Disclaimer: I still own absolutely nothing that you recognize.

Chapter XI Blind

"Miss Montgomery, though stubborn as a mule, is a very loyal woman. While you were incapacitated, she took very precise care of you. She was with you every moment that she was awake until she knew that you would surely recover. She cared for each of your wounds as though each one was the most important task she would ever complete. She constantly complained about your attitude and stubborn nature, but she never withheld any sort of care because of what she thought of you. She was always the paradigm manners when she spoke with me. She always knocked before entering as though you might be up and about. She always curtsied when she greeted me, and bowed upon departure. She always addressed me as sir until I told her that Naji would suffice. Ardeth, I may have only known Miss Montgomery for a matter of days, but I don't believe that she is capable of the deceit which you accuse her of," Naji spoke as he paced across the small patio upon which the four men had gathered.

Ardeth could tell that Naji was frustrated just by the way he ran his calloused fingers through his long onyx hair. As his fingers got snagged on a tangled curl, he simply tugged them out completely oblivious to the pain it probably caused. Naji was a passionate young man. Far more affected by the emotions of others than his brother or Ardeth. Ardeth had always envied the younger man's ability to read people simply based upon a handshake or the color of their eyes. Ardeth found more and more that he couldn't even read people if they were standing before him saving his sorry life.

"Ardeth, are you listening to me," Naji growled when he heard no reply from his frail chieftain.

"Yes Naji. I am simply thinking," Ardeth sighed as he leaned back in the stiff whicker chair that he had been aided into. "What exactly did you speak of, my friend," Ardeth asked as he rested his head in his hands in a last attempt to stop the world from spinning around him.

"Everything you could think of: likes, dislikes, dreams, fears, family. Did you know that her father was a brilliant scholar? He visited Egypt before she was born. That is how she learned all about the world. She said that her father fell in love with the endless desert, and he would have stayed here forever but Josephine was about to be born at the time. Although he did not love his wife, he could not let his children grow without their father, so he returned to them instead of staying. She said that it was returning home that killed him. He only died recently, but she said she never saw the life in her father's eyes like she did when he spoke of his journeys around the world. When he died, she said that she vowed to see the world. She said if she found a place that she fell in love with like her father did, she would not return home. She doesn't want to make his mistakes because she said that to do so would disgrace him. He would have taught her nothing, and she could never do such a thing to him," Naji paused to gauge his leader's reaction, but when no action was forthcoming he continued.

"She has a great affection for pomegranates, much like yourself, Ardeth. Every morning, she would beg one of the maids to bring her one or two. She even made some interesting concoctions that she used on your wounds. It certainly helped them heal faster, if you ask me," Naji said as he finally exhausted his need to pace and took the final seat and sat beside his elder brother. "Most of all, we spoke of you. She constantly spoke of how you are an unfeeling, heartless, bastard; and I continued to tell her that you were simply doing the duty that was bestowed upon you. She said that the way a person greets a stranger is very telling of who they are. She said that no matter what the situation a person has the choice between being civil or discourteous. She said that you choose to be discourteous because you think if people fear you that they will unquestioningly obey you. She said that the king who has the respect of his countrymen has more power than the king who only has the fear of his subjects. I told her that fear is the only thing some people understand, but she said that fear is the only thing that we allow people to understand, through our own actions," Naji continued with a small smile playing at his full lips. He could remember exactly how passionately Miss Montgomery had spoken as she had bathed Ardeth's battered body with the gentlest of ministrations. He also remembered his own childhood, when he had often heard Ardeth speaking the same way. Naji hadn't heard that Ardeth since he had taken over as leader of the twelve tribes.

"Did you speak with a governess or a philosopher," Rashid asked with a small smirk, thinking that Ardeth would meet his match when they found this Miss Montgomery. He had been going none stop since Ardeth disappeared, but simply seeing him awake and lucent made Rashid's spirits rise considerably. Only hours before, he didn't think that he would ever laugh again, but now everything seemed wonderful to him. His best friend was alive and on his way to becoming well again.

