1 "Blood of the Hom-dai"
By May It Be
~~ Authors Notes: Many thanks to all you who reviewed, wow, you guys are SO nice!!! I hope you've enjoyed it all so far and I hope this next part doesn't disappoint. I'm going to start trying to make each individual chapter longer so in the end there should be fewer. (`cause otherwise, with the way I'm, going there's going to be like twenty) Anyway, I hope you like it!
Oh and a Special thanks to Lula, Patty, Xanthia Morgan and especially Deana for emailing me and helping with this story! You ROCK!
Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Mummy', 'The Mummy Returns' or any of the characters belonging to them. (Just the bad guys, 'Heneb and Andrahi, Taniif and other Misc. characters you don't recognize.) So please do not sue me I have no money this is just for twisted entertainment purposes only. However, the idea's and plot for this are solely mine. Do not take them please, ask first if you want them and can do better justice to it.
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Chapter Four…. "Startling Revelations."
Dinner had been relatively quiet.
It was a gentle meal, prepared with care by Evelyn and two of the younger Med-jai, but it was plentiful and filling, leaving the group warm and content; for the moment. Soft conversation rolled about the campfire, a strong camaraderie between men and a calming ease forming despite the current situations. The O'Connell's, Jonathan included, were glad to be back and the warriors were more then glad to have them.
After the meal, a few of the Med-jai went about quickly clearing away the remains, while most of the others retired to bed with lightened hearts. There was just something about those three, Rick especially, that put you at ease, no matter the circumstance. As the tired warriors slumbered, the five remaining companions sat about the still warmly glowing fire conversing now about more serious matters.
"I believe it is due time you three explained your visit." Ardeth said, taking a small drink sparingly from his canteen, watching the nervous glance pass between husband and wife. "You have been avoiding answering me all day. Come now, can it truly be that bad?" Silently Rick heaved a sigh, shaking his head then locked eyes with the Med-jai leader. Ardeth fought back a shiver at what he saw in his friends eyes; weariness, worry, fright, visions of a haunting naught but a week old.
'Perhaps it can.' He thought, shifting just a little bit closer towards the blazing fire and the heat of Taniif next to him. It isn't all that cold but for some reason he was, perhaps he had lost more blood when the Med-jai had attacked those men then he originally thought.
"I guess we owe you that." Rick muttered, looking again at Evy, clasping her hand tightly as she leaned into him. "This will probably sound ridiculous to you," O'Connell paused scrubbing his free hand through his hair nervously, "I had a dream, we, we had a dream and it worried us terribly. So, we came to check up on you and ease our minds." Evy nodded quietly at her husbands side, one hand resting atop his leg, the other about his waist.
"It was an odd dream. Almost like a vision, it was so real. And horrifying." Evelyn commented, starring intently into the red and orange rhythmically dancing flames. "What was this dream? You both experienced it?" Ardeth Bay questioned politely, threading his fingers across his lap, his elbows resting upon his knee's. Their unease with him and their hesitation to speak worried him greatly. 'What could possibly be so horrifying for them to act this way?' "Yes, we did."
Evelyn nodded silently to his question, and slowly bit-by-bit the two began explaining the details of their shared dreams.
Describing to the Med-jai and his companion the temple, and the men in red, the statues, and the odd book. Their hesitation increasing as they slowly began informing Ardeth of his own death and ceremonial sacrifice. The Med-jai leader remained silent throughout their speech, nodding occasionally, his eyes widening at the mention of the book and the temple designs, and a small hint of a smirk played on his lips at the blush that broke on each of the O'Connell's faces when they mention his clothes getting ripped off.
It was interesting seeing them flustered like that, acting as if they had been caught with their hand in the proverbial cookie jar.
However, if Ardeth was worried or jostled by the horrific descriptions of his own mutilation and death, he did not show any outward sign of it. And that, in itself, unnerved Rick.
Taniif, next to Ardeth however, was positively horrified by the explicit descriptions of his best friend being cut apart and killed, his eyes were wider then Evy thought possible, one of his hands straying unconsciously towards the skirt of Ardeth's robes grasping them tightly in worry. 'It was just a dream. It HAS to be! I will not let him suffer that! Never!… Never.'
