Frances touched her hand to her tender forehead, where she could feel a bruise forming. She saw blood on her fingertips and wiped her hand across her blouse. Her hands were shaking, and her left arm throbbed from where Ardeth had gripped it.
"Where's Dierdre?" She demanded, pushing herself to her feet.
"What are you doing here?" Ardeth demanded, ignoring her question. Frances stumbled and the young soldier caught her, she shook him off vehemently.
"Where's Dierdre!" Frances screamed as the young Mah'jai seized her by the shoulders. "Get your hands off me!" She screamed shrilly. Frankie's head shot back and forth, "where is she?" She demanded again, much to her distress she noticed to Ardeth's amusement. "Do not laugh at me!" She commanded driving her knee into the groin of the young soldier who held her captive.
He cried out and doubled over in pain, Frances wiped her hand across her cheek and was humiliated to find she was crying. "What are you laughing at?" She spat angrily, plopping onto the sand. Suddenly wishing for her Mother, and Father and Alex. Maybe even Jonathan. All she hoped was that Dierdre was okay.
"Your friend is fine Frankie," Ardeth said laughing, "and so are you I assume?" Ardeth shook his head, "so much like your mother. But, was that really necessary?" He gestured at the young Mah'jai who was still on the sand. Frankie shrugged indignantly. Ardeth said something and two soldiers came forth holding Dierdre.
"What—," Frances began.
"We didn't do anything," Ardeth explained, and the two soldiers lay Dierdre down in Frankie's lap. "But you," Ardeth began and Frankie sighed.
"Yes, yes I realize. We released a horrible, awful curse that has been hidden for more than three thousand years." Frances sighed and brushed the hair away from Dierdre's sweaty, sand smeared face.
"I don't think you realize—," Ardeth shot back, "the severity of what you've done."
Frances sighed, and looked at the young soldier then to Ardeth. "I know what I've released. But…it was an accident. Dierdre's father was killed."
Ardeth flicked his eyes to Dierdre's unconscious body, then back to Frankie's face.
"He was trying to protect us, he told us not to touch anything. But of course I have to be my mothers daughter, and I need to be my Father's daughter. Its all my fault and I just want to go home," Frances realized she was going to cry and dropped her chin to her chest. "I don't know what to do." She whispered.
Ardeth's horse whinnied and he looked towards the horizon, it was dusk and vibrant pinks and reds painted themselves across the clear blue sky. "Neither do I."
Sorry if that was cheesy, just needed to get the story rolling! Going with this as it comes!
