“That strikes me as the type of strategy Cesare might have birthed.” Bitterness laced Gareth's every word. “Can humanity be as horrific as my own kind?”
“Believe me, I'm ashamed to be human at the moment. I had hoped to stop it, but no one would listen to me. No one cared. I don't deserve to be empress if I can't even sway my own father. I have failed my people.”
Gareth straightened, rising to his full, imposing height. “That you care for your people—and even for the humans of the north, who are no direct charge to you—does you credit, Adele. It is for that reason alone you deserve to be empress. Rich, poor, slave, or free—you care about them all. Apparently it is something both your father and my brother have forgotten.”
“But we are both outcasts now. So what can either of us do?”
Gareth took her chin and tipped her face up at him. “As you told your Anhalt, you will make them see reason. True leaders, even displaced ones, can effect changes. You will alter the future of your people. Although, personally, I would prefer you do so without marrying that blowhard.”
Adele blinked. The wind and Gareth's words were blowing away her worries. Her hand covered his. “We'll find a way to do it together.”
“As it should be,” he told her. “How long a journey do we have?”
“Abu Simbel is at least a week upriver. Maybe longer. We'll have to live like vagabonds and river folks. We can stop in Cairo for provisions for the long haul up the Nile. I kept a few of the gems from the dress to buy what we need. We'll be fine.”
Gareth's gaze lifted to the spectacle of fading color above them. “It will be a warmer day tomorrow. I may have to hide belowdecks when the heat becomes too much. I won't be of much use to you.”
She drew in a breath, suddenly unsure of her decisions.
Gareth leaned forward to kiss her. He couldn't feel her lips against his, but once more the tang of delicate spice and rich sweetness washed over his tongue and lingered there at the back of his throat. He heard her heart fluttering wildly in her chest. The musky scent of passion blended with the sweet perfume of an inexperienced woman was a tantalizing mix. He held her lightly and his heightened senses absorbed her, feeling her spent adrenaline and growing weakness.
Someone shouted across the way at the young lovers. A bemused river captain cruising his own boat waved at them.
Adele laughed with embarrassment and sat back. “I guess we should be watching where we're going. And keeping an eye out for pursuit.”
Gareth relinquished the tiller. “When did you last eat?”
“A little this morning. Not much. The thought of marrying Senator Clark made me nauseated. What about you?”
“I can go for a time without feeding.”
“How long?”
“Don't worry. We have always survived on infrequent feedings.”
“Really? When I was in London, it seemed like your people fed constantly.”
“They do now, but they don't have to. Since the Great Killing, we've become fat and debauched.”
“Well, you don't need to be an ascetic for no reason,” she said firmly. “You can feed on me.”
“Yes. But I won't dare weaken or hurt you irreparably.”
“What about animals?”
Gareth shook his head. “Their blood is not suitable. It is nothing more than water to me.”
“So without human blood, you will die?”
“Let's not be overly melodramatic.”
“But it's true, isn't it?”
“Well, yes.”
“How can we manage this?” Adele lamented wearily. “There are no willing humans save me to help you.”
“Don't worry. I'll make do.” He didn't elaborate further, but assumed the implications were clear enough. He would feed on unwilling humans if necessary.
They sailed through the night utilizing Gareth's exceptional nocturnal vision to navigate. The night air held a chill that he relished, and he finally breathed easier as his internal temperature dropped back to comfortable levels.
Adele held a small gemstone that she had torn from her wedding gown. She concentrated with her eyes shut.
“What are you doing?” Gareth asked.
“It's a geomancy exercise Mamoru taught me. I'm tasting iron.” She took a deep drink from their freshwater supply, rinsing the taste from her mouth. Yawning, she slipped the stone back into her pocket, then nestled deep in Gareth's embrace, drawing his cloak closer around her. “I'll try the others later. Hopefully they come from tastier surroundings.”
“I'm sure,” Gareth remarked, amused.
