Desert Princess Chapter 2
Three months prior
"Olivia I would speak to you my daughter. " Eli gently takes Olivia by the arm so they are walking side by side.
"Yes father, she responds adoringly."
"Olivia you are of age, well actually, you are past the age where you should be married. I have been selfish in denying you suitors because I love you and sister so much and the thought of you leaving our home burdens my heart. You both remind me so much of your mother. Each day you two bring me such joy."
"Father, I lack for nothing. Being a member of your household is a wondrous blessing. Rest your soul. I do not feel I have lost a single thing. God will let you know when the right suitor is at hand." She pats his arm and gives him a hug.
"What you say in true, this is why I want to speak to you my daughter. I believe God has revealed the proper suitor. His name is Sheikh Davis. He is a good man, a gentle man. His tribe is strong and loyal. His wife and child died in child birth two years ago. I have told him about you and he is eager to meet you."
"Father, where does his tribe hail from?"
"They are from beyond the great sands of Enor in the land of Cahan. His tribe believes he will one day become a caliph."
"You know that matters not to me father. Titles do not make a man good, kind or decent. There are many ruthless men who have obtained the title caliph and yet the people in their territory suffer greatly."
"True dear child, but Sheikh Davis is not among them. He will be here in a fortnight. I leave it up to you to judge for yourself what manner of man he is."
"As you wish my father", Olivia says as she tightly hugs her father.
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"You both come highly recommended. I trust you can procure what I need. She must be untouched by man, young, beautiful and intelligent. She must also come from a good family. Avoid girls who may or want to be dedicated to the gods; do nothing to invite the wrath of the deities on us.
Do you care whether the girl wishes to join your tribe? The trader Ballard asks.
No, her wishes are immaterial! The life I am offering I am sure surpasses any dream the girl may have.
"There are females slaves outside of this region, in the lands of Sane and beyond, that are highly prized for their beauty, skills and talents. We have heard great men have purchased wives from that region. Is such a maiden acceptable to you, trader Char'ali inquires?"
"My jondi have searched the known territory with no success. If you must travel beyond our borders in search of an appropriate concubine for my husband do so. I hear the females in those lands possess the qualities I require. However, heed these warnings, be careful, wise in your dealings, and cover your tracks. Those beyond the border repelled the armies of Doyle. They are friendly but discerning in their dealings with strangers. If it becomes known you are not emissaries but former Doyle jondi you will be executed as spies or suffer trial by ordeal in the Great River."
"We understand Amira. Does the Amir have any other requirements?
"These are my requirements as this is my gift to the Amir. You shall not trouble him with the details of your quest."
"As you wish Amira Mellie."
"Take this." She hands them a bag of gold coins.
"If you fail to return within the allotted time, I will send the jondi after you. You must return in two months. Do not fail in this task, Amira Mellie commands sternly."
"We will do our best, they reply."
"Leave me, I need to make sacrifice to Bau and Ishtar; to ensure your success."
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Two months prior
"Sheikh, I mean Edison, that's impossible, Olivia squawks in between bouts of tear-filled laughter. How could they mistake you for a female?"
"I have an older sister and when the clerics came to our encampment to administer the initiation rites, they assumed I was she. My hair was much longer then, my face as smooth as a newborn and my voice soft like a cooing dove."
"Why did they speak to you instead of your parents?"
"My parents were away visiting relatives with my sister and were delayed in returning home because of sand storms. The clerics were busy performing the rites all over the territory; they had no time to debate with me. They assumed I was scared of participating in the rites and refused to give ear to my protestations until it was time for the ritual bath when the truth of my situation became evident." Both Edison and Olivia laughed heartedly at his childhood story.
"Olivia, I have enjoyed our time together."
"I too have found your company most pleasing Edison."
" Olivia with your permission, I would like to invite you to accompany your father next month when he comes to meet with me and several other outer tribes about forming an alliance. There are rumors the Doyle infidels are amassing a large new army and we must be prepare."
"Edison, if my father approves, I will be delighted to see your homeland."
"It will delight my heart to show you my lands and introduce you to my people Olivia."
One month prior
"Hassan, today you will go help your sister water the herds."
"Must I father, there is a caravan loaded with goods from the east passing through the village. I want to see what goods they have brought," Hassan says excitedly.
"Father, I can do it by myself as always, Olivia retorts. You need not trouble Hassan."
"I know my precious flower but there have been sightings of strangers in the land and I do not want you wandering about alone."
"Father I have my blade and your battle teachings. I am not defenseless."
"Olivia, I know you like your solitude but until these strangers are questioned you will not go about unaccompanied. The jondi are patrolling the outer borders of our lands in search of the strangers."
"I shall do as you wish father as always; I love you."
"I love you too my daughter. I love you very much. Both you and your sister are all I have left of your mother. Your mother was the love of my life."
"Before I take care of the herd, I will go check on Raheel."
"Do I need to prepare more elixir for her?"
"I don't think so, she seems to be improving."
"Father, will you teach me more about the ways of the hakim?
"Of course I will my daughter. It pleases me that you show promise in the art of healing."
"Do you miss being a hakim?"
"Some days I miss it a great deal; especially when my responsibilities as Amir interfere with my ability to use my skills to save lives."
"Father you must not do this to yourself. You were too far away to save mother. It was not your fault. The villainous infidels are to blame. Those workers of iniquity were a plague in our land. Father, you listened to God and saved many lives because you forged alliances and convinced the other amirs and sultans to work together to destroy the invaders. Please stop blaming yourself," Olivia pleads. They embrace and Olivia leaves to check on her sister.
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Hassan kicks the ground sending up a cloud of dusty sand. He is tired of hearing about Olivia and Raheel's mother and the deference his father lauds on them. His mother died given birth to him. He never had a chance to know or love her. Maya, Olivia and Raheel's mother treated Hassan as her own, but it was not the same. There was a cheerful light in Maya and Eli's eyes every time they looked at their daughters. Their smiles were broader, the hugs deeper and the "I love yous" more frequent. Hassan was never sure whether his father loved his mother as much as Maya.
"Father, may I speak with you", Hassan asks?
"Of course you may my son. What weighs on your mind?"
"Father, I believe it is time for me to leave home and start my own family. I wish to take my inheritance, marry and settle in the southern region."
"Hassan, my son, I am glad you are contemplating your future. This is a good thing but I believe you should wait until you are more experienced in the ways of being a leader before you assume such an important role. Right now, you are impetuous and unwise in your dealings with others. Taking on the responsibility of a wife, children, servants and herds is an arduous task. It is no small undertaking my son. I pray you seek God's help and guidance. I cannot in good conscience hand over your inheritance now. Give yourself more time to acquire wisdom. Maybe you should spend more time with your sister Olivia. She is mature beyond her years, wise in the quandaries of life."
Hassan nods his head, and then looks away from his father. Hassan is angry. Eli treats Olivia as if she is one of God's chosen. I always seem to fall short in father's eyes as compared to Olivia, he thinks. Why can he not ever praise me?
"Olivia will soon choose a husband. The forerunner is a very powerful sheikh. The marriage will expand our territory and strengthen our forces. Olivia recognizes a union with the sheikh will bring prosperity and added stability to the region. Hassan my son you need to start thinking strategically as well. If you are to be a great leader, you must learn to put the needs of those in your charge before yourself."
Hassan does not respond to his father's comments. His disappoint at his father's words prevent him from speaking. He bows and walks away craving his father's affections and jealous of Olivia. I wish she would just disappear.
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