Fajr
Chapter 12
"Wake up, Ardeth." Rick shook his friend's shoulder as lightly as he could. "Ardeth."
"Hmm?" He started to roll over and then must have caught himself and woke up completely. "Rick?"
"Yeah, it's almost time for prayers."
"It is...?" He sat up and then looked around for a moment. "I must have fallen asleep in Thebes." A sigh. "Thank you my friend. I will come and get you for breakfast."
He gripped Ardeth's shoulder a little tighter, relived when the move didn't seem to bother him any. "Okay?" It was a question not an agreement.
"Ah.." A smile. "As you see. No less. I will talk with you after prayers." A squeeze of Ardeth's hand over his and then his friend got to his feet.
"Yeah." He let it go, because he wasn't about to bring any of this up where Evie, or Alex, or the other might overhear. He laid back down and held Evie close.
"That was-- better than I expected." Evie whispered finally.
"Yeah..."
She sighed and then snuggled closer. "I feel horrible about being glad that you're here and all right when I'm not sure that he is...but I am, damn it all."
He stoked the dark curls under his hand. "I'm glad I'm all right too, Evie. And he seems okay...who knows how the thing thinks. Hell it probably threw a wonderful party and made him the guest of honor just because Ardeth, you, and I were expecting him to have to go fight crocodiles again."
She managed to smile at him. "From what Ardeth said yesterday it might do just that."
And it was just as possible that it had he supposed. Although he didn't doubt Ardeth had spent more than a good portion of the evening embarrassed at the very least and worrying that the thing would just toss him up against the wall at worst. I can deal with you having to deal with it, he'd told Ardeth. And he'd meant it. But damned if it didn't make him want to just tear the damned thing's head off all the same. "You know it probably would. Especially, if it does think that the gods want it on our side. Because then it's going to be sure we can't hurt it so what does it have to lose by playing cat and mouse?"
"Can we hurt it?" She asked.
"You keep deciphering those spells love, and I'll find someway to blow it to enough bits to get it back in its box and between you, me, Ardeth and the rest of the we'll figure out how to keep there. One thing about Ahm Shere, we aren't lacking in statues of Anubis to bury it under."
"Well no there is that." She leaned up a bit and kissed him. "I love you Rick O'Connell you know that?"
"Yeah, and I love you." He kissed her back. "Which is really good considering how we spent the morning yesterday."
She giggled just a little. "Well, yes. I don't know how to match Horus of course but we really will have to think up something nice to do for Ardeth for allowing us that."
"Yeah. He wasn't real subtle about leaving us alone was he?"
"No. And for Ardeth that was probably the hardest part."
"Yeah." He squeezed her tightly. And they laid like that, her head on his chest and his arms around her until Ardeth came back from prayers. "Breakfast?" He asked.
"Indeed, and then we will send Jonathan and Izzy back to Aswan. Izzy is already up and reading his plane. I do not think he likes it here."
"Can you blame him?"
"No." Ardeth smiled. "Will you wake Jonathan and Alex?"
Rick looked at Evie and she smiled. "Go on and get coffee, love, nasty stuff. I'll wake Alex and Jonathan it shouldn't take me more than an hour to get Jonathan out of bed. You can bring me back some tea though."
"Right." He got to his feet and then walked out after Ardeth. The sun was just cresting the dunes and he took the opportunity to grip his friend's arm and ask it simply. "You okay?"
A smile and then Ardeth gripped his hand. "I am. I swear it to Allah, my friend. No harm done. He came near to driving me mad with teasing but nothing more."
"Okay." He relaxed with a sigh.
"I knew you would worry. Oddly enough he knew you would worry. I think that amused him too." Ardeth shook his head.
"Great." He sighed. "Just so long as you're okay. But I do want to know what happened since I wasn't there to guard your back." He meant it to. Ardeth smiled and it was an odd sort of look that Rick hadn't seen before. "What?"
He wasn't expecting Ardeth to flush. "Not now hmm? I will only embarrass myself more."
"Oh we are definitely talking about this later."
Another odd look and then his friend reached into his robes and smiled a bit more and then just held out one hand. And it took Rick a moment to recognize the bracelet in his friend's hand. "Will that do or will you leave me no dignity at all?"
Rick chuckled and then slapped him on the back. "Explanation enough. Damn and here I only slept half the night because I was worried about you?"
Ardeth smiled and then put the bracelet away. "A transgression I have faith Allah will forgive me for, and since you were not there, the far more preferable way to spend my evening, no?"
That took him a long moment. "Than what?"
Ardeth just looked at him and it was easy enough to get the answer from his eyes. "Damned bastard."
"On that we agree. Come, he did me no harm and was all things considered a very good host. I am only weary onto exhaustion with this game. Let us eat breakfast and then we must see what can be done about the battle we face here. I will leave the concerns of Thebes for the night to come."
"Yeah. Great. One war to fight during the day and a different one to fight at night. Why is it that Allah seems to think we can do this again?"
Ardeth chuckled. "Because my friend, once you have saved the world twice apparently you are expected to be able to do it again."
"Silly me. I thought once was enough."
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Ardeth looked over the odd collection of artifacts once more, not at all sure
what to do with them. The only one that might possibly any help in battling
the Germans he would think would be the armor of the scorpion king and that
was deadlier to them than their enemies. The black and gold books of the gods
had yielded a few spells that Sallah and Evelyn thought might do some good,
especially if they could be certain that the one which controlled the undead
guards that he and Rick had battled on the bus in London was workable. They'd
done great havoc to both the bus and Rick's car so they might indeed be useful
against tanks.
Horus gave a shrill cry from outside and he opened the tent flap in concern to look out at his newly returned friend. To his surprise the falcon took the opportunity to wing his's way directly into the tent and onto the table. "Horus." He chided. "I do not have time to be a good friend today, Horus. I am truly sorry." He was. It still made his heart glad just to see his friend. And he had stolen a few minutes this morning to feed him and tell him quietly of the wonderful evening he had spent in Thebes as payment for his return. He had expected so much worse and was still overwhelmed with the gifts Allah had seen fit to give him. "Come now, we have battles to..."
Horus walked unerringly to the scepter of his namesake and tapped it with his beak.
"Is it yours then?" He asked, not at all certain he was not completely serious. His friend turned to look at him then taped it again.
"Ardeth..." Sallah began. He held up his hand.
"What is it you are trying to tell me, my friend that I do not understand?" He reached out and took hold of the scepter uncertainly. "Is there more to this than I know? What then?"
Horus blinked and then hopped over to sit on the shield. And the carved image of the hawk on the metal became an eerie shadow for his friend. "Very well, if you wish me to have them, I will do so. But I do not know what to do with them, my friend." He put the scepter away at his belt as he had yesterday and then took the shield and slung it back over his shoulder. "Now what?"
Horus picked his way across the table, not touching any other artifacts and stood on the edge to look at him. He sighed and offered his forearm as a perch. His friend took it and then carefully walked his way up his arm to find the same perch on the golden shield as yesterday. "I do not understand."
"He does seem to want you to keep that doesn't he?" Evelyn asked.
