I use a bit from the Dire Strights song, "Brothers in Arms" in this chap. It seemed to fit well for the story line. I dont own the song...etc.
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"That the last of them?" Omar asked as he and Nick carried in the body of the driver.
"Yeah, it is." Radhi said softly, looking at the seven bodies at their feet. They had cleared out all their packs, supplies, and weapons. Now all that was left was the seven bodies, laying in a row. It was a sad sight to Nick, who stared at the bodies of his two colleges. He had taken the life of one of them, and would never be able to forgive himself for that.
"Come on, lets get this over with." Omar said, placing a hand on Nick's shoulder, but he didn't move.
"Now the suns gone to hell, and the moon's riding high. Let me bid you farewell, every man has to die. But it's written in the star light, and ever line on your palm. We're fools to make war, on our brothers in arms." Nick said softly.
The Med-jai didn't bother him, they slowly made their way to the mouth of the cave.
"I'm sorry." He said, looking at Travis. "I am so sorry." With that, he joined up with the warriors, and climbed down the wall with the rest of them. Omar held a stick of dynamite on his hand and lit it, throwing into the cave, then ran. The rest followed and all ducked when it went off, causing the mouth of the cave to crumble in, closing in the bodies of the seven killed there today.
They all made their way silently to the boat and climbed in. Martin, along with Haris, made their way into the small room and started up the boat. Radhi and Omar both collapsed on the other side of the boat from Ameera, while Nick sat kneeled down next to he, brushing some now damp hair behind her ear.
"Your bleeding." She said softly, looking at his chest. He looked down at the gash across his upper chest.
"I'll be ok. You are to." He placed his hand next to her own wound. She chuckled softly, "Looks like we will all have scars from this battle."
"Well, you got to have something to remember it by. Here," He handed her the lucky U.S.N. knife, now all nice and clean. "You dropped it back there." She took it with a smile and held it in her hands, slowly turning it over and over. "That saved my life back there, you know."
"Well, it is a lucky knife." She said softly, before handing it back to Nick. "You take it now, I believe I am done with it. You take it back into your family."
But Nick shook his head and would take the knife. "You are not done with it yet. You keep it, besides, I would never be able to get that through customs."
She smiled and chuckled, then placed the knife on the bench next to her. The boat jumped a little then began moving. She stared into his eyes, wanting to tell him something but not being able.
"Ameera, I am sorry I got mad at you…" He said softly.
"I am sorry I said the wrong thing…I didn't know what to say, so the wrong thing slipped out."
"I know." He leaned in and gently kissed her, and this time, she did not push him away or think it was wrong. It was better then kissing Imhotep that's for sure. Everyone on the boat turned to stare at the two kissing, but Omar waved them away, Nick and Ameera had a right to kiss with out everyone staring at them the whole time.
When the kiss broke, they both smiled at each other and stared into the other's eyes. For a long time, no one said anything, and that was just fine. Soon, Omar, Haris, Radhi, Nick, and Ameera fell asleep, leaving Martin to silently take the boat up the river, to where Haris had told him to stop. It took well into the afternoon, but no one mined.
~~
When they finally got there, Izzy came down to greet them, and helped them haul their supplies and them self's up the long path to where his plane sat.
"Get everything done?" Izzy asked Nick, as they threw all the packs into the back of the plane.
"That, and then some." Nick said softly, looking at Ameera.
"Burn it." Ameera said softly.
"What?"
"Burn the boat. Other wise someone will find it and there will be questions."
"Look at what I just found!" Omar said, walking up to them. Everyone turned and stared at what he held in his hands, the black Book of the Dead.
"Score." Nick said softly, running his hand over the smooth cover.
"There is more." Martin said softly, looking to the large Med-jai. "There is more treasure in the boat that was taken from the pyramid. Including these." He pulled out the set of Golden Tridents. "I took these from the main chamber."
Nick took the tridents in his hands, running his eyes over them slowly. "Evy used these." He said softly. "I know it."
The warriors looked at each other, and with a large, collective sigh, they walked down the path again, to collect the treasure in the boat. They found so much, gold weapons, small statues of the gods, pieces of the gold walls. It took them a while to clear out the boat of the treasure and haul it up to the air plane to a wide eyed Izzy.
"Is that the last of it?" Ameera asked as Omar sat down a large backpack filled with various things.
"That's the very last of it. Right?" He shot a look at Martin.
"Yes…that's all of it."
