Duhr
Chapter4
When Gamal came to wake them that Pasha was there finally, Ardeth was still to concerned with Rick to really notice that it was not Selim who came. But as he saw to the settling of the tenth tribe of the Medjai and shared the grief of Ahmer’s loss with those who had just arrived and he still had not seen his uncle he began to be concerned. And when he noticed that Arebe was missing as well and it was only he and Gamal, Pasha, Abdul, Kashim, and Sura at first, until Jalil and Hassan rode in from the perimeter. And with Muhammad, leader of the first tribe still holding a small group at Hamanaptura, and Adham in Cairo to notify them as to what the rest of the world was doing, all of the leaders of the Medjai were present except for his uncle and Arebe who had been there earlier and Ahmer who was with his tribe in paradise. “Who knows where Selim and Arebe have gone?” He asked finally as they all gathered with Rick and Evelyn and Asyd who was the best horseman the tribes had around the fire to discuss the coming battles.
Gamal looked at Abdul and then they both looked to Hassan. It was answer enough. Ardeth used the weight his leadership gave him in the tribes rarely and with as little force as necessary, but he could and did wield it when he had to. So he gave them no equivocation now. “Where are they?”
“They went to Phillae.” Hassan answered. “They did not say why, only that they would explain to you when they returned.”
“Then who knows why they went to Phillae?” He looked around again.
Asyd looked up. “I do not know why they went, Ardeth, but I am wondering how. They did not take any horses.”
“And Arebe left all his falcons.” Kashim pointed out.
“I will know what is happening in my tribes and I will know now.” He stared each one of them down in turn.
“They went with Sallah to find something for this battle.” Gamal said finally. “Selim said little, only that you would be angry and he would not draw us into that anger.” The man shrugged. “That is all I know.”
“And you did not think to wake me with this?” He set his cup down. “If you find you wish another chieftain, leaders of the tribes of Medjai say so and do not dodge behind my back like jackals.”
“Ardeth.” Abdul spoke up finally. “Do not speak so, we follow you as we always do, onto Paradise itself. We trust Selim to explain when he returns that is all.”
He looked from Abdul to Gamal. “Is that all?”
“It is.” Gamal agreed. “My sword is yours as always.”
“And mine.” Pasha said firmly from his left.
“Is there anyone here who would say otherwise?” He looked at his tribesmen seriously. “I would know if you think I have failed you somehow.”
“We do not think so at all.” Sura shook his head.
“Then next time one of you thinks that you have information I might consider useful you will bring it to me then. Is that understood?”
There were various nods. “Good.” He relaxed a little and then picked up his tea and took a drink signaling that the subject was closed. “We face the greatest enemy we or Egypt has ever known, Medjai. To that Allah has seen fit to use the old gods of Egypt as his warriors in this as well as us and even the very creature we have been sworn to keep in its grave for eternity has been wielded in our favor and for Egypt’s. Ahmer and the eighth tribe rest with Allah in paradise almost to the last child, warriors. Do not doubt for a moment that we could all join them in an instant if we are once more surprised by these Germans and their weapons. To keep that from occurring we are keeping one tribe worth of riders out on patrol at all times. We have almost found all that Allah and Ammun will us to find here but for one last object. Jonathan and Izzy come from Cairo tomorrow or the day after with as many guns and munitions as could be purchased with a plane full of gold from Ahm Shere. We have weapons of great power willed to us by the old gods of Egypt, but it will not be enough if we face a hundred of those tanks when ten alone destroyed Ahmer and all his people with not so much as a fight.”
“What can we do to defeat them then?” Gamal asked.
“Rick and I have come up with a way to damage the tanks, with the scepter/spears the gods have given us.” He drew the scepter of Horus from his belt and then very suddenly realized something that had been mentioned earlier. “Did you say Gamal that Sallah went with Selim and Arebe to Phillae?”
The older man looked over at him, obviously surprised at the change in topic. “I did.”
“Then why did Sallah come to wake me and ask to look once more at the inscription on my shield?” He looked over at Evelyn. “Did he mention that to you?”
“No.” She glanced toward the tent where they had been working. “And they didn’t say anything about going to Phillae. Selim was talking about seeing if Izzy could get to Hamanaptura and back before the next three days went by because there might be another book there that we need. But there was no mention of Phillae.”
And Ardeth knew with a cold certainty what it was his uncle and tribesmen had tried. Oh Bright God of Vengeance. Heru-Herekarte, hear my plea, walk with my warriors between here and the dark places they travel and see them back safely to my side so that we may defeat the enemies of all Egypt. Have mercy on your children oh most forgiving Allah for we are foolish and do not understand your will though we follow it onto your side. I would have them here, I would have them well. Let me bear this tenid oh my God it is not their price to pay.
And then Horus cried out overhead and came circling down with a great show of wings and for a long moment hung simply golden in the last of the sunlight from the west. “Hesu-Heru,” he whispered to himself. “Is that an answer then my friend from your namesake?” He let his friend settle on his arm.
“Answer to what?” Rick asked.
“A plea.” He replied.
“Ardeth!” Selim’s voice came from not far away and he launched Horus back to the sky.
“Thank you, al’hamdil Allah.” He rose to his feet and turned to meet his uncle as he came up with Arebe and Sallah. And he drew his rank about him like a cloak and met the older man’s eyes coldly despite the exhaustion he could so easily see. “What did you think you were doing?”
The three men stopped, glancing at each other and then Selim stepped forward and raised his chin a bit to meet Ardeth’s eyes. “As we must for the battle to come, chieftain. As all Medjai must we do as Allah wills us. We bring this back to you, and offer our apologies for usurping it though we meant no harm.” Selim offered him the shield that bore the image of Horus. He took it calmly and slung it over his right shoulder. “And we bring you the book of the god of Vengeance and the Book of Blood which is Sekhmet’s and we have seen the falcon god at Edfu nephew and I am old and tired and would do well to sleep. Can you chastise me later for having as do we all more courage than sense?”
And he smiled because there really was no other response and drew his uncle to him. “I see now I get this from my mother’s side.” He offered with a grin.
“In’sh’allah.” Selim agreed. “I will fall on my face and humiliate myself if you do not let me sit.”
He helped Selim to the ground and handed him a glass of tea. “Rest for a moment, Selim and then tell us of your great journey. Please, tell me you did not go all the way to Hamanaptura and back with that shield.”
“Not directly.” Arebe sighed. “We traveled in small flights, from here to Abu Simbel, from Abu Simbel to Phillae from Phillae to Komombo from Komombo to Edfu and then to Hamanaptura although we had expected to stop at Luxor first, the god of falcons had other ideas. Then the same in reverse to Edfu where the god once again saw fit to only bring us here. I do not know how you do this, Ardeth. I know in my heart that there is no god but Allah...but I am greatly shaken by seeing the form that he would give one of his archangels.”
“I recall that feeling, my friend.” He smiled and reached over to clasp Arebe’s shoulder. “Now we are met and we can see what it is that we have to work with to see to these enemies of Egypt.”
“We have the book of Horus, which no doubt belongs to you to open so we left it in its chest. And the chest with the book of Sekhmet, which says very explicitly not to open unless you’re her chosen. So we left that one closed as well.” Sallah sat down wearily. “Perhaps Sitt O’Connell you will help me decipher what it is we can do with that?”
Evelyn smiled. “I think I can do that.”
“Where are these chests then?” Ardeth asked.
“Back at the tent where the papyruses are. We thought it safer.”
“Gamal, Abdul go and bring me this chest of Horus.” He looked from one of them to the other.
“As you wish, Ardeth. Which one is that so that we are certain we do not curse ourselves for no reason?” Abdul asked with a smile.
“The bright gold one with this on the lid.” Sallah gestured at Ardeth’s shield just as Horus came circling down to perch on its rim once more. “Or that, come to it. It is unnerving when he does that Ardeth. Especially now. Statues do not talk much in my experience but Allah it is unnerving when they do.”
“It is indeed.” Ardeth agreed. “Hello my friend, did you carry my most heartfelt thanks to your namesake as he joined Ammun on their trip through the night?” He stroked the soft feathers with a smile.
