Skye O'Malley: A Love For All Time Part 20

"I am not lying when I tell ye that I am a rich woman! We do not speak of my husband's wealth, but mine! Turn back to England, and I swear ye will not be arrested, nor imprisoned. I will pay ye whatever ye desire if ye will free me!"

Rashid al Mansur had lived in Barbary for twenty-five years, but never had he forgotten his fear when he had been first captured by slavers. He knew that the copper-haired woman was even now experiencing the same thing, and since he was not an unkind man by nature he was genuinely sympathetic. Therefore he deigned to attempt an explanation to this woman.

Kneeling by her side so that their faces met he said, "Listen to me, copper-haired woman, attempt to understand. You appear to be intelligent for a female, and so I will try to explain this to you. You are now technically the property of the Dey of Algiers, whose gracious overlord is Sultan Murad III, Defender of the Faith, and master of the Ottoman Empire. I could not return you to England if I wanted to because you do not belong to me, and I am an honorable man. You will be sold in the state-owned slave market. Your cousin will be given a share of your profit, as will I, but the dey will also profit, and I have not the right to steal from him. Do you understand?"

Aidan looked at him a moment, and then she turned her head away, but not before he had caught a glimpse of the tears that had sprung into her eyes.

"Can you give her a potion to make her sleep, Achmet?" Rashid al Mansur asked his physician. "I have just explained to her her fate, and with the loss of her child to add to her woes she might consider the unthinkable."

"Of course, my lord," was the reply.

"How is'she physically?"

"She is a strong, healthy woman by nature. I cannot say if she would have lost the child without the distress of her situation, but I doubt it. She needs rest, freedom from worry, and good food now to recover. She should be quite well by the time we reach Algiers, but it would not hurt to cosset her somewhat. Tomorrow let the other girls of her race come to keep her company. It will prevent her from going into herself."

Rashid al Mansur nodded, and then said to Aidan, "My physician will see that you are well cared for, copper-haired woman. No one will harm you, and you have only to get well again."

Aidan would not even look at him when he spoke to her, but the kapitan reis understood. Quietly he departed the room leaving Achmet, the physician, to cope with his patient. Achmet had completed his examination of Aidan, and he had skillfully attended to her body which was yet in pain. Her chemise had been soaked in blood, and so it had been removed, and finished with her he covered her with a light coverlet. Then reaching into his medical pouch he took out a round, gilded pill, and pushed it between her lips. It never occurred to Aidan to refuse him. She accepted the goblet he next handed her, and swallowed the medication. He stayed with her the few minutes it took for her to fall asleep again, and then the physician left the cabin.

The next time she awoke the moon was streaming in through the cabin's windows. Aidan lay quietly beneath the coverlet, barely breathing as she sought for answers to the questions that popped into her head at a rapid pace. Where was she? A ship! Was she alone? Aye. There seemed to be no one else in the cabin. Where was Conn? Conn was in the Tower! And with that knowledge she remembered all. She was a prisoner aboard a ship of the Barbary fleet. She was being taken to Algiers to be sold into slavery. She had lost Conn's child, and she was never to see her husband again! Aidan began to cry.

She wept softly for sonic time, and her eyes burned with the salt from her tears. If this was a nightmare, and she prayed that it was, then why couldn't she awaken? She pinched herself cruelly, but nothing changed. She still lay naked beneath a soft coverlet on a strange bed in a strange place, and she suddenly felt empty, as hollow as a drum with the loss of her child. There at least, she thought, G.o.d had been merciful. She would not have wanted her baby born into slavery.

The door to the cabin opened, and she could see in the light from the pa.s.sageway the little doctor entering. He smiled and nodded at her, and handed her the cup again. Then into his pouch his fingers dipped, and removing another of the gilded pills he once again pushed it between her lips. Why not, she thought wearily, and dutifully swallowed the medication which quickly tumbled her back into sleep. The next time she awoke it was day. This time her memory did not fail her.

