Duhr
Chapter 11
"Is everything all right?" Evelyn asked as she and Rick came over.
"As well as can be expected. We are all tense and worried but there is no more to be done before tomorrow, my friends." He turned to them. "How is Alex?"
"Still sleepy. Azza said she'd make sure he ate. She and Amal seem to enjoy spoiling him."
"Selim's children and grandchildren are fortunate to have such parents." He agreed. "Azza was always taking care of me when I was sick or hurt once my mother joined Allah in Paradise." He smiled a bit, sadly. "So we shall eat and then rest and see what Allah wills us for tomorrow my friends?"
"Rick tells me that you had some trouble with a few of your tribesmates."
"It is settled for now. And they are only concerned for their tribes as I am. We are walking a path none of us is familiar with and so it is only natural they would have both concerns and fears for the traveling."
"They should spend a few days trying to defeat the damned thing, and then deal with it in Thebes and then I'll give them the right to whine about having to be allies with it." Rick grumbled. "If I can stomach it. They can."
Ardeth chuckled. "As you say. Truly, my friend, I should let you argue that with them."
"Nah, I would've punched somebody for being stupid. I'll leave the diplomacy for you."
"Rick isn't the most...elegant debater, Ardeth. He tends to be to direct for most people." Evelyn smiled.
"Such as threatening us all with dynamite to bargain for your safety. There is that." He agreed. "I will grant you my friend that it is usually effective for you. But alas it would only do harm here so I will do my best to be slightly more diplomatic."
"You and your sense or propriety." Rick shook his head but there was a real smile to his voice.
Ardeth had to chuckle again. "It is good one of us has one do you not think? Come, let us eat." He clasped his friend's shoulder for a moment. "Are you joining us, Jonathan?" He turned but the man was already gone. No doubt to move his things and see to Alex's relocation as well. Ardeth smiled just a bit more. "Perhaps he will join us." He shrugged and walked over to one of the cook fires. Amal smiled a bit and handed them all plates.
"I will fix one and take it to Alex then, Evelyn. Otherwise, Azza will never leave his side." The older woman smiled.
"I really could do that, Amal. But she keeps shooing me out. He's my son after all."
"It fills a small part of the void in her heart to care for him now, Evelyn." Amal said quietly. Ardeth gave them the courtesy of not watching them as they spoke which was as much privacy as he could manage.
"There is that. All right, Amal. I'll have to introduce you to Aunt Emily some time. She's the same way. And she loves Egypt. Would Selim bring you and Azza to Cairo or Alexandria do you think?"
"If we ask and give him enough time to plan so, it is very possible." Amal agreed.
"Good." Evelyn nodded. And Ardeth smiled to himself at the ever growing bonds between his family and those he had some how adopted into it.
"Do you have a sister, Evelyn?" Amal asked.
"No." She shook her head. "Only Jonathan, why?"
His aunt just smiled. "One child is not enough for spoiling. Nieces and nephews are almost like more children of your own you know."
"I'm afraid that isn't very likely with Jonathan." Evelyn shrugged. "You didn't do so badly though."
He felt himself flush just a little at that.
"There is truth in that. Perhaps then, Allah willing, your husband's brother will have more sense than yours and give you nephews and nieces. Likely though that would take a miracle itself."
"Amal." He muttered under his breath but he looked over at her sternly. She only smiled. Evelyn was trying not to laugh and Rick only smiled as well.
"Is that where Ahmed gets it from, Ardeth?" Rick asked after a moment.
That made him chuckle. "Likely, yes."
Amal glanced down but she didn't stop smiling. "You will understand someday, Arda, why it is that we wish such joy for you."
"As you say, Amal. It is a kind thought." He agreed.
"Arda?" Evelyn repeated the shortened name.
"Please, Evelyn that is not proper." He could feel himself flush. "It is...for children..."
"Oh, like me calling Jonathan Jon-Jon when we were little. Mum and Dad did that too. Sorry, I just had trouble picturing you as a small child."
"He was always into something." Amal rolled her eyes. "Truly the sister of my husband was a woman of much patience." She smiled. "But he is a good nephew and a good chieftain so we will leave off of teasing him now. Eat, Ardeth."
He chuckled but did so. Amal went to see to Alex's dinner.
"Your family are really great people, Ardeth." Rick shook his head.
"I have always thought so." He agreed. Selim came back to the fire after a bit. "Is all with the ninth tribe uncle?"
"It is." Selim agreed. "We are as ready as we can be for our battle to come, Ardeth. How is your son, O'Connell, Sitt O'Connell?"
"Sleeping, unless Amal woke him up to feed him." Rick answered. "Thank you, by the way, Selim. For taking care of him while we were out in the desert today."
"I will pass your thanks to my wives, O'Connell. Truly, they did all the work. And Iksa is a good son and a fine boy, so it was no real bother. I am thankful he is well."
"So am I." Evelyn agreed. "Amal has made us this wonderful stew for dinner, Selim. Will you have some?" She went to the fire and prepared a plate.
