Duhr
Chapter 7
Rick paused in the story he was telling and then just smiled sadly. “That’s it, it’s safe now.” He whispered. “I could wish you were just my little brother you know? Maybe Alex’s age or so. That would make this a lot easier. You’re too damned big to hold right.” He complained softly. What are we going to do, Ardeth? How do I keep you safe, huh? And how in the world do you find the courage to keep doing this? You don’t believe me when I tell you how brave you are, but I’d be curled up in the corner or something I swear to God. He stroked the dark hair softly. When did it become too much to hope for that we’d make it out of this okay, huh? You were right you know, it really was a great morning. I’d play the whole are we aren’t we thing every day if it would keep you safe. Hell, I’d do more than play if it would help. Which would probably just make it worse though. Like you need me pawing you too. You’d probably deck me one for a change. That’s okay, you still owe me a couple. The damned thing can think we’re friends, or brothers, or lovers or whatever if it makes him leave you alone. God I hate this. He stroked the strong muscles under his hand with a sigh. When am I going to show up too late here , huh? When am I going to find you curled up in the corner...clothes all torn if you have any left at all...with nothing in your eyes but pain and horror. I keep dreading that you know, even before Anubis started giving me tours of hell...except I know you. You won’t go down without a fight, and you’re just stubborn enough to get yourself killed, or on purpose even, crazy arab, just because it insures you’ll go to paradise doesn’t mean taking yourself out to take out the bad guy is smart. Take out the bad guys and live to throw a party. That’s smart. But you’d do it. Slit your own throat if you could to damn it back to hell. And what do I do then, huh? What do I do then?
“THOU SHOULD HAVE MORE FAITH IN THY BROTHER.”
Rick blinked and then could only stare at the gold and white falcon perched atop Ardeth’s shield. It was easily three times the size of Horus.
“THAT IS UNTRUE. I AM THE SIZE I CHOSE TO BE. MY LITTLE CHILD IN YOUR WORLD IS ONLY AS BIG AS HE SHOULD BE. HAVE A BIT OF FAITH IN MY CHAMPION, CHAMPION OF MY DARK BROTHER. HE IS FAR STRONGER THAN YOU OR HE THINK HE IS. AND HE WILL NEED THE STRENGTH HE LEARNS HERE IN THEBES FOR THE DARK TIMES TO COME.”
“Is that supposed to make me worry less?” Rick had to ask, wording it in as polite a form of Arabic as he knew.
The huge falcon only laughed and it was a happy sound, not quite as shimmering as Ammun’s but a thousand times better than Anubis’. “YOU ARE AN ODD MAN, O’CONNELL. BUT A GOOD BROTHER TO HIM. KNOW THEN THAT I GAINSAY THE HIGH PRIEST OF GREAT AMMUN AND WHILE I WILL ALLOW HIM TO PRESS MY CHAMPION TO A POINT I KNOW WELL WHAT HE DOES AND HOW FAR HE IS TO GO. IT IS NOT A PLEASANT LESSON BUT ONE I KNOW TOO WELL CAN BRING HIM THE STRENGTH HE NEEDS.” The god leaned over and touched its beak to Ardeth’s hair, much as Horus did at times.
“I just want him to be okay.” Rick wasn’t sure what else to say. “Is there some prayer or spell for that?”
“IF THERE WAS YOU WOULD DO SO, WOULD YOU NOT, CHAMPION OF MY BROTHER? NO MATTER THE COST TO YOURSELF. YOU ARE SO ALIKE YOU AND HE FOR ALL THY DIFFERENCES. NO, CHILD, THERE IS NO SUCH PRAYER OR SPELL. ONLY WHAT YOU DO NOW. HOLD HIM TO YOU AND LOVE HIM WELL. IT WILL BE ENOUGH. I WILL SPEAK AGAIN TO MY BROTHER AND TELL HIM HE SHOULD THINK MORE KINDLY UPON YOU, O’CONNELL. HE COULD DO NO BETTER NOR COULD EGYPT FOR THE CHAMPIONS WE HAVE. TAKE MY BLESSINGS TO YOUR WIFE IF YOU WOULD AS WELL FOR SEKHMET WAS FAR WISER THAN I KNEW. WALK YOU THE DARK PATH BEFORE YOU WITH MY BLESSINGS AND WHEREVER I CAN KNOW YOU THAT I WALK BETWEEN ALL OF YOU AND THE DANGERS YOU FACE. BUT I AM AS AMMUN IS BOUND BY THE BATTLE WITH MY UNCLE EACH NIGHT AND SO STAY TO THE LIGHT IF THOU CAN. AND IF THOU CAN NOT, SAY TO MY BROTHER I ASKED HIM TO BE KIND TO THEE AS HE WAS KIND TO ME WHEN I LOST TO MY UNCLE. THAT HE WILL UNDERSTAND.”
“I don’t understand at all.”
“As it should be.” The voice was gentle now. “You have a hard day ahead, O’Connell. Sleep now. I will guard your brother’s back and yours.”
And Rick couldn’t even think to say anything else only slipped from the dream of Thebes into a dreamless sleep until Selim came to wake them all for prayers.
He let go of Evie with one arm and reached over to squeeze Ardeth’s shoulder. “Okay?”
“I am.” Ardeth agreed softly. “I fell asleep did I?” Ardeth’s hand covered his. “I will come and get you for breakfast.”
He squeezed his friend’s shoulder again. “I have a message to you from Horus, but I’m not supposed to tell it to everyone else yet.” It was a small lie.
“Truly? Shall I hear it before prayers or shall we walk a bit between prayers and breakfast?”
“You go pray. I’ll wait.” He smiled a bit.
“As you say.” Ardeth got to his feet. “Asalaama, akee.”
“Salaama wa alakhum.” He offered in return.
“I can always hope.” Ardeth agreed and then went with his uncle.
“Bad night?” Evie asked when the two men where gone.
“It had its ups and downs. Started off pretty horrible, got much better since we managed to get Horus and Ammun to keep between us and Anubis. Then the damned thing got annoyed at us and then it got better again because Horus showed back up. I’m almost getting used to this seeing the gods thing.” He shook his head.
“Would you mind explaining that just a little bit more?” Evie sighed, snuggling closer.
“When we got there Ardeth got it into his head to ask Horus and AmmunRa to keep Anubis from bothering me in Thebes kinda like you and he did here in Ahm Shere only there it took on a bit more-- interaction.” He dug under his shirt and sure enough there were the two medallions. “It got me these. Anubis wasn’t to happy so he showed up and growled and barked a lot but seems Ammun can keep him in check pretty well. Then the damned undead priest decides that since we’re asking Ammun for things we can go and thank him in person.” He shook his head and had to smile. “It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen Evie. Except for when you had Alex I think...He even gave me his blessing and told me he’d keep Anubis from you and Alex. I think I would’ve cried if I’d thought about it.”
“Oh Rick.” She raised herself up on her elbow and brushed his hair from his face to kiss him. “I do love you you know.”
“Which only proves I’ve got to have more than one god on my side right?” He pulled her close and kissed her back, wishing for a bit that he could do more than that and knowing he couldn’t.
“Right.” She agreed with a smile as she finally broke the kiss. “And means I should find something to offer Hathor or something. So, don’t distract me again. What happened after this amazing visit with AmmunRa?”
“The damned thing got the idea it should leave us be so Ardeth and I spent a morning in the sun being really lazy.” He smiled in remembrance of that. It really had been fun. “Then Alex woke us up here and when I got back to Thebes apparently our missing lunch had annoyed the damned thing again and it was its typical rude and threatening self. But Horus seems to have taken Ardeth being his champion pretty seriously and so now we’re safe from the undead thing too. So all in all it was a pretty amazing night.”
