Agnes Smith AGNES & THE INFIDELS Part III North Africa 846 A.D. ..... Kemal insists that camels are harmless, but you know he's wrong when you see one of the fearsome creatures try to bite its handler's hand off. The nasty things have foul dispositions, they smell worse than any horse, and when they get truly riled, they *spit*. You don't regret insisting on a horse (and to your relief, Kemal relented....there are horses coming along, but they are war-mounts). Antonella, perhaps trying to show off her bravery, or show off for Kemal, or just being perversely adventurous, rides a camel, and while for the first part of the trip, Kemal is constantly having to redirect her mount, which seems quite aware that its rider is inexperienced and takes that as a license to wander in any direction it pleases. Eventually, she starts getting some control over the monster, but you feel a bit of petty satisfaction when you catch her looking down at your horse longingly. A small force travels with you from Tunis, about a hundred soldiers, and their requisite support personnel, which make up a much smaller number than in an equivalent European army. The men are polite to you (politeness in Muslim culture unfortunately means they ignore you, for the most part), but you're a little disappointed to see no other women at all. It takes a couple of days, and a trip over the end of the Atlas Mountain range, to reach al-Qayrawan. At this city, which Kemal tells you started out as an oasis camp to support the Muslim attack on Ifriquia, particularly Carthage, to the north, you join a much larger body of men. From al-Qayrawan, your army numbers about a thousand, and you do pick up some more women. Some of the other higher-ranking soldiers are bringing their wives also, as Kemal said they would. Most of the trip is tedious and a bit unpleasant, owing to the desert heat, and the camels, but you handle it without much difficulty, being used to travel. Antonella lasts about half a day before her complaints start coming in a flood, and they don't stop. She's getting the lesson you hoped she would, but you'll have to resist the temptation to awaken her immortality by strangling her. Kemal tries to be patient, but he starts spending more time away from both of you...not that he has much time for you anyway (he warned you beforehand that he'd have little opportunity to spend time with you until you reached your semi- destination). Aside from one night at al-Qayrawan (where you stayed in the homes of some of the military leaders there, and you and Kemal had a separate room, the last time you'll enjoy such a luxury until you return to civilization- also probably the last time for a while you'll have the luxury of having him to yourself), you and Kemal haven't even had a chance to sleep together...which doesn't help your patience with Antonella's whining and complaining. You make your way south, and travel overland for almost a week. Kemal is constantly in motion, his attention being consumed by the demands of leading this army. (He tells you he is actually the second-in-command, but on him falls most of the responsibility.) He passes by quickly, and when away from other eyes, gives you a quick kiss, or murmurs soft words in your ear, promising to give you the attention you deserve when you finally make camp, but the rest of the time, you are a spectator to the action. As dry, flat scrub and near-desert makes way to the *real* desert, a place the Arabs call Shatt al Jarid, you come upon an oasis at the northern edge of this desolate, lifeless stretch of sand. Here the Tunisian army sets up camp. Thanks to your packing experience, you have Kemal's tent set up first, and you and Antonella help others. The usual Muslim preference for keeping women out of the way and out of sight breaks down here, where practical considerations make every pair of hands welcome. You see some of the other women also setting up camp. You are more help than Antonella, of course, who is walking very awkwardly after a week on camelback, but by nightfall, the camp is set up. Kemal comes and settles down in his tent for a short rest. He pulls you close to him and holds you, and then looks at Antonella with a remarkably patient smile, considering what an irritation she's been thus far. "This evening, we will have a feast, as promised," he says. "The men could use an excuse for a celebration." He reaches out to take her hand, and gently pulls her to him. "Tonight," he continues softly, "you will become my wife." For once, Antonella casts her eyes modestly downwards and has nothing to say. You see a mixture of anticipation and dread on her face. <><><><><> [Agnes] She watched the alien landscape pass by - getting more alien every mile. She wondered what the people saw in the land. Yes it was warm, warm enough to be comfortable most of the time, but at what price: no rolling wooded hillsides, pleasant pastures by small brooks, the feel of warm rain on her face, dew covered grass under her feet. She doubted that she would ever grow to like this land. But despite that, she was happy. Surrounded by all the troops, and with Kemal not too far away, she felt safer than she ever had since becoming immortal. She was relaxed, and enjoying herself. When, in the tent at Shatt al Jarid, Kemal pulled her close, she responded in kind. As Kemal reaches out for Antonella's hand she thinks, **I could have asked for no better a situation in which to train Antonella for her future life.** She smiled warmly at the girl, as Kemal talks to her. <><><><><> [GM] The feast probably isn't up to Antonella's standards, but she wisely refrains from criticizing the efforts Kemal and his men undertake on her behalf. Spiced camel meat, as well as freshly-killed goats, wheat cakes sweetened with a little of the army's precious stores of sugar and almonds, and the freshest fruits available in the last city you passed through, Qafsah. A few amateur musicians break out flutes and drums, and you're treated to the rare sight of a mixed-gender Muslim celebration. The woman (including you and Antonella) all remain cloaked and veiled, of course, but the Arab women perform a few lively reels and pirouetting dances to the accompaniment of the instruments and the clapping of the troops. Antonella whispers with you, and you whisper to the other women (your Arabic is becoming passable, Antonella's remains very poor), and with some coaxing (aided by your pulling a reluctant Kemal to the center of the camp), the Muslims let you and Antonella demonstrate some of the folk dances of your native lands...yours being the sort popular among Anglo-Saxon and Frankish peasants, Antonella's the prettified versions preferred by Roman nobility. Of course, you refrain from attempting any that involve physical contact between men and women. It's a side of Muslim culture you haven't seen before....despite the austerity, the strict religious taboos, the seeming inflexibility of their codes, they really do have a lighter side. Like all people anywhere, even Saracens like a good party. As the night goes on, the two sexes separate into their own groups, the men telling war stories around one fire, while the women pull you and Antonella into their midst, and start giving Antonella "advice" that ranges from useful to scandalous. (Translating for the less-fluent Antonella is giving you quite a lesson in Arabic words you aren't likely to learn from Kemal...) You are starting to get to know some of your fellow wives, and you're surprised at how openly they gossip and jest amongst themselves, and tease their menfolk....just like Christian wives. As in any assortment of womenfolk in your country, some of the women appear to love, even adore their husbands, and others you'd guess are probably not in such happy marriages. All of them tell you and Antonella that you're very lucky to have Kemal ibn-Hakim ibn-Daud. More than once, you hear that most men would have kept you slaves, not married you as free women. Some of the women take this as a sign of Kemal's generosity and affection for you, others seem almost bitter, as if they resent your equal status. The laughter and ribald giggling subsides to whispers, as the aforementioned Kemal ibn-Hakim approaches your gathering, diffidently, and says quietly, "The hour is late, fair ones....would my beloved wives care to join me now in my tent?" Another ripple of laughter and snickering jibes goes through the hooded gathering. Kemal's mouth twitches as he waits patiently, knowing you women are enjoying some amusement at his expense, but gracious enough to endure it with good humor. <><><><><> [Agnes] In her light and relaxed mood, Agnes enjoys the festivities, despite the strick Moslem code. But then again, by now in her experience, some western men would be so drunk as to have started pawing the women - despite their being wives of other soldiers. That whole undercurrent is absent. "Of course, _Husband_." she replies in arabic, and continues in Latin, "come on Antonella, this is the _big_ moment." in whispered Latin which Kemal can no doubt hear, she adds, "This is where you discover all the lies I have been telling you about his prowess in bed." She laughs, and tries to put Antonella at her ease. Inside the tent she gives her a hug and tells her, "It'll be alright." "I'll wait here." she says to them both at one end of the tent. <><><><><> [GM] Kemal