XXVI
The next day...Despite the cloud of apprehension that lingered over Nabil in regards to Berin's fate, he realized that life within the city continued much as it always did. The vendors in the market still opened their stores or set up their carts, and enthusiastically tried to sell their wares. Groups of veiled women hurried to and from their various chores, sometimes carrying bags of food or baskets of soiled laundry. And the men gathered in the tea shops to discuss the latest news and barter over the price of a mule or wagon.
The city teemed with life and as Nabil and Reyhan walked through the marketplace, it was hard to believe that nearly two weeks ago the threat of war had almost destroyed everything. The Medjai people were in high spirits and their infectious good mood soon ensnared the brothers.
Nabil had decided to forego their traditional warrior garb, and at his suggestion they were attired in a more informal wardrobe. He soon learned that no matter the apparel, be it warrior or private citizen, the female populace congregated to them like bees attracted to sweet smelling flowers.
Normally shy and reserved in such social situations, Nabil was truly amazed as numerous mothers and aunts stopped Reyhan often, lovingly patting his broad shoulders and welcoming him to the city while they'd speculate among themselves his marital status. The younger maidens always stood to one side, and shyly watched the exchanges with great interest, often giggling when Reyhan or Nabil jumped from a well meaning hand that strayed too far below the waist.
More than once Nabil had to expertly extract them from a situation where they had been surrounded by a gaggle of women, and with Reyhan in tow, they raced down to the street only to be confronted with another small group of determined women.
"Are the women of the city always this...welcoming?" Reyhan had to ask after the last encounter. He struggled to keep the smile off his face as he watched Nabil scrub his cheek with the end of a sleeve.
"Ya sitti Fatima always had a particular fondness for me," Nabil said, sounding bewildered. "I had no idea that her enthusiastic affection would carry over to her daughter."
"Or their neighborhood," Reyhan snorted and gestured to a spot Nabil had missed. "Assimi-what-was-her-name really liked you."
Nabil stared wide-eyed at Reyhan. "She patted my..." he paused for the appropriate word.
Reyhan's laughter, so pure and carefree sounding, rang out and Nabil blinked in surprise from the joyous noise. "She squeezed mine like a ripe melon," he laughed and clapped Nabil's shoulder.
A slow grin danced across Nabil's face and he gave a silent prayer of thanksgiving for the simple fact that they were together. Eventually he sought refuge and led Reyhan to the warriors' sanctum, which was situated near the stables and corrals. Surrounded on all sides by high stone walls, he breathed a sigh of relief as they walked into the cool interior and down the tiled hallways. Nabil proudly showed Reyhan the walls that were filled with shelves laden with thousands of books, ranging in topics from astronomy and geometry to the chronicles of the Medjai.
They walked through the small eating and living space out into a larger courtyard and Nabil explained that this was where the warriors trained and held sparring sessions. To his delight, a session was already in progress and the combatants were none other than Dharr and Jericho, both warriors obviously recovered from their injuries.
Makin, Sharif and Emir were standing to one side, cheering the combatants on as Solman, Haytham and Zaki stood nearby, deeply involved in a discussion about the design of a confiscated Rwalla-Hunud spear. Talib and Madjy sat nearby in a small shaded patio and each seemed absorbed in reading a large, leather bound book. Occasionally Talib would gesture to Madjy for the other warrior to come over, and Nabil could only surmise that the warrior, who loved to research and analyze myths and legends, had found something else that piqued his interest.
"Do all of the warriors stationed within the city come here?" Reyhan asked as he observed several other groups of men around the area.
"Ardeth wanted to create a haven for those who needed a temporary reprieve from duty," Nabil explained with a smile. "While one must always exercise the body to keep it toned and fit, one should never neglect to exercise the mind."
"The books," Reyhan supplied.
"It is one of Talib's favorite places to visit," Nabil would have explained further but a cheer coming from the sparring ring caught his attention.
"What is happening?" Reyhan asked as both men stared at the ring that was filling up with jubilant warriors.
Nabil's smile was slow and genuine, full with the profound relief that Jericho had indeed made a complete recovery; the wound on the back of his shoulder had caused the healers a great amount of concern since the arrow had almost severed a tendon. "It would appear that Jericho won the match," he said.
