Secrets Begin, a prequel story to The Secret of the Sands Trilogy

by Rai Aren

  “Grandfather,” Zhek said, joining him a few minutes later in the outdoor courtyard of their family home, the Draxen Stronghold. “Jace has informed me of the King’s death.”

  Lord Draxen placed a hand on his tall grandson’s muscular shoulder. “Walk with me Zhek. We have much to discuss, much to plan.” The day was warm, but the stronghold provided ample shade.

  Zhek felt a sense of keen anticipation building. He knew this was going to be a significant time of change for all of them, and that his grandfather would be motivated to enhance the standing of their family in the wake of it.

  “To start with,” Lord Draxen said, “I am going to ask Jace to gather our supporters here at our stronghold. The days ahead are going to present many opportunities for us.” His thin lips curved into a slight grin. His advancing age had not diminished his ambitions. “We will start by keeping the Royal Family off balance. We will show them their standing is no longer as secure as it was under King Mesah.”

  “Very good,” Zhek replied. “I do not think the Royal Family knows how many people are against them.”

  “They soon will,” Lord Draxen. “Mesah’s funeral will be a good place to start.”

  Zhek frowned, his slate-grey eyes conveying a look of concern. “Should we not hold off until after the King’s funeral? Out of respect?”

  Lord Draxen stopped walking.

  Zhek did as well.

  The elder man looked off into the distance. “I had respect for King Mesah. I also understood that he was too popular amongst the people for us to ever move against him or even gain a higher standing.” Lord Draxen turned his attention back to his grandson. “But that has now changed.”

  Zhek listened intently.

  “Do you not see, Zhek? This can be our time,” Lord Draxen said, his tone low and serious. “Our family has waited a long time to take a more prominent role in Kierani society. It is my vision that ultimately we can and should be leading our people.”

  Zhek nodded his agreement, but kept his doubts to himself about how that could ever happen.

  Lord Draxen felt energized anew as his plans took hold in his mind. “We will look for avenues to forward our own aims. The Royals are weakened now. The Selaren brothers are all young, inexperienced, and I believe, will be poor leaders. The loss of their father will hit them hard. They may even come seek our counsel. If not, we will force their hand.”

  “But how would we do that?”

  The elder Draxen gave him a cunning smile. “By being strategic. By coming at them how they least expect it, when they least expect it.” He resumed walking. “I am sure the opportunity will present itself, one way or another.”

  Zhek followed alongside him, considering his words. “The days ahead will be most unpredictable, grandfather.”

  “Indeed. But, eventually, we will find a way to strike at their very heart. The Draxens will gain their rightful place, I promise you.”

  CHAPTER

  4

  Present day, USA

  Professor Dustimaine stormed down the hall of the university. He couldn’t believe what he’d just read. It was at once the most significant event in his entire career; coupled with the most irritating details he could’ve imagined to accompany it.

  He stopped outside the door to the research room where two of his students were working.

  “Of all the people...” he fumed. He rubbed his forehead. A headache was forming. He had tried to figure out a way out of this, but had been unable to change anything. The directive was clear. He didn’t bother to knock. He opened the door quickly.

  Alex and Mitch both jumped, startled.

  “Professor Dustimaine,” Mitch said, nervously pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

  Alex stood up from the table where she and Mitch had been poring over their project. She quickly tried to hide a piece of paper beneath a pile of folders.

  Alex was short for Alexandra. She and Mitch were PhD students of Egyptology and best friends. In their spare time, which wasn’t much, they worked on their own, more controversial theories. Which is what they were doing when the professor walked in. She hid the paper because she didn’t want to give the professor any reason to boot them out of the program. He seemed to have it out for them from the beginning, and they’d never really figured out why. The last thing they needed was to give him any more ammunition.

  Professor Dustimaine cleared his throat. It was as if the news he was about to deliver was getting stuck in this throat, he found it so irksome. He caught Alex’s movement of the paper. He suspected what it had to do with. It only aggravated him even more.

  Mitch stood up as well. He glanced over at Alex, who was brushing away from her face some flyaway hairs that had escaped from her ponytail. He saw the same apprehension that he was feeling, written all over her face. The professor always had a way of putting them on edge.

  Dustimaine looked at the two of them. He couldn’t put this off. Things were about to move very quickly. “Our department has just been approved for an expedition to Cairo.”

  Their eyes lit up.

  “It’s something we applied for a couple of years ago.”

  Alex knew immediately what it was. So did Mitch.

  “We’re heading to Giza. To the Great Sphinx.”

  Alex grabbed Mitch’s arm, her blue eyes wide with anticipation.

  He beamed at her.

  “When you say ‘we’, Professor...” Alex started to ask, the hope clearly evident in her voice.

  Dustimaine raised a hand, cutting her off. “You and Mitch will be participating in the excavation. You’ve been assigned to my team.” He was about to tell them that they had been specifically requested as part of the expedition team, but he held his tongue. He didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of knowing that.

  Alex ventured another question. “What will we be...”

