Chapter 22
Jahm spun around, his sword following him in a deadly arc meant to impale his opponent but the warrior was too agile and easily blocked the lethal blow. When the Medjai countered Jahm's attack with a jab that came too close to his chest, the mighty leader of men barely dodged the point of the sword and whirled away, frantically seeking an escape. Grabbing one of his own, Jahm threw the hapless man at the warrior and ran through the ranks, back towards the chest.
"This cannot be!" Jahm hissed as he watched the fighting all around him through narrowed eyes.
He had fought well in this war, and had gladly fallen into the insanity that had blanketed his soul. He had done what his nature had preordained – he had killed. However, it seemed for every warrior that he dispatched, two more would appear until the obvious conclusion invaded his tortured mind.
The battle was lost.
The Medjai were steadily over-running the perimeters of the camp as his cowardly men fled into the night. His lips curled back into an insolent sneer and he looked wildly around for the chest. There had to be a fortuitous conclusion to this ill-fated battle and Jahm decided to seize the opportunity. Hafez could rot in hell for all he cared.
Running towards the wagon where the chest rested, his mind easily listened to the welcoming voice, coaxing him along. An unusual noise distracted him for a moment and he stopped, turning around to locate its source. His eyes widened in shock when he saw the once-believed-to-be-deceased Commander Bay riding through the ranks of the warriors.
At that very moment, a silver shaft of moonlight peeked through lazily rolling clouds overhead and shown down upon the warrior, bathing him in an eerie glow. It danced through his dark, windblown locks, caressed the broad shoulders, and illuminated the tattoos that proclaimed his heritage. The night may hide many truths, but the light chose to reveal a reality that Jahm's mind, teetering on the brink of insanity, did not want to comprehend.
The Chosen One was coming for the chest.
Uttering a string of dark curses, he shook his head in astonishment. Hatred boiled within him, as memories of alleged past atrocities goaded him to commit what may have been a rash and foolish action. He managed to avoid further combat and quickly ducked behind a tent. He peered out a second later and jealously watched the Medjai ride towards the wagon.
And a plan suddenly blossomed in his mind.
~*~
"Musad!" Loch-nah snarled with disgust under his breath. He had seen the foolish actions of the other man even as he blocked a fatal thrust from his opponent and ducked under the blow. He spun around and shoved his sword into the warrior's stomach. He twisted it and yanked it free, pushing the man to one side, his nostrils flaring from his exertions. The fight was going badly. Musad must have already predetermined the outcome of the battle and had indicated his choice for survival and it was time for Loch-nah to do the same.
His instincts prompted him to react, saving himself from a fate worse than death once the Medjai learned who had killed their precious commanders. He ran over to a predetermined spot and gave a shrill whistle, alerting a hand-picked group of men that it was time to depart.
Now he would reap the benefits from the hours he had spent as a seemingly willing lackey for Jahm and the seeds of power he had planted would come to fruition. With his own small army of men, he would flee to Cairo and look for Hafez; most likely killing his so-called trusted accomplice for his lack of support in this effort.
Along the way, Loch-nah knew of an ancient temple of a defunct priest sect that the Medjai had defeated several years ago. Rumors indicated that the remaining scattered followers were devoted to the destruction of their hated enemy, and held the knowledge to summon the powers of the underworld. And control of deadly creatures called Wraiths. Spitefully, Loch-nah would incite those fanatical followers to invoke their most powerful incantations and summon the dark riders to wreck havoc among the Medjai villages. It would be a pitiful attempt at revenge but one that Loch-nah could not pass up.
Power in any form, gotten by any means suited Loch-nah fine and he left behind the mêlée, without a second glance.
~*~
In the concentrated heart of the battle, Rick fought alongside Kedar and Zaki. Jameel and Tamim were off to one side, but he had no idea where Lu'ay had gone. They were all on foot now, and were slowly making their way towards the chest.
Rick fired off round after round, his guns clicking constantly as he kept shooting at the enemy who foolishly charged at him. His face was set with grim determination from the task set before him, and as he waded deeper into the enemies midst, he felt almost invincible. He realized that from watching Kedar and Zaki, they were formidable opponents, their scimitars spinning in deadly arcs that sprayed warm blood into the night air. It seemed both warriors had lost the humane side of their natures, and seemed impervious to the death and chaos around them. There was only one objective – to aid Rick in reaching the chest, no matter the cost. He just hoped that for their help, they wouldn't have to pay with their lives.
