Evy gazed at the small mountain range that Ardeth was pointing to. From where they sat resting the horses it looked barren and forbidding. "That's the Garden City?" Alex asked, his voice betraying the doubt in Evy's mind.
Ardeth smiled. "No, my young friend. The Garden City is within the mountain. You cannot see it from here. You cannot see it from anywhere but above."
"How far is it?" Rick wanted to know.
"By nightfall we will be at the base of the mountain. We will spend this night in the caves and refresh ourselves before entering the city tomorrow."
True to his word, they reached the foot of the central mountain an hour before sunset. Ardeth led them up steep trails of rock until they reached a shallow canyon that was all in shadow. He called for Alex. "The entrance to the caves that surround the city is here. Can you see it?"
Alex looked around. "I don't see anything but rock walls," he admitted, a little disappointed.
"Your eyes can deceive you, Alex. Close them. Look again using your other senses," Ardeth suggested gently.
Alex did as he was told and closed his eyes. He wasn't quite sure what the Med-jai was getting at but he trusted him enough to listen. "Listen to the very air around you," Ardeth said very softly. "Smell it. Feel how it touches your skin. Find that which is different and you will find your way."
Alex sat absolutely still and concentrated. At first, there was nothing but the sounds of the caravan quietly waiting behind them. He shivered slightly. The canyon was cold compared to the desert. He turned his head slowly, breathing in the smells. His nostrils flared as he caught the scent of something different. He breathed deeper. "Water!" he whispered. "I smell water!" His eyes were still closed so he didn't see Ardeth smile at his parents.
"What else, Alex?" the Med-jai prompted.
A touch of breeze, warmer than the air around him. Alex turned his head until he could feel it blowing on his face. He opened his eyes and urged his horse forward slightly. He scanned the area he thought the smell and warm air was coming from but all he saw were rock walls. "I smell water and there's warmer air coming from somewhere but I can't see anything," he called over his shoulder. Ardeth rode up next to him and dismounted, then motioned for Alex to dismount as well. He led the boy forward so that they stood but yards from the canyon wall.
"The entrance is here. You can feel it. You can smell it. Now, can you find it?" He smiled at Alex, a challenge in his eyes. "You are doing very well Alex. You must begin to let go of those things which are tangible and learn to find that which is hidden by other means."
Alex nodded, he thought he understood. He stepped forward cautiously, turning his head this way and that, trying to rediscover the path of warm, fragrant air. Another ten feet forward and he felt it brush his cheek. He turned toward his left. There was nothing there but shadow. He walked forward then hesitated.
"Trust yourself, Alex," he heard Ardeth say from behind him. "Your instincts are your greatest tool."
Alex moved forward again. He closed the distance between himself and wall until he was within twenty feet. He squinted against the darkness, his gut telling him there was something there. He turned his head slightly to one side and gave a whoop. "That's amazing!" he shouted, turning toward Ardeth. "Bloody amazing! You'd never see it, not in a million years!" And with that he began to run straight toward the wall. Evy and Rick, who had dismounted while Alex was looking around, ran forward. "Alex!" Rick yelled. "Stop!"
"You're going to run into the wa. . ." Evy's voice caught in mid word. Alex hadn't hit the solid rock with a thud. He'd simply disappeared into it. Ardeth laughed and applauded, the Med-jai joining him. Rick could hear Bashaar whooping and Azizah cheering. He stepped forward carefully, looking in the direction his son went. He reached Ardeth's side. "Where did he go?" he asked.
Ardeth motioned him to follow and they walked toward the rock. Rick felt the warm air and smelled the water but, unlike his son, he didn't see anything. Evy came around from behind him and took the lead, her hands reaching forward as she reached the wall. Suddenly, she gasped in amazement and turned to Rick and Ardeth. "It's incredible!" she exclaimed. "Rick, do you see it?" Her husband shook his head. "Turn your head to one side," she suggested. Rick did as she asked and out of the corner of his eye saw what had impressed them. He turned back and stared at the opening.
The opening itself was ten feet wide and fifteen feet high, the space from the opening to the rock wall behind was about another ten feet, he guessed. The back wall of opening was colored and textured exactly like the wall surrounding it on either side. An optical illusion presenting itself as a solid wall, rendering it invisible unless you knew exactly what you were looking for. He grinned at his brother. "That's something else," he admitted. "How did you guys do that?"
"Ancient Med-jai secret," Ardeth intoned solemnly.
Rick guffawed. "Yeah, right. In other words, you have no idea."
Ardeth grinned and shrugged. "Unfortunately, not all of our knowledge has been preserved. It is enough to know that it is as it is. Now, come, let me show you our mountain."
