Hello lovely people! Sorry I haven't posted sooner, I got lost in the 12th century! I'm very sorry to have kept you in suspense, I'm afraid this is not a happy chapter, be prepared for upset trackers and angry pharaohs…
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed and favourited this story, it's been a really hard week and you've all made it easier for me! :)
Egyptian Angel: This is DEFINITELY an off day…
Avian: I hope this one is just as intense! Sorry to make you wait! I think it's a similar idea but there is more than meets the eye…
Sacagawea managed to walk, concentrating solely on putting one foot in front of the other till she reached Anna's exhibit.
The Dutch woman was attaching the repaired cloak to a familiar Viking. "Sac! Wonderful! I-"
She registered the look on her friend's face.
"Ragnar, take the baby. Now."
Ragnar Leifsson knew better than to argue or question.
With the utmost care he plucked the child from Sac's drooping arms cooing gently to the unhappy boy. Jean-Baptiste grabbed a hold of Ragnar's braided beard and hung on for dear life. The Viking lord was not an idiot, he cuddled the child close and carried him off. He'd seen that look before, on too many wives who awaited their husbands in vain on the shore. It never got easier. But the babe need not hear his mother's anguish, at least not yet.
"He's gone. He's gone Anna." Sac began, not focusing on anything just talking, pouring out the horror of the last few minutes, "He's not, he doesn't, I can't, I'VE LOST HIM."
Anna wrapped her arms around Sac as the Shoshone woman disintegrated into anguished howls.
Anna managed to ease her onto her bench, holding her as Sacagawea wept brokenly.
No one had ever seen Sac cry like this save for Lewis and Clark on that terrible early night. It was the empty wailing of the lost. Anna had absolutely no idea what had happened other than something was horribly wrong with Teddy. Could they even die here truly? Other than sun-dusting of course. Anna's blood froze. Dear god, let it not be that, anything but that. But it wouldn't help to speculate. She would wait till Sac could speak once again, she would tell her in her own time. All she could do was comfort her as best as she could whilst she poured out this round of pain and misery. One thing was certain though, who'd ever upset Sac would feel her clog-wielding wrath.
Sacagawea clung to her best friend as though she were a rock in a storm.
It couldn't be true! How could he have forgotten her? Forgotten Jean-Baptiste? It was like an evil spell had been cast. She knew she was being fanciful but with the tablet, you never knew what it could quirk next. If it was a spell could it be fixed and was it only Teddy affected? Her thoughts crashed violently, rolling over each other again and again, only the words, 'gone', 'lost' and 'missing', floating to the surface. She couldn't face being alone again; she didn't want to lose the man she'd chosen. She couldn't get the image of Teddy recoiling from Jean-Baptiste out of her head. It were as though all of the warmth had been scraped out of him leaving only cold-moulded wax.
Sac knew she had to find out what had happened, what it all meant and by her ancestors if she could get him back again. But right now? Right now she realised she couldn't move, it was as though her body no longer belonged to her. Some part of her mind had disconnected, able to view what was happening but the rest of her was locked in her primal instinct of mourning.
Everything was pain and aching and empty.
She began scream into Anna's shoulder as the Dutch woman held her tight, trying to fill her empty heart with sound, with something.
She couldn't stop, couldn't quiet. It was as though everything she had endured was finally given voice and all were forcing themselves free.
Teddy, her brave bear had been her symbol of freedom, a reminder of a new life, he had loved her honestly and truly. She'd never know she could love another person besides her own child as much as she loved him. And now, the man she loved was no longer there. Only a cruel mockery remaining.
She would find her answers, wreak bloody vengeance on whomever dared to trap her bear but now, in this moment all she could do was howl.
ooooo
"Such a handsome woman, strapping little chap too." commented Teddy as he watched the Shoshone woman walk away.
The others saw the exaggerated dignity, the stiffness in the way she walked. Sac was splintering with every step she took.
Larry watched in horror. This was going to be the end of everything if he didn't find out what the hell was going on and fix it. Now.
"Hey, so um, Teddy, er, how do I, um, well-"
"Stop babbling boy!" snapped Teddy like he had on Larry's first night, "If you have a question ask it!" Teddy turned to face Ahk who was gaping at him, he'd never really heard Teddy snap at Larry before. He'd always thought they got on well "Do excuse me my lad," Teddy gave a vigorous smile, "where were we? You were introducing yourself."
Ahk snapped out of it, his royal upbringing kicking him into diplomacy mode.
