Chapter Fifty Eight Lovers United
The next day Kiya and Laylos were eating breakfast when Huy joined them.
“Come with me, Kiya, I would like a word with you.” He looked solemn and Kiya felt apprehensive as she followed him out of the camp.
“Sabu wants to stay with the Bedouin,” he said.
Kiya felt a pang of disappointment but she nodded. “I expected such news. He has fallen in love with Nadia Djar.”
“Djar Badawi would welcome him into the tribe. The problem is that Sabu will not leave you. He says he is under an obligation to be your bodyguard until we return to Akhetaten.”
“Oh!” Kiya was both flattered and grateful to be shown such loyalty.
“You must release him from his duty,” said Huy.
“You are right,” she sighed, “but I will miss him. He has saved my life on more than one occasion.”
“And risked death to do so. He has his own life to lead, Kiya. He cannot sacrifice himself so you can lead yours.” Huy sounded stern and she knew that he sensed her reluctance to let her bodyguard go.
“Very well,” said Kiya.
“You must release him in a way that does not dishonour him, Kiya. A mere dismissal is not enough. Wait here and I will fetch him,” said Huy.
Kiya watched Huy march off towards the tents and felt annoyed. Her uncle was too ready to give orders. How was she meant to handle such a difficult task?
A few minutes later, Huy returned with an nervous-looking Sabu. “I will leave you two alone,” he said and walked away.
“I hear you want to stay with the Bedouins,” said Kiya. “Life in the desert can be hard.”
“I know, Mistress,” said Sabu and bowed his head. “I could not help myself, but I have fallen in love with Nadia Djar.”
“She is a lovely girl but very young. Does she know her mind in this matter?”
Sabu looked at her and she could see a flicker of passion in his eyes. “If I thought for one moment that I was taking advantage of her, I would hurl my heart into the jaws of Ammut. Nadia may be young but she is wise and more mature than any girl I have ever met. It’s not just my feelings for Nadia, Mistress. I have also fallen in love with the desert and the life of freedom that nomads enjoy.”
“Very well,” said Kiya. “You can stay with the tribe and my good wishes go with you.”
“I cannot leave you, Mistress,” Sabu said. “Many dangers lie ahead.”
“I have Huy to protect me,” said Kiya. “You have saved my life four times. Is that not enough for any bodyguard?”
Sabu shook his head. “I fear you will be in great danger, Mistress.”
Kiya had an idea. “I will need someone to look after Enno. We hope to be going by boat so it will be difficult to take him with us. I know it is a lot to ask, Sabu, but will you stay behind and look after him until our return?”
The look of relief on Sabu’s face was almost comical. “Yes indeed, Mistress.” He sank on one knee before her and kissed her hand. “It will be a privilege. I will guard him with my life.”
Out of the corner of her eye Kiya saw Huy hurry towards them and knew he had been waiting and watching in the shadow of the tents.
“Sabu has agreed to stay and look after Enno,” she said.
“Good man,” said Huy. He put his arm around Sabu’s shoulders and dragged him to his feet. “Come, let us go to the men’s tent and celebrate. That barrel of beer will need drinking before we leave.”
Kiya watched them go and wished she had not used Enno as an excuse to persuade Sabu to stay. There was no way the three of them could carry as much as the donkey and the beer barrel was not the only thing that would have to be sacrificed. She went in search of her aunt, dreading her reaction to the news.
Kiya found Laylos with Wadha Zayed and Nadia Djar in the tent where they had originally brought Sabu. “May I come in?” she asked.
“Of course,” said Wadha. “You are very welcome to join us, Kiya. Nadia has been recounting the bravery of Sabu. A snake was coiled by the side of the path but, before it could strike, he killed it with one slash of his sword.”
“He is a good bodyguard,” said Kiya, “and I will be sorry to lose him.” She sensed a sharpening of interest and heard a little gasp from Nadia.
“Lose him?” said Laylos. “What do you mean?”
“The tribe has given permission for Sabu to remain behind and look after Enno as we cannot take the donkey with us.”
“We are leaving the donkey? What about our things?” Laylos’s question was interrupted by Nadia who leapt forwards and flung her arms around Kiya’s neck.
