Part IV
Muhjah-Aji had been an inhabitant of the citadel for two months, and her purpose was to serve in whatever capacity the great Chieftain Bay saw fit. Originally from a settlement near the border of a Tuareg-Berber village in Upper Egypt, her physical appearance bore silent testimony to her mixed heritage. She was of medium height, her frame well-proportioned and strong, but hidden by the large robes she wore. She purposely kept her gaze averted, lest her dark mysterious eyes reveal the true nature of her soul. Her greatest attribute was her hair and it was always covered beneath a long veil, hanging in a long, thick braid down her back. Its glossy raven color attributed to the one indulgence she practiced each night before bed - she brushed her hair over one hundred times with a stiff horsehair brush.
Muhjah-Aji had a talent for cooking and worked in one of the many dining halls scattered throughout the city. She helped keep the pantry well-stocked and had been often seen by the various warriors who inhabited the city as she carried out her assigned chores whether it was carrying baskets of laundry to be washed or fresh vegetables for the night's dinner. Pleasant and hard working, she maintained a respectful friendship with all of the people she met, but always kept her distance. Muhjah-Aji was hired by the owner of the dining hall to work, and she didn't allow herself the privilege to fraternize with anyone, warrior or not. The gold coins she earned for her services were always sent home to her widowed mother and eleven siblings for food and clothing. Yet secretly, as she often became a reluctant witness to the events inside the city and of the warrior sect, she began to yearn for companionship.
Over a period of time, she began to drift towards the healer's building and stayed off to one side like a shadow as she watched them care for those who were ill or injured. Once it was determined that she possessed a quick mind and seemed eager to learn, gradually the various healers relied on Muhjah-Aji to assist them in some minor tasks. And true to her character, she gladly accepted each chore and readily supplied whatever had been needed, often helping the assistants gather the necessary herbs for the medicinal baths and poultices.
It was late afternoon when Muhjah-Aji walked into the healer's building, curiosity more than anything prompting her visit. The elaborate gossip vine spoke of a warrior who had been rescued earlier in the day and his wounds were causing some concern among the healer sect.
She stopped in the middle of the main room and looked in amazement at the frantic activity circling around one pallet. Three of the healers were animatedly discussing a course of treatment and gesturing to the injured warrior. Their conversation came to a temporary halt when one of them spotted Muhjah-Aji and waved for her to come over.
Taking a deep breath for courage, she hurried over to join them, typically keeping her eyes averted and secretly pleased that they were in need of her assistance. The conversation continued to flow around her and Muhjah-Aji took the opportunity to sneak several glances at the man everyone had been talking about…the warrior that claimed to be the half brother of a commander.
"Sit with him, Muhjah-Aji, ajab," one healer kindly instructed and gestured to a nearby chair. "I wish to brew for him some of my special herbal teas that will help fight any infection and fever."
"And I say a simple tea will not stall the inevitable," another healer shook her head. "We need to utilize the medical papyrus and find past cases that are similar to this one. The past can always teach us."
"Whatever we decide it must be soon," the third healer cautioned as they walked away. "Time grows short…"
Muhjah-Aji sat down on the edge of the seat and watched as the trio of well-meaning healers went off in various directions, all determined to be the one who could provide the cure for the injured warrior.
"Who…are you?" asked a raspy, tired male voice.
Muhjah-Aji swallowed hard and turned back to find the most astonishing gray eyes staring at her with a mixture of pain and confusion.
"I-I am a friend," she replied. She reached over and gently adjusted the pillows behind the warrior, wishing to ease the flashes of agony that danced across his handsome face.
The warrior shifted on the pallet and Muhjah-Aji guessed he must have been uncomfortable; she moved the pillows again and almost missed his soft sigh of relief.
"You should not move," she gently reprimanded him. "You appear to be growing feverish and need to rest."
A wan smile danced across Reyhan's face, unaware that it seemed at odds with the shadows that lurked in his eyes. "I was going to inquire as to…what type of friend…you are," he said tiredly, "now I know…you are a commanding one."
Muhjah-Aji's mouth bloomed into a tentative smile. "I am merely following what I'm sure would be the orders from the healers. I am certain I am to keep you comfortable until they return."
Reyhan leaned his head back and sighed, fighting against a groan that welled up in his throat. His body ached and throbbed with a breath-stealing intensity. To occupy his mind on something else rather than his injuries, his gaze swept over his mysterious visitor and his conclusions were surprising ones.
"You are not Medjai," he murmured as their gazes met and held. One hand came up and touched his bandaged shoulder since it hurt almost as badly as his ribs.
Muhjah-Aji blinked in surprise and the smile faded from her face. "No, I'm not."
The sound of good-natured bickering caught Muhjah-Aji's attention for a moment and she almost missed the warrior's slight movement. She looked back and stared down in amazement to see that one of his hands had slid into hers. His grip was warm and strong. Her gaze lifted to meet his and danced away once more, afraid he would see far too much lurking within her eyes.
