Lifetime of Celebration

By Jeannette Hetfield

Chapter 6

Jensa awoke with a start and a pounding heart. She had been dreaming, but it had been so real. Lyle's hands were around her throat and on her body. She screamed endlessly, but no one came. "Jensa, get a grip," she told herself. Lyle had ripped her dignity fiercely away and part of her innocence, introducing her to a world she knew existed, but had never thought much about. It was a violent world and she was not sure she wanted to be part of it. There was something else though, another part of her dream she had nearly forgotten. Ardeth. He was in it too, but she could not remember what part he had played. Of one thing she was certain, his presence in her dreams left a very warm feeling deep within her heart.

"I guess good morning would be the inappropriate thing to say." Jensa glanced over at Kerri, just now noticing that she was in the tent too. "You were already asleep when I came in here last night. I didn't want to wake you. You tossed and turned and talked in your sleep, but it was so quiet I couldn't make out what you were saying. Looks to me like you had a rough night."

"I did," she said rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"You want to talk about it?" she asked consolingly and rubbed her back in small circles.

"I dreamed about Lyle…again. I can still feel the pressure of his hands on my throat." She grabbed her scarf and wrapped it around her neck. "There's really no need to hide these bruises anymore. I just don't want anyone else asking questions." Jensa grabbed a mirror from her knapsack and situated the material around. Her hair was an untidy sight. After Ardeth had taken the braid out, she left it loose. It was a disheveled mass of tangles, no doubt from her tossing and turning. She dug around inside of her knapsack and found her brush.

"Why not?" Kerri questioned.

"Ardeth saw them." She brushed it with several quick strokes. There wasn't time to braid it all over again so she just put it in a simple pony tail, tieing it with a navy blue ribbon.

"Oh, no," she groaned. "What did he say?"

"Not very much at first. He just sat there looking like he was about to explode."

"Did you tell him anything?"

"No, Kerri, I can't. Not yet. I may not get to now. He'll probably leave me alone."

"How come?" she said, cocking her head to one side.

"I reacted very badly with him being so physically close to me. Ardeth seemed a little hesitant at first, but it was like he needed to touch me to see if I was really here. My coming back surprised him a great deal. He undid my braid and ran his fingers through my hair." Jensa shivered in memory of his hands gliding through her hair. "Then he tried to touch my cheek and I pulled away from him. I think he was as shocked as I was. I've never done that before."

"Were you afraid?"

"Yes and no. I was uncomfortable, but I know Ardeth would never hit me. It's just that the way Lyle touched me was so cruel and barbaric. I can't get it out of my head. I don't know, maybe I'm gun shy," she said shrugging her shoulders. "I hurt him by being so distant."

"You must remember, Jensa, that you have had a tragic experience. You'll get over it in time."

"I hope so." She ran her hand over her hair to smooth out any loose strands. "Enough about my problems. Let's talk about you."

"Me? What is there to talk about?"

"You and Fadil. Do I detect a budding romance?"

Kerri's petite face blushed. "Perhaps." She had told Jensa all about how kind Fadil had been to her during the time Jensa had been kidnapped and spoke of him quite a bit, even after they had returned to America.

"Perhaps nothing. I saw the two of you kiss. I think it's very sweet," she said, grinning. "Consider yourself lucky to have found him. I always liked Fadil. He is a good man," she said feeling a tinge of jealousy.

"Who knows where this may lead?"

"I know where, Kerri. You have love in your chocolate eyes, even way back five years ago. He's going to have a challenge in you, not being used to women who talk back. The two of you certainly didn't waste any time."

"Well, I never!"

"Just teasing you. I think it's good that you two have been reunited."

"You're talking like we're about to walk down the aisle!"

"Consider yourself lucky," she said quietly.

Kerri sensed her sadness and took hold of Jensa's hands. "Jensa, you'll find happiness too because you deserve it more than anyone else I know. Coming back here was the right course of action. I know how much you love Ardeth. He loves you too. I saw the way he watched your every movement last night. He will heal your heart."

Jensa's eyes watered and she put her arms around Kerri. "Thank you so much. You're the best friend I've ever had."

Kerri shrugged off the sentimentality to keep from crying herself. "Now, let's get out of this death trap."

