Duhr
Chapter 8
Rick pushed himself out of the chair the damned thing had kept him pinned to as soon as he could move and made it to Ardeth's side a moment later. Ardeth had sat up but not really moved otherwise and the tremors that ran through him were obvious.
"Easy now." Rick reached over as carefully as he knew how and put his hands on his brother’s shoulders cautiously. "Ardeth?"
"Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim." Ardeth whispered softly. "I can not breathe."
"Shhh, try to take a few deep breaths now." Rick slowly pulled him close and tried his best to hold him against the shakes. Not that he was real certain he wasn't shaking himself. He'd just about screamed when the damned thing had pushed Ardeth back to the bed. And he knew if he'd had to watch another moment of what Ardeth had endured he would have begged Anubis for the chance to wield that sword and to hell with the consequences. "I'm here." He stroked his hand down his friend’s back for a bit until the muscles started to unclench under his hands. “Better?”
“I think so.” Ardeth answered softly. “I am so sorry.”
“Shhh, what for, panicking? Hell, I was panicking.”
“I did not want you to see that.”
“No, me either. And I sure as hell didn’t want you do have to do it. But it’s done, and he’s gone. God Ardeth, where the hell do you find the guts to close your eyes at night, huh?”
“Here.” Ardeth leaned into his arms and rested his head on Rick’s shoulder. “Because I know I am not alone.”
“Wasn’t much help was I?” He kept the slow strokes to his friend’s back the way he’d done for Evie when she’d started having nightmares about Hamanaptura and Ahm Shere.
“You are more help than I can say.” Ardeth hugged him back finally. “I was afraid you might hurt yourself trying to break his hold.”
“Didn’t do a damned bit of good to try.” Rick shook his head. But he smoothed his friend’s hair, suddenly wanting to undo the tangles the damned thing had made in the waves. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help.”
“I will spend some time with the tribe my sister married into tomorrow and I will tell myself they are worth it.” Ardeth shivered. “I know it. But it is a bitter thing to bear none the less.”
“Does he always kiss you like that?” Rick couldn’t think of any nice way to ask it.
“No. Never before, thanks be to Allah. The beginning yes, and he has always wanted me to open my mouth to his but never like that. I would be curled in the corner like a small child if it was that bad each time. Bis’mil’Allah, and he says it could be worse. It could; I know. He could have kissed me as he did in Ahm Shere for that long and that completely. Or he could have undone my robes as he threatened...but...”
“Doesn’t mean what he did wasn’t pretty damned awful.” Rick shook him lightly. “Just cause he thinks you should be thankful it wasn’t doesn’t mean anything. Okay?”
“As you say. It is like losing a hand and being thankful for the arm. Or taking fifty lashes and being thankful it is not a hundred. I am thankful it was not worse but I am hardly thankful it was as bad as it was. I am angry, and terrified, and I could shout out my hatred at Allah but it will do no good to do so. So I will sit here and be very glad I have you to hold me. Is that all right, brother mine?”
“Yeah. That’s fine. It’ll keep me from going and blowing it and the building to ruble and then I won’t anger Ammun, huh?”
“As you say.” Ardeth trembled again. “I do not have the strength to take the next three kisses I still owe if each one is going to be again as much worse as that one was from the last.”
“We’ll face it when we get to it, Ardeth. If anybody can have enough courage for this, brother, it’s you.”
“Would that I had your faith in myself.”
“Sometimes all we have is faith, Ardeth. You taught me that.”
“In’sh’allah.” Ardeth sighed.
“Yeah.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“IMHOTEP.” The bright arrow of light streaked past him and then became a solid form just a few feet ahead. He went to one knee, arms crossed over his chest and bowed his head.
“Great god of Vengeance, bright son of Osiris, lord of the Duat, and most revered Isis. What brings thee here to the city of AmmunRa, He who is lord of all Egypt, bright Horus?”
“MY CHAMPION CALLED UPON ME. THOU CAN RECALL THAT CAN YOU NOT?”
He nodded. “I...had not expected you to appear here.” He admitted.
“NO, I SEE THAT THOU DID NOT. I, MYSELF, WILL SPEAK PLAINLY TO THEE PRIEST OF MY FATHER’S FATHER. THOU SHALL NOT HARM HIM. THOU WILL NOT PRESS HIM TOO THE POINT OF DESPAIR AND BEYOND. AND I, THE SON OF OSIRIS DO PROMISE THEE THAT IF THOU LET THY PASSION RULE THEE AND FORGET THY PROMISE TO NOT TAKE HIM WITHOUT JOY BETWEEN YOU I WILL WITH GREAT RELISH RIP THY SOUL FROM THY BODY AND GIVE IT TO MY DREAD UNCLE AS A GIFT. DO THOU UNDERSTAND?”
He swallowed hard, but found his voice. “I do. I will not harm him, bright god of vengeance. I have no wish or desire to cause him harm at all. No matter how angry or annoyed he makes me. Surely you know that I meant no harm even now.”
“I KNOW THOU SOUGHT TO DO NO HARM. BUT HARM MAY SOMETIMES BE BROUGHT WHEN IT IS NOT INTENDED. WELL HE SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT THOU WILL NOT HARM HIM BUT I DO NOT AND THOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT HIM TO BE THANKFUL THAT YOU PRESS HIM FOR MORE THAN HE WOULD GIVE. AND THOU KNOW AS I KNOW THAT HARM IS NOT REQUIRED FOR RAPE. THOU HAVE COMFORTED THE VERY SAME IN THE EGYPT THAT WAS.”