“So it would seem.” She looked thoughtful for a bit and then just snuggled close. “And Ardeth’s all right, too?”
He nodded, not wanting to get too deep into that quite yet. “Yeah. He is.” For now. Damn it. “And I guess if Horus is going to help guard his back I’m not going to complain.”
“Certainly not.” She smiled. “You are a most amazing man to be married to Rick O’Connell. Have I told you that lately?”
“Not real lately.” He smiled and then kissed her again, and all the gods had to know it took every bit of will power he’d ever had to only kiss her. “Evie...”
“Yes I know.” She agreed with a chuckle. “Think we have time to go take a quick bath before breakfast?”
“How about a bath after breakfast once Alex goes to horse lessons and I talk to Ardeth?”
“I should go translate more, but I suppose Sallah can do without me for a-- quick bath.”
“Mmm, Jonathan and Izzy will be here today, so we’re gonna have to be presentable.”
“No mussing?” She giggled a bit.
“No mussing.” He agreed. Then he kissed her again. “After the bath.”
“Right.”
“Oh and Horus told me to tell you that Sekhmet made a great choice in champions.”
“He did? What a wonderful complement.” She smiled.
“Ammun said that all his children had chosen well. Guess that’s you, Ardeth and me , huh?”
“I’m honored of course. But I’m certainly not thrilled with Ammun’s choice.”
“No, neither am I.” He shrugged. “But if he’ll keep the damned thing under control I won’t complain too loudly when he’s right there. He made me promise not to blow up Thebes though. So I guess I only get to blow it to bits here in AhmShere.”
“I do love you.” She laughed and snuggled closer which was wonderful and worse of course and they laid like that until the sun peeked into the tent and Ardeth came back.
“I’ll wake Alex. You two go talk about Horus and come join us.” She got up and then kissed him again. “Good morning, Ardeth.”
“Good morning, Evelyn.” Ardeth smiled a little. “Shall we go see my other best friend then? I will have to find a nickname for him if I keep talking to his namesake as well.”
“Could cause less confusion.” Rick agreed. He holstered his guns and the scepter of Osiris as Ardeth slipped his into his sash and slung the shield over his shoulder. Rick waited until they were a bit away from the tent and there was no one within easy earshot. “You okay?” He asked softly.
The question got a slight flush and a nod. “I still feel foolish.”
“Well don’t. We had a visitor after you went to sleep. I’m supposed to give you Horus’ regards, and his promise that while he knows the damned thing is pushing you for more than we want it to. He isn’t going to let it hurt you either. Seems he thinks there’s something coming that we’re going to be thankful we learned to trust each other and you learned you have more courage than you thought you did.”
Ardeth sighed. “It is good to know Horus as well will not let it cause me harm....I am only uncertain as to...”
Rick glanced around again. “How much is not harm, huh?”
“As you say.” Ardeth agreed. “Nothing it has done has harmed me.”
“Horus said that he was, well aware of how the damned thing pressed you but that he wouldn’t let it press to far. And that he’d stop him if he did. Seemed to me he had a good idea what was going on. Just that unfortunately he thinks you can learn the strength you need from what you have to endure.”
Ardeth looked at him oddly. “Is that what he said?”
“Yeah, something like.” He paused and searched for the exact words in Arabic. “He said that you are ‘far stronger than you or I think you are. And that you’ll need that strength you learn in Thebes for whatever’s coming. I asked if that was supposed to make me worry less. And he laughed, which was a really nice sound, and then said that he...gainsaid? Is that the right word the high priest of Ammun and while he would allow it to press you to a point he knows what the damned thing does and how far its supposed to go. Then he added that while it wasn’t a pleasant lesson he knew too well that it would teach you the strength you need.” He shrugged. “Does it mean any more to you than it did to me?”
Ardeth nodded and smiled just a little, sadly. “No doubt the bright god of Vengeance understands all too well. I had forgotten that part of the story.”
“What part?” Rick asked.
“When he battled his dark uncle, the destroyer Set, he was not so fortunate to have as good a brother as I, and there was no one to guard his back. Only Anubis and Isis to help him afterwards.”
“You have got to be kidding. That’s really part of Egyptian myth?”
“That Set raped his bright nephew? Yes. Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim.” Ardeth sighed. “I shall try to doubt less that he will let the damned thing press me that far then, even if it causes me no harm.” Ardeth shook his head and then walked over to Horus with a sigh. “When you fly toward the sun today my friend, take to your namesake my heartfelt thanks and wonder at his blessing little though I deserve it and tell him that I will try to find in my heart half his courage so that I might face this night to come with more bravery than I have had so far.”
Horus blinked and then hopped from his perch up to Ardeth’s shoulder and held his head under Ardeth’s jaw for a long moment.
“Yes, I know. Truly am I blessed with the best friends any man or old god of Egypt could have. Thanks be to Allah for that. I will be braver still and find it in my heart to be thankful for the wonders I have been given even if I am yet hard pressed by the damned thing and its attentions. There is some balance to it I suppose in Allah’s great scheme of things so I must content myself with the will of God, hmm? And the many glorious faces he would show to me. Salaam wa alakum my friend, Allah’s peace to your namesake as well if it pleases them both.”
Horus flapped his wings and then took to the sky with a cry that somehow reminded Rick of the god’s laugh and the sunlight played across his feathers making him almost as golden as the great falcon he’d seen in Thebes.
“Think that’s a thank you?” He asked.
“I can certainly hope so.” Ardeth agreed. “Have I thanked you yet, for all you bore with me last night in Thebes my friend?”
“Probably. Have I thanked you for helping me with what I did?” He smiled a bit.
Ardeth looked at him and then chuckled. “Pot and kettle again are we?”
“Seems like it to me.” He agreed. “Let’s go get breakfast , huh? I’m hungry here too.”
“As am I. Then I suppose I shall see to word from Arebe and talk to Sallah about the book of Vengeance and then wait for Jonathan and Izzy to arrive.”
“I’m going to spend the morning with Evie.” He smiled just a bit. “Or at least steal a bit of it.”
Ardeth clasped his shoulder. “As you should. I will, if you will forgive my impropriety make certain the rest of the Medjai including your son and Sallah leave you and your wife be.”
“You’re a really good friend, Ardeth.”
“Little enough to thank.” His friend waved the complement aside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Rick your friend is still a bloody maniac.” Jonathan said as he stumbled down the steps to the ground. “My God I thought we were going to die at least a dozen times this morning and it’s barely noon.”
“Quite complaining I got us here. She’d carrying twice as much as she should, and we’re trying to avoid enemy aircraft maybe and sandstorms that aren’t sandstorms maybe and keep from getting shot at by tanks maybe. What in the world do you expect? Tea and biscuits?” Izzy shook his head. “We’ve got lots of weapons Rick, nasty stuff. And you do not want to know who I had to buy it from or how many debts you are going to really owe people you don’t like a bit. But I got you what I could all right?”
“If we win this Izzy we’ll give them another plane load of gold, let you keep one and they can all kiss my ass okay?”
“Well, okay.” Izzy grinned. “Come see.”
“Are you all right, Jonathan?” Evie hugged her brother tightly.
“I’m fine, sis. It was just very nasty business really. Ghoulish folks to try an bargain with. Do you know your husband has quite a reputation with these people? A bit dusty surely but my goodness.”
To Rick’s surprise Evie only laughed. “Of course he does, Jonathan, I married a solider of fortune didn’t I?”
“And another friend certainly didn’t hurt.” Jonathan indicated the man getting off the plane.
“Salaam wa alakhum, Ardeth.” The tall Medjai said with a smile that softened the really ugly scar running down his face and no doubt accounting for the missing eye.
