Author's Notes:

Please, please, please review and comment. Let me know what you think and what you're expecting from this story! Even a simple "please hurry up with the next chapter installment!" would be appreciated!

The following chapter is unbeta-ed. Excuse the minor grammar and spelling errors please! If you find any major syntax or spelling errors, let me know!

Once again, footnotes are at the bottom of each chapter. Previous terms are explained in past chapters.

This story is set in Ancient Egypt and will contain fictional events and Egyptian mythology that may be inaccurate. AU. Kaiba/Jounochi.

Thanks to Showthomay (Thank you for such a nice and encouraging comment! ^^), Miyo Yukimora, Blue Lagoon Loon, Jadej.j, and FirieGurl for your reviews of the last chapter!

I'm trying to write as fast as I can, but there is only so much time I'm able to spend on it due to work and life. I've already determined the ending and the general outline of the story and where I want this story to go ultimately, but the middle parts of how I plan to make them happen, I'm making up as I go… which is why I'm not writing as quickly as I'm satisfied with...

I wanted to put up a chapter quicker, so I apologize for this shorter-than-normal chapter…

Even so, thank you for all your comments and please continue to support this story! :) I really hope I can make it through the entire story. ToT

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or its characters. However, Ashai, Khai, Bahiti, and Tumaini are all mine. Please be kind to them!

" " Speaking out loud
\ \ Speaking telepathically (only Kheper'shaye)


Harbinger of Calamity
Chapter 7 – Eclipse of the Heavens

Kheper'shaye hadn't known what true loneliness was until now.

True, for the first months after his awakening in the desert, he had been alone. But he discovered that one didn't truly know what loneliness felt like until they had experienced fullness in another person.

The feeling left him hollow and restless inside. And Set had only been gone for less than half a day! What would it feel like after a whole week?

Kheper'shaye silently groaned miserably at the thought and looked up at the hot and shining sun, checking to see if it was being swallowed up by darkness. Set had reminded him to look forward to it since it was a phenomenal occurrence that would only happen once in a life time.

Although he had initially been skeptical and even fearful of the occurrence, the other man had reassured him that he had nothing to be afraid of. It was just a natural event that would come and pass with no lasting repercussions, and he would be all the more amazed at how the world worked after witnessing it.

It would be a memory you can keep and won't forget, he had said in that all-knowing tone of his.

Kheper'shaye smiled whimsically at that particular memory. That was Set for you, all smug and arrogant one moment and completely kind and thoughtful the next. He wondered if Set noticed his own behavior shifts. But it was endearing, he thought to himself.

Though the man had been stiff and even a little condescending at the beginning when they met, it was only because he was uncomfortable with strangers.

But because they were forced into each other's company over time, Set had opened up to him, allowing him to have a chance to see what he was really like inside.

Set was a good person deep down—kind, but lonely, Kheper'shaye reflected. His mostly unfortunate situations in his life had led him to be somewhat callous and sarcastic, even domineering and a little manipulative. But that was because he was so used to people using him and treating him differently, and he was not used to people just liking him for who he was.

Of course Set didn't believe he was a good person at all, but Kheper'shaye knew he was beautiful inside. True, he could be somewhat conceited and haughty. And occasionally he could be quite aggressive and annoyingly smug when he was right about something.

Kheper'shaye pouted at the thought of the last time Set had given him an all-knowing smirk saying, "I told you so."

He sighed, but that was because Set was so bright and intelligent and mostly always right which gave him a right to be such a know-it-all.

There were times he was arrogant, overconfident, and even overbearing.

Yet he was also shy, awkward, insecure, passionate, and just

— Ultimately human.

He was so many things, and Kheper'shaye really couldn't help but love all those components of Set, even the obnoxious parts.

Still, the other man was often very gentle and tender especially towards him, he noticed ever since he had seen how Set treated the guards differently in Henen'nesut. He was demanding and self-assured at that time, ordering the guards around like he had been born to order people around and leaving them no room to argue or question him.

Yet with him, Set was completely different. He was glad only he could bring that human part of Set out.

He couldn't wait to see him again, but for now he would have to amuse himself by scoping the sky for any unusual occurrences.