"Talk to me," he quietly pleaded, sounding very much like a lost little boy. "Tell me anything so I can keep the pain at bay while waiting for the healers to return."
Nodding her head, Muhjah-Aji spoke of what she knew best and began to describe her life within the city.
~*~
As the sun was slowly setting in the western sky, Berin, Jericho, Drevick and Yousef had accompanied Nabil to the south tower to meet a messenger that had arrived just minutes bearing grim news.
Nabil took the parchment from the rider's hands, and before he read it his gaze swept over the exhausted man's appearance.
"Go and rest, ya sahib and tell the watch captain on duty that I have relieved you for the night," Nabil thoughtfully instructed the messenger.
"Shukran, Commander but I was told to wait until you have read the message before I am to take my leave of you," the man stated.
"Very well," Nabil said and unrolled the papyrus. His eyes scanned over the contents and he blinked in amazement, reading it again.
"What is it, ya sahib?" Berin asked in reaction to the look on Nabil's face.
Nabil waved off the other warrior for a moment and concentrated on the paragraph that described the obliteration of another city, a city that had been under the protection of the Medjai.
"You may want to see this," Jericho suddenly spoke up and pointed towards the horizon. "Look to the south."
Nabil lifted his gaze and felt his heart constrict within his chest – even from this distance they could see the thick dark smoke that lazily floated up into the sky, marring the golden perfection of the setting sun.
"The Rwalla have attacked again," Drevick grimly announced. "They will not stop until the Medjai have turned over Reyhan so he can be punished for his crime."
The Tuareg seized the opportunity and walked over to Nabil's side.
"Now is the time to forge an alliance with my people," he urged. "The Hunud will not stop until they get both the war and Reyhan. We must act and quickly before all the desert towns are decimated."
"Send a message to Kedar and advise him of the events that have transpired over the past few hours," Nabil instructed Berin and he slowly rolled up the papyrus, reluctant to give any affirmation to Drevick just yet.
"Tell him he is to ride hard to the citadel. Ardeth will need him in the days to come," Nabil said and gestured for the rest of the warriors to follow him. They were going to find Ardeth and report to him about the loss of Asyut.
Berin nodded and went to the falconer's station to compose the message…
~*~
To: Kedar Ishaq
Commander
Tribe of the First
Kedar, ya sahib –
SamaH ana if I deliver such grim news without much preamble but I have no choice as time is of the essence.
A warrior has arrived here that claims to be Nabil's half brother, Reyhan Abbasi, and he has unknowingly brought the threat of war close to the borders of the Medjai.
I do not know much about Reyhan and could easily dispute his blood claim, but the physical similarities are there for all to see – Reyhan has inherited his sire's eyes, just as Nabil.
His appearance came unexpectedly and not under the best of circumstances; Reyhan has been badly injured and there is concern he will not live through the night. I will give more details upon your arrival but I urge you to exercise all caution during your expedition. Once here, you will be briefed.
Ride hard and fast, your presence is sorely needed. May Allah grant you a safe journey, ya ukh.
~ B
~*~
"Help me hold him," the healer instructed Muhjah-Aji and slid her hand beneath Reyhan's neck. Muhjah-Aji kept her fears quiet and was alarmed at how warm the warrior had grown over the last few hours. She knew that his body was now fighting an infection and that the rise in temperature was the first sign of the internal battle.
Reyhan groaned, delirious from the pain that wracked his body and he tried to push away from those he mistakenly thought were his captors. "La," he murmured and his eyes fluttered open to reveal that they were glazed over and unfocused.
Muhjah-Aji soothed the warrior and then turned to the healer. "He has gotten worse," she stated the obvious.
"I can see that," the healer snapped. "Why didn't you come and get one of us sooner. And do pay close attention to what I'm doing. I don't want to spill any of this special tea that I've brewed."
Muhjah-Aji's body stiffened slightly from the reprimand and she concealed her anger as best she could. "All of you have been quite busy trying to determine the cure. I was reluctant to disturb your meeting."
She leaned closer and stroked Reyhan's face with one hand in an effort to soothe him as the healer brought the cup to his lips.
Both women focused on getting him to drink the dark tepid liquid and once the cup was empty they shared their first tentative smile when Reyhan grimaced from the taste.
"RaHa, bero," the healer crooned over and over again and they slowly eased him back against the pillows. Gradually the lines of pain and fatigue eased from his face and in a matter of a few minutes he settled down and fell asleep.
"You have done well for a novice and I must ask for your forgiveness for my outburst earlier," the healer remarked with a faint smile. "We are all concerned about the welfare of the Commander's brother. Now go and get some rest…eat your dinner and if we need you, I shall send someone for you."
Muhjah-Aji lingered by Reyhan's side and watched the healer walk away. Coveting the time alone with the warrior, she bent over him and brushed back the dark strands of hair that clung to his damp face. As she stared down at his handsome profile, she mused there would be much to tell in the journal she was writing but was suddenly afflicted by a loss of words.
Relaying the events and daily life within the citadel she could compose with ease but when it came to the matters of heart, she was left uncharacteristically speechless.
