Duhr
Chapter 12
“Wake up, Medjai.” The arabic was soft but not something he could ignore. He opened his eyes, and took a moment to realize where he was. But the bed was one he had grown increasingly accustomed to. Thebes then. And that brought him fully awake as he placed the voice that had spoken.
His host was standing just beside the bed on his side, and that brought to mind that it was not Rick he was sharing the bed with. Nefshen was sound asleep beside him, curled up against his side in the still dark room. It was an oddly pleasant way to wake up actually, this having someone else in his arms, or being held in theirs.
“It is going to be dawn soon, Ardeth. Let her sleep.” His host said quietly.
“As you say.” He agreed and then slid out of bed and sat up before he thought about the fact that he was wearing nothing at all.
The damned thing chuckled softly but said nothing only turned away. Ardeth could feel himself flush with the embarrassment but he managed to find his robes and dress as silently as he knew how. Then he gathered up his weapons and followed his host into the hall.
A servant was waiting there with coffee and he took a cup thankfully. His host doing the same. “Are you awake now, Ardeth?”
“Yes.” He agreed, still a bit embarrassed.
A chuckle. “Now I will have something to thank Ammun for even this early in the morning, hmm? Truly, Ardeth, you should be thankful to your own god for such a gift of beauty.”
“I am thankful to Allah for many things, priest of Ammun. But if his gift of my appearance is what curses me with your interest I am finding it a very hard gift to be thankful for.”
“Ah, but it also gifts you with Nefshen’s interest and your brother’s desire. Now are those not things to be thankful for indeed?”
Ardeth sighed, and then finished his coffee and took the second cup the servant offered him. “As you say.” He managed to reply finally.
“Come now, Ardeth. It is too early yet to start this game and the day to come holds too much battle already without us trading feints with words. You wished to speak to AmmunRa, and I must see to my god. We have time for both of us to enjoy our coffee and wash quickly. I will even do you the courtesy of leaving you alone to do so. There are clean robes for you in the room that was Nefertiri’s. I will meet you at the end of the hall in a quarter of an hour.”
“Thank you then.” He meant it. He took the coffee with him into the room next to his and did as the creature had suggested, bathing in the cool water waiting for him as quickly as he could. There were indeed clean robes laid out on the bed and he dressed just as quickly before taking another minute to comb out his hair. Then he gathered up his weapons, slipped the now familiar weight of his shield onto his back and went to meet Ammun’s High Priest who was standing at the end of the hall dressed now in the regalia that marked his office.
“With time to spare.” His host smiled.
“I would not want to keep you from your god, Priest of Ammun, nor offend He who is lord of all Egypt. Thank you for the courtesy of letting me bathe, alone.”
The priest of Ammun chuckled. “Tempting as always, Abah, but I would be hard pressed then to keep my mind on the fact that I must see to AmmunRa. You are greatly distracting, Ardeth.”
“I will try to be less so if you will give me some idea how I might accomplish that.”
That made his host laugh. “And where then would be either the challenge of the enjoyment, Ardeth? I would not change you, Medjai. You are far to intriguing as you are. Let us go see my god, Ardeth. Soon enough we shall face his enemies and ours.”
“As you say. Do you know of the time in Ahm Shere?”
“Midnight I would say, just past perhaps. You have a bit yet before prayers.”
“This difference in the time that passes here and the time that passes there is most unnerving.”
“Is it? Does time not normally pass differently when you dream, Ardeth?” They walked out into the great hyperstyle hall and headed for the shrine of AmmunRa.
“It does, but this feels so very much more like reality than dreaming.”
“As it should. In many ways, Medjai this place is far more real than Ahm Shere.”
“It is yet too early to debate religion and I would hate to offend Ammun by quoting the word of the Prophet, may peace be upon him, here within his temple.”
“At least you are a courteous guest to my god, Ardeth. I will give you that.” His host smiled. “You did not bother with your boots.”
“It seemed foolish.”
“Pity.”
He rolled his eyes a bit and cast a prayer eastward for patience once more.
“I must enjoy what parts of watching you undress as I can, Ardeth. Come now, Medjai I let you bathe alone did I not?”
“You did.” He agreed. The priest of Ammun took the headdress and jeweled collar from one of the lesser priests and put them both on, a transformation that still surprised Ardeth a bit by how effective it was.
His host smiled a bit. “You still have so much to learn, Ardeth.” He was not certain he understood the comment and so said nothing in reply. Ammun’s priest went to check the table that had been prepared with the god’s breakfast. And it brought to mind suddenly the smaller shrine of Horus here in Thebes. “Do you see to breakfast for all the gods here, Priest of Ammun? Mut and Sekhmet and Horus and the rest?”
“Mut certainly as her temple is here with Great Ammun’s. And Khefhren’s as his is here, with bright Ammun’s as well. And we leave offerings for those others who have shrines here, but the bright son of Osiris is having breakfast at Edfu no doubt.”
“Truly it is still hard for me to accustom myself to the actual presence of your gods in their houses.”
“The first time Ammun spoke to me, Ardeth I was so much more than shocked. And the first time I saw him it was a wonder I have never lost the joy of. You are a fortunate man indeed, Medjai to see the gods and the land of the faithful while you are yet alive.”
“As you say. I am thankful for the blessings of Ammun and Horus certainly. Allah is most wise and his gifts most wondrous but I am only one Medjai and am baffled as always by his will.”
“That is no doubt as it should be.” His host replied, walking over to the shrine doors. The priest raised both arms bent at the elbows and the doors opened silently without being touched and he followed the High Priest inside, kneeling beside the great boat, well within the brazier light that reflected off the gold. The High Priest went to his knees and pressed his forehead to the ground. And Ardeth could not help but think of how he had bowed in just that manner for all his adult life toward Mecca. His host rose to his knees again as a gong sounded from inside the darkness and there was a rustle of what might have been wings or robes before he began to speak. "Blessed be the void that births all life. Blessed is the Goddess Mut who births the stars in the sky and the Nile that give us life. Blessed is Umat, the father of gods. Blessed is Osiris who rules the next world and blessed oh blessed is his son Horus the Avenging one who freed the world from the jaws of Set. Great Horus grant your father’s father, the sun, freedom once more from the land of your father the Great Osiris. Hail to thee, AmmunRa, lord of all Egypt, King of all the gods of both kingdoms be praised oh my God and alight your barge once more to sail across the sky and light the path of the day. Grant us oh God of Gods another day of paradise unworthy though we all may be. Come, I beseech you in the name of Egypt. Oh my god grant us light."
He closed his eyes to listen, and there was a soft sigh of wind but with no wind at all and from somewhere deep within the darkness light grew and became like bright sunlight in this place where no sun could have entered. He opened his eyes again, keeping them cast down as the wondrous beauty of He who was lord of all Egypt filled the shrine.
"Imhotep." Said that most amazing voice that was nothing like a voice at all. "Arise and give thanks for I have blessed this day and you are once more welcomed in paradise."
