by Cara Albany
"Doing what?"
"Helping me," she replied. "Stopping Hakim."
Rashid turned away from her quickly. How much should he tell her? Had he done enough already by trying to intervene? Why did she need to know so much about him?
She seemed to take his silence for a refusal to say more.
Nicole was quiet for a moment and he could see that she was thinking deeply about something. Finally she spoke. "Can you stop this, Sheikh Rashid? Can you persuade the tribal elder to prevent this from happening?"
Rashid shrugged and shook his head. "I will do my best," he said slowly. He saw her eyes brighten momentarily when she heard his reply. "But I cannot promise anything," he continued. "It may be the case that the tribal elder declares that this marriage can go ahead."
Nicole grunted. "That is ridiculous," she exclaimed. "This is the twenty-first century. He cannot just seize me and marry me against my will."
Rashid took a step closer to her. "But you see that's where you are wrong."
Nicole's eyes narrowed. Rashid continued: "Out here the rules of normal life do not apply. I know that is difficult for one such as yourself to understand. But there is an agreement with the government that certain traditions can be maintained."
"What! Even the abduction and forced marriage of women?" she exclaimed.
"It is not as simple as that," Rashid continued. "There will come a time when these traditions are forgotten forever. But for now, many in authority wish to see them continue."
Rashid saw Nicole suddenly become thoughtful. Then she looked Rashid. "My sister had terrible trouble recently when she met the man that she eventually married," she said. "It seemed that there was a faction in the government that wanted to turn back the clock. Put an end to all progress which Qazhar has enjoyed for so long."
Rashid's interest became more intense as she continued to speak. He knew nothing of this. Living in isolation, cut off from everyday Qazhar life had ensured that he was out of touch with much that went on in the city. It was an isolation that he enjoyed but also, at times, regretted.
"Are you saying there was some kind of attempted coup?" he asked
Nicole nodded. "Something like that. My sister and the sheikh who found out about this agreed to get married so that they could show everyone what a foolish idea it was to try to drag the country back to the past." Nicole shrugged and smiled. "In the end, they succeeded and the coup failed. And my sister found a gorgeous husband," she added with a cute tilting of her head.
Rashid felt a sudden and surprising rush of emotion when he saw her smile. It was amazing that a woman in her predicament could find the strength of character to find something to laugh about. He wondered if she really understood the seriousness of her situation. Maybe it still hadn't sunk in.
Why had he reacted to her smile like that? It had been so long since he had spent any time with a woman. Of course, there had been times when women had been a major part of his life, but he had deliberately turned his back on that. Solitude had its own pleasures, the kind that the company of women could not compete with.
"That sounds like a very honorable thing that your brother-in-law did," Rashid said. "Perhaps one day I will find out more about him. Even meet him and thank him."
Nicole lifted an eyebrow. "If you get me back safely to the city you can thank him personally," she said with a mischievous tone.
She smiled at him and once again he felt the rush of surprising delight. He smiled back at her. "Surely the people in your embassy will do whatever it takes to get you back," he said.
He saw her face flush slightly and he knew he had touched a raw nerve. "That's where you are wrong," she said. "They don't even know I'm here."
"What? You came here without telling anyone where you were going?"
Nicole nodded and now she looked embarrassed. "I know. It was stupid. And I soon found that cell phones don't work out here." She rolled her eyes. "I guess I just didn't think."
Rashid wanted to agree, but realized that might not be the best idea. This woman had spirit. He could tell that she could react wildly to even the most innocent of comments.
Already he was having to be careful about what he said around her. But why did that not bother him? Normally, with a woman like this, he would have already dismissed them as being difficult or unworthy of the effort to talk to. But with this American woman everything seemed so different, so exciting.
When one of his staff had told Rashid about the arrival of the woman in the encampment, he had come expecting to find something entirely different. But he'd had no idea that he would encounter a woman like this. Even in the soft light of the dark tent he could see her beauty, a natural elegance and poise, as well as the fire in her eyes. This was a woman who excited him like no woman had excited him for a very long time.
Rashid heard some noises from outside the tent. Someone had arrived. Probably the tribal elder with his entourage. The decision would be made swiftly.
"I must go," Rashid said to Nicole.
He turned away from her and she made as if to follow him but he held out a hand. She halted and her eyes widened.
"You must wait here," he said. "It is not necessary for the tribal elder to meet you personally before he makes the decision."
"Not necessary? Do you mean he doesn't want to meet me? Surely I have some say in the matter," she said.
Rashid shook his head. "That is the point exactly," he observed. "The decision is made without the presence of the woman concerned."
Nicole groaned. "This is barbaric!"
Rashid wasn't sure whether to be offended by such a remark, or simply amused. "You may be right. I would tend to agree with you."
Nicole looked surprised at his sudden agreement.
"However," Rashid continued, "we must allow the tribal elder to make his decision."
Rashid moved closer to Nicole and gazed into her eyes. He had made his decision already. In fact, he'd made his mind up almost at the instant when he'd first seen her running toward him.