"She said that she only knows what her father has taught her," Naji defended even though he knew his brother was not attacking Josephine. "Ardeth, do you know what her most treasured dream is," when Ardeth made no indication of knowledge, Naji explained. "She said that she dreams of being free to study and teach others. She said that knowledge is useless unless you are willing to share it with others. And do you know what she fears?"

"Perhaps, getting caught for the web of lies that she weaves," Rashid asked, once again in jest since he could see the mood beginning to darken.

"She fears being sent home to her mother because if she goes home, she will never get to see her dreams fulfilled. This is her only chance to live her dreams, Ardeth. So, I doubt that she would be willing to jeopardize that just to spite a man she barely knows," Naji said passionately as he once again stood and looked down at his chieftain, his golden eyes blazing with determination. "So, until you are willing to see the truth, my lord, I shall be in the stables tending my mount." Having said that, Naji turned on his heal and stormed out of the garden in search of the stable.

Ardeth once again felt the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach as he went over Naji's words again and again. "Please forgive him, Ardeth. He is still young and does not know when to hold his tongue," Rashid apologized. "I will go speak to him."

"No Rashid. Naji is right. I am not using my best judgment. Perhaps he is right that Miss Montgomery is just an innocent bystander in this mess, but we shall not know until we find her. So, I suggest that you retrieve your sibling and begin searching for her again.

XxXxXxX

Josephine sat in the extravagant room that Gabriel had provided for her. As she lay on the bed, she noticed the difference between the rooms that Gabriel kept for himself and the ones he provided for the O'Connells. The bed she lay in now was made of the finest Egyptian cotton sheets that felt like silk to her skin. The desk in the corner was made of the finest mahogany and was smooth as ice. Her window looked out upon the lush garden and as she lay there, she could hear voices down below.

When she reached the window and pulled the fine curtains away, she could see none other than Ardeth sitting in the center of the patio. In front of him sat another tattooed man, but by the time she got there the only thing she heard was, "I suggest you find your sibling, and begin searching for her again." Josephine's temper flared dangerously as she heard Ardeth's commanding words. So he wanted to find her and accuse her of other atrocities. Well, maybe she would go with Gabriel and his men just to spite the man.

However, what hurt Josephine most about her entire situation was that she could not hate Ardeth Bay. No matter what she said or how hard she tried, Josephine couldn't despise the Med-jai chieftain. Not because she thought he was a good man in any way, other than the fact that Alex obviously loved him. Before they had even boarded the steamer that brought them to Egypt, Alex had told her many glorious stories about Ardeth. Chieftain Bay seemed to be Alex's idle, and she believed that for Alex to love him so unconditionally then he had to be an honorable man. If Josephine had seen Alex curse Ardeth after she left, it would have torn her heart right out of her chest. She may not have seen eye to eye with Ardeth, but she would never wish her misunderstandings with the Mad-jai come between him and the boy. She knew in her heart that the boy meant as much to Ardeth as he did to the Alex.

Even though she didn't hate him, she was still furious as could be as she watched him sitting there with Rick once the other man left, presumably to find her. "Stupid, stupid man! Who does he think he is walking about as though he hadn't spent the last week on the brink of death? 'I don't have the luxury to rest,' he says. Well he'll have plenty of time to rest when he's dead because he is certainly going to drive himself to an early grave," Josephine ranted to thin air as she began to pace in front of the window. As she looked down upon them again, she caught a glimpse of Ardeth's face and noticed his ghastly pallor. She had half a notion to throw caution to the wind and march down there and demand that he return to bed immediately. However, it would do her little good since he would simply refuse and probably have her attacked by his soldier.

"Rick, I fear I am growing too old for this," she heard Ardeth say from down below. She once again returned to her window and balcony and peered down at the pair.

"Ardeth, you are barely what I would call old. What are you twenty-nine, thirty," Rick asked incredulously.

"I shall be thirty-three in the following weeks, but I feel much older than my age should permit. I fear my judgment is beginning to waver and my instinct is being clouded by poor reasoning. I fear that if I continue on like this then I shall endanger the lives of my men, and I would sooner fall upon my own blade that to do that. Allah, forgive me," Ardeth confessed as he ran his weary fingers through his thick hair.