"Good. Burn it now." Ameera turned around and made her way slowly up the path to the plane, as Omar kicked over a can of gas, climbed off the boat, and threw a lit match onto the deck of the boat. He walked away as the first flames appeared.
~~
Radhi and Haris climbed into the very back bench seat of the plane, each taking the very ends and stretching out as best they could. Omar fell onto the middle one, barely able to keep his sore body up any longer. Nick and Ameera took the front bench seat, Ameera sat against the window, legs stretched out a little, and Nick had laid down on the bench, laying back into her. She wrapped one arm around him and looked back at her cousin and her friends. All three of them half asleep. Omar smiled weakly at Ameera and winked at her. She smiled and looked down then back at him, then mouthed, "Thank you."
Martin took the front with Izzy the third. The plane, started then jumped a little, before turning around and taking off from the cliff. This time none of the Med-jai even cared that they had taken off, they were mostly all asleep in the back. Nick dozed off, but Ameera leaned her head against the window and looked back at the Blue Nile and Ahm Shere as they flew away. She could see a large pit where the Golden Pyramid was, and she made a mental note to have the sixth tribe fix that.
Ameera Bay was somewhat content. Granted, she had had one hell of a day, and would no doubt be sore as hell for the next week, but she was still content. It was all over, the creature was gone, she was leaving Ahm Shere for good, and she was with a man who made her heart fill with joy.
~~
When Ameera opened her eyes, the sky was dark around the plane. Looking around, she saw that everyone else in the plane, except her and of course Izzy was sleeping soundly. She smiled as she looked down at Nick, who was lying in her lap.
"How much longer, Izzy?" She asked softly, causing the pilot to turn around with a start.
"About ten more minutes, I thought I would take you straight to your tribe. Is that ok with you?"
"Fine…you do know where it is?"
"Yes, I have flown over it enough times."
Ameera nodded and leaned her head back against the window. With a sigh, she turned back to Omar, Radhi, and Haris, all of who were sleeping the day away. Then she leaned down and kissed Nick softly. After a second, he breathed in deeply and began to kiss her back, smiling but not opening his eyes when the kiss broke.
"To bad I can't wake up like that everyday." He said softly, finally opening his eyes and looking at her.
"Yeah, to bad." She said with a smile. "How you feeling?"
"Like I was dropped from a ten story building. You?"
"About the same. We set down in about ten minutes…I guess he is taking us straight to my home."
"How?"
"I have no idea." She said as the plan began its decent.
~~
"What do you think that is?"
Two Med-jai warriors were sitting on their horses near a long cliff, about a mile from their tribe.
"It looks like a plane…a plane that is about to land."
The two looked at each other.
~~
And indeed the plane did land on the long cliff, coming to a stop twenty feet away from the two young and now scared shit-less, warriors.
"Looks like some of your friends were expecting us." Izzy said, turning to Ameera.
"Must you come down so hard?" Omar asked, sitting up and holding his head.
"Which one of us wants to go talk to the welcoming party?" Ameera asked with a grunt, as she pushed herself into a proper sitting position.
"I will." Radhi said as he stumbled out of his seat. "Haris, care to join me?"
Haris just grunted as they pushed open the plane door and both fell out of it.
Nick, now sitting, placed a hand on Martin's shoulder. "Don't worry…these are good people. They will take us in, give us beds, and feed us."
"Whatever…" Martin looked out the dirty front windows. "Where are we?"
"We are about sixty miles out side of Cairo." Omar said, attempting to pull himself out of the plane, but he to feel out of the door with a rather loud cuss word.
At this time, Haris and Radhi came back and told them that the two warriors were going to get more horses and would be back in about twenty minutes. Ameera nodded and stood up as best she could. Nick made his way out of the plane and held out his arms to help her out.
"Thank god." She muttered as she stepped out of the plane. "We're home."
About fifteen minutes later, a large group of Med-jai came riding up to then, extra horses in tow.
"My Lady!" A voice rang out.
"Baber!" Ameera's face lit up as she crossed to the first horse that reached them. Baber, the high elder of the Med-jai, dismounted and hugged his goddaughter.
"Welcome back."
"Thank you, it is good to be back."
Baber broke his hug with Ameera, and turned to Haris and Radhi. "My sons..."
With the reliefe only a father could know, he embraced his two sons, holding each one of them tightly and telling them how happy he was they returned safely.
"Have we succeeded?" He asked, turning back to Ameera.
"Yes, the creature is no more."