“Wa alakhum salaam, Ahdam. How is everything in Cairo?”
“Tense. Germany marches on the great Sahara according to the rumors in the streets. The English claim Egypt once more as their-- protectorate. El Wadi wants to raise the armies of Allah to drive the infidel’s out. It is, perhaps, best to be far from Cairo now.”
“It is not going to be better here I am afraid but your tribe will be as I am glad for your presence.” Ardeth hugged the older man and kissed both cheeks. “Germany does indeed march through the Sahara and we my friend are all that stand between them and Egypt.”
“Then it is good I brought my sword.” The tall man agreed with a smile. “I will go see to my tribe, chieftain and then if it is all right join you for the noon meal and we can trade the news we have?”
“Certainly.” Ardeth agreed.
Rick went to where Izzy was lowering the cargo gate and could only stare at all the crates that his friend had stuffed into the bay. Izzy grinned. “There’s more inside of course. I’ve got guns, and shells, and bullets and mortars and I don’t know what all.”
“Then we better figure out what we’ve got. Ardeth! You want to get us a few dozen people with strong backs and another-- ten storage tents maybe?”
“Truly?” His friend came to stand beside him. “Bis’mil’Allah.” He shook his head. “Indeed.”
“And remember while we’re sorting it all to make a smaller pile of whatever looks least promising so we can search for this amazing thing we’re supposed to find in all this.”
“As you say. It was probably easier to search the ruins of AhmShere.”
“Knowing Izzy and Jonathan, it probably was.” He agreed.
“I would of course be happier if we knew what it was we were looking for? Something from ancient Egypt or something more recent?”
“You guys pick up any artifacts while you were in Cairo?” He looked from Izzy to Jonathan. “Anything at all?”
“We didn’t have time to go antiquing.” Izzy rolled his eyes.
“Not even a knock off statue of Tutankhammun I’m afraid.” Jonathan shook his head. “At least not that I’m aware of.” He looked meaningfully at Izzy.
“No interesting boxes picked from unsuspecting people’s pockets?” Rick smiled a little as he asked.
“I was a perfect gentleman I’ll have you know. These people would have cut my hand off. At least you only punched me.”
“See? And you thought I was a brute.”
“That was Evie. I was rather glad all you did was punch me come to that.” Jonathan smiled.
“You were a brute.” Evie came over to stand beside him. “But you turned out all right.”
“Truly my friend do you make all your friends by trying to injure them first?” Ardeth chuckled.
“If it works.” He shrugged.
“At least you didn’t get shot in the arse!” Izzy grumbled.
“I am I suppose truly thankful to Allah I have only a few dozen scars to show for our adventures.” Ardeth shook his head. “I am still not fond of bus rides.”
“That was nasty.” Evelyn agreed. “Don’t worry Izzy, we won’t let the Germans shoot you in the arse.” She teased.
“Well that’s fine and wonderful but you and what army exactly?” Izzy asked.
“That one.” Ardeth smiled and indicated the good two hundred men who had appeared to help them unload the plane. “And the other twenty times that who might be in the way if they were to help us unload.”
Izzy only stared at him and then shook his head. “You are going to get me killed Rick.”
“I’ll buy you a drink at Fiddler’s Green. Stop complaining.” He grinned and then took one of the boxes of weapons that he could reach. “Let’s get started.”
“He’ya’allah.” Ardeth agreed and did the same and then it was one long line of men and boxes and crates.
“This is both a blessing and a curse is it not?” Ardeth looked around at the great amount of weapons that they had unloaded from Izzy’s plane.
“Yeah.” Rick agreed with a sigh. “I’ve seen every thing from the sort of single load rifles that I used back in the legion to some amazingly advanced carbines. We’ve got a grenade launcher that’s from the great war and a machine gun that puts out more than a Thompson. It’s going to take as much time to figure out who knows how to use what as anything. How about we get ten of us who know the types of guns, get those sorted and then you can find people who know how to use each type?”
“That makes as much sense as anything. And it is a good place to start. Once the guns are distributed we can work with the large ordinance.” Ardeth agreed. Just sorting the guns and getting them assigned to men who had some idea how to use them took up a good chunk of the afternoon. They were left with grenades, launchers, mounted machine guns, a few small cannon, and a half-dozen crates of explosives. And a pile of miscellaneous stuff that might or might not contain whatever it was they were looking for.
“Anybody in the tribes know anything about grenade launchers?” Rick picked one up to check it carefully. “I can use one but I’m no expert. And it’s been a dozen years or so since I tried.”
“I am familiar enough I think.” The newest Medjai leader to arrive said with a nod. Rick had found himself rather liking the tall very scared and very bald man. Mostly because he had already given Evie two pistols and ammunition.
“Then I will leave it to you to find a dozen men in the tribes to work the launchers. Asyd will you see that the best hundred riders we have are armed with grenades? They can do a great deal of damage and I want to make certain the men throwing them have time to get themselves and their horses clear.”
“As you say, Ardeth.” Asyd nodded.
“I will endeavor to find a dozen men who know how to use the weapons, Ardeth. Failing that I will find six and train another six tomorrow.”
Ardeth smiled. “In’sh’allah Adham we can do no other. Now, what of the cannon?”
“Husan was in the British Egyptian army for a while. He would be my first suggestion.” Ahmed put in.
“He was. That is true.” Ardeth nodded. “Good. Find him then if you will Ahmed and see if he knows of any others who will have the skill to use them. Then we must devise some way to move them easily.”
“Sleds.” Arebe put in having returned only a bit ago. “They move easily enough in the sand and we have horses aplenty to move them. Asyd will have to tell you which ones are least likely to bolt of course.”
“There is that.” Asyd agreed. “I will do so and mark them with red circles so we know which ones they are quickly.”
“Good.” Ardeth shook his head. “It was easier if not more likely a victory to face the army of Anubis warriors was it not my friends?”
“That at least was an enemy we understood.” Selim agreed. “But we do as we can and Allah wills Ardeth.”
“Indeed. I will see to the machine guns then. And you my friend may see to the explosives. Tell me how many men you need to aid you and what it is they must know and I will find you any in my tribes who may help.”
Rick sighed. “Sounds about right. Okay. Evie you want to search our pile of things and see if maybe the goddess of war, Nefertiri or somebody wants to give you a clue what it is we’re looking for?”
His wife smiled. “It makes as much sense as anything. Then tomorrow we can work on what Sallah and I have from the books of war and vengeance and what I think I’ve come across for your armor and Ardeth’s as well as the book of Ammun. And then...”
“We see what Germany sends against us.” Ardeth answered. “Izzy, does your plane have enough fuel to sweep a bit further west before you return to Aswan?”
“You want me to spy on the Germans?” Izzy looked up from his hoard of gold that Sallah had given him earlier.
“If it is possible I would know where they are yes.”
“And if we get shot out of the sky by one of those tanks?”
Ardeth smiled. “Then I will owe you a drink as well.”
“That’s no help. And if I do have enough gas to make the trip I won’t have enough to come back here and give you any information before I have to head back to Aswan.”
“You will not need to. Simply land in Aswan, write the information down and give it to the falcon Arebe will give you. He will get it back to us.”
Izzy sighed. “Well, I don’t like it much but I’m not crazy about the Germans taking Egypt either so okay, but I’m not risking my arse you understand? You might have that whole hero idea but my mother raised me with more sense.”
“Just give us an idea of how close they are okay, Izzy?” Rick sighed. “Then go back to Cairo and hope like hell we win. Otherwise you and your gold might want to take off for say Tripoli or Timbuktu or somewhere.”
Izzy smiled. “I like Timbuktu.”
