Duhr
Chapter 1
Rick set his plate aside and looked over at Evie and Alex. Most of the Medjai had found out about the tanks just as the sandstorm that was no such thing had barreled into them. Metal had been twisted and ripped apart, men and weapons littering the desert floor. Some of the tanks had turned and headed back into the desert as well as a few of the faster transport jeeps but the creature had followed them into the dunes and the sounds of destruction had carried back to camp. Some of the Medjai were uncertain of being rescued by the very creature they were sworn to defeat but not one questioned that the vengeance it had wreaked on the Germans who had destroyed their tribemates was just. Rick could agree with that one, remembering the utter horror that had come over him out on the dune knowing that his son was in the path of those tanks and that there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. He looked over at Ardeth and realized that his friend had left the fireside. He kept his arm around Evie, Alex sitting on her far side talking to one of his new friends about the excitement and the problems of learning to ride. He smiled and then looked up at the night sky. Okay, thank you for sending the damned thing here to save my son and the rest of the Medjai but could you maybe figure out a way for us to beat the Germans without his help so we can beat him too?
There was no reply from the night sky and he only sighed and hugged his wife closer.
“I just can’t believe Imhotep saved the Medjai,” Evie sighed.
“I kind have trouble with that myself. Ardeth seemed to think it was because it was what Ammun wanted him to do so he did it.”
“That makes sense even if I don’t quite trust it to be that simple.” She shook her head. “So why didn’t Ammun just tell it the Germans were coming and to destroy their tanks?”
“Sweetheart I can’t figure out how the damned thing thinks and it was at least human once. Now you want me to figure out the gods?”
She chuckled. “I suppose. It just seems like a silly risk. Suppose Ardeth had thought of another favor to ask it, like letting the two of you alone for a week or something.”
“Then I guess Ammun would have sent it back to wait for another favor I don’t know.” And he really didn’t. He was just so damned thankful that it had worked out and that Alex was safe, the Medjai were safe and Ardeth hadn’t gotten himself killed trying to use the shield and scepter to destroy those tanks. 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. Ardeth had been as stunned by that as he was. But at least he’d had the sense to ride back and make the request. He needed to thank his friend for that. Especially after he’d al but blown the whole thing in front of Evie like that. The few seconds of conversation played over in his mind.
‘What did you do?’ It hadn’t been what he meant not really.
‘It was the only thing I could think of that could stop them.’ Ardeth had looked as lost as he felt for that moment.
‘And what the hell did you offer it?’ Good one Rick, he saves your son and his tribes and you nearly ask him if he’s going to be in the thing’s bed right in front of your wife. Way to go. He needed to apologize for that somehow.
‘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.’ Ardeth had smiled and then clasped his shoulder. ‘Come let us see to your son, and I would see to my people’
He stopped and then thought about that again because something wasn’t right. Something in Ardeth’s eyes when he answered that Rick hadn’t seen at the time. Something that made him go over the words again. And then it clicked. And he recalled what Ardeth had said to him several days back. It lies with only how it tells the truth.
“You son of a bitch. Not a trick to learn from it.” He muttered to himself.
“What?” Evie looked up at him. “Rick?”
“Did you notice when Ardeth left sweetheart? I was thinking that tomorrow we could go look at the remains of those tanks. He was wondering how we might destroy one with those scepters the gods seem to want us to have.” He had been thinking that, a rather long time ago but hell he could play this game too.
“No. He was talking to Arebe though so he might have gone to check on Horus. Why don’t you see if you can get him to rest? Even if he isn’t going to sleep he doesn’t need to be doing so much so soon.”
“There is that. Okay.” He kissed her quickly and then reached over and ruffled Alex’s hair. “I’ll be back later love, sport.”
“Okay dad.” Alex rolled his eyes.
He found Arebe checking all the birds for the night, including Horus. “Do you know where Ardeth went?”
“He said he was going to pray to Allah for guidance. Normally he does that before he leads us into battle if there is time.”
“Sounds like Ardeth. I just came up with an idea about how to hurt those tanks though and I want to run it by him.”
“That is good.” Arebe smiled. “He went that way.” He indicated toward the Nile. “Tell him not to stay out all night or I will send Selim for him.”
“Don’t bother Selim. I’ll bring him back.”
“As you say.” The Medjai clasped his shoulder and then turned back to the falcons.
Rick headed out after his friend. And it was, all things considered, surprisingly easy to find him. He was sitting in a small valley between two dunes and staring up at the sky. Okay so maybe I’m jumping to conclusions here. Maybe he just meant what he said and really is praying to Allah for guidance. But Ardeth was only leaning on his arms and looking at the stars not kneeling toward Mecca so Rick wasn’t really sure what to think. He took a deep breath and then walked over.
Ardeth had to know he was there but his friend only continued to stare at the stars for a long moment. “Why did I know you were going to follow me?” He asked finally.
“Because you know me by now.” Rick replied.
“I truly do not need a keeper my friend. I have survived many years now on my own.”
“Which is proof positive that there is a God.” He smiled. “Does Allah have any answers tonight?”
“No. Not that I truly expected any. I suppose I am just-- tired of it. The worry, the never being certain that the tribes are well. They could have all been dead, Rick. Every man woman and child just like Ahmer’s tribe. And I would have been forced to watch it happen.”
“Yeah.” He squeezed Ardeth’s shoulder hard. “But you weren’t and you didn’t. That was pretty smart, asking it for the right favor. I meant to thank you for that.”
“They are my people.” Ardeth nodded, and there was something like pride in his voice.
“Yeah, but Alex is my son and he was here too. So it’s a personal sort of thank you.”
“Ah.” Ardeth nodded. “You are welcome then.”
He squeezed his friend’s shoulder again. “You didn’t answer my question you know.”
“Question?” Ardeth looked over at him. “I thought it was a thank you.”
“It was. I meant today.”
“I am sorry, my friend, you have lost me in this somewhere.”
“Yeah I know.” He nodded. “Want to tell me why you didn’t eat at dinner or why you’re out here in the middle of nowhere now?”
“I thought I had. I wanted to speak to Allah, to-- see if there were any answers I could find about my tribes, and our future.”
“You’re getting better at it Ardeth, but you still don’t lie well.” He squeezed his hand a little tighter. “So let me ask again. What did you bargain with to get it to destroy those tanks?”
Strong muscles went still and hard under his hand and then a bitter sigh. “What do you think I bargained?”
He closed his eyes tight at that. Not the words themselves but the tone was so harsh it hurt to hear. “Damn it, Ardeth...”
“Of that I am certain.” His friend agreed and then sighed again, the sound less bitter but more like exhausted. “It is done now. And-- I will have to keep it soon enough.”
“Like hell you will.” He turned his friend around to look at him. “The Germans are gone. Your tribes are safe. We’ll figure out some other way to defeat the others. Hell, let them have Ahm Shere and we’ll go someplace else. I don’t care. But you are not going to Thebes.”
