Part IV
"What caused it to open in the first place?" Dharr asked.
"I am not sure," Zayn, the Traveler, stated uneasily. He saw the looks of disbelief on the warrior's faces and hurriedly tried to make amends; to re-establish their confidence in his abilities to travel between the worlds. Perhaps mentioning this was only his second journey had been a mistake. And it didn't help matters when Commander Ishaq asked if there was a time limit until the portal between the worlds was sealed shut again.
Zayn's reply had been less than educated. "From what I have been taught, the rift between the two worlds will remain open until balance is achieved once again; the Outworlder's presence here is causing a tear in the fabric of time. Once she has been restored to her universe, the gap should then seal shut."
"What happens if it does not?" Kedar asked, feeling his head begin to pound from the mounting tension of the situation.
"Again, I am not certain," the Traveler sighed and then suggested the warriors mount up, ignoring the muttered curse of exasperation from Commander Ishaq. Zayn knew his answers were less than comforting. But worrying about his credibility with the warriors was not his main concern at the moment; re-establishing the stability between the worlds was. "We could debate the theories that were written by our tribal Elders several years ago, suggesting that time between Abydos, Dendera and the West Bank of Luxor continually shifts or adjusts. But I believe a discussion such as that is best kept for later. Time, as it may be, is of the essence and I need to return the barranidinyi mara before dawn."
"Then we have reached an understanding on one thing, Traveler," Kedar growled as he mounted his horse, gathering the reins in his hands. "When you return, there will be indeed a discussion between the Elders, you and I."
"Berin, Zaki, and Jameel are ready to leave, ya sahib," Nabil informed Kedar as he mounted his own horse. "Although I am uncertain as to why he volunteered for the duty. Sharif is caring for the woman."
"Then I shall take my leave of you," Zayn replied and gave a brief nod to all the warriors as well as the traditional sign of departure; hand resting over his heart then raising up in a salute. "May Allah protect you all and watch over you."
Kedar and Nabil returned the Traveler's farewell and Kedar glanced over at the warriors who were tending to Ardeth's stretcher; Dharr and Solman acting as both guide and bearers. The rest of the warriors had already begun their journey and any evidence of the camp that had once been was erased.
"I know this unsettles you," Nabil spoke up from Kedar's side, the expression on his face troubled, his gray eyes clouded with worry. "I will admit, my own knowledge of time travel is limited at best, but we must have faith in the Traveler. We must believe that Allah in His infinite wisdom will steady the scales once again, leaving us free to concentrate on Ardeth's care. He will need our friendship in the days to come. I dare not think of what Lady Dareejah will do when she learns of the events from this night."
Kedar inwardly flinched at the mention of the power-hungry woman who was related to Ardeth through marriage; having wedded into the Bay family three years ago. The untimely death of Ardeth's Uncle Arshad last year was still shrouded in mystery and suspicions ran deep among the warrior sect that Dareejah herself had something to do with it.
"She will do what comes natural to a predator like herself," Kedar replied with a heavy sigh and kicked his horse into a trot; Nabil followed alongside of him. "Like a jackal that has caught the scent of blood, she will attack, trying to usurp Ardeth's position as Chieftain while he recovers."
"No doubt Counselor Thias will be offering his assistance," Nabil stated as he rode alongside of Kedar. "His continuing opposition to the Bay family's rule is well-known among our people. These will be tiring days ahead of us, ya sahib."
"Of that I have no doubt," Kedar agreed with a heavy sigh.
~*~
Dareejah Rishik Bay swept into the parlor situated outside her chambers with the air of a Queen, her body bearing a quiet dignity and grace.
The years had been kind to Dareejah; her face still held the dewy promise of youth, her figure slim and supple, and her long black hair almost free from the signs of advancing age except for a few strands of silver that graced her temples. She was perpetually poised and elegant, every gesture, thought or action carefully orchestrated to exude confidence and control.
The limits of both traits were sorely being tested at this very moment, however, when she realized it was Counselor Thias who was the reason for her rest being disturbed. Her lips flattened into a thin line, a sign of her annoyance.
