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!
Buck Wilmington was not a happy man. After he had left his sister's room the previous night, the anger with their younger brother continued to grow. Just when he thought JD was startin' to grow up, he went and pulled somethin' like this. He just ... it boggled his mind. What the hell was JD thinkin,' doin' somethin' like that? He had heard the same stories Buck did, about their father's intrusions into their sister's room. Didn't he understand what a violation that was?
Apparently not. Buck shook his head in disgust again, pulling up in front of the church Josiah had been renovating. They were meeting the others here, before heading out. A quick glance told Buck that Ezra wasn't here yet. If he knew the others, Vin or Josiah was helping Nathan with his med-kit, and Chris was checking on ... something. JD said quietly, "I said I was sorry, Buck. But you can't tell me that you didn't want some answers, too. You don't like the idea of her goin' to Egypt, any more than I did. You wanted the same answers I did." Buck sighed and leaned forward, resting his forehead against the steering wheel.
After a moment, he turned and looked at JD, answering, "Oh yeah, I wanted answers. But I wasn't about to do anything that would keep me from lookin' my baby sister in the eye. I suppose I can't blame ya, for not understandin' that. But I failed that girl once. I didn't protect her properly, and it almost cost her sanity. I didn't protect her from our old man, I didn't protect her in Egypt. Well, I'm through with lettin' her down."
"Jesus, Buck! You act like I read her goddamn diary! I just went into her room and looked around!" JD blurted out. This time, Buck bounced his head off the steering wheel before glaring at his younger brother. JD couldn't be serious. Then again, maybe he could. JD didn't know their sister, not the way Buck did. Or maybe, it was just that he didn't think there was anything wrong with going into someone's private sanctuary without their permission.
Wait. That was it. Buck looked at his younger brother, asking softly, "How would you feel, JD, if someone touched your guns without your permission? If they invaded somethin' that belonged to your mama, somethin' she gave to you? Huh?" Buck was referring specifically to a box of pictures which had belonged to JD's mother, Nora Dunne. He was rewarded by a narrowing of his younger brother's eyes, and Buck continued, "Don't say it ain't the same thing, 'cause it is. DeeDee wasn't ready to share that with us, and you took that away from her."
He made sure the car was in gear, then got out, slamming the door behind him, hard. It was a thoroughly childish thing to do, but it made him feel better. Buck had a reputation as being the team clown, as well as being a ladies' man, but his younger brother was starting to get on his nerves. Enough of that. Buck climbed the steps to the church, and found himself met by a very tired-looking Josiah.
The other man looked like he had spent the entire night, wrestling with his own personal version of hell. Buck had seen that expression too many times when Josiah had returned from Vista City. But for right now, he smiled tiredly, saying, "Good to see you, brother Buck ... though you look ready to leave someone in a world of hurt." Buck glanced over his shoulder at his brother, still getting out of the car with his own bag. Buck would get his in a minute. He looked back at Josiah, who said, "Ahhh, so that's the way of it."
Buck knew he could trust the other man not to say anything to JD about it, and said softly, "He went into DeeDee's room last night, Josiah. Her sanctuary ... you know about what our old man did. You know how important her room is to her, how important her privacy is, and always was, to her. And he thinks he's got the right to just go in there when she ain't home. I've tried to explain to him, why he can't do that, and he don't understand. He just ... don't understand." Josiah sighed and put his hand on Buck's shoulder.
"I don't think any of us can explain it to John Dunne, Buck. I figure the only thing which will teach him ... is time. He didn't mean any harm, you know that. Whether he's willing to admit it or not, he does love your sister ... and he is trying to help," Josiah answered. Buck sighed, running his fingers through his hair. That was the whole thing, wasn't it? JD wanted to help, and to help, he needed answers about what had happened to her in Egypt, why she had stayed away so long, and why she felt honor-bound to return now.
The same answers Buck had been trying to get for the last year, ever since his sister had returned to his life, looking so very tired and so very haunted. His gut instinct told him that the picture JD had found the previous night held some of those answers. He replied with another sigh, "I know. I know we need answers, if we're gonna help her. It's just ... " He gestured helplessly, for once at a loss for words.
"It's just that she's your little sister, who you love and want to protect. Not from JD, but from things you don't even know about. And because you don't know what to protect her from, you take it out on JD when he does something well-meaning but stupid," Josiah completed. Buck winced. Put like that, he started to understand why JD was pouting. Josiah just clapped him on the shoulder, adding, "Why don't you head on in, talk to Chris? I'll keep this between us."
Buck knew that, but said anyhow, "Thanks, Josiah. Yeah, I'll pick up my bag on the way back out." Josiah nodded, and Buck headed into the church. He found Vin and Nathan working quietly, side by side. Buck paused and watched them, marveling at the unlikely friends. Or perhaps not so unlikely. From the beginning, Vin had simply accepted Nathan ... was like he didn't even see his skin color. Just saw another man.
It was a rare quality, even in these enlightened times. Even with people like Jesse Owens in the limelight, Buck had realized from his association with Nathan just how precarious the healer's life was, especially with his association with six white men. Vin didn't seem to care about that, though ... how the Ku Klux Klan might regard him. He had saved Nathan's life, he and Chris, and Nathan had repaid them both with a fierce loyalty that sometimes made Buck's heart hurt. And one thing Buck Wilmington absolutely was, was loyal.