Ardeth only smiled sadly and then put his hands on Rick’s shoulders and shook him once. “I swore it to Allah, Rick. I can no more break that oath than I can cut out my own heart. Please, my friend, this is burden enough without you letting it take the only honor I have left.”
“You don’t have any idea what you’re doing...”
“I am-- paying the cost of my peoples’ survival.” Ardeth answered roughly.
“And you expect me to just let you go?”
“Actually, I was rather hoping I would manage to avoid you until morning.” His friend sighed. “Because I knew you would be angry at me.”
“Damned right I’m angry. God Ardeth, he’ll hurt you.”
“Yes, I rather expect that he will.” Ardeth sighed again. “I gave it my word to Allah, Rick, and my people are well. It may kill me if it pleases. What is one man’s life, against all the tribes?”
He swallowed hard. “We’ll find another way...”
“No,” Ardeth shook his head. “It is done. Please, Rick, do not make this only harder. Go back to Evelyn and Alex, please?”
“If you think I’m letting you go alone, you think again. I’ll...”
“You will not.” Ardeth’s voice was harsh. “You can not save me. There is no way of voiding the bargain. God, Rick, I have no doubt I will be begging later this night. If you care for me at all, my friend, do not make me start now.”
He started to say something and then it just crumbled away and all he could do was pull Ardeth close. “I don’t want you to go.”
“I know.” Ardeth’s arms went around him uncertainly and then he just sighed. “Allah knows I do not want to go. But there is no choice.”
“I don’t know how to help.”
“This is good.” Ardeth leaned his head against Rick’s shoulder. “I am so frightened I am shaking like a boy before his first battle.”
And he was Rick realized, a slight shiver that went through him every now and again. Rick just pulled him closer, as if he were Alex. “There’s got to be something we can do.”
“I think, if you will– promise to be here when I wake, I may find the courage to keep breathing.”
“Don’t ask me to just sit here Ardeth. I can’t.”
“Why do you think I wanted you to stay with Evelyn and Alex, Rick? Do you think I would ask you that? It is only- could you perhaps wake me an hour or so before prayers? I would-- I think I will need the time, to find something to tell my tribesmates that they might believe.”
“You don’t have any idea what he’s going to do to you , do you?” He shook his friend once.
“Anything he desires.” Ardeth answered softly. “He will do as he pleases. And I will try as hard as I know how to keep my sanity. I do not think he will kill me. But I have no doubt he will make me wish he would.”
“You think you’re going to be able to just pretend to the whole tribe that nothing happened?”
“It is the only hope I have left, Rick. I-- promised it I would not fight. So perhaps it will– not hurt me as much as it might have, otherwise.”
“Don’t do this.”
Ardeth sighed, and then just pushed away and looked back at the stars. “It is already done. Go back to your wife, Rick. There is nothing you can do for me now.”
“I...” He took a deep breath and then pushed everything he was feeling aside, hard. Ardeth needed him to be strong and damn it he could do that. “I can be here when you wake up.” He offered. “And I can be here now.” He moved over to his friend and wrapped his arms around him. Ardeth trembled once and then leaned back against him with a groan. “I’m here.”
“I hate being afraid.”
“Me too.” He agreed. “But, I’ll stay here, until you fall asleep. And I’ll wake you before prayers. And we’ll find something we can tell the others.”
“When I wake and this-- debt has been paid-- will you remind me that even now I think it is worth paying? That they are worth whatever it costs.”
“I will.”
“Good. They are you know. They are my family, my people, my life. It may have my body, it will I do not doubt take my pride and my honor and even a large part of my soul. But it can not have my faith or my love for my people.”
“You are the bravest man I know, Ardeth. You know that?”
“Then why am I shaking like a child?”
“Because you’re human. And you’re scared. It’s okay to be scared, Ardeth. I’m damn near petrified and I’m not facing the damned thing.”
“As you say.” Ardeth leaned back against him a little. “Will you do me another favor?”
“Anything.” He hugged his friend tighter.
Ardeth pulled the copy of the Koran Selim had given him out of his robes and handed it to him. “I would not want him to damage it.”
Rick took the embroidery wrapped book and set it aside. “I’ll give it back to you in the morning then.”
“Thank you.” Ardeth sighed. Rick didn’t say anything only sat there for a long while in silence. Ardeth leaned his head back against Rick’s shoulder and then after what had to be nearly an hour of silence he could feel his friend slip into sleep. Five hours until he could wake him. Ten hours of hell in Thebes. He closed his eyes and rested his cheek against Ardeth’s head, as if Ardeth really was his brother. Come morning he was very sure that there was no way his friend was going to be comfortable in his arms again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imhotep paced the room again, today was no day for sitting. The sunlight streaming through the curtained balcony let him know with long practice what time it was. You will have to sleep sometime, Medjai. And I will, Ammun willing be here when you do. He forced the shiver that brought down. Ammun had proved most merciful and kind and he would have faith that he had not failed his god. Because if he even let himself think that he might have he would panic. And he was not going to do that.
The veil trembled across his nerves like the softest caress. And he didn’t give his young guest the luxury of waking up in bed. Although, he was more than slightly tempted to have Ardeth wake in his. Too tempted perhaps, and he had no time to enjoy it. So one moment his guest was asleep at Ahm Shere and the next he was sitting at the table. He blinked, obviously startled, and then looked around the room. “I see you finally decided to sleep.” He smiled a little.
Ardeth did not answer, only wrestled the panic down to something like horror and then nodded.
“Your timing is-- problematic, Ardeth. Well played on your part, but problematic. I must go and see to AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt. And Ammun is not happy with me. Saving your people took longer than I expected and so I was not here to see him into the sky. Now I must go placate him.” He walked over and stopped just short of his guest. “Perhaps you will have no bargain to keep, Medjai, if he is angry enough to condemn me.”
Confusion and uncertainty then hope and then more courage than Imhotep had even expected. “And if he does not?”
“Then I will see you afterwards. And you can keep your barter.” He smiled just a little. “But I will take just a taste of it now.” And he reached over and buried his fingers in his guest’s long hair and pulled him into a kiss. Ardeth was still as stone beneath his hand, tensed nearly to snapping no doubt. But he did not try to pull away. Imhotep pulled him closer and took as much time with the kiss as he could spare. His other hand went to Ardeth’s jaw and then he eased his tongue between the man’s lips and pulled his chin down. That made his guest tremble, but he did not fight the slow exploration. Finally, he released both hands and broke the kiss with a last lick of his tongue over Ardeth’s lips. “Gods but you are intriguing.” He smiled. “Breathe, Ardeth, you can not faint now.” He chuckled. “Since you are mine to order about tonight, sit here and wait for me to come back. Nothing else. Do you understand?”
A small nod.
