"Nice day, isn't it Ora?"
"Hmm."
Ora walked alongside her father, Cid, near the river by their villa. But her mind was somewhere else. Paradise, as a matter of fact. Deeply indulged in her book, Utopia, Ora barely even heard what her father was talking about.
"Ora please put that book away. I want to talk to you about something."
Reluctantly, Ora closed her book. "What is it Father?"
"Have you considered the captain's marriage proposal?"
Ora sighed. Ah yes. Nemesio, the captain of the guards and Ora's worst nightmare. "Father, I do not want to marry Nemesio. I do not love him."
Cid sighed. "But Ora, you and Nemesio have been friends since childhood. He loves you."
"No Father, he is obsessed with me. And the only reason we ever were friends was because his father and you were friends. He's just an arrogant bully and has mistreated me his whole life. And the thought of actually marrying him is.... just.... UGH!!!" Ora cringed at the thought. "I want to marry a man that I love and who loves me in return."
"Ora." The man chuckled. "That could be anybody. Who can resist a young, beautiful, rich girl like you with a big house and proper etiquette?"
Ora huffed. "If all men think about in a woman is money maybe I should become a nun then!"
Cid put his arm on his daughter's shoulder. "Ora, please calm down. You don't have to marry Nemesio, but I must warn you he will not take no for an answer."
"That's what I'm afraid of." she said sadly.
"Listen, Nemesio is coming over for lunch tomorrow afternoon. I'll get him alone and I'll tell him your answer."
Ora smiled a little. "Thank you." Deep down though she knew that 'no' would not be enough for Nemesio.
Cid smelled the summer air and closed his eyes. "I love this time of year, the oranges are nice and ripe, the flowers are blooming, the river-"
"Has a dead body in it."
"Ora, that's not a funny thing to-"
"No Father! Look!" She pointed to the riverbed. Sure enough, there was a body, face down, splayed across the rocks and covered in mud. They both ran over to it. It smelled terrible.
"Oh my- you poor thing." Cid whispered. "How did you get here?" He reached down and turned the man over, causing him to emit a faint but audible groan. "He's alive!.... Ora, stay with him. I'm going back to house and get help."
Ora tried to protest, but her father was already running to the house. So she just stood there and pinched her nose. He smelled like cooked skin and fish. Still, curiosity got the better of her. She bent over the man and tapped him gentlt on the head. He didn't stir, but he was positively scorching. He had to get out of the water.
She walked over to the other side and grabbed hold of his arm. No sooner had she tugged he let out a blood-curdling scream. Surprised, she let go of him and fell on her back, her dress flaying all around. The man's screams turned into nauseating gurgles and thick streams of river water came spewing out of his mouth.
"Calm down!" Ora screamed, crawling over to aid him. She soothingly rubbed his head until his coughing fit was over, no matter how his hair smelled and felt like sludge against her fingers. After his breathing turned to normal, the man turned and looked at her. His eyes were bulging and wild, but had a very pretty shade of green.
"O-oh...." he croaked out. "An angel.... Oh no, I'm dead!" He slumped back down to the ground and blacked out again, leaving Ora a little shocked and embarrassed.
Cid finally returned with three of the stable boys, who gently picked the man up and carried him back to the house with Cid and Ora following. "Get those wet clothes off of him, bathe him and put him to bed." He ordered Ora's nurses as he fastened his cloak and put on his hat. "I'm going into town to find a surgeon." Cid mounted his horse and left.
Ora watched from the other side of the room as the nurses peeled off the muddy clothes and prepared a basin with warm water. When they weren't looking, she managed to sneak a peak of the man's naked body.
"Hmm, not bad," she thought. "Not bad at all...."
* * * * *
It was the middle of the night when the doctor finally emerged from the guest room, wiping his sweaty brow on a rag. "The boy is in pretty bad shape. High fever, possibly pneumonia, extremely malnourished, a couple of broken ribs, a nasty bump on the head, and I managed to dislodge this out of his shoulder blade." He showed Cid a small, black bullet in his palm. "Either someone was trying to kill him, or he has been a naughty boy."
"Will he be alright?" Cid asked nervously.
"Not likely, but there is a possibility. If he makes it through the night I wouldn't worry about it. But you know the routine, Senor Partida. Keep him warm, plenty of fluids, and lots of rest. Good night Señor. Señorita" One of the nurses escorted him to the stables.
"I want to see him." Ora said, bolting for the door.
Cid grabbed her arm. "Ora, have you no decency? The poor lad is ill and needs his rest."
"Then I'll be quiet!" she huffed, freeing her arm. She slowly opened the door and tip toed over to the chair beside the bed. With all the mud and grime gone, he looked extremely handsome. His long, golden hair shimmered in the fireplace's glow that surrounded him and he had a cute, boyish face. "He's much better looking than Nemesio." she thought.
"Ora, it's time to go to bed." Cid said from the doorway.
"Oh. Uh.... I think that I'll stay here for the night. You know, make sure he's all right?"