Horus taped his beak against his jaw and then settled his wings and looked about.
“Think that’s a yes?” Rick smiled a little, and Ardeth smiled back glad to see some of the remaining haunted look leave his friend’s blue eyes.
“I shall take it as such.” He agreed. “So we have more weapons indeed, and a surprise they are. So we have what to find here at Ahm Shere?”
“Something from Sekhmet.” Evelyn put in. “But I’ve no real idea what. And then whatever it is Jonathan and Izzy are bringing us.”
“What makes you think it will be something of Sekhmet?” Kashim asked, he seemed the most comfortable with including Evelyn in on this council of war.
“Something Nefertiri’s sister told her...me... Kashim.” She shrugged. “Something to do with a lioness.”
“Perhaps we should check the wadi then, where it spills the remaining water into Ahm Shere.” Asyd suggested. “Was it not Sekhmet who was known as the guardian of the mouth of the wadis?”
“It was.” Sallah nodded, thanking Amal for the tea she passed to him and to Arebe. “Traveling like that is nothing I ever wish to do again, Ardeth.”
“I do not recall it being pleasant, no. But it is good you thought of taking it in smaller steps. I will do my best to follow that.”
“We also took turns with the actual asking for aid.” Selim gestured from him to Arebe to Sallah. “So if Horus will be so kind as to allow your brother to aid you in this battle you would do well to travel together.”
Ardeth looked over at Rick and then clasped his shoulder. “We are back to guarding each other’s back’s my friend.”
“Why stop now, huh? And it worked for me earlier today...when I...ah...”
“So it did.” Ardeth agreed with a smile. “I suppose we must explain that at some point, Allah knows how.”
“Explain what exactly?’ Evelyn asked looking from him to Rick. “What were you two doing this morning after all?”
“As we said, trying to find a way to damage those tanks.” He shrugged. “It was a bit after that which is the part I am confused on.” He managed to keep the embarrassment down to bearable.
“You could have told me you saw Anubis in Thebes you know, and that you had to agree to get me to try on that armor.” Rick put in suddenly.
“I was sworn not to say anything, my friend what was I to do? Anubis wished you angry enough to do something foolish...and I did not know enough to argue. I am sorry.”
“Yeah well, no harm done. And as long as we’re both in one piece I can cope.” Rick clasped his shoulder in return. “But I’m still going to knock the damned thing into next week.”
“I look forward to it.” He returned.
Selim looked at him oddly for a moment and then at Rick. “Do I not understand even when I think I do?” He asked of no one in particular.
“You weren’t alone on that one, Selim. Maybe I should just give up in trying to guess how these things think. I can’t even figure out the one that used to be human much less the gods.” Rick sighed.
“We will find you some other weapon, my friend.”
“And a way to keep him away from us all.” Evelyn put in. “Ah, there you are Abdul why don’t you set this down here gentlemen and let me read it?” She indicated the area between her and Sallah as Gamal and Abdul returned with the chest of Horus. Everyone gathered around as they read the Egyptian and then discussed a few words and translated it into Arabic. “Swift justice to any who opens this chest without the blessing of the son of Osiris, most brilliant Horus. Seek not to know that which is given only to the...aru...soldiers?” She paused.
“Guardians...warriors perhaps.” Sallah shook his head.
“A-ahru.” Evelyn agreed. “That would be all of you I suppose. A-ahru neter. Well now, warriors of god, definitely you.”
“Apparently.” Ardeth agreed. “No god in specific then?”
“Not at that point.” She traced the next line. “He whoever opens this chest does so only with the blessing of Horus or shall be destroyed onto the sands of Egypt and forever lost to the darkness without light that lies beyond the Duat.”
“Not a pleasant thing.” Sallah sighed. “So...do we risk it?”
“No.” Ardeth shook his head. “We ask first, and for that we wait for morning. Is that not right my friend?” Horus tapped his beak against Ardeth’s jaw and then butted his head under it and only held the position for a long moment. “Falcons are birds of the day and you are tired are you not? Did you fly all the way to Hamanaptura and back with your namesake my friend? Truly do you deserve to be fed dinner then.” He stroked the soft feathers again. “We could all use with some dinner I think. And rest, Pasha has traveled far and with much concern for his tribe. Selim, Arebe, and Sallah have traveled even farther and with an old magic that drains one like too many hours in the sun. And I am, I admit, still exhausted myself from finding those of the tenth tribe that Allah was merciful enough to let me see to safety. Let us eat and rest, Gamal you and Kashim relieve Jalil and Hassan on patrol. Selim, Arebe, Sallah go rest and I will speak to you in the morning. We will gather what weapons and information we have then and see what can be done to find the gift of Sekhmet.”
“We might do that right now since it’s sunset. She was fond of sunset and dawn as I recall it.” Evelyn put in. “Is it possible to get to the mouth of the wadi before sunset or do we want to try for dawn?”
“Dawn.” Ardeth decided with a glance at the orange-red rim of the sun sinking below the western sands. “We will not reach the wadi before it is night.”
“If we can find Sekhmet’s gift then we can wait only on whatever comes with Jonathan and Izzy and then we should have what we’re supposed to have, right?” She looked from Rick to him and back.
“As far as I can remember from what the damned thing said.” Rick agreed.
There was a cold undertone to the words that Ardeth did not like, reminding him too much of how Rick had sounded when he’d faced the creature that afternoon by the bank of the Nile. What did the dark god show you in this dream of yours my friend that haunts your eyes even now? Alex you mentioned being unable to save, and something about too much blood. Did he have the creature slit your son’s throat as he threatened in Thebes? Most merciful Allah my friend what did you see that brought you to sobs in your wife’s arms? He wanted to know, to ease that horror somehow but he was oddly glad that he did not. Anubis said that he should slit your son’s throat, or, oh Allah, is that what you saw? Take your wife to his bed...Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim... or did he give you my skin as a gift as well? That was the other part of the suggestion. And I was there in this dream too or you would have not held me so tightly I think. We shall find a while to walk the dunes I think, and you may even drink more of that horrible brandy you got more of from Jonathan. And we will talk of things that you will not say to Evelyn. And we shall find something to tell the tribes about the-- manner in which Anubis and He who shall not be named angered you into wearing that armor because you will not embarrass me with the truth I know. We are still walking with asps in the dark are we not, brother mine? Horus, bright god of Vengeance, if you would take me as your champion I ask of you to look upon my brother with favor as well, he is a good man and deserves better than to be left to your dark brother’s whims.
“Why don’t I go get Alex and you can take that back to the tent after all?” Evelyn gestured at the chest and then kissed her husband firmly. “Then we can eat and decide if we need to do more work or just collapse.”
“Sounds good.” Rick smiled a little. “I could use to eat and I won’t even mind hearing Alex go on and on about horseback riding even.”
“That’s good because he’s certainly likely too.” Evelyn smiled and got to her feet then walked over and to Ardeth’s surprise clasped his shoulder that Horus was not perched above. “See if he will tell you what he won’t tell me will you brother of ours?” She asked softly in Egyptian.
He flushed a bit and then ducked his head with a smile. “I shall certainly try, princess.”
“That’s good. Raising one son like Alex is quite enough.” She smiled and then went to see to the boy himself.
“Your wife is a most amazing woman my friend.” He had to smile.
“Yeah she is.” Rick agreed. “So you want this back with the papyruses?”
“Actually, I think we will do well to put both chests in the tent with that cursed armor since they are apparently dangerous to open and I would hate for one of my tribe to attempt it in ignorance.”
“Good point.” Rick picked up one side of the gold chest and Ardeth got the other and they walked back toward the storage tent that held the cursed objects they’d brought from Hamanaptura. Ardeth set the chest firmly on top of the one containing the armor of the scorpion king. Rick smiled just a little. “Trying to get the genie back in the bottle, Ardeth.”
“Perhaps.” He agreed. “But it can certainly do no harm to try.” He clasped Rick’s shoulder. “What shall we tell the tribe tomorrow then when they ask us as to how we came to the knowledge of the magic the damned armor contains and that you are the only one who can wear it? I would...if at all possible not tell them the whole truth.”
