Wow, I'm excited about this story. I had a blast writing it, smashing it out in one fast session. On the reread, I still love it & didn't change it much. I think it was so easy because this one really came from the heart. It is fiction but could easily be real: a resonance. Given the power these ancient Arabs enjoyed, we would easily and naturally adopt the characters' actions. I hope you'll feel you would too. Off we go to ancient Arabia, before civilization, when horsemen ruled the steppe.
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Very gradually, the Sheikh became aware of himself. As if through a mist, he apprehended his mind, but could not imagine his body, could not feel it. Drifting back from a slow dream, he thought the sensation precious. Unsure of his location, posture, surroundings, it was a blissful moment. Tired muscles would complain once awakened, but now he could not even feel his breathing, or hear his heartbeat; both were in such repose.
A smell intruded, figs. Figs and the sound of water. But no feeling whatsoever; the temperature must be perfection itself. Far away some voices, his band no doubt setting up camp. Cook stoves for souvlaki, grain for horses, forage for camels, a large yurt with silken walls and flags for himself and the queen.
She was not here though. They had ridden hard for 8 days, leaving her and a band of guards, so the women would not be required travel at such a killing pace. Now the men had perhaps two days, perhaps one, to change this lovely oasis into a paradise where they would winter. In 12 hundred years, it would be called Istanbul, gateway from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. In just seven hundred years, blood would begin to spill to own the figs, the palms and most of all, the right to pass. Now though, simple people owned whatever land they camped on, and were glad to see others. There were mangoes, coconuts, dates, almonds, figs, cinnamon for coffee, and grass for the goats and the pack beasts. Hundreds of tons of silks would pay for the journey when they reached Turkey in the spring, but the tribe was successful and healthy, they would winter here, foregoing the very best profits to sleep in the cool winter sun by the lazy Mediterranean. They would entertain and trade with other smaller bands that happened by on their more urgent travels. He thought to establish a permanent camp, build a city, but not this year. A long ride from India left him eager to board a ship, hear the oars creak, maybe use a "sail" ...just invented magic to fly over water he'd only seen.