"Allah be praised. Come, let's get all of you home, I am sure you all must be very tired."
"We have done nothing but slept all day, my friend."
Baber laughed and glided Ameera to one of the empty horses. He helped her mount it, then mounted his own horse. The rest followed suit all mounting their respected horses.
"Baber, we bring with us a very special gift that has been out of Med-jai hands for a very long time." Ameera said softly.
"You don't mean…"
"Yes. The Book of the Dead is back in the possession of the Med-jai."
"That is some of the best news I have ever heard." He snapped his fingers at the Med-jai who were already on horses, who rode over to the plane and unloaded their bags.
"Izzy, I, and my people, thank you greatly for your help. It will not go unnoticed." Ameera called from her steed, once again becoming the Queen of the Med-jai.
Izzy smiled and waved his hand, "No Problem!"
With that, the group of Med-jai and Englishmen rode off into the desert night.
"You must send word to the sixth tribe that they have to go to Ahm Shere and fill in the large hole that was dug. They must do this quickly, for if anyone were to find it, they would find the half uncovered pyramid of the Scorpion King." Ameera told Baber as he searched through a side bag on his saddle.
"Here," He said, pulling out an even smaller bag. "Eat this."
She took the bag and opened it, finding coconut pieces inside. "Thank you, I have not eaten much today." She took a large piece and handed the bag to Omar, who did the same and passed it on.
It took them ten minutes to get to the Med-jai City, Nick and Martin were led away to their lodgings, as Ameera and Omar walked to the Elders Tent.
"We can do this tomorrow morning, Ameera." Baber said as they all sat down at the long table with the other elders.
"No, we will do it now, while it is fresh in our minds. Do you mind Omar?" She turned to her second in command, he shook his head. "Very well then, it all started this morning, when Omar spotted a boat coming up the river…"
~~
"Ameera…Ameera?" The voice rang in her ear.
"Go away…" She turned over and stuck a pillow over her head.
"Ameera Lana Bay, get up right now. It is already past noon!"
But she didn't move. With a sigh, Muriel grabbed her daughter's foot and gave it a good solid yank, pulling her head out of the pillow.
"Mom…there better be a damn good reason why you are waking me up." Ameera said with a yawn, sitting up and stretching her arms.
"There is a good reason, and it is that it is already the afternoon. Get up!"
"Mom, I got here at two in the morning, I didn't get to sleep till six. I think I need more sleep."
"Nick told me you did nothing but sleep yesterday, you need no more sleep."
"I did do something more then sleep yesterday, and when did you talk to Nick?"
"About an hour ago when I treated his wounds, and now it is your turn. You have ten minutes to get to the medical tent before I come and drag you there."
"Yes mom…"
Muriel smiled and stood up, crossing to the door. "I'm happy your home safely, dear. I was worried about you."
"Thanks mom. I am happy to be home safely to." As her mother left, Ameera flopped back onto the bed, staring up at her ceiling. Was it really only the day before that she had fought the creature? It seemed like years ago to Ameera, who sighed and got up. Her whole body was sorer then she had ever felt it, and it was hard for her to cross to her chest of cloths and change. She had been wearing the same pair of pants and tank top for the past two and a half days and it was a joy to peel them off her body. Luckily, for a reason she did not know, someone had retrieved her Med-jai robe from the pool in the cave, so that, the pants, and the tank top would go in the vault, just like her family's robes. It took her a while to change into a new set of clothes for her body was so sore, but she finally got it done. Slipping on a thin pair of normal slippers and pulling her hair onto a loose bun on the top of her head. She did not wear her robes and felt no need to put them on. Today was going to be a calm day of rest.
Crossing the city to the medical tent, she smiled and waved at many people, some stopping to welcome her home, others bowing their heads in respect.
"Sit down dear." Her mom said as she entered the tent and crossed to one of the cots. "This shouldn't take long."
Ameera sat down and let her mom look her over and clean the many scrapes and cuts she had received.
"That's going to leave a scar." Muriel said as she cleaned the wound on her side.
"A memory of battle." Ameera said softly, flinching as her mom put a cold liquid of some kind on her side.
"You got pretty beat up dear, I would hate to see the other guy."
" 'The other guy' didn't make it out alive."
"What was it like dear?"
"One of the hardest battles I have ever had to face. The man I fought…the creature…was a skilled fighter. He fought like a madman, and he would not give up."
"What was he like?"
