Duhr

Chapter 9

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              Ardeth woke to find himself still in Thebes, and Rick still asleep beside him. He had rolled onto his back at some point as had his brother. He smiled a little, and then rolled back onto his side. It was far more tempting to turn into Rick’s arms than away however and he sighed to himself at that. Allah but this is not going to be easy is it, my friend? I thought perhaps the desire would fade with a bit of time, but I do not think it has. He closed his eyes and remembered that last most amazing kiss he and Rick had shared and he had to smile. Truly, it has not helped at all. He sighed again. Most merciful Allah I do not understand this feeling, well though I know it is not something I should enjoy so, but I do. I am only one man most merciful and do not understand what it is you will for me, but I shall try with all my heart to do as you wish and as I can for Egypt. He could not find any regret for the kisses though, only a warm fondness for the memories and a very real desire to do so again. It was an odd sort of thing this desiring something or some one for more than the time it occurred. While he had certainly enjoyed his night in Nefshen’s arms and thanked Allah both for her joy and the pleasure they had found together he had not been unhappy with not having another such night with her soon. She was beautiful and intriguing and having her in his bed had been far more fulfilling and wonderful than the times his cousins had taken him with them to some of the Cairo brothels when he was young. But none of that had given him any idea of this odd need to enjoy his friend’s kisses again and Allah have mercy more than those kisses. No doubt if Rick had not thought better of it he would have indeed tumbled into bed with his friend. And if he had lost either Rick’s friendship or caused such a problem for Rick and Evelyn he would have never forgiven himself. As if Rick would truly want to share his bed. Likely, his brother was only being once more far better a friend than Ardeth deserved. He sighed and then let himself doze back off. It was past dawn when he woke again, curled up a bit on his other side his head now resting on Rick’s shoulder once more. And his friend had one hand in his hair, that arm bent along his back. He blinked, and then took a long minute to assure himself that it was indeed Rick’s arms he was in.

              “It’s just me.” Rick said at the same moment and he smiled and relaxed a bit more.

              “So I just realized.” He agreed. “How long have you been awake?”

              “Not long.” Rick replied with a smile in his voice and then the hand in his hair smoothed it some. “You can go back to sleep if you like.”

              He considered it for a bit. “Do we not have company then?”

              “Nope. Think we either pissed it off or it decided one more time to not do what we expected.”

              “There is truth to that.” He sighed but did not in any way object to the embrace. “Did you sleep at all, Rick?”

              “Very well. And you?” There was more seriousness to the tone.

              “I slept fine.” He replied with a smile of his own. “Are you going to start watching me sleep now?”

              “Nah. I’m too lazy for that. I’ll just lie here and doze back off too.”

              Ardeth chuckled. “As you say. No regrets about our elephant?”

              That got a chuckle. “Nope. You?”

              “Certainly not.” Ardeth only let himself lean a bit more into his brother’s embrace and then sighed. “Wake me if our host appears?”

              “Sure.” Rick smoothed his hair again.

              He did not really fall back to sleep but he dozed just a bit. Finally, there was a knock on the door and he rolled out of bed to get his weapons. Rick did the same.

              “Medjai?” Tahiri looked in on them. “Did you wish breakfast here, or shall I take back to the High Priest that you will join him for breakfast in the courtyard?”

              “I would rather eat here.” Ardeth replied.

              “I will see to it then.” And she left.

              “Do we get breakfast?” Rick asked.

              ‘We do. The creature apparently wanted to know if we would be joining him in the courtyard but I told her no we would eat here instead. I shall endeavor to put off dealing with him until I have no choice.”

              “Yeah, I can see that. Any idea how annoyed it’s likely to be?”

              “No.” He shook his head. “I would guess that we annoyed him a great deal last night, but then again, perhaps he was only amused as he said. Either way undoubtedly he will do whatever it is I least expect so I will try not to wonder just what that might be.”

              “Walking with asps in the dark is getting almost as nerve-racking as watching Evie open up cursed chests and things you know.”

              Ardeth chuckled. “As you say. You would think would you not that if the ancient Egyptians went to such trouble to curse these things, and outline in very specific terms the consequences of the improper people opening these objects that there was a reason for it. Why then do you westerners feel such a great desire to do just what you are told not to do?”

              His brother shrugged but grinned at him. “Because we hate being told what not to do of course.”

              “That I have never understood.” He shook his head but he smiled a bit. “But I do not doubt it at all.”

              Tahiri and one of the other servants came back with breakfast and set up the second table with coffee and bread, fruit and cheese and then bowed and headed back to the door but Tahiri glanced at him over her shoulder and smiled. “Nefshen was not happy last night, Medjai. Did you and your brother sleep well?”

              He smiled despite himself. “We did. And do tell Nefshen I am sorry I made her unhappy. It was not my desire to do so.”

              “But you were not free to share your bed with anyone but Nefertiri’s husband. Truly I am amazed at the Princesses understanding. I would certainly not wish to share him if he were my husband. Or you either.”

              He flushed just a bit. “Tahiri.”

              She laughed and then bowed again. “You are a lucky man, O’Connell.”

              And that was apparently Egyptian his brother understood because he laughed. “Yes, Tahiri, I am.” He agreed.

              She just laughed again and closed the door behind her.

              “It would seem the servants at least have no doubt that we are sharing the bed for more than sleeping.”

              “Noticed that.” Rick agreed and went over to pour himself a cup of coffee. “So what brought Evie into the conversation?”

              “We were speaking of Nefshen, and why it was that I did not invite her to my bed last night. Tahiri said that she understood it was because I was sharing it with you instead. Which by the way she does not understand Nefertiri’s allowing us to do so. She seems to think your wife should be more possessive of her husband.”

              “Ah.” Rick chuckled. “Evie’s pretty understanding. But it’s trust more than anything. She knows how much I love her and that I’m not going to do something to risk that love. I trust her to do the same.”

              “Truly my friend your wife is an amazing woman and you are a very lucky man. It seems odd to ask this now, but are you truly certain Evelyn would understand this...” He stopped not really certain what name to give to the half-game of desire he and Rick were now playing.

              “Would she understand me holding you each night and playing the whole are-we-aren’t-we bit with the damned thing? Yeah, sure she would. She’d kick my butt if I didn’t, and it only made the game worse on you. Will she understand that I kissed you and enjoyed it a whole lot? Yeah, I’m pretty sure she will. Although she might smack me for taking advantage of you. Would she understand if we had tumbled into bed together? Maybe, knowing Evie. But I’d have to explain it all and she’d still smack me for it.”

              Ardeth sighed and got himself a cup of coffee and sat down. “I do not understand, but I will take it on faith that you are right. Truly, your wife is amazing. And I am very glad to know I have not caused some sort of trouble between you. I do not have the courage or the strength to face these hours in Thebes each night without your strength beside me.”

              “Like I said, she’d smack me if I even thought about leaving you alone. She’s kind of fond of you, Ardeth. And she’s awful protective of her brothers. Just so you know that.”

              He smiled a bit. “As you say. I could do far worse for a sister-in-law that is certain. And I am, you will forgive the impropriety, rather fond of her as well.”

              “Even if we do keep managing to unearth all sorts of buried cursed stuff?”

              “Even then.” He agreed. “This time my friend it does not seem to be anyone who unearthed either a cursed object or even He who shall not be named. Only the approach of those who would do so with tanks and destruction. I have been Medjai since I was born, sworn to defend Hamanaptura and its secrets at manhood, and leader of the tribes of the Medjai since my father, may he rest in peace with Allah, went to Paradise. It is as it has always been our sworn task to defend Egypt against those who would raid her secrets and unleash her curses for their own profit. Never in all our history however has something like this occurred. We face an enemy I do not know, with the sworn evil we were told to keep in its grave for an ally and the old gods themselves taking part in the fight. I would far rather we were back at Hamanaptura and I was only charged with keeping you and your family from disturbing the creature. That, Allah have mercy, I understood.”

              His brother chuckled a little. “You know, once upon a time, Ardeth I would have found Hamanaptura more than weird enough. Now, you’re right, it sounds kind of simple doesn’t it? Think we can convince Allah and the others that three times is the charm and to find other heroes to save the world next time?”

              “In’sh’allah.” He sighed and finished his coffee to pour himself another cup.

              “So you were leading the Medjai when we met up in Hamanaptura the first time we woke up the damned thing right?”

              Ardeth nodded. “I was. Actually, I was leading the Medjai the first time we saw each other from a distance.”

              “Really?” Rick seemed surprised by that.

              “Indeed. Not all that long at the time, but I was chieftain by then.” He smiled sadly. “They were rather more leading me than I them I think. I was so very uncertain.”

