Chapter Seven

On her way to collect water for the morning meal, Thana noticed, in the near distance, the flaps opening on the Chieftain's tent. Sinking into the shadows of a nearby palm tree, she watched with great fascination mixed with complete antipathy as the Chieftain exited the tent alongside a beautiful mara unknown to Thana. She knew this must be the mysterious Najya. She was forever being spoken of within the various circles of the twelve tribes. Whoever she might be, Thana knew her not to be the mara that should be stepping from his tent at such an intimate time of day. No, that privilege belonged to Sidrah, daughter of Ghazi and Thana.

She watched with baneful eyes as the two strode through the village as though without a care. Although their bodies never touched, Thana could feel the heat of their desire with each glance they graced upon the other. It sickened her to the point of becoming physically ill. If the need to report this to her husband had not been so great, she might not have fought off the urge.

She took a calming breath and straightened her shoulders. Her task forgotten, she went in search of her husband to report the Chieftain's treachery.


Ardeth escorted Najya to the tent of his friend and Elder, Hamid. They shared breakfast with Hamid, his sons and nieces, Kyle, Jubran, and Qadir. The tent was quite crowded, but the atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable, with not one comment made about where Najya spent the evening. Not that Ardeth had expected them to say anything; their respect for their Chieftain was unquestionable, their growing friendship undeniable.

Ardeth was pleased with the way Najya was treated by those who now surrounded him. She seemed to get along quite well with Hamid's nieces, and they held genuine admiration in their eyes when they looked upon the woman he was determined to marry. Nothing could please him more.

He turned from his musings when the sweet lilt of feminine laughter reached his ears. He looked over to see that a normally composed Kyle had lost a spoonful of porridge down the front of his shirt. The women in the tent were getting a good chuckle out of it. Sabira's laughter, he noted, sobered the instant she reached out with a cloth to clean the food from his shirt and Kyle's hand gently encircled her wrist.

To Ardeth it appeared Kyle and Sabira's gaze locked as though searching the depths of each other's souls. In a time span that lasted mere seconds before Kyle slipped the cloth from Sabira's fingers to clean the mess himself, Ardeth saw in that look all that he felt for Najya. He smiled inwardly knowing if Kyle was allowed to pursue a relationship with Sabira, their budding feelings tended and cultivated, theirs would be a timeless love that would survive the harshest protests of anyone in the Medjai nation. With Kyle being an 'outsider', the protests would be plenty.

He shifted his gaze over each of those in the tent before resting his eyes on the serene face of his intended. Mixed marriages were not unheard of, they were just difficult to arrange. If the couple loved enough, fought enough, once granted, their union was never protested again. The outsider was no longer considered as such; they became Medjai. This was his hope for Najya and himself.

He shifted his gaze back to the sisters. Sabira and Nida were fruit of one such joining. Khalid Mu'afa had rescued the petite and outspoken Stephanie Traner from the hands of a small Taureg raiding party. After spending a week together in the desert, surviving on Khalid's wit, the two had fallen in love, even though Khalid admitted freely she was too untamed for the lifestyle of a Medjai.

Ardeth remembered the two month long trial Khalid and Stephanie were made to suffer before they were allowed to wed. They were separated, forbidden to look upon the other lest the trial end and Stephanie was banished from the Twelve Tribes.

During that time, Stephanie was taught those skills needed to live with the Medjai. Cooking, cleaning, sewing, and the etiquette that dictated the Medjai society were not easily undertaken by a spoiled rich girl. Stephanie did all she was asked with little protest. Remaining with Khalid was more important than her pride at that time.

Khalid was made to endure much more stressful tests. Food and water was withheld from him for days at a time. He was forced into solitude. His days were spent without the benefit of one word spoken to him. Those in the village were instructed to shun him in all ways. For two months, Khalid rode, ate, walked, and hunted alone. And after those two months, he demanded to be joined with Stephanie Traner for the remainder of their lives.

Ardeth would endure that and more if it meant being with the woman he loved. There was no question of it. He had discussed the possibility of this trial with Najya and she felt the same.

A slap on the shoulder broke Ardeth from his thoughts. He turned his head slightly and found Hamid standing behind him.

"I suggest a walk to the oasis pool. The breeze over the water makes it much cooler, and the shade is most welcome when the sun becomes too hot to bear."

Ardeth agreed readily. While Nida and Sabira stayed behind to clear away the remnants of the morning meal, the others exited the tent.

Once outside, Najya pulled Ardeth aside. Allowing the others to go ahead, they lagged behind several steps to speak in relative privacy.

"Is something bothering you?" he asked curiously. He could see by the look on her face that something weighed heavily on her mind.

"No. That is, not especially," she assured, smiling slightly. "There is something I need to discuss with you...one of the reasons why I made the journey to see you."

Ardeth raised a brow apprehensively. "You did not journey to be with me?"

A soft laugh escaped Najya as the furrow on his brow deepened. "Of course, I did, but not just to be with you. I have made a discovery which I would like to explore, but did not wish to leave Giza without explaining it to you."

