What Katy was not expecting when she walked over the threshold was the enormous chamber she stepped into. It was a cavernous room, with many levels attached to one another by steep stairways and platforms carved into the bedrock. As with the tunnel, the walls were covered thickly in moss and mildew, the air around them damp and replete with humidity. Katy moved forward to the edge of the platform the door opened onto and glanced down, reeling back suddenly at the sight that greeted her. Ardeth caught her as she fell into him, steadying her before moving forward to see what had caused her to react in such a manner. The drop below them was a good thousand feet, straight into what appeared to be the very depths of hell, or a very close facsimile, but which was really no more than a pool of molten lava. Ardeth nodded. It explained the humidity, at least.
Another inhuman cry echoed through the chamber.
“Why do I get the feeling this a really bad idea?” Katy whispered.
Ardeth took her arm, flashing her a reassuring smile. “I am here, Katebet. We will get through this together.”
Katy uttered an unladylike snort in reply but said nothing else, following Ardeth down the steps in front of them as she heard Evy begin the incantation from the depths of the room they had just exited. They were halfway to the next platform when seemingly out of nowhere, an Anubis warrior materialized beside Katy, taking a swipe at her with his scythe. She screamed, almost forgetting to duck in the sheer terror of the sight of the monster before her, but she dropped in time as Ardeth ran back up to her, meeting the next swipe of the jackal-headed warrior with his own. Katy tried to crawl out of the way but lost her balance and tumbled down the steps, slamming hard into the lower platform. Shaking her head to clear the lights that danced before her eyes, she climbed to her feet, her gaze raising to Ardeth as he battled the enormous creature that towered over him. Preparing to run back up to help him, Isis’ voice whispered across her mind:
There is no time. Leave the warriors to battle. Seth is ahead. He is waiting.
Heart warred with mind over the issue until Katy remembered that Ardeth had asked her to leave the Anubis warriors to him. The thought was not a particularly comforting one. Though she had the deepest faith in Ardeth’s abilities, just seeing the creature he battled was enough to instill fear in her. Before she made the ultimate in stupid mistakes, Katy turned away and hurried on down the next set of steps, reminding herself that it was one on one and Ardeth was a Medjai. If anything, the odds were against the hell spawn.
The next platform led to a narrow tunnel built into the bedrock that Katy passed through, finding it opened onto a vast ledge in the center of the cavern. As her gaze swept across the area, Katy let out a gasp and ducked back into the darkness, her heart hammering in her chest.
It is he!
“Come, Katy O’Connell,” a rich, cultured voice called out to her in Egyptian. She shivered at the sound of her name. “I have been waiting for you.”
You must do this! Isis urged. Once Osiris arises, you must destroy the amulet before him or all will be lost!
Katy stepped back out into the light, stilling the nerves that trembled inside her at the sight which greeted her. Seth – for that is who she imagined he was – sat on a massive dais and throne which was carved into the bedrock, flanked by two of the Anubis warriors, their teeth gnashing in agitation as they watched her.
Distract him! The ritual is coming to conclusion!
“H – how did you know I would come?” Katy almost squeaked, silently berating herself for showing fear. After all, the man before her was not as frightening as she expected. In fact, he just looked like a man. I don’t understand, she told the other who inhabited her body.
He has taken the body of a man, probably just some poor soul who never knew what happened to him. But do not be fooled! Though a mortal’s body he occupies, he has been given his power by Anubis. This is a war among Gods. You are only a vessel in which I may be delivered.
Katy made a face. If there was one thing she did not like, it was being used.
“I knew my beloved Isis would lead you to me,” Seth spoke, rising and stepping down from the dais. The body he inhabited was tall and he carried himself regally, arrogantly, as if he knew he could not be beaten. The face was older, a man of perhaps his early forties, with a thick beard and mustache and dark eyes that seemed somehow soulless.
Katy steeled herself as he approached her, his long, slim fingers reaching out to touch her chin, lifting her gaze to his.
“My Isis.” He caressed her cheek, staring into her eyes. “I know you are in there, and I will have you soon at my side.”
“Over my dead body,” Katy spat, or it was something along those lines, considering she spoke in ancient Egyptian.
Seth laughed. “Ah, but my little interloper, that is exactly the plan. Once I destroy the soul inside of you, retaining only that part which pertains to my beautiful Queen, then it will be simple to extract Isis from the empty shell of you and back into her own, beautiful form.”
