Chapter 447

"No Hard Feelings"

The blooming city of Regole, the lost souls, the wine and the mystery of it all among some of the Swords led them into the city.
"Where am I? Home? Is this home?" Were some of the words commonly muttered from the lips of the reincarnated locals after they stepped through the glow of the pyreflies.

The Swords, at first, stopped and observed the returning Atlantians. After the second or third flurry of souls, they ignored the reawakening Atlantians and journeyed deep into the city until they found a tavern.

On the second floor, above what appeared to be a bakery, they each tipsily sat on a stool. There was no barkeep. However, there were cylinder-shaped glasses behind the bar and barrels of wine and liquor. So the Swords helped themselves.

"Hey, Seth," Alexa smiled, "I heard you mix a great screwdriver."

"Screwdriver?" Seth leaned over, inspecting a barrel, "I'm not sure if they have any vodka here. Wine? Yeah, vodka and other spirits, I'm not sure."

Mandy blinked at Seth, "You don't have your memories?"

"Even if I did," Seth reminded them, "I'm not Atlantian. I'm from the North. I wouldn't know this city."

"Well, we do." Sonya said on cue, "And there are spirits here too. Maybe not all the ones that we're used to but there are plenty of different ones."

"Okay," Seth clapped his hands together, "I'll work with whatever we've got. How's that sound?"

After tying Trump and Steve Harvey to a steel pole in the corner, Seth filled glasses for everyone. One-by-one, they were passed to each Sword.

Sasha raised her glass, "This is as perfect as it can get," she turned to Sonya, "Let's toast to your upcoming oath."

"An oath?" Sonya blinked in confusion. "I have to swear an oath to you."

"No," Sasha shook her head. "Medjai don't swear oaths to queens or goddesses. You'll swear an oath to the pharaoh that you'll serve."

Sonya looked around in confusion, "But, I follow you, right?"

"Yes." Sasha nodded, "But in order for a Medjai's oath to be binding, your oath has to be sworn to a pharaoh. Swearing an oath to me would do nothing."

"Oh," Sonya caught her breath, "I'm sorry for asking so many questions but it's a lot more to this than I realized."

Sasha crossed her arms, "Are you getting cold feet?"

"No." Sonya shook her head. She took a sip from her glass, "I want this."

"Good." Sasha nodded.

"Well," Sonya surveyed the room, "Prince isn't here. So who am I going to swear my oath to?"

"Let me worry about that, okay." Sasha smiled. "I'll come get you when it's time. Just don't go too far."

"Okay." Sonya agreed.

Sasha carefully strode across the tavern. She'd found her target. If Prince wasn't there, there was another pharaoh from the east that Sonya could swear her oath to.

Carlito sat on the other side of the bar. His drink was on the table, untouched an neglected. Across from him, AJ Lee sat with a smile on her face. She seemed relieved to have a moment of peace from the melodrama of Killing Moon, Sithis, Spiritombs, destroyed airships, school bombings and brainwashed politicians.

"Excuse me," Sasha cut in, "I don't mean to interrupt but there's something I need to ask Carlito."

AJ's smile faded.

Carlito stared at Sasha, his brown eyes shooting daggers of anger at her.

Sasha either did not notice Carlito's eyes or she ignored them because she intrepidly carried on as if everything was alright, "Prince isn't here and I've found someone who wants to swear an oath to become a Medjai. Carlito, I was wondering if-"

Carlito cut her off, "Fuck off, Sasha."

Sasha paused, taken aback by his rudeness. "Wha-what?"

Carlito glared at her, "I said, fuck off." He repeated.

Before Sasha could recover, Carlito continued, "My brother might not have his memories yet but I have enough of mine to remember why the pyramids fell." Carlito shook his head staring at Sasha, "We'll fight Sithis together. Other than that, don't ask me or Madagascar for anything."

Sasha looked around the room. Did Carlito really know what happened? Had he told anyone? Even if he had, would they care? Would it matter given the situation they were in now?

Sasha, determined to nip the issue in the bud, leaned forward, "Do you have any idea why I did what I did? I did it to protect us."

Carlito glared at her, "How'd that work out, huh?"

Carlito's stance was difficult to disprove. It had been Sasha's fury that had led to her cut the tongue from the mouth of Prince. Without his tongue, Prince was unable to summon and control the East's army of dragons. The King of Kings and The Forsaken attacked, Africa fell, and the rest is history. It had been Sasha's envy and anger towards Prince's tryst with Eva that had destroyed and ruined The Promised Lands of the past. It had been her greed that usurped the Atlantian throne. Her malice that had poisoned the North with opium and her ruthlessness that led to the assassination of the Southern Empire's pharaoh. Amongst those with their ancient memories, did Sasha have any friends or allies?

Carlito had drawn a line in the sand and made his stance towards her very clear at that moment. "Whatever you need, you'll have to ask someone else for it." Carlito said flatly.

AJ stared at Sasha; it seemed as if she were going to speak. Maybe vocally back her man's position but she said nothing. She simply stared at Sasha. The one whose selfish actions toppled The Promised Lands and led to European dominance of the continent of Africa.