He continued to the rear of the church, where he found Chris once more checking their supplies. An intense look of concentration had appeared on the face of his old friend, but Chris said as he entered, "Mornin,' Buck. Ready to bring your sister home?" He looked up and Buck offered a half smile. Chris smiled back, adding, "Yeah, that's what I figured. She ain't gonna make it easy on us, you know that."
"Hell, since when has anything about my little sister ... or Mary, for that matter ... been easy? You do know what Richmond was callin' them two, by the time he left? Eve and Lilith," Buck told his friend. Chris simply looked at him, and Buck continued, "He made the mistake of sayin' that in both my hearin,' and Vin's. Don't think he'll be making that mistake again any time soon." He waggled his brows, and this time, Chris laughed.
"Nope, don't imagine he will be. Then again, the way those two are ... by the time they're finished with him, he may be wishin' for another round with you. The way Mary and Adriana get when you push 'em too far ... especially at the same time ... " the blond observed. Buck just grinned at that, his eyes twinkling. Chris was real good at that. Every time he started gettin' too worried about DeeDee to think properly, Chris would remind him of a few things.
He and Chris had done real good, raisin' her. They had taught her to take care of herself, and how to leave someone else in a world of hurt when she was bein' threatened.
If Will Richmond went too far, Buck realized that both his sister and Mary Travis would deal with him accordingly. He asked wonderingly, "How do you do that, Chris? I know it ain't a matter of love. I know you love my baby sister just as much as I do ... so how do you always remember about what we taught her?" Chris sighed as he finished going through their supplies and straightened up, looking Buck dead in the eye.
"I remember that, because I do love her, Buck. Yeah, I worry about her ... hell yeah, I worry about her! But I know her. I helped to raise her. I know what she's capable of doing, and I know what Mary's capable of doing. The woman drives me crazy on occasion, but she would do anything for Adriana, and the feeling's one hundred percent mutual. When those two are together, I don't worry about them ... they'll be just fine," Chris replied.
Yeah, Buck supposed he was right. He cocked a brow, saying, "So ... we ain't on a mission to rescue DeeDee and Mary ... but Richmond from them two?" Chris threw back his head and laughed at that, nodding as he did. Buck wasn't too sure he liked that idea, but either way, it didn't matter. Rescue DeeDee and Mary, or rescue Richmond ... he just wanted to make sure his sister was safe, so they could start rebuilding their family.
"That ... was magnificent," Tariq chuckled as he walked through the streets of Cairo with his two young female companions. Ameerah just smiled at him faintly, though he saw her massaging the hand with which she had just struck Rick O'Connell. Her blonde companion, however, was outright laughing, her green eyes sparkling with amusement. Tariq continued, looking at the lovely blonde woman, "You do not seem surprised by Ameerah's actions."
"I'm not," she replied with a grin, "I've seen her do it before." Tariq looked from one young woman to the other, sensing a wonderful story in this. When Ameerah had first come to them, she knew something of fighting. She had been taught by her two older brothers and the friend lost in Egypt, but Tariq and the rest of the Med-jai had honed the skills she already had. Including putting enough force into a blow to knock a man as large as O'Connell off his feet.
Seeing his interested look, the blonde girl looped her arm through Ameerah's, saying, "Welllll ... Adriana and I have a mutual friend Vin, the reason she accompanied my brother to Egypt years ago." Her brother? Ameerah's foolish companion, who had died at the hands of the traitor Lock-nah? Hmmm. Maybe he should watch this lovely young American. Foolishness was known to run in families after all. He had only to look at the Carnahah-O'Connell clan to realize that ... there wasn't a member of that family who was not a trouble magnet. Tariq only hoped they wouldn't one day get his young chieftain killed.
The commander turned his attention back to the blonde-haired young woman as she continued, "A few years ago, Vin had a run-in with one of the Indians from the reservation. Chanu. He ... Chanu, I mean ... was accused of kidnapping his wife, Claire Moseley. No one knew Claire and Chanu were married ... it was assumed that he had kidnapped her." There was a clear distaste in her voice as she spoke of the supposed crime, and Tariq sensed Ameerah's friend had not been so sure of this Chanu's guilt.
"Claire later died, and again, it was assumed that Chanu was guilty. During all this, there was a confrontation between Chanu and Vin, which ended with Vin lying unconscious on the jail floor, and Chanu escaping," the girl continued. Tariq realized that she was leaving out a great deal, but didn't interrupt. He was far too interested in hearing what Ameerah had done to this man who harmed her friend.
"Mary ... leave it. One thing has nothing to do with the other," Ameerah warned her friend, but the amusement in her dark eyes told the commander she wasn't truly angry with Mary. The blonde girl simply grinned impishly and Ameerah rolled her eyes in exasperation. She looked at Tariq, saying, "It wasn't a big deal. I just wanted him to understand that I protect my friends, even if it is after the fact ... there is always a consequence for hurting someone I care about."