"Yes." He agreed. "But what good do they do me? The scepter is a good weapon for dealing with those creatures we are used to facing no doubt but how do I use it to injure a tank?" He shook his head. "And what exactly does it mean the grace of Horus." He sighed. "You are very graceful my friend, and I could do as I said even to the creature last night with half your grace but what does it mean?"
"Hetem-heset-heru." Evelyn repeated the Egyptian. Horus flapped his wings and then settled again to tap at Ardeth's jaw.
"Does he know what you are saying?" Sallah asked in disbelief.
"Perhaps. I would not have thought so, but who am I to say what he has seen while he flew through the vaults of Paradise?" Ardeth swallowed once and then turned his head a bit to see the falcon beside him. "Heru..." He tried the old way of saying the name. "Hetem-heset-heru." He spoke the words softly. Horus shook himself and then tapped the shield. "Shall I try it then? Very well, I do not understand this my friend but I will follow where you would lead." And he headed outside to find the room he needed to wield shield, scepter and falcon all.
"Ardeth!" Arebe's cry carried across the encampment and he forgot the attempt at old magic and ran for his fellow leader, Horus taking wing and soaring ahead. He reached Arebe's side as the other cradled the body of one of their tribesmates in his arms. A horse lay panting and shivering in the sand nearby. But there were enough gathered around to help it. He fell to his knees beside his friend.
"Ar..deth..." The young rider could not have been much past Alex's age, not even yet a man.
"I am here." He offered. "Save your strength."
"A...Ahmer...my...tribe...."
And Allah forgive him but he could not council the boy to be silent again. "What of your tribe, warrior?"
"Allah...mercy...we...fought...hard...."
He blinked to clear the tears of anger and helplessness. "Allah and I know you did. How long ago now?"
"Three...days...I rode..." The boy bit back a cry, bloodying his already torn lip.
"I will see to your tribe, young one."
"Gone." The boy whispered. Then his eyes cleared to a hard black. "Avenge us." And he sighed. "Papa..." And there was no more breath.
Ardeth growled an incoherent curse not sure who he directed it at and got to his feet. Horus screamed above him and then settled again on his shield. This time the tap along his jaw was not so gentle.
Arebe was whispering prayers over the boy but Ardeth could not find any yet to offer. "I do not understand." He hissed, knowing he should, that Horus knew more than he at this moment and could no more tell him than he could understand.
"May Ma'at walk with you and see you safely to your god." Evelyn's...Nefertiri's voice was soft as she and Rick came over to where the young boy lay.
Horus shrilled a cry, nearly deafening him with the sound so close to his ear. "Horus..." He stopped and then tried the only thing he could think of. "Seb-heru-am-tcher-uk ha-aftet-en tuten-setcha." Horus travel with me through all the dark places I must journey. "Ai-Hetem-heset-heru." Grant me thy grace oh God of Avengers. And Horus took to his wings heading out over the dunes in the direction the boy had come from, streaking faster than Ardeth could ever recall him flying before and then with a wrench of the world a god he had never even thought to consider reached out from an Egypt long dead and granted his prayers. One moment he was standing amidst nearly all of his tribes and the next he was standing on a blood soaked field with only the remains of half of those that had been missing from the oasis of Ahm Shere. He groaned, keeping his feet somehow. His head was spinning as if he had spent too long in the sun but he drew his sword in one hand, the scepter in the other and began to work his way through the field. In all his years of facing battle, even against the armies of Anubis he had never seen such horror. Camels, horses and people lay dead in groups, shot through with bullets, or torn apart by whatever had blasted into the sand near them. He walked slowly at first and then quicker, searching in vain at first and then finally, coming to the bullet ridden form of his fellow leader. He knelt down beside Ahmer and draped the corner of his own robe over his sun baked staring eyes. "I will avenge you my friend. I swear it. To Allah, and to the old gods that brought me here. I swear it."
Horus cried out from overhead and then swooped down to settle on his shield rim again. "Find me anyone left alive, my friend." He asked it seriously and Horus taped his jaw and took off again swooping down finally. Ardeth ran that way as quickly as he could coming to a stop at the small collection of exposed rocks that tumbled into an ancient dry riverbed. He slid down the slope, not caring much for his own safety. "Salaama!" He called out as he reached the bottom.
"Al'hamdil'Allah..." An old woman's voice said and she moved out of the shadows. A young girl maybe ten and another maybe five clung to her sides. "Ardeth..."
"Bis'mil'Allah rakhman el rahim. Easy now grandmother, I will see you safe."
"Do you have-- any water? We are so thirsty. It ran out last night."
He reached for the waterskin that should have been at his belt but it was lying back in Ahm Shere. He shook his head and then glanced back at the sky. Horus cried out and he sheathed his sword and the scepter. "Come. We will go to the others." And he picked the older girl up and placed her on his hip. "Can you find the strength to lift her grandmother?" He indicated the little one. The old woman nodded wearily and did so. Ardeth smiled despite his tears and then hugged her close with his free arm. "I will see you safe or die." He promised softly and then he gave voice to the old prayer once more. Horus streaked back to the west and then they were standing in the middle of Ahm Shere where he had been only a bit ago. "Water!"
Rick caught the old woman and the little girl as he let them go and Arebe took the other child from him. "What the hell did you do?" Rick asked.
"I will tell you when I have time." He grabbed three waterskins from his tribesmates and then thanked the old gods again and repeated the words.
Horus was circling the battlefield when he found himself in another area of it. His friend swooped down to a huddle of what might have once been the tents his people traveled with. He made it to the cluster of fabric and poles, and then drew his sword carefully. "Salaama!" He tried again.
"Sa...lama?" The voice was a hesitant sigh. He moved some of the fabric away and found a young man, a few years younger than himself. His arm was held tight against him, broken or worse Ardeth was uncertain, and a young woman was curled against his side, a baby maybe a month old held close. She blinked at the light and the baby made a whimper. "Please, my family..."
"Your family is safe now." He promised. "Here, drink hmm?" He opened one of the skins and dribbled some water into his mouth. The mother took another one with a quiet sob and wet her child's lips. "Come now, we will go to the others. Can you stand?"
"My leg is broken." The woman answered in something like apology. "I told him to go, chieftain but he would not."
"Of course he would not." He smiled and squeezed his tribesman's good shoulder. "He is your husband and a Medjai. Can you stand warrior?"
"For Allah I will try." The man answered. It took just a bit to get them all to their feet. Asyid on his right side, Leha on his left, leaning on him and the child cradled in his right arm. He looked up at his friend circling the sky once more and then voiced the prayer. It was all he could do to keep his feet when it was over but Allah be praised it seemed to harm his tribemates none. He handed the baby to Rick because it would keep him busy, gave Leha to Evelyn and wasn't certain who took Asyid but it was enough to give him room to repeat the invocation once more.
Horus was waiting for him in the sky again but it was a bit hard to focus on him. Then he landed on another outcropping of rock that led to a small wadi much like the one he had found the old woman in. "Salaama." He called again, swallowing hard to get his voice to work.
"Papa?" It was a child's voice, barely a whisper.
"No, child, it is only one of your tribe." He came down the incline carefully.
"I will shoot."