"So you did not recognize this temple?" Ardeth asked quietly, his voice subdued and gentle, calm as water. "No I've never seen it before. It was like nothing I had ever seen, although I was only able to see that one room." Evelyn replied, leaning her head against Rick's shoulder. Ardeth nodded his understanding.
"It was completely dark, no light except for that of the torches, no windows and it was fairly cold. Now that I think about it, it might have been underground." Rick responded, rubbing his sore neck as he watched the Med-jai leader closely.
"And what of the book this man was holding? Did you recognize it?" Ardeth Bay asked taking another swig from his canteen listening for Evy's next words. "Yes and no, it looked like the Book of Amun-Ra and the Book of the Dead but it wasn't either of them. It was silver, instead of black or gold. I didn't get close enough to see it all that well, but it looked like it had a handprint on the-" "Are you sure?!" Ardeth cut her off, spitting out his water and shot to his feet causing the rest of the surrounding people to jump in surprise.
"Ah, y-yes." Evelyn stuttered, sitting back from Rick's arms and looked wide eyed at the Med-jai leader. "By Allah." Ardeth breathed then rushed to his tent, looking frantically for the letter from the Curator leaving four blinking faces behind. "I say, what was that all about?" Jonathan asked, wiping water droplets from his arm and neck having taken the brunt of the hard spray. "I don't know." Rick shrugged, watching Ardeth's tent waiting for him to return.
"Do you think we should follow him?" Evy asked, turning her almond eyes towards Taniif who shrugged also watching the tent curiously. "I'll see what is wrong." He replied, standing silently and walked towards his chieftain's tent, lifting the flap and disappeared inside.
A long, silent moment later he returned, an odd expression on his face as he walked back to the group and sat back down
"So?" Rick prompted when Taniif failed to reply. "What? Oh, ah, he is reading the letter the curator left for him." The med-jai replied, leaning forward folding his arms on his knees. "And?" Evy prompted this time, watching the blank look on his face curiously.
"Hmm? Oh, he didn't say anything else. I'm sure he'll be out in a minute." He shrugged, warming his chilled hands by the fire.
It wasn't all that cold out tonight really, except when a swift breeze blew by every now and again, but the look on Ardeth's face when he had walked in on him. Now that was positively chilling.
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~~~~( Andrahi silently moved his cousins hands from his shoulders, looking him squarely in the eye. 'Heneb gazed back steadily, his heart mirrored in his deep, light eyes his hands furiously locking onto his cousins frailer fingers instead.
"'Heneb, my dear cousin, you know that I must do this. Father is too old, he would not survive and no one outside our bloodline is allowed to-" 'Heneb yanked his hands free and pushed the younger man again against the table firmly, cutting off his statement.
"Then why can not I do it?! I am of your blood! Let me bind with it!" the taller man yelled, his eyes all but wet in his distress. Andrahi exhaled, his voice hitching in his throat as he watched his cousins torment. He shook his head, his silk curtain of hair washing upon his bare shoulders.
"You are of my blood, yes, and perhaps you do have a better chance of survival then I, yes, but I can not ask you or any of the other Med-jai to do that which I would not do myself." The longhaired Med-jai stated firmly, wincing internally at the screams of the dying priests still present in the room. "Andrahi you may not live!" 'Heneb insisted, ignoring the pain of the men around him too consumed by his own.
"You think I don't know that?… As the son of the Chieftain, this task falls upon me, and I would rather I try and fail then have you live with the binding." Andrahi stated somewhat sadly, his eyebrows knitting up in an almost silent plea. "I would rather I live with the binding then you not live at all!" 'Heneb retorted, grabbing his younger cousins chin and snapped his head back as he tried to look away.
Andrahi released a shuddering breath and pushed his cousin off of him, his chest practically heaving now. "'Heneb you are not making this any easier!" "Nor are you!" Heneb yelled back, his hands fisting, his fear and worry for his beloved kin so strong it seemed now like anger. "I have made up my mind cousin! Nothing you can say will change that now!" Andrahi replied, turning back to the table and the three books still upon it. "The books of Egypt are my responsibility, and as such, so is the binding."
