Maghrib
Chapter 1
Ardeth could not have said how long he stood there, first in Rick and Evelyn’s embrace and then hugging Selim close. But he truly did not care. He let go of his uncle finally, and moved to embrace Adham instead. “Al’hamdil’Allah.” He whispered, meaning the so common phrase with his whole heart. Adham stood still for a moment and then embraced him back, tightly.
“I have no words to tell you how sorry I am for my stupidity, Ardeth.” Adham said finally, the words a rough mutter in Medja. And that took Ardeth longer than it should have to understand.
“He did me no harm cousin. Truly, he is quite skilled at making one worry for a friend when there is no real need for concern.” He shook his head. “I will tell you, later, why it makes my heart so much more than glad that you are here. Right now, I need coffee and to see my people. Will you please go and bring your family here, Adham? I will explain later when I can.”
“If it will ease you.” Adham agreed, and Ardeth did not doubt in the slightest that his eyes were more than haunted now. And Adham had always seen too much of what he wanted to keep hidden at the best of times.
“It would.” He agreed. He released his cousin and then went to grip Arebe’s arms and kiss his friend on both cheeks. “Truly, my friend, no chieftain of the Medjai has ever had a better man to lead one of his tribes. Allah I trust knows how thankful I am that you are still here with us, and I will do my best to follow the example of bravery you and Kahid have given us.” He gave it openly with no pretense which made his friend flush just a bit. “Thank you, Arebe, for walking the halls of Thebes that was.” And he squeezed his hands around Arebe’s arms.
“Allah have mercy, Ardeth you are bleeding.” Selim gripped his shoulder and urged him to sit.
“I am?” He asked, because while he could recall the wounds he did not feel them. His uncle’s hand moved to his hair.
“Your robes are drenched...” Selim’s hand shook. “Evelyn?”
“I thought he said you’d be all right.” Rick’s voice held that same growl it had in the hell they had just left.
“It does not feel like the wounds are still there.” He shook his head. “Even my head is clear.”
“What wounds?” Evelyn asked coming over to crouch beside him.
“I took a blow to my head...and some knife and sword cuts.” He shrugged, not wanting to dwell on how they had been gained.
“Right.” Rick’s voice was a low mutter. “Selim’s right, Ardeth you’re covered in blood.”
He wondered absently how much of it was his and how much of it belonged to his friend’s reflection. He reached out and gripped Rick’s shoulder where his spear had been. “I do not feel injured.” He repeated.
“Humor us.” Evelyn grumbled and put her hand on his head and asked Sekhmet for her blessing. There was a soft sort of warmth to her hand beyond what was normal and despite himself he relaxed with a sigh. “That was...strange. Take this off, Ardeth, something isn’t right here.” She pulled at his sleeve.
“Evelyn...” He muttered, unable to keep from flushing.
“Oh bother the propriety my husband’s right here and sister’s tend their brother’s wounds all the time. Suri can look the other way, can’t you Suri?”
“Certainly.” The young woman replied from somewhere behind him.
“Lost cause, buddy.” Rick pointed out and he nodded with a sigh and slid the robes off his shoulders. They were indeed as everyone had said soaked wet with blood and he realized with a start that he was covered in it.
“Oh Allah have mercy.” Evelyn whispered. He looked over at her and then back down at the wounds carved into and around his tattoos that he could see and could not feel at all. He blinked again.
“Bis’mil’Allah.” Selim muttered.
“Knife wounds?” Evelyn’s voice was sharp.
“After a fashion.” He agreed. Rick’s hand gripped his and their eyes met. “They do not hurt.”
“They shouldn’t even be there still.” Rick pointed out. “I am going to find a way to rip his head off.”
“In’sh’allah.” Ardeth agreed. “Evelyn?”
“Sallah I need my book, Ammun’s book...now.”
Several of his tribesmates scrambled to do as she bid. “Why is it that the amulet does not work?” He wondered.
“They’re curses on top of being...wounds Ardeth. Every one of them.” She pointed out.
“But they do not hurt.” He repeated.
“There still going to bleed you to death if we don’t get them stopped.” Rick’s voice was sharp.
He had not thought of that, which might have been proof of how lightheaded he already was. “How will he explain this to his father or his grandfather do you think?” He chuckled.
“I’m going to ask Sekhmet to thrash him.” Evelyn muttered.
“That would be amusing.” He agreed and then shivered suddenly.
“Don’t go into shock now, Ardeth.” Evelyn’s voice was sharp. “Hand me those blankets, Abdul.”
A soft blanket was wrapped around his shoulders and he shivered more with the warmth.
“Here Evelyn.” Sallah skidded to a halt both books in his hands and Kashim right beside him with the other two. “What spells do we need?”
“The one to Isis, out of that.” She took the book of Sekhmet and opened it.
“I am sorry to keep you all from prayers.” He shivered again, leaning against his uncle without thinking about it.
“Allah is merciful, Ardeth. He will forgive us.” Selim answered, but his uncle’s voice sounded so odd.
“I am sorry I could not save you, uncle.” He offered.
“There is no reason to apologize, Ardeth. Hush now, and let Evelyn read.” His uncle’s hand stroked his hair as if he were a little boy but the strong hand trembled too.
Evelyn began to read from the book of War and Healing, and he tried to listen to the words, recalling his utter amazement with the appearance of the goddess in Thebes. He leaned his head against his uncle’s shoulder. “I am sorry I failed you, princess.”
“Shhh.” Rick’s voice was soft now. “You didn’t fail anybody, Ardeth. It wasn’t real, remember?”
“I tried to recall that, but it does not help, does it? Forgive me, brother mine, I did not understand.”
“It’s okay, Ardeth. Nothing to forgive.” Rick’s hand gripped his shoulder and he recalled with complete clarity how he had placed a last kiss in his brother’s hand and pressed those strong fingers back to his brother’s heart.