“Figured that.” Rick gripped his hand tightly. “Damn the whole lot of them back to hell Ardeth. Can we get Allah to do that?”
“We can certainly try.” He agreed. “I was frightened only Rick. It did me no harm, brother mine.” He squeezed his friend’s shoulder again. “If we say only that I had agreed to abide by Anubis’ will and act as if I had been harmed in Thebes until I could...remind you that the armor was able to stand against He who shall not be named and that you could recall that you had defeated the Scorpion King and were able to touch the armor without injury when we found it. I admit it sounds like we had more knowledge than we did but...”
“Selim kind of thought maybe you’d gotten lashed or something like that, since you flinched that time Sallah touched your shoulder. Could we use that?”
Ardeth looked down at the ground and then shook his head in resignation. “My uncle...”
“Don’t do that.” Rick’s voice was an odd growl.
“Do what?” He looked over worriedly. “Rick?”
“Nothing. Just-- look at me when we’re talking, okay?” Rick’s eyes were dark with something Ardeth could only guess at.
“If it will help.” He agreed. “So my uncle is not as unobservant as I would like to hope. It is better than him assuming what you did I suppose.”
“I had a lot more to go on than Selim.” Rick pointed out.
“That is true, thanks be to Allah.” He smiled. “So do we give me more credit than I deserve for bravery and say that I was lashed or only that the oath I took in Thebes prevented me from telling you that I had not been?”
“Let’s stick to the not being able to tell me you hadn’t been hurt. That’s the truth and we can let Selim fill in the type of injury you weren’t allowed to tell me hadn’t happened and that way we aren’t lying...exactly.”
“I have so very little skill at pretense Rick. I am forever grateful to you for helping me save what honor and dignity I can before my people.”
“Didn’t look to me like they questioned that at all, Ardeth. Have as much faith in yourself as they do, huh?”
He nodded. “We could all do I think with having as much faith in ourselves as the others seem to have in us, no?”
“Unless were talking about Jonathan or Izzy. Yeah sure.”
Ardeth smiled because it was obviously intended to make him do so. “There is truth in that. So, I made a promise to let Anubis anger you into trying the armor against He who shall not be named by letting you think I had been harmed, if not exactly how, in Thebes and you did so when Ammun sent the creature to...threaten me further and you did as Anubis had wished and the armor does seem to grant its wearer the same invincibility of those creatures we fought here because even He who shall not be named could do you know harm. That is good. And when the creature saw that all was to the will of the gods it believes in we were left alone and we both used the shield to get back here.”
“That sounds good. Think we can convince the tribes that’s what happened?”
“We shall only say what we must and let them as Selim did, fill in that which we do not say with their own assumptions. I find I can manage that sort of pretense with more skill than I would like.” He shrugged. “You even thought it true.”
“Yeah, I did.” Rick agreed with a sigh. “So let’s use that and we can add anything else in if we have to. So, let’s go get that other chest and bring it in here and then maybe we can just eat something and sleep. Hell, I’d take going to Thebes over dealing with Anubis again.”
“I would take going to Thebes over you having to deal with Anubis again.” Ardeth agreed.
Rick was silent for a long moment and then he met Ardeth’s eyes. “He isn’t going to hurt you, Ardeth. I swear it.”
“And I believe you.” He agreed with as much strength as he could put into the words.
“I really, really want to drink something.”
“Did you not replenish your horrible brandy with something Jonathan brought?” He shrugged.
“Yeah, but it’s scotch and I can’t get falling down drunk on one flask of scotch.”
“I have no other alcohol to offer you, my friend, or I would do so.”
“Yeah.” Rick shrugged. “Let’s go get that other chest.”
Ardeth nodded, but he squeezed Rick’s shoulder again and offered the words his brother had said to him when the went to watch the sun rise that morning. “You could tell me about it; if it would help.”
“No. Then I’d be sick even without trying to eat dinner.”
“So?” Ardeth smiled gently. “You have stayed with me while I was ill.”
“Yeah.” Rick smiled a little, but it did not light his eyes much. “But I’d rather not do it now, okay?.”
“Then I will be patient until you can tell me or desire to try. Very little worth doing is worth doing without patience. Come, we will move that chest and eat and then sleep. I can I think, keep Anubis from haunting your dreams.”
“Really?” Rick asked.
“Certainly. We have two other of the old gods to a call upon now. And we have Ammun, He who is lord of all Egypt, and we have Allah.”
“That doesn’t seem to stop us from going to Thebes.” Rick pointed out.
“True, but if Ammun wished us to not go to Thebes do you think we would be there?”
“No.” Rick shook his head.
“No. So we invoke who we must.” And they walked over to get the other chest and put it with the other cursed objects. “Now we can eat a bit and then rest and sleep.”
“Yeah.” Rick smiled a little. “It’ll be good to hear Alex go on about horseback riding.”
“I am glad he is enjoying it. He is a brave and very smart son to have my friend. You and Evelyn do well with him.”
“We try.” Rick agreed. “Sometimes he makes me want to just scream he gets me so frustrated with the fact that he’s always into something, usually potentially dangerous. But I wouldn’t trade him for the world...” He stopped and his eyes got cold again.
“What?” Ardeth asked worriedly.
“Something Anubis said about not understanding me because I wasn’t out to take over the world and that just wasn’t what it expected from the man who defeated the Scorpion King.”
Ardeth chuckled and then gripped his shoulder again. “You are, I must agree, very often a surprise my friend, but in ways that only benefit us all. I truly never expected you to live through leaving Hamanaptura that first time. I did not expect you to have the courage to stay and face He who shall not be named, and I certainly was not at all certain you would be successful in defeating him not only once but twice. No leader of the Medjai has ever had a better man to fight beside, Rick.”
To his complete astonishment his friend flushed. “Thanks.”
“You are welcome.” He said seriously. “Now let us go see to your son and his adventures and Horus here needs to eat and sleep before he falls asleep on my shoulder.” He stroked the soft feathers again.
“I can sympathize with that. I’m still exhausted.”
“As am I.” He got Horus settled and then picked up a large piece of the meat Arebe had ready for the birds and held it out to his friend. Horus took it and devoured it quickly. So he fed him three more before his friend finally turned down a fifth. Ardeth smiled. “You flew hard today my friend. Rest well, I will I am certain need you in the morning.” As he turned Horus leaned forward and tapped his shield once. “Yes, I will keep it with me.”
“Thanks Horus, I need all the help I can get to watch his back.” Rick chuckled.
“What am I to do with such friends?” Ardeth asked with a smile.
“Throw us a party when this is all over?” Rick requested.
“We shall eat and dance and sing and tell stories until the dawn for a whole handful of nights if you wish, brother.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Rick agreed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rick listened to Alex’s attempt to describe learning how to stay in the saddle, with only one hand on the reigns and still jump small walls. He was a little nervous at first because it certainly sounded like something that his son would enjoy and probably get himself seriously hurt doing. But the more he described the way it was being taught to the young Medjai the less worried Rick felt. And it was, he admitted silently, just pretty wonderful to sit there listening to Alex go on about something he enjoyed, while Evie was snuggled up closer than was really necessary under his arm. He smiled down at her, noticing that she’d set her plate aside a while ago and was writing something in hieroglyphics down on paper. Her glasses had slipped down her nose just a bit and he was strongly reminded of how she had looked when they’d first married. Sometimes the Egyptologist/Adventurer got the better of the librarian these days but it was that oddly endearing woman behind those glasses that had first caught his heart. So he pushed the glasses up her nose and then kissed her.
She wrinkled her nose at him and smiled. “You’re distracting.”
“That’s good right?” He smiled back.
“Usually,” She snuggled closer but went back to her work. “But let me finish this.”
He chuckled and turned back to Alex. “So tomorrow Asyd says we can try the same thing with wooden practice swords so we learn the balance right. I’d really rather have a real one.” Alex was saying.
“Real blades need much more practice in wielding than even learning to ride does, nephew.” Ardeth put in before Rick could think of something to say. And he sat down on the far side of Alex.
“Mum and dad use them.” Alex pointed out as if that explained everything.
Ardeth nodded. “They do. But they have trained a long time in doing so. And I am certain I can still beat your father in a blade fight assuming of course he does not shoot mine from my hands.” Ardeth smiled.
