Part XI
"You have sent Reyhan to his death."
Ardeth flinched from the undertones of hurt and disbelief in Nabil's voice and steeled himself for the eruption that would soon follow. "I have done what is necessary to protect our people and stop any further loss of life," he clarified.
"If the Hunud agree, this could end the war," Kedar said.
"And what proof is there that the Hunud will do what we expect? Are there any guarantees in place that they will bring Reyhan to trial, and not kill him?" Nabil shoved his hand through his hair in frustration as he tried to comprehend the decision to surrender his half brother.
"The Elders believe that the…" Ardeth started to patiently explain.
"Who truly governs the Medjai?" Nabil's softly asked question interrupted Ardeth. "The Elders were placed in the capacity to advise, not rule in place of my king."
"Are you questioning my authority?" Ardeth inquired, a hint of censure and menace in his voice.
"Tread lightly, ya sahib," Kedar advised Nabil and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Ardeth is doing what he thinks is best for us all."
Nabil shrugged it off and turned back to Ardeth, his gray eyes flashing silver from anger. "It is my right as your loyal subject and commander to question a decision that could…"
"Am I to weigh the lives of our people against one warrior? Is that it, Nabil?" Ardeth snapped. He stormed over to the windows and gestured to the teeming populace below. "Am I to have every man, woman and child sacrificed so Reyhan can live? Is he worth destroying so many lives?"
"I know how you are, ya sahib. Could you rest at night knowing the innocent paid for Reyhan's freedom?" Kedar asked Nabil.
"Apparently we do not know Nabil as well as we thought we did, Kedar," Ardeth sighed and folded his arms across his chest, watching as Nabil struggled with his turbulent emotions. "Never would I have expected you to act this way…"
"You are asking me to surrender my brother," Nabil said hoarsely. Sorrow and defeat emanated from his eyes and he looked pleadingly at both men for understanding.
Kedar shook his head, hating the look on Nabil's face and recognized the warning signs that he was withdrawing from them. "Ya ukh, if we do not give up Reyhan, then you are demanding that our people die for a cause they know nothing about."
"I am asking that you allow Reyhan to leave with the delegation tonight and to put a small amount of trust in my decision." Ardeth walked over to Nabil and held out his hand. "I request this not as your king or chieftain but as your friend and warrior brother. I need for you to understand that what we must do is for the greater good."
"Who initiated the vote?" Nabil knew his off-topic question caught Ardeth unprepared but he had to confirm the growing suspicion in his mind.
Ardeth's gaze slid to Kedar's for a moment before he answered, his hand dropping down to his side. "Counselor Thias."
Nabil chuckled wryly and shook his head. "His hatred for me escalates in leaps and bounds; I am not surprised by your answer. It would seem that Thias sought to hurt me through different means and unwittingly, the Elders have assisted him."
"I need to know that I have your complete loyalty and support on this matter," Ardeth asked.
Nabil refused to meet Ardeth's perceptive gaze as his hand came up and lightly touched the commander insignia on his robes.
"Nabil?" Kedar called gently, keenly watching his actions. "Do not act unwisely."
Several tense moments passed before Nabil finally reached his decision; he quickly ripped the emblem off and handed it to Ardeth. "My answer comes not from the commander or warrior, but your friend. I hereby resign my position within the warrior sect…"
"La," Ardeth shook his head in amazement as he stared down at the insignia, refusing to take it. It fluttered to the floor moments later.
"…and assume the role of a loyal citizen, away from the sharp talons of Thias and my enemies. I will not publicly discredit the Elders' decision, thereby showing a false pretense of support on this matter. Privately, you know as well as I, that I cannot let Reyhan fall into the hands of the Hunud."
"Do you wish to be brought up on charges of insubordination?" Ardeth asked disbelievingly. Never would he have believed that Nabil would forfeit so much for Reyhan, his mind still reeling from the ramifications.
A faint smile danced across Nabil's face. "I am no longer in the warrior sect. If you wish to charge me as a traitor, then you can send the guards to the healer's building. I will be there visiting my brother."
Ardeth reached out and grabbed Nabil's upper arm, stopping him from leaving the room and forcing him to face his king. "If you leave, I will implement your resignation immediately. You will be stripped of your commission, your name expunged from the records and Berin will become commander of the tribe of the Fifth. Is this what you truly want, ya sahib? To be remembered as the man who had forsaken his warrior oath and rejected the means to end this bloody war?"
