XXIII
An hour later the two factions separated and rode out in different directions, scattering like grains of sand thrown into the wind.
The Medjai knew from life-long experience that the Sahara was a harsh mistress and dedicated themselves to following the sporadic trail left by Ardeth and Kedar's horses. Time and wind were now the enemies they fought; their scimitars remained sheathed. Observation and cunning were the weapons of choice and they were wielded without restraint.
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Nabil squinted up at the almost angelic looking face of the stranger, and felt a strange sense of déjà vu sweep over him; he had seen this man before but where? Unable to maintain this thought due to his awareness rapidly fading, Nabil was mesmerized by Raphael's hands as they skimmed over Reyhan's body, coming to rest over his face and heart.
"Let me take him from you," Raphael gently coaxed. He moved his hands under Reyhan's arms and pulled, warily watching the older warrior's expression.
"La..." Nabil weakly protested and tried to reach for Reyhan.
"Sahil...sahil," Raphael crooned to Nabil as he laid the younger warrior's body on the ground. "I can help. You must let me, ajab." He brushed back the damp hair from Reyhan's face with fatherly affection and looked up at the older man. "Tell me your names," he coaxed.
Distracted, Nabil replied as he stared at the healer's hands once again hovering over Reyhan's body.
Raphael looked up at Nabil, and the fear of what he was about to do showed clearly in his face. "You must remember this in the days to come, do you understand? No matter what happens you must remember this kindness."
Resting on his side, Nabil caught the dread in Raphael's voice and panicked, fearing that Raphael would do more harm than good. "What...are you...going to do?" he groaned as he tried to reach Reyhan; his hand clawed at the floor, leaving tiny furrows in the dirt.
Raphael ignored Nabil's struggles and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he turned inwards and centered himself. "I am doing what I was born to do," he replied moments later, his voice several octaves lower as he felt his power surge to life within his hands.
Raphael's body stiffened as the power arced out of his body and shimmered and danced over Reyhan until he was completely encased within its golden glow. The healer almost wept as his ethereal form invaded the young warrior's body, and began assessing the damage; Reyhan was losing the will to live. His spirit was so tired...so battered.
Enthralled by the awesome and incredible display of the dahab hass, Nabil stopped struggling as his body finally succumbed to its wounds. He tried to keep his eyes open as the healing continued and was immensely gratified to see Reyhan slowly begin to move. Instinctively he knew that Reyhan would live, that he would return to the citadel and hopefully assume his rightful place in the warrior sect.
Reyhan would be Nabil's successor and their blood would be honored for generations to come. As he felt his heartbeat slow and the wracking pain in his body start to fade away, Nabil heard the distant sound of Raphael's voice coaxing Reyhan to live.
Silently he added on his own encouragement as he finally slipped into oblivion...
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Two warriors brought their tired and lathered mounts to an abrupt stop outside the old temple and dismounted, jumping to the ground and pulling out their scimitars with fluid ease.
Unsheathing their weapons was a precaution, although both men doubted there would be any need, and they hurried through the long hallway that led to the outer temple.
A sudden cry of pain made them run and they charged into the room just as Raphael concluded the healing.
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"istayqaZa bero," Rapahel shouted triumphantly as he fought to withdraw his powers; like a greedy living entity they fought for freedom. "istayqaZa and live to see your warrior brothers rejoice at your return to them!"
Reyhan suddenly drew in a shuddering breath as his eyes fluttered open. He coughed and immediately reached up to touch his wounded shoulder, the horror of it still fresh in his mind. His hand shook as it gingerly probed the area and he frowned when the skin felt smooth and unblemished. His gaze darted up to the man bending over him and his eyes widened in alarm at the strange golden glow that lurked within their depths. "M-m-min...?" he croaked.
Victorious from his inner battle, and jubilant that he had successfully healed Reyhan, Raphael slumped forwards as he wrapped his arms around himself. "Worry not, bero," he said to Reyhan as he fought down the encompassing vulnerability that always followed a healing. "You are once again healthy and whole."
Reyhan swallowed and nodded his head as memories from the night flooded his mind. He gasped as his body still tingled and hummed from Raphael's touch; his heart soared with the realization that he was alive. And then it plummeted when he remembered another...one whose voice had invaded his subconscious and had pleaded for him to live. "Nabil?" he asked and pushed up on his elbows as he searched the interior of the temple, ignoring the gentle fussing from the other man. "Where is Nabil? I know...?"
The words died in Reyhan's mouth when he saw his older brother's body lying a few feet away from him in a slow, ever widening pool of blood.
"Oh Allah..." Reyhan groaned and he turned to Raphael, collapsing since his strength had yet to fully return. "Help him...ajab!"
Awkwardly Raphael scrambled over to Nabil, inwardly cursing himself for failing to recognize the signs that the shadowy specter of death had been hovering over the warrior. Ignoring his own debilitating urge to rest and rejuvenate, he placed his blood stained hands over Nabil's pale face and injured side, once again calling forth the power that resided within.
