Chapter 33
A Conversation Between Women
Robin returned to the campsite where his men were waiting. Noor followed quietly. After a soft exchange of words the men moved toward Nottingham. Noor resumed her seat near the sleeping child and Djaq stared at her quietly over the fire.
"Djaq, what is your real name?" Noor asked quietly.
"Saphia, Princess." Djaq answered in a whisper.
"Ah, Saphia, please just call me Noor. I have never felt like a princess. In my heart I'm still the daughter of an Egyptian silk merchant. Do you miss home, Saphia?"
"Of course, Noor. My mother is still in Mecca. I miss her very much."
"If there is peace, will you go home?"
"I don't know. I miss my home but I have found a man I care for very deeply here. Perhaps, one day when there is peace he will decide he feels the same for me and we can try to build a life. Otherwise I will probably return home."
"What about you, Noor? If there were a way you could stay here, would you?" Djaq looked at Noor out of the corner of her eye. It didn't take a magician to see that she and Robin had unresolved issues and that Salahadin was very far away.
"Like you said, Saphia, who knows what, is to come?" Noor lapsed into silence. Soon Abdullah woke and playing with the small boy took most of Noor's attention. As the morning past calmly, Noor and Djaq found themselves looking into the woods for the return of the men.