Series/Universe: The Mummy
Disclaimers: M7 characters belong to Trilogy, et al. Mummy characters (particularly Ardeth Bey, Lock-Nah, the Carnahan-O'Connell family and Imotep) all belong to Stephen Sommers. Original characters are all mine ... don't mind if you borrow them, just ask first, give them back intact and give credit where credit is due.
Warnings: The usual ... violence, language, and references to ugliness. Oh yeah, and the original characters. Can't forget them.
Spoilers: All twenty-one episodes, both Mummy movies, though more of an emphasis on the second (and my favorite, since it has more Ardeth)
Authors Notes: Get comfy, this is gonna take a few minutes. First and foremost, please be patient ... the prologue is Ardeth-heavy, as I'm laying the groundwork for the rest of the story. Chris and the boys make their appearance in the fourth section, which I'm now writing. There are mentions of them, but Josiah is the only one to actually appear.
This is a one shot deal ... I'm not planning on writing any more stories in this AU (at least, not at the moment). However, if you wanna play in this sandbox, go right ahead. I have no problem with that.
I've changed a few things. First, this is something I've wanted to do for a long time. Mary is Orrin's daughter in this story, not his daughter-in-law, and Stephen's sister.
You'll note, too, that I make reference in later chapters (set in 1933) to the events of the first film being seven years in the past. That's actually canonically correct. While Ardeth and the Med-jai first knew of Rick in 1923, when he was part of the Legion, the two didn't actually meet until 1926. I've also worked around the problem of Alex, since he's eight years old in the second film. Bear with me, I do know what I'm doing.
There's probably a lot more I'm forgetting, but I'll post those author's notes as I post the stories. If you've got the TMR soundtrack, I listened to this often while writing (okay, all the time); especially the pieces 'Evy Kidnapped,' and 'My First Bus Ride.' (the source of one of the best lines in the movie).
With that in mind, enjoy the fic!
There were times when her best friend, the sister she had always wished for, positively left her stunned. The scene in the corridor, just a few minutes earlier, was a good example of that. Although, come to think of it, the deadly glare she had been hit with only a few minutes before then could also be a good example. Just when Diana Mary Travis thought she knew all there was to know about Adriana Wilmington ... the brunette showed another side to her.
As they ghosted down the stairs to the man waiting at the front door with Charlotte, a smile blossomed on Adriana's face and she said happily, "Jon! It's so good to see you ... I wasn't even sure if you were still in Egypt or not." She bounded down the last few steps, giving Charlotte a quick wink which was probably supposed to reassure her, before grasping the man's hands within her own two.
"I say, old mum, you look quite the ... well, you look marvelous! And who are these beauties?" the man named 'Jon' asked, ogling the other two women quite happily. Adriana rolled her eyes, laughing as she did. Jon was introduced first to Charlotte, drawing a faint smile as he bowed over her hand quite effusively, and Mary realized it was the first time she had seen the other woman smile.
The man kissed Charlotte's hand, then straightened up and turned to the other two women. She was next, and Jon asked, his blue eyes widening, "Oh, I say ... you are Aphrodite herself!" Mary felt herself blushing to the very roots of her hair, and Jon continued, "Now, my baby sister Evy is quite a beauty in her own right, but you're absolutely stunning. Perhaps I could interest you in the tales of my exploits? I barely survived quite a few perilous encounters."
"Oh, Jon, please ... later! Or I'll tell Alex on you," Adriana retorted. Jon scowled at her, and Adriana added with a laugh, "Sorry, old friend, you have quite a ways to go before you're as scary as my older brother Chris ... much less Ardeth." Mary looked at Adriana. Ardeth? Who was that? Adriana glanced at Mary, then said, "Oh ... no. Charlotte, do you have a scarf or something Mary can borrow? She'll be noticed immediately with that blonde hair."
"And you won't be?" Mary asked, indicating the cloak her friend wore, as Charlotte went to find a scarf to cover Mary's pale hair. Adriana looked down at herself, and a grin appeared. Mary added, recognizing that expression, "Never mind. I didn't ask that. Thank you, Charlotte, I app ... hey!" She glared at Adriana as the brunette took the scarf and carefully arranged it around Mary's face, until she was satisfied.
"I've lived here, remember? Okay, Jon, we're ready to go. Charlotte ... if you have any trouble, or need anything, just ask Mrs. Travis," Adriana said. She didn't trust Will ... if Mary was truly honest with herself, she'd admit she didn't trust him, either. But did Adriana really believe he would do something to Charlotte? A quick look at Adriana told her that's exactly what her friend thought, and Mary wondered if that was why Adriana had wanted her to stay here.
Maybe, Mary thought as she followed Jonathan and Adriana from the house, one of these days, I'll learn to listen to her. Well, there's no help for it now. She listened intently to the conversation between the two old friends. Alex, she learned, was Jonathan's nephew. He was eight years old, the same age as her own nephew Billy. And he hated watching his parents kiss. Just like Jonathan, who actually reminded Mary of an overgrown child.
She shut out the conversation and instead looked around her curiously. Unfortunately, there wasn't much she could see, since the scarf which protected her light hair from curious eyes, also kept her from seeing too much out of the corner of her eye. She could see shapes, and could see people coming and going ... but nothing of Cairo. She was startled by an exclamation from Adriana, but when she turned her attention back to her friend, Mary saw there was nothing to worry about ... at least at the moment, though Adriana clearly wasn't happy about something.