"Thank you." He took the plate with a smile. "I am fortunate indeed to have a wife who can cook so well."
"I was always amazed at what my mother could cook." Evelyn smiled fondly.
"You're a good cook." Rick put in.
"With a stove, and a recipe book, certainly. But mother managed the most amazing meals with only a cook fire. It must be in the desert air or something, because I certainly didn't inherit it. And Jonathan couldn't boil water."
"Was your mother from the desert then, Evelyn?" He asked.
"She was from Heliopolis. Father met her while he was in Cairo." She answered and pulled the locket she always wore over her head to hand it to him. "That's mother and father."
He looked at the small photographs. "She looks like you."
"Why thank you, Ardeth." She smiled. "I used to think I got my infatuation with Egypt from her, and from father of course, but I suppose Nefertiri has something to do with it as well."
"As you say." He handed back the locket. "And your parents Rick, where were they from?"
"Dad was from here, well his parents were missionaries here. Mom was from the states." Rick shrugged. "I spent some time here and some time there."
"That explains your familiarity with Arabic then, but not your tattoo."
"Dad died when I was really young so I've no idea about that. Mom died not too long after that and I was in an orphanage in Cairo when I got this." He tapped his wrist. "You guys would know more about where it comes from than I would. My uncle wasn't real happy when he finally came over and took me back to the states."
"How old were you when you received that, O'Connell?" Selim asked.
"I'm not really sure, seven, maybe eight I guess. I was about Alex's age when my uncle came and found me."
"Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim. What took them so many years?"
"I don't think they talked with mom real often. They weren't real happy with her marrying dad. So it was probably two years or more before they even knew she'd died. And tracking me down in Cairo when they wouldn't know Cairo from Istanbul probably didn't help any."
"As you say. It is still odd that you received it. Sometimes we have been known to take in children who have no other family. Perhaps that was the intention. Or perhaps someone had a foreknowledge of your role in Allah's plan and sought to give us a sign of it. Did you know that with that mark you could walk up to any Medjai in the whole of Egypt and ask for aid or shelter or hospitality?"
"No. Really?" Rick smiled a bit. "Now that would have been handy in Hamanaptura, huh?"
"It would have shocked me to no end if I had but seen it. Truly, my friends, Allah's will is beyond me, the one man I let leave the City of the Dead, thinking the Sahara would finish him, and it turns out that you have been given the right to come and go from that cursed place long before we ever met."
"What's that you say about coincidence and fate?" Rick asked.
"There is a fine line between them." Ardeth answered.
"Like you finding that puzzle box and Jonathan picking your pocket of all the people in the bar to lift it from." Evelyn smiled. "I'm rather fond of the way that turned out."
"Me too." Rick smiled.
"Truly, my nephew made a good choice of brothers. I think we could do far worse for an ally to fight with tomorrow." Selim nodded.
"Allies." Rick corrected. "Since it seems like we're in this together sweetheart."
"We do tend to have the best results that way." Evelyn agreed.
"And we've beaten He who can not be named, twice, and the Scorpion King, and those horrible guard mummies and all the rest. So the Germans should be doable, right?"
"In'sh'allah." Ardeth agreed.
Jonathan came back over a while and joined them for diner. Ardeth smiled a bit to himself, enjoying the company and sense of family. Finally, however, they all rose to go to sleep. Selim hugged him tightly for a long moment and then did as Adham had done and kissed him on both cheeks. "Where you my son, Ardeth, I could not be prouder. Truly, your parents even in Paradise must know what a man there son has become."
He felt himself flush at the praise but he hugged his uncle tightly. "Where I your son, I could not ask for a better father, Selim. Truly."
"Thank you, Ardeth. Sleep well, son of my sister, and tomorrow we will celebrate our victory."
He smiled. "In'sh'allah, uncle, as all things are. My love to my aunt as always. Ma Salaama."
"And to you. Good night, Rick, Evelyn, Jonathan, sleep well."
He could see the surprise at the use of their first names. "You too, Selim. And thank you again for taking care of Alex. And thank Azza and Amal too please?" Rick answered.
"Of course."
They walked over to their tents and Ardeth clasped his brother's should for a moment. "As we face an uncertain battle tomorrow my friends, Jonathan and I thought we would be considerate brothers and sleep elsewhere tonight. Amal is tending, Alex so you can be assured he is well. I will see you in the morning."
"Ardeth..." Evelyn sighed but she kissed his cheek with a smile. "That's very sweet of you."
"It is nothing." He shook his head.
"It's a whole lot." Rick disagreed. "Would you go thank Jonathan for me Evie?"
"Of course, and I'll check on Alex, too." She replied and then went to talk to her brother.
"I'll be there in a minute." Rick nodded. Ardeth knew his brother well enough to wait until she was gone to expect him to continue. "You sure about this?"