“Good.” He straightened and then smiled just a little sadly at the fear and horror and panic that clamored through his young guest’s mind. “Your courage, as always, does you credit, Ardeth.” And he sighed, gathering his own and went to see to his god.
The banquet was set, the protective spells, incense, and amulets lay along the table. He ran his fingers over one and then went into the small shrine and lit the braziers, refusing to look at the shadows he knelt to await the coming of Ammun. The priests out on the walls must have seen the sun touch the ground on the far bank of the Nile for the gongs began to sound. He bowed his head, touching it to the floor “Oh AmmunRa, You who are lord of all Egypt accept our humble thanks for this glorious day you have granted us. Come oh great god of both kingdoms I beseech you, there is food and drink for you to partake of before you journey once again to do battle with your constant foe. Please Oh great god of Egypt grant us your blessing and take with you all our prayers and hopes for your triumph once more.”
There was once more that breathless moment of waiting that not even his concerns could diminish. And then there was a sound like wings on air but no wind stirred and a rush of warmth and light against his closed lids that swept along the table and then settled before him. He opened his eyes and looked up at the face of his god.
“You were not present this morning priest.”
He swallowed hard. “I was not.” There was no room for equivocation. “The enemy of Egypt sent scouts to Ahm Shere, oh my god, and the leader of the Medjai requested that I keep them from destroying his people.”
“That was as it should have been. Are the enemies of Egypt so strong now, Priest of Thebes that was, that even all your powers that I have returned to you are not enough to deal with them?”
He took a deep breath. “They are formidable enemies oh my God, and they travel with speeds like that of the gazelle and I had to chase them far. And their metal shells are hard to damage but it can be done with your blessing.”
“See that you remember, Imhotep, that all you do is by my will and my blessing alone.”
“I have never forgotten, Oh my god.”
“No. I see that you have not. I have journeyed far to bring light to the Egypt that was and is and shall be, priest. And now I have fed and will go to battle the destroyer once more.”
He bowed again and then rose to his feet and held out his arms, bent at the elbow, palms up and bowed again and faced his God. “Egypt is thankful, undeserving though we are, for your presence and your love for us oh Great AmmunRa. We shall send word to Bright Horus, son of your son Osiris, so that he may aid you in your battle to come.”
“As it has always been, Imhotep, as it will always be. And you know as well as I what the darkness holds oh priest of Thebes that was.”
He shivered, even in the warmth of his god’s presence. “Yes, oh my God.”
“I am not that displeased with you, Priest.” AmmunRa smiled. “And I have been asked by Allah to give you thanks for the sparing of his children. Your young guest himself has said you do not deserve to be cast back into the abyss for the saving us his tribes. My children’s children have chosen well, priest. Do not let your own desires harm the child of Allah, for he has much work to do, and I, myself, and his god, and the son of my son would have him whole.”
He smiled and then bowed again. “He is brave, oh my god, and pleasing, but I will do as you command and cause him no harm. Egypt has need of us all.”
“She does. Enjoy this night in the place of the faithful Imhotep and know that I am not displeased with thee.”
“I am honored.”
“See that you remember that.” But his god smiled and he felt the warmth of that regard and then the light seemed to fold in upon itself and the gold boat glowed for one glorious moment and then there was only the torch light and darkness pooled at the edges of the room. He kept himself calm until he could leave the shrine and close the doors behind him. Then he took a deep breath and smiled as the last of the fear left him.
“So, Ardeth, even now you would think your people worth the price you pay, to the point of telling Allah that it is a good thing I have done and that even I do not deserve to be cursed for it. You love them well do you not, Medjai? I would have thought you would have been praying to your god to have me tossed into the abyss. Considering you have no desire at all to see the bargain met.” He shook his head, both amused and saddened by his young guest’s ways. And then went back to his rooms to see this out.
Ardeth was sitting at the table as he had been when Imhotep left him. He looked up as the door opened and then away for a moment, gathering that admirable courage around him again.
“Now we have time to see to the rest of the evening.” He smiled just a little.
“As you will.” Ardeth’s voice was steady, but the fear brightened his eyes none the less. “Ammun was not displeased then?”
“Displeased yes, angry no. For which I am thankful.” He walked over to the table and poured himself a goblet of wine. “I have karkaday if you wish?”
“No.” A slight shake of his head.
“My god it seems has spoken with yours and both agree that it was a good thing to have saved your people.”
A sigh and a slight lessening of the tension if none of the fear. “It was. I should thank you.”
He chuckled. “I doubt very much you are considering it though. You have agreed to enough, I think, without my expecting to be thanked.” A slight nod, and studied silence, but the uncertainty and fear were strong enough that he could almost touch them. Oddly enough the fear made his young guest even more appealing, lending him a vulnerability that was some how intriguing and disheartening both. “Gods, but you are pleasing.”
Dark brown eyes met his for a moment. “I have never cared to be or not, but right now I would wish to Allah that it was otherwise.”
“No doubt.” He smiled just a little. “Would that be easier do you think, Ardeth?” He sat down to study the other man for a bit. “If I did not find you pleasing and yet had you to do with as I pleased, anyway? I could have taken my revenge on you and yours long ago then. I could, I suppose, do so now. Have you tied to one of those columns and lashed until you begged it to stop?”
Ardeth’s eyes hardened just a little. “If that-- is what you wish.”
He shook his head in amusement and disbelief. “You would think it worth it, would you not? And if you knew you had come here for nothing but hours of agony it would have not deterred you from thinking the bargain worth making or your oath worth keeping.”
There was a moment of confusion among the darker anger and despair. “Do you think I am not doing just that?”
That stung in a way he had not expected it to. “If all I wanted was your body, Ardeth, I would have had you the first night you were here. If I can destroy those who would threaten your tribe, do you think for a moment I could not have you naked on my bed and hold you helpless while I had my use of you?”
A shudder that even the young Medjai’s will was not up to suppressing. “I have been expecting that you will.”
“Yes. So I see.” He swallowed the wine in his goblet and refilled it. “So I could have done without your promise of permission. And if all that had mattered was that you were willing I could have had you when you first met AmmunRa.” He shook his head. “Have I once, since you arrived here, caused you harm, Ardeth?”
Silence and then a weary sigh. “No. Not yet.”
“No. So, why do you think I have not, hmm? You are pleasing, and desirable and while unwilling most times, certainly not unattainable. You truly came here expecting me to tear you apart did you not, Ardeth?”
A slight nod. “I doubt you will kill me, because Ammun has laid a geas upon me.” A sigh. “But you may do so if you wish.”
“If all I wanted was your pain and blood, Medjai I would have you whipped to ribbons.” He sighed himself. “Would you rather that, Ardeth?” He rose to his feet and walked around to stand behind the young man and then reached out and ran his fingers through the dark waves and down his back, then along one shoulder. “Would you rather I have you whipped until you scream or strip this from you and caress every inch of skin it reveals?” He gathered the dark fabric of the young man’s robe in his fingers.