"I think he knew he wasn't going to make it out alive…but that he didn't want the rest of us to get out alive as well. He was a handsome man, I will give you that…and he was strong, but he also seemed sad." When Ameera stopped talking, she looked up at her mother, who was staring at her with tears in her eyes. "Mom? What's wrong?"
Her mom took a deep breath and smiled through the few tears that had slipped down her cheek. "I am just so thankful you came back to me. I was so worried that you were not going to make it out alive." She placed her hand on her daughter's cheek. "I am so proud of you Ameera, and you father would be so proud as well."
Ameera smiled softly and pulled her mom into a tight hug. "I know mom, I know."
After a few seconds, the hug broke and Muriel handed Ameera a glass of water. She took it and began to drink as her mother asked, "So what's it like to kiss Nick?"
Ameera spit the water half way across the room and began coughing.
"WHAT?!"
"Now, now dear. That was uncalled for!"
"The question!?"
"No! The spitting, here, give me that glass and answer my question!"
"What makes you think I kissed Nick?"
"A mother knows these things!"
"I am going to kill those three…"Ameera muttered, shaking her fist towards the tent door.
"No one told me dear, I just know these things. Is it serious?"
"What?"
"Don't play dumb! I know there is something going on between you two."
Ameera sighed and gave in. "I don't know if it is, I kinda hope it will get serious. I really like him."
"And my question?"
"It is really nice to kiss him mom, in fact, he is the greatest kisser in the world!" She could no longer hold in the sarcasm.
"Don't sass me."
"He is wonderful in every way mom. I hope I get to spend more time with him."
Muriel's smile faded and she looked at her child softly.
"About that…dear…"
~~
"Come in!" Nick called to the persistent knocking on his door. A second later Ameera appeared in the bedroom doorway, a look of pure shock on her face.
"You're leaving?" She gasped.
Nick looked up at her from the bag he had been packing on his bed. "Um…yeah. Tomorrow morning."
"Why?" Ameera couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I have to get back to London in two days. I have to go on another one of the museums traveling shows."
"How long?"
"Six months." He said softly, turning his head away from her.
"Six months? You're going to be gone for six months?" The news hit her like a bullet.
"I will be gone for six months…we are taking the exhibit to France, Germany, Italy, China, Russia, and somewhere else…I really forget where the last place is. But like before, we will be there for a month in each country."
"Six months?"
Nick crossed to Ameera, who was standing in the doorway, mouth agape, and eyes wide. He took her in his arms and kissed the top of her head gently.
"I'm so sorry, I should have told you before."
"Why do you have to go? Can't you send someone else?"
"Ameera, two of the four curators of the Ancient Egypt exhibit were killed yesterday…there is no one else to send!"
"Martin is going with you?"
"Sadly, yes." Nick said with a smile. "It will be ok Ameera…six months isn't that long of a time."
"Yes it is!" She pushed him away from her. "Its half a year…do you know how long six months pass by out in the desert? It's going to feel like six years!"
"Ameera…I am so sorry. I am. If I could switch with someone and not go, I would. But they need at least two people to go…and it is going to be hard enough to explain to them that Steven York and Travis Ripkin are not coming back to work. Ever!"
"By the way, how are you going to explain their absence?"
"I am going to write a letter explaining that they are both going to stay in Egypt because they fell in love and will never again return to London."
"Fall in love…with each other?"
"No!" Nick laughed. "No…with women!"
"And you think this will go over with the museum?"
"I hope so. I can't just not say anything. I would have to think that they would notice that two of their curators are missing."
"And what about their families?"
"Steven, from what I was told, disowned his family and Travis didn't have any."
Ameera nodded as she crossed to the bed and sat down on it. "Six months?"
He crossed to her and kneeled on the floor in front of her. "It will pass by quickly, I promise you. I will only be gone for six months…then I will come back to you and we can start whatever life we are going to have together."
"Six months?"
"Six months."
"Six months…."
Nick chuckled and leaned up, kissing her. When the kiss broke, Ameera smiled. "I think I can handle six months."
"Good." Nick smiled and pushed a few lose strands of hair behind her ear. "God…this is like having to cut the greatest date I have ever had short. I don't want to go Ameera…I really don't. But I have to…there is no one else to go."
"I understand Nick…it just…sucks that I am not going to see you for six months. I mean we are just really getting to know each other!"
"Sucks?" He said, eyebrow raised.
"Shut up."
"Hey, we still have the rest of the day today, and if you go with me to Cairo…we will have even more time. What do you say?"