Distracted by his thoughts, Rick cursed when he felt something whistle by his ear and before he could react, the man suddenly stiffened in front of him, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. When the man fell to the ground, Rick saw that Tamim stood behind him, pulling his scimitar from the body. With a nod towards Rick, Tamim spun around, his robes flaring out as he waded into battle again.
Rick growled in frustration over his momentary lapse in concentration; it had almost cost him his life. Pulling his spare set of guns from the holsters on his back, Rick continued to follow Kedar and Zaki, unaware there was someone else racing to get to the chest.
~*~
Berin whirled around, his body fluid in motion and form as he brought around his scimitar, blocking the thrust of a sword and parrying another with his dagger. The fight had been vicious, the numerous cuts over his broad shoulders and massive chest bearing silent testament to the ferocity of the battle. Sweat poured down his face, his breath came in short gasps but Berin relished this moment to release the sorrowful rage inside of him; it no longer gnawed at his heart. Instead, it channeled through his arms as energy and lent him the strength he needed to defeat another of the enemy.
The four remaining men paused and backed away from Berin, most likely to redirect their efforts and attack. Berin danced on the balls of his feet, poised and alert, his eyes black with anger; he motioned for them to come forward, a grim smile on his face. "Come now, who wishes to die next?" he casually asked.
"Arrogant dog," someone hissed and two men charged forward, their swords flashing in lethal swings aimed at Berin's head. He parried one blow, ducked and twisted his body between the two men, stabbing the other man in the neck with his dagger. His move caught the remaining three men by surprise but they regrouped and charged again, giving him very little time to recover.
Berin threw himself to the ground, and then rolled to his feet, slashing and parrying; the dreadful sound of metal grating against metal rang through the tent. His attackers followed his momentum and Berin rewarded one of them for his stupidity; his dagger snaked out and sliced a long, deep gash in the man's leg. As the man fell to the ground, clutching his wound, the other two charged forward. Berin doubled his efforts although the strain from the fight was beginning to tax his incredible strength. Any honor or bravery in this had ended the moment Berin had found Aliyy's and Wajeeh's bodies; he reacted to the barbaric treatment of his fellow warriors on the most basic of levels.
Like an animal, he growled and lunged forward, meeting their advance, catching one of the men by surprise. He plunged his scimitar deep into the first man's stomach and pulled the blade free. He spun to the side, missing the other sword as it danced along his forearm and blocked the jab from the second man's blade. Using all of his power, he drove the dagger up into his opponent's heart, his forearms bulging from the force. He stared into the man's face, watching the red foam bubble around his mouth as the life faded from his eyes.
Berin shoved the last of the enemy away from him and watched coldly as the body crumpled to the floor. A wave of weariness washed over him as he finally turned to his friends. He rubbed a shaking hand over his face, and then staggered over to them, kneeling down in the dirt. With one hand, he gently checked for any signs of life. Suddenly he muttered an oath of surprise, and gingerly pulled Aliyy into his arms.
"Ya ukh," Berin called and tapped the warrior's face, trying to rouse him. He watched as the elder warrior's eyes fluttered open and heard the rattle in his breath; death would come soon and claim another. "Be at peace, ya sahib. I am here and we shall pray together, but I must ask – where is Nabil?" Berin asked urgently.
"T-taken away… by boy and woman, to Sedment," Aliyy wheezed and grasped Berin's hands with his own. "Nabil w-will live… Insha'allah but I know… I will not."
"You have fought well and with honor, ya Tauyib sahib," Berin murmured sadly and bent his dark head in prayer. "All will honor and remember you, your name written in the chronicles of our people."
"Tell Nabil…" Aliyy suddenly gasped and clung to Berin's hands, his body stiffening for a moment as his life slowly ebbed away. "Tell Nabil… I w-would have been proud to call him my son. G-give him my family crest… and my weapons…"
Berin nodded his head. "I promise." He closed his eyes, fighting against the tide of sorrow that battered his beleaguered heart. "Ma'assalama, ya ukh and may we both meet in Paradise one day."
"Salam-m…" Aliyy breathed and closed his eyes.