“You scared me to death.” Rick pointed out.
“You dragged me off my horse, what was I supposed to do?” Ardeth returned.
“You were going to kill Evie.”
“I was not. I was going to take her prisoner to make you leave Hamanaptura.” Ardeth smiled. “Little did I know she was probably better with a blade than I am.”
“Thank you so much.” Evie laughed. “Now wouldn’t that have been a sight? Me thrown over your saddle and Rick trying to ride to the rescue? It’s all very romantic Ardeth but I’m rather happy that we managed this without anyone getting injured or becoming real enemies.”
“As am I.” Ardeth agreed. “And I would never be so rude as to throw you over my saddle, that is dangerous to you and the horse if you kick wrong, plus it is impossible to keep balanced. I would have either had to put you in my lap, my apologies of course for the impropriety, or threatened something horrible to get you to sit still in the saddle before me.”
“You would have too.” She rolled her eyes. “And I would have believed you.”
“Well of course. We were hardly friends at that point.”
“I’d of shot you in the back you know.” Rick said matter-of-factly.
“You would have thought about it, but the risk to Evelyn would have kept you from trying.” Ardeth argued. “So, it is a good thing you knocked me from my horse.”
“And didn’t let you gut me.” Rick pointed out.
“Very true.” Ardeth smiled. “In’sh’allah.”
“You left that all out when you were telling the story before.” Alex grumbled.
Rick smiled just a little. “Forgot some of the good parts?”
“As you say.” Ardeth smiled back. ‘But you see Alex that these are not toys.” He pulled one of his blades from his belt and laid it carefully across one knee. “They are weapons, and, huh they can cause great injury.” Ardeth pulled up one sleeve to show a curved scar that ran along his forearm. “Like that.”
“Ow.” Alex muttered. “That must have hurt.”
“A great deal actually, yes.” Ardeth agreed. “So you will do well to use practice blades for now and then learn the real thing after much, much practice with ones that will not harm you or your horse should you drop it.”
“I hadn’t thought about that.” Alex admitted. “Hurting Lesha I mean.”
“Well you see, there are always things to consider.” Ardeth nodded and then used the blade he had drawn to slice a krish fruit in half without even trying. “Cutting things is never difficult nephew, learning how to do so only when it is you wish to do, or must do, that is difficult. But very few things worth doing in life are worth doing without patience.”
“Patience really isn’t my strong suit, uncle Ardeth.”
“No?” Ardeth looked from Rick to Evie and then back and smiled a bit. ‘I can not imagine why not.”
Alex laughed. “Well there is that.”
Rick just reached over and ruffled his son’s hair. “So you’ll stick to practice blades for now, sport and then when you’re a little older your uncle and I can show you how to use a real one, or your mom can actually.”
“Oh that would amuse the Medjai.” Evie chuckled. “Can I teach a sword class, Ardeth?”
Ardeth shook his head and looked heavenward for a moment. “I would almost be tempted to say yes, but then none of my young warriors would be able to concentrate on their sword work and we would be certain to loose a few fingers if nothing worse. So alas, Evelyn, I do not think it wise.”
“Somehow I thought not.” She smiled. “That’s all right. I’m rusty anyway. I haven’t had to stab anyone in years.”
“There was Maspero last fall.” Rick pointed out.
“That was an accident. He was in the way and he didn’t believe me when I told him that the blades in the statue were real and were drawn like this and wielded in both hands like I showed him. Silly man.”
“It was a little cut.” He answered Ardeth’s unspoken question, holding up one hand to indicate with his fingers the length of the wound. .
“Maspero’s not very bright for an Egyptologist.” Alex agreed.
“Now Prof. Emerson would have had me disarmed and on the floor.” Evie grumbled. “Why couldn’t they have made him the curator of the Egyptian collection of the British Museum?”
“Because he’d never take the job.” Rick pointed out.
“At least, nephew you come by your sense of adventure very honestly.” Ardeth shook his head. “On both sides.”
“Yeah.” Alex agreed with a grin.
Rick smiled a bit and let the conversation go from there without much input from him. He was content to sit and listen and have them all there really well and whole. Most merciful Allah, I know I’m not good at this, but thank you, I don’t have near enough words to thank you for keeping them whole. I don’t want to loose my soul, Allah, or have to serve the dark god of the dead, but if that’s what you will for me. I’ll try and find half the courage Ardeth has for facing these sorts of things. Just don’t let them get hurt, please?
There was no answer, but at the moment at least, Rick was willing to take that on faith as well. Finally, they all headed back to the tent to sleep. Evie was on his right side and Alex to his left, Ardeth on the other side of Alex still answering the boy’s questions about sword fights and the armies of Anubis. When they reached the tent and the flap was tied down Ardeth took out his scepter and extend it into a spear with a twist before sticking it point down in the sand right in front of the door and saying something in Egyptian the only word of which Rick followed was Horus’ name.
“What’s that for, uncle Ardeth?”
“Re-corking the bottle, Alex, nothing more.” Ardeth smiled, but he caught Rick’s eyes as he said it.
“We thought along the same lines then.” Evie agreed and ‘painted’ some sort of writing over the doorway and said what must have been a prayer. “That’s two. Do we try for three?”
“When all else is uncertain. The old ways are best.” Ardeth agreed and then drew another blade from his sash and before Rick or Evie could figure out what he had planned his drew it across his hand and smeared one long swipe of blood over the top pole and a smaller smear down each side one. And this time the prayer was in the language of the tribes.
“Damn it, Ardeth what the hell was that for?”
“To let Death know he is not welcome here.” Ardeth shrugged. “Surely my friend you have read the book of Moses?”
Rick grumbled but let Evie get out the bandages. Then she stopped and bit her bottom lip taking Ardeth’s hand in both of hers, oblivious to Ardeth’s embarrassment as she held it and recited another prayer in Egyptian. Ardeth gasped and Evie let go and Rick moved to step between them both and Alex not sure what had gone wrong.
“That I had not heard before.” Ardeth shook his hand a little. “And it feels very odd, but I thank you for it none the less. Is it from the book of AmmunRa?”
“I thought I’d see if it worked.” Evie nodded. “That’s good to know. It gives us something to help the wounded with anyway.”
“Isis is a good goddess to request aid of in that case. But it may be that it is only a woman can use it.”
“Your tribes women tend the wounded most often anyway Ardeth. I’ll teach it to a few and they can teach it to others.”
“As you say.” He agreed, flexing his hand uncertainly. “It certainly seems to work.”
“That was stupid you know.” Rick pointed out.
“If it keeps Anubis from our door my friend, I can spare more blood than that.” Ardeth disagreed.
And he had to force down that dark memory of holding his friend’s bloodied body with hands already wet with Evie’s blood. “Don’t do that again.” He said with more ice to his voice than he’d meant to let out.
Ardeth looked at him for a moment and then simply nodded, but it was so easy to see the concern in his eyes. “As you wish.”
“Will someone please let me in on this?” Alex asked plaintively.
“Sometimes, nephew, the old gods and the old dead of Egypt are not as far from us here as we would like. Such as the scorpion king and those pygmy undead that threatened us here in Ahm Shere the first time we came. So we have come up with a few protections that should allow your father and I to rest for a night.” Ardeth shrugged. “I had not thought to warn your father of my plan though.”
“Always warn dad of plans like that uncle Ardeth. Trust me.”
Ardeth smiled. “As you say. I will try to remember that.”
“And I thought learning to ride horses was hard. Sounds like you’ve been busy in Thebes, huh?”
“More than I would wish, nephew, more than I would wish.” Ardeth sighed. “But we are safe enough tonight and for now that must do. Sleep well, Alex.”
“MaSallama, uncle Ardeth.” Alex pulled off his boots and then with a child’s ease striped down to his underwear and got under the blankets that would keep him warm from the desert night.
“Alex, you certainly inherited your father’s way with clothes.” Evie gathered them up and refolded them and put them away. “Did Amal do the laundry again?” She looked at the suitcase. “I don’t think it was all dirty.”