smirks at you. "You have no doubt set high expectations for me to live up to, haven't you?" Antonella is suddenly very quiet, and very red...but the nervous expression on her face is definitely eager as well. He leads her gently to the other side of the tent. It's hard not to feel like an eavesdropper, being in such close quarters with your husband and your new co-wife during Antonella's first intimate experience. There is a lot of whispering, and sighing...and giggling, the latter coming entirely from Antonella, of course. Followed by soft moans, which build in volume. Antonella is a lot louder than you, which will probably disconcert the staid Kemal a bit. It doesn't sound like you'll have to take back any of your boasts of his prowess, however. Much later, Kemal moves across the tent and kneels next to you, kissing your cheek. "She is sleeping now. I do not think she had any cause for complaint." <><><><><> [Agnes] She opens her eyes, from a snooze, to look at him. She holds his eyes, and kisses him, embracing him as she does so, holding him tight .... Later as they lie in each others' arms, she says, "Thank you, Kemal." Thank you, for everything: for finding us, for taking us to your home, for marrying us .... and for being so kind and so ... passionate. Antonella is so lucky," she adds with a smile, "to have you for her very first time." Later she asks, "So what is this war about Kemal? And will we women be staying in the one place throughout its execution?" <><><><><> [GM] "There is a coalition of desert tribes that's been raiding towns north of Shatt al Jarid," Kemal says. "Including the tribe I told you about, which is practicing idolatry, or so we hear. I have not yet been able to speak to any of the local Berbers- I'll be doing that tomorrow. But whether or not this unrest is a result of heretical religious practices, the Berbers need to be suppressed. Most of the indigineous people here have come to accept Muslim rule, under the Aghlabid dynasty, but some remain rebellious." He strokes your cheek. "You women will stay with the base camp, always. We might move its location, if that becomes necessary to improve our position from which to foray against the Berbers." "There will always be a company of soldiers here to defend it," he adds, and murmurs "So I doubt you will have to take your sword and shield out of your baggage," as you snuggle up against each other and begin drifting off to sleep. <><><><><> [Agnes] As she drifts off to sleep, a soft smile crosses her lips, as she thinks, **They never made it to the baggage, Kemal. They are over there under my saddle.** The next morning, Agnes and Antonella get up and dressed. As they do Agnes asks all the obvious questions of her friend - no: co-wife - and her first night of marriage. "Well, was it not as good as I said it would be? Were you satisfied?" and so forth. Later in the morning, they take a walk round the camp, establishing where everything is. Agnes would like to visit the blacksmith's and see what she could acquire for herself in Kemal's name in the way of some chainmail, but there is no rush. They'll be here three months. In the afternoon she plans to take Antonella to the perimeter of the camp, and start to teach her how to use a sling. That at least seemed to be the level of weapon skills that she could teach, that no-one would take offence at. That and brawling in the tent. Still, living in the countryside would do her no harm either - even if the countryside had just become a tented armed camp about an oasis. <><><><><> [GM] Antonella beams, and she doesn't blush nearly as much any more either. "Oh Agnes, it was wonderful!" she sighs. "It's a wonder all married people don't do it every night!" She puts a finger to her lips and looks at you with a thoughtful expression. "I suppose we'll have to take turns, won't we?" The blacksmith is bemused and not too helpful, but lets you inspect his equipment. You see a few men, and some women, watching you curiously as you teach Antonella how to use a sling...your arms hindered by your robes. Kemal returns late in the afternoon. You don't get to see him at first, since he's meeting with the other officers on the other side of the camp. Eventually, he comes to his tent and calls his wives to his side. "I sent a message to the Sheykh of the local tribe," he says, "and by good fortune, his messenger brought a reply back the same day. He will meet with me this evening, here in our camp, for a peaceful discussion about this qaid who is stirring up the other tribes in the area." "It will be another feast, though more moderate than last night's." He smiles at Antonella, who smiles back, clasping her hands in front of her and tucking her chin against her shoulder in a surprisingly girlish fashion. "For this gathering, however, women are to be seen and not heard. I may retire with Sheykh Naz Akharmid to our tent, for a more private conversation. In that event, you two will need to remain veiled until he leaves, naturally, and be on hand throughout to serve refreshments, without entering into the conversation." Antonella pouts. "You mean, we have to be like furniture again." Kemal shifts restlessly, giving you and her both a faltering smile. "It is a wife's duty to serve guests discretely and show obedience to her husband, especially in the presence of others. And the Sekwasa tribe is more orthodox than most." "You won't be entertaining this 'sheek' ALL night, will you?" the girl purrs, running a hand over his shoulder. Kemal smiles, sighs, and pats her hand, glancing at you with a look that says *Please don't let her embarrass me*. <><><><><> [Agnes] Witha knowing smile Agnes responded to Antonella's query with, "There is no need to take turns, Antonella. I'm more than willing to have him after he's worn you out. - Just like last night." Agnes feels sympathy for Antonell'a comment about furniture, but she herself had already pput it into a compartment in her mind marked, 'things from this culture I do not like, but will endure without comment.' Agnes was beginning to learn tolerance. She had noted the numerous times that Kemal had had to bite his tongue. _He_ just made a point of letting them know he was doing so. Agnes wasn't so spiteful. "Yes, Antonella, like furniture again. But it means that unlike all the others in this camp bar Kemal, we know what will have been discussed. And later, we can assist Kemal in his deliberations, by saying what we saw and heard, which he might not have. Meanings we might have fathomed, and interpretations made from our detatched position. We are thus three minds against the Sheik's one. At least here we can influence things. I'm sure in Italy, at least if Rome was anything to go by, Women do not get even that minor a look-in on negotiations. Yes, in Italy I wasn't ignored as a piece of furniture - on the surface. Everyone would take note, be friendly, compliment you, and then exclude you from anything of importance." She pulls Kemal closer, "I must admit Kemal, there is some merit in some of your customs. If women are to be treated as furniture, I have a preference for your way." At his look, she turns to Antonella, and with a wicked smile adds, "Don't embarras our husband in front of his guest, or I shall keep him to myself for the next few nights, until he sets off in fact." <><><><><> [GM] "Oh!" Antonella seems surprised that Kemal went over to you after he was done with her. "My goodness, won't *he* get tired out?" ..... Kemal smiles, embracing you as you put your arms around him. "Indeed," he says. "A man I once knew said, 'A wise man takes wives who will be silent and obedient at all times'," and you'd swear, he actually has a *teasing* look in his eyes! Noting your narrowed expression, he continues, "'But a wiser man takes wives who will be silent and obedient in front of others, but give him good counsel in private.'" Antonella looks chagrined, both at Kemal's comment and at yours, but nods, trying to wipe the pouty expression off her face. "You are never furniture, beloved wives," he whispers, kissing you and then Antonella before going outside to get ready for his guests. When a group of riders on camels do arrive that evening, you and Antonella stand clustered with the other women, a silent wall of black, to the side of the gathering that assembles to formally greet the Berber delegation. Kemal stands at the front of the Arab host, dressed in his best robes. You note a sudden frown pass over him, and his eyes narrow. An instant later, you realize why, as the Berbers come a little closer, and you feel it too- the Quickening. The Sheykh, or someone in his party, is an immortal. <><><><><> [Agnes] A suitable Anglo-Saxon expletive passes quietly under Agnes' breath, as she feels the quickening. As with Reynald, she feels that anonymity is the route to take. **This muslim women's garb, making us all look alike, may have its uses after all.** she concedes to herself. **I wonder if these supposedly devout muslims will allow their religion to get in the way of The Game? I doubt it. This is even worse than with Gerard! No immortal in his right mind will challange Kemal - but a woman: fair game. No chainmail, a shield the size of a dinner-plate, and a sword I've never used in anger, or even trained with against a real weapon.