Chapter 9......................
Their bodies glistened in the moonlight streaming in through the gaps in the shutters as they slept in each others arms. Samia now sure and warm in the glow his love had cast upon her. She'd followed Maria's advice and let Ardeth lead the way, let him teach her, not only to pleasure him, but to let go enough to find infinite pleasure herself.
She'd been a little afraid of the first sight of his naked body as he took the lead. Slowly, very slowly he'd undressed in front of her, watching her face as the blushes rose, watching her eyes widen as the last piece of his clothing had fallen to the floor. He encouraged her every step of the way, letting her go at her own speed.
She'd circled his body, running her hands over his strong frame, kissing his skin, setting his senses reeling as she tenatively discovered every inch of him. His self control had been sorely tested when her small hands strayed downwards to his arousal, but still he gave her the time and space she needed to make all her fears of him fly out of the window.
His need for her almost overwhelmed him as she shakily struggled with the buttons of her shirt before casting it aside. She shed the rest of her clothes as if she was in a daze until she stood before him as naked as he.
"Ardeth," she whispered. "Make me yours."
Ardeth groaned in pleasure at the realization that she was his. He wanted their first coming together to be memorable for all time so resisted the urge to take her where she stood. Instead he pulled her to him and kissed her until they were both breathless with need. How they made it to the bedroom neither of them cared.
Once there after a chorus of 'surely you can't do that's' from Samia, which had swiftly turned into passionate imploring not to stop, they sealed their union. Samia felt no pain as Ardeth's body claimed hers, just an all encompassing happiness.
Pedro and Maria were rudely awakened by a frantic hammering at the front door.
"Pedro, It's Juan, my father Hector has sent me, it's urgent," he cried.
Pedro jumped out of bed, and as quickly as his seventy year old body would carry him rushed to the door.
"What is it Juan, what's the urgency?" he asked.
"Pedro, a body was washed up on the coast near Corralejo, just by the dunes," he explained breathlessly.
"Who was it? Was it someone we know Juan?" he questioned.
"Pedro I don't know quite how to tell you this, but it was your brother Carlos."
"You must be mistaken," interrupted Pedro. "Carlos has been out with the fishing fleet for the past week. It can't be him," Pedro protested as he sank shakily into a chair.
"Pedro I'm so sorry, there's no mistake, It is Carlos, you must hurry to Corralejo with me, he's still alive, but only just," explained Juan.
"Who, who found him. Do you know?"
"Yes, it was my father Hector, you know he loves to line fish those waters at night. But Pedro, it wasn't the water that did for him. He'd been savagely beaten."
"Give me a minute Juan, I'll be right with you," said a bewildered Pedro.
Juan watched as Pedro padded back into the bedroom to break the news to his wife. When he emerged they swiftly left the house and took the dirt track which ran from Cotillo to Corralejo, both men wondering if they would make it in time and moreso what they would find when they got there.
Hamid was having a ball. He'd slept outside in the tent with his new friend. Well, to be fair, they hadn't done much sleeping. After a midnight feast under the stars, Hamid had explained to Miguel that he'd probably be leaving soon to go home to Egypt with his father. He told Miguel that he should come and visit often because his father had told him that the Medjai slept in tents all the time. Miguel had been captivated with the stories that Hamid had told him during the course of the night, about the Gods and Goddesses of Egypt. About the pharoes and the Medjai. Miguel was so excited by the stories that he would have packed up and gone with Hamid in an instant, well, maybe not an instant as he still had to work out a way to get his mama and papa to go with him. He wasn't ready to leave them just yet. Neither of the boys having a realistic grasp of geography they'd made a pact to visit each other once a month, such was the innocence of childhood.
As the early morning ferry pulled into Cabras harbor the passengers heaved a collective sigh of relief. Not a one of them had felt at all comfortable in the presence of the ten black robed, tatooed men who wore their weapons so openly. They looked so stern and overpowering that most who shared the deck with them retreated into the shadows, only now feeling safe as the ferry docked.
Mustafa, the commander of the men swiftly led them down the gangplank and headed them in the direction of the quayside Inn. In the wire his Chieftain has managed to send to them he'd said to ask for Hector. He was the one who would let their leader know they were here.
Pedro almost fell to the floor as he caught his first glimpse of his younger brother. The young brother he'd always looked after, the brother he'd got into countless scrapes over because of his charming, if not a little wild ways in the past. But always a brother who he would have laid his life down for willingly nontheless.