Jensa and Kerri jumped up and threw their belongings outside the tent. Jensa pushed her arms through the sleeves of the wrinkled jacket she had used for a pillow the previous night and stepped out into the morning sun. Everyone was already packing up all of the digging supplies. The Med-jai were still around to make sure that everyone left. The warriors were preparing to take their fallen friends and seriously wounded back to their village for burial and medical treatment. The diggers that died were being buried deep in the sand.

Jensa and Kerri took down their tent. "I'll be right back, " said Kerri.

"And just where do you think you're going?" she asked slyly.

"Never you mind," she shot back. Kerri intended to find Fadil and see what he was up to.

Asal was planted not too far from Jensa. She approached her and pulled her up from her sleeping spot then placed the saddle blanket on. The honey-colored horse snorted her good morning to her favorite person. "Hello, my baby. How are you this morning?" Jensa reached into one of her saddlebags and produced a small handful of sugar cubes. Asal neighed happily, swallowing the sweet treats greedily.

Jensa did not have to turn around to know Ardeth was watching her. She could feel it. She had always been able to feel it. Clearly, they held a connection. It was up to them to keep the connection from breaking.

Jackson Cravin and his brother Jeremiah had also survived the attack without being hurt, much to Jensa's disappointment. He spotted Jensa immediately and headed straight for her. Jensa groaned and whispered in Asal's ear, "Why can't he crawl back under the rock he came out of?" Asal nudged her in the shoulder in understanding, feeling Jensa's mood change.

"Good morning, Jen—oops, I mean, Miss James."

"That's a matter of opinion, Mr. Cravin," Jensa said coldly.

"Now what's eating at you?" Jensa ignored him and picked up her saddle. Jackson tried to take it from her. "Lemme give you a hand with that."

Jensa turned the saddle away from him. "I can manage."

He placed his hands on it and tried to pry it loose. Jensa struggled with him, but he kept a firm hold on the saddle. They looked like two children fighting over a toy. She wasn't strong enough so she yielded. "Thank you, " he said with a touch of annoyance.

"Might I ask what all that was about?" Jensa placed her hands on her hips in a huff.

"I was just trying to be polite. If you could get past your self-righteous, independent attitude, maybe you'd see that I'm a pretty nice guy." He skillfully strapped the girth around the horse's belly.

Jensa gave him a fierce stare. "I am not self-righteous!"

Jackson held up his hands in defense. "Look, can we start over? This conversation got off on the wrong foot."

"Yes, it did and it was your foot!"

He laughed with a twinkle dancing in his eyes. "Yep, you're probably right." Jackson gave Asal's mane a stroke. Switching tactics to something he knew she enjoyed gave him some hope. "Beautiful animal. What's her name?"

"Asal," she answered curtly.

"Unusual, but I like it. How did you come to name her that?"

"Asal is the Arabic word for honey. When I first saw her, I thought she looked like golden honey." Jensa scratched behind Asal's ears. She lowered her head enjoying the attention.

"She does." He placed his hands behind his back. "May I help you with anything else?" The eager look in his eyes was very bothersome.

"No," she said tersely. Jensa hoped her expression was as firm as her voice. "I don't need or want your help, Mr. Cravin."

"I'm insulted, and here I thought we were starting to become friends."

"You were gravely mistaken."

"I'm not a quitter, Miss James. My charm will win you over."

Jensa gaped at his arrogance. "Don't hold your breath."

"You'll see. I'm exactly what you need, a fun-loving, carefree man."

"You know what I need? Well, let me tell you what you need!" Jensa aimed her fist high. "A punch in the nose!"

Jackson merely laughed. "Go on, give me your best shot, little girl."

"What did you call me?!" Jensa's mouth hung open again.

"Hit me, little girl."

Jensa tensed up and staked everything she had into that punch. Her right cross hit its target exactly where she had wanted. Jackson staggered and fell straight down onto his rear end. His hands covered his nose as blood seeped through his fingers. Neither of them knew it, but they had drawn an audience. Everyone stopped packing up when their conversation turned to yelling on Jensa's end and laughed at the sight of the small American woman, who had already proven that she could hold her own, throw a punch at a man twice her size.

Jackson looked down at the blood in his hands then at Jensa. He was far from amused and the laughing men didn't make matters any better. Jackson really hadn't expected her to deck him and his anger got the better of him. "Why you little—" He shot to his feet. Jackson reached out to teach her a lesson, but in a flash, Ardeth appeared, blocking him from getting to Jensa like a brick wall.

