It took an hour to get down to the River Nile and another hour before all the boats for the festival were under way.

Anna sat under a silk covered pillow stack, near by slaves waved the thick green palms for a small breeze.

Anna watched around her through the blue died silk the procession and cheering of people.

For moments she forgot that she was actually in another place, with a man who made her nervous. All she could see was the vast glory of Egypt.

"Are you well?" Namh-Pah asked her.

Anna turned her head and looked up. He stood by her curtains, a cup of dark beer in his hand.

"Very well thank you." Anna replied properly.

"It's surprising," Namh-Pah mused, "that you have the manners and tongue of a Princess and yet you are as common as those people out there on the bankes of the Niel."

Anna shrugged her shoulders. "I am lucky in life."

"In this life...yes." Namh-Pah smiled.

Anna turned her head. "And what about you...are you well Lord Namh-Pah?"

Namh-Pah shrugged his shoulders and gulped the last of his beer. "I find life now to be content in it's appearence."

Anna nodded her head. "As do I."

"But..." Namh-Pah knelt by her pillow bed. "I would be even more content if I were to attain something I wanted."

Anna looked out onto the grounds. "I don't understand what you mean."

Namh-Pah pushed a hand through the blue silk curtains.

Anna jumped as she felt his finger play on her kneck.

"You." he whispeared.

Thino suddenly appeared beside Namh-Pah. "My Lord Namh-Pah..your presence is requested at the front of the ship."

Namh-Pah stood up and turned to Thino, he towered over the young boy.

"Really?" he drawled.

Thino nodded his head, his eyes never weavering.

"Very well...Lady Anipta."

Lord Namh-Pah bowed and took the steps down to the front of the great Osiris ship.

"Thank you Thino."

"M'lady."

**********

Annie watched the sun set behind the last cloud. A slight chill had entered the air. Why hadn't they returned to Thebes yet?

Lord Nam-Pah hadn't returned to visit her for the rest of the voyage. Annie was at least happy about that.

"Thino?" she called out.

Her slave came running. "Yes M'lady?"

"Why haven't we returned to Thebes?"

Thino looked worried. "M'lady, I'm not sure I should tell you this but..."

Annie sat up straighter. "What? What is it?"

Thino turned and looked back down towards the front of the boat.

"There is a small problem M'lady. The ship has been captured by bandits."

Annie gasped. "WHAT?!"

"Shh..M'lady be calm. They don't want anyone to know."

"Where's Lord Nam-Pah? Shouldn't he have tried to stop them?"

Thino looked down, then back up to his mistress. "Lord Nam-Pah has been captured by the bandits. They have him chained down below the deck."

"Why has no one else done anything?" Annie asked in growing alarm.

"We cannot risk it M'lady. They plan to soon let everyone off further down the river and keep only Lord Nam-Pah as ransom."

Annie sat up straighter. "You are sure? They will let us go?"

Thino nodded his head. "I belive the bandits do not know your identity. I belive they have assumed that you are mearly a..."

Annie looked up. "A what?"

Thino cought. "Lord Nam-Pah's mistress."

"His WHAT?!"

Thino crouched down. "Please M'lady, for your safety you must go along with this."

Annie scrunched her nose up. But nodded her head in agreement.

Suddenly there was a commotion down below. Thino whipped around. "Damn."

Annie tried to pear over his shoulder. "What? What is it?"

"I think they've actually learned the truth."

"Thino." Annie whispeared.

She saw three big and rough looking men with swords pushing there way through the slaves down below. They were heading straight towards her.

Thino tensed and stood directly in front of Annie.

The men towered over Thino when they had reached her sitting area. One of them had a scar that ran from his eye to his neck. He wore the uniform of a royal gaurd, but his eyes told everyone he wasn't loyal.

"You are the Lady Anipta? Daughter to the famous General?" The scarred man demanded.

Annie didn't know what to do.

Thino spoke, "You gave your word that all other passangers would be released."

The scarred man smiled, "Ahh...so you are Lady Anipta. I had thought you just another comfort lady of Nam-Pah's...our luck seems to have doubled!"

