The very next day, Jonathan told about Ardeth's idea of him teaching English to whatever Medjai wanted to learn.
"I think it is a great idea," said Helima enthusiastically. "Ever since Akil died—"
"Yes, I know that's what Ardeth said," said Jonathan. "By the way, why didn't you tell me Ardeth was your cousin?"
Helima shrugged. "It just never came up, as it just never occurred to me that you wouldn't know for everybody who was born here knows that Ardeth and I are related. I hope this doesn't mean that we can no longer be friends."
"Of course not," said Jonathan. "I was just shocked when Ardeth mentioned it the other day because you had never said anything."
"I just never thought about it," said Helima. "I hope you can forgive me."
"There's nothing to forgive," Jonathan assured her. After Jonathan had assured Helima again the conversation turned to other topics and before they knew it they had been talking for a couple of hours.
"I really must be going," said Helima.
"I will see you tomorrow," said Jonathan.
"Tomorrow," Helima promised before she was gone.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
As the days progressed and Jonathan and Helima began spending more and more time together and even Rick began to notice that Jonathan was spending a great amount of time with her. Rick had been informed about the relationship by Evie and even Alex and once he had learned about it Rick had started to subtly watch how Jonathan and Helima acted when together. Rick soon came to the conclusion that his brother-in-law was falling for Ardeth's cousin like a ton of bricks and if he wasn't mistaken Jonathan's feelings were being reciprocated. On one hand, to see his brother-in-law in love was a rather strange concept for Rick, but on the other hand, Rick conceded that it was good to see Jonathan so happy and perhaps this would mean that when he and Evie and Alex went back to England Jonathan would be staying here.
Also, Jonathan's relationship with Helima had another effect and that was that several of the Medjai began to approach Jonathan some offering to teach him how to use a sword and others how to survive out in the desert if he had to. He had a myriad of offers some of these which Jonathan accepted and others which he turned down politely.
Finally, one day several months after Jonathan had met Helima he began to realize that he had fallen for Ardeth's beautiful cousin like—well a ton of bricks, but the problem was what was, he going to do about it? He knew that if he married Helima he would probably have to stay in Egypt for the rest of his life for he didn't want to take Helima away from her friends and family and to a strange and modern city. On the other hand, could he really be happy here in this ancient city that time forgot with no electricity and no modern conveniences? Sure Hidden City was a beautiful place and he knew he could always go into Cairo and even visit England to see his sister brother-in-law, nephew and the new baby soon to come, but the real question was; was he willing to make such a massive commitment and change his life so completely?
Jonathan sighed and leaned against one of the walls and watched the world go by as he calmly pondered his dilemma. He just didn't know if he had it in him to make that kind of commitment to anyone, just look at how he had never been there when his sister needed him. Could he, Jonathan Carnahan; really make such a commitment and for the rest of his life?
Jonathan sighed and ran a hand through his hair and decided to sleep on it and worry about it another day for it's not like he didn't have plenty of time to make a decision right?
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
A month later, Rick and several others including Ardeth were heading into Cairo. One of the reasons they were all going into Cairo which was almost a week's journey was that although the Medjai were mostly self-sufficient there were still a few things they could not grow or make themselves and besides, sometimes you just needed a change of scenery. As to the other reason, one of the Medjai had brought back the news that two men were looking for Rick in Cairo. They weren't Egyptian but English the Medjai who had been in Cairo had heard.
Rick sighed when he had heard the news and said, "I figure they're from the military, probably want me to go back with them, although why they came to Egypt when they have no authority I don't have a clue."
"One of them is young from what I was told and the young are often stupid," said Nadir who was the Medjai who had brought the news. "Maybe they think he thinks he can get you to go back with them."
Rick snorted. "As Jonathan would say not bloody likely."
"Why let these men know you are even in Egypt?" asked Kadin. "I mean why not just stay here until they go away?"
"Because if what Nadir heard in Cairo is true then this young man whoever he is will likely get himself hurt or worse if he asks those questions to certain types of people and although I think the man is an idiot, I do not want his death on my conscious. Killing in self-defense or to preserve the life of someone else is one thing, but this young idiot is going to get himself killed for no reason at all."
Ardeth saw where his brother was coming from and it had been decided that a small band would go into Cairo for certain supplies and to see if they could talk some sense into the two Englishmen.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
A week later, Ardeth and Rick arrived in Cairo along with a small band of Medjai. Rick was hoping this thing with the two Englishmen could be settled quickly, hoping but not expecting.
