~ Chapter Fourteen ~
Found!
Alanna woke, stretched, and packed up quickly. She didn't think of erasing signs of her camp; she didn't believe she was in any danger. She packed Silver-streak with all her things. She turned around to pick Faithful up. He yowled and looked behind Alanna.
Alanna swiftly yet cautiously turned around and drew her sword quickly.
"You can wield your sword, but can you use it, woman?" a dry voice asked.
"It depends what you think," Alanna replied, her voice just as dry. She didn't bother to ask how the man knew she was a woman; he was a Bazhir (A/N – have no idea hoe to spell it and I can't be stuffed getting my books), and little was hidden from the Bazhir. "If you think because I am a woman I am not a good opponent, I differ you will be extremely surprised once you are near slain."
The man laughed. "Small woman, you say big words, but could you win against a warrior of the tribe?"
Alanna moved nervously. Sure, she was trained and fit, but could she really win against a Bazhir warrior? She reflected briefly on what she had learnt. Hand skills, a few Shang punches and kicks, sword skills, wrestling (her weak point), and some staff and hand-to-hand combat skills.
"I'm waiting, woman," the man said, his voice patient.
"I believe I can do what I force myself to do," Alanna said bravely.
"Hmph."
Alanna made sure the Bazhir could not detect he nervousness. Who was this man? "You have not introduced yourself," she told him.
He smiled. "I have not. I am Halef Sief, headman of the Bloody Hawk tribe."
"I am Lady Alanna of Trebond, noble from the North, servant of the Great King." Alanna replied, hoping that this tribe acknowledged King Roald.
"We know no King," Halef Sief replied.
Uh oh, Alanna thought. She paused for a second to think of something to say. "You my not," she began, "But other fellow tribes do. Would they be thankful of you if you harmed a noble of the King?"
This caused some murmur among the group of sturdy warriors. Halef Sief looked her over. "You may come with us," he invited. "It is almost midday – we have wasted the morning, and I'm sure you will be hungry very soon."
Alanna didn't know whether to bow or curtsy. If she curtsied, they would think she was a soft woman, if she bowed, she may be disrespected. She finally bowed, and said, "I accept your kind offer, Halef Sief." Alanna looked towards Faithful, who had been silent throughout this time. She saw with disgust that he was asleep.
She shook him gently. When he didn't stir, she shook him harder. "Wake up you silly cat," she told him. Faithful almost fell off Silver-streak's saddle. He yowled at her. He then saw the visitors and ran n front of Alanna as if to protect her, hissing and spitting.
The men drew back a step from the cat with its unnerving purple eyes – just like Alanna's glare.
"She has a demon cat!" cried one old man from the back.
"You promised if you were to come you would be silent, Akhnan Ibn Nazzir (A/N – I REALLY don't know how spell that one and my friend Mia has my books so I can't check it!!!!)," Halef Sief said the old man.
"I cannot keep silent whilst you invite a demon into our tribe!" the old man yelled again.
"I'm no demon!" Alanna snapped.
"No?" he cried. "You ride like a man, you go dressed as a man, you say you can fight against one of out Bazhir warriors and win, and you have a demon cat who has the same coloured eyes as you! And you say you are no demon?"
Faithful turned his tail up in disgrace at the man. How could he say I am a demon? He asked Alanna. "Oh, shoosh," she told the cat.
Halef Sief bowed to her. "Forgive Akhnan Ibn Nazzir," he asked her. "He does not know what he is saying." He shot a meaningful look at the old man, and Akhnan Ibn Nazzir fell silent.
"I accept your apology on behalf of the Shaman Ibn Nazzir," Alanna replied.
The Headman bowed. "Come with us," he said.
Alanna mounted up and followed the Headman over the sandy hills.
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"Men, stop!" commanded Sir Raoul.
One of the men looked at him, tiredly. "What is it this time?"
Raoul grinned. "Ok, ok, I stopped you for nothing, let's continue." He chuckled as the men groaned. "Come on now," he told them. "My guess is she headed into the desert."
Some of the men frowned. "What makes you say that?" asked a sturdy man.
"I would have thought you would have picked that up, Airin," Sir Raoul said. "Look at the dust between here and the beginning of the desert. I can see horse hairs, a few remains of food, and over there in the distance, I believe I can see the remains of a fire."
Airin nodded to Lord Raoul. "That they are, Sir Raoul," he said. "My eyes are blinded," he joked.
Raoul looked at them. "We mustn't waste any more time. Keep your eyes peeled for other camp signs." The men nodded and, with Sir Raoul at the lead, they rode off into the desert to find Alanna.
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The women looked at Alanna strangely under their veils; the men, some with disrespect, some with curiosity; and the children hid behind their mothers.
I don't have three heads, Alanna thought. It's not as though I'm going to bite their limbs off!
Halef Sief led her to a small, one-person tent. "You will stay here until the women have made our meal," he told her.
Alanna bowed nervously. "Thankyou, Halef Sief. I am grateful for your hospitality."
The Headman left, and Alanna entered her tent. She looked around. It was small and yet cosy. There was a bed roll, a small table with two chairs, a dressing screen and behind that a bath tub and a mirror and comb.