Seeing no changes in the sun, Kheper'shaye glanced at the guards that Set had hired to look after him. They were sitting together in a loose half circle under a makeshift tent in order to block out the sun's heated brightness, completely ignoring his presence on the other side of the camp.

Although they had been wary of him at first due to his association with Set, his skin color and eye color left them wary of him. Granted several of them had tried to speak to him only to quickly discover that he was mute. After that, all of them pretty much left him alone, not wanting to involve themselves with someone that looked strange and foreign and above all, the gods forbid, mute, even if he was connected with the arrogant priest that had gone ahead of them to the King's Palace inside the city. They just wanted it to be done and over with, so they could receive their payment for an easy enough bodyguard assignment. And if they were paid by the Hem-Netjer himself, even better!

Kheper'shaye sighed soundlessly, situating himself comfortably under his own temporary shelter as he poked his head out to squint at the bright sky.

If he couldn't be with Set, he wished he could at least have the company of his desert friends. They were always welcomed guests, and he really missed them.

As if someone knew he was lonely and in need of companionship, the squawk of a large bird broke the silence of the campsite and a huge red-tinted hawk swooped down to settle lightly next to Kheper'shaye's tent, behind and away from the view of the guards to the east.

Kheper'shaye clapped his hands in glee as he stood up and approached the large raptor eagerly, undaunted by its long talons and sharp beak that could rip flesh apart quite efficiently. Rather, relief and delight glittered in his golden eyes.

It was Ashai! Had he come to lead him somewhere?

For it had always been Ashai who had led him from oasis to oasis in the Red Sands, making sure he had an abundance of water and food supplies always in handy. He had also been the one to show him the direction of Henen'nesut, flying from site to site and stopping each evening to make sure he and Set got enough rest for the next day's travel. It was too bad he never came too close ever since Set had become his constant companion. [1]

The bird looked at him with sharp amber eyes, unmoving from its perch on the ground. It squawked in welcome as he came close enough to pet the downy secondary feathers on the bend of its right wing.

I'm glad you're here, but I wonder why. You suddenly flew off without warning when Set and I got to Henen'nesut. But still, I'm glad you're back, Kheper'shaye thought happily.

As if hearing his thoughts, the hawk moved closer to him to peck him lightly on the shoulder in assurance, and then turned his whole head in attention to something behind them.

Kheper'shaye looked behind him, curious of what Ashai could be staring at, only to widen his eyes as a graceful and slender gazelle peeked out from behind a nearby Persea [2] tree. Even more amazing was the long silver snake coiled casually around the gazelle's neck and back as if it had always been there.

His golden eyes lit up in recognition. Bahiti and Khai! Together?

He had never seen his animal friends come visit him together at the same time, having always thought that they were individual creatures that didn't get along with each other. Didn't snakes eat hawk eggs and gazelles trample snakes underneath their hooves?

As if the veil had been partially lifted from his eyes, Kheper'shaye understood something that had been staring at him in the face all this time. He had known somewhere deep inside him that none of his friends were normal animals. Why else would they help him and always seem to know his thoughts? But he had always buried this idea before he could think on it further, not wanting to discover something he didn't really want to know.

Ultimately, he was a little scared of the consequences of knowing—afraid that there might be others who were watching him as he roamed the desert sands aimlessly even when he could not remember his past.

But now that he thought about it, it was highly possible that these three were meant to keep an eye on him. Maybe they had been sent to watch over him to make sure he never returned to civilization? Were they going to stop him now that he was so close?

But Ashai had been the one who guided him to Henen'nesut, and they had always been good to him ever since he woke up alone in the Red Sands—

It was Ashai who always led him to the best shades to rest and the most abundant places to eat and store up food and resources.

It was Bahiti who always showered him with lovely trinkets and nice gifts (like the magnificent blue robe he had given to Set and his Eye of Heru). [3]

And it was Khai who was always there as his source of comfort when he was feeling particularly sick or lonely. [4]

No, he thought resolutely. They are my friends, and even though they aren't what they seem, it doesn't matter.

He gestured to Bahiti to come closer, but the gazelle only turned her attention to the still unaware guards nearby.

Kheper'shaye understood her hesitance immediately. He didn't exactly want to alert the guards to their presence accidentally as they would undoubtedly panic or try to hurt his friends.

