Desert Destiny (open)

[Men of Skye]

NOTE: This Story will be extensive and cover many areas. It is a convergence of the “A Reluctant Journey[/i]”, Winds of Change [/i], The Picnic [/i], On Secrets and Maps, and the "Truth or Dare" SLs with an eventual Alliance between the Gaelic Nations and the mighty empire of the Marinid Dynasty of Morocco, as it progresses through its multiple stages. The SL does have a few canons, but is open to all who wish to participate; but please be aware it may be gruesome and explicit at times.

A Reluctant Journey

Winds of change

The Picnic

Truth or Dare

On Maps and Secrets

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]

[Men of Skye]

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…

[Men of Skye]

The ship was still swaying when she awoke. Had she really been allowed to sleep for more then an hour? With Kam she was used to nearly no sleep when they talked the nights away but the kidnapping had taken its toll on her as much as the cold water treatment she had gotten for disobeying. A hushed laugh caught her attention and Briseis head turned on the bunk blinking into the darkness. Nadir was not alone, a woman was sitting at his feet, her arm outstretched to feed him as they talked quietly. Briseis found the scene to be quite intimate and blushed as her head turned to brush against her arm in modesty for what she saw.

"Ah you're awake. An a right good time. Get her ready, I go up top, we make port soon..." Nadir shifted off the crate and headed for the stairs while his company waited till he was up top and the door was closed to get up from her perch.

"He was not kidding. You are a beauty..." The woman spoke with an exotic accent and even in the poor light the woman was a sight, an exotic beauty that made Briseis gasp. And the woman thought Briseis was a beauty? Then this woman was a Goddess!"Nadir is actually quite a gentle person, unless he is training. I hope you will not think ill of him for all this, he is doing his job."

Briseis shook her head, but truthfully she was confused. He was slave trader, she had known of them in Carnia but had never had to meet them being born into slavery. She honestly could not form an opinion. She had seen women forced into slavery and pitied them for their lost freedom and now she... she had her newbound freedom stolen from her.

"I am Adara....come sparrow, we need to get you ready now. Sit up." The woman known as Ada seemed kind as she ushered with a kind hand for Briseis to get up. "Sit here on the floor for me. We make those soul seeing eyes of yours pierce the soul hmmm" Adara smiled as she ushered Briseis off the bunk to the floor with her. Upon the floor, Adara had a candle and a stick of charcoal pencil which she ran through the flame to warm before she went to work in tracing Briseis eyelids to make Briseis blue eyes pop even more. "So you are a present for the Amir?" Adara spoke as she worked, still focused on her work, she talked with ease. "I have never met the Amir myself. I am too lowly to be in his presence but Nadir's third wife, she is high lady, she has met him, and my sister, she is a concubine of his."

"He has three wives?" Briseis could not help but ask with surprise.

Adara grinned with the surprised question. "Yes. I am his first wife, I go with him to find girls, his second wife, she stays home with the kids and his third wife is a...how you say, show wife?" Adara eyes worked with expertise to shade Briseis eyes with color and paint her lips from their paleness to a bright pink hue with dyed salve. When she was done, she moved behind Briseis to do her hair.

Briseis sat silent for a long while. A man had three wives? But then she had once wondered that of Kam, hadn't she? Of how many wives the Amir had granted him. She was low, would she be his first wife? Would he find others? Briseis did not think it of Kam to do that to her, not that she would have disputed it. She was but a woman, a man was head of the family but her heart told her, what she and he had, could not be duplicated in another, not for him. The girls stayed nearly happily below. Adara working her magic to make Briseis seem as if a Goddess herself, a captured Goddess but a Goddess known the less as the ship rounded into port and the anchor was set in. Nadir paced with the three others, the spy of the Amir and his companion while they waited on Adara and Briseis. Finally the door to the lower deck was pushed open. Adara smiled as she moved to meet her destiny and Briseis followed, blinking against the harsh sunlight to her sun starved eyes. She did not know how long she had been below deck but the sun stinging at her eyes told her she had been below quite a while now.

Her cheeks flamed with the eyes bulging in her direction at their choice of 'clothing' for her, if it could be called that. It was a bra top and a skirt of merely a front and back piece of cloth that flowed down to her ankles in the shades of light and dark blue woven together. Together with her mother’s jewelry, even if Briseis could not see herself in a mirror (and thankful she was she could not, for she would die of embarrassment at being so open in body) she looked the part of a captured Goddess with blue sapphire eyes that seemed they could pierce the human soul.

Nadir hummed and then whistled in his approval. "Well done my dear Adara. The Amir be very pleased. You come now little Sparrow...we go to meet the Amir..."

Abu Said Uthman was the Amir of Morocco and leader of the Marinid Dynasty… He was tall, over 6 foot, weighing in at almost 200 pounds…black hair kept under a white turban… red and white ornate cloth protected his neck and cheeks… Not an unhandsome man, he kept a minimum of 3 wives, and a harem of 15 or more. In station, he had 20 or more dancing girls. This was done to keep him from appearing too greedy to his people, though he was one of the more greedy of the Amir. A soft spoken man, he 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. Not a bit of blood was spit by him, but much by those who he commanded. It is rumored that he poisoned his Father so he could be Amir.

The three walked from the ornate carriage that brought them from the pier to the Amir’s castle… It was not an ordinary castle that Briseis would be used to, but one that lingered in her memory from years past… one that was sand turned into clay and darkened deep brown from the sun, … yet ornate in its highlights… Down a walkway up the steps and thru grand columns, some taller than some trees in Skye…

Thru the halls, Briseis and Adara, side-by-side, followed behind by Nadir, walked, where people, men and women, froze, bowed deep, and back away allowing the trio to walk uninhibited. Behind them were 5 guards, all adorned with long curved swords, and long spears.

In a language all too familiar to Briseis, the palace herald made an announcement in Berber… “Hail all those that enter… bow down to the grand Amir, Amîr al-Mu'minîn, Abu Said Uthman… Leader of the Faithful, Messenger of Allah… Allah be praised for his Highness… bow down ye low lifes…” then he stamped a long staff onto the floor.

Immediately, everyone in the palace receiving area bowed… then a stately man with a beard entered, a larger shirtless man behind him…

The man sat in the highly ornate throne… “Rise my people…” his hand motioning to them… he said in a mild mellow tone. The man with the staff motioned forward to Adara… then looked at the Amir…

“Amîr al-Mu'minîn (Leader of the Faithful), Your wife has brought a gift to His Highness…and news of the traitor to the Faith, the unspeakable one…” referring to Kamenwati… the man bowed deeply and aimed his staff toward the trio.

Meanwhile, Kamenwati performed his duties well, with each passing day, he brought tea, meals, and even crog to the Captain… And with each trip, he managed to look at the map, or even have the Captain provide a synopsis of their trip, as if the servant was showing an over-amount of curiosity, playing on the Captain’s ego. Kam knew his destination, and with each passing day, planned his escape... his wound healing properly… The only wound that would not heal was the aching feeling in the pit of his stomach for Briseis….

[Men of Skye]

Days turned into weeks… and by the marking on the Captain’s map, he was nearing the jumping point… Early one evening he lay in his hammock in the below-decks, trying to capture a nap… yet his mind flurried random thoughts as to what had happened… He understood his transgressions against the Amir… but he had found his mermaid… and he was happy… Now he had to pay for that transgression… and agitation set in… HE was supposed to pay for it, not Briseis…

The Amir sat upon his throne and watched this beautiful animal perform before him… And he felt himself excited, regardless to the fact that he had three wives, a harem of more than 15… and any of 20 or so dancing girls to please him… now he was offered one more…

When the girl was done, he paused for a few moments, watching her remain in the submissive position until he acknowledged her. With a smirk of satisfaction, he applauded… “Come little one…” motioning Bri forward to his feet.

As she neared his feet, he looked down upon her… “Yu are so familiar little one… what is yer name?” the air of familiarity seemed foggy, yet somehow clear… Had he recognized her from his youth? Had he, as a lad feeding off his Father’s ownings, seen her before? Now a man with power, his Father deceased by his own hand, Abu would see Briseis, yet he could not remember her, particularly, from any chapter of his life. Still his gift was received and tonight would be his consummation…

As he attempted to close his eyes, flashes of what were, or what is, flashed thru his mind… He saw Briseis, skimpily dressed, dancing before the Amir… falling to the pillows before him, he places his hands upon her face, an evil smile upon his face… Kam’s eyes shot open, damn near falling from the hammock… Had he been dreaming? Was his siren calling to him in fear? He had to get to her !!!!

Her chest rose and fell heavily with her exertions and she sat frozen in the position she had ended in, waiting the seeming endless seconds for approval or disdain. Time seemed like something of the past. How it flied from one moment to the next, to waif through slave to freedom to slave again. Her muscles strained in the position she was in, rocking quietly sending tremors over her skin in the need to move and show their weakness after a bout of dancing. Finally the Amir applauded and she relaxed a bit on the floor until he called her. Raising up from her position, her arm uncurled from her back and stomach as she moved upon her knees to his feet near the throne. She knew better then to rise above his head. The hum of his voice sent shivers down his spine. She knew that voice, but from where?

From a foggy haze of nothingness, her mind worked hard to find a face to the voice and match it to a moment in her past but it was so unclear even as he continued to speak, asking her name. Fear began to grip her even as she was trying to place the memory suspended from another time and place. Every fiber in her body was telling her what her mind could not remember, this man was dangerous, to her, he had been a bane of her fear for so long but how? Where had she known him? Fear kept her from answering him.

She felt the Amir's hands come to her face, lifting it to meet his gaze those sapphire eyes rose ever so slowly to meet his gaze. “You are so familiar little one...” the hum of his voice remained in her mind as it worked to place it. In an instant became so clear, seeing the etch of his hands reaching towards her face had made it all clear. He had grown in his youth, his hands had enlarged some but they were the same hands. His face was not familiar but then it would not be, clouded in shadows as she begged for him to wait. Now she wished with futile hope that he had never asked her name. Would he remember as she did? How she remembered every day of her life for the past thirteen years? She had been young then, no doubt she had grown too but her looks were so familiar to her sixteen year old self when she had been tricked in taking part of the Rights of Mother Rome, tricked into a bed she did not want to be in. It had been an ample time for Carnia to make peace and work treaties with other nations. It had been a good year then for Carnia, shipyards were growing, young boys become of age to be drafted into the army and by the time the rights of Mother Rome had come around, Carnia had several guests of the European nations visiting, Morocco had been invited, the Amir had been there, with his son. Briseis looked into the face of her past with fear sending harder tremors through her body, rocking it with shivers from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toenails. She felt herself near fainting, the room was darkening and yet the world did not crash around at her feet. Briseis was frozen, staring at the Amir as the room, the Amir, and its people disappeared and Briseis saw herself in the past. Had she died?

She saw herself moving about the grounds of the Emperor Palace, assisting his own slaves in serving food and drink to patrons around the grounds, to many people to fit the grand halls in doors. She had been specially dressed for the occasion, tricked into thinking she was showing her faith to Mother Rome and the old Gods. Draped in white, it seemed as if she were a bride but there were several other women dressed so moving about the room. A white robe etched with golden embroidery, her hair swept upward and back with a long ponytail to hang over her breasts while wisps of wheaten hair were left to fall out of the veil fitted to the middle of her head. She watched herself smiling and setting down plates, watched her fill glasses but this Briseis was blissfully unaware of the eyes following her, a younger Abu at his father’s right watching Briseis every movement.

The call went out for the women of the rights and Briseis handed off her pitcher to another servant and went to join the other girls glad in white on the dais set up for them. The Briseis watching frowned, she didn't want to see anymore but the memory would not pull away. Here the announcement went out that these were the women of the sacred right, still pure and in honor of Mother Rome, tonight would be captured and the Gods willing on this sacred night, be pleased with sons to further the glory of Rome. Briseis saw the shocked look on her younger self face and felt the squeeze of her own belly in pity for the young girl. The Emperor banged his cup on the rest of his Throne and bid the girls a hearty night while the company laughed and bid the men who wished to join to take their place. Men left their chairs, some from beside their wives to take their place in the dirt before the dais.

"Her...I want her..." Abu spoke in a growl low to his father. Something Briseis had never heard before, not until now visiting the memory again. The Amir gestured with his hand for his son to join the men assembling and ushered his eyes right and left to the guards who would follow him, to make sure his son got the prize he wanted tonight.

The Emperor once again banged his cup against the armrest. "On the horn ladies, run to save your precious purity, gentlemen to give chase!" The Emperor hand lifted and the guard lifted a horn to his lips taking a great breath and then blowing as the Emperor arm went down. The girls rushed off the dais, some laughing and giggling as the men gave chase. For a moment the young Briseis was frozen on the dais until she saw the guards knocking men away from pursuing her until one fell out of the woodwork of the men towards her, Abu. Scrunching her skirts in her hand, she took off the dais, bare feet padded against the dirt and she ran into the trees. She knew these lands well and the forest was her safest place. Harder to reach.

Briseis felt things go dark and then light again as she stood amongst the trees, her younger self pressed against a tree trunk, out of breath, her chest heaving and eyes closed but the horror on her face so clearly read even with the darkness of the forest on the moonless night. Crunching signaled the approach and Briseis watching desperately tried to close her eyes and couldn't. Abu had found his prize and the young Briseis screamed as she was ripped away from the tree.

"Wait....please...wait!" The young Briseis pleaded in fear as her capture pawed at her young body and she fought to loosen from the grasp of him.

"There has been a mistake...please!" The young Briseis cried as she ripped away from her attacker only to be caught up again as she tried to run, her backside pressed against the front of her gentleman and the terror was rewritten anew on her face as she felt the hardness of him pressing against her bottom.

Renewed in her fear she struggled harder as her robe was ripped and shredded in the young boys haste to have his prize. With a wide hole ripped, Briseis rolled out of the garment, naked and crawling against the ground as tears streaked down her face until she gave a mighty scream of terror as Abu gripped her hips and yanked her back, throwing her on her back on the forest floor. She could not see her attacker face but saw the struggle to loosen his pants from his aching member and the young Briseis yelped as she gave a mighty kick hitting her attacker in the stomach. He stumbled and recovered in time as the young girl began her crawl away again. Grabbing her leg, he ripped her back toward him catching her flesh against stone and twig on the ground as she was rolled again to her back, her stomach and breast were all ready welting with droplets of blood around the dirt spattered form as gripped both of her hands in his one above her head. With a mighty swing, his hand connected with her cheek and the young girl screamed in pain before falling still and quiet shivering against the night until the body was pressed upon her own. The forest around them was quiet, no critter stirred and no help arrived even as the forest stillness was wrenched with a blood curling scream as the young Briseis purity was taken from her with one brutal thrust.

"Stop please, no more!" Briseis ushered in a raspy whispered voice as she watched the memory play out before her and felt the world spinning. The memory faded but stayed within the realm of her mind as the Amir came back into focus, the palace room, the people. He did not look confused and so she had not spoken outright to him but anger was etched on his face and she knew he was still waiting for his answer, his grip on her face had become nearly painful. Now more then ever she wished the Gods would open up the earth and swallow her whole.

Her body was screaming in fear, now knowing who had taken her so long ago, now knowing she had nearly born a son for this man. Had he ever known he had gotten her with child? Had he ever known she had lost that child and nearly died because of it? He could not for he did not remember her. Would he remember her when she spoke her name? She feared he would and yet prayed that she had been to little to re guard remembering. Murmurs began to spread throughout the room. People awed by the girl who was defying the Amir by refusing her name to him. Yet they did not understand that fear kept her from answer. With a rasping sigh Briseis nearly sunk to the floor by the throne in a faint out of that fear gripping her. Sapphire eyes became hidden as lids closed over them. "Briseis, my Lord. Briseis of Carnia..." Her voice was so low, some across the room had not heard her and were still murmuring about what the Amir would do to her in disobeying him, but she spoke in a broken whisper, enough for him to hear her.

The Amir smiled and released the girl… then sat back… “Briseis… such a pretty name…” it did not strike him at first… then as the mind churned over Carnia in the flagon of memories… he took a sip of the gold cup that sat on a pedestal of human flesh beside the throne.

When he finished he looked down at the bowing Adara and Nadir… “Slaver, yu have selected well…” then with a motion of his hand the slaver was paid… “Adara, my wife… yu have trained her well… and shall be awarded with my presence this…” his thoughts of sex were interrupted as Carnia came to memory. He looked down at the prone girl and smirked… Looking to Adara… “Yu shall be rewarded tomorrow night with my presence… now go prepare yourself for tomorrow night…” then he flicked his wrist sending those from the room…

Edging his way down toward Briseis, they two were the only ones left… “Allah be praised…See your fate is with me girl… no matter how long yu try to escape… Allah bring yu back…” Then his hand slides down her back, across her buttocks to her soft spot between thighs… “Has time made this too large to enjoy… or is it tight as a virgin?” Abu was being degrading, but she was a slave, was she not? He did not even do the traditional handwashing BEFORE he touched her… he did it AFTER, as if he would a pig… “Tonight you shall please me in ways to make up for the many years you have been gone…” that was an evil smirk.

She could not look at him. She couldn't bare the sight of him, it made her skin crawl. It had taken her so long to forget that night, it had taken her even longer that it did not affect her anymore. Kam had been the first and the only one she had given herself to willingly. The Amir had been the one to take her virginity from her by force but as far as she was concerned, Kam had taken it truly for she had given him her body, heart and soul. What was something so small as virginity next to that? She felt herself slump lower on the ground while the Amir attended to the slaver, she didn't even want to know how much he had been paid and Adara, she could imagine the woman looking at her with pity before leaving.

She knew they were alone without looking, hearing the shuffle of feet as the company was dismissed. She felt the Amir moving in at her and finally her eyes opened to see him close to her, the room empty and she shrunk back even as he drew in against her. There could be no denying her body was shaking with terror. As he spoke, she began to feel the terror bubbling through her, her eyes moistened and tearing over till the tears spilled one after the other down her cheeks. She felt his hand sliding down her back and emitted a low sob before jerking as his hand found the spot between her thighs and her body jerked in respond before she was scrambling across the floor away with him. "Please, my lord, please" She begged with her throat tight and aching her voice came out in a hoarse whisper. "I was never that kind of slave, I was tricked that night. I will clean your palace for you, do laundry, whatever you desire, please"

When she was safe a few paces from him, she stopped and dared to scramble to her feet, her head was still bowed in respect and her hands outstretched in an attempt to stop him from advancing on her. She felt a warm breath against her face and allowed her eyelids to slide closed. In closing her eyes, she saw Kam, nearly falling out of a hammock, his face stricken in fear and in anger. She gasped and her eyelids flew open again. Was he alive or was her mind playing tricks on her? She knew the answer to it, her heart knew the answer, he was alive. Was the warm wind his comfort for her terror of the Amir? Was he trying to give her strength while he was trying to reach her? Whatever the reason, Briseis felt something come over her and she felt her shoulders square up and back curving her back from submissive to defiant.

"Whatever has transpired, my fate will never been tied to yours..." Her voice was shaky in the terror still pounding her heart against her breastbone. She knew for this she would probably be beaten. The truth was, she was counting on it, anything than being within his bed.

Abu Said just smirked as she attempted to elude him... “You may have never been a pleasure slave, but now I shall make good use of yu... and shall make up for lost years...” he took one step closer... and soon she was hauled up by two guards, with colorful flowing robes and a white shemagh... the curved swords hanging loosely from their hips.

“Allah be praised... your fate shall always be tied to mine... no matter how long you survive...” His hand caressed her face as she half-stood...propped up by the guards. “Take the wench to my quarters... I shall be there shortly...” he said in the Berber language, as dark eyes veered to her then the door.

It was the time that the Captain would normally have his tea delivered... but this time Kamenwati would not be at his appointed duty... The men worked the ropes of the sails as the Captain had changed course north-by-northeast; he was now moving toward land. In a bit of a hurry, Kam threw an empty barrel overboard and was getting ready to jump when two men came up behind him... “Yu there... halt... stand back from the railin’..” Kam looked at them as they paused to see what he would do...

He knew that he would soon be apprehended and he had no desire to spend the trip in the hold, chained. Looking to the land, he then glanced at the men... who now suddenly lurched at him... With a strong push on muscular legs, he sprang overboard, just as the men reached for him. The perfect dive allowed him to clear the ship’s hull, and his strong arms soon pulled him thru the swift current...

He could barely hear the commotion onboard the ship now as they sailed their direction and he swam his... Moments later, he reached the barrel, but none too soon as his arms ached from the swim. Out of breath, he clung to the barrel to rest... As it were, the tide would carry him out to sea, at least he was headed in the right direction... for the meantime... later he knew he would have to swim, towing the barrel...stopping only to rest.

Shock and more terror registered on her face when she realized her little ploy did not work and he still intended on having her that night. As she was hauled up by the guards her head turned left and right casting wheat golden curls flying as she was hauled up and held. No matter how long she survived? Then did he plan to kill her when he was tired of her? the thought made her stomach curl as with the single motion of his eyes the guards were hauling her out of the door. It was then the realization came to her as the guards have dragged and half carried her down the hallways towards the Amir's chambers that the Amir was not only cruel but purely evil. No amounting of begging would ever change his reasoning and her life was indeed at this moment held within his hands. Faces passed and Briseis did not give them a second glance, if she had the fear would have returned. Pity was written on their faces, not compassion just pure pity. Some dipped out of the way of the guards but most stopped and watched as the new slave was taken to the Amir's chambers and tossed inside.

"We'll be outside little one, just in case you try to escape" One of the guards leered at her before closing the massive door.

Tossed inside, Briseis stumbled to her hands and knees and stayed there until the big door closed with an echo across the room. Heaving a rasping sigh, she felt a shudder run the length of her spine keeping her on the floor until it left and she could slowly struggle to her feet, her legs like jelly carried her to the balcony of the Amir. She could not step foot on it. Heights made her nervous and the doors opening made her jump back and shrink away. Here all ready?! No she wasn't ready! Turning, she was met with the sight of four women clothed from head to toe, only their eyes peeking out from veils covering their mouths and noses. They bowed even with bowls and sponges in hand.

"We are here to prepare you madam." One of them spoke but Briseis was not sure which. Hesitating near the balcony she moved as if a zombie to the women and stopped. Two of them had bowls which they set down as the other two had vials which they went to work dumping into the bowls of water and swirling with their sponges while the other two began to remove Briseis jewelry and wrap it in cloth to be set aside. Done with scenting the water, the two other girls rose and began to help Briseis out of the two scant pieces of clothing before her arms were ushered out stretched as if she were about to take flight. As the first warm sponge touched her skin, her eyes closed and a tear cascaded down her cheek. She moved as they commanded her to wipe her down in order to be clean and pure for the Amir and then dressed her in a simple white robe that tied within the front. When she was done there, she was ushered to sit as three of the girls left and one was left to clean her face of the makeup and finally her hair brushed out. It was not long before the others were returning to put out food and drink for the Amir and then retreating again. When the girl was done with her hair she slowly rose and then she paused and pressed a roll of cloth into Briseis hand.

"Listen to me..." She whispered against Briseis ear. "Put this into the Amir drink, make sure he has his drink and then get him into bed. It is a sleeping draught and it will act fast. When he is out, undress him and yourself. You must make noises for the guards outside for a few minutes and then just rest. When the Amir wakes naked beside you, he will think he has had you and you will be safe."

Briseis looked confused at the cloth and then the girl. "Why?" She asked simply.

"Because I know what it is like to be enslaved in a way... I know what it is like to look the way you do now. Your heart belonging to someone else, unable to remove yourself from your current situation. Bound to live a fate you did not want." The girl responded as she removed her veil for a moment.

Briseis gasped as she clasped the girls hand in her free one. "Hadasah!" She knew the face in front of her. She had been cousin to the Emperor and though she had grown older as Briseis had, she knew that face. She had been traded into marriage for a union between nations Briseis had heard, scant weeks after the festival. So this was where she had been sent to.

Hadasah smiled as she squeezed Briseis hand. "I am the wife that stays out of sight with the children. Adara remembered you said Carnia and she knew I had come from there so she sent me in here as a house maid to give you this...I must go now, I linger too long and they will know I am gone." Hadasah hand loosened from her own but she paused in her leave. "You have found love, I always prayed the Gods would grant it for you. You always were such a mystical little thing. Like a mermaid. You always did love the water." Hadasah smiled though it was a sad sort of smile and disappeared as she replaced her veil and quietly left the room.

When Hadasah had gone, Briseis unwrapped the cloth to find the veil hidden within. Pressing it into her palm bunched the cloth and laid it next to the tray. For several second she stood by the cup filled with red liquor and then slowly she backed away to move to the balcony again; this time inching closer to the frame, she wanted to see out without being seen. Had they done this before? Tricked the Amir, wouldn't he remember? Know he had not taken her and what of the morning, if he wanted to do it again as he thought he had tonight? She would have to face that even if she escaped tonight. Adara and Hadasah had been so kind to her so far. Would he know it was them if he realized what had happened? She didn't want to risk it. It was not a fool proof plan, it was in haste to save her cruelty and she felt her respect grow for both women. With the small bottle still clasped within her hand, she edged further out on the balcony till she reached the edge. She thought for a moment of jumping but then what of Kam? She could not leave him, she could not be without him, paradise or no paradise. It would not be such a place for her without him. Slowly her hand fell away from her chest, her clutch on the vial loosened until it rolled to the tip of her fingertips, she could have thought for one moment to do it, to clutch it again but the bottle fell, her chance lost and it fell the depths of the height, such a tiny thing did not crash loudly but its fate was not out of her hands in her choosing to bear this and not bring harm to others. The Amir was no fool.