"I would love to go to Cairo with you." She said with a smile, pulling him in for another kiss.
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"That the last of them?" Omar asked as he and Nick carried in the body of the driver.
"Yeah, it is." Radhi said softly, looking at the seven bodies at their feet. They had cleared out all their packs, supplies, and weapons. Now all that was left was the seven bodies, laying in a row. It was a sad sight to Nick, who stared at the bodies of his two colleges. He had taken the life of one of them, and would never be able to forgive himself for that.
"Come on, lets get this over with." Omar said, placing a hand on Nick's shoulder, but he didn't move.
"Now the suns gone to hell, and the moon's riding high. Let me bid you farewell, every man has to die. But it's written in the star light, and ever line on your palm. We're fools to make war, on our brothers in arms." Nick said softly.
The Med-jai didn't bother him, they slowly made their way to the mouth of the cave.
"I'm sorry." He said, looking at Travis. "I am so sorry." With that, he joined up with the warriors, and climbed down the wall with the rest of them. Omar held a stick of dynamite on his hand and lit it, throwing into the cave, then ran. The rest followed and all ducked when it went off, causing the mouth of the cave to crumble in, closing in the bodies of the seven killed there today.
They all made their way silently to the boat and climbed in. Martin, along with Haris, made their way into the small room and started up the boat. Radhi and Omar both collapsed on the other side of the boat from Ameera, while Nick sat kneeled down next to he, brushing some now damp hair behind her ear.
"Your bleeding." She said softly, looking at his chest. He looked down at the gash across his upper chest.
"I'll be ok. You are to." He placed his hand next to her own wound. She chuckled softly, "Looks like we will all have scars from this battle."
"Well, you got to have something to remember it by. Here," He handed her the lucky U.S.N. knife, now all nice and clean. "You dropped it back there." She took it with a smile and held it in her hands, slowly turning it over and over. "That saved my life back there, you know."
"Well, it is a lucky knife." She said softly, before handing it back to Nick. "You take it now, I believe I am done with it. You take it back into your family."
But Nick shook his head and would take the knife. "You are not done with it yet. You keep it, besides, I would never be able to get that through customs."
She smiled and chuckled, then placed the knife on the bench next to her. The boat jumped a little then began moving. She stared into his eyes, wanting to tell him something but not being able.
"Ameera, I am sorry I got mad at you…" He said softly.
"I am sorry I said the wrong thing…I didn't know what to say, so the wrong thing slipped out."
"I know." He leaned in and gently kissed her, and this time, she did not push him away or think it was wrong. It was better then kissing Imhotep that's for sure. Everyone on the boat turned to stare at the two kissing, but Omar waved them away, Nick and Ameera had a right to kiss with out everyone staring at them the whole time.
When the kiss broke, they both smiled at each other and stared into the other's eyes. For a long time, no one said anything, and that was just fine. Soon, Omar, Haris, Radhi, Nick, and Ameera fell asleep, leaving Martin to silently take the boat up the river, to where Haris had told him to stop. It took well into the afternoon, but no one mined.
~~
When they finally got there, Izzy came down to greet them, and helped them haul their supplies and them self's up the long path to where his plane sat.
"Get everything done?" Izzy asked Nick, as they threw all the packs into the back of the plane.
"That, and then some." Nick said softly, looking at Ameera.
"Burn it." Ameera said softly.
"What?"
"Burn the boat. Other wise someone will find it and there will be questions."
"Look at what I just found!" Omar said, walking up to them. Everyone turned and stared at what he held in his hands, the black Book of the Dead.
"Score." Nick said softly, running his hand over the smooth cover.
"There is more." Martin said softly, looking to the large Med-jai. "There is more treasure in the boat that was taken from the pyramid. Including these." He pulled out the set of Golden Tridents. "I took these from the main chamber."
Nick took the tridents in his hands, running his eyes over them slowly. "Evy used these." He said softly. "I know it."
The warriors looked at each other, and with a large, collective sigh, they walked down the path again, to collect the treasure in the boat. They found so much, gold weapons, small statues of the gods, pieces of the gold walls. It took them a while to clear out the boat of the treasure and haul it up to the air plane to a wide eyed Izzy.
"Is that the last of it?" Ameera asked as Omar sat down a large backpack filled with various things.
"That's the very last of it. Right?" He shot a look at Martin.
"Yes…that's all of it."