"Oh of course, a pleasure to meet you," Ahk gave a regal bow, "I am Ahkmenrah, Fourth King of the Fourth King, Ruler of the lands of my fathers." He offered a hand to shake as he'd seen others do, it seemed to be the more common formal greeting now.
Teddy paled ever so slightly, ignoring the hand to stare in dawning recognition, eyes widening to take in Ahk's robes, "and what lands would those be?"
"The kingdom of Egypt." Stated Ahk proudly, standing a little taller.
Teddy flinched back like he'd been scaled, "What?!" Teddy whirled on Larry, "YOU LET THE MUMMY OUT?! HAVE YOU GONE MAD?!"
"Excuse me-" Ahk began, frowning but trying to stay calm.
"What in God's name possessed you boy?! Don't you realise the danger you've put us all in?" Larry was trying and failing to reconnect his brain to his mouth. Of all the reactions he was not expecting this.
"My president," implored Octavius, "you are rather overstating things Ahkmenrah is-"
"The tyrannical king who would curse us all and bring about the ruin of the museum itself!" exclaimed Teddy.
"EXCUSE ME?!" Ahk was astounded, anger flooding him at the insult, where was all this coming from?!
"WHAT IN THE SEVEN BLAZES OF HELL ARE YOU GOIN' ON ABOUT BOY?!" Jed was turning purple with rage, he was not about to listen to his friend being insulted so deeply, "AHK'S ONE O' US!"
Teddy was having none of it, "He's clearly got you under some sort of spell! The other guards warned he would pull something like this if he ever got out!" Teddy was actively stepping backwards now, pulling Larry with him, trying to shield the night guard with his own body.
Ahk took a step forwards, livid with rage now.
Teddy drew his sword.
In a movement faster than Larry had ever thought possible Ahk had grabbed Teddy's wrist, disarming him.
The pharaoh made a show of testing the weight and balance of the cavalry sabre before breaking it over his knee.
He threw the pieces of shattered metal aside like discarded tinfoil.
"Now you listen here horse lord," seethed the young king, eyes blazing in fury as blood dripped from his fists, "I am Ahkmenrah, owner of the tablet that brings everyone here to life. I may choose to allow you to wake or to sleep forever. I am gracious in my control of this tablet. If you wish for a tyrannical king I suggest you seek my brother. I have not cursed anyone living or dead though I am sorely tempted tonight."
He continued before Teddy could argue.
"I was locked in that accursed box for 54 years before Larry had the kindness to release me. 54 years of darkness, of suffering, of solitude save for taunting I endured." He stared down Teddy with a sudden coldness that frightened everyone present, "If anyone here was cursed, it was I."
The silence was deafening.
"So I implore you," Ahk's tone belied the entreaty of his words, barely keeping the snarl from his voice, "do not speak of things you know nothing off."
All four men stared at him dumbstruck.
"Now seeing as I am obviously not welcome here at the moment I bid my farewells to you. Good. Night."
With that Ahk swept off imperiously, every inch a king doing his 'get out my way peasants' walk.
Larry knew however, he had one other person to add to his list of 'to-fix' As soon as Ahk calmed down they would have a real mess on their hands.
"Really?!" Jed began, angry as all hell. His respect for Ahk had been steadily growing since the pharaoh had been released and god damn he was not about let those insults slide. What he wasn't counting on was Octavius being as furious as he was.
"What by all the fires of Pluto himself has got into you Theodore?!" Exploded the Roman, "Ahkmenrah is one of our most trusted friends and allies he would NEVER do anything to endanger us or the museum! He is a noble king and above these baseless accusations!"
Jed was staring at Octavius with something akin to awe, listening to his outburst thunderstruck. He tried to gather himself, "Yeah, what Octy said! I don' know jus' what's going on here Teddy but this ain't like you. What in tarnation is the matter?"
"The matter? The matter is that that pharaoh has been released and you're all under his spell or compliant in his scheme and quite frankly I don't know which is worse."
"No. No, just stop. Right there." Larry had finally found his voice again, going into full 'Night Guard' mode. "I have no idea what the hell is going on here but Teddy please listen to me." At his tone the president snapped his attention to Larry. "Ahkmenrah is a museum exhibit the same as everyone else here, he has just as much right to be here, as free," he emphasised the point for good measure, "as anyone else and he absolutely would not endanger anyone in this museum." Larry thought back a few weeks ago when he'd tried to defend them single-handedly, the very idea of Ahk being a danger to anyone in the museum was completely absurd. The others must have done quite a number to get this idea so deeply ingrained. "I'm sorry if you can't accept that but I will not have you speak to him like that again do I make myself clear?"