"Curse these blasted books!" Heneb yelled, rushing forward and flipped the table, scattering its contents rather unceremoniously upon the sandy floor. "All they have ever done is cause us hurt and now you wish them to pain us more!" His voice cracked, a steady stream of tears now breaking free, leaking down his cheek. Andrahi turned back to his cousin, taking his face in his hands. "'Heneb, I promise you I will not die." )~~~~~
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- Ardeth -
I am sorry I am unable to get this to you personally, but it seems now that I have no choice. There are men here now, about ten of them, there were four who came by yesterday. They want the book Ardeth, the book and the blood of the one who last used it. I know you know what book of which I speak. I told them I didn't know of it. They also want to know the name of the Med-jai leader. I would not tell. I fear you are the next one they seek, you must not be taken! I ran from them when I could and locked myself in my office.
That is how I am able to write this letter. They are trying to brake in, the door will not hold for long. I pray to Allah that you get this somehow, and that he protects you, my Chief. Inside this envelope is also a letter from the O'Connell's I was never able to get it to you. These men have cut me off from the rest of the tribe. Hoping that if I sent something it would lead them to you. I knew though that if you did not hear from me, someone would be sent and I hope you get this soon. They are almost in now!
Keep it safe Ardeth Bay, and yourself! I shall see you in heaven someday.
- Asheed -
Ardeth dropped the bloodstained Arabic letter letting it fall to the bedroll beneath his knees, his too thin hands reaching up to thread into his softly curled dark hair. Things were worse than he thought! 'By Allah! If they get the book and unleash its power!-' Ardeth took a deep almost shuddering breath, shaking his head fiercely. 'No, even if they get the book they would still need the blood of the Med-jai, or rather his reincarnation, who last used it. No one, not even I know for sure who that was.'
Taking another deep breath, Ardeth Bay, picked up the letter and folded it placing it back into the long envelope, tucking it all safely into his sash. 'That is why they have been taking my people then. I pray they have yet to find him.'
Quickly he stood and moved towards the opening of the tent, picking up his scimitar's and long knife on the way, tucking them away into their respective places and sheaths at his belt. He took one last deep, calming breath before he flipped open the flap to his tent and strode outside, making his way quickly back towards the rest of the group that was still awake.
The group turned to him almost as one as he approached, the same almost expectant look on each of their faces. "Ardeth, what is wrong?" Taniif asked in Arabic, standing quickly as his leader refused to sit. Ardeth shook his head, his left hand moving the hilt of the blade directly at his side. "We must leave, now." He informed, the tone of his voice leaving no room for argument.
"But, the men need rest. What has happened?" Taniif insisted, his eyes flicking back towards Evy and Rick as they too stood. Ardeth again shook his head turning back towards his tent.
"There is no time. We must reach the tribe before it is too late. I will send the falcon ahead of us, but we must still leave-" Ardeth's words were cut off by a high pitched horses shriek. Ducking reflexively into a defensive crouch he turned to the sound, his eyes widening as he spotted a large cluster of riders with blades drawn approaching them fast from the right, cutting a swatch through the dark like a blade through flesh.
"We're under attack!" Taniif yelled, drawing his own blade as Ardeth at his side drew his. "Go wake the others! Make sure no one gets taken!" Ardeth ordered hurriedly, pushing Taniif towards the other soldiers' tents, sounds of stirring men already emanating from inside them.
Gunshots soon rang through the air, knocking the first three enemy riders clean from their horses. Dead before they even hit the ground. Ardeth glanced behind him, his lips quirked. Rick never was one for hand-to-hand combat, if it could be avoided of course.
One of the now unmanned horses came charging into the camp, heading straight for Ardeth who grabbed the reins and slowed it enough to loop his foot in the stirrup and jump onto its back. "Aim for the horses!" Ardeth yelled over his shoulder to the O'Connell's and Jonathan, knowing full well that it would be harder for his men to fight back if the riders remained mounted. Rick nodded and knelt quickly next to his wife, aiming down the barrel of his rifle.
Ardeth kicked his heels into the horse and sent him flying towards the red robed warriors, throwing his scimitar at the first man he neared, embedding it deep in the man's chest. The man fell and Ardeth drew another sword.