"Please do not, Allah will be a bit annoyed if I die before he wills it, I think." He offered one of the waterskins into the shadows. "Water?"
"Mama, wake up now." the boy whispered. "Please?"
He swallowed his tears and moved forward. The boy was at best eight, but he held a pistol in his hands none the less. His mother was curled on her side on the ground. Ardeth reached over gently and touched her neck as courteously as he could. 'Sister?" He tried.
A small whimper of sound but it was life. "How long since she drank?" He uncorked his water.
"Yesterday?" The boy was fighting tears now. "She said, I should drink more."
"She was right." He saw no reason to say otherwise. "Here, now there is plenty." He shifted the woman into his arms and pressed the waterskin to her lips. Some trickled down her throat because she coughed and then swallowed. The boy drank from his own, sipping it with the control of a child of the desert even as thirsty as he had to be. Ardeth let her drink some more and then re-corked the skin and gathered her into his arms to get to his feet. "Can you hold tightly to me now? This is going to be a hard journey."
The boy nodded and then stuck the pistol into his belt and took hold of Ardeth's sash. And somehow all he could think of was that it could so easily be Evelyn in his arms and Alex at his side. He looked back at the sky and asked for a miracle once more. And Horus cried to the heavens and they answered again.
This time he could not keep his feet in AhmShere either. He managed not to drop the young woman in his arms but it was a close thing. He could feel the hands that gripped his shoulders, knew without a doubt that Rick was going to shake him but he couldn't quite get his mind around the words. "Help me up?" He ground the request out through a throat that hurt to swallow. "Please?"
Rick's voice was more gentle now, like it had been so long ago in Aswan. It seemed odd to think of less than a week ago as long but it was. "Is she well?" He asked.
"Yeah, the kid too." That finally registered as words.
"Good. Is there water? I am so thirsty." It was a horrible thing to lie to his friend like this.
"Yeah," Rick let go of him and he gave the words one more time and was slammed hard into the desert floor. But Horus was on the ground beside him and nudged his head against Ardeth's until he could stir.
"Yes. I know. I am here." He managed. He got to his knees and then did take a long drink of water from the two skins he still had, hoping it would help. "I-- do not know how much more I can do, my friend." He wasn't certain he got the words out. "But Allah will give me the strength I need or see me into Paradise." He found his feet, letting his friend use his arm as a perch to take off from. Horus circled and only then did he realize he was some bit away from the battlefield now. Horus swooped low across the sand and then down into what must have been another wadi. He made the steps required, but he had to lean heavily on the scepter in his hand as if it was a staff. Oddly, it did not seem to sink into the sand at all. He reached the edge of the drop into the small canyon and forced the word out again. "Salaama!"
"Thanks be to God." Another woman answered. Her voice at least sounded stronger than most of the others he had found. "It is safe here, for now."
He slid down the slope and came to a stop. "You are well?"
"No." She answered with a shrug. "Water?" She asked in something like disbelief. He handed her one of the skins. "How badly are you injured?"
"I am not." He shook his head a little, because he kept wanting to see two of her instead of only one. Her light blue head scarf was smeared with blood on one side and her arm was held with another scarf against her chest.
"Keshi, drink now." She knelt beside the shadow and he realized there were at least four other women and perhaps three or more children and two wounded warriors as well. He pulled the other skin from his belt and shook his head hoping to clear it. He passed it to another of the young women.
"Ardeth!" One of the men hissed. He found a smile and knelt beside the man.
"Jamil." He clasped the old warrior's arm. "How bad are you injured, my friend?"
"I will live." The man replied.
"That is good. Your friend?" He indicated the other warrior.
"Unconscious but he may yet survive. How did you find us?"
"I had-- the help of a good friend." He felt Horus settle onto his shield rim again. "It will take some doing but I think I can get you safe. Let me gather all of us together if I can. Can you take me to the others my friend?" He asked the falcon. Horus sat where he was and tapped his beak very gently against Ardeth's jaw. He blinked, and then realized with a sharp pain like a sword through his heart what his friend meant. "Then we will go. Come, I need you all as close as you can gather." He got them arranged, children in the women's arms, the unconscious man in his, Jamil leaning on his shoulder. But everyone had a hold of him somehow and Allah be thanked they did not even ask why. Then he raised his face to the sky and asked once more for a way to see them safely home. And the god was kind and he was back in Ahm Shere and shaking hard in his brother's arms.
"Damn you." Rick's voice was a harsh growl.
"Not-- quite yet..." He smiled. "Horus?"
"He's fine. They're all fine. Even Kasim. Allah knows how you didn't drop him."
"That is good. I feel-- very odd."
"Yeah, you look like hell. Don't even think about saying anything I don't understand or I'll tape your mouth shut."
He started to chuckle but somehow it came out as a sob and he did once more as he had done in Aswan and turned his head against his brother's shoulder. "There-- is no one else to find."
"Oh God." Rick's voice cracked and the strong arms felt good around his shoulders. And then the darkness snuck up behind him on silent feet and pulled him down into dreams.
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Nefshen's arms slid around him, teasing again, and she laughed that wonderful laugh and burrowed closer into his arms. He held her back, sliding one hand down her back. "Medjai to the bone are you not, Ardeth?" She teased again as she had the night before.
"I suppose I am." He replied.
"Shhh, go back to sleep, hmm? Trust me?" Rick's voice had that same odd gentleness and he laid his head back on his brother's shoulder. "I'll watch your back."
He could not find the strength to argue only did so, wishing for just a moment that Nefshen had stayed.
"Your bed is well made but still too small for three." The creature chuckled, and Rick only pulled him tighter but it wasn't Rick's hand that stroked through his hair with maddening familiarity.
"Will he be all right?" Evelyn asked softly, placing a wet cloth against his forehead. She did not seem to mind that he was curled up like a lost child in her husband's arms. That was good because he doubted he could have moved.
"It is good to know that you share your shield-mate's bed for only sleeping. I would hate for the princess to be angered at you." Nefshen whispered, sliding her hands down his chest and he arched his back at the pleasure the caress brought. "Are you not warm in so much, Ardeth?"
"I do not think it is my clothes that make me warm." He answered with a smile.
"Here," Rick held a glass against his lips and he swallowed. "You're burning up."
"Mmm, I am so tired, Rick."
"Then we'll sleep." Rick told him gently, such an odd tone to his voice. "I'll go with you."
"Would you?" He couldn't keep the hope from his voice. The roof top was uncomfortable to lie on but it was a distant pain now. "I do not think I can go alone, not again."
"All the way to hell." Rick promised.
"Come now O'Connell, you have repeatedly offered to join your brother on a trip to hell have you not? Shall we go?" The creature asked.
Ardeth had to wonder if they had. He felt so hot. "Bis'mil'Allah rakhman el rahim..." He whispered the words. "La ilaaha Illallah" He believed that still despite Ammun despite the gifts Horus had granted him. But were there not ever so many faces his God could show him. "There is no God but Allah."
"Then believe in the fact that he'll forgive whatever it is you can't forgive yourself for." Rick's hand rested so gently on his shoulder. "God can forgive us a lot more than we can forgive ourselves, Ardeth."