"Good. Burn it now." Ameera turned around and made her way slowly up the path to the plane, as Omar kicked over a can of gas, climbed off the boat, and threw a lit match onto the deck of the boat. He walked away as the first flames appeared.
~~
Radhi and Haris climbed into the very back bench seat of the plane, each taking the very ends and stretching out as best they could. Omar fell onto the middle one, barely able to keep his sore body up any longer. Nick and Ameera took the front bench seat, Ameera sat against the window, legs stretched out a little, and Nick had laid down on the bench, laying back into her. She wrapped one arm around him and looked back at her cousin and her friends. All three of them half asleep. Omar smiled weakly at Ameera and winked at her. She smiled and looked down then back at him, then mouthed, "Thank you."
Martin took the front with Izzy the third. The plane, started then jumped a little, before turning around and taking off from the cliff. This time none of the Med-jai even cared that they had taken off, they were mostly all asleep in the back. Nick dozed off, but Ameera leaned her head against the window and looked back at the Blue Nile and Ahm Shere as they flew away. She could see a large pit where the Golden Pyramid was, and she made a mental note to have the sixth tribe fix that.
Ameera Bay was somewhat content. Granted, she had had one hell of a day, and would no doubt be sore as hell for the next week, but she was still content. It was all over, the creature was gone, she was leaving Ahm Shere for good, and she was with a man who made her heart fill with joy.
~~
When Ameera opened her eyes, the sky was dark around the plane. Looking around, she saw that everyone else in the plane, except her and of course Izzy was sleeping soundly. She smiled as she looked down at Nick, who was lying in her lap.
"How much longer, Izzy?" She asked softly, causing the pilot to turn around with a start.
"About ten more minutes, I thought I would take you straight to your tribe. Is that ok with you?"
"Fine…you do know where it is?"
"Yes, I have flown over it enough times."
Ameera nodded and leaned her head back against the window. With a sigh, she turned back to Omar, Radhi, and Haris, all of who were sleeping the day away. Then she leaned down and kissed Nick softly. After a second, he breathed in deeply and began to kiss her back, smiling but not opening his eyes when the kiss broke.
"To bad I can't wake up like that everyday." He said softly, finally opening his eyes and looking at her.
"Yeah, to bad." She said with a smile. "How you feeling?"
"Like I was dropped from a ten story building. You?"
"About the same. We set down in about ten minutes…I guess he is taking us straight to my home."
"How?"
"I have no idea." She said as the plan began its decent.
~~
"What do you think that is?"
Two Med-jai warriors were sitting on their horses near a long cliff, about a mile from their tribe.
"It looks like a plane…a plane that is about to land."
The two looked at each other.
~~
And indeed the plane did land on the long cliff, coming to a stop twenty feet away from the two young and now scared shit-less, warriors.
"Looks like some of your friends were expecting us." Izzy said, turning to Ameera.
"Must you come down so hard?" Omar asked, sitting up and holding his head.
"Which one of us wants to go talk to the welcoming party?" Ameera asked with a grunt, as she pushed herself into a proper sitting position.
"I will." Radhi said as he stumbled out of his seat. "Haris, care to join me?"
Haris just grunted as they pushed open the plane door and both fell out of it.
Nick, now sitting, placed a hand on Martin's shoulder. "Don't worry…these are good people. They will take us in, give us beds, and feed us."
"Whatever…" Martin looked out the dirty front windows. "Where are we?"
"We are about sixty miles out side of Cairo." Omar said, attempting to pull himself out of the plane, but he to feel out of the door with a rather loud cuss word.
At this time, Haris and Radhi came back and told them that the two warriors were going to get more horses and would be back in about twenty minutes. Ameera nodded and stood up as best she could. Nick made his way out of the plane and held out his arms to help her out.
"Thank god." She muttered as she stepped out of the plane. "We're home."
About fifteen minutes later, a large group of Med-jai came riding up to then, extra horses in tow.
"My Lady!" A voice rang out.
"Baber!" Ameera's face lit up as she crossed to the first horse that reached them. Baber, the high elder of the Med-jai, dismounted and hugged his goddaughter.
"Welcome back."
"Thank you, it is good to be back."
Baber broke his hug with Ameera, and turned to Haris and Radhi. "My sons..."
With the reliefe only a father could know, he embraced his two sons, holding each one of them tightly and telling them how happy he was they returned safely.
"Have we succeeded?" He asked, turning back to Ameera.
"Yes, the creature is no more."
"Allah be praised. Come, let's get all of you home, I am sure you all must be very tired."