** As she watches the Berbers arrive, she is still lost in thoughts. **Oh, Lord. Is this your punishment for bigamy? Or for my pretence at conversion to Islam? I am only doing it for Antonella... Am I? Honestly?** She starts to take in what is going on around her in order to distract herself from the self doubt that has started to assault her. <><><><><> [GM] After Kemal's initial hesitation, the Arabs and the Berbers greet each other with outward warmth. You watch intently, and are able to pick out Sheykh Naz Akharmid quickly. He's a short, thick, almost-portly man, rare among these desert tribesmen, but he exudes power and authority. Whether he is the immortal or not, you can't determine, but you don't like his face...intuition tells you this is not a kind man. Kemal remains visibly tense, but his reactions to the Sheykh and his men don't reveal whether he has even figured out who the immortal is yet. You see his eyes flicker towards your group, as if to search in vain for your reaction. Then the men move into the camp, and settle down in a circle around the fire, leaving you and Antonella free until such time as Kemal brings the Sheykh back to your tent. <><><><><> [Agnes] She is tense. She knows that a fight isn't going to break out there and then, but that's not the point. She decides that the other immortal must know that there are two others here, for Kemal felt him significantly before she did. So there was no point in concealing that there were two. She leads Antonella away, "Come, lets look at their horses. The finery on them will give some indication of their wealth and presumably power." She knew that that was probably true, but what she really wanted to do was to find out exactly where the quickening started. She had a rough idea from Kemal's movements, but it had never seemed important - until now. She wanted to be clear of both quickenings, and on her return she wanted to approach from such a direction as to be sure that Kemal would definitely be the furthest or the closest to her of all the people in the group. The number of paces before she felt the second quickening would give her an idea of how many paces apart Kemal and the other were sitting. If iit took a second attempt to identify on which side of the circle he sat, so be it. She was sure she could make an excuse to Antonella for another circuit. Then they would position themselves appropriately for Kemal retiring to his tent. <><><><><> [GM] The Berbers did not bring horses, unfortunately, but camels, which probably explains why Antonella looked at you so skeptically when you offered a pretext to head towards the edge of the camp. She knows your continuing hatred for the beasts. The nasty, long-necked things regard you with bulbous eyes, as you make a pretense of inspecting their accoutrements (actually, they are rather modestly outfitted), then head back. A second sally away from the camp, and then back, leaves Antonella more curious than before, but only gives you a slightly better estimate of who the second immortal is. You're now not at all sure that the boundary of the Quickening is a fixed point, like an invisible wall surrounding an immortal...it may be more like a slightly fluctuating tide....accurate to within a few paces, but not precise enough to be sure whether it emanates from the Sheykh, or the man sitting next to him. You *think* you have narrowed it down to Naz Akharmid or else one of the two Berbers sitting closest to him, all of them carrying very formidable- looking swords. Antonella follows you back to the tent, chatting lightly. "So, what do you make of them? Do you think Kemal will really bring the Sheykh here? He isn't a very friendly-looking sort, is he? Kind of homely too." <><><><><> [Agnes] "I've decided I don't like them." She replies to Antonella. "For a start, they ride camels." "They look mean. The sort that pick fights or start wars for no other reason than that they can. However, I'm not going to let a little thing like disliking them get in the way of being pleasant, and not embarassing Kemal. He will bring some of them inside - it's the only way for him to have a private conversation with them." She opens the tent flap for Antonella. "Let's go in, and make sure things are set for Kemal and his guests. I'd rather not just stand out here and gawk at them." <><><><><> [GM] After several hours, you hear male voices, including Kemal's, drawing nearer. Then the tent flap opens, and Kemal precedes Sheykh Naz Akharmid into your living quarters. The Sheykh's cruel eyes immediately settle on you and Antonella, seated submissively to the side of Kemal's seat, and a smile tugs at his features. Kemal bids you to bring refreshments. While you and Antonella pour rosemint water and bring a plate of snacks (the men will have eaten dinner already), the Sheykh says with abruptness that startles you (and Kemal): "Well, ibn-Hakim ibn-Daud Hajji....I wondered why you did not indicate to me who the other immortals in the camp are....I must confess it made me a bit tense, wondering if you were planning an unpleasant surprise." He grins. Kemal's face clouds over, at the insinuation he would plot treachery against a guest. But he answers civilly "We were of course only able to identify ourselves to one another with implied comments-" this is probably said more for your benefit than Naz's, though he is addressing the Sheykh, "-and with everyone else around, there was no opportunity to explicitly tell you-" "Ah yes," Naz nods, waving a hand, and rudely interrupting Kemal. "I understand. But this is a very pleasant surprise!" He looks at you and Antonella again, in a way that makes you very glad you are wearing veils. "Imagine! An immortal harem! How very novel! How did you manage it?" Kemal's expression goes from cloudy to thunderous, before he regains his composure. "They are not slaves," he says stiffly. "They are my wives." This should cause the Sheykh to apologize abjectly...taking such blatant notice, much less commenting directly, about another man's wives is a VERY serious breach of etiquette...the sort that might provoke duels. Instead, the Berber chieftain raises an eyebrow and says calmly, "Indeed? You ARE a remarkable man, Kemal ibn-Hakim." He grins...STILL eyeing you! "You have my sincerest admiration!" Every muscle in Kemal's body is tense. He also glances warily at Antonella. Antonella might not be following the entire conversation, and probably hasn't had occasion to learn the Arabic word for "immortal", but if the Sheykh keeps referring to you as such, she will surely ask about it later. "Let us discuss the Quarayl tribe," Kemal says, trying to steer the conversation back towards safer ground. "You were implying something before, but would not speak plainly before others. Now, I..." his voice trails off, as he regards you and Antonella. The Sheykh nods, missing Kemal's look, and says "The Qaid of this coalition is another immortal. I met him at a tribal confluence three years ago, and have avoided the Quarayls since then, for that reason." Kemal stirs again, trapped by the situation. Then he says "My wives are very tired...if you would forgive me, I would allow them to retire for the night." The Sheykh frowns, as now Kemal is being discourteous, though to your mind, Naz can hardly complain about a breach of etiquette! Antonella, blinking above her veil, starts to murmur "I'm not-" <><><><><> [Agnes] It quickly becomes apparent that her dislike of the Sheykh was well founded. That he only payed lip service to Moslim customs was apparent too. Even she didn't flout them so openly. She felt for Kemal. **His patience is being taxed sorely and all because I had imposed our presence upon him on this journey. Agnes avoids the Sheykh's gaze completely, but rather than stare submissively at the floor she watches her husband. She is pained by the whole experience, and despite the discourtecy implied, is pleased when Kemal offers them an out. As Antonella starts to speak, Agnes kicks her ankle and grabs her wrist. Standing she says, "Our husband is most considerate to his wives after their tiring day." Ensuring Antonella stands too, she bows to Kemal and the Sheikh and makes to retire. <><><><><> [GM] Antonella comes with you reluctantly, to the other side of the tent, where you draw a curtain which provides at least the appearance of privacy. "What was that about?" Antonella demands, in a loud whisper. "I thought we were supposed to sit in so we could hear what was going on and 'counsel' Kemal afterwards. Did he decide he doesn't want us womenfolk involved in man-talk after all?" She sounds very disappointed, even indignant, although she'd shown little interest in the actual reason for your being here before, and probably didn't understand more than one word in three of the conversation anyway. <><><><><> [Agnes] Agnes, whispers back to Antonella, "Yes that _was_ the plan. Didn't you notice the Sheykh staring at us, mentally taking awawy our veils? As a Muslim, he ought not do that to someone else's wives. That and suggesting that we were Kemal's slave girls for his entertainment, were driving Kemal into a furious rage. Our presence was not helping calm discussion between the two of them. That's why I snatched at Kemal's contrived way out." She smiles, "If anything, it was the Sheykh that didn't want us listening to their talk, and was using us as a means of angering Kemal, such that we couldn't stay if they were to talk rather than trade