              “How old were you when your father died?”

              “Hmm, not quite twenty.” He shrugged. “Between eighteen and nineteen I think.”

              “Christ Ardeth that’s a hell of a lot of responsibility for a kid.”

              “I was hardly a child, thanks be to Allah. Many of the Medjai are married by then. We are considered men by sixteen and occasionally earlier.”

              “Really?” Rick shook his head. “Then again I was off on my own soldiering by the time I was eighteen so I guess we have that in common.”

              “Where you? You seemed young to be left in command of a group of legionnaires that first time we met.”

              “I was-- twenty-two.” There was a pause while his friend thought about it. “Twenty-three maybe. No I knew Evie by my twenty-fifth birthday. So I was twenty-two.”

              “There you see, we were both not that old at all.”

              “Right. So you’re what-- thirty-two now?”

              “I am.” He agreed.

              “No wonder Ahmed’s trying to get you married. You should have kids by now.”

              “As you say.” He smiled a little, but it was a familiar sadness. “No doubt I will be soon. Selim will leave me be another year if I am fortunate and then I must decide. Likely I will marry one of Azza or Amal’s nieces.” He shrugged. “If I put it off long enough you see one of them will decide for me and then I will not have to worry.”

              “You mean you’re just going to let them pick you out a wife you don’t know?” His brother sounded so disbelieving.

              Ardeth finished his coffee and poured himself some more, refilling Rick’s cup as well. “They will let me know who they think I should marry, we will talk a bit and see if we are both willing to try. Then we will be engaged and have half a year to see if there is compatibility between us. That is the way it has always been done. Unless one falls in love like my parents did. May they find the happiness they deserve in paradise.”

              “So why don’t you pick somebody you want to marry, Ardeth? Fall in love first for Christ’s sake?”

              He shook his head. “It is not so easy my friend. There have been-- suggestions before now that I should marry, and a few women who were so bold as to try to flirt a bit with me. But, I am the leader of the Medjai, Rick. I know my title does not impress you but believe me when I say it holds a great weight with my people. I am not blind to that or the power inherent in it. My father used it lightly and I learned it from him, but even in his time if he had seen a woman he truly desired, he could have gone to her father and said I wish to wed your daughter, and by that night he would be her husband. My grandfather’s father I doubt would even have had to ask for permission only stated that it was so and expected the marriage to be done. Who am I then truly to go to a father and say, I wish to marry your daughter? He will not gainsay me. There is no way at all the woman herself would do so. And what if I am not the man she wishes to marry, hmm? Am I then to have a wife who is unhappy no matter how hard I try to please her? It is better to let my tribes mates decide it for me.”

              “I didn’t understand that part. You’re sure she’d just say yes no matter what, huh?”

              He shook his head. “She would never have the chance to be asked. And if I pay her court, or express interest even, then everyone will take it as done. So, I leave the flirting to the other young men. And try not to show favoritism when the women of my tribe are so brave as to ask me to dance.”

              “Hell of a lonely way to live, Ardeth.”

              “At times. Such is the burden of the rank I bear my friend. It is a great honor to lead my people, they are truly amazing, and so I take the bitter with the sweet.” He shrugged. “You can understand that can you not?”

              “Yeah. Well, it isn’t the same exactly, but you aren’t alone now you know? You’ve got me, and Evie, and Alex too. Didn’t you say you have a sister? Do I get to meet her?”

              “I do. And Allah willing you will. She is married to one of the band leaders of the ninth tribe, Ahdam’s, but she is very pregnant at the moment with her second child, may Allah grant them health, her first, my niece died just after birth and so we thought it best she be in Alexandria where there are better doctors and care to be had. Soon, perhaps when this war is over we can go and see her and I can introduce her to the rest of the family.” He smiled.

              “That would be great. Alex would kind of like having a young cousin around. And Jonathan isn’t real likely to get married.”

              “As you say.” He agreed. “Will you come back to Egypt for my wedding then brother and stand with me?”

              “If you don’t invite me I’ll be annoyed enough to let Evie have a long talk with you and your bride to be first.”

              He chuckled. “Please, let us not start my married life off with the Princess’ wrath. I will send you notice far in advance so that you may come and join us.”

              “Good.” Rick clasped his shoulder. “But I reserve the right to tell you she’s not good enough for you. That’s a big brother’s right.”

              “Is it?” He shrugged. “More likely you will think I do not deserve her. I am not an easy man to live with I do not think, and the life I lead leaves little time for love.”

              “Your father managed it.” Rick pointed out. “Didn’t he?”

              Ardeth smiled. “He did. Would that you could have met him, Rick. But it is perhaps best you did not. He would never have let you leave Hamanaptura that first time alive.”

              “Then I’m glad you were leading the Medjai when I did.” Rick squeezed his shoulder again and then ruffled his hair once more. “And you aren’t a hard man to live with at all. And if nothing else comes from all this time in Thebes, you have got to know by now that you are really attractive.”

              “To dancing girls and the damned, that is not necessarily a good thing you know.” He rolled his eyes.

              “And ex-soldiers of fortune.” Rick’s smile was teasing now.

              “Ah, as you say.” He smiled back and ducked his head just a bit. “That of course is much better than the other two.”

              Rick laughed. “Good point. Nefshen is probably the best of the lot isn’t she?”

              “No.” He shook his head and he meant it. “I would not say that.” He smiled and then ruffled his brother’s hair in return. “I am-- oddly fond of ex soldiers of fortune.”

              And that actually got his brother to blush, which was worth the whole conversation. It made Rick look both young and not nearly so hardened to life. And that coupled with the smile and the humor still lighting the blue eyes made Ardeth want to lean over and kiss him very badly. Allah have mercy, I am not used to this, oh most merciful, it is very hard to ignore. But he managed only to smile and refill his and Rick’s coffee cups again.

              Then the wind blew in from the balcony and he set the cup down. Rick straightened a bit and then reached over and gripped his hand.

              “Good morning, warriors.” The creature walked in off the balcony.

              “Did AmmunRa, he who is lord of all Egypt enjoy his breakfast, priest?” Ardeth was rather happy with himself for managing so calm a question.

              “He did. Did you or your brother bother to eat?”

              “We were-- only talking yet and had not managed it no.” He shook his head.

              “You’re distracting.” Rick teased but he got up to get himself some breakfast. “You want anything in particular?”

              “Whatever you are having is fine.” He replied. “There is of course coffee if you would care for some?” He asked their host.

              “Well now, I know not what you did O’Connell. But it certainly improved your brother’s manners.”

              Rick looked over at him and then smiled. “Well that’s a new one. Doesn’t have that effect on Evie.”

              And Allah but it was hard not to blush at that. “Perhaps I am only too happy to worry about sharing the morning with crocodiles.”

              The creature laughed. “First I am a damned thing, then I am an asp, now a crocodile. Truly, Ardeth, I am only one man, Medjai, who is fortunate enough to be the High Priest of AmmunRa in the Thebes that was and sometimes his champion in the Egypt that is. Why so many titles and epithets?”

              “Habit.” Ardeth shrugged. “I am very accustomed to thinking of ways to not think of or say your name, priest. Little surprise then that it comes so naturally.”

              “Ah, there is some logic in that I will grant you. I will join you for coffee then warriors. Ammun has said to me this morning that we have only the day to come in the waking world and the night to follow to find what use of those weapons we have. Then says the lord of all Egypt we will have to be ready to use them.”

              Ardeth handed the priest a cup of coffee and took the plate his brother had made for him. “Thank you.”

              “No problem.” Rick shook his head and sat down. “So we’ve got tomorrow to practice with all this weaponry and then we face the Germans, huh? Did Ammun happen to mention numbers to you? Like how many tanks we have to deal with?”

              “No. Which is unfortunate. I have defeated fifteen of those tanks as you call them. And while I could do so again it is not easy nor done quickly. More than that and it would be a real battle. Have we any idea how many we face?”

              “We?” Rick looked from him to the creature and back. “You’re really on our side in this?”

              “As AmmunRa wills, O’Connell. I am his to wield much as your brother here is to Allah. If Ammun tells me to go to Ahm Shere and turn the Germans back. Then I shall go to Ahm Shere and do so or be destroyed in the trying. You can understand that can you not, Ardeth, that obedience to one’s god is the price of paradise?”

              And oddly enough he could do that with no problem at all. “As you say. I will grant you that on that I would agree.”