They were about halfway to the museum when Adriana asked a casual question about someone named Horace. Jonathan looked at her blankly, and Adriana repeated, "Ardeth's bird, or did he never introduce you to him?" Horace ... oh, Horus. Jonathan stopped and looked at his feet unexpectedly. Adriana asked, her head tilting in that manner which indicated she knew she was about to hear something she wouldn't like, "Jonathan?"
"Ahh ... that is to say ... Horus is dead, old mum. Was ... well, while we were trying to get Alex back. Didn't find out until later that it was Lock-nah who killed the poor thing," Jonathan replied. The change in Adriana was downright terrifying. In just seconds, her face had gone from simply concerned and questioning, to coldly furious. Mary swallowed hard, wanting to reach out to her friend, but at the moment, Adriana was simply too unpredictable. And it didn't seem like it had anything to do with her previous anger, which left a big question. A question was answered only a moment later.
"Lock-nah ... Lock-nah killed Horus?" Adriana asked, her voice shaking with fury. Jonathan gulped and looked around warily. Mary looked around carefully, noticing the way people were looking at Adriana. Not as though she was a crazy Westerner ... but there was respect there. Taking a closer look, Mary realized that the people didn't see the woman ... they only saw the cloak. Which made Mary wonder ... what significance did the cloak have? Did it have something to do with this man whom Jonathan and Adriana were discussing, this Ardeth?
"Yes ... he was also one of the brutes who abducted first Evy, then later Alex," Jonathan replied. He paused, adding in a very serious voice, "But Horus was avenged, my dear. Ardeth killed Lock-nah in the fight to rescue Alex." Adriana nodded, then started walking once more with a stride which made it difficult for Mary to keep up. If Mary hadn't seen Adriana's face, that would have been a clue to her friend's rage.
"Adriana ... who is this Lock-nah?" Mary asked slowly once she caught up to her friend. She wanted to ask about Horus as well, but figured that she would actually be safer asking about Lock-nah. She had a terrible tendency to put her foot in her mouth.
There was a sigh, then Adriana replied, "Lock-nah was the man who killed your brother, and tried to kill me. Among other things. Ardeth stopped him." Mary felt her blood turn to ice water. This Lock-nah. He was the one who had killed her brother. She almost asked her next question, until she remembered that it had already been answered. Jonathan answered it. She asked, looking first at the Englishman, then at her friend, "And he's dead?"
"Dead as dead can be ... never mind, I didn't say that," Jonathan replied, looking away, and appearing somewhat greenish. As the younger sister of a journalist, Mary had learned that there were ways to sense a story. Her instincts were yelling now that the story behind Jonathan's reaction was ... intriguing. The Englishman looked back after a moment, adding, "But yes, he's dead. I watched Ardeth kill him." Adriana's eyebrows raised at that, and a small smile appeared.
"So ... " she said, drawing the word out, "you've now seen Ardeth truly fight?" Jonathan nodded, gulping a bit as they reached the museum. Mary was wondering if she would have the chance to meet Ardeth. She hoped so. If only to thank him for avenging her brother's death and saving her best friend's life. Besides, with the way Adriana spoke about him ... what was it that she said? Jonathan had a long way to go before he was as scary as Chris, much less Ardeth?
"I have ... and oh, look we're here now, I should be getting back ... oh, hello there," Jonathan said. Mary looked at the Englishman, then stopped dead in her tracks. She had looked around her as they entered the museum, a cursory glance to make sure she didn't step into anything. And when she looked back ... he was right in front of them. She didn't even notice the door closing behind them, she was so startled by the man. He was at least as tall as Josiah and Nathan, clad entirely in black, and armed to the teeth.
But what really caught and held Mary's attention were the marks on his face. Tattoos of some sort, or perhaps Arabic writing ... it was hard to be sure. His face was totally expressionless as he stared down at them. Adriana stepped forward, saying in a quiet voice, "The stranger from the West greets you." Mary swallowed hard, hoping that Adriana knew what she was doing. Then she gasped in alarm as the huge man grabbed her friend by both shoulders.
There was no need to worry, as Adriana was enfolded in a fierce embrace. Mary looked at Jonathan, whose mouth was hanging open in shock. Mary reached over and closed it gently, wondering if this was standard behavior among these men. She wasn't the only one. Jonathan immediately began babbling, "I've never seen that ... a Med-jai never ... I wonder, has Evy ever seen this?" Mary looked at him. Magi? That was what it sounded like. Then Adriana's wheezing brought her attention back to her friend as the big man set her on her feet.
"My apologies, ameerah. I had not expected to see you again," the man said, smiling down at her. He inclined his head to Mary, saying, "I am Tariq, mistress. You are a friend to our ameerah?" He had addressed Adriana as 'ameerah,' so Mary nodded slowly. Tariq looked back at Adriana, asking as he released her shoulders to take her hands, "What brought you back to Egypt, my friend? We thought you would never return."