Katy frowned, angry that both Evy and Ardeth had left that part of the bargain out of the information they chose to share. “As I understand it,” she replied, using the knowledge she gleaned from the spirit inside of her. “Your Queen does not wish to be a part of the future you seek. In fact, from the way I understand it, she loathes the very thought of you.”
The man before her snarled, raising his hand to strike her when his attention was suddenly pulled to the tunnel entrance. His gaze narrowed in anger.
“Ardeth!” Elation swept through Katy at the sight of him but it did not last long as the two Anubis warriors jumped down from their perches on the dais and attacked. Fascinated, Katy could not pull her gaze away from the scene before her. Watching Ardeth nimbly battle the two creatures was something both beautiful and horrible to behold. He quickly took the head of one before turning his attention to the other, who screamed in outrage that one of them should die so easily.
And then the ground beneath them began to tremble.
Both Katy and Seth turned away from the battle scene, their gazes sweeping over the cavern. The very air around them seemed to rumble as if something were emerging from one world into another.
He comes! My brother comes! Isis screamed through Katy’s mind.
Oh hell! Katy hands began digging through her pockets, searching for the amulet as Seth roared in anger before her. Her hand suddenly locked around it, pulling it free.
“The urn!” Seth screamed, slamming his hand into Katy’s head, knocking her across the floor of the ledge as he turned to glare up at the door that led toward the Chamber of Isis. Reaching into his robes, he withdrew a hand of black sand and blew on it, sending it into the air. The sand coalesced, forming and shaping, until four more Anubis warriors stood before him. “Go!” he instructed. “Get the urn! Destroy those who dare to raise Osiris!”
The jackal-headed warriors darted past Ardeth who turned to scream a warning up to Rick as he ducked another swing of the scythe before him. Feinting to the left, the warrior brought a final death blow to the Anubis creature, severing its head as its body disappeared back into dust. Turning, he raced back through the tunnel, attacking one of the creatures before it could reach the steps.
“O’Connell!” He cried out as the other three tore towards the chamber.
Rick appeared through the door, ducking immediately as a scythe swung his way, imbedding into the rock beside his head. “Whoa!” he cried out, ducking back into the chamber and swinging the door shut behind him.
The Medjai chieftain looked up in confusion at Rick’s departure, momentarily missing a beat that allowed his opponent to swipe at his back. He fell forward in pain, rolling out of the way just as the deadly scythe swung down toward his head. Forcing his mind away from the burning sting that rent his back, Ardeth jumped to his feet behind the beast, swinging his scimitar through the air and across his opponent’s shoulders. Black sand immediately swept over him. He stumbled back, prepared to go after the three warriors that were currently beating against the door to the Chamber of Isis, but the pain of the deep cut across his back sapped at his strength. Where was O’Connell?
“Sword!” Rick shouted as he slammed the door shut behind him, trying to ignore the hideous sounds of claws tearing against the rock. “I need a sword now!”
Evy calmly continued to recite the incantation while Jonathon ran to the three dead priests and began pulling at the cobwebs and rotting clothing until he found their weapons. Pulling a broadsword from its scabbard, he hollered to Rick, tossing it to him through the air.
“Great!” Rick shouted, heading back toward the door. “Now grab yourself one and come help!”
“Sure, I – What?!” Jonathon did not like the sound of that at all. Sure, he was an excellent marksman but swordsman? Certainly Rick was joking.
Then he saw what lay beyond the door and realized his brother-in-law was very, very serious.
“Hurry up, Evy!” her brother shouted as he grabbed another sword, and taking a deep breath, plunged into the foray.
Quietly, not missing a beat, Evy continued the incantation, even as the air around her began to pulse and swell and the urn she held began vibrating. The words she spoke called forth Osiris, pulling him from the Underworld beyond, welcoming him to take back with him the soul of Seth.
“Dammit, dammit, dammit!” Katy breathed as she crawled around, frantically searching for the amulet that had skittered out of her hand when Seth had hit her. He was advancing on her and she had no idea where the amulet was and all around her the world seemed as if it were tearing in on itself.
Osiris is coming! Isis shouted. Hurry!
“Don’t rush me, dammit!” Katy shouted out loud, finally spying the glittering jewel on the other side of Seth, near the throne. She scrambled to her feet, prepared to race over to it but Seth reached out, grabbing her by the neck, lifting her into the air and smashing her back against the rock wall. Katy clawed at the hold around her neck but he was too strong for her.
“You dare to involve the Gods?” Seth roared at her. “They are too late, I think!” And he began in ancient Egyptian to speak the hymn that would separate soul from body.
