by Chris Fox
52
Standoff
Trevor hadn’t been this nervous since he’d defended his thesis. He was wracked by the same sense of being surrounded by people both more important and more powerful than himself, only this time there was also the foreboding that he was about to witness the most explosive battle ever recorded.
Five of them marched west into a thickly wooded valley. Wepwawet had been ordered to remain behind with the army, so Anubis led the way, fan-bladed axe slicing through any bush or branch that might impede Ra’s path. Behind Ra trailed Irakesh, with Steve’s servile form lurking like a shadow in Irakesh’s wake.
Trevor brought up the rear, mainly by choice. Apparently it meant he was giving up some sort of prestige in the endless political maneuvering, or Irakesh seemed to think so anyway. He followed Ra with great delight, occasionally darting self-satisfied looks in Trevor’s direction. Trevor was perfectly happy with the arrangement, though. He’d much rather be behind Irakesh and Steve than worry about a knife in the back.
“Mighty Ra, above us,” Anubis rumbled, pointing up the cliff side. The strange silver ship that had escaped the sunstorm back in Olympus sat up there, apparently untended.
“It is as I suspected, then,” Ra said, giving a sigh. A cool breeze came off the neighboring river, lifting a few strands of scarlet hair as she stared up at the ship. “It surprises me that she chose this place, though I believe I understand her reasons. It is here that we will complete a cycle that began twenty-four thousand years ago.”
“Mother, is meeting her here wise? She has the high ground, and has had time to prepare any number of traps,” Irakesh said, stepping up to join her. “Could we not simply send in the Anakim to root her out, then attack in force?”
“I hope I do not overstep my bounds, master,” Steve said, stepping up to Irakesh with a bow. “Such an attack would be costly, as Isis and her companions are likely to destroy much of mighty Ra’s army.”
“A small price to pay,” Irakesh said, waving dismissively at Steve. Steve fell back, giving a low bow. Irakesh turned back to Ra, and he missed the hatred in Steve’s gaze. “Mother, let us end Isis once and for all. She has nothing but a small pack to aid her. Allow me to destroy Blair. I’m sure Anubis will relish killing the Ka-Ken, Liz. That will allow you to face Isis alone, as it always should have been. She will have no place to run, no hole in which to hide.”
Ra was silent for several moments, and Trevor couldn’t help but smile as Irakesh started to fidget. The deathless was as self-important as anyone Trevor had ever met, even worse than some of the professors back in academia. The fact that Ra didn’t immediately respond must cut Irakesh deeply.
“Tell me, Trevor,” Ra finally said, without looking away from the ship. “What course of action would you recommend?”
“Send someone in to meet with her. Tell her you want to discuss…well, whatever you want to discuss,” Trevor said, stroking his goatee as he considered. It made him feel like a villain in a Disney movie, which was somehow fitting. “Ask her to come to a neutral place, one where neither one of you has an advantage.”
“Folly,” Irakesh snapped, glaring at Trevor. “Why give up a powerful position for one of weakness? If we meet Isis, it should be on our terms, with overwhelming strength.”
“She’s in a cave, Irakesh,” Trevor shot back, raising an eyebrow. “If we assault, she’ll just flee. You know she can walk the shadows, probably better than anyone alive. We’ll never catch her. What would that accomplish?”
“The pup has a point, most holy,” Anubis rumbled, giving Trevor a rare nod of respect. “I do not like the idea of stepping into her trap, yet I also believe she will flee if forced to do so. She waited here for a reason. She seeks a true meeting, likely to discuss the treachery of Osiris. If you wish any chance at an alliance, then you will need to meet her in good faith.”
“That is exactly what I plan to do,” Ra said, turning to Anubis. “You will return to our encampment. Go back now and see that the deathless are properly fed.”
“What of you, mighty Ra?” Anubis flinched, as if fearing to contradict a woman who barely topped his waist. “I would not leave you undefended.”
