CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ardeth led twenty men of his Med-jai tribe across the desert, following a very faint trail left by Imhotep's horse. He had decided to leave immediately, only with half of his men, fearing for Jean's safety. They were honored that their Chieftain had chosen them for this journey and they would serve and protect him well. His men admired Ardeth Bay for his wisdom and his bravery and would gladly give their lives for him. One warrior spoke to Ardeth.
"You realize where he's headed?"
"Yes. You go back to Hamunaptra and show the rest of the tribe the way to the Valley of the Kings. The rest of you, follow me."
They rode for a while longer, and then had to stop to rest the horses. It was still dark and Ardeth was dying out of concern over Jean. He stood beneath the moon and stars and for the first time, he did not even notice that they were there. His thoughts were on Jean as he looked out into the night. He breathed deeply of the cool desert air and wondered if Jean was warm. She got cold easily, he remembered. His jaw clenched as he thought of her under Imhotep's control. If he had so much as put a mark on her lovely skin, Ardeth would kill him.
"Hang on, Jean," Ardeth whispered into the night. "I promise you, kalila, that I will not rest until you are safe in my arms again." His heart pounded in his chest as he whispered his promise, a light breeze carrying his words and his scent out into the night to deliver them to the woman who owned his heart.
***
By dawn, Imhotep and Jean went riding into the Valley of the Kings. She was sitting in front of him, awake, and very pissed off.
"The Valley of the Kings? What are we doing here?" She asked herself as they rode by the ancient tombs.
Jean was desperately trying to figure out what Imhotep meant to do. Then she realized he wanted to wake up his army.
'Oh my God. Ardeth, Tarek, hurry!'
"They will not get here in time," said Imhotep, not understanding her words, but guessing their meaning.
He stopped in front of one of the tomb entrances, dragged Jean off the horse and tied her to a stone pillar at the entrance. He spoke an incantation to remove the stone that covered the entrance and started to go in.
"Are you going to just leave me out here in the sun?" Jean asked.
"I'll be back for you shortly."
He gagged her and disappeared into the tomb. Then, he entered a small treasure room filled with sarcophagus. He started preparing everything for the ritual that would awaken the mummies.
***
Ardeth led his Med-jai into the valley. They went slowly and quietly, constantly looking for signs of Jean or Imhotep. They rode by many tombs. There was an eerie silence as they went forward. Ardeth suddenly put up his hand to halt the group. He could see Jean gagged and tied to a pillar. She saw him and frantically shook her head, trying to get them to stay away. Ardeth and his men dismounted and walked up to Jean. He removed her gag and caressed her face as he whispered to her.
"Are you hurt?"
"No. But you have to get out of here! It's a trap!" She warned.
"I am going to untie you and then I want you to get on this horse and ride out of here as quickly as you can…"
Suddenly, a multitude of mummies emerged from the tomb, from behind rocks and pillars and attacked the men.
"Who are they?" Shouted Ardeth.
"His servants, I think, but not his priests. Ardeth, be careful of their weapons! Don't let the blades touch you. They're poisonous!"
It always marveled Jean how she knew things without knowing how she did as a fierce battle ensued, for however many mummies the warriors cut down, there were more to replace them.
When the mummy's weapon cut one of the warriors, the poison sept into the wound, killing him within 5 seconds. Smoke arose from the blackened wound on the corpse of the Medjai. That taught the warriors to be wary of the poisonous blades, which made killing the mummies even more difficult. Imhotep came out of the tomb and spoke.
"Drop your weapons or they will destroy you."
Seeing they had no chance of defeating them, Ardeth decided to work out a different strategy. He put down his scimitar and motioned the others to do the same. Imhotep walked up to him.
"You should not have followed me. But I knew you would. Now my ancient foes will finally be destroyed forever."
"No! Leave them alone! You have me, you don't need them," shouted Jean desperately.
"But I do need them. I need their bodies to regenerate the priests buried in this valley. Bring the prisoners inside!" Commanded Imhotep.
The mummies herd the prisoners inside. Imhotep untied Jean and dragged her inside along with the others. After they all were inside, Imhotep brought Jean to a statue and tied her up. Ardeth was also tied to a statue. The other mummies each held on to a Med-jai warrior. Imhotep selected Tarek and the mummies took him to the sacrificial table. Imhotep stepped up to Ardeth.