insults. Still, if we sit here quietly, we may yet hear what is being said." <><><><><> [GM] You can't hear all of the conversation from your recessed position. You note that Kemal has raised his voice ever so slightly, not in anger, but more likely in an attempt to make himself audible to you. So you can hear his questions fairly clearly. The Sheykh, however, speaks in a lower tone, and you can only pick out a mumbled word or two more often than not. What you hear isn't very enlightening; Kemal asks some more about this mysterious other immortal, and Naz seems to be denying any knowledge about the man beyond what he's already said. The Sheykh is likewise evasive about his own origins. Kemal wants to know which tribes are most closely allied to the Quarayls, what heretical practices they are engaged in, whether eliminating the Qaid might pacify the restless tribes or stir them to greater rebelliousness, and where their base camps are, how many there are, what there usual movements are...important military information. You can't tell how much information Naz Akharmid is providing, but you get the impression Kemal is not very satisfied. They continue talking for a long, long time. Antonella has long since drifted off to sleep, and you're getting bored yourself. You also sense a bit of impatience from Kemal, but hospitality is sacred; he could never "hint" to the Sheykh that it is time to leave. You hear from Naz... "...meet them? ....tone....foreign?" Kemal replies stiffly, "Your pardon, I really am not inclined to discuss my wives." Naz persists! Kemal's words remain polite, though his tone becomes increasingly icy. Eventually, they exchange words of parting, and you hear both men stirring from their seats. Kemal and the Sheykh exit the tent, and their voices fade away....Kemal is *probably* walking with the Sheykh back to their camp....by now, the Berbers will have set up a few tents of their own, it being too late for them to ride, at night and after being awake so long, back to their main camp. The Quickening fades, telling you they are at some distance across the camp. <><><><><> [Agnes] Once the two men have gone, she gathers a blanket and drapes it over Antonella's sleeping form. She then tidies up the tent in case _both_ men should return again. Then she sits herself down, with a blanket about her shoulders, to await Kemal's return. <><><><><> [GM] When you feel the Quickening again, you think it's only one immortal, which is confirmed when Kemal reenters the tent alone. He looks at you and manages a weary smile, but it fades quickly as he sinks onto a rolled sleeping mat and clenches his fists angrily. "That disease-ridden putrifying offspring of a camel and a scorpion!" he snarls. "The impudence! The impropriety! The blasphemy! Had he not been my guest, I would have taken his head right here in my tent! Did you hear him actually ask me whether I had any *wine*?" He leans back, sighing and trying to unwind. "Forgive me for subjecting you to that, Agnes. I was already bound by my promise of hospitality and safe conduct, but that is one immortal who but apes the way of Islam, and I intend to have a reckoning with him someday!" Behind you, Antonella mumbles something incoherently in her sleep, and Kemal starts. "Ah, the girl is asleep," he mutters. He shakes his head. "As soon as I realized the Sheykh was the other immortal, I knew having a conversation with him in front of Antonella would be problematic." <><><><><> [Agnes] Despite her tiredness, she rises, and moves to lie beside him. "Come, Kemal. Don't let him rile you. You are here to carry out a task. Don't let the deliberate goading of another immortal put you off it." She gives him a hug, saying, "Luckily I don't think Antonella piicked up too much of the conversation - I know that I understood very little after we moved away. I don't think she picked up on the word 'immortal', if she did ... insh'Allah." As she starts to fall asleep she asks, "Is the Sheykh staying here a while, or leaving? I'm fairly sure that if you and he seperate he'll be straight back here." <><><><><> [GM] Kemal is quite willing to have you lie next to him, and accepts your embrace with a contented smile, though he is still too riled to feel very amorous. Holding you, he nods as you discuss Antonella, then replies to your question, "They will be leaving tomorrow morning. Ostensibly to learn more for us....the Sheykh *claims* he wants to cooperate, that he would rather not see an Arab crackdown upon the Berber tribes." He frowns. "Back here? You mean you think he will come after you?" Kemal lifts his head to look at you. "Firstly, Naz Akharmid strikes me as a coward. While he might think you and Antonella would be easy prey, I doubt he is willing to face the vengeance he knows I would visit upon him. And besides, taking your head is hardly what was on that lecherous pig's mind." Your husband's expression darkens. Then he relaxes slightly, and strokes your hair. "And immortal or no, he and his small tribe can hardly break through the defensive picket around our camp, especially as we have not even started dispatching elements of our army to other locations. One thousand soldiers are here to protect you, my dear wife, even for those brief periods when I am not." He gives you a gentle kiss. <><><><><> [Agnes] She drifts off into slumber, with her husband stroking her hair. <><><><><> [GM] The next few weeks pass quickly or slowly, depending on your point of view. From Agnes' and Antonella's perspective, very little happens. The army stays encamped here at the edge of the blistering desert, a few patrols riding out around the perimeter of the Shatt al Jarid, or making a circuit that covers the far-flung oases and towns in this region, but there are no encounters with the hostile Berber tribes. Kemal goes out on these patrols, and sometimes all by himself, searching for the Quarayls and their mysterious Qaid. Sometimes he is gone for several days. Your husband keeps you informed of what is going on, of course, but rarely announces his plans far ahead of time. He seems to value your counsel, but only after the fact. Perhaps being a solitary traveler for so long, like you, he is unused to consulting with someone else before he goes riding out to hunt for heretical tribesmen and enemy immortals. Or perhaps there's a limit to how much he will allow a woman's advice to influence him. Antonella is unaware of the things that might worry you, of course. She assumes Kemal is a great warrior, and will always be quite safe. The new bride continues to enjoy fulfilling her conjugal duties a great deal (as do you), but aside from her nights with Kemal, she doesn't like anything else about living here in an army camp, and lets this become increasingly apparent. She's getting the life lesson you hoped she would; now you just have to avoid losing your patience with her incessant complaining. More importantly, you have to keep her from mouthing off to one of the other men, or doing something imprudent like removing her veil outside (in the hot, dry heat, having the dark cloth clinging to your face becomes almost suffocating at times, and the women of the camp have their own large tent set up for social gathering, secluded from the men, where they can let their hoods and veils down and breathe and speak freely.) She grudgingly does her chores, whining that she never had to carry water or tend fires or clean game or sweep sand out of tents, and never expected she would have to after getting married. The one activity (besides satisfying Kemal) that she does enjoy is practicing with the sling. She's willing to spend a surprising amount of time out on the glaring sand, even when your robes and veils are becoming unbearably uncomfortable, slinging stones at the little targets you set up. She has a pretty good eye for it, too. After a couple of weeks, she can hit the targets almost as often as you do. The tedious routine of camp life is shattered, almost a month after you first arrived. Kemal told you two nights ago that they think they know the approximate location of the Quarayl's base camp, thanks to information provided by the Sekwasa tribe. Yesterday evening, he took twenty men on horses southwest, across the desert, with another hundred men following at a distance, intending to scout the terrain and confirm the Quarayl's location. If successful, they might try parlaying with the hostile Berbers, or they might simply bring the bulk of the army south, and crush them. Now, as the sun sets over the desert, a ragged contingent of horsemen comes galloping across the sand, returning to their camp. As they come through the perimeter and the men waiting to mobilize rush out to greet them, you stand with the other women who are emerging to see what the commotion is about, and immediately notice that the returning men and horses look like they have been in combat. Some men are wounded, and there are definitely a lot fewer than set out. You see no sign of Kemal. <><><><><> [Agnes] It has been a difficult month. Not only has Agnes had to curb her own temper in the searing heat, not mouthing off at men, nor throwing down her veil in disgust, but she has had to stoically act like the thought had never crossed her mind, and chastise Antonella when she looked like she was about to succumb to the temptation. The chores that Antonella hated so much, appeared to