Disclaimer: See first page

Disclaimer: See first page.

Desert Heat

Rebecca wiped her arm across her sweating forehead, smearing more grime into her already dirty face. She sat back with a sigh, her back protesting the bent position she had been in for the last hour. She set the brush aside, and stared at the edge of what she was sure was a doorway. It had taken her the past hour to uncover one foot of it, but the careful work she was doing would ensure that the door, if it were that, would be preserved.

"Aunt Becky, look what I found!" Alex said excitedly, holding out the handle of what could have once been a jar. "I unburied it over there!"

"Show me." She said, grateful for the chance to stretch her legs.

Alex took her hand and began tugging her along, stopping only when they reached the spot. She surveyed the area she'd gone over just days before. She'd come up with nothing at that point. She sighed. Beaten by a ten year old.

"Well, sport." She sighed. "It looks as if I'm going to have to look here again. Did you leave anything behind?"

"Maybe." He replied, smothering a giggle, "Can I help you dig?"

That's how Ardeth found them. He stopped, watching the two of them working side by side. He took advantage of the fact that she did not see him, using the time to observe her. She was beautiful, though he doubted she would agree. Her auburn hair was tied back for convenience sake, with tiny curls escaping around her face. Her eyes were an emerald green, framed by long lashes. Her nose was cute and upturned, her lips naturally pink and full. She wore loose fitting khaki pants, and a tank top with an over shirt tied around her waist. He could see the swell of her breasts above the low line of the tank top, and his mouth went dry. Alex chose that moment to look up, a grin lighting his face when he saw Ardeth.

"Hi!"

Ardeth wasn't prepared for the ton of bricks that hit him. He laughed as he hit the ground, with an armful of boy. Alex hugged him, then got up and went back to what he'd been doing. Rebecca felt sympathy for the bewildered man on the ground. She walked to him, and offered her hand. The electricity that shook her when he took it rocked her to the core. When he rose to stand beside her, towering above her, she could only look up at him helplessly as he continued to hold her hand in his.

Ardeth felt the jolt too, and he wondered what hand fate was dealing him when it had brought this woman to him. Her hand in his was small, but strong from work. Her gaze was confused as it met his, and he found his gaze going to her mouth. He was contemplating kissing her when a whoop from Alex broke the spell.

"Look what I found!"

Both adults turned to see what he held up in his palm. It was a ring, gold. Upon closer inspection Rebecca saw that it bore the symbol of Seti, and the name of Anuck-su-nanum. A gasp escaped her lips as she realized she was holding what would have proclaimed Anuck-su-nanum as Seti's bride.

Later that evening:

" A ring, you say? Made of gold?" Jonathan asked, practically drooling at the thought.

"Bearing the name of Anuck-su-nanum." Rebecca said excitedly, missing the worried glance Rick and Evy exchanged. "I think it was meant to be her wedding ring. Or something to that effect."

"Coincidence?" Rick asked Evy, skepticism written all over his face. "Or fate?"

"You should not remain in this place." Ardeth warned, knowing he would be ignored. "This may be the first warning to something greater."

"It's not the first." Evy said quietly, "Is it Rebecca."

All eyes turned to her. She felt somehow guilty, even though she'd done nothing wrong.

"There is this necklace." She admitted uncomfortably "It too belonged to Anuk-su-nanum."

"Is it gold?" Jonathan asked eagerly.

"I'll go get it."

Rebecca hurried to the tent, finding where she'd hidden the necklace with no trouble at all. She picked it up gently, and carried it out to where everyone was gathered by the fire. The firelight reflected off every stone, making it shimmer.

"Beautiful." Jonathan murmured, for once ignoring the worth of an item.

Rebecca took it back to the tent, putting it in its case securely. When she turned around she ran right into something solid. When she saw it was Ardeth she backed up a step, not trusting herself to be that close to him.

"We should not remain here." He told her, "The items you have found, they may be a warning for things to come."

"I'm not going anywhere." Rebecca shot back. "You, of course, are more than welcome to leave, if you are afraid."

The menacing scowl that crossed his face made her take another step back. He stalked forward, one hand coming up to capture her chin as he glared down at her.

"You would infuriate the gods." He growled, "You should take my warnings seriously. There has been trouble on this site before, of have you forgotten that Evelyn nearly died, twice?"

"I've forgotten nothing." She said angrily, jerking free of his touch. "I plan to ask them to go immediately. But I'm staying."

"You do not care if you die?"

Before he could blink she had her gun unholstered and jammed into his side.

"I don't plan on dying. Don't threaten me." She warned.

With one swift movement he'd knocked the gun from her hand, twisting her arm behind her back and jerking her up against him in a hold that she could not break. Every inch of her was pressed against his body, and she could do nothing but stare up at him, confused anger written on her face.

"I do not threaten." Ardeth said softly, "I promise. There is a difference."

He let her go abruptly, and walked out of the tent without a backward glance.