Rashid needed to give her a hint of what was on his mind. He could not tell her straight out, because that would be a betrayal of the tribal protocol. But he had already made his mind up about this woman. He wasn't prepared to allow her to fall into Hakim's clutches. There was one way that he could save her from the fate that Hakim had planned for her.
"I will return for you," Rashid said softly.
Nicole's eyes narrowed and he could see that she was trying to understand what he had meant by that.
"Once the decision has been made," Rashid added quickly. "Be ready," he added simply.
It was very simple really. There was only one way out of this for her.
And that meant that when he returned for her within the next half hour he would take her away and make sure that Hakim would never get the chance to marry her against her will.
CHAPTER FOUR
When he left the tent Rashid saw that everyone had arrived. Solomon, the tribal elder was seated on the platform. Hakim's men surrounded the platform.
Before he went over to join them, Rashid went to his horse and led it around to the rear of the tent. He was relieved that no-one paid much attention to him. It was best they didn't see him doing this.
When Rashid came back around he strode over toward the group of men. He could tell the conversation was becoming heated. Hakim was already trying hard to persuade the tribal elder of the rightness of his case. As he passed the entrance to the tent Rashid saw that Hakim had stationed a guard there.
Rashid had to suppress a laugh. What did Hakim think Nicole was going to do? Did he really think she would make a run for it?
Rashid had already come to the conclusion that Nicole was way too smart to do something as stupid as that. He had to admit that coming out here with Hakim hadn't been the smartest move she would ever make.
But, in spite of that, there was no denying Nicole's fierce intelligence, and her obvious determination. Rashid already knew what he had to say to the
tribal elder. It was time these ritual marriages came to an end. The world had changed. Forced marriages were no good for anyone, especially the women concerned. Rashid knew that from bitter experience.
He sighed as he made his way toward the waiting men. There was no use thinking about that, right now. It was all in the past. Maybe, if he put this situation right, it would make up for the mistakes he'd made all those years ago.
Rashid composed himself. He needed to be at his best, his most persuasive in the next few minutes. The American woman deserved that at least.
"Sheikh Rashid," Solomon cried out as Rashid pushed his way through the crowd of men surrounding the tribal elder. The elderly man was dressed in traditional white robes and seated, cross-legged, on the makeshift platform.
Rashid hadn't spoken to Solomon for a long time, although they went way back, all the way to Rashid's childhood. Rashid's family had had many dealings with the tribal elder. There was already a familiarity between the two men, and when they shook hands in the traditional manner, clutching each other's forearms firmly, the shared moment of familiarity drew looks from Hakim.
"How are you, Solomon?" Rashid asked. "It's been a long time."
Solomon smiled sagely. "Indeed it has, Rashid. You've spent too long living the solitary life in that palace of yours. Have you finally decided to emerge from your self-imposed exile?"
Rashid did not answer that question, but merely shrugged and gave Solomon a smile wry. There were too many men listening. Rashid wanted to keep his private life exactly that. Private. He knew that people talked about him, wondered why he had turned his back on the outside world. But, right now, that didn't matter.
"We have serious business to discuss," Rashid said to Solomon.
Solomon's gaze drifted to Hakim and Rashid saw Solomon nod. "I have already spoken with Hakim," said Solomon. "He has tried to tell me of this woman."
"She has been brought here under false pretences, Rashid said. "And she is an American woman."
Solomon's brows lifted. "Does that make any difference?"
Rashid nodded. "I believe it does. And she is the daughter of an ambassador. If she is forced into this, there will be repercussions."
Hakim snorted. "That is of no consequence. She knew what she was getting into."
Rashid peered at Hakim. "That's not true. Granted, she asked to be brought here. And that wasn't the wisest thing to do." Rashid turned to Solomon. "Especially deciding to come here with Hakim," he added.
Rashid heard Hakim grunt with outrage. "She demanded I bring her here. What is it to me that she was ignorant of our ancient traditions."
"Traditions which should be left where they belong. In the past," Rashid stated firmly.
Solomon's eyes narrowed. "Tradition must be respected, Rashid," he replied.
Rashid shook his head. "But not in a case like this. She is a true outsider. The rules don't apply to the likes of her."
Hakim took a step forward. He was clearly impatient. Maybe he felt the argument was slipping away from him. "It is clear to me what should be done," Hakim said. He glared at Rashid. "The sheikh has no authority here. I have merely followed what the tradition dictates in choosing this woman to be my bride."
Solomon shook his head slowly. "That may well be the case Hakim. But you know the rules. Sheikh Rashid here has merely questioned your choice. It is his right to do so."
Hakim grunted. "But it is not his right to prevent this marriage from taking place."
Solomon peered at Hakim. "That is not why I was called here," Solomon said. "Sheikh Rashid can challenge your choice of bride."
Rashid could see that Hakim was starting to get agitated. Perhaps he felt that Solomon had already decided upon preventing the marriage from taking place. If that was the case, then Rashid had made the right decision in coming here.
"Let me remind you both of the honor which is at stake in this," Solomon said quietly.
Rashid saw Solomon's gaze drift across the faces of the gathered men. As if sensing the old man's power, the men as one, took a few steps back. Rashid glanced at Hakim. The decision was imminent.
