The group of men in red cloaks had traveled for a few hours. In the distance they saw a light. Not sure what they should make of it then slowly approached, realizing it was a tiny village. Not many of the natives to this land were friendly towards them, so they watched from a distance. It seemed to be holding a large number of people compared to the number of tents. Too many horses, too many men floating around. And why would they sleep on the ground? The little man looked at his group. This could mean something. They stayed to watch the village. Some would sleep while the others took the first watch. Each found it odd that guards surrounded the village.
The group made no fire that night. Their presence needed to be kept secret. The little man wondered what was so precious that they needed to guard it. It was a tiny village.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shani awoke to the sound of breathing in her ear. Damn cat. She slowly opened her eyes to find Azizi staring at her from the bedside. He had watched over the pair all night. She smiled and reached out to scratch his muzzle. Someone was still breathing in her ear. An arm was draped over her waist. Arimus! Her mind was still hazy but her eyes shot wide open. She moved slowly to try to get out from under the covers without waking him. As her weight shifted his arm tightened around her waist pulling her close to him.
“Good morning.” he whispered in her ear.
Shani noticed how deep his voice seemed, or that he was completely stretched out behind her. She felt his chest against her back, his legs against hers, and now his thumb moved lazily back and forth across her stomach. “You stayed here all night?”
He could tell by her voice that she was shocked. “You fell asleep on my shoulder. I didn’t have the heart to wake you.” He shifted his body. Waking next to her had a profound affect on him. Arimus didn’t want her to find out. “I also wanted to make sure that you didn’t run away again.” He was amazed that she could seem so fresh having just woken up.
Shani suddenly felt shy. “I didn’t mean to, that is, I mean… quit that!” she laughed. Arimus couldn’t help himself. He had started to kiss her neck lightly, his beard tickled her neck. She wiggled in effort to escape. The more she wiggled the tighter he held her. she finally wiggled her way onto her back and pushed against his shoulder to make him stop. Shani was catching her breath. “That was mean!”
“I wonder what you would think of this?” Shani knew that look in his eye. Funny how fast she learned what it meant.
“Arimus! What if someone walks in? What will they think?”
He tilted his head to one side. “I do not care.”
Ulima interrupted them with a loud cough. She started shaking her finger at Arimus, ranting and raving in Arabic. Shani laughed as the two argued for a minute. She wished she could understand what was being said. Ulima’s hands were waving wildly in the air and Arimus was groaning his words to her. He made a loud sound that quickly hushed the old woman. Giving Shani a quick kiss, earning a few more words from Ulima, he got out of the bed.
“She has threatened to skin me for giving the impression of impurity.” He gave Ulima a sideways glance. Before the woman could open her mouth he spoke sharply hushing her before she could utter a word. “She will help you pack your things and get ready to leave. Will you be able to ride?”
Shani was still smiling at the exchange that took place. “I will be just fine.” After Arimus left she got out from under the covers. As she stretched each limb to work out the tightness and soreness Shani heard Ulima let out a sigh when she saw that Shani was still dressed. Shani gave the woman a quick hug to reassure her that all was well. As they packed her things Shani decided she should learn a few words of Arabic. She would make Arimus teach her later. She looked at her bruised ribs and wrinkled her nose. The bruise was now an ugly shade of blue mixed with purple. She was thankful that it didn’t hurt to move, at least not as much as the night before.
Ulima carried a few things out of the tent and Azizi followed the woman. “Shani.” Arimus poked his head through the flap of the tent and crooked his finger for her to come over to him. He kept looking over his shoulder. She walked over and tried to look outside but he caught her chin and kissed her quickly. “I didn’t want Ulima threatening me again.” He winked and grabbed her hand. “Come, everyone is almost ready to travel.” His eyes narrowed when he heard Ulima’s stern voice behind him. Shani laughed all over again.
Shani was amazed at just how many men crowded in a group ready to leave. Gone were the masks and black robes. Halim brought Shani’s mare over and handed her the reins. Arimus helped her mount up then spoke to Halim for a minute before they both mounted their steeds. The large group broke into three. Their group left first, the others would go to their homes, waiting behind to be sure all was well. They had only made it about half of a mile away when Azizi stopped dead in front of Shani’s mare causing the startled horse to half rear to avoid stumbling over him. Arimus’ steed jerked away from the commotion while Shani brought her mare back to Azizi’s side.
