Jazira's eyes were closed and she clung to the horse's neck as she defied gravity on the back of Al-Hattal. She depended on the stallion to determine where the alley ended, at the speed in which he was running it was left up to his senses alone. Jazira only had to imagine, she could believe she was back at home, flying across the sands winning the Great Race herself. She thought of Frank. She had not seen him all day. According to the other servants, he had rode off with Lady Davenport. Jazira resented the pain that nibbled at her heart.

'Now do it! Now!' said her inner voice, and all of a sudden she let go of Al-Hattal's neck. The sheer opposing force from the stallion's run lifted her body up, almost flinging it back as if to throw her off.

Frank still unobserved, jumped to his feet waiting for the terrible crash, expecting the solitary rider to be thrown. Her arms stretched to the sky, as the force pushed her backwards, but her legs gripped tightly and she did not fall away. It was an exotic sight. The sheer daring of it caused Frank to unintentionally bite his lip, but he noticed that as she carried out the stunt, Al-Hattal had deliberately slowed a few paces. Frank respected the horse. When Al-Hattal came to a stop a few hundred feet away from him, Jazira slid off, leaned her head against his broad neck and chuckled.

The sound brought Frank out of the shadows. He wasn't sure why, but he felt angry. As he approached, Al-Hattal jerked his head up causing Jazira to look up as well. She was surprised to see Frank, and much more when he said in a scolding voice,

"What are you doing, riding like that? He could have thrown you at that speed! A fall like that. . ."

Frank didn't finish his sentence. His hands were on his hips, his look intense. Jazira was too stunned to speak. When she finally did get out, "Frank, I. . .:"

He interrupted, "And who would have heard you? If you had gotten hurt, who would have helped you?"

Jazira gazed up into his fiery eyes, confused. After a heartbeat she said calmly, "I have ridden Al-Hattal before." She breathed in and found herself reaching up with a gentle hand to soften the hard look on his face as she added, "Hok'shel'ato."

An ardent light passed across Frank's face and Jazira instantly removed her hand, only for it to be caught in Frank's grasp. He brought it to his lips and kissed it. Warmth flooded through Jazira at his touch, and with her strong will she was able to say,

"You were with Lady Davenport today."

Frank continued to hold her hand, he stepped closer and with his other hand his fingers traced her profile as he asked softly, "Why do you ride like that?"

Jazira blinked and responded honestly, "I cannot explain why."

Suddenly she felt uncomfortable by his scrutiny and took a step away from him. Frank said with genuine concern, "There are other ways to be free without risking your life."

Jazira spoke harshly, "There is no other way for me to feel free. I am as worthless in the English world as I was in my father's. There is no free place for me, except on the back of Al-Hattal."

"Your father did not think you were worthless in his world, and this," Frank gestured towards the manor, "is not the entire English world either."