“I will wait here with my son and his slave,” Ra said. Then she turned to Trevor. “We will send this one as an emissary. In this way Isis will trust that the message we send is true. His companions trust him, and they will believe my intentions are honorable. Trevor, convince Isis to meet with me. Tell her I respect the sanctity of this place, and I will not enter it without permission. If she wishes to meet here, I will come. Yet I would prefer she come to my camp. If she does so, both she and her companions will have safe passage. Will you do this?”
“Mother, you can’t—”
Ra’s hand blurred so quickly it left a trail of light in its wake. Her fist slammed into Irakesh’s jaw, shattering it and sending him sprawling to the ground.
“Can’t? Some words are never spoken, not to me,” Ra thundered, glaring down at Irakesh. “Boy, you go too far. Perhaps I have been too lenient. If you cannot hold your tongue, how can you ever hope to rule a district in my empire? Anubis, take him and his treacherous Ka-Dun back to camp. I will await Isis’s answer alone.”
She turned to Trevor, her expression expectant.
“I’ll, uh, go tell her you want to meet,” Trevor said, starting up the path toward the ship. He paused, turning to face Ra. “How do you know I won’t just join her and flee?”
“Two reasons,” Ra said, meeting his gaze evenly. “Firstly, if you flee then Isis will not have the alliance she clearly wishes. Secondly, because you are honor bound. If you join Isis, then you betray your word to me.”
53
Gone Native
“Are you sure about this?” Blair asked, probably for the fifth time in as many minutes. He couldn’t help it. He’d tried to stay calm, but the bond with the ship revealed a great deal of data about the figures below. Ra had come with a powerful entourage, the most potent being a figure Blair recognized instantly.
He’d never seen Anubis, but then he didn’t have to. He had both Jordan’s rushed description and his own knowledge of Egyptology. Anubis was an extremely common figure, and the god below was clearly the embodiment of that mythological lore.
“Do not ask again, Ka-Dun,” Isis said, leaning over the cliff face as she stared at the figures below. “There, you see? They are not approaching. Most are departing, all save Sekhmet and the one she intends as emissary.”
“How do you know she’ll send an emissary?” Liz asked, giving an experimental swing of her Sunsteel sword. She’d summoned it the instant Ra had entered the valley, though she was still in human form. One of the blade’s properties was that it always seemed the perfect size for her, regardless of what form she wore.
“Because there are niceties to be observed. Ark Lords rarely approach each other without an intermediary. Too many have died as a result of treachery, and our memories are long. If she approached directly it could lead to combat, and if she wanted that she’d have attacked already,” Isis replied, emerald eyes fixed firmly on Ra.
“I’ll bet you anything I know who the emissary is,” Jordan rumbled, his voice oddly digitized in the strange coal-black armor he’d shown up in. The commander hadn’t told them where he’d gotten it, and Blair hadn’t pressed this issue.
“Who do you believe they’ll send?” Blair asked, genuinely curious.
“Trevor,” Jordan shot back, as if it should be obvious. “It’s a power play. For one thing, we’re less likely to kill him, but more importantly it shows she’s converted him to her side. If she can convert one of our own, what chance do the rest of us have? Real Game of Thrones shit.”
Sure enough, Trevor began walking in their direction. Ra stayed where she was, scarlet hair playing in the wind as she folded her arms over ivory garments very much like those Isis wore.
“There’s no way she’s converted him,” Liz said, bristling at Jordan. “I know you d
on’t like him, and that’s fine. Just remember he’s on our side. If you try anything, I swear to god I’ll tear you out of that armor and give you a proper ass kicking.”
“You’re welcome to try,” Jordan said, folding metal arms over the suit’s chest. “I’m not some meek little puppy, and I don’t give two shits about the sentiment you feel for the thing that used to be your brother. He’s deathless. Besides, you didn’t see him in Ra’s court. I did. He was perfectly at home there. They embraced him right from the first day. You want to turn a blind eye to that? Fine. But if he steps out of line, I’ll turn him into pink fucking mist, period. I don’t give a shit what you have to say about it, either.”
“Be silent, both of you,” Isis snapped, shifting to wolf form in the blink of an eye. She rounded on them. “Yes, the deathless are generally the enemy. I will remind you that Osiris was deathless, and he was an ally for many millennia.”