"We have done nothing but slept all day, my friend."
Baber laughed and glided Ameera to one of the empty horses. He helped her mount it, then mounted his own horse. The rest followed suit all mounting their respected horses.
"Baber, we bring with us a very special gift that has been out of Med-jai hands for a very long time." Ameera said softly.
"You don't mean…"
"Yes. The Book of the Dead is back in the possession of the Med-jai."
"That is some of the best news I have ever heard." He snapped his fingers at the Med-jai who were already on horses, who rode over to the plane and unloaded their bags.
"Izzy, I, and my people, thank you greatly for your help. It will not go unnoticed." Ameera called from her steed, once again becoming the Queen of the Med-jai.
Izzy smiled and waved his hand, "No Problem!"
With that, the group of Med-jai and Englishmen rode off into the desert night.
"You must send word to the sixth tribe that they have to go to Ahm Shere and fill in the large hole that was dug. They must do this quickly, for if anyone were to find it, they would find the half uncovered pyramid of the Scorpion King." Ameera told Baber as he searched through a side bag on his saddle.
"Here," He said, pulling out an even smaller bag. "Eat this."
She took the bag and opened it, finding coconut pieces inside. "Thank you, I have not eaten much today." She took a large piece and handed the bag to Omar, who did the same and passed it on.
It took them ten minutes to get to the Med-jai City, Nick and Martin were led away to their lodgings, as Ameera and Omar walked to the Elders Tent.
"We can do this tomorrow morning, Ameera." Baber said as they all sat down at the long table with the other elders.
"No, we will do it now, while it is fresh in our minds. Do you mind Omar?" She turned to her second in command, he shook his head. "Very well then, it all started this morning, when Omar spotted a boat coming up the river…"
~~
"Ameera…Ameera?" The voice rang in her ear.
"Go away…" She turned over and stuck a pillow over her head.
"Ameera Lana Bay, get up right now. It is already past noon!"
But she didn't move. With a sigh, Muriel grabbed her daughter's foot and gave it a good solid yank, pulling her head out of the pillow.
"Mom…there better be a damn good reason why you are waking me up." Ameera said with a yawn, sitting up and stretching her arms.
"There is a good reason, and it is that it is already the afternoon. Get up!"
"Mom, I got here at two in the morning, I didn't get to sleep till six. I think I need more sleep."
"Nick told me you did nothing but sleep yesterday, you need no more sleep."
"I did do something more then sleep yesterday, and when did you talk to Nick?"
"About an hour ago when I treated his wounds, and now it is your turn. You have ten minutes to get to the medical tent before I come and drag you there."
"Yes mom…"
Muriel smiled and stood up, crossing to the door. "I'm happy your home safely, dear. I was worried about you."
"Thanks mom. I am happy to be home safely to." As her mother left, Ameera flopped back onto the bed, staring up at her ceiling. Was it really only the day before that she had fought the creature? It seemed like years ago to Ameera, who sighed and got up. Her whole body was sorer then she had ever felt it, and it was hard for her to cross to her chest of cloths and change. She had been wearing the same pair of pants and tank top for the past two and a half days and it was a joy to peel them off her body. Luckily, for a reason she did not know, someone had retrieved her Med-jai robe from the pool in the cave, so that, the pants, and the tank top would go in the vault, just like her family's robes. It took her a while to change into a new set of clothes for her body was so sore, but she finally got it done. Slipping on a thin pair of normal slippers and pulling her hair onto a loose bun on the top of her head. She did not wear her robes and felt no need to put them on. Today was going to be a calm day of rest.
Crossing the city to the medical tent, she smiled and waved at many people, some stopping to welcome her home, others bowing their heads in respect.
"Sit down dear." Her mom said as she entered the tent and crossed to one of the cots. "This shouldn't take long."
Ameera sat down and let her mom look her over and clean the many scrapes and cuts she had received.
"That's going to leave a scar." Muriel said as she cleaned the wound on her side.
"A memory of battle." Ameera said softly, flinching as her mom put a cold liquid of some kind on her side.
"You got pretty beat up dear, I would hate to see the other guy."
" 'The other guy' didn't make it out alive."
"What was it like dear?"
"One of the hardest battles I have ever had to face. The man I fought…the creature…was a skilled fighter. He fought like a madman, and he would not give up."
"What was he like?"
"I think he knew he wasn't going to make it out alive…but that he didn't want the rest of us to get out alive as well. He was a handsome man, I will give you that…and he was strong, but he also seemed sad." When Ameera stopped talking, she looked up at her mother, who was staring at her with tears in her eyes. "Mom? What's wrong?"