"So how do we go about locating these two men?" Fakir asked.
"We'll let them find us," Rick said. "We'll let it be known that I was spotted and where, they'll show up soon enough."
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
Rick's prediction proved true for within a day of the Medjai letting it be subtly known Rick O'Connell was in town, there was a knock on the hotel room door. Kadin who was closest to the door waited for Ardeth's signal then opened it.
Two men stood in the door for a moment and looked at all the men in the room, all of whom looked extremely dangerous. With their tattoo marked faces, long hair, scimitars, belted at their waists and grim expressions they looked like no one to mess with if you wanted to live to see tomorrow.
"Why don't you two gentlemen come in and George close the door," came the voice of Rick O'Connell.
The voice was familiar to George who had become very familiar with it in his years in the French Foreign Legion. Finally, after a moment of astonishment, George did as he was told and shut the door, which seemed to close with an especially loud click. After the door closed George just stood there staring in surprise for before him stood someone who looked like Rick O'Connell and then again it didn't. Oh, it was still his face, but there were a few very subtle differences—differences hard to pin down. Oh, there were obvious differences, like Rick was wearing the same kind of black robe as the other men, and the fact that Rick's hair was now several inches longer then he normally kept it and also there was a deadly looking scimitar belted at his friend's waist. What was the same though were the two guns, one stuck through his belt the other holstered at his side.
However, George picked up even more differences that weren't obvious unless you really knew the person in question and he had known Rick O'Connell quite well when they had been members of the French Foreign Legion together.
The differences were subtle and hard to pick up on. For one thing, Rick now exuded a quiet menace just like the other men, but that was only on the surface for underneath that was a power and confidence that had never been there before. Sure, Rick O'Connell had always had his share of confidence but this was different somehow—
"Why don't you take a seat," Rick suggested.
Both men complied George wondering what had happened to his friend to change him so and Charles trying to hide how scared he was, for even he could sense that these men were not merely dangerous—but deadly. How had he gotten himself into this situation? Charles wondered. Thanks to his own stupidity he would be lucky to get out of this room alive.
"George, I heard you were looking for me," said Rick.
"Actually, it was Charles here who was looking for you; I just came along so he wouldn't get himself killed." And George started explaining why they had come finally adding, "I tried to talk him out of it, but unfortunately, he has his father's stubbornness and his mother's lack of common sense." George had explained all this in French which was a language that both he and Rick spoke fluently, but Charles did not. While they had been speaking French, Rick had used his mental connection with his brother to translate his and George's words into English for Ardeth's benefit.
"Personally, I think the people in charge only agreed to it to shut him up for he caused quite a stink. Well, that and his father is a powerful man, both rich and influential," George added.
"I see," said Rick in French then switching to English he added, "Unfortunately, your mission is in vain. My family and I came to Egypt for vacation and now we don't dare go back, because of the constant bombing of London, but now even if we could get back I don't plan to subject my family to more bombings."
"You're nothing but a lily livid stinking coward O'Connell," Charles said in rage and the minute the words left his mouth he knew he had made the biggest mistake of his life—perhaps even a fatal one for even as the words died away he noticed that all the other men in the room had lost their unreadable expressions and every single one of them was radiating so much anger that Charles was surprised that he wasn't set on fire from the heat of their gazes. However, the other men's anger was nothing compared to the expression on the face of the Arab standing next to Rick's chair, which was so furious that Charles was actually surprised that daggers weren't shooting out of the Arab's eyes to skewer him in the heart. O'Connell though was calm not seeming the least bit offended and Charles watched as Rick said something in what Charles assumed was Arabic to the man standing next to him and the Arab's expression changed. The Arab was still radiating anger but it was a controlled anger. Finally, Rick turned to face the two Englishmen once more and said calmly, "I would control your temper if I were you for next time I will not be to stop my brother from skewering you as you deserve no matter how many problems it would cause in the long run. There's one thing you had better understand right now and that is most Egyptians hold honor above everything else and unlike in London they can kill you dead and not break the law. The laws are different out here in the desert for it is not anything like England for it is wilder and less tamed. The only law out here is that the strong survive."
Charles digested that for a moment then said, "I could arrest you."
Rick laughed at that for he saw through Charles statement for what it was a last ditch effect to save his honor. "You don't have any authority in Egypt nor can you prove I have broken any laws, for me and my family left months before the draft was even a rumor. Even if you did arrest me you would have to take me forcibly and with just you—well, you wouldn't even be able to take me much less them," said Rick gesturing to the other Medjai. "And every single one of them is dying to get a piece of your hide for your insult to me a few minutes ago."
