Call of the Trumpet (22 page)

Cecile looked at Hagar over the rim of the cup. Though she had rehearsed the story, she wondered if the old woman would believe her. “I … I rose early,” she began. “Al Chah ayah was restless, so I … I took her for a walk in the desert.”

“And did she kick you in the head?” Hagar asked dryly. “I do not know how else such an injury could be obtained.”

Not daring to hold Hagar’s gaze, Cecile stared into her cup. “No, I … she spooked. The reins were pulled from my hand. I was off balance, and I … I fell.”

“I see.” The story was plausible enough, Hagar decided. Even if she did not believe the girl, everyone else would. Besides, the truth of what had happened hardly mattered at the moment. Other considerations were far more important.

“Dhiba,” Hagar said presently, “there is something I must ask you. El Faris came to me last night, looking for you. Did he find you?”

Cecile’s heart pounded, and her head throbbed in rhythm. “Yes, he … he did.”

“And would you tell this nosy old woman what passed between you?”

Cecile closed her eyes and set the cup on the carpeted ground. Should she tell Hagar? Her heart was so full she wanted to. Hagar also might be able to help her explain to El Faris what had happened. He would be angry, she knew, not knowing why she hadn’t come to him with her answer within the hour, indeed, all night. Cecile opened her eyes. “Yes, Hagar, I … I’ll tell you,” she breathed. “It is something wonderful.”

The old woman could not hide her surprise. Wonderful? “Go on, child.”

“He … he asked me to marry him,” Cecile replied quickly. Blushing, caught in her memories, she did not notice Hagar’s expression of shock and disbelief. “He said … he told me Shaikh Haddal had decided I must wed. And Shaikh Rashid of the Shammar had seen me and asked for me. But El Faris, he … Oh, Hagar, I think he loves me, even if only a little. Why else would he ask me to marry him? Surely it is not just because he doesn’t want Rashid to have me … do you think?”

All at once Hagar didn’t know what to think. Dhiba’s explanation shed no light on what was happening. In fact, events were now more mystifying than ever. “Dhiba,” she said, trying to form an intelligent question, “what … what happened when you parted last night?”

Cecile ducked her head, heedless of the pain it caused. “I … I’m afraid I behaved foolishly. But I was so surprised! And he … he didn’t speak to me with words of love, only of necessity. So I … I reacted badly and he told me to think about what he had said, and to come to his tent in one hour with my answer.”

The truth slowly dawned. “Tell me, Dhiba,” Hagar prompted gently. “I will reveal what you say to no one, but did you … did you take the mare then?”

This time Cecile did not drop her eyes. “Yes,” she whispered. “I thought a ride would … would clear my mind. And it did, oh, Hagar, it did! Now I see what a fool I’ve been!”

Hagar swayed with the impact of the revelation. Ignoring Cecile’s words, she said, “But you did not come to him within the hour, did you? You fell from the horse and were unable to return.”

“Yes, oh, yes, Hagar. And now I must go to him. I have to tell him, I …”

“Hush, child.” Hagar gripped Cecile’s hand to keep her from rising. What was she going to do? She did not think El Faris would even see Dhiba. His hurt and anger would blind him. No, there was only one thing to do. She must take the chance herself. She had to try and explain before it was too late. “Listen to me, Dhiba. You are in no condition to go anywhere at the moment. I will go to El Faris myself.”

“But, Hagar …”

“No, you must do as I say. Now lie down. Try to sleep.”

Cecile was only too glad to obey. Her head ached miserably. Besides, Hagar would make everything all right. El Faris would understand and forgive her. They would spend the rest of their lives together. In spite of the joyful thudding of her heart, Cecile was asleep the instant she lay down and closed her eyes.

Ahmed squatted in front of his master’s tent, too afraid to remain inside with him. He did not understand El Faris’s mood. He did not, in fact, understand anything anymore. Except, perhaps, that his master had been touched by too much sun. It happened sometimes on the desert. He had seen men lose their minds before. He cast a sideways glance at the tent, then looked up to see Hagar hurrying in his direction.

“Ahmed!”

“Quiet, old woman!” Ahmed rose hastily, indicating the tent with a nod. “El Faris will cut out the tongue of anyone who disturbs him!”

Hagar straightened her shoulders. “He will have to sharpen his
khusa
then, for I am going in to see him.”

“No, wait!” Ahmed blocked the old woman’s path. “You don’t understand.”

“Oh, but I do,” she retorted. “Which is why I must see him. Now step aside, Ahmed. I am going inside.”

Ahmed opened his mouth, but it was too late. El Faris appeared at the tent flap, scowling darkly. “What is this all about?” he demanded. “What’s going on?”

Hagar swallowed. “I must speak to you. It is a matter of great urgency. I come to tell you—”

“Whatever it is, I don’t wish to hear it now,” Matthew interrupted. “Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow.” He withdrew into his tent, pulling the flap closed behind him.

