Arrow of the Sun – Chapter 9
ADEL
Adel frowned when he saw Ardeth. The commanding presence of the Chieftain always seemed to make his office smaller, especially when he wasn’t expected. For a moment, the old seer feared Ardeth’s motives, however, just a look at his dark eyes and he understood that Ardeth’s presence was necessary.
“My Lord,” he bowed slightly. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“I asked him to stay,” the woman said defiantly, standing next to Ardeth.
If her outburst surprised him, Adel hid it well. Yet, his questioning eyes found Ardeth’s and the warrior knew with absolute certainty that the seer had been slightly taken back.
“Then, so be it,” Adel said, suddenly sensing that Ardeth would not take part in this meeting in spite of his attendance.
He watched how the woman followed Ardeth’s movements with wary eyes, as if she was almost anticipating he would leave her alone. He could hear her soft sigh of relief when she realized he would remain with her, half hidden amongst the shadows of the far end of the room.
Satisfied, and beyond curious, he finally gave his full attention to the Marked Archer.
He had never seen her before. Not in dreams and certainly not in any of his visions… yet he had unconsciously formed a mental image of Ardeth’s chosen. The woman who now stood before him, looking at him with a hint of animosity in her amazing eyes and an undeniable challenge in her posture, was not what he had imagined, what he would have wanted… what Ardeth should have chosen.
Yet, one look at her and he knew she was The One; he knew everything was as it should be, as it had to be. And by the look in her eyes… Allah, she would be difficult! He sighed heavily and shook his head, trying to find a way to approach her.
“What?”
Adel looked up at her with surprise. “I beg your pardon?”
“You were looking at me as if I was some livestock waiting to be bought and added to your herd,” she said, quickly getting defensive.
Adel’s eyes went wide. She certainly was… disconcerting, and above all, rude. Or maybe this annoying attitude, her defensiveness, was a way to keep her wits about her. It unsettled him, though, and bothered him to no end.
“I did not do such a thing,” he said.
“You did!” She exclaimed. “You just sighed as if the world was over… or about to.”
This time, the seer chuckled with amusement.
“Well, Miss Weatherly, I could not have explained it better!”
Helen frowned and folded her arms across her chest, looking at the old man clearly exasperated. Damn, he was stubborn! Oh, how she would love to remove that all knowing, condescending smile off his wrinkled face!
“Why don’t you get right to the point?”
Adel arched an eyebrow. “The point?”
“Yes, you know, this… this prophecy you’re so scared of,” she said.
The seer stiffened and his bony body tensed. Helen could perceive the change in him immediately and she couldn’t help the feeling of uneasiness creeping into her heart.
Oh, she had gathered her worst manners and acted decidedly rude, granted, but just as a means to hide her fear. For now, her angry defensiveness had worked well… sort of. One look at the old seer’s face and all her bravado and defiance was about cracking and falling into nothing.
“This sacred prophecy I am so scared of is nothing but your destiny, Miss Weatherly,” he said harshly. “And you should be scared of it, too.”
Helen swallowed hard. Destiny again…
“I… I’ve told Ardeth many times that…”
“Oh, I know, I know,” Adel cut her off. “You do not believe our sacred Medjai… how do you call it? Oh, yes, our Medjai stuff. That is a pretty lame excuse, Miss Weatherly. You are in denial. All you need is a bit of encouragement to accept your destiny.”
Destiny…
“Don’t insist, seer,” Helen said between clenched teeth, feeling a surprising surge of anger rising in her chest.
“It is your fate,” Adel pressed matter of factly. “You are the Marked Archer.”
She was about to howl, Adel thought. And judging by her silence, his last words hadn’t even registered. Her frown deepened and a tight gesture of anger crooked her lips.
“Each one of us makes his or her own destiny,” she managed to say. “No one designs the path we follow in life. We always choose our way.”
Adel was starting to think that the only thing it seemed to matter to her was fate…her fate. Maybe she thought she wasn’t able to choose anymore and in a way, she wasn’t. Yet regarding the Arrow, not everything was a matter of choice; certainly, not her role into the Prophecy of Darkness. So, he decided to play some game with her… see where it took them.
“You are not choosing now, yet you are here,” Adel pointed out. “Or, are you? Is this your choice, Miss Weatherly?”
“I’ve been forced to be here!” Helen finally exploded. “And that’s quite different! I’ve been given no chance, not even one option or a way out of this… this… this Medjai thing!”