"I failed my tribe." He tried to explain. "I failed my cousin, and my God."
"Shhh, you did what you could, nephew, rest now." Selim's voice was as gentle as Rick's had been. "When this is over and the creature is bound again to the earth and we take up once more only the task of seeing that it stays so will you tell me, son of my sister, what it is that truly haunts your dreams?"
He blinked and tried to recapture that moment of pride when he had looked down at the bridge his people had made. But now the chasm was filled again with the horrible remains of men and beasts. But it was not Lok-Nah's soldiers that lay amidst the ruins but his own people. And not all the sand in the Sahara would cover them all.
"Oh Allah, forgive me. I will take their place, oh my God. Please I am only one man..."
Selim's strong hand on his shoulder. "You tell me what I already know. We are warriors of Allah, Ardeth, and while the deaths it may bring us all are indeed horrible, have faith that it is only the dying we must suffer. Our souls, and yours, belong to God."
He tried to nod but suddenly he could not move. And his host smiled at him, pinning him so easily to the chair. And ran one strong hand with maddening familiarity through his hair and leaned over to whisper into his ear. "Just for that I will let you listen to him scream."
"No!"
"I'll shoot." The young boy said, and Allah but he believed he would.
"Your father would be proud I am certain." He took the pistol from his nephew's hand and gathered Evelyn into his arms. "Come now, I will see you safe." It was all he could do.
And the old god listened to his prayer and he was slammed hard into the sands. Horus screamed over head and it was such a horrible pain filled cry that he knew his friend was lost.
"Rest well, Medjai, peace be with you, warrior, none of my father's guards could have been braver. May Ma'at walk with you through the halls of death and see you safely to the other side." Evelyn's voice was a quiet sigh.
"Be careful with that one warrior, there is actually room for two. Shall I lock us away together then?" The creature asked. And the arms that went around him were not gentle at all, and he could not break free.
"Next time make certain to stay within the light, Medjai . It is-- .unpleasant if you do not." The creature's voice was oddly haunted.
And he could hear the scuttling hissing sounds that came from the darkness ahead. "My soul belongs only to Allah, I shall not fear your curse."
A chuckle. "But you do." It reminded him.
"Do you wonder what it is Paradise really looks like?' He asked Rick.
"No."
"Come, cousin I will show you." Daoud offered, holding out his hand already blackened with death.
"Still decomposing really. It was horrible." Evelyn shuddered.
"Just for that, I will let you listen to him scream."
"Please, no. Lock me away if you please. Perhaps my torment will please Allah at least a little."
"If your god finds any pleasure in hearing one of his chosen sons eaten to death and screaming with no voice for days then he does not deserve your devotion Ardeth. Come now, we will see this right."
"Let them be? You can do as you please with me and I truly will not care but let them be?"
"Shhh, it's safe now. Shhh..." Rick's voice was so very gentle, but there were tears to be heard in it none the less.
"Even the strongest of men have need of tears when they are mourning the loss of a loved one. You let me cry against your shoulder did you not? I promise to Allah, I will not go nor think you weak because of it." He let his friend cry out his grief against his shoulder.
"You can't go, I need your help." Rick pleaded.
"I must go." He tried to explain.
"Ardeth!"
"Come cousin, I will show you." Daoud repeated.
"Silly child. Allah is Allah. I am I. We are what we are." The warmth of the sun on his skin like the first day after the wet season. "Just because I am now, as I was, as I will always be. Does this mean that Allah is not as he is, and was, and will always be?" And the light chuckled and he felt a strong embrace as if he was indeed a small boy and his father was still alive. And then the light faded and was gone.
"Come now, Ardeth. You have put your body through a great deal and you need to rest." The creature said.
"Did you want to discuss something?" Rick asked it, his voice cool but he turned Ardeth into his arms once more and he laid his head on his brother's shoulder.
"Shall we go?" The creature gestured them into hell.
"Shhh, rest now, I've got you." Rick's voice was gentle.
"I do not want to die."
"Good." Strong arms around him but he could move at least. "Shhh."
"I am so tired, Rick."
'Then rest. Hush now, Ma Salaama, huh?"
"In'sh'allah." And his voice broke on the word but he cried out his grief against his brother's shoulder and then slid once more into darkness.
It seemed like a very long time before he woke. And it took him a bit to realize that he was in a now familiar bed. He sighed, and then realized he was lying in Rick's arms again, his head on his brother's shoulder. Rick was sound asleep however and there was no sign of their host. He blinked and looked around again. But the room was empty.
"You awake finally?" Rick asked sleepily and only pulled him back down to lie next to him. "Stay still." His friend grumbled. "Okay, so we aren't awake. Shit. Damn it Ardeth you scared the hell out of me."
"I am sorry." He shook his head a little trying to clear it. He was hot and his throat was dry with thirst. Despite himself he shivered just a bit.
"You've been delirious all day. I thought I was going to lose you there for a bit." Rick said, sounding truly worried.
"I..." He could recall the odd mosaic of memories fuzzily but it made little sense. "I-- feel very odd I think."
"Your fever broke about an hour ago. Guess I dozed off. Great. Like we need this now."
"There is no need to claim territory my friend, you can let me go."
"What? Oh, yeah, sorry. You were thrashing around so much, and I think you were half-convinced that if I kept a hold of you, you wouldn't go to hell."
"I probably was." He sat up slowly. "Allah I am thirsty." He had not meant to say the prayer outloud, and could not bite back the wince as he did so. His throat was so dry it actually hurt.
"Here, just sit." Rick got up and poured them both a glass of karkaday from the jug on the table. "Here."
He took the drink and swallowed the cool liquid thankfully. "I am sorry I worried you."
"What the hell did you think you were doing?" Rick sat down beside him and traded his empty goblet for a full one, without him having to ask.
"I am the leader of the Medjai my friend, it is who I am, could I let those poor few who survived die?"
"You nearly died you idiot."
He nodded. "If that is the price Allah demands of me. You would do the same for Evelyn and Alex, Rick do not try to tell me otherwise."
His friend sighed. "Idiot."
"Pot and kettle." He finished the second glass of karkaday and laid back on the cool sheets. "Allah it is hot."
"No, you're fevered." Rick explained. "Let me get Tahiri to bring water and some cloths and we'll get you cooled down again."
"We should wake." he argued. "There is so much to be done."
"It isn't going to help if you kill yourself. Lay there and relax. What's the word for water?"
"Nebsa."
"Nebsa, okay." Rick opened the door and looked out into the hall. "Great why the hell can't I ever find anyone when I need them?"
Ardeth chuckled, and then sat up uncertainly as the wind blew in from the balcony.
"Shall I have to find you a gift every day so that you come to Thebes well, Medjai?" The creature asked.
"Perhaps." He found a small smile.
"Good, you can be useful again." Rick growled moving over to take the goblet from his hand and refill it. "Dammit Ardeth, lay down. You, find someone to bring us some water and cloths will you?"
Their host stood there for a moment and then just laughed. "You are undoubtedly to worst mannered guest I have ever had O'Connell. And considering your brother there I thought that impossible. Ammun knows why I bother to invite you. Behave, or I will leave you to the waking world more often."