The god’s High Priest rose to its feet and then bowed from the waist before straightening and holding out both arms palms up bent at the elbows. "All praise to thee AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt. I am once more your servant in all things. May I serve you this day oh great god?"
"As it has been. As it is. As it shall be." The god answered. "You have pleased me Imhotep and I am well pleased indeed. You will be called upon to prove your loyalty to me and to all of Egypt this day.”
"As you have commanded oh my god."
And then the Ammun turned to look at him. “Greetings to thee, child of Allah. You too face battle later this day, Ardeth. You have done well in preparing your people and yourself for the great fight to come. But one gift we have left for you remains unrealized."
“I am sorry to have failed you, oh great Ammun, but I have no idea where else to search or how to recognize this gift that I do not know.”
“Gifts that have already been given can sometimes be even greater if given to someone else.” Ammun replied. “You will know this gift when it is necessary, Ardeth. I shall see that it is where it must be, when it must be. Allah no doubt will grant you the wisdom to realize it. And therefore will what must be, be.”
He bowed, trying to store the words to memory to think about later. “I came this morning to ask thee a different sort of question than one about fighting, oh Great AmmunRa.”
Those bright gold eyes lightened even more and met his with a smile. “Ask then, Ardeth, for the sake of the bright son of Osiris who aided me this very night in battle once more I will answer his champion if I can.”
“Your High Priest tells to me that this is the land of the faithful, truly it is wondrous beyond my grasp. I am-- only concerned for those here, great Ammun. If we fail in Ahm Shere come the battle-- they will be well here in Thebes will they not?”
“Ah, child, you are Medjai to thy very soul are you not, Ardeth? Still such concern with those you have sworn to defend. Yes, child of Allah, all will be here as it was, and is, and will always be. No matter your battle tomorrow.”
“Thank you.” He answered softly. “Truly, I am unworthy of the wonder of seeing this paradise while I still live.”
“My consort Mut, the most lovely, allows you that passage on my request, Medjai. As she grants all those within your tribes a peaceful rest this night before the battle to come. I shall then, pass your thanks onto her.”
“I would be most grateful.” He bowed again.
And it was more wonder than he knew how to hold that Ammun reached over and placed one warm hand on his head. “Allah is indeed, Ardeth, a most fortunate god to have such a child. My blessings and his to thee today. May he grant you victory.”
“In’sh’allah, I can do no other.” He agreed.
A bright chuckle that cascaded off the shrine walls. “I will take that in the spirt it was meant, Ardeth Bay.” Then the god turned back to his high priest who was still kneeling on the floor.
"Thou has been of great service to me, Imhotep since I called you here. And for that you are welcome among the land of the faithful. But serve me well today Imhotep and I may reward you yet."
"There is no greater reward I could ask for oh my god."
"As I have said to thee before there is always greater reward. But we shall see yet if you earn it. All of Egypt will be damned if you fail."
Sadness and horror in the creature’s eyes that even Ardeth could not doubt in the light of Ammun. "Then I will do all I can to insure that the great gift of the Nile is spared that."
"As you should, We know too well what such darkness holds Priest of Thebes. I am hungry Imhotep and have traveled long to bring light to the two kingdoms. Let me feast and I shall bless you again before you face your battle in the waking world."
"As you will it oh great god." And Ammun’s High Priest stepped aside and the light soared through the door and across the table and then up and then it was gone. The gong stopped suddenly as Ammun’s smile broke across Egypt and there was the brush of sunlit pink to the sky outside the window openings he could see through the doorway.
“Truly, your god is most wondrous, High Priest of AmmunRa.”
“On that we agree whole heartedly, Ardeth.” His host returned. “Come we shall have our breakfast now.”
“As you say.” He agreed. Several servants were just finishing setting up breakfast when they came out into the courtyard. He found a seat on the ground with one of the palm trees behind him and took the cup of coffee he was handed. His host took his own seat and did the same.
“So you have yet to find the last gift left to you by the gods do you Ardeth Bay?”
“It has alluded us so far.” He agreed. “I will have to have faith that we shall find it when we need to. As we have done with all the weapons we have been granted.”
“I am willing to leave it to faith when I must, but I would prefer knowing for certain that such will be the case.”
He smiled a bit. “On that too I would agree.” He sipped his coffee and then got himself a piece of bread with cheese and an egg and was content to sit in the cool morning air and have breakfast. “I shall have to ask Jonathan and Adham what they might have brought with them that they received as gifts at some point. Perhaps they will recall something unusual after all.”
“Not all of the weapons you have been granted are all that easy to view as weapons after all, Ardeth. There are the scepters you and your brother have and Nefertiri’s mask to name the three most obvious ones. And while we know the great books to be weapons in their own rights they do not appear dangerous to look at.”
“There is truth to that.” He agreed. “Perhaps I need to simply ask them for anything they have that might be from ancient Egypt and then see if I can figure out what it is I am supposed to be finding.”
“Ammun said he would have it where it would be needed. You must then have faith that Allah will grant you the wisdom to recognize it.”
“I do not lack faith in Allah. But I would wish I knew for certain I would not fail him.”
His host sighed and shook his head a bit. “How can a man who leads so many men ready to follow him onto death have so little faith in himself?”
“Did we not disagree on this once before? I am honored to have such wonderful people to lead not the other way about.”
“As you say, Ardeth. We have disagreed on this before.”
“We have.” He agreed.
“Where is your brother, Medjai?” Tahiri asked as she poured him more coffee.
“With Nefertiri no doubt.” He smiled a bit, finding it easier this morning to not miss his brother’s company quite so much.
“That is good. Will you give our greetings to the Princess when you see her next, Medjai?”
“Of course.” He agreed.
“Will you speak to the other women, Tahiri and ask if any of them knew Tetnuhether, Nefertiri’s mother? She was asking me of that the other day.”
“Certainly.” Tahiri agreed. “Perhaps Sepnet might.”
“Thank you.” Ardeth smiled and then glanced back at his host. “It was kind of you to remember that request amongst all that transpired in Ahm Shere yesterday.”
“Nefertiri and I are rarely civil to each other, Ardeth. So it is no real surprise I can recall to mind when we have been.” There was an odd sadness to the smile.
“No doubt the fact that you saved her son’s life might change that a bit.” He pointed out.
His host shook his head with a sigh. “Does saving the life of her son somehow make her hate me less for the death of her father? No, Ardeth. I expect very little I can do will ever appease the Princess. And perhaps in fact that is how it should be. She was always a dedicated and dutiful daughter.”
“It is very hard for me most days to reconcile the woman I know in Ahm Shere with someone who walked this place when it was the waking world.” He looked out over the courtyard.
“Truly she seems even more stubborn in Ahm Shere than I recall her being and I did not think that possible.” His host chuckled. “And she has raised a brave, smart, and courageous son. I doubted she would ever even marry in Memphis. Although no doubt her father or her brothers would have arranged for her to wed someone for an allegiance. She would have liked Assyria I think. Or she may have joined the priesthood. I would ask but it would only remind her of my curse and the reason behind it and I have no desire to create more animosity between us before we face the enemies of Egypt as allies.”