Making a decision, he walked further off from their temporary camp, not that the guards would care anyway, and settled closer to the copse of trees and brushes nearby. That way, he could greet Bahiti and Khai while still giving them sufficient cover from the guards.

He smiled cheerfully in greeting and caressed Bahiti's fur-covered back happily as she nudged him with her head.

He laughed silently as Khai slid off her back and slithered up his arm and around his torso and shoulders to give him a flickering snake kiss, tickling his cheeks and lips with his forked tongue.

I wonder how you two became friends, he thought. Hearing leaves shuffling from slightly above him, he looked up to see Ashai landing gently on the extended tree branch.

Were they all friends? It couldn't be a coincidence. He frowned in consternation at this but was distracted by Khai's smooth scaly skin sliding across the ticklish parts of his arms and neck.

In the distance, the sound of a single wolf howl could be heard.

He was so focused on petting Bahiti and pondering about their connection with each other that he failed to catch the sound at first.

A second howl echoed across the trees once more, this time the sound came from a lot closer and Kheper'shaye's ears picked it up.

Ashai was focused keenly towards something in the near distance while Bahiti had stopped nuzzling Kheper'shaye to prick her sensitive ears forward. Khai had stopped moving also, small head lifted above Kheper'shaye as he flickered his tongue dangerously and stared at the empty space to their left.

Kheper'shaye registered the howl. A wolf? He didn't think it could be a jackal since they tended to yip or bark at a higher pitch. But this howl had been a deep and full bellow, echoing resonantly across the trees.

As soon as he had come to the conclusion that it could only be a wolf, something heavy and furry leapt at him from behind. The impact caused him to bowel forward in complete surprise. Thanks to Bahiti's presence in front of him, however, he was able to steady his balance by gripping at her back.

He turned his whole body around rapidly to catch the offender but gasped when an excited and wet tongue lapped at his face.

His fear turned into laughter as the canine continued to jump and attempt to lick his face. Unable to catch his balance this time around, Kheper'shaye tumbled backwards and fell on his rump as an eager wolf jumped onto his stomach.

The wolf yipped and playfully licked him once more on his cheek before stepping backwards to sit on his haunches.

Of all his desert friends, Tumaini was the one Kheper'shaye saw the least. The Egyptian wolf seemed to only appear at times when he was in physical danger, such as the time when he was nearly mobbed by a small group of desert thieves. He had been inches away from certain death as a thief was about to plunge a knife into his unsuspecting back when Tumaini leapt into the fray, fangs bared as he lashed and bit at his attackers.

But he was sure that it was Tumaini who kept him safe at night, since there would be times he thought he could hear the sound of wolves howling close by.

He had also been with him when he saved Set, though he left immediately after all the thieves had been disposed of.

Because the nature of their meetings had never been favorable, it had left a certain sense of fear of Tumaini in Kheper'shaye.

Of course he knew the wolf would never harm him... he had been saved from multiple live-endangering scraps after all, but that still didn't mean he wasn't just a little wary of the wolf's other nature—the aggressive and dangerous side as opposed to the protective and eager side.

But now that they were safe and out of danger, the friendly and eager part of the wolf was particularly revealed, and Kheper'shaye couldn't help but clutch the golden wolf to his chest, his fear completely leaving him. [5]

Their happy reunion did not last long, however, as the sound of alarmed shouts reached his ears from the other side of camp where the guards had situated.

Fearing for the worse, Kheper'shaye immediately broke away from his friends and ran back to the east side of the camp only to see all the guards hiding inside their tent and covering their eyes. They were pointing at the sky.

He looked up and opened his mouth in awe at the sight. At first, it was only a small change, a slight dent in the sun's disc, but the longer he squinted, the more the disc became eclipsed by darkness.

Something in his head began buzzing incessantly and only kept getting louder as the sky grew darker.

The chaotic sensations in his mind intensified, and Kheper'shaye grunted as he fell to his knees, feeling completely disoriented by the relentless flashes bombarding his mind.

What was happening to him? He clutched his temples in an attempt to get the flashes and buzzing to stop and whimpered when they only got worse.

Rolling on his side as he grasped his throbbing head, he could only vaguely feel a wet tongue lap comfortingly at his temple and something cool slither over his tightly closed eyes.

Help! Someone, please tell me what's happening, he cried internally, wishing someone would stop the pain. But the horrible sensation in his mind continued interminably as if intent on tearing his whole mind apart.