“Oh, but you have, Miss Weatherly,” Adel said, smiling knowingly.
Helen thought that it would be a great idea to strangle the man… maybe to wring his neck… God, he seemed to have an answer for everything, a sacred reason for this, a sacred reason for that… and she was desperate because as hard as she tried to deny his words, she knew he was completely right: she had chosen to help Ardeth.
“Alright, Miss Weatherly,” Adel went on softly. “Let us suppose that destiny is out of the board in this game we play. What forces have brought you here?”
“I…”
“What would you do if I told you right now that you are free to leave Ardeth and the Medjai? That you are free to leave
“Well…”
“Perhaps I should point out that in this whirl of events that escape human control, there is only one thing keeping us all in the right path; only one reason to explain our presence here,” he finished with a sly smile.
Helen sighed and her shoulders fell. She rubbed her forehead and raised her head to look at Adel with renewed defiance.
“And that reason would be?”
“Simple, Miss Weatherly.” Adel’s expression changed into one of kindness that melted away all of her animosity. “It’s Allah’s will that you have been chosen to lead the Medjai in this battle.”
The myriad of emotions crossing her face right then, made the old seer chuckle with delight. Incredulity, amusement, frustration, and finally… acceptance. She finally smiled softly and shook her head in defeat.
“I give up,” she said, raising her hands. “I’ve never met such a… forget it. You’d probably slit my throat if I dared say what I think.”
Adel clapped and laughed out loud.
Helen had to take several deep breaths in to make sure she wouldn’t punch the old man… or worse. Clearing her throat and clasping her hands in front of her, she sought some kind of reassurance or comfort in Ardeth’s eyes. She couldn’t make out his face, yet she managed to perceive his soft nod of acquiescence.
“I’m afraid I don’t have your certainty regarding all this… Medjai stuff,” she admitted, nervously.
“Oh, but you will, my child!” The seer exclaimed with shinning eyes. “You lost your faith because you felt betrayed and used. Your feelings were hurt and you were physically harmed, too. But you survived.”
“I half lived, seer, and that’s enough,” she said, all bitterness gone from her voice.
“You need your faith back, Miss Weatherly…”
“Please, stop calling me that,” she said. “My name’s Helen.”
Adel nodded with a smile. “As I was saying, you need to regain your faith and with it, all your innate qualities, all the joy and light that once flooded your soul and spirit,” he said, approaching her. “You need to trust Ardeth again, because…”
“I know, I know, seer,” she cut him off, raising her hands in desperation. “I know. It’s just that I can’t pretend to be something I’m not, something I cannot be… something I’ll never be. A warrior! Please, look at me! I’m… I’m not the person you need…”
“Yes, you are!” Adel’s voice boomed with a new energy. “Someone’s hand selected you, chose you as the Marked Archer. Just as Ardeth’s heart chose you as his Lady; just like your heart chose him, my child.”
This time, Adel’s words registered and she felt acutely aware of Ardeth’s eyes on her. The Marked Archer… this old man had to be nuts! And Ardeth’s Lady? Yes, in her dreams! Yet she couldn’t control the growing heat reddening her face and the violent beating of her heart. Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to ask Ardeth to stay with her.
“I think you’re wrong and…” she tried.
“Think of it!” Adel exclaimed. “Your destiny is to love Ardeth. Look at your past, at your present and at your future. Tell me what you see, what you feel, what you know.”
“Please, you’re assuming too much, seer, and I believe you…” she babbled, totally lost, confused and beyond embarrassment by now.
“The army of darkness will rise among those who rule and there will be no light in the world anymore! Rage and hatred will spread their venom and there will be no peace in the world anymore!” Adel’s eyes bore into hers and he smiled at the hint of recognition he felt –more than saw— in their blue depths.
Helen frowned, first with apprehension and then as if that simple gesture could help her to remember… Remember? Remember what? This was the first time she heard those words, so what was there to remember?
“I know your words…” she whispered, scared.
“Ulterior powers will show us the only path to follow and the bringer of light will be born out of our people. Echoes of hope will resound all around the world and the bringer of peace will be born among our people,” Adel recited. “You, Helen, are the bringer of light.”
Helen swallowed hard and she turned around, her frightened eyes looking for Ardeth once again.