"We only allowed you to find Rick because he wanted to talk to you before you got yourselves killed. My brother didn't want your deaths on his conscious," said Ardeth.
"I can take care of myself," Charles protested his pride pricked.
George just shook his head at Charles stupidity knowing what was going to happen and watched as Ardeth had a knife at Charles throat faster than he could blink. "You listen to me you young—" Ardeth said something in Arabic that the other Medjai and Rick snickered at then continued in English. "You wouldn't last a minute with me, or my brother or any of my men. Don't make the mistake of thinking that Egypt is anything like England or that you have any authority here. The only thing preventing me from skewering you for insulting my brother is that it would cause trouble for Rick when he returns to England—remember that."
The knife disappeared so fast that it took a few seconds for Charles to realize that it was no longer at his throat.
Rick took all this in calmly then said, "I warned you that my brother had a temper and that the law of the desert is not the same as English law and yet you still make stupid comments. If you had said anything to anyone less honorable then these men your carcass would even now be rotting somewhere out in the desert being picked over by crows and chewed on by wild animals. I hate to repeat myself, but since you apparently didn't understand me the first time I suppose I must. When are you going to understand that Egypt is nothing like England or even America? Egypt is an untamed, wild land where the only law is that the strong survive, especially if you live in the desert and not the city. This however, is your final warning; go back to England before you get yourself killed for I will not be responsible if you do not heed me."
Rick ushered the two men out then said something to George in French. George nodded and replied in the same language.
When Rick had closed the door and leaned against it he said, "Why do I have the feeling that boy is going to be trouble?"
"Perhaps because you can sense it," Ardeth suggested putting a hand on Rick's shoulder. "You've always had a finely tuned sense for danger or else you probably wouldn't have survived all the dangerous situations you've been in. Besides, I'm sure you've run into his type before."
"I have," said Rick with a nod. "He's the kind of man that will attack you from behind when you're least expecting it. So I suppose that means I had better watch my back until we leave Cairo, especially at night. The last thing I need is to get stabbed in the back, because if I survived Evie would yell at me for worrying her and if I died she'd just use the Book of the Dead to bring me back to life just to yell at me for worrying her."
Most of the Medjai snickered at this for what Rick said was true. Evelyn O'Connell had quite a temper when roused and most of them had been at the end of it for one reason or another and did not particularly want to be on the wrong end of her temper a second time
"He'll probably hold a grudge against you to," Rick added looking at Ardeth. "So you be careful too, and watch your back."
"I will," said Ardeth clapping Rick on the shoulder again.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
The next evening Rick met George in his hotel room mostly alone except for Ardeth who had wanted to get to know this man a little since Rick considered him a friend. Rick had told Ardeth a little about this George Hastings and how they had protected each other's backs on a number of occasions when they had been members of the same unit in the French Foreign Legion. They had lost contact in the last few years but that did happen even to good friends.
There was a knock on the hotel room door and Rick opened it and ushered George inside closing the door behind him
"Well, Rick I never expected you to go native," George joked as soon as he had entered the room.
"Yeah, well, a lot of things have happened to me over the years—things you probably wouldn't believe," said Rick with a laugh. "George, I believe you informally met my brother Ardeth Bay the other day."
"It's nice to meet you," said George as he shook Ardeth's hand. "I'm sorry about the trouble Charles caused the other day. I'm afraid he's taken a personal dislike to Rick."
"I do not blame you," said Ardeth. "You tried to talk him out of pursuing this and failed. That is no fault of yours."
"Thank you," said George as he sat down at Rick's invitation. "So I'm going to assume you didn't just invite me to dinner to discuss old times or the fact that Charles Heathersleigh is an idiot."
Rick laughed at that and couldn't help but agree.
While they ate, George felt several questions burning in the back of his mind, but he was almost afraid to ask because he didn't want to offend his old friend and definitely not this Ardeth Bay who had moved so fast the other day when he had drawn his knife and had it at Charles's throat in seconds. The last thing he needed was to get himself skewered.
"I know you have questions, so ask and whatever I can't answer I'll tell you," said Rick finally.
"All right," said George. "Rick you told me once that you grew up in an orphanage and that you didn't have any family—"
"And you're wondering how Ardeth can be my brother?"