Hagar groaned and raised her hands to her head. “Oh, no, no,” she muttered. “This cannot be; it cannot happen.”

“What is wrong, old woman?” Ahmed asked kindly. “Perhaps I can help.”

Hagar looked at him and slowly shook her head. “No, Ahmed. I’m afraid no one can help now. It is too late.” Turning, she shuffled stiffly back the way she had come.

“This is impertinence! I will not stand for it!”

The old shaikh gazed wearily at Rashid, then at his servant. “Tell us again, Ali,” he sighed, “what the old woman said.”

Ali dipped his head. “She said the girl was injured in a fall. She said, begging your forgiveness, but she does not think the girl can even walk to your tent.”

“You see, Rashid?” Haddal shrugged. “What can I do? If she cannot come, she cannot. Tomorrow will be soon enough.”

“But I wish to see her now. If she cannot walk, she must be carried. I want this matter concluded. My camp must move on. I cannot wait forever.”

“Nor can we,” Haddal agreed. Most particularly, he added to himself, because he wanted his affairs with Rashid to be over and done with. Not to mention the girl, who had already caused him more trouble than all his daughters put together. “We must continue on in a few days. And you must have time to decide whether or not you will keep her.”

Rashid’s lecherous smile and glittering eyes gave Haddal hope. Also to Haddal’s advantage was the fact that both of Rashid’s wives were pregnant and, therefore, untouchable. Rashid needed a woman’s body, and Al Dhiba’s was a lovely one. Although, he reasoned, even if Rashid divorced and returned her, as was a shaikh’s right after even a single night, he would still have made an ally. The bond would be between them. And the girl would still have her dowry, so it would not be difficult to find her another husband.

“All right, Rashid,” Haddal said at last. “I agree this must be settled as soon as possible. Ali, go back to the old woman. Tell her I said Dhiba must come, at once. If she cannot walk, carry her.”

“Dhiba … Dhiba, you must wake. Do you hear me?”

“Oh, Hagar …” Cecile groaned. “Go away … let me sleep.”

“You have slept all day,” Hagar said, trying to keep the panic from her voice. “Dusk falls. The shaikh has sent for you. You must go to him.”

Cecile managed to rouse herself and sit up. She brushed the tangled hair from her eyes. “But why … why does he want to see me?”

“I do not know,” Hagar lied, heart in her throat. “But you must obey his command. There is no choice.”

As Cecile’s sleep-fogged mind cleared, she realized it had grown dark. And she had not yet seen Matthew! She gripped the old woman’s hands. “Hagar, did you … did you speak to him? Did you explain?”

Hagar winced. “He … he was busy, Dhiba. I did not have the chance.”

“Then I must go to him! At once!”

Yes, Hagar thought. Time had almost run out. It was the only thing left to do. Yet Dhiba must first go to Haddal. One did not keep a shaikh waiting. “Clean yourself. Here,” Hagar handed Cecile the water skin and a cloth. “Replait your hair and cover your head. I have washed your
makruna.”

Cecile complied, and Hagar watched her, debating what to say, how much to tell her. Knowing the girl, she was afraid to reveal the truth before she went to the shaikh. No, she decided, it was better not to tell her. Later she would explain to Al Dhiba what had happened as a result of her tardiness, and pray that pride and anger would not blind the girl again and keep her from saying what she must to El Faris.

“I’m ready, Hagar.”

Hagar found she could not bear to look at the girl’s shining eyes. “Come,” she ordered brusquely, and took Cecile’s hand. “We must go to the shaikh. Then we will find El Faris.”

The trek to Haddal’s tent seemed endless. Cecile had to lean heavily on the old woman’s arm, but she did not falter. Her heart was full, bursting with both joy and anxiety. Whatever the shaikh wanted her for would have to be dealt with quickly. She could not wait to see El Faris.

El Faris … husband. Her pulse fluttered. At the entrance to Haddal’s tent, she paused and squeezed Hagar’s hand. “Wait, please. I won’t be long.”

Pray to Allah’s Mercy, Hagar thought. She closed her eyes as Cecile entered the tent.

Surprised, Cecile still remembered to lower her gaze and sink swiftly to her knees. What, she wondered, was Rashid doing here?

“Come closer, woman,” Haddal instructed. “Shaikh Rashid would speak with you.”

Cecile crawled forward slowly, keeping her eyes downcast.

“I would also look upon her more intimately,” Rashid said. “Would you have her remove the veil?”

Startled, and with growing apprehension, Cecile glanced at Haddal. He nodded. “Remove it.”

With trembling fingers, Cecile unfastened one side of the veil and let it fall.

Rashid exhaled a long breath.

“Well?” Haddal prompted.

Rashid smiled. “I will have the
hegra
erected tomorrow. When the moon rises, my servant will bring her to me.”