"I am. We face battle tomorrow, with the creature as our ally, and we both know that he will not risk Ammun's wrath by shaking me so badly that I can not fight. Truly, there is no bargain to keep and no reason for you to be concerned. I swear it to Allah."
"Then you won't mind if I show up in Thebes later?"
He took a deep breath because he was more than a little torn on that. Allah had to know he wanted his brother's company and support even if he doubted the creature would press him overly much that night. However he was still so uncertain of this new desire he felt and did not completely trust his own self-control, especially tonight. "I wished only to give you and Evelyn a night to yourselves, brother mine. If you wish to come check on me in Thebes while you sleep I will be glad for the company, certainly." He found a smile and an answer that Rick would accept for his wanting the time alone. "I promised the champion of Ammun that I would come to dinner and be a good guest, and since undoubtedly there will be dancing...You need not come check on me immediately."
That got a smile and then a chuckle. "You arranged for Evie and I to be alone, tonight, Ardeth. I can be at least that considerate yeah. But so help me if you're not okay when I get there I am going to blow the thing to bits and to hell with Ammun being angry."
"That I do not doubt. Trust me, please Rick? I have more sense than that."
"Last time you didn't want me to know until it was too late, remember?"
He nodded, and glanced down for a moment before meeting his brother's eyes. "I have learned better. I promise you that."
"Good. You tell him I don't care if I have to break hospitality and chop him into bits tomorrow. I will."
"No doubt the creature, the old gods and Allah himself do not doubt that my friend." He smiled and then hugged his brother tightly. "Ma Salaama, akee."
"You too Ardeth." Rick hugged him back and then let go. "I'll see you in the morning or sometime in Thebes, okay?"
"I will certainly understand either." He agreed. "Tell Alex I hope he is feeling better and rests well."
"I will." Rick gripped his shoulder once more, tightly. He waited until Rick and Evelyn had both seen their son and gone to their own tent before he joined Jonathan, Alex, and Amal. His aunt smiled as he walked in.
"He is sound asleep, Ardeth. But his fever is gone and he ate all his diner."
"That is good news indeed, Amal. Thank you again for caring for him this night."
"His parents deserve the right to spend this night together. It was kind of you to arrange it so, Ardeth. And I truly do not mind staying here. I put all your belongings there.” She indicated the right hand side of the tent. “And there are clean robes in the small cedar chest there. Will it keep you awake if I leave the brazier lit incase I must see to Alex during the night?”
“It will not bother me at all, wife of my uncle. Truly, my cousins are fortunate to have a mother who is so thoughtful.”
“It is nothing.” She smiled. “Ma Salaama, Ardeth.”
“And to you, Amal. Goodnight Jonathan.”
“Good night, Ardeth. Thank you again Amal for taking care of my nephew.” Jonathan smiled and then got himself ready to sleep.
Ardeth did the same, setting his weapons out as he had become accustomed to. There was a soft light to the tent but that was not what kept his awake for so long. He found himself reciting much of the Koran in his mind and trying to come up with any other way to aid them in the battle to come. Finally, though he realized he had fallen asleep, because he woke to a room he was becoming very accustomed too. He sat up, oddly surprised at the fact that he had the room to himself, neither Rick or his host being present. There was however a pot of coffee on the table, and a jug of something else. He gathered up his weapons and then got himself a cup of the coffee and went out to the balcony. The sun was just setting and he listened as the gongs began to sound. He knelt, facing away from the setting sun and prayed to Allah for strength and mercy once more and then rose and glanced behind him at the rim of the sun sinking below the horizon. “My thanks once more to thee, Great AmmunRa, and to thee bright son of Osiris. Truly I am blessed and most grateful for thy gifts and thy blessings. May the next dawning in the waking world bring victory to us all, and to the blessed land of Egypt.” He offered in Egyptian. The sun finished setting and he watched the night sky darken until the stars appeared and sipped his coffee. A breeze that was no such thing stirred the drapes behind him from the inside and he smiled a bit.
“Good evening, Priest of AmmunRa.”
“Good evening, Ardeth.” His host walked over and stood beside him at the railing. “Is all well in Ahm Shere? Ammun seemed to think there might yet be some problem.”
“Several of the leaders of my tribes were concerned with you being our ally in this battle with the Germans to come. But it was settled well enough. You will not have to concern yourself with defending your back at least while fighting the Germans.”
“That is good to know. Truly, Ardeth, your tribesmates should have better faith in you. Did they truly expect you to turn aside my aid?”
“It is an...unaccustomed idea to be fighting with you on something and not against you. When they see the battle tomorrow I have no doubt that they will understand as I do that I am truly thankful to Allah for any allies I have in this. Even you.” He sighed. “Allah have mercy.”
That seemed to surprise his host and then he smiled just a bit. “You are quite welcome, Ardeth. I give you my word then to AmmunRa, He who is lord of al Egypt then Medjai, that I will do my best to be a considerate guest while I must walk among your people, and as good as ally in the battle to come as I am able to be.”
“Thank you.” He returned. “Shall we go to dinner then, Priest of Ammun?”