Pain flared up in Nabil's eyes but he clenched his jaw against it just as he steeled his heart against the entreaty showing in Ardeth's dark eyes. "I would rather be remembered as the man who followed the dictate of his heart and saved the life of his brother."
"Your lack of trust in me on this matter is appalling," Ardeth fumed, his patience at an end, and he spun away from Nabil. "Go!" he commanded and imperiously waved his hand. "Do what you have to but remember that I am still king. And I will not hesitate to have you thrown in the stockade for your traitorous actions."
Nabil approached Ardeth and gently touched one shoulder; he frowned when Ardeth stiffened. "Your lack of understanding is troubling to me, ya sahib. You, of all people, should know how I have longed for a family, and wished that I no longer stood alone in this world. If you were I and Kedar was Reyhan, then I must ask – what would you do?"
Silence was Nabil's companion as he exited the room.
"I am going for a walk. Would you care to join me?" Reyhan offered Muhjah-Aji a wan smile and his good arm, praying that she would accept it instead of forcing him back to his pallet.
"Stubborn, foolish, idiotic man," Muhjah-Aji muttered under her breath, glaring as her hand slid along his forearm. Her dark eyes swept over his appearance, gloomily noting his pale complexion and the light sheen that covered his skin. Her heart ached from his obvious distress but she steeled herself against such foolish emotions.
"I was right…you do like me," he said faintly and motioned for them to continue.
"Like you be damned." Muhjah-Aji tried to ignore the happiness sparkling in Reyhan's eyes just as she unsuccessfully tried to quell her own joy in seeing him. "What are you doing?"
The smile slowly faded from Reyhan's face and he reached up, caressing her face with his fingertips. He knew he surprised her with his tender touch but there was very little time and he could expand no further energy in lengthy explanations. "I need to leave, little one," he said quietly. "Come with me and I shall gladly explain my intentions, as absurd as they may sound."
"This is madness," Muhjah-Aji exclaimed but allowed Reyhan to lead her out of the building. "I should go back and get a blanket to cover you since you are determined to go on this walk."
"Forgive me if I need to keep moving." Reyhan gave her a lopsided grin. "If I lose what momentum I have gained, I fear I will fall down."
"We can't have that," Muhjah-Aji mumbled as she ran back inside and grabbed a spare blanket from a nearby pallet. Furtively she darted over to the shelves where she knew the healers kept all of their potions and grabbed a small vial, quickly hiding it in her sleeve. She ran out of the building and into the street, ignoring the dull pain in her heart when she realized that this betrayal of Reyhan would hurt far more than she realized.
She had fallen in love with the warrior and according to the mandate of her tribe, the Rwalla-Hunud, it was forbidden.
Drevick was beginning to learn about the many facets of Berin al Usama, and was drawing some surprising conclusions from his personal observations. The skill and prowess of Berin as a warrior was undisputed, but initially Drevick had thought his size and incredible strength often lent to the illusion that speed was a weakness.
Gentleness and compassion were two other traits that Drevick thought to be lacking in the composition of Berin's character and yet, watching his ministrations to Emir and the rest of the wounded had effectively changed his mind. Inaccurate perceptions laid to rest, Drevick had to grudgingly admit that Berin was far more complex than he had realized.
Yet beneath Berin's gruff exterior, hidden far away from view, Drevick felt sure there was an unhealed wound on the warrior's heart. And its pain would flare up occasionally, although quickly banked, in the warrior's eyes when Berin believed no one was watching.
To deduce that Berin was far more human than he had originally concluded left an odd taste in his mouth and the young Tuareg leader shook his head over his fanciful thoughts. Sometimes it was better to have the enemy remain a faceless entity than to understand the ways of a warrior's heart.
"I know that look, and you're thinking too much again." Yousef shook his head as he stood next to his friend and leader, placing a hand on Drevick's shoulder. "It's the same look you had when you approached your father about saving Reyhan, when you petitioned the Elders…"
"You know me well," Drevick replied.
"I should since I'm your friend but I must ask, is it wise…" Yousef's question was interrupted when a messenger arrived in camp.
"This is for you, sir." The tired rider handed Drevick the parchment and then left without waiting for a reply.
Drevick quickly read the news and then glanced up, not surprised to see Berin striding towards them.
"Call your men to arms, warrior," he called out. "The Hunud are harassing a small party of Medjai and it is believed that one of the casualties is Commander ibn Sakhr."