"You struck him as well?" Tariq questioned, and Ameerah shrugged with a faint smile, but the blush creeping up her neck told the tale. Tariq roared with laughter, and caught sight of the young woman named Mary grinning impishly. The Med-jai continued once he had regained his composure, "And how, dear Ameerah, did this Cha-nu react to such a small young person striking him? Was it hard enough ... now, what is the expression which Ardeth learned? Oh yes, now I remember ... was it hard enough to knock him on his ass?"
"Well ... yeah. It was," Ameerah admitted, still blushing. Then she laughed, adding, "But you should have seen his face, Tariq! He's on the floor, staring up at me in total disbelief. I'm looking back at him ... and he starts laughing! Like a ... like a ... well, like an idiot. Think Ardeth when we got him drunk that one time, and you have the idea." Again, Tariq roared with laughter, remembering the incident well.
Tariq was several years older than his chieftain ... he had been approaching his rites of manhood when Ardeth was born, and thus, tended to look on the young man as a nephew, or as a much younger brother. It was his considered opinion that his young chieftain/nephew had too little fun and laughter in his life. Much to his surprise, the other commanders felt the same way. Too many times, the elder commanders felt younger ones were not serious enough ... but Ardeth was hardly the 'normal' young commander. And, it was one of the few times he had asked for the aid of Rick O'Connell ... they needed some alcohol from his home.
It was a common mistake among people, particularly Westerners, to assume that the Med-jai were Muslim. They were not. True, they did speak Arabic, but they followed a much older tradition. However, as a general rule, Ardeth did not drink. He had too much responsibility, both as a chieftain and a commander. But that particular night ... and the following morning ... Tariq had assumed that responsibility.
Much to Tariq's surprise, O'Connell had actually come through for him, providing whiskey and more to the Med-jai commander. Fortunately for everyone, the Creature did not arise again that night. In fact, he would not arise again for another two years. Not until only a few months earlier, and this could not be blamed on the O'Connell family. Too bad. However, that particular night proved to be quite memorable.
Ameerah's friend said now, "From what I was hearing from Adriana and Jonathan on the way here, I didn't think ... well ... it just surprises me that Ardeth would even get drunk." Ameerah simply laughed softly, and Tariq fought back a grin of his own. Yes, most people did think that. The blonde girl blushed and added, "Never mind, I'll hush before I really put my foot in my mouth." Ahh ... another one of those amusing American sayings which never failed to make Ardeth laugh.
"Too late for that," came Ameerah's sassy reply, and her friend glared at her. Ameerah just laughed, and continued, "Actually, you're right ... Ardeth isn't one who usually gets drunk, but the Med-jai had just finished with a rather ugly battle. Ardeth was exhausted and Tariq decided it was time he relaxed. Soooo ... he got his hands on some booze, and we proceeded to get Ardeth thoroughly drunk."
"We?" the blonde girl asked and Ameerah nodded with a smug grin. The one she always wore when she spoke of that night. It was educational, in more ways than one. Ardeth, of course, was usually very quiet and self-contained. Not that night. Adriana seemed like the picture of innocence and naivete. Not even close. And Tariq had learned the following morning that even his solemn chieftain could be dreadfully ill during a hangover.
"We," Ameerah said with an evil grin. She continued, "We had poor Ardeth so drunk, he forgot his own name. By the end of the night, I was teaching him bawdy Irish drinking songs. What really scared me was, he remembered the songs later, but not how he learned them." Tariq snickered ... what he hadn't told Ameerah, yet, was that Ardeth had finally remembered that entire night. Ameerah added, "But we did what we set out to do. For a time, Ardeth was free to be himself, instead of worrying about the Med-jai."
"That's sad," the blonde girl said softly, "that it takes a night of being drunk for him to forget about being a chieftain, and just enjoy himself." It was sad. Too many people saw the trappings of Ardeth's authority, his ability with a gun and a sword, his skills in hand to hand combat. They saw the respect given to him, the respect he had earned. But so many failed to see the man beyond the chieftain. So many never even bothered to look. The blonde girl asked thoughtfully, "Just out of curiosity ... why did you ... ?" She didn't finish her sentence ... she was struggling to find the words she needed.
And it wasn't necessary for her, because Tariq understood. He replied, "Because I would watch Westerners when they had imbibed too much liquor. I thought it would help Ardeth relax. I was wrong." He glared at Ameerah, adding, "He forgave you long before he forgave the rest of us. I always wondered what you said to him while you were tending to him." Ameerah gave him an innocent look which fooled Tariq not at all.
"I was the one tending to him, Tariq, that's why he forgave me so quickly," Ameerah answered, and Tariq couldn't argue with that. While he had taken on the responsibility of the twelve tribes until Ardeth was himself again, Ameerah had taken care of Ardeth. She continued, "I mean, let's face it ... I've had plenty of experience, between my two brothers. And Mary, I think this is the first time in the history of the Med-jai that one of the commanders got the chieftain drunk on purpose."
She was correct. None of the Med-jai had ever been drunk, nor did they know how to deal with their chieftain as he struggled through his first, last, and only hangover. It was hard enough for Tariq, hearing his young friend retching long after there was anything to come up. It was hard enough, watching Ardeth collapse into Adriana's arms, trembling and hollow-eyed with exhaustion. But he wasn't in the tent with his chieftain and Ameerah through the entire day.