              Rick sighed but he did not argue the point. “So we have the weapons Izzy and Jonathan brought and a whole lot of really brave guys to wield it. We’ve got the scepter and shield of Horus, the scepter of Osiris, and the armor of Anubis, Evie’s knives, and whatever spells Evie and Sallah have gotten from the books, and you. So that takes care of what maybe two dozen tanks? Thirty? I’m thinking we’re dealing with more like three times that much. And then there’s the cars and the foot soldiers assuming there are any. And whatever guns they’ve got. It’s not going to be an easy fight.”

              “If Allah can in his greatness create the whole of the world in six days my friend, can we not with his aid defeat a hundred of these tanks the German’s have?”

              “In’sh’allah?” Rick smiled a little.

              “As if it could be otherwise.” He agreed.

              “Truly Ardeth, your god should be well pleased with your faith and your devotion.” The creature smiled as well. “AmmunRa also tells me to give you a message O’Connell for the Pharaoh’s bright daughter from the gods of her father’s kingdom that was.”

              “And what message to I give to Nefertiri this time?” Rick asked.

              “Think well on the words of her sister for she said more than Nefertiri thinks she did. Be not too impetuous but do not tarry to long or the hunt is of no use. And do not despair no matter the grief of Isis herself be delivered upon her shoulders. She is stronger yet than even her father thought her to be.”

              “Could you give that message to me in Egyptian as well so that we can be certain we miss none of it?” He asked.

              “Certainly.” The High Priest of Ammun closed his eyes and then spoke the words slowly undoubtedly reciting from memory. “Tell to Sekhmet’s champion that the gods of her father are well pleased with her. But caution her yet to think well upon the words her sister spoke to her, for she heard but did not listen, and there is more to be heard yet. Caution her also to let not her impetuousness overwhelm her for she has yet to learn patience and she has much yet to face in this time of trial for Egypt. But tell her that we the gods of Egypt do love her yet, and for her to remember that love and not despair no matter how great her burden or the grief of Isis herself be laid upon her shoulders. For even he who was Pharaoh when I lived did not know how truly strong his daughter was and is and shall be.” Dark eyes opened and met his. “Will you remember that then, Medjai?”

              “I shall endeavor to do so.” And he repeated it again twice to himself to store it in his memory. Then he repeated it as exactly as he could.

              “Well done.” The creature smiled. “You have a good memory for tales and such, Ardeth. I had forgotten that.”

              “As you say.” He shrugged and picked up a piece of bread spread with cheese and some mashed fruit spread. “Was there more the lord of all Egypt told to you then priest?”

              “No, only that.” The creature shook his head and then drank the coffee Ardeth had poured him and refilled his cup. “I am still counting you know, Ardeth.” He smiled as he leaned over.

              “Dare I ask at what number you have arrived on now?” He returned in Egyptian. But he rolled his eyes a bit and found a smile for his brother. Rick looked annoyed but not truly angry and managed a smile back.

              “Six.” His host replied with a smile. “Which is fortuitous since you still owe me six kisses. That seems fair.”

              “I owe you three.” He corrected with a bit more anger than he meant to let into his voice.

              “Six.” The creature corrected with a smile. “And that makes seven times I get to call you something you will not enjoy.”

              He took a deep breath. “Bis’mil’Allah rakhman el rahim. I had ten tribes at Ahm Shere. And you saved them all. For which truly High Priest of Ammun Ra, I am thankful. But you have had seven kisses from me now and that leaves you three.”

              “Ah, I see the confusion.” He nodded and sipped his coffee.

              “Then perhaps you could explain it to me?” Ardeth asked. Rick reached over and gripped his arm.

              “You okay?” The question was quiet but the tone was cold even in English.

              “We are arguing only.” He found a smile and then meant it as another thought came to mind. “Perhaps I will get a few more kisses from you yet, Rick.”

              His friend smiled. “If it helps at all with dealing with the damned thing Ardeth, I’ll be glad to help. Besides which of course that it’s not really something I’m going to object to you know.”

              “As you say.”

              “Are we to sit here all morning and annoy each other with languages we do not understand, O’Connell?” The creature smiled a bit as he asked it in Arabic.

              “You started it.” Rick replied with a smile of his own.

              “Actually, your brother started it. But as you say. Do we argue this in Egyptian or Arabic then, Ardeth?”

              “Will you truly let me decide?” He asked uncertainly, because he did not know but was not ready yet to risk a repeat of the other day when his uncertainty had so angered their host and he had paid dearly for it with the kiss that had been taken.

              The creature only sighed. “Yes, silly Medjai why do you think I bother asking if I do not care?”

              He looked over at it in surprise and then sighed. “As you say. Then we may as well argue this in arabic, it is no secret to my brother that I owe you a kiss for each tribe you saved.”

              “Good.” Their host replied with a smile. “You are getting better at that Medjai I will give you that much credit. Eventually, I may yet have you thinking of me as the man fortunate enough to be Ammun’s High Priest in Thebes and not the creature which I was cursed to be for so very long.”

              “Like there’s a difference?” Rick asked.

              “There you see, O’Connell, that shows how little you and your brother yet know of the old gods. Yes. There is indeed a difference.”

              “I will grant you that you think so.” Ardeth returned, recalling their host having given him the same allowance before.

              “As you say. Very well then, Ardeth, you owed me one kiss per tribe I saved, mine to claim when I willed, and for the length of each kiss you would be as compliant as you were the night you came to Thebes and we made the bargain in the first place. Correct?”

              “As you say.” He agreed with a sigh.

              Rick grumbled something but it was either too low for Ardeth to hear or not in English.

              “And do you now think that it was so great a price to pay for your people? You did not then.”

              “No, it is not so great a price to pay, although I am hard pressed at times to find the strength for the compliance you would have of me. But I will do as I can and Allah grants me courage for. So we agree on the bargain. What we do not agree on is the count.”

              “Then let us count them shall we? I have kissed you once in the waking world.”

              “You have.” He agreed.

              “And since then I have kissed you once one balcony and twice in this room. Is that not four? And four from ten leaves me six.”

              “And what of the three you had that first night?” Ardeth asked, trying very hard not to flush again. Perhaps it would have been easier to argue this in Egyptian.

              “Ah. That is the confusion. The first two I took from you before the bargain was ever made, Ardeth. They hardly count. And the last I did not ask for nor tell you was part of the bargain at all you only let me have it. I was a poor host certainly to take advantage of you when you were so tired and not just a little drunk, but you are far to pleasing to tempt me so by lying in my bed. I let you sleep alone did I not? Is that not worth a kiss in and of itself?”

              Ardeth sighed and closed his eyes and asked Allah once more for patience. “Truly I suppose that is worth thanking Allah for a miracle. But I would argue that just because you did not specifically ask for it I gave it because I thought it part of the bargain.”

              “There is some truth to that. Very well Ardeth I will give you that one. And you must give to me the other two. Will that do?”

              He forced down a deep breath. “So now I owe you five?”

              “Five it is.” The creature smiled. “Shall we swear it both, I to Ammun and you to Allah, just so we know where we stand once more, Medjai?”

              “As you say. As the bargain stands, I owe you yet five kisses for the lives of my people who you saved at Ahm Shere. They are yours to have when you ask with as much compliance as I can give. I swear it to Allah.”

              “As the bargain stands I may yet claim five kisses from you, and your compliance for the length of each one. Then will the debt of your tribesmates lives be paid. I swear it to AmmunRa, he who is lord of all Egypt.”

              “Agreed.” He relaxed a little and then picked up his coffee cup.

              “Five, huh?” Rick asked, but there was surprisingly no anger to his friend’s voice, only concern and something that made Ardeth a little flushed all on its own. “I can live with that.”

              And that made him blush, but Allah, he looked forward to it as well. “For you, my friend, I will not even keep count.”

              “Really? There we go aggravating our elephant again.”

              “As you say. We shall have to tread lighter then.” He smiled.

              “And where’s the challenge in that, huh?”

              “Less challenge perhaps but I will manage it better. I have no real skill at patience, Rick.”

              “Me either.” His friend agreed.

              “It is good for your sake then, Medjai that I do is it not?” Their host chuckled and then rose and walked behind him to lightly brush his hand across Ardeth’s shoulders. “You might find it in your heart to thank Allah for that when you pray to him this morning at Ahm Shere. I shall see you both later, warriors. But I will be hard pressed to keep my own patience if I stay, Ardeth and that no doubt will annoy your brother into being tempted to harm my god’s glorious city once more.” He leaned over and whispered the last few words into Ardeth’s ear. “Desire is a very hard thing to find patience with, Abah. I promise you that.” And then he chuckled and left them alone.

              “Bastard.” Rick growled as the door closed.