“Yeah? Where is he now?” Jordan asked, taking a step toward Isis. “Oh, that’s right. He betrayed us all, and now we have to figure out a way to stop him. I can see your point. Deathless are really fucking trustworthy.”
Blair gawked at the commander. Isis’s eyes flashed, and a low rumble came from deep in her chest. She leaned closer to Jordan, her voice a bare whisper. “If you speak to me again—”
“You’ll what?” Jordan interrupted. “Rail at me? Chastise me? Or kill me? Is that what you do—kill allies who disagree with you? Here I was under the impression you needed all the allies you can get. But if that’s changed, just say the fucking word and I’ll be on my way.”
That cinched it. Jordan wasn’t acting like himself. He’d never been this aggressive, nor had he allowed emotion to rule him. Not ever. He was always in control, always making the best tactical choice. Goading Isis into attacking him was about as suicidal as he could get. Not the kind of move he’d make, unless something was very wrong.
“Hey,” Blair snapped, stepping between the two of them. Both Jordan’s armor and Isis’s wolf form towered over him, but he didn’t let that deter him. “Both of you need to stand down. In fact, all three of you. Jordan isn’t going to do anything stupid, but you guys can’t casually dismiss his paranoia either. Trevor’s been an enemy. He’s also clearly earned Ra’s trust or she wouldn’t be sending him to meet with us. We don’t have all the facts yet, so let’s reserve judgement. If he’s an enemy, then we’ll deal with it. Until we know he is, we treat him like an ally. Everyone cool with that?”
“Yeah,” Jordan said, a bit sullenly. What the hell was wrong with him?
“You are correct in that I need you, Ka-Dun. For the moment. I will overlook your disrespectful tone, this time. Do not let it occur again,” Isis snapped, spinning to face the cliff. She shifted back to human form as she did so.
Liz rested her sword on her shoulder, silent for a long moment before finally giving a tight nod. Fuck. Hadn’t they learned from the whole Irakesh episode that they needed to band together? Blair had made mistakes back then. Mistakes like arguing with friends and not trusting the right people. He’d be damned if he was going to let Liz and Jordan make the same ones now.
“Why don’t you guys let me do the talking?” Blair said. He didn’t wait for an answer, instead leaping over the cliff to the rocky trail below. He waited there as Trevor approached.
His friend had changed, outwardly at least. His t-shirt and jeans had been replaced by flowing white garments very similar to what Isis wore. He also wore a sword belted to his side, a long, curved weapon much like an Arabian scimitar. The blade rode naturally there, as if he’d practiced often with it.
“Blair,” Trevor called, perking up as he approached. He gave a wide smile, which was more than a little unnerving given the razored teeth. “How the hell are you, man?”
Blair rushed forward, embracing his friend. He clapped Trevor on the back, guiding him up the trail towards Liz and the others. “Eh, you know, on the run and outgunned as usual. You look, uh, different.”
“Yeah,” Trevor said, glancing down at himself a bit sheepishly. “I’ve gone a little native I guess. I wish you’d been there. There’s so much I don’t understand, but from the little I do I think you’d be fascinated by Ra and her pantheon. It’s like witnessing all the history you’re always talking about.”
“Assuming she doesn’t kill us all, maybe I’ll get a chance,” Blair said, laughing in spite of the dire circumstances.
Blair leapt up, seizing the lip of the cliff and pulling himself over it. Trevor landed a moment later, garments fluttering in the wind as he straightened. He stared curiously at each of them, gaze finally settling on Jordan.
“So, looks like Hades got to you too, eh, Jordan?” he said, his tone sympathetic.
“What do you mean?” Jordan asked, with more than a little hostility.
“Wepwawet donned a set of the armor too. They put it on him while he was unconscious,” Trevor explained, resting a hand idly on the hilt of his sword. The gesture looked reflexive. “He hasn’t been able to take it off. I’m guessing you can’t either?”
That took Blair by surprise, especially when Jordan gave a tight nod of assent. So he was trapped in the armor. That explained why he hadn’t taken it off. How did he go to the bathroom?
