They continued heading east, but the pair of them were not alone. The youth, a known Beta known as Ri had joined them.

Ma'at's brows furrowed and his mouth pursed. While worry for the young man was at the forefront of his thoughts, he also had to keep from making too much noise. Whether or not the boy was following them away from his village.

He had a feeling Isfet would smirk at him if he so much as whined or whimpered from the way his body was jostled having had the Alpha inside him earlier that day.

Time was not on their side, so there was little that could be done about it. They could not afford to rest, especially after the time they'd lost while staying in the village.

"Isfet, where are we going?"

He turned his head and quirked a brow. "It seems to me you need a constant reminder of what you should call me. I'll let it slip this once due to our current company, my Bat."

A shiver ran down his back.

"As for where we're headed. I know of a larger village just beyond a bandit's nest. The home of my sire and bearer."

"Your parents!?"

"I do have them you know. If they yet live. If they were not captured as I and sold to the highest bidder."

Ma'at hoped that was not the case. Yet that meant for so many years Isfet Khaba Joktar had been away from them. They might even think him lost to them forever. Even dead.

"If they are there, then we should leave Ri."

"Why?"

"He is a child. He should not be involved in the war we shall wage upon your uncle and his supporters."

"Oh. But will he be safe there?"

"Safer than his own village. Safer than with us when we turn back toward your Kingdom, young prince."

Behind them, Ri yawned and spoke as if he'd not been listening to a word they uttered. "It'll be dark soon."

Glancing over his shoulder, Ma'at frowned. "True." He looked to Isfet, "Master," this time he remembered, "where will we rest for the night?"

"We can't. We must forge ahead to gain the time we lost."

"You and I may be able to stay awake, but what about Ri?"

"Tie him to his mount if he starts to fall asleep. Or let him ride with you and keep him from falling off. Either way, we can not stop. Not long enough for a rest."

Ri glanced between the pair of them, "I'm fine. I can stay awake. No need to tie me up!"

Ma'at smiled, "Okay, but if you think you're going to fall asleep, please inform us."

"I will!"

Up ahead, lit only by the light of the moon as the sun disappeared behind them, they took notice of a large boulder.

Isfet pulled back on the reins of his mount. When his stopped so did the other two steeds still in their tracks.

"Isfet, what is it?" He whispered next to him, too worried to realize he'd forgotten the title by which he was to call him.

"There's someone up there. I can't be sure if they're an enemy or not. We must approach with caution, my prince."

With a nod,he gave his steed a light squeeze of his heels to move him forward, slow and steady with Isfet and his mount at their side.

Ri followed closely behind the pair.


Bruce wanted to yell at the prince, as well as Isfet Khaba Joktar and Ri, son of Gray for placing themselves in danger going forward the way they were.

At least this scenario didn't make him feel uncomfortable nor confused. Not the way the guy who looked much too much like The Joker did when he was the one looking out for the welfare of the preteen better than Prince Ma'at himself. Granted the prince was still at a naive young age himself despite being an adult.

There was also something about Ri, son of Gray that felt familiar. As if even he too had somehow known him, before all of these scenes played before him, unable to do a single thing to help or guide them. He couldn't even help take down that asshole innkeeper or the assassin from before.

He had a feeling in his gut, that the trio approached yet another assassin and if not an assassin, some form of criminal of their bygone era.


Joker growled in his own unfitful slumber as the scenes of long ago replayed in his head. It had been so long a time since he'd last had so much rise to the surface of his conscience, the memories of so long ago. It seemed they'd never completely been forgot, no matter what he tried. No matter how much time passed between then and the current time.

If only he could speak through the lips of his past self, he could warn himself. Warn Prince Ma'at too of the dangers they were heading toward with every step forward, with every day that passed in that long-ago time.

To be able to see him brought a bittersweet joy. Not to be able to hold him, or speak to him brought anger to the forefront as he tried to lash out against the memories that brought only remembered pain and terrible loss. Worst of all watching it happen before his eyes and being unable to change a damn thing and knowing what was to come.


Ma'at kept close to Isfet. Glanced over his shoulder to be certain of Ri's safety. Could not find a place for them to hide as the land was devoid of cover save for a few small shrubs here and there. With one or two young trees bent in one direction by the wind.

He turned his gaze to look ahead as he felt the shadow from the tall towering rock fall over them.

Gasped when he caught the figure's shadow in his sight. "Isfet, archer."

Isfet nodded, "Dismount and run to the rock formation ahead. Do not run in a straight line." He hopped off his mount and helped both him and Ri down from there's.

He saw the man pull a dagger from a sheath within one of the sacks on his mount.

"What are you going to do Isfet?"

"Whatever I must, my prince. It is either kill or be killed."

He did not like the sound of that, but he had Ri to consider. "Come on Ri," he took his hand and began a mad dash toward the rocks that Isfet had told them to go toward.

He zigged and zagged. Turning one and then again. With every step, is heart raced quickened. Felt his heart jump to his throat a moment when a whoosh past his ear.

Upon reaching the rock, he pushed Ri behind it and tucked and rolled behind the youth as an arrow rushed toward them.

Ri gasped. "Prince Ma'at, you're hurt!"

Blinking he glanced down, placed his hand over his side just above his hip. Felt the warmth and wetness of his blood. "I'm fine. It only grazed me. I've had worse," which he'd never had to say before. Still,it was the truth. Not so many days ago he'd had an arrowhead pierce his flesh rather than just graze him.

He glanced around the rock to look for Isfet, worried that he might have been taken out. What he saw had his mouth agape. The man was climbing up the rock as the archer began to climb down.

Ri whispered, "Do you think Isfet will kill him?"

"I'd rather he didn't. However, Isfet is correct. This is war as much as I hate that. We have no holding cells and my uncle will just keep sending more and more. Unless they stop trying to murder myself and Isfet, or anyone we come into contact with we don't have much of a choice." He wished they did, because he did not want death on his hands, but knew none of them would get out of the coming war unscathed.