"Indeed your desire to see me must be of great importance, my dear counselor; the hour is late and yet you demand an audience. Pray tell me what news you bring. Surely you would not dare disturb my respite with menial matters? Enlighten me as to why you sniff like a dog around the doorway to my chambers; surely you could find someone else this evening that could have relieved the perpetual ache between your legs?" Dareejah's smile curved her lush red lips up at the corners yet it never reached her eyes; they were cold, lifeless, and as fathomless as a dark pit. She reached out one hand, allowing Thias to place a compulsory kiss on it.
"A thousand pardons for the intrusion, my lady, but the news I bring is best heard behind closed doors and away from the prejudiced eyes and ears of Elders and Commanders," Thias purred and gave a slight bow over her hand, a sarcastic smile on his lips.
Time had been generous to the counselor as well; although his hair was liberally sprinkled with gray, his mind was still as keen and sharp as a blade. The lines of his body bore silent testament to the once coveted strength of his youth and he always wore clothes that accentuated his masculine build. Vain, pompous and ambitious, Thias' handsome demeanor paled in comparison. Ever the opportunist for further his own political career, he had made an uneasy, turbulent alliance with Lady Dareejah in the hopes of one day, becoming chieftain over the twelve tribes of the Medjai. Willing to do anything to further his own interests, Thias would gladly sell his body if he knew it would further his own ambitions.
Rising to the occasion and letting his lust drive his actions, his eyes raked over Dareejah's body in a lewd appraisal, the bedclothes she wore barely concealing her lush, womanly curves. "Considering how late it is, your razor-sharp tongue still manages to draw blood but I shall gladly suffer the injuries, if only to watch the emotions play across your lovely face once I tell you of my news."
Dareejah pulled her hand free and waved off Thias' words with a wave, walking over to a small chair positioned by a high-arched window that overlooked the gardens. She gazed out at the horizon and estimated dawn's approach within the hour. "My tongue will not be the only weapon that draws blood before this evening expires. Tell me your news and be quick about it or I shall summon my guards."
"Your illustrious nephew Ardeth returns from the night's hunt, performing his eternal obligation as a guardian of the desert…" Thias began and walked over to where Dareejah was standing.
"He is not of my blood," Dareejah snapped.
Thias shrugged and continued his narration. "It is said the warriors will forever honor their oaths with blade, blood and bone; tonight Ardeth almost honored his sacred vow with his life." He leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially in Dareejah's ear. "It is rumored our champion rescued an Outworlder… even as we speak, I know for certain a Traveler was summoned. Tell me, was it not you who once wished to see this other world that you have read about in dusty old books and manuscripts?"
"It is forbidden among our people to seek out the Guardian sect and persuade a Traveler to take us to the other world," Dareejah pouted prettily and watched Thias with narrowed eyes.
Thias started walking around Dareejah, whispering and weaving a dark spell that invoked the shared unquenchable thirst for power, the hunger to always have more. "Tell me, my beautiful dark one, did you not wish to take the wealth of Egypt from this time and escape to the other realm, where you could live the life of power that you have been denied?"
"And who would help me achieve this lofty goal?" Dareejah asked, her eyes focused on the distant horizon. In her mind's eye, she saw the span of her remaining years stretched out before her like a yawning chasm, filled with a heart-wrenching emptiness and discontent.
Thias sensed victory and smiled, positioning himself behind Dareejah, his hands easily pushing aside the fabric of her outer garments until her luscious, well-rounded bottom was almost bare for the plundering. "You know I have always loved you," he chanted and rubbed himself against her, the hard proof of his arousal fitting tightly against her body. "You and I were always so good together; as one, think of what we can accomplish."
Dareejah closed her eyes and leaned against the window ledge, pushing her body rhythmically against Thias; a small moan of pleasure slid past her lips and she knew he would read it as a sign of encouragement. "Tell me more," she panted, rocking her hips against him as she felt the barriers of clothing being pushed aside.
Thias continued to elaborate about his evil plans to Dareejah and like two serpents that were performing the rituals of mating; quickly he freed his engorged manhood and roughly joined their bodies. Captured and entwined, moans of pleasure melded into hisses of pain. Deliberately Thias held Dareejah on the precipice of completion, almost driving her mad, but intent on making them both recite an unholy traitorous pledge to one another. Nothing short of death would prohibit them from seeing their wicked plans come to fruition. And when Dareejah breathlessly gave her acceptance and cooperation, Thias plunged them both over the edge with a shout of victory.