              Ardeth sighed. “It could have been far worse, my friend. I can live with the bargain once more. No doubt I will not die of a few more kisses.”

              “Just so long as he remembers that it’s only kisses. That last one looked like a hell of a lot more than just a kiss.”

              Ardeth nodded. “It felt like it too. However, he did not undo my robes, or even touch me through them except to put his hands in my hair and take his kiss. So no doubt to him at least it was only a kiss. Allah have mercy on me if I must bear another five like that one though. I will be how do you put it a basket case? What does that mean exactly?”

              “It means you’re too shook up to think or do much of anything but shake and worry.”

              “Ah, well then, that is appropriate.” He pushed his plate aside and only sipped his coffee. “I will hope that it is not quite so bad then.”

              “If anyone is strong enough to deal with it if it is, Ardeth, that’s you.”

              He smiled a bit. “It is kind of you to say so.” He agreed, but it was easier none the less to find some appetite for the breakfast they had started. Tahiri had just come back to collect the dishes and leave them more coffee and karkaday when all of a sudden he was no longer in Thebes at all but his uncle was shaking him awake in Ahm Shere. “That is yet so odd a thing to get used to. Are you well, Rick?”

              “Yeah. Go on to prayers. I’ll lay here and be lazy for a bit.” Rick freed one arm from around Evie to grip his arm.

              “Truly, I would thank Allah for a great deal today.” He smiled just a little and then followed his uncle out to prayer.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


              "Good night in Thebes?" Evie asked softly as the tent flap closed.

              "Kinda." He hedged a little. "Do you mind if we go walk a bit and not wake Jonathan or Alex with this?" He asked honestly.

              "Are you all right?" There was so much concern in her voice even if he couldn't see her eyes.

              "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just..."

              "Not here, hmm?" She sighed and then got up. It took very little time to actually gather up their boots and respective armaments and head out toward the dunes. He sat down finally, and Evie sat beside him, against his side. So he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Are you really all right?"

              "Fine." He promised.

              "And Ardeth?"

              "That's-- not so easy to answer." He shook his head.

              "I'm not asking you to break whatever confidence he's shared with you Rick. Only if he's well."

              "No harm done, no." He answered as honestly as he could. It was an answer Ardeth had given him on more than one occasion.

              "Which means nothing has been broken or is bleeding or some such I will take it?" She sighed.

              "Yeah." He had to smile. "Definitely none of that." Thank god. "It's just-- awkward. But I can't not tell you something. I just need you to have faith in me okay?"

              "Do you really have to ask that, Rick?" She sighed again, sadly this time.

              "From you? No. From myself, yeah maybe. I don't know Evie. I just..."

              "I trust you. No matter what it is. I trust you. I love you. Nothing that happens in Thebes is going to change that, Rick. Nothing."

              "What if I-- kissed somebody else?"

              She was quiet for a moment. "Did you want to kiss this somebody else?"

              And damn if that hadn't been a question he'd never expected in his life. "Yeah."

              "Well that's good." She relaxed a little. "And did you enjoy kissing this somebody else?"

              "If I hadn't I wouldn't be trying to figure out how to ask you to trust me would I?" He sighed.

              "Well, no, probably not. Was there more to this whatever I have to trust you on than kissing?"

              "No, not exactly." He looked up at the stars that were fading with the dawn, feeling so incredibly stupid for doing any of this, but not having any idea what to do but keep going.. "I guess, it’s just, that it could have been, maybe."

              "And you can't tell me more than that?" She looked over at him, and he could see so much in her dark eyes.

              "I could. And I will, if you want, but I don’t know how to without-- breaking a trust I really don't want to."

              "Then tell me this. Does this kissing or whatever it really is mean that you and Ardeth are safer in Thebes than you were yesterday?"

              "Safer? Maybe. Yeah."

              "Then I trust you with my heart, yours, and his, and whatever else is involved in this what may or may not really be kissing. But when you can tell me Rick. Do. And if it...if..."

              "Shhh." He kissed her softly, and just lost himself in the feel of her in his arms. Maybe it wasn't fair to her or him or Ardeth to be able to enjoy both so much but he did. And it was all so very different and so very much the same that it only made it more bittersweet than anything. "Oh, Evie. The gods have got to know I don't deserve you."

              "The gods have more sense than that." She smiled back. "I love you, Rick O'Connell. No matter who else you've been kissing in Thebes."

              "Do I actually have to say it or can you guess?" He asked, because his wife was brilliant and he knew it. She usually thought rings around him most days.

              She smiled. "Not quite what I had in mind when I told you to take care of him, no. But I can certainly cope with kisses if we really are talking about kisses at all or only using them as a metaphor."

              "Only kisses." He promised.

              "Well that's something. Otherwise I might have to hit you. He's not nearly as well as he wants us all to think you know."

              He just shook his head. "And here we thought we were doing such a good job of it."

              "No." She smiled sadly. "Let me say it then as plainly as I can, Rick. I love you. I will always love you. And I trust you to know that, no matter what happens between you and Ardeth in Thebes. But I am not above slapping you if you toy with my heart or his, O'Connell. He's too good a friend to both of us for that."

              And that was just as much of a shock as the question about being kissed without wanting it had been. "Christ, Evie, what did I do to get so lucky, huh?"

              "You didn't get hung, shot, stabbed, torn to bits, or let the damned creature kill me or Alex. You let me be me and still love me. And that's just the first few things I can think of. I'll make you a list if you like. But don't let it go to your head."

              "Nothing comes close to deserving you." He meant it.

              "I do love you, you know." And she kissed him this time and it was enough to let him believe it no matter if he deserved it or not. "Do you suppose they'll come looking for us if we stay out here too long?"

              "Probably." He admitted. "Doesn't mean I want to go back, though."

              "No." She agreed. "But with the luck we seem to have lately, they'd all arrive at just the wrong moment."

              Rick had to chuckle, but he kissed her again like he couldn't do in front of everyone back at camp. "Self-restraint is not my strong suit, Evie."

              She laughed. "No, I've noticed that. Mine either, which is why we do so well together no doubt. I would give a great deal you know for a whole night with you all to myself."

              "You and me both, Evie. You and me both. Let's steal us a morning again as soon as we can, huh?"

              "Definitely." She kissed him again and then got to her feet with a sigh. "Let's go wake Alex and Jonathan, that should only take another hour or so."

              It didn't take that long at all because Ardeth had already woken them both and they were eating breakfast when they got back. "Is everything well?"

              Rick smiled just a little because he sure as hell couldn't answer that honestly with everyone around. Evie just went over and kissed his cheek, and said something very softly in Egyptian, which made Ardeth flush worse than the kiss. "I rather like having a younger brother for a change." She kissed Jonathan the same way and then came back over to sit beside him.

              "I will try-- to do as you ask, Evelyn but it may well be beyond even Allah." Ardeth sighed.

              "You're probably right." She sighed. "So what do we do today, gentlemen?"

              "According to AmmunRa we have only today to practice with our weapons for tomorrow we will need to wield them. Izzy, Rick and I need to check your plane one more time to make certain we have not missed anything. Selim will you find Adham for me I need to speak with him as well."

              "And you have a message for Nefertiri or do you want me to just use the Arabic?" Rick asked.

              "No, I can recall it I think.” And he repeated the whole long thing in Egyptian from what Rick could tell. Evie just listened.

              "That's quite a lot to think about." She sighed. "But it will give me something to do while you check Izzy's plane. Then we can gather our weapons and books and see what we can do."

              "Let's ride out to the remains of the German tanks. It's good to have real steel to work against." Rick suggested.

              "As you say, it is less likely we will injure anyone that way." Ardeth agreed.

              "Good point. You going to go riding again, Alex?"

              "Yeah, Asyd says we get to actually race today. I wish you could come watch."

              "So do I, Alex. Tell you what. We'll come back here for lunch and I'll see if I can catch a bit of it before we have to eat okay?" He ruffled his son's hair.

              "Okay." Alex smiled. "You want to come watch me win then, Uncle Jonathan?"

              "Certainly. I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help with the translating as I'm rather rusty with my hieroglyphics."

              "Thank you Jonathan." Evie smiled at her brother and Rick nodded. This whole mess wasn't leaving either of them much time to spend with their son and having his uncle around to do that would help a great deal.

              "Not at all." Jonathan smiled back.

              "Shall we go check your plane, Izzy, so that you can return to Aswan before the day is through." Ardeth asked.

              "I'd appreciate that, yeah." Izzy nodded. Rick got up and went with them.

              "Let me get Arebe to give you a falcon and show you how to send us the message. Any idea as to how far away they are, how many tanks, anything at all will be more than we have."