Kheper'shaye fought to stay awake despite the overwhelming darkness that threatened to engulf him. He didn't know what would happen if he just let go and succumbed to the darkness. He didn't want to succumb, fearful of never waking back up. Set was coming back for him, and he had someone to live for. He didn't want to die.

But the pain and flashes inside his head continued to bombard him for what felt like years though it had probably only been a few minutes.

But it hurts...

Help! Someone! he pleaded in sheer agony.

Yet no one could hear his silent cries. If he could only talk or even say one word out loud, if he wasn't mute and useless, maybe one of the guards would hear him and help him.

Please stop...stop! he cried once more in desperation, feeling his mind crumble.

The pain continued as the flashes turned into random images, so many of them that he couldn't even register them at all.

Finally succumbing to the pain, Kheper'shaye slipped into unconsciousness, but not before a last image floated to the surface of his damaged psyche—

It was of a tall and dazzling red-haired man gazing softly at him with affection in his endless blue eyes.


"What in Heru's name was that?" Atem demanded as soon as the royal council had been dismissed from their presence. Only his Sacred Guardians, Set, and himself were left in the outer courtyard, and Atem could not wait to disclose his question.

Set was still standing at his original position, rubbing his temple in noticeable discomfort. His eyes were slightly glazed as he turned in response to Atem's voice.

"...What?" Set asked, still disoriented. Something was wrong inside his mind.

Though he had discovered early on after their separation that he was out of communication range with Kheper'shaye, their bond with each other still remained. And though the strength of the connection was not as clear as he liked, he could still sense the vague presence of the other boy inside his mind.

But now something was very wrong. His bond with Kheper'shaye seemed to be muted and shaky, and he could almost feel an emptiness inside his head that he hadn't felt in a long time.

Something had happened to Kheper'shaye, and it wasn't good.

Feeling the desperate urge to get to the other boy as soon as possible, he turned to leave the courtyard immediately, intent on finding the exit.

"Set! Where are you going? Answer me!" Atem shouted in alarm as his cousin ignored him and continued to walk away.

"I need to get to him. Something's wrong..." Set muttered ambiguously as he strode in the direction of the palace stables.

"Wait! Set! Come back! You can't just leave! Where are you going?" He ran to catch up with the taller man, his entourage of Guardians following after him in confusion and concern.

"Set, where are you going?" Mahaado spoke out, stopping the taller man from going further by grasping his shoulder from behind.

Set turned to face him, unspoken apprehension on his usually stoic face.

"Something happened to him. I left him outside the gates of city, but now I need to go back."

Atem was now standing next to Mahaado with his hand on his cousin's wrist, concerned about Set's uncharacteristic disposition. "Who are you talking about?"

The taller man seemed to gather his bearings and he scowled at the rest of the Guardians, particularly Akhenaton who had been watching the whole situation in obvious interest behind Mahaado and Atem.

Atem looked back to see who Set was glaring at and nodded in comprehension. "Everyone but Mahaado and Kalim will leave," he ordered, "We need privacy."

"But— " Akhenaton spoke up, only to be instantly rebuffed by the King.

"You will leave. You no longer have the right, Akhenaton," Atem commanded, implicit anger in his voice. That man had no business in Set's affairs any longer.

Akhenaton glared dangerously at the young king and then turned to stare longingly once more at his son, who was giving him an apathetic look. Finally he sighed and then bowed grudgingly, turning to leave.

Both Iset and Shada looked puzzled but bowed graciously before the king before taking their leave after Akhenaton.

Atem turned back to his taller cousin, Mahaado and Kalim standing slightly behind him in wait.

"Now tell me what's going on and why you feel you need to leave. Maybe we can help."

"I must make haste. The child who saved me—he's still outside the city of Iunu, but I can tell something's wrong. I have to make sure no harm has come to him," Set explained hurriedly, snatching his hand back from Atem's grip. He wasn't comfortable with others touching him.

"Why did he not come with you into the city? We would have welcomed your savior and given him a place to stay," Atem asked, a little perplexed as he dropped his arms back to his sides.

At his question, Set shook his head in frustration. "You won't understand. He needs my help."