  Professor Dustimaine again cut her off. “My assistant, Fessel, will be sending you the details shortly. Jack and Bob have been assigned, as well, to assist in the mobile lab.” He wanted to keep this conversation short.

  Alex almost squealed with delight, but she held it in. Jack and Bob were their closest friends and they had worked closely with them for years in their research activities. The two guys worked as lab technicians, being experts in laboratory analysis, and best of all, were a lot of fun to be around.

  Mitch could hardly believe what he was hearing. He knew the four of them had to be the Professor’s last choices. He had no idea what had turned the tides in their favor, but he was darned glad they had.

  Dustimaine gave the two of them a hard look. “I expect you to be ready to go and fully prepared. We leave at the end of the month.” He shook a finger at them, scowling. “Do not embarrass me. You will both do as you’re told over there. Understood?”

  “Of course,” Mitch quickly replied. He’d say anything, at this point, not to mess this up.

  Alex wanted to ask more questions. Tons of questions. But as quickly as the professor had come into the room, he left.

  She turned to Mitch. “What just happened?”

  He laughed and shrugged. “Heck if I know!”

  “I think our dreams are finally coming true,” she said, buzzing with excitement, her mind already there, gazing up at the most fascinating and enduring mystery of her life—The Great Sphinx.

  CHAPTER

  5

  Present day, Cairo, Egypt

  Footsteps echoed through the halls of the Egyptian Museum. The lights had been dimmed, casting the priceless pharaonic artifacts contained within into shadow, making them seem even more imposing. One could almost imagine movement amongst the larger statues, as though they would come to life at any moment and re-establish their dominance. It was after hours and there was no one left inside the neoclassically designed building, save for security and the person the young man was meeting with.

  He walked up and stood beside a stately, older gentleman. “Have you put matters into motion?”

>   Dr. Khadesh nodded, his gaze fixed on a stunning and grand statue of the New Kingdom Pharaoh Thutmose III, exquisitely sculpted out of a rich, red granite. “I have. Everything is in order.” He took a deep breath. “It is almost time.”

  The young man cast his eyes appreciatively over the magnificent statue, depicting the Pharaoh kneeling and holding two offering jars in his hands. The artistry gave the statue such a visceral presence that it exuded a timeless, regal strength. One could almost feel its power. “I am sure there are going to be questions.”

  “Oh, there will be,” Dr. Khadesh replied, a knowing smile crossing his face. “And I will give them answers. Just not all of them,” he said, winking.

  “Of course.”

  This would be but one of many secrets they kept.

  Dr. Khadesh was the Director of Egyptian Antiquities and was in charge of Egypt’s historical monuments and artifacts. It was a role that he cherished. Nothing was more important to him than safeguarding what he considered to be the most important and sacred place on earth. He also relished spending time inside the Egyptian Museum, which housed the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. Walking amongst the treasures of the Pharaohs, spanning such a long and unparalleled history, was ever a humbling experience for him. It was like walking through time.

  “Professor Dustimaine may prove to be a challenge when he gets here.”

  Dr. Khadesh nodded. “I am prepared for that. In fact, I expect it.” He thought for a moment. “However, that is not what our biggest challenge will be.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We will have to carefully consider how active a role we will play in the days to come.”

  “I see,” the younger man said. “That decision will make a significant difference in how things unfold.”

  “It will, most certainly,” he replied, thinking of their options. “I believe it would be most helpful and illuminating if we stay more in the background and observe, to begin with. Let us see what happens without our direct influence. That could be very telling.”

  “To be sure,” he replied.

  “I have a feeling they are going to be full of surprises. We must be ever watchful.”

  The younger man rubbed his chin. “I agree. This situation may be very unpredictable.” He thought on that possibility for a moment. “I have an idea how we can keep an ear to the ground, so-to-speak.” He shared his suggestion with Dr. Khadesh.

  “Excellent.”

  “There is one other thing. Will we tell them who we are when they arrive?” the young man asked.

  Dr. Khadesh shook his head. “I have given this much thought. I believe it will be best if we do not. At least, not until we have to.”

  “How will we know that?”

  Dr. Khadesh motioned him away from the statue and they started making their way towards the exit. “I am not certain, but there is something about them. I have had a strange feeling about them ever since we learned of their research.”

  “What kind of strange feeling?”

  Dr. Khadesh clasped his hands behind his back as he walked. “I believe they are far more important than we know.”

  “In what way?”

  “In every way. I cannot explain it.”

  The two men considered the situation in silence for a few moments as they walked.

  “I just have one more question,” the young man said, his face serious. “How can you be sure they are ready for this?”

  Dr. Khadesh placed a hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “Do not worry. If they have been drawn to something this strongly that they have worked so hard for it over such a long time, and we are able and driven to provide them with this opportunity, it means the fates have decided they are ready. Whether they realize it or not. We must trust in that.”

  The younger man’s eyes lit up. He felt comforted by those words. “I understand.”

  As they made their way through the quiet halls of the museum and exited, setting out into the warm Cairo night, they firmed up their plans for when the American team arrived. They needed to approach this very carefully, on many fronts.