The trio were silent for a long moment. Then Ameerah's friend, Mary, asked, "I really shouldn't ask this ... but what was he like when he was drunk? Was he mean ... silly? Or ... " Mmm. It appeared this Mary knew quite a lot about Ameerah's family, things which Tariq had learned while Ameerah was caring for Ardeth that day. She had told him of both brothers, Buck and Chris; particularly the change Chris had undergone after the deaths of his wife and son.
"He was ... like a little boy. Funny. Silly. It took the littlest thing to make him laugh. Imagine the two of us when we've gone without sleep for twenty-four hours. Ardeth is normally so solemn. Not to say he doesn't have a sense of humor, because he does. He just ... he just usually doesn't have things to laugh about," Ameerah explained as they reached the orphanage which Ardeth had chosen as a connection place.
Tariq had brought Ameerah here, after realizing he couldn't walk with her and her friend to the house where they had been staying. If he did that, there was a chance this Richmond person would see him and ask questions. Ameerah had given him plenty of warning, and he had ignored her warnings. Now it was time for her to warn the Med-jai, and Tariq had realized, too, that she risked her life to do so. He would not place her in further danger.
She cocked a brow at him inquiringly, and Tariq said quietly, "Father Pierre will walk you and your friend back, Ameerah. I must return, and send a message to Ardeth. Be well, little Ameerah. It was good to see you again." She smiled at him, extending a small, pale hand from under the cloak which Ardeth had given her two years earlier, when she announced her decision to leave. That cloak marked her as a friend to the Med-jai, and one who was protected. It was Ardeth's way of watching over her, even when he could not be there.
"It was good to see you, too, Tariq. I'm glad you don't hold my departure against me," Ameerah replied. Tariq rolled his eyes. Please. He wasn't a little fool like Evelyn O'Connell. He was almost fifty years old, and he knew the importance of dreams. Particularly dreams which felt more like a vision. Unlike Evelyn O'Connell, Tariq had understood Ameerah's choice to leave, since she was protecting Ardeth. No, he would never hold that decision against her. Never.
As the Seven left Arizona, beginning their journey to Egypt, Tariq's own falcon, Isis, swept her way over Cairo and out into the desert, heading toward Hamunaptra. Tariq held off just long enough to make sure the two young women reached their destination safely, and then wrote a message to Ardeth in ancient Egyptian. Not in Arabic, as before ... but ancient Egyptian, for the safety of all.
By the time Isis had taken flight, more than a day had passed since the warning was given. The Richmond expedition had moved out, having received whatever supplies they were waiting for. Isis cawed out a greeting and landed on the outstretched arm of a man in his late fifties. He carefully detached the canister from the hawk's talon. Briefly, he considered removing the parchment from the canister and reading it, then changed his mind. Given Ardeth's mood ... no.
Instead, he headed toward the tent, where his chieftain was currently questioning some brigands who had attacked a caravan the previous week. They had left nearly everyone dead. The only survivors of that caravan were two young girls ... a sixteen year old and her infant sister. Evidently, the bandits in question believed a mere woman could do them no harm. Both girls were now under the protection of the Med-jai. Unfortunately for the brigands, their attack had driven the caravan toward Hamunaptra.
Maybe that was their wish ... thinking the Med-jai would kill the remaining members of the caravan for encroaching on their territory, coming too close to the ancient, forbidden city. It was hard to know the minds of others. Sometimes, it was hard just to know the minds of your own friends and allies. As the second in command approached the tent, the flap was thrown open and the brigand being questioned catapulted from the tent.
This did not look promising. Especially not when Ardeth Bey himself stalked out after the brigand. His dark eyes were thunderous in their fury, and his black robes swirled around him. Indeed, had the second been the brigand, he would have been certain that the Med-jai chieftain was his worst nightmare come to life. A stream of Arabic poured from his leader's mouth, and the second cringed at Ardeth's inventive mind. He had never even considered using those curses in such a manner, until just now.
He barked a command. It was time for the bandit to be identified, and one of the young warriors stepped forward with the young Scottish girl who had survived the attack. The Second, Asim by name, had made the mistake of calling her English, and nearly got his eyes clawed out for that insult. Apparently, the Scots liked the English about as well as Egyptians did. Not at all. Ardeth looked up as the girl approached and his face softened considerably. He said in English, "Catriona, this man denies being in the party that attacked your family. Does he speak the truth?"
The bandit glared at the young girl, and Ardeth cuffed him in the back of his head, switching back to Arabic as he admonished him to show respect. Catriona squared her shoulders and approached the bandit. Asim had been amazed when he realized Catriona didn't fear them. Ardeth's mother, Altair, had questioned her, and Catriona explained in her strange accent, "My wee sister, just a bairn, has no fear of your king ... why, then, should I?" Altair, herself a traveled woman, explained that 'bairn' was the Scottish term for a babe. Asim then understood.
Catriona obviously realized that children sensed things, which was why her baby sister didn't fear them, despite the strange markings on their faces and hands. In fact, the baby ... a little red-haired child with the strange name of 'Malai' ... was rather taken with Ardeth. She cooed happily and waved her little fists in the air whenever she saw him. Ardeth had little experience with infants, but that didn't stop him from picking up the tiny girl when she demanded his attention. Never mind that she loved grabbing for his long black hair and his beard.
