Part V
Meanwhile at the Tribe of the First…
Kedar Ishaq stood near the falconer's stand and read the message he had just received from the citadel. He shook his head in disbelief and frowned, reading the message again for accuracy.
"What news that comes from the citadel would make you glower so fiercely that you will scare away all the pretty nisa tonight at Gheadra's brothel?" Talib al Husayn asked and walked over to stand by Kedar's side. His sapphire-colored eyes sparkled with mirth, but it quickly evaporated from the shake of Kedar's head.
"I need both you and Zaki to hear this," Kedar said and read the message again. When he was finished he looked at the two warriors and was unable to say much else due to his own astonishment.
Finally Zaki Hisham broke the silence. "Nabil has a brother?"
"Half brother and from what Berin has said, I can only surmise that Nabil's sire did not leave Egypt as we had first believed after his birth," Kedar said. He fell into deep thought, and recalled the deep hatred that Nabil had harbored for the man who had brutally raped his ume. A product of that heinous act, it had taken Nabil several years to work through his rage and grief and accept himself for what he was – a nuss dam or half blood.
"I hate to bring up this fact now but…" Zaki hesitated and glanced over at Talib. Both warriors knew of the trials that Nabil had endured over the years, their own blood considered less than pure. They would stand with him no matter the issue, their loyalty and friendship strong and deep.
"Nabil may refuse to acknowledge Reyhan, thereby refusing the blood claim," he said.
Kedar nodded his head. "I too was thinking about that and am almost certain Nabil may be superstitious of Reyhan and his intentions. Nabil does not trust easily, a habit carried over from his childhood and one that has improved with time but I fear his caution may cost him his only living relative."
"Perhaps we need to research Reyhan's true intentions," Talib suggested. "What can I do to help?"
"Find out what tribe Reyhan hails from," Kedar replied, knowing Talib's penchant for seeking out the truth. "Ferret out the details of his life over the past few months and report to the citadel when your assignment is completed. I shall be there by day's end."
~*~
Talib threw the saddle onto his horse and cinched the straps underneath, then placing his few belongings in the saddlebag and replayed Kedar's command in his mind. He had already spoken to the Elders and had gleaned some information as well as a map that Talib could use on the journey. The first stop was a village located near Upper Egypt.
"If you are leaving, then I am leaving as well," a voice stated from the doorway of the barn.
Talib turned around and blinked in surprise to see Solman standing there, and he offered the large warrior a friendly smile. "I am following the orders issued by Kedar, ya commander, but I do not recall that they included you as well."
Because he knew of Solman's inquisitive nature, Talib quickly informed the younger warrior about his assigned task as he finished saddling the horse.
"I will go with you. A warrior alone in the desert is not wise. Earlier this day I had heard other warriors speaking of the Rwalla-Hunud and their sudden appearance in the desert. A patrol of warriors from the tribe of the Eighth had been ambushed one day ago and there were no survivors," Solman said. He walked over to his horse's stall, quickly saddling the animal.
"La, that cannot be," Talib murmured in disbelief, saddened by the loss of his warrior brothers. "I thought the Rwalla were extinct, their race having vanished from the sands thousands of years ago."
"True evil never dies, it lays in wait for the chance to be reborn," Solman stated and walked his horse over to Talib's. "I will go with you, for you are ya saHib."
Talib smiled at the simple declaration of friendship and was secretly pleased for the companionship. Although he was considered to have a simple mind, Solman's observations were often refreshingly honest and accurate.
"We must ride hard and fast," he cautioned as he swung up on to his horse.
They cantered the animals out of the barn and through the streets of the tribe until they had reached the open plains. Soon, they were quickly riding away from the security of the Tribe of the First…unaware that their actions had not gone unnoticed.
~*~
Resting on a nearby ledge overlooking a rocky incline, fifty black riders watched with great interest as the two Medjai rode away from the settlement. The long war spears bobbed and weaved in anticipation of the hunt and their horses snorted and pawed the ground, their withers trembling in wait for the command to ride.
Suleyman-Tansu controlled the horse with an ease that was born from an ancient race of equine experts, the reins tightening slightly to easily bring the animal under control.
"We must ride and spill fresh Medjai blood while the moon is fat and full," urged a subordinate.
Fifty spears thudded on the ground in agreement and an odd moan floated over them.
"The kill…to hunt and kill…" they sighed as one and their lifeless gazes focused on their leader, waiting for the decision.