"Why won't I understand? I've always tried my best to help you, haven't I?" Atem countered, offended that Set wouldn't answer him forthrightly.

The auburn-haired man smiled a little bitterly, "But sometimes, trying isn't enough, is it."

Hurt flashed through Atem's eyes and Set continued to explain, "You are the King now, so no matter how much you want to help me, your first priority will always be the welfare of your kingdom and your people. If I were to request of your help something that could be a possible threat to your kingdom, no matter how small it is, don't tell me you would try to help me."

Atem couldn't argue with that, but he stubbornly pressed on.

"You're right, I am the King, but that doesn't mean I can't discern or make my own judgments regarding what I should or shouldn't do. Just tell me your situation and I will judge for myself. Don't assume that I will do nothing for you."

He added, "We may be family, Set, but we are friends foremost, and friendship is stronger than our bloodline. Don't forget that."

The taller man stood still in silence, mulling over the shorter man's words.

Sighing, he succumbed at last, knowing that if the King were to be on his side, things would be easier in the future.

"Fine. I will tell you."

Atem exhaled deeply in relief.

"But you must not reveal this to anyone else. I do not want him hurt."

Atem looked at his cousin in slight revelation and bewilderment. "This stranger must be really something for you to go to such extreme lengths for him," he pointed out cautiously.

"He saved my life," Set insisted, not wanting to divulge just exactly what kind of relationship he had with Kheper'shaye to Atem, even if he was his cousin.

"I will make it brief. I shouldn't delay," he continued. "His name is Kheper'shaye. He has been wandering the Red Sands ever since he gained consciousness, not remembering anything about his past memories. He found me when I was bleeding profusely from a knife wound and nursed me back to health. It is because of him that I am alive and here. I intended to take him back to Iunu with me so that he may live a new life without troubles, but we discovered he felt unbearable pain when in close proximity to a city. We've both concluded a curse has been placed on him from entering any cities though he has no recollection of why or who would have done it to him. Because of that, I left him outside Iunu temporarily so I could find a cure for him in the palace's Great Library."

Kalim, who had been standing behind Atem, spoke up in a guarded manner.

"Curses are extremely difficult to cast, and only extremely powerful priests, usually under the King's command, can curse someone at that level. Are you certain he is not a criminal who has been exiled permanently? He could be a dangerous threat to the city and the King!"

Set glared at the Millennium Scales holder in contempt.

"He is not a criminal. He is an innocent who would not even willingly hurt an insect. And this is why I did not want to tell any of you. You are all biased! You do not even know him, yet you accuse him of being something he isn't!"

Mahaado, in an attempt to circumvent the situation, barged in quickly.

"Calm down. We are not accusing anyone of anything right now. But Kalim does make a good point."

Turning to address Set, he asked, "How do you know you are not being played by this person? Perhaps he knew you would be coming into a position of power and wanted to use you for his own greater good. In that case, he would be dangerous."

Set interjected, his glare intensifying.

"I would know. Are you saying I am not a good judge of character? He would not spend so much effort to nurse me back to health in such a manner if he were not a good person. I have spent more than twenty-five fortnights with him and he would never do such a thing. And you know yourself I would not trust just anyone."

The king nodded slowly in agreement as he replied, "I know that Set would not just impetuously put his trust in just anyone." Here, his lips twitched slightly. Atem knew Set had always been just as paranoid as he was, having been raised among a duplicitous council of nobles. "He has always been a good judge in character and extremely discerning. He has spent months with this boy so he should know his character best."

Here, he paused in thought before continuing, "But at the same time, I am the King, and I must do what is best for my people."

Set jerked forward, ready to argue, but Atem beat him to it.

"Before you say anything, I will make my decision. Mahaado and Kalim will go with you to see this... Kheper'shaye, and determine for themselves whether he is a threat to the kingdom. If they find him worthy and confirm your judgment of him, we will help you find a counter-spell for his curse at once."

Set scowled at Atem in betrayal. "So you do not trust me after all even after spouting your reassurances."

Atem frowned back, "It's not like I don't trust you Set. But your judgment may be clouded due to your proximity and sense of obligation to your savior. Mahaado and Kalim will merely be witnesses, a second and third eye to validate what you've said. It is for precautionary purposes."