Adriana took a deep breath, meeting his eyes unhappily, and replied, "I wish it was under better circumstances, Tariq. I need to get a message to Ardeth as quickly as possible. A man is planning an expedition to Hamunaptra, and I have reason to believe another man is already there." Tariq's smile disappeared, and Adriana continued, "It gets worse, old friend. He wishes to revive He Who Must Not Be Named, again. He wants to resurrect his lost daughter."
The man started to protest, but Adriana shook her head, continuing, "Listen to me. I know, Jonathan told me about what happened at Ahm Shere. But what you don't know is that there were priests, other than the ones loyal to the Creature who copied both the Books of the Living and the Dead, before the hom-dai, and kept them from the Med-jai. What you don't know is that there was an expedition who saw what happened to the pyramid of the Scorpion King, and became curious. The man who is ... the leader ... of our expedition is a man obsessed, and we both know the danger in that."
"All too well, old friend, all too well. Ameerah, you must tell me everything," Tariq answered. Adriana nodded, and Mary wondered why he kept calling her 'ameerah.' What was it ... a pet name? Maybe a name which they had given to her, for living among them? Perhaps seeing her curious expression, Tariq said, "My apologies, lady ... 'ameerah' means 'princess.' Adriana told us of the name given to her by her brothers. It became Ardeth's favorite name for her, then."
Little princess, that was what Chris always called her. Adriana smiled ruefully as Tariq led them into a small office, and said, "There's one other thing you need to know, Mary ... my apologies, Tariq, this is my friend, Mary Travis. Stephen's sister. Mary, Tariq is one of the commanders of the Med-jai. He's what you might call a general, a leader of his tribe. There are twelve tribes of the Med-jai. My friend, Ardeth Bey, is the chieftain of all twelve tribes."
A chieftain? Twelve tribes? Depending on the size of the tribes, that was the size of a small nation! She raised her eyes to look at Adriana, who smiled and nodded slowly. She said softly, "Yes. There are things which you need to know, but you must not tell anyone for the moment. It's very important. It could even mean the difference between life and death. Literally." Mary swallowed hard, nodding her acceptance.
Adriana looked over at Tariq as she began to write something down. The big man nodded, his dark eyes reflecting his acceptance and his trust. Adriana began, "It's time I told you about the Med-jai, and about Hamunaptra. It's time I told about an accursed priest, about the hom-dai, and about a doomed love. It's time you knew everything. Including Ardeth Bey. Tariq is trusting me, and I am trusting you. Jonathan already knows, so you're the only person in this room who can do harm to these people." Mary caught her breath at the formal language her friend was using, and reacted accordingly.
"They saved your life, they protected you, and they brought about justice for my brother. I will do nothing which will harm them," she answered quietly, her own green eyes boring into Adriana's hazel ones. They had been friends for almost ten years ... had dried each other's tears, fought like sisters, had fought side by side. There was no way Mary would ever betray her friend. For all her flaws, that was one thing she would not ... could not ... do. Satisfied, Adriana nodded and began her story ... beginning with the night she met Ardeth Bey.
Around the same time Buck Wilmington found his younger brother in their sister's room, Chris Larabee and Vin Tanner were preparing themselves for the upcoming journey and making sure they had the weapons and ammunition ready. Neither brother spoke. It wasn't necessary. And while technically, there shouldn't have been a need for the weapons, both brothers knew how quickly things could turn ugly. And, as Buck was so fond of saying, he did hate ugly. They all did. He was just a lot more vocal about it.
At last, Chris said softly, "Can't help feelin' like this is gonna turn into a bloodbath." Vin nodded, but didn't speak. The older brother knew it wasn't necessarily an agreement, but an acknowledgment of his fears. Chris continued, "What a man don't know can get him killed, and I don't mind tellin' ya, Vin, there's a lot we don't know about what's goin' on." Again, Vin nodded, and again, he kept silent.
"Josiah's holdin' out on us, and Adriana has never told us everything. I know she's got a reason for just about everything she does. I know if she's keeping a secret, then it's because she thinks it's important," Chris continued. He didn't have much room to talk, and he knew it. Vin had teased him about saying no more than three words a day ... not that Vin had much room to talk about that, either. And Chris was protective of his privacy.
"Reckon that don't make it easier," Vin said quietly, and Chris shook his head. No. No, it didn't. He loved Adriana ... she was the little sister he never had, but he wished to God she had told them what happened in Egypt in the year she was gone, the year following Stephen's death. And he wished he knew whatever Josiah was hiding. Vin, in that way he had, said softly, "Reckon Josiah is a better choice, of where to start."
Chris looked at his brother, who continued, "He said a name, when ya tol' ever'body 'bout us goin' to Egypt. Sounded like 'Ardeth,' but I wouldn't swear to it. Just ain't sure if this 'Ardeth' is a person or a place. Reckon it's a person, but then we gotta figger out if it's a man or a woman." Vin paused, looked directly at Chris, then continued, "Story is told, 'bout a desert tribe. Called the 'Magi' or somethin' like that. Heard 'bout 'em a few times."
Chris waited, knowing his brother would get to the point when he was ready. Vin continued, "Reckon they might be a first cousin to ya, Larabee, seein' as how they wear black all the time." Chris glared at his brother, who gave an innocent smile which served to irritate Chris all the more. Vin continued, "See, these Magi protect somethin' in the desert. Somethin' nobody ever talks about. And there's a lot of folks afraid of them Magi."