“You would.” Rick rolled his eyes. “You want to head back to Cairo with him Jonathan and take some more gold incase anything really great shows up on the black-market?” Rick didn’t see any reason to keep Jonathan in the middle of a battle if it wasn’t going to help any of them.
“Izzy can do that.” Jonathan answered in complete sincerity. “I’m no good with those newfangled Thompsons you seem to favor Ardeth. But I’m a reasonably good shot with a rifle. Give me some where to aim from and I’ll pick the bloody krauts off as they peek out of those metal tortoise shells.”
Rick smiled just a little. “Fine.” He tossed his brother in law one of the rifles he’d been looking over. “Here.”
“Thanks.”
“All for one and one for all is it?” Evie smiled. “Just like old times.”
“In’sh’allah.” Ardeth smiled as well. “Allah hamdas aha.”
“Allah hamdas aha.” Rick returned adding his voice to the ten tribal leaders, Asyd, Sallah, and even Evie.
“Truly the Prophet himself, peace be upon him, could not have raised a better army than Allah has granted me. Let us see to our weapons then my friends and then take what rest we can before the day to come when we must make certain we know not only what we have but how to use it.”
“There in is the harder part indeed.” Selim agreed.
Rick sighed, and then went to dig through the crates of explosives. He couldn’t quite keep himself from pocketing a few sticks of dynamite just in case he needed them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Selim waited until Ardeth and the O’Connell’s had finally gone to bed before searching out Ahdam. It was a relief to find his fellow tribal leader not yet sleeping but sitting by the fire with his family. Leila at his side and his children all gathered around as well, mostly dozing. “Ahdam, may I speak with you?” He truly hated interrupting the family but no doubt Ahdam would think the reason worth it once he knew.
“Of course Selim.” Ahdam agreed. “Join us.”
“I am loathe to take you from your family when you are so soon home, Ahdam but can we walk?” He asked instead.
And that was enough for his friend because Ahdam only nodded and said something quietly to Leila. She smiled, hugging him quickly and taking their youngest son from his lap. “I will get the children to bed.” She offered. “And leave coffee by the fire for you and Selim if you need it when you return.”
“Thank you, Leila.” Selim found a smile himself and then waited for Ahdam to join him before heading toward the dunes. It did not take long to find a spot well away from camp. “Thank you for coming my friend.”
“You would not have asked unless it was needed.” Ahdam returned. “What weighs on you so, Selim?”
“Let us sit. I am an old man, and the last weeks have been exhausting.” He made himself comfortable on the sands. “You have heard of all the strange happenings that have occurred here since the great desert first stirred weeks ago now?”
“I have. Truly I am amazed at some of the things that have happened, and you have my heartfelt grief for the loss of your son.”
“His mother and I miss him, but I will content my heart with the knowledge that he is now in Paradise. Has Ardeth spoken to you since you arrived then?”
“In passing mostly and this evening when we sat council. He seemed glad enough to see me when I arrived, but no we have not truly had a chance to speak.” Ahdam paused and then looked over at him, sharply. “Is he well?”
Selim smiled a bit, Ahdam had never been slow, and since it was a question asked no doubt he was obliged to answer his fellow leader as truthfully as he could. “That is…hard to answer.” He replied.
“It seems a simple enough question.” Ahdam disagreed.
“With your cousin, my nephew, nothing is ever simple.” Selim returned. “And this is less simple than usual. Two weeks ago now, the night before the O’Connell’s reached Egypt He who shall not be named began haunting Ardeth and the O’Connell’s dreams. They sleep here, but they walk the halls of ancient Thebes as they do so. And what happens in that place seems as real to them as what happens when we are awake.”
Ahdam was silent for a long moment. “And?”
Selim sighed. “Do I truly have to tell you that of course he says he is fine?”
“No. You do not. I take it then that you do not believe him when he tells you this?”
“When you see him in the morning Ahdam, look into his eyes and tell me if you believe him either.” Selim returned.
“I do not need to. I can see yours now. Allah have mercy, Selim what has the creature done?”
“I do not know. He does not say. Somehow now, he and O’Connell have managed to keep Evelyn and young Iksa safe from Thebes for the last week, but they still spend each night there.”
“And what does O’Connell say then?”
Selim sighed. “He is not the sort of man to break the trust of someone he considers a brother.” He replied.
“No, he does not seem to be. So, somehow the creature summons them to this-- place in the dream world and while neither speaks of it you are certain there is some harm being done.”
“Yes.” He replied. “You know Ardeth as well, or better, than any man amongst us, Ahdam. If I tell to you what I have seen, will you tell to me what you think we should do?”
“If in doing so I do not betray my cousin’s trust in me, certainly.”
“We are his family, you and I, Ahdam, Allah willing Rihana was here because then of course she would know for certain and tell to us what we should be doing instead of letting us sit about trying to determine it for ourselves.”
“She is, very much, her mother’s daughter is she not?” Ahdam agreed with a slight smile. “And Ardeth’s sister.”
“She is.” He nodded. “But we must do what we can. So, here is what I know. The creature has made many threats I have been told, mostly to Ardeth, from death, to cutting out his tongue, to the Hem-Dai itself. None of which, according to Ardeth at least the creature has done, thanks be to God. But he tells me only pieces, Ahdam, and I know him well enough to realize when the parts he does tell me are edited carefully. Something drives him to doubt his own faith in Allah, or more correctly Allah’s faith in him. Something brings a man we both know would face death without blinking to curl in his brother’s arms like a child, much less that he will go so far as to break propriety and spend each night with O’Connell at his back, literally so that they can insure they are not separated in Thebes. And then the morning before you arrived whatever occurred the night before was sufficiently horrible that he could not even bear my touch. He has gotten better today, but he is wary yet. I could, Allah have mercy give you more yet if you need it.”
Ahdam said nothing for a very long time, his expression blank and the one eye unreadable in the night. Then he sighed. “You do not need me to tell you anything, Selim. You know your own answer.”
“I know what I fear.” Selim returned. “But according to O’Connell yesterday it has not been as bad as I feared. So, I am not as certain as I was. I thought, perhaps you could give me another thought.”
“I do not think so.” Ahdam shook his head. “Except to offer that perhaps it is, while not only a threat it is not yet a reality but somewhere in between.”
Selim thought about that himself for a long while. “There may be truth to that. When I spoke with Ardeth the morning before Daoud died, I asked him, with little politeness or pleasantries what it was that haunted him so and the only answer he gave me was that he was afraid. Pain is not something he fears in and of itself so I doubt he goes to Thebes each night expecting to be lashed or some such. Although I let him think that is what I fear when he flinches from my touch.”
“He would I think, knowing Ardeth, be more concerned that either he would be unable to lead us, or even perhaps that we would think him no longer worthy of doing so.”
“No doubt he does.” Selim agreed. “Which of course we would not do.”
Ahdam snorted. “I will squeeze the life from any who would say so. If any man I know has courage enough to bear even that and continue to lead and worry more for us than for himself it is my cousin.”
“Then we agree. I tell you this then so that you may know, and stand with him when you can. Would that Allah would allow us to journey to Thebes with him. Ardeth however of course does not wish us to know anything is amiss.”
“Is something amiss, Selim? I have no proof of anything amiss at all do I? Therefore who I am after all to bother my cousin, our chieftain with foolish worries that he does not need now of all times?”
“We agree then.” Selim smiled just a little. “It is good to have you here, Ahdam. O’Connell, Horus and I need more help when trying to guard his back.”
“As you say, Selim, so of course I will try to be any help I can.”
“You have been guarding him for a very long time, Ahdam, I did not doubt you would mind doing so again.”
“Allah have mercy on us if he ever realizes that, Selim. And he has not needed it often in the last years so much.”
“No that is true. But it is still good to know we think alike. I will let you return to your family then, my friend and rest. Allah knows we will need all our wits and strength to survive this war to come.”
