Alex and Yanit entered the refectory with their arms around each other, laughing and whispering together. The only other breakfasters in evidence were Fadil and Tara, who were both eating cereal.

'Hey, guys!' Fadil said brightly. 'Great news – Tara turned up after all!'

'Yes, we can see that,' said Alex, then he goosed Yanit and she squealed.

'We saved you both some cornflakes,' Fadil added.

'Thank you, Fadil,' said Yanit, half-heartedly flapping Alex's roving fingers away from her. 'We're very glad to see you, Tara. Did you have trouble finding your way?'

'Oh, no,' said Tara. 'It's just that I overslept slightly, then I had to stop and exchange a few words with my father. But I'm here now, and that's all that matters.'

'Too true, Tara,' Alex grinned at her, as he and Yanit took their seats. 'We're really pleased to have you.'

'Yeah... yeah, thanks,' said Tara.

'Speaking of your father,' said Yanit, pouring milk onto her cornflakes, 'did Fadil introduce you to the idea that we should invite him to come here and talk about the whole situation?'

'Yes,' said Tara, 'Fadil and I have discussed the matter. I think it is a proposal to which my father would certainly be receptive; I feel that he will be inside the walls of the Medjai Academy far sooner than any of us would ever have believed possible.'

'Well, that's good to hear,' said Alex, shaking a small amount of sugar into his bowl. 'I'm glad we don't need to send out the search parties for you, Tara, anyway. That gives us four or five hours to play around with before Zain and Hamza arrive, and there's a lot that can be achieved in four or five hours...'

He gave Yanit a look. Yanit giggled and turned her eyes away.

'Well, personally, I intend to use the time to help Tara unpack, then check with Ardeth to see which lessons she might be able to observe today,' said Fadil.

'That sounds like an excellent plan, Fadil,' said Alex, staring at Yanit with longing in his eyes.

'Did you tell Tara the good news about her bedroom?' said Yanit, still not looking at Alex.

'Oh! No, I forgot,' said Fadil. 'You tell her, Yanit.'

'We managed to find you a private room after all,' Yanit told Tara.

'But I thought they were all occupied,' said Tara.

'Yes, well, I've moved out of my room and I'm giving it to you,' said Yanit.

'So where are you sleeping now?' said Tara.

'Somewhere pleasingly large and infinitely satisfying,' said Yanit, finally allowing her gaze to return to Alex.

'Oh, I see,' said Tara. 'Are you sure that's okay, Yanit? I'd hate to feel that I've forced you out, and I really was looking forward to sharing a girls' dormitory with you.'

'It's not a problem, Tara,' said Yanit, her eyes now focused on Alex with obvious desire. 'I'd much rather be where I am now.'

'So, we'll take all your luggage along there and get you unpacked, then we'll take a look at Ardeth's timetable,' said Fadil. 'I think there's a meditation session this afternoon. There's no reason you couldn't actually join in with that; I'm sure you'd find it very fascinating.'

'I'll follow your lead with pleasure, Fadil,' Tara beamed at him. 'Should we make a move now?'

'I just want to have another piece of toast first,' said Fadil. 'I built up quite a hunger earlier this morning, wandering around the Academy and worrying.'

'Oh, I'm sorry!' said Tara. 'I absolutely can't bear to think that I might ever do anything to... hurt you, Fadil.'

'Don't worry about it, Tara,' Fadil smiled at her. 'Like you said, you're here now and that's all that matters.'

Alex and Yanit finished wolfing down their cornflakes and then simultaneously jumped to their feet.

'We'll be off, then,' said Yanit. 'Good luck with the settling in and everything, Tara.'

'Fadil, can you tell anyone who wants us that we'll be tied up until lunchtime?' said Alex. 'Official Supreme Council business, you know?'

'Yes, Alex,' Fadil said with a wry smile, 'I understand perfectly.'

'Thanks, buddy,' said Alex. 'You're a rock.'