“Certainly.” His host smiled. “You are in an odd humor tonight, Ardeth.”
“There is truth to that.” He agreed. “Did Ammun give you any idea as to the numbers of tanks we might face or the time of the battle tomorrow?”
“He did not tell me of numbers, no. And as to the time of the battle it will be close to midday, which is madness in the desert sun but apparently these outlanders do not know better.”
“Bis’mil’Allah rakhman ‘rahim, we would do better with it being earlier it will be hard on the horses to fight in the sun as well, but there is nothing to be done but bear it.” He sighed and followed his host out to the corridor.
“Your brother did not come to Thebes with you? I did not try to keep him in Ahm Shere, Medjai.”
“No doubt he is not sleeping yet.” Ardeth smiled just a bit. “He will be here later I do not doubt.”
His host chuckled. “As you say. He cares a great deal for you, Ardeth. And he trusts me not at all. Surely it does not surprise you then that he would worry for your...safety while you were here without him.”
“He is trying to find it in his heart to believe me when I tell him I am not spending to night in your bed as payment for my nephew’s life. I doubt he will find it to the point that he will not come and check on me at least once.”
His host chuckled. “If I did not take you to my bed as payment for saving your tribes why does he think then that I would do so now?”
“It is not so easy to simply-- take on faith that you will not simply change your mind again.”
His host sighed. “As you say. Have I not give you my word to Ammun that I would not harm you, Ardeth?”
“I do not think it is you causing me harm exactly that worries my brother. ” He shook his head.
“Ah.. As you say, no doubt. And have I not given you my word that I will not take you to my bed, unwilling even if you agree?”
“You have. It is that area in between that causes concern.”
“You are Medjai, Ardeth, and as strong and brave a champion as Egypt might wish. No doubt your brother should have more faith in your ability to survive this game as we call it.”
“He is only concerned as am I, most days.”
“Then I give you my word to Ammun that I will not press you too hard this day, Ardeth. The gods themselves have told me not to do so after all.”
“I trust that Allah knows how thankful I am for the blessings of both Ammun and Horus then.” He smiled just a bit.
“No doubt.” His host agreed with a smile of his own. “This odd humor of yours is tempting, Ardeth. Would it be pressing you to far today if I were to claim a kiss from you then and enjoy it?”
“You have five left. And you were courteous enough to not take one in Ahm Shere where my tribesmates could see it. I am grateful for that, certainly. So if you wish to claim one now I will do as I can to keep the bargain.”
“I may indeed regret this when your thanks and gratitude have worn off and so I do not get to enjoy the other four nearly as much, but I will take that chance I think, Ardeth. Ammun knows you are tempting. And there is always the chance that after tomorrow I suppose I may not get the opportunity to claim whatever remains, hmm?”
“As you say. It is always possible.” He agreed.
“If you had any idea how very much I desire you at this moment, Ardeth, you would be praying to Horus to keep you well away from Thebes.”
“Should I be?” He asked, warily.
“No. But someday, Medjai you will understand of where I speak and then truly you will marvel at my patience.” His host smiled, but there was something more like sadness in his eyes and the hand that stroked along his jaw in what was becoming an accustomed if not enjoyable caress was more cautious than normal. “I will have a kiss from you this night, Ardeth.”
“As you wish.” He agreed. But it was not so hard as he had thought it would be to find the courage to stand there as the creature’s hand slid into his hair and pulled him closer.
A soft chuckle surprised him. “And you were doing so well, Abah. I will have your response on this, Ardeth, for truly it may well be the last bit of pleasure I have from you.”
“As you wish then.” He agreed, having expected that. Strong fingers slid deeper into his hair to cup the back of his skull and he closed his eyes and did his best to keep himself calm. As always, the kiss was easy enough to take at first, only a light touch of lips against his. The pressure increased slowly and then deepened until he felt that first touch of a tongue against his. It was easier to meet this time and truly not nearly as bad as the last two kisses he had endured. Even when he had to match the caresses with ones of his own until it was a duel of sorts. He recalled very suddenly as one strong arm went around his shoulders how it had felt to share this with Rick instead and it eased the growing tension some to imagine that instead. There was a surprised sort of groan and then a sigh of breath against his lips as the creature finally broke the kiss with a last surprisingly soft lick against his lips.
“Oh, Ammun have mercy Ardeth do not try me so, Medjai.”
“As if I had any idea how to not do so.” He replied with a sigh of his own.
“Then I am even more thankful for your naivete, Ardeth. Truly. Come now, Medjai we shall go to dinner before I forget myself completely and take all four kisses I have left and damn myself in the doing of it.”
“I shall remind you then that we have to fight tomorrow as allies and I will certainly be shaken beyond that point if you were to do so.”
“As you say.” His host agreed. “Truly you would think I would have learned not to play with fire, would you not, Medjai?”
“As you say.” He agreed.
His host only sighed and then headed down the corridor toward the banquet hall. Ardeth shook his head a bit, not understanding the damned thing in the least.