Teddy, bristling, stood up straighter, "Yes Lawrence, perfectly, well if you are all so convinced by his character I shall regard him and make up my own mind."
"Thank you, that's all I ask."
"However, just consider this, if the mu-pharaoh," he caught himself just in time, "can do that to a sword just think what he can do to a person."
"We already know." Octavius was standing to his full height, he was deeply annoyed at how unreasonable Teddy was being.
"Yeah, Ahk's pretty feisty when he gets goin'" Added Jed, the threat about the mummifying alive their intruders still sent chills down his spine. He never wanted to cross Ahk.
Teddy's eyebrows raised.
Octavius cut him off before he could comment, "My president," It was amazing thought Jed how Octy could sound completely civil whilst clearly implying he thought someone was an idiot, "Ahkmenrah defended this museum not a month ago with his very life against would-be barbarians intent on destruction and theft."
"Yeah, an' that baby o' Sac's y'seen there? Ahk's his uncle in all but blood. He took on all those bandits to stop 'em getting' the kid to ransom so don' you DARE think Ahk is anything other than decent an' loyal to this here home o'ours. You understand me?"
"I believe I do gentlemen," answered Teddy stiffly, "as I said I shall observe and draw my own conclusions."
"You do that." Jed stood as tall as he could, arms folded across his puffed out chest, every inch the firm railway foreman. Octavius was rather impressed with his friend as he moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. They made quite the formidable pair when they were of a mind. Which was becoming more frequently much to his quiet delight.
"What is going on here? I heard the gold-king, he sounded very angry. What has happened to Ahk?"
Attila strode over to them looking unimpressed.
"Attila, there is no need to get angry over this," Teddy tried to placate, "we don't have time for your limb-ripping this evening."
Attila stopped. Looked Teddy up and down. Frowning he looked him up and down again. "Urgh."
Teddy looked decidedly affronted.
"Um, Attila buddy, what's the matter?" Larry was still never quite sure with Attila how he'd react to things.
Currently he was looking with disgust at Teddy.
"Attila what is it?"
"You again. Has it really been so long?"
"Attila I have not an idea what you're saying, what is it?"
Sometimes Attila cursed his lack of bothering with the other exhibits for so long, he could and should have learned English a long time ago but since he never had anything he wanted to say to the miserable night guards and they were content to leave him alone to his rage at being trapped indoors in some strange half-living palace of the dead he'd never bothered. Now with everyone actually spending time together he really should learn he thought to himself. Him and his loyal men.
He sighed, narrowing his eyes at Teddy before turning to Larry, "Get Ahk- the golden king will give you my words."
"He said go and retrieve Ahkmenrah my liege." Octavius, whilst not understanding Hun in the slightest knew an instruction when he saw one. That and the word 'Ahk' it wasn't hard to translate.
"Yeah, I guessed. Right, none of you move," He pointed at each of them, giving the do-not-cross-me-tonight-I-am-NOT-in-the-mood face, "no one kill, maim or yell at each other while I'm gone. Understand?"
"Yes."
"Good." Larry headed in the direction Ahk had stalked off towards. "I swear, $11.95 an hour is not enough."
ooooo
Larry knew where to go after detouring to pick up some vital kit. They had a 'flowers of the world' exhibit down the hall from ocean life, the room was large, lush, green and blooming with flowers. Whilst it didn't actually rain the air was fresh and damp rather than humid. It was a calm quiet space, warm, welcoming and scented with a thousand petals.
The complete opposite of Ahk's exhibit.
Larry knew when Ahk was upset he'd usually take himself off here, few of the exhibits had explored as much as him, so relatively few people knew about the room in the first place.
It's was Ahk's thinking place.
Larry was well aware that the regal young man was exactly that, young and needed his own space, he just liked to know where he could find if they needed him. Like right now.
But first things first.
"How's it going buddy?"
Ahk had been sat hunched with his back to the door, staring at a particularly impressive hibiscus. He didn't turn around at Larry's voice just shrugged.
Not good.
"Ahk?"
"I am fine."
Great, so upset teenager it was. The night guard honestly wasn't sure which side of Ahk was more worrying, this or the furious king.
"Not you're not."
Ahk whirled around, indignant rage burning in his eyes, "So I don't know my own mind now either?"
"That's not what I said."