For a few brief moments she considered slipping from the cabin, and throwing herself over the ship's rail to drown, but she quickly decided that she wanted to live and return home to her beloved England. She knew what she contemplated would be considered impossible, but if she gave up all hope she would die of despair. Surely whoever bought her could be tempted by a fat ransom even if Rashid al Mansur could not. She would offer enough gold to buy a dozen beautiful women, and certainly a normal man could be tempted by that. That was exactly what she would do, and having decided it Aidan realized she was hungry. Very hungry.

How did one go about getting food on this ship? She could hardly go to the door of the cabin, and call. Her state of undress would provoke a riot. She would have to wait for them to come to her. Wrapping the coverlet about her she stood up, and just as quickly sat down again. She had been immediately overcome by a spell of dizziness. She tried again, and this time rising she stood there for a moment until the giddiness had pa.s.sed. Then she moved slowly across the room toward a table that held a decanter, and several goblets. She was very thirsty, and still felt pain. She stumbled as the door opened, and Rashid al Mansur entered the cabin.

Quickly he moved across the room, and put a steadying arm about her. "Easy, copper-haired woman. You are weak."

"I am also thirsty," she said.

He helped her back to his bed. "I will fetch you a drink. How are you feeling today?"

"I am yet in pain, but it is better," she answered him honestly.

"Good! I knew you were strong". Are you hungry?"

"Ravenous!"

He chuckled. "I will have Sa'id bring you something. I am going to give you some company today. In the little cabin next to this where you were your first night there are three young English girls who are also going to Algiers to be sold. You will keep each other amused."

He spoke, Aidan thought, as if they were on a pleasure cruise. He fetched her a goblet of watered wine as he had promised, and then ignoring her he went about the business of washing himself, and changing his clothing for clean garments. Finally without another word he left her to herself. Shortly after his departure Sa'id appeared with a tray of food for her. There was a steaming bowl of a cereal-like mixture that bad chunks of lamb and vegetables in it; a soft flat bread which she a.s.sumed was to aid her to eat what was in the bowl since she was given no utensils; and a smaller blue-and-white bowl with fresh orange sections in it.

Aidan took the tray, and ate every morsel upon it. While she did, the slave, Sa'id, sat patiently at her feet, and when she had finished he fetched her a soft cloth and a basin of fragrant water to wash the grease from her hands and face. Since she could not speak his language, she smiled and nodded her thanks to the black man who seemed gratified that she had noticed. With a blinding grin he went to the door of the little cabin adjoining Rashid al Mansur's quarters, and opened it. Then taking the tray up he left her.

Aidan stood up, and this time there was no dizziness at all. Walking across the cabin she peered into the next room. There in a corner huddled three young girls. Aidan's heart went out to them immediately. "I won't hurt ye," she said. "I'm in the same position as ye are. Come, and share my day with me."

"Who are ye, my lady?" asked the eldest of the girls.

"My name is Aidan St. Michael. I am Lady Bliss."

"Coo!" said one of the two smaller girls. "Laidy no less! And does ye know Bessie Tudor herself?"

Aidan smiled at the London accent of the child, as well as her disbelief. In her world the lords and ladies of the court were safe from the kind of harm that could happen to an ordinary mortal. "Indeed I do know her majesty," she said nonetheless. "In fact I was even one of the queen's maids of honor."

"Ye never was!" said the child disbelievingly.

Aidan laughed. "Yes, I was," she said, "and yet here I am in just as difficult a position as ye are. Even worse for I don't have any clothing!"

The older girl arose, and came toward Aidan. "My name is Margaret Browne," she said. "I come from Kent. My stepmother sent me to London to be apprenticed to a dressmaker, but instead I was sold into a brothel by her brother. The brothel keeper sold me to this ship's captain. Do ye know what is to happen to us, my lady? Where are we going?" She was a pretty girl with a sweet face, long pale gold hair like thistledown, and eyes of deep blue.

"We are going to Algiers. The ship's captain, Rashid al Mansur, says we are to be sold into slavery."

"I should sooner be dead!" cried Margaret Browne.

"How old are you?" Aidan asked the girl.

"I am thirteen," came the reply.

"Are you a virgin? Answer me honestly, la.s.s!"

"Yes, my lady. I was only in the brothel keeper's charge a few hours before the captain bought me. I think she was expecting him for I neither was abused nor badly treated."

"Who are the little girls?" Aidan said.