“Amal is very conscientious with guests.” Ardeth shrugged. “She thinks what we are doing to prepare for this fight precludes us from worrying about daily chores. So I find the laundry and cooking done, my horses tended, and all my gear readied before I even think about needing to do it.”
“That explains it.” Rick agreed. “I was beginning to wonder why everything was always done and I never even thought about it, much less asked.
“Your people are a wonder, Ardeth.” Evie shook her head.
“They are Medjai.” Ardeth answered but he smiled. “Do we sleep as we have been my friends, just to be safe or would you two like if I left you alone for a night?”
“Ardeth.” Evie blushed a bit.
And it was really obvious that Ardeth hadn’t thought about how that question would sound because he flushed worse than Evie did. Rick just slapped him on the shoulder and smiled. “Thanks for the thought, Ardeth, but I think we’ll stick to what’s worked? Okay?”
“As you say.” Ardeth managed a smile, but it was so obvious he was embarrassed.
“Let’s try and get some real sleep for a change, shall we?” Evie smiled. “It’ll be a nice change to have us all safe and here to rest for a night.”
“Yeah.” Rick agreed. But despite himself he put his weapons within easy reach over his head. And he noticed, Ardeth not only put his sword and knives in easy reach as always but laid the scepter of Horus next to him and the shield above his head.
“Seb-heru-am-tcher-uk ha-aftet-en tuten-setcha.” Ardeth whispered.
“We can hope.” Rick agreed, recognizing the prayer even if he couldn’t reproduce it.
“As Allah wills my friend, we can do no other.”
Rick pulled Evie close, and she didn’t even say anything as she snuggled into his arms. “Sleep well, love. You too sport. MaSallama Ardeth.”
“Masa el’kheyr, akee.” Ardeth agreed and squeezed Rick’s shoulder tightly for a moment.
“Sweet dreams this time, Rick.” Evie whispered.
“That’d be nice.” He agreed, but it was all he could do to sound hopeful.
And it was a very, very long time before even as exhausted as he was he could sleep at all.
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Morning came much to quickly in Ardeth’s opinion, because he was certain that Rick had finally dozed off only a few hours before. He had woken twice and known, without having to look that his friend was not even close to sleep. So he had rolled onto his back and put his hand on Rick’s shoulder as Rick had done for him earlier that day. And the tensed muscles, that spoke far more of being prepared for battle than for sleep relaxed just a little. We are well. He wanted to say it out loud, once more as if the repetition would like a phrase from the Koran make it believable. But he kept silent as if he’d truly only half thought the clasp of his friend’s shoulder through in that point between sleep and waking and then let himself doze back off again.
Most merciful Allah, I find I am truly not gifted with patience and have no success with watching my friends suffer when I cannot aid them. Truly, I would do anything you will me, but I would take their pain for my own if I can. I am Medjai, oh my God, let me stand in the way of danger as we always have done and will do for as long as the sands blow.
Jalil came and woke him before dawn and he looked at his friends for a long moment before waking them as well. “Do we go to see of Sekhmet’s gift now or at sunset?” He asked softly.
“Now I think.” Evelyn answered. Rick sat up with a sigh and nodded, picking up his weapons and putting them away.
“Let us go then. Jalil, find us a few men to go with us to the mouth of the Wadi.”
Jalil smiled a bit. “There are horses waiting, Ardeth. Asyd said you would need them.”
“It is truly a blessing to have men like you to fight beside Jalil.”
“It is truly a blessing to have a chieftain such as you to follow.” Jalil returned with a smile.
“I will remember.” He promised.
“Good.”
He gathered his own weapons, slinging the golden shield once more behind him and then checking with the sentry nearest their tent and asking him to wake Alex if they did not return by breakfast time.
Kahid met them with the horses and a tray of coffee and tea. He took a cup of the strong coffee and passed another to Rick as his friend gave a glass of tea to Evelyn. It was not quite as hard to force himself into the saddle as it had been the day before which boded well for the rest he had gotten. He glanced worriedly at Rick but his friend seemed well enough. They rode to the wadi, just as the sun was cresting the far desert.
“Allah will have to forgive us for missing prayers I think my friends, but if you feel you must, do so.” He gestured to the area beside the small dell they were following.
“We will pray at noon.” Kahid shrugged. “Allah is merciful and will understand.”
“As you say.” He agreed and slid down to the ground. “So where do we..”
“Be quiet.” Evelyn said suddenly, in ancient Egyptian and stepped over to him before he heard her move.
“Evie...” Rick began.
“Quiet.” She repeated, in English this time. “Oh Lady of the Wadis, Great Sekhmet, you who have been the wrath of AmmunRa himself please, I, Nefertiri, daughter to Pharaoh do ask for your blessing here by the citadel of thy brother Anubis. Please oh dread goddess of war, for the Egypt that was and is and will be grant me I pray you the knowledge of where to find the gift Anheratu left for me.”
And a large and sleek red lioness walked out from the wadi, her muzzle dark with water, or blood, or both. Ardeth drew his scepter and Rick the shotgun that hung across his back.
“Teta.” Evelyn, Nefertiri, said with a smile. “I stand as you told me I did do I not? Grant me oh great goddess that which you and your brothers would will me.”
And the lioness turned as if being confronted with a dozen humans at the very beginning of the day was a normal thing and headed back into the wadi.
“We go that way, Medjai.” Evelyn said calmly. “Do not let them fear, Ardeth, we walk with the blessings of the god of all Egypt.”
“As Allah wills then.” He replied, knowing well that the phrase could be applied to two.
She only laughed. “Will you walk with me, love?” She reached over and put her arm through Rick’s that wasn’t holding the shotgun. “I feel rather odd when I just sort of recall what I’m supposed to know. You would think I’d be used to it by now.”
“At least this time you were standing on the ground and not falling off of Izzy’s balloon.”
“There is that.” She agreed.
“Are you certain of this?” He had to ask.
“I am.” She patted his arm with her other hand. “Will you walk with us then, brother of ours?”
“I would be honored.” He replied, and then not knowing if it was truly appropriate or not he slid the shield off his back and onto his free arm.
“Darkness and light then.” She smiled. “Let’s go see what it is I’m supposed to find.”
“I hate this part of things, Evie.”
“She’s not a bad goddess, love, and she did help keep us safe from Anubis last night.”
“If it keeps us safe, okay. But one wrong move and divine or not I’m shooting.” Rick promised softly.
“I’m sure she knows that, Rick.” Evie chuckled. But they followed the lioness until the wadi turned and there was a small tumble of rocks that revealed the remains of a small shrine. And the lioness looked back at them and then bounded up the slope and was gone. “Thank you, oh great goddess of healing and war.” Evelyn whispered in Egyptian. “I’d say we go there.”
“Carefully.” Ardeth agreed. “Kahid, Jalil, check that way, Mahmed, Gahreen, that side.”
“As you say.” Kahid answered and the men behind them fanned out into the temple.
“It’s perfectly safe, Ardeth. They’re hardly going to want us to fail now.”
“It is our duty to protect you is it not?” He shrugged. “Allow us to do so then. May I go first, princess?” He teased a little.
“If you feel you must.” She rolled her eyes. “Bully.”
“Here.” Rick handed her a pistol. “If the shadows decide to bite back.”
“There is always that.” She agreed and took the pistol with what Ardeth still though of as surprising competence and they made their way into the shrine. There was little enough left to shield any sort of enemy. Evelyn walked with easy precision to the western wall and traced the faded remains of an inscription. “Here then.” She knelt down and calmly pulled one of the blocks from the wall.
“Dammit Evelyn.” Rick growled moving over to her. “Don’t do that without warning me.”
“It’s only an offering box, Rick. It’s not even cursed.”
“Humor me.” His friend pleaded.
Ardeth had to agree.
“All right then. See, here, for the honor of the daughter of Pharaoh, a gift of strength to thee great Sekhmet.”’ She traced the carvings. “Since as far as I know I’m the only daughter of Pharaoh we have. Let’s see what’s inside.” And she reached for the box and then there was a loud click of metal in that moment of silence and the lid simply lifted just a hairbreadth itself. “There, see, thank you oh great goddess, my husband is Medjai, and worries.”