"Precisely," said George.
"You're right that we were born in different cultures, had different upbringings and different parents, but—and as hard a concept as this was for me to accept—the minute I met Ardeth, it was as if we'd known each other all our lives. Anyway, after an incident I won't go into we became friends and just six years ago we did a blood brother ceremony. It is a very ancient tradition among Ardeth's people and is absolutely legal among his tribe. I became his brother—legally and if he should die without ever marrying or siring any heirs then I get everything he owns." Rick knew he was cutting a lot out of his explanation but there was quite a bit he couldn't say or at least shouldn't. Besides, George would probably never believe him even if he did tell him the full story.
"A horrible thought," said Ardeth with a mock shudder.
Rick just laughed knowing Ardeth was just joking. "Actually, I'd prefer you alive then all the money in the world. You can't put a price on friendship, honor, loyalty or family."
"No, you can't," Ardeth agreed soberly but with a half smile, for what Rick had said had touched him deeply—more deeply then he cared to admit, even to himself. He would never forget that comment though as long as he lived for it was very unlike the Rick O'Connell he knew. Sure, he knew Rick cared about him and considered him family, but that one comment had told Ardeth that Rick loved him and although it wasn't something most men talked about openly that didn't mean they didn't love, they just had different ways of expressing it. But Ardeth would never forget for he loved Rick to, although he had never told Rick so and more than likely never would, but that didn't mean it wasn't fact.
George digested this for a minute then accepted Rick's explanation even though he knew a lot was being left out, but he figured it was something Rick couldn't explain, perhaps because he had been sworn to secrecy or perhaps as Rick had said when he had entered the hotel room door the explanation was something he would never believe. All George knew was that his friend had changed and after a moment he finally figured out what that change was something that Rick O'Connell had never exhibited before—contentment, happiness and lastly George thought a major reason for Rick's change in attitude was the fact that Rick now knew his place in the world. Years ago, when they had both been members of the French Foreign Legion his friend had always portrayed a subtle restlessness as if he was searching for something, well now, it looked like he had found it. Perhaps it was destiny or perhaps fate, if you believed in such things on the other hand, perhaps, it was just plain luck.
"So how are Evie and Alex?" George finally asked.
Rick grinned, "They're just fine. They stayed with our tribe while we came into Cairo to see who was asking about me. Oh, and did I mention Evie's pregnant."
George stared at his friend for a few seconds as if trying to absorb the information until he finally said, "I thought the doctor told you that after Alex was born Evie could never have another child."
Rick shrugged. "Well, all I can say is that the doctor was wrong." What Rick didn't explain was the fact the Medjai healers believed that it was because Evie had died and been brought back to life by using the Book of Dead that had enabled his wife to be able to get pregnant. The Healers believed it had done something to her system, perhaps revitalized it or changed it back to what it had been before the birth of Alex. Evie had had a lot of trouble giving birth to Alex and afterwards her system had been scarred to the point that the doctor had said she could never have another baby, but that was before Evie had died at Ahm Shere and been brought back to life, so perhaps the reincarnation of Anck-Su-Namun had done them a favor after all. Both of them had been overjoyed when the healers had told them that Evie was pregnant for they had always wanted more children but had never been able to have more after Alex.
"But doesn't it scare you that Evie isn't anywhere there is a modern hospital? If you guys are staying in a rural village somewhere—"
"Do not worry, my people have been around for more than 5000 years and over the centuries we've learned quite a bit about healing, a lot more then modern hospitals. Evie will be just fine," said Ardeth speaking for the first time.
"He's right," said Rick. "Our people have been around forever and in all that time that have made more breakthrough in medicine—using herbs and other natural treatments—then any modern hospital in the world. I trust the healers in our village more than any modern hospital."
George noticed how Rick kept using words like 'our village' and 'my people' when describing his brother's people, so apparently Rick really had gone native and been accepted by these people whoever they were for George had also noticed that both Rick and Ardeth had been careful never to mention the name of the tribe, probably afraid he would recognize it. This tribe whoever they were; were apparently big on secrecy and not letting too many people know they existed as anything other than legends or myths.
George pondered this trying to figure out what Arab tribe would go to such great lengths to protect their people. Finally, he gave up and had to come to grips with the fact that he would probably never know unless 'they' wanted him to.
"Oh, I've been meaning to ask you, Rick, since when do you speak Arabic? Or at least that's what I'm assuming the language is that you spoke the other night. You certainly didn't speak it when we were in the French Foreign Legion together."