Proposing his counsel using a more appealing rationale, Atem continued, "Think of them as backup. After all, if something does happen to go wrong, you can always send one back as a messenger and the other can be used as a healer. Unlike Mahaado, Kalim here is quite adept at healing magic and he could be of great use to you."

At this, Atem grinned mischievously at Mahaado who pointedly looked away from the king in slight irritation.

But Set was quick to reply, not wanting to delay any further.

"So be it. But they will both find him purely innocent and completely worthy. Mark my words," he stated firmly as he walked away, leaving Mahaado and Kalim to bow quickly to the King before rushing off after him.

Shaking his head in slight amusement, Atem suddenly remembered that his initial question had never been answered.

"Hey! You better tell me everything that's happened when you get back!" he called out ineffectively to the now empty garden.


Mahaado could not help but gaze contemplatively at Set, who was sitting ramrod straight across from him in the carriage. His eyes were focused on nothing in particular, deep in thought though his face showed no expression.

Set had changed in five years, he thought. Not so much physically but mentally. His eyes held a resolute fire that hadn't been there before. True, he had always been a motivated individual, but now he was a man who looked like he desperately had something to live for, a goal he wanted to fulfill by all means.

He chanced a glance at Kalim who was sitting rigidly next to him and awkwardly trying not to get caught staring at Set.

Kalim, a more recent addition to the Sacred Guardians and to court intrigue, did not know Set as a child and was therefore wary of the tall arrogant man who had the audacity to talk back to the King. But he had seen Set summon the manifestation of Atum-Ra and had been just as awed as everyone else.

He knew that the other Sacred Guardians had concerns about installing a formerly exiled member of royalty into the position of Hem-Netjer, but then they didn't know anything about Set.

Though they knew he was related to the King by blood and was his childhood friend, what they saw for themselves was an intimidating and haughty man who was unafraid of the King and who had the power of the gods in his hands without even completing the ceremony of the Hem-Netjer yet.

That left all of them a little awed of the man who was currently sitting across from him and Kalim.

Mahaado understood it fully well—he was still reflecting back upon that amazing moment when the sun was completely darkened. Which brought him to this point in time...

"I've never seen Atum-Ra manifest in such a way before. How can this happen and how did you do it? You never told us," he asked, wanting to break the awkward silence between all the parties involved.

Set seemed to shake out of whatever sobering trance he had previously been in at the noise and focused his intense eyes on him.

"A priest never divulges such information if they do not want to incur the wrath of the gods," he replied smoothly.

"But I will tell you this," he continued ambiguously, "I did not let myself succumb to idleness even in exile. You know of the Akhet net Pet as the Horizon of the Heavens each day, but I see the Akhet net Pet as the 'Eclipse' of the Heavens."

Mahaado just smiled weakly, remembering Set's vague but precise way of speaking. It really brought him back to their shared past. But Kalim just blinked in confusion.

It was helpful to know that Set still retained his sense of diligence and studious nature. Even when they were children, he had always been the smartest and most cunning among them, and it had fortunately not gone all to waste even though his potential had been blighted for five long years.

"Do you still have the sight?" Mahaado asked abruptly, really wanting to know. The bearer of the Millennium Ring had seen cases in which heka-seers lost their ability in the aftereffects of a trauma. It would be no surprise if Set somehow had lost his magical capabilities due to the suffering of his childhood.

Set didn't really look surprised at his question. "Yes..." he answered, his face a picture of masked indifference.

Mahaado nodded, accepting his old friend's brief answer, knowing how uncomfortable it must be for him to speak about such personal matters. He felt saddened that his friend had been left alone for so long, abandoned and without even a friend during his difficult years of solitude and pain.

Deciding to try to lighten the somber mood and knowing neither Kalim or Set would take the initiative, he remembered Atem's teasing comment earlier. Deciding to divulge the meaning, he asked Set, "Do you remember how Atem had an affinity for heka associated with the shadows? And I could barely get any heka to react with me other than a weak affinity for the healing arts?"

Set nodded slowly. "I remember."

"I was such a little weakling back then, but I was happy that I had some kind of affinity for healing. It would have been so much more useful, but after you were gone, my sensitivity to the heka associated with healing all but disappeared and it stopped reacting to me. It seems that my sight of heka had not been fully mature and weak in comparison to yours and even Atem's, but then I discovered that I suddenly had a better affinity towards the heka associated with the black arts. I have gotten quite adept at being able to discern different curses, although it is still a sore point for me that my healing ability has all but disappeared. I would have preferred to be able to heal rather than to instill a curse on someone. Atem never fails to tease me about it."