And suddenly the most horrible feeling that Katy had ever experienced began to sweep over her. She seemed to lose any control over her body, her muscles and nerves freezing, becoming immobile. She could not move, could not speak, even breathing quickly became difficult. Her hands fell to her sides and she could barely raise her eyes to meet her tormentor’s as his words continued, slowly pulling her very life from her.
No! Isis shouted. Fight him! We must fight! Osiris is almost here!
I… can’t… Darkness lay ahead. Katy could see it. She could feel it enveloping her, drawing her toward it. She struggled against it but its clawing fingers dug into her, pulling her, sucking her ever deeper within the mire. She gasped a last breath, her eyes catching one last sight of Ardeth as he emerged from the tunnel, their gazes meeting.
Ardeth watched as Katy’s body slumped in Seth’s hold and he screamed in rage. No! It could not be too late! Then Seth stepped back, dropping her body to the ground, watching with malicious glee as the form seemed to spring to life once more. Ardeth’s breath caught in his throat, ready to move toward her when something caused him to hesitate. As she stood to round on Seth, Ardeth realized with a dawning terror that it was not his Katy he saw but Isis in Katy’s body. She sprang at Seth, attacking him, clawing his face, as King and Queen fell to the ground under her onslaught.
“The amulet!” she cried out in Katy’s voice that wasn’t Katy’s voice. “By the throne!”
Ardeth raced over to the necklace; grabbing it into his hand and then standing, awe gripping him as he watched the sight unfolding above them. He barely noticed as Rick and Jonathon raced up beside him, coming to a halt, all eyes watching as the air before them seemed to tear like fabric and a brilliant light invaded the cavern.
“Give me the amulet!” Isis/Katy cried out, pushing away from Seth toward the throne.
Ardeth threw it to her and she caught it, spinning around as Seth hurtled toward her. She threw the amulet to the ground, stomping on it hard with Katy’s riding boots, shattering the setting into pieces, both Seth and Jonathon crying out at the contact. The King shouted his rage, turning as the form of Osiris appeared behind him.
“No! I will not go without her!” Seth struggled, turning to Isis/Katy, reaching for her, pulling her with him as shaft of light reached out from Osiris, tugging at him, pulling him toward the edge.
Isis/Katy fell to the floor, clawing at the stones, attempting to hold herself back. Ardeth dove toward her, grabbing her hands, pulling back. She looked up at him and their eyes met, dark eyes, matching souls, and a smile touched her lips.
“Ankhefenmut,” she whispered the name softly, sorrow filling her when he did not recognize her. “Our time is over. But yours has just begun.”
The Medjai chieftain did not understand her words but the sentiment behind them was familiar. It touched him. “Katy,” he called out, his voice straining with grief.
Seth screamed in terror behind them as the whole of the body that held his spirit seemed to shatter, and the dark soul that was the ancient King was ripped from it by Osiris and pulled back into the Underworld.
The woman that was Isis/Katy closed her eyes as the light of Osiris reached forward once more, touching on the motionless body that Ardeth still held on to and a whispered name echoed through the cavern. “ISIS.” A golden light tore from Katy’s body and shot upward, rising against the cavern until it mingled with the God that called to her. A soft sigh seemed to be felt by all as the light slowly began to dissipate, returning to the world from which it had entered.
Tearing his eyes from the scene before him, Rick hurried over to kneel beside Katy, who Ardeth was pulling into his arms, cradling her gently in his embrace. Rick stared down at his sister, afraid to accept what was clearly apparent by the slightly bluish tint to her skin and the absence of breath in her chest. He looked up at the Chieftain then quickly looked away, embarrassed to see the raw emotion so apparent on his friend’s face.
“Katebet,” Ardeth called to her softly, brushing the dark red strands of hair from her face, caressing her cheek. “Katebet, please. Do not leave me. Stay with me, Katebet. I beg you.” The life in his arms continued to remain motionless, empty. As his finger traced the smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose – freckles that were becoming darker as the blood in her veins ceased to pump – something in the warrior snapped and he held her body away from him, shaking her fiercely. “Dammit, Katy O’Connell! Wake up! Fight this, Katy! Fight it!”
“Whoa! Ardeth, stop –” Rick reached out to pull his sister away from the man before him who had apparently gone insane, but Ardeth pushed him aside.
He slapped her hard once, twice, a third time before shaking her roughly again. “Katy, please! Do not leave me!” Ardeth sobbed suddenly, breaking down, pulling her against him and burying his face into her hair.