“You guess well,” Adel added. “Ardeth is the bringer of peace.”
Ardeth moved slowly, entering the soft glow provided by the candles and oil lamps.
“Laborious will be our task and that of the foreigner, but we will prevail because the real power belongs to us,” Adel went on. “Over the years their lives will be linked unbeknown to them and they will become allies for mankind’s sake.”
“You see, Helen,” Ardeth said, then. “You and I were destined to meet each other sooner or later.”
“But… but this doesn’t explain anything, Ardeth,” she insisted.
“Voices of betrayal will bring them apart, but it is their fate to remain together in this fight against darkness,” Adel added, adamantly ignoring each one of her words. “Do you still doubt my words? Do you?”
Helen felt a cold sweat dampening her hands and forehead.
“We indeed were brought apart by circumstances, which were alien to both of us, Helen,” Ardeth said. “Yet in spite of all the things we did and said, fate has brought us together again.”
“Yes, but…”
“Eerie forces will appear from nowhere to play their roles and the Archer, cruelly marked, will find her place and her own power!!” Adel cut her attempt once more.
“And so the foreigner will come back into our lives because she is our leader’s chosen. She will become our savior and the Medjai will defeat the army of Darkness once and for all. The Marked Archer will be the key to our final victory.” Ardeth finished, standing right before her and looking at her as if he was trying to reach her very soul.
Feeling her mouth dry and rough, she swallowed hard. Closing her eyes, she sighed heavily and shook her head, trying to make sense of Adel’s words, of Ardeth’s words… How could she? How, when she was totally predisposed to reject everything ever since the beginning?
“I…” she tried. “Well, I… er… this… hum… wow!”
Her frown deepened and she folded her arms across her chest in a protective gesture. Finally, gathering all the courage she could muster, she looked up and nailed her wide, keen eyes to Ardeth’s.
“Why do you say… why do you think I’m the Marked Archer?” she asked.
“You were cruelly, mercilessly marked, Helen.” Adel said, forcing her to look back at him again. “You have the scars to prove it and our enemies more than likely know the Prophecy of Darkness as well. It is written.”
“But I’m no archer,” she insisted, always trying to find a way out of this crazy mess. “I have never seen a real arrow before, how could I…?”
“You will learn.” Ardeth said.
She sighed tiredly. God… how on earth had she ended up in this situation? Shrugging, she shook her head slightly, thinking… knowing it was too late to change things. How could she, anyway, when it seemed there was nothing capable of stopping those two bullheaded men before her?
“What… what do I do now?” she asked softly.
A subtle change took place as soon as the words left her mouth. She could feel it, too. It was… odd, yet undeniable. All trace of tension was gone, as well as her fear and uncertainty. She almost felt… relieved, relaxed. She could see a deep gratitude in Ardeth’s warm eyes; gratitude, calmness and pride… and maybe, just maybe, trust. And suddenly she understood. Completely. For the first time since Ardeth… since she had… for the first time in many months, she had the certainty that she had done the right thing. She felt she had something to fight for, something to achieve and something worthy of her efforts. God knew she had no idea of what the near future held for her, but somehow it wasn’t important.
“Wow,” she said, smiling softly.
Ardeth returned her smile, warming her inside. They hadn’t been forcing her into accepting her fate. They knew she would, eventually. They had only helped her to do it sooner. Not too subtly, by the way.
“Your world is totally unknown to me, Ardeth,” she whispered, concerned.
“No, not totally, Helen,” Ardeth said. “I will not deny that there is a hard way ahead of you, but you will not be alone. You will learn what there is to be learned and I will be by your side, every step of the way.”
Helen nodded.
“I… I still feel so scared and insecure,” she admitted. “What if…?”
“You would be stupid if you were not scared,” Adel cut her off once again. “Fear is real, tangible. It makes you alive and on many occasions, keeps you alive. Never forget it.”
Helen’s ice blue eyes landed on the seer and she saw kindness, understanding and welcoming instead of harshness, reproach and rejection.
“Do you know how… how to proceed to make the prophecy happen?” she asked, suddenly curious.
Ardeth’s chuckle took her off guard.
“What?” She smiled, confused. “What did I say?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Come. We must go now. There will be time to speak about this, later.”
“But…”
Adel chuckled, too, and she frowned when Ardeth took her by her forearm and led her to the office’s door.
“You were right, my Lord,” the seer said, thoughtfully. “She is quick with the questions.”