"There is no time for this. We are leaving soon." Ardeth took a step closer to Jackson. "If you do that again, I will personally make you regret it." Ardeth gave Jackson a look so terrifying that he actually took a step back. He wiped his sleeve across his bloody face and stalked off. Everyone saw that the show was over and left.

Ardeth shifted his attention back to Jensa. She was leaning face forward against her horse. She held her right hand in her left and bit down on her bottom lip. "Let me see it." Ardeth waggled his hand towards her. She gave him her injured extremity. Tenderly, he examined it, turning it over and gently applying pressure. "Nothing is broken. It will heal, but will be sore for a few days." Immediately he dropped her hand, fixating her with a cold stare. Jensa shivered, feeling his chilly mood.

"I never hit anyone before. It really hurt, more than I expected it would."

"He was, as they say, asking for it."

Jensa laughed. "He most certainly was."

"If he bothers you again, tell me. I will kill him." Ardeth's tone could have been playful, but she considered that he might be serious.

"I'll remember that." Ardeth nodded his head and turned to leave. Jensa took a step forward. "Ardeth, wait." He halted and stared at her for a minute then came back. He stood very near looking down at her. His impenetrable gaze never left her face. Jensa suddenly found difficulty in breathing. "How's your arm?"

He glanced at it briefly. "It is fine, thank you," he said formally.

"I hope I didn't hurt it too much."

"No, I have been wounded far more seriously than this before."

Jensa gasped. Her eyes swept over his body thinking of the serious injuries he had sustained in the past. She could almost feel them as they happened. To think of him seriously hurt frightened her beyond reason.

Ardeth did not apologize for revealing that. He wanted to scare her, to see if she still cared. Her reaction had been what he was hoping for, but kept his feelings hidden. She nervously darted her eyes around and finally said, "I want to apologize for last night." He still remained silent. "Let me just explain everything without my crazy behavior…and tears." She held up her hands clasped together, struggling to find the right words without having to tell him everything too soon. "The last year has been very difficult for me. All that has happened is still fresh in my mind, as are these." She reached up and touched her bruised throat. Ardeth's angered eyes revealed his undying rage for the person who had inflicted such pain on the woman standing before him. "And I do know that you would never hurt me." Jensa grasped his hand and gave it a pleading squeeze. "Forgive me?"

Even as Ardeth stared down at her, he knew it would continue to bother him until she told him what had happened to her, but he would be patient. Just to see her looking at him so affectionately was enough to reveal to him that he was more in love with her now than he had ever been. Perhaps, it had been best that she left Egypt when she was still young. It took her absence to make him realize what he wanted, and that was Jensa.

"There is nothing to forgive. When you are ready, I will be here waiting." Ardeth returned the squeeze of her hand and looked at Asal. "She is magnificent," he patted her head.

"Thanks. I was instantly drawn to her unique color. She was the only horse in the stables that was different. Most of the others were flighty, but she has such a docile and serene spirit. Sometimes, I swear she can understand me."

"She can in her own way."

"Yes," she agreed. Jensa gazed at Asal lovingly.

"You love her very much."

"I can't imagine what I'd do without her. There were days I needed to get away from things and she would always be there waiting to whisk me away."

Ardeth gave Jensa a smile, reaching his eyes and beyond. Smiling was rare for him these days, but he found himself doing it again because Jensa was near. It had been a long time since he felt so good on the inside. Asal snorted and Ardeth softly petted her muzzle. To Jensa's surprise, Asal let him. Not too many people were allowed more than a stroke of her mane. That's all Jackson had been permitted. Ardeth raised his eyebrows at Jensa. "Something the matter?"

"Not at all. You should consider yourself lucky. Asal doesn't let just anyone pet her. I guess she's not that serene and docile. Obviously, she's taken to you."

"I am very likable." Ardeth laughed with Jensa joining in.

Madir watched them from a distance. He was sitting down, changing the dressing on his leg wound. He had not seen Ardeth so illuminated in a very long time. In fact, he rarely cracked a smile much less a laugh. Madir shook his head in amazement. If Jensa could bring out this side of Ardeth, then she must be someone very special. She had come back. He had never expected her to. Wonders never cease.

"Would you like to ride her?" she asked him.

"Yes, sometime. Maybe once we get to Cairo."

"I'm sure Asal looks forward to it."

"As do I."

"Hey, you said once we get to Cairo." Jensa felt a glimmer of hope. "You're coming to Cairo with us?"

