her sex in modesty. The water was so cold feeling like dozens of ice cubes being run down along her skin with the droplets that cascaded downward. Her body shook with the chill against her skin and even as painful as it was to her heart, she prayed each second Kam's arms were around her, the heat of his skin there to warm her.

"Move your Arms girl!" Nadir commanded behind her.

Briseis did not move, did not flinch, just shivering as she stared at the wall of the ship, the sway still felt from the balls of her feet to the top of her head. She didn't mind it but with the cold water, and now standing for several hours, she was exhausted, wanting nothing more than warmth and sleep. So exhausted, her eyelids slid closed over her eyes and she swayed were she stood. Gods above... so tired... so cold... her head pounded but it was as the bucket hit the water again making it slosh around did her eyes jump open alert.

"MOVE YOUR ARMS!" Nadir commanded in a booming voice and Briseis knew without turning her head, men from up top were now urge to look below to see what was going on. Briseis cheeks flamed with color, as cold as her body was, it found the heat to inflame her cheeks red with embarrassment. She was just too tired to defy anymore and slowly, her arm slunk away from her breast and away from her nether region. Her shoulders slumped in defeat.

When the towel touched her, Briseis flinched, half expecting to be hit by flying cold water again. Nadir hands beneath the towel were warm and she felt further shame in welcoming that warmth despite whose hands it was beneath it. "There now... you have become defiant in your freedom, but you will learn and quickly, you are free no longer." Nadir spoke behind her as he ran the towel over her body.

Briseis felt her eyelids closing again. She was just too tired to fight anymore, if he would let her sleep she finally reasoned, she would do whatever he wanted.

"I went easy on you little one. Such a beautiful little sparrow you are. You will like living with the Amir, beautiful riches, if he decides you are more than some lowly slave. You would do well to aspire to that hmmm... fine silky clothing, beautiful jewelry... a fine room all to yourself, treated near like a princess." Nadir continued as he wrapped the towel around her.

That was it, Briseis could not stand anymore and she sunk against him as he wrapped the towel around her, trapping her in a glimmer of warmth. She felt her feet leave the floor as she was grasped up into the cradle of his arms and carried to the bunk.

"You be a good little sparrow for me now then hmm? Do as your told?" Nadir murmured against her ear as he lay her down.

Briseis said nothing. Laid down, she was gratefully welcoming sleep until she felt her hair pulled painfully to being ripped from its roots and her eyes shot wide again as she let out a yelp.

"You be good for me now? Do as your told?" Nadir commanded an answer as he stared harshly down at her.

"Yes.." Briseis choked as she grasped her now aching scalp before letting out a yelp again as her hair was again yanked.

"Yes what?" Nadir commanded.

"Yes my lord.." Briseis answered compliantly.

"Good. Now who do you belong to?" Nadir commanded once more.

"The Amir.." Briseis answered as tears welled in her eyes from the pain at her scalp.

"Good. Sleep now...we dress you in an hour" Nadir ran so hot and cold as he softened and released her hair. "We arrive shortly, the Amir will be pleased little Sparrow, yes I break you good, I dress you the part, oh yes, Amir be pleased" He was speaking more to himself as he moved to his perch on a box not far off.

Briseis had stopped paying attention to him, her eyelids had slid closed again. She was drifting on a sea of clouds between awake and asleep. Between that moment of sleep and dreaming where she could see Kam's face there before her. There in that moment she drifted into sleep and dreaming, she hummed and her lips curled into a smile. Kam. He was waiting for her in her dreams, he always would be. He was not dead within her dreams and deep within her heart, Briseis knew that he still lived.

He lay not for long upon the bow of the ship… when the opportunity afforded him, he moved below deck, wondering if and when this ship would sail. Shivering from cold below deck, he hid behind some crates and curled himself into the fetal position… soon falling asleep from exhaustion.

The rocking of the ship and the slamming of its bow into the waves finally woke him up. How long had he been asleep? Hours? Days? This frightened him, as this could cause him to be farther away from his destination than he desired. Peeking from the crates, and dodging the ship’s crew, he made his way toward the Captain’s cabin. Edging his way along the rail, the bow slammed deep into the waves, the icy water overtaking the ship’s deck, sloshing heavily onto Kamenwati. Soaked to the bone, as the cold waves hit him, he had visions… visions of his beloved being mistreated…visions of her as a slave of the Amir… Was Allah trying to show him her fate? Had his rebel ways come back to haunt him?

At the Captain’s quarters, he knocked on the door… no answer… He opened the door and moved to the table with the sea maps and Captain’s log. Stumbling over the English of the log, and a brief glance to the maps. The best he could tell was that Allah had been graceful to him. The ship was bound for Algeciras on the east coast of Espania… “I can swim that… if I time my jump right…” he mumbled… "I just need to stay hidden..."

At that very moment, the door opened and there stood the Captain… Kam swallowed hard… “Here matey, wot ar’ yae daein’ ‘ere?” Kam stuttered but was able to convince the Captain he was a servant allowed onboard just before the ship left. “Sae, yae ‘re me new servant, aye? Then fetch me some tea, an’ be rite abou’ tit…” Kam bowed and moved out of the Captain’s quarters… down to the galley for the Captain’s tea. The Captain had noticed that Kam was stained with blood at the hem of his shirt. No being too devious, nor law abiding, the Captain smiled and though he had a non paid crewmember and just let the man be.

Allah had given Kam his grace… and with little or no further complications, Kam was now a member of the crew, though menial jobs, jobs none other wanted, came to him.

Each passing day, Kam plotted his way… each trip to the Captain’s quarters offered him a current position on the map. Kam had planned on jumping ship as it entered the Strait on the Spanish side, near Tarifa… a barrel as his float, he could swim the 13 miles to the Moroccan coast… once on his own homelands, he could find his way easily. If Briseis was a slave to the Amir, he would know where she would be…