"The tradition of choosing a bride goes back into the mists of time," Solomon said. "It has always been the case that when a senior member of a ruling family in these territories wishes to take a bride, he is entitled to seize the woman of his choice from any territory outside of his own."
Rashid saw Solomon peering at him. "These rules are there for a reason. I understand Sheikh Rashid's reasons for objecting. There is some merit in those objections."
Solomon paused. There was a strange expression in the old man's eyes. It was almost as if he was trying to warn Rashid of what was about to happen. Had the old man already made his mind up? Had Hakim already succeeded in persuading him while Rashid had been in the tent talking with Nicole?
Solomon continued: "Some people have said that the tradition of seizing a bride is old-fashioned and out of date. That it should be abandoned. And there is some wisdom in that argument. The times may have changed, and people may have changed with those times. Some call it progress." Solomon peered at Hakim. "Some call it the breaking of the chains to the past."
Rashid narrowed his eyes and looked at Solomon carefully. What was the man going to say? Did it not matter that the woman in question was not a native of this country? Didn't it matter that, if she was forced to marry, there would be an uproar in diplomatic circles which may cause Hakim and the neighboring territories even greater problems? Had Hakim even considered these things?
Solomon lowered his head and seemed lost in deliberation for a long moment.
Rashid looked across in Hakim. Was Hakim in love with Nicole? Rashid examined Hakim's proud, even arrogant expression.
No.
This wasn't about love. This was about Hakim claiming the prize of a beautiful outsider as a wife.
As far as Hakim was concerned, Nicole was nothing more than a possession, something to be prized, a mere object of value. Perhaps the fact that she was an American woman added an extra layer of spice as far as Hakim was concerned.
Rashid looked back at Solomon. The old man lifted his gaze. "The issue of where the woman has come from is not relevant, as far as I am concerned," Solomon said. "The only thing that matters is that she is an outsider."
Solomon looked directly at Rashid. It was clear what the old man was about to say. Rashid could feel it in his bones.
Solomon continued: "Since she is an outsider, and we have yet to fully abandon these sacred traditions, then I can only pronounce in favour of one of you," Solomon said looking from Hakim to Rashid.
Rashid felt anxiety twist in his middle. He knew what Solomon was about to say. Knew that, in many respects, there was nothing else Solomon could say. He'd been forced to come to the camp. He had a duty to perform, even if he didn't completely agree with it. Solomon was still bound by tradition.
Solomon sighed. "I can see that both of you are wondering which one of you has won the argument," Solomon said.
He smiled at them both. "Tradition is sacred in these parts," Solomon said looking at Rashid. "I know that you would like to bring change to these parts, Sheikh Rashid.. And that is a very noble thing to do. However, change can come too suddenly for some people, especially for the people who live here."
Rashid fell indignation rise within him. He wanted to speak, say anything which could change Solomon's mind. But he knew that was out of the question.
The decision had been made and all that remained was for Solomon to declare in favour of Hakim.
Solomon looked straight at Hakim. "You have acted in accordance with the accepted traditions in bringing this woman to this place and claiming her as your bride. I see no reason to deny your claim, even if the arguments from Sheikh Rashid have a certain persuasive quality. Therefore, I allow your claim and grant you permission to take this American woman to be your bride."
Rashid felt his entire body tighten. He glanced over at Hakim and saw the wide smile on man's
face. It was the smile of victory. There were murmurs from the men behind them. Rashid drew in a deep breath, and gritted his teeth. There was no use reacting. He had to respect the decision. He'd tried to reason with them. He'd hoped for enlightened common sense. Instead, he would have to accept a decision he totally rejected.
As he bowed his head slowly in deference to Solomon's ancient authority, Rashid knew there was only one thing he needed to do.
****
Inside the tent, Nicole stood by the entrance and strained to listen to the noises from outside. All she could hear was the murmur of male voices. She couldn't make out what was being said. Every so often, she heard the word "American" being spoken.
She knew there was a man standing outside the entrance to the tent, and if she tried to leave he would probably stop her.
Why were they taking so long? She laughed quietly at that thought. Of course she knew why. Those men out there were deciding her fate. It was like something out of the Middle Ages.
She gave up trying to hear what was being said. Nicole moved to the centre of the tent. Clasping her hands she paced back and forward across soft carpet, forcing herself to think. She was no nearer escaping the situation even with the intervention of Sheikh Rashid.
When Rashid had come into the tent earlier, obviously intent on speaking with Nicole, she'd been surprised that he had seemed so sympathetic to her plight. He'd seemed genuinely interested in how she'd gotten herself into this mess. She had the impression he thought her actions had been impulsive. Even stupid.
He was right, of course. This was right up there on the Nicole's Stupid Acts list. That was a long list, and had been growing steadily for many years, in spite of all the efforts of her parents to keep Nicole grounded, to keep her acting sensibly.
Nicole snorted quietly. As if there had ever been any chance of that, she reflected.
She was going to pay a high price for being free-spirited and independent. She was about to be dragged, kicking and screaming into married life. If it wasn't so serious, it could have been hilariously funny.