“There is logic in that.” He agreed.
“Tell me of these tribesmen of yours I met yesterday. Truly I had not expected any of your tribe to be taller than I am, Ardeth.”
He smiled and refilled his coffee cup. “Adham is very tall indeed.” He agreed. “He is the leader of the ninth tribe. His father Galal married my aunt so we are cousins. Selim is leader of the Seventh tribe and also my uncle. Truly, I could not ask for better men to fight beside or be related to. Their tribes are truly fortunate in leaders.”
“They seemed like good men. Your uncle worries a great deal for you while you are here in Thebes. I think he has it in his mind that I am boiling you in oil or some such each night and you are being stoic.”
Ardeth had to chuckle. “My uncle is overly optimistic at my ability to be brave or stoic then. I shall reassure him once more that I am well. I would have no more animosity between you and my tribesmates than there must be for now.”
“It must amuse both our gods to no end, Ardeth to have us be allies when you have all been raised from birth to consider me your enemy.”
“There may be some truth to that.” He agreed. “I am trying to find some way in my mind to separate the High Priest of Ammun at Thebes that was from the creature at Hamanaptura. Then perhaps I can find a way to face this new alliance with less trepidation.”
“Have you succeeded yet?” His host asked.
“Not fully, no. But it is worth trying and very little in the world that is worth doing is done without practice.”
“As you say. You have not called me creature but once this visit after all.”
“I am saving it for later to annoy you.” He smiled just a bit.
And his host only laughed. “Now that I believe, Medjai. I do indeed. Come we will take our coffee inside and I shall see if you have leaned anything in playing Hounds and Jackals yet.”
“There are certainly worse ways to spend a morning.” He agreed.
“Alas, while I would enjoy lazing about here in the sun and shade and drinking coffee all day I would find myself hard pressed to keep my promise to not press you to hard with our game before we battle Germany.”
He rolled his eyes a bit. “Then by all means let us go inside and play a different game, priest of AmmunRa.” He rose to his feet. His host chuckled but did the same and Tahiri picked up the coffee pot to follow them.
“Would that I could get you to let me rub your shoulders while you laid in the shade, Ardeth. That might just be worth facing battle for you know.” His host smiled a bit, but as with most of the teasing today he kept it to arabic so that Tahiri and the others could not understand. It was at least something to be thankful for that he was not embarrassed to badly in front of those he had come to know here.
“You will have to content yourself with fighting for Egypt because it is the will of Ammun.” He shrugged a bit.
“Pity.”
“Shall I bother to remind you that you are mad?”
“Today as yesterday, Ardeth I find myself thinking much the same thing.”
He looked over at his host and therefore missed the small child who came running down the steps until the last moment. “Mama!” The little girl was sobbing. He tried to step around her, she tried to duck around him and started to tumble head over heels down the stairs with a scream. Somehow, he managed to get a hold of one small arm and pull her back around and toward the man beside him but it cost him his own footing and he stumbled back into Tahiri and then fell hard onto the stone steps, trying to keep the young woman from taking to much of the fall herself. Somehow, thanks be to Allah, they found themselves half way down the stairs and still breathing.
“Ardeth?” His host’s voice was sharp.
“Tahiri?” He asked himself, trying to disentangle himself from the woman.
“Nefren?” Tahiri pushed away from him as well and then took the young girl into her arms. He relaxed a little realizing that she and the little girl were well.
“Are you all right, Ardeth?” His host knelt beside him. ‘That was a fine rescue, Medjai but you almost killed yourself before the battle even starts today.”
He nodded. “I noticed that.” He sat up, realizing two things at once as he did. Most of the coffee Tahiri had been carrying was spilled all over him and the stairs and it was hot enough to burn even through his robes. And his shoulder where he had taken most of the fall hurt far more than was good.
“Truly, Ardeth you are the damndest guest. I was teasing about seeing you undressed once more, silly Medjai but I would have it be for better reasons. Take this off and let me see how badly you are scalded and if anything is broken so that I might yet have you whole to fight beside.” His host touched the sleeve of his robe with a small smile but there was concern to the voice none the less.
He sighed and found the ties with a wince and then fumbled with them one handed.
“Oh for Ammun’s sake, Ardeth. I will behave myself, Medjai, my word to my god.” The priest of Ammun sighed. But the hands that eased the shield from his shoulders and then much to his complete embarrassment undid the lacings with ease were surprisingly gentle. “You will live, Ardeth. Truly, I would like for once to be able to enjoy the opportunities the gods give me to undress you, Medjai.”
“I would be happier if they will stop giving you them at all.” He replied, but it was not nearly so bad as he had expected to have the creature’s help in easing the now sodden robe off his sore shoulder.
“Broken is a better term, Ardeth.” There was concern there again. “You have cracked a bone or two I am certain.”
“I am so sorry, Ardeth.” Tahiri put in quietly. “Thank you so much for saving Nefren.”
“I am glad she is well.” He found the Egyptian. “And you?”
“Fine.”
“Take the child inside and see to whatever upset her so, Tahiri and send someone with some cool water to our guest’s room.” The High Priest ordered and helped him cautiously to his feet. “I will see what I can do for your shoulder, Ardeth.” He offered.
“I will need to be able to fight soon.” He agreed. And it was not so bad to let his host help him up the rest of the stairs and then down the hall to his room. He managed to pull the rest of his weapons from his belt and set them aside as Ammun’s priest set the shield of Horus down as well. Then he got the sash undone and let it and his robe fall to the floor. At least he had not needed help with that one.
“It is too bad Nefshen is not still here to help you with that.” His host teased.
“As you say. I would be most glad to see her right now.” He admitted.
“Sit, Ardeth. You are safe enough for the moment, Medjai I mean you no harm.”
He did as requested, wincing a bit despite himself.
“Here, give me your hand again, Ardeth, we have done this before have we not?” His host held out his own hand and Ardeth raised his own to let him grip his wrist and then place his other hand on the wounded shoulder. He clenched his teeth at the very light pressure but managed to keep silent. “You are brave indeed, Medjai.” There was more gentleness to the words than he expected. Then the creature closed his eyes and seemed to summon that same concentration he had used with Alex the day before and Ardeth could feel things within his shoulder simply right themselves and the pain eased to a slight ache. “There.”
He moved his shoulder a bit to test it and found no pain at the movement. “Thank you.”
His host smiled. “Would my name be so hard to manage, Ahba?”
He cast a quick prayer to Allah for forgiveness. “For allowing me to face battle whole? No. Very well then, thank you Imhotep.”
“You are more than welcome, Ardeth.” The strong fingers tightened on his shoulder and then released him. “There is your cool water. I do not think you are scalded too badly though.” His host went over to the door and surprised the servant there by opening it before the woman knocked. He brought the jug and a cloth back to Ardeth and then wet it and handed it to him. “There.”
Ardeth took it with a sigh but placed it over the worst of the scalds on his right arm. His host went over to the chest against the wall and then came back with a jar of ointment and set that down as well. “Thank you.”
