Chapter 8 – The Bey Encampment
At long last the small band of warriors pulled up in front of Lord Asim's tent. Tia looked uncertainly at the cluster of people watching them. All seemed to be staring at her. Flustered, she dropped her eyes.
Ardeth swung off the black mare and looped the reins over his arm before reaching up to grasp Tia's waist. As he lowered her to the ground he murmured, "Keep your eyes down. Say nothing." Ardeth turned to a boy standing nearby, and handed him Midnight Song's reins with a few Arabic words. As the boy led the horse away, Ardeth gripped Tia's upper arm and ushered her into the tent."Ardeth," the deep voice of Asim ibn Abdullah said in Arabic, "why have you brought this woman here?"
Ardeth moved forward. "We have been betrayed, my lord." Turning to Tia he whispered in English, "Sit. Keep your eyes down and do not speak until spoken to."
Tia sank down onto the soft carpet that covered the ground and kept her eyes fixed on her hands clenched on her knees. She could hear Ardeth and the older man conversing in Arabic, joined occasionally by the voices of the other men who had accompanied them back to the encampment. She could understand the occasional word or phrase, but not much. Suddenly hearing the rich voice of the old man speaking in English was a jolt.
"Woman, look at me."
Slowly, Tia raised her eyes to the old man. Like the other men, he had tattoos across his brow and his cheekbones, although his were partially obscured by the creases in his weathered face. He must have once been a large and powerful looking man, much like his grandson, but age and illness had reduced him to a gaunt, stooped figure. He should have looked foolish. Instead, he radiated confidence and presence.
Lord Asim raised his brows. "A woman with the eyes of a cat. What is your name?"
"Tia DeWitt, my lord."
"What were you doing in the desert so far from Cairo?"
Tia swallowed. "I was the clerk of an archeologist group."
"Why were you in that particular spot?"
"We were given a guide, who told us of an undiscovered tomb, said to be the resting place of two of Seti I's children."
"Were you told which children?"
"No, my lord."
Asim sat back and regarded Tia for a moment. "Where did you find this guide?"
Tia frowned. "I hardly know. Dr. Tierney, the curator of the museum in Cairo, put the group together. He provided the guide."
"What did he tell you about us?" Asim's voice grew dry.
"Tia glanced at his face uncertainly. "He told us that a local tribe would likely put in an appearance and try to frighten us away. He said that it would be mere pretence, that the men would not really dare to harm us." Lord Asim's face darkened like a thundercloud. Tia went on. "I beg that you believe, my lord, that we would not have come here if we had known the truth."
Asim's face was grim. It was obvious he was furious. Turning from Tia, he began speaking to Ardeth in Arabic. "You are correct. That pig of a museum curator sent them to Tirza deliberately. You must leave for Cairo in the morning, Ardeth. You must find out why Tierney did this."
"Very well, Grandfather," Ardeth replied evenly. "I will not fail you." He flicked a glance at Tia. "What of the girl?"
An amused look came into Asim's eyes. "You chose to spare her, Ardeth. She is now your responsibility. Certainly you have need of a woman." The amusement faded. "We cannot allow her to go free. She knows where the Tirza tomb is and she witnessed our killing of her countrymen. If she chose to go to the authorities in Cairo, or even in America, it could create more difficulties than we can deal with at present. She must stay here, and she is better off with you than with any other of the men. You, at least, can talk to her." The sly amusement came back into Asim's face. "Do not tell me it would be a hardship, Ardeth. If I were younger, I might take her myself."
"I am traveling to Cairo in the morning," Ardeth pointed out. "I cannot leave her alone while I am gone. She doesn't know our ways or our language."
Asim shrugged. "Your mother will look after her while you are gone." He grinned lasciviously. "Though I am sure you will prefer to keep her with you tonight." The glare Ardeth sent his way merely made his grin wider. "Go rest, Ardeth. You will be gone some days I fear. I will have A'isha put together supplies for you. She will bring you over some dinner as well."
Tia knelt quietly while the men talked, not really daring to move. At first Lord Asim seemed angry, but now he seemed amused. She hoped that was a good sign. She started when Ardeth said her name, and jerked her head up to look at him. "Tia, come with me," he repeated. Nervously, she got to her feet, glancing at Lord Asim, who merely nodded at her. Ardeth took her arm and ushered her from the tent, and then led her into another one several feet away.