A shaky sigh and a prayer to Allah. “I think– I would rather be whipped.”
He chuckled and let go of the dark fabric. “Yes, I do believe you would. But tonight, you agreed, you will do as I wish did you not?”
“I did.” Ardeth nodded. “I will do as you wish.”
“And I may do with you as I will?” He repeated the promise the young man had made, giving it in arabic now instead of Egyptian.
“Yes.” A shiver that he managed to keep from his voice but not smother completely.
“And if what I wish, and what I will, is you in my bed, willingly and with pleasure?” He gave himself the luxury of tracing one hand lightly across tense shoulders.
Something that might have been a laugh once. “I can promise I will not fight or struggle. I can say I will try to neither flinch or shift away, and I will try my best to-- touch you as you will me. But I have no skill at pretense.”
“And Allah knows of course that you do not expect to enjoy it at all.”
“Did you truly think I might?” Disbelief now and incomprehension.
He chuckled sadly. “I think-- I did not realize how dedicated you were to your people that you would sacrifice so much for their safety, or that even an oath to your god would compel you here if you truly believed it would be so horrible a fate.”
“I expect I will pray to Allah to let me die.” A shrug. “But my death is a small thing to pay for the lives of ten tribes. You may have it if you wish. What less a price then to give you only my body, and my honor, my pride or even my soul?”
“As you say.” He nodded. “We do not understand each other at all do we, Medjai?” He picked up his goblet and finished the wine. Then he refilled his and mixed one of karkaday and some wine for his guest. “Drink that, Ardeth. I think it might ease you some.”
A sigh. “As you wish.” And he took a sip.
“Here is what I will of you for now, Medjai. I will ask you four questions and you will give me honest and true answers. Then if you wish you may ask me the same four questions, and then I think we shall know the shape this evening will take.”
“Questions?” Ardeth took another swallow of the drink Imhotep had given him. “I...” A sigh and then wearied resignation and another prayer for the strength to see this through. “If you wish.”
He smiled just a little. “I do.” He sipped his own wine. You want the game over do you? Because you are tired of not knowing when the blow will come and yet you so do not want it to fall. Gods but you are brave, Ardeth Bay. And damned intriguing. He studied his guest for another moment. "Tell me then, Ardeth, have you ever, for no matter how short a time, loved someone? Truly, completely, near to madness even? Until nothing in the world matters as much as they do?"
"No." He shook his head slightly, and the confusion replaced a little of the fear for a moment anyway.
"No." He smiled just a little. "I thought not. You have known people who have, however."
"I have." And it was so easy to read the people who came to his mind. Imhotep sighed, and then poured a bit more wine into Ardeth's goblet and his own.
"That is something at least." He nodded. "You are, I sometimes think, fortunate to not know what I speak of, Medjai."
"I would hope that Allah will be kind and someday I might."
"Be careful with that wish, Ardeth, it is a sword that will cut you deeply."
A sigh. "As you say."
He chuckled. "You are so young, warrior. My second question then, pretense aside, you have never shared your bed with your brother have you?"
A sigh. "As you have seen."
"No." He set the goblet down and leaned forward. "Has he kissed you, Ardeth? Stolen your breath and made you beg to have it back? Caressed you until you trembled and found completion in his arms?"
A slight flush at his words, embarrassment and then anger at the insinuation and then affection and sadness at the bond that was there instead. So you do not think I would understand that do you? Silly child. He drank another long swallow of wine. "Well?"
"No, we have not."
"No." He nodded. "I thought not. So you have, I assume no knowledge at all of sharing your body with another man. Willing or-- otherwise?" He looked at the young man seriously. What do I think you are? He repeated the question in Ardeth’s mind to himself and then chuckled. "I think you are human, Medjai. Who am I to know if you have always won your battles?"
Ardeth sighed but then shook his head once. "No, no knowledge at all."
He blinked a little in surprise at realizing just how true that answer was. Oh Ammun's mercy, Ardeth, you are so naive, Medjai, and so frightened of what you do not know the half of. And yet you come here anyway. Foolish Medjai, so very foolish, but just as brave as I expect you to be. He smiled a bit, sadly.
"Then have you ever known someone who has been forced to another's bed, Ardeth? Ever seen the look in their eyes afterwards? Heard their tears? Let them cry in your arms?"
A shudder, and it was so easy to see that he fully expected he would know that feeling from the other side at some point soon. And it annoyed him almost as much as it saddened him to know that the one person Ardeth expected to comfort him at all was his brother. "No."
He sighed, and then refilled their goblets again. "No. I thought not." He took another long drink of the wine. "The last question then, Medjai. Let me set the situation, hmm? I think your brother will do far better than anyone else as the illustration." He managed not to chuckle at the anger that got. "Answer me this then, Ardeth: Your brother comes home one evening and finds two men assaulting his wife. One holds a knife to her throat and the other tells him that there are even more men upstairs ready to slit his son's throat if he does not cooperate. So now he has a choice, do as they tell him or watch them kill the woman he loves. But it is not Nefertiri the two men wish to harm at all, only your brother. So tell me Ardeth, if he submits to them is that somehow any less rape than what they had planned for his wife? Because they hold the knife to her throat and not his?"
Cold anger and hatred in those brown eyes that finally swallowed the earlier terror. "No."
"Well, finally an answer we have in common. No. I do not think so either." He nodded. "So tell me, Ardeth, do you understand at all why I asked?"
"No, I do not."
He sighed and shook his head. "Of course not. Fine. Then ask them in return foolish Medjai and let us see if that will clear the question for you."
"I do not..." He stopped and then sighed himself. "As you wish. But I know the answer to the first. Have you ever loved someone, creature? Truly, completely was it?"
"Onto madness." He reminded him. "Yes, oh yes I have done that. It is a joy and a horror and a wonder and a curse all of its own, Ardeth. So much joy and so much sorrow, but I have known it well." He took a longer swallow of wine. "But as you say, that you have already known. Ask the second then."
A flash of something that was too bitter to be embarrassment. "I assume you mean any man in general and not only my brother?"
He chuckled himself at that. "Almost tempting, Ardeth but not nearly as much as you. Yes, in general."
"Well then have you-- shared yourself was it with another man?"
"Now, was that really so hard to say? Yes. I have." He smiled a bit, to keep the anger in check. "Surely that answer does not surprise you."
"No."
"Good." He took another drink of wine, and waited just a moment to see if Ardeth would ask him more. No of course not. What would you do I wonder Ardeth if you asked and I answered truthfully hmm? What would you do?
"The third I believe was if I had ever known anyone who had been forced to share another's bed."