He closed his eyes at that the pain still strong despite the millennia since it had happened. “I do.”
“KNOW THEE THEN THAT FOR HER SAKE AND THINE I DID CHASTISE THE MAN WHO WAS GOD AND KING WHILE YOU LIVED FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE.”
He looked up at that into the god’s sharp gold eyes and then bowed again. “Thank you.”
“THOU MAY THANK ME BY BEING A BIT LESS HARSH WITH MY CHAMPION. HE HAS MUCH TO LEARN, IMHOTEP, BUT IF WE BREAK THE BLADE IN THE FORGING HOW THEN SHALL WE WIELD IT AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF EGYPT? IF HE IS PRESSED TO DO AS HE DID TODAY AND SACRIFICE HIS OWN LIFE TO BE FREE OF THEE? IT IS A HARD JOURNEY FROM HERE TO EDFU FOR ONE MORTAL MAN ALONE WITH ONLY MY GRACE FOR HIS TRAVEL.”
“He did what?” He had to look up again, and Ammun but that hurt in ways he had never expected.
The god only smiled a little. “IT IS IN THE WORD OF ALLAH, IF HE SACRIFICES HIMSELF BUT BY DOING SO TAKES HIS ENEMY WITH HIM HE IS ASSURED PARADISE. AND AMMUN WOULD BE ANGRY INDEED IF THOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DEATH. THEN EGYPT WOULD BE LEFT WITH MY BROTHER’S CHAMPION AND HIS WIFE WHO STANDS FOR SEKHMET AND AN ARMY OF MEDJAI WITH NO LEADER. ASSUMING THAT IS THAT MY BROTHER’S CHAMPION DID NOT TRY TO KILL THEE FIRST OR SACRIFICE HIMSELF FOR ARDETH. THEN WHERE WOULD EGYPT BE?”
“Damned.” He answered with a sigh. “I am truly sorry bright god of Vengeance, I meant him no harm.”
“IN THIS I WILL TAKE THAT THY INTENTIONS DO IN PART MAKE UP FOR THY ACTIONS. HE IS VERY UNUSED TO THE WORLD THAT WAS OR EVEN IS, IMHOTEP. AND HE IS AS BOUND BY THE WEIGHT OF HIS TITLE AND THE TRADITION OF HIS TRIBES AS THOU ARE TO THE WILL OF MY FATHER’S FATHER AND THE CURSE THAT THY BORE FOR SO LONG. BE THEE THEN A BIT LESS ANNOYED AT MY CHAMPION.”
“As you say, bright Horus, I shall do.”
“IT IS GOOD FOR US ALL THAT YOU SHALL. AND ABATE THY HATRED JUST A BIT FOR MY DARK BROTHER’S CHAMPION AS WELL. FOR HE IS ONLY CONCERNED FOR HIS BROTHER AND LOVES TOO WELL. HE HAS HIS OWN TASK AND DARK PATH TO FOLLOW IN THE DAYS TO COME. AND WHEN IT HAS COME TO THE END IT WILL AND MUST HAVE KNOW THAT YOU AND THE OTHERS SHALL UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT WILL. I AM NOT YET ANGRY AT THEE IMHOTEP ONLY A BIT DISPLEASED.” And the sharp falcon’s beak snapped very, very close to his ear. “BUT TREAD LIGHTER.”
“As you will so shall it be done.” He bowed again.
“SEE THAT THOU REMEMBER THAT.” The bright god laughed. “WE SHALL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN, IMHOTEP. I SHALL SAY TO GREAT AMMUNRA TODAY. THAT HIS CHAMPION IS ODD BUT DOES NOT LACK COURAGE.” And then the light flashed over his head and was gone.
“Oh bright AmmunRa, you who is lord of all Egypt, please. I understand so little but I truly do not seek to anger you or your children.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Do we have to go to dinner?” Rick grumbled under his breath as he holstered his pistols with a sigh.
“He is likely to carry out his threat if we do not. And I...will be hard pressed to not be ill at the very least.” Ardeth replied, which meant that Rick hadn’t been a quiet as he’d meant to be.
“I know that. And I’m not going to risk it, Ardeth don’t worry. I just hate having to go be polite.”
“We have to go. We did not agree to be gracious guests.” Ardeth smiled a little.
“Well that’s good because I don’t think I’d manage it well.” He checked his knives, and the three sticks of dynamite he had brought and then straightened. “Okay, let’s go to dinner.”
“Does it not seem we should instead be going to war?” Ardeth slung his own shield to his shoulder.
“You mean we aren’t?” He smiled a bit.
“As you say. As if the weapons we have do us any good.”
“Your shield and scepter might. I brought the scepter of Osiris and we have a vague standing pardon. It’s better than a few fights I’ve faced.”
“And I. Very well then. Let us go dine with asps one more.”
“You think we’d be good at it by now.” He followed Ardeth down the hall. “Did we agree to eat?”
“No.” Ardeth shook his head. “Only to come to dinner I believe was the threat.”
“Good.” He reached over and squeezed Ardeth’s shoulder. “When did we start thinking this sort of stuff was normal anyway? Dinning with not quite dead priests of ancient gods in cities that aren’t even here anymore?”
That got a smile. “It has become rather expected has it not? I will know my way around here soon and it does not even exist when I wake. I am half-tempted to go to Luxor when the battle is over and see what remains of the places I have walked.”
“We’ll take Evie and Alex and maybe Sallah and a few others and we can try to explain to them what it used to look like.”