"No, but I suppose if I'm just some monster I wouldn't have a mind in the first place!"
"Ahk you know we don't believe that"
"TEDDY DOES!"
"Well,"
"You can't deny it! He meant every loathsome word of it! What did I do?! How did I wrong him so badly?"
Larry could see the rage melting into misery, horrible, confused, misery.
A tear escaped. Ahk brushed it away angrily with the back of his hand.
"You'd think with all the things Kah said to me over the years I would not care about a little character destruction."
One day Larry was going to get the story out of Ahk about his apparent asshole of an older brother. And then Larry was going to find said brother and punch him in the face for being such a colossal douche.
But that could wait right now.
"Yeah, but buddy, you care about Teddy and what he thinks of you. You care what we all think of you."
"I-"
"C'mon, I know you better than that Ahk."
Ahk opened his mouth to argue then realised it was true, he really couldn't lie to Larry, to any of them. Since when had he let his guard down so abysmally? This kind of thing always happened when he did. And look what happened last time.
"For the record I don't think Teddy is Teddy right now."
"But he still said those things, BELIEVED THEM! He meant them." Ahk eyes were full of hurt, barely whispering his real fear, "Has he always thought that of me?"
Larry felt his chest constrict, never had he wanted to tell someone it was all okay harder than he did right now but he refused to lie to Ahk and speak for someone else, "I honestly don't know, you'd have to ask him."
Ahk sighed and nodded unhappily. Larry hated seeing him like this, the pharaoh had an uncanny ability to gain or lose ten years with an expression or posture. Right now he looked about fifteen.
"But" He pressed, hoping he could at least ease some of the misery in Ahk, "I can promise that when he is Teddy-Teddy he doesn't think that of you at all. None of us do."
Ahk's head snapped up to glare at Larry, "But they did! Why else would no one come to my aid? I screamed for help for 54 years, cried, begged. There are more than enough exhibits to overpower three guards. Yet no one came! What Teddy said tonight was the truth." He took a deep breath.
Larry saw the fracture lines just before the dam broke, "THEY ALL BELIEVED THAT! DON'T YOU SEE? THEY THOUGHT I WAS A MONSTER! THEY LEFT ME THERE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS A MONSTER!"
Ahk whirled about hollering at the ceiling, "IT'S NOT FAIR!" He turned back to Larry, traitorous tears in his eyes.
"WHAT DID I DO TO THEM, TO ANY OF THEM TO EARN SUCH A LABEL?!"
Larry couldn't stand to watch him any longer. With short purposeful steps he wrapped the angry teenager in his arms. Ahk latched on like Larry was a lifeline.
"Nothing, you didn't do anything Ahk, it was Cecil and Gus and Reginald. None of this is on you. They were probably just scared of you, scared if you were controlling the tablet you'd be in charge of the museum and not them."
"I would have done a better job." muttered Ahk bitterly through gritted teeth.
"I know you would have."
"I-I was a good king, I tried my best to look after my people, do what was right for Egypt." He spoke through shuddering breaths, clearly trying to keep his composure from evaporating entirely, "We were prospering." He looked up suddenly, full of urgency, "Larry, I would never hurt anyone here. Ever. I swear "
Larry hugged him harder, "I know that, God do I know it, and everyone else does too. Whatever's happened it's not your fault, you're a good man and people know you, know what you'd do for the museum, hell, we've SEEN what you'd do for the museum. So please buddy, don't beat yourself up here. You've not done anything wrong. But we need to find out what's happened. Agreed?"
"Y-yes."
"Good."
"It looks like Attila might know what's happening, he wasn't pleased to see Teddy at all and that's REALLY unlike Attila."
"Did he give him reason?"
"No, this time he didn't."
"Lucky him." Muttered Ahk darkly.
"Yeah," He paused then pulled up Ahk's face to his own, "Look, Ahk, I promise we'll get to the bottom of this."
"We will, I know we will, I'm, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lose control like that."
"I know, though if you can not break swords next time you're pissed I'd be eternally grateful."
"Understood, I'll find someone who annoys me instead."
Larry raised an eyebrow.
Ahk grinned.
"You worry me sometimes."
"Only sometimes?" The Pharaoh grinned, "I must be losing my edge." Ahk sobered, "But really, Larry, thank you, I'm sorry you had to witness my, my theatrics, it was unbecoming."
