Part VI
Nabil strode through the streets of the citadel until he came to the front gates. There he met up with Berin and they greeted Kedar and Zaki as they were dismounting.
The warriors clasped one another's arm in the traditional greeting, and Kedar surprised Nabil by pulling him into an awkward and impulsive brotherly hug. He pounded Nabil's back a few times, seemingly ignoring the grunts of pain and then turned to greet a wary looking Berin.
"Hug me and I will kill you," the massive warrior playfully growled at Kedar.
Kedar threw his head back and roared with laughter, one hand slapping Berin's shoulder.
"I have missed you as well, ya ukh," he said.
Berin greeted Zaki and once the pleasantries were finished, they walked through the streets towards the citadel and Nabil brought the two warriors up to date on the events of the past few hours.
As they turned down the avenue that led to the front doors of the palace, Kedar was informed of Ardeth's decision and he shook his head at the absurdity of it.
"A truce with the Tuareg will never last, they cannot be trusted," he fumed and shoved a hand through his unruly hair.
"What in the world was Ardeth thinking?"
"He was thinking about the fate of those innocent people who live in the shadow of the Hunud and fear for their lives. Suddenly our role as protector of man has taken on new meaning and now, we must face an evil that is as almost corrupt as the priests." Nabil said.
"Or was he thinking about protecting this newfound brother that you suddenly have? Do you not think it strange that Abbasi appears at the citadel and it coincides with the Hunud attacks? Obviously Mallory did not flee from Egypt and return to England right away as everyone had originally thought."
Nabil's eyes flashed silver fire from his anger but he held it in check, knowing that Kedar would look at the problem pragmatically. Still the old hatred for his sire, long ago buried within his heart along with the hurt, flared up and Nabil was unable to stop his sarcastic comment.
"One has to wonder how many Medjai maidens did Mallory rape and impregnate before he left Egypt."
The warriors fell silent for a moment, knowing how sensitive the subject was regarding Nabil's father. Yet it was a mystery how Reyhan had managed to remain undiscovered over the years.
Kedar reached up and placed a comforting hand on Nabil's shoulder.
"SamaH ana, I spoke unwisely but war is an option that I had hoped Ardeth would have avoided at all costs. Has he presented this to the Elders yet for a vote?"
"La twakhidna, Commander Ishaq but I am to deliver this message to you."
Kedar thanked the messenger and once the man had left, he opened the note and quickly scanned the contents.
"There is more news," Kedar said and quickly informed Nabil and Berin about Talib's mission. "I had no idea that Solman had gone with him but they had left the village earlier in the day and returned a short while ago. They suffered some minor injuries and their pride may be in tatters - the Hunud caught them unawares and attacked."
"The enemy grows bold," Zaki commented.
"They want blood," Berin added on.
Kedar nodded his head and read the last part of the message again. "Talib reported that he saw the mark of the red hand on some of the Hunud's horses and from his research he has learned that this means they are initiating a blood feud against one of our warriors. I assume there is no need to confirm the identity of the warrior with you, Nabil?"
The gray eyed warrior shook his head and threaded his fingers through his hair in a sign of frustration.
"Confirm or theorize - it makes no difference. Reyhan is now here and rests in the healer's building - whether he is aware of the danger that he has brought with him or not remains to be discovered."
~*~
"You have returned…and with food no less." Reyhan sighed and dropped his head back against the pillows. He closed his eyes as his hand came up and gingerly touched his bandaged shoulder, trying to massage the gnawing ache in it.
He wanted to rest, surrender to sweet oblivion that nipped at the edges of his consciousness but the somewhat steady stream of visitors to his bedside prevented him from getting any true rest.
Other than Nabil, they had seemed merely curious about him and Reyhan felt his patience ebb like the tides of the Nile. He felt hot and knew the fever was staking out a more tenacious grip within his body. Soon he would be unable to answer the often-asked questions about his relationship to Nabil and peevishly, he would be glad for the respite.
Muhjah-Aji didn't dare smile at Reyhan's abrupt tone of voice although mentally she decided he sounded like a tired and petulant child.
"When injured, one must feed the body if the recovery is to be complete. You are far too thin…"
"My captors cared little for my well being," Reyhan snapped and opened his eyes. For a moment they blazed with anger and then quickly, it was extinguished when he saw Muhjah-Aji's tolerant smile.
"SamaH ana," he whispered, chagrined at his behavior. "I did not…that is I only meant…"
"Words spoken in haste and pain can often be ignored. No harm done," Muhjah-Aji said and stood up, placing the tray on a nearby table. She adjusted the covers again, noting with dismay the flushed hue of his skin, but lingered appreciatively over the tattoos that graced his lean muscular body.
"Sleep well, warrior and I shall return in the morning, if my services are still needed."
Reyhan's hand snaked out and grasped a few of the trailing strands of Muhjah-Aji's hair that had escaped the confines of her braid. He ignored her soft gasp of surprise and brought the soft strands to his nose and inhaled, savoring the light, delicate scent. A whimsical smile drifted across his face as he released the hair, letting it fall from his fingers and it rippled like fine silk.
