Disclaimer: I don't own squat, not a damn thing. Well, I own a rather nice pair of red Converse high-tops, but that's it. As far as Ardeth, Evy, or Rick, no, sorry, not mine. The OC, however, is mine. Flames will be used to light my backyard barbecue pit. Please R&R, I'm desperate.

-Belle

Neither Ardeth nor Lira said a word to one another as they woke up early, saddled their horses, and continued on toward Cairo. Lira hadn't gotten a whole lot of sleep, so for her part she was still a little light headed and weak. Ardeth had not slept at all, but he was accustomed to sleep depravation from years of taking responsibility on watch over Hamunaptra. Neither wished to dwell on the previous night and so Lira contented herself with staring into the distance and figuring out what she was going to do once she reached Turkey. Ardeth was repeatedly running over a list of supplies in his head that needed to be purchased in Cairo. When the memory of her wonderful, full lips and vibrant green eyes threatened to creep back into his mind, he pushed it away. He was ashamed for revealing that story to her, a story Dalal herself hadn't heard of though she had been aware of his visions ever since they'd begun. Never had he told anyone about the slave girl.

It simply wasn't fair of him to entice her away from returning to the world in which she belonged. It would have been selfish and pig-headed to let it go any further and he felt bad enough for how far it had gone. It was arrogant of him to wear his heart on his sleeve in this matter. She may have reciprocated, but he was the initiator. Though deep in his chest something unfamiliar ached to be near her again, he suppressed it. So he rode, his head held high all they way until the sun was setting and they could finally see the lights of Cairo a half a mile away. Lira was thankful for her aching back and the chance to lie down on something other than sand. She wondered absently what these friends would be like, but it mattered little. The ferry to Turkey would not be more than a couple days. With any luck, Gallipoli would be a stop on their way to Istanbul. Then, she thought, she could leave this all behind her and build a life with her newfound sense of herself. Deep in her mind something protested, but she shrugged it away and just swayed along with the horse as they finally entered the city limits of Cairo.


Hamdan knew the moment he spotted her that his master would be very grateful to him. It was by sheer luck that he had been standing outside the brothel for a smoke when that filthy Med-Jai dog had come riding in with a familiar looking woman riding behind him. He had to look at the photo once again to be sure, but it was her. As they passed he quickly and discreetly put his cigarette out, following behind through the lengthening shadows in the dim light of dusk. He was quiet and patient and he kept a good distance back, following them all the way to the hotel. When he saw them dismount and enter he immediately ran to inform his chief. The blond man was right to suspect that she had survived, and they had the Med-Jai to thank. This news, he knew, would bring even more joy than they'd originally hoped.

It wasn't long to check into two rooms near Rick and Evy on the third floor. Lira was exhausted and ready for bed. She retired to her room and locked the door before he had a chance to introduce her. Sighing, Ardeth went down the hall and knocked on the door. There were soft footsteps and he heard the latch pulled back softly. When Evy peeked her head around, she smiled.

"Ardeth." She whispered, "It's good to see your back." She looked around him and down the hall, returning her gaze to him with a confused expression.

"My guest has exhausted herself on the ride and retired to her room." He explained, "May I come in?" Evy grinned with understanding and opened the door to allow him in.

"Alex is asleep," she explained in a whisper, "Risk is at the desk in the bedroom, but I'll go get him for you."

"Thank you,"

"Have a seat." And so Evy swept off into the back room and Ardeth took a chair next to the window, looking down into the courtyard of the hotel. After a few minutes, he heard the familiar footsteps of his friend and he turned, standing to shake his hand.

"I see you finally made it." Rick heckled, taking the chair across from him as they both sat down.

"My apologies. We needed to gain intelligence to insure it was safe for her to leave." He explained.

"And?"

"And I'm not entirely sure it was the prudent choice." He said in a low voice to make sure Evy didn't hear. Rick looked at him with a slight scowl.

"What's happened?"

"We were followed in from the edges of town when we went through the western district. Bedouin I suspect, though I don't know what tribe. I fear that he may belong to the group that originally attacked her."

"And you led them here?" Rick asked, his hackles beginning to rise.

"He ran off as soon he saw us enter. I doubt he knows who you are or that we have any association."

"Yeah? Let's keep it that way." Rick snarled. In his eyes Ardeth could see the fear for his wife and young son, and Ardeth couldn't help but feel pride for his friend.

"I agree. I do not now think it safe for you to take Lira on to Gallipoli. You will leave for London tomorrow on the earliest available ship and I shall send two of my own people to see to it that she gets to Turkey safely." He muttered. Evy was flitting around, gathering up books and such to be packed. They were trying to keep the conversation as secret as possible.

"OK then." Rick said, "I'm sorry this hasn't worked out quite the way it was planned. Who are these people after her anyway?"

"Her deceased fiancé was involved in some rather shady dealings. He'd found a strong market in excavating and illegally exporting ancient artifacts. Many of his findings were sent to Berlin, though we're not sure why. We suspect that perhaps a rival nation or faction hired the Bedouin to exterminate him while in Egypt. She was just unfortunate to be there."

"Very unfortunate." Rick agreed.

"What I cannot understand is how she failed to notice what was going on." Ardeth mused, his brow knit tightly. Rick just shrugged.

"Women are willing to ignore a lot of things for love." He offered, then smiled ruefully, "Just look at Evy." Ardeth chuckled lightly.

"I see what you mean." There was a moment of silence before Ardeth sat up and prepared to stand.

"Going so soon?" Evy asked, walking into the room with an armload of books. She'd changed from the frumpy librarian he remembered. He'd always thought the exact opposite was supposed to happen when women became mothers.

"I am very tired and have much to do in the morning." He replied, "And I must leave you to pack."

"Oh very well," she sighed, "We'll see you in the morning. Good night Ardeth."

"Good night, my friends." He bowed. Ardeth quickly swept out of the room and closed the door, making sure he heard the click of the lock before he left. He then found his own room, just across the hall from Lira's, and retired for the night. As he lay in bed, unable to sleep, he replayed the previous night repeatedly in his head. Tomorrow he would contact his agents in Cairo and he would get her out of the city as quickly as possible. He would never set eyes on her again.


"This is excellent news, Hamdan," came the voice masked in smoke and shadow, "The girl is staying at the hotel at the fort. We can get our agents there soon to watch for her when she leaves."

"There is one more thing," the skinny Bedouin said.

"What is that?"

"She was not alone," he explained, "She was accompanied by a Med-Jai." As it sunk in he thought he could see a flash of glee in his master's eyes as the embers of this pipe glowed hotter on each puff."

"Only one?"

"That I observed, yes."

"Excellent. Intercept any messages that leave the fort. We must attack them in the morning when they're expecting their reinforcements." The rasping voice concluded, taking another long puff off the pipe.

"Sir?"

"Yes, Hamdan! What is it?" the chief snapped, growing impatient.

"This was no regular Med-Jai. It was Ardeth Bay." Hamdan explained. There was a moment of silence before the chief began laughing a sick, wheezy laugh. He leaned forward into the light and Hamden could see the twisted grin on the elder's face.

"This most certainly is a good night."

A/N: YAY! Thanks again to Pirate Gyrl and Elrowen Tinuviel. My only consistent reviewers. I know more people have read this. What, are you all chicken!