“I’m not!”
“And once she starts, she never stops,” Ardeth added.
“Oh, you… you!”
Ardeth released her and opened the door, checking the corridor to make sure it was safe. Even being in the Medjai headquarters, he couldn’t, wouldn’t leave anything at risk. When he turned around, he had to smile at the scowl on her face.
“I will summon you later, Adel,” he said to his friend. “We are expecting the men to be back soon and I would like to make sure everything is as it should be.”
“Yes, my Lord,” the old man said. Then, his wise eyes landed on Helen and he smiled. “Inti sâlim, Helen. You are our hope.”
Helen swallowed hard and nodded.
“Assalaam Aleykum, seer,” she said, finally following Ardeth down the narrow corridor.
They both remained in silence while Ardeth took her back to her room. There were two guards posted at her door when they arrived. She knew none of them and it made her feel uneasy.
“Where’s Nabil?” She asked.
“He is taking care of some other matters,” Ardeth almost snapped, opening the door and letting her inside.
Helen frowned slightly, yet, she remained silent. Surveying the room to make sure everything was in order, she almost jumped out of her skin when Ardeth closed the door with a loud bang.
“I was not aware of your… apparent ability with my language,” he said.
Helen frowned again.
“Well… I never… the truth is that I never used your language too much. I’m not fluent at all, Ardeth. Just a few words and short sentences…” She felt suddenly nervous. “Is… is that a problem?”
“Is there anything else I should know?” He countered.
“What?” She was visibly confused now. “What is this all about?”
“You tell me,” he said through clenched teeth.
Oh, Allah… he wasn’t doing this right. What on earth had gotten into him to react in such a way? Oh, he knew! Who was he trying to fool? The moment they had walked back into her room, he had been unable to think about anything other than to kiss her, touch her, love her… Would her nearness always affect him in such a way?
YES!
He almost groaned with a mix of remorse at his reaction and annoyance at her power over him.
“Please, forgive me,” he finally said, closing the narrow distance between them. “I am not being too considerate of your needs and feelings lately. I have no excuse for…”
“Yes, you have,” Helen cut him off with a soft smile. “You’re a strong and brave man, with firm convictions and beliefs, Ardeth Bay. You’re linked to a very dangerous duty and you do what you must to carry on with your task.” She sighed heavily and without thinking, she framed his handsome face and looked into those haunted dark eyes. “I still think you’re expecting too much from me. I don’t know if I’ll be up to the circumstances at all.”
“You will, Helen,” he said hoarsely, covering her hands with his. “I have faith in you. And even though I understand it is difficult for you to accept our particular vision of the world, in time you will learn that there is more to the Medjai than meets the eye.”
She giggled and he thought it was a wonderful sound.
“I know there’s more to the Medjai. Much more!” she exclaimed.
While they both got lost into each other’s eyes, a heavy silence wrapped up the room. Slowly, deliberately, Ardeth’s hands traveled along her arms to her shoulders and then, he caressed his way down to her slim waist. He felt her tremble under his touch and as her soft hands left his face to rest on his broad shoulders, he leaned slightly towards her, pressing her softly against the wall.
Ardeth could feel her tension in the way she tried to keep a certain distance between them. But he was in no mood to play games. Not, after how she had been mercilessly torturing him dressed in such a… a damn sexy way. With the sudden need of having her even closer, his strong hands surrounded her waist firmly and he embraced her tightly, delighting in the feel of her slender body against his chest.
Helen shivered and Ardeth rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes in an attempt to keep his furious need of her under control. Oh, yes, he could sense her nervousness but also her excitement and that annoying curiosity she had about everything. He sighed and his hands tightened even more around her, if that was possible.
“Ardeth?” She called in a whisper.
“Hush,” he asked, once again looking at her with those dark piercing eyes.
Her hair didn’t look perfect anymore but she didn’t seem to mind. Her cheeks were slightly pink and her ice blue eyes, those amazingly clear eyes, shone with intensity. Her tongue darted out to wet her parted lips and Ardeth almost groaned out loud. It was not the first time he felt a strong pull of desire for her. Far from it, indeed. Yet never before, not even once, had he felt such a sharp, raw need of having that woman; of possessing her completely, body, mind and heart. Everything she was. Everything he wanted. It was something beyond a physical need. It was something that could bring him easily to his knees. It was love. Pure, strong, everlasting. It was his need to know that she felt for him exactly the same.
