Guy blinked at the enthusiasm with which the girl received his greeting. She was definitely not a pretender. This girl did appear to be from someone’s harem. Guy wondered if her master was close.
“Please, slow down,” he said in English, holding up his hand. “My skills with your language are limited, I’m afraid.” He concentrated on what Arabic he knew to try to respond to her questions. He understood part of what she said, her comment about him speaking her language and question about if he had been to the Holy Land. And of course, her comment about his sword.
“I was in the Holy Land with Saladin,” Guy informed her, reverting back to Arabic. Many of these types of women were easily impressed when one tossed out the name of someone as important as the Sultan of Egypt. He was going to explain further, but was interrupted by the sound of dog barking?
Guy looked around, trying to find the cur, but saw nothing. He doubted it was much of a threat. The bark had been less than impressive. Not like any dog bark he had ever heard before. He finally determined that the barking was coming from the bad she was carrying. He raised his eyebrow and put his hand on his sword hilt.
“There is something in your bag, my lady.” He was prepared to protect her from whatever it was lurking in the confines of her purse.