Of course, sticky-notes always work better when they stay stuck to the door and don't fall off and get lost.

I need to work out a new reminder system.

Princess of the Nile

Chapter 12: Hope

Ardeth prowled around the tents again, his eyes searching for the person he knew was not around. It had been three days since the attack, Emira still lay unconscious in her tent, her father and Zameel constantly at her side, Haji hovering at the tent entrance. Three days, and Fareed had not once seen his sister, had not yet heard of her current condition, had not been seen.

Ardeth had searched the camp countless times, he'd checked all of the bodies before they had buried them, and felt a mixture of relief and anger that the nineteen year old had not been among those who had fallen. At least if he had been killed in the battle, Ardeth could forgive him for not being with his sister at this time.

And the younger man had been in the battle. Ardeth remembered having seen him fighting the intruders with the rest of them, and since then no one had seen or heard anything of him. It was frustrating.

Ardeth muttered a curse; he'd been doing so a lot within the last few days he realised. His best friend - a young woman he had not seen in years - was lying unconscious in a tent close-by, her fever still refused to break, and occasionally would climb to alarming levels, she constantly cried out in Ancient Egyptian, and occasionally in English – and he could do nothing to help her. Every day she stayed sick, the higher tension grew in her family, Ardeth and Haji.

The Med-jai leader let a noise of frustration escape his throat, and turned away from the tent that he had been staring at as he thought, his eyes darting around the camp, hopelessly searching for the man he knew wouldn't be there. His spirits lifted slightly to see three horses coming towards the camp, there riders sagging slightly from the heat and mild exhaustion, but otherwise sitting tall in their saddles. Ardeth managed to compose himself, stopping himself from running at the three riders, and instead walked calmly over to them.

He had sent the three out the day that the intruders had attacked on – after they had realised that Emira's youngest brother was not present – they had gone to find out if the young man had gone to Cairo, or if anyone had heard anything of him.

"Ardeth." One of them, Amin, jumped down from his horse, passing the reins to his twelve year old son "How is she?" Ardeth shook his head, his eyes remorseful as he led the three men through the camp

"She's not woken up yet." He said, it was enough to let the men know it was bad enough. "Did you find out anything?"

"Some of Badru's men say that they saw him talking to some tourists a few weeks back." Amin explained "They guessed they were American by their accents." Ardeth nodded, it could just be a coincidence, but he severely doubted it

"There was money exchanged." One of the other men continued "The Americans gave him money, and he gave them a piece of paper in return." Ardeth's eyebrows rose

"How much money?" he asked

"Fareed could probably buy himself several of the finest horses in Egypt." Amin replied "And still have plenty left over." Ardeth looked awed for a moment - that was a lot of money - then nodded gratefully

"Thank you, my friends," he said gratefully "This has been a lot of help." He watched them walk away, to meet their families, and then walked into his own tent, his teeth gritted in anger

Fareed had been seen with the Americans recently, possibly a coincidence, but the exchange of money made that seem less likely. Especially if the amount given away was correct. And then there was what had been on the paper Fareed had given to them, why he had left straight after the attack, and his current whereabouts. He gave an angry sigh and dropped to the ground heavily, burying his head in his hands. He was about to start cursing, to shout his anger, when a noise at the tent entrance made him look up.

Haji stood at the flap, looking at his friend nervously, but there was a small smile on his face

"She's waking up." was all he said.