Chapter 5

"No! Please! Don't hurt me!" I screamed from the dirty ground of a courtyard back in Menfe. I was in my best gown that Sheftu had bought for me with colorful ornaments in my hair, but I was covered in mud. I looked to my right and saw Teta and all the other slaves tied to posts with their hands behind them letting their chest stand out as Zasha's friends beat them. I tried my best to look away. I really did! But I couldn't peel my eyes away from them. I could feel the bile rising in my throat. I glared up at my former owner. I thought I was through with the life as someone else's property, but Zasha obviously had other ideas. He was holding a whip in his hands and looked at me like I was something to eat. "Where is Sheftu?!" He didn't even flinch at my shout. "He's gone my Sweet. He sold you when you and your group came here. Don't tell me you forgot?" Zasha sneered.

"No! He would never do that!"

"Oh, yes he would."

I couldn't do anything. It was like I blanked out and all my insecurities came running back. I felt the gust of wind as his whip came into contact with my skin. I definitely felt the pain, but I didn't move from my frozen spot.

"Mara! Wake up! Please! I beg you! Don't torment me like this!" I heard a faint whisper that sounded louder as time went on and the darkness embraced me.

I awakened with a jolt and looked around for the slaves or the nobles beating them or even the dirty ground, but I found only silk under me and a warm body enclosing me and rocking me side to side. I finally shot completely out of my dream when I heard Nuri crying. I looked up to see Sheftu holding me tightly with my head right under his chin. My body was in a cold sweat. The sun was shining down from the window and I remembered everything. From the meeting a few days ago to looking up information on all the guests around the table to getting Nuri to open up a little more about her past and how she and her mother were bought as a pair and were with a good family before the owner passed away and the owner's son got his hands on them. "He's gone my Sweet. He sold you when you and your group came here. Don't tell me you forgot?" Osiris!

I felt my body quickly pushing Sheftu away from me and balling up into fetal position. I felt Nuri and his hands on me, but my body shook them off. My body was rejecting their affection.

No! Don't do that! They'll misunderstand!

"I'm sorry. Just give me a few minutes," I whispered and turned away from their defeated faces. I scolded myself for letting my instincts get to me again. That can get you killed! Or even worse, saving yourself, but hurting others. Like what I'm doing now! Osiris!

I slowly got my arms and legs to unfold and let my legs dangle from the bed. I still couldn't look at their faces, knowing they'll be mad. I felt Sheftu's fingers on my chin, slowly bringing my face up to look at him. I saw confusion and hurt in his eyes.

"What did you dream, that had you screaming and thrashing one moment and deadly still the next?!" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nuri wipe her eyes and look up at my blue ones demanding an answer.

"I…I just saw my past mixed with my future. That's all."

"Your past as a slave mixed with you future as a countess? I'm afraid I don't understand."

"No, not my future as a countess, my future on the jour—nothing it's just a weird dream. Must have been from looking at all of that information last night." I felt my panic seep into my words as I went on talking about how looking at depressing lives of the nobles in our history makes me thing weird thoughts. I was desperately trying to make up for that mess up about the journey being any kind of danger. Of course, with Sheftu so against me going anywhere where I might die anytime, he's careful to think of any excuse to make me stay with him and me not letting up him anxious, grumpy, and much easier to scare. Even if I tripped and fell, he would not say anything in front of his guests or servants, but he would have a doctor over later that evening.

"Did you just say that you saw yourself in the future on this mission being beaten as a slave?!" He started panicking with the image I gave him. I tried my best to stop him from thinking more about it, but it was no use. He was getting ready to go out and you can guess where he was going.

"Nuri, let Irenamon know that I want my horse ready as soon as possible." I got up and blocked the door and tugged Nuri back as I walked to Sheftu.

"Sheftu, it's only a dream. I was just thinking too much about going back during the mission. My mind is working on overload. I'll just rest for a few days and get to know some of the nobles and make sure my mind doesn't wander off near Menfe and it'll be fine. And Menfe isn't the first stop. We are going to all the cities south of here first and then traveling to Menfe." The love of my life did not look amused with my reasoning. He gave me a dry look, pushed me back, and made his way to the door. He was about to call out for the old servant, but I quickly muffled him by covering his mouth before he could order anyone. I made sure to give Nuri a warning look to make sure she wouldn't run off. She saw my warning and backed off.

"So I give crappy excuses, but, honestly, it's just a dream and even if you could get His Majesty to reconsider my position on this mission, you cannot stop me from going."

"Then, I will tie you up and have the boat go without you!" He threatened as he turned to look at me.

"You and I both know I am not a force to be reckoned with. Even if you tie me up and guard me all day and all night, I will still be able to escape!"

"We will see about your abilities when try after you are tied up this very day!" He ran out the door and disappeared into the trees. A few moments later, I heard galloping.

Today is going to be a long day.

I had Irenamon get me a horse. I thought of ways of keeping my job as I galloped toward Sheftu.

As I reached the gates, I took out the badge His Highness gave me and flashed my blue eyes. They let me right in. I slowly jogged towards His Majesty's chambers. I heard the maids gossiping about a handsome young man rushing to His Majesty's chambers. I smoothed out my gown as I walked up and knocked.

"Mara, you may come in," I heard the deep voice of the ruler announce. If you knew Sheftu for a while, you would know he's rather protective of his family and tends to overreact…I ignored Sheftu's glare as I greeted the new pharaoh and went to sit on the small cushion he offered to me. I looked up at Sheftu with a warning 'don't mess with me' and Sheftu shot it right back, just colder and much more determined. Too bad I knew this would not end in his favor. I'm an experienced spy, I'm female, and I'm tough…that's enough reason to keep me on the mission.

"Your Majesty, I'm guessing your count has been trying to convince you to have me off the mission just now. Am I right?" I played coy, ignoring Sheftu completely and treating him coldly.

"You are right. Although he has asked many times before, I am still reluctant to let you off this mission." I smiled to myself.

"Of course. I am the best you have. None of the brutes have enough experience to have men spill their every secret with a few words. All muscle and no brains. Too bad the count come with us, seeing as the country needs him to help you lead. He could have replaced me, but I guess it's just not possible and I have every intention of finishing my job at the year end mark with a full report every season."

"I apologize Sheftu, but I cannot fulfill your wish on this subject. I will allow small visits, of course. You are, after all, a young couple. I do not wish to continue on with this. Leave! I will have some more documents for you later. And Mara, you are to start interacting with the nobles now. I'm sure you have read all the information given."

"Yes, Your Majesty." I stood up straighter and dragged a reluctant Sheftu out the door. The pharaoh prepared a carriage for our ride back. It was dead silent in the carriage, neither of us spoke a word, but Sheftu still held my hand and helped me out of the carriage.

He's so adorable!

All throughout the evening, he didn't say a word to me, but held my hand or stayed close. Everyone found it weird, but I found it rather cute. Later that night, after I got ready for bed, Sheftu was already in and when I climbed in, I was pulled down to him and squished into the corner between the wall and my Sheftu's chest. I realized we were not moving from this position anytime soon. It's so like him to keep it inside and cuddle me in a corner with him as my protector. It was unnecessary, but comforting all the same.