"It was." He agreed. And took another long swallow of wine before refilling his goblet again. "And again, you see, I can answer yes, oh yes. I have. Known, held, comforted, loved. Tell me this, Medjai, warrior to Pharaoh, do you think that he gave a damn if she loved him? Do you think it mattered to him one bit if she desired to be in his bed or not? No. We loved each other, foolish child. Beyond reason beyond fear, and never once could I keep her from him, never once could I do anything but hold her when he left and she could sob out her anger and her shame in my arms. Do you wonder why we killed him? Do you? And even then she had the courage or perhaps the hatred to strike first. And I never ever regretted a swing of my sword. Not even when they cut out my tongue. Now, do you understand? I could take you Medjai. I could so very, very easily force you to my bed even now. But the fact that the Germans held the knife to your peoples’ throat and not I one to yours does not make it anything but force. And Ammun but I have has enough of coercion to last me for all my eternities."
Ardeth only stared at him for a very long time and then finally, the fear that had held him captive all night slipped away into the shadows. "I am not certain that I understand, but I will believe."
"Good. Because believe me in this as well, Ardeth. I do desire you Medjai. And you are, the gods know, beautiful enough to want in my bed without even being so intriguing as well. And if I thought for a moment that you would find any pleasure in it at all I would take you now. So, I will give you this warning only once. You have offered twice now to let me have you Ardeth, in despair and ignorance true, but offered. So do not tempt me again, Medjai. If you offer again for any reason, at any time I will have you, and I will fully expect you to do so willingly and with pleasure. Do you understand?"
"No, not really. But I will believe."
"See that you do." He set his goblet aside and then reached over and gave himself the luxury of tracing the young man's jaw as Nefshen had done several times. And although Ardeth tensed, there was more confusion and distrust to his thoughts than terror. "You owe me, Ardeth."
"I do." The young man agreed. "I have no skill at pretense. And you will not take me unwilling even if I submit. What would you have me do then?"
He smiled just a little. "Anything I desire?"
A small nod, with more fear now but still not the terror of earlier. He repeated the caress along the young man's jaw. "Then I will have another taste of what I can not have. The gods know I should know better do you not think?" And he tangled his fingers in that wonderful hair and pulled the startled young man toward him and kissed him again. Ardeth shivered just a bit, but he did not flinch nor struggle and after a long minute when Imhotep pressed no further he relaxed just a little. He smiled and then did as he had before and slid his tongue against Ardeth's. Ardeth managed a prayer to Allah for mercy but he stayed still and compliant under Imhotep's hands. And it was enough to just lose himself in that kiss, until he could not breathe. He pulled away finally with a gasp. "Breathe Ardeth, you may not faint." He chuckled and then poured them both more wine. "Drink that."
"As you wish." He took a long swallow of the wine.
"I will, I think, take that as payment for now, Ardeth."
"You will?" Disbelief and a flash of hope swift and bright like sunlight on gold.
He chucked. "Kissing you I mean, not just that one. You have ten tribes at Ahm Shere do you not?"
"I do." Confusion now, and distrust. "Why?"
"Ten tribes, then you owe me ten kisses. Mine to collect at any time I desire them. And you must be willing and let me have them, or give them to me if I ask you to."
Disbelief and then a flash of anger but no real fear to speak of. "You are mad."
"Yes, we have determined that. Your word to Allah Ardeth, you owe me ten kisses, which I may collect at any time and you will, for the length of that kiss, be as willing and compliant as you are tonight."
A weary sigh but there was that same half-disbelieving acceptance that he had learned to expect from his erstwhile guest. "My word to Allah, creature, I owe you ten kisses, and they are yours to collect at any time you wish it. I will not argue or fight, and will let you have them willingly and with whatever compliance I can."
"Good. Now, say thank you for my saving of your tribes, Ardeth. And use my name damn you."
Ardeth smiled just a bit despite himself. "As you wish. I thank you for saving my people, and seeing that their enemies were vanquished. I thank you all the more for avenging those of our tribes which were lost to their guns. It is a wondrous gift, Imhotep, and I am truly thankful."
"Gods, do not tempt me now, Ardeth. It would be oh so easy to take you, Medjai."
A sigh. "First you say I am to thank you by name and then you tell me not to do something to tempt you. As if I have any idea what that might be. It does not seem to be anything I have control over."
He chuckled and then refilled their goblets again. "Very true. You are always tempting Ardeth, it is just that sometimes you are more tempting than others."
“I do not understand you, priest.”
He smiled. “A title I can live with, but not what I desire tonight. Say my name again.”
Ardeth took a deep breath and then nodded once. “As you wish, Imhotep.”
“There, that was not all that hard was it? It is not, I do not think, a difficult name to say.”
“It is forbidden.”
“You are the leader of the Medjai are you not? Unforbid it.”
Surprise lightened those expressive eyes a little. “I suppose I could. Allah, I trust, will forgive me for saying it here.”
“Tonight, Ardeth, you are only to concern yourself with what I will, not Allah.”
A more bitter sigh. “As you say.”
He chuckled and then topped off his goblet and Ardeth’s again. “We should eat, Medjai. Earlier I did not want to eat because I was a bit concerned I might be tossed back into damnation. And I doubt very much you ate either.”
Ardeth shook his head a little. “We shared a fear then, this afternoon.”
“We did.” He agreed. “Although your-- damnation at least was only to be for one night.”
Ardeth’s thoughts shifted suddenly to his brother and something O’Connell had said about there being no way Ardeth would be able to just pretend it did not happen and Ardeth’s assumption that, that meant it would take a long time to heal from. He shook his head once more at the young man’s naivete and then chuckled. Ardeth looked at him in distrust again.
“You are intriguing Ardeth, you are that. But your brother has the right of it, Medjai. You truly do not have any idea what it is I could have done to you.”
Distrust and then resigned acceptance. “No, I suppose I do not.”
He chuckled. “No.” He leaned back and studied his guest again. “I do not know which is braver actually, to face a fear you know and understand or to face one you have so little knowledge of and that terrifies you none the less.”
He smiled. “I think it must be some sort of complement that I can scare you so, Medjai, when I know full well how brave you are.”
Ardeth said nothing to that but the distrust was stronger.
He smiled a bit more. “Fear is a powerful feeling, Ardeth, to be feared is as well, but neither do I think, have a place in bed. You can thank your god and mine for that if you wish.”
And that got a small smile of surprise before the young man could suppress it. “I am to thank Allah that you do not want me in your bed because I am afraid of that very thing?”
He chuckled. “An odd thank you I will grant, but an honest one do you not think? And we should always be honest with our gods and ourselves, my young Medjai, even if we can not be honest with others.”
“I would not know about the last, I am unused to lying or pretense, but I would agree with the first.”
He sipped his wine and then chuckled. “You and your brother are not all that bad a pretense you know. I am hardly the only one in Thebes who has wondered if there is more between you than friendship.”