“At least some things remain constant.” His host chuckled. “Thanks be to Ammun.”
“You are mad you know.”
“At this moment Ardeth, I believe you are right.”
He only asked Allah once more for the patience to see this through and went to join his host for dinner.
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Rick tightened his arms around Evie as they lay there, trying to catch their breath. He kept his eyes closed, but it didn’t work to keep his thoughts under control. It wasn’t fair, to Evie he was sure, that half the time he’d been making love to her for what really could be the last time he kept wondering if Ardeth was okay in Thebes. He was pretty certain Ardeth was right and the damned thing wouldn’t push him too far tonight given that they had to fight Germany tomorrow. But last night had been enough to nearly shatter his best friend and Rick didn’t think either of them was going to be able to cope with to much more of it. If each kiss kept getting worse as Ardeth had said, what the hell was next? There was so much the damned thing could do without actually raping him. And where in hell did the thing draw the line anyway, assuming it kept its word. Perhaps it will not be blood at all I lick from your lips, hmm? He recalled the damned thing saying that all too well. And it had taken everything he’d had not to just swing at the thing. And damn if forcing Ardeth to his knees wasn’t rape in Rick’s book, the same as penetration. God, Allah, Horus please? I want him to be okay. Please?
“I really think that spell will get you to Thebes, love.” Evie said softly, breaking in on the dark horrible images his mind kept coming up with.
“What?” He blinked and then looked down at her, not that he could really see her in the dark tent.
“Rick, you’re tensed nearly to shaking with it, silly. And I know it isn’t because of the battle tomorrow. And Ardeth isn’t here, obviously, so you can’t watch his back. Will you tell me now, love how bad it’s been?”
He swallowed hard. “I don’t know, Evie. I want to, but...”
“But you don’t want to betray Ardeth’s trust in you. I know that, Rick.” She traced some sort of pattern on his chest with one hand. “Tell me why you kissed him then.”
Well it wasn’t like Ardeth could argue that she didn’t have a right to ask that one. “Because if I did, then it kept him from having to kiss someone else.”
“Please, Rick, I’m not that naive. So you kissing him kept Imhotep from trying the same is that it?”
“Yeah.” He agreed with a sigh. “It’s complicated but from Ardeth’s point of view I guess he owes the damned thing some kisses.”
“What?” She pushed herself up a bit and was probably staring at him in shock.
“It was a deal they made...for the tribes.” He muttered. “And I know I’m not supposed to tell you that.”
“For the...oh, gods. He would do it wouldn’t he? Did he bargain more than kisses Rick?”
“I...” He shook his head. “It’s complicated.”
“All right, fine. I can answer that for myself. So, you kissing him kept Imhotep from doing so, is that it?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t not kiss him Evie. I mean I know I should have asked you first. But...I didn’t really think it would come to that so quick you know? And I wasn’t sure how to ask without...breaking his trust.”
“Men.” She muttered but she laid back down and put her head on his shoulder. “So why did you think you kissing him would help anyway?”
“Because...we’ve been kinda letting everyone in Thebes think that we’re– more than friends. It kinda keeps the thing from pushing Ardeth too hard and it seems to make him feel better about the whole mess. So, hell yeah, I’ll play you know? But I guess the thing called my bluff and it was put up or shut up and get out of its way. So...”
“That really wasn’t what I had in mind when I told you to take care of him you know.” She sighed. “Well I know you enjoyed it, because you wouldn’t have worried about asking my forgiveness otherwise. So, did Ardeth?”
And damn but he flushed at that. “Evie....”
“Answer the question, Rick.”
“Yeah.” He mumbled. Because he didn’t doubt that at all.
To his complete surprise she just laughed. “Well good. And that’s what made you think this has the possibility of becoming more than kisses I take it?”
“Kinda, yeah.”
“Do you love him, Rick?”
“It’s not...I mean yeah, he’s my brother, you know that. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had, Evie. But if you mean...do I love him like I love you? No...not exactly.
“Well of course it’s not exactly the same silly. Ardeth and I are very different people. Do you love him enough to be his lover, Rick? If it came to it?”
“Don’t ask me that, Evie.” He winced. Because he’d worked really hard at not thinking about that. Did he love Ardeth enough to make love to him, yeah he knew that. But it wasn’t going to happen because he loved his wife too damned much to lose her. So it wasn’t worth thinking about, because he couldn’t do it.
“Oh, Rick, I’m not asking you to chose between us, love. I’m not letting you go for anything. No matter how much I love Ardeth too. All I need to know, is if it was possible do you love him enough to make it love and not just because you got caught at this game?”
“Will you forgive me if I say yes?”
“Don’t be stupid, now, Rick. Yes, I’ll love you anyway, silly. And it isn’t anything to forgive.”
“Wanting to make love to my best friend isn’t something my wife needs to forgive me for?”