“You may not die.” He said, firmly, gripping Rick’s wrist with a hand he only then realized was shaking.
“Think you got that backwards, Ardeth. You don’t die, okay?”
“As you...” And the spell that Evelyn had just finished caught him up in a rush of light and warmth and a feeling like the soft caress of fingers or perhaps feathers or fur against his skin and he shuddered with the sensation and then it was gone. And he relaxed further into his uncle’s arms.
“Thanks be to God.” Selim whispered.
“Is he going to be okay, Evie?” Rick asked, and he wanted to answer his brother himself but he could not even open his eyes.
“I think so. Let me have the other spell, Sallah.” She went on, and then recited that one as well. It was a softer caress of warmth over his skin and he could not help but gasp as he actually felt the wounds again for just a moment before they were gone. He bit his lip against the cry that wanted to escape and then let his breath out in a sigh.
“Ardeth?” Rick’s voice was tight.
“That was, very odd.” He found the strength for the words somehow, but not the additional strength to open his eyes or raise his head from his uncle’s shoulder. “Allah have mercy...help me up hmm? I need to bathe.”
“You can rest another moment, Ardeth.” Selim said firmly, and stroked his hair again as if he were no older than Alex. And that brought to mind how he had handed his nephew the pistol and sword and named him Medjai there in Anubis’ hell. Allah, he prayed silently, grant that I never have to do anything like that here in the Egypt that is, oh most merciful. “Rick?” He found he still had his hand clasped around his brother’s arm.
“I’m right here.” Rick promised.
“I am sorry about Alex.”
“Shhh, wasn’t real...and there wasn’t a whole lot else you could have done if it had been.” His brother disagreed.
He found the strength to raise his head from Selim’s shoulder but had to blink back the greyness that brought. “I need to wash the blood off.” He tried to get up, because he truly felt unable to live with so much of his tribesmates blood on his skin any longer. Even if it was not real.
“You need to rest.” Evelyn disagreed.
“After I bathe, Evelyn.” He was not going to be dissuaded from this so either he would succeed or he would faint and then he would not care.
“Adham you want to give me a hand here?” Rick asked. “He’s either going to make it or knock himself out trying.”
“Stubborn as always.” His cousin replied.
“Adham.” He smiled a bit, still feeling lightheaded. “Did you bring Leila and the children?”
“I did.” Adham agreed. “But I thought it best if they did not see you drenched in blood.”
“That is true.” He nodded. “I need to speak to them, please, when I am presentable.”
“If you wish.” Adham agreed, his voice calm, but with an odd note to it that Ardeth could not place. “Then will you tell me what caused you such pain?”
“I will.” He agreed. And Allah be praised he managed to hold onto consciousness as Rick and Adham got him to his feet.
“Right, like you’re walking anywhere on your own. You’re too damned big to carry, Ardeth.”
He chuckled. “You take being the older brother far to seriously, my friend.”
“So stop getting yourself into predicaments where you need me to be one and I’ll stop.” Rick sighed. “I hate having to agree with damned thing, Ardeth, but Christ you gotta take better care of yourself, buddy.”
“Do not toss stones at me, Rick O’Connell.”
“He has a point.” Adham put in. “And you are not well, cousin.”
“No, I am not.” He agreed. “Will you ask Arebe to see to Horus for me?”
“Sure.” Rick replied. “Anything else?”
“Will you find out where the survivors of the eleventh tribe are?” He wanted to thank them for their bravery, because he had only seen a reflection of it in hell today but he could recall it clearly from the field where Ahmer’s tribe had fallen.
“I will do so.” Adham agreed. “Here are the baths cousin. I will hold him up, O’Connell if you can get him undressed.”
“Right, okay. Boots first, huh?”
Ardeth could not help himself he chuckled. “As always.”
“Shush.” Rick muttered.
“As you say.” He tried to help as Rick eased the boots from his feet but he could barely find the strength to lift first one leg then the other. Then his friend’s hands undid his sash and he realized he had left all his weapons in his tent. He shook his head a bit as Rick reached for the laces on his robes. “You will tangle the knots like always.”
“Hush.” Rick repeated more firmly this time. “You’re not in any position to argue today, Ardeth.”
“Why would I argue?” He asked uncertainly. Rick finished the ties and his robes fell to the floor. “I will run out of clothes if we keep having to burn them. Can I bring a set back from Thebes do you think?”
“We can ask.” Rick replied. “Sorry.”
“What for?” He started to ask and then felt his brother’s hands go to his waist and undo the lacing on his pants. He flushed just a bit, despite himself, because he certainly did not mind him doing so and it was impossible not to think of how much he usually enjoyed when Rick did that. He shivered a bit. “Rick..”
“Shhh, it’s all right now, Ardeth.” Rick muttered. And he flushed even deeper when Adham chuckled and he recalled that the only thing keeping him on his feet at all was his cousin’s strength.
“No doubt you are getting good at that, O’Connell.” Adham teased with surprisingly gentleness to his voice.
Rick grumbled something and Ardeth could only shake his head a bit. But it was good to know his cousin was not angry that Rick was indeed growing used to undoing his clothes. “I am very thankful for that.” He pointed out, which was true enough.
Rick chuckled. “Not now, Ardeth.”
“As you say.” He found a smile.
“That is not something I needed to know.” Adham sighed.
“Of course not.” He agreed but he met Rick’s eyes as his friend finished undressing him. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Rick replied. “You should have seen the trouble Evie and I had getting Alex undressed when he was about five. Kid could sleep through anything.”
“I recall that with Ismail, Mohamed was not so sound a sleeper.” Adham agreed. “There now, let us get you into the tub, Ardeth. It will be cold I am afraid.”
“If it washes the blood of my people from my hands, Adham I do not care how cold it is.”
“I don’t think this is anybody’s blood but yours Ardeth.” Rick replied, gently. “The rest of it wasn’t real.”