“Sallah will be happy.” Ardeth smiled a bit more. “He would truly love the chance to see this.”
“Well if we could do it without the not quite dead priest I’d invite him.”
“As you say.” Ardeth nodded and then paused as they reached the main doors. He looked at the two guards and then drew himself up and all that self-possession he had when he was really leading the Medjai just sort of settled about him. And he said something very calmly in ancient Egyptian before giving Rick the translation in Arabic. “You may announce us if you will, but tell the High Priest of AmmunRa, that he should not extend invitations to the leader of the Medjai if he is then so rude as to turn me away.”
Rick took a step closer behind him. “Want to knock?”
“Certainly not. If we came and were turned away I am not going to object.”
“Good point.” He shrugged.
“You are early only, Ardeth, O’Connell. I certainly would not be so rude a host as to invite you and then not offer you a meal.” The damned thing said from behind them. He looked over at Ardeth and shrugged.
“So much for enjoying the evening.”
Ardeth smiled a bit. “As you say. Was Ammun satisfied with the evening meal, priest?”
“He was. He even asked after you oddly enough.” The thing stepped just between them. “And I bring you a greeting from Horus as well. He is fond of you, Ardeth..”
“Then I am more fortunate than I knew.” Ardeth replied. The doors just sort of opened on their own and Rick waited until they both started forward to slip a half step sideways and forward and put the damned thing in front of him but Ardeth right at his side. Ardeth only chuckled. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” He replied.
“You are graceful when you wish to be are you not, O’Connell? Be careful there, warrior, or I will give you a crocodile or two to dance around.” The thing smiled and then the look in its eyes changed. “I am almost tempted to see if you are as graceful in the dance as your brother. It might prove almost as amusing do you not think?” And then it turned and walked up to the dais. “Help yourselves if you will bother to eat.”
“Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim.” Ardeth muttered.
“Did I miss something somewhere or did he just...”
“You are no more blind to that than I was, my friend. He does it no doubt only to annoy you.”
“Great, I am in no way going to have your patience with this crap Ardeth. So if it doesn’t know that I’m real close to killing it already it will by the end of the night.”
“No doubt. He has said to me once or twice that he would tell you he found you...attractive just to see what you would do. I told him it would only annoy you. Undoubtedly why he decided to do so.”
“Right.” Rick took a deep breath. Then he walked over to the table and poured himself a goblet full of wine. You want to play? Ardeth’s learning this game in the dark bastard and from scratch. Don’t think you can push me on it like you can him. I don’t have any rules about fair play and honor when it comes to dealing with someone else who doesn’t either. Get it? He didn’t even try to keep the thoughts to himself.
“Really O’Connell, it was a compliment not an invitation to my bed. Far be it from me to so annoy your wife.” The thing chuckled.
“Good thing, because Evie’d rip your heart out and I’d slit your throat and then we could see if Sekhmet or Anubis wanted to play with what was left.”
“Truly you do invent some unique means of my demise, O’Connell.”
He turned to meet those dark eyes and smiled. “It’s a way to fill the odd bit of time. And chopping you to pieces gets old after a while.”
Ardeth’s hand tightened on his shoulder. “If we let it jerk the chain brother mine, we lose all hope. Let it go.” He whispered in English.
Rick sighed. “Yeah, sorry. I know, live today fight tomorrow right?”
“If tomorrow means we are better armed and have a greater chance of victory ,certainly.” Ardeth squeezed his shoulder again.
“Yeah, okay. I can buy that.” He took his drink up to the dias not bothering with the food. Once again he was on the damned thing’s left and Ardeth was on its right. He sat down and put the goblet on the table beside him. Getting drunk wasn’t really an option either.
“Join us, Ardeth.” The thing smiled and indicated the other seat. Then it said something in Egyptian the only words of which Rick caught being brother and Ardeth’s name.
“Medjai have never been known for their manners.” Ardeth shrugged but he sat down as well. “Did AmmunRa, he who is lord of all Egypt say anything else that I might care to know?”
“No.” The thing shook his head. “Only that tomorrow we will know more than we do today.”
“Sometimes I must wonder if the gods know any more than we do.” Ardeth sighed.
“We are their children Medjai but we are not infants to be given everything we ask for, we must live and die and grow by our own strength and not always rely on their wisdom. Surely Allah has said as much somewhere in that book of his.”
Ardeth looked over at the damned thing and then shook his head. “On that, I will admit, you are right.”
“We’ll do what we can do, Ardeth. You’ve got a hell of a lot of really good men willing to follow you right to Allah if they have to.” Rick reminded him.
“As you say. In’sh’allah, akee. We can do no other.”
“Then let us have a bit of enjoyment while we can.” The thing clapped and several dancers came onto the floor. Rick sat back to watch for a bit, not minding the entertainment especially considering that their host seemed content to leave Ardeth alone for the most part. “I told you before, O’Connell, if I hound him only onto exhaustion is there any more challenge than holding him still beneath me?” The thing leaned over and all but whispered the question in his ear.
“Lost your chance on that.” He replied, and damn but it was good to say it.
“I never desired it.” The thing corrected. “You and I, we are not so...unworldly as your brother, O’Connell. If I had only wanted his body or his submission I could have taken him with either brute force or coercion well before now. You know it. I know it. But where is the sport in that? Hmm? He is too intriguing to ruin so easily.”
Rick didn’t answer that, but it was harder than he thought it would be not to just swing.
