Chapter 19
"There's nothing more we can do for him," Nathaniel sighed. "Such a waste." With a gentle hand, he closed the boy's sightless eyes and brushed the sand from one cheek, his fingertips dancing across the few sprinkled whiskers that would have evolved into a beard.
"One less to worry about," Private Bennings stated indifferently and stood up. "I'll go inform the Captain."
Nathaniel watched the young man walk away, appalled by his comment but not surprised. Prejudice among his countrymen against the Egyptians was quite common, continually fueled by England's desire to regain its lost empire and Egypt's desire to be free. Concluding that nothing will ever change between the two countries, he grabbed his medical pouch and started to climb to his feet only to be stopped by a low, guttural moan of pain.
Startled, he glanced down at the dead boy in disbelief, certain his prognosis had been correct. "What in God's name?" Nathaniel murmured and reached out to check for a pulse but then jerked his hand back when he heard the slight sound of wood creaking. He watched in wide-eyed fascination as the wagon started to rock and he could hear something move painfully slow and laborious. He scrambled to his knees just as hand shot up and gripped the edge of the wagon and as he slowly rose to his feet, he came face to face with what he would later describe as the devil himself.
"Bloody hell," Nathaniel whispered. "Captain, I think you need to see this," he called out as he clutched his pouch to his chest. The clinical side of his mind automatically registered the unnaturally pale complexion of the man's face, the way he struggled to maintain consciousness and the small gasps of pain that accentuated almost every breath. Theories about what appeared to be the man's rapidly deteriorating physical condition were temporarily pushed to the side as Nathan watched him prop himself against the side of the wagon, the knuckles on his hand turning white from his determined grip. With a great amount of effort, the man focused on Nathaniel with a sudden burst of clarity and he found himself staring into warrior's gray colored eyes. Nathaniel frowned for a moment, certain he had seen this unusual eye color before but before he could think any further on it, the man suddenly croaked, "…lazim musa 'adi…Olivia."
Nathaniel shook his head. "I'm sorry, I don't understand."
"…musa 'adi Olivia," he whispered. Drained of his strength, the man abruptly fell back into the wagon with a small cry of pain.
That sound galvanized Nathaniel into action, and he ran around to the back of the wagon and climbed in. Trained to assess and treat wounds on the battlefield, he was temporarily shocked into inaction when the overwhelming smell of blood assaulted his senses. The metallic tang of it hung heavily in the air; the tacky substance had saturated the man's robes and Nathaniel lifted the heavy material looking for injuries. He was thoroughly amazed that the man was still alive, even after it was apparent he had suffered a substantial blood loss from a bullet wound in the shoulder.
"Easy now, I'm here to help," Nathaniel said softly to his stricken patient and knelt down by his side.
~*~
"I have missed you, you know." Allan stated softly.
Olivia blinked in surprise at the change in Allan's demeanor. "You have an odd way of showing it," she commented and watched with a perverse sense of glee as Allan's face became mottled with rage. She was going to roast in hell for her sins: first hitting her husband and now goading him. Was she really mad?
"And you have an odd way of showing your gratitude. Now stop this nonsense and come with me, I'm taking you back to Cairo," Allan demanded impatiently and held out his hand.
"No." Olivia bit her chapped lips and suppressed a giggle when she saw the color drain from Allan's face. "There's something I need to do, a promise I intend to keep."
"Something more important than being with your husband?" Allan asked incredulously.
"Captain, I think you need to see this."
Olivia's attention was momentarily diverted away from replying to her husband and she was surprised to see that the doctor who had been taking care of Faris now in the back of the wagon, bending over Nabil. "Yes," she called out over her shoulder and ran over to the wagon.
"Olivia! You owe me an explanation!" Allan shouted after her, but Olivia didn't acknowledge it. She scrambled up into the wagon just as the officer's horse had reached the other side.
Nabil was struggling weakly as the doctor gently probed his wound, his moans of pain more than she could bear and Olivia dropped to her knees by his side. She grabbed one hand and gently crooned to him, murmuring words of comfort that eventually quieted the warrior down. She could feel the men staring at her, the weight of their unspoken questions hanging over her head like the sword of Damocles but none of that mattered now. All that she cared about was Nabil finally getting the medical treatment he so desperately needed.