Asim was distracted from his musings when Catriona gave a scream of rage. His head snapped up, his hand going automatically to his scimitar, prepared for any danger. Prepared for anything, but what he was now seeing. The small, red-haired Scottish girl had physically attacked the bandit, screaming incoherently in rage. Ardeth had tied the man's hands behind his back, and watched with an approving smile as the girl beat the brigand with her fists and feet.
"We have our answer," Ardeth said in Arabic, grim satisfaction apparent in his voice. Grimness which was belied by the gentleness he demonstrated when he pulled Catriona away from the quivering bandit. The girl gave the murderer of her family one last kick, then collapsed into Ardeth's arms. The chieftain gently soothed her, murmuring something in English which Asim didn't know. Catriona clung to him, and Ardeth continued, switching now to ancient Egyptian, "Take him to the tent with the others. I will conclude the questioning tonight."
"I shall ... but first, you should read this. It just arrived from Tariq," Asim answered in the same language. He handed the canister to Ardeth, then bent down to scoop up the now weeping bandit. As he dragged the coward away, a quick glance over his shoulder told him that Altair Bey was taking the girl back to her own tent, where her baby sister was being attended by one of the maidens in their camp.
By the time he deposited the coward in the tent with the other prisoners, Ardeth was reading the missive from Tariq. And it didn't look like good news. Asim approached his chieftain, now speaking only in Arabic for the benefit of all assembled, "What is it, Ardeth? What's happened?" Without a word, the chieftain handed over the parchment, his face grim. Asim accepted it and began to read, his blood running cold at the news from Cairo.
Asim raised his eyes to his chieftain and asked softly, "What is worse, Ardeth? This expedition? Or the fact that Ameerah is so concerned by this threat, she came to Egypt herself?" Like everyone in this Med-jai tribe, Asim knew the American girl they had called 'Ameerah' left the Med-jai, left Egypt, because of a vision she had. That she would be responsible for the death of the Med-jai chieftain.
And there was no doubt in anyone's mind that she had a vision, not a dream. Not because Ameerah had a history of having visions. To the best of everyone's knowledge, she had never had a vision. As she wryly told Altair Bey, there was absolutely nothing special about her. She wasn't what the Westerners called a psychic. But the dream, the vision, was so powerful, it had taken several days before she could even speak of it. Perhaps that was part of what frightened her ... she never demonstrated this Gift before. It would be like ... nothing you had ever experienced before. And so, you had no idea of how to handle it.
It had frightened her. Frightened her terribly. She wrote down the dream, because she couldn't force the words out, and she feared that a delay of any kind would result in Ardeth's murder. Something she couldn't live with. It was bad enough that her presence in the Med-jai camp would bring more danger to Asim's people. To his chieftain. But she remained, until Ardeth returned from his patrol.
She owed it to him, she said, to explain exactly why she was leaving. In person. And Ardeth, to his credit, did not try to stop her. Did not try to remind her that danger was a part of his life, a part of his world. Because Asim knew, just as well as Ardeth himself, that if someone learned that an American girl was living among the Med-jai ... their lives would likely be forfeit. If not from the damn English, then from the bandits such as the ones they had captured today.
She left after living among them for a little over a year. Ardeth returned with her to Cairo, putting her on the boat himself, but not before giving her a gift. A cloak, that marked her as being a friend to the Med-jai, protected by the chieftain himself. If she ever returned to Egypt, she was to wear it at all times. In that way, even if Ardeth was in the desert, and she was in Cairo, Ardeth could watch over her.
Ardeth said quietly, "What frightens me, old friend, is that this man wishes to resurrect the Creature, in order to resurrect his daughter. If there is any thing more frightening than He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named trying to raise Anck-su-namun, it is a father wishing to resurrect a lost child. Ameerah gave Tariq the route. Expand the patrols ... there are four women in this expedition, including Ameerah. Pass the word to all captains ... those women are not to be harmed. Under any circumstance."
"And if this Will Richmond harms them himself?" Asim had to ask. Ardeth looked at him, his expression once again changing to the enraged warrior who had personally hunted down the bandits who attacked the caravan. Asim knew the answer, of course. He had helped to train Ardeth before the chieftain passed his manhood rites. He knew Ardeth as well as anyone in this camp, save Ardeth's own mother.
And the chieftain didn't disappoint him. Ardeth hissed, "If he harms one hair on any of their heads, then he is mine." Asim nodded his understanding and acceptance, then left. The Med-jai didn't stand on ceremony. Asim knew he had been dismissed ... and he would speak to his captains. A part of him hoped this Will Richmond did harm one of the women in the expedition ... just to see what Ardeth would do to him. Nothing pleasant, he was sure.
"Who is this 'Ameerah' the men spoke of?" Catriona asked and Altair Bey looked at their young guest. She was wiping away her tears with one hand and rocking her sister's cradle with the other. Catriona continued, "I heard some of the men speaking of 'Ameerah.' Ardeth told me that it means 'princess.' Is she Ardeth's wife?" Altair bit back her smile at the question ... as well as the jealousy in that question.
"No, child," Altair replied, "Ameerah is a young American woman who lived with us for a year. Her true name, the name she was given by her family, is 'Adriana Wilmington.' When my son brought her to us, three years ago, she told him that her foster brother often calls her 'little princess.' From that day forward, in order to protect the tribe, Ardeth called her 'Ameerah.' Two years ago, after a vision, she returned home to America."