“Look, man. I’m sorry about how things have gone down,” Trevor said. He stood a step closer, turning to Isis. “Ra put this collar on Jordan. I’ve got the bracelet that controls it. Is there a way to remove it?”
“Of course,” Isis said, stepping up to Trevor. “Give me your wrist.”
Trevor offered it willingly, and Isis put her tiny hands on either side of it. She closed her eyes, and a moment later there was a flash of bright, golden light. Then the bracelet opened with a click, and she gently removed it.
“Well, that’s one prison dealt with,” Jordan said, more than a little bitterly. “Thank you, Trevor. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I still think you’re a fucking pompous ass,” Trevor said, but there was no heat to the insult. “But I also know you have more reason than ever to think I’m a traitor, especially after what I’m about to say.”
“Oh?” Liz asked, finally entering the conversation. She eyed Trevor coolly, which surprised Blair. He’d expected her to be more enthusiastic at her brother’s return. Maybe she’d just been burned too many times.
“As Jordan has no doubt told you, Ra has adopted me into her court,” Trevor said, clearing his throat awkwardly. “I’ve chosen to embrace that role, for a good reason. Ra listens to my advice. I’ve been tempering some of her decisions. If I leave and rejoin you guys, I’ll lose that influence.”
“Oh, my god,” Liz said, eyes widening. Then they narrowed, clearly disapproving. “Jordan was right; you’ve gone native. You’ve got a thing for her, don’t you?”
“No,” Trevor shot back, just a little too quickly. “And by no, I mean yes. So what? It doesn’t make me an enemy. Ra wants an alliance with Isis, but she’s too proud to come herself. If we can seal that alliance then it means none of us have to be enemies, even if I stay with Ra’s court.”
“I don’t like it,” Jordan growled. “Ra is callous and cruel. Her son is a petulant little shit, and he listens to Steve. That gives Captain Douchey influence over Ra, even if indirectly.”
“That’s exactly why I have to stay,” Trevor said, heaving a sigh. “Listen, guys, it’s all very complicated, but here’s the gist. If I stay, I can be a moderating influence. I can counter Steve and Irakesh.”
“The decision is yours,” Isis finally said. She’d been holding the bracelet pinched between two fingers, touching as little of the golden metal as possible. It was the same way Blair might have held a bag of dog shit. She looked at Trevor. “Like it or no, Sekhmet and her ilk are your people. I bear you no ill will, nor do I begrudge you seeking a place among your people. Your fate is secondary, however. What message did Ra send you with?”
“She wants to meet,” Trevor said, squaring his shoulders. “She sa
id she’s willing to come here, but she offered her camp as a better meeting place. She’s guaranteed your safety, and that of your pack.”
“Are you fucking crazy?” Jordan said. He began laughing, a harsh, digitized sound. “Walk right into an enemy encampment with no support?”
“That is exactly what we shall do,” Isis said, eyeing Jordan coldly. “Sekhmet—the one you call Ra—can be cruel. She can be callous. But she is a woman of honor. She’d sooner take her own life than allow harm to come to us while under an aegis of protection. We will be safe for the duration of the negotiations, and gods willing, we will reach an accord in the process. Osiris must be stopped, and we will need her help to achieve that.”
54
Near-Sisters
Isis strode boldly into the hastily constructed camp. She ignored the stench of death wafting from the army of deathless, their putridity an affront on the very land. She ignored the row of Anakim gathered near the mammoths Sekhmet was using for transport.
It would probably be more prudent to think of the woman as Ra, not as her near-sister. Yet she could not. She and Sekhmet had discovered much together, had fought uncountable threats together. They’d birthed the first empire together, with Osiris leading them into battle. She understood why her friend had adopted the name Ra, but she could not bring herself to think it, much less say it.
Isis stood tall, or as tall as she could. She was shorter than nearly everyone, especially the knot of figures waiting for her just inside the camp. Anubis was a good eight feet, taller even than Jordan in his tainted armor. Sekhmet was the same as always, a head taller than Isis and much more heavily muscled. Sekhmet’s son had inherited that height, the dark-skinned whelp standing behind his mother with a petulant expression plastered across otherwise attractive features.