"Please…Dr. Groves, is it? Please, help this man. He…he saved my life," Olivia asked and looked up at the man kneeling next to her. First impressions are usually lasting impressions, or so Olivia had always been told by her mother. And despite the surprisingly youthful appearance of the doctor, Olivia knew he would do all that was in his power and skill to save the warrior.
"Mrs. Merriweather, I am Captain Mallory from Fort Brydon," the officer introduced himself. "We've been searching for you since your abduction from the Giza pier a few days ago."
"Yes and I am ever so grateful, you have my profound thanks. But this is the man that saved my life that day," Olivia pointed down to Nabil. "If not for him, I would not be alive at this moment."
"You had stated earlier that it was the boy who had rescued you from your kidnappers," Captain Mallory pointed out. He leaned on the pommel of the saddle and watched as the doctor continued his examination.
"They both helped me," Olivia clarified. "I know I'm going to have to make a statement, but let me emphasize, this man is innocent of any wrongdoing. Please believe me and help him."
Dr. Groves might have intentionally probed too deeply into Nabil's wound for suddenly, the warrior's body spasmed. His eyes fluttered open as he weakly tried to move away from the new agony that must have been tormenting him; Olivia felt his hand tighten within her grasp and she leaned over him again, whispering words of encouragement.
She watched as his gaze, so bright with fever and pain, glanced at both men.
She heard a muttered oath of surprise come from the captain but thought nothing of it; she was more concerned at the tired, ragged sigh that escaped from Nabil's lips when he finally lost consciousness again.
She felt a relief so profound as it surged through her body when the captain abruptly ordered for men to move out and return to Sedment, that she almost sagged down to the wooden flooring. Someone climbed into the driver's seat and the wagon lurched forward.
And she most likely made a mistake in not going back to speak with Allan, catching the intense look of hatred that flashed across his face as the wagon passed by. Instead, she looked back at the body of Faris, so callously ignored by the soldiers, and as the tears rolled down her face, Olivia silently bid her youthful champion a goodbye.
"Good night sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."
~*~
It was a reluctant compromise between Jahm and Loch-nah but one that would be mutually beneficial for both men. Once Kasim had left the camp, Loch-nah continued to weave his intricate web of deceit to gain power, convincing Jahm that Kasim had deserted him. The once-coveted position as second in command of Jahm's army was now Loch-nah's, but the mercenary wanted more. And he would patiently wait until the opportunity arose to seize control. The chest was his primary concern, but if leadership over these men would happen to also fall into his hands, Loch-nah would not be foolish and ignore it.
As the afternoon wore on, a messenger rode in with the news that the Medjai were marching towards the camp, and his announcement started a flurry of activity.
Rounds of ammunition were accounted for and given out, guards were doubled at each post and around the perimeter of the camp, holes were dug for camouflage. Towards evening, the fate of the two commanders was discussed and much to Loch-nah's surprise and delight, Jahm gave him permission to deal with them accordingly. It was a gift, the leader had stated. Since he wasn't one to question this sudden generosity, Loch-nah walked towards their tent, his eyes gleaming malevolently as he slowly drew his sword from its scabbard.
For now, it was good to be second in command.
~*~
The first day's ride to the enemy's camp had been long, hot and exhausting.
Although Rick didn't complain, his body's physical protests more than made up for any vocal ones. When the order to halt and rest for the night came, he jumped down off his horse and held back a groan of pain. His hand came up to his shoulder and he flexed it a few times, trying to ease some of the soreness. He looked around, and was slightly amused to notice he was still surrounded by his "escort." Kedar, Zaki, Jameel, and the others were quietly talking amongst themselves as they took care of their horses and hobbled the animals for the night. He waited for Kedar, secretly pleased that during the day they had been able to talk, quietly building a friendship from the common bond of knowing Ardeth. At first, Rick had decided to stay clear of the commander to keep the peace, but Kedar's commanding personality and obvious leadership skills overcame any doubts. He was very personable, talking to Rick and answering his endless questions about growing up with Ardeth.