"Why would she do something so foolish?" Catriona asked. Altair knew that the girl didn't mean leaving Egypt and going home ... but leaving Ardeth. Catriona's infatuation with Altair's son was quite obvious, even to the other young maidens in the Med-jai village. However, at sixteen, she wasn't old enough to be taken seriously as a threat. Or so they thought. But sixteen was a woman, and Catriona was starting to realize certain things about herself.
"Because, my dear girl, her vision told her that her presence would lead to Ardeth's murder. Think about it, Catriona. A young American woman, living among the Med-jai. We have many enemies, because we guard Hamunaptra, a place of great wealth ... and danger. Our enemies would have used Adriana's presence as an excuse to attack. She feared this, rightfully so, and chose to return to the United States when she had her vision," Altair replied.
Catriona's green eyes narrowed as she thought about this, then said, "So ... she left because she wanted to protect Ardeth?" Altair nodded and the girl continued, "And things have been peaceful since she left?" Altair wanted to laugh, but the haunted expression in her son's eyes during the last few months, ever since Ahm Shere, drained any laughter from her. She had almost lost him when he returned, finally collapsing from exhaustion and the scratches on his chest and shoulders. He had recovered his strength, but ...
But he was still the child she carried for nine months ... still the child who came into this world after fifteen hours of labor. Still the child who had struggled so hard to be strong for everyone after Suleiman's death. He was still her child, he always would be, and nothing could change that. Ardeth was her son, and it killed her to see him fighting for his life. Peaceful? Not at all. But that wasn't Ameerah's doing.
"Peaceful, no. But my son lives ... and Ameerah has found a new life in the United States," Altair replied at last. She didn't speak of the other thing. As much as Ameerah had cared for Ardeth, and he for her, both knew that she didn't belong in Egypt. Her place was across the ocean ... that was where her family was, people who loved her. She was a strong woman, Altair knew that, but she didn't have the kind of strength which Ardeth needed.
Catriona nodded soberly and asked, "So ... the fact that she's coming back? It scares you? She left to protect Ardeth, and she's coming back now?" Altair nodded. Yes ... it concerned her.
However, she just told the girl, "Ameerah left to protect Ardeth ... she returns now to do the same. There is a man within her expedition ... Ameerah is an archaeologist, that is how she met Ardeth. This man seeks Hamunaptra for ill purposes. Ameerah has attempted to dissuade him from this course of action, and he refused to heed her warnings. So ... she has warned us. A man such as this will go to any lengths to achieve that which he desires. Including wipe out every Med-jai who lives, man woman or child."
Catriona's own loss was so recent, and Altair should have thought about that. However, the matriarch of the Med-jai tribe didn't think of that, so she was surprised when the young Scottish girl hissed, "If he tries to hurt you, I'll kill 'im meself!" The girl's eyes were blazing with an unholy fury. Altair put her hand on the girl's shoulder, trying to calm her before she awoke Malai. Catriona whispered, "I will allow no harm to come to these people. Ye saved me life, and the life of me sister, Lady Altair."
Lady Altair. Now that brought back memories. It had been a while since she had been called that. At first, the honorific was used because Ameerah knew Altair was the mother of the chieftain, and thus ... a sort of Queen Mother. Later, it was simply because Ameerah liked calling her that. She could still see the young American woman, as she had first seen her three years earlier, as she and Ardeth rode into the encampment.
She sat behind Ardeth on his horse, hidden from view by a black scarf around her head. As Ardeth pulled his mount to a stop, he carefully eased the young woman to the ground, before dismounting himself. He had embraced Altair, whispering an apology for the delay in his return home ... but it could not be avoided. Altair knew that, as she had been informed of the happenings in Cairo.
Ardeth had remained in Cairo for an extra two weeks after rescuing her from the traitor, Lock-nah. First, to return the body of her companion home to the United States, then to help her track down her friend, who had disappeared while in Egypt. When her friend remained missing, Ardeth had brought her back to the Med-jai village near Hamunaptra. He introduced the girl as Adriana Wilmington, a twenty-three year old American woman.
Originally, Ameerah's stay was to be brief. It would only be for a few months, just long enough for them to track down her missing friend. But, of course, things never worked out as you planned. It was just as well that long ago, Altair had realized the folly of judging someone upon that all-important first impression. Her first impression ... the first impression of many Med-jai ... of that girl was of a weak, soft American brat. Weak, because of the way she clung to Ardeth's waist as they rode into the encampment, and the way she stayed close to his side at first.
That was her impression, until she remembered herself after a desert raid separated seventeen year old Altair Costas from the rest of her family ... a raid which ended up saving her life ... and she first set eyes upon Suleiman Bey. She remembered how frightened she had been, riding behind him into that encampment, thirty-five years earlier. The way the Med-jai stared at her silently, judging her. The way she was now staring at the young girl whom her son had rescued in Cairo.
True enough, Adriana Wilmington was twenty-three years old at that first meeting, six years older than Altair. But she was frightened, and far from home. She remembered what she had been told, how this girl had been with a man who was slain in the streets of Cairo. Her best friend's brother, if Altair's memory served. How she had stayed back, and out of Ardeth's way, during the fight. And how she had apologized for not helping him.
