A Troubling Secret
Rick knocked on the door before entering, but Ardeth didn't appear to notice. His only concern was the still form before him.
" Why wont she come back to us?" he mumbled to himself.
He reached out and took her hand in his softly saying
" Come back to us, my sweet Medji. We need you here with us."
Rick backed out of the room closing the door quietly and went back to his own. After giving Evy a hug he finally spoke.
" He is really shook this time." Rick said.
" What do you mean?" Evy said stepping back so she could see Rick's eyes.
" I cant put my finger on it really, but its like…part of his very soul is lying there on that bed in front of him, and he's going to restore her as she was or die trying." he said running his hand through his hair.
" Worse thing is, I'm not so sure she can be restored, because I'm not so sure she wants to be restored." he finished with a grimace.
" Oh dear." Evy said sitting in a nearby chair suddenly.
" What could have caused that kind of reaction in someone like that I wonder." she asked.
Rick slumped into a chair across from her and in answer to her question, just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
Meanwhile, in Ardeth's and Mariana's room, the beautiful, almost lifeless form, of his dearly beloved began to move. Ardeth's eyes brightened. She opened her eyes and stared at her master, almost disbelieving that he was actually there….
" Ardeth?" she asked sitting up.
Ardeth, instead of answering, caught her up in a giant bear hug, giving her frenzied kisses and another bear hug. By this time, Mariana was full aware of her surroundings and began to hug her master and love of her life, back in a firm hug.
" I'll never leave you my dearest Medji…never…never." he kept whispering this last part, hugging her closer and rocking her gently.
A spark of memory hit her like a ton of bricks…and tears leapt to her eyes, threatening to envelope her in a chaos of emotions.
" Master…" she said holding back her tears…at least she was trying to.
Ardeth looked at her.
" You wont lose me!" he said with finality.
Mariana nodded…but wasn't so sure…and how did he know? Well, they were connected…maybe that was it. These questions passed through her head as both master and apprentice fell asleep in each other's arms.
* About time* Malik the mongoose thought.
She had finally gotten out of the mouse trap. Attentively, she scuttled over to the window and scrabbled up onto the sill. She forced the window open so that a little air could get in and she stretched across the sill and fell asleep. Unfortunately, this mad it infinitely easier for the thugs to grab her.
Meanwhile, Alex was in a tent with the two Medji, who were going to be watching him.
" Can I see your sword?" he asked the tallest of the two.
" No." the Medji replied.
" Can I hold it?" Alex asked again.
" No." the Medji answered again.
Alex walked over to the other Medji.
" Can I see yours?" he asked
The Medji looked at Alex, then at his companion.
" H is relentless." the short Medji said to his companion in their language.
" Yes, but he is his father's son." the taller replied.
They both smiled.
" Tell you what young one…" the short one said to Alex in English, " You can see my sword, but, you must be careful, it's very heavy and if you drop it, you'd better say prayers for your feet." the Medji said taking out his sword.
" I'll be careful, besides, I'm not afraid to hold a sword." Alex said taking it.
" I am sure you are not scared, after what you have been through, it can be tough for a little boy…but, then again, you handle it well, you do have your father's bravery." the taller Medji said.
" You are very lucky to have parents who love you…and will defend the world for you." the shorter one said.
" Me too." Alex answered.
Mariana yawned. Ardeth was sleeping beside her. She sat up slowly and stretched. Ardeth moaned beside her, and woke up with a louder yawn. He sat up and looked at Mariana.
" Good morning, my young apprentice." he said happily.
Mariana smiled.
" Good morning master Ardeth." she said softly.
Ardeth and Mariana sighed in unison.
" I guess we should get dressed." Ardeth suggested.
Mariana nodded. Once they were done getting dressed, the moved to Rick and Evy's room.
Evy was already awake before Rick woke up. She was sitting in a chair in the room thinking hard.
* What will happen this time? Will it be harder?* she thought. * He could be stronger, smarter, since he has dealt with us before…* she continued
" We have too." Rick said coming up beside her. " We have dealt with him too and we know what we are dealing with." he finished.
" How did you?" Evy asked.
" Remember the words of my sister? Our connection…" he finished.
" Oh, that's right." Evy said.
" Don't worry, we will get through this like we always do." Rick said with a look that said " Or at least I hope so."
" Do you think Mariana is alright?" Evy asked.
Rick was about to answer when Mariana came through the door.
" Hey guys…sleep well?" Mariana said smiling.
" Mariana…your…ok." Rick said walking over to her and hugged her.
" Of course I am, I mean, I'd have to be, seeing as how I'm related to you." Mariana said and smiled.
" So, then, what happened?" Evy asked coming over.
" Oh…um…I….I passed out." Mariana answered.
" From what?" Evy asked.
" Oh, I guess it was just the sun." Mariana said walking over to Ardeth.
" We should continue our journey to meet the commanders, to find out what they have decided." Ardeth said.
" We will wait while you get ready." he finished and they left.
" Darling, did any of that make sense to you?" Evy asked.
" What part?" Rick asked back.
" The part about her passing out." Evy said.
" What's weird about that?" Rick asked.
" Only, that she said it was from the sun…but she's a Medji, they are use to the sun, they practically live under the sun." Evy said.
" Oh, well, I mean, I guess, but let's not worry about it, the important thing is she's ok and we have more important things than researching the relationship between the sun and the Medji." Rick answered.
" So, can you teach me some more moves with the sword?" Alex asked the Medji's.
" Well, I suppose…it wouldn't hurt." the tall one said.
" Cool." Alex said.
" Well, lets show you and example…Ya-kah, come over here." the tall Medji asked the other.
" Fine." Ya-kah said and walked over.
" Now, lets say he were to attack me…attack me." he told Ya-kah.
Ya-kah gave him a look then he charged. The taller Medji blocked the punch, thrown by Ya-kah, kicked him and put his sword to Ya-kah's neck.
" You could also do that." the tall Medji said smiling.
" Can I try?" Alex asked.
" Well, maybe.." the tall Medji said, but was interrupted when someone entered the room.
The two Medji moved fast and swiftly to the person, and before you knew it, had him down on his knees with a sword at is throat.
" Argh" the man said.
" Uncle Jon?" Alex asked.
The two Medji looked at Alex.
" Uh…hey Alex." Jonathan said nervously.
" It's ok, he's my uncle." Alex told them.
They didn't flinch.
" Um, he is my mum's brother…" Alex said, thinking they probably didn't know what uncle was.
" Oh." the tall Medji said and they let him go.
" Thanks Alex." Jonathan said walking up to him, rubbing his neck.
" What are you doing here uncle Jon?" Alex asked.
" Oh, well, your parents thought I should watch you." Jonathan answered.
" They though you should watch me, or they knew you were too scared to go with them?" Alex said.
" Um…so…you..uh..nice fellows are protecting Alex?" Jonathan asked the Medji.
" Yes." They answered.
" Ah, good." Jonathan replied.
"Why didn't you tell them?" Ardeth asked Mariana while they were walking down the street.
Mariana didn't reply right away.
" Well….I guess it's because…they had no right to know." she said turning away.
Ardeth was fed up with this and grabbed her by the arm and turned her around to face him.
" Mariana O'Connell! Rick is your brother! He has every right to know! Why are you blocking him out like this?" Ardeth asked.
Mariana looked at him.
" Because…I don't know…" she said finally.
Ardeth hugged her, nodded and they walked on.