Rick stood, stumbling back from the scene before him, uncertain of what to do. Jonathon moved up beside him, tugging at his arm. “Rick,” he whispered, his eyes glued to the grieving Medjai. “We have to get out of here!” He pointed then to the edge of the platform, which continued to shake slightly from the force they had invited into their world. The rock was crumbling into the abyss below.
Suddenly, Evy shouted from above, “Rick! Jonathon! We have to get out of here!”
Rick nodded, moving toward Ardeth, when Katy suddenly jerked in the warrior’s embrace, her breath coming in a great gasp as if she had been held under water.
“Katy!” Rick, Jonathon and Ardeth all shouted at once.
Katy felt the air rush into her lungs and her heart thudded against her chest painfully. The chill in her blood slowly dissipated and the darkness that had engulfed her was slowly replaced with light. She blinked, her eyes opening to find Ardeth looking down into them, mirroring his disbelief, his happiness. There were fresh tears on his cheeks and Katy realized that something bad had most certainly occurred. She reached up and brushed the tears away. Struggling to sit up, her hand moved across the warrior’s back and he jerked against her. She pulled her hand away to find it covered in his blood.
“Ardeth, what hap—”
“No time for touching reunions, kids,” Rick appeared over them, pointing to the ledge that was nearing them as the rock crumbled away. “We’ve gotta get the hell outta Dodge.”
Barely having begun breathing on her own again, Katy was suddenly yanked to her feet by Ardeth and Rick, and they raced after Jonathon through the tunnel toward the steps. The ledge behind them crumbled away, the force of it rumbling through the tunnel toward the platforms.
“Don’t look back!” Rick shouted as he raced ahead of them toward Evy, who was standing at the top platform, her wide-eyed expression clearly stating anything they needed to know about what was happening behind them.
“What about the Anubis warriors?” Ardeth shouted to Rick.
“We took care of ‘em!” Came the reply.
Jonathon sprinted up just behind Rick with Katy and Ardeth bringing up the rear. A million questions raced through Katy’s mind as she ran, confusion surrounding her as the cavern collapsed in on itself. She could feel that Isis was gone, but how? And Seth, had they sent him to the Underworld? And what the hell had happened to her? She could not remember anything beyond Seth strangling her. Feeling the very ground falling beneath her feet as they raced up the steps, Katy pushed the questions aside and found a burst of speed she did not know she had. Together, she and Ardeth flew up the steps in stride but the crumbling rock gained on them and just as they were about to clear the last step, Katy felt the ground fall out beneath her and for the briefest moment, she was hanging in the air –
And then she was lifted up onto the platform, held by Ardeth, who pulled her close as they dove into the Chamber of Isis. Rick slammed the door shut behind them and they all seemed to collapse, feeling safe that they had reached the inside of the cave structure.
“That…” Jonathon gasped, “was close!”
Katy herself would have fallen to slump on the ground if Ardeth were not supporting her weight against him. “What… the hell… happened back there?” she asked, the simple act of breathing shooting pain through her chest. She turned to Ardeth, wanting to help him, knowing by his eyes that he was in serious pain. “Ardeth –”
“I am okay, Katebet.” He kissed her forehead, unable to let go of her, afraid that if he stepped away, just for a moment, she would disappear on him again.
“Let’s get out of here, huh?” Rick suggested, moving toward the crevice that led out of the chamber.
“I’m all for that!” Jonathon supplied cheerily, tucking the urn under one arm and moving forward.
“Jonathon,” Evy sighed, flashing him a pointed look.
“Now look here, sister dear. I am not leaving here empty-handed, I promise you that.”
Evy just shook her head, allowing Rick to help her up to the hole and beginning her way back toward the tunnel. Jonathon and Rick followed while Ardeth lifted Katy up to the opening. She turned to him, touching his chin with her fingers and then covered his mouth with her own, kissing him deeply, desperately. They clung to one another for a moment, quietly reflecting their fear of separation to each other, before they finally pulled away and moved forward to join the others.
Dropping into the corridor, Katy found that Rick and Evy had already lit more torches and were preparing to head back to the surface. That was fine by her; she still had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach that would not go away until they reached the outside. Ardeth took her hand and began moving forward when Katy stopped. Turning back to her, Ardeth was about to ask what was wrong when the sound that had brought her to a halt reached him as well.
“Oh shit,” Rick muttered, before grabbing his wife’s wrist and darting down the corridor. “Run!” he shouted.