"I see," he acknowledged. He stopped short of the group that stood waiting for Ardeth and Najya to join them. "We shall discuss this...exploration...after we spend time with..." he trailed off, unsure how to finish his sentence.

"Our friends..." she finished for him. Her smile was wide and genuine as she reached up and briefly touched a palm to his cheek.

"Aiwa," he agreed. "Our friends." He placed a gentle hand to the small of her back and guided her forward.

"What are your plans, Ardeth?" Hamid asked once the group had situated themselves under the shaded palms.

"It is my intention to travel to my village. It has been many months since I have seen my mother," he informed them. "With Najya's arrival, it is the perfect opportunity for the two of them to become reacquainted." He turned his attention to Kyle. "You are welcome to join us, Kyle."

"Uh..." Kyle stammered and looked over at Najya. The brief shake of her head indicated to him that she had yet to discuss her plans with Ardeth. For the moment, he would play along. "It would be my pleasure."

"You will need a contingent of warriors to escort you, yâ ra'îs," Jubran interrupted. As Commander of the Eight Tribe, he could not allow the Chieftain to travel without protection.

"I am capable of traveling without...a mother hen, yâ ukh," Ardeth assured, mirth dancing in the dark depths of his eyes.

Hadad and Qadir turned their heads to hide the look of amusement each wore. Their commander would be less than pleased with them if he were to catch them. One look over at Rami and Marid and they discovered they were not alone. All four warriors fought to hold back their laughter.

Najya chewed her bottom lip when she saw the anger rise in Jubran's eyes. It was obvious he did not take the protection of the Chieftain lightly, and he did not appreciate anyone's taunts, not even the Chieftain's.

"Before you unsheathe your anger...or perhaps your scimitar on me, Jubran," Ardeth quickly interceded. "Allow me to apologize."

Jubran blew out a hot breath as he stared at his friend and leader. "Very well. I will accept your apology, if you admit, as Chieftain..."

"We will discuss this at a later time," Ardeth interrupted in a commanding tone.

"Of course, yâ ra'îs," Jubran responded contritely.

It had not been his intention to be so short with his friend, but he had seen a warrior exit the tent of Elder Ghazi al Khashshab. It was apparent the warrior was heading in the direction of the small Oasis' pond. It wasn't that Ardeth worried about the warrior overhearing the conversation. No, that wasn't it at all. What troubled Ardeth was the eruption of uneasiness that assaulted his entire being. Suddenly, the air around him was filled with dread.

If Ardeth was experiencing uneasiness, Badr was swimming in it. A recent addition to the warrior sect of the Seventh Tribe, Badr was in complete awe of the legend that was Ardeth Bay. His harrowing and heroic experiences were renowned, and here Badr was, a lowly warrior, about to order Ardeth Bay to appear before the council.

Sweat broke out on Badr's upper lip and he ran his clammy hand over the front of his robes as if to smooth out the material. He stepped up to the group and cleared his throat, but no words would come forth.

Ardeth's eyes met Jubran's for a moment before standing up to meet the young warrior face to face. "Speak," he ordered gruffly.

"SamaH...SamaH ana," he answered, finally finding his voice. "It is my duty, Chieftain Bay, to order you before the Council of Elders."

"No meeting has been scheduled this day," Hamid argued, clearly irritated. If a meeting had been called, it was without the knowledge of the Head Elder.

"Elder Khashshab has called the Council meeting," Badr informed Hamid.

"Pray tell what this meeting is in regards," Hamid growled, losing composure. Ghazi knew full well any request for a meeting was to go through Hamid first. The only exception was if he was unavailable.

"I cannot say that which I do not know," Badr admitted. "Whether it was my fortune or fate to be walking by the Elder at the time, I was pulled aside and ordered to deliver the message."

Ardeth's steely gaze held the young warrior's steadily. His instincts had been correct. Ghazi was behind this meeting. "Your name, bero," Ardeth demanded purposefully. That the young man did not melt under his gaze impressed Ardeth. If this was an indication of the man's personality, he would prove his worth to the Medjai as a warrior. That is, if Ardeth was any judge of character, which he was.

"Badr bin Laith al-Simidi, Chieftain Bay." Badr held Ardeth's gaze, fighting the urge to look away. He did not wish to appear weak in front of the Chieftain, Commander, or the other seasoned warriors that were now beginning to stand. It was most certain that he would not show weakness in front of the strange blonde man or the Chieftain's mara; any mara for that matter.

"Shukran, bero." Ardeth extended his hand and clasped forearms with Badr in the traditional warrior handshake. The look of surprise on the young warrior's face was unmistakable, if not short lived. As with most of the male population, Badr was learning to mask his emotions. It would serve him well in battle.

Badr nodded and stepped aside for the group to pass. He stayed behind and watched as they made their way to the Council chambers. He half expected them to disburse and the Chieftain to enter alone, but that was not to be the case. The entire group filed in behind him. There was not a member in the Medjai nation who would not know what this meeting was about. Silently, Badr wished Ardeth well.