The fear was dying in her to a hollowness she had never known before. She had always had the ability to adapt to situations. This was how she adapted to what happened now. Even if Kam got there without harm, how would he rescue her without risk to his life? She knew for certain he was coming. Knew without understanding how that she was not hallucinating when she saw him. Now looking across the palace of the Amir, she saw not a thing below but Kam's face as he dove from a railing. She saw the water as he hit it and his arms powering him through the water to a barrel. Alone at sea, drifting. What was it between them that he risked his life at sea and the wrath of the Amir to come for her? She didn't understand the answer, but she did understand that she accepted her fate now, to give him that fighting chance because whatever he did to get to her, she would do the same for him. Her life for his. Perhaps if she did please the Amir she would indeed win in fates cruel game and be able to rescue him as he sought to rescue her. Seconds passed by like hours as she waited for the door to open and inhaling a breath she leaned against the frame between the room and the balcony as she began to sing in a small whisper Kam's mermaid song, praying to the Gods he heard it and it gave him strength, as it gave her strength now to endure.

"Loo-li,loo-li,lai-ley
Loo-li,loo-li,lai-ley
Lay down your head
And I'll sing you a lullaby
Back to the years
Of loo-li,lai-ley
And I'll sing you to sleep
And I'll sing you tomorrow
Bless you with love
For the road that you go

May you sail fair
To the far fields of fortune
With diamonds and pearls
At your head and your feet
And may you need never
To banish misfortune
May you find kindness
In all that you meet

May there always be angels
To watch over you
To guard you each step of the way
To guard you and keep you
Safe from all harm
Loo-li,loo-li,lai-ley

May you bring love
And may you bring happiness
Be loved in return
To the end your days
Now fall of to sleep
I'm not meaning to keep you
I'll just sit for awhile
And sing
Loo-li,lai-ley

May there always be angels
To watch over you
To guard you each step of the way
To guard you and keep you
Safe from all harm
Loo-li,loo-li,lai-ley
Loo-li,loo-li,lai-ley"

Exhausted, his arms clinging to the barrel... He looked forward, and he looked back... He could not go further; and the barrel was drifting back out to sea. Despair and anguish began to set it... he had failed to protect the very things he loved... Would he see his beloved Briseis again? Why were they doomed from the very beginning?

If he was a normal man... a simple peasant, illiterate and ignorant... one who believed not in anything particular, short of a single God, he would have died... but Kam was not just a normal man... he was a warrior... a soldier... and he was in love with a woman... a woman who was now in danger... but his resolve was fading...

Across the water... upon the winds of the desert and sea, the sounds he loved so much... the sounds of a woman that instigated feelings unknown... the song of the siren he fell in love those many years ago... To his ears they came... and deep inside welled a renewed strength that formed... a sense all too familiar... one that would give him strength to bring the mountain to Mohammed...

Clutching her hands against her stomach, she sang to keep herself calm, to keep herself from mentally kicking herself for dropping the vial over the balcony railing. Time did not seem like a kind thing now as it had when she had first made love with Kam and the seconds ticked by like hours. Now as the seconds ticked away, droning on dully, she felt herself near the brink of insanity. He was doing this on purpose the Amir, making her wait to heighten her fear and assert his power over her. Sliding back from the threshold of the balcony she moved about the expansive room. It was beautiful, suited for a King and yet she saw without really seeing it. This was her torture chamber and she did not want to remember such things. Closing her eyes again, her head lulled left and then right as if she were going to begin dancing to some unknown beat but she was focusing not on the room nor her situation, merely letting it go, letting her body relax so it did not shake so hard.

The door clicked and swung inward, the guards bowing as the Amir came through grinning as evilly as he had only moments before. Briseis eyes flew open as she backed up into a piece of furniture. With nowhere else to go, she fell to her knees and bowed her head praying to the Gods that they would change his mind. Even if it was a fruitless prayer that would not be answered. She saw him moving, or at least his feet, across the floor towards her and she scrambled up to her feet.

"Wait, please, wait" She pleaded as he came closer and closer and she retreated to be trapped again by the dresser behind her. She let out a cry as he grasped her up within his arms and she struggled against his body feeling her skin crawl with memories of the past flashing renewed within her brain. "Please!" She begged as she was pressed back against the dresser by his weight and the hardened member of him pressing through his robes against her thigh through her own robes. She kicked against the floor and pushed against his body, struggling to break free of him. She heard him growl low against her ear before she was flipped around and thrown against the dresser the wind knocking out of her stomach as the items on the dresser crashed to the floor her hands splayed across them. "Wait wait!" She whined, wiggling against the dresser as she felt the end of the robe pushed upward exposing her naked buttock and sex to him. She hissed as his knee crashed against her thigh, kicking her legs apart so her toes barely scrapped the floor.

"Ahh" She groaned in a shallow scream as she felt him penetrate her sex and her nails dragged across the dresser creating jagged marks in the majestic wood as he heaved himself into her passage. The pain was unimaginable making her eyes well with tears that slid down her cheeks. For a moment she relaxed as he pulled back, thinking he was going to stop only to thrust forward again and Briseis felt her voice crack as she let out another hollow scream before her cheek hit the top of the dresser, laying still in the hopes it would hurt less as he found a rhythm behind her grunting and heaving like an animal possessed. Her body continued to be battered by the dresser each time he withdrew only to shove hard into her again. Several agonizing minutes, the pain had finally dulled only after a few except when her hips were pressed hard against the front of the dresser again until finally he shoved harder than before and she let out another low scream as he froze behind her and she felt her insides flooding warm and trickle down her thigh as he fell away from her.

She continued to lay against the dresser even when he moved, even with her toes barely on the floor and the position terribly uncomfortable she did not want to move. The Tray on the table jingled, metal clanging but she couldn't turn her head to watch what he was doing but the deep "Ahhh" of his voice a few minutes later and she knew he had taken a drink of something. Why hadn't she saved the vial! Pressing her eyes closed, she gripped the dresser and pushed till she could right herself, the bottom of the robe slipping over her buttock again.

"Come, clean me" He hummed low at her and Briseis turned to see him shoving his clothing off as he moved to sit on the edge of his bed but what horrified her was the excitement coursing through his member again and she understood what he meant. More than ever she prayed the Gods strike her dead now but again, her wish went without being granted while she shuffled her way to him. "Undress" He commanded and slowly she pulled the ties of the robe till it loosened and fell open. Her hands rose, shaking still to push the shoulders of the robe back until the material fell, cascading down her arms and finally pooling against the floor.

That night, the Gods punished her. For what reason she was not sure but she was spared no moment of peace as the Amir lived up to his promise that she would please him and make up for years lost. She did things she would never be proud to ever do again and despite her earlier protests, had played the part well of pleasing him as if it pleased her. She would do things she had never known existed and praying each minute it was the last, praying each hour that went by that he would finally exhaust himself and sleep but it would not come, not till the early hours of morning that were still black and blue with night but lighting with a hazy purple on the horizon. Naked beneath the sheets, she listened to the Amir breathing shallow with sleep beside her. His hand clutching at her thigh as he was facing her backside from the last position they had taken until he was sated and fell off her and to sleep.

Slowly she crawled from the bed, hissing low as her face scrunched to the pain in her bruised and swollen thighs. Padding across the room, she took up the pitcher of wine and poured what little was left, a gulp at most into an empty goblet before setting the pitcher down again. She did not drink it slowly to savor it. She wolfed the wine down and cringed to the taste of it having never really had the use for drinking wine or any other type before. It was sweet and yet bitter and sour all in the same mouthful but it warmed her cheeks and coursed down into her belly where it again warmed her from the inside out. For a few minutes she stood there goblet in hand, staring into the abyss until finally the Amir snorted in his sleep and Briseis attention turned to him. She did not realize she was standing over him until he rolled to his back, his face looking up at her but his eyes still closed with sleep. She felt her hand clench and realized she held the empty pitcher within her hand. Shaking in a breath, she rose the pitcher over her head and paused. With one mighty swing she could at least crack the Amir skull and kill him. Her hand shook with the lack of sleep and the weighted object in her hand, but mostly of what she thought of doing.

She could not do it. For whatever wrong he had done her, before and now, she could not kill another person. Now this pitcher in her hand was a weapon and she felt herself sick and ready to pass out. She never could hold a weapon in her hand without fainting. Stumbling back, the tray clattered as she put the pitcher back and for a moment, she froze unbreathing to see if it had awakened him. When he did not move, she relaxed, enough that she was moving again, crawling back onto the side of the bed she had been in an drawing the covers over her body, her face pressed into the belly as she prayed for sleep. Now the Gods would answer her and she fell quickly and quietly into darkness. Tonight she would not dream, there would be no pictures of some other life in her head. For once she would be thankful for only pitch darkness as the rays of the sun were slowly creeping across the land turning dark shades of blue and black into bursting colors of first purple then orange and pink until finally night surrendered to the bright yellow and sky blue of the day.

The sands of the Homeland... wet from the sea... and now Kamenwati lay prone in the wake... the surf swilling about him, with each pulsed return of the sea to land. The savior barrel now drifted along the sands, bobbing and weaving with the current. Matted black hair covered his face as he looked up... in the distance he saw a mermaid perched upon a rock... and she was singing to him. He drew his knees up, his ass higher than his back... a push from weakened arms and he stood... weary and sore, he looked again toward the rock... the mermaid was gone...

He staggered to the rock and sat down... he removed his shirt and wiped his face. As he looked over his shoulder toward the direction of the city, the sun setting fast in the west, a burning pain seared his chest... it was as if a dagger plunged into his heart... and his hands clutched at his chest, and he groaned... “Briseis... what pain do we endure my beloved...” he said in his native Berber tongue. Looking to the east, he laid his shirt down and knelt upon it, his arms outstretched... then in rhythmic motions, he began to pray to Allah... Again the pain seared his chest... he knew Briseis was in trouble... he just knew it !!!

“Allah, why do you make her suffer... tis I that have caused this... yet you punish the innocent and let the guilty go free...” he had never questions God before... never questioned the teachings of Mohammed... until now... He was short of breath, yet he cursed God... and vowed to ravage this land if she was harmed, even if only one hair...

Hours later, the man who came from the sea entered the thriving Berber city of Fez... His clothes were torn and dirty, and he could be accused of being a beggar... but this time, that was not a bad thing... He could move freely as such... To the Amir’s palace he made his way, past the markets, the merchants, and guards to enter the inner ring of the palace...

In the new few hours, nearing daybreak, he had imitated a beggar, a merchant, and now, a palace guard. The true guard lay in a storage room, sans his clothes, with a broken neck. Experience as a guard he had, and as such patrolled the area, not for security, but to find his beloved.

Little did Kam know when he had donned the guards uniform and went in search through the halls of his beloved, what he would encounter. Rooms sat with their doors open, dancers sat on cushions laughing and talking, unaware of the imposter walking the halls.

"I heard that new girl danced so well, you could see the Amir's fancy through his robes" One of the girls was saying as she leaned back closer to a slave who was fanning with an overly large feather.

"I don't care how the little harlot dances, she can't be better then we are. I heard she was so horrible, the Amir made her one of his sex slaves. Hope she had a whole better between her legs then way she moves her limbs" Another spoke and the room erupted into laughter.

Down the hall two women were coming with soiled rags and bowls filled with bloody water. "That poor girl, did you see the bruises on her? I heard one of his wives saying she had been sodomized." The woman shuddered as she spoke and her companion shook her head.

"I wonder what she said to him. Those bruises on her thighs, I never thought it possible the Amir could be so rough in his conquest of a slave. None of his other concubines ever had such bruises. And now he's gone and summoned her to the main chamber, to show her off no doubt. Thank Allah he didn't bruise her face." The other woman now spoke in reply before they stopped seeing Kam looking into an empty room. "Just what are you doing down this hallway? Shouldn't you be in the main chamber with the rest of the guards. The Amir ordered all spare guards into the chamber to guard his new toy. Off with you."

Kam listened, and his teeth ground inside his jaw. All he did was pray to Allah that he could get within arm’s reach of the bastard. With each snide comment his anger rose, and then to hear about Briseis’ woe... Sodomized? Bruised? “Allah’s will be done...” he prayed silently.

The women did not budge until Kam turned around and headed back the way he came towards the main chamber. The open room of dancers were still making brash comments about the Amir's new toy as he passed but nothing was like the chamber where the Amir was entertaining his nobles and showing off his new prize behind a cage of human bodies of his guards. People were peeking through the gaps in the guards at the girl sitting within a chair, her head bowed, eyes on the floor. There was no way for Kam to get to her but as he walked the hall, Briseis head lifted and for a moment it seemed as if she would look at him but looked down again as the guards parted and she slowly rose red robes swaying and the golden necklace like a collar around her neck jingled and swayed as she moved from her chair to the Amir's side and sank to her hands and knees, crawling to the edge of his throne and it was there she was seated until supper was called for.

For three weeks, Kam would try to get close to her but to no avail. The Amir was not letting his new toy out of his sight even when she was in the company of his harem there was a load of guards to protect them but it was clear that Briseis was taking the brunt of the Amir's attention, if not every night so there was not talk, often enough that she winced now and again when she moved or found it difficult to seat herself. Slowly as the weeks waxed and waned, the color in Briseis cheeks was failing. The fierceness with which her eyes shown was fading and while the girls in the harem seemed content to live laugh and find humor in mundane things, Briseis was just a fading sparrow in the group of fawning peacokes, she had ceased talking unless spoken to and her song to Kam had not been sung since her first night in Morocco.

The three weeks of trying... 3 weeks of failing... to get close enough to his beloved was wearing thin on his psyche... and his anger was so deeply embedded, he could taste it. Dark brown eyes scanned the areas where Briseis was... He wished he could let her know he was here... and trying. Almost to the point of giving up, to offer his life for her freedom... she was a caged canary, with little hope of freedom... and it was killing him. But Allah intervened... a Christian had visited the Palace of the Amir... a Frenchman named James du’Chere, offering the lands of Bab el-Zakat on the Espania coast to the Amir in exchange for free trade routes, and 10 percent of all profits. The Amir also added information that the Mo’r Triath of Skye was also in negotiation with the Berbers. This information would prove beneficial... Kam considered what under-dealings this Frenchman proposed and felt his duty to inform the Lord of Skye... “If Skye knew of this information, then the Mo’r Triath would get involved, then there would be a chance I could get Bri free...” he muttered silently to himself. It was a slim chance, but at least he had a chance.

There were plenty of times Kam had gotten close to the harem and many times when Briseis head had lifted only to fall again. A feeling her beloved was here was so potent but she was afraid, afraid the barest hint that she knew he was here would be his downfall and she could not risk looking around for him. The Amir was too powerful, for now. Silently she prayed Kam would know, in the end that it was too dangerous, that he would retreat and when she felt the heat of him leave as surely as if she had seen him to the docks, she heaved a sigh and prayed to her Gods that she endure until his return, much as it was leaving her hollow. Something within her told her he would return.

[Men of Skye]

In the midst of getting his woman back...

Kamenwati Heads to Skye

The Rescue of Briseis

Kamenwati: Having met up with the small band of warriors, Kamenwati peered over a crate near the wall. Whispering over his shoulder and pointing. "There... and I see 4 guards... none others are the wiser... that is where we enter the tunnel..." Danae Galanos, the Greek warrioress, the leader of the group made strategic decisions, while Kam showed the way...His familiarity of the city and palace was able to get them from the beach to the walls. Ahmir was able to be moreso in sight because of his appearance and language, easily luring guards to places where they should not have...

Danae Galanos: Upon Danae's orders, the group attacked the first 4 guards, and overpowered them without incident...

Abu Said Uthman: Unaware of the dangers that lurked across the beaches and wall, the Amir was enjoying the spoils of a rich life and a shallow, if not overly egotistical, mind that nothing could reach him inside his walls. Morning spent in business was left with an afternoon of pleasures with talk of nothing of importance, and the call of his dancers to entice and please him. His court was just so privileged in his eyes, to be a part of it as lazily he sat back, grinning of the girl who would bear the brunt of such a sexual display of body moving to the lush beat of music.

Briseis: Very often she was left to her own devices, of course guards followed her where ever she went, her activities had been restricted since she dared to touch the Amir wife Vasti to help her child into the world. The world seemed cruel in these moments. She had done something good and was thrown into the dungeons because of it, beaten with reeds while she swung from her ankles. It had taken weeks for the blood to rush away from her head after that but now the bruises were all but gone so that she was wearing the favorite two pieces the Amir so loved to see her in. She never wore clothing long once he summoned her into his presence but for the most part she was being dressed up like an exotic bird and shown off if only to further the image of the Amir. With several golden bracelets at her wrist, they sang in sound as she moved her arm, setting it on the wall of the balcony to look out over the Amir's kingdom. When this got boring as it often did with hours spent in the room alone, she practiced dancing being able to hear a hum of the music from the throne room despite the distance. Anything to please the Amir for Briseis mind could never fathom being the man harm. She just wasn't built that way.

Kamenwati: Once Danae and her men had overpowered the men, Ahmir took up the position at the entrance of the tunnel as one of the guards... Danae led the rest slowly into the tunnel, Kam right beside her guiding her... Kam pointed to a wooden door where three guards stood... "Behind that door, is another tunnel that leads directly into the palace..." he whispered to the Ranger.

Danae Galanos: Danae, smirked and boldly stood up... walking right up to the guards... the men surprised, immediately leveling their lances toward her... Then with a smile, her reflexes lightning fast, dropped two with daggers from her belt, hidden behind her back... the third she teased with allowing him a chance to at least thrust at her... "Pitiful beings you are..." she said as she faked one way, then spun the other, her sword backwards driving into the man's back... With a smirk, he yanked back her sword, retrieving it from his body.

Kamenwati: Kam was startled at the woman's bravery, at first doubting her ability, but her reflexes simply amazed him. Then as the last guard dropped face first in the dirt, he walked to Danae, smiled, then headed to the door.

Abu Said Uthman: The Amir slid within the chair, resting his face against his hand and the dancers all exchanged looks as the masters of instruments also glanced at one another before the beat changed. The Amir was getting bored and they all knew it. Around the circular room people were beginning to whisper but fell silent as the Amir straightened. "Bring my Briseis to me" He commanded and grinned silently. Watching her dance for even a few minutes and then he would be ready to dismiss them for some more private settings.

Briseis: When the Amir wanted something, he was not to be denied, so Briseis was not surprised when the doors opened and the guards just stared at her mid pose. Lowering her hands to her sides, the bracelets clinging lightly with the movement, she merely sighed and turned to follow them back to the throne room, listening to the dull thud of their boots as they created a barrier in front and behind her. Girls were peeking from their doorways, scowling at the woman that passed, that she was summoned and they were not; but Briseis would have gladly traded places with them if it was within her power. She stood still as the doors were thrust open to the throne room and eyes within turned towards her. Lifting her chin, she swept past the guards and the dancers who moved out of the way to make room for her.

Kamenwati: Kam asked Danae and her group to remain here should the tunnel be found out from the other end... "I'll simply sneak into the Amir's chambers and get Briseis... If I wait until they are almost ready for sex... the guards will be outside the chambers and he and Bri shall be alone..." To her protest, he smiled and opened the door... and proceeded up the staircased tunnel to the Amir's chambers... Adjusting his robes he begins to make his way to the door at the top... He could hear the usual music the Amir liked... then it stopped and he heard muffled voices, and he pressed his ear to the door.

Abu Said Uthman: He sat boredly on the throne, galled with the level of entertainment the dancers had provided... none of them showing the spark that Briseis did... Like a lion, a King in his own Kingdom, he was dangerous, feral, and not one to be kept waiting. Servants offered him refreshment, fruit, sweets and cooled wine, chilled with snow from the highest peaks of neighboring countries... and kept protected and safe from melting under threat of death... there were certain luxuries that a King demanded, chilled wine being one, and the breaking and bending of mind body and spirit of others for his amusement... another... SO it was the chalice was brought to his lips, dark eyes scanning the door for her arrival, the fermented fruit sweet yet tart on his tongue... as was the flesh of his concubine Bri... Already music played for his delight and he grew anxious and annoyed it was taking her so long to heed his call. Standing, he was about to send more guards to fetch her, when he saw movement at the door. Slowly he sat, shadowed eyes glittering with anticipation... " Come Dance for me... Entertain ME... " he commanded in a voice that seemed to be both angry yet seductive...

Briseis: "As you wish my lord..." she purred with a slightly nod of her head. Circling the floor, people moved back, the dancers sidelining themselves on pillows to watch, for once, instead of being the dancers. Taking position in the middle of the floor, her head flicked in the direction of the musicians. The music began to drift through the room again and Briseis closed her eyes in order to feel it. The bracelets began their own chime of music as her hands were the first thing to start moving and then her body. Always Ada had taught her to feel the music and let her body become of it. Briseis had found her own way to hear the music and feel her body move to it and that was to imagine she was within water. It seemed to work as each movement was fluid and precise as if it were moving through liquid instead of air.

Kamenwati: Patience !! he thought...his breathing echoed in his own head... "I must wait... I cannot just burst in..." he thought to himself. An ear against the door, he listened... he had to wait until he heard Bri's voice, and the door to the bedchambers close. That would be his signal... But he had to decide what to do... to go for the door and lock it, because the girls would scream if he just burst in... or should he silently make his way in and go straight for the Amir... If he did that, the guards could enter... His decision was made... it was the door first... Kam slowly opened the door and stepped in... the various shades of silk lined the walls, providing him some cover.

As he made his way toward the door, steps cautiously taken as he made his way... but at the end of the curtains, was an open area... and it was his boots that could be seen under the curtains... One girl, then another saw the boots, both silently alerting the others and when Kam stepped for the door, the girls screamed.... Kam looked left, then right, and saw the door to the chambers opening... he bolted toward the door, slamming his body against it...slamming it hard... once, twice, then a third time, hands fumbled against the securing latch... FINALLY !! the latch was secure... By now, his presence was known... his curved sword out and at the ready as he faced his nemesis, Abu Said... "Greetings MiLord... tis time to offer yer life back toAllah...." Kam said with a smirk.

Abu Said Uthman: His eyes watched her form as she moved about, each step an exercise in grace and power, beauty and frailty... she was exquisite. Already he felt the stress of his days ease from him, a relaxation that came from knowing that soon, her movements would be for him in another venue. Leaning forward, his tongue rolled over his lips, already his mouth watered for the taste of her... somewhere in her bending and breaking... it would happen... as it always did... the blurring of lines between captor and captive... master and slave... hate and passion. It was that moment of submission that he enjoyed most... the moment when a horse bowed to the crop and accepted it's masters weight upon it's back... the moment a woman moaned out in release, even against her will... She had fought hard, but finally had succumbed to his will... and now she was totally his... and he meant to savor every moment of her life.

It was at the moment that he stood... intent on removing her to his chambers for such an night of enjoyment, that the cacophony of screams were heard. Immediately guards reacted, stepping before him, as the interloper pressed his curved sword out before him, engaging in novice taunting and bravado... "Ahhh, what goat curd has risen to the top, to foul the very air I Breath?? Why, it is the coward... I though you dead..." his voice was silky and dark as he let them linger on the scantily clad form of Briseis... “Come to take your woman back....? or perhaps she will no settle for the... likes of you now... that she has been so well ridden !!" he chuckled waving the guards back with a dismissive hand... as he drew out an ornate scimitar, with a rasping sound that proclaimed death, holding it with hands that were no stranger to wielding such power. He nodded toward the guards... "Hold her. Kill her... if she moves..." his hand made a motion over his throat as if to punctuate the words... before he returned his attention back to the street rat, Kamenwati...

Briseis: As the door slammed, Briseis froze against the floor upon her knees, her hands jerking against her stomach. When Kam spoke, she gasped. He was here! "Kam!" She breathed as if in a breathless whisper as she struggled to her feet then pranced nervously as the Amir noticed the new arrival. Her cheeks flushed as the Amir mentioned the riding of her body. Of course he thought it was always concentual even when it never was.

She jerked forward as the Amir pulled his sword only to be yanked back by the guards their arms holding hers tight. Sapphire eyes widened, then darkened as he gave the order for her death if she moved... and instantly she became spaghetti in their grasps, but her fingers were curled out to Kam, her eyes on him even as the Amir began to circle him.

Kamenwati: "Nay Abu, I am not dead... and yu have something that belongs to me... always has... and yet again, yu attempt to take her from me... but Allah is upon my side..." The last time Abu Said fought Kam, he was wearing armour, and Kam mere robes... and Abu's men held him, and beat upon him... Now no armor was donned, nor men to assist him... simply mano-a-mano... Had the man arisen from the dead? More or less... For Kam was once again causing Abu Said difficulty... But Abu Said had ran his country into the ground, submitting his people to death and dismemberment... and taxes so heavy, the dungeons were full, offering many to die unpleasant sicknesses of death...