"We are running low on supplies." Ardeth reluctantly pulled himself away from Jensa. "If you will excuse me, I need to speak with my men."

"Of course."

"We will talk later?" he asked expectantly.

"I'd like that." Jensa noticed that they were still holding each other's hand. She tried to disengage herself from his grip and walk away, but he tightened his hold and she snapped back over to him.

Before he realized what he was doing, Ardeth showed Jensa the full force of his feelings for her with just a look; love, respect, longing and desire. Jensa was so startled she took a small step back. Her ears burned and she knew she was blushing something awful. "Oh," she said nervously. She backed away a little more and stammered, "I—--I should check on…um…him. Uh, you know, what's his name? M—--my brother."

"Michael," he supplied with a impish grin.

"Yes, Michael. That's his name. Michael, my brother." She fidgeted awkwardly, yanked her hand out of his and quickly ran over to Michael's tent.

Ardeth stared after her. Allah, she had such a powerful effect on him! He could still feel the shock waves in his hand from holding onto hers. He pulled himself together and left to gather the waiting Med-jai.

Jensa approached Michael's tent. She hadn't seen him yet this morning, but was pretty certain about what she would find in his tent. "Michael?" No answer. She poked her head inside and found him lying face down in the sand with an empty whiskey bottle still in his hands. "My brother, ladies and gents." At first, she was going to shake him awake, but thought that maybe she would just leave him in the sand to sleep off his drunken state. He would have to travel back by himself, and he deserved no less than to be left here alone. Instead, she exited the tent and kicked the pole. She stood back and watched the tent collapse on top of him. Michael jerked up. He looked like a ghost wrapped in the white canvas. Jensa laughed hard while he tunneled his way out. Michael thrashed about and finally found the opening. He jumped up and kicked at the tent. It became entangled in his foot, fueling his anger further. He kicked and thrashed some more and the tent finally gave in and fell to the sand in a heap. Michael turned glaring eyes to a hysterical Jensa.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked annoyed.

"Because it was funny," she giggled. Michael sneered at her and then groaned. He leaned forward and put his hands on his knees. "What's wrong?" she asked, although she already knew.

"I have a splitting headache." He placed his thumb and forefinger on the bridge of his nose and massaged it.

"That's what you get," she pointed out.

He pointed his finger at her angrily. "Now don't start with the 'I told you so' stuff."

She placed her hands behind her back and assumed a demure expression on her face. "I didn't say I told you so."

"You're splitting hairs. Different words, same meaning."

"Whatever, Michael. Now, we are leaving in a few minutes. Clean yourself up a bit first. I'll start packing your junk away." Jensa bent down and gathered the crumpled tent up in her arms. Michael left to wash the alcohol from his body.

Kerri passed him and said hi, but he ignored her. "I love you too, Michael!" she shouted at him. "Another hangover?" she asked Jensa.

"When is he not hungover? I swear…I'd like to give him the same pounding I gave Jackson Cravin a while ago."

"Pounding? Did you hit him?"

"Yes," she looked up at Kerri in astonishment, "Where have you been?"

"With Fadil. We were talking," she said blushing a little.

"The plot thickens," she said giggling. "You know you're really pretty when you blush."

"Thank you, Jen. So, why did you hit Jackson?"

"He was being a jerk. He kept trying to tell me how good he was for me and I threatened to hit him. I wasn't actually going to, but he taunted me too much. My fist is a little sore, but seeing his bloody nose was worth it."

"Wow, I wish I could have seen that."

"It was a very good show. We could have sold tickets. You were involved in your own drama I'm sure. Now, I would like to buy tickets for the latest chapter of Fadil and Kerri's romance."

"Jensa James, you never cease to shock me, but for what its worth, I'm glad I have a front row seat."

Jensa burst into laughter again.

Within five minutes, the women had everything of Michael's ready and waiting for him. Jensa glanced around to make sure Jackson wasn't close by and picked up the saddle for Michael's horse and threw it over its back.

"Feeling any better?" Jensa asked tightening the straps. Michael sauntered over to them and scratched his five o'clock shadow.

"Hardly."

Jensa and Kerri glanced at each other and stifled their snickers. Soon, all were mounted and rode away from the City of the Dead.

Fine by me, Jensa thought, I hate this place!