“You may not think so in a moment or two.” His host smiled and then took some of the ointment and gave Ardeth no real time to object before moving behind him to smear the stuff across the worst of the scalds on the back of his right shoulder.
He shuddered just a bit, despite himself. “Stop that.”
“And leave you blistered when you must carry weapons and armor to battle in a handful of hours? No. You are a brave man, Ardeth Bay you can survive I do not doubt. Now be quiet or I will let myself enjoy this and annoy your brother when he arrives by telling him I did so.”
Ardeth forced down a deep breath and kept himself still despite the very real urge to simply strike out. “You-- will break your promise-- if you continue that.”
“Calm yourself, Ardeth. I promised not to press you too hard with my desire for you. At the moment this is not about desire at all, Medjai. Only one champion of Egypt ensuring that the other is well enough to fight later today. Truly, Ardeth I mean you no harm.”
He managed another deep breath and then found a portion of the Koran to repeat to himself until he could indeed calm himself some. But the creature was true to its word and the very strong hands that rubbed the soothing ointment into the scalded areas along his shoulder and back were gentle and not teasing at all. He took another deep breath and then sighed. “I do not understand you.”
“No Ardeth, I know that. Sometimes I am no longer certain I understand myself. Relax now, champion of Horus, we are too close to battle for me to risk more to this game of ours even when I desire to do so.” There was a tone to that voice he could not place now and then the strong hands squeezed his shoulders. “There you see, I got my wish did I not? I should have been more specific when I said I wished I could rub your shoulders as your brother did, Ardeth. And here once again you manage to gift me with the very thing I desire and I must keep myself from enjoying it. Do you have the slightest idea how annoying that is?”
He found himself smiling a little despite himself. “Truly? I will thank Allah again then.”
“No doubt, Medjai. But once more your courage and bravery have done you well and you have survived admirably. I will even, Ammun I trust knows how this costs me, let you tend the rest yourself. Now is that not being a kind host?”
He shook his head. “You are far more than mad.”
“Too keep my hands from you when I wish greatly to do otherwise? Yes. You are probably right.” The creature chuckled again. “Stop that, Ahba.” There was amusement to the voice. “When this battle is done, Medjai you shall have another tattoo to add to your chronicle of faith and obedience to your god. So many invocation of protection. Are the ones in arabic more of the same?” One finger pressed against the tattoo on his right shoulder.
“They are the qualities Allah finds pleasing in a warrior and therefore both a request for his strength in obtaining them and a promise to do my best to achieve them. Strength, obedience, compassion, faith, courage.” He cataloged some of his tattoos. “They are rights of passage, and testaments to survival, and demonstrations of faith.”
“Ah. An odd practice you Medjai have always been fond of. But for all our sakes I shall hope this one is true.” That finger traced the one between his shoulder blades.
“Victory I will be thankful for indeed. But I will be even more thankful if you will stop that. You are not seeing to my injury now.”
A chuckle. “No. That is true. Now I am teasing you.” But the damned thing only stroked its hand across his shoulders again and got to its feet. “I will grant you that at the moment I deserve that. Truly, Ardeth, it is far too likely that I might never again have the chance to do this, can you truly blame me then for enjoying your company and the chance to tease you? Be thankful I do not ask for another kiss and have you beneath me in your bed, only half dressed, hmm?”
He shivered just a bit. “Would it matter to you that I would truly hate that?”
“Would you believe me if I said yes? You will notice I said to be thankful I was not going to do that, not that I would.” The smile was less teasing now, almost sad.
“As you say.” He sighed. “Once again, I do not understand you.”
“No, Ardeth, I doubt you do. I will go and get us karkaday and coffee and we can try our hands at a different game, Ardeth.” And then the priest of Ammun walked back out into the hall and closed the door behind him.
“Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim.” He muttered to himself but he finished putting the ointment on those burns that seemed even slightly likely to blister and then got himself another robe to dress in. He had just finished retying his sash when his host returned with another servant carrying a pot of coffee and a jug of karkaday. They were set on the table and the coffee soaked robe taken to be laundered. His host pulled out the Hounds and Jackals board and they managed two games in relative peace.
“I must see to my god’s midday, Ardeth. Will you join me in the courtyard for lunch later?”
He shrugged. “Certainly. Is Tahiri’s little girl all right? I did not even know she was married.”
“She is not. Technically she is widowed I suppose. Her husband did not pass the test of the faithful.”
Ardeth shuddered a bit. “And will her daughter be forever a child then?”
“Considering the little one was not a year old when she came to be in the land of the faithful I doubt that. There would not be much of paradise for her then would there, Medjai?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I will join you for lunch, priest. Will you do me the courtesy of finding out if the little one is all right?”
“Certainly.” His host agreed.
He went out to the balcony and watched the women and children below for a bit.
“You okay?”
He started despite himself as Rick’s hand clasped his shoulder. “You startled me.”
“Sorry.” His friend’s hand tightened. “You okay?” He repeated.
“I am fine.” He reached up and gripped Rick’s hand with his and smiled at his friend. “Truly. Well other than some slight burns where Tahiri spilled a pot of coffee all over me, but that is hardly what you meant.”
“Well no, not exactly.” Rick agreed. “You didn’t get burnt too bad did you?”
“No. Come I will tell you of my night and day in Thebes then and you can see if you can make more sense of Ammun’s words than I did.”
"That's not real likely, but I'll give it a try. Maybe you can ask Evie when we wake up in Ahm Shere."
"If we can not make sense of the meaning certainly I will ask Evelyn, and Sallah, and Adham and Jonathan no doubt since they are the ones who must have this gift we are trying to find."
"Did Ammun give you any idea about the battle tomorrow?" Rick poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down.
"No. Except that it is to come around noon. Apparently these Germans do not have sense enough to fight early in the morning or late in the day."
"Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun." Rick smiled a bit. "And Germans apparently."
"As you say." He shook his head but sat down as well and sipped his own drink. "So, I came to Thebes last night here in the land of the faithful and truly our most unexpected ally has been a reasonable host for my visit. I was a well mannered guest at the banquet and he managed to not tease me overly much. He even ended the banquet early for my sake." He smiled a bit, despite the flush he could feel warm his face. "Or for Nefshen's perhaps I am uncertain as to which the gift was intended for."
Rick chuckled a bit, and then reached over to clasp his shoulder. "Them I'm not sorry I wasn't here to guard your back."
He wondered for just a moment, despite himself what it might have been like to spend the night with his friend instead of Nefshen and then pushed the thought aside. It would not happen and letting himself think on it would only make it worse. He is your brother, and the fact that he is willing to bear so much for you and your people does not mean he desires you, fool. He is well married to the most amazing woman in the world. Do not be more of a fool than you already are. "As you say." He took a swallow of his coffee. "Our host was kind enough to wake me before dawn as I had asked so that I might speak to AmmunRa. And he told to me that the gift we are searching for has already been given to someone else but not to the person who should be wielding it. I suppose we shall have to ask Adham and Jonathan if they have any received any gifts from somewhere down the Nile and see if that helps us determine what it is we search for. Ammun also said that he would insure that this last object was where it would need to be when we needed it and trust us to have the sense to recognize it. I do not doubt the first but I would feel better about the second if I had some idea what it is I am searching for."