“In’sh’allah of course, Selim. As are all things.” Ahdam rose to his feet and offered Selim a hand which he took and got to his feet as well. “MaSallam, my friend.”
“And to you, Ahdam.” Selim agreed and then went back to his own camp to check on his nephew and the O’Connells once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imhotep wondered for a bit if his erstwhile guest was going to show up in Thebes at all. It was another late night apparently in AhmShere. But finally there was that now familiar stirring to the veil and Ardeth was lying sound asleep in the bed. “You seem well at least. What kept you then to the waking world, Medjai?” He made sure his young guest was truly sound asleep and then brushed his fingers through Ardeth’s hair with a smile. “You missed dinner again you know. Which only further confused my cooks. What woke you and your brother so early in AhmShere and then sends you here so late? Surely if the Germans were so close Ammun would have told me so.”
He went over to the table and drank a bit more coffee. Making truly certain that his guest was very soundly asleep in Thebes as he would have been in AhmShere. Then he eased the young man’s sword out of easy reach and sat down beside him. Ardeth slept on his side, undoubtedly as he had gone to sleep with his brother at his back. But at the moment Imhotep had no desire to invite O’Connell at all although he was more than half tempted to indeed take a very thorough kiss from Ardeth when the American could do no more than watch in hopeless anger and annoyance. “We shall see who yanks at who’s chain, O’Connell. We shall indeed.” He stroked his fingers through Ardeth’s hair again and the young man turned toward the caress just a bit in sleep. And he was very certain that it was O’Connell’s touch Ardeth had taken his for in sleep.
He frowned for a moment then smiled. “Do you enjoy being in his arms as much as he enjoys having you there, Ardeth? Do you even know that he enjoys it for more reason than the comfort it gives you or that it annoys me? Though how you could miss his arousal when you took the melon from his fingers is beyond me. You are indeed so very naive. Well, I might not be able to get you to eat willingly from my hand without your promise of compliance but I will take what I can have, even if it is something that once more belongs to another. He is only Nefertiri’s husband, Medjai, and as yet no real threat to me. Ammun said I could not harm you so I will not, but I will have you in my arms with pleasure and joy, stolen though it might be.” And he moved to the other side of the bed and slid beneath the light sheet that covered his guest.
It was blessedly easy to pull the young man close. And then after another moment he turned him just as easily into his arms. Ardeth only sighed and his head came to rest on Imhotep’s shoulder. He shivered a bit, enjoying the feel of the long hair sliding against his skin and the rougher touch of the young man’s beard against his shoulder. “Ammun but I should know better than to tempt myself should I not Ardeth? I want to roll you onto your back and kiss you senseless you know. Bury both my hands in this glorious hair of yours and take kiss after kiss from you. Feel your body arch beneath mine in pleasure and taste your skin as you writhe with it. Truly you tempt me, Medjai. But I am patient. I will ease each bit of compliance from you until you no longer think of a simple kiss as anything but a fond memory and then I will give you one and know what your enjoyment tastes like on my lips, hmm? You are fortunate I have learned patience the hard way.” He lay there for a long while simply enjoying the feel and the burn of unsatisfied desire. It was too sweet yet to desire anything so much to want to rush for more even if it had been attainable. Someday, he promised himself silently. “I swear it, Ardeth. I will have you yet and you will find nothing but pleasure in my arms, ungrateful child that you are and I will remind you when it is done and you are trying to catch your breath against me that you were so afraid I would just hold you down and force you. As if you have any idea what a horror such a violation would be. Foolish child you have yet so much to learn.” He chuckled a little and then eased his thoughts lightly over Ardeth’s again and waited for his young guest to wake.
Ardeth stirred just a little but only leaned more into the embrace and not less. And it was surprisingly easy to tell that it was truly O’Connell’s arms he expected to be in and that it was a pleasant enough half sleep tinged thought that it kept him content even when other instincts told him he was wrong.
“Rick?” The name was a confused mutter as he woke completely and then it was just as easy to tell when he realized that he was wrong, because he jerked away hard and rolled to his feet in shock and horror and then disgust and anger bright and sharp like the way the sunlight caught on a well honed blade.
“Good morning, Ahba.” He smiled just a little.
And his young guest’s thoughts whirled in half completed bits from Arabic to Egyptian to the language of the tribes and then settled on that damned language he still could not grasp. But the shock and horror and even the disgust had faded behind the anger now. He sat up, a bit relieved that he’d removed the available weapons because he was very certain that Ardeth would try to use one.
“Really, Ardeth, can you find nothing to say?”
“I was-- thanking Allah for something actually.” Ardeth returned with none of the anger or even confusion Imhotep expected.
“Truly? And what might you be thanking Allah for?” He asked.
“Faith.” Ardeth answered with a smile that was warning enough even though his thoughts were still held tightly to English and the young man grabbed not for a weapon but the shield beside the bed. “Ai hetem-heset-heru.” And a moment later he was simply gone.
Imhotep only chuckled and then had to laugh. “Well played. You are the most damnable guest Ardeth. You are that.”
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Ardeth stumbled forward a step as the transition left him standing and he had more than expected to be at least on his knees with exhaustion if not slammed into the sand.
“Thou should not punish thyself so, Ardeth.” The voice was soft as was the warm light that filled the small shrine. “You wished to escape to my temple, warrior. While I know well thou meant my home at Edfu such a journey in one fast flight would come near to killing thee.”
He went to one knee before the large falcon that sat perched on the golden boat before him. “I am only a little ashamed to say that I rather expected it might.”
“And thy death is not too great a price to pay if it takes your enemy with thee. That is what you believe.”
“So it is written in the word of my God, oh great Horus. It is perhaps not as brave as it would have been to stay there and face him, but I could not find that much courage in my heart at that moment.”
“No child of Allah, I do not doubt that at all.” The huge falcon moved to touch its forehead to Ardeth’s much like and much different from the only mortal birds Ardeth had known.
“I feel like a child.” He admitted softly. “It is so little to fear oh bright god of vengeance and yet I am so...torn.”
“What thou fear is a great amount to fear, Ardeth, do not doubt that. Thy bravery does thou great credit on that. Even I myself would agree with the priest of my father’s father on that point alone. What did the priest of AmmunRa do to thee that thou are willing to condemn him, thyself and perhaps even the land thou love to damnation?”
“It was not what was done, Bright god of Vengeance only-- my cowardice of what would follow. And my anger.”
“Then it is good that I had more sense than to grant thee thy prayer as thou wished it to be granted is it not, child of Allah?”
“It is.” Ardeth agreed. “I-- try to find my courage each night, oh bright son of Osiris. But for just that moment this morning it left me. And I was without comfort or hope except in the promise of my God that paradise awaited if I only had that last little bit of courage to reach for it.”
“So thou were indeed not without courage only without hope.”
He sighed and forced down another deep breath. “As you say. I am unworthy of your blessing or that of Ammun or Allah.”
“Thou are shaken silly warrior. As all men would be shaken in thy place.”
“I am so fortunate to have comfort during this. I am so fortunate to have the horror he could do me not be done at all. And yet I can not find it in my heart to be thankful.”
“Does a man who is whipped fifty times find it in his heart to be thankful he was not whipped a hundred? Does the woman who loses one child find it in her heart to be thankful she did not lose three? All of these are hurts to bear, Ardeth. I do not, Ammun does not, Allah himself does not expect the to be grateful that thou have been touched and kissed and held when thou did not desire it only because thou have not been violated as well. That is foolishness. Be angry if thou will, it is honest anger. Be frightened if thou will for you face a great fear. Take comfort in thy brother’s arms and your people’s love. Live what you feel, Ardeth, thou can only profit from it. And when the time comes and thou know why I and my father’s father and even thy god have forced thou to bear the constant reheating of the blade we would wield against the foes of Egypt thou will know that thee have more courage than most and strength and honor to bear the weight you must carry. Some lessons, no matter how painful must be learned to be borne. He is not a teacher thou would wish, but he is not as unkind as he could be, Ardeth. Nor will I allow him to be cruel.”