"But Ora, the nurses can do that."
"Oh, I know.... But they've been helping him all night and I'm pretty sure that they're exhausted, so.... Can we, maybe.... Give them the night off?" She asked pleadingly.
Cid rolled his eyes. "Oh, do whatever you want. Good night." He closed the door behind him, leaving Ora alone with the stranger. It wasn't long before she fell asleep.
* * * * *
Ora slowly came around to find the room bathed in sunlight. She looked over at the man, only to find that he was staring back, shivering. "Hey! You're alive!" she yelled, making the man wince and hold his bandaged head. "Oh, I'm sorry!" she whispered.
"That's all right." he replied in a hoarse voice. His eyes suddenly bulged and the color drained from his face. "I-I need something to throw up in." he hiccupped.
"Oh! Uh...." She spotted a wash bowl on the nightstand, grabbed it and held it under his chin. With a great heave a giant stream of murky water spilled out of his mouth. It made Ora sick to even listen. After spitting out the last of it, he fell back onto his pillow, exhausted.
"Are you all right?" she said, taking a step back in fear that more was to come up.
"No-o." he trembled. "I'm c-cold." He continued to shiver and his teeth chattered loudly.
"I'll go get you some more blanket." she said softly. It wasn't long before Ora's nurses were piling more blankets on him and the fireplace was being tended to.
"Thank you." he whispered as a nurse placed a wet rag on his forehead.
"Would you like something to eat, Señor?" the nurse asked . "Some chicken broth? A glass of warm milk.?
"Eat?" the man groaned, turning a violent shade of green. "I don't think I CAN!!!" he screamed the last part as he vomited on his pillow. Soon it was replaced with a clean one. "I'm sorry!" he sobbed. "I couldn't help it!"
"Don't be sorry! You are very, very sick!" Ora said.
"Are you my sister?" the man asked, tears flowing down his cheeks.
Ora looked at him like he was a total idiot. "What? No! Why in the world would you think I'm your sister?"
The man's eyes shifted nervously. "Um.... because...."
"Because what?!" she snapped.
"Because I don't know who I am!" she cried.
Ora stared at him. "You don't know who you are?"
"I was kind of hoping that you could tell me." he whimpered.
Ora looked him sadly. "I'm sorry, no. I have no idea who you are."
"But I do." said a cold, nasally voice. Ora turned towards the doorway, where her eyes met Nemesio Cruz, captain of the Spanish guards. "Your name is Miguel Cervantes, and I have a warrant for your arrest."
"Hmm."
Ora walked alongside her father, Cid, near the river by their villa. But her mind was somewhere else. Paradise, as a matter of fact. Deeply indulged in her book, Utopia, Ora barely even heard what her father was talking about.
"Ora please put that book away. I want to talk to you about something."
Reluctantly, Ora closed her book. "What is it Father?"
"Have you considered the captain's marriage proposal?"
Ora sighed. Ah yes. Nemesio, the captain of the guards and Ora's worst nightmare. "Father, I do not want to marry Nemesio. I do not love him."
Cid sighed. "But Ora, you and Nemesio have been friends since childhood. He loves you."
"No Father, he is obsessed with me. And the only reason we ever were friends was because his father and you were friends. He's just an arrogant bully and has mistreated me his whole life. And the thought of actually marrying him is.... just.... UGH!!!" Ora cringed at the thought. "I want to marry a man that I love and who loves me in return."
"Ora." The man chuckled. "That could be anybody. Who can resist a young, beautiful, rich girl like you with a big house and proper etiquette?"
Ora huffed. "If all men think about in a woman is money maybe I should become a nun then!"
Cid put his arm on his daughter's shoulder. "Ora, please calm down. You don't have to marry Nemesio, but I must warn you he will not take no for an answer."
"That's what I'm afraid of." she said sadly.
"Listen, Nemesio is coming over for lunch tomorrow afternoon. I'll get him alone and I'll tell him your answer."
Ora smiled a little. "Thank you." Deep down though she knew that 'no' would not be enough for Nemesio.
Cid smelled the summer air and closed his eyes. "I love this time of year, the oranges are nice and ripe, the flowers are blooming, the river-"
"Has a dead body in it."
"Ora, that's not a funny thing to-"
"No Father! Look!" She pointed to the riverbed. Sure enough, there was a body, face down, splayed across the rocks and covered in mud. They both ran over to it. It smelled terrible.
"Oh my- you poor thing." Cid whispered. "How did you get here?" He reached down and turned the man over, causing him to emit a faint but audible groan. "He's alive!.... Ora, stay with him. I'm going back to house and get help."
Ora tried to protest, but her father was already running to the house. So she just stood there and pinched her nose. He smelled like cooked skin and fish. Still, curiosity got the better of her. She bent over the man and tapped him gentlt on the head. He didn't stir, but he was positively scorching. He had to get out of the water.