“No. Loving the best friend either of us has ever had enough to want to share his bed, and therefore keep him safe from being raped is nothing I have to forgive you for. But I had to know if it was more than just because of the danger, Rick. He’s too good a friend, too good a part of our family, to play with his heart like that. I might be able to forgive you if you made love to him because you cared enough to keep him safe. But I will not let you break his heart by letting you sleep with him out of pity.”
“Jesus Christ, Evelyn.” He winced. “That’s cold.”
“It’s necessary.” She replied. “Because I’m going to give you my blessing you wonderful fool. In fact I’m going to do more than that, I’m going to tell you right now that if you don’t let yourself love him, and something happens to him I’ll smack you so hard you’ll see stars.”
“What?”
She leaned up again and kissed him. “I love you. I am not going to stop loving you if you make love to Ardeth. In fact, oddly enough, I’m probably going to love you more. So, if you letting yourself love him is what you two need to be safe and sane then for gods’ sake don’t think I won’t love you still or that I’m going to be angry. Well, I’ll pitch Imhotep back into hell myself the bastard but that’s beside the point. Am I getting through that thick skull of yours yet, Rick?”
“Um. Yeah. I...but Evie. I can’t...I mean we’re married. That’s– it isn’t right is it?”
“Oh, to hell with propriety, Rick,this is so far beyond what our marriage vows are supposed to cover. Let me ask you a question and you think about that. If Ardeth loved me enough to sleep with me to keep me safe and sane, and I loved him enough to say yes. Would you hate us both?”
He started to answer that and then closed his mouth and thought through it. Put Ardeth and Evie in the position he and Ardeth were in now. And yeah, it would gall him to death that he hadn’t been able to help, but he wouldn’t hate either of them. Maybe be a little jealous, sure. But that wasn’t the same thing at all. “No, Evie, I wouldn’t.”
“No. So do you think I’m going to just divorce you and take Alex back to England or something utterly vapid like that?”
“No.” He found himself smiling. “So, if I do seduce my best friend I have my wife’s blessing, huh?”
“Well, yes. In fact I think it might be a good idea if you went to check on him in Thebes don’t you?”
“Yeah. I just...don’t know what to say, Evie. How in the world can you love me so much?”
“It just is, Rick. We’ll worry about the why’s and how’s and such when we know we’re all safe. All right?”
And it was his life after all so it was bound to be just that insane. “God but I love you, Evelyn.”
“And I love you Rick. Just come back to me well, and bring him back to us whole, all right?”
“God willing, sweetheart. I don’t know what else to say.”
“Kiss me goodbye?”
So he did, soft and with all the love he knew how to put into it. “Thank you, Evie.”
“Oh hush.” She smiled and then snuggled down to put her head back on his shoulder and traced more patterns on his chest, which he began to wonder might have more meaning than abstract doodles. Then she said something in Egyptian, that he couldn’t follow and he didn’t remember even falling asleep.
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Imhotep watched his guest with some amusement as Ardeth filled himself a plate from the banquet table and then a goblet of karkaday and joined him on the dias, taking the right seat bedside him. “If there is something you wish that is not present Medjai I am certain my cooks will make it for you. They are, I am reasonably sure, overjoyed that you are willing to eat at all.”
Ardeth shook his head, but he smiled just a bit. “There is far more here than I can even begin to enjoy. I should apologize to those who work so hard to prepare it. Truly, I did not mean to insult their work, or annoy them.”
He chuckled. “Only me. I am of course then, flattered once more to be at the center of your concern Medjai.”
A sigh. “As you say. It is after all the fourth pillar of our oath as Medjai to keep you from wreaking havoc on the waking world so there is some truth to it at least.”
He chuckled a bit more. “Shall I swear to you that at this moment, Ardeth, I truly have no desire to wreak havoc anywhere, Medjai?”
“I suppose it would be something. I would of course be happier if you could swear to me that you will not change your mind come tomorrow.”
“I am Ammun’s to command, Ardeth. And while I can not think of a reason he would will me to the waking world for any reason other than to protect Egypt who am I to know the will of the gods? Therefore it is a promise I can not make.”
Ardeth was silent for a long moment, but he could tell that the young man was thinking that through seriously. “As you say. It is not the answer I expected, but it is one I can understand.”
“No doubt. We are both of us now in our own ways warriors of our gods, Ardeth. And defenders of Egypt. I will count myself fortunate that the other gods have chosen such champions as they have. For I can state with certainty that you and your friends are indeed the damndest of foes and therefore I have less concern for the Germans and their machines than I might otherwise.”
Amusement lightened his guest’s dark eyes and then he smiled a bit more. “That is once more a compliment I will take without complaint.”
“So if I wish to flatter you I must do so in terms that expound on how competent and enemy I find you and that your choice of friends and allies is equally annoying? That even I will be hard pressed to do and still manage to make it flattery at all.”
“And did you expect me to somehow be disappointed by that?’ Ardeth asked, but there was real amusement to his voice.