Chris thought about what Vin had told him, then asked, "You think she encountered these cousins of mine." Vin shrugged, checking his equipment a third time, and Chris continued, "Well, if these guys are legendary, it would stand to reason that she wouldn't let us in on the secret. Question is, Vin, if you're right ... " He let his sentence trail off, not sure how he wanted to ask the question which was on his mind.
And it wasn't necessary. His brother said softly, his blue eyes flickering away from his weapon, "If she ran into 'em, Chris ... they parted as friends. 'Cause if they didn't, she'd be dead." That hit Chris with the force of a punch to his chest. He wondered uneasily if Stephen Travis had run afoul of these Magi ... if they were the ones who had killed the son of their boss. But that made no sense. True, Adriana didn't like Stephen, but ...
But Mary was her friend ... and before Stephen's death, Orrin and Evie Travis had been like her surrogate parents. No matter how she felt about Stephen, she loved the rest of his family. She wouldn't do that to them. Which left the original question. Why had she kept silent all this time, never answering their questions? Was Vin right, did she have ties to this Magi group of people? And if they had already set out, how would they find them?
That was the question which greatly troubled Chris. He didn't trust Will Richmond, and they had no idea where the expedition was heading. How, then, would they find them ... if they had already left Cairo? He wasn't aware at first that he had spoken aloud, until his brother replied, "Reckon Josiah can help us there. Let's face it, Chris ... the man knows Egypt better 'n I do." Chris looked at his brother, reluctant to recall Vin's time in Egypt.
"Do you think Josiah would know anything about these Magi you mentioned?" Chris asked. He shook his head, holding up a hand before his brother could answer, adding, "Never mind, I didn't ask that ... this is Josiah, after all." Vin's blue eyes sparkled with laughter, and Chris continued, "Quit laughing, it's not that funny." His brother simply grinned, and Chris added quietly, "I almost wish Adriana did meet up with these Magi. Make it a helluva lot easier to find her, if that's the case."
"I know," Vin answered simply. For the next several moments, the two brothers worked silently, each caught in their own thoughts. A few times, the elder brother glanced at the younger, seeing the frown of concentration. Even the worry. Vin was worried. He knew that Adriana, and Mary, were his younger brother's friends, but there was something more to Vin's concern than what met the eye. And Chris didn't have the heart to ask his brother about his own relationship with Adriana. Ever since the pair had met up again, Chris had been aware of something ... odd ... there. When Chris had been helping Buck to look after his baby sister, Pegeen had been raising Vin, so the pair didn't meet until they were nineteen.
And until they had reunited the previous year, Chris hadn't even known that his surrogate sister knew Vin Tanner. Mmm. Maybe he shouldn't be so surprised by Adriana's unwillingness to talk about Egypt, when she showed the same reluctance to discuss her past with Vin, whatever it entailed. And Vin was equally close-mouthed. Chris knew the pair were friends, but he was also very aware of the way each reacted to the other.
After several moments of silence, Vin said, "Reckon we oughta git some sleep. It's gonna be a long trip to Egypt." Chris nodded his agreement, and his brother carefully pushed himself to his feet. His bags were all packed, his weapons checked, his ammunition loaded. Vin put his hand on his older brother's shoulder, then went into his own room. Chris looked at what remained of his own preparations, then went back to work. He needed to think. He couldn't shake the feeling they didn't know nearly enough about this dig. About anything. What was worse, he didn't know anyone who had the answers he sought.
Josiah Sanchez was also thinking of Egypt. He hadn't stopped thinking about it, really, ever since he realized the judge was getting worried about his wife, daughter and surrogate daughter. The request didn't really surprise him. What did surprise him was Vin Tanner picking up what he had said. But when Chris acknowledged they were heading to Egypt, Ardeth Bey was the very first thing ... person ... he thought of.
Which was now why he was sitting in the middle of his room, looking at old photographs. The Med-jai had no fear the photos would steal their souls. They had other things to worry about. He smiled, gently caressing the picture now in his hand. It depicted a twenty-two year old Josiah Sanchez, holding a small boy of five on his hip. Josiah grinned like a loon at the photographer, but the little boy just looked solemn.
He hadn't know quite to make of the photographer, Josiah remembered. Ardeth had been very shy as a very small boy, and tended to cling to familiar people when unfamiliar faces were in camp. Josiah was one of those familiar people. After the picture was taken, Josiah had tossed the little boy over his shoulder, until Ardeth was hanging upside down by his ankles. The little boy had squealed with delight, and that was when the second picture was taken.
Josiah smiled, touching the laughing face of the little boy in the picture. He had been such a beautiful child. Until Ardeth, Josiah never really paid much attention to little ones, aside from Hannah. And he most assuredly didn't call children 'beautiful.' But Ardeth was special. Maybe it was because Ardeth was the first child whom Josiah held when he was only hours old, or because of his longtime fascination with the Med-jai.
Josiah didn't know. He only knew that he loved Ardeth as if he was his own son. Ardeth, the oldest of his 'sons.' Josiah smiled at that, thinking of how his two younger 'sons' would react when they met Ardeth. If they met Ardeth. The last Josiah heard, his young friend was healthy and strong, and had recovered from his attempt to sacrifice himself. Then again, that had been seven years earlier, and he had last heard from Ardeth about six months earlier.