Two girls and a boy entered Alanna's tent. It was rather cramped with them in there, but they fit.
"I am Kourrem," said the taller girl, curtsying slightly. "We will serve you throughout your time at the Bloody Hawk tribe.
Alanna smiled. "Thankyou, Kourrem," she told the girl.
"Look, Kara!" whispered the boy to the other girl. "She has purple eyes!"
"Ishak, hush!" scolded Kourrem.
"Kourrem, you spoil the fun!" Ishak retorted.
Alanna hid a grin. Kourrem looked at Alanna again. "I am sorry for Ishak," she indicated to the boy, "He promised to remain quiet."
"But I didn't swear it by the Gods, or my ancestors," the young boy told Kourrem.
"Ishak, be quiet!" the other girl said hurriedly.
"Leave me be, Kara," Ishak told her. Ishak turned his attention back to Alanna. You have a cat too," he told her. "He has purple eyes, just like you."
Alanna nodded. "His name is Faithful," she told the youngsters. "He's my pet."
"He looks nice," said Kara, the smaller girl, coming forward and petting Faithful, who was in front of Alanna. Faithful purred and Alanna laughed. "I think he likes that," she told them.
"Kara, Ishak, come now," Kourrem said. Kara and Ishak moved behind Kourrem. "Is there anything you require?" Kourrem asked nervously.
"Not at the moment," Alanna told them.
"As you wish," replied Kourrem. "We have been sent to tell you that the meal is ready. Halef Sief, our Headman, asks you to change from your dirty clothes to what suits you," she added, slightly puzzled.
Alanna nodded. "Thankyou, Kourrem, Kara, Ishak," she told them. The three children left. Alanna sighed and went to change from her muddy clothes.
As she was leaving her tent to go to the meal Alanna spotted seven or so horses at the front of the tribe. Wonder who they belong to, she thought. They certainly weren't there when I came!
As Alanna made her way to the center of the tribe, where the meals were eaten, she was taken aside by Halef Sief. "These men wish to talk to you," he said. Alanna was wondering what men would want to talk to her, and who they were, when Halef Sief led her into the tent, and she got a glimpse of the men who were in the tent.
"Lady Alanna," Sir Raoul said, "Found."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH so there's another chapter I'm not quite finished yet but it may be a while coz it's holidays and I'm very lazy during the hols! Eg, I got up at 9:45am this morning and 10:15 yesterday (mind you I did go to bed quite late) but anyway gotta go TV's calling! Hehehe,
~*~luv kaz~*~
Found!
Alanna woke, stretched, and packed up quickly. She didn't think of erasing signs of her camp; she didn't believe she was in any danger. She packed Silver-streak with all her things. She turned around to pick Faithful up. He yowled and looked behind Alanna.
Alanna swiftly yet cautiously turned around and drew her sword quickly.
"You can wield your sword, but can you use it, woman?" a dry voice asked.
"It depends what you think," Alanna replied, her voice just as dry. She didn't bother to ask how the man knew she was a woman; he was a Bazhir (A/N – have no idea hoe to spell it and I can't be stuffed getting my books), and little was hidden from the Bazhir. "If you think because I am a woman I am not a good opponent, I differ you will be extremely surprised once you are near slain."
The man laughed. "Small woman, you say big words, but could you win against a warrior of the tribe?"
Alanna moved nervously. Sure, she was trained and fit, but could she really win against a Bazhir warrior? She reflected briefly on what she had learnt. Hand skills, a few Shang punches and kicks, sword skills, wrestling (her weak point), and some staff and hand-to-hand combat skills.
"I'm waiting, woman," the man said, his voice patient.
"I believe I can do what I force myself to do," Alanna said bravely.
"Hmph."
Alanna made sure the Bazhir could not detect he nervousness. Who was this man? "You have not introduced yourself," she told him.
He smiled. "I have not. I am Halef Sief, headman of the Bloody Hawk tribe."
"I am Lady Alanna of Trebond, noble from the North, servant of the Great King." Alanna replied, hoping that this tribe acknowledged King Roald.
"We know no King," Halef Sief replied.
Uh oh, Alanna thought. She paused for a second to think of something to say. "You my not," she began, "But other fellow tribes do. Would they be thankful of you if you harmed a noble of the King?"
This caused some murmur among the group of sturdy warriors. Halef Sief looked her over. "You may come with us," he invited. "It is almost midday – we have wasted the morning, and I'm sure you will be hungry very soon."
Alanna didn't know whether to bow or curtsy. If she curtsied, they would think she was a soft woman, if she bowed, she may be disrespected. She finally bowed, and said, "I accept your kind offer, Halef Sief." Alanna looked towards Faithful, who had been silent throughout this time. She saw with disgust that he was asleep.
She shook him gently. When he didn't stir, she shook him harder. "Wake up you silly cat," she told him. Faithful almost fell off Silver-streak's saddle. He yowled at her. He then saw the visitors and ran n front of Alanna as if to protect her, hissing and spitting.
