Chapter 4: Taken

 

Having dealt with Imhotep too many times in the past, Ardeth knew that his people were in danger.  It had been a long time since they had left their village, and it wasn’t easy for them to pack up, but their safety was at risk, and at his command, once he had returned, they were on the move to Ahm-Shere.  The great leader knew that they stood a better chance against the high priests if they were in great numbers.  What he did not know was that one of his own men, not anyone close to him, but someone close enough, had known when he had taken Olia away, and it had been Adom who had informed the priests of her where abouts.  While the Med-jai traveled, Rick, Evie, Alex, and Olia were arriving in Egypt, in Alexandria, at the airstrip there, and were now aboard a steamer ship headed for Cairo port.  For Seven hours straight, Olia had not slept, and Evie worried for her.  Now she sat in their cabin holding her telling her of the first time she had seen Egypt with her own eyes.

 

“I was fascinated by Egypt.  My momma, like yours came from this land,”  Evelyn said.

 

“I want her here,”  Olia said sleepily.

 

“I know, you will be with her soon,”  Evelyn said, then began to hum a song.  The exhaustion won, and Olia fell asleep in Evie’s arms, just as the guys came back from exploring the ship.  Alex had not been thrilled about not being able to venture on his own, but after what had happened at Ahm-Shere, and with the danger they were all in at this time, neither parent was willing to leave him alone.

 

“She’s asleep,”  Rick whispered.  Evie smiled and stood holding Olia against her chest as she stood, then laid her down on the pallet they had made for her on the floor.  Olia shook her head back and forth, and Evie knelt beside her rubbing her back until she was calm, then walked to her husband and let his arms take away the chilled feeling she had gotten since Alex had almost been taken from them.  While they were alone, Alex went into his room and got in his rucksack getting out his two model cars.  For a while he played with those, but there was only so much time he could spend with that before boredom took over.  As he was getting up his mum walked in.

 

“How about a story for old times sake,”  she asked.  Both parents had agreed that they would all sleep together, and after getting ready for bed, Alex went with her out into the small sitting room, and let her tuck him in on the couch.

 

“Tell me about my birth, all of it,”  Alex said as he snuggled against the pillow.  From his spot beside Olia, Rick looked up.  They had never told Alex all of what had transpired during that time, only little bits, and with his nod Evelyn began.

 

“There were two very dirty men who hurt me very badly, just after your father and I got married.  They hit me, kicked me, and they did things to me that only your father is allowed to do,”  Evelyn said closing her eyes to the memory.

 

“Why would someone do that?”  Alex asked hugging her close.  Evie rubbed his back.

 

“Sometimes people don’t know love.  They hurt, and when they hurt they often times do very mean things.  After that happened, your father taught me to fight, and by that time I had you in my belly,”  Evie said.  Alex lifted his head.

 

“Babies come from what your saying, so if those guys hurt you like that, does that mean I’m not dads kid?”  Alex asked.  Unable to take hearing the story wihout being close to his son, Rick walked over and sat with them.

 

“No pal, you were in your mother when that happened, and that just showed both of us how strong you were,”  Rick said.

 

“Close to the time of your birth the men came back for me.  They wanted to know where the Key to Hamunaptra was, and I wouldn’t tell them.  That made them very angry, so they took me to Egypt.  I managed to keep them from harming me by telling them anything they did would make you come too soon, and for a while that worked,”  she said, then paused.  Rick reached out and took her hand holding it secure in his own.

 

“They did hurt me again, and buried me in the sand,”  she said. 

 

“How did you live?”  Alex asked holding tighter to her.  Evie realized that she was likely telling him too much, and when she suggested they save the rest for later, Alex begged to know more.

 

“Well your father found me, and by then you were ready to make your way into the world.  It was Olia’s mother who helped me have you, Eshe, and saved you.  The rest you know baby.  Two days after you were born, Ardeth asked permission to have a Ceremony for you.  He and Eshe had chosen and Egyptian name to give you, and with your fathers help  I was also able to attend.”  As Evelyn told him that part of his birth she remembered it as though it were yesterday.

 

*~*~*

 

It was a warm Egyptian evening, and as the sun began to set, the Med-jai gathered around the alter of Allah.  Flowers indigenous to Egypt were placed upon the alter, making a soft bed, and on the flowers Evelyn placed her newborn son.  Ardeth smiled at his friends then asked them his name.

 

“Alexander Jonathan O’Connell is his English name,”  Evie said rubbing a hand over his stomach.  Ardeth’s people spoke a prayer for him to Allah, then the leader stepped forward and with Evelyn’s permission lifted Alex into his arms.  Eshe took a braided leather bracelet and tied it around his tiny wrist, then kissed his forhead.

