EPILOGUE By Ananka With blessing to my beta reader for her kindness and help!
Disclaimer: We do not own the character of Ardeth Bay, however, Ananka owns all other of her own creation.
The lonely figure of a man tops the dune before a very small Oasis. He has been here many times since the night when things went so wrong.
Contemplation and reflection came easily to him here at this place that held a wealth of memories for him. At times, his recollections are so vivid he often believes if he looks over his shoulder he would find her there, traveling over the dune to be at his side as she often did. Rolling his blanket out on the sand by the small pool of water, he prepares for his meal. He eats, but tonight he does not taste his food. His appetite has not been good lately, and people have been urging him to take care of himself, but the old man only ignores them. He rolls over onto his side and lies there remembering the old days of glory and adventure with his wife at his side. She had been a rare woman. But that night when the raiders hit, she had been killed. He remembered seeing her fall, spitted by a scimitar, screaming his name. He had wished to die then, but he didn't. He went on. He went on for what was it now...40 years. He never had another woman as wife. There had been lovers, but none so fine as she had been. She had been so responsive to his moods she sensed when his was dark and worked around them, bringing him out laughing and sated. Allah, she had been as insatiable as he was, and had given him 5 fine sons and daughters. I know it was because she fought to the end to raise them all...that is the reason we never lost a child. "This pool." He reached dabbling his hand in it, his long now wrinkled fingers felt the cool water. "There had even been a time or two in this pool..." Shaking his head hard as if to stop the memories from surfacing, he rolled over and looked at the on the bright north star, he felt himself going to sleep. He didn't see his horse wandering away, heading home. He was deep in his dream. He was standing and looking around. A soft husky female voice called "Zojee" Startled he spun on his heel. She was there. She was once more before him, tall, black haired and blue of eye as when he'd first seen her, His beautiful Kha. She ran down into the hard hug and the searing kiss and he asked "Mahrtee? How is this possible?" Framing his perfect face she ran her thumbs over the tattoos on his cheeks and said slowly "There my love." He saw the old man lying there on his traveling mat, a peaceful expression on his face. Kha looked at him and gently tugged him "Come lover, you..." He shook his head slowly, and turned as if to keep watch over the body till someone, anyone came. Kha crouched by him to wait. She had an arm about his shoulders and spoke softly "Come we have all the time in the world now. We are young again..." He stood as he saw horses approaching over the sands, recognizing the symbols of the MedJai on the leader "You are right Kha." He turned seeing his beloved black horse gone many years and smiled "Lailhawa...ever faithful."
He swung up, and Kha laughed "Amin has grown to be much like you...we can come back...visit but now...we have to go." Once again young as he had been when he met Kha, Ardeth turned back looking at his own son as he found the body of his father. The huge young man summoned his horse. Then he mounted him reaching for his father who was handed to him. A grieving Amin rode off with his father's body before him on the the riders had disappeared, Ardeth reached for his Princess' hand and he lifted her easily onto his horse seating her before him. One arm was about her. His other hand held the reins to his powerful black horse as they rode off in a perfect desert sunset, together.