So perhaps there was more to this girl, than what met the eye. Altair stepped forward and said in perfect, though accented, English, "I welcome you to our home. I am Altair Bey, mother of Ardeth, and matriarch of the Med-jai people." The girl bowed her head, then raised it to look at Altair. Her dark hazel eyes flickered to Ardeth, who smiled at her encouragingly. Altair suppressed a grin. If only others could see this side of her son right now!
"My name is Adriana Wilmington, Lady Altair," came the quiet reply. Lady Altair, was it? The matriarch searched the girl's face, looking for any hint that the American was mocking her or being anything less than honest. She found none. The girl added, looking at Ardeth with a hint of worry, "Ardeth ... your son ... I mean, the chieftain ... he told me ... did I use the wrong title in addressing you?"
Now Altair understood. She cupped the pale face in her hands, now seeing the uncertainty, the struggle to pay proper respect without being fawning. She smiled and answered, "You are to simply call me, 'Altair,' child. Just as my son is simply 'Ardeth,' since he has given you leave to use his name. No 'my lord,' or any such thing. That is not the way of the Med-jai Come ... would you like to change clothes?"
Adriana nodded eagerly, but Altair caught sight of her looking at Ardeth once more. A questioning glance, as if she was asking if it was all right. Altair remembered again how lost she felt when she arrived at the Med-jai, and did not judge the girl this time. Ardeth was, at the moment, the only familiar person to the American. He had saved her life and protected her during the last two weeks.
And Ardeth understood this. He nodded, ever so slightly, and Adriana turned back to her. Since she had been accepted by the matriarch, it was understood she not to be harassed. That didn't mean she would be accepted. The young maidens, in particular, saw her as a possible threat to their marriage to Ardeth. But Adriana, young as she was, paid no attention to them. Instead she choose to spend most of her time with Altair.
Besides ... didn't most people prefer to spend time where they were wanted, as opposed to where they were not? Altair was one such person ... as was Adriana. And, it seemed, Catriona was another. Perhaps, then, Catriona would like to hear her stories of that other young Westerner who lived among the Med-jai.
JD Dunne hated trains. They were uncomfortable and noisy, you couldn't hear yourself think, much less hear someone else's voice. And JD had a lot to think about at the moment. As the train pulled out of the station in Phoenix, Buck had apologized to him for being so cold this morning. But he was trying desperately to protect both JD and Adriana, and damn if JD hadn't made it more difficult.
At first, JD protested that it wasn't his fault ... that he wouldn't tell Adriana about sneaking into her room to find answers to the questions. But Buck quickly reminded that was his intention ... but it probably wouldn't play out like that. Somehow, JD would let it slip about seeing the picture in Adriana's room ... and their sister would know the truth. JD had spent the last sixteen hours, ever since their departure, trying to figure out how to make things right.
Trying to figure out how to make things right, and trying to figure out the puzzle of Ardeth Bey. In the first place, what the hell kind of name was that, and in the second place, why was he practically hovering over JD's sister like a dark guardian angel? It occurred to JD, rather briefly, that Ardeth Bey reminded him a bit of Chris ... a dark angel, clad entirely in black. If it had been a cover for one of his dime store novels, the title would have been 'Dark Protector.'
The other three people in the photo didn't interest JD, as none of them stood particularly close to his sister. He would have shot anyone for saying so, but JD was becoming quite protective of her in his own way. Not in the way Buck was ... Josiah was fond of saying that Buck's habits with women were coming back to haunt him, especially where his sister was concerned. All of a sudden, Buck was the protective, outraged older brother.
And JD wasn't protective of his sister in the way that Chris and Vin were. Chris was quietly protective, always watching her back without her even realizing he was doing it. Half the time, JD realized, he wanted to strangle her for scaring him ... the other half, he swore to inflict serious bodily harm on anyone who caused her harm. So, where Buck protected her virtue, Chris protected her body.
And then there was Vin. It didn't take a whole lotta brains to figure out those were a bit more than friends. JD was young, but he wasn't stupid ... and he could tell there was a special spark between the pair. For God's sake, she had spent a year in Egypt, searching for him! You didn't do that for someone who was just a friend. And Vin ... JD didn't even know how to describe Vin's attitude toward her.
Protective, often amused by her wry sense of humor, which matched Vin's own sense of humor. He seemed to watch her at odd times, with an equally odd expression. As if she wasn't someone he had seen ever before, even though JD knew for a fact that Vin had first met Adriana when they were both nineteen. He knew that, because Vin himself told JD when Adriana first returned to Arizona the year earlier.
So, yeah ... JD did find it rather peculiar that Vin would look at her that way. Not that he looked at her like that all the time. Other times, he would wear this broad, impish grin filled with pride when Adriana got into it with Ezra ... as if he had taught her a few tricks himself.
Which, knowing Vin, he probably had. JD had only to think of all the things he had learned from the tracker and sharpshooter. He just never thought of Vin teaching a girl some of the things he had taught JD. And while she could shoot pretty good, and she was a competent archaeologist in her own right, according to Josiah, she was still a girl. JD shook his head, still unable to accept that his sister felt she had to go to Egypt to do ... whatever she was doing.