The thing chuckled and then took a drink of its wine and leaned the other way to speak just as quietly and undoubtedly in Egyptian to Ardeth. There wasn’t any point in trying to listen so he didn’t. After a bit the first set of dancers left the floor and Nefshen came out to take their place. Rick smiled just a little, and glanced over at his friend. Ardeth only smiled a bit himself and took a drink of whatever he’d gotten. She was an excellent dancer and obviously enjoyed performing. And he had Evie had long ago agreed that just because they were married didn’t mean they couldn’t look. He took a moment to wonder just what Nefertiri would have looked like in much the same outfit or lack of it and only smiled a bit more. Nefshen was pretty enough but he couldn’t doubt that Evie would have put her to shame.
“Your wife should be thankful you love her so well.” The damned thing chuckled. “And truly she was very beautiful when she sat beside her father in Memphis. He named her well.”
“I didn’t think you liked her much.”
“It is mutual dislike actually. But that does not mean I am blind to her beauty or her skills or her devotion to her father and now to her family. All of those things do her credit certainly.” The thing shrugged. “You are as Nefshen said a lucky man O’Connell. Your wife is beautiful, intelligent and courageous, and she loves you onto death itself. Your son is brave and smart and stubborn and will grow up well. You could not ask for a better man to fight beside or guard your back than your brother, for we both know he is brave onto death and worse and as stubborn as stone, and without a doubt loves you well enough to die for you. All of these things you have been given and you still find it in your heart to be a poor guest and brood at my banquet.”
“I’m unhappy with the host, the banquet’s fine.” He returned. But everything the damned thing had said was true enough and he was really thankful for all of it. “And if you’d keep your hands off my brother I’d be even willing to put up with you.”
The thing chuckled. “As you say. And where then would be my portion of the enjoyment hmm?” The thing leaned closer. “He is far too pleasing for his own good, you know that.”
Rick smiled just a bit. “Pleasing isn’t really a word I’d use to describe Ardeth.”
“No?” It raised one eyebrow. “How would you describe him then?”
“Brave, stubborn, idiotic, occasionally insane, irritating, annoying, trustworthy, devoted, and the best man in the world to fight beside or share my bed with.” He smiled a bit more. “And I don’t even have to pretend to be somebody else to do it.”
That seemed to catch the damned thing off guard and then it laughed. “Indeed. Well played. O’Connell, well played. And tell me then warrior, do you enjoy the feel of him in your arms half as much as I did?”
“That I don’t know. But the important part is, I can tell you for damned certain he wouldn’t try to damn me to hell for holding him.”
“As you say.” The thing nodded. “You are indeed fortunate then are you not?” And it leaned back in its chair and only sipped its wine.
Nefshen had come over to the dias and done one of those most amazing back bends that all but put her head in Ardeth’s lap. Not that Ardeth seemed to mind he only smiled and then caught her hand as she traced his jaw and pressed a kiss to her fingers but he shook his head a little. Rick smiled himself, both glad that his friend had found at least a little bit of extra comfort here for a night and annoyed that they had to worry about their host so much that Rick really didn’t want to leave Ardeth alone all night with only Nefshen. And Evie would never forgive him for a menage-a-trois even if Ardeth would even consider it. He pushed that thought aside and down hard and took another long drink of his wine.
Nefshen twirled her way over to him, pausing only long enough to tease their host with not even half of what she’d done for Ardeth. Then she smiled at him and ran her fingers ever so lightly through his hair but she cast her eyes over at Ardeth and then pouted. “Please?”
He had to smile. “Sorry. We do not want to anger, Nefertiri.” He hoped to god he got the Egyptian right.
She sighed. “No, we do not.” She agreed. So he figured he must of got it close enough. “Pity.”
“Yes. My brother is a lucky man.” He knew he could say that with confidence.
She smiled and then kissed his cheek and giggled. “You are luckier.”
“Shoo.” He smiled at her.
She sighed and twirled away.
“Truly you amaze me, O’Connell.” The thing chuckled.
“Are you flirting with Nefshen now, brother mine?” Ardeth asked with a smile.
“No, actually, it’s kind of like that conversation you had with Tahiri, wasn’t Nefshen I was flirting with at all.”
“Ah. Thank you then.” Ardeth chuckled.
“No problem.” Rick replied.
“I do not suppose either of you are yet hungry enough to eat?” Their host asked as the dance ended. “You will annoy my cooks far more than you will annoy me you know. I expect no manners from either of you.”
Ardeth sighed. “Shall we try to find something to eat then?”
“Why not?” Rick went over to the table.
“Are you well enough with whatever it is he taunts you with?” Ardeth asked softly in English coming over to stand beside him.
“Yeah, and it isn’t taunting much actually. Complimented me on my wife, my son, and my brother and reminded me I was lucky. It really is just plain nuts Ardeth. Seems now it’s perfectly content to be the good host.”
“As you say. It is one of the hardest parts about dealing with it. It goes back and forth so easily and for no reason I can determine.” His brother sighed. “We once more walk with asps in the dark.”
“Nefshen thought I was pretty lucky too you know. But she wasn’t real happy I didn’t want to give up my place in your bed.”
Ardeth only chuckled. “No doubt. She is beautiful, and while I would, Allah forgive me, more than enjoy another night in her arms and the pleasure to be found there, I will be just as content to have you at my back and know I am as safe as I can be here.”
“The safe part is iffy, and if you’re just as content with me in your bed as Nefshen either you’re crazier than I thought you were or I have a lot more to explain to Evie than I thought.”
And that just got Ardeth to laugh which, he had to admit, was the point.