“I worry because you don’t always think first. But this time, okay, we’ll go one faith I guess.” Rick shook his head. And Evelyn raised the lid of the box and looked inside. And there, as if the gift had only been left yesterday was a gold mask that someone combined a woman’s features with a large cat’s and two triple bladed knives. Evelyn smiled and then closed the chest.
“I am thankful for thy blessing, great goddess of war. May the enemies of Egypt tremble once more at her might, for what was and is and will be. For the joy of wielding that which my father willed me. I thank you.” And she rose to her feet. “There now. That wasn’t so hard. Let’s go see to our books shall we, gentlemen?”
“Is she always so calm about this sort of thing?” He asked Rick as they reholstered their respective weapons.
“Drives me nuts.” Rick nodded.
“I can certainly understand why.” He agreed. But they rode back toward the encampment none the less.
Arebe, Selim, Sallah, and surprisingly enough Abdul who was pestering the other three incessantly with questions about their trip, were waiting for them around the breakfast fire.
“Abdul, I am surprised you were quiet through prayers, my friend. Let them eat.” He suggested, deciding not even to mention what they had already found that morning.
“As you say. But is it not the most amazing thing Ardeth? First you are visited by the great old god of all Egypt in your dreams and now Horus appears to us here in the waking world. I am amazed all over again and the things that lie within Egypt. As if guarding Hamanaptura was not enough to keep us busy for generations.”
“I would agree with you there my friend.” He nodded. “But I think we would all hear of what Horus said to our tribesmen so let us eat and gather together and we shall see indeed what the gods have given us.”
“Very well, Ardeth. I shall try to contain my curiosity.”
Sallah laughed. “He will sit there and fidget until he explodes with questions, Ardeth.”
“You are probably right.” He agreed but he smiled none the less. “Try, Abdul, that is all I ask.”
“Thank you.” Selim rolled his eyes and got himself more coffee. Ardeth got himself another cup as well and then went and refilled Rick’s.
“Thanks.” His friend smiled, looking a little less haunted if not less exhausted.
Ardeth just nodded and sat down as well. “It was good to rest for a change, if not nearly enough sleep.”
“Yeah.” Rick agreed. “But I guess those spells must have worked because I didn’t dream at all once we went to sleep.
Did you sleep enough to dream, brother? Ardeth kept from asking that aloud. “That is something.” He agreed.
“When AmmunRa spoke to you in Thebes, Ardeth, did the voice hurt your ears?” Sallah asked after a bit.
“No.” He shook his head. “It was-- not really like a voice, but it was pleasant enough. Did Horus’ voice hurt your ears then?”
“At first. It was much like a screech of a falcon. Later though I think he was not so angry at us and so was softer.”
“You get used to the sound after a while.” Arebe smiled. “Horus was most gracious to us but his voice is as you said, not really a voice and very-- loud.”
“AmmunRa was not loud.” Ardeth shrugged. “And the bright son of Osiris himself has never spoken to me.” He recalled suddenly that very inhuman laugh he had heard from Anubis in Thebes though. “But when the dark god of the dead spoke, that was not a sound I would ever hear again.” He glanced over at Rick as he spoke.
“Me either.” Rick agreed. “You think maybe since we did what he told us to do and I put on the damned armor he’ll leave us alone?”
“We can hope.” Ardeth replied. And we shall, somehow, brother of mine, keep you safe from him.
“Did Anubis speak to you then?” Selim asked. “And tell you, you were to take up the armor of the Scorpion King, O’Connell?”
“He seems pretty set on it since I killed his last champion, yeah.” Rick agreed. “Definitely not a sound I ever want to hear again either, Sallah. But it seemed to work, because the armor didn’t hurt me any, although he said it was still poisonous so if I’m carrying it don’t get to close. But it does seem to make me pretty invincible so that’s something good to use against the Germans anyway.”
“If the armor gives us some weapon to use against our enemies, Daoud will be even happier in paradise.” Selim said quietly.
“Then I’ll smash a few tanks with it.” Rick smiled.
“Thank you.” His uncle agreed. “So, do we gather us all together and see what must be done?”
“I will see if the bright god of vengeance will grant me his blessing in opening the chest you brought. And I think we can now safely open the other as well. Then we shall bring those objects that are not cursed or deadly in their own right back here and we shall all tell our tales of what it is we know and have learned and accomplished.” He decided. “Abdul will you go and pull Gamal and Kahid off of sentry rounds and have them join us? Then they can rest.
“As you wish.” Abdul agreed.
“Then we can answer all your questions, Abdul.” He promised with a smile.
“That will take more than one afternoon I think, Ardeth, but it is a kind thought.” Abdul smiled and then went to find his fellow leaders.
“Shall we go brave the lion’s den then?” Evelyn asked.
“Might as well. You know, I guess in a weird way each of the gods we’ve dealt with has a book now , huh? AmmunRa, Horus, Sekhmet, and Anubis.” Rick pointed out.
“Life, Vengeance, War, and Death, that is all four.” Evelyn agreed.
“So it is.” Ardeth sighed. “And for so long we thought to only worry about one.”
“You ever wonder what life would be like if I hadn’t found that damned key in Hamanaptura the first time?” Rick asked.
“We wouldn’t be married and Alex wouldn’t have ever been born. I’d still be Nabil’s librarian with no knowledge of all about the Medjai or job offers from the Bembridge scholars. You’d have been hung in Cairo, and Ardeth would have had to save the world from the Scorpion King all by himself. That doesn’t seem much like an improvement to me.”
Ardeth smiled. “She has a point my friend. It may seem unlikely but I think we must agree that Allah had everything done just so it would turn out as he willed.”
“Well, when you put it like that, yeah I guess so.” Rick smiled back. “It was a crazy ride to get here though.”
“That I will agree to.” They stopped at the tent where he and Rick had moved the chests the night before. “Rick and I will carry these, Evelyn, if you would go and get the chest you found this morning. Sallah will bring the books.”
“All right.” She agreed and headed to the other tent not far away meeting up with Sallah as she walked.
“Your wife speaks truly my friend. I do not think my life would be any better or easier if you had died in the desert when I first expected you to. It would, I think, be much darker.”
“Thanks.” Rick smiled just a bit. “Mine too.” He gripped Ardeth’s shoulder for a moment and then went in and picked up the chest containing the book of Sekhmet. Ardeth picked up the other.
“Let me go and get Horus as well.” He decided. “He does, it seems, sometimes like to aid me with this.”
“Kinda a strange coincidence that you named him that isn’t it?” Rick asked.
“There is, my friend, a fine line between coincidence and fate.” he reminded him.
“I’m beginning to believe that more and more, Ardeth.” Rick agreed. Ardeth went over to where Horus was perched with the other falcons, cleaning his talons of the remains of whatever he had gone and caught for breakfast. There was, fortunately, none of the dead creature left for him to offer to Ardeth.
“You were hungry still this morning my friend.” He smiled. “Shall I offer you breakfast for a change?”
Horus looked at him for a moment, blinked and then hopped directly onto the middle of the chest Ardeth was holding before climbing his way up Ardeth’s arm and back to perch on the shield hung across his shoulder.
“Very well, I will find you something you may not mind eating. We have work yet to do this day my friend.” He shook his head a little.
“Good morning Horus.” Rick said with surprising seriousness. “Would you mind if next time Ardeth here sends you to talk to your namesake thanking him for me?”
Horus turned to look at him and then tapped his beak against the shield, once.
“I take that as a yes.” Ardeth translated. “What are you thanking Horus for?”
“Keeping Anubis from our door, walking between us and the darkness, that sort of thing.” Rick shrugged.
And more that you will not say. I am learning this game of only telling what is truth but not entirely all too well brother. But it might do me well to recognize it in others. He nodded. “Then I will offer my thanks as well to the bright god of Vengeance, my friend. For seeing all of us safely through the dark places we traveled yesterday and back here well and whole.”
Horus tapped his jaw this time and then fluffed his feathers and smoothed them again to settle contentedly on the shield rim.
“So, do we open these now or in front of everyone?”
“I am both loathe to do it without the others present and concerned that it might endanger them. Let us have Sallah and Evelyn read over them both again and we can decide.”
