Lost to the Desert Warrior

by Sarah Morgan

  Too quiet.

  Lights should have been burning in the house and outside on the terrace, but everything was in darkness and the fountain was silent. There was no sound of running water, no sounds at all.

  It was eerily quiet.

  Layla wondered if there had been a power cut and was about to go back to her room and find a torch when she realised that there were no security guards outside Zahra’s room.

  Her heart stopped and she ceased to breathe for a few seconds.

  No lights. No guards.

  Grateful that there was enough moonlight for her to see the way, she walked quickly to Zahra’s bedroom, adjacent to hers. There was sufficient light for her to see Isis and Horus curled up on the bed next to the little girl, and for once she was relieved to see them.

  Her heart was pounding hard and her hands were clammy, and she stood for a moment, trying to rationalize the situation. The most likely explanation was a blown fuse or some other electrical fault.

  Was she overreacting?

  Possibly, but all she could hear in her head were Raz’s words.

  Show me the evidence that my daughter would have been safe.

  She didn’t have evidence, and she knew better than to underestimate Hassan at any time—least of all now, when he was likely to be at his most desperate.

  What if he had somehow discovered that Raz had a daughter?

  What if he decided to use that fact?

  No matter that she might be overreacting. She couldn’t risk letting Raz lose someone else he loved.

  ‘Zahra...’ Keeping her voice soft, she reached out a hand towards the sleeping child.

  Isis opened one eye and looked at her.

  Keeping as far away from the dogs as possible, Layla gave Zahra a gentle shake. ‘Wake up. We’re going on an adventure.’

  Zahra snuggled under the covers. ‘It’s dark.’

  ‘I know. The dark is going to make it extra exciting. We’re going to have fun.’

  The child yawned sleepily. ‘Where are we going?’

  Where? It was a good question.

  For a moment Layla’s mind blanked, and then she knew exactly what she had to do. Something she’d done many times before. ‘We’re going to play a game called Hide.’ Her mouth dried at the memory, because those games, too, had been played in the dark. Pulling back the covers, she tugged the little girl into her arms, trying desperately not to frighten her. ‘We’ll just put on your coat in case it gets cold.’

  ‘It’s night-time. Why are we playing a game at night-time?’

  ‘That’s the best time to play it. I used to play it with my sister when she was your age. There are rules.’ She manoeuvred Zahra into the coat. ‘First, you mustn’t make a sound. Second, you have to do exactly as I say. If I tell you to keep still you have to keep still. If I tell you to run you have to run.’

  ‘This game sounds like fun, but why can’t we play it tomorrow?’

  Layla caught a flash of light out of the corner of her eye and saw lights approaching in the distance. Torches? Headlights?

  Sure now that the threat was real, she cuddled the little girl close. ‘Because it’s going to be more fun to play it now. We have to go.’

  Still sleepy, Zahra glanced back at the bed. ‘Can Isis and Horus come too?’

  Already halfway to the door, Layla eyed the dogs, watching her from the bed. ‘Yes. Good idea. But we have to move quickly.’

  Zahra called the dogs and they bounded across the bedroom. ‘But who are we hiding from, Layla? What’s the point of playing Hide if no one is going to try and find us?’

  ‘We will find a safe place and see how still and silent we can be. We’re going to practise and then, when we’re really, really good at it, Daddy can play it with us when he comes home.’ Layla knew she was making no sense, and she was so afraid she could hardly make her legs move. Half walking, half running, she kept chatting and pretending it was all a game, trying not to frighten Zahra.

  Because she knew now that they were being hunted.

  She felt it, and the terror rushed over her as familiar and terrifying as it had been when she was a child.

  ‘Zahra, listen to me.’ It was a struggle to keep her voice light. ‘If you didn’t want anyone to find you where would you go? Where is the best hiding place around here?’

  ‘Dahl Al Zahki. The Desert Caves.’

  Layla had a dim memory of Raz pointing them out to her on a ride earlier in the week. ‘Are they close?’