"He worries." Ardeth explained.
"And you are ill, yes. Very well O'Connell we agree on something once again. Lay down foolish warrior and I will see if there is something that can be done to help." A sigh. "If you are in such a rush to see your god, Ardeth, I can ask mine to be kind enough to take a message."
Ardeth chuckled. "Allah...that is tempting."
Rick's hands were gentle on his shoulders and then one took the goblet away. "Lay down now." He was pushed back onto the bed. And suddenly, inexplicably he was so cold he shivered. "Damn it..." His brother's fingers felt cool against his forehead though.
The creature went back out onto the balcony and he was uncertain how long it was before it came back. Rick was helping him drink more of the karkaday in the goblet. "There is water on its way. Get him undressed, O'Connell; since he can not do it himself, and my help, I am certain, would only make maters worse. I am going to have to tie you to the bed, yet Ardeth just so you will stay whole."
"Please do not?" He requested. "Rick will worry."
"I'll rip your head off more like it." Rick threatened.
The thing chuckled. "As you say. I will even be so good a host as to turn my back, although I think you at least Ardeth are too ill to care."
"I think I would prefer if you did not look, yes." He agreed.
"Then you are coherent at least." And damn the thing if it did not do just as it said and turn away.
Rick was muttering to himself in English but his hands were still surprisingly gentle as he got Ardeth undressed and under the sheets.
"I suppose I could have sent for Nefshen to do that for you, hmm?" The creature turned back around.
"That would have been a very nice gift indeed." He agreed.
Rick looked at him worriedly and then smiled just a little. "Now who's lucky?"
"Mmm," He felt a little better now. "Did you come only to see to your guests or was there more you wished to discuss?
"Much, but you will be here for a while yet, you are not well. And it is time for me to see to my god's evening meal. I will join you later and we may speak of what the gods will for us all."
"Will you, Allah forgive me for asking, do me a favor then as our host?" He wasn't sure how else to word it.
Rick's hand squeezed his shoulder hard but the creature only chuckled.
"Perhaps, if you ask nicely of course."
"Of course. Will you ask AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt to give my thanks to bright Horus? It was a miracle I shall always treasure that I found any of them alive at all."
"Spoken like a Medjai. Very well, Ardeth. But you must ask nicely."
He closed his eyes. "I am ill, not drunk. But I will do. Would you be so kind a host, High Priest of AmmunRa, to carry my humble thanks to your god?"
"See you can have manners. There is your water Ardeth, and while I am so very tempted to stay and help your brother-- cool you. Even such entertainment as that would provide is not worth angering my god. I will see you both later. Do not under any circumstances feel like you must dress for dinner though, Ardeth." And it laughed again and then went out the door and let the servants in.
"Damned bastard." Rick grumbled once more.
He chuckled. "As always. He did at least have the courtesy to turn around while you undressed me. Thanks be to Allah of course. And you did not even tease it back about it."
"I was a little too worried about you. I'll figure out something later."
"Good." He closed his eyes as Rick got up and then returned with a cool wet cloth to wipe across his forehead, then folded it and placed it under his hair against his neck and took another from Tahiri to wipe his face. "I am not a child."
"No, Alex has enough sense to stay in bed and let Evie and I take care of him when he's sick. You are a stubborn, idiotic, insane arab who is going to get himself killed."
"In'sh'allah." He chuckled.
"Drink some, hmm?" Rick's voice sounded resigned now but he pressed a goblet of water to Ardeth's lips and helped him raise his head so he could drink. And Allah but he was still too thirsty to care that he could not hold the goblet himself. He only drank it thirstily. "I don't know if it'll help in Ahm Shere but it seems like what happens here carries over there and vice versa so it can't hurt."
"It was like spending too much time in the sun." He tried to explain. "But water did not help."
"Jamil told us some once we got him tended too. Mahmoud doesn't even think he'll loose the arm. Or Asyid either."
"That is good. The woman with the boy?" He asked and then sipped more of the water Rick held to his lips.
"Resting okay. Brave kid."
He nodded, remembering how the boy had reminded him so of Alex. And that moment in his dreams when it had been his nephew and Evelyn in his arms. "He threatened to shoot me."
"Like I said, brave kid." Rick's hand rested against his forehead again. "You're burning up."
"I feel-- light headed, but not so bad at the moment."
"Drink." The goblet was placed at his lips and he finished the water it held, thankfully.
"If the Germans attacked Ahmer's tribe three days ride ago, they must be close to Ahm Shere."
"It was a scout division that attacked the tribe, so it's possible they've gone back to tell the others before they'll all be in our laps, but Selim and Arebe have scouts out all the same. And Arebe sent a falcon to find Pasha and warn him to travel quietly."
"Allah, I will pray they are well."
"Me too." Rick squeezed his shoulder. "Guess we found out what good that shield and scepter of yours are huh?"
"Indeed. Now I must figure out how to wield that weapon against a tank. How does one injure a tank?"
"That we'll have to work on. And we better figure out how to do it without doing this to you, because there are a hundred or more tanks coming Ardeth and four times using that stuff nearly killed you."
"As you say. How many tanks in this scouting division that attacked Ahmer?"
"Ten, maybe twelve according to Jamil."
"Ten-- and I have lost an entire tribe. Ten to twelve to the remaining tribes would put at us your 100 would it not?"
"Yeah."
He nodded wearily. "Surely if Allah wishes us all to join him in Paradise in our entirety there are simpler ways to do so."
"If that's what he wants he's going to have to wait because I'm not losing you and the rest of my family to some stupid Germans who want to take over the world."
He smiled sadly and put his hand over the one Rick still had on his shoulder. "We will do as Allah wills us, my brother, we can do no other. But I will pray that he gives us victory instead."
"You and me both." Rick squeezed his shoulder and then got up to go refill the goblet and bring it back. Tahiri had set up a small table beside the bed and set a bowl and cloths on it. "Can you ask her to check back in about an hour with more water maybe? And you need to eat something, maybe just flatbread and tahini or something similar?"
He forced the Egyptian to mind and asked Tahiri for the things Rick had asked for. She nodded and then clicked her tongue and smacked him lightly on the arm before doing the same to Rick. "You get better. You, stop letting him do this. Or I will send word to your wife that you are killing her guards for no reason."
Ardeth laughed and repeated the threat in Arabic for Rick's benefit.
Rick smiled. "Yeah well. If it'd work I'd have Evelyn order you to take care of yourself."
"You would." he agreed. "Thank you Tahiri. I will rest now."
"Good." She went to the door and then smiled over her shoulder. "Nefshen will appreciate it if you are well soon I'm certain."
Ardeth felt himself flush and then just closed his eyes with a sigh.
"What did she say?"
"Nothing of importance."
"Uh huh, I gotta learn Egyptian just so I can hear stories about you and your dancing girls since Izzy's spilled all of mine."
Ardeth smiled. "As you say."
"Drink some more." Rick held the goblet to his lips and he did so, until it was empty. "Good." He set it aside and drew another cloth from the bowl and wrung it out. "You are worse than Alex, you know."