              "Right, okay, I've had a bit of practice with spying on things before you know."

              "I would never have guessed that." Ardeth chuckled.

              "Right." Izzy grinned but he didn't object as Arebe settled one of the falcons on board the plane and showed him how to attach the message. Rick started in the cockpit and looked around but nothing much seemed to stand out. Ardeth was doing the same but they both came up empty. "You two done now?"

              "As we can be. Surely if there was something we were to have that we have missed someone would tell us so do you not think? The gods have certainly stepped in with us finding the book of the Dead and Evelyn's weaponry. So I will take it on faith that what we need is here we just do not recognize it as such. Thank you again Izzy for doing so much for my people. May Allah keep you safe from all enemies and see you well to your home. There are several crates of gold in your hull, use them as you can for weapons, or if you hear no more from us within a month, then it is yours to keep in our memory." Ardeth smiled and clasped Izzy's shoulder.

              "He's a hard friend to keep up with and not get killed but all in all he's not likely to leave you to die in the middle of the street either." Izzy gestured towards him and Rick rolled his eyes. "I'd bet I'll be seeing you both again."

              "In'sh'allah." Ardeth agreed. "Seb-heru-am-tcher-uk ha-aftet-en tuten-setcha."

              "What's that mean?"

              "Fly safe." Rick played loose with the translation. "See you in Cairo Izzy, or look me up at Fiddler's Green and I'll buy you a beer."

              "You're buying? Now that I'll believe when I see it." And he headed toward the cockpit with a grin.

              "Right." Rick shook his head and followed Ardeth off the plane. Then they headed back toward camp and to gather up their armor.

              "You wished to see me, Ardeth?" Adham walked over as they headed for the tent where Rick's armor was.

              "I did. While you were in Cairo Adham did you happen to acquire any sort of oddity? An artifact of ancient Egypt perhaps?"

              "No." Adham shook his head. "I truly can not think of anything I have with me now that I did not have with me when I reached Cairo. But I will check through my packs to make certain. It is possible I forgot something I considered insignificant." He replied. “Is there anything else I can do?”

              "The old gods have said that the greatest weapon that came with Izzy's plane will be something we do not think is useful at all. And so far I can not think of what it might be." Ardeth sighed.

              "And it comes from far down the Nile, which is pretty much Cairo from here, or anything in the Delta I guess." Rick shrugged.

              "I will check, Ardeth." Adham reached over and squeezed Ardeth’s shoulder. “Would that I can could give you better news, cousin. But I truly can not think of anything at the moment.”

              “We will do as we can, Adham, and Allah wills us. We can do no other.” Ardeth agreed, squeezing his cousin’s hand with a smile. “But I am thankful he has sent you here to fight with us.”

              “Have you ever known me to miss a fight, Ardeth?” The man smiled, which really did make him look a hell of a lot less intimidating.

              "No, I can not say that I have.” Ardeth agreed. “We will be back for the noon meal, now we go to see the remains of the German tanks and practice the wielding of the armor we have been given."

              "Then I will see you at noon. Ma Salaama, Ardeth."

              "Ma Salaama, Adham." Ardeth clasped the taller man's shoulder in return. Adham nodded and then left. Rick went to gather the armor of the Scorpion King into one of the tarps. It worked alright if he placed the grieves, sword, and breastplate on top of the inverted shield and bundled it all. He managed to get the unwieldily mess into his backpack. "It is very nerve-racking you know to watch you handle that." Ardeth pointed out.

              "Nerve-racking to do too." Rick agreed. "Let's go get Evie and Sallah and the books and get going, huh?" He didn't mean to be sharp but handling the armor only made him remember the way he'd wielded the sword and shield in the nightmares Anubis had given him, and that only made him remember the reasons why he had wanted to wield them so badly.

              "As you say." Ardeth reached over and gripped his shoulder tightly. "I am well."

              "I know." He agreed and found a smile, because he really meant it, despite the remembered horror.

              "Let me know when you believe it again, then, will you?"

              He smiled a bit more. "I do. Honest. Just a passing memory is all."

              "Sometimes, that is bad enough." Ardeth agreed and squeezed his shoulder again and then leaned a bit closer and whispered softly. "I am well, Habib."

              And he had to duck his head at that. "No cheating." He reminded his friend despite the damned blush he knew he couldn't help.

              Ardeth chuckled. "That was not cheating that was assuring you I was well. You believe it now do you not?"

              "Yeah." He had to admit it did a good job of dispelling the nightmare. "Okay. I'll give you that."

              "Good." Ardeth let go of his shoulder with one last squeeze and then headed toward the tent where Evie and Sallah were waiting. "Shall we go and see what it is we can do then, my friends?"

              "Y'Allah." Sallah smiled. "I am I will admit, anxious to see if what we think we know is what we do."

              "Research only gets you so far and then you just have to see if it's right." Evie agreed.

              "Just make sure you both stay well away from me if I'm wearing this stuff, okay?" Rick reminded them.

              "As you say." Sallah agreed.

              "We'll be careful love. Let's go gentlemen." She headed out. "Are you going to get Horus, Ardeth?"

              His friend smiled. "It seems wise." They headed toward the horses and Ardeth paused just long enough to get Horus from his perch. The falcon took its now customary place on the rim of his shield and looked around at them intently. Then it folded its wings and settled calmly. "Are we set?" Ardeth smiled. "Let us go and see what it is we can bring to bear against the enemies of Egypt then."

              They reached the tanks quickly enough and managed to uncover one pretty completely which was useful to get a real feel for the size of the thing.

              "I don't think I realized they were so huge." Evie looked the thing over and sighed. "And we have how many of them to defeat?"

              "Fifty or more, easy." Rick shrugged. "Let's get to work then." He got out the armor and put it on, still surprised that it weighed nothing at all once he'd done so. "Any specific spells I should be using?"

              "I think for the most part Anubis' are pretty straight forward. Just ask him for the strength to wield the weapons he's given you and see if that works." Evie replied, putting the odd blades at her waist and her mask into place. For just a moment he wondered what Nefertiri had looked like wearing the same thing then he shook himself a bit.

              "Okay. Let's see if I can do that in Arabic or if I need to memorize the Egyptian." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. You want me to fight right? Okay, here's the enemies I need to learn to defeat so I can help save Egypt. So let me try. "Grant me then, Anubis, the strength I need to wield these weapons of yours successfully in the defense of Egypt." He drew the sword and then placed the point against the tank and tried to stab through it like Ardeth had done with his spear. But nothing happened.

              "Well that's odd." Evie sighed. "Let me think of something simple in Egyptian for you to use." She did that for a moment. "Ai-Hetrem-aka-anbu."

              "Ai-hetrem." He got the first part.

              "Aka-anbu." She repeated.

              "Ai-hetrem-aka-Anbu." He repeated it. "Okay." He placed the sword back against the tank and asked it as a question. "Ai hetrem aka Anbu."

              Nothing.

              "Well now that's not very helpful."

              Rick closed his eyes and then just reached for the sword and shield in his memory, letting his hands slide right through the stone wall and summoned the anger to go with it. "I need to know how to do this damn you." And he swung the blade hard. And just as easy as that it sliced through the steel like water.

              Evie laughed. "You really don't have a way with words, love."

              "Anubis doesn't really expect me to I guess." He shrugged. "All that he seems to care about is that I'm angry as hell."

              "I do not understand the reasoning the god of the dead sees in that." Ardeth came over to stand by Evie. "But in this case it does seem to be what is necessary. Perhaps it is the armor itself. No doubt the Scorpion King was very angry and bitter when he asked Anubis for the power in the first place. Might that not taint the weapons as surely as their poison?"

              "That is a very real possibility." Sallah agreed. "Does the shield have the same destructive force or is it only for defense do you think?"

              "It works pretty well as a shield or a weapon." Rick replied, recalling both how it had protected him from the wall of sand and how it had felt to slam it into the damned thing's face. Keeping that anger in mind he turned back to the tank and brought the shield across one panel in a long swipe. Which dented the whole thing pretty badly.

              "Well now. That might just be useful." Evie agreed. "And you're sure it works as well for defense?"

              He drew his shotgun and tossed it carefully to Ardeth. "Since I'm more likely to need to keep from getting blown to bits. Let's see if it works."

              "Bis’mil’Allah Rick I can not shoot at you."

              "Sure you can. Just do it carefully. Otherwise you're going to have to champion two gods at the same time and that could get awkward. I'll hold it as far away from me as I can, you aim at the outer edge. And Evie can see if those healing spells do any good if we mess it up."