Rick and Evy followed him into the entrance. The interior was dim and unlit but Ardeth guided them through as surely as if it had been illuminated by hundreds of torches. "We have light farther on," he explained, "but it must be far enough along the passageway that the light will not spill out into the entrance."
"Where's Alex?" Evy wondered aloud.
"I would imagine he's stopped at the edge of the cavern," Ardeth replied.
"Cavern, huh?" Rick mumbled. "I hope it's bigger than this place." The darkness and confining feel of the tunnel was beginning to bother him. He didn't know why it should. It wasn't like he'd been in thousands of passageways smaller than this over his lifetime. Most of the time it had no effect. Today, after being in the open desert for so long, it was making him a bit claustrophobic.
"It is somewhat bigger," Ardeth said wryly. Rick frowned at his tone. It was almost as if Ardeth was teasing him about something. A glow ahead let Rick know that the torches were close. Evy saw it too and they hurried their pace now that they could see better. They saw a small figure outlined in torchlight ahead. Alex O'Connell stood stark still in front of them.
"Alex?" Evy was troubled by her active son's lack of movement. "Are you okay?"
Alex didn't turn, didn't speak. He only motioned them forward with his hand. Rick and Evy stepped forward, blinking in the sudden brightness. When their eyes adjusted to the light, they froze in their tracks and stared at what had transfixed their son.
Laid out before them was an enormous cavern of white rock. It was easily the size of one of the ancient temples they'd explored. Huge stalactites hung from the ceiling, sparkling in the glow of the campfires that lay burning below where they stood. Red, gold, green, blue, every color imaginable reflected in glittering splendor from the hanging giants above them. Even the walls themselves sparkled with the rainbow of colors. Spread out below them were a hundred campfires, at least. Cushions and bedrolls lay near the fires, creating small room like areas. Several people went about busily tending fires and, in one section of the cavern, where a larger cooking fire burned, women were preparing food. Dozens of exits led out of the main chamber in every direction.
"Welcome to the Gateway," Ardeth said quietly after a moment. The O'Connell's turned their amazed looks on him. He smiled. "This is the main entrance into our mountain. It is here we will rest and prepare to enter the city in the morning."
"Main entrance? There are others like this?" Alex asked, his voice squeaking in excitement.
"Other entrances, yes, but none like this. They are all much smaller." A shout interrupted them as they were finally spotted by the people below. Ardeth yelled a greeting and waved at the people below who were all rushing forward in anticipation of their arrival.
"Come," Ardeth said to his friends and he led them down a wide, open staircase that was carved out of the rock to either side of the ledge they stood on. Evy held tight to Rick's arm as they descended the steep stairs. The drop at the side of the stairway facing the cavern was a hundred feet or more and she stayed as close to the wall as she could. Ardeth was seemingly unaware of the drop and he descended quickly, Alex at his side. At the bottom, Ardeth disappeared in a sea of arms waiting to embrace him.
At the bottom of the staircase, the O'Connell's waited silently as Ardeth greeted his people. His laughter carried high above them into the cavern's ceiling. Rick and Evy exchanged looks. This was definitely a different side of their friend. After a few moments, Ardeth turned and smiled at them, motioning them forward. "Come, my friends! Come!" He said something in his native tongue to his people. The gathered throng cheered and before they knew it, Rick and Evy were caught up in the embrace of dozens of people. Alex was hoisted into the arms of many adoring women who kissed him and clucked over him in the universal language of women confronted with an adorable child.
"What did you tell them?" Evy asked breathlessly after a few moments.
"I only told them you were the ones who twice defeated the Creature," Ardeth said innocently, his eyes twinkling. "And I may have mentioned that you saved my life."
Rick's eyes promised revenge as he was swept into yet another bear hug by a stranger. Ardeth laughed at his discomfiture and his eyes shone bright with happiness. He was home and his family had accepted his friends as their own. A shout from above caught his attention and he saw the rest of the caravan making their way down the stairway. Azizah waved merrily from her perch atop Bashaar's shoulder. Soon the entire caravan had greeted their tribesmen and were settling into sleeping areas or helping prepare food. Alex had gone with Bashaar and Azizah to see where the horses were kept and Rick and Evy were taken down one of the rock corridors to an alcove sealed off with a bright tapestry for privacy. Their things lay in a neat pile on the floor and two large sleeping pallets lay along each wall. The young woman who had escorted them to the room left them only to return a short time later. She prattled something off in her native language and gestured for them to follow her.
"Do you understand this?" Rick asked in an aside to his wife.
Evy smiled and shook her head. "I've no idea what she's saying but I think she wants us to go with her."
They followed the woman down the corridor which began to incline slightly downward. They could feel warm, moist heat ahead of them and hear water running. Before long they were at the entrance to another cavern, small and softly lit, and dotted with small pools of bubbling, steaming water.