The American just hoped O'Connell and his wife weren't anywhere around ... bad things tended to happen to Ardeth when they were around. Josiah didn't dislike the pair. Evy O'Connell certainly hadn't intended to raise Imhotep when she dug him up and read from the Book. She hadn't intended to do a lot of things, but the fact remained ... bad things happened to Ardeth and his people when the O'Connell clan was on the continent.
Josiah put that photograph, of the laughing five year old, to one side, and picked up a newer one. Here, Ardeth was twelve ... the baby and the child starting to give way to the young man he would become. His black hair reached his jawline, and in another few years, he would find it necessary to shave. The innocence was still in his eyes, despite the harshness of the desert life. Again, Josiah touched the solemn face, before moving to the next photo.
This was taken by Terrence, for reasons he never explained to Josiah. His old friend didn't always explain what he was doing or what he was thinking. In that respect, he was a great deal like his older brother, Ardeth's father, and Terrence and Suleiman's father. The photo depicted seventeen year old Ardeth weeping silently into Josiah's shirt after his father's death ... Josiah's hand was cupped around the back of the youthful chieftain's head.
The American swallowed hard, blinking back tears. Why had Terrence taken that picture? Had he wanted to remind his people that their new chieftain was just a man ... just a boy? Josiah turned over the picture, seeking answers. The Med-jai were an intensely private people ... why would Terrence have intruded on such an intensely personal moment for his nephew? He found no answers on the back of the photograph. Just a simple inscription. 'My nephew mourns.'
Maybe that was the answer. Maybe his old friend was reminding himself, at the time, that his nephew was still just a boy. The picture was originally in with Terence's own belongings, which Ardeth had given to Josiah after ... after it happened. Terence probably never meant for his nephew to see that picture. 'My nephew mourns.' Josiah could almost feel the slim body shaking as Ardeth wept ... could feel the silky black hair.
The American took a deep breath, trying to fight back his own grief. He had failed this boy as well. He had failed Suleiman and Terrence, he had failed Hannah ... and he had failed Ardeth. Yes, he had followed his young friend to Hamunaptra, and had been able to rescue him from the bombed-out corridor. Had carried him to safety, but once Ardeth was on the road to recovery, Josiah left Egypt, and hadn't been back since.
Helluva way to treat someone you loved. Josiah put the picture to one side, and saw Ardeth as he had last seen him, seven years earlier. The American had arrived in Cairo only a few weeks before He Who Must Not Be Named was resurrected, guided once more by crows and his fear that his friends were about to be engulfed in something far more than anyone ever dreamed. Terrence had lost his life, and Ardeth ... Ardeth had another fight on his hands, even before the resurrection.
Twenty-six years old, and struggling with the other Commanders to bring the Med-jai into the twentieth century. Josiah had been there at the time, and listened as Ardeth argued passionately that their world was changing, and it was necessary to change with it, or they would surely lose. The elder Commanders hadn't wanted to listen to the chieftain, but the raising of the Creature had proven him right.
Josiah had been very grateful that Terrence had arranged for him to sit in on that meeting, because when those Commanders tried to blame Ardeth for Hamunaptra, the chieftain had someone who could ... and would ... fight for him. True enough, he was a foreigner, but Terrence had made his wishes known. If something were to happen to him, he wanted Josiah to take his place. Josiah had fulfilled those wishes, and reminded the Commanders of how they had ignored the warnings of their young king.
Josiah had then helped Ardeth to start training the Med-jai in the Western style of fighting, just as Josiah had taught Ardeth. The world was changing, and they had to change with it. Because of his warnings the first time, Ardeth began to take on a greater responsibility, even for a chieftain. He began to read the ancient texts, and it was there that he began to learn of the Scorpion King, of Ahm Shere, the Bracelet of Anubis, and the Army of Anubis.
It was then that Josiah failed Ardeth. As the chieftain grew more and more involved in his studies, Josiah was called back to the United States. Hannah was growing worse. Ardeth urged him to go, assuring him that he would be all right. Josiah promised his friend that he would return. However, life seldom turns out as you expect ... and seven years had passed since he last saw the young man who was like his son.
Ardeth probably wouldn't hold his failure against him. After all, it wasn't as if he had raised Imhotep. And unless you directly threatened what he held dear, the Med-jai leader was a patient and forgiving man. He probably wouldn't even think Josiah's failure needed to be forgiven. But Josiah couldn't shake the feeling that something had happened to his friend, during the last several years ... and that he should have been there for Ardeth during that time.
He wished again that he had offered his own services to the expedition, when the Richmond party left for Egypt. He had several conversations with Adriana, especially once her feud with JD quieted down, and he knew she was a competent Egyptologist. He wasn't worried about her skills or intelligence, but he was worried about Richmond. Josiah had lived long enough to recognize a man obsessed, and Will Richmond fit that bill to a 't.'
In addition, the women would need some additional protection. They were quite adequate at that here in the United States, and Josiah knew Adriana had spent time in Egypt, but you could only learn so much in a year. He had spent several years there. He had lived among the Med-jai, and learned their ways. From what Adriana had told him, she spent most of her time in the cities; and the desert was a far different place.
