Warriors Vow (The Mummy FanFiction)

Chapter Four: The Trading Post and Setting Off... Finally

It was a little after dawn when we finally walked into the trading post, which was also part village. We hadn't walked very far before a large group of women surrounded us and pulled Evy and me away from the others.

"We'll see you guys later!" I call out over my shoulder as we get ushered away too large tents. The warden tries to follow us but some of the older women chase him off as Evy looks around asking. "What's going on Kore?"

I look over at her with a smile on my face as the group splits into two and they start pulling us away from each other. "Evy just go with it. We need clothes and they're willing to help." I tell her as she gets pushed into a tent and I get pushed into the bigger one. I was stripped quickly of my damp and ripped clothes. They sat me down and flitted around the tent, I watched amused as they pulled different articles of clothing out and put them away after looking back at me and shaking their heads. One of the younger women, around my age, walks over and pulls me behind a screen where a tub of water was waiting.

"We must wash your hair from the Nile water." She tells me softly and I nod along not expecting them to have gone this far for someone in need.

"Thank you for this great honor, but I cannot waste any water that may be needed later," I say hoping she won't be offended by my refusal. She gave me a look and pushed me closer to the tub and then got me to step into the water. A shiver went up my spine from the cool water and I crossed my arms over my chest while the water got dumped over my head. Closing my eyes as my hair gets washed quickly as well as my body, I tried not to think about the fact that I was letting someone else help me bathe.

We walk back out from behind the screen to see that an outfit had been picked and was laying out on a table while I was pulled over to the table and was helped to get dressed in the robes that had been chosen. They looked just like the robes that Ardeth wears, just more feminine. The fabric was sheerer around my midsection and the skirt that covers the pants, there was also gold detailing that shimmered in the light.

After I was dressed one of the women began to comb and braid my hair in intricate braids going down my back and twisting a few up to tie the rest back, keeping my face clear. A head scarf was pinned in place on my head as kohl was used to line my eyes and a veil was placed over the bridge of my nose drawing attention to my eyes. I was in awe when I saw my reflection, I knew I looked most like my mother with darker skin and dark hair, but I had blue eyes from my father's side, making me stand out where ever I am.

While I was looking at myself a bundle of fabric was placed on my lap. "A gift." An older woman says when I look around confused. "Open later, for now, come." She tells me when I go to unwrap the bundle now. I got up keeping my gift pressed against my chest as the women form a group around me.

We walked out of the tent to a large paddock that had a large group of men around it. In the middle of the paddock was a black stallion who didn't seem very happy with the man trying to ride him. It was loud from all the men shouting as the horse ran around in circles and was bucking trying to get the man off of him.

"He is for you princess." The older woman from before told me as the man was finally bucked off and landed in the sand. He got up shouting and taking a whip from his belt.

"Stop this!" I shout in Arabic as I push to the paddock and climb over the rails to get between the man and the horse. My eyes were hard as I glared at the man until he backed down. I could hear the horse nickering behind me as the man quickly get out of the paddock. I turned around and stayed still as I held out my hand letting him come to me and he did slowly, after a few minutes. I didn't move until his ears weren't pinned back and he relaxed as I slowly pet him and whispered softly.

We stood there for a long time as he slowly relaxed and the men got very quiet as I waited until I could mount the horse. "Are you going to let me mount you?" I ask in ancient Egyptian once he was fully relaxed. He already had a saddle and reigns that were simple but pretty. I walk to his side keeping a hand on him for as long as I can before I swing myself up on his back. "Good, good boy." I praise him when I was settled, the older woman approaches me with the bundle I had passed back to her before I got in the paddock. I took the bundle again and put it in one of the saddle bags. "May Allah smile upon you," I speak loud enough to be heard by everyone. The paddock was opened, and a cheer went up behind me as I spurred my new horse to a trot.

"I only want four! Four! I only want four, not a whole bloody herd!" I can hear Jonathan yelling as he goes back and forth with an older man that has four camels. "O'Connell! OH! Can you believe the cheek?" Jonathan turns and complains loudly.

"Will you just pay the man." O'Connell tells Jonathan sounding frustrated at how long this was taking.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," Jonathan grumbles as he starts pulling out his wallet. "Can't believe the price of these fleabags." He says handing over the money with a grumble. "Yes, happy. Very good." Taking the lead rope for two of the camels and walking away from the older man.

"You probably could've got 'em for free," O'Connell says taking to other two lead ropes from Jonathan. "All you had to do was give him one of your sisters." O'Connell continues as a group of women approached with Evy at the front of the group looking very pretty.

"Awfully tempting, wasn't it?" Jonathan asks in a teasing tone as O'Connell gets distracted by Evy.

"Awfully..." O'Connell agrees softly still looking at Evy.

"Mm good thing you can't get rid of us that easy," I say causing Jonathan to jump and turn to look at me. Evy smiled up at me as she was shown how to get on her camel.

"Ugh," The warden scoffs when he finally looks over in my direction. "What are you some kind of princess?" He asks in a sarcastic tone as we started to leave the trading post.

"And if I was?" I ask not looking back at the man as O'Connell started to lead us into the desert. I don't wait for a response as I spur my horse to go faster, catching up to O'Connell. "Thank you for getting Evy off the boat O'Connell, but if you break her heart or hurt her, I will kill you and no one will find you out here," I tell him as I keep my attention on the rolling dunes in front of us.

~A few days later~

*Night*

I had fallen to the back of the group after the first two days of riding. There was a good 30-foot gap between me and the others as I finally unwrapped the bundle I had been given. Nestled in the fabric of another outfit were two daggers and a scimitar, all three weapons were beautiful and would blend in with what I had on perfectly. I looked up when I heard a camel lowing and saw O'Connell pushing Evy upright and her camel again.

Movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention and I look left seeing riders in black watching us in the soft moonlight. I bow my head as I watch them and notice that the one in the middle front relaxes slightly.