Kam watched the men grabbing ahold of Bri... Kam smirked... "Yu obey that man? and hold my woman? then yu too shall die... once yer Amir has chyt himself..." Dark brown eyes surveyed the area and saw but two men in the chambers... the rest banging at the Amir's doors... Kam smirked as he saw the two guards waver in their thoughts... "Yes, obey yer Amir... kill her if she moves... and yu shall suffer worse fates than death... for I, and the Christians shall have no mercy upon this land... Twill be the Crusades all over again... but they are mightier now, with weapons that can kill thousands..." he watched them waver once more, and he smirked again... looking to Abu...

He yanked off the material about his head... and he smiled at his former King... "No one to help yu now... let’s see if yu can handle a real man..." The two began to circle, each watching closely for a first move...

Abu Said Uthman: The art of war in the middle east was just that, Art. Each movement choreographed for maximum fluidity and casualty... no wasted movement or action without purpose... like a cobra. He paused, ready to strike. After circling Kam, his eyes engaged in surveying Kam's torso for the barest of muscle flinch that would signify the begin of his attack. Slowed breathing, as his body followed the natural rhythm of battle... without the emotional encumbrance that Kam would feel, his woman’s life in the balance. Light gleamed wickedly from the scimitar as it seemed to taunt his opponent. Every word Kam spoke only causing a smirk on the Amir’s face... "You evoke the Christian Crusades, when your skin would damn you as well... She begged for her gods to save her, and in the end it was ME... whom she cried out to... " his lips lifted in hateful caricature of a smile... "I will gladly see you searching the darkness for your Christian God... and dispatch you in Allah's name for the traitor to King and Country you are..."

Briseis: The guard’s arms slacked against hers and still she didn't move to break away from them. Her mouth opened to speak and stayed that way... no sound passed her lips and as the Amir taunted him. Briseis shook her head, it wasn't true, she had cried for her Gods and they had not answered, but she never cried out for him. Kam knew it, he could not be fooled by this. As his eyes met hers, despite the situation she smiled, as if taking the form of the mermaid in his dreams with scepter and trident as his weapons. With that smile, she nodded. He would do what needed to be done, this she knew and gave her consent.

Kamenwati: Kamenwati laughs as Abu speaks... "I evoke nothing, yu curse the land and our people... worse than yer Father... and yu seek audience with Christians... yet those will be the ones who condemn this land... but not yu... for I condemn yu to face Allah in judgment for my woman..." Kam looked to Bri, knowing full well, she would never ever consent to Abu... her death would be more desirable... and he nodded to her... but in his peripheral vision, he still watched his nemesis.

“I am no traitor to my country... you are... One who murdered his Father to gain power... one who trades away his land for the riches of those who would enslave our people...” then with hardly a movement of muscle, Kam raises the sword and swings at Abu, the clash of steel echoes throughout the chamber. Art... the graceful movements of skilled fighters, like dancers before a king... the two men would dance the ballet of death...

Abu Said Uthman: Steel clashed and scraped along the spines of scimitars... ancient weapons of the middle east... cruel, sharp weapons that had one purpose - death... There were no words spoken, only grunts and growls as they both swung in graceful arc's... beasts circling each other... each with their own agenda... Abu's to see Kamenwati dead and off to his just rewards as a traitor... and to see Briseis, his for the rest of her life. No doubt Kam had his own agenda...

Sweat beaded their brows. The first blood was drawn by Abu's off balance thrust at Kam, but was returned with a carving blow of the scimitar against his forearm, a flesh wound the goat herder would live with. Abu danced back with a glimmer of cokeiness looking over at Bri with a look that claimed her as never before.

Kamenwati: Kam shifted the control of the wounded hand to the other, as he looks at the cut and smirks... Then strong arms swung his scimitar at Abu's waist, who making his retreat; but in a graceful arc, Kam's blade came down hard against Abu's sword...

By far, Abu was the weaker man and less skilled swordsman... for Kam had always retained his strength thru hard work, and his skill was fine tuned thru his years in the military...

Kam swung wildly at the retreating Abu, his sword smashing against a large stone pillar... As Kam spun around the other direction, he smirked at Abu... With one powerful and accurate swing of the curved sword, Kam knocked Abu's from his hands; the man’s scimitar making a clanging noise upon the floor. Kam smirked and looked at Abu... As Kam looked toward the guards holding Bri, Abu pulled a hidden dagger and attempted to stab Kam's belly, but experience caused the elbows to drop quickly, his hands tucking the hilt a bit, the forearms automatically pushed the blade aside, cutting thru the material and slashing Kam's side... The force of the elbows to solid arm and the piercing slice to his side, caused Kam to drop the sword... It lay between the two men, who summed up the situation... Kam now unarmed, and bleeding, faced Abu, who was unharmed and armed....

Abu Said Uthman: Abu's eyes narrowed as he waved the dagger tauntingly toward the injured and disarmed Kam, true Kamenwati was the larger and stronger of the two men, but Abu had a wiry cunning way, lightning fast, and evil... "She tasted so sweet... better to bruise the fruit, to release its darkest most fragrant juices don't you think?” his eyes stayed focused on Kam, yet he knew his words would cause Kam’s attention to shift to Briseis... and that was just what he wanted... in that brief moment he lunged the dagger, intent for Kam's heart...

Briseis: As their swords clashed, she squeezed her eyes closed before her mind screamed at her to keep an eye on Kam and lids flew open again. She jerked against her captors, Abu most loyal guards and yet when she moved they only gripped tighter ignoring the command to kill her if she moved. Surely the Lord didn't want his most prized possession hurt. As Kam’s sword fell from his hands, her mouth opened in a wordless pitch of agony her face twisting as she again jerked forward intent on his rescue only to be held tight. Sapphire eyes flew to the dagger as it was produced and thrust at Kam, and she gasped as she saw it slashing against his side. Slowly hands balled into fists, Briseis was not a fighting woman, in truth the act created her to be sick to the stomach, but Kam had no weapon and Abu did. Her eyes fell to Kam's sword between their feet. Gritting her teeth, her elbows thrust backwards into the faces of the guards who let go more in shock then in the initial blow and Briseis acted, driving for the sword, her hand outstretched for the hilt. One of the guards recovered in time to dive for her foot. Her fingers inches away from the sword, she kicked at her captor again and succeeded in cracking her heel against his nose which broke under the assault and began to gush blood as the guard screamed.

"Kam!" She let out in a gasping scream as her hand closed on the hilt of the sword, her free hand pushed against the floor pushing her body up as her other hand with the sword swung fingers releasing the grip on the sword which spun in the air for a moment, suspended in time before falling towards him. For a moment she let herself relax until she noticed the guard from her corner of her eye recovering as much as possible from the broken nose swinging his sword down at her and she rolled to the side, curling into a fetal position to escape the assault of the blade.

Kamenwati: Kam glanced toward Bri, and then sneered at Abu just as he lunged at him with the dagger... The usual turn in a dagger strike was to the predominant side, but Kam faked right and spun to his left, his arm wrapping around Abu's, his wrist captured by Kam's hand... with a twist and a yank, Abu's arm went backwards, and his chest slammed to the floor. A well-placed knee sank into Abu's back... his hand wrenching the dagger from the Amir's hand... "Never underestimate a goat herder... Allah's grace lies within those meeker than arrogance..." Bri's scream alerted him and he looked toward her... as the blade flew into the air, he stood to grab it... and in that moment, Abu rose to his knees, and like a child not yet walking, crawled toward the lone scimitar... As Kam caught the blade and swung down at Abu, who was not there, he turned around, and just in time, blocked a downward swing of Abu...

He was fighting two fronts... one of death in the form of Abu... and one with Bri and her guard... As he pushed Abu away, he stepped back and spun... his arm flinging the dagger toward Briseis... the blade sinking deep into the man's upper chest near the throat... Allah's mercy shone once again as Kam turned just in time to dodge a blade and block another....

Abu Said Uthman: The man had luck it seemed, as the guard tussled then fell to Kam’s dagger throw, saving the whore for the time being, another strike of the wickedly curved scimitar was blocked by hois opponent’s own sword, sparks flew as the blades collided, this was no test of gentlemen, but a fight to the death. Kam would find Abu's sandaled foot kicking him in the gut as the swords clashed and forced him back... "I shall remember your meekness when I say prayers over your body..." he growled and again brought a rain of strikes, vicious and calculated against Kam... It was a duel well matched and endless it seemed.

Briseis: Her hands were over her head but she heard the gargle for breath and life from the guard as the dagger hit its mark and looked in time to see blood spraying as the body fell. Ushering a gasp, she rolled again to escape being trapped under the falling body. Catching the dresser, she pulled herself up only to have the second guard recovering from watching his partner die and grabbing at her arm. Grabbing the nearest item, the very pitcher she had once held over Abu after his rape of her, her hand closed over the handle and she swung gritting her teeth against the roll of her stomach as it crashed against the guards face who stumbled back with a gargle of pain as a few of his teeth flew from his mouth from the blow. Raising the pitcher again above her head, she sent it down into the guards skull watching with sickening horror at what she had done as his body fell like a sack of potatoes' unconscious but not dead. It was then she heard Abu hissing his words at Kam. Grabbing at the dresser as she stumbled, she turned towards back to the two fighting. Her captor and rapist against her heart and soul. For a moment she watched them without really seeing, her head spinning as the blood drained from her face and she knew fainting was upon her. Gripping a hand tighter to the dresser, she gave one final show of strength and hurled the pitcher at Abu backside before dropping to her knees still fighting the swimming dizziness and darkness.

Kamenwati: For better than 15 minutes, the two danced the ballet of death, one eager to kill the other... Meanwhile, the guards outside the door began pounding harder and harder... the door giving a bit each time. Sweat poured from the brows of both men, their shirts soaked with blood and sweat... These two men had been in a life-long embattlement, and twice now, Abu had Kam beaten to the point of death... but not this time... Abu had harmed his woman, and desecrated his people... he was out for the blood of the Amir...

Kicked, sliced, and bruised, Kam kept coming at Abu... he would not stop... Kam spun... and kicked Abu's feet from under him... and just when he was about to decapitate the Amir... the doors burst open... and in a split second, Kam quickly followed thru on the strike... but he missed his mark... Abu had rolled to the side away from Kam and the blade cut the lines along Abu's back... deep but death-defying... But Kamenwati took no time to check to see if Abu was dead or not... for he ran to Bri, taking her wrist and pulling her to her feet... "Find the strength love... we MUST go...now..." he carried the scimitar in one can hand, his other arm under hers as he half-carried her to the secret tunnel entrance... go back to Through sheer curtains past a heavier one... the pair disappeared... down the stairs, and into the dark abyss, back toward his companions... And as they made their way, Kam guided Bri around dead bodies of the work guards... "Stay with me my love... soon we shall be free...."

Abu Said Uthman: He had fallen, his feet knocked from under him as he felt the razor sharp sword cleave his back almost into, slicing through muscle and sinew that was vital to motor function, muscles that controlled the ability to heave himself up to take Kam's life, now useless as he floundered on the floor, the doors burst open, and to the guards horrors, the determination, along with the need for vengeance upon the one who brought him low... through the tunnels his screams of vengeance and threats of death would find the runaway lovers... "I’ll see you in Hell Kamenwati... " he vowed... as lay on a crimson carpet of his own blood, wounded grievously, but alive; through sheer will, he would survive... he would will himself survival, if only to seem Kamenwati dead.

Briseis: Still dizzy, when Kam grabbed her wrist, she jerked her face, a mask of horror before it softened, realizing who grabbed her and hauled her to her feet. Clasping her arm around him as he half-pulled, half-dragged her through the curtain; she paused, if only for a minute, having lived with Abu for over a month now, her brain had nearly programmed her to accept her new lot in life and part of that life, and the healer in her willed her to stop and help him. It was only a fraction of a second reaction before she was turning against Kam again, weaving through the halls and past the dead, unseeing faces of the work guards, to the secret tunnel. Him there, gave her strength to keep moving; but once they were safe, was a different story.

Kamenwati: As they passed thru the tunnels, his companions followed suit... defending their retreat... the echoes of Abu mere muffled sounds falling to deafening footfalls from the palace... First to pass was Danae, the Greek warrior, who now seconded the Rangers... then other volunteers... and finally, out into the dark of night... there not far away, was Ahmir, the Egyptian that offered his services... He too had a body count of several guards as they made their rounds. Kam smirked as he passed the Egyptian... and down to the boats they ventured... but not until Danae, Ahmir, and the others eliminated several guards that were hounding them. Out into the water, paddling hard to deeper seas, where Peregrine's ship lay in wait for the trip back to Skye... In the small boat Bri fussed over his wounds, and he would smile at her... "Yu rest...we have a long trip home..."

Briseis: Her face pressed in against his neck at the echo of Abu's voice followed after them and she knew it was no idle threat. It had been a risk for him to come after her, she always knew that but she knew to that he would come for her as surely as he had in her dreams. Everything was a blur, time seemed to speed up despite that there had been no loss of it prior to it. It wasn't until they were in the small boat that her brain seemed to register her surroundings again and she began to rip pieces off her outfit to first dab the blood away from his wounds to see the severity before wrapping new pieces around the ones that didn't seem to need stitching. There was a smile even to his words that had her stopping to turn her face up at him. Her face was a ghost of the mermaid he loved so much, all most hollow, and despite when he smiled at her in the past and she smiled back, she could not smile now. "Please..." She hummed in a sighing whisper. "Let me do something." Her stomach turned with the echo of present events and the pain she had inflicted upon the guards. It didn't matter they were out for her life, she had still raised a hand to them. The countless bracelets on her wrists danced, singing in clinging, as her hands worked at bandaging what she could with what she had for right now. All the while, her head echoed Abu warning and if Kam didn't go back for the man sometime, Abu would no doubt come for him. There was more to it than just her, she was not so simple and innocent she didn't understand that, having lived with the man she had learned a few things about the ruthless things he could, and did, do. They had to kill to rescue her; it would haunt her for a long time to come. Suddenly a thought struck her, her face fell as she cast a look back towards the shore and suddenly she was crying, bawling as she buried her face in her hands. "Oh God, I left them! Adara...Hedassah...I left them!" No amount of comforting could get her to stop crying now, not just for leaving her friends but the weights of the last month for her.

Kamenwati: He had consoled her across the bay... and helped her up the net to the railings of the Skye ship... Despite her being clad ever so skimpily, no man’s eyes lingered long... They saw she was beautiful, blood spattered, and now displayed more skin than a Gaelic whore... but out of respect for the midwife, they quickly averted their eyes...

The light in her eyes had dimmed... had her ordeal been so great? He thought so, and by the grace of Allah, he would restore the light to her eyes... Peregrine had approached and offered his cabin for the return trip... Kam and Bri made their way down the stairs and into the cabin. He poured the captain’s water into a basin and began to clean her up... Now he would strip away the scant clothing, and avert his eyes while he handed out the material, offering her a dress he had bought in a shop before leaving... She had been thru much and he did not want to disrespect her by being forward... He ever so wanted to look upon her beauty... to hold her in strong arms... There was time... now they were together again... but deals for the future would be made when they got home...
She had stopped crying by the time they had reached the ship but the damage was done, her eyes were red and puffy from the salty tears. She would have not faulted the men for looking. It was respect that had them turning away from her but she saw it as shame and her cheeks flamed with embarrassment as she clutched closer to Kam.

At first when she approached the stairs, she stopped, clutching at his shirt as the terror of being in the belly of the beast so to speak from being kidnapped swept over her. Feeling the warmth of his body beneath his shirt and the beat of his heart against her fingers, she calmed instantly and moved into the cabin with him.

She stood still while he poured the water and then began to bath the blood splatters off her skin. Her head tilted down. She couldn't look at him, engraved the will of a slave again. Would he ever see the light of his Briseis again? No doubt with him there and time. Everything took time.

As he ushered the clothing off her body, her arms rose above her head and then lowered to her side again until he pulled the lower portion off and she used his shoulder to steady herself as the bottom came off. Slowly her arms rose past the bruises that were all ready yellow with healing to cover at her form. When he offered the dress, she could not get it on quick enough. The feeling of it was unfamiliar, clinging to skin that had long been without the comfort of cover and she plucked her fingers at it while final her head lifted to look around the Cabin. Spying a bed, she turned for it and finally fell down upon it, exhausted completely.

There she stayed for two days, mostly sleeping but there were moments she awoke with a cry only to have Kam there, offering his comfort which she accepted only to dissolve into tears when his arms wrapped around her and exhausted with crying again she fell asleep. Two days of mostly sleep until finally she had taken all she could from sleep. When she awoke she found Kam in a chair next to the tiny bed, his hand in hers. Moving her head against the pillows, she softly brushed her cheek against his hand, her fingers drumming against the back of his hand as she whispered. "Kam, my love, wake up"

Stalwart... sturdy... Words that would describe him, despite the cuts and bruises that were three days into healing... But moreso, the words would describe the patience and caring he would provide the woman. At her beckoning, he woke, and looked around as if someone or something were disturbing them. “Huh... er... Praise Allah for all that is great!! You are are awake my dove... welcome back...” he offerd her a smile as the Berber accentuated his words.

When he was awake enough to see her, she scooted back on the bed and tugged his hand that he should join her. As his form lay next to her own, her head fell to press against his chest. "Everything is gone, isn't it? There was a fire, I remember, when I woke up in the cart near the docks. My shop.... our home... it's gone?" She questioned as finally her head lifted from his chest to look into his face.

A charming smile came from the light-brown skinned face, and the dark brown eyes flashed... sliding into the bed next to her, strong arms enveloped her as if to cocoon her. “What was old is not gone, what is new shall be seen... Allah shall provide, if destiny has us in its view...” he stroked her hair on her head... “ssshh, worry not of what has past... the future is for us to grasp by the legs and run...” he smiled... “We are not for want... for Allah shall provide...” his hand had worked its way from her head to her face, lifting her chin for him to smile at her and look into her eyes.

"Do you want to know what happened after they kidnapped me?" She was giving him a choice. There was nothing she had ever hidden from him and she never would, despite any ordeal that every happened in their lives. She didn't even think about what would happen to them now, the trials ahead of them nor the fact that with her shop and the apartment they occupied above it was now gone that it practically left them homeless.

He shook his head... “Speak, nor ponder on, what yu do not wish to relive... we, you and I, are alive... nothing more, nothing less...” She offered and he refused... not because he was ashamed of what Abu Said did to her, but he did not wish to have her relive the events. Rolling over on his stomach, he pointed out the windows of the captain’s quarters... “This is the first time I have even see where I have been and not where I am going... and I do not enjoy it... see how the ripples of the ship cutting the waves continue on and on...” he looked at her, then back out the window... “Life is like that... if we concentrate on the past, the ripples continue...” then he rolled off the bed, grasping her hand and pulling her from the bed...

Part of her sighed in relief that he did not want to know. The other part of her, wanted him to know. Why she wasn't sure but the bigger part of her, the relief won out the need for him to know. What good would come of telling him except for him to hate Abu Said more? As he rolled, she moved with him, laying over his chest, her cheek moving against his chest as he pointed out the window and then instantly dropping away from it. She couldn't look back, it only made her shudder against him. He did not enjoy seeing where he had been any more then she did. As he rolled, she let him go, shifting to take his hand as he pulled her from the bed. Wrapping an arm around her shallow stomach she followed as he led her.

All the way across the breadth of the ship to the stairs, and up onto the deck... and as they came deckside, the wind caught her hair, and blew it asunder; and the sun almost blinded her... still he continued to guide her to the bow of the ship. Stepping up on the foremost deck, he pulled her to him... as he stood facing forward, he placed her in front of him, his arms wrapping around her.

Leaning down he spoke softly, his arm raising and pointing out forward. “This is our life... a broad horizon, open wide... ready for us to live it... we are the ship... dividing the future in any direction we wish... behind us, a wake... a wake of what we bring to this earth...” his arm enveloped her again.

Just then the edge of the horizon was broken by the ships veering south... in the distance was land... northern Skye... by nightfall the ship would make port...

As the door opened and they made their way up the stairs to the deck, her hand lifted to shelter her eyes that stung in pain at the bright light. Her head dipped avoiding any following gaze as she clasped harder against his hand angling her body against his own. As he led her to the foremost deck, she stopped even as he tugged her. With a smile from him, she moved again. She knew he wasn't going to hurt her but the fear was not something that was easy to shake. Not the fear of hurting her but of seeing something she didn't want to see. Keeping her hand high on her forehead, cupped to block the sun, she moved where he positioned her and sighed as he moved in behind her finding the strength to pull her hand away from her face and blink into the new light. Her hand fell to rest against his own around her.

Her head turned as he spoke low against her ear, pointing to the distance. Despite everything she felt her lips pulling into a grin. Had it been so long she had forgotten how much smarter then her he was?

As the ship pulled to the south, she dipped back against him with the sway of the ship and land was not far off. The salty breeze was warm against her cheek with the hour of the day and she hummed in a low note as her lids slid closed, her hands caressing his own around her as she marveled in having the feel of him near her again. When her eyes opened again, they went to the water breaking against the bow of the ship as it broke through it like a hot knife through butter. How she wished to dive into the depths, be that mermaid she was to him, the one she had been in her dream before he had come for her. How badly she wished she could have been that mystical creature, living in a beautiful coral world surrounded by sea creatures that knew nothing of deceit, war, lies, pain and rape. To escape into a world that was all their own.

He spoke of their life as if a ship cutting through the water to any direction they choose but she was smart enough to know this was not over yet. What Abu Said had done could not go unpunished and she did not mean herself. She meant his people and the trade he was blocking off. She was smart enough to know war was coming and Skye would heed the call and go. Skye was part of their future and so he would go too, and being the woman she was, she would not stop him, only beg he promise to return to her. Behind her was their past, behind her was Carnia, and with the thought, she knew suddenly that none of this was close to done. He would go forward into war with his past, as she needed to go forward to Carnia, and protect the people that had built her past. Carnia was linked with Morocco in the marriage of the Emperor niece Hedassah to Abu Said as his second wife. If Morocco was attacked, they would have to heed the call and against Skye, there was no chance? She could not see innocent people dying for the wrong nation.

Soon her ordeal was sliding behind her as the waves slid past the ship drawing them closer to night and the lands of Skye. She did not like the idea of being a voice for Carnia or if they would listen to her warning but she had to try. If their horizon was indeed their own, if their future was theirs to make of it what they wished, then this was something she had to do. Carnia was her past but she would not make the land a ghost.

Weaving her arms from around his, she turned within his arms and replaced her arms around his waist, her head tilting upward to find those brown eyes she had dreamed of so much in her absence of him. "What is to come, neither of us can prevent. We go into a future that we make our own but there are more hardships for us, my love. What is being done can not go unpunished. You will see that it does not but I also need to see my people, in Carnia, do not go into bloodshed without knowing which side is right. Perhaps they will not listen to me, perhaps it will be in vein but I need to try...”

“Briseis... yu are the light of my life... a reason for being... if yu disappear, I would scour the Earth for yu... and die to protect yu...” he smiles... “But if yu feel that destiny is yer being an Ambassador to Carnia, then do what yu must and I shall pray Allah protects yu...” he lifts her chin, lightly kissing her lips... “But yu know as well as I, that I have a destiny too... I must return to Fez... to seek out Abu Said, and kill him...” he shakes his head... “For he shall not rest until I am dead, and yu are enslaved once more...” Kissing her lips briefly... then he looks at her again with those deep brown eyes... his accent deep... “We are ambassadors to our future... and destiny shall be what Allah Almighty desires... soon we must part, but now, a few days belongs to us alone...”

“For now, I am happy to be in your arms again, happy to be near you. The time to go is not yet and I will savor each moment we have until it has come. I love you Kamenwati, I always have."

With her words, he kisses her with all the passion he could muster... it would be a kiss that legends could grow... The sun lowering to the west, the ship gliding into port, the pair remained upon the bow, embraced in a love that would bask under the setting sun...

Later, the crowd at the pier welcomed the returning warriors, the new member of Skye leading the renown midwife back ashore... Smiles and well-wishes came from many.... until an old man, crooked of back approached... “MiLady Briseis... many o’us miss yae... and knaew yaer wit no ‘ome... baet Ah wanted yae tae knaew, yer shop bae under rebuild... and faer naew, yae and yer man shall bae welcomed at any residence yae please...” and a woman approached... “Suddup, ya old coot... MiLady Bri... yae, and yaer man, bae welcomed at mae house...” then another chimed in repeating the same phrase... each vying for her acceptance...

Kamenwati smiled at the reception and the people’s warmth displayed to a woman revered by so many... and so the pair would find themselves in a local inne, all paid by the Griffin and donations of the people... Things for now would be grand... but the future would soon raise its ugly head, as the self-pronounced ambassadors would go their separate ways to the upcoming events...

It had been important for him to give his blessing that she return to Carnia to help her people. She needed to make sure they were safe and if they were not, to make it right. To make sure they knew what they were fighting for if they sided with Abu Said and if they didn't understand, to make sure they did, and that if they wanted to fight for Skye. That they had that option. She was not much of a diplomat, in her shy nature diplomacy was just not something she saw for herself or that others had ever made available for her. When you were a slave, there were no options. Even after the ship had docked, she stayed locked in that kiss. It was like a memory floating back from time past. As if her past were somehow catching up with her again. Those happy times she spent with him seemed to warm and chase away the chill of what had happened.

