scanned. It was a very impressive document, and at the bottom was the bold black signature of Rasul himself.
The murmurs began all around her, and with a sinking sensation, Berry knew that she was not going to get any help from anyone.
"I see. And there is nothing to be done about this?"
The men looked apologetic, but the one who had spoken first nodded. "That is correct. Our orders are to bring you to the Sheikh."
Berry could see that she had a choice. She could fight these men, causing a spectacle that would no doubt frighten all of the people at the gate, she could burst into tears, or she could simply go with them. They did not look like they were men who would be moved, and finally, she sighed, standing up, and giving the men a frosty look.
"All right, let's go," she said as she followed them out.
***
In the car ride, she seethed, wondering what Rasul thought he was playing at. She was an American citizen, and even if she was one with no real standing, surely they could not simply take her when they wished to do so?
Berry could feel her temper boiling and simmering as they drove her farther and farther away from her flight. She had known that she was not going to make it, but something about this simply felt wrong.
How dare he, she thought. How dare he think that he could dictate her life like this, misuse his power for this purpose? Rasul was meant to be a man who put his nation's priorities first. What kind of priority was being served when she was taken captive like some kind of war prize?
Berry came out of her reverie when she realized that they were no longer in town.
"Where are we going?" she asked, unable to keep a bit of fear from her voice.
The man in the passenger's seat glanced back at her, his gaze more compassionate than she thought it would be.
"We are taking you to one of the Sheikh's private residences," he said. "I understand that you are alarmed, but please do not be. The Sheikh has said that under no circumstances should you be harmed. Rest easy, Ms. Caine, that all will be well."
She shook her head, too exhausted to try to talk to him. She thought that if she had her head screwed on straight, she might have tried to bargain with the men, to have them help her make another flight. Once she was back in the United States, surely Rasul couldn't reach her, couldn't touch her. Surely his reach didn't extend that far?
Several hours later, after they had been in the desert for some time, they finally came to an absurdly green spot in the desert. She realized that it had to be an oasis, a place of green beauty in the wastes.
At first she thought that there was no habitation at all, but then coming around a rocky outcropping, she saw a small manor tucked against the trees, its front towards the desert.
"What is this place?" she asked in surprise.
"An old retreat for the Sheikh and his family," said one of the men, handing her out of the car. "It is a place for friends and family alone."
She had to admit, she wasn't feeling too friendly or family-like. When Berry was out of the car, the men got back in and left in a cloud of dust. She supposed it made sense. With miles of killing desert all around, there was no way that she was going to escape on foot.
With a sigh, she picked up her bag and began to walk towards the manor. When Berry was close, the door opened and Rasul appeared in the doorway. She looked up at him, and suddenly, she felt a deep and powerful rage overcome her.
"You've got some nerve," she growled, looking up at him. "You had no right to take me off that flight."
He gazed at her calmly and with some sadness. She was struck by how stoic he seemed. If she was a raging forest fire, he was the imperturbable rock face, the one that could not be swayed.
"I have every right," he said softly. "I am the Sheikh of Alamun, and my word is law."
Berry's eyes flashed dangerously. "You have decided that you are going to hold me in this country against my will?" she said. "Pray tell, what
The murmurs began all around her, and with a sinking sensation, Berry knew that she was not going to get any help from anyone.
"I see. And there is nothing to be done about this?"
The men looked apologetic, but the one who had spoken first nodded. "That is correct. Our orders are to bring you to the Sheikh."
Berry could see that she had a choice. She could fight these men, causing a spectacle that would no doubt frighten all of the people at the gate, she could burst into tears, or she could simply go with them. They did not look like they were men who would be moved, and finally, she sighed, standing up, and giving the men a frosty look.
"All right, let's go," she said as she followed them out.
***
In the car ride, she seethed, wondering what Rasul thought he was playing at. She was an American citizen, and even if she was one with no real standing, surely they could not simply take her when they wished to do so?
Berry could feel her temper boiling and simmering as they drove her farther and farther away from her flight. She had known that she was not going to make it, but something about this simply felt wrong.
How dare he, she thought. How dare he think that he could dictate her life like this, misuse his power for this purpose? Rasul was meant to be a man who put his nation's priorities first. What kind of priority was being served when she was taken captive like some kind of war prize?
Berry came out of her reverie when she realized that they were no longer in town.
"Where are we going?" she asked, unable to keep a bit of fear from her voice.
The man in the passenger's seat glanced back at her, his gaze more compassionate than she thought it would be.
"We are taking you to one of the Sheikh's private residences," he said. "I understand that you are alarmed, but please do not be. The Sheikh has said that under no circumstances should you be harmed. Rest easy, Ms. Caine, that all will be well."
She shook her head, too exhausted to try to talk to him. She thought that if she had her head screwed on straight, she might have tried to bargain with the men, to have them help her make another flight. Once she was back in the United States, surely Rasul couldn't reach her, couldn't touch her. Surely his reach didn't extend that far?
Several hours later, after they had been in the desert for some time, they finally came to an absurdly green spot in the desert. She realized that it had to be an oasis, a place of green beauty in the wastes.
At first she thought that there was no habitation at all, but then coming around a rocky outcropping, she saw a small manor tucked against the trees, its front towards the desert.
"What is this place?" she asked in surprise.
"An old retreat for the Sheikh and his family," said one of the men, handing her out of the car. "It is a place for friends and family alone."
She had to admit, she wasn't feeling too friendly or family-like. When Berry was out of the car, the men got back in and left in a cloud of dust. She supposed it made sense. With miles of killing desert all around, there was no way that she was going to escape on foot.
With a sigh, she picked up her bag and began to walk towards the manor. When Berry was close, the door opened and Rasul appeared in the doorway. She looked up at him, and suddenly, she felt a deep and powerful rage overcome her.
"You've got some nerve," she growled, looking up at him. "You had no right to take me off that flight."
He gazed at her calmly and with some sadness. She was struck by how stoic he seemed. If she was a raging forest fire, he was the imperturbable rock face, the one that could not be swayed.
"I have every right," he said softly. "I am the Sheikh of Alamun, and my word is law."
Berry's eyes flashed dangerously. "You have decided that you are going to hold me in this country against my will?" she said. "Pray tell, what
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