Never let it be said that I don't have a heart. All of your reviews have prompted this add on to the "Warrior Mode" snippet but I must warn you, this is what happens when you ask me something. LOL My mind kicks into action mode with all kinds of scenario's, chaos ensues and more characters are introduced. Oh you haven't heard? ;-) I have a stable full of handsome Medjai warriors running around in my mind. LOL Forgive me if I spring them upon you all of a sudden but they are coming up in the next few chapters of Hero's. And how could I not utilize Nabil?
So enjoy this preview of them and of course, enjoy the continuation of Ardeth in "Warrior Mode Part II"
Ps- and oh yes, more Hero's is coming, yes indeedy. Oh my yes…muwhahahaha LOL
~*~
"Where…is she?" Ardeth gasped and flinched when several pairs of hands probed the bloody entrance wound on his shoulder. He stared up at each of the three warriors that were tending to him and tried to determine from their facial expressions the severity of it but eventually gave up. Only Nabil who knelt by his side met his commander's intense gaze and Ardeth saw quite clearly the concern reflected in his friend's eyes. He tried to contain the groan of pain when they pushed him up into a sitting position and applied pressure to the exit wound.
"The woman is with Jameel," Nabil replied. He ripped a section from his robe and with the help of Honored Second Berin al Usama, sub-commander of the tribe of the Fifth; they wrapped Ardeth's shoulder as best they could.
"He needs a healer," Berin's deep voice rumbled up from within his chest. He knelt on the other side of Ardeth and glanced at Nabil, the first signs of worry deeply etched in his dark eyes. But he held his silence as his large hands quickly and efficiently tied the makeshift bandage.
"We must leave this place and quickly," Jericho ibn Sakhr stated and slowly withdrew his scimitar from its sheath. He stood next to Berin as his dark gaze scanned the desert horizon. Twilight was descending and with it, his warrior instincts warned him the bandits were not done with their raid yet. He looked over to the remaining warriors that held the horses and nodded at his sahib, Dharr al Rushdi. A silent understanding passed between them and Dharr gave a silent hand gesture for the rest of the Medjai to mount.
~*~
"Drink," the curly haired warrior offered her a canteen with a boyish smile and she blinked in surprise. She took it without hesitation and took a sip, too numb to think beyond the moment. To scared to dwell on the recent past, especially the death of her colleges and the guides. She stared at him unabashedly and determined he seemed to be the kindest and friendliest out of the stern faced men that now seemed to be her allies.
"What is your name?" she asked with a weak smile, surprised that she responded to his dimpled grin. Vaguely she realized his eyes were as dark as chocolate, and as mysterious as the night.
"Ana ismee Jameel ibn Hisein," he replied and gently tilted the canteen downwards. "Take small sips or else you may become ill."
She suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth as a hysterical giggle of laughter bubbled up from inside. "I may become ill?" she asked sarcastically and rolled her eyes. "Somehow I think that would be the least of my worries considering I was almost shot by…by this man who God knows what he is then rescued by your friend who I must say really hurt my ribs when he grabbed me and almost flung me onto his horse and did you see…"
Jameel's eyes widened in surprise at her sudden outburst and he glanced over at a tall, silent warrior who stood watching over them, his arms folded across his huge chest. He shrugged helplessly and the warrior coughed once to hide his laughter. "She is nervous, ya ukh," he explained.
"Indeed," Makin murmured and turned to mount his horse.
"I am not nervous, I am scared to death," she cried. She shoved the canteen back at Jameel and jumped to her feet, determined to speak to the man who had undoubtedly saved her life. She ignored Jameel's startled shout from behind her; anger over the injustice and sorrow from the death of her associates fueled her actions but blinded her logic. It gave her a sense of false bravado and she stormed across the sand until she came up to the small group of black robed men still huddled around a figure sitting on the ground. It never registered in her mind that she should have used caution in approaching them. Never occurred to her that she was considered an outsider, a foreigner or khawagat in their land and she should try to be diplomatic. All she knew was that she wanted answers and wouldn't be satisfied until someone gave them.