“I know that.” He agreed but it felt good to wash the blood away anyway, and he could recall so easily how the bodies of his tribesmates had looked, friends, family, people he loved lying dead in the sand. Oh most companionate Allah, I pray you, have mercy on me. I am only one man, oh my God, and my life surely is not worth more than theirs. He shivered, but it had nothing to do with the cold water.
“Right. So tell me when you believe it and I’ll feel better.” Rick took the cloth from him. “I’ll keep him from drowning if you can go get him some clean clothes, Adham.”
His cousin was silent for a bit and then gripped his shoulder. “As you say. Thank you, Rick. Truly.” And Adham let go of his shoulder and left. Ardeth leaned a bit more against Rick.
“Grab me some too, Adham.” Rick called out.
“Certainly.” The reply came back.
Rick only gathered him close. It felt so good to be surrounded by his friend’s strong arms. “It’s over now, Ardeth.” Rick’s voice was a gentle whisper. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
He turned, not caring suddenly and kissed his friend hard, because Allah be praised he could and they were whole even if he was still a bit dizzy. Rick sighed, but kissed him back, gently though and Ardeth tried to let that be his guide and restrain the whole inundation of emotions that wanted to escape. But his control, much like his heart, still lay in tatters and all he could do was pull Rick closer with the little strength he had. Warm hands on his back pulled him closer as well and then Rick broke the kiss with a sigh. “Easy now, habibi, you aren’t in any shape for this, Ardeth. Let’s get you cleaned up and dressed, huh? Before the shock gets worse.”
“I...” He was uncertain what he wanted to say. “Allah have mercy, Rick. I do not know what to do.” He shook his head, struggling against wanting nothing more than to curl into his Rick’s arms and sob, like Khalifa had done back there on that horrible plain.
“Take it a step at a time. I’m here. Your family’s safe and well. We’re back here, and everybody’s safe okay?”
“How many times, have I died in your arms?” He asked, not caring at all for propriety only reaching over to run his hand down Rick’s side to where the spear wound had been.
“You haven’t died once, Ardeth.” Rick disagreed.
“How many times?” He repeated.
“A dozen or so.” Rick replied finally, with a resigned sigh. “How many times have I died in yours then?”
He blinked and then leaned his head against Rick’s shoulder. “Only once. Do not do it again.”
“Deal.” Rick’s hand began to stroke through his hair. “You’re a mess. Let’s get you washed up.”
“Selim was already dead, and Azza, and Amal. I could not save them.” He whispered against his brother’s shoulder as Rick began to lather up a cloth and wash the blood from his skin. “I found– Khalifa crying over Leila. Allah forgive me, I could only take her with me.”
“Of course you did.” Rick replied, his voice gentle.
“I left her with Shadiya, and Fatima and the other women and children. I did not want to leave her, Rick. But I thought I would have to fight Germans.”
“And you can’t do that and carry a five year old.” His brother agreed. Adham had been right the water was cold as Rick gathered some into a bowl and poured it over his left shoulder to rinse the reddened soap away. It did not really feel all that cold to sit in though which was odd.
“No.” He shivered a bit. “Why does it make sense when I tell it to you, yet tear my heat to ribbons when I think of it?”
“Because you didn’t want to let her go, even though you knew you had to. I’d’ve been the same way.”
“I told myself, it does not matter, she is not real. But Allah’s mercy, Rick she felt so real in my arms.”
“Yeah. I know what you mean.” Rick’s hand stroked through his hair again, and then re-soaped the cloth and went back to washing away the blood. “Christ, if this is all yours how in the world are you conscious?”
“I do not know. I kept thinking it should hurt more than it did. Even in hell, I recall that. My head was pounding and so I had a hard time staying conscious true, but– it should have hurt more. I am as stubborn or more so than most men, I will admit that, but I do not think even my stubbornness could have carried me through– all of this,” he indicated the now gone wounds with a vague wave of his hand, hoping Rick would understand him. “And let me keep silent.”
“Hell no.” Rick replied roughly. “Sorry, Ardeth, but it wouldn’t happen.”
“But it did.” He returned. “That is what I meant.”
Rick was silent for a bit. “Okay, so somehow the spell wasn’t working right? Didn’t Anubis say something about that, that you weren’t supposed to be hurt? I guess that’s part of the spell huh? Because in all the times I’ve been there I’ve always been fine. So since that was your own version of hell shouldn’t you have been fine?”
“I do not know.” He shook his head. “I can not think now.”
“Small wonder there, Ardeth. I’m amazed you’re still talking to me.”
“Hmm. Would that the water was warm and I could fall asleep in your arms.”
Rick sighed but he set the cloth aside and then kissed Ardeth gently. And this time, he could meet that gentleness with his own. “Believe it yet, habibi?” Rick asked softly as they broke the kiss.
“Mmm, I am beginning to, yes. This is good.” He leaned his head back on Rick’s shoulder. “I have ruined your shirt.”
“I don’t give a damn about the shirt.” Rick replied. “Okay, cold again.” And fresh cold water was poured over his skin, drenching Rick some too no doubt, but it washed away more of the blood. He could not keep from shivering. “Can you stand up in the tub for us to do the rest?”
“I do not know that I can get up again,” He admitted. “But I will try.”
“Okay, here, try and kneel up then, okay, and just hold onto the edge. I’ll get the rest.”
He found a grip on the side of the tub and managed to lever himself to his knees with Rick’s help. It took far too much of what strength he had though to stay upright as Rick let go to soap the cloth again. Then Rick turned back to him and ran the cloth over his lower back, then down his legs. “It is good Adham went to get us more clothes.”
Rick chuckled softly. “Yeah, think we embarrassed him.”
“Did we?” He could not recall how but it was likely he supposed. “I want, very badly, to curl up in your arms and not let go.” He admitted. “If that is weakness I will not be ashamed of it.”