"We can speak for ourselves," said the elder of the sisters as they came from their corner. Rea.s.sured by Margaret Browne's contact with Aidan, they now felt bolder. "I am Rosamund, and this is my little sister, Pipere. If we had another name we don't remember it."

"How old are you?" asked Aidan.

"I'm eleven, her's ten," came the answer.

"Tell me how ye both ended up on this ship," Aidan queried them.

"Our mum died, and the landlord put her body in the garbage heap cuz we didn't have no money to pay the gravediggers. Then he took what little we had, even the bedding, for back rent, he says the barstid! We was out in the street cuz he wouldn't let us back into the house, and we was yelling back an forth when along come this fellow down the street, and he stops, and looks at Pipere and me, and then he says to the landlord, 'How much will ye take for these two?' and the landlord gets this gleam in his eye, and says, 'They're both virgins, as pure as the driven snow, me lord. Young, and in prime condition they've got to be worth at least five pieces of gold.' Well the captain laughs, and he says, 'I'll give ye three, and a silver penny to see their mother is buried properly,' so here we are."

Aidan looked at the two little sisters. They were both extremely pretty, and looked enough alike to be taken for twins. They had corn-colored blond hair and sky-blue eyes. "Ye heard what I told Margaret?" said Aidan. "We are to be sold into slavery. We shall all undoubtedly end up in harems."

Margaret Browne began to weep bitterly. "Never, never," she sobbed. "I should sooner be dead than held in carnal bondage by an infidel!"

"Wot's the matter wiv her?" demanded Rosamund. "Is her crazy or somfin? Listen, girl, all women end up under a man. If we was bought by a rich man we could spend the rest of our lives at ease! Wot's wrong wiv that I'd likes to know? Our ma was a wh.o.r.e, and her always wanted better for Pipere and me. Why does ye think we still got our cherries? She always said, 'I'll not let ye two go cheap, Rosy. I'll find ye a good man to takes care of ye, and ye'll not have to open yer legs to every Tom, d.i.c.k, and Harry up from the country for a good time!' Our ma was a good woman, her was," finished Rosamund with a sentimental sniff.

Margaret Browne looked horrified at Rosamund's words, but Aidan rather admired the little Londoner. She was a tiny tough sparrow of a survivor. With luck she would prosper. The Kentish girl put her face in her hands and began to weep again. Rosamund looked so totally out of patience with her that Aidan almost laughed.

"What does Pipere say to all of this?" she asked Rosamund.

"Her does what I say, right, Pipere?"

"Right, Rosy," came the perky reply from the littlest girl.

"The captain says that ye may join me in this cabin," Aidan said, and she led them into Rashid al Mansur's quarters.

"Coo-ee," said Rosamund looking admiringly about the large and beautifully furnished cabin with its fine window seat beneath mullioned windows in the stern of the vessel. "Are ye the captain's doxy for this voyage, laidy?"

"Nay," said Aidan, "I most certainly am not!"

"Then how come ye gets such fancy treatment? No one gives anyfing for nuffin in this world."

"I miscarried my baby last night," said Aidan softly, "and the captain being a good businessman did not wish me uncomfortable for he believes I will bring him a great deal of money in Algiers."

"Why? Ye ain't no beauty. Ye ain't ugly, but ye ain't no beauty," said Rosamund bluntly.

"Women with fair skin, light eyes, and light hair are highly prized in Barbary, Rosamund. Women, however, with fair skin, light eyes, and red hair are the rarest creatures of all, and I am told they bring a fortune. Hence my value."

"How can ye speak so calmly about it?" said Margaret Browne in a voice that Aidan could hear was laced with near-hysteria.

Aidan sat Margaret down, and put an arm about her. "I have been kidnapped from my husband," she said. "I have lost my first child because of it. I am as frightened as ye are, but if I give into those feelings I will lose control of myself, and then others can control me totally. That I will not do! I am alive, and as long as it is G.o.d's will that I live then there is hope. Do ye understand me, Meg, for I suspect that is what ye were called."

"My father called me Meg," said the Kentish girl.

"Do ye understand what I have said to ye, Meg?"

"Aye," said the girl.

"And ye will no longer be afraid?"