"Get away from him!" a voice suddenly bellowed from one side of the room.
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Kedar's battle cry rang throughout the temple as he and Ardeth charged; his eyes were black with rage since he believed he was attacking a man who had dared to hurt one of his best friends. Consequences from his actions would be dealt with later, once Nabil was safe from any further harm.
"I have Reyhan," Ardeth shouted as he veered away from Kedar and ran over to the younger warrior. He skidded to a stop as Reyhan tried to sit up, and he almost dropped his scimitar from shock when he saw that all of Reyhan's wounds had miraculously vanished.
"Ya ra'is," Reyhan gasped as he slumped to the ground, frustrated that his body could not comply with his demands. "Stop Kedar...Raphael is...trying to save Nabil."
"Reyhan," Ardeth breathed in amazement and fell to his knees beside him, reaching out to touch his shoulder reverently.
Immersed within, Raphael was unable to defend himself from Kedar's attack as he concentrated on controlling his power and using it to restore Nabil. Just as it started to boil within his body, the darkness residing in his soul flared up and viciously fought for dominance and freedom. His meditation was shattered when he felt a sharp pain flare up in his shoulder, and with a cry he pulled back, falling to one side.
"SarSur! Jaban!" Cockroach! Coward! Kedar snarled as he yanked his dagger free from Raphael's shoulder. "Leave my friend alone and come test your mettle with me; I promise that your death will be quick and painless."
Raphael's eyes changed into twin pools of black fury as the light in his soul was overshadowed by darkness; his lips curled up in a defiant snarl. His hand clenched into a fist and it crackled and sizzled with negative energy. "No one will ever hurt me again!" he shouted and threw his hand out, unleashing the black send with malevolent glee. It shot out and hit Kedar squarely in the chest, knocking the warrior back several feet.
"Do not worry about me...get to...Nabil," Reyhan pushed Ardeth away just as Kedar's body sailed through the air.
Ardeth jumped to his feet in surprise and stood protectively over Reyhan as his gaze darted from Kedar back to the other man. "Kedar?" he called, unable to focus on his friend lest the man attack again.
Kedar rolled to his hands and knees, staying on all fours for a few moments while he tried to catch his breath. He would never admit to anyone that it felt like he had been kicked in the chest by a camel. "It is nothing..." he quipped as he shook his head. "Just a...little scratch."
Ardeth held out one hand to the stranger and made the sign for peace. "I mean you no harm," he stated quietly as he assessed the other man's appearance, noting the birthmark near his eye. "I only want to check on my warriors, and take them back to the city. They are both in need of a healer."
Raphael's head snapped up from the sound of Ardeth's voice and the hatred inside of him flared up. The lessons and brainwashing from the Syrians flowed through his body and the insatiable desire to fulfill their subconscious demands was almost too hard to resist.
Almost...they are both in need of a healer...of a healer...healer.
With an agonized groan, Raphael clamped down and fought back his demons, until his thinking became clear again so he could act. He lunged for Nabil, intuitively knowing precious minutes of his life had been lost and called on his power just as his hands touched the fallen warrior's body. His own wound could wait until later.
"La!" Kedar shouted as he jumped up to his feet. He ran over to Nabil and stopped when Ardeth held him back; transfixed, he watched as yellow light poured out of the man's body and covered Nabil's.
"The golden touch," Ardeth breathed in awe. He pulled Kedar down to Reyhan's side and together the three warriors watched as the healer bravely fought a battle against death.
Several tense minutes passed as the silent war waged on, and the warriors softly called out encouragement to the healer. Nabil started to move restlessly under Raphael's hands and when the healing reached its crescendo, he cried out as his body arched off the ground. The light flared up, illuminating the outer temple and highlighting the tributes to Ma'at so brightly that it seemed the goddess was alive and observing the scene below.
The healing unexpectedly ended and as the light receded, Raphael's body slowly melted to the ground, his strength almost spent. Aware of his captive audience, but too tired to acknowledge the multitude of questions he knew they would ask, he reached up to his injured shoulder and quickly healed the wound.
Nabil regained consciousness just as Raphael was starting to slip into nothingness. Dark brown eyes met and held the steady and clear gaze of gray ones as they looked at one another. "Remember...your promise," Raphael whispered before he finally passed out.
Kedar crawled over to Nabil as Ardeth took care of Reyhan, his eyes suspiciously bright as he gathered his friend into a brotherly embrace. "That is quite a sahib you have found there, ya ukh," he remarked with a tired smile.
"Reyhan...?" Nabil whispered and turned to look at his brother lying a few feet from him.
"Nabil..." Reyhan replied with a tired smile as Ardeth covered him with his robe.