“Thank you, thank you. Oh, my dear Kiya, Sabu would never have stayed without your consent.” Her happiness shone, filling the tent with its radiance and obliterating any further protests from Laylos. “I must tell my aunts, I must tell my sisters. Oh, I feel as if my heart was bursting with joy.” She kissed Kiya, jumped to her feet and ran out of the tent.
“She makes no attempt to hide her feelings, that little one,” smiled Wadha Zayed. “I have a suspicion that there will be a wedding before long.”
“It is a happy outcome for Sabu,” said Laylos. “I have grown fond of the boy and will face the loss of the donkey with fortitude.”
“There’s a good aunt,” said Kiya, patting her on the back. “Let us go and sort out what we can carry and what we must leave behind.”
When they reached the tent in which their things were stored, Laylos packed a bag with spare clothing and toiletries. She looked longingly at her two clay cooking pots “I am sure Huy wouldn’t mind carrying those, and the goblets, and a couple of sheets as well.”
Kiya frowned at her aunt. “Do you wish to burden him like a beast? How will he be able to draw his sword to protect us? We must leave these as parting gifts for our friends.”
Laylos brightened, “I know that Ar-Dab Yuni would be glad of the sheets, she has little material with which to make clothes for the children and Alanood Tchay would be very happy to be given the pots.”
There was one other to be given a gift. “Do you have your herb knife on you, Laylos?” asked Kiya.
“Yes, I usually carry it with me.”
“Can I borrow it?”
Laylos raised her eyebrows. “Whatever for?”
“I wish to give Sabu a gift worthy of his service to me.” Kiya folded back the hem of her shift to reveal the hidden pockets.
“You are going to give him some of your gold?” Laylos sounded surprised but then she nodded. “it can be his wedding gift. The man has proved his value several times over.”
“I am very sorry to lose him,” said Kiya as she carefully sliced through the stitching that held two of the pockets.
“Never mind,” said Laylos. “We will see him again when Enno is returned. Perhaps he will have grown tired of Bedouin life by then.”
Kiya stood up, placed the closed pockets into her waist purse and laughed. “I doubt it, his love for Nadia Djar is too strong.”
Laylos smiled. “You are right, my dear. Look where my love for Huy has led me, and yet I am happy to be with him and would not change a thing.”
The men were waiting there for them outside the tent. Sabu was wearing Bedouin robes and already looked a different man from the one who had served Kiya so faithfully. “I want you to have these as a wedding gift, Sabu,” she said and pressed the linen pockets into his hand.
“Thank you, Mistress.” He took the pockets and put them into his waist band without opening them. “I am so sorry to desert you.”
“You have not deserted me, Sabu. You have been tasked to take care of the donkey until we return.”
“You will need food and drink on your journey,” said Djar Badawi. “Here take this spring-water.” He handed a goat-skin container to Huy who thanked him and slung it over his shoulder. Djar Badawi then handed a linen package to Laylos. “This is ba-theeth, a gift from my wife. It is both nourishing and long-lasting.” Laylos thanked him and put the pack
age in her bag.
“We thank you for providing us with sanctuary,” said Huy. “I offer you my service if you ever need it.”
“And we offer you ours,” said Djar Badawi. “We will walk you to the boundary marker, my friends.”
The men walked in front while Kiya and Laylos followed. “I am worried for your safety,” the tribal chief said to Huy. “The Queen has withdrawn her soldiers but what if she sends an assassin to look out for you?”
“Then I will kill him before he kills me,” said Huy.
“Good luck to you, my friend,” said Djar Badawi.
Kiya was thoughtful. An assassin? It made sense. The Queen would be safer with her dead than arrested - at least that would keep the secret of the coffin. She shivered and dreaded what might be awaiting them at Wadi el-Nakhla.
When they reached the pile of stones that marked the edge of the tribe’s territory, the men stopped.
“May your ancestors guard you on your journey,” said Djar Badawi.
The two men embraced and then Huy beckoned to Laylos and Kiya to follow him and walked away.
As they mounted the crest of the next hill, Kiya glanced round and saw the men still standing, looking after them. She waved and Sabu waved back. Then Kiya turned away and the next time she looked they were lost to view.