He could soon feel the heat of battle all about him, praying to Allah that all his men survived as his blade locked with another red-garbed warriors. Adrenaline pounded through him dulling the pain in his side, leaving him unaware of the injury, his blood rushing though his ears so loud he couldn't distinguish the sounds his body made from the sounds around him.
The man he was fighting swung his blade in a wild arch at Ardeth's head, who ducked it easily and moved forward enough to ram his own blade into the man's gut, twist it, and pull it free before pushing the gasping warrior away. The Med-jai turned just in time to catch another blade with his scimitar stopping it only centimeters away from his neck. He pushed the sword back roughly, surprising his opponent, swing in at the man before he could react, slicing him clean through the throat.
The battle soon began to dwindle, the numbers of both sides having been too small to wage a great war to begin with.
"Retreat! Retreat!!" The leader of the red robed men yelled above the screams of the clinking blades, swinging his own sword down to smack the horses tail end and sent him bolting away from the camp. The few remaining enemy riders fled as quickly as possible, two more falling victim to O'Connell's guns before clearing the dunes from whence they came.
Taniif, who was for the most part unharmed, ran up to Ardeth out of breath grasping the reins of the horse as his leader dismounted. "Should we pursue?" He asked, leaning forward slightly as he gasped for breath. Ardeth shook his head and crouched down wiping his blade clean on the clothing of a fallen red robed warrior. "Laa." "But-" "We must return to the Tribe Taniif, now. We don't have time to follow them." Ardeth Bay insisted, sheathing his blade and moved back towards the rest of his men, pleased to see that none had perished.
"Bind your wounds and pack up your belongings. We leave tonight!" He ordered to them in Arabic watching them move about quickly to do as they were told then turned towards Rick and the others. "That wasn't that great of an attack if you ask me." O'Connell commented, replacing his rifle in its holster upon his back and took his pistols from Evelyn. Ardeth nodded, breathing deeply to regain a steady rhythm. "I agree. This was either an attack to simply capture one of my men, or it was not a planned attack."
"I would lean towards the latter." Rick said standing and moved up next to the Med-jai leader. "I agree." Ardeth replied again, fighting back a gasp as his adrenaline rush seeped away and the sting in his side came back full forced as well as a new fresh one in his arm. Great. "None of you are injured?" He asked then suddenly, looking them over quickly, relived at finding no blood. They all shook their heads and he nodded. "None of them got close to us." Rick smirked, patting the gun at his side.
Ardeth shook his head. Americans. "So what now, old boy?" Jonathan asked, moving to stand at Ardeth's other side, tucking his own gun in his belt. "You must pack your things. We must leave." "Now?" Evy asked, wiping her forehead with her sleeve. "Yes, no time can be wasted. We must reach my tribe by tomorrow." Ardeth knelt next to the fire, grabbing a long stick and started to spread the logs and ashes, throwing sand on the bigger flames trying to smother it.
"What's the hurry? What's happened buddy?" O'Connell asked, noting the evident worry upon the Med-jai's face, leaning down quickly to help put out the fire. "There is no time to explain now. Please, just pack up quickly." Evy nodded and grabbed Jonathan, pulling him towards and into their tent. Rick watched them disappear behind the tent flap then turned back towards Ardeth.
"How's your wound?" he asked, pushing more sand over the ashes. "Fine." Ardeth replied curtly, standing up and brushed off his robes. O'Connell stood quickly and grabbed the Med-jai's arm as he passed him pulling him to a stop. "Look, don't start this again ok. I'm just worried about you." Ardeth locked eyes with the American for a moment then he sighed nodding slipping his arm free. "I know you are my friend. I promise when we get to my village I will have them taken care of. But right now we just do not have the time."
Rick watched him walk away silently before starting towards his own tent. He paused. Wait a minute, THEM?!
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TBC!
Ok, more happened in this chapter Wahoo! And I apologize for the abrupt fight scene I am not good at action fighting stuff really, I either make it too long and descriptive or not descriptive enough. I hope that I'll get better at it during this story. There's a lot more fighting and Ardeth tormenting (Yum!) to come! Stay tuned! Oh and I know there wasn't much Jonathan in this or the last chapter either so hopefully in the next he'll be in it more. Er… I hoped you enjoyed it otherwise. Sankyou for reading it!! Come back soon!!
'Laa' = 'No' (I believe that's how its spelled.)