So yes ... he wished he had gone with them now. If he had, things might not have been so tense. Judge Travis might not be so worried.
And, another voice reminded him, you might be dead. Will Richmond is a man obsessed, and those are the most dangerous men of all. But Josiah still felt as though he had failed someone yet again. So far, he had been lucky ... so far, only Terrence had lost his life because of Josiah's failures. There was still hope for Hannah ... and Ardeth was still alive. He only hoped he could say the same for Evie Travis and the young women with her.
"Adriana ... if anyone else but you were telling me this, I wouldn't believe you. You know that, right? So ... I'll recap what you just told me. The year you spent in Egypt after Stephen's death, you were living with this Med-jai tribe ... this nation of warriors. You were under the protection of their king, Ardeth, who had saved you from Stephen's murderer. He, and the rest of his tribe, taught you about their way of life and their purpose. Right so far?"
Rick O'Connell stopped in his tracks, hearing an unfamiliar voice. That wasn't the only cause of his sudden halt. It was the name mentioned ... Adriana. He glanced uneasily at his wife. Evy's dark eyes were practically glowing with rage. Rick had never had a problem with the American girl, if it was the same Adriana. But Evy had never forgiven her for 'abandoning' Ardeth, as she saw it.
"Yes ... and Mary, I know you don't believe in anything outside the physical world. But I saw things while I was with Ardeth and his people, things which logic can't explain. I wasn't there when the Creature arose ... the first time or the second. But I saw other things. Things which should have never happened, because they were impossible. But they happened. And on more than one occasion, I almost lost my friend and champion," a familiar voice replied.
Evy's entire body seemed to freeze in place. Rick almost groaned. Oh no. Here they went. Evy stormed into the room ... stopping only when she saw one of the Med-jai commanders in the room, his hand resting companionably on the shoulder of a small, slender young woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair. That wasn't what surprised Rick ... the obvious affection in the gesture. What did surprise him was the midnight blue cloak worn by the young woman.
It wasn't a replica of the cloak worn by Ardeth, his ceremonial cloak, which proclaimed his status as the Med-jai chieftain. But it was very similar. And there was a long silence in the room, broken when Jonathan said hurriedly, "Hello, old mum, Rick ... look who's back for a visit, and she's brought a friend! Quite a lovely friend, I should add." Rick shifted his gaze from the cool, dark hazel eyes of Adriana Wilmington to the friend mentioned. Another young woman, about the same age as Adriana, with long blonde hair barely covered by a scarf.
"You have a lot of nerve coming back here!" Evy hissed, glowering at Adriana. Rick cringed as Adriana's eyes shifted from him to Evy. She had to have learned that calm gaze from Ardeth. The American girl said nothing, simply folded her arms over her chest and stared at Evy. Rick looked at his wife, who had become overly protective of Ardeth ever since his arrival in London a few months earlier, as Evy continued, "And you have no right to wear that cloak."
"Au contraire, Evy, I have every right. Ardeth gave me this cloak as a farewell gift, before I returned to the States. He told me to wear it when I returned to Egypt," Adriana replied calmly. Ardeth had given it to her ... which blew Evy's theory that Ardeth had been angry with his American friend for leaving him and the tribe. Then again, Evy was also certain that the Med-jai leader had been in love with the American girl, and Rick never saw any proof of that.
Cared about her, absolutely ... was protective of her, sure. But loved her? That, to Rick, was something of a reach. Adriana continued, "I realize this is hard for you to accept, Evy, but I'm not the enemy. I chose to leave, before I could become the enemy. Before Ardeth ended up hating me. I wish I could have been for him, during the last few months. It sounds like he could have used someone here to watch his back. But that's why I'm here now. To warn him."
Oh, this didn't sound good! Rick's bad feeling was confirmed when the Med-jai said quietly, "She speaks the truth. She travels with one who seeks to raise He Who Must Be Named, and wished to warn us. It was her hope that she could warn our chieftain before he was forced to take lives which he would not wish to take." Imhotep? Again? Uh-uh, no way, wasn't gonna happen! He had almost lost his wife and son to that sonofabitch!
He was still healing from Ahm Shere, from the pain of watching Evy die, which was why his words were far more harsh than he intended as he told his former comrade in arms, "Well, you can just count us out! We put that bastard back in his grave twice now, we ain't doin' it again! You and this companion of yours raise him ... it's your problem, not ours." Adriana's eyes darkened from hazel to ... black. Oh, shit ... he just put his foot in it.
"Mr. O'Connell," she said in a very low, very deadly voice, "I have no intention to ask you to join in something that patently has nothing to do with you. I am Ardeth Bey's friend. I came here to warn him of a possible problem. I will stand at his side if this problem does arise. And I know you will not ... because this has nothing to do with your family." Rick stared at the young woman blankly, realizing that he had been insulted.
I am sorry if I alarmed your son. But you must understand. Now that the bracelet is on his wrist, we have only seven days before the Scorpion King awakens.
We? What we?
