Emarah headed for the nearby oasis, carrying a woven basket and a water jug. Once there she quickly gathered the leaves of a plant that grew close to the water and headed back for the encampment. She built a fire and added the leaves and water to a large pot. Soon the brew began to bubble and she stirred it with a large metal spoon. The leaves could produce a tea which had calming properties when the proportions were correct. But her proportions were not and the resulting brew was guaranteed to make a drink that would cause a deep, intense sleep for many, many hours.

She added some mint leaves to mask the intense bitterness of the tea and some sweetening. When this drink was finally made she poured it into a tall brass pitcher. The entire encampment was now aroused and she stopped to offer the tea to all the servants of the Prince. Soon she enter the main tent of Ammon where he sat at a small brass table with his "foreign woman". "Good morning my Prince", she exclaimed, as she walked to the table. She poured two glasses full to the brim with the steaming brew. "I offer you my apology for my rude behavior yesterday and will accept all you demanded of me." "That is, as it should be", exclaimed Ammon, Amira tossed her head and gave Emrah a smirking look as she also drank her tea.

Emarah left the tent and noticed that the servants of the Prince were already dozing off from her brew. She went immediately to where the camels all stood, roped together and she loosed one and quickly made it ready for travel. Going back to the main tent, she entered and gathered what possessions she could. The Prince and Amira were already slumped over and were asleep. She knew where the Prince kept his bags of gold and she retrieved all of them from the large trunk. As she was about to close the lid, she spied the beautiful jewel she had given the Prince on her first night in this encampment. "I gave this to you in love, but you didn't even bother to wear it." she thought to herself. Tears stung her eyes, as she snatched it up and dropped it into one of the bags of gold coins. Moving quickly now, she exited the tent and headed for the waiting camel. She mounted the camel and headed out of the encampment. Ammon had told her that a great sea, lay to the North. This was now her destination but she must reach it as soon as possible before it could be discovered she was gone. Looking back one last time, she headed out. Now her Fate was charted, there could be no turning back.

Emarah traveled North, over terrrain that was totally unfamilar to her. As luck would have it, a small dust storm blew up, covering her tracks. Each day saw her further away from the Desert Prince. One day she saw a far off caravan moving toward her. Quickly she went and hide by a deep sand dune, cowering in fright until they had passed by. Always she charted her course by the rising sun, which she knew needed to be on her right side as she pressed forward  to the North. Finally she discovered that the water bags she carried were almost empty and her supply of figs and dates were almost depleted also. She was weary of the incessant sun and blowing desert winds. She was not used to the harsh conditions as she had lived in a beautiful tent with servants to fan & cool her and to attend to her every need.

Suddenly one day her nose caught an unfamilar smell. She did not recognize it but this was the beautiful smell of the great sea, which was her destination. Later that day she saw planted fields and many green trees and houses and knew at last she had arrived. The people in the small village stared in awe at this blonde vision riding a camel. Emarah dismounted and spoke to an old man asking him, "Is there a boat here that can carry me across this great sea?" The old man informed her that his son could carry her in his boat to another town where she could find a big ship that could carry her away to  any land she wished.

She told the old man, "Fetch me your son quickly for I must leave as soon as possible and I will pay him a gold coin." The old man eyes grew even larger and he hurried off shouting for his son, who was close by mending his fishing nets. The son ran back with his father to where Emarah was waiting. She was told this would be many hours travel in the small boat.. She urged the son and father to run quickly to fetch food and water for the journey then she collapsed from exhaustion onto the sands of the beach. Both the father and son returned and loaded the provisions into the little fishing boat. Emarah told them both, "I will give you each another gold coin for your silence and if anyone comes here to inquire about me, you must swear to say nothing!" So intense was her gaze they both promised their silence. Emarah and the son entered the little boat and pushed off from the shore. The sun was dropping now in the sky and a cool wind blew across her face cooling her sunburned skin.The rocking of the boat and the calming fragrance of the sea and her tired body, all combined to lull her to sleep in a very short time.

Through the night, the man sailed his boat and through the night, Emarah slept a deep sleep. When the sun arose, Emarah saw a far off city, sparkling in the sunrise. "Is that city the place where I can get a large vessel to carry me away to other lands?" The man informed her that indeed it was and the name of the city was Algiers. Emarah drank deeply from the water jug and ate grapes and cheese and bread from the basket the man had brought onboard the little fishing boat. Emarah stared in awe as they approched closer to the great city. She had missed the excitement in large cities since she had been at the encampment of Ammon.

Finally the man rowed the boat into a small cove and told Emarah he would leave her there. She could easily travel now into the city and from there make arrangements for her passage on any of the large ships which she could see at anchor in the great harbor. Emarah was happy to finally be so close to achieving her goal of flight. She reached into her large bag she had carried away from the camp and dropped 3 gold coins into the hand of the man. She reminded him again of his promise of silence. The man smiled and again repeated his vow to her. Emarah hoisted the bag up in her arms and headed off toward the city. She walked on until she finally came to where the large ships with their many sails stood at anchor. Within one hour she had secured passage on a ship heading across the great sea, which she learned was called the Mediterranean, to a faraway city named Marseille, in a country called France.

The ship, called "Excaliber", was to sail on the high tide that very night. Emarah still felt in danger and knew she would not feel safe until she was on the great ship and headed out across this vast sea. She wandered thru the city and stopped to eat some food and drink a beverage made of cool water flavored with exotic fruits. She nibbled on little sweet confections she found at a nearby stand sold by an aged and wrinkled old woman. Time passed too slowly for her but she fnally knew it was time to board the great ship in the harbor. She also knew that surely many other "grand adventures" must lay ahead for her. She was still young and very beautiful. She still possessed her dancing skills. Surely now, Life would unfold in a magically way for her, for she believed in "Destiny"....in "KISMET"!!

Yes now she would be free. Free of the Desert Prince, free to taste Life. Emarah went aboard the great vessel and soon the huge sails unfurled, the tide was full and the ship glided out into the  moonlite sea. Emarah stood on deck, the wonderful smell of the sea drifted all around her, Her long, blonde hair, streamed out in the breeze. Her heart pounded with excitement as the ship now left the great city behind. Emarah felt safe at last. She sensed a great peace and knew that many exciting things were ahead of her. She smiled as the massive ship now cut thru the deep waters carrying her toward her new life....and maybe.......a NEW LOVE??

SkyAngel ©