"We wait and follow," Suleyman-Tansu decreed. "We learn what the Medjai are doing, and if their purpose interferes with our plans, then we kill them."
The war spear was raised high into the air and with the silent command the riders wheeled their horses around and raced down the incline. They spilled out on to the desert sands like a black and vile wave of evil.
~*~
"For the love of Allah, will someone stop him from doing that?" Drevick shouted as he threw himself to one side, Berin's lethal blade narrowly missing his midsection.
"I wish to propose a temporary truce between our nations and…" the Tuareg's eyes widened in shock and he lunged to the other side as Berin charged after him yet again. "…and he keeps trying to kill me!"
"That is the idea," Berin growled as he chased the younger man around the chamber. Chairs were overturned, and the table knocked over on its side as the warrior relentlessly pursued the fleeing Tuareg with a well-known tenacity.
"Do something!" Drevick yelled at Ardeth as the warrior nonchalantly stood off to one side with his commanders. He dodged and twisted his body, grimacing when he felt the sting of Berin's scimitar skip lightly across his ribs. He compensated for the thrust and in doing so grimly realized he was making the sub commander even angrier. Berin followed up his maneuver with a punch to the face and Drevick backpedaled while blood ran from his nose.
He lost his balance when he tripped over the unconscious body of Yousef and fell, landing hard on his backside.
"I am doing something," Ardeth calmly replied. He leaned against a wall and folded his arms across his chest. "I am letting one of my sub commander's release his fury – to carry such sentiment into battle would prove to be ineffective and costly. I have no desire to lose Berin to his emotions."
"A wise decision, ya ra'is," Jericho commented and stood next to Ardeth, appearing to be intrigued by the skirmish unfolding in front of him. "See how Berin uses the technique of changing sword hands? Most impressive considering how small this chamber is."
Drevick rolled to one side and swept his leg out, tripping Berin. His triumphant shout was cut short when Berin scrambled to his feet, his speed and agility amazing for a man his size. When the warrior charged after him again, his eyes black with anger, the young Tuareg began to wonder if trying to get the Medjai to accept a truce had been such a good idea after all.
"You need me as much as I need you, Chieftain," he grunted as he rolled out of the way from Berin's onslaught. A boot caught him in the ribs and he fell into Jameel and Madjy who each seemed a bit too eager to push him back into battle.
"Have faith, Tuareg. Berin will tire…someday," Jameel said with a wicked grin.
Most of the warriors laughed at Jameel's remark, though Nabil remained oddly silent as he watched the one-sided fight. His thoughts were centered on Reyhan and how soon he could visit his half-brother again.
"I need nothing," Berin replied and spun around, his scimitar a silvery blur as he slashed at Drevick.
Drevick ducked and darted away from the warrior, using a chair as a temporary shield. He uttered a dark curse when bits and pieces of wood and fabric showered over him moments later.
"I have received word from my sources telling me that the Rwalla-Hunud are amassing on the borders in Middle Egypt, outside the great Western desert," he panted and stepped away from the wobbly chair, his patience at an end. He dropped to his knees and lowered his head, baring his neck.
"If you wish to kill me, so be it. I would rather die by your hand than to be caught and tortured to death at the hands of our most hated enemy."
Berin's scimitar came to a sudden stop, hovering mere inches away from ending Drevick's life. He glanced over at Ardeth and when his chieftain gave a barely perceptible nod, he stepped away from the young man and sheathed his weapon.
"Are your so-called sources reliable?" Ardeth asked.
"Reliable enough, especially when they carry such grim news." Drevick replied as he looked up at the imposing figure of the warrior looming over him like a bringer of death. Better to have this one as an ally since he had no desire whatsoever to face Berin in a duel ever again. The stories of this warrior's prowess in battle were certainly not fabricated and Drevick sighed to himself, happy to be alive.
Slowly he rose to his feet and refused to dust off his clothes - he instead turned to Ardeth and waited for his decision.
"What say you, Chieftain Bay? Do the Medjai and the Tuareg accomplish something unprecedented and unite to defeat an enemy that would destroy all that we each hold dear?"
Ardeth felt the enormity of his decision weigh heavily upon his shoulders and his gaze traveled from each of his warriors to the next, knowing full well that they supported him no matter his decision.
War was never the preferred solution but Ardeth realized that if left unchecked, the Hunud would consume and destroy the cities scattered along the Nile like a swarm of locusts. And thousands of innocent lives would be lost…
"Aiwa, I agree. It is time for us to call for a truce," he stated quietly.
