Kadin narrowed his eyes before yelling and lunging at the advisor!
Runi stepped back and bared a weapon of his own! It was a large, curved sword from in his burial chamber.
The two swords clanged, as Kadin and Runi made several swipes at each other in between strong blocks.
“Sagira! Why am I fighting...your...advisor?” Kadin spoke in between swings, as he ducked a high cut and hopped over a low one from his opponent.
“He thinks the Empire was restored! He wants to be the Pharaoh!” Sagira answered, as she and Leoma watched the two fighting back and forth in front of them.
“He’s trying to murder us to get the thrown. He must think we’re the ‘holy ones’ that were supposed to awaken Sagira.” Leoma dug in her pockets quickly, searching for her knife.
“You’re not?” Sagira blinked, before suddenly ducking a swing from Runi! Kadin hopped in between them and fought back the enraged man a few feet, enough to give the girls time to run from the edge.
“No. I’m just a student in training, and Kadin’s just a guide.” Leoma answered, finally finding the knife in her pocket and yanking it out.
“Well then, tell him what’s going on!” Kadin called.
Taking a determined breath, Sagira spoke to Runi in Ancient Egyptian. “Runi! There is no Empire! There’s not even an ‘Egypt Kingdom’ anymore! It’s all run by Arabians. There’s no single ruler! It’s a bunch of people chosen by the citizens. There’s no reason to be doing this!”
“You’re lying just to save your skin! Who was there when the Pharaoh needed advise? Me! I knew how to run the Kingdom better then that moron did! But did I ever have a shot at ruling? No! Only you ‘royals’ had a chance, if you didn’t kill yourselves off in the process! I am going to be Pharaoh! And there’s nothing you can say to stop me!”
Kadin backed up, as Runi’s swings became stronger. With a swing straight down, Runi had Kadin pinned back against the edge. Kadin’s sword was up against Runi’s, so he couldn’t use it to attack while he defended himself. “I take it the conversation didn’t go well!”
Suddenly Runi’s eyes widened and he arched his back! He wretched for the small knife Leoma had stuck in his lower back, giving Kadin time to hurry away from the edge!
“Thanks!” Kadin panted, readying for another round with Runi. He was fading fast; tired from the battles he’d already had to fight.
Leoma didn’t get a chance to reply as Runi roared his pain and charged at Kadin like a madden bull, swinging his hardest!
Leoma would’ve used her knife again, but he’d chucked it over the side.
Kadin barely managed to block the blow and hold onto his sword at the same time! He fell back, scrambling to ready for the next swing.
With a stronger blow yet, Runi had Kadin pinned to the ground, with their swords locked! Kadin struggled against the stronger man’s muscle, but the dull blade of his own sword was slowly pushed back against his chest, as the other blade bore down against him.
“Oh Runi.” Sagira called from back at the opening, standing as straight as she could, as if she were still in power.
“Yeah! Over here!” Leoma called, folding her arms and standing on the other side of the opening. She’d put on some of the jewelry she’d kept in her pockets from the tomb chambers. “We’re the royal ones here. He’s just the bodyguard.”
Sagira translated Leoma’s words into Ancient Egyptian and spoke to Runi, while they still had his attention.
Smiling wide to show his teeth, Runi glanced down at the panting Kadin before backing up and standing straight. Then he began walking slowly over to the girls, taking his time to enjoy his victory.
Putting his sword hand down by his side, Kadin braced himself up against the ground and turned towards Runi and the girls. “What are you doing?”
“Just stay there.” Leoma spoke through her teeth, acting as if he wasn’t alive, and the middle-aged man wasn’t just a few feet from her with a deadly weapon.
“I always knew never to trust him.” Sagira muttered as Runi readied his sword over his left shoulder, as if he had a bat and was about to use it.
Leoma cringed as the blade swung down, level with their necks! Then another blade seemed to shoot out from the opening, as another mummy, still wrapped in white cloth, stepped out of the tunnel. This one was almost seven feet tall and was very muscular. His arms seemed to bulge even beneath the wrapping.
Sagira smiled widely as the huge mummy beat back the stunned Runi. It now seemed to be a one-sided battle, since the mummy was very skilled with the sword. The mummy’s arm movements were much more graceful, as his blows were stronger. They moved back towards the edge of the gorge, with Runi’s back to the ground below. Soon Runi’s sandals were at the edge of the stone.
With one last, hard knock, the mummy had knocked Runi’s sword clear from his hand! The sword fell through the air to the ground below, where it sank handle deep in the ground. Runi stared at the mummy, gulping.
Hurrying over to Kadin, Leoma pulled him to his feet.
“Who is that?” Kadin pointed, as the mummy seemed to stare at Runi.
“I don’t know.” Leoma shrugged. “Sagira just said it was a friend of hers.”
The mummy paused though, as the wrapping on his feet began to unravel. Quickly spying the garment, Runi stepped onto the cloth and rammed into the mummy for all he was worth! The mummy tripped and fell back, but at the same time he threw Runi off of himself!
Rolling, Runi hurriedly stood up, still clutching the small knife in his hand. He made a quick survey of the area. He saw Leoma and Kadin nearby, beginning to run towards him with the sword ready. And he saw Sagira behind him, as he did the mummy quickly getting up in front of him, with the larger sword. Knowing the mummy would kill him for sure if he didn’t have a good weapon, he instantly decided he could get away with a hostage.
Seeing Runi’s intentions clearly, Kadin hurried forwards, as did Leoma and the mummy! Leoma took out her chisel and used it as a knife, while Kadin leaped in front of Runi and swung his sword, knocking the knife out of Runi’s hand!