"You and me both, Ardeth." Rick shook his head. "Guess we make do with what we have, huh?"
"In'sh'allah." He agreed. "Then the priest of Ammun and I had breakfast and I managed to hold my own somewhat in this game it plays. We had started up the stairs to get out of the growing heat and find a Hounds and Jackals board when there was the accident with Tahiri and her daughter that caused the burns I mentioned, and cracked my shoulder rather badly as well. I am fortunate that our host was considerate enough, and concerned for the battle to come enough to heal it for me."
"Damn it Ardeth why do you always leave out the important things or leave them to last? You okay?" Rick's hand squeezed his shoulder, but it was a gentle grasp.
"I am fine, my friend. Truly. It was painful but as I said it is already healed. Ammun's priest has gone to see to the god's midday and I was watching the women and children below when you arrived. That is all."
"Uh huh. No kisses?"
He sighed. "One, last night, which was not nearly so unpleasant as the last two have been."
"Leave anything else important out?" Rick met his eyes seriously. "Please?"
"He helped me put some ointment on my shoulder where the coffee scalded it, but truly he did not even tease me with the doing. Only threatened to tell you he had done so if I did not stop insulting him and let the burns be tended."
"Uh huh." Rick shook his head. "Want to swear that to Allah for me, Ardeth?"
"If you need me to." He smiled. "Have more faith in me, Rick."
"In most things I couldn't have more faith in you than I do, Ardeth. In this? Nope. You're too damn likely to try and make light of it, especially now."
"Then I swear it to Allah I have told you everything that occurred between the creature and I. All right?"
"Yeah." Rick's eyes lightened some. "You're sure your okay, with your shoulder and all I mean? How bad did you get burnt if you had to have salve for it?"
"Scalded, nothing more. I will not blister I do not think." He shrugged.
"Humor me?" Rick got to his feet.
"I am not a child, Rick. I can judge for myself if I am in need of nursing or not." The words came out sharper than he'd meant them.
"Uh huh. Damn but I knew I should have been here. What happened, Ardeth?"
"Nothing. I am-- frustrated and annoyed and far too concerned for the battle we face in a few hours. Nothing happened. Allah have mercy, Rick, leave it be."
"If you can tell me honestly that you'd leave me be if our positions were switched, sure, Ardeth. No problem."
He stood up and walked back out to the balcony with a sigh. It was no surprise that Rick followed. But he did not press or make any move to pull Ardeth away from the railing and face him. "I am being a spoiled child, my friend, truly. A grown man should have more control than this, and more concern for his friends. Is Evelyn all right?"
"Evie? She's fine. We're sound asleep. Well I'm pretty sure she's sound asleep too."
"Good." He looked out to where he could see the Nile glittering in the distance. And he recalled what the creature had said last night about envying Nefshen. What did it mean then that he could have so easily envied Evelyn? Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim. Oh, most merciful, have pity on your child. I do not understand this feeling. I do not know how to keep it buried in my heart so that my brother does not worry so. I know I can not have what I desire, truly I understand that, I only wish for a way to put it aside so that it does not color what I do.
"Ardeth." Rick's voice was as gentle as he had ever heard it, and the hand that so hesitantly touched his hair was just as gentle. "Please? Don't do that?"
He had not even realized he had closed his eyes, much less that he was leaning on both hands against the railing his head bowed. He took a deep breath and then straightened to look at his friend. "Truly, no harm done my friend. He has not pressed me even as much as he normally does with this game he plays. I am only-- finding myself hard pressed to find hope that we will all survive tomorrow. And, for once, I am wishing I had heeded my tribesmates and married younger. Is it wrong to envy those in my tribe who are fortunate to have wives and children to remember them if they perish tomorrow?"
"No, Ardeth, it isn't. Don't be silly. Tell me what's wrong?"
He sighed. "If I knew what was wrong Rick I swear it to Allah I would tell you. I am only, very out of sorts. Perhaps I shall pray a while to Allah and see if that clears my mind any. Shall I swear it to you again my friend? I am well. I have not been harmed. I did not spend the night in his bed nor he in mine. No barter made or promise kept. Only one kiss and a few caresses. I swear it all to Allah."
"Okay then, I'll believe you." Rick nodded. "But when you figure it out let me help?"
"If I can think of a way you can help my friend. I will tell you."
"All right then." Rick squeezed his shoulder tightly and then pulled him close for a moment, and it was so very hard not to lean into that strength and enjoy it. He only hugged his brother back quickly and then released him. Rick sighed and went back inside but it was obvious he was still concerned. Ardeth knelt and faced the Nile and further on to Mecca and prayed for understanding and strength once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rick flipped through Ardeth's copy of the Koran absently and sipped his coffee. He could recall his mother's old habit of letting the bible fall open to whatever page it wanted to and taking that as a way for God to give her some insight into a problem. He wasn't having any such luck with the Koran though.
"O'Connell." The creature's voice startled him a bit. "Where is your brother?"
"Praying." Rick answered coldly. "Maybe you want to tell me what the hell you did to him that tore him up like that, bastard? Just so I know why I'm breaking my word to your god and blowing you to bits you understand?"
The damned thing sighed. "My word to Ammun, O'Connell I have not harmed him. Truly, he seemed well enough when I went to see to Ammun's midday." The thing shrugged. "He was a bit annoyed at my teasing but even that seemed almost to amuse him as much as it annoyed him. He has been in an odd humor ever since he arrived." Another shrug. Then the dark eyes closed and it was obvious he was thinking pretty intensely about something before he smiled. "Ah, sometimes I forgot how very-- naive your brother is, O'Connell. I had thought his night with Nefshen might have helped some, but I see it did not."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"He is unaccustomed yet to desire, O'Connell. Surely you know that? Nefshen is not and she thoroughly enjoyed sharing your brother's bed and bringing him pleasure."
"She tell you that?" Rick had to ask, not liking the condescending tone one bit.
"She did not have to tell me. Do you suppose if I can pull your and your brother's thoughts from the air and walk unseen through Ahm Shere despite all the Medjai gathered there that I could not check on my most charming young guest and see if he was enjoying his night or not?"
And damn but it was hard not to just gut the damned thing right there. "You son of bitch."
"As you say." The smile was cold now. "So your brother is now less unaccustomed to desire and he finds himself wondering what other pleasure might be found in life." The smile was as taunting as the voice. "You are a fool, Rick O'Connell truly, you should have given him a night of joy in your arms warrior, it might have convinced him there was something worth living for and not quite so much worth dying for." The thing leaned closer, one hand on each of the chair arms and Rick found himself easily pinned to the chair. "Now you will never know that joy, and neither will your brother."
"What did you do to him?" He could hear the growl in his own voice and it would be so easy to just reach for the sword he wanted.