Berin watched as Aliyy's body gradually relaxed, and his breathing slowed until there was one last gasp. With a grief-stricken voice, he began to pray. "Laa ilaaha il-lal-laah…"
~*~
The fighting ebbed and flowed around Ardeth and Sued as they threaded their horses through the seething mass of humanity. With his waning concentration focused on getting to the chest, Ardeth never saw the enemy lunging up at him to pull him from his horse until it was too late. Ardeth toppled from Nijm Zarik and grappled with the man until aid came in the most unlikely form of the Helper. With a cold and deadly precision, Sued quickly eradicated the man and turned to Ardeth. His surprisingly strong arms came around Ardeth's chest as he helped him to stand. The temporary surge of adrenaline that had given Ardeth the stamina to ride into Musad's camp had abruptly left him; he felt his body trembling from the combination of exhaustion and pain.
"Take all my strength, Commander and let the warriors see you," Sued urged and guided Ardeth towards the wagon. "Your presence will continue to inspire the warriors!"
Ardeth leaned against the helper for support, and pushed his already taxed body forward, his eyes focused on the goal that loomed only a few feet ahead of him. Each step brought new agony coursing through his body and when someone slammed into Sued, they were both knocked to the ground. The world precariously tilted and dark spots swam before his eyes.
Fearing he would black out, Ardeth scrambled to his hands and knees, riding out the need to give into the encroaching shadows in his mind. Somehow, he dredged up the last remains of his strength. He staggered to his feet, pushing himself onwards with the incredible determination that had sustained him through so many trials in his life…
…through the beating he received at the hands of Janan's killers…
…through the fight he had with O'Connell after her death…
…through the challenge he had survived at the hands of Adham Sariyah…
…through the sickness that had seized his body from the infected arrow wound and still threatened his life…
The wagon was only a few feet away from Ardeth when he was suddenly grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. His body landed heavily, and his injured thigh hit the sand hard, sending white-hot jolts of pain through his body. Breathing was almost impossible through the agony and before he could react, Ardeth felt himself being lifted from the ground and thrown again.
~*~
"There is nothing so great that I fear to do it for my friend; nothing so small that I will disdain to do it for him.
- Sir Phillip Sidney
~*~
"O'Connell… ija!"
"Ya need to speak English, Kedar," Rick muttered to himself as he followed the warrior, both of them working their way through the enemy. There had been a pause in the fighting and Rick knew Kedar would take advantage of it; he had broken through the ranks like a charging bull. And it was all Rick could do to keep up with him. Somehow, they had lost Zaki along the way.
The wagon containing the chest was still heavily guarded and when Kedar was attacked by one of Musad's men, Rick wanted to help but knew he was running out of ammunition. He stopped to reload yet before he could fire, a body flew through the air and landed several few feet away from him with a sickening thud. He watched the man roll onto his back and reach down, hands groping and clutching his thigh. When his face was revealed in its mask of suffering, Rick felt like he had been punched in the stomach.
A face that had the same profile, the strong jawline, and the eyes of…
"Ardeth?" Rick asked and took a few faltering steps forward.
The hulking form of a man charged from around the side of the wagon and bent down, grabbing Ardeth's robes with his huge, meaty hands. He effortlessly pulled Ardeth to his feet, and then off the ground, his fists clenched tightly in the fabric. He viciously shook Ardeth as if he were a rag doll. Ardeth struggled and although his movements were sluggish and weak, his fists violently boxed the man's ears. The enemy howled in pain and retaliated by throwing Ardeth a few feet away from the wagon. Ardeth landed heavily and tried to awkwardly roll to his feet but his leg refused to cooperate; he fell to all fours.
"Oh my God, Ardeth…" Rick confirmed and he started running, reloading his guns as quickly as possible. He watched in stunned fascination as the man he had once believed to be dead was effortlessly picked up and thrown back down to the ground again.
It didn't matter how Ardeth was alive, or that he wasn't wearing the robes of the Medjai. All that mattered was that Rick would not fail his friend like he believed he had that day at the pier. His heart hammered in his chest, scalding anger boiled over him when he saw how much danger his friend was in and a sense of déjà vu made Rick believe he would be too late. His lips curled up in a defiant snarl.
"No!" Rick raged and fired. He reloaded and pulled the trigger again, amazed that the bullet didn't slow down Ardeth's opponent and he fired once more. His boots pounded against the sand, in rhythm with his mind chanting a denial that Ardeth would die again because of his inaction. He kept firing, grunting with satisfaction each time the enemy's body jerked from the bullet's impact and he finally released his hold. Ardeth slumped to the ground as the man spun around, finally facing the new threat bearing down on him like an avenging angel of death.