Despite her determination to stay awake, she finally succumbed to the weariness of the day's events and her eyes closed. Gareth watched her sleep, observing how the resolute face of a future empress melted away as her muscles relaxed and allowed the young girl to once more emerge. Where Adele had shown strength of character and perseverance during her time in Europe, the months back in Alexandria had wrought another change in her. She stood straighter; her decisions came sure and fast. Uncertainty was gone. Adele's confidence in herself was intoxicating. His fingers brushed at a wayward curl that chose to rest over her eyes. Her breath deepened at his touch, but she did not wake.
Gareth knew that he and Adele were in a desperate situation. Romantic it may sound, but he doubted their relationship, whatever it was, could ever work. She was human and he wasn't. It was as simple as that. Still, the pain of being apart was apparently too great for both of them. They deserved to try. This undertaking was immense and could prove to be terrible folly, especially for him traipsing around in a desert, but he felt no dread. He was at peace now. Regardless of what his future held, he knew that it would always be at Adele's side. He simply would have to be even more like a man, and less like a monster.
Hours later, the first rays of light were spreading out over the horizon to Gareth's left. He could feel the change in the air and the temperature rising. His chest immediately tightened as he attempted a deep breath. He could only hope that the sun would not gain too much strength since there was much to do once they reached Cairo. Word of Adele's flight was certain to have reached there and, no doubt, soldiers and police would be swarming the streets. Though Gareth knew Adele could look after herself, the thought of not being able to help her ate at him.
The banks of the Nile River grew more crowded as the green shores gave way to tan stone and bricks, and then grey steel and iron. The occasional shepherd or villager became mobs of people hurrying on foot leading camels and oxen, and finally carriages and trams. The river itself seemed suddenly clogged with boats and barges, tugs and feluccas. On every side were whistles and horns and shouting men. The sky turned yellow with the haze of humanity.
Then, beyond the jumbled buildings crowding the river to the west, Gareth caught sight of the Great Pyramids. Even from this distance and shimmering through the filthy air, the pyramids towered like something that belonged in another world. Their sheer mass was astounding. Gareth had read that kings were buried inside them. All that effort for just a tomb. How great those kings must have been.
Adele roused at the noise of the river traffic. Her gaze found his and she smiled. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
Her arms stretched out as her back arched, easing muscles stiff from the unfamiliar position. “Have you been awake all night?”
“Of course.” He quickly straightened the tiller again, narrowly avoiding a small boat with a wide-eyed man at the helm.
“You should have woken me. I could've helped.”
Gareth said nothing but continued to watch her with crystal-blue eyes. Bemused, his head bobbed to his left and Adele turned.
“Oh Cairo! We're here!” She rose and made her way forward, intently watching the traffic passing close by the dahabiya. Then she turned to the other bank. “The pyramids! Can you see them?”
“They are hard to miss.” He regarded the fading giants again. “Human ingenuity is amazing. I'd give anything to take
wing and fly over the structures.”
“Maybe someday. Let's keep flying to a minimum, shall we? Unless you take me with you.”
They passed under a massive steel bridge, and the steady hoofbeats of hundreds of brougham carriages and wagons thrummed overhead. The waters off the docks of Bulaq were choked with steamers and cargo ships. Tiny vessels, some smaller than their own, darted daringly between the behemoths competing for the river road. Swarms of people crowded the immense wharf.
A River Guard patrol boat drifted past and Adele stiffened. Gazing upward she saw airships hovering high above the city. She checked her veil, fashioned from cloth she had ripped from the hem of her wedding gown, and came back to Gareth, taking the tiller, which, given their proximity to towering vessels, he gratefully relinquished. She steered toward a crowded wharf, purposefully keeping a barge between their dahabiya and the patrol.
“Is it safe?” Gareth asked.
“As safe as it's going to be. We have to take the chance. We need supplies. There's less of a chance my jewels will raise an uproar here than in a small town.”
