Sunset along the Nile, the hustle and bustle of the marketplaces are starting to die down. Jade had been out all day. The pyramids at Giza that was where she spent the whole of her day. She was now tired of playing tourist and headed back to the hotel to meet the others for dinner. She makes her way up to her room glad that she now has the chance to be rid of her sand riddled clothes. She took off her boots and sat in a chair near the writing desk.

"Stupid sand's even in my boots." She says to herself as she tilts the boot and a stream of sand spills out onto the floor. She does the same with her other boot and then tosses them across the room into the adjacent corner. She gets up and heads over to the trunk in front of the bed opens it and starts rummaging through for decent dinner attire. As she pulls out several articles of clothes. She pulls out a pair of black pants, black robes, and gray boots.

"These are big for me. Where the hell could I have gotten them from?" She wondered out loud.

"Ardeth." A voice said from behind her causing her to jump.

"ALEX, don't sneak up on people like that." She looked down once again at the robes in her hands. Then it finally hit her. These were what Alex was wearing on Halloween, the ones she had folded up and …put in the trunk. She thought.

"You know if you want we've been to see him. I could show you." Alex said finally causing Jade to snap back to reality.

"You can what?"

"Here let me show you. Hand me that map you have there." Alex sat on the floor for the next several minutes contemplating the best and quickest rout for Jade to take. After several more minutes he finally put down the pen he had been using he stood looking rather pleased with the results and handed her the map. She looked at it a few seconds herself trying to make heads or tails out of it.

"It will probably be a day or two from here."

"Thanks Alex, But why are you doing all this for me?"

"What do I tell mum and dad?"

"Whatever comes into that sly little conniving head of yours. Tell them I went sight seeing for all I care. What ever you do don't go telling them the truth."

"But they all ready see how you feel about Ardeth. That's a big reason I did this for you. Besides, maybe if you two are together he won't be such a stiff."

Jade let out a little giggle at Alex's last comment. "Do they know that you're doing this for me? Drawing me a map right to him?"

"Well no."

"All the more reason to not tell them where I'll be going. Do you want to be in just as much trouble as I will be if they find out?"

"Good point." He says as he makes his way out of the room. Not noticing Kristy standing there within earshot of all that was just said. She had a disappointed look on her face.

Jade had finally finished changing and was heading out to meet the others when her sister walked up behind her.

"You're not actually thinking about going are you?"

"Going where? To dinner. Yes, I'm starving!"

"No I mean your not going to find him are you?"

"Him?"

"Ardeth."

"How did you know?"

"I heard. Do you know how dangerous it can be? Are you really willing to do something silly over a stupid little crush?"

"Listen, how long have you known me? In all the years has anything that bad ever happened?" Kristy eyed her warily as if to say you have to be kidding.

"I'll be fine. That's it I don't want to hear anymore of it."

The next day down in the market place a figure was bargaining for a camel with an old shopkeeper. With in minutes the person mounted the camel and was headed out of town with their supplies packed behind them. Hours later all that lay before them were the sand and sky. A vast endless sea of tan stretched out for miles ahead.

This damn sun is unbearable. What was I thinking wearing black? I hope that I know what I have gotten myself into.

The thoughts ran through the traveler's head a mile a minute. Several hours later the camel had brought the traveler to an oasis as the sun slowly began to shrink into the distance.

"Perfect. I can stop here. Water my fuzz little friend here and rest a bit."

After an hour the sun had finally set. The traveler set up camp watered the camel and just lit a fire before pulling some food out of a pack that they had flung over their shoulder. As the traveler ate with one hand they pulled a map out from their robes with the other.

Placing the dried piece of meat down next to them the traveler looked over the map. I sure hope your right about this kid. If not when I get home…if I get home you are going to regret the day you met me.

"Well my fuzzy little friend. If we keep up this pace I may get there sometime tomorrow afternoon if not the morning after."

High on a hilltop a man sat on a black steed watching. Just out of the line of sight of our traveling friend who was now talking to the camel. What would posses a person to come out to this place and by themselves no doubt. I don't like this. There could be trouble. As if I did not have enough troubles to worry about now.

Back down where the traveler sat they continued to speak.

"Not like you understand me. You could care less if we get were I have to go." The traveler said taking another bite of the overly dried piece of meat now in their hand. Uggh! Get a grip on yourself. I think you've been out in the sun too long. Look at yourself. Here you are eating something that resembles shoe leather and talking to a damn camel. What's happening to you? Have you totally gone bonkers?

