Chapter Text
The whole truth? Elisabeth swallowed. Telling Richard she was the one who'd been trailing him all these months for the Medjai, was something she would never reveal. Besides, there was no way for him to know what was or wasn't a truth. Perhaps it was time to fall back into what she was ultimately known for. A thief.
"Fine."
"The whole truth," the American repeated.
"Hand on my heart."
Richard muttered something, clearly not believing her attempt at swearing on her life.
"You're right. My father isn't in Egypt. He's back in Germany,-" she flicked her hand at the newspaper currently lying on the floor. "Though who knows how long that might last considering the headlines."
"Nefertiti's bust," a chuckle escaped him, causing Elisabeth to frown. "Can't believe he managed to pull that stunt in front of the entire world."
"I see you know the truth behind it," she deduced.
"Yes, but back to you telling the truth. No talk about your old man trying to trick the masses into thinking that he brought the real deal to Germany for everyone to see and admire."
Elisabeth couldn't help but press her lips into a tight line. She'd seen the real bust of Nefertiti and compared to the replica it wouldn't draw as much attention. The one currently residing in Germany was much more vibrant and colourful. Perhaps one day her father would bring out the original piece, but if he did, Elisabeth would make sure it would stay where it belonged. In Egypt.
"Right," she cleared her throat. "As I was saying, my father is gone. Has been for a while even before you showed up at my house. The medjai are after him, or keeping an eye on him is a more accurate way to describe it. I have no quarrel with them,-" that was a semi-truth, but not noteworthy to mention to the American.
"You can't expect me to believe that the Medjai are unaware of your father being out of the country."
"No, they know. They weren't there for him,-" Elisabeth paused for a moment, hoping that Richard might come up with an answer which she in turn could use to weave some kind of story around. Unfortunately for her, the American did not such thing.
Letting out a deep sigh, Elisabeth decided that kind of revealing a bit of truth could actually work in her favour, "I know one of them."
Richard blinked. "You know one of them?" He repeated, "as in?"
"He's my friend, though in my defence, we've been friends for a while. Before I even knew he was born in the tribe of the Medjai." There, not a lie. It must have been the most sincere she'd been so far with him.
"A member of the Medjai tribe is a friend of yours. A tribe who keeps tabs on your father. A tribe that is after me because I took a job requested by your father." Richard rubbed the back of his neck and started to pace around the room.
Elisabeth did nothing else but watch him. You'd think after spending a bit more than a week with the man, she would have come up with a solid plan by now. Get the key and get away from him before he figured out who she truly was. But so far she'd done none of that. Richard still had the key, and she was none the wiser of where he kept it.
"The horse we took?" Richard suddenly asked.
"My friend's."
He cursed under his breath and continued his walk around the room.
"The Medjai don't know you took me." Elisabeth said, standing up to follow him. Richard stopped and turned around. "They have a lot of horses, for all he knows she escaped the stables somehow."
"And you being gone for over a week now won't rouse suspicion?"
A good question and if it had been Samir who'd been with her, Richard's question could be answered with a yes. But it was Ardeth who'd been with her and knowing him, he would definitely search for her. A detail the American didn't need to know.
"Knowing Samir, it wouldn't. But if you want I can get a message send to him. Get him off our backs."
"I don't care about your back, I care about mine."
This was it. This was a way in. She may not know Richard very well but from what she had gathered until now was that this man wasn't a killer. Not really. Murdering her was something he wouldn't do.
Elisabeth licked her lips, cocked her head, smirked and then shrugged. "And how much is my silence worth exactly?"
From the way his eyes widened, she knew she had him where she wanted him. The thought hadn't crossed his mind that she might spill the beans on him and his whereabouts.
"Your silence?"
"You can't possibly think that I will keep quiet about meeting you to the Medjai once you decide to leave me behind? I wasn't kidding when I said your hide instead of my father's. That might still very well happen, unless,-" Elisabeth crossed her arms and stared at him.
Richard huffed. "You really are Ludwig's kid. Doesn't daddy provide you with enough that you want money from me?"
"Money?" Now, that was the most insulting thing he could have said, aside from her being like her father. "Have some imagination, Richard."