"Die already, you lousy son of a bitch!" Rick's vision narrowed down to this one moment in time, his gaze centering on his target with deadly accuracy. He skidded to a halt and brought up his arm to balance the gun sites, taking deliberate aim; he shot the man in the forehead with his last bullet. Impassively, he watched the man fall to the ground and then turned to Ardeth; his friend painfully pulled himself to his feet, his body swaying as he seemed to try and get his bearings. Rick took a step forward, his heart beating wildly in his chest, so many sensations coursing through him at one, threatening to drop him to his knees.
One of darkness and eternal duty met one of light and intrepidness; friend met friend and both men simply stared at one another.
The silence between them was laden with emotions that if voiced out loud, would sound choked and hoarse. The boundaries of their friendship had somehow transcended what they had known before and while both silently acknowledged it, they resorted to the familiar and often-used resource of humor.
"Was this 'save Ardeth and kill the giant'?" Ardeth asked, a mixture of amusement and fatigue on his face.
"Something like that," Rick replied with a weary grin and holstered his guns. Both men stared at the body of the dead man and then one another, an unspoken understanding flowing between them. Their friendship had changed in the past few days; their feelings had taken them both into the hellish inferno of grief and anger.
Like heated steel, they had been forged and shaped into something stronger and when they emerged, nothing save death would separate them again. They were brothers in all but blood.
"You okay?" Rick asked. He saw Ardeth struggle to keep his weight off of his injured leg.
"I will be," a ghost of a smile flashed over Ardeth's face and to Rick his eyes looked suspiciously bright.
"You ever pull a stunt like that again and I swear to God…" Rick mumbled and reached for Ardeth's arm. He was more than astonished when Ardeth abruptly pulled him into an embrace, his hands thumping Rick's back. "Hey, I thought my friendship was killing you," Rick joked. When it took too long for Ardeth to answer, Rick called his name but it ended in a curse when he felt Ardeth slump against him.
"Shit!" Rick muttered. The weight of Ardeth's body pulled him to the ground, and Rick twisted his body so he took the brunt of the impact. He cradled Ardeth in his arms, and his throat ached from yelling for help. He saw the dark stain spreading across Ardeth's thigh and he desperately pulled his friend closer. "I gotcha, pal, and I'm not letting go…" he said fearfully, "…I'm not letting go."
"Samah ana," Ardeth murmured and reached down, unable to hide the groan of pain as he touched his thigh. "I did not mean to cause you any… concern."
"Too late," Rick retorted and looked around for Kedar. Quickly he found the sub-commander, and gave a sharp whistle to get his attention. A second later, Rick flinched when he heard the warrior's subsequent bellow of surprise when he saw Ardeth. And he chuckled as he watched the warrior's facial expressions melt from disbelief to utter joy.
"I would… know… that sound… anywhere," Ardeth said with a ragged sigh. He appeared to be having trouble staying awake and his eyes slid shut for a moment.
"Ardeth, buddy, stay with me, okay?" Rick almost pleaded. He watched Kedar and a few other warriors run over to them, skirting around the last small pockets of fighting. For the most part, the battle was over; the Medjai had won. But Rick wouldn't relax or surrender his hold on Ardeth until he knew his friend was in safe hands.
~*~
Zaki crept into the tent with the point of his scimitar raised, expecting an ambush. Instead he stared in shock at the ground littered in a grotesque mosaic of blood and men; Berin sat in the middle of it, holding the limp body of Aliyy as if he were a child. Next to him were the remains of Wajeeh and for a moment, Zaki felt the bile rise in his throat. He fought the urge to retch and knelt down by his friend, wondering if the toll of this battle had extracted too deep of a price when he saw the myriad of cuts over Berin's upper body.
"Ya ukh?" Zaki gently touched Berin's shoulder. Slowly, and to his relief, the elder warrior turned and faced him. He searched Berin's face for any signs of recognition and saw the fires of awareness rekindled in his eyes. "What happened here?"
Berin didn't respond at first and instead, gently released his hold on Aliyy's body and pushed himself to his feet; Zaki stood up with him. Golden eyes met black ones for a brief moment and Zaki saw deep within Berin's gaze the flickering light of his humanity struggling to burn. "Berin?" Zaki prompted.
"Death," Berin replied, the tone of his voice flat and emotionless.
