~A large thanks to Marcher, Cacinapalmero and Deana for their reviews. Without them I might have stopped posting fan fiction.~
" I am telling you Rafic, this is not something normal. These dreams have a meaning". Ardeth explained to Rafic, an eldest cousin of his who was carefully listening to him. "That I can see." Rafic answered. "But the meaning can be seen
only by you. After all you are the recipient." Ardeth looked at him in exasperation. "I appreciate your advice, but I think it should be more practical." Rafic closed his eyes before answering. "Instead of trying to wake up and escape the horror of sensing yourself dying, force yourself to watch everything happening. Let your mind flow in the dream. Try to direct time inside it." "Rafic, I can't do such things. I am a warrior, not someone able of controlling things like that." "You should at least try. After all there is nothing to lose." Ardeth finally nodded in silent agreement and raised to leave the tent. But Rafic had something more to say. "And Ardeth. Your mind is as powerful and useful as your body. Don't underestimate it." Ardeth nodded again. * Rafic is right. I should at least try. But I doubt it will really work. Rafic is wise but sometimes his mind just races ahead. *
--Then pain. The sense of life drawn from his body. A spasm of death. Ardeth forced himself to watch and don't retreat. The pain became physical and added to the sense of confusion. Then he saw the med-jai who had killed him leaving, followed by several men similar to him. Behind a pile of rocks nearby a man with shaved head and a white skirt run towards him and took his hand. Ardeth watched himself making an effort to talk. It was agonizing. He finally managed to form words. "The queens… The tomb…" And then his body went stiff again and stayed still. The other man bent his head and outstretched his hand to close his eyes. He then lifted Ardeth's corpse and started walking. A little distance further he stopped and let the body fall. He lifted his hand and said steadily: "By the name of Queen Heterity." Then a strong wind blew. The sand in front of the man's feet parted to reveal a door. He carried the body inside. It was dark but he appeared to know where he was going. He reached a small chamber with a bed enclosed by white linen curtains and lifted them. He then placed the body on the bed by another body and slightly opened Ardeth's mouth. He finally spoke in a whisper. "I now restore your senses so that in the next life you will be able to speak and listen, to see and smell, to taste and feel." He touched Ardeth's ears, nose, mouth and fingers as he was talking. Then touching both Ardeth's and the other body's hands said something, this time to softly to be heard. The man's body started glowing with a blue light. His lips parted in a sad smile. Ha walked to the first chamber, laid down, closed his eyes and stopped breathing.—
Ardeth woke up again like every night before but this time without a start and without screaming. His whole body ached and he appeared as if he had run under hot sun for a very long distance. He laid back to his pillows and closed his eyes again. This time exhaustion overcame him and he drifted again in a deep, dreamless sleep.