"I'm thinking I should toss you over the balcony." He spat leaning forward.
"Cold blooded murder in broad daylight?" She arched a brow.
"Or I could break your neck."
"Or, as I said, you could give me something instead." Elisabeth held his gaze, his eyes a vibrant blue and filled with annoyance. "Well?"
Richard clenched his jaw, his hand forming a fist for a couple of seconds. But eventually his shoulders dropped and he straightened himself again. "Fine, what were you thinking of?"
The key, obviously. But she couldn't outright ask him for it. He was unaware that she knew of it and it would be extremely suspicious if she mentioned it. No, she had Richard be the one to offer it. How she was going to do that exactly, she wasn't sure. But she had to make it clear to him that it had something to do with Hamunaptra.
"You were meant to find Hamunaptra and get something for my father," she said. "The book of Amun-Ra."
"The book of Amun-Ra?" Richard frowned. "I can't give you that, I don't have it."
"I know you don't have it, but you know where it is. You've been to Hamunaptra,-"
"I don't know if you remember what I told you but that place is cursed. I'm not going back there!"
"I'm not asking you to go there. But you know how the way. Mark it for me on a map. That's all I want. I won't tell the Medjai about you or your whereabouts. You can stay here as long as you like. Their eyes will be on me, not on you."
"As long as I live their eyes will be on me, Elisabeth! The fact that I know of the place is what matters, forget about what I took,- I was suppose to die in that desert."
Light shone in Elisabeth's eyes. "You took something?"
Richard immediately cursed again and turned his back to her, quickly she stepped in front of him again. "What did you take?" She asked.
"It doesn't matter what I took, that isn't the problem. Didn't you hear me?"
"Show me." The role of whiney woman came quite easy to her, Richard looked incredibly flustered. Unsure of how to act or respond. At least she didn't have to play the role of seductress with him, a thing which worked wonders on most men but somehow with the American that only had the opposite effect.
"I am not showing you anything or giving it to you! If your friend finds out you have anything from Hamunaptra, he will have your head. You may think he's your friend, just because you've known him for a while, but trust me, the Medjai want this place kept a secret. No matter what! Your friend won't hesitate to kill you."
He sounded so convincing that Elisabeth fell quiet as a shiver ran down her spine. Samir would never. He wasn't a killer, even less so than Richard was. Ardeth on the other hand was a different story. He was a killer. But would he go as far as to kill her if she went to Hamunaptra herself? If they had never met then the answer was yes, but now? He wouldn't, just like it was no longer on Elisabeth's mind to find and hoard treasures from the desert to sell on the black market. He loved her and she loved him. And then there was Samir...
"Samir won't kill me," she said with full confidence.
The look on Richard face was one of disbelieve. "Yeah, right, because?"
"Because he loves me." Oh shit, she blurted that right out there. Way to go and dig that grave deeper than was necessary, she scolded herself inwardly.
"Oh, this just keeps getting better." Richard said with a short laugh. "No, no. Forget about it. This can only end in disaster no matter what I do."
Verdammt... Now it was Elisabeth turn to curse. She had been this close. So close. No matter, this was only the first try. A day, maybe two at most. Then she might have a chance of having him show her what this so called thing was that he'd taken from Hamunaptra. And if he wouldn't, she could still find it and take it for herself. But until then, she had to keep finding ways to make sure he trusted her.
"Alright. Now that the truth is out, let's just leave it at that for now," Elisabeth sighed, running a hand through her hair.
Richard didn't argue or replied in any way, but he did look drained as hell.
The desert
One day. They were only one day away from Luxor. Ardeth doubted they would find anymore hints left behind by Elisabeth. The barkeep had given Samir valuable information. Information it seemed his brother had been rather reluctant to share with him. But he noticed immediately that Samir was trying to hide something from him after walking out of the bar. The hurried glances left and right, the licking of his lips and then that deep sigh. It had indeed seemed that his younger brother didn't want to tell Ardeth what he'd learned. Thankfully, he was raised well and had a small sliver of respect left for him despite all that Ardeth had done. Samir cared and loved Elisabeth deeply, but it seemed his brother also still held a place in his heart. Ardeth decided not to act on his emotions of scolding Samir from almost withholding important information.