"You, as their leader, shall watch the others fall first."
Imhotep returned to the table. The mummies held the Med-jai down on the table. He didn't say a word, ready to die fighting while Ardeth was frantically trying to untie himself. He would not lose another brother. Imhotep raised a long knife above his head, spoke an incantation but was stopped by Jean's voice.
"You don't have to kill them. I can help you regenerate the rest of your warriors without killing the Med-jai!" She announced with urgency.
Imhotep turned to her, eyeing her suspiciously. "And what would I win by that?"
"You would have a much bigger army in less time."
"Jean, what are you doing?" Asked Ardeth.
"Saving Tarek's life," she simply stated.
"Jean, don't do that, that's exactly what he wants, don't give in….!" Shouted Tarek from the sacrificial table.
"That's the only thing to do! I'm sorry, but I won't let anybody die if I can help it."
Imhotep crossed up to Jean and cupped her face in his hands.
"If it is true, you and I will rule this land together. You, beautiful woman, will be Anck-su-namun's body and will give me a son," he said looking deeply into Jean's eyes.
"You sick bastard!" Yelled Ardeth after hearing that "You're not going to touch her and live to tell it!"
Imhotep looked at Ardeth and then kissed Jean, whose resistance was useless. Ardeth was more than furious and swore to make Imhotep pay for that.
Imhotep broke the kiss. "But if you are lying, you and your friends will die. Release the warrior," he ordered to his mummies.
They let Tarek go and tied him by Ardeth's side. Imhotep looked at them and untied Jean in order to take her with him. Ardeth was furious and struggled against his bonds. He accidentally cut his hand on the statue. He found the sharp edge and begun to saw through the ropes that bonded his hands. Imhotep laughed and took Jean with him inside the tomb, leaving the warriors tied.
"I am almost free," announced Ardeth.
He finally broke through the ropes that bonded and crossed over to Tarek and untied him quickly.
"Are you all right?" Asked the younger brother.
"Yes, let's just untie the rest and find Jean."
They did that in great hurry and then walked up to the tomb that Imhotep was using. Ardeth heard noises outside and knew that the rest of the Med-jai had arrived. They entered and found his Chieftain.
"Are you all here?"
"Yes sir. The twelve tribes. We sum up to 982."
"Good, now remember that until Jean and Imhotep are separated, you cannot harm one without harming the other."
It took them a while to organize the men, but finally they all headed down into the hole and quickly made their way to the chamber where Imhotep was holding Jean as a hostage. He heard Jean sigh in relief and looked at her, noticing the red mark in her arm for the first time.
"You are one of them!"
"I guess so…" She said shrugging.
"You lied to me. You cannot give me a son. You must die for this!" He raged.
The Med-jai advanced and Ardeth spoke. "Touch her and you die," was the cold threat.
Imhotep laughed and all of a sudden they were surrounded by more than 2000 mummies.
'Imhotep's new army,' thought Ardeth, 'so Jean has succeeded in waking them.'
She broke free from Imhotep and ran to him.
"Are your Medjai ready? We've got to get the black book away from him before he causes God knows what other kinds of trouble."
"Yes. Then I suggest we 'get the hell out of here'?"
"You got it."
At Ardeth's signal the Med jai, attacked the mummies. Imhotep had expected this and his army fought almost as well as the Medjai. Suddenly, Tarek took the Book of the Dead and ran towards the exit.
Imhotep realized his odds weren't great and decided that it was time for some drastic measures. With a blessing from his curse, he was master of the sands. He began to shrink and change until he was no more substantial than a single grain. The evening breeze was picking up. He felt it lift him and carry him spinning across the Sahara, taking Jean with him.
"Jean!" Ardeth couldn't do anything to stop him, nor did any of the bewildered warriors.
The sandstorm ended as swiftly as it had began and he stumbled to his knees, whispering her name. Tarek entered after having secured the Book and went to him.
"What happened?" He asked, looking around in utter puzzlement.
"He has taken her back to Hamunaptra, Tarek, I am sure."
"Then we will follow them and pray that it's not too late."
Hastily, the warriors mounted on their horses and took the path that had taken them there not too long ago. Ardeth's horse galloped ahead and the warriors followed trying to keep up with the stealth and speed of the Med-jai leader. They knew he, again, feared for Jean's life.