"I will try, my lady."

"Stupid cow," grumbled Rosamund. "Don't she know how much worse it could be?"

"Aye, Rosy," said Pipere. "It could be worse."

Aidan didn't know how it could be much worse, but the two little Londoners kept her cheered during the voyage to Algiers which was made in just under two weeks. She in turn kept up the spirits of the Kentish girl who now became her shadow. She learned that Meg had been the cosseted only child of a fairly prosperous farmer. Poor child, Aidan thought. At least I learned a little about the world during my stay at court. This poor girl is totally and completely innocent.

They reached their destination late one afternoon as the sun dappled the gleaming white walls surrounding the city, and its buildings which seemed to march straight up the hillsides. It was a very impressive sight as approached from the sea, the harbor, and the long mole built by the Spanish, framed by the city itself. In contrast to its outer beauty, however, was the stench of the city which was carried on a warm wind that blew across the city from the desert beyond.

"It is too late to parade you four to the jenina," said Rashid al Mansur. "I will notify the dey of our arrival, and then in the morning we will go. I will have fresh water brought aboard so that you may wash yourselves and your hair. I want you to show to your best advantage."

"What is the jenina?" asked Aidan.

"A literal translation would be 'the king's house,' " said Rashid al Mansur. "It is where the dey comes to a.s.sess his legal rights over a percentage of the captives. Usually his servants do it, but in the case of such rare merchandise as yourselves I suspect he will come himself."

"The dey is the ruler of Algiers?" said Aidan.

"The dey is appointed by the sultan to govern Algiers in his name," was the answer.

Rashid al Mansur was gone but a short time when Sa'id arrived to herd them all into the little cabin next to the captain's. Leaving he closed the door behind him, and then they could hear a great deal of trekking back and forth in the room next to them. Finally after some minutes Sa'id opened the door between the two cabins, and waved them back into the larger room. There four steaming tubs awaited them. Aidan gave a cry of delight for she had not been able to bathe properly since they had sailed from England. Sa'id signaled them to enter the tubs, and they shooed him from the room laughing.

Joyously the four females washed themselves, enjoying every minute of the treat for the water was fragrant with sweet, flower-scented oils that pampered their skins. There was even a bar of soap that lathered lavishly, and which they pa.s.sed around amongst each other. They washed their hair first, and then their bodies. Aidan had been cleaner than her three companions for the physician had seen to it lest she court an infection. She had bled for several days following her miscarriage, and then the flow had stopped as it had come. Rashid al Mansur had told her that Achmet worried for she should have flowed longer, but that he thought her emotional state might have something to do with it.

"He says that the mind can do powerful things," said the kapitan reis with a shrug.

They had finished bathing, and stepping from their tubs looked for something to dry themselves with, and for their chemises; in Aidan's case, her coverlet; but these things had disappeared. They stood very uncomfortable in their nudity, looking horrified at one another as the door to the cabin began to open. They turned to flee to the smaller room, but found its door barred to them .now. Huddling together they looked distinctly uncomfortable as Rashid al Mansur, and Achmet the physician came into the room.

"Kapitan, where are our garments?" Aidan demanded bravely.

"You won't need them any longer," was the reply. "You are clean now, and tomorrow you will be paraded naked to the jenina as is our custom, and afterward to the bagnio. It helps to drum up interest in your sale, and bring in the buyers. Stand apart now for I want to see you, and gauge your value. Achmet will examine each of you so I may honestly attest to your health."

"Sweet, holy Mary," moaned Margaret Browne, and Aidan was inclined to agree with her, but Rosamund and Pipere flung the Kentish girl a look of impatience that was so obvious that it caused both the captain and the physician to give a chuckle.

"Courage, Meg," said Aidan in a kindly voice, and she moved away from her companions.

Rashid al Mansur walked slowly around her with admiring eyes. "My eyes did not fail me that first night," he said to Achmet. "The woman is pure perfection of form." He took a handful of Aidan's coppery hair, and rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger. "It's heavy, and like silk," he remarked. His hand ran over her b.u.t.tocks, and she winced, her teeth sinking into her lip as he squeezed the flesh lightly. "The skin tone is good, Achmet." He moved around to face her, and cupped one of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in his palm. "The b.r.e.a.s.t.s are firm as well," he said, and then concluded, "She's going to bring us a fortune! Her cousin will be a rich man."