Agnes to fall into two categories - those that were necessary anywhere for outdoor or indeed indoor living, and those that were the mere effects of the expectations of this culture. She tried to ensure that Antonella carried out the ones that would be useful to her in later life - cooking, dressing game etc, whilst she - much as it grated - carried out the chores that were generated by virtue of the society in which they found themselves: cleaning out the tent, keeping it tidy, keeping their clothes clean and respectable. As relief from the chores, Agnes had restarted training her, within the confines of the tent, in brawling and swordplay with wooden handles. Agnes had come to enjoy their slingshot practice at the edge of the camp as much as Antonella. The two of them were alone, enjoying themselves, and occasionally, surreptitious would let their veils slip if no-one could overlook them. As the menfolk return, the lack of quickening concerns her. She walks purposeful over to where they are dismounting, and seeks out the seniormost of the returning soldiers and grabs him firmly by the wrist. Staring into his eyes, she demands, "Where is Kemal ibn-Hakim ibn-Daud?" <><><><><> [GM] The cavalryman turns about to face you, with a somber expression. He looks down at your hands on his wrist, but speaks respectfully, as he takes a step backwards and bows politely, "Sayida Agnes...we were ambushed. A hundred Berbers on horses attacked our flank guard and then retreated...leading us into an ambush by six hundred archers." Only now do you register the strain in his voice. "The arrows fell on us like rain, annhilating the front half of our force before we could stop and turn about." He grits his teeth. "We were set up." His expression becomes sorrowful as he focuses on you again, and bows his head. "I am very sorry, Sayida, but Kemal ibn-Hakim ibn-Daud Hajji was leading the charge. I did not see him go down, but insha'Allah, he was killed, and not captured by the heathens." Antonella, behind you, exclaims "Oh no!", and puts a hand to her mouth. "Agnes! Agnes, what did he say?" <><><><><> [Agnes] She lets go, and her hand too, involuntarily goes to her mouth as he speaks. Once he is done she stands shocked a few moments: "Thank you. I would be pleased, if any of the survivors did see his fate, they could be brought to me to tell me the details. As soon as possible if you could. For if he is captured I would wish that negotiations start for his ransom _before_ any torture or mutilation takes place." She bows to him and turns away. As she takes Antonella's hand, she says, in Latin, "It's not good news Antonella. Come let us go back to the tent." She leads her back, still running through the implications in her own mind. "Antonella," She says in the comfort of their own tent, "Kemal is either slain or captured. If he is slain, then we had better find out right away from the other women, what the rights of widows are. If he has been captured then we will have to see if he can be ransomed." She looks at Antonella believing the worst, and says, "We don't know for sure that he has been killed or captured - so I shall not grieve for him until we do. But it is worth finding out what the implications will be. We shall give the men time to rest a little and have their wounds tended before pestering them for information. In the meantime we shall make inquiries of the women. Alright?" Despite the outward appearance of businesslike calm that Agnes was projecting to Antonella, inwardly Agnes was in anguish. **Surely no-one could have missed the slaying of Kemal by an immortal - could they? Someone must have seen him fall. What if he is taken by the Berbers? They too have immortals - surely they wouldn't kill him out of hand? For him to be made a slave would be the supreme irony, but she couldn't wish that upon him** Her thoughts ran through probable sequences of events, and most ended with his capture, sometimes with the Berbers thinking he was a daemon, and sometimes not. Despite the fact that Rome had taught her that she couldn't hope to fight against many at a time, she resolved to go for him. "Antonella, ask the women the questions, and then get ready for us food and water for three days. There are some further questions I need answers to now." She heads back to the returned soldiers. She needs to know where they were - what direction and distance. If they go now, the scavenger birds will guide them, by the next morning the bodies might have gone. <><><><><> [GM] The soldiers are busy mobilizing, in preparation to ride out in greater numbers against the Berbers on the morrow. They don't think the tribesmen would be foolish enough to attack the camp itself, especially at night, but are increasing the watch rotation just to be sure. Several other women have also been widowed by this ambush, and you hear their wailing as you look for the officer you spoke to earlier, or anyone else who will give you a moment. They are a bit puzzled at your interest in the specifics of the battle, but provide the information readily enough; it occured almost twenty miles to the southeast....several hours ride. Some of the men who survived the attack didn't make it all the way back. Homing in on scavenger birds won't be possible, since the sun is already going down. But you can make it by morning...assuming the Berbers don't gather the bodies and dispose of them by then. From what the Arabs tell you, this seems unlikely. The Berbers *might* collect any survivors and hold them prisoner, or they might simply kill survivors they find, and leave all the dead lying on the sand to rot. Of course, grabbing a pair of fresh horses won't be easy; they're all war- mounts, which means the now highly alert warriors will be near them constantly. Getting a pair of camels would require less stealth...but a lot more courage on your part. Ironically, riding a camel is probably one of the few things Antonella can do better than you now. Antonella, intrigued and unnerved by your request to pack for travel (which is good, because it distracts her from worrying, or going into hysterics), comes back from speaking to the other women, wringing her hands anxiously. Unfortunately, she brings several of the women with her, who want to comfort you, and also make sure Antonella actually understood what they told her. "They said...say, that we're supposed to mourn for....four months?" She looks at one of the older women, Nabila, who nods. "And the Quran says a man is supposed to ensure his wives are cared for for at least a year after his death..." "I am sure Kemal ibn-Hakim will have bequeathed plenty to leave you two adequately provided for," Nabila says, coming forward to embrace you. "Poor child, how terrible, for him to bring two foreign women out here to the desert, and then leave you widowed! Don't worry, Agnes, we will take care of everything for you. Our husbands will have the widows taken back north as soon as possible." <><><><><> [Agnes] She checks herself from cursing Antonella under her breath for bringing the other women - after all, the girl doesn't know the full problem for the very reason that Agnes hasn't told her. "Thank you for your concern, Nabila. At the moment, though, I am putting on a brave face. As no-one has told me that they saw Kemal slain, I am assuming that he has been captured, or perhaps lies wounded on the field of battle, and that tomorrow our troops will rescue him. For today though, I do not consider myself a widow. There is still hope, albeit slender, and only once there is none, will I go into mourning." Eventually, and without insults or rudeness on her part, Agnes is left alone with Antonella. "Well, Antonella, this is where I set aside my Muslim manners, and do what I believe needs to be done." She unpacks the light leathers trousers and jackets that she had been doing on and off in the house. A set for each of them. "Put these on. We'll need to wear our 'habits' on top and veils until we're clear of the camp." She gets out her sword and buckles it to her waist, and ties a dark cloth about the shield. With Antonella's help they get water skins and food, enough for two people for three days. **Or indeed, three people for two days.** She explains her plan to Antonella. "We will move from here to the edge of the camp. I, alone, will go and borrow two horses, and bring them back to where I left you. Then, using the moonlight to see, and the stars to guide us, we will head towards the site of the battle. We will use daylight and the circling birds to establish exactly where the battle took place, and then we will find our husband, or his body. It might be that he still lives now, but after a morning or more in the sun whilst these men get there he may have passed away. That's why we are going now." Agnes knows that getting the horses will be difficult. She's going to have to sneak up on a guard, put a knife to his throat, say who she is and why she's doing it, tie and gag him, and leave. **Well, if it fails early enough, I can just pretend that I am seeking soldiers that can tell me more of the battle.** **As for finding him on the field of battle.... well, I have my doubts. He will either have been beheaded there and then, or another immortal will have captured him.....