"What of Nabil?" Zaki asked and then hurried after Berin as he methodically stepped over the bodies. Just before he ducked through the tent flaps, Zaki caught Berin's arm.
"He was taken to Sedment el-Gebel," Berin replied, apparently unable to meet Zaki's unwavering gaze. "That is where I intend to go."
"You intend to go alone," Zaki guessed, his conclusion confirmed a second later when Berin didn't answer. Zaki grabbed Berin's arm, and the two giants faced each other, evenly matched in height and strength. Berin's advantage was that irreconcilable grief fueled his actions.
"I intend to find my blood brother. You said I must honor my friendship with Nabil by honoring my oath," Berin said. He shrugged off Zaki's hand and a silent challenge flared up between them. "Let me go."
"As you wish," Zaki finally conceded and backed away. "At least, take my advice and proceed with caution. Musad's army has fled into the desert, scattering like seeds on the wind. A Medjai alone would prove to be too tempting a target to ignore. There may be some who would be willing to find out how easy, no matter the cost."
Berin nodded his head and ducked through the tent flaps as Zaki followed closely behind him. They stood for a moment, watching the last cavities of fighting die down. The Medjai now controlled the encampment as prisoners were rounded up and confined in a makeshift barricade. Patrols of warriors walked across the ground littered with bodies, performing the grisly task of seeking out those that still clung to life.
"Shukran for understanding, ya sahib," Berin turned and extended his forearm to Zaki.
"Send word to me as soon as you reach Sedment or by all that is holy, I will come looking for you," Zaki reached out and clasped Berin's forearm in the traditional warrior farewell. "Meanwhile, I will find a way to explain to the commanders that somehow, you have disappeared from the field of battle without advising them of your intentions."
Berin gave Zaki a brief smile. "Assalam'alaikoom, ya ukh."
" 'Alaikoom Assalam," Zaki replied. "May Allah grant you a safe journey."
Berin gave a slight bow and then turned, racing off into the night. Zaki watched as the massive warrior's figure darted through the camp, towards a waiting horse. He sent up an additional pray in the hopes that once Berin found Nabil, the missing commander would be alive. Pity welled up in Zaki's heart for those responsible if Nabil wasn't found alive and with a heavy sigh, he began searching for his superiors to deliver the grim news regarding Aliyy and Wajeeh.
~*~
Ardeth's lack of response was foreboding and it gripped Rick's heart with an icy tenacity; his relief was insurmountable when Kedar finally knelt down by his side.
"Give him to me," Kedar demanded and reached forward to take Ardeth from Rick.
"Naw, I got it. I'll take him, just tell me where to go," Rick argued and slowly, climbed to his feet with the help from the other warriors. He carried Ardeth against him, as if he were a child and refused for anyone else to touch him.
"O'Connell, you must take the chest," Kedar snapped and stopped Rick by grabbing his forearm. "Remember Quadamah's instructions; the Tribe of the Third is waiting for you. This is your escort." He motioned to three warriors who stood off to the side and one warrior with dark amber colored eyes stepped forward and gave a slight bow.
"Yeah well, they can wait until I know Ardeth is going to be okay," Rick said stubbornly.
Kedar came up to Rick's side and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I give you my word on my oath as a warrior: I will take care of Ardeth. I will personally take him to the healers and stay with him until he recovers. You once asked me where I was that day on the pier; this is now my chance to rectify that error."
Rick stared at the sub-commander, and saw the guilt flare up in his dark eyes. Rick guessed Kedar had his own demons to battle with for not being there when Ardeth had needed him the most. Understanding far more now than he had originally about Kedar, he reluctantly admitted to himself that he trusted him. And with that realization, Rick sighed, surrendering Ardeth to the warrior.
"At least give me a chance to say goodbye," he quietly asked.
"Of course," Kedar replied.
Rick watched as he ran over to get his horse and then signaled for a group of warriors to mount up. There was a flurry of activity as the wagon was brought forward. He looked around in surprise to see he was surrounded by a sea of black; warriors reached out and gently touched his arms, back and shoulders in a silent farewell and then melted away, allowing more to step forward. They followed him for a few feet, continuing to pay their quiet tribute for his courageous help. It was all Rick could do as he nodded his head in appreciation.
"My brothers will honor you," came Ardeth's quiet voice. His head was resting against Rick's good shoulder, his face pale and withdrawn.