"Hot springs!" Evy declared with a joyous shout. "These are hot mineral springs, Rick!"
"Now you know the real reason we guard this place so carefully," came a voice from the other side of the cavern. Evy and Rick strained their eyes in the direction the voice came from and eventually saw that it was Ardeth, neck deep in a steaming pool. He smiled at them and gestured to the other side from where they stood. Panels were erected closing the cavern into two sections. "Evy, you are welcome to use the women's side," he offered with a smile, "if you so choose, that is."
"Not choose a hot bath after what we've been through?" she asked with humor. "You've got to be kidding. How do I get over there?" The young woman that had accompanied them waved her to an opening with a smile as if she knew what Evy had said. Evy waved goodbye to her husband and disappeared behind the paneling.
"You are welcome to any pool you so choose," Ardeth offered to Rick. He then closed his eyes in contentment and leaned his head far back into the steaming water.
Rick looked around the room and chose the pool two away from Ardeth's. He undressed quickly and sank his weary body into the hot spring with a grateful sigh. "Oh, this feels good," he groaned as the bubbling water worked at the knots in his back and legs. "How can you ever leave this place?"
Ardeth, too, sighed deeply. "We leave because we must. However, coming home to this makes it all worth it."
The young woman who'd escorted the O'Connell's to their room and the bathing chamber reappeared from behind the screen and came toward Ardeth, a small vial in her hands. Ardeth moved forward in the water so his arms were resting on the side of the pool. The woman poured something on her hands and began to massage Ardeth's back and shoulders.
"Well, now, that's what I call room service," Rick remarked as he watched his friend's face relax in pleasure.
"I am glad you approve."
Rick eyed the woman carefully. She seemed to be very familiar with Ardeth's body. And judging by the look on his face she was hitting all the right spots on his torso with her strong fingers. He had an inkling of an idea. "Ardeth, is this your, uh, I mean do you have a, well, you know?" He couldn't bring himself to ask it and that surprised him. Rick O'Connell, man of the world, afraid to ask his best friend if he had a mistress.
"It is not what you are thinking, my brother. Halima does not share my bed."
"Oh, right." Rick wasn't sure if he was relieved or felt sorry for his friend.
Ardeth laughed at his friend's tone, knowing what he was thinking. "I do not lack for companionship, O'Connell." With that he spoke to Halima and she ceased her ministrations. The woman then approached Rick with a smile. Rick smiled back hesitantly. "I don't know about this, buddy. I don't think Evy's gonna like it," he said to Ardeth.
Ardeth simply shrugged, pushed himself out of the pool, and wrapped a large bath sheet around his waist. "As you wish. I must go. I will see you in the morning. Halima will take care of any needs you and Evy have."
"Wait, you aren't going to eat with us?" Since the day Ardeth had awoken, the O'Connell's had shared the evening meal with him and Azizah. It had become a daily ritual for all of them.
Ardeth shook his head. "I cannot. There is much I must do in preparation for tomorrow and I must rise early. Someone will come for you when the food is ready and you will eat and rest. Goodnight, my brother." And with that he left Rick alone with Halima and her bottle of oil.
**************
They had no idea what time the sun rose. In the caverns there was no dark, no light, except for that which was created by the torches and campfires. Still, Rick and Evy awoke on their own and found, to Evy's delight, new robes similar to those the Med-jai wore laid out for them in the main room. Even Alex had his own new set of clothes for their entrance into the Garden City.
They donned their new outfits, Evy's of light blue, Rick's of black, and Alex's of darker blue, and reassembled in the main cavern as Bashaar had instructed them the night before. Everyone else was waiting for them and when the O'Connell's arrived, Bashaar led them out of the cavern through one of the tunnels.
"Where's Ardeth?" Alex asked Bashaar.
"He will join us when we reach the horses," Bashaar replied. "He and Azizah are preparing for the journey to the city."
"Preparing?" Evy wondered aloud.
"Yeah, Mom. Ardeth and Azizah will dress in their ceremonial robes for the journey into the city."
Rick turned to his son. "How do you know that?"
Alex rolled his eyes. "Ardeth told me. When we were riding up the mountain. Weren't you listening?"
Together his parents answered him. "No."
Alex rolled his eyes again. "Grownups," he muttered, as if that covered everything.
A moment later they were in the spacious corral that housed the horses and they mounted up, ready to leave. The rode forward a short way until the sun peeked in through an opening ahead, flooding the room with sunlight. A sudden drop in the noise level and the dismounting of the rest of their party startled Rick and Evy and they looked around, not sure what they'd missed. A flash of gold and white caught Rick's eye and he looked up. Unable to speak, he pulled on Evy's sleeve until she too looked where his eyes were focused.