“Not in the least.” He returned with a smile of his own. “Very well then, Abah, I give you that you and your brother, and the Princess are indeed without any question the last people in the worlds I wish to face in battle again, and ones I am more than content to face our mutual enemies with. I and Egypt could do far worse.”
Ardeth shook his head. “You are mad.”
“So we have determined, Ardeth. So we have determined.” He smiled and then watched the dancers for a bit in silence.
“May I ask you a question, Priest of Ammun?” Ardeth said finally, in arabic now.
He raised one eyebrow in curiosity. “If you wish.”
“It is, I suppose, a question of religion actually. If when we face the enemies of Egypt tomorrow, somehow we are all killed, even you. What then will happen to this most wonderful city? And the people who live here?”
That surprised him more than a little. “You surprise me, Ardeth. This is the land of the faithful. Ammun would never be so cruel as to destroy it just because I was not here. However, if I die at Ahm Shere once more, who is to say that I will not simply wake here again?” He shrugged.
“How is it then that I can walk the halls of the Tuat when I am alive and well in Egypt?” His young guest asked.
“For that you would have to ask AmmunRa, Ardeth. I do not have your answer. It is through his grace that I am allowed to bring you here. It is through his mercy that I walk these halls myself. So I can only tell you that I have simply taken it on faith. Surely you of all men can understand that.”
Ardeth sighed. “On that I would agree. May I speak to AmmunRa then, Priest of Thebes, come the dawn?”
“If it will ease one burden from all those you carry, Ardeth, certainly.” He agreed. “Truly your dedication and courage do you credit, Medjai. They always have.”
“In’sh’allah.” Ardeth agreed. “I will have faith that Allah, most merciful, will forgive me for those times when they have not.”
“Has Ammun not told you that you have the blessings of this unhappy god of yours, Ardeth?” He shook his head.
“He has.” Ardeth was silent for a long moment. “I have found it in my heart then, Priest, to be thankful for the great gift you have allowed both my brother and I, in letting us see the glory of Ammun. It is indeed something to be grateful for.”
He chuckled. “You are most welcome, Ardeth Bay.” He took a swallow of his wine and then smiled a bit. “You had best decide if you are going to have something else for Allah to forgive you for, Ardeth. As at the moment at least you have the freedom to share your bed if you wish.”
Ardeth said nothing but there was a studied calmness to his thoughts that did not really hide the sadness around the edges. “She is beautiful.” He smiled a bit.
“Indeed. See what havoc you have wreaked in my world, Ardeth. It is unseemly for the High Priest of AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt, to find himself envying a temple dancer.”
That made his young guest chuckle and it was a warm sound he enjoyed a great deal. “Is it?” He asked finally. “I shall be thankful to Allah for the gift then.”
He chuckled himself. “And here I am being so courteous a host as to not tease you too much about how I wish to have you in my bed instead and you are amused by my embarrassment.”
Another chuckle. “I am amused at your annoyance, yes. I am amused that you find yourself envying Nefshen. And if you are embarrassed or worse by that, Priest of Ammun that is between you, your conscience, and your god of course.”
It took him a long moment to place the reference to his own words when Ardeth had come to Thebes the other night to pay the price for the lives of his tribes. And he had to laugh. “Well played, Ardeth. Well played indeed. I am caught in my own game am I, Medjai?”
“Truly Allah is merciful and his ways are wondrous. I shall thank him at prayers tomorrow for both.” There was a smile to the words.
“As it should be no doubt.” he chuckled a bit more. But he was pleased enough that the exchange had left his young guest with some less weight about his shoulders than he had had before. Truly Ardeth, you are too intriguing for your good or mine, Medjai. I will have faith that Ammun will not let the game end so soon, Ardeth, or be so cruel as to break you with the tasks you have been given. Surely if it were to do so, they would not have wanted to re-fire the blade as Horus said to insure that it would not shatter at all.
Nefshen danced onto the floor and was truly happy to see Ardeth there and even more happy to see that his brother was not. He could hardly fault her infatuation with his young guest, when he desired Ardeth so himself. He chuckled again. Nefshen would probably find that similarity both enjoyable and intriguing. Ardeth looked over at him.
“Do you find Nefshen’s dancing amusing now?”
“Enjoyable certainly but not amusing no. Only that she is such a tiny slip of a woman to be envious of. Beautiful certainly but hardly someone I would normally consider an opponent. Your brother at least I can envy without feeling foolish.”
That got Ardeth to smile a bit, but the same sadness crept back into his thoughts as well. “As you say.”
It took him a long while to get a firm grasp as to the reason behind that. Oh, my young Medjai, you are so very, very new to this are you not, Ardeth? What an ironic thing to have in common now, this desiring of someone we can not have. Your brother is a fool, Ardeth. He should have tumbled you into bed and brought you more pleasure than you have ever known. It would do you good to have something to live for, for a change and not so many things to be willing to die for. So help me I will remind him of that if we are unfortunate enough to lose you tomorrow, Ardeth.