Azizi’s ears were flat against his head with his nose in the air. Low growling gave way to a bearing of the fangs and a loud roar. While Azizi snarled and dropped his nose to the sand again Shani dismounted quickly going to his side. He calmed a bit when he felt her hand on his neck. Shani ran a hand through the sand and Azizi’s mouth clamped around her wrist pulling it away. “Shh.” She soothed his neck fur down and stood when Arimus came to her side.
“What is wrong with him?”
“Someone, or something, has been here. Azi is not happy about it either.” She pointed to the cat who was growling again. The muscles in the cats shoulder rippled as his tail thrashed about it. He snapped at the empty air as if to defy the scent he discovered. A warning to whoever left it to stay far away. After a few more minutes the group started moving again, this time Azizi lagged behind as he did when they first met Arimus.
“He is watching again?” Arimus kept looking over his shoulder.
“Yes.” Shani knew it would have to be something or someone cruel to make her friend act so viciously without the presence of a cause. She lifted her head when she heard hooves pounding. Arimus had a few of his men go to be with Azizi.
“I don’t want him to be alone.” Arimus explained. The group kept glancing nervously around them as they rode throughout the morning. Shani and Arimus discussed her father more as they rode. Halim translated a lot of what she said to the others. They would spread the word throughout the Abdel-Ma’at. One of the men in the lead yelled back to the others.
Shani was startled. “What is it?” A look of fright was frozen on her face.
Arimus smiled warmly and pointed to the horizon. “Ya’hiad.” Shani could scarcely make out trails of smoke in the distance. As they neared she could make out the cream colored tents. The group stopped and a few more men left and rode away. They waited for the others who were with Azizi to rejoin them. Halim pointed at the panther. “He will scare people acting that way.”
Azizi had started making guttural sounds and swishing his tail about excitedly. Shani called him to her side, made a few hand motions and he fell in place beside her mare. Halim admired the obedience Azizi showed. “What was all of that you did with your hands?”
“He will stay by my side, quietly, until I tell him to do otherwise.” Shani replied.
As they rode into Ya’hiad the people greeted their returning friends. Many stared at the strangers, some even pointed. They rode to a pen filled with horses. Arimus helped Shani to dismount, holding onto her longer than needed. He knew that by now Rasheem heard of his son’s return, and the strange woman he brought with him. Shani hurriedly reached in her bags and pulled out a long red cloak. Raising an eyebrow he teased, “This is your form of an abaya?”
“Just my way of not feeling so self conscious.” She draped it over herself making sure it covered her in all the right places.
Arimus’ tone became serious. “Shani, please forgive me but I need to go speak with my father. Would you mind if Halim showed you to your tent?” Shani shook her head no and he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Will I be allowed the privilege of dining with you tonight?” He held her hand in his, thumb tracing a circle on the inside of her wrist.
“It seems that I am at your mercy in all honesty.” She saw something flash in his eyes before he looked away. Mentally noting to ask him about that later she turned to Halim who joined them. Arimus made his goodbyes and walked quickly to his parent’s tent.
Kaaje was sitting on her bed reading a book when her son entered. Arimus quickly went to his mother’s side and embraced her. She was happy to have him home safely after hearing the stories of murder in Covarte. They made use of the privacy they had. She patted the spot next to her and Arimus sat, quickly telling her the tale of Covarte and Shani. Kaaje immediately noticed his eyes wash over with passion as he spoke of the strange woman. She was smiling at her son as he finished his story.
“She is searching for her father and I have offered her help.” Arimus noticed his mother looking at him in an odd way. “What?”
“I have been waiting for the day you would not stop talking of a woman.” She raised her hand to hush him when he opened his mouth. “Don’t you try that with me, my son. I know you better than you do yourself. You have been taken with beautiful women before, they always bored you.” Arimus nodded his agreement. Kaaje was right. Liana was the only woman who was not enthralled with the idea of being with a man who would rule the largest and most well respected village in the desert.
“Now, what will you tell your father? The tale of events in Covarte have traveled fast and he will know that Shani is the woman they saved.”
“I will have Al’din think of something. Father will be more upset with what I have to tell him about the wedding rather than Shani.”
Kaaje grimaced. “Musad and Liana are on their way, Arimus. Rasheem will be more than angry with you.”