Ardeth stood on the sun-drenched ledge that overlooked the cavern. He was dressed in white robes trimmed with gold and precious jewels. A sleeveless overgarment hung to his feet, the front open, exposing the white silk shirt he wore tucked into loose white trousers. White knee-high boots encased his legs and gold buckles glinted in the sunlight. The gold scimitar hung freely at his waist from a jewel studded belt. Something glinted on his forehead and Evy realized that he wore a gold circlet around his head, the center of which was carved to mirror the tatoos on his brow, creating a crown of sorts. His head was uncovered and his midnight black hair hung down his back. Beside him stood Azizah, also dressed in white flowing robes. Her hair had been done up in a multitude of gold trimmed braids and she, too, wore a circle of gold around her head.
"Oh my God," Rick breathed.
To a man, the group around them fell to one knee, their heads bowed in reverence. No one moved as Ardeth and Azizah descended the stairs. Only Bashaar stood as they approached the horses, lifting Azizah into the saddle in front of her father.
"My people," Bashaar translated quietly to the O'Connell's as Ardeth began speaking, "let us go home." A cheer erupted from the throats of the Med-jai and the mounted their horses, eager to be off. Ardeth spurred his horse forward and led the way out of the mountain caverns to the valley below. At first, Evy couldn't see much, there was still a wall of rock around them. Then, suddenly, the rock gave way to sky and she got her first glimpse of the Garden City.
"Crikey!" Alex exclaimed beside her, catching his first glimpse of the green valley. "That's bloody incredible!"
"Alex, language," Evy scolded automatically, her voice lacking much conviction. Personally, she agreed with him. The valley floor spread out before them like an emerald carpet. Lush fields of grass and grazing lands spread across the entire area. Tall waterfalls sprayed mist into the sky and tall trees provided shade to the stone houses she could see amid the greenery. A little way up the side of one steep rock wall, a large house was set upon a wide ledge. Gardens overhanging white balconies were apparent as were walled pools of blue water.
"The palace," Bashaar said quietly from beside her.
Evy nodded without looking at him. She was in awe of the sights around her. One of Ardeth's commanders came up to Bashaar and whispered something to him. "Ziyad says that Ardeth Bey requires your presence at the front of the caravan," he said with a smile and a hand gesture indicating they should follow him. They rode along for a moment until they caught sight of Ardeth's white clad form not too far away. He smiled in greeting as they pulled alongside.
"Ah, my friends! We are about to enter the city. I want you by my side so that all my see you when I announce your place in the tribe."
"Our place in the tribe?" Alex asked with no little excitement.
"You have saved my life, you have defeated the Creature. You are of the Med-jai now and forever. Even should you choose not to wear our signs, you will still be one of us always. Now, I must ask you to ride directly behind me for a short time. I will go first."
Around the next corner, the gates of the Garden City stood open. Rick had never seen so many people gathered in one place in his life. Hundreds of men, women, and children lined the streets ahead as far as they could see. The cheer that greeted them when the throng saw Ardeth coming was deafening. It was a moment before Ardeth could wave them into silence.
"My people," Bashaar translated, "I bring you great news. The Creature has been defeated again. And again we owe a debt of honor to the one called O'Connell, to the one called Evelyn, to the one called Alex." As he said each of their names, he waved them to his side. "It has been revealed that O'Connell himself is the brother of my soul. His blood and mine are now the same. Let it be known from this moment on and for all time that my brother and his family are Med-jai!"
"Rick, please! Ardeth, explain it again. I'm not sure we're getting this all straight." Evy arched her eyebrows at her husband, her own private sign that he should just shut up and listen.
Ardeth sighed heavily under his breath. This wasn't going to be easy. Not that he thought anything about Rick O'Connell was ever easy. Still, this was proving to be more difficult than he'd wanted.
"As the son of my brother he will be my heir unless I have another son to take his place," he repeated for the third time in fifteen minutes.
"Well then I suggest you get cracking, Ardeth old buddy, cause my little boy isn't going to be the next Med-jai leader." Rick had his arms crossed over his chest, his stance indicating that he was absolutely having none of this.
"I did not say he would be. Only that it is possible. He is his father's son. You and Evy have both made your mark upon him. He is honorable and brave. He is open to our ways. I am only asking that you let me train him when you are in Egypt. Let him stay with me when you are out on digs. Let him learn the way of the Med-jai. Just in case."
"In case of what?" Rick demanded irritably.
"Rick! You know very well what he means." Evy turned her back on her husband and faced Ardeth Bey. "Now, Ardeth, are you sure your tribe is going to accept this? I mean, Alex is an outsider. He's not even Egyptian."