The men drew back a step from the cat with its unnerving purple eyes – just like Alanna's glare.
"She has a demon cat!" cried one old man from the back.
"You promised if you were to come you would be silent, Akhnan Ibn Nazzir (A/N – I REALLY don't know how spell that one and my friend Mia has my books so I can't check it!!!!)," Halef Sief said the old man.
"I cannot keep silent whilst you invite a demon into our tribe!" the old man yelled again.
"I'm no demon!" Alanna snapped.
"No?" he cried. "You ride like a man, you go dressed as a man, you say you can fight against one of out Bazhir warriors and win, and you have a demon cat who has the same coloured eyes as you! And you say you are no demon?"
Faithful turned his tail up in disgrace at the man. How could he say I am a demon? He asked Alanna. "Oh, shoosh," she told the cat.
Halef Sief bowed to her. "Forgive Akhnan Ibn Nazzir," he asked her. "He does not know what he is saying." He shot a meaningful look at the old man, and Akhnan Ibn Nazzir fell silent.
"I accept your apology on behalf of the Shaman Ibn Nazzir," Alanna replied.
The Headman bowed. "Come with us," he said.
Alanna mounted up and followed the Headman over the sandy hills.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Men, stop!" commanded Sir Raoul.
One of the men looked at him, tiredly. "What is it this time?"
Raoul grinned. "Ok, ok, I stopped you for nothing, let's continue." He chuckled as the men groaned. "Come on now," he told them. "My guess is she headed into the desert."
Some of the men frowned. "What makes you say that?" asked a sturdy man.
"I would have thought you would have picked that up, Airin," Sir Raoul said. "Look at the dust between here and the beginning of the desert. I can see horse hairs, a few remains of food, and over there in the distance, I believe I can see the remains of a fire."
Airin nodded to Lord Raoul. "That they are, Sir Raoul," he said. "My eyes are blinded," he joked.
Raoul looked at them. "We mustn't waste any more time. Keep your eyes peeled for other camp signs." The men nodded and, with Sir Raoul at the lead, they rode off into the desert to find Alanna.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The women looked at Alanna strangely under their veils; the men, some with disrespect, some with curiosity; and the children hid behind their mothers.
I don't have three heads, Alanna thought. It's not as though I'm going to bite their limbs off!
Halef Sief led her to a small, one-person tent. "You will stay here until the women have made our meal," he told her.
Alanna bowed nervously. "Thankyou, Halef Sief. I am grateful for your hospitality."
The Headman left, and Alanna entered her tent. She looked around. It was small and yet cosy. There was a bed roll, a small table with two chairs, a dressing screen and behind that a bath tub and a mirror and comb.
Two girls and a boy entered Alanna's tent. It was rather cramped with them in there, but they fit.
"I am Kourrem," said the taller girl, curtsying slightly. "We will serve you throughout your time at the Bloody Hawk tribe.
Alanna smiled. "Thankyou, Kourrem," she told the girl.
"Look, Kara!" whispered the boy to the other girl. "She has purple eyes!"
"Ishak, hush!" scolded Kourrem.
"Kourrem, you spoil the fun!" Ishak retorted.
Alanna hid a grin. Kourrem looked at Alanna again. "I am sorry for Ishak," she indicated to the boy, "He promised to remain quiet."
"But I didn't swear it by the Gods, or my ancestors," the young boy told Kourrem.
"Ishak, be quiet!" the other girl said hurriedly.
"Leave me be, Kara," Ishak told her. Ishak turned his attention back to Alanna. You have a cat too," he told her. "He has purple eyes, just like you."
Alanna nodded. "His name is Faithful," she told the youngsters. "He's my pet."
"He looks nice," said Kara, the smaller girl, coming forward and petting Faithful, who was in front of Alanna. Faithful purred and Alanna laughed. "I think he likes that," she told them.
"Kara, Ishak, come now," Kourrem said. Kara and Ishak moved behind Kourrem. "Is there anything you require?" Kourrem asked nervously.
"Not at the moment," Alanna told them.
"As you wish," replied Kourrem. "We have been sent to tell you that the meal is ready. Halef Sief, our Headman, asks you to change from your dirty clothes to what suits you," she added, slightly puzzled.
Alanna nodded. "Thankyou, Kourrem, Kara, Ishak," she told them. The three children left. Alanna sighed and went to change from her muddy clothes.
As she was leaving her tent to go to the meal Alanna spotted seven or so horses at the front of the tribe. Wonder who they belong to, she thought. They certainly weren't there when I came!
As Alanna made her way to the center of the tribe, where the meals were eaten, she was taken aside by Halef Sief. "These men wish to talk to you," he said. Alanna was wondering what men would want to talk to her, and who they were, when Halef Sief led her into the tent, and she got a glimpse of the men who were in the tent.
"Lady Alanna," Sir Raoul said, "Found."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH so there's another chapter I'm not quite finished yet but it may be a while coz it's holidays and I'm very lazy during the hols! Eg, I got up at 9:45am this morning and 10:15 yesterday (mind you I did go to bed quite late) but anyway gotta go TV's calling! Hehehe,
~*~luv kaz~*~