** And she knew she owed him a debt. <><><><><> [GM] Nabila nods, with a knowing look, no doubt thinking you hope in vain but not wanting to discourage you. Once the sympathetic Arab women depart, Antonella listens to you wide- eyed. She is both excited and stunned by the plan. "*We're* going to *rescue* him?" "But, oh Agnes, what if we find he IS dead?" "Won't the Arabs punish us harshly for stealing horses, much less running off like this?" "What if the Berbers are still there?" "How will we avoid capture?" She gives you a serious, and frightened look. "What happens if you kill a couple of them again and then we are captured? Kemal kept saying that these Berbers aren't even as nice as most Muslims..." Despite her trepidation, though, the girl is quite willing to join you on this adventure. She waits obediently as you sneak through the camp, towards the horse-pens... For once, your concealing black robes are a blessing, as they're perfect for sneaking around in the darkness. You luck upon a lone groom who's saddling up a line of horses for the warriors who will soon mount them. He's hardly more than a boy, probably a year or two younger than Antonella. The troops are on the other side of the cluster of horses, polishing their weapons and checking their equipment as they sit or stand around a fire. If you can subdue the boy quietly, getting away with a couple of horses, already conveniently saddled for you, should be just a matter of walking away, keeping the other horses between you and the soldiers until you disappear around the edge of the camp. <><><><><> [Agnes] "Well, Antonella, if we find him dead, then at least we'll _know_. We won't be stealing horses, merely borrrowing them, and if the Berbers are still there we'll know that he won't be still alive on the field, he can only be dead or captured. As for us being captured, I'd rather avoid that, and we might have to ride like the wind if things go wrong." Agnes moves quietly towards him, waiting until he's just making the finishing adjustments to the second saddle before stepping up behind him, wrapping a hand round his mouth and pressing a knife-blade to his throat. "Quiet!" she whispers in his ear. "I intend to search for my husband, and I'm going tto borrow these two horses to do so. Make no noise and you won't be hurt." She slips the knife between her teeth as she pulls out a spare veil with which to gag him. Then she will wrap a quick loop round his wrist and lead him and the horses to Antonella. Then she intends to mount up and tie him up more securely, mount up and walk the horses away quietly . <><><><><> [GM] The boy doesn't hear you coming, and stiffens when you grab him from behind. With the knife at his throat, he mumbles something like "rucrazy?", but doesn't resist as you gag him and bind him. When you lead him and the horses away, you see his eyes burning with anger and humiliation. His eyes widen, and then he looks even more miserable and humiliated when you lead him to Antonella...who of course, has taken off her veil and lowered her hood, so she's standing there in the moonlight, pale- faced and golden-haired. She looks at the young man, then back at you with concern. "Agnes, won't he be found and send the men after us as soon as we leave? We can't take him with us!" Then her eyes widen. "You aren't going to kill him, are you?" she whispers. In Latin, fortunately. The boy is making indignant noises through his gag, trying to shake himself free of your grip...and becoming even more flustered and upset as he realizes you're stronger than him. <><><><><> [Agnes] "No, of course not, Antonella." she replies, in Latin. "I'm not a murderer." She binds the boys ankles together, and then squatting infront of him, looks him in the eye. In Arabic, says qietely to him, "It's going to be pretty humiliating foor you, having been taken, bound and gagged by a woman and had your horses taken from under your nose. Isn't it? I'm sure you could struggle and make a commotion and be discovered very quickly, but the soldiers would find you trussed up like a goat. An alternative plan might be less humiliating. I haven't tied the bonds particularly securely. No doubt you could work them free in a short while. Then, with unsullied honour, you could 'discover' that the two horses you saddled not ten minutes ago have gone. That two wives are foolhardy enough to go looking for their missing husband: is stopping them worth being the laughing stock of all the other stable lads? Your choice." She mounts up, "Be prepared to gallop after me," she whispers at Antonella. She walks the horse quietly away from the camp, trusting to luck to not stumble into a piquet, and being prepared to gallop past if she does. A few hundred yards away from the camp, she plans to swing onto a southeastern heading, and canter on for twenty or so miles. At the right sort of distance, she'll start working up hill to see if there is a Jebl by which they can shelter awaiting dawn. <><><><><> [GM] The groom glowers at you, but looks increasingly less defiant and more dejected as you point out his options. He is sitting quietly when you and Antonella leave him. Antonella at least manages to wait until you're out of earshot before giggling. Trotting away from the camp, you see a trio of riders, and swerve aside, kicking your horse into a faster gait. Antonella follows. You hear no cry of alarm, or pursuit, so perhaps they didn't see you. Your supposition holds up, as you proceed away from the camp, and leave it far behind. Antonella is now almost cheerful, as if this is some grand adventure. You expect tomorrow, when the sun rises and you're out in the middle of the desert with no shade, she'll probably lose much of her enthusiasm. You have only made it about half the distance you reckon it should be to the battle site, when noise ahead causes you to draw your horse to a halt. On the moonlit stretch of desert ahead of you, there is a swarm of shadows moving across the sand. Men on horses, lots of them....and they're coming this way. <><><><><> [Agnes] "This way, Antonella." she says as she swerves to the side most likely to take them out of the path of the advancing horsemen. After checkning that she is indeed following, Agnes heads for broken ground, long shadows or cover: anything off their original route that might hide them from the horde - and far enough away to avoid the quickening If there is none, she'll put a bit more distance between them and the point where they turned, and see if any are following. "We ought to ridden back and warned the camp that it was about to be attacked, but that would have meant arriving back there with tired horses, tired ourselves, and for an extra 10 minutes of warning for the camp at best. Then we would have placed our fate squarely in the hands of the camp's defenders, and in a very poor position to look after ourselves if things go wrong. No, I'm sure the berbers know enough of our camp to know how many hold it, are smart enough to have brought enough to successfully overcome them. A bit more warning isn't going to help much. We'll need to be careful we don't meet up with stragglers from that group." She points at the horsemen. "Our visit to the battlefield has become a bit more urgent now too. As we are unlikely to have a camp to return to, we may have to do some scavenging for food, water, weapons and money. Then ... well, we'll see what we find, shall we?" <><><><><> [GM] You manage to evade the horsemen, and they gallop past at a safe distance, while you and Antonella try to keep your own mounts in the shadow of a large rolling dune. The force is sizeable, but it does not look remotely large enough to take the camp...a couple hundred men at most. You don't sense the Quickening, but you think you got far enough away to be out of range if there was an immortal among them. Antonella looks like she's already having second thoughts about running off into the desert, but her expression is hopeful when she turns to you. "All right," she says, with her usual quickly-recovering spirits, and smiles at you. "Lead on, Agnes." <><><><><> [Agnes] She heads back to the place where they turned off, and continue in the direction they had been travelling. She keeps an eye on the trail of the horsemen that had ridden past, to see if they had come from Agnes' destination. At the signs of battle, she intends to slow down, check bodies - mainly to check that there is still a head attached, but an obvious purse would be a boon. Come the start of dawn, she still intends to be in cover, only now it also needs to be away from the trail of the horsemen. <><><><><> [GM] The horsemen came from the general direction you were heading, but you can't be sure whether it was a straight line until you arrive. You manage to keep a fairly straight course, though following the stars under the desert is a little different than navigating by sea. You still waste some time riding around in circles, looking for the site...before Antonella lets out a startled yelp, as her horse balks, almost stepping over a body. They litter the desert, bristling with arrows. Moving further into the carnage, you see men and horses stretched out for almost a quarter mile, dark lumps lying lifeless on the sand, some with over a dozen arrows in them. The ambush must have been well-planned indeed. You are thankful for the darkness, which hides much of the blood and gore, and the dead, staring eyes of the fallen Arabs. Even so, despite the fact that you've seen more dead