"He is Egyptian as you are Egyptian, Evy. Your blood runs in his veins. And as for the people they will accept him as my heir because they see O'Connell is my brother. It is not so hard for them to image as you might think."
"No." Rick was standing his ground. "My son is not going to run off and spend his life in the desert protecting places like Hamunaptra from the likes of . . . of - well - me. I would rather see him safely at home in England being a lawyer or a doctor or something. Something that has nothing to do with books of the dead and mummies and keeping evil buried for the sake of mankind. Huh-unh. No way."
"Oh, honestly, Rick! Do you really think you're going to keep our son, our son mind you, stuck in some office somewhere? I think it's rather a bit late for that, don't you? I mean, let's be realistic. With you and I as his parents how long do you think we'll be able to keep him home for heaven's sake much less out of trouble?" Evy faced Rick, her hands firmly placed on her hips. She knew that their adventuring streak ran deep in their son. And she knew, with a mother's certainty, that forcing their son into some safe job somewhere back home would drive him away forever. She told him as much. "So you see, if we try and make Alex into something he doesn't want we could very well drive him here anyway, only he'd be ill prepared for the life."
"Oh, is that how you see it? Well, Evelyn, I think you're wrong. I think Alex would love a nice job in a nice office or something." Rick was determined to get his point across. His face lit up as a thought came to him. "I know! He loves books. You could get him interested in being a librarian."
Evy only smiled crookedly. "Oh, yes, what a perfect idea! After all it's kept me safe all these years." Her sarcasm lay heavy in the air. Rick's finger came up, pointing at her. His mouth moved as if he were searching for just the right words to set her straight.
"Excuse me, my friends, but have you considered asking Alex what it is he wants?" A hint of a smile played at the corners of Ardeth's mouth. Neither of them faced him to answer, so intent they were on their argument, but he knew their words were meant for him as much as each other.
"Alex is a little boy. He's just a kid."
"He's not a kid. He had the maturity and foresight to leave us a trail to follow when Imhotep had him. He's ingenious and bright. He's got the right to have a say in this."
"Since when? You told me yourself he was still a child!"
"Well that was then. This is now."
"Then? That was yesterday!"
Ardeth threw up his hands and walked away. He knew he'd get nowhere with them. He left the room, determined to approach this at a later time.
"Hello, Ardeth," Alex called brightly. "Have you seen Mum and Dad?"
Ardeth smiled at him. "They are in there," he indicated the room he'd just left, "but they are having a bit of a . . . disagreement."
Alex rolled his eyes. "It's about me, isn't it?" He sighed dramatically. "I wish they'd stop treating me like a child."
The Med-jai lay a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You are still a child in many ways. But in many ways you have shown yourself to be more of a man than many I have met. "
"Well, I wish they'd see that. What's the fight about this time." Alex settled his gaze on Ardeth's face. Ardeth didn't speak for a moment but studied the boy before him, trying to decide how much to tell him. Finally, "Your parents are discussing an aspect of your future that they did not foresee," he said diplomatically.
"They don't want to me be your heir, do they?"
Ardeth's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know this?" he asked with a laugh, knowing that anyone was hard pressed to keep secrets from this very perceptive young man.
"I listen. I hear things. Mum thinks I don't know anything but I know enough to pay attention. I've figured out that if I listen very hard I can make out what you're saying sometimes. Bashaar's been teaching me. Besides, your people speak in Arabic, too, and I've been speaking that since I was a baby."
The king threw back his head and laughed. "You are amazing, Alex O'Connell, do you know that?" he asked, his eyes bright with appreciation for the boy in front of him. "Now, what do you think? Do you think you could be the heir of the Med-jai king?"
Alex considered this a moment. Ardeth was proud of him for not answering right away. It was yet another mark in Alex's favor. Finally he lifted his face and his light eyes met Ardeth's dark ones. A much older soul looked out through those innocent orbs. "Yes," he said softly. "I can do it. But I won't defy my father."
Ardeth felt his heart swell with pride. "You are everything a man could ask in a son. I would like to think that. . ." He shook his head sadly. "It is of no matter." He turned away and looked out one of the hall's windows before the sense of loss that still had the power to overwhelm him took hold. He would not think of his son. If he concentrated, the pain would go away and he wouldn't have to face it again until the next time when he would crush it again. All he needed to do was focus his mind elsewhere. All he needed was a moment to gather his strength. What he did not need was the small, warm hand that crept into his. What he did not need to do was look into the understanding eyes of a child who was equal to Haytham in age, eyes that mirrored the pain he felt, eyes that had known, if only for a short time, what that kind of loss was like. What he did not need was the quietly understanding "I'm sorry" that crashed through the barriers he'd erected as effectively as an elephant gun shooting through paper. With a strangled cry, Ardeth Bey sank slowly to his knees, his face buried in his hands. Alex O'Connell put his arms around the broken king and held him.