"He is a fortunate boy to have you and Evelyn to care for him."
"Thanks." Rick smiled and then ran the cool cloth over his arm to his shoulder and then across to the other. "Guess we should do this before that damned thing get's back, huh?"
"Please." He flushed again despite himself. "I am not so ill that I can not bathe myself."
"Wanna bet?" Rick shook his head. "Try and sit up and reach your feet then."
He raised himself up on one arm and the very dizzy feeling made him realize how silly that was. He could have achieved the move but it would have made him ill. He only laid back and sighed. "As you say."
"Well at least you didn't do it just to be stubborn." Rick smiled. "Maybe I should see if your dancing girl's available for this, huh?"
"She is beautiful, and I would, Allah forgive me, not object in the slightest to seeing her again. But she is not going to guard my back when our host returns is she?"
"No." Rick sighed. "And you're in no shape to deal with it alone. Okay, roll over."
Rick had to help him a bit and the sheet was shifted out of the way so that he lay uncovered from the waist up and the cool cloth was drawn over his back. Another cool cloth for him to lay his head on and it was almost enough to put him back to sleep. Rick rolled him back to his back finally and re-wet the cloth to do the same for his chest. It was a little hard not to be embarrassed by that but as it had when his shoulder had been so hurt it felt too good to worry about that.
Rick pressed another goblet of water to his lips and he drank it, oddly enough more thirsty this time than last.
"You feel cooler." Rick decided and set the goblet aside.
"I feel better." He agreed. "You are too good to me, my friend."
Rick chuckled. "You're going to owe me a hell of party when this is over you know."
"It is a small price to pay for your friendship." He sighed and then cast a prayer to Allah for strength as a wind that was no such thing stirred the curtains and their host walked in off the balcony. "Was AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt pleased with his meal?"
"Yes." The creature smiled and then took off the headdress it was still wearing and set it aside. "He was not however, pleased with you. What were you thinking , carrying them all at once like that?"
"That it was going to kill me to do it one at a time." He shrugged.
"Let me explain just a little of what is involved in feats like you would accomplish Ardeth. Did you not notice that it takes even me time to amass the powers I use in your world? You must work towards it slowly, and you are only mortal, Ardeth, the grace of Horus is a mighty gift warrior but one you would do well to wield with caution."
"They are well. That is worth being ill."
"As you say." The thing sighed. "How will you keep protecting your tribe if you do yourself such damage, Medjai?"
"There we go agreeing on things again. We really are inviting doomsday you know." Rick chuckled but there was a bit of anger to his words yet. "So did Ammun give you any idea how long we've got until the Germans come to blow us and Ahm Shere to bits?"
The creature looked at him oddly. "I think, I just might have followed that oddly enough. You and your fondness for blowing things to small pieces." It rolled its eyes. "No, Ammun did not say. Only that I was to tell you to rest, Ardeth and he would give your thanks to bright Horus when they go to battle Set. And I was even kind enough to enquire if there was a way for you to summon Horus' aid without such damage to yourself."
He looked at Rick and then shrugged. "That was-- kind."
A chuckle. "If you are well, you are more fun to tease." The thing smiled a bit. "Although I suppose the fact that your brother has already undressed you for me is worth listening to Ammun's displeasure."
"Like hell I did." Rick growled. Ardeth found the strength to grip his arm and keep him where he was.
"No." He whispered it with all the firmness he had.
The thing chuckled. "You are easy to bait, O'Connell. Take a lesson in patience from your brother, hmm? You are no threat or deterrent to me, warrior despite your courage. And you are here to be beside him by my leave. Remember that, hmm? I will send dinner here, Ardeth. Rest and we will talk more later. Ammun assures me we will see each other in the morning." And then it chuckled again. "You can if you wish tell him he is quite pleasing when he's angry." It gave the last in Egyptian and then laughed and walked out the door.
"Oh Allah." He laid back on the bed with a groan.
"What the hell did he say?"
"He finds your anger amusing." He translated it as uninsultingly as possible.
"Let's see if it thinks so when I blow it to pieces." His brother growled.
"In'sh'allah, no harm done, Rick. Please. Let it be."
"Okay, for now." His friend smiled a little. "Guess I should be thankful you kept me from trying to swing at it. You aren't in any shape for that."
"I know." He agreed. "I feel truly horrible. I find myself hoping it can get Ammun to find me a way to this that will not hurt so much."
"Yeah, you know I really hate it when I have to agree with it on something."
"Undoubtedly why it will try and find things you do." He sighed. "May I have some karkaday?"
"Yeah."
He laid back and closed his eyes. You can not keep me safe Rick, and I will hate it all the more if you are harmed because of its desire for me. Please, oh most merciful Allah, I will take what pain you wish me to bear but let it fall to me and not to my brother. I would not bury any more of my people.
Rick woke a little uncertain for a moment where he was. He raised his head to look around registering the tent and the pallet where Ardeth lay. Evie was asleep just a few feet away with Alex and Selim had taken up the position by the door. He sat up and reached over to check his friend's temperature. "Thank God." He rolled his shoulders and sat up to pour himself some of the water. The camp was silent in the predawn night but too many tents had lights burning as theirs did, indicating that there were wounded to be tended and less sleep to be had.
"He seems better." Selim offered quietly.
"Yeah." He smiled at the older and sat down with a sigh. "Was he always this stubborn?"
The man smiled as well. "Always." He sighed. "Allah have mercy on us all. He near to drove his mother mad I think."
"Your sister was a very great woman to have put up with such a son."
The older man blinked in surprise and then chuckled. "Thank you, O'Connell. It is good that you are here, warrior, to give me someone else to help keep him whole. I would pray to Allah he will find someone to marry and have children of his own to drive him mad with their stubbornness."
"Yeah." He looked over at Evie and Alex. "It's worth it though."
"I have always thought so." There was a sad note to the man's voice.
"I really am sorry about Daoud."
"I miss my son." Selim agreed. "But he is with Allah now and I will be content with that. Does He who shall not be named let you rest tonight?"
"No." Rick tried his best to keep his voice level. "I should try to doze back off so he isn't there alone."
A sigh. "He says that the creature has caused neither of you harm only threats. Is this true?"
He smiled a bit. "Yeah, I didn't know if I believed it either Selim since I'm not always there when he is but he swears it to Allah so..."
"Then it is true." Selim relaxed a little. "I could wish it would leave him be, but he is our leader, so I suppose the thing will delight in tormenting him for our dedication to keeping it in its grave."
"Yeah, it isn't real happy with me either." Rick found an answer that wasn't one, because he really didn't think that had anything to do with why the thing was tormenting Ardeth. And no way in hell was he letting Selim in on the real reason.
"No I imagine not. You are a brave man Rick O'Connell to journey into the land of the dead of old Egypt with nothing more than your faith and wits."
"And Ardeth." He corrected.
"And Ardeth." Selim agreed. "Truly you could do with no better at your back."
"Yeah." He smiled a little and then set his cup aside. "Speaking of which I should get back."
"As you say." The older man agreed. "I will watch him for a while to make sure the fever is truly gone and I will wake you for breakfast."
