The Phantom, in the meantime, was traversing the underground passageways. Despite having the map with him, he found that he didn't have a need for it; it was as though being able to navigate vast labyrinths was a second nature for him. The map was merely a reference.
The masked man was still wearing the odd assortment of pharaonic regalia; he knew that to leave them all behind would be most unwise. It would merely be stolen again, and Christine and the Ishtars would be in danger.
And then there was the case of the golden statue, still hidden within his cape. More and more, he realized that he was losing his rationale for taking it with him. And that mysterious robed man would certainly use that as evidence against him in this so-called "trial."
"What did he say? Five days?" the Phantom asked himself. "How much time did we spend in Abydos, anyway?"
He calculated the time. They had spent about a day in Abydos, but between the ride back and setting off now, probably another day and a half. That left him with two and a half days to figure out some way out of this. It wasn't that he was afraid, of course; he just didn't want to be bothered.
A noise coming from an adjacent passageway caught his ears. He was astounded to find the archaeologists all being held prisoner there. They were unharmed, but were bound by ropes.
With a shake of his head, the Phantom released them, taking the ropes for himself. He had a feeling that he would need them before the misadventure was over. The grateful archaeologists thanked him and proceeded to the nearest exit.
"Chagny, you'd better not take too long to deal with those thieves," the Phantom said. "I need to be out of Egypt before that time runs out. And by the looks of things, we don't have too much time at all."
"You will forgive me if I do not immediately attack," said Raoul, as he entered the cavern. "I want to gather as much information as I can, including the whereabouts of the children."
"Choose the course of action as you see fit," Sethos replied. "And perhaps it would be prudent if I remain silent for some time; worse could transpire if my presence is known."
An array of torches greeted Raoul before another word could be said, and one lone figure stepped forward.
"Welcome, Vicomte," said Hoularch. "I expected you to arrive soon enough… Though you are later than I imagined. The little lady wasn't too keen on letting you come, I imagine?"
"You leave Christine out of this," Raoul shot back. "The fact that you ever tried to befriend us--"
"Was brilliant, wasn't it?" the man replied. "Oh, Vicomte, I did warn the two of you to stay away. Why couldn't you have listened? I had no quarrel with you, even though it was frequently said that you would prove to be a thorn in my side; it was with great reluctance that I left that cobra in your stateroom… though I expected you to defeat it."
Raoul merely glared daggers at him.
"And I am also quite glad indeed that you did manage to throw that cobra overboard," said Hoularch. "You had every right to survive. You're a good man, Vicomte."
"Pity that the same cannot be said about you," Raoul countered back. "With all of your lies, thievery, and treachery, you make even the Opera Ghost seem like a beacon of benevolence."
"Ah, yes, the Opera Ghost," said Hoularch. "He has proven himself to be another nuisance after that stunt in the marketplace. How desperate must you be to take his help?"
"At least I can say that he is no longer my enemy, which is more than can be said for you," said Raoul, drawing the sword. "Where are the Ishtar children? You agreed to release them if I arrived here."
"You know, Vicomte, if you had realized my true identity as the leader of these thieves, you could have rescued my bride-to-be," said Hoularch. "She was right there, under your nose--"
"Surely you don't intend to marry her now; what about your agreement?" Raoul asked. "I am here, as I promised. Now release Neferma'at and the boy. Or is it true that there is no honor among thieves?"
"They will be released in due time, Vicomte," said Hoularch, so casually that it further infuriated Raoul. "This is not our headquarters, and, as such, they are not here. But you are, as you already mentioned. And if you expect me to honor my end of the bargain, I'd put that sword away if I were you."
Raoul merely lowered the blade as the thieves around the cave sneered.
"Now, then, Vicomte, I am sure you are a little curious as to why we asked you to come here, are you not?" asked Hoularch.
"Not exactly," said Raoul. "Clearly, you intend to use me as your new bargaining chip after… or if… you release the children. Either that, or you're merely trying to convince me to keep out of your plans… or to make sure I never interfere with you again."
"Vicomte, Vicomte," Hoularch laughed. "Do not take me for a petty thief! I already said that you deserved to live, and so you shall! Why would I be so foolish to lose the prowess of the one who dueled and defeated the Opera Ghost? No, Vicomte; I am not going to kill you. Once again I offer friendship. You will join my organization, Vicomte!"
"Are you mad!?" Raoul answered, raising the sword again.
"Not at all, Vicomte," Hoularch replied. "It stands to perfect reason that if I want to open the Abydos temple shrine, which is completely unreachable to all but the one chosen by Lord Sethos, I must enlist the skills of the one favored by Lord Sethos to do so."
"What are you talking about?" he asked, though he had a vague idea as to what the thief was saying.
"You don't think it's true, Vicomte?" asked Hoularch. "Very well, then. If you think that I am mad and mistaken, then you may leave. Just hand over that sword, and you are free to go."
Raoul stared at the sword in his hand. No; he couldn't surrender the sword to Hoularch; he had given the king his word. Hoularch took a step forward, and Raoul quickly put the sword away.