"Yeah well, I never wanted their honor… just my friend," Rick said with a slight grin. "I suppose you heard everything?"
"Enough to let you know how much I value your friendship," Ardeth said with a sleepy smile. "I will never forget this, ya ukh… my people and I are indebted to you."
Rick was at a loss on what to say and had reached Kedar's side. "Wait until I send you the bill."
With help from a few others, Rick watched as Ardeth was taken from him and given to Kedar, who gently settled the warrior to ride in front of him. A sudden hush had descended over those assembled, a feeling of apprehension marring the joy of Ardeth's sudden return when it became apparent all was not well with him. Murmurs of concern floated through the air but Kedar expertly alleviated their fears, assuring them that he would personally supervise the ride to the nearest village's healer.
"Take him to Il-Bint Bitaa'tibbi," a voice suddenly called out from the crowd.
The warriors stepped aside to reveal the weary but triumphant figure of the helper, Sued, as he walked over to Kedar with the lead reins for Nijm Zarik held firmly in one hand. "This is a story that will be told for generations to come, and what tale would be complete without the reunion of two who have found one another after so much sorrow?" he asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"What is at the healer's compound that the nearest village can not offer," Kedar wondered, his voice unintentionally impatient.
"Asiya…" Ardeth sighed and leaned his head back against Kedar's shoulder.
"Indeed," Sued confirmed with a warm smile. "He promised to return to her and I know a warrior never rescinds on a promise."
"You met a woman and you didn't tell me?" Rick tired to sound indignant even as he knew the time was rapidly approaching to say goodbye.
He looked up at his friend, knowing deep in his heart that whatever boundaries their friendship previously had were irrevocably changed and for that, he was glad. When the words failed him, he simply touched Ardeth's good leg in a gesture of farewell.
Ardeth must have felt the contact and looked down at Rick, his hand reaching for him. Their hands clasped a moment later, locked in the eternal binding of brotherhood and camaraderie.
"Ya ikhwi, sallam 'ala!" [My brothers, salute!] Kedar bellowed.
The sound of thousands of scimitars pulled from their sheaths rang through the night air and Rick spun around in surprise at the display before him. As far as the eye could see, the Medjai stood proudly in front of him, honoring him as Ardeth said they would. Quadamah, Jericho, Jameel and Zaki stood nearby. Emotions already tempered from the recent events of the night threatened to make Rick's composure crumble. He shoved a hand through his hair, feeling slightly self-conscious, as a small smile danced around his lips. He gave a slight bow to the warriors.
The Medjai responded with a jubilant roar and when Rick felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned around in time to see Kedar's nod of farewell. Somehow, he had a feeling he would meet the charismatic warrior again and watched as Kedar and Ardeth rode off with a small group of warriors.
"I thought to apologize for Kedar's abruptness earlier and explain to you that he would move heaven and earth for Ardeth," Zaki spoke up from Rick's side. "But I can plainly see that is not necessary, for you already understand."
They watched the procession ride across the landscape and Rick found it appropriate that the dawn was spreading its pastel colors across the night sky. The beginning of a new day, brimming with possibilities and hope.
"Yeah, I understand," Rick said and they walked over to his new escort; the warriors from the Tribe of the Third. He climbed into the wagon and gave a quick nod to the young warrior that sat next to him, holding the reins.
"May Allah grant you a safe journey, O'Connell," Zaki called out as the wagon lurched forward.
"Tell Ardeth I'll send a message once I'm back home," Rick called out and waved his goodbye, settling back into the seat. He heaved a sigh of relief. Ardeth was alive and in capable hands, the chest was finally out of the enemy's grasp and on its way to a safe place in England. And Rick was finally going home – visions of Evy and Alex danced before him like mirages and he finally allowed his tired body to take refuge in the dreams of his heart. "Wake me when we reach the port," Rick instructed the warrior. He crossed his arms over his chest, stretched out his long legs and a moment later, fell asleep.
~*~
He had stolen the robe of a deceased warrior and concealed the lack of facial tattoos, staying surreptitiously to the back of the column as they rode from the encampment. He watched with narrowed eyes the way the warrior handled the stricken Commander Bay and as the miles passed by and night slowly gave way to dawn, he planned and plotted.
If all went all, Jahm would still be able to strike at the heart of his enemy and finally obtain his ultimate revenge.