"You are needed…" he whispered and closed his eyes, slowly falling asleep. "I will make…sure you are needed."
~*~
He stood on the balcony outside his chambers and gazed wistfully at the city sprawled out below, envious of its sleeping inhabitants. He rested his hands on the stone railing while the wind mischievously batted his white robes, and almost lovingly fluttered his damp hair around his broad shoulders. He was barefoot and shirtless, preferring to wear a pair of loose fitting pants for comfort.
The wind, when it grew too strong, revealed the occasional tantalizing flashes of bronzed skin adorned with the sacred markings of his people but Ardeth relished the feel of it caressing his body. Often it felt as if he were truly airborne and it gave him a sense of freedom rivaled only by riding his beloved Sabeeh at full gallop across the desert plains.
Matters of state had kept Ardeth from resting this night and his frustration had propelled him to escape the luxurious comforts of his large, empty bed and come outside into the night.
The world was on the brink of war and the responsibilities that Chieftain Ardeth Bay bore often weighed heavily on his shoulders. Never before had one of his decisions had the potential to affect so many innocent lives; never before had one warrior brought such danger past the gates of the citadel.
Reports strewn across Ardeth's desk inside his chamber told a grim tale of events that had occurred over the past few hours – the Rwalla-Hunud were strategically positioned outside the city. They patiently waited, but for what, Ardeth knew not.
To engage them would invite disaster, since little knowledge about the size of their army had been ascertained as of yet.
To ignore them would leave the people of the surrounding settlements at the mercy of the Hunud and the Medjai would take the blame.
And so… no matter which direction his thoughts took him, Ardeth knew rest would elude him this night.
However, if he delved too deeply within his own thoughts and feelings, another nameless restlessness had pushed him outside and it was one that usually remained hidden in the furthest recesses of his heart. And was examined only when it became too much to bear.
The great Medjai chieftain, ruler of the Twelve Tribes, and written about in the chronicles of his people as his role as the Chosen One had paid a steep price for his position of power and for fulfilling his destiny.
Ardeth yearned for a mate…a woman with whom he could share his life with and it was baffling that for some unknown reason Allah had yet to bless him with a wife.
~*~
He stood under the velvet canopy of a star studded sky and gazed out across the horizon with unseeing eyes, oblivious to the nocturnal beauty of the world spread out before him. A playful and mild wind blew in from the west and caressed his bare chest as if it were a forgotten lover. It teased the long strands of his damp hair and randomly splayed them across his broad shoulders in a gentle puff of air.
Normally the sounds of the night would have provided a soothing cadence to his troubled mind but Nabil would gain no rest this night. He surrendered to the temporary insomnia and allowed his thoughts to run rampant as he relived the events of the day in his mind.
He was no longer alone in the world since a half brother had been unexpectedly revealed to him; he should have felt great joy over the discovery. His secret and fondest wish for a family had been miraculously granted but Nabil couldn't bring himself to fully accept Reyhan just yet.
If he chose to closely examine his hesitancy, he would reach the conclusion that he feared Reyhan's motives in searching for him could reveal a darker purpose. And ultimately he would have to wrestle with the ghosts of his past once again, namely the one named Mallory.
His heart wanted to acknowledge Reyhan, and publicly honor the blood claim, but his mind cautioned him against such futile hopes and whispered about the betrayals of the past.
To have wanted something for so long, and for it to turn out to be a ruse in the end would be more than Nabil's heart could bear. His enemies had often come under the guise of friendship and brotherhood only to try and destroy him once their deceit had been revealed.
Was Reyhan looking for Nabil to unite them as a family? Or would he try to destroy a warrior who was not of the blood thereby gaining acceptance for his tainted lineage and further his own ambitions?
In the end it was the crushing loneliness that drove Nabil outside and prohibited him from resting but Berin's promise for retribution echoed teasingly in his mind. Both warriors had been furious to learn about the inept and heartless treatment from the guards and while they had both agreed to Ardeth's handling of the situation, they still wanted blood.
"Do you wish for me to visit the pigs in the stockade?"
How easy would it be for him to conduct himself no better than they had but Nabil had firmly declined Berin's offer tempting, as it was…
"I would make sure it would be one that they would never forget."
For in accepting it, wouldn't Nabil be admitting that Reyhan mattered to him? And prove himself a hypocrite to his own reservations?
Old habits often die harder than others and as the night wore on, Nabil became an unwilling victim to the memories of his past. He was still standing on the balcony to greet the new dawn with a heavy heart and a troubled mind.
~*~
Three days later…
Four horses cantered through the streets of the city, and their heads impatiently nodding up and down on arched necks, foam blowing from their flared nostrils. Their coats glistened with perspiration and they constantly chewed on their bits, sensing the mood of their riders and amplifying it.