bodies than Antonella has, she seems less shaken than you by all the corpses, and after some initial shivers, suffers less revulsion than you when you begin picking them over for valuables. The two of you drift silently over the blood-stained dunes, looking for your husband. But you sense no Quickening, and you find no headless corpses. Unfortunately, the Berbers seem to have picked the fallen warriors over first, and you don't find a lot in the way of money either...barely enough to fill one purse, by the time you're done. But the Berbers didn't bother taking food rations or water from their slain opponents. And, you find a couple of shields still strapped to the saddles of dead horses, with which to replace the buckler that Kemal gave you. A couple of the higher-ranking cavalry officers wore chainmail, and a large man's vest might be able to fit rather awkwardly over you. Of course, you'd have to strip the corpse, and wear his blood-stained armor. Antonella, being far more statuesque than you, is unlikely to benefit from any armor these men were wearing without more modifications than you have the time or equipment to perform here. In any event, you have perhaps an hour before dawn. <><><><><> [Agnes] She really does want somechain mail, but somehow, the thought of manhandling the corpse, and pealing off his bloodstained armour sends shivers down her spine. She actually makes a start, but when her hand connects with the congealed blood as she rolls the corpse, she pulls it away. She has almost got herself to continues when she realises that she would have to pull armour coated with the gore over her head ... She opts not to get some armour. They content themselves with a sword which Agnes puts on her saddle for Antonella, two shields, food and water. That there is no quickening, nor headless corpse disappoints Agnes. "Well, he's not here. That's something.", she says to Antonella, "The problem now is - where might he be." Mounting up again for a quick get away, they head towards the ambush position as somewhere to hide up for the day - or at least until after dawn. Once the sun had risen, she might be able to see more - for instance tracks of horsemen in the sand. <><><><><> [GM] Antonella slashes at the air experimentally with the sword you give her, like a child with a new toy. She watches you curiously as you try and fail to equip yourself with a shirt of chainmail, then says, "Well, if he's not here, he probably got captured, right?" She frowns, thinking. "That's good because it means he's not dead," she chirps, pointing out the obvious, but then adds "How will we rescue him from the middle of an army of Berbers?" For much of the terrain you just crossed, there was virtually nothing solid to break the landscape...just loose, rolling sand. Here, rocks and hard- packed sand offer a slight change in the landscape, and you find a slightly elevated ridge supported by one massive boulder. From the many depressions in the ground around it, this must be where a lot of the archers crouched in concealment, waiting for the pursuing Arab troop. You find a relatively concealed position and crouch down, awaiting daybreak (and trying to ignore your tiredness.) As the sun rises over the horizon, you see moving figures almost immediately. A troop of Berber horsemen is approaching from one direction, and you see what appears to be a small encampment in the other. You've placed yourself *very* close to their territory, and are going to have a lot of trouble getting away from here without being seen. For that matter, if they ride around much, or any others come by, you can't remain out of sight here indefinitely either. <><><><><> [Agnes] "Well, I was hoping that we'd find him here - one way or the other. Perhaps a little naivity on my part." After getting the horses to lie down, and crouching themselves, she watches dawn lighten the landscape. Before the stars start to go she marks a short line in the sand, showing the way they'd come, so that in the full light of day she could orientate herself. They both take off their robes and put them on the horses, so that the black does stand out against the sand in the daylight. She watches the moving Berbers, and glances at the camp. "Not an ideal position to have placed ourselves Antonella - I'll try to do better next time. Now, with luck, our camp will have seen off last night's attack - if that was what it was. I'm sorry, I made an estimate of their numbers as they passed, and it was not nearly as large a force as I had first thought. Warning the camp might well have been beneficial." She shrugs, "An error perhaps, but the camp shouldn't have to rely on warnings from stray women for its defences. So, we'll stay here until at least those men" she points at the mounted berbers, "have gone." "Then we'll see if the counter attack they were talking about last night materialises. Come nightfall, we might sneak closer to the berber camp to see if we can hear prisoners, or we might just go back to our camp with our tails between our legs." She knows that getting close to the camp will be dangerous, but she only needs to get close enough to feel if there is an immortal there. That it might not be Kemal is an important possibility, but then that immortal might well know the fate of Kemal. She decides to ponder her options on that one during the day. <><><><><> [GM] The Berbers you were watching proceed to the encampment, just on the horizon. You still feel unable to relocate, as if you can see them, they would probably be able to see you should you move. They don't seem to be going anywhere soon, though, and a couple hours after dawn, you see your options shrinking even more rapidly. A great cloud of dust approaches from the south...many more horsemen. *Many* more. Antonella looks at the approaching Berber army, then looks fearfully over to you. You can see what she's thinking- run now, and probably be spotted and run down, or stay here and possibly be surrounded with nowhere to run at all. <><><><><> [Agnes] She views the cloud of dust with dismay. **Now something that size will be able to take the camp.** She tries to steady Antonella. "Let's not make hasty decisions that we regret later." she comments as she tries to think why fleeing now is not such a good idea. "Let's at least wait until we can see that the camp is distracted by the approach of their allies. Then we might get away un-noticed." She tries to guage whether the horde's arrival at the camp, will definately compromise them or not. Hiding out still seems the safest option, with at least some chance of remaining concealed. Flight in the day will definitely get them seen, especially now that the camp will be alert. Perhaps once the horde arrives at the camp, the camp and the horde will be at their most distracted. "Right Antonella, if the horde looks like discovering us, we go there and then. If they haven't, but it looks likely they will in time, we go once the horde has stopped at the camp. If they keep going, then we wait until nightfall." She hoped that her confident statement of intent had filled Antonell a with reassurance. Agnes knew that she could do with some herself now. **A pretty foolhardy adventure, this!** she chides herself. She absent-mindedly picks up sand and lets it dribble through the fingers of one hand as with the other she holds her horse's reins. Her eyes hold the view of the advancing horde, and the cold hand of fear starts to climb up her back. <><><><><> [GM] The horde comes closer and closer, hundreds of men on horses and camels. You can hear the rumble of their approach. Part of the Berber coalition, what must be many tribes, comes to a halt around the camp, but part of the force keeps going. You estimate there are well over a thousand men, possibly several times that number....with all the dust and sand they've kicked up, it's hard to tell. Antonella fidgets anxiously, eager to run for it, though to do so now would almost certainly mean detection and pursuit, with capture almost equally certain. "We're going to be caught, I know we are!" she whimpers. "Agnes, I can't stand it, let's run before it's too late!" You hear panic rising in her voice. No one is coming right in this direction. IF they are just stopping to rest before moving on, or IF they stay here but don't venture too far afield before nightfall, you might remain undetected. All it will take is one patrol, or even one rider, swinging around this jutting rock formation, however, and you two will be exposed and done for. The nearest Berbers, riding in circles surveying the battle site and the corpses still littered upon it, are already just within shouting range. <><><><><> [Agnes] "Okay, Antonella, you're right." she says quietly. "Quickly, let's put our veils back on first, so that if we're caught, we might be treated better. The robes thoug will have to wait." [OOC: what are these robes called? I'm sure they have a name.] That done, Agnes waits for an opportune momment, where ther are no berbers in the vicinity, nor any coming this way, but hopefully still sufficient dust from the mass of horsemen to obscure the vision of most. When they do move it is in a direction that keeps the rock between them and those that might potentially view them for as long as possible, before turning gradually to their true course. Distance away from the camp was the important thing. Although