"Ardeth…"

"No Rick. Your words will be pleasant to hear, but they will not change the fact that I am doubting myself. They will only cover it up until it is too late," Ardeth interrupted his longtime friend.

Josephine nearly gasped at the words she heard coming from the Med-jai's mouth. How could the heartless and cold Ardeth Bay be feeling self-doubt? Slowly, Josie was beginning to feel her temper abate, but she still doubted she would be able to carry on a civil conversation with Chieftain Bay. This only proved that he was human; it actually made things worse because she knew that he had a conscience after all but decided to ignore it when dealing with her.

"Miss Montgomery, have you made your decision yet," came a silky voice from the doorway. Josephine spun on her heal and came nearly face to chest with Gabriel's finely made Italian suit.

"Y-Yes, Mr. De Paolo. I will accompany you if you feel that my presence will truly make a difference," Josephine answered, once again beginning to feel self-conscious.

"Yes, I will make a large difference, especially since I will be forced to travel with a separate caravan," Gabriel explained to her calmly as he peered out the window to see what she had been so engrossed by when he had entered. When he saw Rick sitting with the desert warrior, he couldn't hide the scowl that came over his features. Ardeth was much stronger than they had originally suspected.

"But how could I travel alone through…"

"You will not be alone. You will have my men with you as well as Maria and my secretary Lita. You will be in charge of the caravan, of course, but you will be transported safely to one of the far villages where I will meet you. It is a perfectly proper arrangement, Miss Montgomery," Gabriel said as he used his most seductive baritone to persuade her.

"Yes, but I do not pretend to know these lands or the people who inhabit them. How can you expect me to cope with this development, never mind lead a caravan? It is a great risk that you put your own business at by doing this, sir," Josephine tried to reason because she was scared out of her mind at the prospect of traveling through the desert with no one but a group of strangers. Suddenly, Ardeth's words about the dangers a woman faced alone in the desert came roaring back to her.

"I assure you, Miss Montgomery that this is very safe. My wife travels through the desert quite often by such means. No harm has ever come to her or my colleagues. So, are you willing to help many unfortunate desert dwellers or have you changed your mind," he asked sneakily.

"No, no… I couldn't disagree if it is truly for the benefit of the less fortunate. I shall go, but I will admit, I a very nervous about this journey," Josephine relented timidly as she looked down at her wool clad figure and wondered why she had ever left England in the first place. Gabriel, too, took in her very conservative attire and couldn't hide his disgust. 'How anyone would think that this woman could seduce anything into doing her bidding is beyond me,' Gabriel though to himself as he watched her stand there nervously.

"Very good then, Maria will bring you in a change of clothes and we shall have you on your way before the sun is overhead. This is urgent business, you know, and we must be hurrying," Gabriel announced before heading for the door.

"But have you even spoken with Rick and Evy yet," Josephine asked in disbelief.

"Evelyn said that perhaps it would be for the best if you left with me. I regret having to be the one to tell you this, Miss Montgomery, but I believe that that heathen has tainted their judgment of you. Perhaps when we return from this journey, they will see things differently," Gabriel lied as he opened the door.

"But I should say goodbye to Alex. He will be worried if I simply don't return. He doesn't deserve to be put through any of this," she said as she went to follow Gabriel, but he stopped her by grasping her petite shoulders in his strong hands.

"Do you think it is wise to return to them simply to hug their child goodbye? Even if you have the best of intentions, do you think they will let you near their son now? I am sorry to seem so cold about this, but I don't want to see you get hurt anymore than you already have," Gabriel said as he gazed into her large brown eyes and only seeing passion for life and love for others there. Both were characteristics he had lost long ago or possibly never possessed.

"Very well. I only hope that Alex will grow to forgive me for leaving him like this," she sniffed at the brink of tears as she watched Gabriel leave her alone once again. She didn't want to go with this man, but what other choice did she have? The O'Connells obviously thought that she was corrupt. And Ardeth probably wished to kill her for attempted "looting." Josephine collapsed on the plush bed and wept until Maria entered with her new garments, and even then she was blinded by the tears that threatened to continue spilling. She only hoped that her misfortune would help those of the villages she would be visiting.