As they almost ran from the refectory, Alex lunged at Yanit and lightly dug her in the kidneys. She screamed and laughed, then she slapped Alex across the chest. A sensual scrimmage ensued; it was difficult to see exactly whose limbs were whose by the time they left the room.

'They're going off to have sex, aren't they?' said Tara, staring after them with a contemplative look on her face.

'Well... yes, they are,' said Fadil.

'Until lunchtime, right?'

'With a few carefully timed breathers, I should imagine... but yes, until lunchtime.'

'The two of them are at it the whole time...' Tara mused, half to herself.

'Well, I wouldn't exactly say that,' Fadil laughed. 'It's just that Alex and Yanit are obviously going through something of a honeymoon period at the moment.'

'How so?'

'Well, they've only just started... exploring each other to the fullest extent. They need some time to... ride the initial wave, as it were. They'll have their heads back in the game by the time Zain and Hamza arrive, I'm sure. In the interim, I believe they should be left alone to enjoy each other.'

'You... you really love them, don't you?' said Tara. 'Alex and Yanit, I mean.'

'Yes, I do,' said Fadil. 'Not in the same way that I love you, obviously... but it's no less strong or meaningful for that.'

'I can see that,' Tara agreed. 'Perhaps... perhaps someday I can experience such friendship and camaraderie myself.'

'Of course you can. Of course you will!'

'Are you sure Alex and Yanit have only just started having sex?'

'Um... to be honest, I know they did it at least one time before last night, but... well, it's none of our business really, is it?'

'Oh, of course not! I'm sorry, Fadil.'

'No problem, Tara,' said Fadil. 'Shall I show you to your room now?'

'Yes, please,' said Tara.

'I hope you don't mind my commenting on the fact, but you don't seem to have brought many clothes with you,' said Fadil, as he closed Tara's rather sparsely filled wardrobe.

'No,' said Tara. 'I, er... I packed in something of a hurry.'

'I'll arrange for you to be issued with some Medjai robes, and a few pairs of Medjai pyjamas,' said Fadil. 'Also, we must find you a copy of the Medjai Encyclopedia.'

'You're very kind, Fadil,' Tara said with a smile. 'You don't need to worry about the encyclopedia, though – Yanit seems to have left her copy.'

'I suppose that's another thing of Alex's she's decided she wants to share,' said Fadil. 'Well, that's one less thing to do, anyway. Oh, not that I regard doing things for you as a chore, Tara.'

Tara smiled, and reached out to stroke Fadil's cheek. He cupped his hand over hers and they exchanged a fond look.

'Fadil, can I ask you something?' said Tara.

'Anything in the world, Tara,' said Fadil. 'And I promise you that I shall answer to the best of my ability and my knowledge.'

'You're sweet,' said Tara. 'It's a small thing, really. It's just that I noticed that there's always someone on guard outside the main entrance of the Academy, up in that little watchtower thing. Is that a constant arrangement?'

'Very much so,' said Fadil. 'We are actually in a state of high alert at the moment, although no one has really mentioned the fact for several months because... well, because things have been very quiet. But we still maintain a twenty-four hour guard on the main entrance, and I suppose we shall carry on doing so until the state of high alert is over.'

'When will that be?'

'When we've dealt with the threat.'

'What threat?'

'One of the Medjai Elders did not take kindly to the changes that Alex was making to the Order. He once hypnotised Safin into trying to kill Alex in the middle of the night, and the possibility remains that he may make another attempt on Alex's life. I suppose we have all become slightly complacent about the situation, come to think of it... although it is possible that Elder Garth has given up and crawled away to someplace where he won't bother us anymore; I certainly hope that this is the case.'

'What exactly did Elder Garth object to about Alex's plans?'

'Mainly the admission of female Medjai warriors, plus all the humanitarian and political strategies that Alex has been bringing in. Alex really is an incredible person; he has finally allowed the Medjai Order to reach something like its full potential, or at least to be well on the way towards doing so.'

'Yes,' said Tara. 'Alex is... pretty cool, isn't he?'

'He's amazing,' said Fadil. 'He really is supreme among us, in every conceivable way, although he'd never admit the fact himself.'

