CHAPTER 2

Suddenly the air was filled with a terrifying scream. Ardeth immediately knew it was Alysha. Running back to the ruins he found her asleep yet engrossed in an apparent nightmare. Kneeling down to her thrashing form he softly spoke "Alysha please wake up. It's just a dream. Please, you are safe."

As Alysha bolted up into a sitting position, frantic green eyes met concerned brown ones. She scooted closer to Ardeth and his could see her trembling body and sense her fear. Without a second thought he pulled her to him. This time she did not fight him. She clung to his robes as if she was clinging to life itself.

Ardeth held her as she sobbed. He knew of nothing else he could do. As she cried he wondered how any man could treat a woman as those men had apparently done. He was glad they had killed them. They deserved to die.

Alysha pulling back in his arms brought him from his murderous thoughts. "I'm sorry." Was all she said as she stared at the ground.

"There is no need to be sorry" Ardeth said as he steadied her and then sat down beside her. "I can only imagine what you've been through, and therefore can only imagine what haunts your dreams." Ardeth stopped then added "May I asked you a question, Alysha?"

Alysha finally looked at him "Yeah sure, I guess and well you can call me Ali if you want"

Ardeth smiled at the small gesture. Maybe she was feeling a little more comforter with the situation. "OK Ali, I know that this is not my business, but how did you end up with those vile men?"

Ali did not speak. She sat there just staring at the sand around her.

Sensing her hesitance Ardeth spoke again "Forgive me Ali, I should have not asked." With that Ardeth stood to leave.

As Ardeth turned to leave Ali spoke "No Ardeth, it's okay. It's just that well, it's a rather long sordid story."

"If you wish to talk about it Ali, I would be most willing to listen, however I do not wish to push you."

Looking up at Ardeth, Ali smiled a small sad smile "How about I tell you after we have eaten. I'm starving."

Ardeth laughed quietly "That would be fine. Would you like to try to nap again, maybe somewhere more comfortable this time?"

Ali nodded and took Ardeth's outstretched hand. He guided her to his tent and opened the flap "You may sleep here. I will come get you when the meal has been prepared."

A little over an hour later Ardeth made his way back to his tent. Upon opening the flap he stood there just looking at how peacefully Ali was sleeping. 'How could anyone sleep so fitfully after going through so much' he thought to himself as he knelt down to awaken her.

Slowly he reached out and touched her arm "Ali, wake up. It is time for our meal."

Ali's eyes flew open. For a moment Ardeth saw the fear creeping back into them. But almost immediately it was replaced by a sense of realizing her situation. Ardeth was glad to see a calm come across her.

"Oh Ardeth, you startled me" Ali said as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.

"I am sorry, Ali I did not mean to. I wanted to let you know that our evening meal is almost ready".

Ardeth stood and presented his hand to Ali. She took it saying "Thank you. I'm still quite stiff from riding all that way"

As they made their way to the evening meal, Ali scoped out her surroundings. There were several tents similar to Ardeth's set up. In the center was a fire. The rest of the Med-Jai were gathered around it. As they approached Ali watched as the warriors lowered their eyes to their plates. This perplexed her.

"Ardeth why will your men not look at me? I know I must look hideous........."

Ardeth did not let her finish her sentence "It is not that at all, Ali. You look quite well for what I suspect you've been through. It's just that my men are use to seeing woman, So they divert their eyes out of respect for you."

"Oh" was all Ali said at first. As they sat down to eat she added "Should I wear something else then? I mean do I need to cover up more?"

Ardeth smiled at Ali as he handed her a plate of the stew that was their supper, "Tomorrow when we reach our village I will find you a place to stay so that you can bathe and yes, if you like you can wear our traditional clothing." He took a bite of stew then added "But only if you wish to. You are not of our culture and if you do not wish to wear our traditional garb that is understandable."

"No I want to fit in as long as I'm there."

"Then it is settled." With that said they finished their meal.

As they walked back toward Ardeth's tent Ali spoke "Are you sure you want to hear my story, Ardeth?"

Ardeth stopped and looked at Ali. "Yes, if you wish to share it, I do."

Ali nodded her head and started to walk toward the tent again. "OK, but I warn you. It's not a pretty tale."