* * *

Half of the day was spent traversing the desert with a few stops to rest and cool off the best they could. With Hamunaptra long behind them, the group trudged on, minus quite a few people. Jensa could care less about the dead diggers, but was sorry for the loss of the Med-jai.

The mood was as foul as the hot sun. After many exhausting hours on camel and horseback just to reach the City of the Dead, they left only the next day with nothing to show for it. The expedition team rode in front with the Med-jai keeping behind, Ardeth included, at a watchful distance.

Jensa adjusted herself in the saddle to a more comfortable position. She felt like she was standing on the sun barefoot and yanked up under her veil to remove her scarf. The heat swelled her skin making the material cling tightly to her throat.

Michael slowed his horse and waited for her to catch up. "So, what happened to your smitten admirer?"

"Who?"

"Jackson Cravin." He nodded his head towards the man still wearing the ridiculous bowler hat. "I had it on good authority he was sweet on you."

Jensa gave Michael a sidelong glance. "Your authority is stupid."

"Why the sudden change?"

"Let's just say he ran into something he didn't like."

"And what's that?"

"My fist." She flexed it and felt the painful muscles straining to move.

Michael gaped at her. "You hit him? What on earth for?"

"He's an arrogant jerk that deserved it."

"Really, Jensa? I always thought you were partial to arrogant jerks." Michael glanced over his shoulder at Ardeth.

"Michael James, hold your tongue."

"It's true, you can't tell me Ardeth is anything but arrogant. He's the leader of this gigantic desert community."

"When we were younger, he was still in training and had only just begun to realize that he was the chieftain. He bragged quite a bit. At times, I will admit, I thought he was an egotistical jerk," she said remembering back fondly.

"But you don't think that now." Jensa didn't answer right away. Michael concluded, "You do still think of him that way."

"Yes, but differently. He was young so he naturally bragged, but now it's a different kind of arrogance. I'm not sure how to explain it." Jensa shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe because he's a grown man and has seen that being a leader can be very difficult and that has made him much more reserved about his leadership."

"You don't think his head is swelled?"

"Of course not. You see the way he commands respect. His men obey without question. Yes, Michael that's it. That's what I mean. He bears a huge responsibility. At the risk of repeating myself, he's grown up. The boyish arrogance is gone. I don't think he means to be arrogant. He just is. You see what I'm saying?"

"Yes," he said slowly, scratching his ear, "but I still think he's a pompous, domineering ego maniac. I hate the way he constantly barks orders out. I don't have to listen to him. I'm not a Med-jai."

"Listening to him out here is the only way to go. He knows this desert better than the back of his own hand."

"We're at a stalemate where your boyfriend is concerned."

"He's not my boyfriend," she retorted a little too quickly.

"Uh huh," he said rolling his eyes.

Jensa unconsciously reached up to touch her necklace through her clothing, but felt nothing. A panic-stricken look appeared on her face. She felt all around her neck. Still no luck. She attempted to restrain her panic so as not to alarm anyone. Calmly, she fished in her jacket and pants pockets. Nothing there. Then she ran her fingers through her ponytail, hoping the chain might be knotted up in a strand, but it wasn't caught in her hair. Next, she looked in her knapsack and came up empty. Michael didn't notice she had slowed Asal's pace to look for the missing jewelry. Jensa became more certain that she had lost the ring Ardeth gave her. The ring his mother had given him. Hopelessness settled in while she dug through her saddlebags. "I've got to find it," she whispered urgently.

"Find what?"

Jensa's head jerked up to see Ardeth riding beside her. She hadn't noticed his phantom approach. He was deadly quiet even on horseback.

"Huh?" Jensa went back to digging through her knapsack.

"You said, 'I have got to find it'. Find what?"

"Oh, it's nothing," she said with an absentminded wave of her hand. She wasn't about to tell Ardeth she had lost such a precious item.

"Nothing? You looked upset and I came over to make sure you were all right. Obviously, you are not." He gestured to her knapsack. "You will not find it there."

Jensa looked at him sharply. "How do you know that?"

"Because you searched for it twice there already with no luck," he answered.

"Oh," she said with dejection. She closed her knapsack and hung it back on her saddle hook.

"Tell me what you have lost. Perhaps I have seen it."

Jensa decided to tell him anyway, but not about the ring. "My necklace is missing. I've searched high and low, as you can see, but it's nowhere to be found."

"A necklace?" You are this upset over losing a necklace?" he asked in disbelief. Women and their valuables!

Jensa looked hurt. "It's very special to me."