As the men gathered around the campfire and ate their dinner, Rick couldn't help but ask another question. "So," he said and pointed to Kedar's scar. "What happened to the eye?"
Kedar laughed, most likely from his memories of when he and Ardeth had been but small children but suddenly, his laughter faded to a smile. Gradually the smile caved into sadness and when he finally spoke, his voice was low and gruff - Rick could hear the mixture of amusement and sorrow as he relayed the tale. "We were five years old at the time," he began, a far away look in his eyes. "We were at Ardeth's parents' tent playing an old child's game called 'Warriors and Imhotep.'"
"Okay, and what is this game about?" Rick asked, a little confused.
"It would be much like your Westerners version of 'Cowboys and Indians'," he replied.
"Gotcha." Rick nodded his understanding.
"I was always bigger than Ardeth and so he quickly learned to take advantage of any situation and try to get the best of me," Kedar continued. His smile returned and he chuckled. "He had found his father's scimitar and had tried to wield it against me. Ardeth's father entered the tent at that moment, but he wasn't quick enough. The scimitar was too heavy for Ardeth and he lost control of it. It came down hard and the tip of it sliced through my face - barely missing my eye."
"Ouch," Rick winced, as a morbid picture popped into his head of a young boy's face laid open by a scimitar.
Kedar surprised him by grinning. "I bled profusely, and it scared the hell out of Ardeth, but I survived it. I teased him for years after that, telling him he ruined my good looks."
The rest of the warriors had been listening to the tale and suddenly, Zaki snorted and shook his head. The flames of the campfire danced in his golden-brown eyes, his smile a brilliant flash of white as it danced across his face. "It certainly hasn't deterred any of the women from flocking to your side when we are visiting the brothels in Cairo," he commented good naturedly.
Rick raised an amused eyebrow as Kedar's grin widened into a huge smile. "Ah yes, the women," he said and winked at Rick. "I like to tell them I received the scar while battling some great evil-nearly sacrificing myself. They feel sorry for me and always give me special attention."
"Do you like belly dancers?" Rick asked with a twinkle in his eyes. "I've always had a fondness for them."
"Kedar has a fondness for anything in a skirt," Zaki laughed.
The rest of the warriors joined in and Rick shook his head in amazement at how normal some of these warriors actually were. If he looked past their eternal duty to protect mankind from the priest and guard the City of The Dead, he realized they had lives - they laughed, they loved, they were real. "Why do I get the impression the two of you were a lot of trouble growing up?" Rick asked, hoping to hear more.
"Remind me to tell you about the time we uncovered a nest of Egyptian hornets," Kedar said. "Now, that was trouble."
"Hornets?" Jameel sounded worried. "Their stings are dangerous, are they not?"
"Where is Berin?" Zaki asked, looking around for the warrior.
"Did you have a blood brother growing up, O'Connell?" asked Kedar.
Rick shook his head. "No, I was raised in an orphanage in Cairo. Ardeth is my only…he was…ah hell," he sighed. "He was my best friend and I miss him a lot."
"As do I, ya saHib," Kedar said softly. "As do I."
A brief silence fell over the group of warriors and Rick watched Zaki excuse himself from the group, then turned back to Kedar as he enthusiastically launched into another tall tale. A few more warriors drifted over to the fire and Rick spent the rest of the evening listening to and enjoying the various stories.
~*~
Zaki found Berin sitting alone away from the group and sat down by his side, nudging him for attention. "You must eat," he ordered and handed Berin a water pouch, some dried dates, goat cheese and flatbread.
He frowned when Berin barely acknowledged his presence and instead, kept his gaze focused out in the gathering twilight. Astutely guessing Berin was thinking about his wife, Khalee, Zaki realized it had been eight months since her death, knowing her passing was still a fresh wound on Berin's heart. He was worried the grief would consume his friend.
"I am not hungry."
"Then eat for Nabil, he will need not only your strength but the friendship that comes with it in the hours to come," Zaki urged.