Her advance was effectively stopped by a huge mountain of a man who stood solidly in her path, his arms folded across his massive chest. She gasped in surprise at his sudden, foreboding appearance and her eyes grew round with shock when she realized he definitely had the height advantage. He towered over her, the scowl on his face intimidating and uncompromising, the dark tattoos on his skin making him look exotic and savage.
She tried to step around him but her path was blocked by another warrior, not as tall or fiercesome as the first but nonetheless successful in stopping her advance. He stood as his comrade did, shoulder to shoulder, silent and indifferent.
"Oh for pete's sake, must you all do the same thing? I just want to talk to him," she sighed exasperated and pointed to the wounded man.
"Berin, Jericho…" called out a weak voice. "Waqaf la-taHt."
Silently the warriors broke apart and she hurried forward, ignoring the sensation that something horrible was going to happen and soon. She knelt down by his side, next to another warrior who stared at her with gray colored eyes and she blinked in surprise at this discovery. In his steady gaze she found no malice or censure for actions. He gave her a brief nod but did not relinquish his hold on the wounded warrior who now leaned heavily against him for support.
"Please can you tell me what's going on?" she asked and reached out to touch Ardeth's shoulder.
"Do not fear…my men will…take care of you," Ardeth replied and fought to remain conscious. "Even if I am…unable too."
"But I don't understand. Who are you and why…" her voice trailed away when she thought she heard the sound of distant thunder.
Berin and Jericho heard it as well and they stood poised for a brief moment in time, neither warrior wishing to believe the outcome of this skirmish could end unfavorably.
"Get Ardeth to the horses," Jericho advised Berin and turned around to face this new threat.
~*~
The first shot rang out just as Jameel had reached his horse and he leaped into the saddle. He muttered a dark curse when he saw Makin's body suddenly stiffen and almost topple off his mount. Sending a silent prayer to Allah for His help, Jameel kicked his horse into a gallop and raced to his friend's side. He was able to stop the warrior from falling to the ground but his success was short-lived when the bandits surged over a tall crest of a dune, a hundred throats filling the air with their battle cries.
"iHna lazim mishwar!" Jameel shouted to his fellow warriors. He took the lead rein from Makin's horse as the warrior slumped over the horse's neck and with the animal in tow, rode over to his fallen commander.
~*~
"iHna lazim mishwar!"
Nabil reacted instantly to the shout and pulled Ardeth to his feet. Berin swiftly appeared by his side and despite Ardeth's weak protests; the sub-commander hefted the warrior over his shoulder as if he weighed no more than a child. As Berin raced towards the nearest horse, the metallic ring of metal pulled from it's sheathe announced Nabil's scimitar was free from its scabbard. He reached for the woman and pulled her into the safety of his arms.
"Go," he urged her and together they ran for the nearest horse.
Jericho followed behind them, his own weapon raised in puny defense as the bandits charged closer, their rifles blazing with round after round of ammunition fired. He felt the breeze from one bullet pass by his ear and instinctively ducked then turned to make certain Ardeth was seated on a horse. He watched as Berin slapped the animal's hind quarters and it leaped away, guided by another warrior to safety. He took a few steps backwards, guarding Nabil's back as the warrior pushed the unwilling woman onto another animal. A few moments and several screamed protests later, she was safely on her way with the rest of the Medjai, away from the oncoming flood of bandits.
Nabil backed himself up against Jericho and waited his face grim with determination, his weapon held point out and ready for battle. Berin joined them a moment later and together the three warriors bravely waited as their own deaths closed in on them from all sides.
Each man took a small measure of comfort with the knowledge that their chieftain was safely riding away from the danger and that they as Medjai were honoring their oath…hatta maut.
~*~
Translations:
Ana ismee – my name is
ya ukh – my brother
Waqaf la-that – stand down
iHna lazim mishwar – we must ride
hatta maut – till death