"You're more than entitled to get upset dude, everyone is from time to time, it's not like you were just flipping out for no reason. You're always welcome to vent to me to you know, even if you think it's nothing. I'd rather you told me than you be riled up for days. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly." Ahk unconsciously tightened his grip on Larry. The Guardian of Brooklyn couldn't possibly know the effect he had on people. Ahk was not a child, hadn't been for a very long time but Larry had the ability to make him feel as though everything really would be alright, just like his own father had done so many millennia ago. He hadn't realised how much he'd missed that simple, infallible reassurance.
"Good."
The Night guard smiled fondly, he really hoped they could sort this whole mess out. He knew how much Teddy had come to mean to Ahk.
"Right, you ready to speak some Hun?"
"Aren't I always?"
"Yeah, but first" Larry was still in 'dad mode', "come here, let me fix your hands before we head back."
"My hands?" Ahk was puzzled.
"Yeah, you kinda sliced them on Teddy's sword."
"Oh." Ahk looked down in surprise at his crimson palms then to the smudges on Larry's jacket in dawning realisation. "My apologies, I didn't realise."
"You REALLY worry me sometimes."
"Well, it's not as if I can die again."
"Ahk, less of the morbid please," Larry looked up, unimpressed, "I am not cool with seeing you bleeding, okay? Just accept this."
"Very well." He sighed offering Larry both hands, touched that he was this concerned over a scratch, "I shall endeavor not to injure myself in future."
"Good, 'cause seeing you hurt, again, not fun. Still not entirely over the state you were in last time."
"I have had worse." He really did mean it to sound comforting. Larry didn't take it as such.
"Yeah, no, I am really glad I didn't see that."
Ahk considered the results of that battle, "Probably for the best." Ahk smiled at Larry, "thank you for caring."
"Always, now this is probably going to sting a little-"
"Sweet mother of Isis!"
"Yeah, sorry about that." Larry pocketed the antiseptic wipes, "But hey," he added several band-aids, "you're cleaned up now and wounds duly dressed."
"Sacagawea would approve." The smile slid off Ahk's face at the memory. "We should return, I have wisdom to translate."
"With Attila I'm not entirely sure wisdom is the right word."
"He's very knowledgeable on matters if you get him talking."
Larry considered, he was a leader of a giant empire after all, it made sense, "you know, you really need to teach me some of that."
"Of course. When we find time."
"Cool. Let's go sort this mess out."
They both headed back to the main lobby, bracing themselves for whatever Attila had to tell them.
ooooo
Anna would never admit it but she was utterly terrified.
She'd NEVER witnessed someone cry like Sac, never in all her born days and she'd seen some things in her time. She was very strongly reminded of a waterfall in a tempest. And there was nothing she could do about it either. Only hold her friend, comfort her and pray that everything would be alright.
After a while Sac's cries began to quieten.
Anna continued to rub her back, she wasn't sure if Sac was falling asleep or was just all cried out. She felt Sac's grip on her tighten. Anna braced herself, she had no idea what was coming next. She'd tried to think of things to say, reassuring things, nice things, things to try and make whatever it was better.
Sac sat up slowly, carefully, as though she were stone rather than plastic.
The look in her eyes was one Anna would never forget.
All the soft words died on her lips, never to be spoken.
How could you offer tiny platitudes in the face of such emptiness?
Anna flipped into practical mode, reaching into her apron for a clean scrap of fabric she gently wiped Sac's eyes and face. Sac didn't move.
Anna took her hand tenderly, hoping to ground Sac in the here and now, "Sacagawea, please, what has happened exactly?"
Sacagawea, turned slightly, looking as though she were returning from a long way away. Frowning, she opened her mouth. No sound came out. She tried again, her voice, when it escaped the cage in her chest, did not belong to her, it was cracked, broken and so very old.
"He's gone, my bear, my Teddy."
Well Anna had grasped that much but the manner of him leaving? She had no idea, for all she knew Teddy could have somehow been trapped outside last night and been dusted by the sun.
"How is he gone? What's happened?"
"He's no longer mine."
Sac was barely facing Anna, talking more to herself as though she was testing out the words for herself, attempting to process their meaning.
Anna needed Sacagawea to focus. She had no idea what was going on and she was terrified she was going to lose Sac too if she wasn't careful. Gently but firmly she placed her hands on Sac's shoulders turning the Shoshone woman to face her.
"Sacagawea, what has happened to Teddy? Maybe there's some way we can fix it?"
THAT got her attention.
"FIX IT?! He's GONE Anna!" Snapped Sac, fire creeping back into her eyes.