While his manhood was still firmly embedded into Dareejah's receptive body, the pretense of sanity returned, and with it the guard's announcement from outside the parlor's closed door. Ardeth and his men had returned to the city.
"Time to play the loving and concerned aunt," Dareejah announced with a feral smile.
~*~
Berin adjusted his face covering and did his best to navigate his way through the expected sand storm that had enveloped the small party. He squinted through the swirling gritty sand and communicated through hand signals to Zaki and Jameel; he and Zaki would stand guard as Sharif transferred Cecelia to Zayn. Although the trip had progressed without mishap, Berin's instincts were warning him something was amiss. Wary, he guided his horse over to Zaki's side, his hand resting on the hilt of his scimitar.
Zaki gestured to Berin asking if all was well as they watched Zayn take Cecelia and protect her from the driving sand with his body; Sharif had also thoughtfully covered her with a spare robe. Berin nodded and both warriors returned the farewell salute from Zayn as the Traveler turned his horse into what seemed to be the thickest part of the storm. Sharif was almost mounted again when unexpectedly, over the driving wind, they heard a noise that sounded like battle cries. Berin watched in disbelief as the last of the bandits surged over a small dune, and instantly he answered with a shout of his own. He rallied Zaki and Jameel to his side as he pulled his scimitar from its sheath and charged into battle. His dark gaze focused on Zayn and Cecelia, who were still vulnerable to an attack, Berin appealed to Allah to grant them a swift victory.
Sharif pulled out his scimitar and blocked a blow from an attacking bandit in one fluid motion but his attention was divided; a few of the men had pursued Zayn and Cecelia. He doubled his efforts and quickly dispatched his enemy, a vicious fight that ended as the man slumped to the ground, his life's blood oozing from a stomach wound. Sharif pulled his weapon free and spun around to watch another bandit pull the struggling Zayn from his horse as Cecelia's body slid to the ground. Sharif shouted for help and raced over to the Traveler.
Jameel avoided the blow that would have taken his head off and parried with a jab to the bandit's ribs. His adversary barely deflected it and staggered to one side, off balance, giving Jameel enough time to extract the dagger from his boot. He had heard Sharif's cry for help and spared a quick glance towards his friend; the warrior was now fighting another bandit.
Making sure Zayn was out of the way before his own enemy could attack him again; Jameel threw the dagger with deadly accuracy. The man dropped to his knees, trying in vain to reach the knife imbedded in his back before falling over on to his side. He watched dispassionately as nature quickly started to cover the body with a granular shroud of death.
Before he could go help the Traveler, a blinding pain exploded in the back of Jameel's head and he fell to his knees. Reacting on instinct, he rolled to his feet as three more bandits simultaneously attacked, rushing him from all sides. Suddenly, Jameel was fighting for his life.
Avoiding the combatants as best he could, Zayn grabbed the Outworlder under the arms and slowly dragged her towards the portal. He could feel the draw come from the other world, as strong as the currents of the Nile and he let it drag him along, working as a counter-pull against the sandstorm's wind. Quickly, he pushed Cecelia through the hole in time and felt her body dissolve into a fine mist, and then turned to back the horses. Unaware of danger that was approaching him from a blind side, Zayn lunged after the lead reins trailing in the sand.
Meanwhile, Berin slashed at the bandit, ducked under the return thrust and smashed his fist into the man's face. The bandit staggered back, blood pouring from what was probably a broken nose and then he stared at Berin with hatred burning bright in his eyes. "Now you will die, Medjai," the man screamed and charged, the point of his blade aimed for the center of Berin's chest. Berin waited until the bandit was almost on top of him before he twisted his body, his size not a hindrance; he moved with a speed and agility of a dancer. The blade skimmed along Berin's side but the wound was necessary, enabling him to plunge his dagger into the man's back. The momentum of the bandit's attack carried him a few feet before he came to an awkward halt and slowly turned around to stare at Berin in shock.
"Not today," Berin growled and watched as the lifeless body fell to the ground.
"Berin!" Somehow Jameel's cry was heard over the wind, which had lessened in severity, and Berin spun around. He took a few steps forward but Zaki ran over to his side and pointed back towards the Traveler, his words making Berin's blood run cold. "I have Jameel, help Sharif!"