~*~
Dharr al Rushdi carefully picked his way over the bodies of the fallen around the outside perimeters of the camp, alongside the treacherous holes so many of his brethren had fallen into earlier that night. His handsome face showed his dislike for the grisly yet necessary chore at hand - looking for survivors. Every so often, he would bend down over a body and carefully check for any signs of life. His fellow warrior, Solman Abdul-Wahid, seemed to be having more success than he was at the moment and suddenly whistled for the litter bearers to come carry another warrior off the field of battle.
His heart glad there was another survivor, Dharr returned his attention to the task at hand, and cautiously approached the carcass of a horse. He grimaced from the overpowering stench of death and blood, pulling up his face covering and turning his face away for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he walked around the side of the animal, and came closer, his eyes widening with surprise – there was a warrior slowly trying to crawl away. His efforts were useless since his leg was pinned beneath the horse's weight and his strength appeared to be waning.
Dharr knelt down next to the warrior and quickly soothed him with words of hope and encouragement, whistling for the litter bearers. The warrior turned his blood streaked face up to Dharr at the sound of his voice and lifted his gaze, to reveal eyes that were colored the most startling shade of gray.
"Sahil, ya ukh. Help is coming," Dharr said reassuringly and touched the warrior's shoulder. "Can you tell me your name?"
Panic flared up in the warrior's eyes and he struggled harder to be free. Dharr easily held him down with both hands, intrigued by his strange reaction. Shock was most likely setting in from his injuries, and Dharr continued talking to him to serve as a distraction. Eventually the bearers arrived just as the warrior lost consciousness and they began the arduous process of extracting him from under the horse.
As they worked, Dharr kept thinking to himself about the warrior's unusual eye color and felt sure he had seen it somewhere before.
~*~
A/N – Thanks to all the reviewers in my last chapter, I'm tickled pink y'all read it but have to ask…who is going to be lucky reviewer 200? Whoever it is, I shall send over a warrior in a UPS box just for you, to say thanks. He'll be wearing nothing but a smile and a big red ribbon! LOL Can I say that here?
Thanks to my beta, Tori, who sprinkled some "Tori-dust" on this, to Ladybug for her suggestions and opinions, and to Deana, who not only was a big help with this story but for her suggestions for "Somewhere In Time." Deana is more of a help than she realizes.
Time for the shout-outs:
Dawn369 – Hopefully Rick and Ardeth's reunion was done just right and I'm glad you liked Ardeth rising like the Phoenix out of the ashes. I liked it too. Lol
Kathy – Thanks so much for leaving a review! I think I like Rick's reaction to Ardeth – how about you? Lol
Serena1221 – Thanks for reading and reviewing, and I'm glad you liked the battle so far.
Ladybug – Ah, ya hulu sahib, Shukran for the review. Ardeth be in da house and he can't kick any butt, he is reunited with Rick, ie the dynamic duo. And as I'm sure you read, Berin is okay…for now. Heh heh
Ruse – I owe thee some reviews my friend and sorry for the lapse. I'm glad you're still reading this and I hope to continue to update on a more regular basis. If you think this is over…not by a long shot. Heh heh
Patty – A special thanks to you for inspiration from your last review. You said, "…his hood back to reveal that glorious black hair, white teeth flashing in the moonlight." Can you tell which part of this chapter I put my own version of that in? lol Thankee kindly for the compliment and review, I do love writing action scenes.
Trudy – Thanks so much for reading and reviewing, despite no Nabil, et al. They're coming in the next chapter, I promise! Lol If you think you hate Allan now…heh heh
Marxbros – Ah the compliments from you are high praise indeed and your own writing continues to serve as inspiration. I eagerly look forward to your next Mummy fanfic. As for Loch-nah hanging around, you are so right! LOL And Ardeth's return just seemed to fit.
Karri – Nice to see you again and thanks for the review. I read your LOTR story as well and will check to see if it's been updated. *smile*
Serena – thanks for reading and I hope you've enjoyed this chapter as well.
Marcher – "better late than never" sound like my attempts at reading fanfic on FF. LOL Thank you for the kind words but as I've said, I mimic the style and technique of those writers who I admire and you, my girl, are on the list. LOL Thanks again!
I don't think I've missed anyone unless FF ate your review and for that, I apologize since I don't keep them on my email. Thanks to all and of course, onwards. There be lots of loose ends to tie up…or let dangle. Heh heh *eg*