'He knows that even the Supreme Medjai is nothing without his friends to back him up,' said Tara.

'That's it exactly,' said Fadil. 'That's why he came up with the idea of the Supreme Council – by refusing to accept that he alone is the greatest of us, he has proven that he truly is the greatest of us!'

'How ironic,' Tara said with a smile. 'And you're sure that Alex really wants to admit girls?'

'Of course he does,' said Fadil. 'He's admitted you, hasn't he? And like he told you in Cairo, there are plenty more on the way after Christmas.'

'Yes... yes, so he did.'

'Perhaps you didn't realise that Yanit was masquerading as a boy for quite some time when she first joined the Order. Alex was the one she first revealed her secret to; she obviously saw something special in him from the start. And now, thanks to Alex, Yanit's secret is no longer a secret, and no Medjai need ever keep such a secret again, so I guess she confided in the right person.'

'I expect she confided in him because she fancied him and she wanted him to know that she wasn't a boy,' Tara laughed.

'Yes,' said Fadil, 'I truly believe that that was indeed a constituent part of the reason that she revealed herself to him, although it was by no means the extent of the reason.'

'Fadil, do you ever take a turn at guard duty?' Tara suddenly asked.

'Yes,' said Fadil, 'we all do our part. I believe I have been allocated the early evening shift tomorrow, actually.'

'So soon...' Tara said, somewhat distantly. 'Um... I'd like to come with you, Fadil; I could keep you company in the sentry box.'

'I might find it difficult to keep my mind on the job,' said Fadil. 'We are not supposed to take distractions up there with us, you know.'

'Well,' said Tara, 'I really don't know what you think I'm planning to do to you that would distract you so much!'

'Oh, nothing!' Fadil said hastily. 'It would be heavenly to have you there to keep me company of course, but I don't want to fail in my duty when it comes to something so important, and if there was some reason to raise the alarm, and we did happen to be talking and laughing and... well, captivating each other's attention at the time...'

'Nothing like that would happen, Fadil – we wouldn't let it!' Tara insisted. 'Oh please, do let me come with you tomorrow evening!'

'Well... I'll think about it,' said Fadil. 'In the meantime, let's go along to Ardeth's office and see about getting you in on that meditation class.'

'Yes... yes, I suppose we'd better do that,' said Tara. 'Will you be attending the class with me, Fadil?'

'No,' said Fadil, 'I shall be in the Supreme Council Liaison meeting with Zain and Hamza... and Alex and Yanit, of course.'

'Assuming they can manage to stop having sex for for five minutes,' said Tara.

'Yes,' said Fadil, 'assuming that.'

Alex and Yanit showed Zain and Hamza into the meeting room.

'Fadil should be here in a few moments, then we can get started,' said Alex. 'He's probably saying an extended so-long to his girlfriend.'

'How very unprofessional of him to keep us waiting for such a trivial reason,' said Hamza, although his knowing smile belied the fact that he was not being entirely serious.

'Yes, we really must have a word with him about it,' said Yanit. 'There's a time for work and a time for play, and we should never allow ourselves to become so distracted by one that we start to neglect the other.'

She cast a meaningful look and a sultry smile at Alex, who returned the gesture at once.

'Er... anyway, guys, please feel free to help yourselves to tea and biscuits in the meantime,' said Alex.

'Ooh, are those the really delicious ones with jam in the middle?' said Zain.

'They sure are,' said Alex.

'How many can we get away with eating before you consider us impolite?' said Hamza.

'You can polish off the whole lot if you want,' said Alex. 'There are plenty more where those came from. I'll just step out into the corridor and see if there's any sign of Fadil. Yanit, do you want to come with me?'

'Yes, Alex,' said Yanit.

As Zain and Hamza started stuffing themselves with biscuits, Alex and Yanit went out into the corridor. As soon as they were out of sight, they wrapped their arms around each other and started to kiss.

'I can't wait for this meeting to be over so that we can go back to bed,' Yanit whispered into Alex's ear.