"Nothing at all. You have my word to AmmunRa, He who is Lord of all Egypt." The dark eyes that met his were suddenly not taunting at all, only shockingly sad. "But Ammun tells me that more than one of us will be walking the halls of Anubis soon, O'Connell. So very likely warrior he is lost to us both. Now is that not a bitter irony indeed? I am hard pressed indeed not to claim all four kisses he yet owes me and damn myself in the doing. And then he will be too shaken to fight the Germans and then Egypt will be damned as well. And that I will not do. I will see you both in Ahm Shere, warrior. You may tell him I said so."
And the weight that held him pinned to the chair was gone and the damned thing only strode out of the room and was gone as well. And it was a while before Rick could get up and go out to the balcony and check on Ardeth. His brother was kneeling facing east so he waited until Ardeth straightened to interrupt. "The damned thing came by and said it had things to take care of and would see us at Ahm Shere." He said finally.
"You could have told me he was here." Ardeth sighed but rose to his feet.
"He didn't stay long and I didn't want to interrupt your prayers. Allah have any answers?"
"I do not know that there are any to be had. But I am a bit more at peace with myself so that is good. Do you wish to stay here then or shall we go and find ourselves some lunch?"
"I'm not really hungry." Rick shook his head. How the hell do I tell you one of us is going to die tomorrow, Ardeth? Maybe both of us? Would it do any good to say anything at all? "There's still coffee and karkaday. You want to teach me some more about Hounds and Jackals?"
"It is a way to pass the time." Ardeth smiled, but it didn't light his eyes much.
"I know you said it wasn't a bad night in Thebes. And I'm glad you got to see Nefshen again, Ardeth. But I wish I could have been here with you." He meant it.
"And not spend the night with your wife?" Ardeth shook his head. "I am not that foolish my friend. It is good of you to come check on me at all and not spend the whole night holding her to you."
"Yeah well, how about I wish I could have done both , okay?"
"As you say. Thank you then for the thought. You are, as always, so much more than a good friend to me, Rick."
I wish I could have been, Ardeth. I really do. Rick had never been one for regretting missed chances or dwelling too long on what wasn't and couldn't be but for that moment it stung badly. I hope whoever your aunts find you to marry is a really great woman, Ardeth. You deserve someone like that. Allah has to know that. And so help me if the damned thing hurts you if I’m dead I’ll figure out a way to come back myself and make him pay for it.
"What is wrong, my friend?" Ardeth asked, so something must have shown in his eyes.
"Your mood is catching that's all. Thinking about what might have been and missed chances and stuff like that." He shrugged. "Nothing that does any good."
"As you say. We will do the best we can with the battle to come and trust in Allah for its outcome, Rick. We can do nothing else."
"In'sh'allah." He agreed. "Hell, I'm not going to get to do this in Ahm Shere before we start the fight that's for sure." He put his hands on both of Ardeth's shoulders and squeezed tightly. "You may think I've been a really good friend to you, Ardeth. And you keep telling even the gods that you don't think you could find a better man to fight beside than me. Well that's mutual you know. You are the best friend I've ever had and there is no body else I would follow into hell okay?"
"As you say." Ardeth flushed a bit. "Come now, you will have us planning our own funerals next. Allah willing I will still get to throw you that party I owe you, hmm?" But he clasped Rick's shoulders in return.
"That'd be nice." He found a smile. "But just in case." He pulled his friend close and let himself kiss him. Really, truly kiss him and enjoy it. He was expecting Ardeth's surprise but not the sudden strong push away so that he could break free of Rick's grip and step back a bit. "Ardeth."
"No." Ardeth shook his head once. "Please, Rick, do not do that now."
"Why not?" He wasn't sure what else to ask.
Ardeth sighed and then muttered something that wasn't in a language Rick knew. "Because I am not so strong as you think I am."
"I thought you said you were okay."
"Bis’mil’Allah. I am fine. Will you leave me with no dignity at all, Rick? We go to battle in a few hours. You are sound asleep in your wife's arms. I can not afford to jeopardize our friendship now, but Allah knows I am only human, my friend I..."
Your brother finds himself wondering what other pleasures might have been found in life. He could recall the creature's words too clearly. "I know that, Ardeth." He smiled, but he didn't doubt it didn't light his eyes much either. "And believe me, Evie is not going to mind that I kissed you. I’m not saying we should fall into bed right this second. It’s just... I wanted to leave you with something nice to remember or that I can call that to mind tomorrow if I have to."
Ardeth's eyes lightened some and he smiled back just as sadly. "A fond memory then?"
"Just in case we need one, yeah."
And Ardeth pulled him close this time and kissed him. Gentle at first and then deeper, and he let his friend set the pace until he just couldn't be passive any more and he had Ardeth pulled close against him, one hand buried in his hair the other clutching a handful of his robes. Ardeth's arms were around him as well and it was a long hot nearly mindless duel of tongues and breath until he finally broke away to gasp in breath. "Oh God."
"Bis’mil’Allah." Ardeth muttered, gasping himself. And he was flushed and flustered, and there was so much heat and more to the dark eyes that Rick only gave a quick thought to his own promise of self-control and kissed him again. Ardeth moaned, his arms tightening around Rick sharply but he didn't try to break the second kiss either. And the strong almost desperate embrace felt too damned good to worry about and so did the kiss. It had been a hell of a long time since he kissed someone he couldn't just pick up and carry to bed and he really wished he could but somehow he backed them up without breaking the kiss until finally they were back in the shadowed room. It took another long hot slide of tongues and gasps for air and a soft desperate groan from Ardeth before he could get them to the bed though. “Rick...” Ardeth gasped his name against his lips and he pulled away just a bit to meet his friend’s eyes, one hand still tangled in the dark hair his other arm around Ardeth’s waist.
“Yeah.” He didn’t know what Ardeth was asking him for, but he’d do it. Didn’t matter what it was at this moment. He smiled a little and then kissed him again. This time Ardeth just shuddered and the soft groan was deeper, which was an added joy itself. And damn it all that was the sort of kiss Ardeth deserved, not whatever hell he was going to have to endure if Rick was gone. Will he leave you be if your mourning me, Ardeth? Will that do? He pulled back finally. “More?” He had to ask something like permission after all.
“I...yes, please.” Each word was a gasp.
“Sit down.” He brought his arm from around Ardeth’s waist to put his hand on his shoulder and push him lightly onto the bed. And it was somehow even better when Ardeth didn’t even blink, only smiled just a bit and then pulled him close for another kiss. And it was so easy to just let himself press his friend back to the soft mattress. Ardeth groaned, his hands tightening desperately on Rick’s shirt. “Okay?” He pulled away a little, remembering suddenly how the damned thing had done just about the same thing the night before.
“Yes. More?”
He groaned himself at that soft low whisper. “Sure.”
Ardeth pulled him back down, and it was so good to simply let him take the kiss for a change. Hunger and joy and pleasure making up for the inexperience. Then again he really didn’t have that much experience at kissing other guys himself. Kissing hadn’t been high on his priority list most times he’d shared a quick fumble with friends when there wasn’t a woman around for miles or days. Other things had been more important then. Now it was enough to take his time and thoroughly enjoy every kiss. Ardeth deserved more than a quick tumble anyway. And that brought to mind suddenly, coldly, that they didn’t even have the time for that. He groaned and took control of the kiss back from his friend, making it everything he could. Deep and slow, long and gentle, coming as close to making love as he knew how with only that much contact between them. Slowly, he softened it again and then worked back to a few quick hot gasps of air against his friend’s lips and then a final slow lick of his tongue against Ardeth’s bottom lip and he pulled back.