Like he had been sayin' before. She was a girl ... wasn't nobody who expected a girl to do the things Adriana did. A deep, rumbling voice informed him, "That ain't the way she sees it. Your sister's got a code of honor all her own. Now, something happened to her three years ago, when Stephen Travis was murdered. Something that made her into somebody she wasn't before. And a part of that somethin' is, makin' sure she don't fail her family."
JD looked up as Josiah sat down beside him, and the man continued, "Now, you know that the man fundin' the dig is her uncle, by way of her mama." JD nodded and Josiah continued, almost hesitantly, "There are ... Egypt is a land of magic, JD. A very powerful, very dangerous magic, if you don't know how to use it. Most people who ain't born there don't know nothing about it. And if they don't show the proper respect ... catastrophe can result."
Josiah's eyes had become distant, and he said softly, "Seven years ago, I lost one of my best friends to that magic. A magic that was raised by several someones who didn't know what the hell they was doing ... a magic that almost cost a young man his life. He was another honorable person ... who was trying to clean up the mess made by those others. I carried him to safety. Now ... I don't rightly know what Adriana's doing in Egypt. But I did some checking, and I do know that her uncle don't know nothing about that country ... so I figure she's tryin' to protect him from himself. 'Cause he's family."
"But she's a girl, Josiah ... ain't her place to be doin' them things!" JD retorted in exasperation. He shook his head, adding, "I don't see why she has to be gallivantin' off to Egypt, why she ain't satisfied with staying here with us ... and I don't see why Buck didn't make her stay. He's her older brother ... and he's bigger than her, he coulda made her stay. Her place is here, not in Egypt!"
"Her place? JD, you're her kid brother ... you ain't her husband. You got no right tellin' her what her place is. She's a smart girl, she can figure that out on her own. She's all that man's got, and she knows what the dangers are. Ain't no one else who can help him out, 'cause ain't no one else who cares about what happens to him. Why didn't Buck try to keep her here? He did. But he loves your sister ... more 'n that, he respects her, and he knows sometimes, the best thing you can do for a person is let go," Josiah replied.
His blue-gray eyes were flashing now, and JD had the uneasy sense he had just pissed off Josiah in a big way. He just couldn't figure out what he had done wrong. The big man continued after a moment, "Things change, JD. People change. Ain't nothing stays the same. There are people in this world who crave adventure ... and then there are people who gotta clean up after them folks, 'cause they don't do it themselves. Your sister happens to be someone who's real good at cleanin' up other people's messes. She's been doin' it all her life."
"I just don't understand ... " JD began, then shook his head. True enough, he and his mother had been too poor to forge ahead. There hadn't been enough money for him to go to college, which was how he had ended up in Arizona. But if they had had enough money, JD knew his mother woulda stayed with him, wouldna needed to work. She sure as hell wouldna gone running off to Egypt. JD finally said, "I was good enough for Mama."
"Adriana don't have no kids. She ain't married ... why shouldn't she go make sure her uncle don't get himself in over his head. She ain't your mama, John Dunne. And unless some kinda miracle happens, ain't no way she's ever gonna be a wife or a mama. Your pa turned her against marriage. She swore to herself, on her mother's grave, that she would never marry. That she would spend the rest of her life alone," Josiah replied.
"But why? Why is she lettin' him win? He hurt her, and our mamas ... all three of them. But that don't mean that all men are like that! She knows that ... she knows Chris and Vin, she knows Buck, all a' us. I think she's just being stupid," JD said. He was totally unprepared for the flare of rage in Josiah's eyes. The boy wriggled back on his seat, swallowing hard. It wasn't that JD thought Josiah would hurt him, but still ...
"I don't wanna never hear you speak that way about your sister again, John Dunne. This has got nothin' to do with how smart she is. Hell yes, in her mind she knows not all men are like your pa. But he done things to her that no pa has any business doin' to his kids. He done things to his wife, things he had no business doin.' That kinda thing leaves scars. Adriana's one of the stronger ones ... the others, you don't wanna know what happens to them," Josiah replied.
JD looked at him, swallowing hard. He had a sense that he had really put his foot in his mouth, but he still couldn't figure out what he done wrong. Josiah shook his head, asking, "You ever take care of a horse, been mistreated by his owner? How they shy from people? How dogs do the same? People are the same way ... they been hurt, they react on instinct, not on thought. Your sister reacted by instinct when her mama died. She was eight years old, JD, and that stays with ya."
"But she ain't eight no more, Josiah, she's twenty-six," JD protested. Josiah nodded in acknowledgment of this truth. JD shook his head continued, "She ain't a little girl, she's a grown woman, and it's time she settled down." Josiah dropped his own head, sighing deeply. JD continued, "And she oughta tell us what's goin' on. Who this Ardeth Bey is, and why he was hoverin' over her like ... like ... "
"What ... did ... you ... say?" Josiah rasped out, his entire demeanor changing. JD pulled back, even as Josiah continued, "Where did you see that name? Ardeth Bey? What do you mean about him hoverin' over your sister?" JD just stared at the big man, stunned by the change within him, just by mentioning his name. Who was this Ardeth Bey, and what was he to Josiah? Someone very important, obviously, but was that a good or a bad thing?
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