Neither of them noticed that Bashaar looked on. Nor did they notice as he discreetly stationed guards at either end of the hall, ensuring their privacy. They did not see Rick and Evy quickly end their fight as the sound of the anguished weeping reached them, did not see them come running to see what was wrong.
As they reached the door, Bashaar stopped them with a look. "Do not, my friends, I beg you."
"What the hell's going on?" Rick demanded.
"Who's crying? What's the matter?" Evy was almost in tears herself, the heart wrenching sobs reached deep into her soul.
Bashaar indicated they should be silent and motioned them forward. Evy's tears finally did fall at the sight before her. Rick only stared. "What's happened?" he asked in a whisper, not believing he was seeing the mighty Ardeth Bey weeping in the arms of a child as if he were a child himself.
"Ardeth Bey is finally grieving for his son." Bashaar's face looked strangely hopeful.
"Do you mean,"Evy choked out, "that he's never . . ."
The Med-jai warrior shook his head. "Not once, in the time since it happened, has he given into his grief." He faced the two people he now considered his friends. "You should be proud of your son. He has done something that all the people in our tribe have tried to do. He has forced our king to face his loss."
Rick watched his son calmly stroke Ardeth's hair, something he'd seen Evy do for Alex so many times before. The strength and empathy radiating from his son was humbling and he honestly didn't know if he could have done for his friend what his son was so casually undertaking. A shaft of sunlight broke through the window. His son and his best friend were bathed in a golden glow and in that moment Rick knew that destiny was a larger entity than he could ever fight. He smiled at Bashaar.
"Alex should be the one to do this. He is Ardeth's heir." Rick O'Connell took his stunned wife by the hand and led her from the hall, leaving their son alone with his king.
"Who offers this man for honor?" he asked in a strong, but slightly wavering voice.
Ardeth stepped forward. "I do." His reply carried to the entire gathering.
"What is this man to you?" The second of the ancient questions was asked.
"He is my brother," Ardeth answered with conviction, his hand pressing down on Rick's shoulder.
"What has he done to deserve honor?" The last question was asked.
"He defeated the Creature. He defeated the Scorpion King. He offered forth his own blood to save the life of Ardeth Bey."
The elder nodded. "He is Med-jai," he proclaimed.
Rick knelt on a small carpet in the very center of the circle. From the back of the room came a woman dressed in black robes, not unlike those of the men. Hessa, her name was. In her hands she carried a tray upon which rested the ancient tools of marking. She knelt before Rick and took his left hand in hers. Rick could see that her fingers were stained blue from years of carrying out the ritualistic tattooing of her tribe.
Hessa offered him a cup filled with a sweet smelling liquid. It would help ease the discomfort, he'd been told. Rick hadn't wanted it, said he could take it like a man but Ardeth had convinced him that Evy and Alex would follow the example he set and did he really want his wife and son to feel the needle pricking at them? Rick drank the potion down. In a moment, he felt a pleasant tingling course through him and he nodded at the woman to proceed.
The woman took a sharp, narrow stylus from her tray and with painstaking care drew the outline of the tatoo on his flesh. Rick watched as the blood oozed out of the thin cuts, marking the border of the tatoo in red. When she finished with the outline, she took a long, sharp needle from the tray and with great ceremony uncovered a pot of bright blue powder. She dipped the needle into the power.
Rick clenched his teeth. The pain was dulled but it still hurt like hell. The needle pokes were deep. Deep enough to embed the dye forever in his skin. The dye burned. If Rick hadn't been so caught up in ignoring the pain he would have realized that the blue powder acted as a styptic, stopping any bleeding before it could begin. As the Hessa worked, the other people in the room chanted softly. Offering up prayers for his protection and guidance, Ardeth had told him.
Rick stayed perfectly still. He had no choice, really. Hessa held his wrist in a grip of iron. He closed his eyes and tried to think of something else besides the faint burning in his hand. Ardeth squeezed his shoulder lightly. Rick looked up at him and saw him smile slightly, a look of empathy on his face. Rick grinned, knowing that Ardeth knew exactly how this felt.
Before Rick would have thought it possible, the woman finished and pressed a cold, wet cloth against his hand. The cloth smelled of the healing salve that Safiya had used on Ardeth's wounds and it eased the discomfort immediately. He smiled in gratitude. Hessa smiled back and then she took his other hand.
