Married?
Evy and Rebecca, tired of being cooped up in the house,
had gone to the marketplace. There was
nothing specific they intended to purchase, though Rebecca was determined to
bring something back for Alex. Evy had
no intention of buying anything. The
women stopped at a booth that had a dazzling display of knives. Jonathan, his
eye caught by a flash of gold, moved ahead to the next booth. Rebecca picked
one up, weighing it in her hand. It was
heavy, a warrior's blade. Debating
getting it for Ardeth, she turned to the vendor prepared to begin the process
of haggling the price.
"For you, I charge
nothing." The merchant told her, bowing
his head out of respect. "To charge the wife of THE Medjai would not be right."
"She's the wife of a Medjai.
"Rebecca corrected, nodding towards Evy. "I'm making the purchase."
"Not a Medjai. THE Medjai. I will not be known as the man who made the wife of Ardeth Bey pay for
what she wants."
He took the blade from her hand,
wrapping it in a cloth before handing it back to her. Rebecca nodded her thank you, a frown of confusion on her face as
she looked to Evy.
"What did he mean by that do you
think?" Rebecca asked, slipping the dagger into the bag she held. "Why would he think I'm Ardeth's wife?"
"Probably because of that
dance." Jonathan suggested, having
heard the question as he rejoined them.
"What has that dance have to do
with it?"
"Remember how Evy told you some
dances have ancient meanings? That one
you danced with Ardeth happened to be one where you wind up married at the end
of it."
"You've got to be joking." Rebecca laughed, sobering when she saw he
was not. "How do you know this?"
"When he showed up at the place
and saw what you were doing, he told me what it meant." Jonathan said, for once pleased to know
something the two women did not. "Went
to rescue you, he did. Wound up dancing
with you instead. So I'd say that's why
everyone thinks you're married."
"He knew what he was doing when
he danced with me." Rebecca said
slowly.
"Do you think he did it
deliberately?" Evy asked, amused at the
panic slowly crossing her friend's features. "How romantic!"
"Barbaric is more what I'm
thinking." Rebecca replied. "The nerve of that man! Who does he think he is?"
"THE Medjai." Jonathan drawled, imitating the
merchant. "Why, I bet—"
His words were cut off when a
man crashed into him, sending him flying back into a table full of
vegetables. Strong arms wrapped around
Rebecca's waist, and began to pull her backward. Evy came flying forward, only to be halted by another man's fist
crashing into her jaw. Rebecca
struggled against the unseen person's hold as her friend fell to the ground,
unconscious. One arm released her, only
to wrap around her throat. She dug her
teeth into that same arm, tasting blood as the grip around her neck
loosened. She twisted, and was nearly
loose when something hit the back of her head. She lost consciousness before seeing the swarm of Medjai that flooded
the marketplace.
~~~~~~~~……………~~~~~~~~……………~~~~~~~~……………~~~~~~~~……………~~~
"Rebecca."
She moaned. The voice had woken up the herd of
jackhammers that had taken up residence in her head.
"Is she alright?" Alex's voice asked anxiously.
"She should be. She just needs to open her eyes." Ardeth assured the boy. "Rebecca. Open your eyes."
His hand cupped her cheek,
turning her head so his fingers could probe the lump on the back of her
head.
"Dammit, that hurts!" Rebecca cried, her eyes flying open.
"Ah, she awakens." Ardeth said, relief in his voice as he
stared into her eyes. "You look like hell."
"Thank you. Thank you very much." She grumbled, closing her eyes. "I tried so hard not to ruin my hair. Hey…where's Evy?"
"She's with Dad." Alex piped in. "They're checking on Uncle Jon. Dad's pretty mad."
"Is Jonathan ok?"
"He's got a bloody headache."
"Alex, language." Evy said sternly as she entered the room,
Rick two steps behind her.
"Sorry, Mum."
""Evy." Rebecca said. "Your face!"
She struggled to sit up. Ardeth put his arm behind her, helping her to
sit and providing support as she slumped against him. She concentrated on not getting sick as she rested against him,
her eyes focused on Evy's face.
"Whoever put that there is going
to pay." Rick said softly, his fingers
tracing over the bruise along Evy's jaw gently.
"Who was it?" Rebecca asked, her eyes drooping.
"My men tried to follow him, but
lost him in the crowd." Ardeth told
her, his arm tightening around her.
"We need to talk." She whispered, her head falling back as
sleep took her.
"Is she alright?" Evy asked worriedly.
"She sleeps normally now." Ardeth assured her, laying Rebecca back
gently.
His fingers brushed over her
cheek before he pulled the blanket up around her.
"I will keep watch over her
tonight. If she needs you, I will awaken
you."