The three bandits all grinned.

"You gave your word." Thino spat out. His hand was near to pulling out his sword.

The bandits drew their swords lightening quick, imprisoning Thino's neck.

The scarred man, who Annie assumed was the leader, laughed. "Don't try it little man."

Annie began to edge away from the bandits. Mabye she could throw herself over board.

A huge meaty hand grabbed her arm and yanked her onto her feet. "No, no. Little lady, you won't be going anywhere."

Annie tried to pull away, she raised her arm to try and hit the bandit, but he simply grabbed both her wrist and held them with one hand.

"Come Lady Anipta, we will show you to your new quarters."

Annie screamed for help, but was cut off as one of the bandits shoved a cloth into her mouth.

Around her the slaves could only watch, no one willing to be hero.

As she was dragged down the steps, she managed to see Thino, he was lying unconscious on the ground. They must have hit him, or killed him.

Annie struggled, but the bandit leader was unaffected. He reached one of the holding cells with an opening on the deck. He kicked the hole open with his foot.

"In you go...M'lady!"

Annie was pushed down. She closed her eyes and landed on what felt like a bunch of straw, or plant of some kind.

Above her the small hatch was shut again, blocking out most of the light.

She reached behind her head and yanked off her gag. She breathed in air, only to recoil at the foul stench.

Someone else moaned.

Annie froze. "Who's there?!"

The darkness was inpenetrable. She could hardly make out her own hand.

Again someone moaned.

Annie spread her hands out wide, kneeling she began to move carefully across the dark cell.

"Hello?" She called out again.

Again the moaning, this time closer and on her left. She reached out further and touched someone's arms. She yanked it back.

Again the person moaned.

"Who are you?" Annie asked.

She reached out again and touched the person's face, it had to be a man. She felt a piece of cloth on his check, a gag!

She pulled the gag out with both hands.

"Anipta!" The man said.

Annie gasped. "Lord Nam-Pah!"

Nam-Pah groaned. "I thought you would have been spared from the bandits. They are, I am affraid, not stupid enough."

Annie nodded her head in the dark. "What happened?"

Nam-Pah shifted, then cursed in the dark.

"What?" Annie asked.

"They have chained me to this wall Anipta. If you could, reach forward on your right, you should be able to dislodge the bar if you try."

Annie leaned forward and felt for the metal bar he discribed. She felt a long hard piece of wood. Was that it? She pulled it up, and heard Nam-Pah's hiss of pain.

"I'm sorry." Annie said.

"No, it's alright. You have to lift it higher up this time."

Annie eyes widned. "But it will hurt you."

Nam-Pah gave a small laugh. "I know. Just do it."

Annie pushed with all her might and finaly the wooden bar fell from the wall.

Lord Nam-Pah seemed to have fallen to the floor.

Annie reached out blindly for him. "Lord Nam-Pah?"

A rough hand closed around hers, pulling her forward. "I am here."

Annie moved forward a little. "Are you alright?"

Nam-Pah appeared to be lying down.

"No little blossom. I am not, those sons of jackels whipped my back."

Annie gasped. She touched a hand to his back to try and help ease his pain.

Nam-Pah nearly jumped off the floor. "DON'T!"

Annie drew back her hands. "I'm sorry, I just thought to help...I...I'm sorry."

Nam-Pah seemed to collect himself with easy breathing. "It is alright Little Blossom, it'll ease on it's own in a few hours."

Silence decended on the two captives.

Finally Annie couldn't stand it anymore. "What will they do with us?"

Nam-Pah shifted around. "They will ransom us off, and if their price is not met...then they will sell us on the slave market."

Annie gasped. "What?"

Nam-Pah's hand touched her shoulder. "I am sure the price will be met, and soon you and I will both be back home. Come, sit beside me here, against the wall. You must rest."

Annie moved carefully forward until she knelt beside Nam-Pah. He moved an arm around her waist and pulled her down beside him, making her hold onto him for support.

"Sleep." he told her. "You will need your strength."

Annie closed her eyes, but she couldn't think of sleep. Her mind was racing.

Copyright 2000, Charmeye