"Just in the last five, almost six years," said Rick. "I was forced to learn as a means of self-defense. A lot of our people only speak Arabic and no English and I got tired of not being able to understand when somebody talked to me," said Rick with a shrug. "When we visited Ardeth's home for the first time just a couple of years before the war started a lady of our tribe offered to teach me seeming to understand my frustration at not being able to understand what people were saying. I picked it up rather quickly at least according to Evie and Sabira and considering that Arabic is nothing like English or even French that was something of a miracle."
"What's the difference?" George wanted to know.
"Well for one thing Evie told me, the roots of Arabic are not based on Latin like English and French and according to my wife that makes it harder to pick up because the roots of the language are based on a totally different alphabet. Of course, Evie's father was Egyptian and her mother English so she and Jonathan grew up speaking both languages and as for Alex, well, he takes after his mother and was practically bilingual from his very first word."
George nodded for Rick's explanation made sense. He had seen some Arabic written as well as heard it spoken and the language not only looked different from English and French and sounded different to. Arabic sounded almost—musical—or at least it did to his untrained ears. That alone should prove that it was totally different from English, French or even German.
"And Alex is how old now? Thirteen? What does he think about the fact that you and Evie are going to have another child?"
"He's pretty excited about it actually," said Rick with a grin. "He's always wanted a sibling and he's never had one. Evie and I did consider adopting for awhile and even put our names on a very long list but well nothing ever came of it."
"That might change after the war," George pointed out. "A lot of children are going to be orphans after the war is over."
Rick shrugged, "Well, if we are approached about taking a child in then Evie and I will be glad to. It's not like we don't have plenty of money and besides I know what it's like growing up in an orphanage. It's a fate I wouldn't wish on anyone."
"Growing up in an orphanage can't be that bad," said George.
"It depends on how you define bad. As for me, I had to beat up quite a few of the other children before they would leave me alone. Of course, a large part of it was that I was a foreigner among Egyptians. Besides, I know you've seen the depravity that humans can come up with and when I was growing up in the Cairo orphanage, well, the people who ran it did everything in their power to cut corners—poor food, as cheap as possible and as little as the people who ran the place could get away with. They often would feed us only once a day. They didn't often buy us decent clothes, not unless someone important was coming by to make sure the money was being spent for the right things, so mostly we went around dressed in rags, which was hard especially in winter. Sleeping on dirty sheets—"
"I get the point," said George trying to get the mental image out of his head of a gang of boys dressed in dirty rags begging for food on the street in order to survive.
"It's not a time I like to remember," said Rick shrugging his expression unreadable but Ardeth could feel Rick's emotions churning just below the surface through their connection—old pain, remembered hunger and a lingering sadness over the death of his parents. Ardeth said nothing however, but he promised himself that Rick was never going to feel that kind of painful emotion again not if he could prevent it anyway and he never made promises even to himself unless he intended to keep them. "Anyway, it was nice to see you again, George, perhaps we can get together again when I get back to London," said Rick.
"I would like that," said George, rising to his feet and shaking Rick's hand. "It was nice to meet you Ardeth," he added. "Perhaps someday we'll meet again."
"Perhaps," Ardeth conceded. "I do come to London occasionally, to see my brother and his family."
"So how are you planning to get back to London?" Rick asked. "Taking a ship has become very dangerous. If you go by ship you are very likely to have it sunk and with you on it and if that was how you and Heathersleigh came then you are very lucky to not be dead."
"Charles and I came by plane," said George. "Special military transport, we'll be going back the same way."
"That's not much safer you know," said Rick.
George shrugged. "At the moment nothing is safe anyway with the war going on. Life is full of chances and what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. My philosophy ever since the war began has been if I die, I die and if I live, I live, and that's all there is to it."
Rick nodded and then escorted his old friend to the door. "Oh, and Rick I'd watch your back, your brother's to for Charles is the kind of man to hire some men to come after you in a dark alley in revenge."
Rick nodded, "I know, I had him pegged the minute he walked in the door the other night, the others did to. All of us believe he is too much of a coward to come after me himself. Still, I'll be careful. Besides, if anything happens to me or to Ardeth, Charles is going to have half a dozen very furious men on his trail. They'll kill him dead faster than a bullet."
George nodded for somehow he had known this in his head, even if it had never been actually said.
"I hope to see you in London, Rick," said George.
"Me too, George," said Rick ushering his old friend out the door then closing it behind him.