Anna held her ground, anger was better than that awful numbness and she WAS going to get answer out of her friend. Once she knew just exactly what was going on she could try to help amend the situation if she could. "Out of the museum gone?"
"Out of his heart gone."
"What?"
"He doesn't remember me!" Sac exploded in explanation, "Doesn't remember Jean-Baptiste or I! It was as though all the warmth of him was drained." She stopped, stared directly at Anna, "he asked permission to hold my son, he who is like a father to him. He had no memory, no inkling that the is as much his as mine now. My Teddy, my love is gone."
Anna was horrified, "Oh Sac."
"I don't know what's happened! Last night we were the three of us together as we normally are, we settled to watch one of Larry's DVD's and dozed together on the sofa. It was normal Anna, nothing happened! He bid us goodbye as he usually does and promised to return come sunset. This morning he never came, I found him by the main desk and it was like he was looking at me for the very first time." She paused, tying to steel herself for the hardest part of her tale,
"But when he looked at me, there was no recognition, even when he looked at me before Larry came, before I was free there was a softness, a kindness that drew me to him. It is gone. He is all hard lines and sharp words. His spirit is lost. There is a Theodore in the museum but he is not my Teddy."
"My bear is gone."
Tears began pouring silently down her face once again.
Anna was utterly shocked, but there WAS a spark of hope, he was still physically here.
"Maybe something has gone wrong with the tablet? A strange quirk? Is it not worth asking Ahkmenrah if there is something he may do?"
For the first time since Sacagawea returned to her there seemed to be a spark of hope in her eyes.
"Perhaps…"
"He understands the secrets of the tablet better than any of us," pressed Anna, "he may be able to reverse whatever has happened."
Sac was already on her feet, hand clamped on Anna's pulling her along, "Let us go, they may still be by the main desk."
"You need some water first, you're going to collapse if you don't."
Sac huffed, "we shall find some on the way, come on."
At least she had purpose again.
Anna was going to hold her to that as both women made their way towards the lobby once more.
ooooo
Larry and Ahk returned to find one of the most uncomfortable looking gathering of people either had ever seen. Teddy and Attila were eyeing each other up carefully, Teddy wary, Attila unimpressed. Between them Jed and Octavius were looking as though one wrong word would have them unleash hell.
Great.
"Hey guys, found Ahk."
The pharaoh nodded stiffly at everyone.
"'Bout time Gigantor! Getting mighty tired o'waitin." He looked over the young king, "Y'all right buddy?" He asked in rare gentleness. Octavius placed a hand on Jed's shoulder, "how do you fare Ahkmenrah?"
"Yes, I am quite composed." He flicked a look at Teddy, "For now." He added darkly.
"Well" Larry clapped his hands together for emphasis making them all jump, "no time like the present, Attila, what have you got for us?"
Attila huffed, "You will not remember this my friends as I have been the only one free to roam these last years." He actually looked apologetic at Ahk who stopped translating for a moment to process what he'd said. Eyes widening he bowed in acknowledgement. "we have been here for many years, sometimes our night adventures wear hard on us. Sometimes those who keep us notice."
Larry did not like the ominous tone Attila's voice had taken on.
"Teddy is the most known of us. He in life built this palace of the dead for veneration and learning. He is the focus, the talisman, if he is well and shining then the palace is prospering. If he is not then good fortune is waning."
Larry honestly wasn't sure if Attila really was this articulate or Ahk was taking liberties with language. Either way, he REALLY needed to learn some Hun.
"When he dulls, when he begins to show traces and toil then he is-"
Ahk's mouth fell open, he rounded on Attila, "WHAT?!"
Attila nodded grimly.
"What?! C'mon! Ahk, partner! What did he say?"
"Ahkmenrah please!" The anticipation was shredding Octavius' nerves, it did not bode well that Ahkmenrah had once again paled horribly whilst he stared in disbelief at Attila.
"He said," Ahk was valiantly trying to compose himself.
"He said WHAT?!" Larry just about resisted the urge to shake the pharaoh, "COME ON! You're killing me here!"
Teddy just stared at the exchange in total bewilderment.
No one noticed Sacagawea and Anna enter, water in hand, striding purposefully.
"Attila said," managed Ahk in a shaking voice, "that when he dulls, begins to show traces and toil then he is replaced."
Sacagawea dropped the glass.
I'm so sorry to leave it here! I promise I will update as soon as I possibly can! Please let me know what you think, I will try not to keep you in suspense for long!