'I know,' Alex whispered back, 'I'm going absolutely crazy already!'

'Still,' said Yanit, 'we mustn't forget that Supreme Council matters are extremely important.'

'Yeah, they sure are,' Alex agreed. 'God, I can't wait until we're lying in each other's arms again, caressing each other's naked bodies, poised and ready to -'

'Alex, can I have a word with you?'

Alex whirled around to see that Safin had appeared behind him. He also noticed that Fadil was approaching along the corridor.

'Sorry, Safin,' said Alex, 'I don't think I have time right now. We have a Supreme Council Liaison meeting, but I promise I'll be available to speak to you as soon as we're done.'

'Okay, Alex,' said Safin. 'I'll come back after Ardeth's meditation session, then.'

'Good idea,' said Alex, his attention still focused on Fadil. 'Come on, Fadil, we're all waiting for you!'

Safin turned tail and high-fived with his brother as they passed each other in the corridor.

'I'm sorry, Alex,' said Fadil. 'I had to make sure that Tara knows where to go for the meditation session, and then we spent a few minutes... saying au revoir to each other.'

'Really, Fadil,' said Yanit, 'I do think you might control your animal urges a little more.'

'Yeah,' said Alex, 'you need to get your brain out of your pants, buddy.'

Alex and Yanit both exploded with laughter and clutched at each other for support; Fadil gave them a fond yet slightly exasperated look.

'Shall we get on with this meeting, then?' he suggested.

'Yes,' said Alex, 'let's do that.'

Tara was sitting at the wooden table in Yanit's old room with her eyes closed and her fingers pressed to her temples.

'This is better than I ever dared to hope for,' the voice of Elder Garth whispered inside her head. 'Tomorrow night, we shall strike! Tomorrow night, Alex O'Connell will die!'

'But... but... surely it's too soon!' said Tara. 'I've barely settled in here, and I don't think everyone completely trusts me yet.'

'That doesn't matter!' Elder Garth snarled inside her mind, causing her to wince in pain. 'You are ideally placed to do what must be done. Play your part well, Tara... then you can leave everything to me.'

'But I don't think Fadil's going to let me come on watch with him,' said Tara. 'He takes his duties very seriously. He is a good, loyal and noble -'

'Silence! Taking advantage of Fadil is precisely why you are involved in this arrangement! He's in love with you, isn't he? He'd do anything for you, wouldn't he?'

'Maybe anything except that.'

'Oh, he'll do it,' Elder Garth chuckled. 'You just have to persuade him in the right way. Use what God gave you, Tara!'

'Are you suggesting that I seduce him?'

'I'm suggesting that you let him roger his brains out on you until he agrees to do what you want! Young men are very easy to control, especially by beautiful young women... like you, my child.'

'But -'

'Just think how frustrated Fadil must be, knowing that Alex and Yanit are at it like rabbits under his very nose the whole time! I was right about those two, wasn't I?'

'Well...' Tara said uncertainly. 'I can't deny that they have been spending most of their time in bed together, but Fadil says they've only just started having sex and they're going through a honeymoon period.'

'Fadil is lying to you, Tara,' said Elder Garth. 'He doesn't want you to think of Alex and Yanit as the perverted fornicators that they truly are!'

'Yes, I... I suppose you're right, Father.'

'Of course I'm right! So let's have no more of these trifling objections, and get on with the business in hand! Persuade Fadil to take you up the watchtower, no matter what it takes! Once you have completed your task, you can just sit back and watch me reclaim the sanctity of the Medjai Order... by eviscerating Alex O'Connell!'

'Eviscerating Alex O'Connell,' Tara said distantly. 'Yes, Father; it is the only way.'

'You are a good girl, Tara. Now, play your part well and complete your task, then all this unpleasantness will finally be over.'

'I shall, Father,' said Tara. 'You must excuse me now; I have to go to the meditation session or someone might get suspicious.'

'By all means, go,' said Elder Garth. 'Do whatever you have to do to get yourself into that sentry box, and then... oh, then I shall finally do what needs to be done!'