Ardeth flushed just a bit, and Imhotep could recall as well as he could the embarrassment and amusement Ardeth had felt when Nefshen had brought that point home. “As you say.”
“So you have at least some skill at pretense, though certainly not nearly a small portion of that which I or your brother have.”
“No. On that as well I would have to agree with you.”
He laughed and then rose to his feet. Ardeth watched him warily but without any real panic and he smiled. “I feel much like the cobra with the mongoose Ardeth, but it is pleasing I suppose that you are so attentive to my every move.”
Embarrassment and then a resigned sigh but his guest found a bitter smile. “When one walks with asps it is always best to watch ones feet.”
He chuckled himself. “Very true.” He went to the door and caught the attention of one of the servants and ordered dinner brought to his rooms. “Is there something in particular you want, Ardeth?”
“No.” There was more disbelief now and resignation, and then exhaustion as the last of the fear and courage that had carried his young guest so far drained away leaving only weariness. “Coffee perhaps?”
“It is late for coffee.” But he added it to the order and then closed the door. “You are going to kill yourself quickly at this rate, Ardeth without any help from me at all. Truly you seem to attract pain and illness like a flower attracts bees. And you do not even enjoy it any. Surely you can keep yourself whole for a few days at least?”
“Now you are concerned for my health?” So much disbelief in his voice.
Imhotep chuckled. “Yes. Where is the enjoyment for me if you are to sick to tease, hmm?” He walked back over to the table and then traced Ardeth’s jaw again. “Even if it does mean I get to see you unclothed and in bed.”
A dark flush and it was so obvious that he had to fight down the response he wanted to give. “You are not giving me any reason to take more care with my health.”
“No?” He chuckled. “Then it is a good thing that you have your brother, the gods, and I to be concerned for it is it not?” He sat back down, and mixed another goblet of karkaday and wine for his guest. The food arrived quickly and the smell reminded him that he truly was hungry. Ardeth seemed less so but he did eat some. “You are a damnable guest, Ardeth.” He shook his head. “Eat.”
“As you wish.” He took another bite.
“Why do I bother?” He refilled their goblets once more. “You are likely to fall asleep in it soon, Medjai.” He let the servants clear the table. Leaving only the desert of pine nuts in honey with phillo bread to eat them with. He chuckled a little at Ardeth’s resigned sigh and dipped a piece of bread in the honey. “Do you eat any more in the waking world than you do here?”
“Enough.” Ardeth replied with a shrug. “Perhaps I am too tired to eat. And as you say, spending the day expecting damnation does not encourage one to eat does it?”
“No.” He agreed. “It does not.” He dipped another piece of bread and then offered it to his guest with a smile. “But now we are not facing damnation, Ardeth. Eat.”
Resignation and then acceptance, brought about no doubt by the wine and the utter exhaustion Imhotep could feel all too easily. Ardeth took the sweetbread from his hand and ate it and he had to smile at the wicked thought that brought to mind. “Shall I tie you to the bed and feed you then?”
That brought a rush of fear and then a flush of embarrassment across his young guest’s cheeks. “Would my opinion matter?” He asked finally.
“Your opinion? No.” He smiled. “Your obedience, of course.” And he dipped another piece and held it out. “Eat.”
Ardeth reached for the bread with a mutter he kept silent and Imhotep smiled and only held it to his lips. “Eat.”
Disbelief, then anger, and then something darker than embarrassment but he summoned that courage once more and took the offered bread from Imhotep’s fingers.
“Gods...” He cursed himself for the move as much as Ardeth was doing. “You would think, would you not, Medjai that I would have learned not to try and caress a candle flame by now?” He took a long drink of his wine, and then pushed Ardeth’s goblet toward him. “Drink Medjai, I doubt you will die of it.”
“As you wish.” He took a long swallow.
“Relax, Ardeth, have I not told you I am not going to harm you?”
His guest studied him for a long moment. “No, actually, you have not. You have told me why you will not force me to your bed, but you have at no time told me you will do me no harm.”
“Really?” He chuckled. “How odd. I think I meant to. Very well the Medjai I will not harm you. It is not my intention at all to bring you pain tonight in my bed or out of it.”
Ardeth sighed and gave a prayer to Allah in thanks.
Imhotep sighed and then rose to his feet and walked back over to stand behind his guest. “Foolish warrior, if I wanted that I would have had it by now as well. Relax, Ardeth, you are safe enough, so to speak.” And he rested both hands on his guests shoulders. “I said I would not harm you, Medjai, I did not say I would not touch. You are too tempting like this warrior, and there is a dark pleasure to be had from your submission.” He squeezed his fingers lightly into tense muscles. “Relax.” He made it a command.
Ardeth shivered but the muscles stayed tense under his hands. “Do you truly think I will manage that if you keep your hands on me?”
He chuckled. “Is that a challenge, Ardeth? A wager? And what pray tell do I get if I succeed? I already have what I want. Damn you for not letting me enjoy it. That is cruel you know, Medjai.”
“Is it?” There was a flash of amusement and then another prayer of thanks to Allah.
He chuckled again. “You really would like to rip my throat out would you not, Ardeth?”
“As you say.”
“Let me see then if I can meet your challenge and then you can thank me again, by name.” He dug his fingers deeper into tense muscles and began to carefully knead away the tension. Disbelief and then distrust and then very suddenly his young guest only bowed his head in exhausted acceptance and prayed silently to Allah for understanding. Imhotep just worked silently, enjoying the feel of the strong muscles under his hands and wishing only a little wistfully that he could do this without Ardeth’s robes in the way. He wanted very badly to touch the smooth skin he could only find an echo of through the fabric. Someday Ardeth, somehow, I will have you in my bed with joy. No matter how long I must wait. He eased as much tension from the tight muscles as he could, amused by Ardeth’s disbelief that there was no pain to be found under his hands and the almost unwilling admission that it actually did feel better. He chuckled. “See, Ardeth? Why bring pain when there is no reason?”
A sigh. “Why do you do this?”
“Do what, Ardeth?”
“Torment me. I-- had almost thought that after what you said earlier, you would not take such pleasure in my humiliation.”
“I take a great deal of pleasure in your company. And I enjoy teasing you. If you are embarrassed or worse by the attention Ardeth that is something between you, your conscience and your god.” He smiled. “And while you are fun to tease, at the moment I was only enjoying the fact that I could indeed touch you without having you flinch ” He squeezed those strong shoulders again. “I enjoy the challenge.”
“I do not understand you.”
“No, Ardeth, I realize that.” He smiled again. “Lean forwards, hmm? Rest your head on your arms if you would.”
Too much exhaustion and wine and the last remnants of his oath let the young Medjai do just that. Imhotep smiled and finished the massage. “You are the most damnable guest, Ardeth. But Ammun knows I do enjoy your company none the less.”
“Why?”