"Thanks Selim." He went back and laid down beside Ardeth, and then decided it was damned silly to worry about keeping them back to back when he'd gone to sleep with Ardeth's head on his shoulder. He laid down on his back and put one arm over his eyes to block out the brazier light and then let himself fall back to sleep.
It was still night in Thebes when he woke up beside Ardeth again. "No company at least." He muttered to himself. "How the hell do you keep so calm knowing he's going to be there watching you sleep? I wouldn't even want to close my eyes." He looked over at his friend and then sighed. "I just want to rip its eyes out you know. And I know I can't. What the hell do I do, Ardeth when it stops playing? What the hell do I do then, huh? And just how much does it do when I'm not here, anyway? What do you mean by it's only touched you to annoy you? How much is that? It annoys the hell out of me just looking at you like it does. Damn it I hate this. I hate not knowing I hate not helping and I hate having to be so damned patient. I am not patient Ardeth. You know that, the gods I figure have got to know that." He laid back with a sigh and covered his eyes with his arm as he had in Ahm Shere.
"He has touched my hand, run his hand through my hair and brushed against me far more frequently that I would like. You worry too much." Ardeth's voice was a soft sigh. "And I will tell you again, I am not calm. But what good does anger do us, my friend, except drive us mad with frustration because we can not harm it any. Let it be. We can do nothing else."
"I didn't know you were awake." He couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Obviously, you are too good a friend to burden me with your own worries when I am ill and dealing with my own even when those are mostly the same worries actually. Let it be."
"Okay." Rick sighed, trying to sound a little less embarrassed than he still was. "You sound better."
"I feel better." Ardeth agreed. "Still a little weak but nothing like before. I think I will be well when I wake."
"Good." He sat up with a sigh. "You want anything to drink?"
"Is there karkaday left?" Ardeth sat up slowly as well and then sighed. The move didn't seem to bother him any so Rick didn't complain. "How can you stand to lie beside me when the bed is soaked and I am drenched?"
"You'd be amazed what you can learn in the Legion." He smiled a little and then poured his friend a goblet full of the hibiscus drink. "You feel up to trying to walk? We could move to the room Evie and I had before. Bet the bed is dry."
"As you say. I need to bathe."
"There's enough water left for you to wash off with anyway." He went over to check the chest against the wall. "And more of your clothes."
Ardeth chuckled. "That is good. I wonder how many sets of the same clothing I have left here now?"
"Hey clothes for me too." Rick smiled. "And extra boots. Damn wonder if I can take these back with me. I love these boots."
Ardeth sighed. "I have given up trying to figure that out as well. I will wash then and dress, if my legs will hold me that is."
Rick offered him his arm and Ardeth smiled but took it and pulled himself to his feet. He swayed for a moment. "No fainting in my arms when the thing isn't around to annoy by seeing it." He teased.
"Bis'mil'Allah rakhman el rahim." Ardeth chuckled. "And me wearing nothing. As you say, too good an opportunity to yank its chain no?"
"Yeah. Think you can stand?"
"I think I can even walk, Allah be praised. I will not let you carry me."
"You'd have to explain that one to Evie." He agreed with a smile. Ardeth chuckled and then went over to the large bucket of water to wash off as best he could. Rick left him alone but did keep an eye on him just in case. He handed him a dry cloth and then his pants and robes. "Your sword and knives aren't here."
"I noticed that. I wonder where they are." He shrugged. "Little good they were to me but I feel better with them."
Rick pulled his own knives and held them out handle first. Ardeth smiled and took them tucking them into his sash. "Now you look like you. Want to move next door?"
"I do not think I want to sleep. Are you tired?"
"No. This being awake while sleeping stuff is just weird."
"I agree. Come then, I will teach you to play Hounds and Jackals until the dawn and the creature comes to annoy us once more."
"Sounds good." He agreed. And for right then it was enough to know they were all safe and well.
Ardeth wasn't expecting to go from playing Hounds and Jackals with his friend to being awake in Ahm Shere but he sat up and looked around the tent in surprise.
"Thanks be to Allah, you're awake." Selim's voice was gentle and his uncle came over to sit beside him and touched his forehead with concern. "And you have no fever."
"That is good. And the others, Jamil, Asyid, Leha?" He realized he knew so few of their names.
"Jamil will be well, even Kasim made it through the night."
"Thanks be to Allah."
"As you say. But I think we owe you some thanks as well. Whatever miracle you managed nephew it was well done."
He felt himself flush just a little. "Thank you uncle. Is it close to time for breakfast though? I think this working of magic leaves one as hungry as it does exhausted."
Selim chuckled and then nodded. "It is. We shall see what we can find to eat before prayers hmm?"
"You should rest Selim. Allah will forgive you for not being at prayers this morning. And I fear we will all have little rest in the next few days."
"It may be you are right. Then we will eat and I will sleep and you can rest and we will trust that Allah will understand."
"As you say." He agreed. He was pleased to find that there was indeed breakfast. He ate sparingly still uncertain of his stomach but it seemed well enough that he took one cup of the tea Amal poured him and drank that along with the water that she constantly refilled.
"You could have woken us you know." Evelyn told him with a sigh as she and Rick and Alex came over as the others went to prayer.
"Selim and I were hungry." He smiled.
"That's all right then." She leaned over and to his embarrassment kissed his cheek. "It is good to see you're better."
"It is good to be better. Go to sleep Selim, I will sit here and rest and wait for the others to finish prayers and see if Arebe's falcons have brought any news. Nothing more strenuous until it is necessary I promise you."
"Then I will rest." His uncle replied. "We may need more help O'Connell."
Rick chuckled at whatever that meant. "Right. So where is Horus this morning?"
"Horus?" Ardeth looked from his uncle to his friend and back and then shrugged. "It is only dawn now, he will be waking and hungry no doubt. If I am fortunate he will not bring me some of whatever he catches for breakfast back for me to share. My stomach is uncertain enough without being offered half a rat."
"Oh, that's nasty." Evelyn shuddered.
"Yuck." Alex agreed. "What do you do with them?"
"I thank him for the thought, but tell him I have already eaten." He smiled. "He is usually hungry enough to finish it for me."
"Get him to catch you a fish or a hare or something you don't mind eating." Rick suggested.
"As you say." Ardeth smiled. "Ma Salaama, Selim."
"And to you Ardeth." His uncle went to his own tent.
"So no news yet?" Rick asked after a bit.
"No. Falcons are birds of the day though so perhaps once the sun has risen we will see what Arebe's falcons bring. Did we think to ask the creature the news from Abydos or Edfu?"
'No." Rick shook his head. "Sorry."
"If it was of too much importance he would have mentioned it no doubt." He shrugged. "I suppose I shall have to send some of the tribe to the field where Ahmer's tribe lay so that they may be buried."
"Let's see if we can pinpoint where the German's are first." Rick suggested.
"As you say. It will do none of the dead any honor if those sent to bury them only join them in Paradise." He sighed. "But Allah it is a horrible sight..."
Rick's hand squeezed his shoulder. "We'll avenge them Ardeth."
"Yes." He agreed, letting the anger through to that one word. "For that I will happily feed the damn invaders to Set piece by piece myself."