Bahir tossed his head as his silken mane fluttered like a banner in the breeze, trumpeting a challenge into the air. He reared back on his hind legs, his front hooves slashing the air with deadly precision as the enemy crept closer to his fallen warrior. His nostrils flared as he pawed the ground and he snorted, nodding his head as if daring them to come closer. He suddenly whirled around and slammed his haunch into a Hunud horse, his exultant scream drowning out the cries of pain.
Bahir was a magnificent animal to behold, a stallion in his prime, whose coat rippled with muscles and glistened from his exertions. He stood over Jericho, determined to protect the man who had saved his life, unwavering in his vigilance.
The Rwalla-Hunud had formed a semi-circle around the Medjai horse and rider, respectful of the obvious fighting prowess that the animal possessed but just as determined to capture the commander. They closed in like jackals scenting blood, their spears lowered as they quickly improvised a new plan.
Dharr struggled to reach Jericho, ignoring his own wounds as the fighting continued and he refused to believe that victory would elude them. He fell to his knees, partly from blood loss, mostly from disbelief that the Hunud were patiently stalking them with the skill of a predator. He looked up when the barbed tip of a spear appeared in front of him, hovering a few inches from his face. Calling upon the last reserves of his strength, Dharr pushed himself to his feet and swayed unsteadily.
Around him lay the dead and the dying, and Dharr's anger surfaced, pushing aside all caution. He raised his scimitar and ignored the trembling in his arm, pointing the tip at the black rider that was slowly advancing upon him. His sherry colored eyes were dark with rage, and his lips curled back in a defiant snarl. An errant wind toyed with his long, curly hair, whipping it about and making him look wild and savage.
"Come and kill me if you can," he goaded the helmeted rider.
The Medjai and Tuareg riders surged over the crest of a small dune and came to an abrupt stop overlooking the grisly tableau below. Few warriors remained standing and the Hunud were taunting the rest with their spears.
"What is he doing?" Yousef gestured to Dharr's standoff. "He is insane."
"He is Medjai," Berin replied tersely and gave the order to ride.
Drevick thought it strange that he needed no further elaboration on Berin's statement as they plunged down the side of the dune; it made perfect sense. He withdrew his blade and gave his battle cry.
The Hunud leaned down in the saddle, and tilted her head as if studying Dharr since his actions were certainly confusing. The tip of her spear never wavered and had almost touched the warrior's blade when she abruptly turned in the saddle and glanced over her shoulder. The odds of this fight were no longer in her favor and she turned back to the Medjai and gave him a jaunty salute.
"Next time warrior, there will be no standoff," she shouted over her shoulder as she wheeled her horse around and rode away.
A/N – I'm still running. LOL But I thank ye kindly for the reviews and it's nice to see I caught everyone off guard. Hold on to the bar and make sure your belts are fastened; the ride is going to get a lot bumpier.
Shout-outs:
Nakhti - TREACHERY, THY NAME IS WOMAN indeed and I'm sorry to say, Muhjah is a spy. And in order to fulfill her vow, she must do the hardest thing in her life and that's coming up in the next few parts. I've updated and now anxiously wait for yours on Harem Nights. nudge nudge
Karri – "Ardeth the Warrior" was in the chapter and will appear again…he has no choice, does he? I'm really having fun writing him this way and I'm glad you're enjoying it as well. Thanks!
The Kid Mdd – Glad to see I caught you off balance and as I've said, the ride isn't over yet. Solman, Zaki and Talib will help out more than you think in the coming parts and Muhjah will have to make a decision that change her life forever. All the threads that I've started will pull together to either reveal or unravel…heh heh
Dawn – I could never forget you, especially with your original story on Fictionpress called "Salvation" [psst! A must read. LOL] however, I didn't see your name for part 10 unless FF ate it. I too like the present Nabil wants to give and it's so symbolic of their union as brothers. But as the title of this story suggests, is blood really thicker than water? And to what lengths will Nabil go to keep Reyhan safe? Thanks for reading.
SerenaFehr – a spy in the citadel, a love betrayed, and a brother who will do anything for Reyhan…I feel bad for both Ardeth and Nabil. Drevick and Reyhan will remain friends, I believe, since the foundation of their friendship was never based on hatred. It's the least I can do for the poor guys. Lol
Ladybug1 – You're right, it's been very hard for Nabil to open up and accept Reyhan, past hurts and memories often impede his decisions. But Nabil will do what he believes is right, even if it costs him his own life. And writing Talib so inquisitive was a joy…tingling was even better. Heh heh
Thanks for the reviews! Onwards…