“We face battle and possible death, tomorrow, Medjai. Surely even your unhappy god will not chastise you for taking what pleasure you can on the night before such a day. She desires you, Ardeth. Leave her a fond memory to recall you by.”
“Now you are playing matchmaker?” Ardeth asked in something that combined amusement, disbelief and resignation.
“If I can not have you for myself tonight, Abah, who am I to keep you from what joy you can have? And your bed is still to small for three.”
There was surprisingly little anger or annoyance at the comment only more of that amused resignation coloring the quick prayer to Allah for patience. “Not even if it were to pour rain in Aswan.”
“Pity.” He chuckled. “But for the best perhaps. If the gods were kind enough to grant me my desire, Ardeth I would be hard pressed indeed to want to share your attention with anyone else.”
“You are mad, you know.” Ardeth sighed.
“Yes, Abah, I do believe you are right.” He chuckled again. “But I am enjoying it far to much to change it now.” He turned his attention back to the dance and caught Nefshen’s eyes as she made her way to the dias. She smiled at Ardeth but came to his chair first and ran one finger up his chest, then his neck, up over his chin to his lips.
“Yes Imhotep?” She asked in a soft whisper.
“Be kind to him, Nefshen, we go to war tomorrow, bright daughter of Bastet.”
A sad sigh. “You did not need to ask.”
“It was a wish for a friend, Nefshen, only that.”
“Then it is a kind wish, priest of great Ammun. I hope great Hathor will bring him back to me when the fighting is done.”
“As the gods will it.” He chuckled. “In’sh’allah as our young guest would say.”
She twirled away and then back to Ardeth and arched her back so that her long braids just brushed his legs. “No companion tonight?”
Ardeth smiled just a bit. “My brother is with Nefertiri tonight, Nefshen.”
“That is good.” She straightened and then whirled about in a half dozen circles and ended up facing him to run her fingers along his jaw and then kiss him quickly. He caught her hand and pressed another kiss to the palm when she pulled back.
“Do you think so?” He asked softly.
“If you do not let me go, Ardeth, I will want to prove that to you right here. And we would not want to offend Ammun’s High Priest, hmm?”
“Ammun’s High Priest is likely to offer you advise and want to help.” He grumbled.
And that just set Nefshen into giggles. Imhotep had to laugh himself. “Truly I have found such grace with Hathor and Bastet and have no idea how I have done so.” She flashed him a smile and then kissed Ardeth again, and then twirled her way back to him and much to his surprise kissed him quickly as well. “There.”
He chuckled. “Brave child of Bastet indeed. Enjoy your evening, Ardeth. You are a fortunate man, Medjai.”
“Why thank you, Imhotep.” She laughed and then took one of her bracelets and tossed it to Ardeth with a smile. “Does that mean I may steal your guest then, Priest of Ammun?”
“It is probably best that you do so.” He agreed.
“Then I shall finish this dance and you may send him to join me when you will.” And she twirled back out onto the floor.
“You truly are a lucky man, Ardeth. She is a brave girl, and very beautiful.”
“She is indeed.” Ardeth sighed. “Little though I understand your world, Priest of Ammun.”
“You are learning quickly enough, Ardeth. Finish your meal, Medjai for the sake of my cooks and then I shall consider the banquet over.” He took a long drink of his own wine. “You are far to tempting tonight, Ardeth. And I would leave you with some of your wits for the battle tomorrow.” He switched to Arabic for that. “You need not stay for the rest of the meal, Medjai. I shall throw us one for victory instead.”
“I promised to be a good guest.” Ardeth reminded him quietly. “If I leave so early is that not rude?”
“Not in the slightest.” He disagreed. Ardeth sighed but he was more resigned than anything. “Yes, Abah, I know you find me mad. You are probably right. So enjoy it then silly Medjai and stop badgering your god with prayers for understanding. Save your prayers for tomorrow, Ardeth. Take what joy you can tonight instead.”
Ardeth was quiet as Nefshen finished her dance and left the floor, but he did finish the plate of food he had gotten for himself and another goblet of karkaday as the fire dancers took the floor. “Then I will ask you for the courtesy to wake me in time to speak with Ammun.”
“If you wish, certainly.” He agreed. “Ma Salaama, Ardeth.”
His guest shook his head and then smiled. “Ma Salaama indeed, priest of Ammun.” He rose to his feet and then paused and gave one quick prayer to Allah for forgiveness. “For the life of my nephew, for not driving me mad tonight, and for this most unexpected gift, I am truly thankful Imhotep.”
He smiled. “You are most welcome, Ardeth.” He nodded. “Go on, Medjai, before what patience I have with this game of ours is gone and I kiss you again.”
Ardeth nodded back and he let the young man go.
“I will find such favor with Hathor and Bastet myself Ardeth. Somehow, Medjai, I will do so. Great AmmunRa, you who are lord of all Egypt, grant him safe passage through the battle to come in the waking world tomorrow oh my god. I pray you.”
Duhr:ToC