The door to the meeting room was opened with some force. Alex and Yanit scampered into the corridor and ran off towards the dormitories, giggling together and touching each other in various places. Safin watched them go with a helpless expression on his face, then he made himself scarce as Fadil, Zain and Hamza emerged from the room.

'I'll show you guys to your dorm now, then you can get settled in before dinner,' Fadil was saying. 'You don't mind bunking in with a few of the trainees, do you?'

'Not at all,' said Hamza.

'While we're on the subject, I think Alex and Yanit have started bunking in together, haven't they?' said Zain.

'Yes... just recently, they have,' said Fadil. 'You must forgive them if they seemed a little distracted during the meeting. It's just that they're going through something of a honeymoon period.'

'There's nothing to forgive,' said Hamza. 'They were both extremely professional while the meeting was actually going on.'

'Their minds are clearly on other things now that it's finished, though,' Zain grinned.

Fadil led the way to the dormitory corridor. Tara was waiting for him outside his room.

'Fadil, I have to talk to you!' she said urgently. 'There's something you need to know, and I need to tell you while I still can!'

'You can have my undivided attention in just a few moments, babe,' Fadil assured her. 'I just have to show Zain and Hamza to their dorm first. Oh, how rude of me – you haven't actually met each other yet, have you? Zain and Hamza, this is Tara, my girlfriend. Tara, this is Zain and Hamza, whom I've already told you quite a lot about.'

'Oh yes, of course,' said Tara. 'It's a great pleasure to meet you both.'

'It's good to see another female Medjai warrior in the offing,' said Hamza, shaking Tara's hand.

'I'll second that,' said Zain. 'You know, Tara, you seem vaguely familiar to me. Any chance we might have bumped into each other in the past?'

'That's impossible!' Tara answered quickly. 'We've never met; never even seen each other before!'

'Hmm, well... my mistake, then,' said Zain.

'Speaking of female Medjai warriors, how is your sister getting on, Zain? said Fadil.

'She is thriving,' Zain beamed. 'Our father is most put out about the whole situation, but no one cares what he thinks.'

'Yes,' said Fadil, 'fathers can be more trouble than they're worth, can't they?'

'They certainly can,' Zain laughed.

'And how!' Tara said with feeling, then she started to look very guilty.

'Tara, if you'd like to wait here for me while I drop off Zain and Hamza,' said Fadil, 'I'll be back in just a minute, okay?'

'Okay, Fadil,' said Tara. 'Nice to have met you, Zain and Hamza.'

Fadil led Zain and Hamza to one of the shared dorms. Safin and James were lying on their bunks, reading, while Iqbal was writing something at the table.

'Here you go, guys,' said Fadil. 'Your room-mates are James, Iqbal and Safin. Safin is my brother, by the way. James, Iqbal and Safin, you'll be sharing your room with Elder Zain and Elder Hamza for a couple of nights.'

'Aren't we the lucky ones?' James remarked, raising his eyebrows but still looking at his book.

'Please don't think of us as Elders,' said Zain. 'While we're bunking in with you, we're just a couple more of the guys.'

'Maybe you'd like to take a communal shower with us later, then?' James suggested.

'And play the towel game,' Iqbal added, suppressing a snort of laughter.

'That sounds like an excellent idea,' said Hamza.

'Well, I'll leave you all to it and get back to Tara,' said Fadil. 'See you at dinner.'

Fadil left the room and took a few steps along the corridor; he stopped when he heard urgent footsteps scurrying along behind him. He turned to see Safin careening towards him.

'Is everything okay, Saf?' said Fadil.

'I... I don't know,' said Safin. 'There's something I think I should tell you, Fadil – something about Tara.'

'What about Tara?'

'Well, it's just that I... I mean, the thing is...' Safin faltered.

'What is it, Saf? You know you can tell me anything at all in the world, right?'

'Yes, I know that, Fadil. What I want to tell you is just that I... I... I am so glad that you and Tara have found each other, and that she makes you so happy. I know I seemed a little unsure about her yesterday, but I've changed my mind and I absolutely love her now.'