"Someone special gave it to you?" It was actually more of a statement than a question.

Jensa nodded and looked him directly in the eye. "Very special."

"Then I shall help you search." As soon as the words came out of Ardeth's mouth, he was not really sure if he wanted to or not. It depended on who gave her this necklace. If it was another man, the necklace could stay lost forever in the desert as far as he was concerned. The depressed look on Jensa's face depressed him, so he offered to help. "When were you last wearing it?"

"Hamunaptra."

Ardeth pulled the reins on his horse. "You are not thinking of going all the way back, are you?"

"Yes," she said, pulling Asal to a stop.

"We are twelve hours away!" He gestured in the direction of the City.

"I don't care. I'm going to look for it. I'm going to retrace my steps and if the steps lead to that hole in the ground, so be it." Jensa looked ahead to Michael and called out to him. She cantered over and explained the situation.

"You can't be serious! It's just a necklace. Tell me what it looks like and I'll buy you a new one."

"That's very kind of you, but it's a one-of-a-kind. I'm going back whether you like it or not."

"And I am going with you," Ardeth said riding up to them.

"Then I'm coming too," Michael stated.

"There's no reason for you to," Jensa pointed out.

"I have plenty of reasons," he said with a sidelong glance at Ardeth.

"Name one," Jensa demanded.

"Your safety. Traveling in the desert isn't all that safe."

"Nonsense. I'll be with Ardeth and you know perfectly well I couldn't be safer with anyone else." Ardeth, showing a bit of his arrogance, gave Michael a smug look.

"Fine, go with him then. I don't care." Michael nudged the flanks of his horse and galloped off.

Jensa rolled her eyes and said to Ardeth, "Pay no attention that jerk."

"I never have."

"Good, make sure you keep it that way."

Ardeth and Jensa turned their horses towards the opposite direction. His men glanced around the territory, wondering if an unseen presence threatened them. Ardeth rode up to Madir, speaking rapidly in Arabic and dishing out orders. "Return to Cairo and purchase the things we discussed. We will arrive shortly."

Madir looked from his leader to the woman. He personally felt it better not to ask questions, as it would only irritate Ardeth. With Jensa around, Ardeth sometimes behaved irrationally, but he was in love and love was not rationale at times. At the risk of upsetting his leader he asked, "As you wish, but may I ask one question?" Ardeth nodded once. "Why are you returning to Hamunaptra?"

"Unfinished business." Ardeth gave him a look as his leader and not as his friend.

"Of course, My Lord. We shall see you in Cairo."

Kerri had been riding next to Fadil and was now beside Jensa. "What's going on?"

"We're going back."

"Why?" she asked with wide eyes.

Jensa looked over at Ardeth and lowered her voice. "I lost my necklace. We're going to look for it."

She gasped loudly and said, "You lost that?"

Jensa forced her hand over Kerri's mouth. "Shh! He doesn't know."

"What if you don't find it?" she asked prying her hand off.

"I guess I'll just have to tell him," she sighed.

"Well then, good luck. You're going to need it."

* * *

Jackson stared after the retreating woman and warrior. They left together back towards Hamunaptra. He jerked an angry face around to his brother. "Now where do you suppose those two are going?"

"Beats me. Why do you care?" Jeremiah already knew, but asked anyway.

"They act like they've known each other awhile, but we just met these Med-jai last night."

"Don't you remember all those remarks Michael made the other day? About how friendly she was with the leader?"

Jackson grimaced in recognition. "Now, I do. So that's him, huh?"

His blond brother nodded. "I don't like him. He scares me." Jeremiah didn't like fighting or violence of any kind. He was admittedly a coward. For most of the Med-jai attack the night before, he hid behind the stone pillars and occasionally fired his gun into the crowd at random so he could say he took part in a dangerous battle and make himself look good in front of the ladies.

"From the looks of him, he's supposed to scare you. The all black robes, swords and tattoos make them look fierce. No wonder Jensa is attached. She likes her men tough. I'll show her tough."

"Jackson, please leave her alone. When are you going to get it in your head that there is at least one woman immune to you?"

"She won't be immune once we're alone," he grinned maliciously.

"How do you propose to get her alone? That Magi or Medjee, however they say it, hovers around her like a mother hen."

"She embarrassed me in front of everyone and I'll make her pay…dearly pay. I'll find some way of getting to her, if it's the last thing I do."