Shukran!!
By May It Be
~~ Authors Notes: Many thanks to all you who reviewed, wow, you guys are SO nice!!! I hope you've enjoyed it all so far and I hope this next part doesn't disappoint. I'm going to start trying to make each individual chapter longer so in the end there should be fewer. (`cause otherwise, with the way I'm, going there's going to be like twenty) Anyway, I hope you like it!
Oh and a Special thanks to Lula, Patty, Xanthia Morgan and especially Deana for emailing me and helping with this story! You ROCK!
Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Mummy', 'The Mummy Returns' or any of the characters belonging to them. (Just the bad guys, 'Heneb and Andrahi, Taniif and other Misc. characters you don't recognize.) So please do not sue me I have no money this is just for twisted entertainment purposes only. However, the idea's and plot for this are solely mine. Do not take them please, ask first if you want them and can do better justice to it.
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Chapter Four…. "Startling Revelations."
Dinner had been relatively quiet.
It was a gentle meal, prepared with care by Evelyn and two of the younger Med-jai, but it was plentiful and filling, leaving the group warm and content; for the moment. Soft conversation rolled about the campfire, a strong camaraderie between men and a calming ease forming despite the current situations. The O'Connell's, Jonathan included, were glad to be back and the warriors were more then glad to have them.
After the meal, a few of the Med-jai went about quickly clearing away the remains, while most of the others retired to bed with lightened hearts. There was just something about those three, Rick especially, that put you at ease, no matter the circumstance. As the tired warriors slumbered, the five remaining companions sat about the still warmly glowing fire conversing now about more serious matters.
"I believe it is due time you three explained your visit." Ardeth said, taking a small drink sparingly from his canteen, watching the nervous glance pass between husband and wife. "You have been avoiding answering me all day. Come now, can it truly be that bad?" Silently Rick heaved a sigh, shaking his head then locked eyes with the Med-jai leader. Ardeth fought back a shiver at what he saw in his friends eyes; weariness, worry, fright, visions of a haunting naught but a week old.
'Perhaps it can.' He thought, shifting just a little bit closer towards the blazing fire and the heat of Taniif next to him. It isn't all that cold but for some reason he was, perhaps he had lost more blood when the Med-jai had attacked those men then he originally thought.
"I guess we owe you that." Rick muttered, looking again at Evy, clasping her hand tightly as she leaned into him. "This will probably sound ridiculous to you," O'Connell paused scrubbing his free hand through his hair nervously, "I had a dream, we, we had a dream and it worried us terribly. So, we came to check up on you and ease our minds." Evy nodded quietly at her husbands side, one hand resting atop his leg, the other about his waist.
"It was an odd dream. Almost like a vision, it was so real. And horrifying." Evelyn commented, starring intently into the red and orange rhythmically dancing flames. "What was this dream? You both experienced it?" Ardeth Bay questioned politely, threading his fingers across his lap, his elbows resting upon his knee's. Their unease with him and their hesitation to speak worried him greatly. 'What could possibly be so horrifying for them to act this way?' "Yes, we did."
Evelyn nodded silently to his question, and slowly bit-by-bit the two began explaining the details of their shared dreams.
Describing to the Med-jai and his companion the temple, and the men in red, the statues, and the odd book. Their hesitation increasing as they slowly began informing Ardeth of his own death and ceremonial sacrifice. The Med-jai leader remained silent throughout their speech, nodding occasionally, his eyes widening at the mention of the book and the temple designs, and a small hint of a smirk played on his lips at the blush that broke on each of the O'Connell's faces when they mention his clothes getting ripped off.
It was interesting seeing them flustered like that, acting as if they had been caught with their hand in the proverbial cookie jar.
However, if Ardeth was worried or jostled by the horrific descriptions of his own mutilation and death, he did not show any outward sign of it. And that, in itself, unnerved Rick.
Taniif, next to Ardeth however, was positively horrified by the explicit descriptions of his best friend being cut apart and killed, his eyes were wider then Evy thought possible, one of his hands straying unconsciously towards the skirt of Ardeth's robes grasping them tightly in worry. 'It was just a dream. It HAS to be! I will not let him suffer that! Never!… Never.'