  ‘We can ride there in five minutes.’

  Ride.

  Layla closed her eyes and faced the inevitable. ‘Let’s do it.’

  ‘If you really want to be fast we should take Raja.’

  ‘Your father’s stallion?’

  ‘I can ride him. You can just hold onto me. I like this game.’ Zahra was wide awake now and bouncing in her arms. ‘I’m glad you woke me up.’

  They reached the stables and Layla turned and again saw the flash of lights in the distance. How long did they have? ‘We’ll take Raja. It’s a great idea. But how will we find the way?’

  ‘I know the way and so does he. He was born here. My daddy had him from a foal. But you’ll have to help me up because he’s too big.’

  Somehow Layla managed to get both of them on the enormous horse and Zahra giggled.

  ‘His coat feels all warm on my legs. I’ve never ridden in my nightie before.’

  Layla pulled the coat round the child and resisted the temptation to look down. It felt as if her life had come full circle. She’d begun this new chapter by stealing her father’s stallion and riding it into the desert, and now she was ending it in a similar way. Only this time she was determined not to fall.

  ‘Go, Zahra. Get us out of here.’

  ‘You’ve never galloped before.’

  ‘Then it’s time I learned and I know you’ll be the perfect teacher. Isis—Horus—’ she hissed their names ‘—come.’

  The stallion sprang forward, needing no encouragement to unleash all that restrained power. Layla’s breath caught and then she was hanging on, trying to remember everything Raz and Abdul had taught her about relaxing into the rhythm.

  It was the most terrifying, uncomfortable few minutes of her life, but with each long, pounding stride she knew they were drawing away from whoever was at the other end of the light, so she concentrated on not falling off and let Zahra do the rest.

  ‘We’re here.’

  They arrived at the caves and Layla slid off the horse, landing with an uncomfortable thud on the uneven ground. Zahra slid into her arms and the dogs stayed close. ‘We need to get inside.’

  ‘No. We have to tie Raja up or he could wander off and Daddy will be angry.’

  ‘We’ll take him with us deeper into the caves. We need to be out of sight.’

  She shone her torch once and saw several tunnels leading off the main cavern. ‘Over there—that’s a good place to hide.’

  ‘Why are you so good at finding hiding places?’

  ‘Because I used to play this game with my little sister when she was your age.’

  But she’d made a cardinal mistake. The horse had provided a quick escape vehicle, but by bringing the animal there was no way they could disguise their presence. ‘We have to let Raja loose, Zahra. We have to.’

  With luck the people tracking them would follow the horse, thinking they were still together.

  ‘No! We can’t do that. Daddy will be angry.’

  ‘I’ll take the blame. I’ll tell him it’s all my fault. But we have to let him go.’

  ‘No! I won’t let you—’

  But Layla had already removed the reins and given the enormous stallion a slap on the rump. Delighted to be free of his reins, Raja launched himself in
to the darkness while Zahra gave a sob.

  ‘He will hurt himself. He’ll—’

  ‘He’s going to be fine.’ Layla grabbed the child in her arms and sprinted across the cave. Zahra was squirming so badly she almost dropped her.

  ‘But, Layla, he doesn’t—’

  ‘Hush.’ Layla slammed her hand over the child’s mouth and pulled her behind the rocks. ‘I can hear someone coming. Don’t be frightened, but do not make a sound. Not a sound. Isis—Horus—down.’ The dogs slunk behind the rock obediently and lay down with them just seconds before lights shone into the cave.

  ‘Don’t be scared,’ Layla whispered, holding Zahra tightly in her arms. ‘I’ve got you.’

  ‘They cannot both have vanished.’

  It was Hassan’s voice, speaking the same words he’d spoken the night she’d last seen him. Layla closed her eyes, back in her father’s bedroom on the night of his death, only this time the person she was protecting was Raz al Zahki’s child.