  CHAPTER

  6

  Present day, USA

  Professor Abner Dustimaine had summoned his assistant, Fessel C. Blothers to his office at the university.

  There was a knock at the door.

  “Come in,” the professor said.

  The door opened and a head peeked through. “You called for me, sir?” Fessel asked.

  “Yes. Close the door.”

  Fessel did as he was asked. He was a timid sort. The professor knew this and had no qualms about intimidating him.

  “Sit down.”

  Fessel took a seat across from the professor’s messy desk. “Is this about the expedition to Egypt?”

  “Yes.” Abner rubbed his forehead. His headache had taken hold. He cleared his throat. “I’m in a difficult place right now.”

  Fessel frowned. “But I thought you’d be happy about it.”

  “I am. Of course, I am,” he replied, swivelling his chair to look off to the side of the room, which was lined with overstuffed bookshelves. “But there’s an unfortunate aspect of it.” He looked back at Fessel. “Alex Logan and Mitch Carver, along with their annoying lab cohorts Jack and Bob, have been listed as required team members for the expedition.”

  Fessel sat back in his chair, surprised at what he heard. “Required?” He understood immediately. “I see. That is most unfortunate.”

  Abner leaned forward over his desk, pointing a finger into a random pile of papers. “I want this conversation to be strictly off-the-record. Totally private between you and me, understood?”

  Fessel had a gleam in his eye. “Yes, sir.”

  “Good.” Abner tried to frame his thoughts. “I’ve been given no way out of this roster, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Nor should I have to tolerate it if any one of those four steps out of line.”

  “Of course not.”

  “That’s why I want you to come with me.”

  Fessel gaped at him. “To Egypt?” he asked, his eyes going wide with excitement.

  “Yes. You are my assistant. I can easily make a case for why I need you there. I’m going to be incredibly busy as it is, leading this excavation.” Abner steepled his fingers and pointed them at Fessel. “Where they’re concerned, you’re going to be my eyes and ears over there. Both when they’re off-duty, as well as when I need things... investigated... while they’re on duty. If you catch my drift.”

  “I do.” Fessel felt a growing sense of self-importance. He liked it. A lot. “I can hardly wait, sir.”

  Abner regarded him for a moment. “Let me be clear. I want you to use whatever means necessary to uncover anything untoward, anything that’s outside of our official objectives for this expedition.”

  “I think I know what you’re getting at,” Fessel offered. “Their side-project?”

  “Exactly,” Abner said, his tone laced with disgust. “They should’ve been kicked out of the university when I first learned of it.”

  Fessel rubbed his hands together. “And this might just be a way to end their careers once and for all.”

  Abner grinned at him. “Precisely right. There’s no way they’ll be working near the Great Sphinx and not be tempted to search for evidence of their ridiculous and unfounded theories.” He tapped his desk. “Mark my words, they will be responsible for their own undoing. We just need to catch them in the act.”

  “I’ll be only too happy to oblige, sir,” Fessel said, grinning, with a mischievous glint in his eye.

  “Good,” Abner said, “because we cannot fail. I need to be rid of them, permanently. When it comes to light what they’re really about, they’ll be kicked out of Egypt for good. No one will ever take them seriously again.”

  CHAPTER

  7

  Present day, USA

  Alex and Mitch had invited Jack and Bob over to Mitch’s apartment for dinner the eveni
ng after Professor Dustimaine had delivered their exciting news. The four of them usually spent a lot of their off-hours from the university together, hanging out at either Alex’s or Mitch’s place. Tonight was a special occasion.

  They’d ordered their favorite meal of pizzas and Cokes and been talking excitedly about their trip, which was rapidly approaching.

  “I don’t think I’m going to be able to sleep a wink until we leave,” Alex said, having finished her last slice of pizza and stretching out on the sofa in her sweatpants and Space Cat t-shirt, which the guys loved to tease her about.

  “I know what you mean,” Mitch replied, wiping his fingers on a napkin. “I still can’t believe it’s happening.”

  “Me, neither,” she agreed. “We’re going to have to use our time very smartly.” She glanced over at Jack and Bob, with a raised eyebrow. “Are you guys prepared to do some double-duty while we’re over there?”

  “Yeah, this is going to be an opportunity of a lifetime,” Mitch chimed in. “We may never get a chance like this again.”

  “How did you guys even end up on this expedition?” Jack asked, then took a swig of Coke. He and Bob were best buddies, but to look at them they were polar opposites. Jack was short, rail thin, and clean-shaven, while Bob was a portly fellow sporting a bushy beard and a mess of black curly hair.

  “Yeah,” Bob added, “Dr. Dust-Bucket isn’t exactly your biggest fan.”

  “No kidding!” Mitch heartily agreed. “To be honest, we have no idea. We’d have thought we’d be the last people he’d choose for it.”

  “It’s pretty weird, all right,” Alex said, loosening her long, blond ponytail. “Old Dusty’s had it out for us from the beginning.” She shrugged. “However it happened, we’re thanking our lucky stars that it did.”