it slowed them, it reduced their chances of being seen, so they trot to throw up the minimum of sand. Agnes glances anxiously behind her, watching for the dust of galloping riders heading towards them, ready to call Anttonella into a gallop too. <><><><><> [GM] Antonella practically leaps on her horse, eager to be out of here. The two of you trot away, and make it *almost* out of sight, before another backwards glance shows a group of horsemen following in pursuit. <><><><><> [Agnes] She curses audibly. "Now were're in trouble Antonella, we're being followed." She spurs the horse onwards, into a fast canter. She is well aware that their horses are not fresh, and that there is a long way to go. There is a fine balance to be made between keeping far enough ahead of the pursuit to allow the possibility of shaking them off, and blowing the horses such that the pursuit will easily overhaul them anyway. Paramount though, is keeping ahead of the pursuit - and out of bow range at that. "We will ride straight for our camp now, Antonella. If nothing else we have to warn them of the size of the force we have just seen. They may not believe us, as we are but _women_, but we will make them hear us even if they do not listen." She glances back once more to see how their pace compares with that of the pursuit. "We shall go in as straight a line as possible. If we have to split up - you keep going on that line. Before I vear off I'll let you know how far you will have to ride." She glances at Antonella, embarasment across her face, "I'm truely sorry I dragged you along with me, Antonella." In her mind, Agnes tries to rerun last night's journey, and any landmarks they passed. She knows she won't have the luxury of pondering directions if she becomes unsure, She will have to _know_. **Travelling at night hasn't helped me spot potential places to lose pursuit either.** "Unless the wind picks up, we won't shake then, you know. We'll just have to trust that we stay ahead long enough that they give up, we reach our camp, or we meet one of our patrols .... otherwise they'll catch us." "Theres's not much comfort for you there I'm afraid." She steels herself for a hard and anxious ride, and glances backwards again. <><><><><> [GM] This situation is all too similar to one you found yourself in six years ago. But that was in Carolingia, in a region you knew fairly well, a heavily forested area, and your pursuers were not great riders. Here, you are in an unfamiliar land, a mostly flat land with no cover, and being chased by men who started riding before they could walk. They're gaining on you, and you have far too many miles ahead of you before your army's camp will be in sight. Antonella looks back again, and then, galloping alongside you, says in a determined voice, "I *won't* let them capture me..." <><><><><> [Agnes] "I know how you feel, Antonella." She keeps up the pace. The further from the main horde the better. With the knowledge that they are gaining, her backwards glances concentrate on establishing how many there are. Whilst looking forward she scans the ground for anything that might shake off pursuit, or failing that, anywhere where a stand would be more difficult to outflank ... She knows she's clutching at straws, but she will ride the horse into the groundto evade capture, or even just delay it. <><><><><> [GM] The group behind you (there appear to be six men chasing you) continues their steady gain. You estimate at most ten more minutes before they catch up to you, unless you spur your horses into an all-out run, and then perhaps twenty. That will bring you closer to the camp, but still miles away, and within range of the camp's patrols (assuming there are any) only if you are very lucky. Antonella cries out in excitement, and points. You turn back to your front to see a large body of men on horses ahead....over a hundred. "We're saved!" she exclaims. Your rising hopes turn to dismay, as you realize instead that you are very *unlucky*. The riders ahead are Berbers also...it looks very much like the contingent you saw last night, returning. <><><><><> [Agnes] Her heart sinks, and she despairs. "Alas, Antonella - those are Berbers too." She starts to slow up her horse. "It's time to put our robes back on, to become modest furniture once more. " She pulls out her robes, and ppulls them on as she lets the horse slow up. "Against those numbers, I think resistance is fairly futile." she comments with a heavy heart, thinking of how much pain and suffering resisting a mere eight in Rome had caused her. "Still, if we look on the bright side, we'll find out what happened to Kemal this way." She lets the horse slow to a stand, and awaits the arrival of both groups of Berbers. <><><><><> [GM] "No," Antonella says, breathlessly. She draws the sword you gave her, and holds it in reverse, the point pressing against her breast. "I said I *won't* let them capture me!" she stammers, eyes wide. She trembles, tears spilling down her cheeks. "It was b-b-bad enough being K-K-Kemal's slave, b-b-but he was n-n-never so bad even before he f-freed us and I had you, p-p-promising we'd escape..." she gasps, gripping the sword and, you can sense, mustering the courage to carry out her intended action. "I'd r-rather die than be...be....beLONG to them!" She sways slightly in the saddle, while the Berbers continue closing in from both sides. <><><><><> [Agnes] "Oh, sweet Jesus, no." she cries as she sees what Antonella is up to. "Antonella, don't do it!" **Don't condem yourself to forever looking like 16 year old!** "At least wait until we see how we are to be treated. We are the wives of one of the Muslim commanders, that has to be worth something. If we end up slaves once more, then fine, there will no doubt be another chance for you to run yourself through." **For all the good it will do!** She moves her horse to Antonella's, and hold out her hand. "Give me the sword Antonella." <><><><><> [GM] Antonella stares at you, tears spilling down her cheeks. Her breathing is heavy, panicked. Her hands are remarkably steady, though her body trembles a bit. Finally, with a heavy sigh, she slowly lowers the point and hands the sword to you. With her head bowed, she pulls the robe you gave her over herself. She sits there on her horse, shoulders hunched miserably. The Berber horde will reach you before the smaller group pursuing you does. As you and Antonella prepare for their arrival, and whatever disposition you will receive at their hands, you suddenly feel further cause for dread..... The Quickening. Riding in the lead is Sheykh Naz Akharmid. He looks startled initially, then a pleased smile spreads slowly across his face as his horse slows down and the Berbers halt, in a semi-circle around you. You note with satisfaction that many of them are wounded, some of them seriously. "Well, if it is not the very wives of Kemal ibn-Hakim!" the Sheykh says cheerfully, in Arabic. The men around him gawk, looking startled, amazed, and in a few cases, angry. "Imagine, spending a fruitless night harrying a fortified camp in an effort to get to you two, only for you to kindly wait for us in our path on the way back!" <><><><><> [Agnes] As calmly as she can she stares the Sheykh in the eyes, and demands, "Where is our husband?" She holds back a tirade of abuse that she would easily spill over him for his treachery, as it would do her, Antonalla, nor Kemal any good. "I know he didn't fall in the ambush - because I have looked. So where is he?" <><><><><> [GM] The Sheykh keeps smiling. "You went *looking* for him? That is why we find you here now? Remarkable!" He shakes his head. "Well....throw down those swords, and any other weapons you are carrying, as well as your shields, and we can ride back to our camp. If you two women behave yourselves, you might get a chance to see your husband again." Antonella takes in a sharp breath. Despite the situation, you see that she is suddenly bouyed by hope, learning that Kemal is still alive. <><><><><> [Agnes] She continues to look him coldly in the eyes, and speaks loudly enough in Arabic, that the circle of men can hear her. "That all sounds rather vague, Sheykh Naz Akharmid. Do you hold Kemal ibn-Hakim, or not? You see, it is not necessarily as simple as you make out. We might choose not to give you the swords. Despairing at being captured by a man, whose word is of dubious value, some wives might choose not to put ourselves into the hands of a man who covets his hosts wives even as he stands as a guest in his host's tent. Such a man would be unlikely to treat them with the respect deserving of the wives of an honourable enemy. Indeed, such a man might be selling moombeams, and may have not have ibn Hakim as a prisoner at all. He might at this moment not be returning from a successful sorté, but be retreating from a beating administered that very man. Faced with capture by such a man, and fearing the worst, some women might choose instead to publicly and in front of _all_ their captors, thrust their swords into their hearts. Some special women might challenge you to a duel here and now. That you would fight such a duel and suffer the consequences of victory in front of all your men would require a feat of explanation would it not?" She pulls her sword out of her scabbard with a florish. "So Sheykh. Convince me that I should not use this now, one way or the other."