“Okay. I brought the scepter of Osiris too. That one I don’t mind carrying around.”
“As you say.” Ardeth agreed. They set the chests down and joined the Medjai already gathered about the clearing. Sallah and Evelyn joined them after a few moments with the chest they had found that very morning and the book of the dead and the book of AmmunRa. “Will you check this for me once more my friends and make certain that I am not offending Horus by opening it?” He indicated the gold chest. Sallah nodded and read over each inscription in Egyptian. Which was easy enough for Ardeth to follow. By the time he was done Abdul had returned with Gamal and Kahid
“Good so we are all present. Let us start with what has happened here in Ahm Shere while Pasha was not yet present. We have found the armor of the Scorpion King, and as promised in the papyruses we also found here it grants the wearer near invincibility. However, it seems, that since Rick was the one who managed to kill the Scorpion King the last time the Medjai gathered here it is he Anubis has deemed his new champion and so the weapon is his to wield alone. It is as poisonous as a thousand scorpions my friends so we leave it in its box until we must use it against our enemies.”
“It truly did not harm you to wear it, O’Connell?” Abdul asked.
“No. I wasn’t sure there for a minute, but when Anubis wants you to do something arguing about it is kind of pointless really.”
“He is-- unconcerned with the consequences to life, which I suppose is understandable to a god of death but it makes it an-- uneasy alliance at best. As if Ammun sending He who shall not be named to save our tribes was not uncertainty enough to deal with.”
“That was what Gamal told me.” Pasha agreed. “And truly I would have given a great deal to see the cursed thing annihilate those who slaughtered our kindred. Allah will forgive us the once I think for not being to sorry we failed at keeping it in its grave.”
Ardeth had to chuckle. “As you say. There is some justice in it I suppose that we are indebted to it for our salvation when we worked for so many generations at keeping it buried and then failed.” He shook his head. “So we have the armor of the Scorpion King, we have the Book of the Dead and the Book of Ammun Ra and the scepter and shield of Horus, which grants me, and apparently others who are brave enough to try it, the speed of the god of Vengeance.” He looked at Selim, Arebe, and Sallah. “And now we have to book of Horus, and the book of Sekhmet, and another treasure I am uncertain of, and the scepter of Osiris. Great armaments but we are still trying to understand them.”
“When we traveled yesterday to Hamanaptura and back, Horus only told us to be careful of the journey and he would allow us to get that which we sought and bring it back to you. There was no other instructions.” Arebe shrugged.
“And he warned us to be careful about journeying in darkness and to stay within the light. Because Set would not take kindly to our meddling. But that would make sense in a way because Horus is a god of light.” Sallah shrugged.
“It is exhausting the use of this old magic, Ardeth. I wonder yet that you kept your feet so long in traveling to the battlefield of Ahmer’s tribe and back four times when it is at least a three day ride from here.” Selim shook his head.
“It needed to be done.” He shrugged himself. “But I will take into account that you made smaller trips and survived it better. Perhaps that is what Ammun meant in warning me to recall that falcons conserve their strength in flight.”
“It may well be.” Arebe agreed.
“So, it seems we have these last two chests to open and then we can see what it is that comes with Izzy and Jonathan and we will know at least as much as we can what Allah wills us to have for this battle.”
“I am-- not questioning the will of Allah, Ardeth, or your wisdom but is it truly proper for us to be using so much of the old magic?” Gamal asked.
“I see no reason we would be given it if we were not to use it my friend, but believe me I have had no lack of concern for how to balance walking with the blessings of the old gods of Egypt and knowing in my heart that there is no God but Allah. I must only assume that he has chosen to reveal his wonders to us in ways we can understand them.”
“Afreet and Djinn and the archangels are all still under the province of Allah, who are we to know for certain what forms he would have them wear?” Selim put in.
“As you say, uncle, it may indeed be so.” He agreed. “So my friend will you help me with this task? I would ask you to carry our thanks and our pleas for guidance to your namesake once more so that I may do as I am willed to do. Grant me, great Horus, son of Osiris once more I beseech you the gift of thy grace so I may stand as Medjai before the enemies of Egypt. Ai hetem-heset-heru, Ai A-ahru neter.” Grant me your grace oh god of Vengeance, that I a may be yet a warrior of god.
Horus took to the sky with a bright cry of greeting and he took that as answer enough and opened the chest at his feet. There came a sound like that of a thousand wings upon the air and a strong gust of wind blew from the east across them. And the word echoed in his mind and must have done so in the others because they all looked as stunned as he felt. “GRANTED.”
“Thank you.” He offered it in old Egyptian uncertainly not really knowing what in the world to say to that. Horus came circling down and landed back on his shield with a flick of his winds and if Ardeth had not known it was impossible he would have sworn his friend was smiling. “And you, my friend, and you.” He stroked the soft feathers. “Shall we see what this great gift I have been given is?” He unwrapped the book carefully. It was for all he could tell carved in alabaster and edged in gold. “I do not suppose when you gentlemen went to Hamanaptura to find this great gift you thought to find me the key that opens it?” He asked.
His three tribesmen looked at each other in complete loss.
“Here.” Rick chuckled. “We’ve had good and bad luck with this one.” He held out the puzzle box key that he had found so long ago in Hamanaptura. “It worked on the other two.”
“As you say.” He agreed. Rick opened it with a click. “Ah, thank you.”
“Turn it to the right.” Evelyn put in. “AmmunRa’s opened to the right.”
“That is good to know.” He set the key into place, and it fit as if it was just yesterday someone had done this. “Ai Hetem-Heset- Heru.” And he turned the key.
And the falcon heads which held the great book closed opened with a click. Horus hopped down from his shoulder to land unerringly right on the cover.
“Am I not to read it then?” He asked uncertainly. “Although I will no doubt need help with the translations, my hieroglyphics are not as good as they should be.”
Horus launched himself off the book, circled a few times and then landed on a very startled Sallah’s head before circling back to his perch on Ardeth’s shield. He chuckled. “You seem to have been elected my friend.”
Sallah smiled. “I am honored of course.” He rubbed his head ruefully. “Thank you.”
“So we have the book of Horus.” Ardeth said, unable to keep the wonder from his voice. “May it bring us victory and avenge us against those who would slay or tribes.”
“In’sh’allah.” Several of the leaders’ voices overlapped.
“I place this in your care then, Sallah, read it carefully and tell to me everything it says so that I may know what is it the bright son of Osiris and Isis would have me do.”
“I will.” Sallah promised and took the book carefully. “Bis’mil’Allah it is beautiful is it not?”
He smiled. “As it should be.” He shrugged. And oddly enough he recalled suddenly that very drunken conversation he had with He who shall not be named in Thebes when he had first seen AmmunRa. It is odd is it not priest what a man can find beautiful? Your god is beautiful. He chuckled despite himself. “As are the gods of light my friend.”
“That is true.” Sallah agreed, stroking his fingers over the inscriptions on the cover. “I will guard it with my life.”
“I can ask no more than that.” He agreed. “So, Evelyn, do you wish to try your luck or do we wait for sunset?”
“Sekhmet is likely to be annoyed if I wait that long. She is, amazingly enough, not known for her patience either.”
‘That’s appropriate.” Rick chuckled.
“It is isn’t it?” Evelyn smiled. “Ardeth if you will stand there? Rick, love, if you’ll stand there?” She indicated her left and then right. Ardeth looked at him brother but shrugged and took his place. “Now, let me see if I can remember how this fit.” She drew the mask out of the box it had lain in for who knew how long and then slid it on as if it had been made for her, which he supposed, it might have been at that. The twin weapons went to hang from her belt and she knelt in front of the red and black chest, arms crossed over her chest so that her hands rested on her own shoulders. “Sekhmet, lady of the twilight, goddess of war, grant me your blessing so that I may understand that which you will us to know and in so doing help us to victory over the enemies of Egypt. I am a long time from your temple great Sekhmet, but I am wife and mother both and sister to the Medjai who wait even now to defend Egypt.” She offered it in Egyptian and he translated it softly for Rick and the others who did not speak the ancient tongue. “I walk as you told me to and would do so with your blessing.” He blinked, because for a moment there it was not Evelyn who knelt before them, but Pharaoh’s bright daughter, and she opened the chest without even having to try.