"So you did not recognize this temple?" Ardeth asked quietly, his voice subdued and gentle, calm as water. "No I've never seen it before. It was like nothing I had ever seen, although I was only able to see that one room." Evelyn replied, leaning her head against Rick's shoulder. Ardeth nodded his understanding.
"It was completely dark, no light except for that of the torches, no windows and it was fairly cold. Now that I think about it, it might have been underground." Rick responded, rubbing his sore neck as he watched the Med-jai leader closely.
"And what of the book this man was holding? Did you recognize it?" Ardeth Bay asked taking another swig from his canteen listening for Evy's next words. "Yes and no, it looked like the Book of Amun-Ra and the Book of the Dead but it wasn't either of them. It was silver, instead of black or gold. I didn't get close enough to see it all that well, but it looked like it had a handprint on the-" "Are you sure?!" Ardeth cut her off, spitting out his water and shot to his feet causing the rest of the surrounding people to jump in surprise.
"Ah, y-yes." Evelyn stuttered, sitting back from Rick's arms and looked wide eyed at the Med-jai leader. "By Allah." Ardeth breathed then rushed to his tent, looking frantically for the letter from the Curator leaving four blinking faces behind. "I say, what was that all about?" Jonathan asked, wiping water droplets from his arm and neck having taken the brunt of the hard spray. "I don't know." Rick shrugged, watching Ardeth's tent waiting for him to return.
"Do you think we should follow him?" Evy asked, turning her almond eyes towards Taniif who shrugged also watching the tent curiously. "I'll see what is wrong." He replied, standing silently and walked towards his chieftain's tent, lifting the flap and disappeared inside.
A long, silent moment later he returned, an odd expression on his face as he walked back to the group and sat back down
"So?" Rick prompted when Taniif failed to reply. "What? Oh, ah, he is reading the letter the curator left for him." The med-jai replied, leaning forward folding his arms on his knees. "And?" Evy prompted this time, watching the blank look on his face curiously.
"Hmm? Oh, he didn't say anything else. I'm sure he'll be out in a minute." He shrugged, warming his chilled hands by the fire.
It wasn't all that cold out tonight really, except when a swift breeze blew by every now and again, but the look on Ardeth's face when he had walked in on him. Now that was positively chilling.
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~~~~( Andrahi silently moved his cousins hands from his shoulders, looking him squarely in the eye. 'Heneb gazed back steadily, his heart mirrored in his deep, light eyes his hands furiously locking onto his cousins frailer fingers instead.
"'Heneb, my dear cousin, you know that I must do this. Father is too old, he would not survive and no one outside our bloodline is allowed to-" 'Heneb yanked his hands free and pushed the younger man again against the table firmly, cutting off his statement.
"Then why can not I do it?! I am of your blood! Let me bind with it!" the taller man yelled, his eyes all but wet in his distress. Andrahi exhaled, his voice hitching in his throat as he watched his cousins torment. He shook his head, his silk curtain of hair washing upon his bare shoulders.
"You are of my blood, yes, and perhaps you do have a better chance of survival then I, yes, but I can not ask you or any of the other Med-jai to do that which I would not do myself." The longhaired Med-jai stated firmly, wincing internally at the screams of the dying priests still present in the room. "Andrahi you may not live!" 'Heneb insisted, ignoring the pain of the men around him too consumed by his own.
"You think I don't know that?… As the son of the Chieftain, this task falls upon me, and I would rather I try and fail then have you live with the binding." Andrahi stated somewhat sadly, his eyebrows knitting up in an almost silent plea. "I would rather I live with the binding then you not live at all!" 'Heneb retorted, grabbing his younger cousins chin and snapped his head back as he tried to look away.
Andrahi released a shuddering breath and pushed his cousin off of him, his chest practically heaving now. "'Heneb you are not making this any easier!" "Nor are you!" Heneb yelled back, his hands fisting, his fear and worry for his beloved kin so strong it seemed now like anger. "I have made up my mind cousin! Nothing you can say will change that now!" Andrahi replied, turning back to the table and the three books still upon it. "The books of Egypt are my responsibility, and as such, so is the binding."