Before long Hessa was done and it was Evy's turn to stand before the elders. She had watched the proceedings very closely, searching Rick's face for any sign of the pain she could expect. She wasn't nervous for herself, she'd given birth after all, but for Alex. He was still her child and she didn't want to see him hurting. Her thoughts were brought back to the ordeal ahead when the questions began again.
"Who offers this woman for honor?"
Rick stood up. "I do," he said in the language of the Med-jai. It had taken him a couple of days to get the pronunciation down.
"What is this woman to you?"
"She is my wife," Rick said, the love he felt for her apparent in his voice, "and sister by marriage to Ardeth Bey."
"What has she done to deserve honor?"
"She defended our home against those who would take the Bracelet of Anubis. She fought Anck-su-namun. She risked her life to save mine." Rick's pride showed clear for all to see.
Once more the elder nodded. "She is Med-jai," he proclaimed.
Again the potion was offered and Evy drank. Again the ritual proceeded with prayers. Evy breathed slowly in and out, calming herself. The only indication that she felt the irritating burning prick of the needle was the occasional narrowing of her eyes or the delicate clenching of her jaw. She smiled bravely at her son as the first of her two wrists was covered in the soothing cloth. Alex didn't seem to be nervous at all to her. He simply waited patiently for his turn, something that was in itself incredible for his parents to see. Her eyes raised to Rick's and they exchanged wordless comments on their son's behavior.
Finally, the time came for Alex to be marked.
"Who offers this child for honor?"
Ardeth stepped forward to stand beside Alex. "I do."
"What is this child to you?"
"He is the son of my brother. He is my heir." There was a stirring of whispers at this announcement but it was stilled by one glance from the elders.
"What has he done to deserve honor before his time?" The question was slightly different given Alex's age.
"While in the clutches of the Creature, he had the foresight to leave a trail so that we might follow him to the oasis of Ahm Shere. He showed great bravery and presence of mind in the face of terror. He used the Book of the Dead to return his mother to life."
The old man studied Alex a moment as he stood at Ardeth's side. He must have seen what he was looking for. "He is Med-jai," the elder announced.
Hessa offered up the potion to Alex as he sat before her. "No," he said in the Med-jai tongue. "I do not want it."
Even the sound of breathing was stilled at this declaration. Rick and Evy both made a move forward but Ardeth waved them off and knelt by Alex's side. "You do not have to do this, Alex. There is no shame in accepting the potion. It will make it more bearable."
Alex looked up at Ardeth and shook his head. "I don't want it. I want to do this without it."
Ardeth studied the boy's determined features for a long while. He looked at Rick and Evy and something unspoken passed between them. Ardeth stood and nodded to Hessa. "Continue," he commanded gently.
Hessa took Alex's wrist in her hand and began. Alex wasn't sure what to expect but he was certain it would be much worse. The lines she was carving in his hand didn't really hurt that much. He knew that the needle and dye would probably hurt more but he didn't want anything that might make this experience less than complete. Something inside him wanted to prove to the Med-jai that he was deserving of the honor Ardeth had bestowed upon him. He knew instinctively that if he could get through this he would earn the respect of the people he might one day have to lead. Alex understood that if Ardeth were to have another son, he would no longer be the sole heir. But Alex also knew that his fate was inexorably tied to these people. He was not a boy given to fancy anymore. He'd learned the hard way in the past few weeks that his worst nightmares were nothing compared to the reality he'd faced. Still, he'd come through it with a new sense of self and strength of spirit. And beyond all that, Alex O'Connell, the boy who so far hadn't much use for girls, had come face to face with the girl he was destined to be with. He knew it as certain as he knew his own name.
Alex pondered all of this while Hessa worked, his mind working so furiously that he never felt the first prick of the dye coated needle. It was only after Hessa was half done with his other hand that he became aware of the burning pain. He swallowed hard and forced his teeth together. "I've come this far," he told himself, "it's not much longer now." A short time later Hessa finished and a great cheer erupted from the gathered Med-jai. He'd done it! Even the elders were smiling at him. Ardeth clapped him on the back and Alex could see that his mother and father were bursting with pride. Even Hessa smiled at him in approval.
The elder said something and the outer ring of people left the chamber and those who remained sat down on the floor. Rick and Evy looked at Ardeth, standing in the same place he'd been all evening, but Ardeth was looking toward the far end of the room where another Med-jai was coming forward with a tray. They could see immediately that this was a man and his hands were also blue. He came and knelt beside Hessa. On his tray was similar assortment of instruments used by Hessa but he had three pots of dye instead of just one.
The elder motioned for silence.
"Who offers this man for honor?" The question surprised the O'Connell's. No one was standing for acknowledgment. They were even more surprised when a small, black clad figure stood amongst the gathered Med-jai and came forward.