The victor stood in the center of the milling crowd as they congratulated him, his sable colored eyes bright with happiness, and a smile of pure enjoyment on his face. His broad tanned chest heaved from his exertions as tiny rivulets of perspiration meandered down to his waist and with a deep, hearty laugh, Jericho raised his scimitar and saluted Dharr.
"Well done, ya sahib," he called out over the crowd. "You have done this old warrior a great service by testing the limits of my strength and cunning. I was beginning to fear that you would never tire."
Dharr flashed a dazzling smile and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his forearm. "Next time I will not be so lenient, ya ukh," he said with a laugh. "My arm aches from the force of blocking your blows."
"Is there going to be another session?" Makin asked eagerly.
Nabil and Reyhan laughed and shook their heads at how quickly he was informed that there would be no more for the day. As the brothers walked away from the ring, they could hear Makin pleading for someone to volunteer, anyone at all.
"Makin is...extremely likeable," Nabil offered as they walked back into the building. "And as the cloak of maturity settles more firmly around his shoulders, he will become a great warrior."
Reyhan's reply was interrupted when a messenger appeared in front of them, handed Nabil a rolled parchment, and then graciously took his leave.
"What is that? More news from the Elders?" Reyhan asked, fearing that Nabil would be additionally penalized for his actions in saving him.
"It is a formal request from Ardeth to meet him at Salma's tomorrow, two hours past dawn," Nabil replied as he read the note again.
"A meeting with the chieftain of the Medjai at Salma's? Is that not a bit unusual?" Reyhan asked.
"I cannot say," Nabil stated vaguely as he rolled up the parchment. "Given the events in my life over the past several weeks, clarify unusual."
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Thias stood several feet away from the man sitting in the shadowy corner of the room, and felt angry that his superstitious fear was getting the better of him. However he was desperate to discredit and undermine Ardeth as well as those who were loyal to him; what better way than to monopolize the rumored imbalance that the infamous healer possessed?
"I can assure you, upon my word of honor, that Ardeth has been repeatedly advised of your requests but sadly has been unable to clear his schedule of his more pressing duties," he said with a touch of pity in his tone of voice.
"Ya ra'is is...ignoring me?" Raphael whispered in disbelief.
"I am here on his behalf, and will make certain that he is aware of your needs by nightfall."
"You have not answered my question."
Thias stiffened and managed to contain his triumphant smile as he continued his manipulation. "Ardeth has been delegating some of his responsibilities to his most trusted associates, I being one of them, since his attention is focused solely on the warrior sect. He is not ignoring you, but due to the unrest within the sect, his attention is obviously diverted elsewhere."
"So he sent you in his place? I am to discuss with you the events in the temple, and explain how I saved the lives of two of his warriors, so that it may be recorded in the chronicles of our people?" Raphael leaned forward, his eyes glowing brightly from his mounting anger.
Thias blanched at the simmering raw power in the healer's gaze and yet at the same time felt a thrill; here was a perfect catalyst to use. Here was a man who Thias believed had a weak enough constitution that he could maneuver and cajole him into doing what he lacked the courage to do – kill Ardeth Bay.
"As I have already explained," the councilor replied with an evil smile and stepped forward, as if to embrace the shadows. "There are more pressing issues at hand that demand Ardeth's attention. It saddens me to realize that you are not among them, but take heart...I am here for you. I will gladly listen to you."
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The next morning, two hours before sunrise...
He stood at the foot of the pallet and watched as Nabil slept, envying his brother's ability to rest while his repose continued to elude him. Fragmented images and horrific memories of what the Rwalla-Hunud had done haunted him each night, driving away the light in his soul, leaving him always cowering in darkness. Nothing could dispel the nightmares, and they always ended the same – Muhjah-Aji driving a knife deep into his chest, the tip piercing his heart as the love in her eyes congealed to hatred.
He heard Nabil make a soft noise and backed into a shadowy part of the room, watching as his brother shifted on the bed and burrowed deeper into his pillow.
He could hear Nabil's deep and even breathing, the sound somehow soothing and he listened for a few moments, allowing the gentle cadence to chase away any lingering images from the dream.