The crumbling whitewashed walls of the hospital always had a foreboding air within them, the strong, cloying smell of the disinfectant had stung Pedro's nostrils the moment he'd entered.
Carlos's beaten body lay all to still on the crisp white linens. His tanned face hardly visible, marred by the injuries that'd been inflicted upon him. Pedro had been told by the doctor on his arrival that his brothers injuries were just too severe. There was nothing more that could be done for him.
"Who did this Carlos?" Pedro whispered in his ear, taking hold of his brothers hand, encouraging him to try to speak.
"They...........they boarded my boat in Tenerife............too many of them, couldn't stop them," he rasped.
"Who, who were they," Pedro urged.
"Red............they wore red, like the others," Carlos managed before a coughing fit rendered him speechless again.
Pedro froze to the spot, his mind spinning, running over the implications.
Carlos coughed again, but managed to speak some more. "Warn them brother, Samia and the boy," he croaked.
"Are they coming for them?"
"Yes," struggled Carlos as his breathing became more labored.
"Forgive me Pedro..................had to tell them............too many of them, they threatened your life."
"Had to tell them, tell them what?" Pedro pleaded.
"Tell Samia I'm sorry," he choked out. "To my shame I told them where she was. I just wanted to protect you and Maria," he rasped as his breathing became shallower.
"There's nothing to forgive my brother, you did the only thing you could."
"Too many of them....................too many.............many,"
Pedro held Carlos close as his eyelids closed for the last time and his life ebbed away, just like the tide from the ocean that had been his life.
"Know this Carlos, I'll avenge you my brother, of that you can be sure. You have my word of honor."
Juan visibly paled as a distraught but determined Pedro emerged from his brothers hospital room. A weary nod from Pedro told Juan that Carlos had passed.
"What do we do now Pedro?" asked Juan.
"We avenge my brothers death. It's not just about Samia and Hamid anymore, although they are of great importance. It's personal to everyone on the Island that knew Carlos. We go and spread the word. But first we warn Ardeth Bay.
Hector instantly recognized the imposing men as they entered his tavern. They carried themselves with the same air as Ardeth Bay. Even if they hadn't have been tattoed he'd have known. Hector was in fact still reeling from finding Carlos's body and held in his hands the piece of red cloth that had bound his hands. He hoped the men now before him would shed light on it's significance.
He ushered them into the same room he'd taken Samia into the day she came looking for Ardeth Bay and hastily explained the situation to them. He could tell by the looks on their faces as he handed them the cloth that indeed they knew who was responsible. Their first priority would be to find their Chieftain and his son, Hector knew that. What he had to do now was explain to them that all they could do was wait until Juan returned with the truck.
Rashid had never been a patient man, but could it be that his lack of patience would lead to his downfall thought Hamman, his partner in the night-time mission. Hamman knew that Rashid possessed not one ounce or shred of decency or compassion, especially as the news of his brothers death had reached his ears. Hamman was finding himself increasingly ill at ease with the whole situation, he certainly wasn't comfortable with the prospect at striking at a child and a woman. He crouched down at the side of the house, waiting for Rashid to give the signal for them to get into position. Still being undercover of the pre-dawn they were using the last of the night to speed away their quarry and take them back to their kinsmen who were waiting for them elsewhere.
Samia stretched and turned to look at the man beside her. She smiled and blushed slightly as she remembered the events of the previous night. A night that had managed to surprise her beyond her wildest dreams. Still smiling, she slipped out of bed and pulled on Ardeths long shirt, breathing in the scent of him as she did up the buttons. She then pulled on a pair of panties, not having completely lost a hold of her modesty yet.
She was going to make a sumptuous breakfast for her husband Ardeth. He'd told her last night that in old Medjai law they were considered married for having shared a bed. She liked the sound of that very much, and who was she to argue with old Medjai laws?
Suddenly a long arm snaked around her waist and pulled her playfully back down on to the bed. Ardeth was laughing sleepily.
"And just where do you think you were sneaking off to woman?" he demanded, looking at her with such love in his eyes that she could have melted on the spot.
"Well, as you explained to me that we're considered as good as married," she joked.
"We are married woman, in here," he interrupted, holding both their hands to their hearts.
"Alright then, seeing as we're married, I just thought I'd make my husband breakfast," she giggled.
The sight of her radiant face smiling down at him, the long curtain of her hair tickling his belly, her eyes so awash with love for him was overwhelming. He truly had come in from the cold.