“If I could I’d hold you just as tight as I can manage and not let go either.” Rick replied, but the hands that stroked over his skin to rid him of what blood remained were so very gentle. “Did he– do more than cut you?”
“No.” He knew very well what Rick was asking. “Nothing of the sort.”
“Al’hamdil’Allah.” Rick sighed. “When I saw you hanging there...I...”
“Nothing of the sort.” He repeated it, shivering himself at the thought. “Is that not odd? If the hell that was created was from my own mind would you not think that I would have feared that more than what I imagined? Especially now?”
Rick was silent for a bit. “Hell if I know, Ardeth.” He muttered finally. “Okay, let’s get you rinsed off and then we’ll get your hair clean and we’re done.”
He eased himself back into the water with Rick’s help, shivering a bit this time as the cold really registered. “I am going to want to lay in the sun and be the lizard this time.”
Rick smiled a bit and then kissed him again, just as soft. “Would it be pushing things here if I rub your shoulders for you?”
“That is tempting but perhaps unwise.” He sighed. “So much blood.” He touched Rick’s shirt. “Would all the water in the Nile be enough to wash it away do you think?”
“They aren’t dead, Ardeth. None of us are dead, huh? Not me, not Evie, not Adham, or Selim or any of us. Okay?”
“Make me believe it, habib?” He met Rick’s eyes.
“Okay. Let’s see if it works in reverse.” Rick took his hand and pressed it against his heart. “Feel that?”
He closed his eyes and let himself truly feel the strong heartbeat. “Yes.” He agreed.
“I’m not dead, Ardeth. Or hurt, or bleeding or anything okay? I’m right here.”
“Then why does my heart still ache?”
“Because you’re seeing but you aren’t believing.” Rick replied. “Look at me, Ardeth.”
“I am.” He promised.
“Nope, your seeing that reflection of me that died in your arms. Look at me.” Rick’s hand gripped his shoulders and shook him once, very slightly.
“No shaking, please? It will make my head spin again.”
Rick smiled softly. “How about I hold you then?” And he was pulled close into those strong arms again. “Wait, let’s not get you all bloody again.” Rick undid the buttons on his shirt with an ease that Ardeth almost found the coherency to envy and then set it aside. “There.” He was drawn back into his brother’s arms. “Better?”
“Hmm, I think so.” He leaned his head against Rick’s shoulder again and just enjoyed the feel of the warm skin under his cheek. He moved his head just a bit so he could press his lips to the pulse point on Rick’s neck.
“Tease.” The word was a soft whisper.
“Promise.” He disagreed and then shuddered suddenly with the cold of the water as the heat of his friend’s skin registered. “Allah that is cold.”
“Okay, now you’re back.” Rick chuckled with obvious relief. “Feel it?”
“The cold? Yes.” He burrowed closer to Rick’s warmth.
“No, silly, my heartbeat.”
“Yes.” He did, and he set his lips to that point and then nibbled. “Good?”
“Not now, Ardeth.” Rick muttered. “Let’s get your hair washed so we can go be lizards in the sun. Sound good?”
“Yes.” He agreed and raised his head reluctantly from Rick’s shoulder. But he could not restrain from kissing his friend again. Rick gave the kiss back and it was, finally, a true joy to share it. “Thank you habib.”
“Fair is fair.” Rick smiled, and then stroked his hand along Ardeth’s jaw. “Wash.” He repeated firmly and then gathered up the soap to do just that. Ardeth shuddered at the cold water Rick poured over his head after the soap but it felt good to have the last of the blood washed from him. “Okay, let’s get you dried off.”
“You will have to help me stand.” He admitted and it truly did take his strength and Rick’s to get him out of the tub. “This was more fun when we were wrestling in Thebes.”
“Yeah.” Rick agreed with a chuckle, then stopped. “Until the end there anyway. Sorry I brought up bad memories.”
He closed his eyes at that, because it was very true. Perhaps that explained in part his own version of hell. “I know that. Truly it is long forgiven and no harm done.” He found a smile. “I do not object to feeling cherished, Rick. Only to being any man’s– pet.”
“Yeah like that’s going to happen. You’re too damned stubborn, Ardeth.”
“As you say.” Medjai do not beg. He recalled his own words. And he gave thanks to Allah for that as well. “You have no room to talk.”
“Well, no.” Rick smiled a bit and then helped him dry off.
“I told Ammun’s Priest that on my first visit to Thebes you know. That I was no man’s pet and I would be damned before I was his.”
“Bastard.” Rick muttered. “What’d it say?”
“That I might not be a pet but I was entertaining.” He rolled his eyes. “I am not certain yet why he finds me so, but I suppose I shall accept it as part of his madness and go on.”
“If you say so.” Rick muttered, but he quickly wiped the smudges of blood from his skin with the wet cloth and then dried off as well. “Sit here and I’ll see what’s keeping Adham.”
“Hmm, I am in little shape to walk although I feel better than I did.” Ardeth sighed. “The spells in the great books are truly wondrous things.”
“Yeah,” Rick agreed. They are.” He walked out of the tent and then just a moment later back in. “Figured out why you aren’t well yet.” There was a very odd note to Rick’s voice.
“What?”
“We aren’t awake. Well, I’m not. I don’t think you are. I mean I think we’re both real, right?”
He shook his head. “Rick? I do not understand?”
“Right, sorry. Okay, this is still hell, Ardeth. Or wherever this is. And outside is that same damned battlefield as before.”
“Bis’mil’Allah.” He shuddered, not having the strength to face that again. “I need clothes.” He reached with great reluctance for the blood soaked ones Rick had helped him out of.
“This is just nuts. Anubis said we were going to wake up. How come we aren’t? And it can’t be real, because there is no way all that destruction happened and we didn’t hear a sound.”