"I like your friend," said Ardeth. "He strikes me as honest, brave, and loyal."
"He is," said Rick with a grin. "I'm glad you like him. George is one of the very few people I've tried to maintain contact with from my French Foreign Legion days. At that time he was the best friend I had and even though he is still a good friend he's no longer my best friend."
Ardeth nodded understanding what Rick was saying without him having to say the words. Finally, the two men rose and Ardeth said, "I will see you tomorrow and the day after that we—"
"Head for home," said Rick.
"Yes," said Ardeth.
"I'll be glad to go. I miss Evie, Alex and even Jonathan or at least I will till I find out what trouble he's gotten into."
Ardeth laughed at that and then left for the evening.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
The next evening, it was just getting dark and Rick was walking back from the stable having just checked on his horse for they were to leave as of dawn and he wanted to make sure his horse was healthy. His horse had not only been frisky but seemingly eager to be gone for he had been stabled for more than a week.
Rick looked up all his senses instantly on the alert as he heard a scuffing sound behind him. Rick drew one of his knives as not only Ardeth's warning but George's ran through his mind. He should have known better then to go out alone but he had been going a little stir crazy cooped up in his room all day for he was used to being out and about
Suddenly, several men leaped out both behind and in front of him. "Well, well if it isn't Rick O'Connell all alone said a familiar voice. You should have known better then to come out alone O'Connell."
"Charles," said Rick. "The day I can't take care of you and a few thugs on my own is the day I hang up my guns permanently. I have faced worse things than you boy, things that you can't even imagine in your worst nightmares."
"We'll see," said Charles defiantly but Rick heard the fear in his voice underneath the defiance. Both Ardeth and George had pegged Charles and that was he was a coward at heart, but that still left Rick the problem of dealing with him and his men.
Charles shouted an order and the men all drew their guns firing as one. While the thugs were drawing their weapons Rick had dropped to the ground to lie on his stomach so that most of the bullets went over his head and most of the bullets that didn't hit the walls of the buildings on either side of the alleyway. One bullet however, hit Rick in the shoulder and Rick flinched in pain and also wondered how he was going to get out of this situation for with the bullet lodged in his arm preventing him from using it fully was a serious liability. Rick listened for the sound of guns firing and as soon as he was sure the ten thugs were out of bullets he was on his feet and moving almost faster than the eye could follow he drew one dagger after another and threw them to not only hurt, but to kill. One by one four of the men went down which left only six. Rick drew his scimitar. Suddenly Rick remembered the mental connection he had with his brother and he opened himself to it. Ardeth? I need some help here.
I'm on my way, Ardeth's voice answered as soon as he had seen what was happening through Rick's eyes.
Minutes later, Rick had lost his sword somewhere in the middle of the fight and now drew one of his guns.
"You do realize of course that if you kill Rick I will be forced to hunt you down and kill all of you like dogs? Of course you are already the walking dead for I'm going to kill you anyway," asked a voice conversationally, just before Ardeth's scimitar slashed one man in the gut and then another in the shoulder.
Charles who had been observing all this from the sidelines watched dumbfounded as just two men took down ten of the roughest, toughest, meanest, cruelest men in Cairo without hardly breaking a sweat. And how had O'Connell's brother just happened to show up right now? How had the Arab known that his brother had needed him?
Finally, all ten men were no longer standing and both Rick and Ardeth turned towards Charles with grim expressions. As for Charles he was just now realizing he should have run while he had the chance
"I spared your life once you worthless son of a camel," said Ardeth moving forward. "It will not happen a second time."
"Ardeth—" Rick began. "Maybe you shouldn't—"
"Are you telling me you want me to spare his worthless hide?" asked Ardeth the fury radiating off him hot enough to start a fire.
"No, I don't particularly think he deserves to live, but I'm thinking of the problems it could cause if he is killed. On the other hand, if we make it appear as if he was coming back from somewhere and was attacked by some thugs that might work," Rick said his eyes glinting dangerously taking almost malicious pleasure at Charles's fear. "After all, he was warned that Cairo is a dangerous city for someone who didn't either have a bodyguard or know how to defend themselves."
"Not a bad idea," Ardeth conceded. "But this is not the place to do it. Too many witnesses." Ardeth roughly grabbed Charles's arm and said his tone so full of menace that Charles tried to shrink away but was prevented by Ardeth's tight grip on his arm, "One sound out of you or if you even try to get away I'll knife you so you take days to die. It won't be quick and that's a promise."