              "Oh that's a comfort." Evie grumbled. "It's a spell for healing cuts Ricks, I'm not certain it will work on bullet wounds."

              "Well then it'll be good to know that to. Come on, Ardeth, have a little faith, huh?" Rick walked a few yards away and held his shield out upside down with his arm fully extended.

              "Allah have mercy." Ardeth looked east as he said it. But he cocked the shotgun. "Are you certain of this?"

              "Certain it'll work, no. Certain that we need to try yeah. We don't have time for baby steps Ardeth. Just fire the damned thing already."

              "Forgive me then." Ardeth pleaded.

              And Rick closed his eyes despite himself and then drew as much of the anger to him as he could. You let this hurt me and tear him up with it and we're all damned again. Give me something I can work with to win this fight, damn you.

              The blast was oddly muffled by the rushing in his ears but he felt it slam into the shield. It pushed him off balance some but it didn't hurt at all.

              "Rick?" Evie's voice was sharp.

              "Akee?"

              He opened his eyes and smiled. "Nothing at all." He checked his arm and the shield but they both looked fine. "Did you hit it?"

              "Yes. Have faith that I can do that much." Ardeth growled. "Do not ever ask me to do that again." He tossed Rick the shotgun. Rick smiled a bit and put it away.

              "Deal. Guess that bit about the invincibility of the army of Anubis was right?"

              "So it would seem." Sallah shook his head, looking stunned. "Do not let anyone chop your head off then, O'Connell."

              "Right, forgot that part." Rick smiled. "So it's not the nicest stuff to deal with but it's really useful. I'm going to have more trouble with keeping away from everyone on our side than with injuring the Germans I think."

              "Wonderful." Evie shook her head. "And you think I'm impetuous?" She glared at him. "It's a good thing I can't smack you right now Rick O'Connell." She turned to Ardeth and patted his arm. "Remind me to when he's not wearing that will you?"

              "For that, sister of mine, I just might help."

              "It's not that bad. It didn't hurt me any. Besides, it's good to know I can use that to block bullets and not just swords you know."

              "As you say." Ardeth agreed. "So the armor is effective. Let us see what else we can get from these great weapons."

              It took most of the morning to try out a lot of it. Rick found that he could cover a great deal more ground in a stride than he should have been able to, Evie could to though not to the extent he did but she moved faster as well. And Ardeth could move quickly enough that it was really a blur. All of it left them a little tired but not badly so. Evie's odd daggers were just as effective against the steel of the tanks as Ardeth's spear and his sword.

              "It's good to know it's useful though.” He picked up the waterskin Sallah had set down and took a long drink.

              "It is." Ardeth agreed.

              "But exhausting." Evie smiled and then wet a cloth to wipe her face and neck. "I wish one of us could manage that gravity defying bit those guard mummies did though. It would be exceedingly useful if we could get up on one of these things when it was moving and disable the guns themselves." She gestured at the nearest tank.

              "Good point." He agreed and looked the thing over again. "You're the one with the falcon for a god Ardeth. How come he won't let you fly, huh?"

              Ardeth chuckled. "I am not built for it I suppose. Can you teach me that then my friend? How do I manage to get up on one of these things and do damage?" He spoke to the falcon perched once more calmly on his shield. Horus looked at him for a moment and then gave a soft cry and took off into the sun.

              "Do you suppose he went to ask?" Evie looked after him.

              "It is I suspect all to likely. What is this fondness you all have for never staying on the ground?" Ardeth sighed. "Always you insist on getting me into the air one way or another."

              "It's useful." Rick smiled. "Back to work?"

              "Indeed."

              "Oh, I have an idea. Well it's more of a memory actually." Evie got up and pulled her mask back into place. "Can you brace Ardeth's shield on the far end on your arm?" She walked over and put the edge of Ardeth's shield along her arm as a demonstration. "So that you're both bracing the weight?"

              Rick shrugged and looked at Ardeth. So they got to their feet and worked it out cautiously, Rick's shield on his left arm which made it possible for him to brace the outer edge of Ardeth's with his right. "Like this?" Ardeth asked. It left the shield sitting on both their arms and braced.

              "Exactly. I wouldn't want to try this on your shield, Rick, that's for certain." She drew her knives and then seemed to judge the distance. "Let me try this over open air before I try it with the tank all right?" She took a deep breath and said something in Egyptian that he didn't follow a word of.

              "Bis’mil’Allah." Ardeth muttered and braced himself a bit more. Rick just did the same and then Evie pulled a move he never would have believed taking two running steps and jumped flipping head over heels as she did so and both feet landed solidly on Ardeth's shield held between them like a platform then she leapt again in a move that would have easily cleared the tank blades flashing in the sun and cutting along imagined steel. He let go of Ardeth's shield to turn and watch her land but it was obvious she'd misjudged something and wouldn't do that nearly as well.

              "Evie!"

              And then she just stopped hanging in mid air about two feet from the ground.

              "As I recall it Princess, that was never a move you managed." The voice came from his left.

              "Would have been nice if I'd remembered that. Could you set me down please, priest of Ammun?" Evie looked pointedly at the desert floor.

              "Of course." The creature lowered his hand and Evie settled easily onto the sand.

              "Allah have mercy.." Sallah whispered.

              "Good day, Medjai. Ammun's blessings to you all. My god says to me that you are practicing in ways to defeat the Germans and so I too should be here. You should be more careful Nefertiri you broke your leg doing that before remember?"

              "No, I don't. Oh, is that what that was?" Evie pushed her mask back from her face. "I do wish these memories came in whole pieces and not flashes of inspiration."

              "You are recalling another life, Evelyn, that can not be easy." Ardeth sighed. "Thank you, High Priest of AmmunRa, for your timely arrival and aid."

              The thing smiled. "Not as nice a thank you as I could have hoped for, but appreciated none the less, Medjai."

              "You okay, Evie?" Rick asked now that he could breathe again.

              "Fine love." She smiled. "Just Nefertiri's enthusiasm getting the better of me again."

              "Right. And thanks. From me too."

              The creature only chuckled. "Now that, might just qualify as a miracle I think."

              Ardeth smiled a bit. "We would have had to try out that spell in the book of Ammun on broken bones otherwise."

              "Ouch." Evie grimaced.

              "If you are referring to the one to Isis, it is for tears in the skin not for bones. For that you should ask Sekhmet herself for aid." The creature shrugged.

              "Ardeth." Sallah put in suddenly. "Please tell me I am truly not seeing what it is I am seeing. Otherwise I will have to explain it to Selim when we get back to camp. And I do not have the words."

              Ardeth chuckled a little. "You do well with words, Sallah. But I will explain it to Selim for you. Pretend you do not see him if you wish, but I suppose I can tell you Allah and I absolve you of your oath for the moment. It will do Egypt more good to have him with us for this battle tomorrow than locked back in the ground."

              "As you say, Ardeth, so of course I shall do. But, it is very odd." Sallah shook his head.

              "Are you going to have to absolve all your people of that, Ardeth? Or am I to concern myself with defending my own back while I battle the enemies of Egypt?" The creature chuckled.

              "For now, no. Our oath to protect Egypt takes precedence for now over our oath to keep you in your grave. Little good that will do since you do not seem to have one at the moment anyway."

              That made the thing laugh. "As you say. So do we continue this practice now?" He gestured at the tanks. "I know it is possible to destroy them with the walls of sand but it is time consuming. Perhaps we can find another way I can do the same."

              "Can you flip them over like turtles?" Evie asked. "That would work don't you think?"

              "Like tortoises? I can try I suppose but they weigh a great deal. It is worth attempting." He stood there a moment and then gestured at one of the buried tanks. The sand slid around it as it raised itself up from the desert and then flipped over to land turret down, hard.

              "Ouch." Rick smiled despite himself. "Now that would hurt if you were alive inside one of those things."

              "As you say. So the answer is yes. But it is not easily done even with my powers at their height." The thing shrugged. "Sand is easier. Once you start the wind you simply let it grow and pick up more sand."

              "What if the tank was moving and you simply swept it onto its side then?" Ardeth asked.

              "Easier, and it does keep the thing from going forwards but I would think they could still fire their huge weapon and also escape that way."

              "If they leave the tank I have horsemen enough to cut them down." Ardeth disagreed. "It is stopping the tanks themselves I worry for."

              "Then it is not a bad plan. I will do that when I can." The creature looked over the whole battlefield again. "Is it possible one of you might know how these metal beasts work so that we can see what damage their guns do? And then have some idea as to how to work around that?"

              "Good plan." Rick had to agree. "But no go. I can try to figure it out but..."