"Yaha," Berin muttered. "Does this mean I have to play nicely with the little Tuareg boys?"
~*~
"Do you see this wound, Commander? This type of wound puzzles me. The jagged, torn edges of the flesh, and the depth and width of it. To me it would appear that your brother was not stabbed once but…"
"My captors…took great delight in tormenting me," Reyhan said as his eyes slowly fluttered open. He lifted his gaze, his eyes flaring up with anguish from the memories that he could not dispel.
"They gouged me repeatedly for my so-called transgressions and reveled in my pain."
The healer that had been explaining to Nabil the extent of Reyhan's injuries shook his head in disbelief. "Who in the name of Allah would do such a thing to another human being?"
"We need to report this to Ardeth," Nabil suggested gently but firmly.
Reyhan shook his head and held on to one of the healer's arms more tightly than he had intended as the wound was cleaned, and a fresh poultice applied.
A temporary silence hung in the air as the healer concluded his visit by adjusting the pillows behind Reyhan; both he and Nabil settled the young warrior against them and moments later they heard his soft groan.
Reyhan closed his eyes for a moment, taxed from his exertions and fighting the effects of the fever that was building within his body.
"Closing your eyes will make your problems disappear for only but a moment," Nabil murmured. As the healer excused himself and left, Nabil adjusted the light cotton sheet across Reyhan's waist. He didn't get a response and to be honest, he didn't really expect one. Reyhan was turning out to be quite the taciturn warrior and wisely, Nabil decided to leave him to his thoughts.
"I will see if I can get a tray brought over from Salma's," he said. "I believe you would like Salma and she would take one look at you and declare that you are far too thin for her liking."
"I am not hungry," Reyhan wearily stated and opened his eyes, a quiet yearning in their depths. He wished for a few moments of solitude, for enough time to gather his thoughts and plan for the future. He knew the Hunud would come after him and he would not jeopardize the lives of others for his foolish actions. Stoically, he rode out the waves of pain shooting down from his shoulder, a direct result from the healer's well-intentioned prodding.
"I have no wish to be a bother to anyone."
Nabil was about to reply but a slightly husky feminine voice spoke up from behind him.
"And I thought I was stubborn."
Nabil turned around and found a young woman standing behind him, clutching a tray she had brought and looking uncertain as to whether she should interrupt. Flashing a charming smile, Nabil introduced himself and helped Muhjah-Aji sit down in the chair next to the pallet.
"Since you appear to be in capable hands, I shall take my leave of you both," he said with a slight bow to both Reyhan and Muhjah-Aji. "I wish to come and visit you again, ya ukh so we can talk further."
"I would like that," Reyhan murmured and wished Nabil a good night. He watched the elder warrior walk away for a moment, and silently swore he would do all that was in his power to protect him. He then turned his gaze to Muhjah-Aji and silently scrutinized her appearance, not surprised to discern that she had bathed. She smelled faintly of wildflowers and he found himself intrigued by the lovely scent.
Muhjah-Aji smiled as Nabil walked away and then turned around to find herself the object of an intense study from a pair of gray eyes.
~*~
A/N – Ahhh, I see I caught quite a few people's attention with the chocolate covered warriors offer. Lol Note to self: offer that more often. Thank you so much for the reviews and of course, we now move on to the shout-outs.
Nakhti - *blinks* So judging by your reactions the warrior candy was a good idea, eh? Reyhan and Muhjah are interesting together but we shall have to see what the future holds for them. As for what am I gonna do with Ardeth…*waggles eyesbrows* What do you mean, here or in my overactive imagination? Here, Ardeth will eventually have to make a heartbreaking decision that could end up costing him more than he realizes. Stay tuned!
Dawn – Muhjah is a mystery but are you so sure about Ardeth giving up one of his warriors? Time or the next few chappies will tell. Heh heh
Ladybug – Da sweet beast is coming and you know he'll have a talk or two with Ardeth as well as Nabil…Reyhan will get better thanks to the loving care of Muhjah. So don't you worry. *wags finger* Much…
SerenaFehr – Thanks for catching up with the chapters and of course, your feedback. There certainly is an attraction between Reyhan and Muhjah but one has to wonder how much it can endure?
Karri - *raises eyebrow* Kill who off? Reyhan??? I may play rough with my toys but I would never kill any of them. LOL Thanks for the review.