CHAPTER 13

Ardeth sat listening to the council argue over something. What he was not sure. It had been almost a full day since she had left. He again tried to focus on the meeting when suddenly he felt it. It was a terror gripping his heart.

"Ali" he muttered as he stood.

"Ardeth" "My lord" the council was caught off guard as he stood.

As he practically ran from the tent Fehr, the council leader asked "Where are you going, my Lord?"

"Something is terribly wrong. I have to find them."

"Who my Lord?"

"Ahmen and Ali. She is in danger. I can feel it."

"Then the warriors should ride with you" he barely heard the councilmen say for he was already out the door and on his way to the stables.

Quickly the council rounded up 10 of the warriors. They rode at a feverous pace to catch up with Ardeth for he was riding like the wind. He had to. He knew that something was wrong and that Ali was in danger.

Then a name came to his mind as if off the night wind, "Hudson" he almost whispered.

His third in command Macsal was riding next to him. "What did you say Ardeth?"

"Ali is in grave danger. I fear if we don't find her soon, it will be too late" the last part coming out in a whisper.

They had been riding at breakneck speed for over two hours when rider came into view. Suddenly it was obvious that the rider, who was slumped over the neck of his horse, was injured. And he was Med-Jai.

"Ahmen" Ardeth almost screamed. As he dismounted and ran toward Ahmen, he frantically looked for Ali, knowing that she was not there.

"Ardeth" Ahmen whispered as Ardeth helped him from his horse.

"What happened?" Ardeth asked as he tore at Ahmen's robes to get a better look at his wound.

"We were attacked. They took Ali."

"Who was it?" Ardeth asked, although in his heart he already knew the answer.

Ahmen strained trying to remember. "She said a name......Hudson. Yes that was it". As he finished Ahmen started coughing.

"Water" Ardeth screamed. His mind was going to terrible places as he helped Ahmen drink.

Ahmen touched Ardeth's hand "My Lord, I am sorry. I have failed you and Ali."

Ardeth looked down at Ahmen like he had lost his mind "Ahmen there is no reason for you to be sorry. This is all my fault. If I had not sent her away, you both would be safe."

"I will be fine" Ahmen said as he tried to sit up. Then he added "I can make it back to the village alone. You should ride on to Cairo and try and find her."

"No I will send Kudal with you. Are you sure you can ride?"

"Yes, I am sure"

After helping Ahmen back on his horse and making sure he and Kudal would be fine, Ardeth and the rest of the Med-Jai rode for Cairo.

When they arrived Ardeth immediately went in search of the Cairo Museum curator, Okmun Besuw. He had been the first contact for Ali. Ardeth explained to him what had happened and they started to work out a plan.

Ardeth and Okmun made their way through the city speaking to every Med-Jai contact there. No one had seen Ali.

For the next four days Ardeth, Okmun and the rest of the Med-Jais searched the city for any signs of Hudson or Ali, but to no avail. On the fifth day Okmun spoke the inevitable to Ardeth "Ardeth you have to return to your village. I will continue to search and the moment that I find something I will send word"

Ardeth knew he was right. He could not forget his place as leader of his people. As much as he wanted to and do nothing but search for Ali, he could not. He had duties and responsibilities to his people.

Reluctantly he agreed with Okmun and took all but two of the warriors back with him.