              "Then we shall let you try for a bit, brother mine. It will do us good to know. But we have precious little time to waste today. Sallah will you go back to camp and have Selim send Kahid back with you and a resting tent for shade and lunch as well? We would do better to stay at this if we can."

              "As you wish, certainly." Sallah agreed. "I will leave the books here for you Sitt O'Connell." He indicated the group of carrying bags.

              "Thank you Sallah." Evie smiled.

              "It is little to thank." Sallah disagreed. But he didn't seem to mind not staying.

              "Okay, let's find me a tank we haven't done too much damage to and let me see if I can do anything with it." Rick sighed.

              That took another while, although having the damned undead priest around to help them clear the sand away from the tank and then to help them bury the dead Germans with another thought was a great help. Rick didn't really like working so closely with the damned thing but it was useful. Figuring the tank out was a lot harder. But finally, he got the turret to move and that have him some idea of where the controls were located. They got the gun pointed at the far horizon and Evie and the undead priest were well away in case something went wrong. And Ardeth was crouched carefully behind Rick who had one hand on the shield of Horus just in case they needed to be somewhere else quickly. Rick had left his own shield outside the tank but the rest of it he figured would work as well for the invincibility at least he hoped so. "Allah hamdas aha, Right?"

              "In'sh'allah." Ardeth agreed.

              And he fired the huge gun atop the turret. And the whole damn tank shuddered and the explosion was tremendous like the huge guns of the great war he barely remembered hearing. He and Ardeth climbed back out of the tank and went to look at the crater the gun had blown into the sand.

              "Bis’mil’Allah." Ardeth whispered. And Rick had to agree. "How do I dare to ask my people to face that my friend with only their courage and their faith to protect them?"

              "You ask, and you trust that they'll do it. God knows I wouldn't want to." Rick sighed. "Come on, let's go take a look."

              "I don't think I realized just how horrible these things are." Evie walked over as he and Ardeth climbed down.

              "Me either." He agreed.

              "I saw what the weapons had done to Ahmer's tribe, but somehow I thought if we were prepared it would be better than that. Now I see that it will not." Ardeth shook his head.

              "Then we take them out before they can fire. You managed it with these."

              "As you say, O'Connell. But if I send a wall of sand against them all it will not do this much damage. And if they can not see us to shoot at, we can not see them to destroy can we?"

              "So we keep the nearest ones blinded and take out the others as we can, and let your horsemen deal with the cars and foot soldiers and whoever tries to escape these things. Plus we've got Adham and his grenade launchers and Gamal and his cannon, they can probably deal with ten to a dozen of them without a problem."

              "It will be a hard fight, but it is one we must win. So I will have faith in Allah." Ardeth sighed. "But I will mourn for my people none the less."

              "We'll win, Ardeth. We have to." Evie patted his arm.

              "Your tribesmen return with lunch, Ardeth. Do you wish for me to be elsewhere until they leave again?"

              That seemed to surprise Ardeth as much as it did Rick. But his friend shook his head. "Far be it from me, Priest of AmmunRa, to be a less courteous host than you. I can keep what men might come to civility. You have my hospitality such as it may be."

              "Truly?" The thing smiled a bit. "Thank you, Medjai. By three days from now we should know where this battle stands and how we and Egypt fare."

              "As you say." Ardeth agreed.

              "You're going to offer it hospitality?" Rick couldn't help but ask it in English. Because Arabic hospitality meant a lot more than its western counterpart and was as the thing had said good for three days. And for those three days the damned thing was no only Ardeth's guest but under his protection and therefore under that of the whole of the Medjai.

              "I have already done so." Ardeth replied. "What else am I to do, Rick? Egypt does not have the luxury of my feelings in the matter. I will do what I must to see to our victory."

              "Great."

              Evie said something to the thing in Egyptian.

              "I would not dream of so angering you Princess. Least of all now that you have Sekhmet to call upon." The thing chuckled.

              "Evelyn." Ardeth shook his head but he smiled. "That was rude."

              "I'm certain the High Priest of AmmunRa expects rudeness from me by now, Ardeth." She smiled. "Don't you?"

              The thing had sense enough not to answer that, only smile.

              "Ardeth." Selim pulled his horse to a stop a bit away. "Sallah, Kahid and I have brought you what you requested."

              "Thank you Selim." Ardeth smiled a little. "Did you also bring me a good two hundred warriors in case I needed them?"

              Selim looked a bit surprised and then smiled. "No. But you'd best send Horus back to Arebe so he does not do so after the thirty minutes I gave him."

              Ardeth laughed. "As you say." He looked up into the sky and then held up his arm. And damn if Horus didn't come winging happily out of the sun to settle there. "Will you fly now to Arebe, my friend, so he will know we are not in need of an army?"

              Horus pressed his head under Ardeth's jaw and then tapped his beak lightly against it.

              "You are a good friend to worry so. Be of better faith, hmm? My thanks to your namesake if you will my friend as you fly. Truly his grace and his blessings are wonderful things."

              Horus took off with a flick of wings but he streaked right past the damned thing nearly making it dive out of the way as he flew. Rick had to laugh.

              "You don't make good impressions on his friends do you?"

              The thing shrugged. "He is smaller than his namesake and I survived that well enough. You have good friends, Medjai."

              "So I do." Ardeth agreed.

              "Will you introduce me to your fellow warriors then, Ardeth?"

              "They know who you are. Selim is the leader of the seventh tribe. Kahid is from the third. Sallah you met earlier."

              "Ammun's blessings to you both then."

              "In'sh'allah." Selim replied.

              "As if it could be otherwise?" The thing smiled.

              Ardeth rolled his eyes but went to help his tribesmen set up the small rest area for lunch and no doubt calm Selim some. They had just gotten comfortable in the shade when the damned priest looked up.

              "Did you plan on more company, Medjai?" The thing asked

              "No." Ardeth got to his feet. .

              "Ah, your son and his friends, two Medjai and your brother princess."

              "Wonderful. Why should I have ever expected Jonathan to keep him out of trouble?" Evie sighed.

              "I had more faith in Asyd." Ardeth walked out of the shade to await the arrival of the small band of riders in training. Rick had to smile and he and Evie went out to join him.

              "They want to show off a little, Ardeth." He pointed out.

              "No doubt. And normally I would let them, but this is not the time."

              "We can spare them five minutes out of lunch can't we?" Evie smiled. "Let them run one race maybe?"

              "I suppose. It is not their fault they are coming of age at an inconvenient time for us is it?"

              "Asalaama, Ardeth!" Asyd pulled his horse to a stop.

              "Asalaama, Asyd. I see you brought your students."

              "I did. It is good to reward them as I can. And also good for them to get some idea as to what riding out here in the desert when there is not sign of camp is really like. It will I hope convince them to stay out of the desert without cause even when they think they know their way back."

              "It is a good plan." Ardeth agreed. "Will you dismount then and join us. We have some shade and probably enough water to go around."

              "For a bit. The boys want to show you what they've learned. Such is the price of being the one they want to impress, my friend."

              "Not the hardest part of my title to bear, Asyd." Ardeth chuckled and clasped his friend's shoulder.

              "Mom, Dad, Asyd let us come out to see you since you couldn't come see us."

              "We noticed that." Rick smiled.

              "Hello Rick, Sis, sorry if this was a bad plan." Jonathan looked about.

              "Not really. Come join us in the shade, Jonathan, we're having an odd sort of luncheon."

              "Will you watch me race this time mom, dad?"

              "Sure sport." Rick walked over to his son and patted the dark brown horse Ardeth had given him. "You enjoying all this learning to ride?"

              "It's fun." Alex grinned. "But it's really a lot harder than Asyd and uncle Ardeth make it look."

              "That's true." Rick agreed. "And it isn't like you've had a lot of practice at this growing up."

              "It's still fun. And Mohamed and Ahmed and Susa are teaching me Medja, and we're practicing our Egyptian too." He smiled some more.

              "Sounds good. You can help me practice mine then. I'm not so good at it, yet."

              "Very little worth doing is done without practice." Ardeth put in walking up to stand beside him. "Are you taking good care of your horse, Alex?"

              "Of course, Uncle Ardeth. Lesha's a great horse. Thanks again."

              "It is no problem." Ardeth patted the mare as well. "Asyd tells my you are all learning to race the wind. Shall I see if you can do so yet?" He asked the assemblage of boys.

              "Sure." Alex grinned.

              "If it would not bother you chieftain." The boy nearest him replied.

              "Truly?" Put in a third.

              "There is no time like the present." Ardeth nodded. "Then you can let your horses rest a bit before you head back to camp."