Runi turned and ran, pushing Leoma off of himself, right before he bumped squarely into the large mummy! Then he ran away from the mummy and the others, trying now just to keep his head. He hurried to the edge of the gorge, with no where else to go. The others were blocking his way out into the desert.
Pausing to watch the oncoming mummy, he, thinking that the Empire was still here, thought some kind of terrible fate would be met him for trying to murder the Holy Ones and Sagira. Then he swallowed once, before throwing himself off the edge to his fate below!
All four just stood there a moment, trying to believe what just happened.
“Why’d he just kill himself?” Leoma ran her fingers through her messed hair.
“In the ancient kingdom the penalty for attempted murder on royalty or sacred people was death. In this case...it would not have been a nice one.” Sagira answered.
Kadin sheathed his sword for the last time. “I’m beat.”
The large mummy strolled back over to them, carrying himself like one of the military. He didn’t put down the sword, as he began unwrapping himself from the head down.
“So, who’s this?” Kadin stood in front of the group, staring up at the Egyptian man.
“This is Asim. My loyal personal body guard.” Sagira smiled as she watched him unravel the cloth.
Soon Asim’s bare upper body was open to the air, as was his light brown legs. On his arms he wore golden armbands, concealing chains inside them with which to use against enemies. He wore a leather belt, which held his sword sheath, money pouch, and a straight knife. He wore his medium-length black hair pulled back and tied so he could fight easier and quicker.
He glanced around one more time; just to make sure there were no other threats, before he sheathed his large sword.
“But...how’d he...with a blue jewel...who woke him up?” Leoma stared up at the large man that stood like a statue, waiting for orders.
“You did, Kadin. When you knocked over his sarcophagus down at the entrance to the staircase. He and one other guard were buried there to be awakened, before I was to be taken to the surface. The other was a guard instructed to aid the ‘holy one’s, while Asim was supposed to continue guarding me until death.” Sagira put her hands behind her back, glancing up at Asim every few moments.
“‘Whew’” Kadin leaned back against the wall of the opening. “So he’s definitely a good guy. What about when he knows he doesn’t have to guard you anymore?”
Sagira smiled. “That won’t matter.”
“Yeah. She could still need a bodyguard if anyone finds out who she is.” Leoma adjusted her belt of tools.
“Nope.”
Leoma and Kadin both glanced up.
“Then...why?”
“My father could never find out about Asim. If he did...he would have him either transferred or...” Sagira glanced up at Asim with a large smile. He smiled back, but only slightly, showing none of his teeth.
Leoma and Kadin’s eyes widened.
“You mean...you two?” Kadin pointed from Asim to Sagira.
Sagira nodded, putting her hands behind her back.
“Oh.” Leoma blinked. “Well...then I guess you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
Sagira quickly turned to Asim and explained everything to him in Ancient Egyptian about what happened. He smiled widely, since he had freedom to do so. Then he picked her up off of her feet and held her level with his chest.
“Um...how does one get married?” Sagira glanced from Kadin to Leoma.
Kadin and Leoma glanced at each other before turning back to the two.
“Where do you want to get married?” Leoma questioned.
“Which is the best spot in the U.S.?”
“I don’t know. The hardest part is getting there.”
“Oh. Then how can we get into the U.S.?” Sagira smiled.
“It’ll take some explaining. I’ll tell you later. You can stay at a hotel near my dorm in the meantime.” Leoma took off her backpack and rubbed her shoulders.
“Okay.” Sagira replied before Asim carried her down into the staircase. “We are going to get some of our things and awaken the rest of the people before we leave. We should not be long!”
Kadin stood, scratching his neck. “Well, that was different. We awakened three mummies. Two were in love and the other wanted to kill us.”
“And we were nearly skewered alive by two thieves, after accidentally finding a way into the palace. And...” Leoma pulled the rest of her treasure she’d snagged, out of her pocket, “...got away with a lot to show for it.”
“Yeah. You know, I guess you’re okay...for an archeologist. I mean, you did get us out an’ all.” Kadin stuffed his hands in his pockets, as he nervously paid the compliment. Then he cleared his throat.
“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself...for a guide. You saved us from the thieves and Runi.” Leoma smiled.
“Does this mean we’re both going to be famous?”
“I guess so.” Leoma paused. “If I continue exploring, could I count on you to be the guide?”
“Sure. As long as you know what you’re doing this time.” Then he paused. “Wait a minute. They just went back down to get some of their stuff, right?” Kadin blinked, quickly changing the subject.
“Yeah.” Leoma answered. “So?”
“I thought Sagira didn’t know the way.” Kadin narrowed his eyes.
“Huh...Asim must know.” Leoma’s eyes widened.
Kadin smiled. “Let’s go get some of that treasure! I’m sure they’d be willing to share.”
Leoma nodded, and the two hurried back down the opening into the staircase, to follow Asim and Sagira back to their tombs.
Still at the top of the gorge above the palace, a lone little hook clunked onto the sandy rock. Tied to it was a freshly uncoiled rope, leading down to the palace floor where Greg stood below.
“Hey guys! I found a rope! Somebody left some on one of those camels! I can’t wait to see what you found!” Greg shouted from below. “Guys? Guys! I wanna know what’s going on!” When no one answered he began to get irritated. “This better not be about that twenty bucks!”

The Wise Words of Solomon Proverbs 17;17 “A friend loves you all the time, and a brother helps in time of trouble.”
Proverbs 18;24 “Some friends may ruin you, but a real friend will be more loyal than a brother.”
Jesus Commandment John 13;34 “I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you.”

The End

by Ray Ritch

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