Rick winced as the memory of the conversation. But Adriana wasn't finished with him. She continued, "Yes, Mr. O'Connell ... I know about Ahm Shere. I know about the Scorpion King. Jonathan told me everything. But I wonder ... what do you know? Do you know how many men Ardeth lost in the battle against the Anubis Warriors?"
Rick thought back to his final view of Ardeth Bey, before they met up again in Cairo. No. No, Ardeth had never told him how many they had lost. What price had been paid by young men under the command of another young man. And ... Rick had never asked. He had been too grateful himself to be alive. Not a crime, in and of itself. It was human nature. But he hadn't asked since then.
Adriana continued, her voice still cold, " Do you know how badly he might have been injured? Did you ever ask, after the bus ride, once you saw Lock-nah's men inside the house after Alex was kidnapped, what happened to his shoulder?" No. He hadn't. He had been so focused first on Evy, then on Alex ... it really never occurred to him that Ardeth was hurt. But Ardeth had never said anything. He hadn't answered Rick directly when asked about his injuries on the bus.
Rick's first priority was his family, and he wouldn't apologize for that. But ... Ardeth had come to London, to warn them, to help them. Had Rick ever thanked him for that? No. No, he hadn't. He had taken out his rage and frustration and helplessness on his friend ... on the man who had saved his ass more than once. And Ardeth had accepted it ... because he thought he deserved it? Damn crazy Med-jai, that was exactly how he would see it.
His blue-green eyes returned to Adriana's hazel ones, which had remained steady on his face. She gave a single, short nod, then said, "You know ... speaking of Ardeth's shoulder ... " Huh? Then something hard impacted with Rick's jaw, and the American found himself spinning around, before falling rather ungracefully on his ass. He looked up, rocking his jaw from side to side, to find Adriana looming over him, her small hand still clenched into a fist and her dark eyes burning with rage. She growled, "That was for Ardeth!"
She spun around, the cloak swirling around her ankles as she did so, and said, "We should get back, Mary, before Richmond starts to wonder where we are ... and takes it out on Charlotte." The blonde woman who had accompanied her looked at Rick in amazement, then followed behind her. Tariq, the Med-jai commander, looked from Rick to the departing figures of the two young women.
He shook his head with a smile, saying, "Now that was a punch worthy of Ardeth himself. And that was an exit worthy of him as well! Good day, Mr. O'Connell ... Mrs. O'Connell. I should escort the ladies home, before I warn Ardeth." And with that, Tariq was gone, a grin in place of the usually stoic mask worn by all Med-jai, or so it seemed. Rick rocked his jaw once more, then froze in place at the look on his wife's face.
"Richard," she said quietly, "is there something you'd like to tell me? Such as ... why that woman felt it necessary to punch you in the jaw? Something you did to Ardeth?" Rick looked around the room desperately, trying to figure out how Adriana had found out about shoving Ardeth into the stone pedestal outside their home in England ... then his eyes lit on his brother-in-law ... who, no doubt, let it slip.
Because there was no way in the world Ardeth would have told her, even if he had seen her in the last three months. Tariq hadn't been there ... which left Jonathan.
The other man was slowly backing up, but Evy grabbed Rick before he could go after her brother and asked, "What did you do to Ardeth?" Rick sighed. She wouldn't let this go, then. He couldn't blame her, not after seeing the men whom she and Ardeth had fought in the manor, before Evy herself was taken. And Alex had told him since that Ardeth fought two and three men at a time. The little boy had been very impressed by the Med-jai.
"I ... lashed out at him. After you were taken. I was surprised to see him ... I wasn't angry with him, Evy, just the situation," Rick replied. To his own ears, it sounded lame, and judging from Evy's glare, it sounded lame to her as well. He knew the other light in her eyes. The light which said she wanted to go and help Ardeth as well. No matter what he said. Rick sighed and said, "I just don't want to lose you again."
"Rick ... that woman came back, because she wanted to warn Ardeth of danger. After everything he's done for us ... the least we owe him is to stand at his side! Rick ... darling ... honey ... sweetheart. She said that we wouldn't be there for Ardeth, because he's not part of our family. But she's wrong. He is our family, and we're his. Family stands by each other," Evy said. Damn her, she would win this battle, just like she had won with Ahm Shere and Hamunaptra. Because she was right. Ardeth was his family ... and family did stand by each other.
"So, what sorts of things should I take, Vin? I ain't been to Egypt, and Josiah ain't much help at the moment," Nathan observed. Vin looked at his friend, and looked over the assorted herbs and ointments which the medic had packed. The way he figured it, Nathan had made a good start of what they would need in the desert, if it became necessary for them to track the expedition. And when he encountered Josiah this morning, the big man told him not to worry about tracking the expedition.
If it had to be done, Josiah would start knocking heads together until they got the answers they wanted. He had smiled then, a very unpleasant smile which left Vin relieved that they were on the same side, and added that he had lived among the desert tribes as a young boy. He had learned quite a few things from them ... along the same lines as what Vin learned about gittin' the truth outta a man, courtesy of his time with the Kiowa and Comanche.
That gave Vin the willies, if he was bein' honest with himself ... not just what Josiah had told him, but the way he said it. The way he almost seemed to take pleasure in the idea of knocking some heads together. And one thing Vin Tanner was, and that was honest. 'Specially with himself, though he usually didn't bother lyin' to other folks. Took up too much time and energy, which could be better spent. Though, in this case, he figured it would end up being used to keep Bucklin from killin' Richmond if anythin' had happened to Drina.
