Mary was born to Moorish parents, but her mother converted to Christianity and Flora did a well. Her brother remained an infidel and heaped abuse both mental and physical upon Flora for her Faith. She had taken a secret vow of chastity, so when she heard of her impending arranged marriage, Flora ran away, taking her friend Mary with her. Flora's brother betrayed them to the Islamic authorities, and the two runaways--an earlier, holier version of Thelma and Louise, if you will--were imprisoned, scourged, and finally beheaded.