Charles nodded fear showing in his grey eyes. "Are you okay Rick, I noticed you wince whenever you moved your left arm."
"Yeah well you try getting shot and see how much pain you are in when it happens," said Rick.
"I've been shot and you're right it is not a pleasant feeling," Ardeth said calmly. "How bad is it?"
"Not too bad actually. The bullet entered my shoulder and didn't exit which means it's still there lodged against the bone."
"Are you sure it isn't broken?"
"Yes, I know what a broken bone feels like and I can tell my arm is not broken," Rick answered. "And as for you," he added looking at Charles a glimmer of sadness in his brown eyes. "You just signed, sealed, and delivered your own death warrant and even if I wanted to I couldn't stop it."
Rick then turned away and calmly retrieved his daggers from the dead thugs and wiped off the blood one of the dead man's clothes. He then picked up his scimitar and wiped off the blood as well before sheathing both his daggers and sword trying to use only his right arm to do so.
Finally, the three men exited the alley Ardeth leading the way with Charles just behind him and Rick last holding a gun to their prisoner's back with his good arm to remind him to behave.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
A little later up in Rick's hotel room Ardeth very carefully put healing salve on Rick's shoulder after digging out the bullet that had lodged itself against the bone. He then pulled out a bandage and wrapped it around Rick's shoulder a couple of times. When Ardeth was done Rick pulled on his shirt gingerly having trouble getting his left arm through the sleeve without causing himself considerable pain in the process.
Finally, Ardeth called all the other Medjai as well as George and within minutes they had all assembled.
"George before we go on we need your sworn word that whatever you hear or see in this room does not leave here. That it will remain a secret within your very soul," said Ardeth.
George looked at Rick and when his old friend nodded he said, "I swear never to repeat a word of what I see or hear in this room."
"Very well," said Ardeth. "Charles Heathersleigh you are hereby charged with an attack on my brother Rick O'Connell who had never done you any harm. In fact, he gave a friendly warning that Cairo was a dangerous city and yet you did not heed him. Now, if you had challenged him to honorable combat it would have been one thing, but instead you hire ten thugs, attack him in a dark alley and who did their best to kill him. As it is one of your men shot him in the shoulder—"
The other Medjai looked furious at this, especially Kadin who considered himself Rick's best friend next to Ardeth of course.
"And where are these men?" asked Kadin his tone menacing as he fingered the hilt of his scimitar threateningly.
"They're dead of course," said Ardeth with a little smile. "Rick counted for more than half of them before I even got there."
Kadin looked disappointed but had to accept it.
"Therefore, by the laws of our people you will be put to death. That is my judgment and it is final."
"Wait a minute who are you to put me to death?" Charles protested desperately. "You don't have any authority over me. I am after all English and you are nothing but a bunch of filthy heathens. And as for your supposed brother, he is nothing but a coward and traitor to his own people and deserves nothing more than death."
George shook his head at Charles stupidity for before he might have had a chance of living to see tomorrow—maybe, but not now for Charles had sealed his fate because he could not control his mouth.
"You think we care that you are English?" asked Kadin menacingly taking a step forward. "All we care about is that you attacked a member of the Medjai a very ancient tribe that goes back five thousand years. And you might not have done it yourself and attacked Rick directly, but it was still you that hired those thugs to attack him in a dark alley instead of challenging him to honorable combat. If he had died we would have done more than merely execute you, we would have been within our rights to torture you until you died. As it is you only avoided that fate because Rick is alive, so your death will be relatively quick and painless, which is a shame," Kadin said this as if he was disappointed that it had to be that way. He had to follow orders however reluctantly.
"Um, excuse me I don't mean to interrupt," said George. "But if I may ask won't killing him cause problems in England? I mean his father is a powerful man both rich and influential—won't this cause a problem with him?"
"Not if it's done right," said Rick his brown eyes glinting dangerously. "You see even if I wanted to, I couldn't stop this from happening for the Medjai have their own laws and their own ways of doing things. What we plan to do is make it look like one of the dangerous thugs that live in this city killed him. No one will ever know any different unless you tell them."
"So what is it you want of me?" asked George.
"What we want of you is to go back to England and tell the people necessary that Charles was coming home from one of the pubs and got himself attacked and killed in a dark alley."
"And if I don't?" George wanted to know.
"If you don't nothing will happen to you. All we ask is you keep your silence like you swore to do, on what happened here."