A voice cleared behind them and she broke from him, smiling sheepishly as the crew mate bobbed his head and disappeared across the deck. It was only then that she realized they were home. With shaking hands and a shaky breath, she left the ship behind for solid ground once more. She watched the crowd parting, wives taking their husbands back in their arms. Others greeting sisters and brothers and friends home again with smiles and laughter. It warmed her heart, she had been so afraid to be detached from this place but she had missed it.

When the old man came through the crowd, back bent towards her, she shrank back, clasping tight to Kam's hand and then she released, slowly and moved to meet the old man with a smile and then another woman was coming and soon the crowd was echoing welcome for her, and offers of assistance. She shrank back again but this time not from fear. Tears were flowing down her cheeks as she took Kam's arm again.

Later when they were roomed at the Inn, paid for and with no care as to what tomorrow would bring. Laying upon the bed, just watching the coming night, she held Kam in her arms. For once not afraid to fall asleep but in the midnight hours, she could not help the nightmares that came.

No more were there dreams of princes and princess's, unicorns and rainbows and she screamed when she woke up from the horrors she did not want to remember or repeat. When Kam pulled her back into his embrace, she began to cry and marveled that he would care for her past her screaming and endless tears. When finally she was able to sleep again, she held tight to him as if afraid he would disappear while she slept. "Don't let me go" She whispered in her sleep.

"Never my lady... Never..!!"

[Men of Skye]

This is Desert Destiny

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, 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, the new monarch 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...

Meeting Jack Trades

Upon his return to Skye, Kamenwati was making contacts everywhere he could... explaining all that was happening in Morocco and the Tamazgha (meaning Land of the Imazighen, or Free). He had met with King Adam I already... and gained unsanctioned assistance... and Lord Maahes had agreed to help... and in departing Lord Maahes’ office, he recommended that Kamenwati visit the Gilded Lily... to see a man named Jack Trades... one who could provide advice on such circumstances as he now endured.

Kam rented a horse from the stables and rode out to the Gilded Lily... and such beautiful women would greet the brown-skinned man as a novelty, since Maahes was taken... Leading the robed man to Jack... Kam approached the man who held a hammer in a massive hand with bulging arms.

“MiLord... my name is Kamenwati... and I am upon a mission. The King has directed me to you...” his accent was similar, yet distinct from Maahes, and Ahmir’s... and he bowed deep upon his introduction.

The construction site was more of hamlet populated by masons and laborers. Already the new Lily was taking shape and looking much more like a building than a heap of stone. Both English and German were tossed about as commands were doled out by two foremen, the Master Mason Arnold Shulz, and Jack Trades. Amidst the hustle and bustle of construction in full swing, the oilskin clad figure stood without motion. The stolid statue watched the construction's progress as Kam approached the site. Only after Kam had introduced himself did the hulking frame turn as if mounted upon hinges toward him. A hearty voice rumbled out from the shade under the wrinkled canvas of a broad-brimmed hat. "The King, eh? Please, step with me out of the way." The folds of oilskin cloth parted and a calloused hand ushered the robed man over a short distance before a cart pulled by two oxen rounded the corner of a row of tents and plodded past them. The hearty voice rumbled again, "Now then, what sort of mission would cause the King tae send ye tae me?"

Kamenwati watched the construction in amazement, for it was vastly different than what he had witnessed in his own lands. Here people were paid… sometimes well, sometimes not so well, but they were paid, and not considered slave labor like in the lands of the Berber.

As the hulk of a man turned and spoke, his voice rumbled like the overture of thunder, and that made Kam smile. “Yes milord…” as he followed the man. “Allah permitting, I shall be going to my lands to free them of oppression…” and he continued explaining briefly what Amir Abu Said Uthman had done in the past and doing in the present. “I witnessed first-hand what oppression has done to my people…” his hand rubbed his chin and looked at Jack. “Milord, I shall be truthful… and blunt… The Amir kidnapped my woman, a member of this land… enslaving her and abusing her in all immoral manners… I and a few others just returned from there. And I believe Allah has plans for the Amir, as my sword was not swift enough to end his life. But I did get my woman back…” he looked around, then back to Jack… “I spoke to the King of the Berber atrocities… and he allowed me to return… with a small army… and he said that yu may be a good person to seek assistance from… that yu are a genius of warfare, and its tools.” He embellished a bit of what King Adam had said, whether he needed to or not.

“I wish to return to Fez… where the Amir has a palace and see him out and kill him… for he shall seek revenge upon me and all I am connected with… and of course, the King would like to have ‘friends’ in the right places to keep the Strait of Gibraltar open…” he smirked and bowed his head to Jack. “I am at yer service Milord… and praise Allah if we can do good for the betterment of all concerned…”

There was no change in the burly figure's stance as eloquent speech was made. As impassive as the stone they stood near, the only sign any of it was heard was a slight canting of the weather-beaten brim. The hearty voice rumbled again from the shade. It spoke without much inflection. "That be quite the story, Kamenwati." The name was pronounced easily and precisely as if he had been saying it for years. "Though, I can see yer accustomed tae talking tae nobility, and I know yer culture values humility expressed in common phrases. Me thinks ye'll find me terse by comparison. I've nae use fer flowery talk that dilutes reality. First, I nae be a lord, so there nae be need tae address me as such. Second, ye cannae be at me service if'n ye've just requested mine – otherwise I'd hand ye a sledgehammer. Third, it be impossible tae work fer the betterment of all concerned if'n ye intend tae kill at least one of them. Now this all raises many questions fer me, but I'm nae without courtesy. I'll give ye the option of discussing further in a private setting rather than the open air. What would ye prefer?" At the end of the question, the calloused and dirty hand upturned to the vengeful man with a grace beguiling its appearance.

Kamenwati nodded and followed Jack to a more secluded place. Maybe Jack was right… maybe he had been subject to nobility more so than the commoners… but it seemed that going from Legion Commander to slave in the gesture of a hand was more than he could fathom. Kam’s days as Commander brought claim to his family and his nation… but when the Amir died (Abu Said’s father, by his son’s own hand) and Kam was beaten and left for dead… and his family thrown into prison, eventually dying of disease… it was too much for Kam to just let go. Through his days of enslavement, his escape, and return to Fez set him upon a journey to the present. But when he was assigned to Skye, to monitor the name named Maahes, he met Briseis… and his life changed.

“I see yu are a man of straightforwardness… and so shall I be. And my apologies for my speech… I shall speak as plain as possible sir…” It was then and there the short life history that Kam confessed to. “My people have been oppressed by Abu Said and his henchmen… the army, which I once commanded, follow him blindly… as he has their family’s lives hung in the balance…” Kam looked away and back to Jack. “I wish to kill Abu Said… plain and simple… and to free my people…”

He bends down and draws a simple map of the southern Middle Sea coastline (deserts of North Africa). Pointing to Egypt, then across the desert vastness to the western coast of Morocco… “This is Tamazgha…umm… Land of the Free…” he stutters a bit in translation. “From Egypt’s western borders to the Great Sea…” Kam stands… “This land is a land of many peoples… all who are now divided… It is a dream to unite them… as did the King of Skye unite his Celtic people… he is an inspiration…”

He then looks a bit despondent… “Espania is cleansing their land of all Muslim… under the guise of Reconquista… and it is rumored they shall cross the Strait… and if they do, they control it… I offered King Adam my services in keeping the Strait open, should I succeed in the deserts…”

He looks back at Jack… “I know this appears self-centered… and maybe tis true… but the options are limited… If the peoples are not united, then Spain will have full control of the Strait AFTER they conquer my peoples…one at a time… Is my killing of Abu Said personal…?” he looks directly at Jack… “Yes…completely…”

“I have asked the King for assistance… I am ones who help me are greatly outnumbered… and King Adam does not wish to commit a great number of Skye resources to the effort… that I understand… and hence he directed me to you sir… as yu are a man of means and design… How may yu be able to help in the freedom of a people far away, people much unlike yerself.??”

The walking shadow led the former commander to a spartan shack with windowless plank walls and a boot leather hinged door. The interior was filled with the warm glow of a single lantern. The scarred hand motioned Kamenwati to a rough-hewn table and a pair of benches that rested on the dirt floor. His bulk came to rest on one of the benches, and the voice rumbled flatly in the dimly lit area. "This be all well and good, but yer question skips over all the questions of me own. I disapprove of war fer the sake of fulfilling a personal vendetta, as it clouds military judgment and sacrifices many innocents. It seems Adam wants access to the straight, but nae badly enough tae commit much tae it. There would be ways of gaining access if Spain controlled it. I have nae loyalty or obligation tae yer peoples. Though Adam has recommended me, I nae be his personal soldier. Me questions be as follows: How do ye expect a small military force tae not only dethrone the current ruler, but unite several tribes of people in conquest in addition to halting the forces of Spain? How shall I know that if power was vested in ye, that yer brand of rule will in fact be better than the current state for these peoples? And lastly, what do ye offer me in return for making it all possible?" The wrinkled brim centered upon the robed man. The deep shadows underneath made a stark contrast to the warm glow that rested atop his hat.

Kam stood listening to the man… He was as hard to convince as the King… but the King also had an agenda… Jack did not… and as the man spoke, Kam nodded. “First sir, I pray that the military judgment is sound… as I do not wish to see my people suffer even more greatly than they have already… nor waste the King’s men he so graciously offered. This is not something that will be over in a day, that is for sure… In the past few weeks… I have friends, who have been riding the desert alerting our peoples… many will ride against the Amir, ready to die for freedom… all they need to know is if the Amir is truly dead… that is my job, vendetta or not…” he looked at jack as he spoke, the Berber accent heavy upon his tongue.

“As for the Spaniards, I leave that up to King Adam… I, myself, would prefer them to stay in Espania… and as a ruler,..” he chuckled… “I would not murder my own people and enslave their families for my own personal whim.” He canted his head to Jack… “I know yu owe no loyalty to any of my people… and I ask yu not to go into the fight… only possibly provide me tools to even the odds a bit…” he paused, then smiled at Jack. “Sir… what would be yer price? Gold? Jewels? Women?”

Sitting in the dim light, the shadows deepened as the brim tilted slightly down. There was no change in the hearty voice, nor his posture. The stolid frame sat as if some impudent gnome had suddenly cast him in granite. "Hm, that nae be a perfectly satisfactory answer, and a long shot that suddenly many will rise up that have not risen already. Ye say ye want tools, but what good are tools without a skilled hand tae implement them? I could send ye on yer merry way with plenty of deadly toys, but ye'd likely die fer freedom afore the enemy reached ye. Also, a few sentences does nae convince me that ye'd make a decent ruler. It be in yer best interest fer me tae come along. As fer me price, that also be complex. First, payment in gold fer me services in design and implementing. Second, the understanding that if'n I determine that ye'll make a poor ruler, I'll kill ye and march whatever is left of our force back tae Skye. Third, if yer satisfied with my services and we're both still alive, that I might call upon ye tae aid a venture of my own. There it be, on the table. What say ye, Kamenwati?"

Kam saw that the man neither moved, nor offered any facial expression. A stalwart man for sure… and Kam was not one to beg… Then he smirked and nodded for some reason… “Yes sir… yu question me of motives… of my morals… whether I shall be a good ruler or not… Yet yu live in the shadows of yer own brim… yu display no emotion in movement nor voice… as if yu hide something from this world…” he paused… “I came to you because the King recommended yu… yu shall either provide help, or not… Whether I die or not, is a concern of yers…? Are yu not in this for profit, whether gold or advantage?”

Kam stood upon sure footing… he was not one to cow down to a threat or intimidation… Dark brown eyes peered beneath a white turban… His hands went to his Djellaba, the short-sleeved coat over the white burnoose. “Gold, 20 pieces, now… 30 more when Fez is free…” he cokes his eyes, narrowing the lids… “I think the second item is unnecessary, but if it satisfies yu, I agree…”

Kam chuckles a bit… “We shall leave the third condition up for further discussion…” he straightens the djellaba and looks to Jack. “Time is short, Jack…” Kam finally used his given name… “decide or nay… we must hurry as the ships sail in two days…” he smirks at Jack… “What say yu, Jack? Do I spend my coin here, or elsewhere?”

Broad shoulders shook slightly as a mirthless chuckle rumbled within the shack. "Those old tactics, eh?" The challenge brought no other movement from the seated shadow, though the voice rumbled with a subtle tinge of annoyance. "I suppose yer defiance is tae be expected. All right, let me walk ye through it. It be improper tae toss an examining lens over me, as I am nae the one fixin' tae purport meself as a nation's leader. Despite the fact I have nae obligation tae yer people, 'twould be dishonorable and unwise of me tae blindly unleash a plague upon them. Therefore my second condition be critical." The voice paused to let the last words hang.

"It does nae impress me that yer people be only worth fifty gold tae ye, and that yer nae even going tae give me a fair shake on splitting the payment. These be me terms fer designing the tools powerful enough fer ye tae be victorious, and aiding ye tae wage war with them: Payment of 300 gold - 150 now, and 150 when Fez be free. Final judgment of whether ye be fit tae command, and full leeway tae act upon that judgment. Lastly, if'n ye find me service satisfactory, ye keep communication open so we may work once again fer a venture of me own, yet tae be propositioned."

The folds of oilskin cloth parted. A scarred and calloused hand extended itself to the deposed commander. "Do nae insult me with a counter offer. This is nae a peddler's booth in the town market, and that is the price of me services. Ye can either grasp me hand and accept the deal, or get off me work site."

Kamenwati nodded to Jack… “yer second condition is accepted… As I pray to Allah to make me a grand ruler, one to enhance my people’s well-being…” he smirked… “Not to be afraid of yu MiLord…”

Kam nodded to the man, and slowly slid his hand inside the wool material of his burnoose. “I know this is no peddler’s booth…” Withdrawing a pouch, he set it upon the table… “Here is 200 gold pieces… another 100 shall be upon the ship before we sail… That way yu are paid before we leave… lest I be killed in battle… Allah have Mercy…” A bow is offered to Jack… “if Allah seeks to have me survive the battle over my lands, and seeks to have me rule… then yu shall be the final judge…” It was then and only then that Kam pulled back his sleeve and held out a hand, the skin dark from the sun. “Agreed… May Allah show his Mercy upon us all…”

The rough and meaty hand enclosed the tan counterpart firmly with one shake. After releasing, no move was made toward the bag. The baritone rumble continued. "Indeed. If'n ye insist on early payment I'll nae stop ye. Tomorrow morning a messenger will deliver tae ye a list of materials that will be needed. If'n ye wish the merry journey tae have a chance of success, ye will nae fail tae collect them afore we set sail - even if it means delaying departure. Though ye'll note that yer fear shall nae be on that list, as I nae have need of it."

The hulking frame rose slowly to its feet and the weather-beaten brim dipped in a deeper nod. "Please allow me some time tae make arrangements fer me absence. I bid ye good day, Kamenwati, and Godspeed."

Kamenwati had shook the man’s hand and the pact was made. Dark brown eyes looked upon the man. Had he made a deal with the devil, or would he be successful? “I shall expect the messenger MiLord… if I am to be successful, may Allah grant me the availability of all items…” Kam listened…. “I understand MiLord… May Allah protect you and place his countenance upon you…” and the Berber gave a deep bow…. Then he turned away and headed back into the city.

But along the way, Kam wondered what the list would contain.

Meanwhile, Kam had contacted several friends, and they in turn contacted others… soon a force of twenty would meet at the docks to see the ship that would carry them to Fez…

As promised, the next day a runner arrived at the ship, finding Kamenwati. He was but a boy, dirty and wearing tattered clothing. His polite smile was marred by a few missing teeth. Though the scroll he delivered was immaculate, and sealed in wax bearing the crest of a blacksmith's hammer crossed with a lightning bolt, all encircled with laurels. The boy ran off once his task was done without much but a word of hello and goodbye.

The scroll read as follows:

Kamenwati,
I am disappointed to learn that the force available to us will be miniscule in number. You mission grows more ambitious by the day. Materials needed will be as follows:

-Clothing for each soldier that is suitable for the desert climate. Keep colors close to sand. - absolutely nothing ostentatious. No flags.
- 3 small cannon fixed on their own carriage . Nothing heavier than an eight-pounder, with enough powder and shot to fire a dozen volleys.
- 4 carts and one covered wagon.
- 10 horses
- Water and food to last at least two weeks.
- Melee arms and armor the soldiers are already skilled in - keep it light.
- 10 sturdy bows. The longer the range, the better.
- A crateful of arrows - bodkin needle heads - NO BROADHEADS!!!
- Another crateful of arrow shafts as tall as a man - include fletching and bodkin needle heads.
- 3 barrels of gunpowder (separate of cannon supply)
- 20 lbs. of parchment
- A full compliment of carpenter's and tinsmith's tools.
- 12 planks of wood 10' long and 1" by 6"
- 12 planks of wood 10' long and 2" by 4"
- 25 leather straps long enough to fit over a man's shoulder.
- 12 logs 6" in diameter

I will be by for inspection when the aforementioned has been gathered.

Seriously,
Jackk Trades

Kamenwati was easily found by the boy, when many others could not. How, he was not concerned. Browned hands opened the letter and read... Facial features quirked and formed at odd angles. Folding the paper, he stuck the letter into a pocket in the burnose and pulled out a pouch... hefting it two or three times judging weight... and he canted his head.

Now comes the task in obtaining thses items quickly...

[Men of Skye]

Chuckling… “Clothing is easy… that’ll be first…” he said to himself as he started collecting as many items of clothing, enough for 10 or more... There was no concern about fitting, as desert clothing was loose fitting anyways. Next he stopped by the local livery and rented a wagon and 4 carts, and bought 10 horses; some which had to be purchased from other liveries in the area... It was there he also had the leather straps made; cut from old saddle parts... then he set forth to the local carpentry shop and sought wood already shaped and cut to specifications and some tools as mentioned in the letter. He handed the man the silver coins, then tossing the planks, logs, and tools in the wagon…

Standing along side the wagon, Kam scratches his head. “Parchment?” then he shrugs and begins to inquire how to obtain so much parchment. Stopping by the ship, he had men unload the wagon into the cargo hold. It was such a sight to see the covered wagon, pulling 4 carts behind and driven by a Muslim… Was Jack trying his damnedest to make Kam look like a fool? maybe not, but that is how he felt… His only consolation was the fact that soon he would have the opportunity to kill Abu Said and free his people…

Obtaining the ship captain’s permission, Kam assigned some of the crew to get extra water and food. Reasons were asked, but Kam would only say that they needed to. Everything was loaded upon the ship’s hold… save the parchment and weapons… those would be difficult to obtain, as the King kept those types of supplies tightly regulated.

By this time, it was late… and he had accomplished much… but his departure would have to be delayed… The bad side was the extended cost of the ship, wagons, and carts… the good side was he could spend some time with Briseis… especially now that she was healing and rested.

Entering the newly constructed building that would soon be restocked and opened for business, he locked the door and headed for the loft, where Bri should be laying down.

Since returning to Skye, things had been a whirlwind of activity. The shop was being rebuilt, Kam was hard at work in gathering the supplies and people he needed in order to kill Abu Said and free his people while Briseis pinned letters to Carnia, several to any who would listen for though she was in good standing in Skye, she was still an ex-slave of Carnia despite having liberated herself from some speculation as a midwife there. The shop seemed to go up in the blink of an eye and waited to be filled.

Though it had taken them both no time to move into the loft above the store to get away from the Inn that was by all accounts comfortable but noisy. It was taking time for her to come to terms with being back in Skye. Crates of supplies sat within the back room rebuilt to be her clinic she still couldn't do it. She still couldn't open the crates and rebuild her life. Kam despite being busy was there to hold her at night. She fought less in her sleep, cried out in her sleep less. Bruises and marks had all but healed except for the memory which sometimes seemed so surreal. Sometimes it seemed as if it had happened to someone else but the new building was a reminder. It had not happened to someone else, it had happened to her.

Going into the market was still out of the question. Every day she would try to leave the shop to go shopping for herself and each time she was left shaking, palms sweating and the stinging threat of tears in her eyes. She never let Kam see that it bothered her to be around people. She all ready felt she made him suffer enough with her night terrors and constant tears before. Allah would provide, that was what Kam had said. In the time to pass, Briseis had abandoned her Gods. What Gods would inflict such torture on her? What Gods would turn their backs on her fevered prayers for justice from her sexual and physical abuse? Only when she had prayed to Allah had her prayers come true. Kam had shown up and she was home. She felt so foolish, so very weak.

She had received correspondence by way of her old Master, Octavius Romulus. Perhaps the only man in Carnia who would listen to her though she spoke nearly nothing more than she had been kidnapped by Abu Said and then rescued again. In his return, he expressed his contempt for what had been done to her giving Briseis reason to believe the old roman allies of Morocco by way of Carnia had heard Abu Said bragging. He also expressed his apologies. Morocco had men in Carnia and one move the wrong way would see the downfall of Carnia and he could not risk it. Not even for her sake. Part of her understood. Carnia's people were raised with the belief they would one day rise again and bring about the glory of Rome on the world again. Briseis had long ago abandoned the dream of seeing the Roman Empire restored but her heart still weighed heavy with the knowledge that Carnia was not only bound by marriage now but by fear of decimation of its people.

The reality of it came with a choice. She could stay in Skye, safe and wait for Kam to come home or she could go to Carnia and plead her case with the Emperor and pray to Allah he would see reason and revolt and join Kam in his battle to save the people of Morocco and Carnia together. She was by no way a military woman nor a political one but her heart told her she could not sit around and do nothing no matter how useless she saw herself.

The next day, Kam rose early, leaving Bri to rest, he would once again try to fill his list.… As he stood in the square, one of the street lads came to him and led him to a man who supplied parchment to the Church, Parliament, and other smaller businesses. There Kam would purchase the parchment. Twenty-five pounds was not normally heavy, but this trek made it seem heavier.

Not knowing the King, Kamenwati refused to ask the King for yet another favor in supplies… and by the time he got the courage to ask, the King had departed for Struan… By now, he was becoming depressed, thinking he would never get the weapons. But someone as insignificant as a street lad, was there to save him.

The lad told Kam that Captain Ealora of the Shadow Storm… pointing to the ship that lay in the bay… was preparing to set sail… and that the pirate captain had connections. So he set out to find her and get help…

Now two days later, with Ealora’s crew helping, Kam would…did… in the truest simplistic manner, stole the melee arms and armour, 10 kegs of gunpowder… some for him, some for her… 10 English bows, and a crate full of arrows.

Now the last two items would be the most difficult… and again Ealora’s crew, enjoying the stealth of it all, stole the 3 cannon right off the city walls or other ships… and had them mounted in crude carriages. Then the King’s armory once again provided the long arrows that Kam required.

When the logistics Captain made his rounds, and found the items, he would find a receipt for items appropriated in the name of the King, with a promise of recompense… signed by Kamenwati…

Now his ship was loaded… and ready to sail… all he had to do was inform Jack Trades….

[Chief Baliff Ealora]

Destiny in Tamazgha

Please Read last post on Shadow of Regret to understand this comes after it. creativeconsort.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=theredwall&action=display&thread=2050&page=2

"Is that it then?"

The voice that greeted her when she returned to the ship held an air of emotion to it. Concern. Her walk back had been hollow. Turning her back on her breaking husband, she was full of hate, rage and sadness. He just didn't get it and he never would. The buildings had passed as if painted on a canvas. Void of life and the hum she had come to love in the years on Skye. When she turned her back, she knew she was turning her back on everything she had obtained, everything she had ever wanted. She was turning her back on her children and leaving her husband. To say that she did not doubt her actions was completely wrong. Each step she took away from the castle and closer to the docks rang with an echo of question to it. Taylor had been waiting, sitting on the railing, one foot perched atop as he balanced between the deck and the water below. That concern in his voice brought her back to the realization of what she was doing. Her lips curled into a sad and hesitant smile as her chin jerked upward and then slowly descended into a nod.

"Take us out" She answered as she climbed the plank and moved across the deck as Taylor jumped from his perch and began giving out the orders to pull in the plank, pull the anchor and take them out. Ealora stood on the deck for a moment longer with her back to the docks watching the men move back and forth to do as they were told while Scarlett stayed at the helm to see the ship brought safely away from the docks. Turning from her position, her head swiveled to watch the docks as the ship sailed slowly away from them and into open waters. Her body turned and further and further the docks and the shipyard got further away until disappearing into the darkness. The wind swept the deck and pushed her hair into her face breaking her concentration of watching her old life slip away and she shook her head to relieve the hair from her hairs as now the men worked at relieving the sails from their restful sleep.

The deck was alive with activity and she felt her blood singing with the activity. Alive with an electric hum all of its own, it made her blood boil with pride. It was a feeling she hadn't felt in so long even with a slow runs between the trade routes. The crew didn't know where they were going, not yet but there was talk there wasn't a normal run and they would be right. Shutting the door to her chambers. She shut most of the sound out though she could still here the thud of boots as bodies moved this way and that on the deck outside while she leaned over her desk and poured over a map of the Moroccan coast making markings here and there on the map as she worked. All thoughts of what she had left behind were out of her mind. This was business.