"It is an outrage," Ghazi's voice boomed after Ardeth refused to respond to the allegations that he had shared his pallet with the outsider.

Ardeth calmly looked from the hysterical Ghazi to the unemotional face of Head Elder Hamid. "Why am I being called before Council to discuss my sleeping arrangements?"

"To be perfectly honest, Chieftain Bay, I must ask the same question of Elder Khashshab," Hamid answered without feeling. "Share the reason, Ghazi."

Ghazi gasped at the informality Hamid showed within the circle of the Council. It was unheard of. "We will speak of your breech of propriety, Elder Mu'afa, at a later time. I was informed this morning that a woman was seen leaving your tent, Chieftain Bay. You must understand what an insult this is to not only the woman you are promised to marry, but to her family as well." His gaze drifted over the observers in the tent. "That you chose to bring an audience to these proceedings only further shows your disrespect to the situation."

The venomous undertones in Ghazi's voice were clearly detectable by everyone in the room. Ardeth took a step closer to the panel, his shoulders square and his head held high. "Do not mistake my lack of knowledge in regards to the context of this meeting as disrespect to this Council or to Sidrah bint Ghazi al Khashshab. I do, however, question the intentions of her father." He let Ghazi digest the insult for a moment before continuing. "If I had any prior knowledge as to what you wished to discuss, I would have spared my friends the...displeasure. The fact remains that we are here and will settle this matter once and for all."

"How do you wish to settle this?" Hamid asked curiously.

"Bring before the council the mara whose honor I have supposedly impugned. I would know for myself if this mara would hold the Chieftain to a loveless marriage," he demanded harshly. "The time has come to end this. You have heard my wish to marry Najya. She now stands before this Council. She willingly pledges herself to the Medjai. I have spoken openly of my love for her; yet, you insist this is insufficient for you to break the marriage contract you have put in place with Sidrah." He could feel his anger building and fought hard to clamp down on it. "I was not a party to this agreement. The Council decided for themselves the Chieftain had gone too long without a mara to bear him children."

"It was to ensure your successor, Ardeth," Hamid protested. He had taken part in the decision for draw up the contract, and although he regretted it now, he had thought it was a wise decision at the time. "Do we even need to speak of the life expectancy of a Medjai Warrior? It is selfish of you deny the Medjai Nation an heir."

Ardeth nodded his understanding. "I cannot argue that point, but there is no need to go on with an arranged marriage."

"I am in agreement with that," Hamid stated. "Understand, unless both parties agree, we must go forward."

"Lâ!"

"It is our way, Chieftain Bay," Ghazi insisted. His looked to the other eight Council members before continuing. "Not even the Chieftain is above Medjai law."

"It is not difficult to see why you argue, Ghazi," Ardeth stated. "You are too close to the problem. Your voice should not be heard."

Najya stood at the back of the room with the others, Kyle stood beside her as if in silent support. Her admiration for Ardeth grew with each moment. How he maintained any semblance of composure during this, she could not understand. If she were the one speaking, she was afraid her anger would have gotten the better of her and would unleash her power on Ghazi, sending him sailing through the tent's fabric. She was so unnerved over the situation that any of her training, meditation, or faith in the Goddess was lost in the threat of losing Ardeth.

Ghazi opened his mouth to tell the Chieftain just what he thought of him, but never had the chance. The same warrior he had sent to tell Ardeth he was expected before the Council was now bursting into Council Chambers.

Badr stopped short, his breath coming in sharp bursts. He handed Ardeth a message even while his eyes reflected his sorrow for being the one who delivered it.

No different than anyone else in the room, Najya's attention was taken from the meeting to the young warrior. She sensed the deep feeling of heartache in him, and as Ardeth read the message, she felt the same lurching anguish sweep over him. It came with such strength she found it difficult to keep her balance. Reflexively, she reached for the trusted friend who stood beside her and was never so grateful for Kyle's presence when his hand curled supportively around hers.

His eyes filled with despair, Ardeth turned to those who stood behind him in support of his situation. The news he was about to deliver made his problem pale in significance. At times like this he hated his title, his place in the Medjai society. Although he took in the sight of the entire group, his focus centered on his close friend, Jubran, and Jubran's two best warriors as he spoke, "Jubran...Hadad...Qadir...I have no easy way to tell you..."

Jubran visibly stiffened. He felt Hadad, who stood beside him, do the same. Ardeth's eyes reflected his heart and Jubran knew without hearing the message that their lives would never be the same. "Just say it," he whispered hoarsely.

Ardeth nodded his understanding. "Saeedah, along with several Medjai maidens and three warriors from the Eighth Tribe, were killed this morning when a band of marauders struck the caravan they were trading with."


All activity stopped within the Seventh Tribe's village when three heart wrenching, tortured howls ripped through the air, ending the peace and tranquility of the day.

…to be continued.

--

mara – woman.

ra'îs - my chief.

ukh – my brother

Shukran – thank you

SamaH ana – forgive me

bero – warrior