“Arabic really does leave a whole lot of room for interpretation; doesn’t it?” He asked after a bit.
“Indeed.” Ardeth smiled. “Perhaps content was a poor choice of words, but satisfied did not seem any better at all if not worse.”
“Worse.” Rick agreed with a grin. “I am not above reminding you that you said you’d be just as content to share the bed with me and with her when the damned thing can hear us though. You know that.”
“If I thought for a moment that it would believe us, my friend, and that in doing so it would leave us both alone for the night I would tell it myself that I am truly as well satisfied to share my bed with you as with her. And let it interpret that as it would.”
“Might not get it to leave us alone, but I bet it would piss it off.” He smiled.
“There is that. Fine. I will do so at some time then tonight where it can hear and understand us and we shall brave the fall out together hmm?”
“If he kisses you again I’ll deck him one.” Rick promised.
“If you manage it I will count it one kiss I do not mind having to give.” Ardeth replied.
Rick squeezed his shoulder and then went with the little food he’d taken and sat back down.
“What where you and your brother discussing so intently, O’Connell?”
Rick smiled. “Lots of things, ask Ardeth he was looking forward to telling you actually.”
The thing raised one eyebrow but waited until Ardeth sat back down to ask him presumably the same question in Egyptian.
Rick kept his thoughts as tight to English and as calm as he could but he found the handle of one pistol all the same.
Ardeth glanced over at him and then smiled and must have given the thing the answer Rick expected because it was silent for a long moment and then it only laughed and turned to look at him. Rick picked up his wine and met those dark eyes with a smile of his own.
“Well played, warriors. Well played indeed.” It chuckled again and then sat back to watch the entertainment for a while longer. “And when you have him in your arms, O’Connell, tell me will you be half so satisfied or only holding yourself in check and wishing for either your wife or a less innocent embrace than he will grant you?” The thing whispered in his ear after a bit.
Rick didn’t bother to reply to that one and only watched the dancing some more. He wished he could follow whatever conversation Ardeth and the damned thing were having in Egyptian but Ardeth didn’t seem any more upset or concerned really than Rick was. Nuts doesn’t begin to describe you, you know that right? He shook his head and managed a little of the dinner he’d gotten.
Finally, the thing called an end to the evening and rose to its feet. “Come, Medjai we will call the evening done. You have both been remarkably good guests for a change, and I see no reason not to reward such behavior.” He indicated the door with a wave.
“Thanks be to Allah.” Ardeth sighed but he rose to his feet and came over to Rick’s side as they headed toward their room. They were a bit down the hallway when Nefshen caught Ardeth’s attention. “Will you wait for a me a moment?”
“Sure.” He smiled a bit. “She’s persistent.”
“I told her I would talk with her later. I truly do not want her offended or angry, my friend.”
“Go on.” He smiled and just leaned against the wall with a sigh. Sometimes Ardeth was just so young.
“You never answered my question, O’Connell.” The damned thing came over to stand beside him.
And he didn’t even have to ask what question it meant. “Didn’t deserve a response.” He replied.
“No?” The thing smiled a bit more. “I thought otherwise. I would be hard pressed to hold him for very long as you do and not desire more.”
“Good thing I’m not you then isn’t it?” He replied.
“As you say. Can you tell me honestly then O’Connell that you do not desire him?”
“Sure.” Rick nodded.
“Really?” It smiled. “So you do not find him desirable? Did you not for just a moment in the courtyard when he took the fruit from your fingers wonder what his lips would feel like elsewhere?”
Rick pulled his thoughts in as tightly as he could. “Why should I answer that?”
“Because if you can tell me truthfully that you did not, I will swear to you to AmmunRa that I will not demand it of him again.”
And that just plain hurt. “Bastard.”
“As you say. Would he be nearly so willing to lie in your arms tonight if he knew that, O’Connell?” The thing smiled.
“Knowing Ardeth? Yeah.” And he believed that. “Besides, I’m not the one he minds waking up with, or falling asleep with or kissing either. And I don’t even have to force him into any of it.”
“Prove that to me then.” The thing smiled coldly.
“No.” He smiled back. “What’s between me and Ardeth is sure as hell not your entertainment.”
“Your brother owes me six kisses yet for the lives of his people.” The thing said with that cold smile. “I had intended to take another from him tonight. But I will let you have one instead.” It took off a medallion and handed it to him. “Here, an old custom I will borrow from Pharaoh. That gives you the ability to stand in my stead, O’Connell. Go and kiss your brother then, without demanding it as payment and I shall not kiss him well and throughly while you watch. It is your choice of course.”
Rick looked down at the medallion and then over at the damned thing and it was so close a fight not to reach for any weapon at hand. And for just a moment he was sure he could just reach into the stone behind him and take hold of the sword that would be waiting for him as it had been in every nightmare Anubis had given him. But he pushed the anger aside hard and then looked back over at the damned thing. “If I kiss him, you won’t?”
“My word to AmmunRa, he who is lord of all Egypt. But I expect a kiss, O’Connell, between lovers or at least those who desire to be so at the first opportunity. If it is less then the bargain is not made and I will take my kiss from him right after you, and show you how it should have been done.”
Rick closed his eyes for a moment but all he could see when he did so was the way the damned thing had laid over Ardeth earlier and kissed him. And how his brother had looked hanging from his wrists covered in blood as the damned thing took him, and the way he’d shuddered in Rick’s arms as he fought for one more breath to say goodbye... He blinked hard and then walked over to Ardeth as his friend came back down the hall.