It was hours later when light was filtering under the door that the knock came and the door swung inward as Taylor looked in with question. "They are waiting for you.." He rumbled in a low voice as if expecting her to be asleep.

Ealora had lifted her fingers posed on the map and she nodded as she rolled the map up and stepped around the desk while carrying the map with her. On deck fifty or so men were waiting for her. Scarlett had all ready settled someone at the helm and she grinned as Ealora appeared, as the only other woman aboard the ship, the woman more then enough held her own. A makeshift table had been set up and the men parted as Ealora moved towards it and rolled out the map. Despite the vast miles of blue ocean that lay on all sides of the ship she could tell they had left the course they normally took and by the men's face, they knew it too. Rolling out the map along the makeshift table, she leaned over it, her shoulders tense for a moment and then she sighed and lifted her head.

"All right" She began and paused rounding her gaze over each and every face waiting for their orders. "By now you know this isn't one of our normal runs. This isn't by the books, gentlemen. What we're doing isn't being funded by the isle of Skye. The King and Queen will not supporting this venture. What I do...what we do, is by our own admissions, our own. We've left the griffin flag behind and the trading route. Suffice to say gentlemen, as of today, we are once again, pirates" She paused again to let the weight of her words sink in. Around here men were looking at one another in surprise and confusion. Only Taylor and Scarlett who knew the truth stayed fixed on her.

After a moment when the murmurs died down and attention again returned to her, she spoke again. "We're not attacking stray ships, we have a specific target. One I have decidedly picked out. Berber ships, trade, military. It doesn't matter. We will be shadowing the Berber coast here..."An she paused to point at the map making a line against its jagged coastline. "Here their naval ships roam in protection of the trade ships they send out and the ones coming back in. All of them, are our target. In order for our goal to be reached, nothing should be spared. Not even the merchant sailors aboard their ships." Again she paused, her hand posed on the map to lift her eyes around and then back down they went. "Now we're going to sail towards the coast then make a wide birth, like that of a pregnant belly, away from the coast and a angle back towards the edge of it, from our position going towards we should catch a few of their trade ships heading out from their port to do their trade, those should be easy as they are not heavily armed. Along the coast is our biggest threat, their naval ships. Once we reach the end of our pass, we'll cut back and make the same path again to catch stragglers. We may need to do this once or twice." An as she spoke she used her fingers to etch out the route and stopping to attack the small ship indications she made on the map.

With the route set out she let go of the map and let it roll up again as she took a step back and rolled her shoulders. "For now each of you will go about your normal duties. Ravee, your in the crows nest for the duration of this journey. I want you only to come down to eat, sleep and relieve yourself except in the heat of battle. You have to pee in battle, you do it on the enemy" The men all began to laugh but Ealora barely cracked a grin. "Scarlett, I want you on the helm during battle. You maneuver the ship like a hot knife through butter. I don't trust anyone else but you there. Taylor, my right hand man. I need you on second deck during the battle, you know my mind all most as good as Sam did. I need your direction to come like you know me so our actions while not really synchronized are as close as they come."

With the direction given; Scarlett, Taylor and Ravee began to clear away the table and map to give Ealora and the men remaining room while Ealora gave direction to each of the men.

"Now comes the harder part. I am not playing favorites here so don't start cokeing an attitude. I need the best crew possible to pull this off and I am not guaranteeing anyone's safety nor lives. I count on each of you to do yours jobs and those who don't have commanding jobs, pity the ones who do. They will have it harder then you. Those with commanding jobs, you do your jobs, you see your men do their jobs or you answer to me and I will not be as kind as you think. Years of land life has not made me soft. With that being said, Falcon, you have top deck portside. Choose seven men to accompany you port side, in a minute though. Bailey, you have top deck starboard side. Again choose seven to accompany you in a minute. Alec you have second deck port side and Bane you have starboard side, both of you choose five men to accompany you. Dylan you have third deck fore and Bane you have third deck aft. Both of you choose four men to man your teams. An James, I want you as a runner between decks with a team of nine." As she assigned a captain to each deck and side she met each mans name that she called directing them to a different side so they knew where they were going to take their teams. To James she lay her hand upon his shoulder but directed her attention around again. "For those of you on top deck and second deck. It's your jobs to man the cannons. I want a team of two on the four on either side of top deck and two men on the three cannons of second deck both port and starboard sides. Third deck has two teams of five. It is your job to divide up into handing out supplies to the top and second deck. James, you and your men are on reserve. When someone falls, it is your team that needs to see them to third deck and one of your men to take their place. Hopefully you will not run out of men."

She managed a smile and gave a pat to the mans arm and then stepped back. "Choose your teams."

The deck came alive again as men divided into teams with Captains at the head of them. Rather like a game of kickball or some similar sport there were favorites being called out but with Ealora watching their were quick to divide and before her legs could tire of standing still to long, the teams were made.

"Very good, for now you can go about your day. Right now there is nothing else to do. Commanders, I will be calling you and your men in the coming days to go over the plans of how to run each side. We are, gentleman...and lady" Her attention turned briefly to Scarlett with a wider grin and then went back to the men to continue "A militia all our own. We battle on the seas and it is not easy to do but each man has their job and most do it well if we are all to succeed. Let one fail and we all fail. Let this not be a curse or create tension and nervousness amongst you. This is my challenge to you..." Again she paused to gesture her hands out into the open air and again this time she smiled. "Be at your best, do your best as you have always done for me in the past." Her hands dropped to her sides and she gave a nod of her head. "Dismissed"

She did not wait to watch the men break to their jobs instead turning to return to her chambers followed closely by Taylor while Scarlett went back to the helm.

"Think this will work?"

He hummed low at her ear and she paused in opening the door to turn a look at him. Confused and mystified all at the same time.

"At what point did you think this was a game?" She questioned and stepped into the doorway before turning to look at him again.

"Some of these men are going to die on this mission Taylor. God willing I can get many of them home but if they don't work as a team, then our hopes of any of us getting home will diminish" She gave a slight shake of her head and laughed "and its not like I have much to get home to anymore." Slowly she stepped back to close the door when she heard Taylor whisper

"Your still loved Ealora" Taylor spoke.

"It's not about being loved Taylor. It's about being accepted and understood, every single bit" Ealora retorted before closing the door in his face.

[Men of Skye]

That night in Turas Lan, the rhythmic thump of hob-nailed boots carried the hulking shadow down the streets to the docks. It made no ceremony or hailing other than asking permission to come aboard. Short work was made of locating Kamenwati, to which a nod of the weather-beaten brim was given in greeting. The hearty voice rumbled casually to him. "I hear that the city guard be quite cross with ye and a certain famed pirate that ye've been cavortin' with. They do nae appreciate bein' made fools of, especially when ye might have succeeded by requesting aforehand. So, please show me the fruits of yer labor. Did ye acquire all that be necessary?"

“Yes, all that you asked for… This way M’Lord…” as he motioned for Jack to follow… Down the stairs to the cargo hold of the ship, Kam led Jack; while listening to what the man said. “Your list was difficult to say the least, as the King has kept a tight control on the sale of weapons…” then thru the maze of crates and trunks, stopping only pointing to a plethora of items waiting inspection. “I shall be concerned with what the King may deem suitable punishment once I have freed my people…”

He watched Jack look at the items, just as the boatswain announced the ready to weigh anchor and set sails… Kam looked to Jack with a bit of anticipation.

There in the hold, the burly frame listened silently to Kamenwati's excuse. When Kam finished, a slow step carried him forward as hob-nailed boots thumped on the floor. His bulk bounced intermittently as he paced the length. Despite the shrouded, weathered, and gruff manner of Jack, a sensitive ear and a touch searched out inquisitively. A language of creaks, rumbles, and reverberation whispered with a wooden tongue. He knew the forest and its soft breezes. He knew the trees, and knew them still now even when most men would mistake them for a ship. In the dimly lit space, the walking shadow met the ship, and nodded satisfactorily to itself. Turning, calloused hands began methodically inspecting the wares. Sorting through each one thoroughly took some time, but defective surprises later would cost much more than Kam's patience. Upon finishing, the rhythmic thump carried him back to Kam, and the hearty voice rumbled. "I wonder what ye'll use difficulty tae justify. The goods are acceptable, and the vessel seems sturdy enough. We be ready to depart. I have one mandate whilst we sail: If any man be nae eating, sleeping, or sailing, he will be down here in the hold. There be much construction and training to do."

Kamenwati followed closely behind Jack, hoping all was satisfactory with his acquisitions. And when the large man spoke, Kam smiled widely, his white teeth accentuated by his dark skin. “Done M’Lord… any man not eating sleeping, or sailing, shall be below deck working…” he said in the Berber-accented baritone voice.

He immediately turned and went up the stairs and spoke to the Captain… the men responded to the Captain’s orders that were barked. Sails were unrolled, ropes creaked against the heavy iron of the anchor as men began to retract the iron beast. Others were placing final items in the cargo hold, while others loaded cannon, and others still began to put away the gangplank…

Kam returned to the cargo hold and Jack. “The Captain shall set up shifts for construction crews for us… Thru all bells he said… what ever that means…” and Kam just shrugged. “What do yu want me to do MiLord?”

Within the hour, the ship was out to sea… and headed south by west out of Turas Lan and around the isles of Skye… by nightfall they would reach open water of the Great Sea (Atlantic)… Within minutes after sailing, Jack got his first construction crew.

By now, Captain Ealora, had set sail too… She had her own set of orders from the King… but unbeknownst to Kam, this would aid greatly in his own efforts in Tamazgha. Not far behind Captain Ealora and the Shadow Storm, three first-rate ships-of the-line of the Griffin Navy would set sail for southern France… They too had their own orders in the Desert campaign soon they would sail past Portugal and make itself known to Spain that the Griffin King did not enjoy having uninvited Spanish guests in England.

Elsewhere, two other first-rate ships-of the-line of the Griffin Navy and twelve frigates now secured England’s southern coast, from east to west… and five more frigates sailed along Scotland’s northern coast from west to east.

On a break from Jack’s rigorous schedule, Kam looked out over the water, as if to see his mermaid… How was Briseis fairing on her way to Carnia to gain support of her people?

Below decks, the shrouded frame seemed mostly at rest. His slow, even manner struck a contrast with the crisp and rushed matters of running a ship. The hearty voice rumbled calmly, and reverberated well in the hold. The wrinkled brim did not move much, even when Kam was present. "I want ye tae stop callin' me "M'lord". I cannae make craftsmen of them, or ye, afore we arrive, but ye'll do just about as good work without the skill."

Kamenwati got an odd look on his face. “Aye Jack Trades.” Stating his full name with a smile. Twas unusual for Kam to have someone to negate a title, hence the smile.

Men were assigned to stations with a few select of tools. Each one was given a simple task to perform before handing his work to another man who would perform another simple task. For the first few days there was much measuring and cutting. The supplies seemed more to disassemble into rubble than to assemble into something useful. There was no indication of shape or plan other than the thoughts that lurked under the wrinkled canvas. All the tasks were done slowly and methodically. Haste was discouraged with energetic prejudice from Trades.

Once satisfied all the men involved could be trusted to work carefully, the gunpowder was brought out from its resting place, and was added to the simple tasks.

For the first few days, Kam spent time following Trades around, watching every task ordered and monitored… still, the whole picture of what was being constructed was in hundreds of pieces… Kam had no inkling of an idea as to its whole.

Long hours were spent instructing the men in sifting precise amounts of gunpowder and properly rolling and gluing parchment tubes reinforced with wood strips. An auger, that had been modified by Trades, was used to carve one side of wooden discs that created small nozzles that were placed into one end of the closed tubes. Meanwhile others disassembled one of the requested carts and began to reassemble it with specific instructions from the shrouded task master.

Kam’s time was spent between following Trades, ensuring each man stayed to task, and coordinating with the Captain as to their whereabouts. Miles were being put behind them… that meant, miles closer to destiny… It was killing him not to know what was going on in Fez… or the surrounding lands of the Tamazgha.

It was on a stopover in a port on the southeastern coast of Spain, where Kam made his way into the last remaining Muslim section of the city. There he could find information as to events in the Moroccan city of Fez and the Tamazgha. The scheduled resupply point was a good excuse for Kam to contact his people as to the happenings in Fez.

Inside the city, he found that the Reconquista had taken its toll… as the Muslim community was slowly being ostracized; many of his former peoples now moving south across the Strait. Though his men were the last to leave, they would not wait forever to tell their commander what Abu Said was doing.

Hours later, he returned to the ship, a white broad smile lit up the tanned brown face; a beard began to grow for the lack of shaving. Speaking at first to the Captain, then to the men he brought with him; thanks to the King. “My brothers in arms, lend me yer ears, for I have good, and bad, news… The Amir’s forces have been engaged at the borders of Egypt, and turned back into the desert… and his ships lay sinking in the sea, ravaged by pirates… and in the city of Fez, the revolt that we planned was averted, by loyalist to the Amir… and now he tortures those involved… all about him is chaos and it is all he can do just to hold the city. Yet, some of his forces have been victorious over ours deep in the lands of the Tamazgha … let this no deter us from our destiny… for our brethren on the ground and upon the sea have not…”

Now as the ship sailed back into deep waters… and Kam had given details to smaller groups, soon it would be time to avert their attention back to Jack Trades… and the device he was having constructed.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Middle Sea…

"Report?" Ealora's voice purred as she jumped from the rigging of rope weaving its way to the crow's nest down to the deck of the ship.

"Five wounded Captain, nothing serious. A minor crack on third deck but it’s all ready been sealed" Taylor answered as he joined Ealora on the deck.

The air was heavy with the acrid smell of smoke from cannons and the ship slowly and steadily sinking into the sea behind the Shadow Storm as it sailed away seemingly unscathed. The ship that was sinking into the sea was the five ship she had sunk this week. No quarter, no mercy. Adam had said he needed someone cold-hearted and ruthless. She had done that and more. The Shadow Storm and its crew had given rise that the sea was not a safe place to be, especially if you were a Berber ship. So far it had been small merchant ships, they had not seen hide or hair of any war ships and this, could only mean trouble down the preverbal road.

Ealora nodded her head to the report but said nothing as her hand lifted to send him on his way while she went aft. The wind was picking up sending the smoke signals higher in the sky. Normally she would stick close to land in case of trouble but being closer to land gave away their position and in the event of attack, she normally sent the ships burning into the sea, this also was a disadvantage as closer to shore, they were more likely to be discovered. Lifting a hand to brush her hair from her face, celadon eyes found the dead floating in the water, bobbing like wooden doll in their lifeless dance upon the lapping waves.

With a heavy sigh her arms crossed over her stomach and her head cokeed to the side as she regarded the ships’ sail which was poking out of the water, slowly and effortlessly sinking beneath the waves surface. Had it been worth it? Honestly, she could not answer the question resounding in her head. Had any of this been worth it? The call of the King had come and in her state of mind she had accepted without hesitation. She had accepted without knowing the situation, without knowing why she was blindly sending men to their death. Had they been innocent or were they guilty of some crime she was not aware of?

Maahes had been right. She killed for sport; she killed with the need for blood. Of this she had completely no doubt. Yet she was not so different as men who took up arms on land. All of them were heeding a call of their monarch and each felt their side was right, each fought for their country and killed the enemy who was infinitely innocent of crime besides believing in the cause of their country. So in essence, each was sought the need for blood and killed innocent men all for the sake of orders.

The crew were going about their business, Ealora quite unaware they were there while they were likewise trying to ignore their Captain who was standing with arms crossed, talking to herself. Ealora was quite unaware of the fact she had begun to talk to herself in such a mumbled state that it could not be told what exactly she was saying, but the crew could tell, Ealora's mind was not all there and it worried them.

"Ho' Captain, Ship on the horizon!" The call came from above, breaking Ealora from her thoughts and staring at the dead to lift her gaze skyward to the crowd nest to Ravee who pointed to the east.
"Report!" Ealora called.
"It's another merchant ship, Captain" Ravee voice called downward.
"Scarlett, bring her about." Ealora command rolled from her lips like a purr to a lover but called over the den of wind.
"It's going to be a long day" Taylor groaned as he passed Ealora's sword to her clean of the blood it had previous sown.
"All for the cause, my good man, all for the cause…" Ealora retorted with a grin as she sheathed the sword at her side and turned to her crew to call out.. "Ready the cannon's and prepare for battle!"

The Gaelic King, who now sat upon the courts in Struan, reviewing local cases of treason, consistently received reports of sea battles in the Middle Sea. A pirate ship was wreaking havoc upon the high seas… First, it was only small merchant ships, but when the Berber Navy tired of the pirate, they sent ships of battle… but even those were outgunned… and out classed tactically. In less than a week, the pirate had sunk double digit numbers of merchant craft, bringing the Berber trade to almost a halt… and its Navy, almost whittled down to nothing…

Then the reports started to come in on Spanish galleons being stopped, raided, and sunk. Now the Spanish Navy, in all her glory, now sought the pirate.

[Men of Skye]

The Invention

On a clear day when the sea was calm Jack calmly gave the order for everyone to stop production and to move to the top deck. In an unhurried and unceremonious manner, Jack had the men hoist the reassembled cart out of the hold. The cart sported the same flat surface it had before, but the railing was now gone. In the center was a plank-sided block that was honey-combed with slots. The cart was wheeled to the railing of the ship and set to rest with the block pointing out to sea.

Jack summoned Kam and called the crew around. In a methodical manner, he took ten of the parchment/wood tubes that had been affixed to ten of the six-foot arrows. As they assembled, the same methodical manner was used to set up a level, transit, and an azimuth. Once they were gathered, a gesture of a calloused hand pushed them back away from the cart.

Kam made his way closer to Jack, and the workers toiled around, obeying Jack with no hesitation… for they too were curious beyond belief. No one had an inkling of any idea what Jack was constructing… and all were just as equally curious. Kam watched with curiosity and he tied his hair back in a braid.

Fuses were tied together and lit. They sizzled quietly over the cart until reaching the arrows. A terrific "HUWAFATCHAAHA" Rushed over them with a roiling cloud of smoke as the ten arrows shrieked out over the water. The stoic figure spent the next few moment bent over the instruments, watching as they flew. They flew for what seemed a long time.

The odd sound made Kam, and a few others just back startled… One man who stood too close to the fuses was patting his hair that was singed… his comrades laughing at him. As the large arrows streaked across the sky, Kam watched in amazement.

A few of them sputtered and slipped silently into the ocean, while the others coughed and then exploded violently just over the water. Jack's bulk straightened and turned towards the crew muttering "Just about 500 yards." He paused, the wrinkled brim swiveling towards the reactions of the crew and Kam.

The hearty voice rumbled quietly, but held great conviction as the rhythmic thump brought him close to the vengeful Kam. "What ye see before ye is called a 'Hwatcha' - named fer the sound it produces. This block has 100 slots for 100 arrows. The average longbowman can fire 6 arrows in a minute without overly fatiguing himself and has an effective range in a volley of about 250 yards. With a two-man crew it takes approximately 20 seconds to remove this block from this cart, drop a pre-loaded one into its place. Let's assume we use a ten second fuse. With each cart firing 200 rounds per minute, with three carts, that is 600 rounds a minute. Kamenwati, ye asked me fer ways and means. With a crew of six, I give ye greater range, lethality, and rate of fire than 100 longbows. Do ye feel yer patience has been rewarded?"

Brown eyes were wide… and his attention upon the arrows turned toward Jack as he approached. “Hwatcha?” then he smiled at the odd name. Listening attentively, he nodded a few times, his brain soaking in all that was said. “Allah be praised…Jack Trades… simply amazing.” Kam got this evil smirk upon his face. “With this, I am sure a mighty force can defeat a mightier force… The Amir can now be brought to his knees… Patience? Allah be praised, Jack… I have been rewarded. I shall assign an arrowmaster with each Hwatcha… his talents with elevation and windage can be rewarding.” He spoke softly nodding at Jack.

Meanwhile, On the island of Carnia… just off the coast of Tamazgha

My Dearest Heart... Summer is in full bloom. The isle is both beautiful and ominous upon my arrival. Despite being the lands of my birth, I'd nearly forgotten the blue of the ocean here or the green lines of the vegetation that you can all most make out as the ship lumbers in; but it is ominous now as if something dark is hidden behind the exotic countryside. Perhaps it is only me that see's it. I am terrified of what it is I've come to do though I know in my heart, it is the right thing to do.

Here Briseis stopped writing and looked up from her perch on the rocks of what locals called The Jetty- a formation of rocks against the coastline rather than sandy beaches. She had docked in Martius (the fishing county) two days ago and had sent word on to Genoa and the home of her former master that she had arrived and now waited for servants to arrive and bear her to him.

The excitement that the Hwatcha brought amongst the men, and to Kam, would not let him fall asleep… the sun has set hours ago… and the day’s tasks were done… and Kam lay in the cloth hammock, swinging rhythmically to the roll of the ship upon waves. It seemed that he had counted every peg…every nail on the ceiling of the cargo hold where he slept. But the excitement soon faded as he began to think about Briseis. Surely by now she was safe in Carnia. Thinking of her was soothing… and no sooner than he had thought of her, he fell asleep… But in the night, dreams would once again invade his unconsciousness…

Miles of endless blue-green waters soon faded hard upon a rocky shore… resounding as if a mermaid slapped the flat of her tail against the water; and from his cloud aloft, he could look down upon her… perched just a meter or so above the shoreline. He saw her look around, and look solemnly toward the ships. She was thinking upon something he was sure… but was it him? He prayed to Allah twas so… Then he saw her look upon the scroll, and her hand once more controlled the quill… first dipping into the well, retrieving a quill, tipped indigo… then scribbling upon the parchment that rested solidly in her lap. Surely she could see him if she looked upward… and yet, he stroked his chin. Was he dreaming? How could such a woman have a hold upon a man as to filter into his dreams at will?

From her perch on the rocks she could see out into the miles of endless blue-green water which seemed to sway in time to its own majestic, but silent, beat. The water sloshed and slurped, kissing at the rocks, a few feet from where she sat. The docks sat to the far right where the ships bobbed in time to the waves. Here was the land of her birth and yet she felt a stranger and further away from home then she had ever been. Kam was her home, and it was as if she knew he was thinking about her, as she was of him now. Time now seemed to crawl at a snail’s pace and it seemed as if she had been here forever rather than a few days,

Upon my arrival I have heard that Cesar Augustus has passed an his son Secundus has been crowned the new Emperor. I perceive this as good news, Augustus was never fond of new ideals and if Octavius thinks it a good idea, I believe my journey will take me to Agora, the Capital, and seek council with the new Emperor. Such thoughts are monumental let alone put into action. A former slave turned midwife, then diplomat, and now seeking union between Skye and Carnia. I'm rather sure no one could have dreamed such a thing could come to pass.

Again she paused to look over the vast world of blue-green wonder. Words written on paper could not relay the terror she felt at being presented to the Emperor. It was mostly her upbringing that filled her with terror. For a slave, it simply was not done, speaking to the Emperor. Even palace slaves were forbidden to look the Emperor in the face, let alone talk to him. As majestic as the land was, and as much as she still felt the familiar song of her birth in the lands, there was just something dark here like someone was waiting in the shadows to pounce upon her. With the thought she shuddered, remembering how indeed someone had been waiting in the shadows and had taken her away from Kam. The memory made her hand quiver splattering ink against the parchment upon her lap.

When the parchment was marred slightly by the spilt ink, Kam was jolted awake by the Captain… “Kamenwati… wake up… we are not far from the village of Asilah… upon the western coast… My lookouts have spotted a group of horses, many riderless…and three wagons.”

Kam woke startled…as if he had been ripped from a beautiful dream… No longer were the cliffs and shoreline… but the dimly lit hold of a ship. “Yes? What?” he cleared his mind and allowed the light to disturb and shrink his pupils. “Asilah… oh good… if all planned goes well, those would be transportation. Tell you lookouts to signal with a red flag, then a white… the men upon land shall know…” Then as the Captain left, Kam sighed…now his consciousness yearned for the visions of the subconscious.

Looking down again, she didn't bother trying to wipe the ink away, it would only smudge anyway; but her eyes scanned the letter for any errors and then she sighed dipping the quill into an inkwell upon a rock beside her before she took up where she had left off.

I know not whether this is a good idea or not which is why I will bring it to Octavius attention. I've often found great council in his thinking as I am sure he served the former Cesar well with his opinions so will he serve the new Emperor and me. Octavius as always treated me with a greater kindness and respect than any master ever has a slave; and while it has earned him looks in the past, he has been ever gracious in his time with me, despite what people would say. I suspect the letter I received from him before my departure was not all he wanted to say, and I feel confident, that now I am here personally, he will be able to reveal his true thoughts on the situation. I am waiting now only for the carriage to arrive in Martius to bear me to Genoa and from there... well it is only a matter of support, where my journey will lead me next, either to Agora, to the Emperor himself, or to the other counties to see if someone will listen to me. I know my father cannot claim me as his own, but I do wonder, if Octavius will not support me, if he would.

"Mistress Briseis!" A voice called, and Briseis stopped writing again to turn her head back towards the village that lay to the east of the docks. A stout and plump fellow with a receding hairline and a sweaty toga was walking towards her.

"Yes?" She asked as she swiveled on the rocks to meet his eye as he joined her huffing and puffing with his girth even if he had only walked the distance and not run.

