Chapter Twenty-Six

Asim's wounds had scabbed over and were looking much better that evening, but he was still not strong enough to do battle with two deranged mages. Ramla, however, was very ready, as she polished her sword and fletched a fresh set of arrows. Ramla and Samira did not speak to each other at all that evening, but the rift between them had died down.

Around the fire, crackling merrily, Asim told stories of grave robbers and bandits, while most of the group listened. Azar, however, was skulking somewhere just beyond the ring of firelight, brooding. Seto almost tripped over her. Stumbling back, he apologized profusely, a little afraid of Azar's rage. But to his surprise, she prostrated herself at his feet, mumbling in Late Upper Egyptian. And he could understand her.

She looked up at him. Her eyes glowed red in the moonlight. "Tell the falcon," she told him with urgency, "that the vulture still lurks. He is the one that helped Agmak and Darep usurp Ikraam. Tell the falcon that he is still here. He hides unseen, riding on the shoulder of his mistress. Tell the falcon, Rebhek. Tell her." And with that, she melted back into the shadows, gone from sight.

Seto realized how hard his heart was beating. What had Azar been talking about? The vulture? Who was the vulture? He decided to go to Samira right away and tell her what he had seen. He hurried back to the camp, and caught Samira's eye, beckoning urgently. She excused herself from the fireside and hurried over to him. She saw the worry in his eyes. "What is it?" she whispered.

He relayed to her everything that Azar had told him. Her eyes grew wide. "Vaneth…" she breathed, her gaze darkening. "Vaneth is behind all this… So, he and his little friend Firza are prowling about the Ashbaúdi. Without question they are angry at their plan being foiled. They will strike again, allied with the Renunep, no doubt." Frowning, she hastened over to her siblings and told them this information in hushed tones. Their voices became grim and secretive.

Seto only understood about half of what Samira had just said. Shaking his head slightly, he sat down on a rock a little ways away from the fire. Mokuba was curled up against the lion's mane, and Yugi was using the wolf as a pillow again. Samira and Suzuko were bickering, while Téa and Meryl chatted quietly.

He wondered who Vaneth was. He had heard Marik and Samira talking about this Vaneth person back in Mendu's inn. Whoever Vaneth was, he didn't seem like a very good person. So he had helped… what were their names now… Agmak and Darep, the two renegade mages, take over Hemeget? And he had possessed Azar and Zahir? He was going to ally with the Vipers? Seto shivered and glanced around him, hoping that Vaneth wasn't anywhere nearby.

And who was Firza?

"Sorry for leaving you in the dark," apologized Samira, who was now sitting to his left. He jumped; he hadn't seen her come over here. She grinned. "So, you ready for tomorrow?"

"Yeah," said Seto, "but what do I exactly… do?" He sighed. "I don't want to kill anybody."

Samira nodded. "I know how you feel. I don't like it either. Well, tomorrow you can come with us down to Hemeget, and while I hold off Zahir, and Ramla and Azar take care of the mages, you can help revive and untie those in the tents."

"Right." Seto yawned; the group was leaving the fireside to get ready for bed. He took some extra clothes and went to bathe in the rock pool where the stream collected. Feeling fresh and clean, he returned to the campsite and remade his bed next to the fire. Ramla was banking the coals so that the fire would burn longer but at a smaller size.

Samira knelt down next to Ramla, shaking out her own blankets and burrowing into them, making a nest for herself. She sighed contentedly and closer her eyes.

"Get some rest, little sister," said Ramla in Late Upper Egyptian. "You'll need it for your little playdate with Zahir tomorrow." Azar, who was walking by, cuffed Ramla painfully on the shoulder. Ramla snarled. Azar and Samira both chuckled.

The talked died down, and a full moon rose over the desert. Soon there was silence, except for the distant burbling of the stream. Seto strained his ears for the sound of a cloak swishing, or muffled footsteps on the ground. But there was nothing. Willing himself to stop being so apprehensive and fearful, he turned over so that his back was to the cavernous night that was closing in about them.

He stared into the flickering coals, which were white-hot and making little popping noises as sparks rose from the dying fire into the sky to blend in with the stars. Glancing around the circle, he saw that Yugi was fast asleep, his breathing slow and deep, as he lay curled up against the wolf's soft, shaggy back. The lion was far off in dreamland also as he rested his head on his huge paws, his mouth slightly open.

And, directly across the fire, Samira's eyes were wide open, and looking right at him.

Their eyes locked, and for that brief moment, something was transferred between them; a silent message, understood by both. This meaningful communication was suddenly punctuated by a loud pop! from the fire. Samira blinked, and her eyes crinkled in a silent laugh. She winked at him, her eyes twinkling, and turned over, burying herself in her blankets so that nothing of her was visible.

Wondering what that was all about, Seto found his eyelids growing heavy. Without further ado, he let his eyes close as he dropped into slumber.