He looked again at Nathan's medical kit, mentally running through possible scenarios in his mind, based on his own experiences in Egypt. He had spent a year there himself, and seen pretty much every type of injury there was. What he hadn't seen in Egypt, he had seen in his travels. And from what he was seeing, Nathan had pretty much come up with every scenario that Vin himself knew about. Sometimes, second-guessin' came in handy.
"Looks pretty good, Nate ... and I got faith in ya. Somethin' comes up, ain't nobody's seen before ... reckon y'all figger somethin' out," Vin replied. A warm smile was his reward, and Vin asked slowly, "Ya noticed it, too? J'siah, I mean." Nathan nodded, the smile dying, and Vin shook his head, muttering, "Wasn't too worried 'bout it last night, but now it seems like ever'body is acting outta whack. 'Cept you, me, Ez, and Chris."
Nathan laughed at that, replying, "Well, ya didn't really expect Ez, of all people, to turn down Egypt? 'Specially with that fella, Carter, findin' them tombs and all that gold back in the Twenties, didja? Gotta admit ... that gold tempts me, too. Think about what I could buy with that kinda gold, the equipment. Then I think about where the gold comes from. It ain't worth it. Don't believe in curses ... but I do believe in leavin' the dead alone. And them grave robbers ... well, they don't."
Vin couldn't argue, but said, "Well, don't imagine Ezra would be Ezra if he didn't at least salivate over that gold." Nathan laughed outright, and Vin added, "Reckon we don't really want him to change, neither. Not now, when we're all used to him bein' who he is." That earned him a quick shake of the head. Things had been difficulty between Ezra and Nathan in the beginning. Over the two years the Seven had been together, the mutual distrust had given way first to a wary respect, and was now growing into a genuine friendship.
But it had taken time. Nathan's wounds during his encounters with the Ku Klux Klan were still healing, and his guard automatically went up when Ezra refused to aid them, 'cause Nathan was with them. Sure, he eventually gave Nathan a chance, but there was more to it than that. Drina once explained it to Ezra this way, and Vin listened with interest. The things Nathan had gone through, growin' up ... they was a violation. When ya got violated once, the defenses went up, whether ya wanted 'em to or not.
Vin Tanner was a man who said little ... but this time, he found himself mumbling Drina's explanation out loud. Nathan said quietly, "She ever tell ya 'bout that?" Vin looked at his friend, perplexed, and Nathan continued, "Reckon ya remember she weren't too comfortable with me at first ... when she first got here?" Vin nodded, and Nathan continued, "She finally admitted to me, was because of somethin' that happened in Egypt. She weren't proud of how she reacted ... but a dark man killed Stephen Travis, and threatened to ... threatened her."
What??????? Vin was no idiot ... he knew exactly what Nathan had meant to say. He looked at his friend, who nodded and continued, "She don't like to talk 'bout that night, Vin, but she figgered she owed me that much. She said she knew I wasn't the guilty one, and that she weren't bein' fair to me. But this man ... he was big, and about as dark as me. Didn't git a good look at his face. And if she looked at me real fast, she would see him. Reckon she figgered if she tol' ya, or Buck, or Chris ... "
Nathan's voice trailed off, and Vin nodded shortly. Yeah, he could just about figger that one out. If there was one thin' Drina hated, it was bein' a victim. And if there was anything that came close to her hatred of bein' a victim, it was admittin' to somethin' like that. Drina bein' Drina, and with the way she growed up, would see it as bein' weak. Hell, bein' weak had nothin' to do with it ... bein' a woman had nothin' to do with it.
"She tell ya anythin' else, Nate?" Vin asked, distracting himself from the mental image of Adriana, pressed against a wall and watching in horror as Stephen Travis was cut down in front of her. He wanted that image gone from his mind, and he wanted the rage created by that image gone as well. Nate shook his head. It didn't surprise Vin. He said, "Well, thanks fer tellin' me. Like I said ... looks real good."
"Thanks, Vin," Nathan answered quietly. He looked down at the kit, then back up at Vin, saying, "I know ya ain't askin' me, but I'm gonna tell ya anyhow. Don't take it personal, that she didn't tell ya 'bout what happened that night. Ya know how she is, Vin. She don't like to admit she needs help, and she hated that she couldn't save him." Vin nodded, sighing. The truth was, he wasn't angry with her. He had let her down, how could he expect her to just trust him again?
She did trust him, that was the bitch of it. She did trust him, even though he didn't deserve it. There were so many damn things goin' on with that whole year she'd been away. And why did she wait another year, after leaving Egypt, 'fore she came back to Arizona? What happened to her in that year, and what was happening to her now? Nathan said softly, "She's gonna be fine, Vin. Have faith."
Vin gave his friend a crooked smile and answered, "That's Josiah, Nate, not me." He clapped his friend on the back, as Buck and JD pulled up in front of the church. There was a tension between the two brothers, which hadn't been there the previous night, and Vin wondered what had happened. His gut instinct told him it had something to do with their journey to Egypt, but he would wait for one of them to tell him. And he knew one of them would.
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