Ardeth looked back into those fathomless eyes and of all the gods perhaps indeed Horus was the one to ask of this. So he fell back on what Rick had said to him beside the Nile. “He would not have to cause me harm to make it rape.”
A soft sigh. “No bright child of Allah indeed he would not. Do thou think that I, myself, or my father’s father, or thy great god would let him harm thee so?”
“I am only one man, Bright son of Osiris. I do not know if my fears can be allowed to mater so much in Allah’s plan for things.”
“Thou are yet so brave and still so foolish, child.” Horus’ voice was kind. “Ask then, for what thou wish champion of mine.”
“I may ask one favor Bright god of Vengeance?”
“Thou may always ask, Ardeth. It is the granting I reserve the right to refuse.”
Ardeth found the strength for a small smile at that. “Do not let him keep my brother from me? I have not your courage oh bright son of Osiris. I can not bear this alone.”
And there were strong arms around him now. “Thou are not alone. Thy brother has just come to Thebes and will wake in moments in thy bed.” The bright god smiled. “No doubt that would annoy the priest of my father’s father to hear me say.”
“In’sh’allah.” Ardeth voiced without thinking.
“Indeed.” The bright god laughed and it warmed him even more. “If I promise to thee, that neither I, myself, nor my father’s father, nor thy great god would let Ammun’s high priest cause thee such harm, then thou must swear to me a promise in return.”
“If I may.” He agreed.
“No mater how horrible it seems the lesson has become thou may not curse the High Priest of great Ammun to damnation by causing thy own death on his account.”
Ardeth sighed. “I do not know that I could bear it if he were to force me to his bed, but if as you say he will not do so, then I will bear what it is he will do and keep myself whole.”
“Then we have a bargain. Go now to thy brother’s side and I will remind the priest of my father’s father that he would do better to be less harsh with my champion. Vengeance comes on swift wings and I do not abide rapists.”
“I am thankful for both.” Ardeth answered with all the honesty he felt.
“No doubt.” And there was the warm brush of feathers against his skin and then he was back in his room and the bright son of Osiris was gone.
“Ardeth?” Rick asked as he rolled over and found the bed empty.
Ardeth set the shield down with reverence. “Horus said you would be here.” He found a smile.
“You okay?”
“I will be I think.” He replied. Rick met his eyes for a long moment and must have seen something Ardeth did not even realize because Rick pulled him into a tight hug.
“Can you tell me what the damned thing did this time?” Rick growled.
“You will be angry.” He sighed but he leaned his head against his brother’s shoulder.
“I’m already angry. Did he kiss you again?”
“No.” Ardeth closed his eyes and gave thanks to Allah for that. “I woke lying in bed as I have so often here...Being held with my head on your shoulder I thought. But I was not in your arms.”
Rick was silent for a long moment and then only squeezed Ardeth tighter. “Bastard. It’s just me now.”
He nodded. “I know. How is it you said, I know it, but it is good to believe it as well?”
“Yeah.” Rick’s embrace loosened a little but one hand moved to stroke his hair as if he was indeed a small child. “Did he-- hurt you any?”
“No. I was only frightened, and so very angry. I do not have the strength to do this alone, and if he takes this from me I will be mad.”
“I’m here now. I’m so damned sorry I was late.”
Ardeth nodded. “Horus promised to me that he would not let the creature keep you from Thebes, not when I needed you. For that I have found the strength to be thankful.”
“Can you tell me what happened?” Rick sounded both concerned and angry at the same time.
“I will. But you will be angry at me. I do not mind, but could you perhaps not shake me and not let go either?”
“Okay, no shaking and no letting go.” Rick only tightened his arms. “You’re shaking anyway and I sure as hell am not letting go. So what happened when you woke up and you it wasn’t me holding you, huh?”
“I was lying next to him, my head on his shoulder, and he had one hand in my hair and the other holding me to him, and for the first few moments of being awake I could not make my mind realize what was wrong. Then I did and I pulled away and rolled to my feet. The damned thing had moved my weapons though so I faced him empty handed little good my sword would have done me. He only smiled and said something like good morning I think. I recall trying to find any words or even a thought to cling to but I was too frightened and angry to think. Then I was not frightened because the anger was too great and I could force my thoughts to English for that. And the thing only smiled again and asked me if I had nothing to say. And I knew, as if I could read its thoughts as it does mine that it would demand another of the kisses I owe it. That I would have to lie back in its arms and let it have what it willed. And Allah have mercy Rick I was not strong enough to bear that.”
“No one, Allah included, could expect you to be, Ardeth.” There was so much gentleness to his brother’s voice and to the arms that held him even with such strength.
“So I-- did the only thing I could find the courage for. I told it I was thankful to Allah for the faith I have in my God, and I took hold of the shield of Horus. And asked the bright god of Vengeance to take me to Edfu.”
“Dammit you could have been killed.” Rick growled but he was good to his word and did not shake Ardeth any and the strong arms around him only tightened yet again. He smiled a bit to himself.
“I told you, you would be angry. So I will admit to you what I did to Horus, my friend; I rather expected it would kill me.”
Rick was silent for a long time and then the strong arms around him loosened but did not release him completely only held him away enough for Rick to look into his eyes. “And then what? I get to wake up in Ahm Shere and find you dead in my arms, huh?”
“I am not as brave as you would think me, brother. It was-- only that I was so very frightened and angry and-- suddenly I had no hope of any other victory at all.”
Rick blinked, but his eyes were bright. “One, I know where the book of the dead is and I know someone or two or three even who will read it. Two, and I mean it so don’t think I won’t do it. If I have to bargain with Anubis for your soul I’ll do it.”
He shivered at the cold certainty in his brother’s voice. “I do not doubt you at all. It is good then for us both that Horus made me promise not to damn the thing to hell by killing myself no mater how bad the lessons I must learn here might be. Because then I would have to find a way to bargain back your soul and we would be where we started.”
Rick looked at him for another long minute and then just hugged him close again. “You promised Horus, huh?”
“I did. The bright son of Osiris was smarter than I and only took me to the shrine here that we visited yesterday instead of to Edfu. And he told me that I was safe, that praise be to Allah, he and Ammun and Allah himself will not let the thing harm me. But it was not being hurt I was afraid of so I asked him without pretense at all if he meant that the creature may not have me, because it would not have to harm me to make it rape.”
Rick’s arms tightened again and his brother only growled something that was not really words against his hair. Ardeth hugged him back just as tightly.
“So Horus gave me his promise that he would not let the thing harm me if I in turn promised that I will not damn the creature to hell by taking my own life and joining Allah in paradise.”
“Al’hamdil Allah.” Rick sighed, and there was honest thanks and reverence in his voice.
“Indeed.” Ardeth agreed. “I did not want to hurt you, or leave you to face the enemies of Egypt without me but I was so very lost, for a moment.”
“I know you were. Hell Ardeth I’m amazed most of the time that you keep finding the courage to go to sleep. I’d be staying awake for days if I could.”
“No you would be finding ways to face it with me as you always do.” He disagreed. “On that we are once again too much alike.”
“Yeah. Crazy stubborn, idiotic Arab.”
“I am you know truly only one of those.”
“Which one?”
“Stubborn I will claim with no quibbling. I can be an idiot at times true as can any man. I have been mad but I am not usually, and I am more Egyptian in blood than Arab.”