A groan of denial slid past Berin's clenched teeth as he watched the horrible tableau unfold before him. Zayn was huddled on the ground, one hand holding the bloody side of his head but it was Sharif's eminent danger that flooded Berin's body with a temporary paralysis. Two bandits were attacking Sharif at once, the force of their assault propelling him away from the Traveler and into the open time rift. The woman was no where to be seen.
An experienced warrior would have been able to hold his own against two opponents and while Sharif's skill level was far superior, the enemy had strength on their side. Sharif was beginning to tire. A bandit charged most likely thinking to capitalize on Berin's distraction but instead he narrowly missed the warrior's midsection; the reward for his efforts was a sliced tendon on the back of his knee, effectively crippling him. Berin came out of his crouch and shoved the wounded man aside, advancing towards Sharif; his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. Sharif had defeated the first bandit and was struggling to defeat the other but his fatigue hindered his judgment. Berin's roar of fury rolled over the desert when he saw Sharif's guard slip and the bandit immediately seized the opportunity. His sword slashed Sharif's midsection once and then again on a back swing, drawing deep red gashes that sprayed red mist into the wind, mixing with the swirling dust of the earth. Berin heard Sharif's cry of pain, inwardly cringing at the agony laced through it and he started to run, only to be tackled from the side by another foe.
Berin wrestled with his new opponent, his anger and grief over Sharif lending him almost super-human strength. The bandit looked up into the dark glittering eyes of the Medjai and uttered a pray for salvation from the devil himself. Berin made sure those last words became his death prayer.
The sandstorm was dissipating, visibility becoming clearer and Zayn groaned as he struggled to his feet. Ignoring the pain from his aching head, the Traveler stood up and decided to help Sharif the only way he knew how. He dove for the horse's reins, caught them and vaulted into one of the saddles with a triumphant shout. With two horses in tow, Zayn kicked his mount into a gallop and rode straight for Sharif, who was weakly defending himself and being pushed towards the portal. Hoping his trick would work, Zayn called out, "Sharif!" and leaned over one side of the saddle, his arm stretched out. A second later, Zayn grabbed Sharif's arm and half carried, half dragged the warrior to the rift in time; the horse leaping through the charged air.
While Zayn frantically prayed his grip on Sharif's arm would hold… he felt his body dissolve into a mist.
~*~
Where there was once a battle, the sounds of men dying merged with the howling winds of a sandstorm. Now there was silence. The fiery chariot of the sun streaked across the blue heavens as the infancy of morning melted into the maturity of golden afternoon. Bodies lay strewn about the sand, as if a careless child had left their playthings and wandered off to seek more exciting adventures. Overhead in the cloudless perfection of the desert sky, a bird pin-wheeled effortlessly on the wind's playful currents, waiting to see if the dead were truly dead.
Golden eyes fringed by long thick lashes slowly fluttered open and a groan of pain escaped through parched lips. A large hand came up and tenderly touched the bloody cut on his forehead; tiny ribbons of blood streamed over his leather headband, down the side of his face and blended in with his long curly hair and beard. Zaki blinked several times from the brightness of the sky and immediately rolled to his side, a dry cough making his battle-weary body jerk from the exertion.
He was alive… by some miracle and by the grace of Allah.
Zaki had survived the bandit's final attack and he pushed himself to his knees. A quick mental assessment determined his wounds to be superficial, although his head pounded unmercifully. Zaki lifted his gaze to search for his fellow warriors. Two black robed bodies were spotted among the fallen and as Zaki stumbled over to one, the other slowly rolled onto its back.
"Berin?" Zaki asked and knelt down by the warrior's side. He quickly checked the sub-commander for any wounds and finding only a few minor ones, helped him up to a sitting position. "Are you all right?"
"Sharif…" Berin croaked. He wiped the grit from his face with one red tinted hand, asking, "Where is Sharif?"
Zaki saw Jameel roll over to his side and eventually push himself up onto his knees. With one warrior accounted for, Zaki looked at the horses. He was able to identify the three Medjai mounts by the brand on the hindquarters and by the shopands and edras.1 But where was the fourth? "I do not know," Zaki replied.
Berin ignored the protests from his aching body and pressed a hand to his bloody side. With Zaki's help, he climbed to his feet, looking around the field of battle in disbelief. Jameel came limping over to them and together, the three warriors started to slowly piece together what had happened in the last remaining moments of the fight.