“Because, my foolish warrior, you make me smile and look forwards to the next time I can play this game with you. And because you intrigue me. Rest now, Ardeth, your people are safe, there is no fight to be faced, and you have my word to Ammun that I will not harm you.”
“I would rather wake in Ahm Shere.” Ardeth said quietly.
“In your brother’s arms no doubt.” He chuckled. “He will be relieved you are well, but I do not envy you trying to convince him that you are.”
“No, he will make me swear it a dozen different ways to Allah no doubt.” There was amusement now and warm affection. “He is my brother.”
“Yes.” He smiled himself. Be careful there O’Connell, one of the only things that keeps him still under my hands is the fact that you have given him some idea that this sort of thing is acceptable. I shall have to find you a gift as well. He chuckled. “Annoying as he is I will give him that he is a good man to fight beside and a damnable foe when he sets his mind to it.”
“I will tell him you said so.”
He chuckled. “You may tell him I find him almost as intriguing as I do you.”
“May I not? He will only be angrier.”
He laughed. “Very true.” He allowed himself the pleasure of running his hand through the dark waves once more and then went back over to sit and sip his wine. “You look tired, Ardeth.”
“I am.” The young man raised his head from the table wearily. “Do we-- play this game of yours yet, priest?”
“Of course. But perhaps not for much longer tonight.” He refilled both their goblets. “May your gods and mine, Ardeth, give us victory against the foes of Egypt.”
“I will drink to that.” He raised his goblet. “Sahedek.”
“Sahedek.” Imhotep smiled and then chuckled. “You are exhausted, Ardeth and you are drunk. Come, you can sleep now, warrior.”
“May I?” His guest blinked, and looked at him in disbelief. “You will let me be?”
“I will. I will even let you sleep alone, is that not kind of me?”
A flash of a smile. “That would depend on who I might share the bed with otherwise, no?”
He laughed. “She is long gone to sleep I am certain. Lay your sword here, Ardeth, you are likely to kill yourself with it.”
“I am a Medjai, priest, I can handle my sword in my sleep.”
He laughed again. “Perhaps, but now you are drunk. There see you are still whole without it. Silly child, now the knives. Here, give me your sash, hmm? I will be so kind as to leave you your clothes if you will be so kind as to take off your boots.”
“What is this fondness you have for helping me take off my boots?”
He laughed. “I enjoy undressing you Ardeth, surely that comes as no surprise.”
“That is not undressing, that is courtesy.” He sat down on the edge of the bed and unbuckled his boots none the less.
“Hmm, perhaps you are right at that. And you are still mine to order about. So, do not tempt me to have you undress further.”
“As you say.” Ardeth agreed and then laid back on the pillows. “I may sleep alone?” There was a small amount of fear there that bubbled through even the exhaustion and wine.
“You may indeed. You may even wake alone. Will that please you?”
“It would.” Ardeth agreed.
“Sleep, my silly Medjai.”
“Only for tonight.” He said with a seriousness that surprised Imhotep a little.
“Only for tonight what?”
“Am I yours. Thanks be to Allah that it is only in name.”
“Ah.” He smiled again. “As you say.” He traced his young guest’s jaw. “But for now you are. And I am thankful.” He leaned over and kissed Ardeth again, a long slow exploration of tongues, taking his time to enjoy it and then nearly choking himself when Ardeth not only relaxed into it but blinked in surprise at the fact that it was not as bad as he recalled it being. “Oh Ammun, not now. Sleep Ardeth.”
“As you wish.” And his young guest closed his eyes and slid easily into sleep.
“You have no idea how truly tempting you are do you Medjai?” He went back to the table and sat down. “So now I have you in my bed, and I am not in it with you.” He chuckled. “You are too tired and drunk to bargain well, Ardeth. I said you may wake alone, and sleep alone, but I made no promise that it would be for the whole night now did I?” He waited until his young guest was very well asleep and then went back over to the bed and sat down to brush the long dark waves out of his face. “Ammun but you are pleasing, Ardeth.”
A cold wind blew in from the balcony and he turned in surprise and then a moment of utter panic as the shadows moved and collected into solid form. But it was a form he knew if had not ever expected to see and he fell to his knees and crossed his arms over his chest. “Welcome oh God of the Dead to the city of AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt.”
“I have the welcome of my father’s father, priest, I do not need yours.” The god’s voice was a growl. “I bring you a geas, High Priest of AmmunRa at Thebes.”
“What may I do for thee oh dread Anubis when I am AmmunRa’s to command?”
“You will bring my champion to me, Imhotep. And I will thank you for it.”
He shivered, but bowed his head. “If that is your wish and Ammun’s oh dread god of those who’s hearts have stilled.”
The dark god chuckled, the sound so very odd in the jackal’s mouth. “It is. He is a strong champion, brave and with great strength but he does not recognize his destiny and balks at what he must do. So you, priest of my father’s father, will see that he is too angry for his concern to matter. Then he will do as I will him and know what it is that Egypt requires.”
Imhotep swallowed hard. “And may I know, oh god of the dead, who it is I shall anger so?”
“You know him already, priest, and you anger him by breathing, so angering him more should be easily managed. His brother sleeps behind you.” There was amusement to the god’s voice now.
“O’Connell?” He glanced up in surprise and then back at the floor.
“As you say. He has chosen his own fate priest of AmmunRa. Now he must fulfill it. My former champion is no more, the task I would will him falls to his successor.”
Imhotep swallowed, remembering when O’Connell had ran the spear of Osiris through the Scorpion King. “What must I do to bring you your champion oh dread god of those who’s hearts have stilled. As you say, I make him angry already.”
“Then make him rage. So that his foolish concerns will be wrestled to hatred. He fears little for his own safety when those he is concerned for are threatened or harmed. Harm them if you must, slit his son’s throat, take his wife to your bed. I care not. Strip the skin from his brother who sleeps behind you and present it to him as a gift. But do see that you put him back together whole in the waking world so he can serve my bright brother from Edfu.”
Imhotep swallowed hard. “I-- would anger him without damaging those that Egypt will need.”
The dark god laughed, that sound even worse than the chuckles had been. Sounding so like the jackals who’s head he wore. “You speak well, priest. Very well, If you will and you can succeed at such. I care not, priest. But you will anger him onto rages so that he will take up the armor I have willed him to find. And you will do it before my father’s father whom you serve sets again in the waking world. Or I will tear your heart from your chest and feed it to Set and then put you back together once more a strip of flesh at a time.”
He shuddered hard and then bowed. “I will see that he is angry, oh dread god of those who’s hearts have stilled.”
“See that you do.” The god nodded and then laughed again. “And I will grant you a peaceful passage into the realm of Osiris the next time you visit me priest of AmmunRa at Thebes.”
“It will be as you command.” And he bowed again.
The god chuckled that so inhuman sound and then the darkness slid away into the shadows and was only the absence of light once more.