 

“Allah has once again shown his mercy, he has saved you and your son.  We have chosen his Egyptian name, Issa, for Allah has saved him, and Ngozi, for this child is blessed,”  he said.  He gave Alex a kiss then turned and laid him in Evelyn’s arms.

 

*~*~*

 

As she finished the story, Alex was sound asleep, and it wasn’t long before both parents joined him.

 

~*~*~

 

Adom waited in Cairo, and when the ship arrived, he followed the family to the Fort, biding his time when he could take the child to his masters.  In their large suite, Evelyn unpacked while Alex showed Olia how to play hide and seek.  Both parents left the children in the Parlor, and while Alex counted, Olia ran out of the room, wanting to find a great place to hide from her new friend.  She ran down the ornate little hall, and down some steps, right into the hands of a stranger.  When he put his hand over her mouth, Olia bit it hard, causing the man to cry out.

 

“Fine, then I’ll do it the hard way,”  he said still holding her by the wrist as she struggled.  He got a rag out and managed to pour some sort of fluid on it, then placed it over her nose.  In a moment she was out, and Adom wrapped her in a blanket and hurried away from the Fort, mounting his horse, leaving for his long journey to the village where the high priest of Imhotep would be waiting for him.

 

~*~*~

 

Meditation often cleared Ardeth’s mind before a battle, and as he was doing that, a chill ran down his spine.  His eyes snapped open, and he ran out of his tent startling Eshe.

 

“Tell me?”  she said fearing that his panic had something to do with their baby.

 

“Olia?”  When he nodded she shut her eyes.

 

“I must journey to Cairo, they are there,”  he said speaking of the O’Connells, and somehow knowing that Olia was no longer with them. 

 

“Then I will go with you,”  Eshe said. 

 

“Stay here, this is not safe for any of us,”  he said.  Usually, Eshe listened to her husband, but on this she would not.

 

“She is my daughter Ardeth, and I will come with out without your approval,”  she said gently.  He reached out and placed his hand against her cheek, then they both went to find Badru, and get started on their journey.

 

~*~*~

 

It was Alex’s panicked yelling for Olia which got both parents attention, and when they walked out into the sitting room, they saw their son, but not their young friend.

 

“We just played a game of hide and seek, and I thought she understood me when I told her to stay here,”  Alex said letting his mother hug him.

 

“We’ll find her,”  Rick reassure, praying that they had not lost her, but having the terrible feeling that they had.  For almost three hours, they searched for her, and asked people around the fort if they had seen her.  No one was forthcoming with information, and as night fell upon the fort, all three of the O’Connells went back to their room.

 

“Evie you and Alex stay here.  I’m going to the village, to tell Ardeth,”  Rick said making his decision.  Like Eshe, Evelyn would not be left alone, and refused to let her husband out in the night desert alone.  They gathered their Rucksacks, leaving what they didn’t need at the fort, then went into Cairo.  At the market place they got rations, and packed their rucksacks, then bought three horses, and by the setting of the sun they made their way into the desert.

 

~*~*~

 

The howling wind woke Olia, and she found herself in darkness. 

 

“Momma,”  she called out.

 

“No child, you are meant for great things,”  Adom said huddled next to her.  They were caught in a sandstorm which could easily kill them, and he prayed to Anubis to bring them to Imhotep.

 

“I will not do what you want of me,”  she said struggling, but she was tied up, and there was little that a small girl of six could do.  Her determination was something Adom admired.  Most kids he figured would be crying for their mummy, but this little girl seemed fearless.  Long hours passed, and Olia slept, then it was feeling herself lifted from the bedroll, and her bonds cut  which woke her, and she found light around her.

 

“My father will kill you,”  she said, wanting the man to be afraid.  Fear was not something Adom felt.

 

“I’m sure he would like to, but you see my child, there is a time that will pass when your father will bow down to my lord.  He and his people will pay for what they did to him,”  Adom said as he lifted her onto the horse.  Not paying attention, and not knowing that Olia could control a horse, Adom turned his back.  That was all she needed.

 

“Dig dig dig,”  she yelled.  The horse took off, leaving Adom alone in the sand.  By the heat of the sun, and it’s position in the sky, Olia could tell that it was midday.  She was hungry, but didn’t let that stop her, though she didn’t know where she was going, and the horse she was on seemed to have a will of its own.  She tried to get him to stop but he would not, and road on for several hours until they arrived at a village.  Men dressed in gold robes greeted her, and for the first time since she had been taken, Olia felt fear.