Ali and Ardeth were at Basel's home having breakfast with everyone when there was an urgent knock at the door. A moment later Ahmed entered. Ali could tell by the look on his face something was wrong. Ardeth noticed it too.

"Ahmed, what is the matter?"

Ahmed sat down and spoke "Ardeth there is a party headed to Hamunaptra. And while they were in Cairo, they mentioned your name….. and Ali's"

Ali let out a small sound as a look at anger came across Ardeth's face

"Who are they?"

"We do not know. But they made a comment that they hoped you would be with the men that met them at Hamunaptra."

Ardeth sat there for a moment then standing he said "Then they will get what they wished for. Get together your group of men and I will ride with you."

Ahmen stood, nodded and left.

Ardeth turned to Ali "I'm sorry my love. But I need to go and find out what they want".

Ali stood but could only nod.

Ardeth took Ali's face in his hands and gently kissed her. She was trying hard to hold back the tears she felt stinging the corner of her eyes. Finally she said "Yes, I know you need to go"

Basel then spoke "We will come to the stable to see you off"

Ardeth nodded and left.

Basel walked to Ali. Ali turned and hugged her. "He will be fine" She said out loud not sure if she was telling Basel or herself.

Moments later they made their way to the stables. Elizabeth looked around as they arrived, taking in the preparation.

That's when she saw Jahar and realized he would be going with the group. Reaching out she took her Mother's arm causing Ali to look in the direction she was looking. Realizing what was going on Ali patted her hand.

Just then Ardeth, Ahmed and Jahar walked toward them. Ardeth and Ahmed stopped to speak to Ali and Jahar walked up to Elizabeth. Smiling down at her he said "I'm sure you know we are about to ride out"

All Elizabeth could do was nod. She knew by things her Mother had told her in the past and by how they reacted earlier that this would be a dangerous trip.

He could see the worry on Elizabeth's face so gently he took her hands in his and said "Don't worry Elizabeth we will return soon."

Elizabeth nodded again and then said "If you like you can call me Lizzy. It was what my Father called me sometimes" As she finished she wasn't quite sure why she told him that. But the smile it brought to his face made her smile too.

"I would like that …. Lizzy". He squeezed her hands one more time then turned to walk to Ardeth and his Father.

Ardeth reached out to Ali and pulled her into a gentle yet protective hug "We will return soon my love" then he kissed her soundly on the lips and with that he, Ahmed and Jahar made their way to the other men.

Moments later the entire group rode up and said their final goodbyes and rode out through the open gates. Instantly the gates were closed and men were stationed to watch, since Ali too had been mentioned.

By midday Ardeth's men came to the formations a Netizi. Ardeth thought to himself of the time he was here because of Ali.

Within moments of arriving they knew this would be where they would battle as a group of Westerners raced toward them.

Ardeth's men took up defensive positions and the battle began. Ardeth was riding with 40 warriors and there were roughly 30 Westerners. Ardeth's men made quick work of the first 15 or so. But as they battled on it was obvious these men were better trained and seemed to have a true hatred of the Medjai.

Soon the Westerner that had been calling out commands and seemed to be their leader turned his attention toward Ardeth.

Stopping around 500 yards from Ardeth he called out "Ah, the great and powerful Ardeth Bay! Lord and Leader of the Medjai" He laughed an almost crazy laugh.

As Ardeth made his way toward he man he growled "Who are you and what do you want"?

The man made the movement of shaking his finger in front of him, as if to say "At, at". He then spoke "You don't want to do that Mr. Bay"

"Why" Ardeth growled as he closed in the space between them.

"Why? Because you need to know why, why I've come to take your life. Why your beautiful wife will be next OR whether or not the rest of my men have already attacked your village. Whether they have already have Ali and what they have done to her before they killed her."

Ardeth had stopped but with the man's last words Ardeth let out a warriors yell and attacked him.

They fought wrestling on the ground. Ardeth wanted to make him pay. He would kill him with his bare hands.

"Who are you and what do you want with Ali?" Ardeth growled as his slammed his first into the Westerners face.

The man laughed "I am the ghost of Matthew Hudson. You killed him in cold blood and now I will do to you what you did to my father"

Even while fighting for his life Ardeth was stunned "How?"

"How did I know? Well you see Mr. Bay, you made a mistake that day. You left 2 men to die by the desert sun, but one did not. He was able to make it back to America. He found my Grandfather and my two uncles whom I was living with and told them what you did. That very day my life mission became to make you and Ali pay"

Ardeth knew he needed to get word back to the village, but right now he had his hands full "I will kill you just like I killed your Father!"

Ardeth kicked Matthew away from him, pulled his gun and shot. But as he did Matthew kicked at Ardeth's feet causing Ardeth to fall and the shot to just miss Matthew.

Matthew then shot at Ardeth but missed. That gave Ardeth the chance he needed. He dove behind the rock formation where they had hidden his caged falcon. He was able to scribble…Hudson…protect Ali…at all cost… attach it to Horus's leg and send bird off. Thank Allah the bird made it past the shot Matthew fired.

Ardeth then turned his attention back to Matthew.

In the dim light of twilight that same day there was yelling and scrambling as the men of the village saw Horus descend. Ali, Basel and the rest of her family ran toward the falconer as many of the villagers did.

Cuzin, the warrior Ardeth had left in charge of the village, read the note and then barked to his men to retake their defensive positions and he called for more warriors to join them.

Finally Ali was able to ask "Cuzin, what did the message say?" She knew it must be bad by his reaction.