It had been a habit over the past several nights to come into Nabil's room afterwards, and as he struggled to calm his racing heart and swallow past the fear lodged in his throat, Nabil's presence had unwittingly provided the comfort he so desperately needed.
Like a wraith or shadowy figure from another realm, Reyhan would stand in Nabil's room watching him sleep until the first rays of the sun peeked over the horizon. He would then slip out and return to his own chambers to continue the charade that made Nabil believe he had spent a restful night.
Reyhan walked over to the side of the pallet, and carefully, lest his movements disturb Nabil, gently touched the top of his head in a gesture of brotherly affection. "Rest well, ya ukh, and worry not, I shall return shortly," he whispered so very softly.
On silent feet, Reyhan walked out of the room, his mind distracted by remembering the directions the Tuareg messenger had delivered to him yesterday afternoon. He had been walking through the market with Zaki on an errand for Kedar and had been quite surprised when he saw the man lurking behind one stall, gesturing for him to come over. Once he made sure Zaki was engrossed with the vendor selling archery equipment, he hurried over to the man and received the news that had prompted his actions today.
As he silently closed the door behind him, and thought about which trail to take, Nabil opened his eyes...
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"He will not show and this venture into the desert was all for naught."
"He will show," Drevick sighed and rolled his eyes as Yousef continued his maddening compilation of reasons why Reyhan would not grant his request for a meeting. He slumped forward in the saddle for a moment in an attempt to relieve the nagging ache in his side, aware that this telling action would prompt Yousef to revert back to the nagging mother-hen he had become over the past few days.
While he would always appreciate his friend's concern for his wellbeing, Drevick thought Yousef's devotion to his rehabilitation was going to drive him insane.
"You are pushing yourself too hard," Yousef finally commented after a few moments of silence.
Surprised at the underlying tone of defeat in Yousef's voice, Drevick could only stare at his friend in wonder. "You, of all people, realize why I need to do this...why I must see Reyhan, do you not?"
Yousef's dark gaze focused on the surrounding landscape as he gathered his thoughts. "What you once knew as something good and pure has been tainted and forever changed," he finally said. "You seek to grasp what is left of happy childhood memories and reestablish the bonds of friendship with Reyhan. It is your uncertainty if Reyhan feels the same that hovers like a shadow over your heart."
Drevick snorted in surprise from Yousef's astute observation. "Then you understand why I disregarded my father's orders to stay in camp and rest."
Yousef grinned and glanced at Drevick. "You never follow his orders."
Drevick straightened up as the ache slowly lessened, and he wiped the accumulated moisture from his brow. "So to start now would seem fruitless, yes?"
Yousef shook his head as he saw how pale Drevick's face had become. "When you fall out of the saddle from fatigue, and your injury flares up, do not look to me to save you anymore."
"But I always look to you..."
"You can stop now."
"You are my friend."
"No more. Once we return home, I want nothing more to do with you."
"You just say that because you are..."
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A/n – okay so I'm updating on Saturday instead of Friday, time just seemed to slip away on me...which can be either a good or bad thing. Lol On to the shout-outs...
The Kid Mdd – Reyhan's nightmare is a result of so many things, but deep down in his heart he still loves Muhjah-Aji. So for him the nightmare is made even worse by the fact that he's 'killed' by someone he loves. Berin's fate is on the way...trust me. evil grin As always, thanks for the email and reading...
Ladybug1 – A true compliment coming from you regarding Kedar's depiction; when you're pleased, I'm thrilled. Thanks for reading, and Nabil and Reyhan's relationship will continue to strengthen as the brothers get to know one another. So now here's a question what does one feed a hungry beast anyways?
SerenaFehr – So many people concerned about Berin...have faith, all will be revealed in due time. Thanks for reading!
Dawn369 – Why Dawn, you say that as if you know how I am...heh heh Thanks for reading and I've got to catch up with your "Finding Salvation." It's a great story! smiles
Karri – Hey now I can write light-hearted, honest I can...thanks for reading, and I'm off to see yours. smiles Ps and yeah, it's Saturday...eeps. Lol
Thanks again everyone!