"A carriage just arrived Madam and some of the men inside are now looking for you." He replied mopping his forehead with a linen cloth.

"Thank you Rufius" She spoke before turning again to sign the bottom of the letter -Forever Yours, Briseis - and then set the letter aside as she capped the inkwell and lay it within the writing box she had brought with her with a hinged lid that hid the inkwell inside a cozy spot of its own so it would not fall over and spill everywhere. Handing the writing box over, she lifted from her place on the rocks and began to fold the letter as she followed him back towards the village. As they reached the edge of the village and the back of the Inn, she handed the letter over towards Rufius. "Will you see this taken to the Captain of the ship that brought me here? I hear he is to return to Skye and he will be able to see it to its destination." She asked.

Rufius nodded as he took the letter and headed towards the backdoor of the Inn. "Right away Madam. I'll go put this with your things and bring them down from your room." He answered before disappearing inside. He had been very kind to her but then she had paid way more than what was needed for her stay in Martius.

Smoothing her hands down the plain blue toga she had made on the voyage here, she moved around the back of the Inn towards the front. The carriage was plain but then she had not been expecting something grand; she gasped though, seeing she had not expected who stood there to greet her. Mathayus had been a field hand on the Genoa estate of her former Master but he had been her protector and friend even when she had been released and all others turned their backs on her.

"Mathayus!" She gasped before flinging herself into his arms and hugging him up tight.

Mathayus was a broad fellow, tall and lean, but muscular from shoulder to wrist. His eyes were clouded white and many thought his sight completely gone, but he could make out shapes and could even see color. Blue was Briseis favorite color and when he saw the shape and color coming towards him, he knew instantly who it was. His arms opened and as her body met his own, he held her just as tightly and yet using nearly none of his strength. "Freedom suits you." He rumbled low in her ear before chuckling. "I've been sent to guard you to Genoa. We have days to talk, I hope you stretched your legs enough for its going to be tight quarters until we get to Genoa."

"You've been promoted to house slave then?" Briseis asked as she released him to take a step back, blushing at what seemed an odd compliment but something she understood. "Guard me? I don't understand?" She shook her head, her face falling with curiosity.

Rufius appeared with Briseis’ luggage in tow. A small trunk rather, but the man struggled with it out the door; and Mathayus left her to take the trunk and without any difficulty it seemed heft it into place on the luggage rack. Rufius blushed and stuttered at the abnormally large man but backed away dusting his hands as if he had been sullied. Briseis’ cheeks flamed with life. Even a poor county as Martius, still found themselves better then slaves. Mathayus gave it no thought as he rejoined Briseis and ushered her towards the carriage before pausing to open the door and then lend her hand inside before he was pulling himself up into it. "I'm not allowed to explain Briseis. I've all ready said enough to get me punished. Don't worry. We have days before we reach Genoa and you have to tell me what you've been up to."

Briseis mouth opened and then closed again as the carriage lurched forward and began rolling down the narrow streets of the village curling around until it was heading out over the vast wilderness beyond and the roads that lead towards the other counties. She wouldn't press him for more information and it all ready shamed her that she had very possible gotten him into trouble even though it was clear he had offered up the information. "Well..." Briseis started her tale which would take the length of their journey to explain. She started at the beginning as this was clearly the beginning of yet another journey; and the carriage rolled on as did the low purr of her tongue as she told Mathayus, her and Kam's tale.

The ship anchored off the coast of Asilah… it would be less than a two day ride for the wagons across the northern peninsula of Morocco to the capital of Fez… Kamenwati’s plans were to offload the ship with the new inventions. One would be mounted in a wagon, the others, unassembled, loaded into the other two wagons and prepare them for use outside the city of Fez, before Amir forces could move against them. Men rode south, deep into the country, and east into the Tamazgha, to alert rebel forces that the time of Allah was at hand… The sound of a battle cry “Ijtihad… Rally to the Mujtahid…” rang loud throughout the Desert… Destiny was close at hand.

((OOC NOTE: Ijtihad means "Effort." Ijtihad is the intellectual effort of Muslim jurists to reach independent religio-legal decisions, a key feature of modern Islamic reform; one who exercises ijtihad is a mujtahid. This would be a good thing to use as a battle cry against the cruel and despicable Amir.))

"An arrow master?" The wrinkled brim canted slightly at Kam's words just after the first test fire. "Kamenwati, what do ye think I'll be doing on the battlefield?"

Kam smiled… “I thought better yu stayed where it was safe, Jack Trades. If I allowed something to happen to you, the Queen would have my head upon a plate…” He tied his long hair into a tail in the back. “But I see yu are determined to taste the field of battle… Allah be praised, Jack Trades… for you are welcomed upon the sides of freedom.” And he gave a slight bow.

During the rest of the sea voyage, the hearty rumble was silent save what was absolutely necessary to convey simple ideas and actions. Training was held, and the crew that would be joining them was drilled until they performed like the creation of a mechanical master. No live firing was done until they neared shore where a fixed object could be targeted, and then only sparingly.

[Men of Skye]

Death of the Shadow

The breeze wafting off the water was warm and heavy with the scent of salt. With the sun beating down the breeze that over the railing and across the deck was anything but inviting and cool. Time had seemed to cease to exist in an endless world of rolling blue green water on all sides. By all accounts it was still early morning; but in the middle of a sea that acted like glass to magnify the sun’s rays intensifying the heat that radiated all around the ship and the small rolling waves out to sea.

The Shadow Storm was lulling amongst the waves and her crew sleeping soundless after days of battle, of cannon fire, and acid smoke sending ships and crews down to the depths of Davy Jones Locker. It has been a welcomed release at first; to leave the tensions of protocol and laws behind; to live a few days in the past when all that mattered was death and profit. Yet the truth of it was, that after days of it, one got a little tired of it, one began to wish a life of peace and reserve again. The crew knew it after a few days, their life on Skye had been better then the years they had been at sea pillaging ships and even working for the just cause of vengeance on other pirates and slavers. Despite their best efforts, some of the men had been wounded in the battles and lay on bottom deck some waiting to sail home for relief from their pain, others waiting to die. Many had lost the will to die at sea, dreaming only of those sun-kissed emerald isles of Skye to go home to. There was no honor left at dying at sea. Death had become one-sided. It was never a giver, it was only a taker.

The western and southern Middle Sea has been under attack by the pirate ship for far too long… Threatening Spanish trade routes, the King issued a proclamation to either capture or destroy the pirate at all costs. Letters of Marque had been issued to freelance privateers… and even twin warships of the Spanish navy. Time was now to stop the piracy… and Spain was ready.

The crew had begun to feel it, the insanity of its captain creeping over the ship as if her mind was somehow tapered with the rope, sail, and wood of the ship. Here, on this endless abyss of blue green water, none could help but notice it and each withdrew from it as if she were bewitched with her madness and often standing at the bow of the ship watching the water late into the night till the last man fell asleep. Gone were the days were she would reward them with a good days job with music and drink giving them rise to believe it was more than attacking Berber ships. That perhaps Ealora had plunged off a deep end there would be no retrieving her from. Their only escape was sleep and when the nights came and the time to douse the lanterns came plunging the Shadow Storm into a new world of darkness, an endless black hole besides the stars that glittered in the sky only some nights, it was a relief, to sink into the depths of sleep, escaping the tortures of sliding a sword into someone's gullet like a hot knife through butter or the resounding sound of a cannon by your ear and splintering wood.

Using the southerly soft breeze to speed her along, the Florencia, one of Spain’s newest warship, one design called a galleon, sailed toward destiny… The crowsnest bellows notice of sails at a distance… and as the Captain peers thru the telescope and laughs… “We have her… sails at full… run out the guns…” he orders… the Spanish language rolling off his tongue.

From the west, the privateer, San Cristobal, sailed upon the southern breeze, tacking for position… It’s Captain, as well anxious, to reap the rewards of bullion from the Spanish King… The caravel manned two decks of cannon, modified from a trade ship. Its Captain, a Macedonian seaman with lure of gold in his mind. The defeat of the pirate his goal.

Here in even the hot morning sun, the sea was peaceful. The crew slept soundly, with dreams of home. Even the Captain lay sprawled across her bed with one foot one and one foot off, a hand behind her head as if she had flopped down to sleep more out of boredom, than the need to rest; and yet her deep even breaths said plainly that she was asleep. For once ghosts of the past did not haunt her dreams but they were indeed haunted. Memories floated as if in a gray mist of days spent playing with her children, chasing after them in tag, hunkering low in a spot within hide and seek. Laughter and smiles that she could not escape though aware they were dreams, she begged silently, lips unmoving for release as she felt her heart would burst with pain.

The door burst open breaking the spell over Ealora and she shot up in bed, her hand moving to the spare space where her sword had been removed hours ago as Celadon eyes wild with fire swept over the room as if expecting the wheaten fields to spring up through the cracks in the boards and dissolve the ship into a place she did not want to be.

"We've got trouble" Taylor panted at her not waiting for her eyes to find his to let him know she knew he was there.

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, her boots thudded dully against the boards as she swept past him. The break of his words enough to bring her to the present. She was not sure who held the spyglass out to her but she took it at a jerk as she made a hop and skip up to the wheel where the ground was higher and put the spyglass to her eye as Taylor joined at her right and pointed North and then turned his arm to point west as well.

Even before the spyglass was against her eye she spotted one ship to the North and one coming in from the West. As the spyglass came to her eye, her heart sank into the pits of her stomach and she pulled the item away as if willing the sight to be gone. As if it was an illusion of the tube but it was no illusion.

"Captain?" Taylor murmured to her ear.

"War ships" Ealora whispered back.

"Orders?" Taylor retorted.

Seconds turned into hours as Ealora's chest heaved with the intake and the exhale of her breath. The crew seemed to suspend in time as if lifted into some mystical veil where time itself did not exist. She was aware Taylor was still waiting and placed the spyglass to her eye again as she turned West. The ship was sailing East towards them. Damn it, she could not tell how many cannon's they had on board. Turning North she tried to spy the same and cursed under her breath again as she yanked the spyglass away from her eye.

"Captain!" Taylor hissed more urgently as the able bodied men of her crew had all come on deck to see what was the matter.

"Get this to Ravee, tell him to look sharp for cannon count" Ealora barked as she threw the spyglass at Taylor. "MAN YOUR STATIONS!” Ealora voice rose in a shrill cry and all eyes turned to her.

Again she felt time suspended as if they were in a bowl of jello. Unmoving and yet bobbing in time. Seconds were again hours and then time seemed to speed up to catch up with itself as bodies began to heave themselves left and right as chaos broke out over the deck.

"Captain, there aren't enough cannon's on first deck!" Bailey called as he began to usher his team to each of their cannon's and each turned to him with a downward thumb to signal there wasn't enough ammunition.

"Captain, the East seeking ship has three count Cannon's on three tiers! They are turning South by southeast!" Ravee shouted from the crow's nest downward. "I can't see the northern ship yet but they are turning Northwest, Captain!"

Ealora groaned, of cannon decks, they were evenly matched, the problem was there was two of them. "Falcon, get to third deck and load the netting with as many cannonballs as you can and get your team together to haul them up to top deck on fore and aft!! Bailey, use Falcon's teams cannonballs as well as your own, load the cannons, get them ready for fire!" Ealora called.

"Their moving swiftly Captain!" Ravee called from the crow's nest and Ealora attention drew upward to find that the western ship was no longer west but Southwest at their backs while the northern ship was now at their western side.

Death was selfish and unforgiving. It was a taker and it did not matter when, nor where. Death was always at someone's back. In the end, everyone owed a debt for the life they lived, each reached an end and met death to pay their debt. Time did not matter to death, a life could barely breathe before it was taken or not breathe at all. Other reached an end where everything was painful and the bones were brittle when death came and some lost their lives to the glory of battle. If one were lucky, it was swift and painless. For others, it would not be painless but much quicker than they expected and then there were those that suffered in the span that seemed timeless and devoid of an end.

The firstmate, with a hand raised, readied himself to alert the crew when the Captain gave the order… Having turned nor’west, the Captain tacked the wind to gain speed…his aim was the pirate ship that lay ahead… though unexpectedly, he saw the pritaeer caravel tacking opposite him to the west… “Damn that privateer… make ready the chain rounds… port side fire, prepare to come around…” The firstmate regarded the privateer… “But Captain, we might hit the privateer.” The Spanish captain smirked… “May God have mercy upon his soul… FIRE !!!!” then the conversation in Spanish was interrupted… the galleon cut loose with three decks firing almost simultaneously.

Death would come for many today and Ealora heard it in the first boom and whistle of the cannon as it sounded to the left of her.

"GET DOWN!!! TAKE COVER!!" She screamed as the cannonball made a resounding bang in front of the ship sending splintered debris and fire in all directions.

With a grunt and Taylor's arm around her, Ealora was sent to the deck, her hands moving to brace her head as she went down. A chain reaction as the air was filled with smoke to muffle where the sounds were coming from, Ealora heard it again, another boom followed by another, and another and another. Again and again it came. The second strike sailed past the middle of the ship and landed on the starboard side of the ship sending a spray of seawater over the deck as the men let out screams moving this way and that with the chaos. The third strike blasted within the water on the port side of the ship and it was only then when Ealora head came up the she realized how uncoordinated the two ships were as their cannon balls collided with one another.

"FALCON! I need those nets!!!" Ealora screamed down into the cargo hold as she scrambled to get back to her feet while the cannon fire continued from the ship at their aft their second strike sailing the length of the ship to explode in the sea at their fore. Ealora ducked again as a spray of water from the assault blasted over the ship.

"Get those cannon's ready on the starboard side, don't fire until I give the command!" Ealora screamed as she joined the crew now scrambling to lift the nets carrying the cannonballs within them up onto the deck while Taylor left her to help the other crew with the net at the back.

The Macedonian Captain had ordered his men to ready their cannon… and to prepare for hardtacks. “We can outmaneuver the Spaniards… but that pirate…” he cants his head. “Damn..its a woman…” he drops his spotting glass and looks at his firstmate… “I want that bytch as mine… yu all can have whats in the hold…” the Macedonian uttered in such an odd language. As the ship lilted to one side in a hard turn, the broadside cannon fired… the first deck guns fired over the decks, busting sails on the pirate ship… The privateer had miscalculated and sent cannon balls over the pirate’s deck and toward the oncoming Spanish galleon.

The ships were moving again taking up speed as the ship to their south moved to the east and the ship to the west moved to the south reminding Ealora for a split second of circling sharks to a bleeding meal in the sea. It was clear to Ealora then that the ships had not come to capture but to destroy. Grunting with the might it took to lift the heavy nets, she pulled with her crew until she had the net into position and then left her place at the Rope. "Falcon, get on the sails and get ready to sway the net when I say, Bailey, I want you aft doing the same, GO!" She called to both men pointing where she wanted them before moving to join her crew at the starboard cannons.

Ealora was huffing as she took her position, her arm raised. "Wait for my signal" She called as she watched the ship moving from the south gaining position on their eastern side. "Falcon, Bailey...start swinging!" She was antsy, shifting her feet from one foot to the other as she heard the men grunting with the efforts to pull the ropes swinging the cannonball filled nets back and then release sending the nets forward and aft swinging back and forth like pendulums. On a backward swing, Ealora's arm went forward "Cut the lines!" She called and the lines to the nets were cut sending the nets sailing into the air and towards the warship on their eastern side. Ealora turned watching them fly and slapped the nearest man on the shoulder. "FIRE THE CANNONS!" She yelled down the line and resounding the cannons boomed in unison, their cannonballs's sailing into the air as the nets fell. All she needed was two of the four cannonballs to hit their mark and with a ominous boom the fire was filled with smoke and balls of fire as two of them did indeed hit their mark as the cannonball nets landed upon the deck of the ship. Screams ripped the air as the warship exploded and split down the middle. Men afire jumped from the flamed railing into the sea as the ship steadily sank into the ocean.

The San Cristobal circled the Shadow, and was coming around again for a broadside… when the Macedonian Captain realized he had been outsmarted by the female captain… and a technique, that would cut his caravel in half… the keel snapping under the pressure of the shredded hull and spars. To make things worse, he had already lit fuses to return fire, and his own cannon exploded setting his gunpowder n the cargo hold to explode… the keel snapping like rotten timber… The San Cristobal sunk to the bottom… no longer would the Macedonian Captain make mistakes he would regret.

The crew of the Shadow Storm began to cheer until the air was ripped with resounding sounds of cannons fired and the ship was rocked as some hit their mark into the side of Ealora ship. Thrown forward, Ealora gripped the railing tight in order to keep from sailing over the side as the ship swayed heavily to one side before righting again, bobbing within the water like a top.

The Florencia began her attack… but the Captain gave orders to veer off, as the caravel past her stern… going into a gun run… “Break off… Damn, bring her around…” the Spanish Captain ordered… along with some curses that would curdle milk… but the explosions that followed made him look and smile… “Si… that is the price you pay for arrogance…” he commented on as he looked again in the spyglass… Seeing the Macedonian caravel sink, then explode made him smile as he ordered the galleon into a figure 8 to tack the wind… and in a wide swing, he made his attack back toward the pirate.

The crew began to cheer again as the first warship began to make a wide arch heading away from the ship and the crew though them scared and running for their lives. Throwing her hair out of her face, Ealora's feet pounded against the floor as she sailed to the back of the ship to watch the ship’s retreat only to see the shift of the ship as it did a figure eight and sailed towards them again. Ealora's mind was working rapidly on a new plan of attack, the Shadow Storm was damaged and rapidly taking on water.

It was clear to her then, they would not survive the attack, or at least the Shadow Storm wouldn't. This realization hit her like a ton of bricks and she swiveled on her feet sailing past the men again. Everything seemed to happen in a blur. Only a few men left, others were strewn across the deck their faces singed and darkened by fire while others were bloodied and gapping from the flying debris that had sent them on their way to the afterlife. "Rig that Cannon and drop it to third deck" She huffed as she passed Taylor and some of the men still alive. Gripping the rope, she jumped into the opening lowering into the deck and sailed downward, gritting her teeth as her glove frayed against the rope burn on the decent.

Her boots smacked heavily into the water all ready pouring into the deck. Wading into the water, she cut the ropes holding one of the crates into place and began to push it into position. A splash caught her attention and she stopped until a shoulder joined her own and Taylor grunted beside her. "What the hell do you think your doing" She hissed as she began to push her weight against the crate again and slowly it sloshed through the water towards the wall of the ship "Shut up and push."

Taylor grunted not worrying about what it meant to tell his Captain to shut up. With the crate in place they began to swish through the water again to another crate and began to move it to this crate towards the other one. The cannon had been lowered and was hanging heavily above their heads. The men above grunting with the effort to keep it steady and not drop it onto their Captain's head. With the new crate pressed against the other, Ealora jumped away shaking her head as sweat mixed with dirt dropped into her eyes. Taylor gripped the top of the crate and pulled himself up then offered a hand to Ealora to pull her up. "OK!" She called to the men above and the cannon lowered and she and Taylor directed it onto the top of the crate.

"Give me the position!" Ealora called to those above.

"Their all most into position to our West Captain! We have no more cannons up here!" One of the men called down.

"I know!" She growled as she heaved some of the boards off the top of the crate. "Taylor, get the men off the ship" She responded to her first as she worked to position the cannon into the opening she had created in the crate of gunpowder. "I'm not leaving you" Taylor bit back and Ealora sent her elbow into his face nearly knocking him off the crate. "I didn't ask you! GO!" Taylor held his bleeding nose for a moment before scrambling off the crate and going to the rope before being tugged out of sight. Placing wick into position, she strung the long cord through a ring on the rafters and then coiled it to the furthest side of the ship.

"Ealora they are preparing to fire!" Taylor yelled through from the top.

The Florencia was in her track toward the pirate ship… and the three layers of guns now exposed more lethality than any one ship could withstand… “FIRE !!!” the word in Spanish would be recognizable in any language if only by content and context… and the layers of guns exploded as the galleon neared the Shadow…

Using the fire burning against the side of the ship, she lit the wick and then scrambled towards the rope and slowly pulled herself upward towards the top of the ship. "GET. OFF. THE. SHIP!" She grunted out as she pulled herself upward. She hadn't anticipated the quick burning wick and the cannon exploded into the crate of gunpowder and against the crate of cannonballs in front of it sending cannonballs flying out of the gapping side and into the side of the broadside warship. With luck on her side, some of the cannons lodged into the recently lit cannons and the tunnels of metal now blocked exploded. Ealora found her grip slackened as a board from the side of the ship flew at her head striking at the side of her head and fell with a yell into the now rapidly rising water. The shock of the water kept her conscious as she hit the water and she groaned releasing bubbles into the water as she kicked her legs and pulled her arms through the hole in the ship as it sank around her into the crushing blue.

The Spanish Captain knew not the pirate’s ability… and already the pirate ship was wounded… what would occur next would only be testament to a wily sea captain… The pirate ship’s sides exploded with such force that sent metal shards, and wooden splinters… all that acted as their own methods of destruction… cannon were forced from their decks and acted as huge cannonballs, ripping the sides of the galleon with gaping holes… cannon from the galleon, not already expended now exploded in place… the whole starboard side of the ship took on water… bodies and debris would be floating upon the middle sea… In a matter of minutes, the galleon would sink alongside the Shadow… both sent to a watery grave.

With a large gasp and intake of breath as she broke the surface she coughed and sputtered as she was kicked by the now heaving waves of the explosion of two ships. All around her boards floated from the ruins of three ships. As quickly as the Shadow Storm fell into the sea, the last warship was much slower but was sinking effortlessly into the sea. Grunting with the effort it took to pull her weight through the water and the pound of her head, she swam for a floating pile of boards and slowly pulled herself upon one of them.

"Taylor!" She screamed and winced with the pain in her head. "Falcon, Bailey!" Each scream ripping a hole in her head or so it seemed. The air was heavy with acid smoke and the rush of water as it engulfed the warship sinking into the sea. Bobbing back and forth against the waves, Ealora sighed resting her head against the board not even caring at the water that sloshed towards her face. She was so very tired now, exhausted and heartbroken over the loss of her ship and seemingly, the loss of her crew. Her grip slackened against the boards as she slowly succumbed to darkness floating all most effortlessly on the debris in the open seas.

Peregrine’s ship, which had been anchored off the coast of Asilah… Now sailed thru the Strait… the Captain’s orders were to sail to Oran, on the coastal shores of the southern Mediterranean and the northern shores of Tamazgha… and wait until the signal was given to them by Kamenwati…

But after only three days of sailing, the trek to Oran would be detained. The Captain, looking thru the spyglass saw a familiar sight… the Shadow Storm, Ealora’s flag sailing amongst the breeze… smoke began to fill the air as the ships began to fire upon each other. Ordering full sails…cannon at the ready… Peregrine’s ship began a track to assist the pirate… but by the time he arrived, all three ships had sunk…nothing but debris floated upon the waves top…

[Men of Skye]

Ijtihad… Rally to the Mujtahid

((OOC NOTE: Ijtihad means "Effort." Ijtihad is the intellectual effort of Muslim jurists to reach independent religio-legal decisions, a key feature of modern Islamic reform; one who exercises ijtihad is a mujtahid. This would be a good thing to use as a battle cry against the cruel and despicable Amir.))

Meanwhile, Kam had made the two day ride across the northern peninsula of Morocco with no resistance… right to within 50 kilometers of Fez, the capital… Now all three of Trade’s new inventions were manned and armed…

Not 5 miles away, lined 200 abreast, were three ranks of horsemen, ready to protect the Amir and his capital. Behind the horsemen were seven ranks of infantry, 450 men abreast…

Within the two days journey Kam took… 3,000 freedom fighters, but no organized cavalry, rallying to the call of “Ijtihad… Rally to the Mujtahid…” arrived in his path. The desert was alive with the rallying of forces… both for Kamenwati and Abu Said... But it was Kam that would lead the freedom fighters… Abu Said would command from his palace…

On the day they anchored and they departed the ship, the walking shadow did not emerge from the hold. In its stead was a vision of tan oilskin draped above hob-nailed boots. Tan linens wrapped into a semblance of a bedouin turban about the weather-beaten brim also enveloped the face underneath. In the bright desert sun, two short cylinders of smoked glass peered out from the linen wrappings. Three Hwatchas rolled with Kam's forces. Their wheels sported horizontal planks that sped their travel through sandy soils, each one drawn by a horse that had been brought on the voyage. The wagon rumbled along with supplies. The core of the unit around the hwatchas grew as their numbers did. Archers joined the flanks of the hwatchas, and he personally held the five remaining steeds for a cavalry unit that would defend the hwatcha line.

Elsewhere in the Tamazgha, forces were meeting in battles that would raze towns and settlements… thousands would die on both sides… everyday, literally, somewhere, the Amir’s forces were being reduced… the call of freedom ringing truer than any word could describe.

Kam now sat upon the horse, its white and beige coloring hidden beneath bright colored material of the Berber… A curved sword in his hand, the reigns and shield in the other, he swung his sword rallying his men forward… out before them, were hidden markers that would mark the range of the 'Hwatcha'… now hidden behind Kam’s forces…

Kam knew he was outnumbered… if only slightly…but the Amir is the one who controlled the experienced army. The 'Hwatcha' blocks were loaded and ready to fire. Kam could only hope that Trades’ invention would hold true.