~*~
Once again sequestered in a chamber situated at the end of the hallway, Nabil, Berin, Jericho and the Tuareg waited uneasily for Ardeth to arrive. There was much to discuss and each man kept his thoughts to himself. A heavy cloak of apprehension hung in the air and each man reacted to it, withdrawing from any social contact for the moment, lest they give voice to their own fears.
Nabil wandered over to the small table situated in front of the bay windows that overlooked the royal gardens, and stared out over the lush vegetation, lost in thought. The natural beauty and tranquility of the area used to promote a sense of well-being for Nabil but now as his gaze skimmed over the walls, grottos and water fountains, it was temporarily lost…replaced by images of Reyhan's face contorted by his suffering.
Berin joined his friend and as always stood by his side, intuitively knowing the course that Nabil's thoughts were taking him. He reached over to the tea service that had been left along with various platters of fruits and cheeses, and poured two steaming glass mugs of hibiscus tea. Remembering Nabil's preference, he handed the mug to him, his eyes dark and turbulent as he tentatively sipped the fragrant brew.
"Strange to think of this now, but I must confess I suddenly remember when there was a time we did not favor one another's company," he murmured thoughtfully.
Nabil blinked in surprise from Berin's confession but wisely chose to let him continue, sensing that he needed this kind of purging of the soul.
"When you first came to my tribe, you must have known that you were not welcome by some of the elder warriors due to your age and mixed heritage. Coupled with the fact that you had been promoted to commander instead of me, the logical choice, it was hard to accept you at first. Yet I remained loyal to my oath and to my people – I strived to find a balance between us and eventually, I came to know not only the warrior but the man as well. And when Khalee died…"
Berin's narrative stopped and a flash of pain flared up in his eyes. After so much time, those memories still had the power to hurt him.
Nabil and Berin stared at one another for a few moments, the silence between them laden with emotion. Ever faithful to his warrior brother, he automatically reminded Berin of the truth that was often overlooked when the pain in his heart was too much to bear.
"You were cleared of all charges, her death was not your fault," he said gently.
Berin sipped his tea and faced the windows again, studiously avoiding Nabil's scrutiny as neatly as he avoided confirming the declaration.
"When she died, I wanted to die," he confessed, his voice low and emotionless. "You saved my life, my position within the tribe…you were the anchor that I clung to as I floundered in the darkness that threatened to consume me. You were the one responsible for me being restored to full duty and when we performed the blood brother rites, we swore on our lives that we would always protect the other…and those that mattered to us."
"I remember, but why…" Nabil asked softly.
"I remind you of this because as your blood brother, I am sworn to watch over Reyhan in your absence." Berin reached over and earnestly clasped Nabil's arm. "I tell you this because I fear that circumstances beyond our control will force us to part…and that one of us may not return."
~*~
A/N – Ahhhh reviews and one from a new reader as well. I am most pleased so…chocolate covered warriors for everyone!!! Ooops, I meant to say biscuits, not warriors. Yeah, biscuits. [coughs] Thank you all so much for letting me know you were here…tis truly inspiring and your comments warm the cockles of me old heart. I've been battling a cold for the past several days and this was the perfect pick-me-up.
On to the shout-outs:
Dawn – The guards got what they deserved indeed but what would happen if Berin were to get a hold of them? Ladybug once said, "When Kedar is angry, you can hear his bellow for miles around. When Berin is angry, it's the silence that gets you." [paraphrasing] Thanks Dawn!
Karri – Thanks for the Ruse recommendation but I believe I was following that fanfic…*hangs head in shame* If she's updated, I haven't caught up with it..yet. Truly a wonderful crossover and I admire her style and technique. The intrigue and suspense does indeed thicken and things are going to get even worse before they get better. You know me…heh heh And I thank you for the kind words, the check is in the mail. LOL
Nakhti – I'm tickled pink that ye enjoyed the last chappie and again, my writing was inspired while listening to the LOTR soundtracks, especially the first one where the Wraiths come after poor Frodo. *shudders* As for my Ardeth version, I'm trying to give a new twist on a well written character and show more aspects of the man in the coming chappies. Ones that I'm quite certain no one has explored as of yet…I do loves me a forceful Ardeth and when the time comes, he will be called upon to be more forceful ever before, making a heartbreaking decision that will leave him sleepless for many nights. Update? Ask and ye shall receive.
Ladybug – Thanks for reading and again for letting me play with your boys. I promise I won't be too rough with them and if they get a boo-boo, I'll be sure to kiss it. Heh heh And laws yes, I know how you feel about Nabil…considering what you've sent me via email and no thud warnings?!? For shame. Lol
The kidd mdd - Welcome, welcome and of course, shukran for the feedback. I have so many stories to do, and so little time but I shall do my best to finish Heroes, this story and the sequel for SIT. In the meantime, your feedback is greatly appreciated and as I've often said, emails are often inspirational. As soon as I can breath [fighting a nasty cold], I shall answer. *smiles*