"I do," Azizah said solemnly.
"What is this man to you?"
"He is my father."
Evy was stunned! She hadn't realized that the elder was talking about Ardeth.
"What has he done to deserve honor?"
"He led his warriors against the jackal army. He traveled many hundreds of miles from our home to a strange and distant land to retrieve the Bracelet of Anubis. He exacted justice from the man who killed my mother and brother."
A general gasp arose from the assembly and many of those gathered raised their hands to the heavens in thanksgiving. The elder waited until there was quiet again. He looked at Ardeth Bey. "You have faced many dangers, my king. You honor your people. You are Med-jai."
Azizah reached up and held out her arms to her father. He removed his robe and laid it over her outstretched arms. Then he removed his shirt. All could see the faint pink lines that crossed his chest. The marks of the mummy had just barely healed. Ardeth smiled at his daughter then knelt down between Hessa and her companion, prostrating himself face down on the stone floor.
Rick and Evy watched with a mix of fascination and horror as line after intricate line of symbols were carved into Ardeth's back, each of the tatoo artisans taking a section. Through the entire painstaking process, Ardeth didn't move, didn't make a sound. The only sign that he was even aware of the pain was a faint tightening around his eyes. Finally, Hessa sat back and gathered her tools. She set them to one side and picked up several small squares of cloth from the other tray. The man sitting across from her picked up what looked like a thin strip of charcoal and traced several symbols down Ardeth's spine. Evy shuddered and looked away as he picked up the most delicate instrument of the evening and opened the second pot on his tray. Black inky liquid dripped from the tip of the tiny needle and he shook off the excess before applying the needle to the outlines on Ardeth's back. Only then was there any reaction from Ardeth. He hissed in pain and clamped his jaw tight. Rick and Evy knew that the thin covering of skin over the bones of his spine was no protection from the terrible pain of the dye. They noticed that when the first symbol was done, Hessa put a cloth over it. The white square was instantly wet with blood. The black dye didn't have the styptic properties of the blue. The process was slowly repeated over and over until a line of ten bloody squares marched down Ardeth's back. The effort was showing on his body which was now drenched in sweat. His eyes were closed tight and his hands fisted against the floor. Finally, the last symbol was done and a blanket was laid beside their friend. Hessa and her companion gently rolled Ardeth over onto it. Hessa took a scented cloth and bathed Ardeth's sweaty face with cool water. He smiled weakly at her and concentrated on breathing. No matter how many times he went through this, he could never completely control the pain. And he knew that the worst was yet to come. The mark that had been forged when his family was murdered would now be sealed in red, indicating his vengeance was satisfied. The red dye used to fill in the marks burned like fire and the only thing that eased his mind was the fact that he had finally killed Loch-nah and avenged himself. This thought alone made the coming pain bearable. He thought on this for several moments and when at last he felt himself calming, he nodded.
The man lifted the lid on the last pot. Dark crimson dye showed bright in the torchlight. Hessa handed the man a heavy gauge needle which he dipped into the dye. He leaned over Ardeth's chest, blocking everyone's view. Once again Ardeth's hands fisted, a clear sign to all of the pain he was feeling. His teeth clenched together and he could not mask the occasional cry of pain. Evy couldn't watch and buried her head in Rick's shoulder. Rick understood what the marking of this tattoo meant. Ardeth had explained it days ago. He just hadn't realized what an ordeal it would be when it happened. He held his wife close and watched Ardeth suffer, unable to do a thing.
A long time later the man pulled away and the tattoo on Ardeth's right shoulder, the one that told of his family's massacre, was completely colored red. Ardeth was conscious, but his breathing was heavy and labored as he fought for control. Bashaar came forward and laid a hand on Rick's shoulder. Rick jumped, not realized the warrior stood behind him. "Will you help me with Ardeth, O'Connell?" Bashaar asked quietly. Rick looked at his brother lying still on the blanket. He realized that there was no way Ardeth was going anywhere under his own power after all of that. He nodded to Bashaar and kissed Evy quickly, smiling at her.
Together, he and Bashaar managed to get Ardeth upright. They kept the blanket wrapped around his back so they wouldn't irritate the abraded skin any further. Ardeth swallowed a moan as they lifted him to his feet. He draped his arms gratefully over their shoulders and staggered between them as they left the room. The silent Med-jai stood aside for them, their faces radiating the love and pride they felt for their leader.
Bashaar and Rick managed to get Ardeth back to his chambers. Evy rushed ahead of them and had the doors open and Ardeth's bed ready. They set him down gently on his stomach. As soon as he felt the comfort of his own bed beneath his sore body, Ardeth gave up any attempts to stay conscious and with a groan that was half pain, half relief, let the blackness take over.