Framing her lovely flushed face, Ardeth leaned into her slowly.
“What are you doing?” Helen barely whispered.
“I am going to kiss you,” he said, a shiver of anticipation running up and down his spine.
Helen swallowed hard.
“You are?” she asked breathlessly, wishing he relented and begging he didn’t.
“Oh, yes,” he nodded. “Now.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Ardeth chuckled with amusement.
“This, my sweet incorrigible Helen,” he stopped briefly to brush her lips with his. “This is the best idea I have had all along the whole damn day.”
“Oh, my…”
The rest of Helen’s words got lost when Ardeth’s mouth fell on hers. Her hands tightened on his shoulders while she surrendered to his gentle onslaught. His kiss told her of his hunger, of his passion and his need. And when he moaned softly, she welcomed him into her warm mouth, deepening the kiss with an urgency of her own. Oh, yes. Ardeth’s mouth on hers felt hungry, warm, urging… and Helen embraced the overwhelming feeling of his hands tangled in her hair, his body resting heavy against hers, his unique scent washing all over her, filling her…
She forgot her fear, the uncertain future, Adel’s words… everything but the man in her arms. And with a sigh of pleasure, she remembered their first kiss and the warm, exciting, incredible sensations he had awakened in her with his touch and his lips. And she prayed he would want to make her feel that wonderfully alive again.
When the kiss ended, Helen realized her senses had been turned upside down. She felt she was incapable of producing a coherent thought and she prayed her pulse would slow down, or else, she would explode in a matter of seconds. Her eyelids were heavy and she had to force herself to look up at Ardeth and say something… anything…
“Ah… er… umm… wow!”
Ardeth was grinning, one hand caressing her nape, the other caressing the pulse at her wrist. He could feel her trembling and he shivered with pleasure, acknowledging and matching her desire. Oh, yes. He had no doubt of the effect he had on her. It was the same scorching effect she had on him and right now… right now he felt as if she had lovingly touched every inch of his body.
Reluctantly, he released her and made his way to the room’s door without uttering any other word. Yet when he took the doorknob in his hand, he knew he couldn’t leave her like that.
“You look beautiful, Helen,” he suddenly said, turning around and nailing his eyes to hers. “When you opened this door and I saw you…”
He sighed heavily and closed his mouth, unable to continue. He let his eyes speak for him, though, thinking that his voice sounded too hoarse with need. Who would have thought that he, Ardeth Bay, a man who had always had his way with women, would be left speechless by one of them?
But she understood. Oh, yes, how she did!
Helen blushed fiercely. For a moment, she was taken aback by the compliment and the way he was looking at her: as if they were lovers and he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless… Oh, God! She fanned herself with both her hands and blew, dropping her gaze before Ardeth’s intense scrutiny.
“Well… thank you.” It was all she could think to say.
Grinning again, he nodded and left the room quietly, closing the door behind him and resting his back against it. Taking a deep breath in, he closed his eyes tightly and groaned. Allah had mercy on him, because their journey to the Medjai village was going to be a very difficult test. How would he manage to resist the urge to ravage that woman, he had no idea. But he would have to find a way, if he wanted to survive.
“Allah…” he muttered between clenched teeth.
The two guards posted at her door remained silent, impassive. Yet, when the Chieftain left down the corridor, they both shared a knowing smile. Oh, yes. It was good to have a life separated from the garrison; a life that lightened their many times dark world; a life that provided the shelter where they could be only men. It was good to know that Ardeth, maybe, had found that shelter too.
*^*^*^*
Evening fell and a nice feeling of stillness wrapped around the Medjai headquarters.
Helen sighed and folded her arms over her chest, taking in her surroundings. She could hear the muffled sounds coming from the kitchen area and some rooms she guessed were used by the warriors. The horses neighed softly in the stables and someone was laughing hard at something. There were several warriors keeping watch and some others were packing what she thought were supplies for their imminent journey…
It smelled of leather and horses, of spices and mint. It smelled of life and she shuddered at the unexpected feeling of belonging that invaded her. Funny! She was supposed to hate that place, yet maybe it was the only place where she felt totally safe. Who would have thought? A soft smile drew on her lips and she resumed her walking, tightening her soft cotton shawl around her. She felt oddly calm, relaxed.