  She hugged Zahra against her, keeping her hand over her mouth as she had done so many times with her sister, and all the time she was wondering how Hassan could possibly have known they were here. How had he even found out about Zahra’s existence?

  ‘They have to be here. There is nowhere else they could have hidden.’

  Recognising Nadia’s voice, Layla felt shock punch through her.

  So now she had her answer.

  She felt Zahra wriggle and held her tighter, but the sudden movement had dislodged something and sent stones tumbling, the sound magnified by the cavernous walls of their hiding place.

  Layla realised she had nothing with which to defend them both. No knife. No weapon of any sort with which to protect Raz’s child.

  ‘Stay there, and whatever happens don’t move.’ Whispering the words, she stood up and moved out from behind the rock just as torchlight swept across the cave and dazzled her eyes.

  ‘It’s her.’ Nadia’s voice was thickened with contempt. ‘If she’s here then the child will be with her.’

  ‘Zahra is asleep in her bed. I left her there when I ran. I assumed it was me you wanted. Well, here I am.’ Layla walked forward and saw the glint of Nadia’s eyes.

  ‘She’s lying. She’s never far from the girl because she thinks that’s the way to get Raz to love her.’

  Before Layla could respond Hassan stepped into the beam of light. She felt a shiver run down her body from neck to toes as she remembered all the occasions he’d stood over her trembling body when she’d run from him as a child.

  Determined that Zahra wasn’t going to know that same fear, she stood as tall as she could. But he simply smiled.

  ‘The best way to look for something is to hunt it and I know just how to do that.’

  He snapped his fingers and before Layla could work out what he was doing she heard the sound of panting and four Saluki shot into the cave towards her.

  Her knees liquid, she stumbled back towards Zahra, determined to protect her, the terror so acute she could hardly walk.

  She should have anticipated that he’d use Saluki.

  She could hear the dull thud of their paws as they raced across the cave towards her, heard the sharp patter of stones dislodged, the low whine and the panting of the dogs as they drew closer. And then she was on her knees beside Zahra, shielding her, covering her, determined to protect her even if it meant the flesh was torn from her bones.

  She braced herself for the feel of hot breath on her neck and then pain, but the growling intensified and Isis and Horus sprang in front of them. And then there was nothing but the most terrifying snarling as the dogs clashed, swirling together in the darkness in some macabre dance that sent dust and fur flying.

  ‘Isis!’

  Horrified, Zahra tried to go to them, but Layla held her tightly, wondering helplessly how two dogs could possibly be a match against four. And even if she’d wanted to help she couldn’t, because the dogs were wild as they fought each other and she couldn’t make out Isis and Horus from Hassan’s beasts. The best she could do was take advantage of the distraction.

  ‘Is there another way out of these caves?’ She spoke the words urgently but the little girl shook her head.

  ‘Not without ropes.’

  It wasn’t the news Layla wanted, but just as she was about to carry Zahra deeper into the caves there was the sound of vehicles approaching at speed. The next moment the whole cavern was filled with light and there were shouts and something that sounded like gunfire.

  Layla flattened Zahra down on the ground.

  The snarling became a whimper.

  And then she heard the harsh tones of Raz’s voice and knew that the guns and the lights belonged to his security team. Almost melting with relief that she was no longer alone, she snuggled Zahra close, afraid to move until she was sure it was safe.

  All around them was pandemonium. Layla kept low, knowing that the best thing she could do was not make the situation more dangerous by moving around.

  ‘Layla? Layla!’ His voice was raw and desperate, the emotion painful to hear, and she knew she had to reassure him.

  ‘It’s fine,’ she called out. ‘She’s safe. She’s here with me. They haven’t touched her.’

  Before she could stop her Zahra wriggled out from under her and started to run towards her father, but then she stopped dead.

  ‘Isis? Isis!’

  Layla saw that the dog was lying still, her blonde fur coated in blood, while Horus stood guard over her body, a sombre sentinel.