Jameel presented a theory and although originally regarded as unbelievable, they realized the evidence on hand was far too compelling to ignore. Partially obscured by the windblown sand, tracks were followed, indentations in the ground were analyzed and steps retraced. Coupled with vague eyewitness accounts, at first the warriors discredited Jameel's suggestion that Sharif had traveled forward in time until the sound of maniacal laughter caught their attention.
"You three look like lost, old women," taunted the bandit who Berin had crippled earlier in the fight. He was curled up on one side, holding his wounded leg and glaring at the warriors with a mixture of madness and amusement.
"Behold the mighty Medjai befuddled with the most obvious of facts. Your friend disappeared through the hole in time, taken by the other on horseback!"
~*~
1 - Arabic, Horse Accessories consist of:
1- Bridle: Bits of Nickel + the
thing that goes on the horses head + the Halter.
2- Shopand:
goes on the horses chest.
3- Lawalih:
goes down the sides of the horse.
4- Edra: on
the horses head
5- Egal: on
the horses neck
6- Rashmeh:
Made of Iron, plated with copper, goes on the horses
nose.
7- Megwad:
Leads.
The site is Arabisca.tripod.com but I couldn't get the link to show up on FF. [If your curious…LOL]
A/N – It is indeed a treat for me to update SIT so quickly but thanks to my beta, I was able to upload this today. Rock on Tori! LOL Hopefully the scene with Dareejah and Thias didn't unsettle anyone with its adult contents but it's all happening for a reason…*evil grin* Ardeth will soon re-appear but meanwhile, I hope my characters keep you entertained and intrigued.
Thank you thank you thank you for the reviews and for those that lurk, you could drop a review to let me know how I'm doing. *giggle* Now…
On to the shout-outs…LOL
TheDreamyOne – Thanks for reading and as I've said earlier, I hope I've tweaked your curiosity enough to keep reading ;-)
Kathy – Ask and ye shall receive…another update. LOL Thanks for reading!
Ladybug – You are too kind and I should be thanking you, as I've said, playing with Kedar and Zaki has been delightful. Nothing like a mindful of warriors to write about that gets the blood pumping…LOL
Lori – Then I guess I didn't go overboard with the Arabic and the translations were in the right spots. Thanks for letting me know. J
Serena1221 – Okay, time to confess. Writing the English and translating it into Arabic was the hardest part! LOL I had both of my books wedged open and took three hours one day to come up with some fairly decent dialogue. Thanks for reading!
Dawn369 – Laws yes, there's more to come but for now, I have to set up the other parts of this story. How will Ardeth react when he finds out Cecelia is gone? A good question and all I can say is, remember who or what Cecelia is…and what her presence in Ardeth's time could possibly do. Will they be reunited? Heh heh…*eg*
Deana – Thanks for reading Dee and do some more dancing, I posted more. LOL Always a treat to see your review. J
Patty – Okay, so everyone in favor of giving Ardeth to Patty, raise their hands? LOL I am extremely flattered that I've created a character that's compelling and realistic enough for you to enjoy reading about. As the story progresses, I think we'll see Cecelia growing in terms of internal strength. And just how far she would go to get back to Ardeth…
Marcher – I had to write a few "For the love of Allah's" in there and I'm glad it injected some humor into a few scenes. I could just hear Berin or Jericho muttering those statements in their scenes and it seemed to fit. If you've noticed, in this fanfic, I've given a different spin on Ardeth, ie he is more to the Medjai than just their Chieftain, compared to "Heroes" where I have him as one of the commanders. It just seems to fit with this, and after all, what gal from the 21st century wouldn't want to be rescued by a handsome, dashing desert warrior from the past who is the leader of a secret civilization?
Ruse – Ai! No Gollum, my precioussssss, please? LOL Thank you for the kind words and I appreciate the feedback. Knowing how my originals as well as my Medjai come across give inspiration to continue with a few other story idea's that are simmering in my head. Thanks for reading and hopefully, we'll see some more updates from you on your fab fanfic? Yes? LOL
Wildcardgal – Ask and ye shall receive, thanks for reading and the review. Hopefully, you've had a chance to check out Ruse's fanfic, that we discussed in the chat last night? Happy reading!