"I take it that something about that old sword intrigues you, Vicomte," said Hoularch.
"I swore I'd free the Ishtar children and take back the artifacts you stole," Raoul said, coldly. "Never did I say that I would walk away to save my own skin. And I would never surrender an ancient treasure, either."
"Or the spirit of a Pharaoh," added Hoularch.
Raoul merely glared daggers at Hoularch again, not wanting to betray Sethos' presence.
"My associates told me of how you heard a voice coming from the sword; a voice which they, clearly, did not hear, and that your comrades had difficulty hearing as well," the thief went on. "But they knew it wasn't madness; you, Vicomte, have been chosen by Lord Sethos to be his successor. You should be honored, Vicomte; with his family as spirits, he could only choose one mortal as his successor, and, somehow, he chose you, over all others."
"Impossible," said Raoul. "The Pharaonic rule no longer exists. Why would he name me as a successor?"
"Because only the successor of the one who built the Abydos temple can reach the shrine and open it," Hoularch replied. "Lord Sethos was succeeded 2900 years ago by his son. But his son is now also a spirit, and cannot open the shrine. But you can, Vicomte. After all, do you think it was a mere coincidence that you found the shrine so quickly?"
Raoul had thought that their reaching the shrine so quickly had been a product of the map. But could Sethos' guidance have been a factor as well? After all, the map could have been false, or simply refused to work for them. But no; it had worked flawlessly, whether it was by some logical, explainable method, or by actual magic and heka.
"And as the successor of Lord Sethos, what exactly do you expect me to do?" asked Raoul.
"You will reach the shrine that is in the naos of the Abydos temple," said Hoularch. "You will open the shrine, undoubtedly freeing the spirit of the queen, but she won't bother us, for you will give us the scrolls and whatever else you find in the shrine, after which we shall permanently rid ourselves of the interfering spirits of the Pharaoh and the queen. And you, Vicomte, will return to Paris, and shall not utter a word of what you saw or heard."
Raoul drew the sword, though, this time, the sword was not in his control. The young viscount seized his right wrist with his left hand, trying not to let the sword attack; clearly, Sethos knew that Hoularch was aware of his presence, and was decidedly livid at what he had heard.
"Not since 2900 years have I ever despised someone such as this scoundrel!" Raoul heard the king fume, as the ancient sword shuddered angrily beneath Raoul's fingertips.
"Well, this 'scoundrel' shall be the new master of heka and the new Pharaoh!" boomed Hoularch, obviously hearing the angered spirit and seeking to further enrage him. "For once the deed is done and the Vicomte has returned to Paris, he shall appoint me as his successor."
"Never," Raoul vowed. "I have already given an oath to the Pharaoh Sethos. If I am to open the shrine, it will be to release the queen, and for no other reason. And no amount of threats can force me to do otherwise."
"I already told you Vicomte, you cannot die," said Hoularch. "For we need you to open the shrine. So it appears that threatening you to do so would be pointless. However, while you are needed, your companions (not to mention the Ishtar children) are expendable."
Raoul had expected this. Thankfully, Christine was safe with Techu and Sopdet, and with the Opera Ghost haunting the underground passageways, no one would catch him. However, it was the case of the lost children which left the young man in a predicament.
"What am I to do?" he thought.
"Forget about me, Boy," Sethos said, at last. "I will accept my fate, whatever it may be."
"I don't know what Hoularch meant when he said that he would be permanently rid of you and Lady Túaa, but I swear that I shall not allow it to happen," Raoul promised, quietly.
Sethos didn't reply, but something told Raoul that the king knew very well what Hoularch was planning. And the fact that a spirit would view it with apprehension did not bode well.
"Well, Vicomte?" asked Hoularch. He glanced around at his henchmen. "We're getting a bit impatient, waiting for your answer. Will you join us, or will we have to resort to our backup plans?"
"Let me see the children first," said Raoul. "I need to see what kind of state they're in before I agree to any of your mad conditions."
There was a murmuring among the thieves, but Hoularch raised a hand to silence it.
"You have a point, Vicomte; indeed, your request shall be granted. You are wise beyond your years," said the thief. "It is no wonder you were chosen to be the king's successor."
"The last thing I need is to have you patronize me," Raoul shot back.
"You even have the pride of a Pharaoh," Hoularch mused, solely for the purpose of further infuriating Raoul. "Ah, but there is one thing. Do try to keep that sword of yours under control."
"I say he has every right to strike back at the likes of you," Raoul thought, as he glared at Hoularch. "Oh, Christine, I only hope that you remain safe through all of this…"
The crowd of thieves made way to reveal the passageway in the cavern floor.
"It's a long walk back to Abydos, Vicomte," said Hoularch. "I suggest we start walking."
Raoul didn't say a word; he wasn't about to give Hoularch any amusement at all. He silently progressed down the passageway, the thieves all close behind. And he was already forming a plan of escape. He knew he would find a way out; he was the successor for a reason.