Fadil smiled, and bent to give his brother a hug. Safin closed his eyes and hugged Fadil back, a slightly pained expression on his face.

'Thank you, Safin,' Fadil breathed into his brother's ear. 'And just remember that no matter what happens, I'll always absolutely love you!'

'I'll always absolutely love you, Fadil,' said Safin. 'Go on back to Tara now – you don't need me taking up any more of your valuable time.'

Fadil laughed, kissed his brother on the forehead and took his leave. Safin returned to the dormitory to find James waiting for him just outside the doorway.

'What happened, Saf?' James asked.

'I... I just couldn't do it,' Safin said weakly. 'I couldn't tell my brother that I think the girl he is in love with might be evil. I don't have any evidence to back up my claim; I don't even really dislike her! I'm worrying about nothing, James, and I don't want to burden Fadil with my stupidity!'

'Even if it is just a case of you being stupid, which I don't believe is true, I'm sure Fadil wouldn't regard anything you had to say to him as a burden.'

'No, I'm not going to risk spoiling his happiness. I don't want to do anything that could possibly jeopardise Fadil's relationship with Tara, because he obviously loves her and I've never seen him so happy.'

James smiled, and clapped Safin on the shoulder. Safin threw his arms around James and buried his face in his chest, so James patted Safin on the back in as reassuring a manner as he could manage.

'Come on,' said James, 'let's see if we can persuade Zain and Hamza to take that shower with us now.'

'Okay,' said Safin.

Fadil entered his room to find Tara sitting on his bed. She looked up at him, and he smiled at her.

'Sorry to keep you waiting, Tara,' said Fadil. 'So, what's this thing you're absolutely dying to tell me? I'm all ears.'

'Fadil, I... I want you to know how happy and grateful I am that the two of us have found each other,' said Tara. 'Before I met you, I was living entirely under my father's thumb... and I wasn't happy, by any stretch of the imagination. But now I feel, for the first time in my life, that I have a way out... and a real life to live!'

'I'm so happy to hear you say that, Tara,' Fadil beamed at her. 'I feel blessed and privileged to be a part of that life.'

'You're the most important part, Fadil.'

'Oh, don't be silly. You don't really need me.'

'But I want you – I want you more than I can put into words! There... there is so much of this world that I have yet to experience, Fadil... and I think that the same is true for you, isn't it?'

'Um... I'm not sure exactly what you're asking me, Tara.'

'You've never... been with another person, have you?' said Tara. 'Sexually, I mean.'

'No,' said Fadil, 'I've never done that.'

'But you'd like to, wouldn't you?'

'Well... yes, I would. I mean, in the right situation, and with the right person...'

'Alex and Yanit have been fornicating away under your very nose,' said Tara. 'I think you're a little jealous of them, aren't you?'

'Um... yes, maybe a little,' Fadil admitted. 'But I don't begrudge them their happiness in any way. Maybe this sounds corny, but it makes me happy to know that they're happy.'

'They won't be any less happy if you allow yourself to let go of your inhibitions and give me a jolly good seeing to!' said Tara.

'Tara, I... I hope you know that I wasn't expecting you to jump into bed with me the moment you arrived at the Academy,' said Fadil.

'Of course you weren't; I know you're the perfect gentleman. But I just can't fight it – I want you to make love to me! I want it so badly, Fadil. I want us to do it right here, right now, before dinner!'

'I... I don't think we should rush into anything, Tara.'

'Oh, so you don't want to have sex with me, then?' said Tara, sounding rather hurt.

'No, I... I do want to do that,' said Fadil. 'I just want to be certain that the time is right.'

'What time could possibly be better than now?' said Tara. 'After all, there really is no other time, if you stop and think about it. I don't understand why you're holding back, Fadil. We love each other, don't we? We're committed to our relationship, aren't we?'

'Yes,' said Fadil, 'of course we are.'

'Then let's consummate it!' said Tara. 'Make love to me, Fadil – I want you to!'

'Well...' said Fadil. 'Okay, then.'