by Dan Hunter
“Not any longer, thanks to you, Akori,” he said. For a moment, Ra glanced back at Apep. “You performed a mighty task,” he said. “But Apep will rise again. At night I will battle him once more. Without Set’s aid, he will lose. As he always loses.” Striding forward, the God bowed to Akori. “We meet again, Pharaoh of Egypt. And again, I owe you my gratitude.” Then he bowed to Manu. “My thanks to you, also, High Priest of Horus, and to you, Bast, my old friend.” Reaching out to Akori’s shoulder he scratched Ebe’s ears. She pushed her head against his glowing hand, purring.
“No thanks are necessary,” replied Akori, grinning. He liked the Sun God enormously. Ra’s warm smile lit up the world. Even the gloomy Underworld suddenly seemed a brighter place. “My people need you.”
“Your people are lucky to have such a King. As you care for them so much, it is your people I will reward. For as long as you sit upon the throne of Egypt they will have harvests like they have never seen before.”
Akori’s grin grew wider. “A magnificent gift, My Lord Ra,” he said. “But right now they are frightened. Egypt is in darkness.”
Ra nodded. “I will return to my rightful place immediately. May I offer you aid in your own journey home?”
Akori’s shoulders sagged with relief. “Please,” he murmured.
“Then let us leave this place.” Reaching out, Ra placed one hand on Akori’s shoulder, another on Manu’s. A swirl of golden light surrounded them. Akori felt a breath of warmth on his face, like the kiss of a summer breeze. He blinked and saw a huge boat emerging from the darkness. It was painted gold and a brilliant white sail billowed behind it.
Akori and Manu exchanged grins. They had seen this boat before.
“Your sun-barge!” Akori exclaimed.
Ra nodded and smiled.
The boat drew up beside them and they clambered on board. Ra took his place at the tiller, his halo growing brighter with every second.
On the ground next to them Apep writhed and hissed, but his tail remained wedged in his mouth.
“Until next time!” Ra called to his deadly foe. Then he pulled the tiller round. Akori and Manu held onto the edge of the boat while Ebe curled at their feet. Faster and faster Ra’s barge raced through the Underworld in a blaze of bright white light.
“Hold tight!” Ra shouted as they shot out from the jaws of the Underworld and began climbing into the sky.
“We made it!” Manu shouted.
Akori smiled as he leaned over the side of the boat.
Way down below him he saw people the size of ants begin running out into the fields, crying with delight at the return of the sun.
Ra followed the course of the Nile until Akori’s palace came into sight. As Ra lowered the barge Akori saw that the palace courtyard was swarming with servants and guards. The air was filled with the sound of their stamping feet and clapping hands. Beyond the palace walls, the people of Thebes had joined them. It sounded as if the whole of Egypt had lifted its voice in gratitude and joy.
“Farewell, courageous Pharaoh,” Ra said to Akori before pointing downwards. A shaft of golden light shone, forming a bridge from his hand to the ground. Akori, Manu and Ebe carefully walked down it into the palace courtyard.
“Farewell, mighty Ra!” Akori called as the sun-barge took off into the sky. The cheers of the servants and guards reached a deafening roar.
Blushing, Akori followed their gaze upward. The brilliant blue of the sky was a beautiful sight after the darkness of the Underworld. The sun beat down with gentle warmth. Good weather for the crops, Akori thought with a smile.
Lowering his gaze, he saw the crowd part. The old High Priest hobbled through, leaning on a stick.
“You make an old man very proud,” he said, coming to a halt in front of Akori. “And you fill me with hope for the future of Egypt.”
Akori’s blush deepened. “Thank you,” he said, not knowing quite how to reply.
The old High Priest reached out and touched the blue Pharaoh Stone at Akori’s throat. “Intelligence,” he wheezed. “A fitting Stone for the conqueror of Apep. I look forward to hearing how it was won.”
“It was incredible,” Manu blurted. “We had to fight Bukhu – again – then we saw off an army of killer cacti and Akori whipped Oba at seega, then he fought the demon slaves, and you should have seen the way he defeated Apep! He tricked him into eating his own tail!”
The old man’s face suddenly looked young again, lighting up in a huge smile. “Manu, let me hear the story properly, over some food perhaps? You must all be hungry after your adventure.”
Ebe meowed, and jumped to the old man’s shoulder.
“Yes, there will be a fresh fish just for you, Ebe,” he chuckled.
“Anything,” interrupted the chief servant, stepping forward. “The staff – all the people – wish to give thanks to their Pharaoh. I will see to it that the kitchens produce a feast like Egypt has never before seen.”
Akori thanked him, realizing how hungry he was. The chief servant strode off and slowly the courtyard began to clear. “Before we eat, you’re going to see the palace doctor,” Akori told Manu. “I want those wounds looked at properly.”
“I’ll be fine…” Manu began.
Akori held up a hand. “That’s an order from your Pharaoh,” he said, kindly, but firmly.