Cuzin, stopped looked at Basel, who nodded her head as if giving her permission, then read the message out loud "Hudson…protect Ali…at all cost"

For a moment Ali thought her legs might buckle. But she knew there were villagers watching her. She straightened her back and said "Thank you Cuzin."

He answered "My lady, myself and Fazel will be joining Hatmed guarding Basel's home. We must get you back there, now."

Ali and the rest turned toward Basel's home when suddenly someone moved from behind one of the houses and was upon her in a split second. Before she realized what was happening her hands were behind her back and there was a knife blade to her throat. Her captor spoke "I'm sorry to say that won't be happening"

The man took a few steps backward to distance himself and Ali from the warriors and her family.

Cuzin moved toward them, but the man speaking stopped him. "Move any closer and I will kill her"

Cuzin stopped.

Ali's captor spoke "Good man. Now we need horses and we need them now."

At first no one moved so the man pushed a bit harder on the blade at Ali's neck. Suddenly Jonathan lunged forward. A man to Ali's right fired his pistol hitting Jonathan in the shoulder. He staggered backward and sat down hard on the ground. Ali pulled to get to Jonathan, but as she did her captor slammed the butt of his knife handle hard against her cheek, causing her to stumble and almost fall. He grabbed her arm and pulled her roughly to her feet. She could feel the blood seeping down her face.

She steeled her expression and in a voice that did not show the fear she felt she said "Stop. Please. Basel please help Jonathan and Cuzin please get horses."

Her captor spoke "I heard you were a brave woman, I guess they were right"

Within seconds horses were brought and Ali and her 5 captors were on them headed toward the closed gates of the village. The Medjai watched as they made their way through the village, hatred in their eyes. However, none made a move in fear for Ali's life.

At the gates one of the riders looked at the Medjai "Open the damn gates". As he said it he pointed his gun at the Medjai's head. When he didn't move Ali spoke "Please open the gates" She wasn't sure she would get the words out but she did. If the gates were opened and her captors made it out, there was a huge possibly she would never be found. But she knew it was her job to protect the village.

The gates were slowly opened and as Rudin stepped aside he looked at Ali and spoke in Arabic "My Lord, high right"

Instantly Ali's captor screamed at her pushing the blade into her delicate skin just below her ear. "What did he say?"

Even as she felt the blood trickle down her neck, Ali calmly lied and said "My Lady, be safe".

As the gates were pushed open the rest of the way Ali knew she had to make her move. She pulled away from her captor and dove off the horse to the left.

As she did her captor swung at her with the knife cutting her across her shoulder.

She tried to stop her fall and was thankful when one of the Medjai reached out grabbing her and breaking her fall. He took her and pushed her behind him protecting her from the battle that was beginning.

Ali and the warrior watched as her captor, who was still recovering from her dive, was tackled off his horse by a Medjai that had leaped off the roof of the nearby home. As they hit the ground the horse bolted and ran. Ali could then see that the Medjai warrior was Ardeth. She watched as he grabbed the Westerner by the throat and literally choked him unconscious. Then standing over her captor, he pulled his scimitar from it sheath and brought it down into the man's chest. He stood watching the man take his last breath. He then scanned his surroundings, realizing his men had killed the other invaders. Seeing this he took a few steps, took a loud ragged breath and dropped to his knees.

Even before any of his men could move to him, Ali was at his side.

Grabbing his robed arm, she instantly felt it. Pulling her hands back she looked at them in horror. They were covered in blood. He was injured badly enough that his robes were soaked in blood.

"Hasnew" she said sharply. She wanted to scream, but she could not. He was at their side in a second. Ardeth looked at them both and said "I'm fine". Hasnew said quietly "I can see that you are not Ardeth." Then more loudly he said as he took Ardeth's left arm "My lord, please let me help you into my home so that I can treat your wounds." Ali, took Ardeth's other arm and could feel him steel himself as he stood up. He would take their help, he had to, but he would walk tall and proud, if for nothing more than not to worry his people.

As they made their way to the door of Hasnew's home, Ali looked around and saw Basel with Jonathan. Basel spoke up "I will bring Jonathan in and treat his wound" Ali mouthed thank you and looked at her son and quietly said "thank you".

Just as they arrived at the door, they heard other riders coming in. It was the rest of Ardeth's men, with Ahmen in the lead. He jumped off his horse and took in that Ardeth and the other warriors had killed the other Westerners. He saw Ali and said "Thank Allah". Then he added "Hasnew we have two others wounded". Hasnew turned and asked "How badly?" Ahmen answered back "Both shot, but able to ride". Hasnew looked at his assistant, "Fatar, please see to the other men". Fatar nodded and watched as the rest of the Medjai rode up.

Elizabeth had watched all of this with horror, completely terrified for her Mother and her Brother, yet totally enthralled by her Mothers strength and the efficiency and deadliness of the Warriors. She was brought of her thoughts when she heard a familiar voice.

She looked up to see Jahar and another warrior speaking to Fatar. That's when she realized Jahar's robes were ripped. She watched in horror as Fatar looked at Jahar's chest and shoulder. He had been shot.

She moved to him, without even realizing it. Jahar looked down at her and smiled a small smile "I did not move quickly enough, Lizzy". She wanted to scream, or cry seeing the hole in his lower shoulder. But remembering her Mother's strength she looked at Fatar and said "I want to help you"

Fatar looked at her, then at Jahar and Ahmed who had walked up. Ahmed nodded. Fatar answered her "Alright, my child follow me"