"Curse these blasted books!" Heneb yelled, rushing forward and flipped the table, scattering its contents rather unceremoniously upon the sandy floor. "All they have ever done is cause us hurt and now you wish them to pain us more!" His voice cracked, a steady stream of tears now breaking free, leaking down his cheek. Andrahi turned back to his cousin, taking his face in his hands. "'Heneb, I promise you I will not die." )~~~~~
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- Ardeth -
I am sorry I am unable to get this to you personally, but it seems now that I have no choice. There are men here now, about ten of them, there were four who came by yesterday. They want the book Ardeth, the book and the blood of the one who last used it. I know you know what book of which I speak. I told them I didn't know of it. They also want to know the name of the Med-jai leader. I would not tell. I fear you are the next one they seek, you must not be taken! I ran from them when I could and locked myself in my office.
That is how I am able to write this letter. They are trying to brake in, the door will not hold for long. I pray to Allah that you get this somehow, and that he protects you, my Chief. Inside this envelope is also a letter from the O'Connell's I was never able to get it to you. These men have cut me off from the rest of the tribe. Hoping that if I sent something it would lead them to you. I knew though that if you did not hear from me, someone would be sent and I hope you get this soon. They are almost in now!
Keep it safe Ardeth Bay, and yourself! I shall see you in heaven someday.
- Asheed -
Ardeth dropped the bloodstained Arabic letter letting it fall to the bedroll beneath his knees, his too thin hands reaching up to thread into his softly curled dark hair. Things were worse than he thought! 'By Allah! If they get the book and unleash its power!-' Ardeth took a deep almost shuddering breath, shaking his head fiercely. 'No, even if they get the book they would still need the blood of the Med-jai, or rather his reincarnation, who last used it. No one, not even I know for sure who that was.'
Taking another deep breath, Ardeth Bay, picked up the letter and folded it placing it back into the long envelope, tucking it all safely into his sash. 'That is why they have been taking my people then. I pray they have yet to find him.'
Quickly he stood and moved towards the opening of the tent, picking up his scimitar's and long knife on the way, tucking them away into their respective places and sheaths at his belt. He took one last deep, calming breath before he flipped open the flap to his tent and strode outside, making his way quickly back towards the rest of the group that was still awake.
The group turned to him almost as one as he approached, the same almost expectant look on each of their faces. "Ardeth, what is wrong?" Taniif asked in Arabic, standing quickly as his leader refused to sit. Ardeth shook his head, his left hand moving the hilt of the blade directly at his side. "We must leave, now." He informed, the tone of his voice leaving no room for argument.
"But, the men need rest. What has happened?" Taniif insisted, his eyes flicking back towards Evy and Rick as they too stood. Ardeth again shook his head turning back towards his tent.
"There is no time. We must reach the tribe before it is too late. I will send the falcon ahead of us, but we must still leave-" Ardeth's words were cut off by a high pitched horses shriek. Ducking reflexively into a defensive crouch he turned to the sound, his eyes widening as he spotted a large cluster of riders with blades drawn approaching them fast from the right, cutting a swatch through the dark like a blade through flesh.
"We're under attack!" Taniif yelled, drawing his own blade as Ardeth at his side drew his. "Go wake the others! Make sure no one gets taken!" Ardeth ordered hurriedly, pushing Taniif towards the other soldiers' tents, sounds of stirring men already emanating from inside them.
Gunshots soon rang through the air, knocking the first three enemy riders clean from their horses. Dead before they even hit the ground. Ardeth glanced behind him, his lips quirked. Rick never was one for hand-to-hand combat, if it could be avoided of course.
One of the now unmanned horses came charging into the camp, heading straight for Ardeth who grabbed the reins and slowed it enough to loop his foot in the stirrup and jump onto its back. "Aim for the horses!" Ardeth yelled over his shoulder to the O'Connell's and Jonathan, knowing full well that it would be harder for his men to fight back if the riders remained mounted. Rick nodded and knelt quickly next to his wife, aiming down the barrel of his rifle.
Ardeth kicked his heels into the horse and sent him flying towards the red robed warriors, throwing his scimitar at the first man he neared, embedding it deep in the man's chest. The man fell and Ardeth drew another sword.
He could soon feel the heat of battle all about him, praying to Allah that all his men survived as his blade locked with another red-garbed warriors. Adrenaline pounded through him dulling the pain in his side, leaving him unaware of the injury, his blood rushing though his ears so loud he couldn't distinguish the sounds his body made from the sounds around him.