“What will I be angry about?” Rasheem entered the tent and heard his wife’s words, then shot a look at Arimus waiting an explanation. He eyed them both and saw the worried look on his wife’s face as she rose and walked to the table to discard her book.
Kaaje knew a battle was about to happen, one she did not wish to witness.
Arimus stood and faced his father. “We need to talk, father. It is very important.”
He had hoped Kaaje would stay but from the look of it she was leaving him to fend for himself. She could stay, sooth her husband’s anger.
Rasheem ordered Kaaje to leave. The tension in the air was thick, as it always was before he fought with his son. He had no reason to want his wife to hear words that would flow if Arimus managed to anger him to a degree that only his son could. He was proud of Arimus, who stood for what he believed in. He was saddened though when he finally realized that Arimus would not be the son he had always wanted. When Rasheem approached him about the people asking him to be the leader, to be their king, Arimus had ranted for days. Arimus’ grandfather, Kahtib, had fought any foreign king that dared to lay a claim on the desert and it’s people. Granted the people then looked to him for guidance after his grandfather fought the long battle over Ya’hiad. When he passed they automatically assumed his son, Rasheem, would lead them. He willingly stepped into those shoes, and filled them as best he could.
When Arimus was born Kahtib cooed over his grandson, sharing all of his knowledge with him. Kahtib knew that one day Arimus would take his turn at leadership. Kahtib had turned down a title when the people tried to give it to him many years before. Arimus reminded his father of that daily until Rasheem finally relented and followed suit. Rasheem had hoped that Arimus would be more like him, instead he was more of his grandfather.
Arimus’ words dragged Rasheem out of his memories. “I am not going to marry Liana. There will be no wedding.” Rasheem’s face instantly turned red with anger. His tirade lasted for what seemed like hours. Arimus just stood there and listened. “It is how it is done.” Rasheem kept his voice steady. “I am your father and I chose a bride. You will now marry her.”
“Why would you force this on me?” Arimus pleaded with him. “Even Liana does not want this marriage. She loves someone else.” He had tried to keep his head level, to argue with reason, but to no avail. His father was still not listening.
“She has refused to marry you?”
“No, she will do as her father wishes. But I cannot wed a woman I do not love, and more so a woman who loves another.” Arimus’ voice had taken on a tone that surprised even himself let alone Rasheem.
“So she has the sense to follow her father’s demands while you have the thick skull of a camel and do nothing but defy me?”
“We do not love each other!” Arimus yelled exasperated from frustration.
Rasheem walked to his son stopping when his chest almost pushed into Arimus’. “You will learn to love each other.” He hissed through clenched teeth. “And if I have to drag you there myself you will marry her.” Rasheem never even blinked as he stared in to his son’s narrowing eyes. “Do you understand me?”
“I understand you clearly, father.” Arimus’ tone was suddenly confident and calm as he spoke. “Now you understand this. If I have to tell Musad myself then I will gladly speak with him when they arrive, but I will not marry Liana. I do not care what that pig threatens me with, nor what you threaten either.”
This was the first time Rasheem had ever heard his son speak of Musad in anything but kindness. “A pig? Musad is far…..”
Arimus suddenly turned to walk out. He had always hidden his true feelings for Musad from his father until now.
“Where are you going? We are not finished here!”
Arimus opened the flap on the tent and replied over his shoulder as he walked through. “Let me know when they arrive, father. I will explain why they wasted their time coming here.” He could hear Rasheem’s curses as he walked away, laughing as the maids brought hands to their gaping mouths at the words they heard. He headed for the outskirts of the village to walk and calm his mind. He wanted to be rid of this anger before seeing Shani again.
Shani. The very thought of her seemed to have a calming effect on him. It seemed to Arimus that she was having many different effects on his person lately. He knew that she must be feeling sad at the moment. Totally alone in a strange village, not knowing the whereabouts of Jason, and Covarte had been a toll on her. A smile crept across his face. She was strong, independent, and very capable of handling herself if a situation called for it. Not like the delicate women of his village. She had risked her life at the oasis to help him. Her best friend and companion was a panther she had raised and grown up with. She wore barely any clothing at all. Shani was full of fire, and it was that fire that intrigued Arimus. He laughed and spoke to the wind. “She will be the death of me.” He headed back to the village in a hurry. Thinking of her had only lead to wanting to be with her. First he needed to wash and get dinner sent to her tent. He would introduce her to his parents tomorrow.