She could feel their curious eyes on her and for the umpteenth time, she wondered what their thoughts were. They more than likely despised her, considering who she was and her English origins… after all,
Her steps took her across the dusty back yard and she realized the headquarters were larger than she had first thought. There were warriors everywhere. Silent, methodic, deadly serious…
She had so many things to learn about them, and their world… and their oath… It still struck her as a too risky maneuver, this strategy of Ardeth‘s. Choosing her as some kind of… executor of a prophecy… Well, personally, not her course of action. But he was the Chieftain… so maybe, maybe he knew what he was doing. Right? God… she couldn’t believe she was actually accepting Ardeth’s world, his words and her supposed role in all that… that incredible mess.
She sighed and chuckled at her unending doubts and questions. Hadn’t Ardeth said she was incorrigible? Perhaps she was, but who cared? Right now all she wanted to do was climb up the stairs which led to the upper wall of the garrison. Something told her she would have a privileged sight of the sunset. And sunsets were something she had come to love while she had been living in Cairo.
“Yep,” she said, tightening her shawl around her once more. “Nothing better to do at the moment.”
Suddenly, an unexpected commotion exploded in the garrison and she swore she could feel a growing wave of excitement and anticipation wrapping all over the place. As fast as she could, she went up the stone stairs and leaned against the thick wall to see if she could find out what was happening. Behind her, the walled premises became a bustle with activity and she could hear the Medjai soldiers shouting and running from one place to another.
In the distance, a growing cloud of dust made her shiver. Riders. It was a group of riders and with a hint of apprehension she realized they must be Ardeth’s emissaries: the men he had sent to Jerusalem, Berlin and Granada. Biting her lower lip, she focused again on the commotion below. She sensed an unmistakable, inexplicable feeling of relief surrounding the men; relief and quietness. Funny, how in the middle of such a chaotic moment, the Medjai warriors acted with a new determination, with a new certainty. She thought it was something natural to them, this attitude, apparently indifferent and resigned. Yet she knew better. She realized they knew it was time; they wouldn’t have to wait in the headquarters anymore.
And neither would she.
As a small group of young Medjai –applicants for future warriors—, took care of the exhausted horses, other men surrounded the recently arrived travelers. There were greetings, hugs, handshakes… and a growing feeling of restlessness.
“My God,” she whispered. “It… it’s as if they were getting ready for… for battle.”
*^*^*^*
His watchful eyes had followed her slender figure with a hint of growing interest and a deep feeling of uncertainty. He couldn’t help it. As certain as he was that she was the Marked Archer, he couldn’t suppress his doubts about her. Would she be strong enough? Could she go through everything he had in store for her? Would she abandon them to their dark fate?
Adel thought she was the only woman who had managed to surprise, confuse and intrigue him even more than his visions. Considering most of his visions were… weird, disconcerting and more than scary… well, she had certainly caught his attention. Even leaving aside the fact that she was the Marked Archer, Adel still thought that Helen Weatherly’s ways were beyond his male understanding. Of course, she was a woman and that explained many things. Yet even so, she was… frustrating, infuriating.
Her previous behavior had surprised him. And she’d had the nerve to defy him, to hint that in spite of her apparent acceptance… she didn’t trust him, either. That had been something… unsettling, because he had never expected honesty or boldness from her; she looked too… fragile and she was a foreigner. On the contrary, he had been more than ready to prejudge her.
For now, he would trust his instincts and keep a watchful eye. The fact that the Medjai trusted Ardeth with their life didn’t necessarily mean they had to trust her, too. However, he knew he would approach her, learn more about her, know her better… he would do whatever it took to make sure she would cause no harm to his people; and neither to Ardeth.
His decision made, he went upstairs without bothering to make his presence noticed; and he winced when her ominous words reached his ears.
“May I join you?”
Helen gasped and turned around abruptly, her heart racing in her chest.
“Gee, Mr. Seer, thank you, thank you very much!” she exclaimed, visibly relieved at seeing him after all.
“Sorry,” he said, a brief smile drawing on his lips. “Nice view.”
Helen looked at him warily and nodded.
“Yes, it’s beautiful,” she agreed.
For several awkward moments they remained silent, wrapped up in the stillness of the sunset and watching how the setting sun in the distance, turned the world into an ocean of fire.
“Now that they’re back, it won’t take too long to leave for the Medjai village, I suppose,” Helen said cautiously.