“That does make it seem much less real.” He agreed. He forced himself to pull on the sodden cloth, trying hard not to dwell on it much. It is not your blood. It is not anyone’s blood, none of this is real. “Are we real, Rick?” He asked uncertainly. “What if we are only reflections now?”
“I– don’t know, Ardeth. Christ, I just don’t know anymore. Maybe we aren’t real. Maybe only one of us is. I don’t know. But...I think I am. And I think you are too.”
“As do I.” He agreed. “Evelyn would be real to then, would she not?”
“She was when we came here the first time. Because I left her with Alex and Mohamed, and found her reflection dead later. That makes it official doesn’t it?”
“I would think so. That is why I thought you real when you appeared, because your reflection had already died. So, we are real then. That is something.” He did not bother with the lacings on his robes only wrapped his sash back around him to hold them closed. “I have no weapons with me.”
“Me either. Let’s try to see if we can find your shield and scepter and my armor. And Evie.”
“As you say. I am little help I think.” He managed to find his feet with Rick’s help and they walked out to face the horror once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Oh blessed gods this is not good.” Evelyn whispered as she found herself back in Thebes with the rest of the Medjai. Imhotep was looking almost as uncertain as she felt, and Rick and Ardeth were no where to be seen. “What the hell is going on?”
“Evelyn?” Adham walked over to her side, Selim taking the other.
“I have no answers for you Princess. One moment we were in Anubis’ dark realm, your husband, Ardeth and I. Then Anubis told us to go and here we are. But where are Ardeth and O’Connell?”
“That’s what I want to know. Why did I let him talk me into staying there? Alright, Medjai, we have to go rescue your chieftain and my husband. Adham, who leads you all...if Ardeth isn’t here?”
Adham looked at Selim and then sighed. “Ismail is next in line for succession.”
“Not yet he isn’t.” She disagreed. “I mean in battle.”
“I do, most often.” Selim put in. “If you mean leading the troops until Ardeth arrives.”
“Exactly. Good. You’re in charge. Amal, Ainya, Risi, Arebe, Kahid, I’m sending you back to Ahm Shere.”
“We will go where you go, Princess.” Arebe disagreed. “Do not make us go back.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have time to argue. Fine. But if you kill yourselves I will read from the damned book and fix it and you can explain it to Ardeth.” She shook her head.
“And how do you expect to achieve all this, Princess?” Imhotep asked.
She drew herself up and then recited the prayer to send the three Medjai women there back to Ahm Shere and they were gone with a slight flash. No doubt, Ainya was going to hate her for that, but if she got Arebe back to his wife in one piece maybe her friend would forgive her. “Now, as to getting to the realm of the dead.” She swallowed hard. Come on Nefertiri, don’t fail now, you can’t appeal to Anubis he doesn’t like you. Sekhmet doesn’t have any power there...Oh why not? What have we to loose after all? “Osiris, lord of the Duat, I pray you, father of my father’s father, I, Nefertiri, daughter of Pharaoh, beseech thee in the name of Egypt, see us to my husband’s side where he and the champion of your bright son, the Avenger, are in the realm of the dread god of those who’s hearts have stilled. Please, oh most revered Osiris. We need to see them home.”
“Grant us oh Lord of both Kingdoms of Egypt safe passage to the realm of the dark son of Osiris and back again so that we may yet defend Egypt as we can and you will us.” Imhotep offered. “We beseech you or Great AmmunRa, grant us your light.”
And one or the other or both must have worked, and the gods alone knew what to make of her, Nefertiri, and Imhotep all working together on a prayer really meant but she wasn’t questioning it now. Because they were all of them suddenly back where she had left. In the middle of the remains of the tribes.
“Bis’mil’Allah.” Someone, Pasha, she thought, muttered.
“I do not think, Allah, has anything to do with this.” Selim disagreed. “But I pray he grants us victory.”
“It’s all illusion, Medjai, it isn’t real.” She pointed out. “The only two people here that are real are Rick and Ardeth. Keep that in mind no matter what you see alright? It’s only illusion made by the god of death.”
“As you say, Evelyn.” Adham nodded.
And she promptly forgot her own words as a small child came running out of the chaos around them.
“Papa!” Khalifa’s voice was a sob as she threw herself into her fathers arms. “Papa.”
Adham was whispering to her in Medja, or maybe Arabic too low for Evie to grasp. “We have to go find the others.” She pointed out. “Last time Khalifa was here too, Adham. We should find several other women and children as we go. I think.” She shook her head and then looked at Selim and reminded him in Egyptian. “They aren’t real, Selim. Not even Khalifa. Try to find a moment to remind Adham of that, will you?”
“As you say, Evelyn.” He agreed and they headed forward.
“Do you have your powers here, Imhotep?” She had to ask.
He paused for a moment and then raised one hand and the sand in front of them rose in a curtain. “Yes.”
“Good.” She put her mask into place.
“Indeed.” He nodded and the curtain of sand shifted to the side and covered the dead who lay there. “Let us find our missing champions and then I will pray to Ammun to see us safely back to Thebes and Ahm Shere. It appears one can not trust Anubis at all.”
“What a surprise.” She muttered. And they did indeed find several other women and children as they went. The amulet of Sekhmet worked sluggishly, but it did work.
“Arebe, stay here please, with three others and guard the women and children we have found?” Selim spoke to the man who walked beside him.
“No, Selim, you need your warriors. We will stay here and protect the children.” Fatima disagreed. “Only bring Ahmed back to me.”
“In’sh’allah.” Selim sighed, but he sounded so much older than he had only a bit ago. “I will do so.”
So they headed deeper and deeper into the battlefield uncertainly.
“Father!”
Adham turned at the voice and then hugged his son tightly as the older of his two boys came over. “I tried to find you.”
“I know you did, Mohamed. Truly, I am proud of you.” Adham knelt down to hug his son closer. “Are you well?”
“I am.” The boy wiped at the tear streaks on his face. “I can not find mother or Ismail or the girls.”
