Chapter 14

" Rick, why did you let them come?" Evy asked.

" Who?" Rick asked back.

" Jonathan and Alex." Evy answered.

" Well, so we can protect Alex and keep an eye on them. Plus I mean, its not like we really have to worry about them getting hurt, they will probably just hide, or Jonathan will and he will take Alex." Rick answered.

" Rick, do you remember when you told them to stay put at Ahm-Shere after I died?" Evy asked.

" Yeah…and…Oh." Rick said realizing Evy's point.

" Well, don't worry Evy, if he does come in, he will run the minute the fighting starts." Rick said with a laugh and Evy smiled.

" Do you think, this plan will work?" Mariana asked Ardeth.

" I'm pretty sure it will, my young Medji, but if it doesn't, we are in good hands." Ardeth said.

" Rick and Evelyn have been through a lot haven't they?" Mariana asked.

" Yes. Even before they had their son, they still got into trouble, and danger always followed." Ardeth answered.

" Yeah, I'm sure they did, especially with Jonathan around." Mariana said as she giggled.

Ardeth looked down.

" Oh Ardeth, I know what you are thinking, and the answer is no. We are just friends. Jonathan can be sweet, but, well, he's not really good for anything but drinking, and I don't like him like that." Mariana said laughing.

Ardeth smiled.

" Oh, are you alright Malik?" Mariana asked as she turned around with a grin, at the tomb raider with the gag back in her mouth. [Rick had gotten sick of her yelling and had put it back in again and tied her back up.]

" I…mm…oing…to…et…ou!" Malik tried to say.

" Well, you just build that rage. You are going to need it." Mariana said laughing.

" We will have to stop to rest soon." Ardeth said toward Rick and Evy who were at the front.

They turned and acknowledged.

" Damn that witch!" Kurai raged at Mat.

" What's wrong master?" asked Wani

" She trapped me in this form…my true form…and then she got that stupid Medji to help her…Damn!" he scowled again, pacing the floor.

Suddenly a man ran in.

" Master! Master! Riders at the southern gates!" he screamed.

Kurai smiled wickedly.

" Lets give them a welcome they wont soon forget!" he trailed.

Ardeth sighed and snuck a few glances at Mariana. She was currently talking to Malik about "Old Times". Malik seemed to giggle at the memories.

" Mariana!" Ardeth called

Mariana looked over to Ardeth, smiled, excused herself from Malik's side, and rode over to him.

" Yes Ardeth?" she asked

He looked at her surprised.

" Since when did you start calling me Ardeth and not master?" Ardeth asked.

Mariana blushed.

" What did you want?" she asked back.

Ardeth shook his head.

" What are we going to do when we get there?" he asked

She shrugged.

" I have and idea…but I'm…going to keep it to myself." she replied.

Ardeth chuckled. They rode on.

" There it is." Evy said as they caught up to Ardeth and Mariana.

" Welcome back…again." Rick said with a sigh.

" Good O'le Egypt." Rick said.

They all stopped a distance from the "gates" to figure out what to do.

" So, what's the plan for actually getting to Kurai?" Rick asked.

" We already have a plan…Malik." Mariana answered.

" No, but thanks, I mean the plan for actually getting into Kurai." Rick said annoyed.

" Oh, well, I have one, but you let me worry about it O'Connell." Mariana said.

" Ok, what's with you two?" Rick said looking at Evy and Mariana.

" You both have a secret plan." Rick said getting angry.

" Darling, don't worry, just let us worry about are plan alright?" Evy said.

" Evy…I don't…" Rick started.

" Rick, just worry about getting us in there alright?!" Evy said getting angry. Rick took the warning.

" Alright…fine…but its not a promise." Rick said.

" Well, if no one else has a plan, Ill stick to my regular one." Rick said taking out his guns.

" And what regular plan would that be?" Mariana asked.

" Oh, just barging in, guns blazing, and maybe getting someone shot in the ass." Rick said with a laugh. Evy laughed too. Everyone looked at them.

" Oh, its ah…you had to be there." Evy finished.

"Mmmm!" Malik muttered.

" Oh, sorry Malik, we kind of forgot." Mariana said and she went and freed Malik.

" Ok, so let me get this straight…I'm basically a distraction once we get to him right? Just running, screaming, stuff like that, while you all do your thing?" Malik asked.

" Whatever makes you more confident." Rick answered.

" Alright, then I'll do it, on one condition, I get to take whatever I find after this is over!" Malik demanded.

" It's a deal, but just remember, whatever you take, the outcome is on you and you do it alone." Ardeth said.

" Yeah… I am definitely thinking about retirement!" Rick said in almost a serious way. Evy looked at him with a look that said "That will be the day."

" Alright then, lets go." Ardeth said, and they continued on to the " gates"