"I was hoping to have you for breakfast my love,"he drawled huskily, letting his lustful eyes roam her body.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I need food. I'm starving," she protested.
"Maybe you shouldn't have let yourself be put off dinner last night then, it's not even light yet," he smiled.
"I don't care, I'm hungry."
"Alright, I give in, but you have to promise to come straight back to bed with it," he joked, pulling her lips to his and rendering her speechless with a promise laden kiss.
He laid his dishevelled head back down onto the pillows and watched as Samia's beautiful figure swayed happily in the direction of the kitchen. As he did he pressed his fingers to his smiling lips and offered up thanks to Allah for being gracious enough not only to grant him his son, but for giving him the chance of a new life with such an extrordinary, beautiful woman.
Samia felt sick as the icy cold blade was held to her neck, the steel dug into her skin as her whole body chilled. An arm, strategically placed made sure she was rendered motionless.
"Dont say a word or I'll have him shot like a dog," came a voice so full of hatred and venom it scared the very life out of her.
The man holding her started to slowly walk her towards the front door that was now swinging open. She was sure she'd locked it last night, but with all that had happened since, her mind had clouded over and she couldn't be positive. She'd never forgive herself if her carelessness brought any harm to Ardeth.
The scream flew from her body as another figure approached the bedroom.
Ardeth immediately bolted out of bed and made a dive for his sword, only to be confronted by the sight of Samia being held at knifepoint by the brother of Lock Nah. In his anger he made a lunge at the man closest to him but was immediately knocked back against the wall in an explosion of gunpowder.
"So, we meet once again Ardeth Bay," snarled Rashid. "Dont worry, we'll find the boy much quicker now we have your hoar to bargain with, dont you think?"
Samia was roughly pulled out of the door, her pretty features overtaken with a look of pure terror.
"You know I'll have retribution for the murder of my brother dont you?" he sneered, looking Samia blatantly up and down.
Samia's last sight of Ardeth filled her with dread.....so much blood. As the heavy blow connected with the back of her head she heard yet another shot and prayed to anyone that would listen that it hadn't hit it's mark. Such was her will to know Ardeth's fate, it took numerous blows before she was propelled into the blackness.
Their bodies glistened in the moonlight streaming in through the gaps in the shutters as they slept in each others arms. Samia now sure and warm in the glow his love had cast upon her. She'd followed Maria's advice and let Ardeth lead the way, let him teach her, not only to pleasure him, but to let go enough to find infinite pleasure herself.
She'd been a little afraid of the first sight of his naked body as he took the lead. Slowly, very slowly he'd undressed in front of her, watching her face as the blushes rose, watching her eyes widen as the last piece of his clothing had fallen to the floor. He encouraged her every step of the way, letting her go at her own speed.
She'd circled his body, running her hands over his strong frame, kissing his skin, setting his senses reeling as she tenatively discovered every inch of him. His self control had been sorely tested when her small hands strayed downwards to his arousal, but still he gave her the time and space she needed to make all her fears of him fly out of the window.
His need for her almost overwhelmed him as she shakily struggled with the buttons of her shirt before casting it aside. She shed the rest of her clothes as if she was in a daze until she stood before him as naked as he.
"Ardeth," she whispered. "Make me yours."
Ardeth groaned in pleasure at the realization that she was his. He wanted their first coming together to be memorable for all time so resisted the urge to take her where she stood. Instead he pulled her to him and kissed her until they were both breathless with need. How they made it to the bedroom neither of them cared.
Once there after a chorus of 'surely you can't do that's' from Samia, which had swiftly turned into passionate imploring not to stop, they sealed their union. Samia felt no pain as Ardeth's body claimed hers, just an all encompassing happiness.
Pedro and Maria were rudely awakened by a frantic hammering at the front door.
"Pedro, It's Juan, my father Hector has sent me, it's urgent," he cried.
Pedro jumped out of bed, and as quickly as his seventy year old body would carry him rushed to the door.
"What is it Juan, what's the urgency?" he asked.
"Pedro, a body was washed up on the coast near Corralejo, just by the dunes," he explained breathlessly.
"Who was it? Was it someone we know Juan?" he questioned.
"Pedro I don't know quite how to tell you this, but it was your brother Carlos."
"You must be mistaken," interrupted Pedro. "Carlos has been out with the fishing fleet for the past week. It can't be him," Pedro protested as he sank shakily into a chair.
