Epilogue

Tally walked into the Egyptian Wing and prepared for Ahkmenrah's awakening. When he did awaken, she stopped him from kissing her and whispered, "I played your brother like a fiddle for information."

"What information, dare I ask?"

"The translation of your curse, so I could derive a countermeasure in case worst come to worst."

"Oh, I'm afraid I must disapprove of such behavior. Of course, not being a stupid pharaoh, I realize it wouldn't make any difference either way." Ahkmenrah kissed her passionately. "You've still been very bad, however."

"Fine, fine, I'll change, but just for you."

"Now, that makes me feel special."

"Good. That's what I was going for." He kissed her again.

"You really didn't need to tell me about what you've done. I weaseled it out of my brother."

"I had to own up somehow. It's not like I could tell your brother."

"I'm sure Kahmunrah's listening somewhere. He always does."

"Good to know."

"I suppose you've got to leave now."

"Yeah, I've gotta go finish my rounds."

"Will you come back?"

"As always."

As Tally walked away, something came to her, a phrase Ahkmenrah told her before the chaos came in force. "Let life be the River Nile," she whispered, "flowing, changing, flooding, going dry. Ride it to the afterlife." She smiled at the conclusion of this phrase.

Kahmunrah leaned against the wall of the Egyptian room. "You told her that?"

"You heard?" Ahkmenrah asked.

"Of course. She was whispering it to herself leaving the Egyptian Wing. I just recognized the phrase."

"I knew you'd recognize it. How many times have you heard it?"

"Perhaps as often as you have, but how badly have you needed it, especially after our parents died and I virtually abandoned you?"

"Don't remind me." Ahkmenrah's gaze hardened, but he kept the rest of his face smooth out of habit.

"Fine, then what do you wish us to discuss instead?"

"I never said I wished to discuss anything." Ahkmenrah pulled Kahmunrah into an embrace, but it took a little time before he wrapped his arms around his younger brother. "It's been far too long, don't you think?"

"I was naive enough to assume one was enough."

"Since when is one enough?"

"Start listening. I said I was naive."

"Fair enough." Kahmunrah sighed and turned his gaze upward. "There's just no stopping you, is there?"

"There are some matters I never yield on."

"Would I be one of them?"

"What do you think?"

"Oh, I'm in for it."