              The boys lined up and Asyd took point on the right, the other Medjai Rick didn't know taking point on the left. And then they were off. It was, he admitted, really fun to watch and Alex while he didn't win, came in third which was pretty impressive considering most of the boys had a lot more experience than he did. Evie hugged him as he got down of the horse. "Well done."

              "Well I didn't win." Alex grumbled. "But it wasn't all bad was it?"

              "Not bad at all sport." Rick ruffled his hair.

              "Dad." Alex complained.

              "Sorry." He wasn't really. They headed back to the shade, leaving Ardeth to congratulate the winners and talk to the other boys.

              "He leads remarkably well does he not?" The creature seemed to be talking to Selim as they got back.

              "As he has always done. As he will continue to do, In'sh'allah." Selim replied.

              "Oddly enough, Medjai, on that I would almost agree. He is a good chieftain but that does make him a damnable foe you understand."

              Selim raised one eyebrow and then nodded. "As it should be."

              The thing chuckled. "Hello Alex."

              "Um, hi." Alex mumbled. "Are you here on our side now?"

              "As Ammun wills, I can do no other." The thing replied. "You ride well for one so young."

              "Thanks."

              "No doubt you will one day be just as annoying a foe to me as your parents and your uncles. Is that something to be thankful for or dread do you think, O'Connell?"

              "You're assuming of course I'm going to let you live that long." He replied calmly.

              "Ah, of course. But death is not a new threat to me, warrior."

              "Right." He nodded. Evie just sighed.

              "I forgot to unsaddle Lesha." Alex ran back to his horse.

              "He is a good son, O'Connell, Sitt O'Connell." Selim smiled a bit. "Only young still."

              "Did I ever have that much energy?" Evie sat down with a sigh.

              "Nefertiri did certainly. Constantly poking into everything and putting nothing back where it belonged." The thing chuckled. "You drove your nurses to distraction."

              "Did I?" Evie smiled.

              "That didn't change any then. You were always into things at home to. Remember when you climbed up on that statue of the ram dad had brought home?" Jonathan grinned. "Nearly gave him a heart attack."

              "Nefertiri did the same in Memphis once, climbed up the statue of her grandfather to sit on its head." The thing laughed.

              "Did I really?" She smiled. "I don't recall much of Nefertiri's childhood I'm afraid. She loved her mother a great deal I know."

              "Tetnuhether was an amazing woman. Truly." The thing agreed. "All of Egypt was saddened by her death."

              "Is there anyone in Thebes who would remember her do you think?" She asked.

              "In the dreams of the faithful it is always possible." He agreed. "I shall certainly ask if you wish."

              "Really?" She looked surprised at that.

              "Certainly. AmmunRa would know for certain and it is a small thing to ask."

              "Um, thank you then." She nodded.

              "It is little enough to thank." The thing smiled. Ardeth looked over at him uncertainly and Rick had to wonder himself why the thing was being so damned polite.

              "Do we practice more then?" Ardeth asked finally.

              "I suppose." Rick got to his feet and went over to the tarp his armor was once more wrapped up in.

              Ardeth, Selim and Kahid broke down the small tent and then went to help Asyd with the children. Jonathan was talking to Evie and Sallah and the damned thing came over to stand with him. "It is considerate of you O'Connell to not try and chop me into many pieces now that we are not in Thebes."

              "Ardeth offered you hospitality remember? He's my brother, that means, damn it, that you're my guest too. Until three days from now. Then I can kill you."

              "Ah. That explains it." The thing chuckled. "I will look forward then to seeing what other wonderfully inventive ways of killing me you come up with."

              He pulled the sword free from the bundle and smiled back, cold as he knew how. "Tried and true might do just as well."

              "Really?" The thing raised one eyebrow. "Are you going to run me through again?"

              "Nope." Rick shook his head. "Too easy."

              That only made the thing laugh.

              "Are you going to chop tanks into bits dad?" Alex asked, leading his horse over.

              "We're going to try sport."

              "Sounds like awfully hard work. Can't you just call up another huge wall of water and wash them all back to Germany?"

              "Would that it were so simple young Alex, but it would take more water than all the Nile holds and then what would people drink in Egypt, hmm?"

              "Well, there is that I guess." Alex agreed.

              "Ready to go now, Alex?" Jonathan asked walking over with Evie and Ardeth.

              "Sure. Let me show you how Asyd taught us to mount, okay dad?"

              "Okay sport." He smiled.

              And it was all just so easy to go wrong. Because Jonathan was admiring the gold the armor was made out of not knowing its danger and wandered too close to Alex's horse. Who stepped sideways as Alex leapt, and Rick had to twist left to get out of the way which made the damned undead priest move as well to avoid being skewered and Alex missed his jump completely at that point and rolled right into the half uncovered armor and screamed.

              "NO!" Rick dropped his sword and somehow wound up with his son in his arms, Evie on the other side. "Alex..."

              "Dad...mom...hurts...."

              "Move." Imhotep growled and grabbed hold of Alex's arm and shoulder that were closest to Rick, and therefore the ones that had taken most of the contact with the armor and ripped the shirt away. Alex's skin was already read and mottled turning black in places. "This may hurt child, but it is better than death."

              "What the...?" Rick couldn't find words only stared as the thing seemed to summon the same concentration he used to turn the tanks over and focus it on Alex instead. Alex whimpered, bitting into his bottom lip and turning his face against Evie's chest as she held him. And then the creature let go of his son with one hand and the poison just seemed to collect into his palm from everywhere along Alex's arm and shoulder and the black spots faded back to red.

              "He will need rest." The thing said but only poured the palm full of poison back onto the armor and it vanished without a trace. "And his arm will be sore yet a while."

              "Alex." Evie whispered. "Are you all right now?" She brushed his hair from his face.

              "Feel awful." Alex mumbled. "Don't cry mom."

              "Oh Alex." She hugged him close and Rick and the undead priest both let him go so she could do so.

              "Thank you." Rick couldn't even get his mind around what had just happened much less find any words to say.

              "You are most welcome. Surely you did not think I would let him die? After all, he is the only one of you who has ever eaten willingly at my banquets and even asked for lunch once. My cooks would never forgive me. They would like to have him back no doubt." There was a smile in the voice. "You are a brave young man Alex bin O'Connell, truly your courage and bravery do you and your parents proud." He got to his feet. "Why do you not see him safe, Princess? No doubt the time spent will insure that we can concentrate on training later."

              "I..." She looked up and then said something very softly in Egyptian.

              Whatever it was seemed to surprise the hell out of the thing because he only stared at her and then nodded once.

              "Come on, Evie, I'll carry him, okay?" Rick picked Alex up. "Okay tiger?"

              "Yeah dad. I just feel really sleepy and kinda achy."

              "I am so very sorry." Jonathan whispered from behind him. "Please..."

              "Not your fault, Jonathan. It was just bad luck." Rick shook his head. "And it's okay now."

              "I'm okay, uncle Jonathan." Alex agreed.

              "Selim will go back with you and get Alex settled in with his great-aunts. Allah forgive me for not keeping him safe, my friends. Go now." Ardeth gripped his shoulder tightly. "Take care, Alex. I will see to Lesha for you nephew mine."

              "Okay, uncle Ardeth. She's okay right?"

              "She is fine." Ardeth promised.

              Rick walked back to his own horse and with Evie and Ardeth's help got into the saddle. Alex was dozing mostly by the time they got started back to Ahm Shere. Evie was riding as close as she could which let her reach over and smooth their son's hair frequently.  

              "He's going to be all right." She said finally.

              "Yeah." He let himself believe it a little, because the red patches were fading and almost gone by the time they got him settled into the tent. Selim went to get both Azza and Amal to watch him. And finally, Rick managed to let him go into their care and Evie's. He looked around feeling more than a little shocked.

              "Here." Jonathan held out a small flask. "I'll do better not to drink it all myself."

              Rick took a long swallow of the scotch and then passed it back. "Thanks."

              "Dear God Rick, I never meant anything to happen like..."

              "Not your fault Jonathan. The damned stuff is cursed. It makes its own bad luck." Rick sighed. "I should have been so much more careful. I should have known better."

              "Not your fault either then, Rick." Jonathan said seriously. "Do you want us to go get the book of AmmunRa, Evie?"

              "I don't think we'll need it. He's sleeping okay now. Only a bit of fever and exhausted I think." She got up and then came over and hugged Rick tightly. "I thought we'd lost him."

              "I thought so too." He agreed. And it was enough for right now just to hold onto her and watch Alex sleep.

On to Chapter 10

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