“Oh AmmunRa, You who are lord of all Egypt, have mercy on me I pray bright god of the skies of Egypt. I would live to serve you longer.”
“Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim.” Ardeth said and then moved to his side, sword in hand. “What did he mean?”
“I do not know. When did you wake?”
“When he laughed, Allah have mercy that is not a sound I would ever hear again.” The young man sat down with a sigh. “So you were right when you said it must amuse the gods to no end to have us on the same side.” He leaned his head back against the bed behind them. “Most merciful Allah I am only one man and I do not understand what it is you would will me to do.”
“We have more in common that I thought, Ardeth. We do indeed.” He sighed himself.
“I should thank you, priest, for not agreeing to cause Evelyn or Alex or I pain when the god of the dead himself suggested it.” Ardeth sighed.
“I have already promised you have I not that I will not harm you? And while Nefertiri and I hate each other well I would not anger the old gods she could yet call on for aid. And Alex is a child, and a brave one at that, there is nothing the boy has done to warrant dying. Besides which his father as I said is a formidable enemy, I would give him no reason to hound me onto eternity. All I must do is anger him enough that he will take up the geas Anubis would give him.” He sighed himself, then chuckled. “Why could the god not have told me this earlier, hmm? Then I would have divine blessing for taking you to my bed. That I am certain would anger your brother enough.”
“As you say.” Ardeth sighed. “Then I am so much more than thankful to Allah that the god of the dead came late.”
Imhotep chuckled. “As you say. So the questions becomes what do I do? Hmm...” He glanced over at his young guest and then had to smile even more. “You look like you are about to fall back to sleep, Medjai.”
“I feel it. It is good there was no fight to face when I woke. Because I would be little or no use to anyone right now.”
“As if your sword or your courage are weapons against a god. Silly warrior.” He took the sword from Ardeth’s hand and laid it aside. “Come, back to bed for you, Ardeth.” He paused and then chuckled again. “See there, Medjai you have kept your oath, you have spent the night in my bed, done as I wished, and let me do as I will. Did you dare to pray to your god that it would cause you no pain at all to do so?”
“No. That is like praying for rain in Aswan.”
“Well then you see miracles happen.” He chuckled again, and then reached over and traced the young man’s jaw once more, and then running his fingers down Ardeth’s throat to his chest. “It is miracle enough I do not take what pleasure I can from you right now.”
“I will be forever thankful to Allah for the miracle then.” Ardeth shivered just a little under his hand.
“As you say. Pity I can not let your brother see me do this hmm? That would undoubtedly have the effect Anubis desires.” He brought his hand back up to curl his fingers through his guest’s hair. And then he smiled. “That will do nicely I think.”
“What will do?” Ardeth looked at him, confusion and uncertainty now even more than the distrust and fear from a moment before.
“I want your brother angry at me Ardeth, and you have given me the perfect opportunity to make him hate me. You are here and mine to do with as I please are you not?”
Panic that built in a huge rush back to terror. “I...thought you had said you would not?” He blinked, trying so hard to gather that admirable courage about him again.
“I did. And I will not, but your brother does not need to know that does he?”
Disbelief and then a relief so strong it was almost a physical thing he could touch. “You want to make Rick assume that you did not leave me be?”
“I want him to know for certain that I took you, without care or concern. Until you begged me to stop no doubt. That is what I want. And as you have said before, tonight you will do as I want.”
“I have no skill at lying.” Ardeth shook his head.
“I know that, Ardeth. I know that. So, I will not ask you to lie. I will only tell you this. You are mine to order tonight is that so?”
‘It is.” His guest nodded.
“Then this is my will. When you wake in Ahm Shere and your brother asks you anything about what occurred tonight anything that might possibly allude to what occurred tonight you will answer him only with, I can not say.” He smiled a bit more. “Or, I can not tell you.” He gave it another form. Then he chuckled again. “And if he asks you why you may either not say anything or you may tell him I ordered you to keep silent. And if that still does not work you may as a last resort tell him I ordered you not to say anything. Do you understand?”
“No.” Ardeth shook his head. “You would have me lie to him, and let him think you have harmed me. I can not do that.”
“You will. Because the other options I was given were far worse. I will anger him as much as I need too Ardeth. And if I must cause you or Evelyn or Alex harm to do it, I will. So you will do as I have commanded. You will offer no explanation to anyone of what happened tonight, you will only tell him, no you will only tell anyone, those four things in response to any question you are asked about what has occurred tonight. I can not say, I can not tell you, Imhotep told me to be silent, or Imhotep ordered me to say nothing. Now give me your word to Allah, Ardeth, that you will do as I have ordered and I will give you my word to Ammun that I will not make you keep it past tomorrow.”
A bitter sigh and more of that disbelief and distrust but finally he nodded. “I swear it to Allah. I will tell no one what has happened tonight, I will only answer any questions I am asked about this evening with I can not say, I can not tell you, Imhotep told me to be silent, or Imhotep ordered me to say nothing.”
“Then I swear to Ammun that I will release you from that promise before the end of the day. Now, one more promise, Ardeth.”
“As you wish.” More anger and distrust now.
He chuckled. “He may not touch you. For any reason, at all.”
“What?”
“Your brother may not touch you, for any reason at all. If he tries you will avoid him, if he succeeds when you do not notice beforehand you will pull away. And this too I give you, ten tribes I rescued so you have leave to accept only ten touches at all until I release you from your promise before the day is out. From all your people combined, Ardeth. So be very cautious my young Medjai. For the eleventh person who touches you will be the first one I offer to Anubis’ cause.”
Anger and disbelief and then finally, he wrestled the anger down to something he could control. “I will not let my brother touch me. I will pull away if he succeeds, and I will let all those in my tribes only touch me ten times total tomorrow, or pay the price. I swear it to Allah.”
“Good. Then I give you my word to AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt that I will not harm any of your tribe in the executing of the geas, the dread god of those who’s hearts have stilled has given me. It is a barter then?”
“I have no choice do I?”
“You can come back to my bed willingly and we will have no pretense to create.” He chuckled just a little.
Fear and panic flared back for a long moment. “I...would not enjoy it.”
“No, but Ammun it is tempting to have you none the less.” He smiled sadly. “You are indeed the most intriguing guest Medjai, and damned desirable.” He ran his hands slowly from the young man’s shoulders down over his chest and then back. “I would do that without your robes in the way, Ardeth.” And he reached for the ties with his fingers. “You have two choices, Medjai, undo them yourself or allow me to do them. That much choice I give you.”
Despair and fear and then disgust and horror. “I will not fight you.”
“Good.” He reached for the lacings and undid them slowly, feeling his young guest begin to shiver. “There now, you see it is not so hard at all. Wake up Ardeth. You have pleased me enough.” And he pushed his young guest hard into the waking world.
On to Chapter 2
Duhr:ToC