With Elisabeth's robe stuffed in his saddlebags, they headed for Luxor as fast as they could. Once they hit the city they'd have to take a minute to figure out where to go next. Luxor wasn't a small town and there were many foreigners there. It would be difficult to find Elisabeth, if she wanted to be found. Samir was convinced she had been taken against her will and a part of Ardeth thought so too, but another part of him, his logical part, reminded him that a sand cat doesn't lose its stripes. Part of Elisabeth could be persuaded to join the American on a hunt for treasure. But he would go with his first feeling, that she was trying to buy them time. The night robe they'd found a few days ago had been proof of that, had it not?
"Once we find Zahrah, we should,-"
Samir halted abruptly next to him. His expression one of anger. "Find Zahrah?" He repeated Ardeth's words and pointed a finger at his brother. "You don't get to call her that, aki."
Ardeth growled, the noise hidden behind the cloth hiding the lower part of his face. Yes, it would definitely be a long time before Samir would come to terms with the fact that Elisabeth had chosen Ardeth instead of him. Zahrah was Samir's name for her, one that Ardeth had started to get accustomed to over time and now used himself. That obviously didn't sit well with his younger brother.
"There are more important issues at hand, Samir. You'll forgive me if I call her anything else other than Elisabeth." He clacked his tongue and Amun trotted further along. He couldn't see Samir's face, but he could his stare burning in the back of his head.
"You're right," Samir said out loud as he urged his horse to ride next to Ardeth's again. "I suggest we split up once we reach the city. Cover more ground, the quicker the better. For all we know they are on a constant move."
To be honest Samir didn't believe that. If there was one thing he was certain of was that Elisabeth had gone to Luxor more than once. He could have sworn she'd once told him that her parents owned another house there. He wasn't entirely sure of that memory, but it was better than nothing. Dropping Ludwig Borchardt's name would probably work miracles or at the very least another hint.
He may have told Ardeth the barkeeper's information on Elisabeth's possible whereabouts, but Samir was adamant on finding her first and without his older brother at his side.
The Winter Palace Bar
"I feel out of place here." Richard said as he and Elisabeth stepped into the hotel bar.
"We could have gone to another bar, one more local, closer to the house, definitely cheaper. But you said you wanted to gamble and this is the best place for that."
"No surprise that you'd be one to support the gambling arts." The American grumbled and he slipped his hands in his pockets.
Elisabeth's eyes lowered to them and her mind immediately went to the key. A soldier had once told her that he'd seen Richard play with some sort of trinket he kept in his pockets. Could that be it? Did Richard keep the key on his person at all times? She wouldn't be surprised if he did, but this was the first time she'd seen him act this way.
"Something interesting about my pants?" Richard caught her stare and frowned. Was he grinning?
"Depends, what's in them?" That didn't sound wrong at all!
"Yeah, we're not going there, Elisabeth." He reminded her. She rolled her eyes and followed him to one of the bars.
Richard ordered a couple of drinks, courtesy of Elisabeth's wallet naturally, and then took a step back. "I think I'll join in that table of players over there, it looks like one of the men is getting up. Will you be fine on your own?"
"If you don't know the answer to that by now,-" She retorted.
"Wish me luck." He answered, grabbing his drink and walking away from her.
Her eyes followed him closely, making sure he was actually going to sit down at the table to play a game of poker and not run off at the first chance he'd get. Then again, she was pretty certain he wouldn't dare. The fact that she'd mentioned being familiar with one of the Medjai was apparently working wonders so far. She'd managed to convince him to go out instead of staying at the house, even gotten him as far in going to a bar. She'd decide later if she would try to steal the key later or play along that she wanted the same thing as her father did.
" 'Ello, what's a gorgeous creature such as yourself sitting along for?" A British accent sounded from her left. Pressing her lips in a tight line, Elisabeth crossed her legs gracefully before turning the man's way.
"You tell me, handsome." Her mouth turned into a lopsided smile, but then parted slowly as she looked at the man next to her.
"Wait, I know you." The guy and Elisabeth said at the same time, followed by, "the boat to Minya."
"What a coincidence." Jonathan said as he reached for her hand and lifted it to his lips. "The pleasure is all mine, madam."