“Khalifa is with the other women and children back that way.” Adham pointed behind them. “I have not seen the others but if they live, Allah willing, they will join you there.” He brushed his son’s hair from the boy’s face and then went to one of the dead Medjai who lay not far away and pulled several weapons from the body. “Take these and go and join them, Mohamed.”
The young boy, who couldn’t have been any older than Alex nodded and put the weapons away. “I would go with you to kill Germans, father.”
“I know that. But I will face the Germans better knowing you are protecting your sister.” Adham disagreed. “Go now.”
“Allah hamdas aha, Baba.”
“Allah hama’ ana, Mohamed.” Adham hugged his son again tightly and then rose to his feet and the boy headed back toward the others without one backward glance.
“He may not be real, Adham, but that makes him no less a son to be proud of.” Selim clasped his fellow leader’s shoulder.
“No.” Adham agreed. “It does not. Let us go find Ardeth and O’Connell now, so that I can hug my real son just as tightly.”
“In’sh’allah.” Selim agreed.
They made it a bit further when another child came running over and this time Evie ignored her own advise and just hugged Alex close. “Are you all right, Alex?”
“I’m fine, mum. I just couldn’t find you or dad or anybody.” He looked around at all the Medjai. “I don’t understand?”
“Neither do I, luv. But we’re going to find your father and Ardeth and we’re going to get out of this, okay?”
“But you’re dead.” Alex shook his head, looking so very lost. “I saw you.”
“Who’s dead, Alex?” She supposed she might be, here. Hadn’t Rick said that he could never save her or Alex or Ardeth? Please, Horus, see your champion safe?
“Uncle Selim, and you too Pasha. And Uncle Jonathan...He tossed me behind some packs and then there was this explosion and...” Alex only clung tighter too her and shook.
“It’s okay, Alex. Really, this is all a very bad dream you see. And when you wake up, it’ll all be gone. It isn’t real at all, luv.”
“Really?” He seemed willing to believe her on that. And she had no idea any longer if this was or wasn’t her son. Or if they’d ever wake up.
“Cross my heart. Now, I need to go find your father and your uncle so that we can get out of here, okay? There’s a whole group of women and children and Adham’s son back there. Tell them which direction we’re headed in. And then if we aren’t back in an hour you bring them to come find us, okay? Can you do that, Alex?” It was always good to give Alex something that seemed like a task so that he didn’t automatically argue to come with her.
“I think so, mom.” He nodded, and God but he looked so very much like his father right then.
“Good.” She managed a smile.
“Here, nephew, take this with you would you?” Selim handed him a pistol. “You do know how to shoot it, do you not?”
“I’ve seen dad do it a lot. And I can load one.” Alex nodded.
“Just be careful, Alex. Please?” She hugged him again.
“Okay mom. Allah hamdas aha, huh?”
“You are so much your father’s son.” She ruffled his hair. “And I am so proud of you.”
“Mum.” He shook his head and then blinked. “What are you wearing?”
“Nefertiri’s clothes.” She shrugged. “I’ll explain latter.” Only it won’t be to you. Oh God Rick how do you do this? “Be careful with the pistol, please?”
“I will mom.” He nodded and then accepted the clasps on the shoulders the Medjai gave him as he walked back through them and disappeared into the mass of bodies they’d left behind.
“Oh dear God, that hurt.” She whispered, accepting Selim’s gentle hug with a sigh. “I hate this, Selim.”
“As do we all, Evelyn. Let us find our loved ones who are truly here and go home so that we may embrace all of our families who are only shadows.”
“In’sh’allah.” She nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Ardeth, you can barely stand.” Rick grumbled as he passed his friend his shield. They’d found it in the remains of what had to have been Ardeth’s tent, along with far too many bodies of family. Rick didn’t let himself look to closely at them, not wanting to see Evie or Alex or Jonathan among them.
“We have no choice.” Ardeth replied. “Although we certainly do not lack for weapons now. For whatever good they may do us.”
They’d found guns and swords aplenty among the dead Medjai about. Rick didn’t ask if Ardeth knew the men they’d taken the weapons from, and worked hard at not looking at their faces. “There is that. Okay, so we’ve got your shield. Let’s see if we can find Evie and get the hell out of here, huh?”
“That would be good.” Ardeth agreed, the spear of Horus in his right hand serving as a staff to hold him on his feet. They headed toward the area that Rick vaguely remembered the Medjai survivors having been gathered before but it was so hard to figure out where anything was in this damned place.
“Surprise.” The voice was just that and he turned, but he couldn’t quite make the move before something hard slammed into his head and set him to his knees. Ardeth yelled something and he could make out vague sounds of struggle but he couldn’t get his body to cooperate with doing more than lying there in the sand. “Is that the best you can do, Medjai?” The same voice taunted, and then a kick caught him up under the ribs and sent him tumbling sideways. “Two of you is little trouble.”
“Go to hell.” Rick muttered, trying to find his pistol but the man only kicked it out of his hand and sent it skidding of somewhere.
“Where did you think you were, Inglizi?” The man chuckled and then his fist slammed into Rick’s face and he felt himself slide further down toward unconsciousness. It was Ardeth’s cry that brought him back, and he rolled over, again, reaching for another pistol. The large Nubian who he recognized from earlier was leaning over Ardeth, an already bloodied knife in one hand, then he straightened a little. Ardeth was lying face down in the sand and for a really long moment Rick wasn’t even sure he was breathing. Then he moved a bit and the man above him kicked his legs apart with a laugh. “I am going to enjoy this.”
“Like hell.” Rick growled, trying to aim the pistol in his hand but he couldn’t even focus his eyes. What the hell, shoot anyway, distract him, something. Horus, please you promised...
Another large dark shape barreled into the Nubian knocking him away from Ardeth and the two forms struggled on the ground for a while. Then Evie was kneeling beside him. Her hands were warm and gentle against his face and then the pain in his head just stopped.