The presence of the stolid shadow turned djinn did not change as battle approached. The rhythmic thump carried the hulking frame to Kamenwati. His voice rumbled low and deliberate. "Keep them in range, or close to it, and do not let your men mingle deeply with the enemy. I will do the rest. Let them come to us. The best offense for us in this battle is fought defensively."

Leaning down from the saddle, Kam nodded at Jack’s instructions. “I shall portray a heavy front, as if we prepare to frontal a charge, with the 'Hwatcha' hidden in the rear center, … and as they move, I shall thin the rear lines and thicken the flanks… the thin front line of flagged lancers shall keep the invention hidden. Then when the Amir’s forces are near the range stakes the front line shall lower their flags… that shall be the signal to fire.” He smiles at Jack. “I shall be in the front as I should be… Allah be praised, all should go well…”

Leaving Kam's side, a defensive styled line was formed with the hwatchas in the center, archers at the flanks, as many infantry as could be spared in front of the archers, and the cavalry guard just behind the center. With a practiced motion, a spyglass was raised to one of the smoked cylinders, and the forces were observed.

Kam smiled as Jack began preparing his defensive strategy… and as he positioned himself in the lead, his commanders gathered around, and as the soldiers formed, he disseminated his, and Jack’s, plan.

[Men of Skye]

Briseis in Carnia - Part 2

When one was exhausted, it was not difficult to fall asleep in a moving bustling carriage. Truth be told, the rocking and swaying helped; and with her head lulled between the corner of the wall and the window, gazing out upon a darkened land lit only with the quarter moon, eyes drooped and fell heavy against cheeks until Briseis was lost to the sway of the carriage and journeyed quite peacefully into the world of dreams.

Here she saw Kam, loading wagons with pieces of some strange equipment and journeying across the desert sands rallying forces with cries of a language she had heard while being held prisoner by Abu Said. Even in sleep her heart quickened see the rallying forces on both sides. Those protecting the Amir and the Capital and those across the desert, freedom fighters.

Briseis jerked away as the carriage rolled to a stop, her hand went to her throat to the painful tightening at what she had witnessed. It had only been a dream hadn't it? Her fingers massaged at the ache in her throat as she sat up to look out the window at the night, even with the darkness she could tell they were not on the road towards Genoa. The carriage rolled back and then forward as the horses pranced nervously.

Mathayus shifted in his seat and swung the door open. Stepping out, he stood guard as several tense and confusing seconds passed by until Briseis gasped as a figure seemed to rise from the darkness itself though she relaxed when Octavius climbed up into the carriage across from her; but her relief was short lived as her face contorted with confusion as Mathayus closed the door on them and went to the luggage rack hopping up to the only space available before the carriage began to roll again as Octavius released the curtains over the window and shrouded them into privacy from the outside world.

"My Lord" Briseis uttered softly as her head bowed, even after everything that had happened and even in the small confined spaces of the carriage she was itching to kneel and bow to her former master. "What's going on? I was coming to meet you..."

Octavius shifted in his seat finding some small comfort in the plush seats of the carriage after a hard horseback ride to the rendezvous spot to meet the carriage in time. Once Briseis letter had reached him, it had to take quick but careful planning in order to secure her safety across the lands and also his joining her to explain the situation. Naturally he had hoped she would heed him when he had written back telling her of his apologies to how she had been treated but naturally how he could not offer more than that. Surely he had thought her smart enough to know there was danger in Carnia now.

As she spoke and he saw her itching movements to kneel without being able to do so, he grinned. She was still his Briseis, in some form or another, but it was short lived. She had never truly been his Briseis at all and she was much changed since she had left Carnia. For several seconds he was silent trying to find the best way to explain things to her.

"Briseis...you have not had it easy, of this I am most completely certain and witness to it. To be treated as a piece of property rather than a person the whole of your life..." He stopped and sighed. "I have tried my hardest to abide by your father’s wishes but also not go against the laws that have governed our land since its creation. Your father loved your mother, though it was against the laws. He loved her so much as to face punishment taking her to his bed and punishment in allowing the child to continue to grow in her belly when they found out she was with child. It was no easy task concealing your mother’s pregnancy with you and to be born in the meat house, well...I suppose that is why you hate the smell and taste of meat so much, and for your mother to birth you there, left her much changed and weakened. It broke your father’s heart when she died, just as it broke his heart to steal you away to Genoa and give you into my care. I regret that I could not love you like a father, as he should have been able to. If you had been given the rights and privileges his legitimate heirs did, I believe things could have been different for you."

Briseis sat silently as he stared at her. It made her nervous to look him in the eye but she chanced it every once and a while as he spoke, her hands folded demurely within her lap giving neither argument nor encouragement of what he spoke of.

With her silent, he let out another sigh and continued. "Briseis, your father... and his family, are dead." There was no easier way to say it. "After your rescue from Abu Said, Emissaries of the Amir arrived in Carnia to seek aid of Emperor Augustus in your immediate return to him, as part of his property that had been stolen from him, naturally leaving out you had been abducted in the first place. As part of the Emperor council, your father and I heard of accounts of your time with the Amir. Your father became outraged and despite my reasoning began to rally his men, even that of his slaves to defend your honor which he felt had been tarnished and unjustly used. Everyone knows the emissaries were to blame for his death and that of his wife and children but since the Treaty of Peace with Tamazgha, the Emperor professed it a just death for disloyalty."

Briseis face contorted with slight pain and still, further confusion. Her mouth opened only to close as he continued and she shook her head, the tips of her fingers pressing against her lips as her attention turned to the window covered by curtains, she studied instead the patterns upon the cloth until silence fell over the carriage. "I don't understand, why was his wife and children murdered too? Why are you telling me this now?"

"By law, the sins of the Father are the sins of the son and so on and so forth. By right of law, his family was condemned by his own actions. As the sole surviving child of Adonis Cassius, you are by right of law, his heir, and by law now or by decree of the Emperor, Lady of Lycia. It no longer matters whether you were born a slave or not. The new Emperor is only concerned with surrounding himself with the blood that has populated this land for centuries and you have the blood of a relative long standing in this land. This is a blessing Briseis, but it is also a curse; if who you are comes out to the Emissaries of the Amir."

"But then, my Lord, we will just not say who I am. And it is as much a danger to you, to be in my presence and especially knowing what I have come here to do." Briseis countered.

Octavius let out a laugh though it was short lived and shifted to lean his elbow against the side of the carriage. "I know very well what I am risking in being in your presence and I do so freely. Things in Carnia right now Briseis are bad. Things rest on the edge of a blade and the wrong move and everything falls. The island, its people, its all on the edge of a blade and their fates rest upon the new Emperor. The Treaty of Peace and Unity with Tamazgha was renewed when Abu Said took the throne after his father’s death because Emperor Augustus was still alive and the Treaty he himself had come up with a triumph to himself but since his death, the treaty is null and void in the face of his son. Hence, the Emissaries of the Amir are nervous and working harder than ever to ensure that a continued relation between our nations would be beneficial to the both. Yet they are not stupid, they know a daughter of Carnia has been soiled on their lands and by their Amir, and they aren't quite sure how this new Emperor is going to take it. So you see, while you are blessed to gain the title of Lady of Lycia, you are also cursed if the Emissaries ever find out that you are the daughter of Carnia so soiled by their Amir, for it would mean their demise. The new Emperor will not be able to ignore that despite your standing while you were tarnished, you are now a Lady of the Court and so deserve due justice for what was committed against you. This is why I sent Mathayus to secure you. I can get you into the palace grounds but I don't know how I can get you to the Emperor undetected."

Briseis sat silent again, staring at the pattern on the curtains weaving inward and outward in such an odd design she could not put a name to it. She had found out long ago who her father had been, even though she had never told a soul; besides Kam and she had never tried to visit or speak with him. She did not know the man who helped father her within her mother, so that he was a stranger to her, even though she had seen him many times throughout her life; as he was best friends with her former master. Yet as much as he was a stranger, he had, she saw in Octavius’ words, loved her, enough to defy their country for her honor, and so she felt such a great sadness at his passing that her eyes stung with tears. This also explained why she had felt like there was danger lurking past the shores of Martius. Now she understood where they were going. Briseis was not an overly intelligent woman and she would never say that she was. She did not understand politics and she did not know how to be a lady of title but she knew what was right. She knew the Amir could not be left on his throne, if for the sake of his people, and not what had been done to her.

"I know a way..." Her attention turned from the pattern to Octavius and her face was now full of revelation and assurance. Gone was the confusion and uncertainty.

There was a steel braveness to her, like a coat of armor, hard with courage, yet soft and pillow-like in her nature. Octavius could not believe he had agreed to her plan, it was dangerous on her part, ringing with so much uncertainty and the threat of death. Yet there was so much courage in her face, there was such a look in her face that reminded him of Adonis that he could not help but agree. Safe within Agora, he had delivered in Mathayus hands so that he could journey into the palace and the council of the Emperor threatening certain death to the man if harm came to Briseis. At first it seemed as if the plan would fail; for hours, the new Emperor walked around the grounds of the palace, several times passing the atrium without notice of the company there.

Briseis had changed once within the city walls. Unfortunately in a land filled with slaves, it was not hard to find the garb allowed to such servants. Now within the atrium she sat upon one of the stone walls surrounding a fountain, her knees tucked to her belly as she knelt with her hands before her in a submissive gesture, her head nearly touching the stone beneath her. Mathayus was not far away, but as a slave, he went without notice and it was only his companion perched the way she was on the fountain’s edge that received curious glances and nothing more. While the Emperor himself did not seem to notice her when he paced with his council.

It wasn't until night had fallen and most of the court had moved inside to the great feast and the Emperor still with his council was moving past the atrium again did he notice the submissive female on the fountain. "Who is that?" He called to his council for answer.

"Your Majesty" Octavius spoke up amongst the confused councilmen who glanced at one another searching for an answering. "Her name is Briseis and she is paying homage to your Majesty for the actions of her family."

Secundus looked back to the Lord of Genoa and then back at the girl who did not even flinch or acknowledge that she had been noticed. "Bring her inside, clean her up, and have her brought to the hall." He rapped out before continuing along his path.

All but Octavius followed after the Emperor, and it was then Octavius signaled Mathayus, and then continued on as Mathayus went to help Briseis off the wall, stiff as she was from the same position for hours.

The hall was ringing with conversations as Briseis moved closer down the hall towards it. Her heart was pounding within her chest as her sandaled feet moved against the marble floor. Octavius had sent a plain wool toga with longer sleeves that what was perceived as class in the Carnian court; but she did not care, she was actually grateful, as she admired the burgundy color of the dress trimmed with gold. Mathayus stood guard while she was attended, washed, and dressed, with her hair swept back and pinned with golden decorations that kept the hair out of her face, but allowed it to flow freely down her back. The hall quieted as she entered the threshold and stood waiting as Octavius left the Emperor resting on his pillows to join her. Taking his arm, she was careful not to look around her for fear of fleeing as they crossed the floor to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, may I present Briseis, Lady of Lycia…" Octavius rung words rung out as the hall erupted with conversations going back and forth of the new lady at court. The Emissaries of the Amir were seething, but in a hall full of people they could do nothing.

"Lycia?" Secundus asked with some surprise as he popped a grape into his mouth, chewed and swallowed before continuing. "I was under the impression that all of the Cassius family has been executed for disloyalty." His eyes swiveled to first Octavius and then Briseis.

"Your Majesty..." Briseis spoke up and she heard gasps surrounding her on all sides. "It is why I sat in the Atrium for hours. I know I have no right to beg of you an audience but I humbly do so in the hopes of restoring peace with the family that were so gravely accused. I know very well, my beginnings in this life saw that I could not lawfully be accepted, and my captivity in the Amir's court saved me from sharing their fate when it happened."

Again the court was ringing with conversations anew, and Secundus gaze averted with annoyance around the court, and then back at Briseis and Octavius. "Leave us." He commanded the hall.

Slowly the court filed out of the hall and the doors were closed in their wake leaving Secundus and Briseis alone. Briseis gaze swept around the empty hall now devoid of faces her fear had diminished some. Secundus ate in silence for a few minutes watching the woman whose gaze swept the hall before his hand lifted and he beckoned her to come towards him. "Sit, eat." He commanded.

Briseis moved slowly to the cushions upon the floor and arranged her skirts until she was sitting across from the Emperor upon them. Her gaze swept the table laden with all sorts of food but she could not find the stomach for any of it and so folded her hands demurely in her lap again.

Secundus grinned before taking a long pull from a Goblet of wine and then setting the cup down again. "You do not enjoy the comforts of my hall? If you are afraid I will have you executed, let us take that off the table as it were. Considering my council knows it is for you that the Cassius family committed treason, we cannot rightly charge you with it, as you were a captive of the Amir of Tamazgha. I know what you've done Lady Briseis, you and Octavius, it is very clever. I suppose now you would beg of me the men in which to defend what was so savagely done to you as I am sure you now know the Treaty of Peace and Unity with Tamazgha is null and void, until that is… I decide to sign a new one. Now would be your time to ask. So tell me, why you came to see me. Ask me. It is within your right."

There was much in her past that she wished to forget. The night she met the Amir was one of them. Not the night of her captivity, but the night in which he had so savagely raped her and in the end ripped her right of children away from her with the death of his bastard within her belly. Yet she could not forget looking into the face of her past. Secundus had been heir to the throne then, his father a just and right ruler, who was merely trying to secure the land for his people and the right allies for it.

At the time, it was right, but times were changing. So much had already changed. She watched Secundus wondering if he remembered her, it had been such a long time ago and she... a slave at the time. "I am not afraid your Majesty. Not of dying. After so much, death is the least that frightens me." She answered honestly and then looked at her hands wanting to find the right words to relate what she had to say. "I do beg of you men, your Majesty, but not for what you think. No doubt the Emissaries of the Amir would have you think his land being unjustly attacked for the sake of a woman, a slave? On what you were raised, on what we were raised. It is not only uncommon but unthinkable." Her lips pressed together for a moment and then she sighed. "I would hope your Majesty would not be so easily deceived."

Secundus laughed as he wiped his hands upon the tablecloth and then rolled from his side to sit up. It would surprise her to know he did remember her. She had changed so much since he had last seen her, but inwardly, not outwardly. Outwardly, she was as beautiful as he remembered her to be. Abu Said hadn't been the only one who had wanted her that night but his father had held him back from the chase of the slave girl in order to secure the Amir’s hand in unity. "I'll admit to hearing accounts of the war brewing upon the Amir's soul and from his very own men's lips. Sugarcoated, no doubt, in order to secure our loyalty again. So tell me, Lady of Lycia. How are you any different? Don't you wish to paint a picture for me to secure my loyalty for your cause just as they do for theirs?"

Briseis eyes found Secundus and had there been people in the hall, she was sure there would have been gasps, perhaps even fainting. "Your Majesty, if you would but remember me. Remember that I grew up with only one true lesson, loyalty to my master. I am not saying people cannot learn on their own to deceive, but I have never learned that lesson. Of what gain could it possibly get me? Me, an ex-slave turned midwife, and then forcefully turned sexual slave. I suppose you think me bitter and wishing to exact my revenge against the Amir. I can say with all the honest breath within my body that I wish no such thing on the Amir. I do not even wish him harm, at least where I am concerned. Surely your Majesty has heard accounts of what he has done, that is not some pretty picture. Of what he has done to his people. This is my cause, your Majesty, it cannot be allowed to continue. I count my imprisonment a blessing, surely news of his wrongdoings would have stretched too wide for his hand to cover in time, but in my imprisonment and rescue, his misdeeds have been discovered. The man who fights upon the Amir's sands now does not do so for the sake of my honor, but for the freedom of his people."

Secundus rose abruptly from his pillows and swept past the low tables to begin pacing the floor. "Is that what you seek then for Carnia? Freedom? To destroy centuries of tradition? What would you seek next, my crown?" His face flushes with anger.

Briseis realized as he stood that she had mis-spoken and her head dipped as he began to pace and spit angrily at her. "No your Majesty. Please, you misunderstand me. I seek only to see the continued lives of your people, my people. We were born here as those of our families before us back to the times in which Rome was great. Your Majesty please…" She turned on the pillows to look at him. "Rome is dead, the Roman Empire is dead. We have been our own Empire for centuries now. The rule of your father and that of his father before him, they had one singular goal, to restore the glory of the old roman days and yet they never went for it, perhaps assuming as what I know now to be right. The Roman Empire is dead. There is only Carnia which has stood on its own for so long, seeking alliance in its own right, never looking towards Rome for approval, or for the restoration of the past. The past is behind us, Secundus." She knew it was a gamble to use his name but she was following her heart. "You are standing on the edge of greatness in a sea of a changing world. You can change with it, be known as the ruler who brought our country into a new Era. The choice, your Majesty, is wholly yours. No one can make it for you."

Secundus had continued to pace but his face slowly ebbed from the red hue of anger as she spoke to him about change and that Rome was dead. That he was standing on the edge of greatness and yes she had peaked his pride with that, his chest slightly puffing out at the idea of being immortalized, unlike that of his father and his grandfather who worked tirelessly for what she called a dead empire. "In a world of men seeking only to further themselves with their lies to me. I want your honesty lady." He spoke and turned to look at her.

Briseis hands folded in her lap again as he looked at her and for a moment her head bowed, her fingers tapping on one another before raising her head again to look at him as she spoke. "We, are only as great as our hearts will allow. Surely no time like this has happened before, or ever will again. A slave turned a noblewoman addressing the Emperor. No one could have ever fathomed it nor dreamed of it. My goal, your Majesty is simple. To secure the freedom of the Tamazgha people from the Amir. They deserve better than him sitting on the throne and surely as his heart is dark, the land will darken and whither with him on the throne. To unify you with his land again, to unify Carnia with Tamazgha would be a mistake, and one our people would suffer from as well. I do not profess to see the future, but you would not sit long on the throne if you sign a new Treaty with them. The other part of my goal, all rests in your hands. I seek to see Carnia thrive, its people happy and looking to a land now rich with its own culture. We left Rome as it fell so that we could remember and restore. What we did not fathom was becoming a land of our own. We are no longer Romans, but Carnians and we have a right to thrive, to be recognized in our own right. Only you can give that to us, your Majesty. In some ways I wish I were in your shoes as you are given a chance not many men can ever say they have had. You can liberate your people from a dead dream and bring them into a new world all of their own. You can be Emperor of your own nation and govern it as you see fit and not based upon traditions that are gone and dead. The possibility can be endless your Majesty, but the choice is completely yours, of where we go from here."

Secundus had stopped pacing to look at her as she spoke. He had never thought that tonight, he would dine with a former slave nor that she would put such thoughts into his head. Folding his arms behind him, he let out a sigh and then released a hand to usher her to rise. "You have given me a lot to think about my lady, I shall think about it tonight. There is no use making a decision now. We shall return to this in the morning. For now, I shall have a servant show you to a room. You are to be my personal honored guest for the time being. I shall not be refused."

As Briseis followed the servant from the hall, she felt her heart still beating heavy within her chest. The Emperor had given no rise that he would align himself with Kam to free the people from Amir, but nor had he given any rise to believe he would align himself with the Amir, as his father had done. It took her hours to fall asleep situated on one side of the bed she wished beyond hope of it coming true that Kam were laying beside her.

Light was cresting over the hills of the isle when finally she fell asleep and it wasn't until late in the morning when the streets were filled with the chaotic screams of people that she awoke again. At first she had thought the palace was being attacked until she realized the cries were joyous. Sweeping the covers back, she rose and moved to the balcony to look out just as the door flew open and Octavius rushed in.

"Carnia is going to war!" He cried his eyes sweeping the room to find Briseis with her arms wrapped around her body looking back at his sudden arrival. Crossing the room and weaving around the bed, he came to join her panting with the jaunt to bring him to her rooms. "Secundus is sending troops into the desert." His voice lowered to a whisper nearly cut out from the parade going on below. "The word is, we're going to aid the Amir from its intruder but I was with the Emperor and his Generals this morning when he revealed the plan is to make the Amir think he is coming to assist him and to change sides when they get there. Whatever you said... you are bringing change to Carnia, Briseis. Gods help us, things will change." His hands rose to her shoulders and settled there, squeezing as if to comfort her.

Briseis eyes averted from Octavius as he spoke that Carnia was going to war, but her face betrayed her, shock and despair until he revealed what the Emperor plan was and she hugged her arms around her body as her heart sang with relief. Kam was getting aid. As Octavius’ hands settled on her shoulders, she couldn't help but smile. "It wasn't me Octavius, the world was all ready changing. At least now Carnia can change with it." Lids slid closed over the soul seeing sapphire eyes and her thoughts turned to Kam. He would get the troops he needed to defeat the Amir, and she would be waiting for him.

[Men of Skye]

The Battle for Fez

The entire Tamazgha was ablaze with war… From the borders of Egyptian lands on the east, to the Great Sea on the West… from the northern coasts at the Middle Sea, to the lands of the southern desert… lands that lie unexplored jungles… Hordes of soldiers, both on foot and steed, faced one another…flags of nations…flags of families… fluttered in the warm subtle breezes… commanders shouted orders in languages European’s would not understand… then, with shouts and sword waving, the armies would clash… Men would fight until the end… the thoughts of surrender or retreat never crossing their minds. The sands of the desert would be stained with blood, as it had for a millennium… the screams of death and life-ending wounds filling the air… Flags that once fluttered in the air, now lay buried in the sand, its owner dead, his hand frozen upon the staff.

For months, the Tamazgha rebels in the heart of the Tamazgha, had suffered defeat after defeat at the hands of the Amir… the rebel forces greatly outnumbered, the Amir’s forces motivated by the insanity of the cruel ruler. Kamenwati was in command of a rebel army; the Amir hell-bent on crushing his mortal enemy.

To the East, the Amir’s Berber forces and the Egyptian forces battled back and forth... sometimes gaining land, sometimes relinquishing the same land. The Amir, his navy now decimated by pirates, had formed devil-deals with Spain for resupply and arms… and now Carnia had been convinced to join the Amir or be crushed beneath Berber sandals… The site of roman phalanxes marching once again in the desert brought fear to those who would face them…

Kamenwati and Jack looked out over the sand, the Amir’s forces facing them… Jack’s defensive styled line, the hwatchas in the center, archers at the flanks, as many infantry as could be spared in front of the archers, and the cavalry guard just behind the center… Kam’s offensive line ready to form as the Amir forces began to move forward… the Carnian phylanxes on the Amir’s left and right flanks…

Kam looked to Jack… “This is it, Jack Trades…” as he smiled and spurred his horse forward, back to his commanding position at the lead of the front line.

The Amir forces began to march forward, their lances lowered…1400 meters… 1200 meters… 1000 meters… 800 meters… Soon the first lines would be within range of the hwatchas…

In the background, loomed the towers of Fez…and the Amir… and as his commanders upon the field of battle yelled orders to attack… one Carnian phlanx wheeled about marching for the city walls, preventing any forces from escaping… while the other attacked the Amir’s rear forces… the roman style of fighting soon eliminating the Amir’s reserve forces…

Confused, the rear lines began to fade into disarray, as the main body continued to march forward… 700 meters… 600 meters… Kam, sitting atop his steed, waved off his fourth, fifth, and sixth lines, leaving the front two to keep a façade of a battle line… those lines relieved would be reformed into the flanks… 650 meters… 600 meters… and to the rear-center, Jack, and his assistants, would adjust the new inventions, then light the fuses… 550 meters…

The Amir’s front battle lines would begin to run the last 500 meters straight at the rebel forces… The Battle of Fez would soon erupt into a conflict… the Amir’s main effort to kill Kamenwati and the rebels that would defy his cruel rule… to end the threat of revolution.

450 meters… Still Kam held his forces at bay… waiting for the time they would attack… and as the smoke of the Hwatcha fuses sputtered and filled the air… that odd, and to some, terrifying, sound screaming overhead…

Fuses were tied together and lit. They sizzled quietly over the cart until reaching the arrows. A terrific "HUWAFATCHAAHA"... rushed over them with a roiling cloud of smoke as one hundred arrows shrieked out toward the horizon… some simultaneously, some staggered behind the others… then another "HUWAFATCHAAHA" and 100 more arrows flew from the other cart…then a third set of 100 followed the second set in another scary sound of "HUWAFATCHAAHA"… A few of them sputtered and slipped silently into the crowd of oncoming attackers, while the others coughed and then exploded violently just over head of the Amir’s forces… men, by 100s, screamed and fell, never to rise again… others flopped about the desert sand as if they have been hacked at, or burned by oil… the Amir’s center was now being assaulted by hundreds of arrows, as long as a man… while the roman-styled phalanx at its rear takes its toll… yet the front lines of the Amir’s forces ran blindly into the smoke, trusting to find an opponent…

But what they found was a weak line, one that its ends soon circled and enveloped them like a self-sealing coffin… Kam had ordered a weak front, only to envelope the enemy as he sought to crush the weak lines… Within the blinding smoke, two forces fought… men died screaming a violent death, as swords clashed and skin severed under sharp blade and piercing lance.

By the time the desert wind had cleared the smoke… the Amir forces had been decimated… Outnumbering his opponent 2 to 1, the Amir’s forces’ death count now quadrupled his opponent’s.

