They arrived at Edfu not long after.
The city of Edfu was grand, lined with houses and shops around every corner, merchants beckoning their customers to buy goods, children playing along the streets, and adults walking around, chattering about their merry lives. All in all, the city felt homely and noisy and Hathor gazed at everything with awe.
Hathor looked at the structures and made an impressed hum. "My! How lively this city is! Tell me, how does it go at night?" He exclaimed, causing a few heads to turn then turn away from the utter beauty of the god.
Horus smiled–a few giggling girls called to him for attention, but he did not pay them attention– and spoke, voice a low murmur. "Lively enough to cause disruptions."
People gave them glances but did not dare approach them as they walked pass by. The denizens of Edfu knew when someone was in a hurry so they didn't bother calling to the strangers (or gods in this case) and let them go. Some of the male and female population gave Hathor some lust filled glances but otherwise didn't approach the love god, and as for Horus, girls giggled as he walked along with Hathor. He was used to this kind of attention but it did make anything less awkward.
The two gods walked straight on the gold sanded path, Hathor peering over Horus' shoulder when they stopped. The god of love blinked and looked up at the war God.
"Why are we in your temple Horus?" Hathor asked, one brow shooting up in question.
"We can find our first clue in here, dear Hathor. I can conjure a map inside with my power, I can make it be visual if I chant a spell," Horus replied with a shrug. "Besides, we need to know where we're going if we have to find whoever is causing trouble."
"Huh.. point taken." Hathor nodded. "Can't have the panicking when they see a floating picture now can they?" He teased.
Horus chuckled. "You could say that."
They arrived at the gate of the temple–Horus then added. "What would people day if they saw that?"
Hathor snorted, giggling at the mental picture of the citizens running and screaming when presented with a floating picture. "Oh they wouldn't say anything, Lord of air. They would just scream and pass out from shock and fear."
Both of them snickered and then turned to the temple. It was massive, no gate to block the entrance, golden limestone used as walls and pillars. The inner part had a large courtyard with the temple inside bearing intricate hieroglyphics that swirled and danced around the stone columns proudly.
Horus and Hathor walked in to the temple. There was no one around so they were free to pass and be granted passage. Besides, this was Horus' temple after all.
Hathor hummed, lips quirking into a smile. "Lovely temple I must say." He complimented, letting his eyes rave the glyphs carved on to the stone.
A shadow slithered along the walls unheard and unseen like a predator observing it's prey.
Horus did not answer Hathor nor did he notice the shadow that followed them as they went inside the temple that was deserted at the moment. The sky god swept his gaze around and then shut his eyes, free hand closed into a fist, pointed to his chest. His spear was held in the other, hanging by the half naked male's side. He opened his mouth and began to chant, golden light escaping Horus' form in cloudy wisps.
Hathor blinked rapidly and watched Horus with curiosity as his mouth moved and his voice reverberated around the halls, bouncing and echoing, a roar of a lion if the god of love observed. It wasn't entirely unpleasant to listen to, merely strange since Hathor often didn't see Horus perform spells or chant anything at all.
The shadows moved closer, hiding behind a pillar, far enough not to be noticed, prying and listening to what the two gods would soon discussing. Information was a must after all, or his master would not be pleased.
Horus continued to chant, his forehead feeling hot, it felt like hot sand was poured over his skin, grating and irritating but he didn't pay attention to this and continued his task, his body was burning up yet he pushed through as his 'eye' blazed to life and he snapped both of them open.
"Unveil!" He commanded.
Bright yellow light shot out from Horus' right eye, bursting to life and giving form, a spherical shape of gold with white dots splayed all around showing a landmark of sorts. The image was transparent and Hathor realized with a start that this was a projection which made him gasp and shuffle close, intrigued beyond belief.
"Wow... I didn't know you had that ability," he cooed, amazed as he stepped closer until he was almost nose to nose with the yellow golden visual.
Horus shrugged, feeling his body rise in temperature slightly– seriously, he needed to lay off on sunbathing–chuckling as his right eye continued to glow, walking closer, the image not moving when he thought of it not to.