"Pedro I'm so sorry, there's no mistake, It is Carlos, you must hurry to Corralejo with me, he's still alive, but only just," explained Juan.
"Who, who found him. Do you know?"
"Yes, it was my father Hector, you know he loves to line fish those waters at night. But Pedro, it wasn't the water that did for him. He'd been savagely beaten."
"Give me a minute Juan, I'll be right with you," said a bewildered Pedro.
Juan watched as Pedro padded back into the bedroom to break the news to his wife. When he emerged they swiftly left the house and took the dirt track which ran from Cotillo to Corralejo, both men wondering if they would make it in time and moreso what they would find when they got there.
Hamid was having a ball. He'd slept outside in the tent with his new friend. Well, to be fair, they hadn't done much sleeping. After a midnight feast under the stars, Hamid had explained to Miguel that he'd probably be leaving soon to go home to Egypt with his father. He told Miguel that he should come and visit often because his father had told him that the Medjai slept in tents all the time. Miguel had been captivated with the stories that Hamid had told him during the course of the night, about the Gods and Goddesses of Egypt. About the pharoes and the Medjai. Miguel was so excited by the stories that he would have packed up and gone with Hamid in an instant, well, maybe not an instant as he still had to work out a way to get his mama and papa to go with him. He wasn't ready to leave them just yet. Neither of the boys having a realistic grasp of geography they'd made a pact to visit each other once a month, such was the innocence of childhood.
As the early morning ferry pulled into Cabras harbor the passengers heaved a collective sigh of relief. Not a one of them had felt at all comfortable in the presence of the ten black robed, tatooed men who wore their weapons so openly. They looked so stern and overpowering that most who shared the deck with them retreated into the shadows, only now feeling safe as the ferry docked.
Mustafa, the commander of the men swiftly led them down the gangplank and headed them in the direction of the quayside Inn. In the wire his Chieftain has managed to send to them he'd said to ask for Hector. He was the one who would let their leader know they were here.
Pedro almost fell to the floor as he caught his first glimpse of his younger brother. The young brother he'd always looked after, the brother he'd got into countless scrapes over because of his charming, if not a little wild ways in the past. But always a brother who he would have laid his life down for willingly nontheless.
The crumbling whitewashed walls of the hospital always had a foreboding air within them, the strong, cloying smell of the disinfectant had stung Pedro's nostrils the moment he'd entered.
Carlos's beaten body lay all to still on the crisp white linens. His tanned face hardly visible, marred by the injuries that'd been inflicted upon him. Pedro had been told by the doctor on his arrival that his brothers injuries were just too severe. There was nothing more that could be done for him.
"Who did this Carlos?" Pedro whispered in his ear, taking hold of his brothers hand, encouraging him to try to speak.
"They...........they boarded my boat in Tenerife............too many of them, couldn't stop them," he rasped.
"Who, who were they," Pedro urged.
"Red............they wore red, like the others," Carlos managed before a coughing fit rendered him speechless again.
Pedro froze to the spot, his mind spinning, running over the implications.
Carlos coughed again, but managed to speak some more. "Warn them brother, Samia and the boy," he croaked.
"Are they coming for them?"
"Yes," struggled Carlos as his breathing became more labored.
"Forgive me Pedro..................had to tell them............too many of them, they threatened your life."
"Had to tell them, tell them what?" Pedro pleaded.
"Tell Samia I'm sorry," he choked out. "To my shame I told them where she was. I just wanted to protect you and Maria," he rasped as his breathing became shallower.
"There's nothing to forgive my brother, you did the only thing you could."
"Too many of them....................too many.............many,"
Pedro held Carlos close as his eyelids closed for the last time and his life ebbed away, just like the tide from the ocean that had been his life.
"Know this Carlos, I'll avenge you my brother, of that you can be sure. You have my word of honor."
Juan visibly paled as a distraught but determined Pedro emerged from his brothers hospital room. A weary nod from Pedro told Juan that Carlos had passed.
"What do we do now Pedro?" asked Juan.
"We avenge my brothers death. It's not just about Samia and Hamid anymore, although they are of great importance. It's personal to everyone on the Island that knew Carlos. We go and spread the word. But first we warn Ardeth Bay.
Hector instantly recognized the imposing men as they entered his tavern. They carried themselves with the same air as Ardeth Bay. Even if they hadn't have been tattoed he'd have known. Hector was in fact still reeling from finding Carlos's body and held in his hands the piece of red cloth that had bound his hands. He hoped the men now before him would shed light on it's significance.