“Semantics.”
“In part.” He agreed. “Are you not too angry with me, brother for my cowardice?”
“You panicked, that isn’t cowardice just letting the fear get the better of you for a moment. You didn’t keep running did you? Of course not. Am I angry? No. Because all the gods have got to know I’d be a basket case in your place. I just don’t want to lose my best friend deal?”
“As you say.” He agreed. “Will you remind me of this when I wake next time in your arms and panic because I do not know for certain it is you?”
“I’ll remind you it’s me and we’ll hold on together okay?”
“That is a good bargain I think.” He hugged Rick tighter. “Do you mind if I want to be the little brother for a bit longer?”
“You’re stuck being the little brother anyway. But do you mean will I hold you? Yeah, no problem.”
Ardeth found the strength for a smile. Then finally, he found the strength to let go and Rick only squeezed him closer for a moment and then let go as well. They both gathered up their weapons and were about to head out into the temple when there was a knock on the door and Tahiri peeked in.
“Good day to you Medjai.” She smiled.
“Good day to you, Tahiri.” He replied. “Could you perhaps tell me the time?”
“It is just midday. The High Priest of AmmunRa, he who is lord of all Egypt is seeing to the great god of Egypt, and says that he has had lunch brought once more to where it was yesterday. Will you be joining him for the meal, Medjai?”
“I would as soon eat here.” He said honestly.
“If I caught part of that and the damned thing wants us to join it for lunch Tell her to tell it to go jump in the river.” Rick grumbled.
He smiled a bit. “Neither my brother or I is feeling like being good company Tahiri and I doubt we would eat even if food was brought. Could you see to some coffee perhaps and karkaday instead?”
“The High Priest did not think you would join him. He said only to tell you...” she flushed a bit. “You are a damnable guest but he is still pleased with your presence so he will see you after he has eaten.”
“That unfortunately sounds like our host.” Ardeth sighed. “Thank you Tahiri. I will await, without grace or patience the arrival of the priest of Ammun. But could you bring me coffee so that I may bear it better?”
She laughed. “I will do so. Will you be staying for dinner then Medjai? Nefshen has asked me twice now if I will ask you.”
“Has she?” He smiled a bit himself. “Tell her I do not know, it is not in my hands to say. But alas, I keep Nefertiri’s husband company today and so my bed is not mine alone.” It was perhaps not the best way to word it because her eyes got huge and then she giggled.
“That sounds very wrong, Medjai. I will be kind and not tell Nefertiri you said so.”
Ardeth shrugged. “Nefertiri knows well that I keep her husband company when she is not here.”
He could all but see the question in her bright eyes and then she giggled again. “Then he is luckier than any man save Pharaoh.” And she ducked back out the door.
“Are you flirting with the staff?” Rick asked but there was real humor in his voice.
“Not intentionally. I was I think, flirting with you actually. It was a bit of an odd conversation.”
“How can you flirt with me, which you aren’t by the way, when you’re talking to Tahiri?”
He sat down at the small table. “She had an invitation from the creature for us to join it for lunch. I told her with more politeness than you suggested that we would eat here. Apparently it expected no less because it gave her a message that we are poor guests and it will see us later. Then she asked if we were staying for dinner and mentioned Nefshen.” He shrugged. “I told her to tell Nefshen that while we may or may not be here for dinner you were here so I was not free to share my bed with anyone else.”
Rick chuckled. “That sound as bad in Egyptian as it does in arabic?”
“That was the flirting bit I mentioned. Apparently yes. She says you are lucky by the way.”
“Well she’s right.” Rick ruffled his hair. “If not for the reason she thinks I am.”
“As you say. Allah must know how glad I am that you are here. And how thankful I am that you will let me joke with you about what it makes me fear.”
“If playing this whole are we aren’t we bit with it makes facing it any easier at all, Ardeth. I’ll play. You just tell me if I go to far in playing , huh? I mean do you want Nefshen to think we’re more than friends?”
“It certainly did not seem to bother her that we might be.” He shrugged again. “And you have never pressed me at all with the game.”
“Good.” Rick smiled. “You didn’t like me calling you cute.”
“I objected to the term not to that you said it.” He returned. “Truly, my friend, I do enjoy what little victories we can steal back from it. It is not much perhaps, but it keeps me sane under its hands when it kisses me to know that he wondered if you had done so first.”
“Did he really? Well now, guess we didn’t do half bad at the game then , huh?”
“Apparently not.” Ardeth smiled. Tahiri returned with their drinks and he pulled out the board of Hounds and Jackals and set it up. “Come, we will try another game instead.”
“Sounds good. Guess I get to be jackals , huh? Just for practice?”
Ardeth smiled a little, but he squeezed his brother’s shoulders. “You may be Hounds if you wish.”
“Nah, since I’m really likely to lose I’ll take the jackals.”
“As you say.” Ardeth smiled a bit more and did as Horus had also suggested let himself enjoy what comfort he could while it was there and offered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imhotep watched his guests from the balcony for a short while, enjoying observing their interaction while they did not know he was there. It made the pretenses they created for him while he was both more amusing and enjoyable almost as much for how little they had to change their interaction as for how they did. Truly Ardeth you will leave me with nothing to teach you at all. Your brother is so close to desiring you that he has to hold himself in check and you naive child would probably have no more idea what to do with that attention than you do with mine. It is good to see you have done yourself no harm at least. He watched them a bit longer and then stirred the curtains with his thoughts.
“Company , huh?” O’Connell asked.
“So it appears.” Ardeth agreed.
“Good afternoon, Ardeth, O’Connell. Were you once again not hungry today?”
“I have no apatite, no.” Ardeth replied cooly but there was yet a frisson of anger underlying his words.
“Pity, it was quite good. Are you teaching your brother to play Hounds and Jackals now, Ardeth?” He walked over to study the game and brush his hand lightly across the young man’s shoulders as he did so. Ardeth only tensed a bit but O’Connell came close to getting out of his chair and trying something foolish.
“I am. It is a good way to pass the hours while we practice Egyptian is it not, brother mine?”
“It has its fun parts.” O’Connell agreed in not a bad attempt at the old language.
“Well done.” He smiled. “You will leave me with nothing to teach warriors if you keep usurping my games and lessons between you.” He gave that in Arabic, assuming O’Connell’s Egyptian was not up to that much yet.
“Pity.” O’Connell copied his tone almost perfectly. And he had to laugh. Even Ardeth smiled at that.
“Well done. You are in a fine mood this afternoon O’Connell.”
“It was pretty enjoyable until now. Yeah.”
“So was mine.” He agreed and caught Ardeth’s eyes as he spoke. “Certainly not quite as enjoyable as my morning but the day is still far from over.”
“Did you only come to ask after our day or was there something else to discuss, High Priest of AmmunRa?” Ardeth rolled the counting sticks and checked his count before moving his hound.
“Ammun says to tell you to ask yourself if you have not found the object that came on steel wings and you have asked the pilot and Nefertiri’s brother what have you forgotten?” He looked over the board again. “You are going to lose O’Connell.”
“We looked through the stuff, we asked Jonathan, we asked Izzy. Do we need to check the plane ourselves maybe?” O’Connell asked his brother.
“It would not hurt. And Ahdam, we did not ask him directly if he found something odd in Cairo.”
“Okay, so we do both.” O’Connell looked back at the board and then gathered up the counting sticks and tossed them. It was obvious he had a bit more trouble than Ardeth in reading the numbers but he moved his jackal forward.And he studiously ignored Imhotep leaning over his shoulder to watch. Which was amusing in and of itself.
“Was there anything else then priest?” Ardeth asked as he took his turn.
“Nothing of importance.” He smiled a bit. “Will you and your brother be courteous enough to my cooks to join me for dinner?”