Reunited at last and healed, the two brothers fell asleep, secure in the knowledge that Ardeth and Kedar would keep them safe until reinforcements arrived.
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The outer temple was warm and bright from the sun's rays as the golden orb continued its eternal ascent into the morning sky. The oppressive shadows of pain and despair had been dispelled by a form or means that neither Ardeth nor Kedar could articulately comment on.
Amusement laced heavily with joy infused the conversion as they decided what the next course of action should be; the immediate need to return to the citadel had vanished within a golden haze.
"Can you explain something to me?" Kedar asked as he sat with Nabil, leaning against a column. His body was sore and ached, but nothing could dampen his happiness in having both warriors returned to him, safe and unharmed.
Ardeth gave his friend a slight smile and shook his head as he leaned over and checked on the sleeping Reyhan. "I already know what you will ask," he said and nodded his head towards the quiescent form of Raphael.
Kedar snorted, his dark eyes sparkling with humor. "You are a seer now, eh? You can read my mind and know what I am about to ask?"
Ardeth narrowed his eyes as he struggled not to laugh. "You have no mind," he retorted as he gently lifted Reyhan's head and placed it in his lap.
"Remind me to pay you back for that comment, ya sahib," Kedar grinned.
Now it was Ardeth's turn to snort in disbelief. "I am certainly frightened by your threat. By Allah, look. My hand is shaking."
The amusement in both warriors suddenly faded when they both saw the maroon tinted skin and they instantly sobered, realizing how close they had all come to losing their lives.
"Who is he?" Kedar asked softly as he stared at Raphael. "Where did he come from and why...how has he managed to stay hidden for so long despite his incredible gift?"
Ardeth leaned his head back against the wall, contemplating Kedar's questions as he studied the inert form of the healer. "I had received a report from one of the Medjai outposts several months ago, stating that Raphael Abu al Khayr had disappeared from the healer's compound. I sent a squadron of warriors to investigate the matter and they reported that he had been captured and killed by the Syrians."
"Did the captain of the squad have proof?" Kedar asked.
"He claimed he witnessed Raphael's death," Ardeth sighed. "I had no recourse but to order them to return to the city, and have the investigation closed."
Kedar glanced over at Reyhan and then Nabil, before his gaze finally settled on Ardeth. "Then Raphael's power is greater than we could ever imagine, for obviously he has somehow brought himself back to life."
Ardeth was saved from replying when they heard a shout come from outside the temple. Recognizing Haytham's whistle that followed seconds later, he smiled at Kedar. "The reinforcements have arrived."
"I cannot wait to see their faces when they discover Nabil and Reyhan are alive," Kedar said.
Ardeth looked up through the gaps in the temple ceiling and stared at the cloudless sky. "It is a good day to live, ya ukh," he said softly as one hand rested on Reyhan's shoulder.
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On the crest of a dune that overlooked the Medjai city, a black armored warrior plunged her war spear deep into the sand. Her horse nervously sidestepped and snorted as the banner tied to the spear's tip fluttered ominously in the sudden breeze.
With raw hatred shimmering in her dark eyes, she regarded the city with obvious disdain, her lips curling up into a snarl of fury. Oh how she longed to pull the spear free and rally her warriors for battle, charging down the plains like a black raging flood and attack the city.
Instead her chosen path was one of surrender...for now.
"We need to return to the camp," Damya-Ultafa urged. She hated the idea of going into a forced seclusion as much as she hated what the Medjai had done to her people.
"I am well aware of what we must do," Markunda-Tagwizult snapped. She looked at the spear, and decided to leave it as a message to all the inhabitants of the Sahara. The Rwalla-Hunud would return some day and soon, and woe to the unwary traveler who had the misfortune to cross their path.
Markunda-Tagwizult gave the signal to ride and as the black riders raced across the sands, the tide of evil receded from whence it came. Like an infection, it would hide and fester, swelling with hatred...
...growing in power.
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A/n – insert dramatic music here...lol Time for the shout-out's and for those who I owe a review, it is coming...I promise. ;-)
Karri the site is back up for now, and we've learned a good lesson in getting a reliable host. Thanks for asking, and of course for reading. You think all is well now...hah!
Dawn No need to bite your nails, see? Raphael has done something extroidinary; Nabil and Reyhan are once again healthy. One must wonder now what Ardeth will do with such an incredible young man. Thanks for reading!
SerenaFehr Nabil gladly sacrificed whatever was needed so that Reyhan lived. The depths of his feelings for his brother continue to grow because having him is such a blessing. Thanks for reading!
The Kidd Mdd Replying to your question – what do you think? LOL Makin is just the right comic relief needed for a moment of levity but as for Berin, ask and ye shall receive. Prior to the conclusion of this story, all of you will get a preview of what's to come for him. Trust me when I say it's necessary...
Thanks one and all for reading and leaving some feedback! Peace! smiles