Three hours later, they boarded the ship that was bound for Egypt.
They all gathered in a large living room that was part of Rick and Evy's suite.
Amir was watching Ariela, opened mouthed. "You don't dress like the other English girls."
Rick looked at Ariela. And laughed. "That she doesn't. And aren't we glad we don't have to tote all those frills around. We used to have too until Evy toned it down. But Ariela won't touch the stuff if she's working."
"Because she's smart," said Aredth.
Ariela was wearing tight black pants, a tight black shirt and knee high black boots with about a two and half inch heel.
Ariela whirled and was across the room in one bound. She crawled over the table and stretched full length over the table. She brought her face closer and closer until it was inches from Amir's. "If you think I am going to try and tame an immortal mummy in a dress, holding my pink parasol, you have another thing coming." In the blink of an eye, Ariela had a knife inches from Amir's right eye. She cocked her head. "Understand?" She licked the knife, grinned and flipped acrobatically off the table. She sheathed the knife and went back over to one of her father's suitcases she had been rummaging through.
Amir gulped. "No, she's not like the other English girls."
Rick laughed.
"How far are we from Egypt?"
Jonathan looked at his watch, "Two hours, at the most."
"Ariela has been preparing for this trip since she was fifteen," said Rick to Aredth. "Ariela, entertain us."
Slowly Ariela head came around. "Excuse me?" She looked at her father as though she where stupid. "Do you want me to curtsey for you? No!"
Rick unfolded his long legs. He came over with a grin on his face. He reached in the suitcase and tossed Ariela a long blacksnake whip. "Do what you do best, beautiful."
Ariela uncoiled the black whip with a flick of her wrist. She watched with narrowed eyes as her father made his way back to his seat.
"Rick!" called Evy but she was too late.
The whip cracked and Rick jumped almost ten feet into the air. He whipped out his gun and fired but Ariela was already gone.
"Rick! How many times do I have to tell you not to shoot at Ariela?" snapped Evy. "Ariela, don't snap at your father, dear."
Ariela was standing on the table, dimpling a smile at her father. Her eyes where glistening like a cat's. "Sorry Daddy!"
"Yeah I bet," muttered Rick as he dropped his gun back in its holster.
"You have great faith in your daughter," said Aredth. "Not knowing she was going to move and yet you fired anyway."
"I've been taught to move," said Ariela as she concentrated on what she was doing. The whip was cracking left and right under her hand.
Alex threw a silver dollar at her.
She snapped it right out of the air. A smile lit her face as she continued snapping at the dollar keeping it in the air for a good five minutes, then she cracked it hard and sent it spinning hard back at Alex.
He caught it and tossed it in the air. "It's still hot!"
Ariela coiled the whip. "Yep, I can still use it."
"You might need it," said Amir.
Ariela dimpled a beautiful smile at him. "You'll learn that I have more weapons that you could ever imagine."
"Some of them prettier than others," said Alex. He ducked the pillow that came flying his way.
Ariela was back to the case. "You'll better have everything you want out of here because everything else is mine."
"Got all I need."
"Check."
"Like what I've got is going to do me much good but I guess it'll have to do."
Ariela pulled out a gun and loaded it expertly. She set it on the bed beside her. Three more where soon next to it.
"She is most definitely your daughter, Rick," said Jonathan. "I've never seen anyone carry more lead on them."
Ariela looked at him. "I'm no where near done." She rummaged a bit more. Then looked up. "Daddy, where are my…"
Rick pulled two chains out of his pocket and tossed them to her. "Right here."
"Good show," said Jonathan. "Ariela, show what you can do with those."
Ariela wound the chains around her wrists, one on each. She wandered around the room until she found what she wanted. She picked up a white vase and put it on the table next to Amir's foot. She backed away and nodded satisfied.
"Watch your foot there, mate," said Jonathan.
The words where barely out of his mouth before Ariela's wrists shot out and the chains flashes. They wrapped around the vase and the vase shattered. Ariela tossed her wrists up and caught the chains. She wound them back up.
Amir looked down at his foot to make sure it was still there.
Aredth rose and went to the window. "There's the port."
"Stock up quickly, Ariela," said Rick as he stood to his feet.
Ariela buckled on a shoulder hostler and dropped a gun under each arm. She swung a gun belt around her waist and stuck four guns on it.
Alex tossed her two small knives which she dropped into her boots.
"Spurs darling," called Evy from the other room.
Ariela fastened silver spurs on the back of her boots. The black snake whip was added to the belt along with another knife. Ariela studied herself in the mirror. She caught the black jacket her father tossed her and tugged it on. She made sure it covered the guns. She tugged the band out of her hair and shook her hair free. "That the thing I hate most about sand," she said as she pulled her hair back and caught it up with the band. The pony tail bounced and curled freely with every step she took. She turned. "It gets everywhere."
"Horses are waiting at the dock for us," said Aredth.
"Holsters on them?" asked Rick softly.
"Yes. Each rifle is full loaded. We'll take them with us."
"I'm starting to sweat about this," said Jonathan.
"Know what?" Ariela came to the door tugging black leather gloves on. "Me too."