“And if we decline?” Ardeth asked.
He gave himself the luxury of letting his gaze play over the young man with what was becoming well known familiarity. “It is an old threat I admit, but one I shall still enjoy seeing carried out. Shall we move the entertainment here then? I will not object.”
It was obvious it took Ardeth a bit to place that then he flushed and ducked his head with a muttered curse in arabic.
“Come now, I will even let your brother feed you if you like. Although I reserve desert for myself.” He spoke it in Egyptian, certain that while O’Connell might indeed catch a word or two the meaning would be lost. Not that Ardeth’s reaction left much to doubt of the intent.
“Then I would at least enjoy the meal.” Ardeth ground the words out finally.
“As would your brother no doubt.” He agreed.
O’Connell asked something quietly in English but he reached over with surprising care and cupped Ardeth’s chin in his fingers. And it was just as obvious that there was no pretense involved in the move.
Ardeth sighed but he smiled a bit and shook his head at whatever the question had been. The smile changed a bit and he said something in reply in English as well.
“Really?” O’Connell chuckled. “I certainly wouldn’t mind my part anyway. But I’m going to have a hard time keeping my promise to Ammun if you’re tied down to anything.”
“As you say.” Ardeth agreed. “I suppose we shall join you for dinner then. Perhaps that way I will enjoy desert as well and not have to sully your cooks hard work with your blood.”
He chuckled. “You could try I suppose.” He agreed. “Nefshen will be disappointed.”
“I am having to disappoint her a great deal today, for which I am sorry.” Ardeth shrugged.
“No doubt.” He agreed. “Pity really, I was...enjoying picturing the meal myself.”
“Your disappointment I am not the least bit sorry for.”
“Nor did I expect you to be.” He walked back over to stand behind Ardeth and then reached over one shoulder to move the young man’s hound piece forward. “It would be worth having you bite my fingers if I could lick the blood from your lips afterwards. Do not tempt me to taste so deeply, Ardeth, or it may not be my blood l lick clean, hmm?”
“You may not harm me, the gods themselves gainsay it.” Ardeth growled.
“Ah.” He looked over at O’Connell because he was certain the American would understand the threat better than Ardeth did. “I did not say it would be your blood did I, Medjai? Perhaps I shall not have it be blood at all, hmm?”
And that brought a huge flood of hatred to O’Connell’s eyes just as he expected. And he was somewhat relieved at Ardeth’s lack of understanding. Ardeth reached across the table and caught his brother’s hand. “It is only words, brother mine. Nothing more.”
“As long as it stays that way. Otherwise I’ve gotten pretty good with that sword Anubis keeps wanting me to wield, and if I have to I’ll wait until we’re in Ahm Shere to chop you to pieces and then bury every single one under a different one of his statues. How about that?”
He raised one eyebrow at the threat. “Creative certainly. You have quite an imagination, O’Connell I will give you that.”
“Don’t even need one.” The American returned.
Ardeth only pulled his brother’s hand to his chest just over his heart. “No harm done, brother.”
“For now.” O’Connell agreed but the hatred was very real indeed.
He smiled. Who is jerking the chain now, hmm? He met those cold blue eyes with his own. “Did you want to learn to play further, O’Connell?” He asked.
The man smiled back with no more humor. “Depends on which game we’re talking about doesn’t it? This one I have a lot to learn about.” He indicated the game board in front of him. “The other? Who said I was playing? I meant every, damned, word.”
“Truly?” He chuckled. “Sometimes the best games are ones played seriously.” He agreed. “You truly have worse manners than your brother O’Connell and that is a frightening thought. Be careful there, warrior, or I will send you back to Ahm Shere.”
“Go to hell.” O’Connell said coldly. “You send me back and I’ll bring that armor with me next time.”
“You’re manners are indeed worse than your brother’s.” He shook his head, amused and annoyed at the man’s audacity. “I warned you did I not, Ardeth, about imposing on your immunity. Did you not give your brother the same warning?”
“I’ll impose if I want.” O’Connell returned.
“As you say. Then I will leave the choice up to you, Ardeth. Shall I let your brother stay or not. I would save you the embarrassment if you wish.”
“As if my wishes have ever once mattered to you.” Ardeth growled out the words.
“You are such an ungrateful child, Medjai. Shall I show you then just where you might be if they did not? Hmm? Fine. You may watch or not as you desire O’Connell. I truly do not care. Come here, Ardeth.” He moved over to stand beside the bed.
“Like hell.” O’Connell growled but it was not too much thought to keep him in his chair.
“I will have your payment Ardeth, now. Or will you break your oath to your god?”
Fear and anger and humiliation all warred for expression in the young man’s thoughts. But he forced it down with admirable courage once more. “If you wish.”
“You do not have the slightest idea what I wish, Ardeth. But you will. Do I hold your brother here or do you desire him to leave us for this?”
“You will do as you please. So I will not bother to answer.”
And that truly did sting. I have been far more patient with you than I could have been Ardeth. I have indeed. I am tired of your assumptions you have suffered anything at all. Ammun told me not to harm you, I will not, nor will I take you unwilling but I will have you knowing a pale shadow at least of what it could be. And I will not even hurt you with it. “For this kiss I remind you of your oath, you are mine, I may do as I wish and you will do as I will. Do you recall that?”
Ardeth nodded once.
“Good. Then you will give me this as you did the last one. I care not if you enjoy it or pretend to, But you will match me fully. Do you understand?”
Another sharp nod.
“Good. Lie down then.”
The young man gave a quick prayer to Allah for strength and then did so. Imhotep only smiled and then leaned over at puled him back up onto his arms and kissed him. Ardeth was expecting harshness even anger. O’Connell was expecting worse. But he only pressed his lips lightly to Ardeth’s and buried one hand in the dark hair. The other he slid around the young man’s back. Ardeth kissed him in return, although the uncertainly and confusion were so very strong. He only deepened the kiss slowly, with as much care as he had ever taken but he did not stop with touching his tongue lightly against Ardeth’s but caught him a duel that he could not win and took his mouth thoroughly. He put one knee on the bed and then not giving his young guest any time to predict the move lowered his weight over Ardeth and bore them both to the mattress beneath them. Ardeth was shaking, and he caught a small gasp of air in panic as Imhotep kept the kiss and gave no quarter. He drew his hand from behind Ardeth and buried both hands in that long hair to take his mouth a bit more, never pushing but leaving no doubt that it was a claim of ownership and nothing less. Ardeth to give him his credit and Ammun but the Medjai was brave did his best to return the kiss but he was overwhelmed and in very real danger of fainting from lack of air and terror despite all his courage could give him. Finally, he freed one hand from Ardeth’s hair and brought it to the lacings of the young man’s robes. That sent a fresh surge of panic through him and he simply went still as stone under Imhotep’s hands.
Please Allah...Horus...please...The panicked thought carried so easily and he let the ties go with no real intention of undoing them, then he lightened the kiss and took a long last lick of Ardeth’s lips before giving himself the added treat of pressing a kiss to the young man’s throat as he pulled away. Ardeth was still frozen beneath him.
“Do not, ever, assume I do not indeed keep myself in check where you are concerned, Medjai. I want you. And you will do well to remember that I could have had you twice with your own permission. If I cared not for your pleasure, or enjoyment Ardeth I would have had my use of you by now. Ask your brother if you do not believe me. No doubt he will explain it to you. And if you insult me again as you have I will require far more of your compliance than your kiss.” He pressed hard against the young man for a long moment to make his point and then rose to his feet. “Pull yourself together, leash your brother if you must and then come to dinner and behave. I have no patience left with you today.” And he walked out the door and left them to deal as they would.
Duhr:ToC