Adel nodded, understanding her concern and her fear.
“Just a few more days and we’ll be ready to leave,” he said.
“And then?
He looked at her and cleared his throat, thinking carefully about what he was going to say.
“Those men…” Helen went on nervously, not even allowing him to gather his thoughts. “I didn’t know they were coming back today.”
“Me either,” Adel admitted, his eyes still nailed to the sunset.
“Great,” she whispered with a shiver of apprehension, unconsciously tightening her hold on the stone wall.
Adel sighed and once again looked at her. There was a resigned look on her pale face and those amazing blue eyes of hers shone with determination. To be a plain, simple doctor, he had to admit she had guts. It struck him as odd that someone like Helen Weatherly would leave a secure life behind her in order to pursue a career in an unknown, unsafe country. Yet, wasn’t even odder that someone like her had accepted to pursue a dangerous prophecy? She hadn’t laughed at them, neither at their crazy words. Not even once. And he knew not many people would accept their words this trustingly, this blindly.
Could it be that maybe, just maybe, Ardeth and Helen shared true love? Would they stop being stubborn and share their feelings? Perhaps love was her reason… yet, would she ever fit in Ardeth’s world? He knew she wouldn’t. What, then, was her hidden motive? Or… or could it be that she knew she wouldn’t stay once this battle was over? He still was waiting for a vision which told him what would happen once they had fought the battle ahead. What would be of Helen after the battle was still a mystery to him.
And, why on earth was he thinking about all that? He certainly had better things to do! Yet when the woman looked at him with those haunting eyes, when she closed the scarce distance between them and her thin hand tightened around his with an incredible strength for someone so… so apparently weak and fragile, he realized he had already accepted her, doubts and all.
“I’m scared shitless,” she whispered, blue eyes nailing to his.
Adel nodded softly, thinking once again this woman was too hard to figure out.
“I know,” he said. “We all are.”
“What’s going to happen now?” she asked, frowning. “Do you think Ardeth’s emissaries are bringing good news?”
The old seer sighed and shrugged.
“I haven’t spoken with Ardeth about this,” he said. “But given that these men have arrived sooner than what we had anticipated… I suppose there will be a meeting immediately.”
“May I attend the meeting?”
Adel narrowed his eyes and gave her a stern look. Should she?
“I do not think that’s a good idea, Helen,” he finally decided. “But be certain that once the meeting is over, maybe once we’ve started our journey across the dessert, you and I will have a talk letting you know what is going on.”
“You will?” She frowned and landed both her hands on her thin waist. “Why don’t I believe you?”
Adel chuckled and ignored her question. His smart eyes were watching the men below and he stiffened when Rashid, Ardeth’s second in command, called for him with a mere gesture. It seemed that he had been right. He was certain there would be a meeting in a few minutes.
“I have to go now,” he said. “I would like…”
“Hey, I know that man!” Helen exclaimed, pointing out at the tall man who had just entered the headquarters.
He followed her finger and nodded.
“He’s Bijan Ben Ali,” Helen went on, excitedly. “He… he was with us at the warehouse.”
“He is a loyal friend of the Medjai,” the seer said. “I will see you later, Helen. Maybe tomorrow, if the meeting lasts too long. I am too old for this.”
Helen smiled.
“Old? Not at all, Adel,” she said. “I have the feeling you’re having fun with all this… at least, with me.”
Adel chuckled and Helen offered him her arm, which the old seer took gladly. They both went down the stone stairs carefully, just to be engulfed by the large group of warriors busying around the garrison.
She had been right, she thought. They were getting ready for fighting. She could breathe it in the air; anticipation, tension, nervousness and fear. It was there and it was almost tangible, that feeling of anxiety and hope at the same time; anxiety because of the uncertain future ahead and hope because they had an unbreakable faith in their fight and the final victory.
And now, most of them had stopped doing whatever they were doing just to look at her. With a growing feeling of uneasiness, she helped Adel across the backyard trying to ignore their intense stares. Yet she found it was impossible. She could feel their reluctance, their open hostility… and she understood. Why should they accept her, if they had no idea what she was here for? Maybe they didn’t even know about the prophecy! She was a stranger in a strange land; that was all.
“Do not fear them,” Adel said, only for her ears. “When the moment arrives, they will follow you to death.”
Helen swallowed hard and shook her head.