The other three needed no extra urging, breaking into a run as the ground that had just been above them broke away, and the waters of the Nile rushed in. Her heart already near to bursting, Katy did not know how much further she could make it and attempted to tug her hand free from Ardeth’s, not wishing to slow him down with her. But the Medjai Chieftain knew what she was about and refused to let go, pulling her along with him, dragging her if he had to. In fact, as Jonathon began to slow ahead of them, the weight of the urn becoming too much for him, Ardeth reached out and pushed him forward, propelling all three of them away from the coming waters. They turned the bend at the fork in the cave and for a brief moment Katy thought they might outrun the oncoming waters to the entrance. Her hopes were dashed when the man beside her called out over the roar behind them:
“Can you swim?”
She nodded. She could, but she would rather not.
“Deep breath – NOW!” he instructed, squeezing her hand.
Katy sucked in her breath just as the waves crashed over her, throwing her forward, then pulling her back into their murky depths. Her hand was torn from Ardeth’s and she suddenly felt once more as she had when Seth was holding her, darkness engulfing her, no air to breath, her lungs burning painfully. It was impossible to surface, and she could do nothing more than allow the waters to carry her out of the cave, which she hoped they would reach long before she lost consciousness. Katy was about to give up any hope on that though, her lungs close to bursting within her chest, just as the water around her suddenly dissipated and she was shooting across the desert sand, slam! into her brother’s back. Barely able to catch her breath, the urn that Jonathon had snatched rolled over the top of her and then Jonathon dropped on top of her, followed closely by Ardeth.
“Get off – of me!” she sputtered, still having difficulty breathing, let alone able to withstand being buried beneath two bodies.
“I say, Red, sorry ‘bout that,” Jonathon apologized with a chagrined expression from atop her, his hair dripping water into her face.
Ardeth jumped to his feet, pulling Jonathon up beside him, and Katy slowly sat up, attempting to shake the water from her ears. Around her, there was dead silence. Her eyebrows knitting in a frown, she glanced up at Ardeth, only to follow his gaze ahead of them.
“Out of the frying pan and into the fire,” she heard Rick comment beside Evy.
They were surrounded. Three motor cars, a bi-plane and at least a dozen horsemen, all pointing guns at them. Zion. Ardeth’s men, their numbers reduced from twelve to nine, were on their knees, guns at their heads.
“Well, well, well. What have we here?” An extremely handsome, tall, blonde American moved away from the cars, smiling in a deceptively friendly manner at the bedraggled group before him. “I had begun to believe we would never meet. And where is that adorable little redhead who continues to give me so much grief? Ah, there she is. Step forward, Katy O’Connell. I would have us meet finally.”
Ardeth attempted to grab her hand and hold her back, but Katy danced out of his reach, figuring she had just survived having her soul sucked from her body by an ancient King. The well-dressed American in front of her seemed like child’s play. Raising her chin defiantly, she pushed through Rick and Evy to stand haughtily before the blonde, sizing him up much in the same manner as he did her. He wore an expensive gray silk suit, tailored to fit, shiny black and grey two-toned shoes and a matching fedora set jauntily on his head. His eyes were bright blue, piercing in their intensity, and a lazy smile seemed permanently imprinted on his face. His looks were rugged, his skin tanned. Katy had no doubt he had women lined up for him in every port he visited. She even heard Evy exclaim a sigh of appreciation behind her.
But looks weren’t everything. Katy folded her arms over her chest. “And just who the hell are you?”
“Forgive my rudeness. The name is Connor. Connor Maitland. Owner and President of Zion Corporation. Rightful owner of that little amulet you stole.”
Katy raised her eyebrows in appropriate surprise. “Really? No joke? Damn. Sorry about that but it was pulverized and tossed into a pit full of lava. Bad luck, that.”
The smile before her slowly dissolved and the eyes seemed to grow colder. Then Connor Maitland backhanded her hard across the face. Both Rick and Ardeth shouted angrily behind Katy and moved forward when the sound of guns locking into place brought them all to a halt. Katy took a small step backwards, glaring at the man before her. She found she was damn happy that necklace was destroyed. She stumbled as he pushed past her, ignoring Rick and Ardeth and moving over to Jonathon, who was holding the urn. Connor snatched it from his hands, ignoring his protests and moving back towards the car. He stopped as he brushed past Katy.
“It’s a shame really, Miss O’Connell. I’ve been watching you for sometime. You showed real potential.” He tsked, turning his back on her, tossing the urn to a nearby henchmen and waving his hand in the air. “Too bad you won’t live long enough to achieve true greatness. Kill them.”