“Rick?” Something must have been in his eyes because Ardeth glanced over his shoulder and saw the damned thing standing there and his own eyes hardened. “Are you well?”
“No, yeah, I’m not sure yet. Depends on if you hate me for this or not.” He took a deep breath. “If you mind-- just say so and I’ll stop I swear to God. Or you can deck me one.”
“Rick?” Ardeth gripped his shoulders in both hands. “What did he say to you?”
“That he was going to hold you up against the wall and take another kiss, and I can’t watch that.”
Ardeth sighed. ‘Then go back to the room and I will join you when it lets me.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Damn but you are such a brave stubborn idiot.”
“It is, oddly enough, kind of you to think so.” He could see that Ardeth had to work for the strength to smile.
“He gave me this.” He opened his hand to show Ardeth the medallion. “And told me I could take his place. I think I pulled the chain to hard, Ardeth.”
“Why would...Ah, did you tell him I kissed you then?”
“Yeah.” He reached over uncertainly with his empty hand and put his fingers against his friend’s jaw. “I can stop if you want.”
“Now would that not be foolish?” Ardeth smiled a bit, but he flushed.
And Rick slid his fingers back into his friend’s long hair and then leaned forward and kissed him, just as light as he could at first, a bare whisper of touch, then a little more pressure when Ardeth didn’t object, slowly as he knew how he turned it into a real kiss, and God but it didn’t feel bad at all. Odd as hell, yeah, with Ardeth’s beard against his face but not bad at all. Ardeth smiled just a bit against his lips and then opened his mouth against Rick’s. Taking the invitation for what it was, Rick did the same and teased his tongue just lightly against Ardeth’s, making it a question instead of a demand. Ardeth didn’t pull away but he didn’t respond for a long moment either but finally he did and it was just as uncertain as Rick expected. He held the kiss for another long moment, not asking for any more than that and then broke it with a sigh. “Ardeth...”
“Shhh.” His friend whispered with a smile and took the medallion from his hand and then to Rick’s utter astonishment only pulled him close, one hand in Rick’s hair the other, still holding the medallion now at the small of his back and kissed him back. And this time Ardeth wasn’t nearly so hesitant and Rick put his free arm around his friend’s shoulders and kissed him back, smiling at the response and the sudden release of worry. And while it was obvious Ardeth didn’t have a lot of experience with the sort of kiss he was trying for the fact that he was willing to try for it at all made Rick enjoy it. And, he admitted to himself it was just fun to do. He teased Ardeth’s tongue in return and the kiss slid from playful to serious in a few dizzy seconds of shared breath and Ardeth’s soft groan. And finally he had to pull back and remember to breathe. “Bis’mil’Allah.” Ardeth whispered.
“Yeah.”
“Well played, warriors, indeed, Ardeth, I am-- most amused.”
Ardeth didn’t let go of Rick any for a moment as the thing came to stand almost right beside them. Then the hand in his hair moved to stroke down his back and the one with the medallion held the necklace out to the thing beside them. “That was not playing. That was love. And affection. And desire. High priest of Pharaoh that was. With nothing of coercion or barter or force. There is indeed all the worlds of difference between what Rick and I share and what you would take. My brother does not need your sigil for me to kiss him so.” He slapped it into the thing’s hand. “You may have what you will force me to, and that alone. And I trust you will know when either we are fortunate enough to have the chance to use our blades against you, or I grow angry enough to take it why I will claim the right to strike first.” And there was a cold look to his brother’s eyes. “Will you come to bed now, Rick?”
“Yeah. I’d like that.” And he meant it in whatever way Ardeth wanted him to.
“Good, so would I, Habib, so would I.”
We aren’t lovers. He almost said it out loud but it didn’t really matter much. He only walked with Ardeth down the hall. And oddly enough the damned thing only let them go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They reached their room in only a few steps and Rick really wasn’t expecting Ardeth to close the door behind them and then kiss him again. So it took him just a bit to get his mind back to thinking. It was a little harder than he thought it would be to push Ardeth away finally. “Wait.” He said firmly.
Ardeth only looked at him, concerned, and flushed, and so damned desirable Rick nearly got the better of his conscience and kissed him again anyway.
“Have I angered you, Rick?”
“No.” He smiled and then put his hands on Ardeth’s shoulders both to keep him close and yet keep him far enough away to talk. “But slow down. Okay? I’m not.-- we’re not, doing this right now.”
Ardeth flushed deeper and then looked down and away and would have turned his back to Rick if Rick had let him go.
“Don’t do that.” He whispered it softly. “Because I’ll reach over and turn you back and I can’t do that right now okay?”
Ardeth sighed but looked back over at him. “As you say. I thought you were offended.”
“Me?” Rick chuckled. “Nah, really, really flattered sure. Don’t be an idiot right now, Ardeth. We just need to talk a little okay? I’m not angry, I’m not offended, I’m not going to let you go or shake you, and I’m certainly not going to regret those kisses. Does that cover it all?”
Ardeth sighed but he relaxed against Rick’s hands a bit and brought his own to Rick’s shoulders in turn. “That tells me what you are not. It tells me nothing of what you are.”
“Nuts maybe, Christ Ardeth, tone that down, huh?”
“What?”
He smiled because it was so obvious that his friend really had no idea how utterly devastating he could be to a man’s self control. “Nothing, it’s hard to think about talking when you make me want to kiss you again.”
“Do I?” Ardeth smiled a bit, and damn but it was a shy sort of smile that Rick really liked. “You could you know, Allah I trust knows I would not mind.”