Berin remained silent.
Zaki sighed and tried a different tactic. "The sorrow…if you let it, it will linger like a shadow over your heart and block out the light. I know for I still grieve over the loss of Sylvia. While the scars on my back have healed, they are still a visible reminder of what happened to her; the memories sometimes…torment me. The guilt in preventing her rape and murder often weighs heavily on my heart like a stone but I will not give into my grief. Not when I have yet to extract my revenge."
Berin turned to look at Zaki and he saw the deep melancholy on the older warrior's eyes. "I find I am growing…weary of fighting the pain in my heart. The severity of it never lessens, and the memories of what happened that night will torture me until my death. You speak of sorrow as a shadow, indeed my whole life has been cast into darkness and I find I am losing the will to struggle much longer."
"Do not give up," Zaki urged. "Allah is most merciful and will find a way to bring you back into the light, but you must also want it. You must help yourself. Nabil needs you…we need you. You may be able to turn your back on yourself, but what of your blood brother? Can you desert him when he needs you the most? Nabil took care of you after Khalee's death, and I heard from my tribal Elders that he discredited Rhyda's accusations that you interfered with the birth. Will you repay Nabil's friendship by not honoring your oath?"
Berin gave a ragged sigh of surrender. "La, I cannot."
"Then eat, gather your strength for the coming battle. And know there is one who understands what it is like to continually battle the dark tide of sorrow," Zaki wisely stated. He handed Berin the food again and nodded with satisfaction as the warrior slowly ate.
~*~
Translations:
lazim musa 'adi – must help
~*~
A/N – time for the shout outs. But before I get into them, I wish to thank anyone and everyone who has read this and will continue to read this, review or not. Your emails are greatly appreciated and are sometimes, what keeps me going. ;-)
Special thanks to Ladybug for helping me write her sweet beast, Kedar and of course, my beta Jenn Lee. Love my beta. ;-)
Karri – thanks for asking and aiwa, I am feeling better. Much better. Hope you're doing well.
Dawn – Yep Ardeth is back and no, LOL, not in the greatest of shape. You should know me by now; I do have a reputation to live up to as being the Evil One. Hope you like this chapter as well. ;-)
Lilybird – Welcome to FF, my friend, and thanks for the reviews. I'm glad you like Olivia and yes indeed, she has this new found strength that is both liberating and perhaps a tad frustrating.
Marxbros – It would appear the Allan getting punched in the face has been a hit [pun intended] but you know he has to retaliate. C'mon, you know this…LOL As for Nabil's fate, Olivia will take care of him with some unexpected help although it will not be easy.
Deana – "Widdle Ardy Poo"??? LOL! Erm, I dare you to call him that to his face. But I did as you had instructed, I posted more. ;-)
Aenigmatic – You have me blushing with your comments but update, geez woman, I am updating again. How's that? Take care and again, I'm sad to see your story has ended. L
Patty – You trust me to bring Nabil back through that long, dark tunnel? Ask and ye shall receive but the journey may be a long one. As for poor Faris, sadly, he has departed. Although in a future chapter, Nabil will honor his memory by…oops. Said too much but what a lovely hint. ;-)
Marcher – That bullet was meant for Nabil, hmmmm, what an interesting idea. ;-) Glad you liked the chapter but I am sorry that Allan's name made you shudder. Sorry but he's not going away any time soon.
Ruse – yesssss my precious, do send Gollum after me…oh wait, that wouldn't be good. LOL And by the way, I am feeling ever so much better, [insert Monty Python] I'm not dead yet. Thankee kindly for reading.
Lula – My gawd woman, when you catch up on chapters, you catch up. LOL Laws yes and I am ever so grateful. No apologies needed for being tardy, I think we've all been on occasion, I'm just glad you had a chance to read. And no, so everyone take note, you're not misreading Olivia's intentions. She has fallen in love with Nabil but like you said, time will tell in seeing what happens for the two of them. And having me make you hate Allan? I'll take that as a compliment. LOL
I think I caught everyone…~whew!~ LOL