"Jonathan Carnahan." Elisabeth smiled as he kissed the back of her hand. "What a delight."
"You remembered my name? I seem to have made an impression then." He winked.
"And it seems you have forgotten mine?" A question to which the answer was more than obvious.
An awkward chuckle escaped the Englishman. "You'll have to forgive me. I'm not the best at remembering names, but I remember your face."
"And that I beat you at poker twice in a row."
"Well, a gentleman knows when a lady deserves to win." He cleared his throat and nodded at her drink. "May I get you another?"
Elisabeth nodded. "You may."
As Jonathan turned to the bartender, Elisabeth's eyes swiftly shot to the table Richard had gone to. He was still sitting there. She had to make sure that Jonathan wouldn't notice him. Because if he would, and he was as good as he said that he was with remembering faces, the Englishman might recognise Richard from the picture she had shown him on the boat to Minya. That was before Elisabeth had known about the fact that Jonathan wasn't the proper gentleman he claimed to be. An Egyptologist but a conman. It seems there were a lot of those in Egypt.
"There we are. Now, where were we?"
"You were about to ask me for my name and going to tell me why you are in Luxor?" Elisabeth reminded him.
"Ah, yes. Your name then, milady, if you please?"
"Elisabeth Borchardt. I live a few houses up the road from you in Cairo." She answered.
"Right, that was it. It was on the tip of my tongue." Jonathan smiled and downed his drink in one go. "Ah, delicious. They do serve the good stuff in here."
"I knew you hadn't forgotten completely," Elisabeth placed a hand on his upper arm and the Englishman lowered his eyes to her.
"How could I? You are as beautiful as,- as,- a sparkling diamond."
A sparkling diamond. That she had to remember. It appeared Jonathan wasn't that well versed in flirting with the ladies. It was almost endearing.
"Would you care for another drink this time, Jonathan?" Elisabeth motioned for the bartender.
"Thank you, miss Borchardt."
"Please, call me Elisabeth."
"Elisabeth."
"You were about to tell me what has brought you to Luxor? Last we spoke I thought you were planning on heading to Cairo?"
Jonathan nodded and he reached for his collar and loosened the top two buttons. "I was suppose to meet my sister in Cairo but I was informed she was still in Luxor. When I arrived here it seemed she'd gone back home. So I decided to take some time off and have a relaxing holiday for a week or two."
"I see, no interesting excavations at the moment then?" Elisabeth asked.
"Not at the moment, but I have a nose for these things. Something will come up soon, mark my words."
As long as it had nothing to do with Hamunaptra, Elisabeth could care less. Her eyes moved to the table once more. A game of poker could last a long time or was over in a jiffy depending on numerous variations. It seems Richard was still engaged in a game. As soon as the game was over, she'd have to make sure Jonathan was out of sight.
"And what brings you to Luxor, Elisabeth?" Jonathan asked.
"Just passing through." She answered with a smile.
Right in that moment she caught Richard moving. He shoved his chair backwards which hit the floor with a bang, loud yelling ensued. Uhoh. The sounds had drawn Jonathan's attention as well, who narrowed his eyes at the man in the distance.
"You know, he looks an awful lot like that bloke..."
"Bloke?"
"Yes, remember? You showed me a picture on the boat of a man you were looking for." Without warning Jonathan stood up. "You stay here, will I,-"
Before Jonathan could finish his sentence Elisabeth reached for his face with both of her hands, stood on her toes and she pressed her lips against his. His mouth was warm and the smell of sherry was prominent. But she felt him slacken underneath her touch. Pulling back she looked at him, his cheeks bright red.
"Oh,-" He muttered. "That was,-"
"I'm terribly sorry, but I have an important appointment to get to. Try to remember my name this time?" She pressed a quick peck against his flushed cheek and darted off towards Richard.
She could only hope the kiss had knocked Jonathan off balance a little bit. At least enough so she could grab Richard and get him out of there before something bad was to happen. One, two, three, four, five, six steps. She grabbed the American's lower arm and practically yanked him along with her, all the while muttering apologies to whoever had been at the table. Her heart didn't stop pounding until she felt the cool air of the night sky hitting her skin.