Katy tensed as the guns around them raised and aimed, and she closed her eyes, waiting for the explosions to begin… but nothing happened. Opening first one eye, and then the other, she discovered that Zion’s small army had frozen in place, casting nervous gazes around them. And nervous they should have been, as hundreds of Medjai warriors encircled them, sabers and rifles at the ready. Katy exhaled a slow breath of relief, though it came a moment too soon.
One of Zion’s horses got skittish and its rider likewise grew nervous and pulled on his trigger… and all hell broke loose. Katy found herself flattened to the ground instantly, knowing it was Ardeth who currently covered her, protecting her from the bullets that were suddenly flying past overhead. She felt his hands moving over her body and realized he was searching for her guns. She shifted slightly and he found the one on her right, pulling it free from the holster and firing into the foray. Katy wriggled beneath him, wanting very much to do some fighting of her own until she saw the hooves that danced only inches from her face, and she pulled her hands quickly beneath her once more. They were going to get trampled to death if they weren’t shot first! She heard Ardeth shouted something in Arabic then he was off of her, leaping up, his scimitar sliding with ease from its scabbard, and he was attacking one of Zion’s men.
“Stay here!” he ordered, charging deeper into the fight.
Sure. Like that ever worked. Katy quickly took the opportunity to scramble to her feet and out of the way, watching in befuddlement as Jonathon ran past her, screaming, “He’s getting away with my urn!”
Rolling her eyes, Katy darted after him, joining in the chase of the car that was backing away from the battle towards the desert. It turned quickly, then kicked into high gear and raced away from them. They tried to run faster but both eventually gave up, Jonathon dropping to his knees, gasping for air as Katy leaned over beside him.
“That was Maitland, wasn’t it?”
Jonathon nodded. “Bastard… got away… with my urn.”
Katy made a face. She had no concern whatsoever for the urn. What she wanted to know was how Connor Maitland knew who she was and why he seemed so interested in her in the first place. Certainly it could not simply be from the fact that she chanced upon his digs every now and again and occasionally took her share of the findings. It was obvious the man was beyond wealthy. The meager treasures she took could not amount to more than a month’s income for the man.
“I thought I told you to stay where you were!”
Oh here we go again. Katy turned to find Ardeth approaching, his expression dark and dangerous. “Don’t start with me, Medjai,” she snapped. “Had I stayed there, I would have been trampled to death!”
“I was protecting you,” he replied stubbornly.
“Protecting? You were off, playing at battle like some typical man, while very deadly horse hooves were dancing all around me, bullets flying past my head and all you could do was play hero!”
The Arab seemed to take offense to that. “I know what is best for you!” he shouted back at her. “And yet you foolishly attempt to get yourself killed at every possible turn!”
“Er… Katy? Ardeth?” Rick stepped forward, attempting to break up the argument while Evy stood beside him, attempting to hide her laughter.
“Oh yeah! Like I just love putting my life in danger!”
“Well you must because it comes as easily to you as your innate obstinacy!”
“Obstinacy?” Katy screeched. “I’m stubborn? Me? What about you? Always having to play at the alpha male! Always having to be right!”
“Katy?” Rick tried again. “Hey, guys…”
“I am always right!”
“Oh that is the biggest load of –”
“Sis,” Rick interrupted. “Really now, don’t you think there is a better time and place for –”
“If not for your foolhardy behavior, none of this would have happened in the first place!”
“Oh! I do hate you, Ardeth Bay!”
“The feeling is mutual!”
And then before Rick could say another word, his sister was in the warrior’s arms, kissing him as forcefully as he was her, clinging to him as if the recent argument had never occurred. Rick shook his head, sighed, and walked over to his wife and brother-in-law, who were watching the entire episode with obvious amusement.
“Evy –”
“Don’t bother trying to figure it out, honey.” She patted his arm. “I have learned that attempting to understand anything your sister does is like attempting to make sense of you.”
“Hey now –”
She laughed, kissed him. “Can we go home now? I miss Alex. And I am dying to write this particular adventure into the books. The Bembridge scholars are going to love to hear all about it!”
Rick shook his head, hugging his wife, relieved that this adventure, at least, was over and done with. He glanced once more at his sister and Ardeth, who stood holding one another, their foreheads and noses pressed together, saying nothing.
Jonathon sighed at the scene before him. “I say, ever feel like a fifth wheel?”