“God, Ardeth, that was-- perfect.” He traced one hand along his friend’s jaw, the other still tangled in his hair. Ardeth lay still, his breathing ragged and his skin flushed. And it was so very hard not to kiss him again. Down his throat maybe, undo his robes and slide his hands over the hard muscles underneath with passion and not just trying to ease pain. Oh, God this was going to be so hard to live with if he wound up the one who had to carry the regret. “Habib?” He tried the word softly. Yeah and if wishes were horses, O’Connell, you’d have a herd fit for the Caliph of Baghdad.
Dazed brown eyes met his after a moment and then Ardeth smiled, and it was such an odd smile. But it reminded him of how very young his friend was in so many ways. “Perfect is not close to how wonderful that was.” Ardeth whispered finally. “Can we do it again?”
“Mmm, I want to, but we’re going to get woken up in Ahm Shere any minute with our luck.”
Ardeth closed his eyes with a sigh. “Then I will have something to thank Allah for.”
“Oh hell, Ardeth, you’re on good terms with gods right? Can they give us another few hours?” He was almost serious.
“That would truly be a miracle would it not? Let us enjoy what we have, and be thankful, Rick. It is all I know to do.”
It isn’t going to be enough. He kissed him again instead of speaking because otherwise he was going to say something about how this was all they were going to get and Ardeth did not need that burden on top of everything else he was carrying already. Lighter kisses now, to tease and make them both smile. Ardeth was a quick learner in the idea and before long Rick was enjoying himself enough to not even try to think past the moment. Ardeth muttered something finally and then kissed him fully, hot and desperate all over again and it was so easy to fall into that. He tried to find some few pieces of his own self-control, but they seemed way too elusive and then he didn’t want to find them at all. It was enough to just kiss him back and to hell with the whole mess. Ardeth broke the kiss finally with a gasp and then traced Rick’s jaw with one hand.
“This...can not...be comfortable for you. Come here?” Ardeth moved back onto the mattress some more and Rick didn’t argue only kissed him again and rolled them both over and more fully onto the bed as well. It felt really odd to be lying on his back with Ardeth’s full weight against him, but it didn’t feel bad at all. So, he didn’t let it bother him any either. More long hot kisses that somehow flowed between one and the next, both of them growing more used to the feel until it seemed to some part of Rick’s brain anyway that they’d been doing this forever. He rolled them over again, and let himself kiss Ardeth like he had earlier, trying his best to make that kiss a substitute for all the lovemaking they weren’t going to get to do. Ardeth moaned, a low rich sound that might have been his name and tried to return the kiss as well. Rick groaned, pressing harder against his friend and not trying to disguise the desire any. Finally, he gentled the kiss again and raised himself up on his arms to meet his friend’s eyes. He took another kiss and then pulled back to look down at his friend.
“How come I’m dressed here when I wasn’t when I feel asleep?” He had to ask, as Ardeth’s hands stroked hesitantly down his back.
“I do not know.” Ardeth’s hands gripped his shirt again to pull him into another kiss.
It took him a long moment to put the sound he heard into context and then he just buried his face against Evie’s hair and held her tighter. “Yeah, okay, we’re awake.” He growled out the words to whoever was scratching at the tent flap to wake them.
“Rick? Is everything all right?” Evie rolled over to look at him.
“Yeah, it is. Everything was fine when I got there.” He managed, because he really couldn’t begin to talk about anything right now. Evie thank God must have heard what he couldn’t say in his voice and only snuggled closer and didn’t ask anything else. He laid there and held her close in the cool before dawn darkness and waited until he could get control or everything again enough to let go. Then they got up and washed off and got dressed. He caught her eyes as they each finished putting their usual weapons away. “I love you, Evelyn O’Connell.”
“And I you, Rick.” She smiled a little sadly. “Do you need to go check on Ardeth?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Another couple hours and yeah, you would have had something to forgive me for. But-- it isn’t going to happen now. Let’s just go get this over with so we can come back here and I’ll show you how much I love you for it all okay, Evie?”
“Will you tell me what happened when we have a chance, Rick?”
“Yeah. I will. Which reminds me Ammun says the Germans will be here about noon.” He remembered that.
“Wonderful.” She sighed. “So the spell did work? You did get to Thebes?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. Just not for long enough this time, now that’s a switch. “Let’s go see Alex, huh? Then get some coffee and see what everyone wants to do before the German’s get here.”
“If we can get set up a fair distance away that would be better, that way a stray shell or something isn’t likely to hit the camp itself and injure women and children.”
“That’s a good point.” He agreed. They went next door and found Amal had already made coffee and tea. Jonathan was awake and spooning liberal spoonfuls of sugar into his tea when they got there. Alex was awake too, propped up with a lot of pillows and eating something. “Hey tiger, how you feeling?” Rick smiled as he went over to crouch beside his son. Evie was on his other side and brushed the sandy blond hair out of their son’s eyes.
“Much better dad. Mom, I’m okay now, really. I’m not even achy anymore. Just really hungry.”
“Well that’s good.” Evie smiled. “We’ll get you as much breakfast as you want, Alex.”
“Amal went to take care of that.” Jonathan sighed. “Morning sis, Rick.”
“Good morning, Jonathan did you sleep well?” Evie smiled and took the cup of tea Jonathan handed her.
“Really well actually. Surprised me a bit. I think I must have only been asleep what about seven hours or so but it certainly feels like I’ve slept half the day already.”
“Funny, I feel much the same way. And I doubt I got seven hours of sleep.” She smiled a bit.
“Ammun said that the gift of good sleep came from his consort, Mut.” Ardeth’s voice came from the tent flap. “Are you all well then this morning, my friends?”
“Hi uncle Ardeth.” Alex replied before any of the others. “We were going to have breakfast.”
Rick poured himself a cup of coffee and the filled one for Ardeth too and handed it to him as he sat down. And they were definitely going to have to find time to talk to each other before this battle started.
“It would indeed do us all good to eat.” Selim agreed following Ardeth inside. Amal and Azza came next with trays of breakfast. They had all gotten comfortable and begun eating when there was a gust of wind that blew open the tent flap and they had another guest for breakfast.
The damned thing was dressed in the robes Adham had given him, and Rick was a little surprised that he looked very much like the rest of the Medjai once he was dressed like them. “May I impose upon your hospitality once more, Ardeth?”
“Little choice we have in the matter priest of AmmunRa, I will not anger Allah or Ammun by turning you away. There is even coffee if you wish.”
“Thank you then.” The thing nodded and said something in Egyptian, which even Rick got as good morning to Evie.
“And to you, Priest of Ammun at Thebes.” Evie nodded and took the cup of coffee from Amal and handed it to him which saved Amal from having to.