  ‘Oh, no—’ Layla ran towards Zahra but the little girl was already on her knees beside the dog, sobs tearing through her chest as she tried to cuddle her.

  ‘Don’t die, Isis. Daddy, don’t let Isis die. Please do something.’ She scooped the dog’s head onto her lap, stroking, rocking, making a terrible keening sound.

  Her distress was so painful to witness Layla felt tears on her own cheeks. She reached the child at the same time as Raz.

  ‘Let me look at her.’

  His voice was calm and steady, but Layla noticed that his fingers shook slightly as he gently examined the dog. He snapped a command over his shoulder and someone appeared with a flashlight so that he could take a closer look.

  ‘She’s been bitten. We need to stop this bleeding.’

  ‘Here—’ Layla ripped off the cord that was holding her robe together and dropped to her knees beside him. ‘Make a tourniquet. That should do until we can get her back home.’

  Her hands were over his and together they tied it firmly and then tightened it. It was the first time she’d touched a dog voluntarily, but she didn’t even think about it until she felt something cold and damp nudge her palm and saw Horus standing next to her, looking at her with anxious eyes.

  ‘Good boy.’ Layla hesitated and then reached out and stroked his head. ‘She’s going to be all right.’

  ‘No, she isn’t. They saved us from that bad man,’ Zahra sobbed, ‘and now Isis is going to die.’

  ‘She is not going to die.’ Delivering a series of orders, Raz rose to his feet in a fluid movement and peeled his daughter away from her beloved pet. ‘But we have to get her help, habibti. We have to get her home right now. And you need to come home, too. You need to be brave and put your trust in others.’

  Zahra clung to him, her little body shuddering with sobs, and Layla rubbed the tears from her own cheeks so that she could help as Raz’s men gently lifted Isis and took her limp body to the nearest vehicle, accompanied by a worried Horus who refused to leave her side.

  Layla turned to Raz. ‘Where is Hassan?’

  ‘He has been arrested, along with Nadia, who apparently masterminded tonight’s episode. They are both being taken to Tazkhan for questioning.’

  Layla stared at him, still stunned by the di
scovery that Nadia had been involved. ‘I assumed Hassan had forced her in some way. Why would she do that?’

  ‘Jealousy.’ Raz’s mouth was grim. ‘She was jealous of her sister. Apparently she had some deluded idea that I’d marry her. It is something I only discovered in the past few hours. It explains so much about her behaviour and I am angry with myself for not seeing it sooner.’

  ‘Why would you?’ Layla shivered and rubbed Zahra’s back gently. ‘We need to get her home.’

  His gaze lingered on hers. ‘How can I ever thank you?’

  ‘You don’t need to thank me.’

  Raz inhaled deeply. ‘There is much I need to say to you.’

  Layla was too exhausted to contemplate a conversation. ‘It can all wait.’

  * * *

  ‘The vet says Isis will make a good recovery and Zahra is finally asleep.’ His handsome face drawn and tired, Raz walked across the bedroom. ‘I have put a mattress next to the dog and both Abdul and Horus are sleeping with her for now, along with four of my security team. It’s like a menagerie down there. All I need is for Raja to join them and the circus that is our life will be complete.’

  The fact that he’d said ‘our’ warmed her, as did the wry humour in his voice, but Layla wasn’t fooled. She knew how raw he was feeling because she felt the same way. She was still so shocked by everything that had happened she felt disconnected.

  The warm sunshine and the soothing sound of the fountain in the courtyard beyond the doors to their bedroom were a contrast to the long, terrifying hours of the night before.

  Knowing that she wouldn’t be able to rest, she’d taken a hot shower, scrubbed away the physical evidence of their flight through the desert and changed into a practical outfit of trousers and a loose shirt, intending to go and sit with Isis and Zahra.

  ‘I’m so relieved Raja is all right. Zahra was beside herself when I turned him loose, but at that point I was still hoping they wouldn’t find us. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do.’