This time the wind blew hot and fierce from the south. Evelyn reached into the chest and pulled out another great book this time carved in the same red granite as the chest in which it laid and held closed by lion’s claws. “May I have my key back, Ardeth?”
“Certainly.” He handed it to her.
“I am thankful great goddess of war and healing.” She considered for a moment. “So do I invoke the first and turn it left or do I invoke the later and turn it right?” She paused for a moment longer. “Left then right?”
“Evie, please tell me you know what you’re doing?” Rick asked. Ardeth smiled, wanting to agree with him.
“Well it isn’t the sort of thing I want to get wrong is it? I’ve learned that lesson already.” She put the key into place. “In’sh’allah.” She shrugged and then turned the key left and then right and the book opened with a click. “There.” She took the key out and put it away. “Thank you great Sekhmet.” And she pushed the mask back onto her head and opened the book. And the wind blew back strong from the south. “I have a lot of reading to do.”
“At least you can read it.” Rick sighed. “I can’t even speak it.”
“You could not ask for better teachers.” Ardeth pointed out. “So we have two more weapons to add. Do you think Evelyn you might try and see if there is more to your odd blades than only what the seem?”
“Considering the scepters you two have, certainly.” She stood up and put the mask back into place drawing them from her belt. “Ai hetem-Heset-Sek-ha-mut.” And she tossed one before he or Rick could move and it arched over all the Medjai leaders and buried itself to the hilt in a large boulder. “I’ll take that as a yes. I’m surprised I remembered that.”
“Could you perhaps refrain from doing it again without warning us, Sitt O’Connell?” Selim asked after a long moment.
“Certainly. I’m sorry, Selim. Sometimes Nefertiri’s enthusiasm get’s the better of me.”
“You are a very lucky man, my friend, but I must credit you with more patience than I had before.” He told Rick quietly as Evelyn went to get her weapon.
“She’s going to give me heart failure one of these days.” Rick sighed. “But I wouldn’t change her for anything.”
“No, I rather thought not.” He chuckled. “Come. Let us take these books back to the tent where Sallah and Evelyn can decipher them and put the chests back with the armor. Then I think I will go ride the perimeter of our great encampment and assure myself at least that all is well. Arebe, will you take a band of riders and a falcon out to the high point of the cliffs by the Blue Nile and see what you may yet of anything that comes from the west?”
“I will, but it will take us almost all day to reach them.” Arebe agreed.
“Send word when you can. I shall send Horus to you if Izzy and Jonathan arrive before then.”
“Thank you, Ardeth. Take care my friend.” Arebe gripped his shoulder. “I am pleased you are not angry with me.”
“I was concerned, and I was far from pleased that you chose to try such a thing without allowing us to discuss it first. But you did so in only desiring to aid our tribes, so I can not be too angry. However, if you do so again, I will assume it is because you wish my position and not yours and we will settle it as such. Is that understood?”
Arebe nodded once. “Then you know of course that I shall never do so again.”
“That is what I was hoping for, yes.” He smiled and clasped Arebe’s shoulder. “Safe journey.”
“Thank you, Ardeth.” Arebe smiled and went to gather his men.
“Let’s get these someplace less dangerous , huh?” Rick picked up the chest that Evelyn had opened.
“Indeed.” He picked up his own. “Do you want these in the same tent with the papyrus Evelyn or do we put them back in the storage tent with the other cursed things?”
“There opened now, they shouldn’t be any threat and I’d like to check them both out further, put them with the papyruses. I’ll get the book of AmmunRa and the book of the Dead.”
“As you say.” He agreed. He was happy enough to set the chest down on the table and know it was done. “This opening of ancient artifacts is unnerving even when I should know it is what Allah wishes us to do.”
“It’s always unnerving.” Rick agreed. “No matter how often you do it. I have to literally hold myself still every time Evie opens anything with hieroglyphics on it.”
“With your wife, my friend, I am sorry to say, that is probably a very likely thing to have to continue.”
“Yeah.” Rick nodded. “So you want company on this trek of yours?”
“I would appreciate the company but I can understand if you wish to stay here and be with Evelyn and Alex.”
“Evie’ll be reading all day. And I’ll get in Asyd’s way if I go watch Alex learning to ride, plus give myself heart failure every time he tries something wonderfully brave and completely foolish.”
“Like father like son?” He had to smile.
“Yeah.” Rick agreed with a grin of his own. “So I’ll go ride with you and save myself the tension. You can teach me some Egyptian while we ride okay?”
“Certainly.” He agreed. And I will see if I can get you to speak of what it is that still haunts your eyes my friend. What did Anubis do you, Rick, that even now I can tell it causes you pain? Is this what you felt the last few times I went to Thebes and you were so worried for me? I am unaccustomed to having a brother to worry for, my friend, as are you no doubt. It is not easy is it? Trying to remember that there is someone who would share the battle with you and who hates being left behind when you are in danger or worse? I will have patience if I must but I will no more let you keep this to yourself and hoard the pain it gives you than you would let me do the same.
Rick however was just as obviously set against saying anything at all about what had happened. So he let it rest for now, knowing that pressing his friend for answers he was not yet willing to give would only make the processes longer. So he kept the intermittent conversation to useful phrases in Egyptian and lighter topics. And that still seemed to ease his friend some, because the smiles became less shadowed and the responses quicker and with more of the humor Rick always had. And that was victory enough for the day. They had two more days of peace if what the old gods had said held and he was more than willing to take this one to see as much to rights as he could. Tomorrow once Evelyn and Sallah had read through the new great books they would know of what other weapons they had and then they would have two days to practice with them. It was all he had been given and he would make it do.
“Allah, I am still exhausted even with the sleep I had yesterday.” He admitted as they rode back to the main camp before the sun set completely.
“Yeah. It’s like that sometimes, you don’t realize how tired you are until you get a chance to rest.” Rick agreed. “I could sleep for days.”
“When this is over my friend we shall do just that. Rest for days and celebrate through the coolness of the evenings. That sounds like Paradise itself right now.”
“It does kinda.” Rick agreed. “Think we’ll wind up back in Thebes tonight?”
“I truly have no idea, my friend. I have, I admit, given up on even trying to predict what the creature will do or not do. Since it seems to only do exactly what I would never consider.”
Rick nodded a little but there was something dark back in his eyes. “I’m still tempted to blow it to bits.”
“I can not say I disagree with that most days, no.” He smiled. “But I am loathe to anger Ammun in doing so.”
“Fine, we find him another champion and then we blow the damned thing back to hell.”
“In’sh’allah.” Ardeth agreed. “For all I know Rick it will throw us a wonderful banquet and be a courteous host. Just because I expect it to tease me mercilessly.”
“I don’t like when it teases you Ardeth, but I’ll cope with it. But so help me, if it touches you I’ll blow the whole damned place to hell.”
“I am well.” He repeated it again. “Truly, must I swear it again to Allah? He did not harm me.”
“And I’m not going to give it the chance.” Rick replied coldly.
“Will you tell me why you are so angry now, my friend?”
Rick sighed. “I don’t think I could even start.” Rick shook his head. “I’ll try to keep a lid on it all right?”
“If that is what you wish to try.” He agreed softly. “Come, we will find Evelyn and Alex and dinner. I must see Horus settled for the night. Then we can see what Evelyn and Sallah have for us and if Arebe got to the high ground in time to send a falcon back or whether I must wait for the morning.”
“I think I’ll go take a quick bath while you get Horus settled okay? Evie’ll appreciate it if I don’t smell quite so much like a horse.”
Ardeth chuckled. “As you say, far be it from me to argue with your wife. I will get Horus settled, see if Arebe has sent news and come to get you for dinner then.”
“Thanks.” Rick smiled.
But do not think for a moment, my friend, that I am leaving you alone for long, or that I will not ask again. Allah, is this what you dealt with all morning yesterday? Not knowing how to help? Truly, I can say that the creature was far crueler to you with the pretense it created than it was with the few kisses I endured. What did Anubis do to you Rick that you will not trust me with it?
Duhr:ToC