The Carnian phlanx now reformed with its otherand stood before the walls of Fez… Kam reformed his men encircling the great city… and Jack now ordered the Hwatchas relocated in strategic places around the city and re-elevated with the ability to fire over the city walls.

By dusk’s dimming light, Kamenwati now sat atop his steed near the main gate of the city… his booming voice calling for the Amir… and his surrender of the city.

The tan djinn stood in characteristic silence as the battle began. A spyglass with a leather sun shade on the end was raised to a smoked glass eyepiece. The crews busied themselves with arranging the ammunition as ordered. The defensive line stood its ground and presently unoccupied infantry aided the crews. A few minutes into the charge, the hearty voice rumbled quietly from within the folds of linen cloth. The crews turned to the hwatchas as the voice bade them. Numbers and commands were given in a soft, unhurried manner, and the obeying fingers turned distance and windage adjusting screws to the finest of degrees. As the charge progressed, the burly figure muttered something about Kam. Before the enemy forces were in range, Jack lifted a calloused hand to shoulder height and chopped the air with the simplest of commands. "Fire."

Seconds later the hwatchas shrieked to life and the first 300 arrows flew. Just as the arrows departed, tan folds of oilskin cloth fluttered as he wheeled upon the crews and bellowed orders over the roar. Empty firing blocks were replaced with loaded ones, and in twenty seconds another 300 flew. Displaying an uncanny precision with a naturally imprecise weapon, the arc and timing of the arrows met the first ranks of the Amir's forces just as they entered their reach. The following ranks, their charge impeded by the shock, smoke, and bodies now among them, received the brunt of the second volley. The hwatcha crews and the assisting infantry hustled to load another 600 arrows as the spyglass roamed over the battlefield and new adjustments were barked. Five hundred yards is a long way to charge while under fire, and those that had survived and regrouped endured another full showering before reaching the waiting Kamenwati.

As the Amir's forces were encircled, the flanking archers were ordered to volley into the consolidating group of enemy. More adjustments were made and the hwatchas fired dangerously close into the meeting of forces without tire or mercy. After the fighting had finished, the djinn moved the artillery to a single new firing position for siege, but kept the cannon (which were never fired in countering the charge) they had brought in a defilade position on a small dune rise, out of sight. Before Kam would ride out to call for the city's surrender, Jack gave him his report. "I donnae know exactly how ye think this battle will progress, but we do nae have the ammunition for a long siege. I have enough, probably, tae punch a hole in the walls at a weak point and cover an assault, but we'll have tae call in supplies and set up a workshop tae keep up prolonged artillery fire."

Kam rode to Jack and as the horse stomped the earth, the man in the Berber armour looked down at his accomplice… “With Allah’s graces, it will not be a long siege… Prepare what you will sir… I require the gates to open… one way or another… as I prepare my people for one last effort here, so shall you do this one last task…”

[Men of Skye]

Briseis in Carnia - Part 3

My Dearest Heart--
I have arrived safely in the Capital. I know when last I wrote I was waiting on passage to Genoa and the home of my former Master Octavius, however, sometime in the night the carriage changed course and Octavius joined me and relayed information that at first set my heart at a still. We were headed not for Genoa but for the Capital city Agora located in the county of Agora to meet with the Emperor. The reason for this, my father, has passed. He was killed by the late Emperor Augustus for treason though it was only a front to hide the fact Abu Said Emissaries killed my father and his family for revolting against what was done to me. Being the last surviving heir of his family, I am now, the Lady of Lycia. To put everything that has transpired down would take far too much paper and I hope to soon relate all of this to you in person. I am now a guest of the new Emperor of Carnia, Secundus and it feels as strange and as it probably seems. I grew up knowing Secundus and now to see him in a place of power seems odd and yet fitting. It seems fate is lending us a helping hand my love. By now I perceive you have the assistance of Carnia soldiers and I pray daily they are of enormous help to you.

It feels so strange, this new position. One I am in no hesitation to admit, I do not think I am ready for. I was raised as a slave, not as the daughter of a Lord and not prepared to know and uphold the laws of the land but I would be lying if I did not say that I am happy to uphold the position my father had. Somehow, my conversation with the Emperor has inspired change in Carnia though it would be slow going. There seems even a change in the land, the shadows are receding, perhaps our enemies know now we will not back down. We have long been broken with Rome and realize the Roman Empire is forever gone but we still instill the old rites and religions of Rome if bending them to our will, Carnia can now perhaps be recognized on its own.

At first I was unsure of how I felt in being back. Feeling strange and somehow detached from the land of my birth. I admit I was afraid my past would be returning to haunt me and that no one would recognize the binds of my past as a slave are no longer holding. Yet as each day passes, I come to wonder how it was that I left, my heart has always belonged to this land and though part of me understands I left so that I could shed my bindings of being a slave, part of me also wonders if perhaps I was not meant to truly leave but journey in order to return to take my place in destiny. It is an odd feeling, to know I have a destiny when I've ever felt it was merely to show you yours. Yours is by far a greater one than mine and I cannot be swayed from this but nor can I be swayed of my love for you. I miss you, so greatly that daily my heart aches though I try to hide it and I feel shame at the end of the day I would rather have you in my arms then on a battlefield even as I wish your people, our people freed of the chains that now bind them. I pray my love, that Allah will keep you safe, I pray my love for your victory but most of all and with full knowledge of my guilt in this, I pray for your return.

Forever yours,
Briseis

Sealing the letter with wax, she turned it over to write Kamenwati on the front and then waving the letter to harden the wax before she placed a kiss against the seal that he would break in order to read her words. The doors to the terrace were open, the revelers were still going at it from this morning’s news that Carnia was going to war albeit with the intentions of acting like they were joining the Amir only to change sides once they had reached the battlefield. It was a clever tactic Briseis supposed, but she knew nothing of war. The maiden fixing her hair took a step back and Briseis could see her dipping in a curtsy behind her.

"Thank you" Bri hummed and received an odd look from the girl before she took her leave of the Lady of Lycia. Just as the door was about to close, Octavius knocked and then smiled seeing Briseis in her new robes of a deep ocean blue. They looked all most similar to the ones she wore when she served him but of a finer quality since that time with her standing as a lady now.

"Lady of Lycia, we will miss the Emperor speech and the soldiers marching. You don't want to miss that." Octavius teased at her backside.

Briseis turned in her chair pressing against the back to stand up. "I'm coming" she mused in return letting out a sigh as she crossed the room to join him.

Octavius look turned to one of concern at her heavy sigh. "What's wrong?" He knew her well enough to know when she was hiding something.

"Nothing, just tired" Briseis retorted and she offered him a smile as she took his offered arm as they made their way into the hall to join the Emperor in his box overlooking the courtyard where the soldiers would pass.

There was none who could think it more odd then Briseis to be standing the company of men upon the Emperor box, now one of the Senate; it was the first time ever in the history of Carnia that a woman was on the council of the Emperor.

Empress Prima sat next to her husband, the picture of Carnian beauty in her exquisite robes and veil, which rested just so on her head by the weight of the wreath of golden leaves on her head identical to her husband’s, only slightly smaller than the wreath upon his head. Briseis fought hard not to fidget though she was sure she was hard to notice behind and to the right of the Emperor as he gave his speech to the golden army of Carnia.

"An' remember this above all, Our Roman Gods are watching, make sure they are not ashamed!" Secundus voice rang out followed by the growing rumble of cheers from soldier, nobility and commoner alike as his speech came to an end.

"Caesar! Caesar! Caesar!" The Soldiers cheered raising their shields as they called for the Emperor.

Briseis could not help but crack a grin as she joined the other nobles invited into the Emperor box and those of the Senate in clapping for the Emperor's speech. They resounding clap of their hands drowning out as the horns sounded and the slap of sandaled feet too over the roar of the crowd and row upon row of solider marched from the courtyard towards the bay where the ships lay in wait to take the men in aid of Kam.

"Briseis...come...look" Octavius mused low and reached to take the woman's hip angling her in front of him for a better view over the balcony.

Teetering forward, she peered none too far over the balcony and watched the men matching. Watched wives blowing kisses to their husbands, mothers ringing their hands and calling for glory and honor for their sons while other women threw white petals under the men's feet as they marched. Briseis felt her throat tighten as tears sprung to hers eyes. Those of guilt that a lot of these men would not return home to their mothers, fathers, wives, daughters and sons and some of it pride. She gave a small sob as the tears began to trek down her cheeks and she quickly pulled back from the balcony as she moved to wipe the tears away and clutched to a pillar consumed so heavily with her tears that she felt weak at the knees and her head fuzzy.

"Briseis..." Octavius spoke at her backside when she turned away "What's wrong?" He asked of her again, his hands at her shoulders squeezing tightly.

Honestly she did not understand what came over her and she laughed if to throw him off as she wiped the edge of her palm over her cheeks to wipe the tears away. "Nothing nothing, like I said, I'm tired."

"Come on, I'll take you back to your rooms to rest..." Octavius spoke the concern heavy in his voice and the squeeze of his hands at her shoulders as she ushered her away from the gathering back into the palace booked no refusal.

Several days later...

The atrium was alive with activity. Lunch was brought outdoors and the council members had broken from the chamber to enjoy the sun as was the Emperor's decree. Musicians were strumming at their instruments while conversations buzzed between the groups scattered around the large garden the palace was wrapped around.

Days had passed since the march of the soldiers and it was life as normal or so it seemed though Briseis knew those with loved ones upon the battlefield now shared her own feelings. Anxiousness for the battle to be over swiftly and the guilt of wanting their loved ones home.

For all to see, nothing was wrong with Briseis and she simply was learning her new place for surely the days blurred one by the other. Nightly she wrote Kam of what she had done that day, what she was feeling and expressing her wish that he return home to her safely before the letter was sealed and a kiss placed upon the seal to be sent off.

Things seemed the same. Change was coming slowly but already those some who had been apprehensive of having a woman on the council began to compliment Briseis arrival into nobility.

After resting the day of the march away, Briseis had turned the next day into a whirlwind gathering medical supplies to send off to the bed, visiting with those who had a family member off in the battle to see if they needed anything, lists being made for supplies for the families who needed the help while their fathers, sons or husbands fought within the war. She could not fathom why she had been so emotional watching the men match off to the Bay but she would not allow it to hold onto her any longer.

No matter how tired she was by the days end, she made sure her letter to Kam was written before falling into bed dreaming of him often. It was somewhat of a comfort to visit him within her dreams, holding onto him, reveling in times they had spent together before any of this had ever began.

By morning she was often more tired then when she went to bed, but Briseis was on a path she could not stop and she pulled herself together to keep going.

The pause in the constant dribble of the council was welcomed. Between working in the cities to gather what the families needed. Briseis for once was glad of the break. Tables were laid out laden with food. As always, she left the meats behind for sliced vegetables and fruits before finding a quiet place in the corner with some cushions to rest.

It was not long before Octavius joined her and lounged on the pillows beside her, resting against his side with his feet laid out, his elbow propping him up going giving her an overview of the councilmen.

"That man there is the Comitia Curiata. His name is Brutus Flavius..." Octavius pointed out one of the gentleman who still wore the riggings of a soldier.

Briseis leaned back against her own pillows popping a piece of fruit into her mouth as her head turned to where Octavius had pointed. "The Comitia Curiata?"

"Yes, its a man who can endorse and ratify ideas into proposals of law by the Emperor. Of course the senate can vote on it but the Emperor has final say. Brutus is a good man, a formal general which is why he still dresses like a soldier. He likes the old ways but he is an idealist to a point, Serious in one hand but he likes to joke and tease on the other, mostly females of course but he is loyal to the core. You probably have nothing to worry about with him. He is the type of man who won't bury an idea until all the angles have been covered." Octavius explained the man then paused to take a bite of his lunch.

"All right." Briseis hummed digesting the information before nodding. "An' who is that next to him?"

"That is Julius Ovidius. Lord of Agora. He has a killer business instinct but is mostly quiet. Doesn't really argue matters unless they pertain to Agora, so careful on treading that territory."

"Does he always look like he is calculating something?" Briseis asked.

Octavius let out a laugh. "Yeah. Ok now that man sitting by the fountain is Cicero Pocius, Lord of Thracia, he’s a realist and not often swayed by fancy ideas. He's a good man though, at least to his family but he hesitates when new laws or ideas are purposed. That man to the left of him is Lord of Pontus, Titus Furius. He doesn't trust people very well and is often paranoid. He values the old days when men were the head and were above women. An’ to the right of Titus is Manius Naevius, Lord of Martius. He is somewhat of an ass-kissing, excuse the language, but he has a good heart too, mostly wants to see the people of his land prosper."

Briseis let out a hum of understanding as she viewed each man without guilt that she was staring at them. For days she had been seated between them in council and none of them had offered her any information, not their name or where they came from. Her plate was still full of food but she pushed it away and wiggled down upon the pillows so she could lay her head against the plump softness of it.

"What's wrong?" Octavius asked, it was rapidly becoming his catch phrase with her.

"Nothing I'm...Still Tired" Briseis started to say and then stopped as Octavius finished it for her. She sent him a scowl but on her usual gentle face it looked rather humorous with a woman who's temper never rose. "It's a lot to take in, ever since I arrived I have been going and going… It's natural that I'm tired" She retorted after a pause.

Octavius just sighed. It would be a waste to try to argue with her. "All right then, lets take a break from council tomorrow then. What would you like to do?"

For several minutes Briseis was silent, she was catching the eye of someone who scowled at her every time she caught their eye. "Hmm?" she questioned and then shook her head. "Can we go and pay homage to my father’s grave?" She asked and then blushed lightly feeling guilty for having not done so yet. "Octavius, who is that?" She asked nodding her head at the man who looked like he had eaten a whole lemon.

"We can do that. It's outside the city but he has been afforded a place of honor in the Mausoleum, well half his ashes have, the other are at home in Lycia." Octavius spoke as he turned on the pillows to look towards the far corner of the Atrium.

Cyrus Villius was a rather large man with large creases in his skin that looked rather like scars and the way he was staring daggers at Briseis, he looked like a bear. "That is Cyrus Villius, he is the reason I still have Mathayus as your personal guardian. He was being voted into the position of Lord of Lycia right before you showed up and when you did, all his dreams went up in smoke. I can't prove he would or would not try to cause you harm but I am not taking any chances." He paused, his head cokeing as his face fell with concern again. "Briseis, are you all right? You look like your going to be sick."

Briseis managed a smile as she pushed up from the pillows. "Just a stomach ache.." She retorted as she handed off her plate to a servant. "I'm going to lay down before the council resumes again." and off she went leaving Octavius looking concerned and bewildered all in the same look.

[Men of Skye]

The Capitulation of Fez

No answer came from the Amir… the only response were the hail of arrows from the walls… and once again Kamenwati was in the wrong position… and one arrow struck his leg pinning the limb to the saddle… Still this did not deter his commanding men upon the field of battle… a wincing pain he pulled the arrow free from the saddle and broke off the tip, then pulled it free… and with a swing of his sword, he gave the cry of battle in the native tongue….

Once again the Hwatchas were repositioned and aimed just above the tops of the walls. And as the fuses were lit, the terrifying sound erupted into the evening sky…"HUWAFATCHAAHA"…. And hundreds of arrows sailed up and over the walls…

Inside, the large bolts of iron and wood, some with flaming tips burrowed in the wooden buildings…some bore thru human flesh, pinning the victims to the ground… others still buried deep into the walls on the far side. Screams of death and dismemberment echoed from inside the walls…

“Allah be merciful… relieve my people from the torment of Abu Said…” Kam prayed before leading men to the door where a large battering ram now pounded against the heavy wooden door.

For four days, Kamenwati’s armies fought in the Tamazgha… thousands upon thousands fought one another… kindred against kindred… brother against brother…

Kam vowed in messages to his commanders to spread the word of freedom… Still it tore upon his heart and soul to know that so many would die, so an entire people can be free…

Ordering the Hwatchas repositioned once again, he would order two of them to fire directing at the main gate of the City… and as the terrifying sounds erupted into the night… the door fell backwards under the pressure and explosions… and Kam, limping from the week old wound, led his men into the city in full force… It would be his fate to receive several sword wounds as the battle enraged.

Letters were received, yet unopened… unread… as time would prevent him from enjoying such a pleasure… and he would not know of Carnia’s newest legate… As he entered the city… he would direct his men to fight for the Palace… and to arrest Abu Said…

Two days later............

At the end fighting inside the city… Kamenwati walked up the stairs to the Palace… and entering thru the main entrance… he would be received by those laying prone before him, in submission…

Standing with his sword at his hip, feet spread apart, weight evenly as possible on both legs, which his left would pain him in doing so, stood the victor… for the Amir had left in the night…leaving his people to the mercy of Kamenwati…

Fez had capitulated… and was now free… old guards were now replaced with Tamazgha freedom fighters… men of Kam’s own choosing now stood as the Palace sentries. Words of freedom and victory now spread across the land… Celebrations erupted across the land…in every village and city of the Tamazgha…. All the way to the Egyptian border.

The moon found Kam finally reading the letters his beloved Briseis had written… And as the sun broke the horizon upon the twelfth day… and Kam stood upon the balcony overlooking the City square, her letters against his breast inside his robes… the smell of death and burning embers still lingered, thought the wine and drink still flowed. His beard and hair had grown long; the beard covering a once soft face, his hair almost to the shoulders… the white robes he wore, his war armour now shed, were clean… to symbolize the pureness of his intentions.

Hands spread up and out, arms raised… “People of the Tamazgha…” he began… and the crowd erupted in yells, whistles, and cheers in a now familiar language. Waving his arms, his hands called for quiet… And as the crowd began to silence top a low roar… he smiled… “People of the Tamazgha… We are free of the cruelty that once was…” and the crowd erupted once again…

From below, people began to call for his accepting the position of Amir….

And under the beard, Kamenwati blushed, but shook his head. “I am a leader in war…not in peace… I shall not seek the position of Amir… but I have one so honored…one that would be a great leader…” he looks to his second in command… his hand extending toward the man… “I give yu Abdullah al Ahmad al-Araj…” and the man looked back at Kamenwati… as the crowd erupted below… “Forever more, he shall be called… Abdullah ibn Tumart…” ((ibn Tumart" means "son of the earth" or "son of happiness")). Then Kam began to speak about Abdullah and the al-Jama'a al-'Ashara ('Council of Ten')

Bringing Abdullah near him, Kam began to speak… “Abdullah is a Berber religious scholar, teacher, and a political leader from the Masmuda tribe; He is the son of a lamplighter in a mosque in the village of Q’Zuiz and had been noted for his piety since his youth; he was small and misshapen, and lived the life of a devotee-beggar. He would light many candles at the tombs of saints and earned the appellation "lover of light."

As a youth, Abdullah first travelled to Córdoba, then he performed the pilgrimage to Mecca, whence he was expelled on account of his severe strictures on the laxity of others. He then moved to Baghdad, where he attached himself to al-Ash'ari. He made a system of his own by combining the teaching of his master with parts of the doctrines of others, and with mysticism imbibed from the great teacher Ghazali. From Baghdad, he returned to his beloved Casablanca…

Abdullah is a a true believer in freedom, and of the Berber people. I have the ultimate faith in his leadership and what is good for the people of the Tamazgha….

And in my departure, I have organized al-Jama'a al-'Ashara, (an inner 'Council of Ten') composed of the ten who had first borne witness to this war of the Tamazgha. Several of them are drawn from the core of followers that I have picked to guide Abdullah; others are local leaders drawn from the lands of the Tamazgha.

These shall guide the Tamazgha into prosperity… and I have a trifunctional alliance with Carnia, the Egyptians, and the Gaelics of the North, to keep the Spaniards, and any others from trying to claim the Tamazgha as theirs…”

And from below, there rose a roar asking what of Kamenwati… and he looked below… “I, my fine people, shall return to Carnia with the Carnian soldiers to my beloved Briseis… as an Ambassador from the Tamazgha. She is now a prominent figure there… And if Amir Abdullah as no qualms about it… I shall retire from military life and seek out peace with my beloved Briseis…” and the crowd erupted into cheers for the warlord, now Ambassador, known as Kamenwati….

As the ship was prepared to sail… Kam and Jack Trades would meet upon the pier once more… this time under different circumstances…..

The echoes of the cannon fire that brought down the gates of Fez seemed to live on in the cheers for the new regime. At the docks, the tan djinn sat stolidly facing the sea. The smoked glass that covered his gaze gleamed slightly with the lowering sun. As Kamenwati neared, the burly figure rose to its feet. Turning as if mounted upon hinges, his bulk bent slightly without a word and with a fast, staccato motion, drew a long curved blade that was as black as the approaching night.

Kam’s boots thudded against the wooden boards of the pier, and creaked under his weight. The black robes of a berber warlord, that covered that started at his head and flowed down over his armour, billowed behind him as he walked with a slight limp. The curves sword of the Berber swung, restricted by his hand on the hilt, at his side.

And as he neared Jack, he stopped suddenly, his hands up and palms out, as if to show he was friendly. Kamenwati bowed, his hand twisting and rolling from his chest to his face and outside… “Salam walaykoom, Jack…” and he stood erect and extended his hand. “My apologies, you should be so wary. No harm shall come to you.” He paused. “We have done a great thing here… and much has been accomplished, and many lives have been spared, with your help. And I, and the free people of the Tamazgha shall be ever grateful to you.”

He smiled at Jack… proud to know such a talented man. He thought the King of Skye to be providential to have such a man. “Should you wish to visit the Tamazgha, please feel free… the people would be proud to have you…” he smiled. “As for me, I travel to Carnia… as Ambassador from the Tamazgha… Finally my Lady and I shall be together…” and Kam smiled again, the white teeth showing brightly against darkened skin, tanned by the blazing sun.

“And should yu wish a Roman bath…” he winks… “Come to Carnia and I am sure Lady Briseis can find someone suitable to give it to you…”

The sword did not retract, but instead leveled on the warlord. The hearty voice snarled from behind the linens wrapped over his features. The characteristically stoic frame bristled menacingly for the first time Kam had ever seen. "Do nae insult me! Were ye hoping that I'd fergot, or that ye could buy yer life with a Roman bath? Yer nae goin' tae violate our contract with plans of the future when yer time of judgment be here at this dock - now!" A hob-nailed boot thumped a single pace forward, bringing the point of the blade to touch the base of Kamenwati's throat.

Kam lowered the hand of friendship as the blade touched the base of his throat. “Insult you MiLord…?” he seemed confused. “My life? Have I compromised our agreement? And then offered up my own life?” Kam checked the edge of the blade with the tip of his finger… oh yes, sharp enough to sever his head from his neck cleanly and easily. “Then judge me if you feel that you can judge without sin of thy own… and By the Grace and Power of Allah, I have committed nothing against our agreement. You received 300 gold pieces… and I set myself not as Amir…but one who would truly represent the people… and a Council of Ten to advise…” he swallows and looks at Jack. “Judge me now…be my friend or kill me quick…”

The gravel in the hearty voice grated and growled with every syllable. "Sinless er nae, ye accepted me as yer judge. I told ye that I've nae use fer flowery speech and that I'd nae unleash a plague upon these people that was worse than their former plight."

The bulky frame cokeed a step back, the blade lifted and turned in hand for a swift cut. In a single motion that rivaled the speed of the viper's strike, the djinn thrust forward as the blade turned again. The pommel thudded against a chink in the Berber armor at chest height, hard enough to pain the soft flesh underneath.

Kam was sure the man odd… and moreso was planning on judging him… The fear of death scared him not, for he had faced danger before…but being judged a bad leader would mar his name forever… and surely Briseis would be widowed… Dark brown eyes watched the man… He had bargained this with the man before all else… and now he must pay the musician. And as the man moved, he figured he was truly killed…but the rap heavy upon the armour’s breastplate startled him. He was alive!!! And surprise filled his senses…. Though the tinge of pain resonated inside the armour.

For as roughly as the hearty voice grated before the strike, it rumbled smoothly like a panther's purr now. "Ye've done well. That be the first compliment I've ever given ye, though yer life now rests in the hands of the government ye've established. See tae it that they do nae falter. Let this aid your memory." A twist of the arm and wrist brought the edge over Kamenwati's right hand, cutting a neat superficial line that would surely scar. In the same motion as the blade was retracted, a second hand emerged with a pad of cloth and grasped over the cut with a gentleness beguiling its size and its counterpart's barbaric method.

Jack’s praise lightened his mood… and the words could not have sounded better had they came from the King of Skye… he did not scream at the cut of his flesh, nor did he have time to move… he just looked at the cut, then to Jack; then he pressed his hand upon the cut. Oh it hurt… and it was deep enough to scar. One he would remember more than any of the others… except the ones he received from the beating Abu Said gave him, all those years ago when he first lost the girl… and he looked at Jack…

"Farewell, Kamenwati." With that, the djinn turned and strode down the length of the dock. Hob-nailed boots carried his bulk up the gangplank and aboard a ship headed for Skye.

It was an ominous figure that now walked away… “May Allah protect you Jack Trades…” he called out to the man….who did not even turn around…

[Men of Skye]

The Fate of Ealora
and the Shadow Storm

[Men of Skye]

Kamenwati 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…

Two Days later......

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... he would be careful not to display his scars and wounds.

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?


The Story Continues