There was a moment of silence and then the thing sighed and asked Ardeth something in the language of the tribes. Selim looked over in surprise and both Amal and Azza looked at their husband.
“No.” Ardeth shook his head the one syllable flat in arabic. “I thank you for the courtesy but my aunts are strong women and can certainly deal with having you as my guest. We are fighting at noon today with the enemies of Egypt. I am not so poor a host or chieftain to turn out the ally Allah wills me to have. Not even you. There is breakfast if you wish it and then we shall go see my fellow leaders and have this done. Allah hamdas aha.”
“Truly Ardeth on that I would agree.” The creature sighed. “Even Ammun was thankful for your wish of Allah’s victory was he not?”
“As you say.”
“Did you really talk to AmmunRa, uncle Ardeth?” Alex asked.
“Several times now.” Ardeth replied with a smile and Rick could so easily recall the great wonder that it had been. “So did your father. Perhaps the bright son of Osiris would do me the favor of speaking to my fellow leaders for me. I think even Gamal and Husan would be hard pressed to argue with that.”
Selim chuckled. “I have heard the voice of Horus at Edfu Ardeth. It is not even possible to think when he speaks to you much less argue with him.”
“There is great truth to that Selim.” Ardeth finished his own coffee and let Amal refill his cup.
“Eat something, chieftain, or surely my husband’s sister will chastise us both when she sees us in Paradise.” Azza handed him a piece of bread covered in goat cheese and fig jam.
“Certainly.” Ardeth took the bread with a sigh.
“You too, Rick, Evelyn. At least Jonathan and Alex eat.” Amal sighed.
And that made the damned thing laugh. “I see this is a common thing and not just an attempt at poor manners.”
“Here it is only concern for the battle to come. In Thebes it was usually a very well considered insult.” Ardeth replied. “Does that surprise you?”
“I have learned to expect lack of manners in Medjai Ardeth long before you or your father or his father’s father was born. Some things, praise to Ammun, change little from my time onto yours.”
“I could almost agree with that.” Evie smiled. “I knew I liked your family for a reason, Ardeth.”
“Why thank you, Princess.” Selim nodded. “Do we brave our fellow Medjai then nephew?”
“In’sh’allah. It will be best to get it done.” Ardeth rose to his feet. “You may stay here if you wish, Rick, Evelyn, Jonathan.”
“If we’re explaining this in terms of being allies against the Germans I think I’d rather show them that we’re all willing to fight.” Rick shook his head.
“And the first one with a problem with it can explain to me why if I can cope with standing beside you in a fight why they can’t.” Evie grumbled.
The creature looked a bit surprised and then shrugged and rose to his feet. “As you say, Princess. Far be it from me to say otherwise.”
“All for one and one for all, hmm?” Jonathan got up too.
“Can I come too dad, mom, Uncle Ardeth?”
“That might not be a bad idea.” Selim put in quietly. “It will remind them of the fact that your unusual guest can indeed be an ally and not only an enemy.”
“There is truth in that.” Ardeth agreed. “Do you feel well enough for this, Alex? Truly? No acts of bravery and foolishness that you inherited from your parents now?”
Alex laughed. “I really do feel fine.” He promised. “Can I mom? Dad?”
“Okay sport, why not?” Rick nodded. Just in case he was the one who didn’t come back this afternoon he really did want to spend as much time with all of his family as he could. And having the last thing Alex remembered about him be an argument over something silly was just stupid.
So they headed out to the main hearth fire and it was no real surprise to find all the other Medjai leaders about. Adham rose to his feet as they walked over and nodded to Ardeth and Selim both. “Salaam wa alakhum my friends. I see we are here to prepare for war.”
“As we must.” Ardeth agreed. “AmmunRa assures us that the battle will come near midday. Apparently our foes have less sense than mad dogs and do not know to fight when it is cool.”
“Perhaps their tanks run well when it is hot. Our horses would fair better with the cool of morning but I will see that they are well watered.” Asyd shook his head.
“Thank you.” Ardeth nodded. “Is there more yet we can do to prepare for this great battle to come which has escaped us then?”
“I thought perhaps we should move the battle line as far from the encampment as we can so that any stray shells or such won’t fall on the women and children.” Evie spoke up.
“There is logic in that, Evelyn. We are unaccustomed to going to war with our families so close. Adham, Husan can you get your launchers and cannon moved further west then?”
“Certainly Ardeth.” Adham agreed.
“It is easily done.” Husan agreed.
“Would it not also be wise to see if we can re-bury those tanks you were practicing on Ardeth? If they see those they will know we have some means of defeating them. If they are only lost amongst the desert who is to say why they did not return.” Selim put in.
“There is merit in that as well.” He agreed. “Can you manage that?”
The creature shrugged. “I see no reason not.” He agreed.
And all at once it was so easy to tell as recognition of who was standing with them washed across the Medjai gathered there.
“Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim, Ardeth.” Arebe shook his head but rose to his feet and came to stand with Adham. “I did not think you intended to have him here.”
“It seemed the only way to achieve what must be done, Arebe. Believe me my friend I am as uncomfortable with this as you are.”
Yeah, you guys think you have problems with having him for an ally. Try it from our side. Rick put a hand on Alex’s shoulder, Evie coming to stand beside him.
“It is an uneasy alliance for us all.” Evie said quietly. But something in the voice told him it wasn’t really his Evie who was talking. “But what must be done for the victory of Egypt will be done.”
“I will fight beside the damned thing for the safety of Egypt. I will not have you profane all that is sacred like this, Ardeth.” Husan put in harshly.
“You will for today.” Ardeth disagreed. “You may consider it an order. Go and move your cannon, Husan.”
“And leave my tribe here-- with that?”
“Medjai if I wished your tribe harm I would have let those Germans I am about to go re-bury in the great Sahara have blown you all to bits already.” The creature replied calmly.
“Stand down, Husan. We shall go move our weapons, hmm?” Adham stepped toward the other man.
“This is madness.” Sura spoke up. “Ardeth we can not do this.”
There was no way to know for certain which of the men there tossed the grenade toward them. But he saw it hit the ground just to the left of the damned thing. Between it and Ardeth and a bit away from Adham and Husan. Rick grabbed Evie and Alex and pulled them hard away, trying to shield them both. Ardeth grabbed for Selim and simply vanished with his uncle. And Adham, Allah have mercy made a move Rick had only ever seen once in his life and threw himself on top of the grenade with a cry. The explosion threw his body back away toward Husan and was caught in mid air and lowered gently to the ground.
“They are like your dynamite then.” The creature spoke to him. “I did not know what it was.”
“Bis’mil’Allah...” Someone whispered. “What have we done?”
“Adham...” Ardeth reappeared with a flash of light, Selim still beside him and ran to his cousin’s side. “Oh Allah...”
“Go get me the books.” Evie pushed him hard in the direction of the tents as she got up and ran to Ardeth’s side. Rick didn’t bother to point out that the book of Ammun wasn’t going to help much but he went.
Duhr:ToC