“Rick? Can you hear me?” She asked.
“Evie?” He tried to think straight for a second. “Ardeth...”
“I’ll see to him, are you all right now?”
“Please?” He couldn’t find the words. “We gotta keep the thing dead.”
“I will deal with Anubis creation, O’Connell. Can you see to Ardeth, princess?” Imhotep’s voice even sounded weird here. But the priest strode over to where Adham had the Nubian pinned, picked up the spear Ardeth had dropped and then brought it around with an oddly graceful arc and slammed it point first into the Nubian’s chest. “Stay there.”
Adham looked up at the priest in surprise and then smiled and let the dead for the moment Nubian go and scrambled back to Ardeth. Rick wasn’t really sure who was helping him as he got to his knees and then his feet to stumble over as well. Ardeth’s head was in Evie’s lap and she had the medallion on his chest. Then that same dark red glow Rick could recall from when she’d healed Arebe surrounded Ardeth and then grew darker and rose up her arms to her elbows before wrapping close around them both like some sort of fabric and was gone. “Ardeth?” Evie called softly, brushing the damp and once again bloody hair from his face. “Ardeth?”
“Evelyn.” Ardeth’s voice was a whisper. “Thank you.”
“Don’t be silly. Are we all here? Please say we are? Adham, Selim?”
“I believe so, yes.” Selim was at Rick’s arm helping him to kneel down beside Ardeth. Rick only reached out and put his hand on Ardeth’s chest.
Evie looked around, seemingly lost. Rick could understand that, he felt completely lost himself. But Evie was there and Ardeth was still breathing so it was okay for now. He gripped a handful of the dark, torn, bloodsoaked robes Ardeth was wearing.
“You don’t die, okay?” It sounded way to much like a plea even to himself.
“Hmm, that was the bargain? Was it not.” A chuckle with absolutely no strength to it. And God help him but all he could think of was how many times Ardeth had died in his arms already. “Is he dead now?”
“I believe he will stay that way, if we do not pull the spear free.” Imhotep replied. “But I think burying him under a thousand leagues of sand might insure it.”
“I would be thankful.” Ardeth chuckled. “Truly.”
“Be thankful later, Medjai. Right now you can concentrate on living, as your brother suggests.”
“Adham? Is that really you now?” Ardeth tried to sit up a bit only to have Rick, Selim, Evie, and Adham himself push him back down.
“I am right here, Ardeth do not move.”
“Do I have a choice?” There was a slight smile. “I thought perhaps I had conjured you with my thoughts you see. Because of course you would be there right then when I needed you.”
“As always, Allah willing, Ardeth.” Adham squeezed Ardeth’s hand in his.
“Let us find a way home, shall we?” Imhotep came back over.
“Is he dead and buried?” Ardeth asked.
“Dead? Perhaps, perhaps not. But I can state with certainty it will take him a very long time to dig his way out of that.”
“Good.” Ardeth smiled a bit.
“Papa!” That was just so not a voice Rick had expected, nor apparently had anyone else because they all turned as a small child pushed mostly under and around the large group of Medjai and threw herself into Adham’s arms. “Papa, Haltu! Help!”
And the Medjai turned as one to see a huge black cloud of sand or something sweeping across the field. Rick scrambled to his feet just in time to see the cloud swallow several running people. “NO!” Ardeth struggled to his feet and then very suddenly the cloud just stopped.
Imhotep said something that Rick was in no way going to follow but the strain the damned thing had in holding the huge swarm of whatever it was, where it was, was obvious.
“Father!”
“Dad! Mom!”
Rick didn’t think about it only caught Alex and held him close.
One of the Medjai said something else Rick couldn’t follow. Mohamed went past him and Ardeth reached over to take Khalifa from Adham’s arms.
“Can you get Ammun to get us out of here this time?” Rick asked. “I don’t think we’re gonna manage three of this.”
“I...will attempt it.” Imhotep’s voice was full of the strain holding back the cloud had to be causing him. And Rick just did not want to think about something that made the damned thing struggle that hard when he obviously had all his powers. Imhotep glanced skyward but there was no sun to judge from. “That is disconcerting. It may not be that I can do both, hold onto each other and turn away I think.
Rick grabbed onto Evie and they put Alex between them. Several of the Medjai had ahold of him and he wound up more or less next to Ardeth and Adham who had ahold of Adham’s two kids. And he knew somewhere in his mind that Alex wasn’t Alex and Adham’s kids weren’t Adham’s kids but he couldn’t think. And hell, maybe none of them were real anyway. “Allah hama’ ana.” Ardeth whispered.
“In’sh’allah.” Selim agreed.
Evie was whispering something in Egyptian but he caught Sekhmet’s name. And so he threw the prayer at the only gods who’d answered his prayers before. Horus, Osiris? Please? I don’t want them to die. I need them, we all need them. Egypt needs them right?
Then Imhotep called out something in Egyptian that sounded really formal.
“Please.” Evie added, that much at least he could follow.
Please? Osiris? Horus? Ammun? Allah? Rick offered the thought himself.
And the wind blew hard towards them for a moment and he closed his eyes against it hitting his back. And then it simply stopped.
“Begone.” Said that amazing voice that wasn’t really like a voice at all. “Peace to thee, Medjai.” The sunlight was a warm comfort all around them and then the Medjai parted, mostly going to their knees as Ammun walked to stand with them. “The son of my son is not going to be forgiven for this.” Ammun’s voice was a clap of thunder that made Rick wince and move instinctively to cover Evie and Alex. Adham did the same with his children he noticed, and they both pushed toward Ardeth and Selim was only a moment behind. “Rest easy, warriors, I bear none of you ill will. Be well now, champion of Horus so that your family may yet be of better spirits.”