George considered then nodded, "I will do what you ask. Personally, I think the little pissant deserves whatever happens to him. I warned him about tangling with Rick, but of course he didn't listen to my advice. I don't think he ever listens to anybodies advice, except his own and maybe his father's. Besides, attacking somebody—anybody—in a dark alley with no warning and not even giving them a chance to defend themselves is in my book one of the most cowardly acts anybody can do, especially someone who is supposed to have royal and noble blood running in his veins."
All the Medjai were nodding in agreement with George's words and a few of them shot him looks of respect.
"Very well, Charles Heathersleigh that you are guilty is beyond question," said Ardeth his dark eyes glinting dangerously. "When you chose to attack my brother, from behind; with no warning not even a called challenge you sealed your fate. If you had managed to kill him, which I admit is highly unlikely but still a possibility, then each and every Medjai would have hunted you to the ends of the Earth and beyond until you were dead. Medjai are great believers in expedient solutions and in revenge for any wrong done, especially if that wrong is trying to kill the brother of the 'Leader' of the Medjai."
The way Ardeth empathized leader made George pay attention for the way the word was said it almost sounded as if Ardeth meant king and not merely leader. Medjai now where had he heard that name before? George wondered for the name was vaguely familiar for some reason. Finally, after some deep thought he vaguely remembered that about 15 years ago about the same time as rumors of an ancient curse of some kind being unleashed that there had also been rumors of a group of men called Medjai. Many people said that the Medjai were the descendants of the Pharaoh's guards more than 5000 years ago and that they considered it their duty to guard certain sacred places—places that were said to be cursed and that these Medjai guarded then so somebody didn't release these curses upon the world. So if these men were the same ones that the rumors had been talking about then perhaps those rumors had been more true than George had given credence to before.
George wondered how Rick had gotten involved with them, but especially with the leader of these men. He would love to hear the story involved in that meeting but George suspected it would stretch his believability to the point of breaking. The way these Medjai had reacted when they had learned that Rick had been attacked was a sure indication that they considered Rick one of them and that he and probably Evie, Alex and Jonathan to were part of their clan.
George turned his attention back to the Medjai to find Charles still alive but not for long for even now Ardeth drew his scimitar checking the edge with his thumb. When Ardeth was satisfied with the sharpness of the blade he stalked forward menace and anger in every line of his body.
Ardeth stopped just inches from Charles and seemed to study him for a moment before saying, "I hope in the next life you will remember this experience and learn from it." As he finished speaking Ardeth brought his scimitar up and with one slash across the throat the life of one Charles Heathersleigh was extinguished.
Charles slumped to the ground the two Medjai who had been holding him released him as soon as Ardeth had struck and stepped back as if to distance themselves from some sort of disease. Honor to these Medjai meant everything George realized. To even be touching someone so dishonored—well, George believed that the Medjai thought that it also dishonor them just to be in the same room with such a person.
"Kadin you and Fakir take this piece of camel dung and dispose of it in the way we discussed," Ardeth ordered.
Kadin and Fakir nodded and picked up the corpse between them and headed for the door which another Medjai held open for them.
"Won't carrying a dead man through the halls of this hotel cause problems?" asked George.
Rick laughed at that. "George, think! Would we have chosen this place if that was going to happen? This is a hotel that such things have happened before and the people who run it know better than to pay any attention to such happenings. No one will talk and it is one of the main reasons we chose this particular hotel when we heard about the two Englishmen looking for me. Of course, I was hoping this could be solved without bloodshed, but we prepared for it just in case."
"I see," said George realizing that Rick and the Medjai had apparently thought of everything. "When I get back to London I'll make sure to report this to my superiors that young Charles went out drinking alone one night against my advice and had a run of bad luck."
Rick snickered at that not seeming at all upset that just a few minutes ago a life had been extinguished. "That's certainly one way of putting it."
"Well, as much as I hate to go I really have to see if I can get back to London and report this. In fact, that's what I was doing when Charles got himself killed, making arrangements." George shook his head his expression pensive. "How William Heathersleigh one of the smartest and most honorable men I know could have fathered such a blathering idiot I don't have a clue."
"Safe journey my friend," said Ardeth clapping George on the back. "Until we meet again."
"Until we meet again," George agreed shaking Ardeth's hand.
"It was nice to see you again George," Rick added also shaking his old friend's hand.
"You as well, Rick," said George before turning without another word and disappearing out the door.
~~~Rick and Evie~~~