The four warriors presented a grim façade as they stopped at the healer's building and silently dismounted. War had come to the Medjai and for the past few days, the cities of the desert were under siege as the Rwalla-Hunud continued its harassment.
Maragah had been the next town attacked and el-Amarna would have suffered the same fate as the other towns if it hadn't been for the Medjai's timely intervention. And yet the city remained unscathed, and the Hunud chose to maintain its annoying position of surveillance.
Thankfully the Elders of the Twelve Tribes had unanimously voted in favor of Ardeth's decision to accept the Tuareg's truce three days ago. Drevick's men patrolled the areas near Badari, Qau and Akhmim but had yet to engage the enemy, an action some claimed was a tactical maneuver on their part.
In the council meeting earlier this morning, several Elders proposed the idea that the Tuareg had lied to the Medjai about the truce and were purposely withholding their aid.
Ardeth had every intention of sending Berin and Dharr with two squads of warriors to investigate the accusations leveled at the Tuareg. However, the message he received prior to his leaving had changed everything.
The Hunud had finally spoken and had arrogantly demanded the release of Reyhan into their custody, charging him with murder. If the Medjai didn't comply with their demands, then the Hunud would turn their attention to the citadel and attack. The last part of the message suggested that Ardeth remember what happened to Sohag and Asyut - attacking and destroying the citadel would be done with frightening ease.
Ardeth chose not to respond and instead had summoned Kedar, Nabil, Berin and Kedar's second in command Haytham to accompany him to the healer's building. He wished to talk to Reyhan about the charges and hear for himself the tale that everyone spoke of about a friendship that had managed to transcend hatred.
~*~
Muhjah-Aji glanced around the dining hall and nodded to her coworker, satisfied that enough food had been prepared for the morning meal. She was anxious to get to the healer's and although she was reluctant to admit it – she wanted to see Reyhan. Images of his beautiful gray eyes haunted her dreams during the night and while normally a pragmatic person, she felt a rush of giddy hope that perhaps the warrior had dreamt of her as well.
The past few days had been tiring for the young woman but she would never admit it. Reyhan had succumbed to a fever four nights ago and it had risen so high that she had feared they would still lose him in the end. For three days, she helped the healers battle it as well as treat his other wounds, often foregoing her own personal comforts and needs just to be with Reyhan.
When it finally broke in the early morning hours, Muhjah-Aji had been dozing by Reyhan's side and she was the first person he saw when he had regained consciousness. Even now, to remember it gave her a small thrill and she would treasure the memory for always, especially in the days to come.
She had been resting her head on the pallet near his shoulder, and had awoken to the feel of his hand gently stroking her hair. Her head popped up and she blinked in surprise at seeing him awake. And then she lost her heart when a slow, endearing smile danced across his face when they looked at one another in wonder.
She pulled herself from her thoughts with a mental shake and reached for a linen towel, drying her hands.
"I will return in the afternoon," Muhjah-Aji told the other woman. And before any comments could be made or knowing looks exchanged with some of the other workers, she tossed the towel on the table and picked up a tray. She hurried out of the hall and balanced it precariously on one hip, taking great care not to spill the assorted containers of food and liquid.
She walked through the streets, marveling that despite the very real and constant danger that loomed outside, life for the citizens of the citadel had continued on its normal and mundane routine.
The cloudless sky was colored brilliantly blue, and a warm western breeze carried the varied scents of cinnamon and citrus. Hundreds of vendors in the open market were enthusiastically selling their wares and tried to cajole Muhjah-Aji to come look at the wondrous items on display.
She firmly but politely declined and quickened her pace, anxious to see Reyhan once again.
~*~
A/N –
Dawn – Try not to worry about Talib and Solman too much…see? Didn't I play nicely with my warriors and bring them back safe and sound for now? Heh heh Thanks for reviewing.
Nakhti – "wicked sado-medjai-chistic woman"??? LOL I'll take that as a compliment since I've learned from the best, and I'm glad you enjoyed Berin giving poor Drevick hell. Berin loves to keep the younger warriors on their toes, just ask Jameel and Makin about the time they…oppps. *blushes* Never mind. I'm glad you like the budding romance between Reyhan and Muhjah but one has to wonder if its tender foundation will be able to stand the test it will undergo in a few chapters. Oh and your chocolate covered warrior is being shipped by International UPS…no Fed EX for that bad boy. ;-)
SerenaFehr – The Hunud are indeed blood thirsty and their true nature will be revealed in due time. One has to indeed wonder how Reyhan survived…the soothing balm will be Muhjah…and Berin is on his way. ;-)
The kid mdd – Forgive me for not replying to your email as of yet, I hang my head in shame. However, at least let me assure you that Talib and Solman are out of danger…for now. Talib is quite the handsome warrior, with his sparkling sapphire colored eyes but if you like my gentle, but slow thinking Solman, that's cool as well. I'm just glad you caught up reading the story and left some feedback. It's greatly appreciated.