He ushered them into the same room he'd taken Samia into the day she came looking for Ardeth Bay and hastily explained the situation to them. He could tell by the looks on their faces as he handed them the cloth that indeed they knew who was responsible. Their first priority would be to find their Chieftain and his son, Hector knew that. What he had to do now was explain to them that all they could do was wait until Juan returned with the truck.
Rashid had never been a patient man, but could it be that his lack of patience would lead to his downfall thought Hamman, his partner in the night-time mission. Hamman knew that Rashid possessed not one ounce or shred of decency or compassion, especially as the news of his brothers death had reached his ears. Hamman was finding himself increasingly ill at ease with the whole situation, he certainly wasn't comfortable with the prospect at striking at a child and a woman. He crouched down at the side of the house, waiting for Rashid to give the signal for them to get into position. Still being undercover of the pre-dawn they were using the last of the night to speed away their quarry and take them back to their kinsmen who were waiting for them elsewhere.
Samia stretched and turned to look at the man beside her. She smiled and blushed slightly as she remembered the events of the previous night. A night that had managed to surprise her beyond her wildest dreams. Still smiling, she slipped out of bed and pulled on Ardeths long shirt, breathing in the scent of him as she did up the buttons. She then pulled on a pair of panties, not having completely lost a hold of her modesty yet.
She was going to make a sumptuous breakfast for her husband Ardeth. He'd told her last night that in old Medjai law they were considered married for having shared a bed. She liked the sound of that very much, and who was she to argue with old Medjai laws?
Suddenly a long arm snaked around her waist and pulled her playfully back down on to the bed. Ardeth was laughing sleepily.
"And just where do you think you were sneaking off to woman?" he demanded, looking at her with such love in his eyes that she could have melted on the spot.
"Well, as you explained to me that we're considered as good as married," she joked.
"We are married woman, in here," he interrupted, holding both their hands to their hearts.
"Alright then, seeing as we're married, I just thought I'd make my husband breakfast," she giggled.
The sight of her radiant face smiling down at him, the long curtain of her hair tickling his belly, her eyes so awash with love for him was overwhelming. He truly had come in from the cold.
"I was hoping to have you for breakfast my love,"he drawled huskily, letting his lustful eyes roam her body.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I need food. I'm starving," she protested.
"Maybe you shouldn't have let yourself be put off dinner last night then, it's not even light yet," he smiled.
"I don't care, I'm hungry."
"Alright, I give in, but you have to promise to come straight back to bed with it," he joked, pulling her lips to his and rendering her speechless with a promise laden kiss.
He laid his dishevelled head back down onto the pillows and watched as Samia's beautiful figure swayed happily in the direction of the kitchen. As he did he pressed his fingers to his smiling lips and offered up thanks to Allah for being gracious enough not only to grant him his son, but for giving him the chance of a new life with such an extrordinary, beautiful woman.
Samia felt sick as the icy cold blade was held to her neck, the steel dug into her skin as her whole body chilled. An arm, strategically placed made sure she was rendered motionless.
"Dont say a word or I'll have him shot like a dog," came a voice so full of hatred and venom it scared the very life out of her.
The man holding her started to slowly walk her towards the front door that was now swinging open. She was sure she'd locked it last night, but with all that had happened since, her mind had clouded over and she couldn't be positive. She'd never forgive herself if her carelessness brought any harm to Ardeth.
The scream flew from her body as another figure approached the bedroom.
Ardeth immediately bolted out of bed and made a dive for his sword, only to be confronted by the sight of Samia being held at knifepoint by the brother of Lock Nah. In his anger he made a lunge at the man closest to him but was immediately knocked back against the wall in an explosion of gunpowder.
"So, we meet once again Ardeth Bay," snarled Rashid. "Dont worry, we'll find the boy much quicker now we have your hoar to bargain with, dont you think?"
Samia was roughly pulled out of the door, her pretty features overtaken with a look of pure terror.
"You know I'll have retribution for the murder of my brother dont you?" he sneered, looking Samia blatantly up and down.
Samia's last sight of Ardeth filled her with dread.....so much blood. As the heavy blow connected with the back of her head she heard yet another shot and prayed to anyone that would listen that it hadn't hit it's mark. Such was her will to know Ardeth's fate, it took numerous blows before she was propelled into the blackness.