As Manu left, Akori sank onto a stone bench, exhausted. A hand touched his shoulder.
“What is it, my Pharaoh?” asked the old priest.
Akori looked up into his milky white eyes. “This quest,” he said slowly. “It was the most difficult yet. There was a moment when I just wanted to turn and run.”
The old priest smiled gently. “But you didn’t. You beat Apep. Only Ra has ever managed that.”
“Yes, but now I have four of the Pharaoh Stones, Oba will do everything in his power to stop me getting the last. I’m worried that I’ll fail.”
The old priest’s fingers gripped his shoulder gently. “You will face Oba again, but I believe in you. All the people of Egypt believe in you.”
Akori shook his head. “What if I let them down?” he whispered.
The old priest nodded gravely. “There is no doubt that the worst is yet to come. Oba and Set will be intent upon putting their evil plan into action as soon as they can. And their army will be growing ever more powerful. But do not forget – you have been able to thwart them four times now.”
Akori looked up and nodded. “Yes,” he said, as courage and hope began returning to him. “You’re right. Oba has failed four times. And surely there is nothing he can unleash that is worse than Apep.” He placed his hand on the old priest’s shoulder and gave a determined smile. “Nothing will stop me from saving Osiris and all Egypt now!”
“No!” screeched Oba, clutching his hair. “It’s not possible. No one can beat Apep.” He kicked out, overturning the copper dish of fire. “He was supposed to die,” he wailed as flames spread across the floor of his throne room. “I want him to die. Why will he not just die?”
A demon slave stepped forward, nervously. “My Lord, you must not upset yourself…”
“Shut up. I did not give you permission to speak.” Oba’s clenched fist smashed into the side of the slave’s head, sending it reeling away, shrieking in pain.
“Oba,” boomed a deep voice. “Once again you have disappointed me.”
Spinning around, Oba saw Set walk out of the flames, a hideous snarl on his face.
Oba’s knees almost buckled. “It wasn’t my fault,” he whispered. “It was Apep. Stupid, stupid Apep. The pathetic snake swallowed his own tail. It was Akori he was supposed to eat. It wasn’t my fault. No one could blame me.”
“I blame you.”
Oba’s hands dropped, shocked by the venom in Set’s voice. “My-my L-Lord Set—” he stammered.
“YOU WILL BE SILENT!” Lumps of rock fell from the ceiling at the sound of Set’s voice, smashing into thousands of pieces as they hit the ground.
Oba stared.<
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“Once again you have let this false Pharaoh slip through your fingers,” Set continued with quiet menace. “We are running out of allies and we are running out of time.”
Forcing himself to smile, Oba said, “Next time, Lord Set. You’ll see. I’ll ki—”
“I SAID, SILENCE!”
Oba’s jaw snapped shut.
“For you there will be no next time,” sneered Set. “I have allowed you to fail too many times already. Now, I will take charge.” His voice changed, becoming quiet. “Akori must return for the fifth Pharaoh Stone. When he does, he will find no ordinary God waiting for him.”
“Wh-what…what are you going to do, Lord Set?” asked Oba, fingers twisting together with nerves.
Set faced the flames. For a moment he didn’t answer, and then he turned his head, glaring at Oba. “I am going to do what should have been done in the first place,” he said. “I am going to feed his soul to the Devourer!”
COLLECT EVERY QUEST
ATTACK OF THE SCORPION RIDERS
For his first quest, Akori must risk his life, fighting giant scorpions and a hideous Snake Goddess. Will he be victorious?
CURSE OF THE DEMON DOG
The dead are stalking the living and it’s up to Akori to stop them – but a scary dog-headed hunter is on his trail!
BATTLE OF THE CROCODILE KING
Akori must brave the Nile to battle two evil Gods – the terrifying Crocodile King, and the bloodthirsty Frog Goddess.?
LAIR OF THE WINGED MONSTER
Vicious vultures and deadly beasts lie in wait for Akori as he searches the desert for the Hidden Fortress of Fire.
SHADOW OF THE STORM LORD
Akori must fight Set, the dark Lord of Storms himself, and beat the evil Pharaoh Oba, in his deadliest battle yet.
FIGHT OF THE FALCON GOD
Young Pharaoh Akori ventures into the Underworld to battle the fearsome Falcon God. But can he make it out alive?
RISE OF THE HORNED WARRIOR
Akori must escape from the Underworld labyrinth of bones and overcome the lightning-fast Lord of Thunder.
SCREAM OF THE BABOON KING
Akori journeys to Oba’s Underworld palace, where he confronts his nightmares in the form of the evil Baboon God.
CLASH OF THE DARK SERPENT
The Sun God has been captured by the gigantic serpent of the Underworld. Will Akori be able to defeat the awesome beast?
DESCENT OF THE SOUL DESTROYER
Akori faces the ultimate challenge when he reaches the heart of the Underworld and meets the monstrous Soul Devourer.
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