Set leaned slightly forward in his seat, interest suddenly peaked. "You say you are adept at discerning curses. What of counter-curses? Do you have much knowledge of that?"

Mahaado nodded cautiously. "Somewhat. Which was why I was a little startled when you mentioned about your companion's curse. Not many people have the capability to cast such a high-level curse. Not even me. That is probably why Atem sent me with you and Kalim… so I can determine whether his curse can be dispelled easily. I am cannot see the heka residing inside people but rather around them, but combined with your ability, I'm sure we can find some kind of counter-spell for it."

Set sighed, slumping slightly back into his seat in temporary relief. "Blasted cousin," he stated ungraciously. "Never informs me of what is really going on inside that conniving mind of his. And you wonder why I act the way I do. Bastards, all of you."

Mahaado couldn't help but chuckle heartily, relieved and glad that this adult Set still retained some aspects of the old Set after all. The brunet had grown up amidst much pain, strife, and suffering. And he was sure now that his initial wariness of his childhood friend had just been the natural behavior of an old friend who was trying to find aspects of the little boy that he had grown up with.

Meanwhile, poor Kalim was moving his eyes back and forth between the two men, completely baffled as he watched the usually serene King's Vizier laugh hysterically.

That just made him laugh all the harder.

Across from them, Set's lips twitched only a little.

End of Chapter 7.


Footnotes:

[1] Ashai: "Abundance." If you've read the previous chapters carefully, you would see brief cameos of a red hawk flying above and Kheper'shaye keeping an eye on it. Yes, that was because Kheper'shaye was actually using Ashai as a guide/compass, since he's always relied on the hawk to lead him in the right direction. They befriended each other shortly after Kheper'shaye woke up in the Red Sands, in which the large hawk leads him to a water source. Kheper'shaye named him "abundant" because he has always provided for him and he is never at a lack of food.

[2] Persea tree: The Persea tree was grown in Iunu and was thought to be the burning Tree of Life where the phoenix would arise. The fruit of the Persea tree symbolized the "Sacred Heart" of Heru and the tree was also often associated positively with Ra and Amun.

[3] Bahiti: "Fortune." The golden gazelle makes a cameo appearance in chapter three when Set remembers seeing Kheper'shaye running gracefully with a gazelle. She was nameless then, but now we know her name. Oddly enough, their multiple encounters always results in Kheper'shaye finding some kind of "fortune," including that blue robe that was given to Set (Where did it come from?) and even the Eye of Heru that Kheper'shaye found in the first chapter. (Now we know!) Kheper'shaye calls her his "shai-nefer," which means his good luck charm.

[4] Khai: "Crowned/dignified." The silver-scaled black mamba also makes an appearance in the third chapter. He was Kheper'shaye's closest confidante before the appearance of Set in his life. Kheper'shaye discovered him stuck under a boulder due to a recent sandstorm. Healing him with his pendant, he developed a close friendship and affection for the snake— who is extremely possessive and seems to understand him when he speaks, as seen in the third chapter. Whenever he shows up, something important always happens almost immediately after. His temperament is dignified and proud, thus the name given to him by Kheper'shaye. (Doesn't he kind of remind you of Set? Which is why they don't mix well with each other...)

[5] Tumaini: "Hope." A rare golden Egyptian wolf that has been mentioned but never makes any appearances until now. He is apparently Kheper'shaye's protector and also Set's second savior who took down all the thieves and robbers in the Red Sands. It is mentioned by Kheper'shaye in a previous chapter that he had a vague inkling that the being that pulled him out of the sand in the first chapter was actually Tumaini, but we don't know for sure, do we! Kheper'shaye calls the wolf " hope", because he always saves him from various life-threatening situations.

Author's Notes:

So what and who exactly are these four animals? Are they creatures from the gods? Manifestations of the gods themselves? Or are they just animals that have been trained by someone to spy on Kheper'shaye and Set?

And what is happening with poor Kheper'shaye? What will happen next? Will poor Kalim be confused forever?

Look forward to all those answers in the future chapters!