~To Marxbros: Why should a poker player show his cards to his fellow players? ;-) I am just kidding, I promise you will see it until the end of the story. And if I don't manage to fit it somewhere, then I will mail it to you personally. I will not leave you wondering!~
Ardeth entered the department of the tent which served as a bedchamber for him and his wife. He was tired too both emotionally and because he had to answer so many questions. To his surprise he found Heterity awake, semi-lying on the bed, frowning in concentration.
"Are you not asleep?" he asked surprised and a little bit worried.
"Tell me Ardeth, what did you say to the council? When did you tell them we are leaving? Did you tell them of the stone?" she said without answering his question.
"I told them we are leaving the day after tomorrow morning. They know the whole story now and they agreed to our decision."
"Do they know of the sword too?"
"Well, yes that's the principle information! But what happened? Tell me what are you thinking of, Hity. What is troubling your mind?"
"Nothing. Just get some sleep because we are leaving early tomorrow morning, in two or three hours if possible."
Ardeth who has laid down by now and was trying to relax shot up again to look in her eyes. He asked no questions, waiting for her to give him the information.
"You see, I… I can not be sure Ardeth but… I think there is a traitor in the council. Right under our nose. He is one of the leaders. But I don't know who he is."
Now Ardeth didn't feel tired anymore, looking at her in full alert.
"What are you talking about? What do you know?"
"I saw Mahatma in a dream. He came to warn me. He said that there is an asp in my arms. I have been thinking of this in every possible way, and I that's what I think it means."
"You are right. It may not be true, but in the case that it is… we need to take precautions. I will let no one know. And we will warn Rick and Evelyn tomorrow. And I hope that we will arrive there before the news of our early departure."
Heterity nodded, although she still had a faraway look in her eyes. "I knew you would understand. Now you'd better sleep, because tomorrow will be a very hard day. Here, let me help you relax." She gently pushed him back down and he obeyed without protests. Turning his back at her. She started rubbing his shoulders and upper arms softly in small circles taking the tension away, while she whispered a soft tune to his ear. He fell asleep in no time, but she stayed there, in the dark with her lids open, holding his head in her arms. She was scared. She didn't want to lose him. She didn't want to lose anything. Why couldn't every time be just like that?
~
Rick climbed on the horse, still heavy-lidded and semi-conscious of his surroundings. Evelyn was no better, as she rode by Heterity whose head was hanging to the side ever so lively… Only Ardeth seemed to be fully ready to face anything the new day had to offer, good or bad with a look of determination on his face. Rick looked at the horizon. The first colors of dawn haven't yet appeared in the horizon and it was still chilly. However he knew how deceiving all this was. In very short time the sky would be magnificently lit and the heat just tolerable. He was very surprised when Heterity showed up to their tent telling them that they had to leave right now and explained the reasons but he didn't object (not much anyway). Alex was left behind to the care of Samira, Ardeth's sister.
Later, when the solar boat has reached the middle of her trip in the sky, the heat got much worse than Rick had predicted. He glanced at Ardeth, who had slowed down the pace of his horse to prevent exhaustion. Then he turned behind him to see how his wife was coping with the situation. This woman always surprised him by being extremely tough in harsh conditions. Right now she seemed as if she was enjoying the ride, as she was talking with Heterity, a fascinated expression on her face.
They managed to reach the oasis near the camp before sunset. They made a pause there to rest their tired animals and their tired selves. After eating some dried meat with hard bread and drinking water they sat down and waited for darkness to fall. Now there was nothing to do but have patience. And talk.
"Who do you think the traitor is?" Rick made the question which has been troubling him all day. "I noticed that there was a commander who seemed to question everything you said." Rick was present to the council last night, and that was one of the reasons that made him tired today.
"You are talking about Abdul. I must tell you I don't know. Despite his harsh words he has always appeared a man of honor and truth. But under these conditions, I don't know in whom to believe. Until he is revealed, I must suspect everyone." Ardeth answered, his voice sounding dragged down.
"How can we be sure the traitor is just one?" Evy asked
Heterity chuckled slightly. "Mahatma may like confusing people, but when he says something, then its true. He would never point in the wrong direction or say something inaccurate. Once he says it at least. No, the traitor is just one."
"Is that natural? I mean, for dead people to show to dreams?" Rick pointed out to Heterity raising an eyebrow.
"Is it natural for mummies to come alive?" his wife answered for her.
Rick nodded without wanting to engage in further similar conversation. And tried to change the topic. No more mummies for today. "So Heterity, you didn't tell us, how did you get away from him?"
But the young woman ignored him and got up. "Look. It is complete darkness. The moon is covered by clouds. We'd better go now to their camp." She said leaving the question unanswered.
~
Ardeth crawled to peer from behind a sand-dune. He then turned to look suspiciously at Rick. "Are you sure the camp was here?"
"Yes, why?" Rick whispered.
Ardeth got to his feet and looked around. "Because its not anymore."