Chapter 1 - Before the Beginning

1925

The day that her mother met Saeed El-Fadir, Audrey Criedne O'Reilly celebrated her ninth birthday. Although her mother and grandmother had tried valiantly to shield her from the unpleasant details, Audrey knew that her mother, Roslyn O'Reilly, was in Cairo because of Audrey's father's death. Connor O'Reilly had been the father of all seven of Roslyn's children but, since his death, very little had changed in Audrey's life. Her father had been, at best, on the periphery of her world. At worst, he had been her tormentor. Mostly, though, he had just been absent. Try as she might, the sincere little girl could feel no grief at her father's passing. His demise caused her no joy but she, in truth, gave it very little thought.

Roslyn O'Reilly had traveled to Cairo in hopes of settling her late husband's affairs. At nine and as the youngest of the O'Reilly brood, even Audrey was aware of her family's wealth. They were not the richest family in Britain but they were certainly in the top twenty. It was a mixed blessing but, with seven children, it was a blessing which Roslyn meant to secure. Audrey would not know it for several years but her father had taken the greater bulk of the fortune with him to Egypt when he'd, more or less, settled there seven years previous.

All of this matter not a bit to a little girl. What mattered to her, what would alter her life in more ways that anyone could have predicted, was that while her dear Mama was strolling through the Cairo Museum of Antiquity her first day in Egypt she bumped into, quite literally, the one man on the planet whom she was truly meant to love. When Roslyn returned to London three months later, she brought with her a new husband. A man with dark, foreign eyes, strange, frightening markings on his face and a quiet yet boundless strength. A man who caused such a scandal in good society that Audrey and her siblings were almost instantly ostracized to the point of sharing company exclusively with one another. The only man Audrey would ever call 'father'.

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1930

Ardeth Bay handed off the reins of his horse and strode, purposefully, toward the door in the large marble facade of Saeed El-Fadir's new Cairo residence. Saeed had been Ardeth's father's most valued advisor. Ardeth had grown up at the older man's knee, learning to give as much weight to Saeed's wisdom as his own father's. When Ahmed Bay had died in his son's fourteenth year, there had even been talk of allowing Saeed to lead the Med-jai until Ardeth had reached a more suitable age. Saeed had declined the offer and chosen to serve instead as Ardeth's right hand. Ardeth most assuredly would have lost his rightful place as Med-jai chief were it not for Saeed's quite guidance. When Ardeth had reached 19, Saeed had taken himself off to Cairo to watch over the Med-jai interests there. The action had cemented Ardeth's place in his and all the tribes of the Med-jai.

Now, in the position that Saeed had helped him aquire and maintain, it was Ardeth's duty to censure the elder tribesman. He'd avoided just such a confrontation for seven years because Saeed had kept his foreign wife and family in England. Now he had come back to Cairo.

The door opened as Ardeth ascended the stairs to the expansive porch. A very proper-looking middle aged man stood in the entryway. "Mr. Bay?" Ardeth nodded. "Mr. Fadir expects you. Follow me."

As elaborate as the outside of the house was, the furnishings were actually quite plain, functional. Ardeth followed the servant through the foyer, down a wide hall and into a large room at the back of the house. Obviously an office or study of some sort. Wood paneling, hundreds of books arranged carefully on shelves from floor to high ceiling, a large imported oak desk and several chairs and couches scattered around the room.

Saeed sat behind the desk. A woman, the wife, Ardeth assumed, stood behind Saeed. She was pretty in an unusual, foreign way. Most men of his tribe would consider her too thin, too frail but Ardeth understood that this was the European standard to beauty. Her light brown hair was bound loosely at the nape of her neck and her green eyes surveyed her guest with a cautious warmth.

"Mr. Bay, I am Roslyn. It is a honour to have you in my home." Ardeth inclined his head. He had hoped that this meeting would be limited to himself and Saeed. The presence of Mrs. El-Fadir complicated his strategy a bit. "Let me introduce you to my children. My tow oldest sons have stayed in England but the rest of us have heard so many stories about you we couldn't wait to meet you."

As is on cue, five children ranging in age from fifteen to twenty-two entered the room. Ardeth bit back his automatic sigh of impatience. "This is Daniel." Ardeth shook the young man's hand. Daniel resembled his mother as did the eldest daughter, Regina. The next two daughters, Lindsey and Melanie, had their mother's chestnut hair but both were far taller and more sturdy than Roslyn. Like their mother, all three of the elder girls were very attractive, well dressed and poised.