Which pulled him back into thinking and brought to mind too many of the problems with doing just that. “And Allah won’t mind either?” He had to ask.
“You are not Muslim my friend, where then is the offence?” Ardeth shook his head.
“That’s good to know.” He relaxed a little. “Come on, sit, huh?” He let go of his friend’s shoulders finally.
“Are you truly not-- angry at me, Rick?”
“No, Ardeth, I’m not angry. I just don’t think we need to wind up in bed together okay?”
He could hear Ardeth sigh, but the mutter was in Medja and he couldn’t follow it. “As you say, of course. I understand.”
“No Ardeth, you don’t, I wouldn’t. That’s the point of talking, huh? Come on, brother of mine, if we let that damned thing ruin the best friendship I’ve ever had in my life I’ll kick myself and you too.”
Ardeth smiled just a little. “As you say. Very well, we shall talk then.” Ardeth took off the shield he was still wearing and set it aside, then sat down and waited for Rick to do the same.
“I was worried you’d be really be upset with me kissing you.”
“Why? You meant no harm, far from it in fact and it was not, by any means, unpleasant. Surprising certainly, that I took such pleasure in it. But is any of that reason to be upset at you?”
Rick just shook his head. “Well I wouldn’t think so, but it’s always a good idea to make sure both people involved in the kiss are on the same page you know.”
“As you say. I will take it on faith that you know of where you speak. I have not your-- experience in such things.”
“Kinda figured that.” Rick agreed. “So we’re still friends, right?”
“We are indeed, brother, we are indeed.”
“Good.” He smiled himself. “Think we pissed it off?”
“I certainly intended too. What if either of us had taken offence or been angered? It was a cruel thing to ask of you, and might have indeed harmed our friendship. I was truly furious.”
“Noticed that.” Rick agreed. “But no harm done for right now. And I guess in a weird way I could almost be thankful. I certainly enjoyed it.”
Ardeth flushed but he nodded. “And I. Will Evelyn be angry at you, brother?”
“Evie? No.” And he really believed that. “Well, not if I explain it to her anyway. Knowing Evie she won’t even be jealous of a few kisses, Ardeth.”
“Good.” Ardeth relaxed a little more. “I was not thinking well when we got back here, Rick or I would not have pressed you for more. I was not, Allah have mercy, thinking at all. And I would truly hate myself if I caused your wife to be angry at you.”
“You wouldn’t. She might be angry at me for being stupid, but that’s not your fault. And that isn’t why I stopped kissing you.”
“No?” There was just a trace of something like pain in those dark eyes now.
“No, I stopped kissing you because if I didn’t I wasn’t going to be able to stop later. And this is so not the time for me to let my-- desire get the better of my brain. If nothing else, Ardeth, you deserve better and being friends with you means more to me than that.”
“Than what?” Ardeth asked but he seemed just honestly confused.
“A quick tumble into bed.” Rick shrugged. “That’s where we were headed wasn’t it?”
Ardeth flushed again but he nodded. “Very likely.”
“Thought so. Not a good plan, my friend. Too much tied up in it to risk the fall out, huh?”
“There is indeed truth in that. And no matter the pleasure we found, it would not be worth the friendship we have to lose it come the morning.”
“No. But it’s damned tempting, without you looking at me like that.”
“What?” Ardeth smiled but it was a little teasing now. “Truly my friend I seem to suddenly have this very odd ability to tempt people to my bed and no idea at all how it works or how to stop it.”
“It isn’t new, you’ve always had it. And don’t tell me you don’t know at least some of the time when you use it.”
“If as you say I have always had it and used it then no, my friend, I truly do not know when I do. If you mean did I desire to do so just then. Yes.”
“No playing dirty, Ardeth. I expect better from you.”
“As you say. Will it sound as foolish as I fear if I say thank you for so wonderful a kiss in place of the humiliation I expected?”
“Doesn’t sound foolish at all. You’re welcome.” He smiled a bit himself and then let it change to something more teasing, knowing damn well what he was doing and reached over to lightly trace his friend’s jaw much like Nefshen had done. “Thank you, for kissing me back.”
Ardeth flushed but he growled something in what was probably his native language and then turned his head to press his lips to Rick’s fingers. “No playing dirty.” He growled.
“No.” Rick agreed with a smile. “Ardeth...”
“Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim.” Ardeth moved faster than Rick expected and then yanked him up to his feet, despite the good twenty pounds or more he had on his friend and kissed him. If it had been anybody else in the world Rick would have expected hunger, maybe even a bit of roughness or more, and he might have been able to meet that. But Ardeth was just as gentle as Rick had been in the hallway. And just as cautious and that was a lot more dangerous than lust. Because Rick was pretty good at beating back his libido with a stick if necessary but not this whole mess of soft warm desire and friendship. And Ardeth’s arms were really strong around his shoulders and that felt just as good as anything. He slid his hand back into Ardeth’s hair, the other still along his jaw and let himself really enjoy it. Ardeth groaned against his lips, which only made Rick smile and take the offer of more. And then they weren’t teasing, or playing, only pressed close together in a long hot duel of tongues and hunger and he moaned himself at the feel. “Allah have mercy.” Ardeth whispered finally, pushing away with a gasp.
“Yeah, Christ, no more of that, huh? I am nobody’s idea of a saint.”
Ardeth chuckled, but it was a breathless sound that did even worse things to Rick’s control. “As you say. I-- did not expect that.”
“Me either. And here I was thinking maybe you were just confusing relief for desire.”