“Your incredible ability to encourage people is… amazing,” she said mockingly.
“Do not be sarcastic, my doctor. It doesn’t suit you at all!”
“Yes, right,” she muttered under her breath, still completely aware of the warriors and the way they were staring at her.
“I see you’re in good hands.”
She stopped dead in her tracks and turned around.
“Ardeth!” she exclaimed, warming at seeing him.
“Everything alright?” he asked, smiling softly and taking her by her forearm. “Come. I need to speak with you.”
She smiled at Adel and released him, allowing Ardeth to take her slightly away.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, absolutely nothing,” Ardeth said quickly, trying to reassure her.
For an instant, he simply looked at her silently. He knew his men were staring, wondering what was going on, probably thinking he had lost his mind… and maybe he had. For he couldn’t find a better explanation to this incredible joy he felt when she was near.
“My emissaries just returned from their missions and we need to celebrate a very important meeting, Helen.” He went on, only for her ears. “We will leave Cairo in three days. Make sure you have all you will need because we’re not coming back to the city for a long time.”
“Three days?” she repeated. “It’s so soon…”
“I’ll tell you all you need to know as soon as we’re far from prying ears. Not before, so please, don’t even think to ask,” he explained.
Helen nodded, licking her lips and swallowing hard.
“My Lord, it’s time!”
Ardeth turned around and acknowledged Rashid’s call with a nod.
“I have to go.”
“Wait!” she exclaimed, taking his arm with an iron like grip. “Bijan Ben Ali’s here,” she started, averting her eyes. Then, taking a deep breath in, she went on. “Is… is there something I need to know?”
Ardeth closed his eyes for a second and sighed. Should he tell her now? She was watching him closely and he could see her need to know reflected in her smart eyes, but he didn’t think it was a good idea. Not yet. It was the first time, though, than she had showed any sign of interest of Alfred’s fate and he had to admit that she would have to know the truth, sooner or later.
“Bijan will be in charge of some… business, while we are gone,” he said. “For now, that’s all you need to know.”
“But…”
“Helen, not now,” he cut her off harshly.
She stiffened and narrowing her eyes, she nodded curtly.
“Fine,” she said. “Have fun at your meeting.”
And before he could stop her or say anything, she turned around and left the backyard almost running.
Rick O’Connell, Nabil, Rashid, Gamel and Jamahl were waiting for him and Ardeth cringed at the funny looks on their faces.
“Let’s go,” he said.
“I admire your… innate ability with women, my friend,” the American said, grinning with mischief.
“O’Connell…” Ardeth tried in a warning tone, ignoring his men’s grins.
“Go on with your amorous ways and Miss Weatherly will be finding love in the arms of a gorilla before you say Jack Daniels.”
“O’Connell, leave it alone,” Ardeth insisted. “There is a lot of work to do and we are running out of time.”
He didn’t wait for an answer and Rick chuckled with amusement. The Medjai warriors followed Ardeth in silence and he closed the ranks next to Adel, who had been watching the whole scene with a big smile on his face.
“Okay, let’s do something useful,” Rick said, smiling at the old seer. “These guys… I mean Ardeth’s emissaries…”
“Yes?” Adel questioned.
“Where do they come from?”
“They were sent to different places in order to follow the Arrow’s trace,” the seer said.
“Yes, but…”
“Do not be impatient, O’Connell,” Adel stopped him. “It is better to speak about these matters behind closed doors.”
Rick frowned.
“I suppose you’re right,” he relented.
They followed Ardeth and the warriors to a wide room with no windows. Only a big skylight in the center of the ceiling provided natural light and clean air during the day. Now, someone had taken the trouble to light the numerous oil lamps scattered all around the room.
They all took a seat around a big round table and waited patiently in silence for several minutes until a group of three Medjai warriors and Bijan Ben Ali entered the room and joined them.
“Welcome to the party,” O’Connell muttered under his breath with unmistakable irony.
There were no words of greeting, no words of welcome, nor smiles or handshakes. No one seemed to feel the need to speak, either. There was only the light sound of their breaths and the strong beat of their hearts… and Ardeth’s sigh. And then, his fist landed on the table and all the men looked at him and saw his fierce determination.
“Gentlemen, the time has come,” he said, his eyes nailing each one of the men with him. “Our journey begins here and now.”
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Arrow of the Sun – Chapter 10 (coming soon)