"Let's make sure you get the chance." Rick suggested. Ardeth nodded and then got up to go and see to Horus. Arebe finished prayers and joined him with the birds. It was a calming sort of task to see to his friend.
"So, Horus. Will you speak to your namesake for me again and see if perhaps there is more to this magic he would give me?" He stroked the soft feathers on the bird's chest.
Horus looked at him for a long moment and then flapped his wings and launched himself into the sky.
"I will take that as a yes?" Arebe asked.
"I think we must." He agreed. "I will go find a horse and ride the perimeter I think. I must do something to see to our safety or I will go mad and I have not the patience to wait this morning."
"I will send word to you when it arrives from Pasha." Arebe offered.
"Thank you, my friend."
"Ahmer and his tribe died as Allah willed, Ardeth. It is horrible and it is true, mourn them as we all do, but do not claim their deaths on your head. Only the vengeance to be had on those who would do such things."
"As you say, Arebe I will do my best to listen."
"Go ride. May it clear you mind if it can not lift your burden."
"Ma Salaama, Arebe."
"Ma Salaama, Ardeth." His friend clasped his shoulder and let him go. He was only a little surprised when Rick and Evelyn joined him on his check.
"Where is Alex?"
"Learning how to ride. It seemed like the best thing to just let him continue." Evelyn answered.
"I am sorry for the sadness and grief your son must see while he is with us, my friends."
"Not your fault, Ardeth." Rick told him firmly.
"As you say." He smiled a little. "The young boy rode in from the east, and Selim sent scouts out that way. Ahm Shere lies to the west, and Egypt to the north. Let us check on our southern perimeter I think."
"Makes sense to me. Where's Horus?"
"He flew that way." He pointed ahead of them to the south. "My other reason for going."
"An even better one, I think." Evelyn replied. They rode some distance but there was nothing to find. So they went back toward camp. And then suddenly a wind swirled the sand into a large dust devil and there was the damned creature simply waiting for them. "Not again." Evelyn sighed.
"Princess, Medjai. I bring you news from AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt, and his sister at Abydos, and his bright brother at Edfu."
Somehow he kept his temper. "What do the gods know that they would send you here to the waking world?"
"Do not be rude, Ardeth or I will go back to Thebes without telling you."
"No." He smiled a little, coldly. "You will not, because you and I both know that you will not dare to anger Ammun."
A chuckle and a slight bow. "As you say. Horus thanks you for your thanks and says only that the further you would fly the harder the trip, you would do well to realize that your falcon flies fastest before the strike and glides for much of the rest."
"I will do my best to make sense of that. And what news from Abydos?"
"Sekhmet is angered and will announce her plans when she will and not to those of us foolish enough to demand answers now."
Ardeth sighed. "No help at all then."
"Your enemy she said only comes from the direction you least expect." The creature shrugged.
"And the news from AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt?"
The thing sighed and suddenly there was something like sadness to its eyes. "Ammun says to me that you have four days to find and claim those weapons you will need. Then it will be too late to hope for more. And he reminds you that you turned down death in Thebes once and therefore you should recall his warning that it might not come when you wish it."
He sighed. "I do not wish to die, but all men must, so I will only do my best to face it bravely when it happens."
"Four days, huh? Well it's something anyway." Rick sighed.
"Do you know what weapons it is we are supposed to finding and claiming, priest?" Evelyn asked cooly.
"No, Princess I do not. That says Ammun is for you and your Medjai to find on their own."
"No other news?" Ardeth asked.
"No."
"Why send you here then? Surely all of this could have waited until nightfall?"
"I do not question the will of my god anymore than you question yours. He only said that I was to come and deliver the news and wait for you to ask me a favor in return."
"I have no favor to ask." He returned
"Then I must wait a while yet." The creature shrugged. "Where do you ride, Princess, Medjai?"
"Back to camp. And we all know it is insanity for you to accompany us."
"As you say, but I will walk with you a ways." It shrugged. "Until you think of your favor, Ardeth."
"I suppose go to hell is to much to ask?" He smiled a little.
The thing laughed and Rick even smiled at him. "That is an order Ardeth not a favor. Come now we both know you can be polite and ask nicely when you want to."
Ardeth rolled his eyes. But he walked his horse forwards a ways in thought and the damned thing only followed.
Horus cried out from overhead and then swooped down and landed on the arm he held up. "Hello my friend, is there news you bring me as well?"
Horus looked back at the direction he had come from and then Ardeth heard the pounding of hooves and tossed Horus back to the sky to draw his sword. Rick was a moment behind with his shotgun and even Evelyn drew a pistol but the creature only stood where it was. "One man on horseback, Medjai, one of yours." It shrugged.
"As you say." But he kept the blade in his hand until one of the scouts came riding like mad over the high dune to their left.
"Ardeth!" The young man pulled his horse to a stop. "Tanks. A dozen, heading from the south west.." He pointed behind him.
Ardeth kicked his horse hard, heading back up the hill of sand. "Warn the tribe!"
The scout rode on and he reached the dune's rim followed a second later by his brother and Evelyn. Rick pulled his spy glass from his pack and looked into it, scanning the horizon. "Oh God." He handed it to Ardeth who looked through it and spotted the line of metal behemoths's rolling toward Ahm Shere.
"How do we stop them?" He asked desperately.
"Like I know?" Rick's voice was a harsh growl.
"Alex..." Evelyn whispered, brokenly. "Oh God Rick." He reached out to hold her close.
"There's no way in hell we can stop them. We won't even reach Ahm Shere before they do." Rick sounded so lost.
"Oh God." Evelyn sobbed.
He whirled his horse back toward Ahm Shere, damning himself for not bringing the shield that had allowed him to travel so quickly yesterday. Had Horus not told him he was to keep it close? The creature stopped him with the simple expedient of moving in front of his horse.
"Is there something wrong, Medjai?" The creature asked from his side.
And he had time for one quick prayer to Allah. "Please, you can stop them." It did not matter that he had to plead. It would mean little enough if it worked. "I swear it to Allah, I will spend tonight in your bed, you may do with me as you will. I will do as you wish. Only do not let them reach Ahm Shere?"
The creature smiled and then nodded. "Foolish Medjai, all you had to do was ask." And then the sands swirled about it and a huge dust devil like he had seen once before in Hamanaptura sped toward the tanks. He rode back up the dune to meet Rick and Evelyn and they watched as the huge wall of sand grew and grew and then slammed across where the tanks were in the distance.
"What the hell?" Rick stared at the raging sandstorm in something like horror. Then hope and then anger crossed his face. "What did you do?"
"It was the only thing I could think of that could stop them." He answered.
"And what the hell did you offer it?"
He smiled, only a little surprised that it came out right and then he gripped his friend's shoulder. "Ammun sent it here to wait for me to ask it a favor remember? As the creature said, all I had to do was ask."
Rick let out a startled sort of laugh.
"Come let us see to your son, and I would see to my people." He headed back toward Ahm Shere and offered yet another prayer to Allah. Please most merciful God, just let me survive and keep my brother from doing anything foolish to stop me from what I must do. They are my people and it is my tenid to pay.
Fejr:ToC