Her mom took a deep breath and smiled through the few tears that had slipped down her cheek. "I am just so thankful you came back to me. I was so worried that you were not going to make it out alive." She placed her hand on her daughter's cheek. "I am so proud of you Ameera, and you father would be so proud as well."
Ameera smiled softly and pulled her mom into a tight hug. "I know mom, I know."
After a few seconds, the hug broke and Muriel handed Ameera a glass of water. She took it and began to drink as her mother asked, "So what's it like to kiss Nick?"
Ameera spit the water half way across the room and began coughing.
"WHAT?!"
"Now, now dear. That was uncalled for!"
"The question!?"
"No! The spitting, here, give me that glass and answer my question!"
"What makes you think I kissed Nick?"
"A mother knows these things!"
"I am going to kill those three…"Ameera muttered, shaking her fist towards the tent door.
"No one told me dear, I just know these things. Is it serious?"
"What?"
"Don't play dumb! I know there is something going on between you two."
Ameera sighed and gave in. "I don't know if it is, I kinda hope it will get serious. I really like him."
"And my question?"
"It is really nice to kiss him mom, in fact, he is the greatest kisser in the world!" She could no longer hold in the sarcasm.
"Don't sass me."
"He is wonderful in every way mom. I hope I get to spend more time with him."
Muriel's smile faded and she looked at her child softly.
"About that…dear…"
~~
"Come in!" Nick called to the persistent knocking on his door. A second later Ameera appeared in the bedroom doorway, a look of pure shock on her face.
"You're leaving?" She gasped.
Nick looked up at her from the bag he had been packing on his bed. "Um…yeah. Tomorrow morning."
"Why?" Ameera couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I have to get back to London in two days. I have to go on another one of the museums traveling shows."
"How long?"
"Six months." He said softly, turning his head away from her.
"Six months? You're going to be gone for six months?" The news hit her like a bullet.
"I will be gone for six months…we are taking the exhibit to France, Germany, Italy, China, Russia, and somewhere else…I really forget where the last place is. But like before, we will be there for a month in each country."
"Six months?"
Nick crossed to Ameera, who was standing in the doorway, mouth agape, and eyes wide. He took her in his arms and kissed the top of her head gently.
"I'm so sorry, I should have told you before."
"Why do you have to go? Can't you send someone else?"
"Ameera, two of the four curators of the Ancient Egypt exhibit were killed yesterday…there is no one else to send!"
"Martin is going with you?"
"Sadly, yes." Nick said with a smile. "It will be ok Ameera…six months isn't that long of a time."
"Yes it is!" She pushed him away from her. "Its half a year…do you know how long six months pass by out in the desert? It's going to feel like six years!"
"Ameera…I am so sorry. I am. If I could switch with someone and not go, I would. But they need at least two people to go…and it is going to be hard enough to explain to them that Steven York and Travis Ripkin are not coming back to work. Ever!"
"By the way, how are you going to explain their absence?"
"I am going to write a letter explaining that they are both going to stay in Egypt because they fell in love and will never again return to London."
"Fall in love…with each other?"
"No!" Nick laughed. "No…with women!"
"And you think this will go over with the museum?"
"I hope so. I can't just not say anything. I would have to think that they would notice that two of their curators are missing."
"And what about their families?"
"Steven, from what I was told, disowned his family and Travis didn't have any."
Ameera nodded as she crossed to the bed and sat down on it. "Six months?"
He crossed to her and kneeled on the floor in front of her. "It will pass by quickly, I promise you. I will only be gone for six months…then I will come back to you and we can start whatever life we are going to have together."
"Six months?"
"Six months."
"Six months…."
Nick chuckled and leaned up, kissing her. When the kiss broke, Ameera smiled. "I think I can handle six months."
"Good." Nick smiled and pushed a few lose strands of hair behind her ear. "God…this is like having to cut the greatest date I have ever had short. I don't want to go Ameera…I really don't. But I have to…there is no one else to go."
"I understand Nick…it just…sucks that I am not going to see you for six months. I mean we are just really getting to know each other!"
"Sucks?" He said, eyebrow raised.
"Shut up."
"Hey, we still have the rest of the day today, and if you go with me to Cairo…we will have even more time. What do you say?"
"I would love to go to Cairo with you." She said with a smile, pulling him in for another kiss.