"What I need issleep." But little did the traveler know there wasn't going to be sleep for quite a while. In the distance several pair of what sounded like hoof beats pounded the sand. Minutes later there were several men on horseback surrounding the little camp.

"Now what?"

The traveler got up just lucky enough to have side stepped a blade that flashed inches from them.

"Hey watch the clothes buddy. These are on loan." The attacker came again and charged at the traveler. The traveler picked a piece of wood from the fire and swung it at the figure causing the horse to rear and knock its rider off. Up on the hill the man had watched this go on before deciding to ride down to help the traveler. Again the man rushed at the traveler this time to be hit in the face with the flaming log causing the man to scream in agony and back away. Soon another man stood to take his place. Again the log was swung just missing the man but knocking the sword out of his hand. The log dropped to the ground as a fist came flying at the man catching him in the jaw. The knee to his stomach wasn't helping matters any. The man had come back with a punch of his own knocking the traveler down on the ground. He picked up the sword and swung it down over his head. The traveler threw an arm up and closed their eyes they knew what was coming. Suddenly the sound of steel on steel echoed in the night. Looking up there was another man fighting with the attacker.

Grunts of exertion, and the clang of metal meeting metal mixed with the whinnies of the horses around them. He lunged forward, catching the attacker off-guard and making him stumble backward, losing his balance. Catching his opponent in the stomach with his shoulder, the man who came to the travelers aid sent both of them flying across the sands.

The two tumbled over one another, each searching for the advantage. The attacker brought his blade up defensively against the others sword, grunting with effort as he tried to throw him off. He pushed with all his might, managing to force the man backward and away from him. He caught the would be savior across the chest with his sword as he did so.

The man groaned, his shoulders moving forward involuntarily with pain. He caught sight of the attacker out of the corner of his eye; just managing to step backward in time to miss being completely ran through by the man's sword.

The attacker turned and hurled himself at the man, their bodies colliding and toppling to the floor. The two men rolled, each scrambling for a foothold. The man slammed his forehead into the attackers nose, and a flow of blood cascaded down the attackers face. He howled in pain. The man released him and struggled to his feet, sword in hand.

Meanwhile the traveler looked on, as did the other men that had come with the attackers. Both attackers scrambled to their feet and ran off into the opposite direction. Their band of cronies following close behind. None wanting to tangle with the man who rode in on a black steed.

"Are you all right? You should not be out here. Let alone all on ones own." The man said as he helped the traveler up to their feet. The traveler, face still covered looked at the man before them.

"Ardeth?" The traveler spoke, eyes growing wide.

"How do you know my name?" The traveler reached up and removed the cloth from the front of their face.

"Little one?" Ardeth said. The shock ever evident in his face.

"Yes."

"How did you.."

"I came looking for you."

"But how did you know where I would be?"

"I didn't. But a little friend of mine did. Didn't have to go that far now did I?"

"And your clothes…"

"You mean your clothes. I found them in my trunk. Figured they would be best to were."

"You came all the way from England?"

"Oh no, from Cairo. Sit and I'll tell you the whole tale."

He sat down where Jade had been a few minutes before, Jade joined him sitting by his side.

"I want to thank you for saving me from the forty thieves back there. The whole thing started back a few days after you left. I had gotten a letter from a friend of mine that works at the musem. I came to see if I could help her and brought Evy and everyone else along too. When we arrived I found out that Randy had something to do with what my friend wanted help with. He seems to have found a tablet and none of us can decypher it. Maybe that is a good thing . I don't trust that man further than I can throw him."

"That doesn't explain to me how you got out here."

"The other night after dinner I packed some things an headed out this way. That night Alex said that he knew where I could find you. He drew me this map." She said as she reached behind him pulling out the map and placing it on her lap. He led me this far with it being right so I was kind of hoping I would get the rest of the way. Your hear now so I guess I don't have to worry about the rest of the trip huh?"

"Still my little one you should not be out here. You are to go back in the morning."

"Are you crazy? I just spent the day out in blistering heat all alone with no one to talk to but this stupid camel over there looking for you and you want me to go home!"

"I don't want to argue about this. We will stay here the night and I will take you back to Cairo in the morning. Do the O'Connell's know that you have traveled here?"

"Just Alex and my Sister. I was hoping to keep it that way. Those men do you think that they will come back?"

"No, but I will not leave you alone. As I have said we will go get some sleep and leave in the morning." He said as he took jade by the hand, picked her up and lead her into the tent she had set up earlier.

"There is no arguing with you is there? It's your way or none huh?"

Ardeth let out a laugh as he looked over at her. "Yes little one there is no arguing with me. I will always win."