As the trio walked through the village Shani was happily surprised. People waved to her and smiled warmly. Halim carried everything, little as that was, refusing to let the women be treated as anything but special. Ulima had entwined her arms in Shani’s as they walked. She was humming again and Shani joined her. Halim stopped outside of a rather large tent and motioned for the women to enter through the flap he held open for them.
Shani was stunned. There was a bed with sheer linens draping over it as a canopy. Each linen had specks of gold running through them which reflected the light from a candle on a table next to it. Large pillows sat in the middle of the tent, she assumed those were used for sitting. Shani ran her hand over the pillows. They were softer than Azizi’s fur, intricate designs running through them. A young woman walked from behind a screen holding a bucket. Shani found an oversized tub filled with hot water waiting for her use.
Halim had not moved from the flap of the tent. Ulima was already spreading Shani’s things out onto the bed. “Shani,” Halim had a worried look on her face. “Is this tent to your liking? If not we can get you another one.”
Shani let out a nervous laugh. “Oh I like it just fine, Halim. But it, that is, it’s too big! It’s too much!”
Halim laughed at her. “Shani, this is how we treat our guests. It is not even totally prepared for you yet.”
“There can’t be more?”
Halim smiled. “Arimus has already given the order that you are to receive anything you ask for. He wishes you to be comfortable.”
Shani kept looking around the tent. There was not much in the tent, yet it seemed to be filled. She listened as Halim told her what was to come. “He arranged for some abaya’s to be brought for you to choose from.” Her laughter surprised Halim.
“I guess I can’t very well go walking around half naked can I now?”
Halim smiled and then asked Ulima to make sure her temporary home would suit her also. Shani asked where Ulima was going and was shocked to learn that her friend would not be in the same tent. “If you need her pull on that.” He pointed to a long cord hanging with the linens around the bed. Shani wrinkled her nose at the idea.
“I am not used to being pampered.” She stated blankly. In the tribe everyone worked to keep life going. “I am not the type to just sit around lazily all day long.” She shrugged.
Ulima returned smiling. Halim big his farewells and promised to check on Shani after seeing to a few more matters. Ulima ushered Shani to the tub. She willing stripped and sank into the tub with a loud groan. Her side ached. The heat of the water seeping into her skin felt wonderful. She bathed and washed her hair then decided she had earned a nice little soaking. Ulima peeked around the corner with a bundle of clothing in her arms. She held each abaya in front of Shani. Some were nice enough, but none inspired Shani to wear it. Ulima sighed and left Shani to relax in the tub. Shani rested her head on the edge behind her neck and it didn’t take long for her to nod off.
She was sitting with Jason at a table in their hut. He was worried for her.
“You should have stayed at the village, sweetheart. It’s too dangerous for a woman to travel alone.”
“I brought Azizi with me. And you are sounding like you don’t love me anymore.”
Jason covered her hand with his own. “I will always love you. But the chief was right in ordering you stay. I would be heartbroken if anything happened to you.”
“But what will happen? What is it you are so worried about father?” Shani needed to know what scared him so. “Please tell me.” She was begging him.
It looked as if he was going to tell her. Then just as he opened his mouth to say something dark figures appeared. They were like that of storm clouds, swirling around Jason and clawing at him. He fought them as they dragged him from his chair. Shani rose to help her father only to be knocked down. She tried desperately to get up, the floor seemed to hold her in place. “Shani!” Jason called to her. “Please listen to me and go home!” The figures dragged him from her. When they had gone she lay there on the floor kicking and screaming as a child in a tantrum, tears running down her face.
Shani woke suddenly to someone shaking her shoulders violently. Ulima was staring at her with worry and dread plastered on her face. Shani realized she must have cried out in her sleep causing the woman to panic. She could hear a male voice on the other side of the screen. Bolting upright in the water she reached for the towel lying on the ground next to the tub. Ulima waved her hand and went to the other side of the screen speaking in Arabic. After a few sentences he left and Ulima pulled the screen back.
Shani’s nerves were still rattled from her dream. She quickly got dressed and then sank into the pillows in the middle of the room. She felt more at ease when Azizi curled up next to her and placed his head in her lap. Ulima watched Shani with conern in her eyes as she sat next to her. Shani reminded her of a frightened child so the old woman started her humming again.