“You thought I was what?” Ardeth took a step away and then sighed and poured himself a goblet of karkaday. “I think I need to walk a bit. All of a sudden this feels too-- enclosed.” He indicate the room.
“Want to go sit on the balcony instead?” Rick offered, but he poured himself a goblet full of wine.
“That might do.” Ardeth agreed and they walked out to the balcony, and somehow they both found a seat on the marble floor, backs against the wall and watched the stars for a bit. “Will you explain to me what you meant?”
And it was easier in the darkness really, because he could do it without meeting Ardeth’s eyes and right now that wasn’t a good idea either. “About relief and desire?” He sighed. “How many guys have you kissed, Ardeth, besides me I mean.”
Ardeth sighed. “One, in a sense I suppose.”
“That’s what I thought, and I know you didn’t want him kissing you. So, I thought that it was probably a pretty big relief to have a kiss from someone you trust, and even like a lot, and not somebody you hate. That could be a really big relief-- enough so that maybe you’re confusing enjoying not being kissed by him with enjoying being kissed by me. Big difference there.”
Ardeth sighed. “There is some truth in that. But do not think that I enjoyed it only because it was not him, or because I know very well it will annoy the damned creature to no end that there is indeed more between us than friendship alone. If that disturbs you I will not mention it again, my friend, but I truly did find a great deal of pleasure in it.”
“Okay. Good. So did I. It was-- really something special. But it’s not smart. We’ve got too many enemies to face right now, Ardeth, to risk having this whatever this is keep us too tense with each other to work together, okay? And I I’m not going to hurt Evie with this.”
“I am not brave or strong enough to risk that doing so might drive away the friendship we have. I have grown far too accustomed to having you here and truly I will be lost and mad if I must face these nights alone.”
“Not going to happen, Ardeth. I promise you that okay?”
“As you say.”
“I mean it.” Rick repeated. “I’m not leaving you to face the damned thing alone. No matter how many times I have to keep from kissing you like that again when I really want to.”
Ardeth chuckled, but Rick was pretty sure that if there’d been enough light he could have seen that his friend was blushing. “Comrades first, because Egypt has need of us as warriors, brothers right behind that because we have need of the other to guard our backs and keep watch on the shadows, and then...I am uncertain of the word, whatever this is now between us must come last for the sake of Egypt, ourselves, and our family. Is that close to where we stand?”
“Yeah, and I’m not sure of a word either, Ardeth. Though I suppose Habib comes close, and that is what you called me earlier.”
“So it is.” Ardeth agreed. “I meant it, I will not say now that I did not.”
“Wishful thinking, huh?” He chuckled a bit.
“No.” Ardeth shook his head.
“We aren’t lovers.” He pointed out what he hadn’t in the hallway.
“Ah, as you say. But like so many words in Arabic my friend it has many layers of meaning. Habib means literally only one whom I love. It can be said to a lover, a beloved, or even a child. So I will claim it as true. While we are not lovers, I will not hesitate to say that I love you, brother mine.” There was a smile that overlaid the words and made Rick smile back.
“Okay. In that case I’ll accept it. Just don’t slip up and call me that when Evie’s around all right?”
“Allah forbid.” Ardeth chuckled. “She will have my head.”
“Nah. Mine maybe.” He took a long swallow of his wine. “So you aren’t angry at me that I don’t think we should fall into bed right now?”
“Angry, of course not.” Ardeth shook his head. “I was a bit disappointed certainly, but I understand the reasoning and I agree with it. I am unaccustomed to such desire, Rick. It caught me unawares and I should thank you for having more sense in the moment than I did.”
“Probably the first time in my life that happened.” Rick chuckled.
“As you say. But I mean it.”
“You’re welcome.” He squeezed Ardeth’s fingers. “But let’s not let the elephant in the room we’re both ignoring for now make us just as uncertain around each other as falling into bed might do.”
“Elephant in the...truly your phrases for things never cease to amaze me. As you say. Perhaps we shall have to remind each other occasionally that the elephant is there still but not to be mentioned but I will do so if you will.”
“Okay. And if it gets too awful we can always trade a few kisses to keep it calm, and ourselves sane, and annoy our host, huh?”
Ardeth laughed a bit. “I will hardly object to that. May I then ask for a kiss from you each time he demands one from me so that I can keep my sanity?”
“If it helps, hell yes.” Rick squeezed the strong hand in his. “So it’s a deal, right?”
“It is. And a bargain made that I have no regrets of keeping.”
“Good.” He let go of Ardeth’s hand to put his arm around his friend’s shoulders. Just to make them both certain that the elephant really hadn’t changed anything much.
Ardeth leaned against him a bit and they were silent for a while, but it was a comfortable silence. “Shall we try to sleep?” Ardeth asked finally.
“Hmm, probably wouldn’t hurt us any. We’ve got a damned long day tomorrow in Ahm Shere, and that doesn’t even count whatever the damned thing decides we have to deal with here before we wake up.”
“As you say.” Ardeth agreed, then he chuckled, and it was just a different enough sound that it caught Rick by surprise. “Come to bed then?”
He smiled. “No cheating.”
“That was not cheating, that was teasing.” Ardeth replied. “It is good to know I can indeed use this odd new talent when I choose to.”
“You’re going to make me want to kiss you again.” He warned.
“Truly? Then I am doing it right.” Ardeth laughed and then got to his feet and headed back inside.
“Oh this is going to be so damned hard isn’t it?” He asked the night sky in general but he got up and followed his brother inside.
Duhr:ToC