She walked over to the other side and grabbed hold of his arm. No sooner had she tugged he let out a blood-curdling scream. Surprised, she let go of him and fell on her back, her dress flaying all around. The man's screams turned into nauseating gurgles and thick streams of river water came spewing out of his mouth.
"Calm down!" Ora screamed, crawling over to aid him. She soothingly rubbed his head until his coughing fit was over, no matter how his hair smelled and felt like sludge against her fingers. After his breathing turned to normal, the man turned and looked at her. His eyes were bulging and wild, but had a very pretty shade of green.
"O-oh...." he croaked out. "An angel.... Oh no, I'm dead!" He slumped back down to the ground and blacked out again, leaving Ora a little shocked and embarrassed.
Cid finally returned with three of the stable boys, who gently picked the man up and carried him back to the house with Cid and Ora following. "Get those wet clothes off of him, bathe him and put him to bed." He ordered Ora's nurses as he fastened his cloak and put on his hat. "I'm going into town to find a surgeon." Cid mounted his horse and left.
Ora watched from the other side of the room as the nurses peeled off the muddy clothes and prepared a basin with warm water. When they weren't looking, she managed to sneak a peak of the man's naked body.
"Hmm, not bad," she thought. "Not bad at all...."
* * * * *
It was the middle of the night when the doctor finally emerged from the guest room, wiping his sweaty brow on a rag. "The boy is in pretty bad shape. High fever, possibly pneumonia, extremely malnourished, a couple of broken ribs, a nasty bump on the head, and I managed to dislodge this out of his shoulder blade." He showed Cid a small, black bullet in his palm. "Either someone was trying to kill him, or he has been a naughty boy."
"Will he be alright?" Cid asked nervously.
"Not likely, but there is a possibility. If he makes it through the night I wouldn't worry about it. But you know the routine, Senor Partida. Keep him warm, plenty of fluids, and lots of rest. Good night Señor. Señorita" One of the nurses escorted him to the stables.
"I want to see him." Ora said, bolting for the door.
Cid grabbed her arm. "Ora, have you no decency? The poor lad is ill and needs his rest."
"Then I'll be quiet!" she huffed, freeing her arm. She slowly opened the door and tip toed over to the chair beside the bed. With all the mud and grime gone, he looked extremely handsome. His long, golden hair shimmered in the fireplace's glow that surrounded him and he had a cute, boyish face. "He's much better looking than Nemesio." she thought.
"Ora, it's time to go to bed." Cid said from the doorway.
"Oh. Uh.... I think that I'll stay here for the night. You know, make sure he's all right?"
"But Ora, the nurses can do that."
"Oh, I know.... But they've been helping him all night and I'm pretty sure that they're exhausted, so.... Can we, maybe.... Give them the night off?" She asked pleadingly.
Cid rolled his eyes. "Oh, do whatever you want. Good night." He closed the door behind him, leaving Ora alone with the stranger. It wasn't long before she fell asleep.
* * * * *
Ora slowly came around to find the room bathed in sunlight. She looked over at the man, only to find that he was staring back, shivering. "Hey! You're alive!" she yelled, making the man wince and hold his bandaged head. "Oh, I'm sorry!" she whispered.
"That's all right." he replied in a hoarse voice. His eyes suddenly bulged and the color drained from his face. "I-I need something to throw up in." he hiccupped.
"Oh! Uh...." She spotted a wash bowl on the nightstand, grabbed it and held it under his chin. With a great heave a giant stream of murky water spilled out of his mouth. It made Ora sick to even listen. After spitting out the last of it, he fell back onto his pillow, exhausted.
"Are you all right?" she said, taking a step back in fear that more was to come up.
"No-o." he trembled. "I'm c-cold." He continued to shiver and his teeth chattered loudly.
"I'll go get you some more blanket." she said softly. It wasn't long before Ora's nurses were piling more blankets on him and the fireplace was being tended to.
"Thank you." he whispered as a nurse placed a wet rag on his forehead.
"Would you like something to eat, Señor?" the nurse asked . "Some chicken broth? A glass of warm milk.?
"Eat?" the man groaned, turning a violent shade of green. "I don't think I CAN!!!" he screamed the last part as he vomited on his pillow. Soon it was replaced with a clean one. "I'm sorry!" he sobbed. "I couldn't help it!"
"Don't be sorry! You are very, very sick!" Ora said.
"Are you my sister?" the man asked, tears flowing down his cheeks.
Ora looked at him like he was a total idiot. "What? No! Why in the world would you think I'm your sister?"
The man's eyes shifted nervously. "Um.... because...."
"Because what?!" she snapped.
"Because I don't know who I am!" she cried.
Ora stared at him. "You don't know who you are?"
"I was kind of hoping that you could tell me." he whimpered.
Ora looked him sadly. "I'm sorry, no. I have no idea who you are."
"But I do." said a cold, nasally voice. Ora turned towards the doorway, where her eyes met Nemesio Cruz, captain of the Spanish guards. "Your name is Miguel Cervantes, and I have a warrant for your arrest."