“Surely your father will come to the same conclusion.”
“Maybe, but hopefully they are still looking elsewhere if Colonel Anhalt came through. And besides, Cairo is a very big city. It would be impossible to scour every inch for only two people. We'll keep to the crowds, and just get in and out with what we need. We should be fine.” Adele braided her hair while Gareth removed his military tunic and stood in a white linen shirt. She eyed him enviously. “That's the good thing about you having a secret identity already. No one knows who Greyfriar truly is, and you can easily pass for a human as long as you keep your gloves on and don't smile too much.” Adele laughed weakly at her strained wit.
“I'll get my weapons.”
“No. People don't carry weapons in the streets here. We're very civilized.” She put an arm around his waist. “Just stay near me, and let me do the talking. Unless you speak Arabic, of course.”
“I don't. But likely by the end of the day, I will. I learn your languages quickly. It's a facility my kind has.”
Her smile faded as her head tilted up at the strengthening sun. “Speaking of your kind, are you going to be able to take this heat?”
“For several hours at least. If we keep to the shade and stay indoors when possible, I should be fine. But let's stop wasting the coolness of the morning.”
Adele was in agreement. The boat glided to the wharf, and she waved to a dockhand to catch the bowline Gareth tossed.
Now they were committed.
AS THE TWO entered the city, Gareth was amazed to see even more people than in Alexandria. They jostled one another at every turn, paying little heed in their rush. Never had he seen so many humans at once. Cesare would literally be drooling at the vast numbers. Such herds as these were only to be imagined by the northern clans.
Thankfully, Adele knew where she was heading, so Gareth let her take the lead. There was so much activity, he couldn't decide what to stare at first. Beautiful medieval buildings rose several stories above the crowded streets. Glass windows shone in the sun's rays despite the industrial filth on the stone walls. Modern buildings towered over those. As they neared a busy intersection, the rumble of metal wheels on tracks combined with the hiss and cloying heat of steam announced the passing of a trolley.
“Where are we going?” Gareth asked.
“We'll head for the common bazaars and look for a pawn shop. We should find what we want in the old Suk es-Saigh, the gold market.”
Adele tried to watch where she was stepping to avoid broken glass or animal waste, but occasionally she'd fail and step in something unpleasant but at least not dangerous. Only a low curse would cross her lips as she hopped for a moment on one foot, but for the most part she was agile enough to dart over the worst of the urban obstacles. A water-bearer stalked past in his flowing burnoose and heavy load and chuckled at her.
Adele scowled in his direction. “I'd like to see him walk barefoot through the city.”
The deeper into the old neighborhoods they went, the more Cairo churned like a barely contained madhouse. Mobs of children played happily in various nooks and corners near little shops with ragged awnings and fly nets drawn across the doors. A goose vendor drove his sizable flock before him, guiding them unerringly with a palm branch among the trolley cars, steam wagons, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Soon Adele and Gareth passed into the frantic bazaar district. Vendors shouted at them, reaching for them, plucking at their arms, fighting for their attention. Yards of brightly colored material stretched between the buildings, offering poor shade from the glare of the sun. Nonetheless, Gareth was thankful. Already the temperature was extreme, making him sluggish and distracted.
“Here!” Adele called out, and pulled Gareth into a shop. A number of people waited for attention, but luckily, in this case, Gareth was a strikingly noticeable man.
“What do you need, sir?” the merchant asked in Arabic, eyeing Gareth's vintage clothes curiously.
Adele stepped in front to indicate she was the customer, and said in English so Gareth could follow, “I'm interested in selling this.” She carefully drew out one jewel. A diamond. Through her touch, she felt the heat of the sun and tasted the dry soil she knew was the great diamond reef of Cape Province.
The dealer's eyes immediately widened, and he eagerly reached out, more than a little dubious that it was real. The gem was quickly brought up to his loupe for further study. The man knew better than to coo over such a gem. Instead he tsked at the merchandise in his hand.