The man he was fighting swung his blade in a wild arch at Ardeth's head, who ducked it easily and moved forward enough to ram his own blade into the man's gut, twist it, and pull it free before pushing the gasping warrior away. The Med-jai turned just in time to catch another blade with his scimitar stopping it only centimeters away from his neck. He pushed the sword back roughly, surprising his opponent, swing in at the man before he could react, slicing him clean through the throat.
The battle soon began to dwindle, the numbers of both sides having been too small to wage a great war to begin with.
"Retreat! Retreat!!" The leader of the red robed men yelled above the screams of the clinking blades, swinging his own sword down to smack the horses tail end and sent him bolting away from the camp. The few remaining enemy riders fled as quickly as possible, two more falling victim to O'Connell's guns before clearing the dunes from whence they came.
Taniif, who was for the most part unharmed, ran up to Ardeth out of breath grasping the reins of the horse as his leader dismounted. "Should we pursue?" He asked, leaning forward slightly as he gasped for breath. Ardeth shook his head and crouched down wiping his blade clean on the clothing of a fallen red robed warrior. "Laa." "But-" "We must return to the Tribe Taniif, now. We don't have time to follow them." Ardeth Bay insisted, sheathing his blade and moved back towards the rest of his men, pleased to see that none had perished.
"Bind your wounds and pack up your belongings. We leave tonight!" He ordered to them in Arabic watching them move about quickly to do as they were told then turned towards Rick and the others. "That wasn't that great of an attack if you ask me." O'Connell commented, replacing his rifle in its holster upon his back and took his pistols from Evelyn. Ardeth nodded, breathing deeply to regain a steady rhythm. "I agree. This was either an attack to simply capture one of my men, or it was not a planned attack."
"I would lean towards the latter." Rick said standing and moved up next to the Med-jai leader. "I agree." Ardeth replied again, fighting back a gasp as his adrenaline rush seeped away and the sting in his side came back full forced as well as a new fresh one in his arm. Great. "None of you are injured?" He asked then suddenly, looking them over quickly, relived at finding no blood. They all shook their heads and he nodded. "None of them got close to us." Rick smirked, patting the gun at his side.
Ardeth shook his head. Americans. "So what now, old boy?" Jonathan asked, moving to stand at Ardeth's other side, tucking his own gun in his belt. "You must pack your things. We must leave." "Now?" Evy asked, wiping her forehead with her sleeve. "Yes, no time can be wasted. We must reach my tribe by tomorrow." Ardeth knelt next to the fire, grabbing a long stick and started to spread the logs and ashes, throwing sand on the bigger flames trying to smother it.
"What's the hurry? What's happened buddy?" O'Connell asked, noting the evident worry upon the Med-jai's face, leaning down quickly to help put out the fire. "There is no time to explain now. Please, just pack up quickly." Evy nodded and grabbed Jonathan, pulling him towards and into their tent. Rick watched them disappear behind the tent flap then turned back towards Ardeth.
"How's your wound?" he asked, pushing more sand over the ashes. "Fine." Ardeth replied curtly, standing up and brushed off his robes. O'Connell stood quickly and grabbed the Med-jai's arm as he passed him pulling him to a stop. "Look, don't start this again ok. I'm just worried about you." Ardeth locked eyes with the American for a moment then he sighed nodding slipping his arm free. "I know you are my friend. I promise when we get to my village I will have them taken care of. But right now we just do not have the time."
Rick watched him walk away silently before starting towards his own tent. He paused. Wait a minute, THEM?!
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TBC!
Ok, more happened in this chapter Wahoo! And I apologize for the abrupt fight scene I am not good at action fighting stuff really, I either make it too long and descriptive or not descriptive enough. I hope that I'll get better at it during this story. There's a lot more fighting and Ardeth tormenting (Yum!) to come! Stay tuned! Oh and I know there wasn't much Jonathan in this or the last chapter either so hopefully in the next he'll be in it more. Er… I hoped you enjoyed it otherwise. Sankyou for reading it!! Come back soon!!
'Laa' = 'No' (I believe that's how its spelled.)
Shukran!!