Ardeth caught his breath in a gasp but then straightened a bit and Selim let him go. “Truly, great Ammun I am thankful for your blessing and your aid. Please, oh lord of both kingdoms of Egypt, may we leave this place now?”
“You may indeed, child of Allah. You may indeed.” Said that amazing voice. “I will speak to Anubis and insure that he never again troubles you with so much as a word, warriors. If he has information he may give it to his bright brother and Horus may give it to you, child of Allah. Go now to the Egypt that is and be well.”
“Thank you.” Ardeth whispered.
“Do not thank me, child of Allah. I only answered my champion’s prayers. You need to learn how to call upon the son of my son when you need to, Ardeth Bay.”
“I will try.” Ardeth agreed.
And this time when he woke up in Ahm Shere he could just feel the difference between it and what had been the dream before. But he got out of bed just the same and out to the main heart were Evie and the other Medjai were all getting to their feet. And Ardeth came out of the tent to his left with Alex in tow and Jonathan following a bit bleary eyed behind them. “But Uncle Ardeth, what’s going on?” Alex asked.
“Your mother and father need to see you. Allah, have mercy. I need to see you. Adham, Selim...” He let go of Alex’s hand and Rick didn’t give his son time to argue just swung him into his arms, hugged him tight and then Evie was there too and it was okay for now. But he really wanted Ardeth there too.
“You okay?” He looked over Evie’s shoulder at Ardeth.
“Fine.” Ardeth smiled a bit, and then let go of Selim to clasp his shoulder. “I would say that makes it real, does it not?”
“Yeah.” And he decided he really didn’t give a damn about propriety. Besides, Ardeth could deck him one if it really broke some important sorta rule so he only pulled Ardeth into the hug.
“Bis’mil’Allah, you will embarrass me in front of my whole tribe?” Ardeth didn’t seem to mind enough to let go though, even when Evie hugged him as well.
“Your tribes will be happy to see you happy, brother ours.” Evie smiled, and then kissed his cheek.
“Mom, dad, will someone please explain what happened? And can I get down, please?”
Rick set Alex down with a chuckle and then annoyed him further by ruffling his hair. “Is everybody really all right?”
“I believe so.” Selim answered. “Adham went to see his children and Leila. I think it will be a bit while everyone does the same. Then shall we gather back here, Ardeth and speak of what has occurred?”
“Yes, thank you, Selim. Allah, but I will be ever so thankful at prayers. Come now, nephew, why do you not let me explain to you the most amazing and harrowing of nights we have had and we will leave your parents be, hmm?” Ardeth smiled.
“Thank you.” Evie smiled and then kissed him again. Ardeth flushed a bit and then much to Rick’s and apparently Evie’s surprise picked her up and swung her around in a circle.
“It is I who should thank you, sister.” And he set her down with a smile and then kissed her forehead. “Allah be praised that you are with us, Evelyn O’Connell. Truly.”
“Hey, no kissing my wife.” Rick couldn’t resist.
“Ah, of course not.” Ardeth chuckled. “And you, brother mine, thank you as well. Now we are even are we not, on following each other to hell? Let us leave it there, shall we?” And Ardeth hugged him tightly. “You are so much more than a good friend, Rick.” He whispered the last part, and Rick could feel the arms around him tremble a bit.
“You too, Ardeth.” He agreed, hugging him back as tight as he could. “You too.”
“Allah has to know how thankful I am for that.” Ardeth pulled away after a bit. And Rick promised himself the first chance he got he was going to kiss him senseless.
“Do you want to go on to prayers, Ardeth. It’s almost dawn. Really, I think Rick and I can explain to Alex what happened.” Evie smiled. “We’ll see you at breakfast.”
“As you say, Evelyn. Very well. I shall see you all after prayers then.”
Rick put one arm around Evie’s shoulders, and reached over to squeeze Ardeth’s shoulder again, because it was all he was going to risk right now. But God he wanted to just hold them both and not let go. “Okay, Alex, let’s get your mom some tea, me some coffee and we’ll tell you about our night, huh?” He released Ardeth’s shoulder and then let his friend go otherwise he was going to blow the whole thing with half the Medjai right there. Ardeth gave him a slightly shy smile which made Rick pretty sure he was thinking the same thing and then went to join Selim and the others in prayer.
“Okay. But can I please just come along next time?” Alex asked.
He looked at Evie and then sighed. “We’ll see, tiger.”
“Sounds like you had a very interesting evening.” Jonathan put in, coming over to join them.
“Oh, you could say that.” He agreed. Evie only hugged Jonathan tightly, which obviously surprised him but he hugged her back.
“Are you all right, Evie?”
“I need a nap just to recover from the night of sleep I just had. My goodness, Rick how do you do this?”
“It isn’t nearly so insane most nights, Evie. Honest.”
“That’s comforting, I suppose. I need to change clothes I think.”
“What are you wearing, mum?”
Evie blinked and then ruffled Alex’s hair. “Something approximating Nefertiri actually, that’s part of the story. Will you go with your uncle Jonathan for a few minutes while I change, Alex?”
“And be smoochy with dad, right?”
Rick smiled. “Well I can hope so.”
“Oh, please.” Alex shook his head and then went with Jonathan to find breakfast. “But you will tell me what happened?”
“We’ll be there in just a bit, Alex. Promise.” Evie agreed.
“Don’t suppose we could stretch that bit out do you?”
“After breakfast. Ardeth wasn’t really very subtle about that was he?”
“No.” He agreed. “We really should find him a gift.”
Evie chuckled and it was a decidedly wicked one too. “I think I’m already sharing the best gift possible with him, thank you very much.”
“Evie.” And he hated that she could make him blush but the rewarding kiss he got was pretty much worth it.
“Come on. Let’s go find me something a little less revealing.”
“I like it.”
“Yes, I noticed that.” She smiled again and he decided they could just be late for breakfast after all.
Maghrib:ToC