"Ah, this ability only works whenever I am in my temple, a great use if only I can conjure it everywhere." He smugly said and then sobered. "Perhaps we shall start, yes?"
Hathor nodded. "Right,"
The both of them stared at the glowing yellow sphere, the white blinking landmarks beckoning for attention. Horus then pointed at a spot on the upper left, tan fingers skimming along the almost transparent image projected by his eye, Hathor's attention immediately swept up at Horus' voice as his eyes also locked on the finger pointing to the landmark.
"We have arrived at Edfu to get our clue and so far we come out empty handed. Our next option would be to Thoth's temple, in Hermopolis, he probably knows who our enemy is. We'll have to do something about it though, his pride is up the roof about knowledge, so he won't give insights and knowledge that easily. Perhaps I challenge him to a game?" Horus mumbled as Hathor listened to what he said.
Hathor frowned and stuck a blonde bang behind his ear. "If you mean challenge in games I'll do it. I pretty much know about the games he play. He's probably challenge you to a game of dice or Senet, and who better to do that than me?" He pointed out then added.
"Though, if we have to find more clues shouldn't we ask for help to the others? Perhaps a mortal to help us with our clue? Or maybe another god or goddess?"
Horus stared and then made a noise at the back of his throat. "point...taken, I suppose." He then shook his head. "I'm afraid that us asking a mortal is of less help, they'd probably cower at us and the intimidating presence we'd invoke. Cowardly, yes, but mortals are mortals, they can't handle what we live and what we see, or hear. They can be narrow minded and foolish to believe that magic does not exist,
"As for the others, I don't think it's a very good idea to assemble a large group or ask too much. It'll raise suspicion and we're trying to be discreet as possible. If other gods or goddesses would be involved then Egypt will have her walls stained with unnecessary blood of the innocent. The less gods involved, the less bloodshed there will be. We cannot risk the lives of mortals and other gods, that's why Ra sent us here." Horus explained.
There was a few moment of silence as Hathor bobbled his head in understanding. "Alright then, to Thoth's then?" He asked with a small smile.
Horus nodded and took a deep breath, chest rising as he did so. "Yes, to Thoth's we must make haste on leaving, the sun will not wait for us."
The landmarks blinked and the dot on Thoth's domain turned red like blood.
The shadows eyes glowed in delight, and then it vanished in a flash, so fast it left behind an energy charge that alerted both the primary gods in the temple.
Horus and Hathor tensed, the falcon god growling low in his throat. He let his guard slip. Curse his focused nature!
"It appears... That someone has overheard our discussion." he whispered, whole body trembling, voice menacing as he barked a sharp command, the projection closing in a snap, Horus' eye returning to their normal blood red color. The falcon god closed his eyes and concentrated, sniffing the air and using his eyes to search for the one who had dare eavesdrop on them.
Hathor narrowed his eyes and tutted, feet tripping as he stumbled over to where the shadow once crept. The mistress of the west trailed his fingertips on the surface, trying to familiarize who's energy signature was being used. He had interacted with lots of gods but nothing like this kind of energy he had encountered, it was foreign, strange, and out of place. He didn't know what it was. Frustrated, he turned to Horus.
"Did you pick up who's energy is this yet?" He asked, his voice showing his frustration.
Horus shook his head not a moment later, opening his eyes and rubbing his face with his hand, clearly infuriated.
"No," he said, gripping his spear tightly in his hand, his knuckle turned white. "But the trail it left. I can see it. It's still fresh.. and it's heading for Thoth."
Hathor gaped at that and quickly stood up, whispering in horror at the news, dread forming on the pits of his stomach, feeling it knot and choke him. "Oh dear... Let us not stay here any longer. We have overstayed our welcome and I cannot risk another god being smitten by the foreign entity who was spying on us earlier.
Horus grunted, nodding and then gesturing for Hathor to follow him, both of them leaving in haste. Hathor's robes and Horus' capes fluttered in their hurry. They couldn't afford to let that thing get it's hand on Thoth.
Not on their watch. They'd have to save lives as much as possible.