"And this is my youngest, Audrey." Ardeth, glad to be coming to the end of the introduction, aimed a measured smile at Audrey. This daughter looked nothing like the others. She was, by far, the shortest of the clan, the top of her falling at mid-chest level on Ardeth. Although she was still young and it was possible that she would gain height, Ardeth doubted it. Her form had already rounded into the unmistakable curves of a grown woman. Her hair bound tightly on the top of her head, was easily the most eye-catching thing about her - incredibly blonde, amazingly glossy. Ardeth had never seen anything like it - not necessarily beautiful, just unbelievable in its brilliance. What would it look like loose?

That hair would have overwhelmed her face if the face itself weren't so unusual. Disarmingly pale skin, blue, blue eyes, a heart-shaped mouth. She looked fragile, too fragile for this place. Ardeth felt a pang of pity tug at his gut. As bad as Saeed's return to Egypt was for himself and the Med-jai, it was immeasurably worse for Audrey O'Reilly.

The thought brought Ardeth back to his original reason for this visit. "Saeed," he started.

Saeed held up his hand. "Ardeth, I believe, would like a moment alone with me, my family." Obediently, the entire welcoming committee shuffled out of the study.

Once alone, Ardeth gave Saeed a moment to collect his thoughts. It was the least he owed the man. "If I did not know better, I would swear that was your father who stood before me. The resemblance is striking, Ardeth."

"My mother often says the same." But Ardeth was in no mood for small talk. In a careful tone, he began, "Saeed-"

"They are my family, Ardeth."

"You are a Med-jai first." He took an aggressive stance, knowing his posture betrayed him but caring very little.

"No, I am a man first. As you ought to be."

The reproach, as kindly as it was, gave Ardeth pause. This was a sentiment he had heard often but never once from Saeed. If anyone understood Ardeth's reluctance to take a wife and start a family, it was the man before him. "I am the leader of the Med-jai."

"You are a man who every night lays down to sleep alone." Saeed's tone softened further. "Ardeth, you have never truly known a woman's love."

"You are wrong." The words were cold.

Quietly, almost submissively, Saeed continued, "No, I am right. You have know grief but love alluded you." Standing behind his desk, Saeed radiated quiet knowledge. "You were married a mere ten months before the loss of your bride. You were seventeen and the marriage was arranged. I love you as I would my own son, had I been so blessed, but I have long known that you delude yourself into believing that the loss of your wife and unborn child is the reason behind your current lack of companionship."

"I never want for companionship." The implied meaning of the words was not subtle. A Med-jai chief had no need to lack female attention when wanted.

"Of course." Saeed nodded. "But the state of your heart saddens me, Ardeth. You are likely to find yourself old and alone when your duties to the Med-jai are done."

"I will produce and heir."

"Ah..." Again a nod. "Very...appropriate of you. You are too you to be so without passion."

Not wishing to discuss the topic further, Ardeth returned to his planned subject. "It is not my passion that we must discuss."

"They are my family. There is no discussion."

"It is not that simple."

"It is. They are of no concern to the Med-jai."

Ardeth took a deep, calming breath. "They are, old friend. Unfortunately, they are."

"How so?"

"There was a prophecy."

"I fail to see-"

Ardeth raised his hands and Saeed ceased speaking. "We were told that a Med-jai warrior would marry a white woman. Their daughter or daughters will wake the creature and, perhaps, worse."

"When was this prophecy?"

"Seven years ago."

"I've never heard of it."

Ardeth nodded. "I thought nothing of it at the time."

"Think nothing of it now. Roslyn and I will never have any children."

"Do you not consider her children your own?"

For the first time since the conversation's start, Saeed broke eye-contact. "Indeed, I do."

"The prophecy was vague. The four daughters concern me."

Finally, Saeed seemed to hear Ardeth's words. The older man sighed. "They are children, Ardeth. Spectacular only because they are mine. They exhibit no special abilities."

"What is done is done, Saeed. But precautions must be taken."

"Had I known of the prophecy...probably it would have changed nothing. But I did not know, Ardeth, and I cannot regret my marriage. I waited a very long time for happiness. Almost too long."

"Now the Med-jai must protect your family."

"I suppose so."