He moved away from Aidan, and began a similar examination of Margaret who although she stood still, wept bitterly as she was inspected.

"They're treating m-me l-like one of m-my father's m-mares," sobbed Meg.

"A woman ain't nuffin but a piece of meat," said Rosamund. "Sooner ye gets that inter yer head, the better off ye'll be, Mistress Fancy."

"Rosamund," said Aidan, gentle reproof in her voice. "Yer mother had a hard life, and she taught ye to be realistic, but Meg's world was a little bit gentler. Don't frighten her any more than she already is. This is not easy for any of us."

"Yer a high-and-mighty laidy, and yet yer managing to hold yerself together," said the child. "Meg is just too soft! Listen to me, Mistress Meg. If yer too soft in this life people takes advantage of ye. Remember that! If ye wants to survive, then ye've got to be strong!"

G.o.d's nightshirt! thought Aidan. Out of the mouth of this child comes a wisdom that even I should heed. If I show weakness for even a moment, I will be destroyed.

"Check for the truth of their virginity," said Rashid al Mansur, and even the feisty child-woman, Rosamund, looked askance, for he had spoken in English that they be warned of the physician's intent. Then he quickly gave the order in Arabic as well.

The physician, who had inspected each girl for her general health and blemishes now led each of the three blonds to the captain's bed where he laid them down in a row preparatory to examining them.

"Don't struggle!" Aidan quickly warned the girls. "He will not disturb your virgin state, he only wishes to attest to it. Don't be frightened, Meg," she added as the girl began to whimper.

"You are quick-witted, copper-haired woman," said Rashid al Mansur approvingly. "You are fit to be a sultan's consort."

"I have a husband," said Aidan, "and he would ransom me if ye would but contact him."

"Your husband is by now probably dead, and your wealth is gone, copper-haired woman. There is ransom for men of position and power and wealth, but for lovely women, whatever their rank, there is no ransom. Do not be afraid. You will be bought only by someone of great wealth for none else could afford you. You will be cherished, and loved by your master. Allah may even grant you children of your own. A wonderful life awaits you, copper-haired woman. Do not fight so hard against your fate."

Aidan turned away from him. His words unnerved her. They took away her hope, and that frightened her. I will tell the man who buys me the whole story, she thought, and he will contact Conn, and my husband will ransom me. It is going to be as I have planned. It is!

When Achmet had finished examining the three younger girls, and had a.s.sured his master, Kapitan Reis Rashid al Mansur, of their pure state, the two men left the cabin. They were fed a particularly good supper that evening for now that they were in port fresh food was available to them again. There were slices of baby lamb that had been roasted with tiny white onions, and green peppers; and a small capon for them to share, and a bowl of saffroned rice. There was a platter of fresh fruits, already sliced, and swimming in a tasty mixture of their juices. Aidan didn't recognize all of the fruits, but they were certainly delicious. To drink there was something that Sa'id called lemon sherbet. It was tart and yet sweet. Wine, Rashid al Mansur had told Aidan, was forbidden in Muslim countries. She did not question him about the wine she had drunk on his ship earlier.

They slept fitfully that night, all together upon the captain's large bed, but the noise of the port, and their own nerves combined to make them restless, even the usually tough Rosamund and her little sister, Pipere. For a brief time between the darkest hour of the night, and the dawn, the city grew still, and they slept their only peaceful sleep of the night. Then the sun burst over the horizon, and the city as quickly burst to life again, the sound of the muezzin's voice calling the faithful to prayer, and then the sounds of commerce beginning as the prayers ended and the day began in earnest.

Sa'id came and brought them rosewater with which to freshen their mouths, and then they were fed that peculiar flat bread they had first seen upon this ship, briny olives dripping oil, and goat's cheese. Afterward more rosewater was brought for them to bathe their hands and faces, and to once more purify their breaths. Then the black slave motioned them out the door of the cabin.

For a long moment they stood and stared at the open door, and then Meg voiced their thoughts. "I can't go out there . . . naked!" she whispered.