“It is very subpar,” the merchant muttered. “Regretfully, there are many imperfections.”
“There are none. Trust me, I know.”
“Well, they are small,” he graciously conceded. “But visible to the trained eye of a professional. I can only offer you a meager price. It is only just.”
“If she says there are no flaws then it is so,” Gareth intoned, stepping forward.
With alarm in his eyes, the dealer gave ground. Gareth was a menacing figure even when not dressed as Greyfriar.
“I came to your shop,” Adele lied, “because I was told you were honest. I did not expect to be robbed.”
“Robbed? I am aghast. Aghast! Please allow me to make an offer.” The merchant smiled tightly at her. “After all, I would not have you scuffing your poor bare feet on the marble floors of some fashionable jeweler in Heliopolis.” Clearly he knew a woman such as Adele appeared to be would not risk parading such a fine diamond to mainstream dealers and invite the interest of the Cairo metropolitan police.
“Very well,” she replied. “We both know it is flawless. So I do not expect to be made of a fool of.”
“No doubt, mon petite.” The merchant beamed his good fortune as he once more scrutinized the diamond. His tongue darting out to wet his lips was the only indication he was contemplating his next decision. “Two hundred pounds.”
Adele raised an eyebrow and finally allowed her scowl to appear. She reached for the gem. “You insult me and my family.”
The merchant pulled it closer to his chest. “Eight hundred pounds!”
Adele threw up her hands. “I should call the police.”
Gareth held out his hand. The merchant gazed longingly at the stone, but gave it to the man.
“One thousand pounds.” Adele folded her arms sternly across her chest. She was still greatly undervaluing the diamond, but they needed the money, and quickly. Plus, she still had more gems.
“One thousand?” The merchant wiped his brow. “Would you have me remove my son from the university where he is studying to be a doctor so that I may pay you for this one rock?”
Adele whirled on her heel.
“Done!” The merchant shouted loudly, making everyone in the shop glance their way to Adele's dismay. He ran toward the back room. “A moment!”
Grinning at Gareth, Adele began to browse the rest of the store. Her eyes spied a welcome piece o
f wardrobe. “I'll take these boots also,” she shouted.
“Of course,” the merchant called back through the partially open door. “Take whatever you want.” He paused. “I will give you the same discount I give my parents.”
Adele whispered to Gareth, “That stone could buy this storefront a hundred times over. I wouldn't be surprised if the shop closes permanently and the merchant retires to a villa on the sea.”
She procured an extra pair of smoked glasses for Gareth as well as a new wardrobe for both of them, several canteens, and by sheer luck, a heat-reflective blanket that she quickly snatched up. Gareth added a few lanterns to the growing pile as she slipped on the soft leather boots. They were nearly a perfect fit, well worn so the leather was supple, but with a great deal of mileage still left on them. Gareth watched her as she sighed in sheer pleasure.
“Never underestimate a pair of good boots,” Adele told him wistfully.
His voice dropped to a whisper. “Is that man trustworthy? He could be calling for the police in the back.”
“I don't think we need worry about that.” Adele glanced around the room, relieved that most of the customers had gone back to what they were doing rather than watch them. “Hopefully he will be content about his good fortune and not brag or question where it came from. Or at least we can be gone from Cairo before he does.”
Finally the merchant came out, never so happy to hand over so much cash on one purchase. He didn't blink at the pile of supplies they had gathered, nor at the fact that she refused to pay for them. The exchange went smoothly, and soon Gareth and Adele left with their arms full.
As Gareth stepped out in the sunlight, he was rocked back on his heels. The sheer weight of the heat hit him like a wall. He could feel the difference between Mediterranean-based Alexandria and desert-bound Cairo. The stone buildings seemed to capture the heat and radiate it out.
“Are you all right?” Adele's worried gaze was on him.
“I can manage.”
“We'll stick to the shade as much as possible.”
The Rift Walker Page 16