Hello guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Replies:
Guest: There is only one being in Percy's dreams, and the only secret name that they know is Carters, Carter doesn't know Percy and Sadie's and Sadie and Percy don't know each others. The name is sort of the magical embodiment of who they are. And you will learn the voices identity soon enough.
Guest: I mean, I'd assume they all do, it's never stated in the book, and it's magic.
Guest: You'll have to wait and see- but remember Percy's amulets shield her from all things Greek at this stage still.
Guest: I mean, I don't plan on her having PTSD at this stage but I do think canon Percy does honestly so it may happen in the future.

Percy felt small by the time she was done telling Carter and Sadie about her dreams, about everything, but neither of them got angry with her. They seemed to realise that yelling wouldn't do any good- instead Sadie clambered into the bed on the other side of Percy- and they sandwiched her between them both, and she they held her as she cried, cried from fear of that strange, terrifying voice, from guilt for not telling them before.

And when Bes returned he popped into the room briefly- to give them all their new clothes and some chocolate, and to tell them that they were going to rest until the following morning- because of how weak Carter was after his brush with death.

Percy was grateful for that- Sadie was clearly not happy with it but even she had conceded that they'd all been put through the wringer and they needed a break.

And for the first few hours the three Kanes didn't even leave the bed- Zia and Bes watched the TV and talked in the living room, giving them privacy.

Eventually they did leave the bedroom, they changed into the clothes that Bes had fetched for them, and they headed out onto the veranda- where Zia and Bes joined them, ordering room service.

Percy found herself gazing out over the ocean, a deep longing in the pit of her stomach as she stared out there.

Thankfully the others seemed to notice her distraction because they didn't try and drawn her attention. And of course- as much as they wished that the peace could last forever they all know it couldn't so eventually Sadie pulled out the two scrolls from the Book of Ra and laid them on the patio table, and that drew Percy's attention. And Sadie told Carter what had happened while he'd been out of it due to being poisoned- and Carter looked furious when Sadie told him that Set had threatened Percy, though he didn't say anything- it was only once Sadie was done with her story that Carter leaned forward- and Percy was so painfully relieved as she watched him- he looked so much better now that it was hard to believe how close he'd come to dying.

"Bahariya..." Carter's voice was thoughtful, "I know that name. Why do I know that name?" His gaze slipped to Percy, who gave a small shrug.

"It's familiar but I can't place it." she admitted.

"It's an Oasis." Bes spoke up, a frown on his lips, "Way out in the desert. The mummies buried there were a secret until 1996. Then some fool donkey put its leg through a hole in the ground and broke open the top of a tomb."

"Right!" Carter beamed- and Percy nodded as she remembered- it had been a long time since she remembered being told about that.

"It's called the Valley of the Golden Mummies."

"Yes." Zia nodded, a worried look on her face, "This is most worrying."

"I like gold." Sadie said slowly, "Mummies not so much."

"I like Oasis'." Percy added, "Water's always good."

"Don't worry Sadie." Bes piped up, "You just haven't met enough mummies."

"So the last scroll is hidden there?" Sadie asked.

Bes shrugged. "It would make sense. The oasis is out of the way. Wasn't found until recently. There are also powerful curses in place to prevent portal travel. The mortal archaeologists have excavated some of the tombs, but there's still a huge network of tunnels and chambers no one's opened in thousands of years. Lots of mummies."

"Cool." Percy nodded- after all she was used to mummies- she'd seen a lot of them over the years, they could be creepy but they weren't that creepy.

"When you say lots of mummies-" Sadie's voice was almost hesitant, "How many exactly is lots." "They've uncovered a few hundred," Bes said, "out of maybe ten thousand."

"Ten thousand?" Sadie sounded horrified at that, and she looked horrified that Percy, Carter and Zia didn't look even remotely phased by the idea of that many mummies.

"Sadie-" Carter's lips twitched- he was trying to hide his amusement. "It's not like they're going to come to life and kill you."

"The Mummy films weren't very accurate- which is sad cause they're super cool. You don't need to be scared Sadie."

"I'm not scared." Sadie gave Percy a dirty look, and when Carter let out a laugh despite his best efforts, and Sadie threw a chunk of chocolate- which Carter dodged easily, and it made Zia laugh softly. "I'm not okay, it's just creepy, thinking of there being that many dead people."

"Anyway." Bes stopped them before they could start bickering, "most of the mummies are from Roman times. They're not even properly Egyptian. Bunch of Latin wannabes trying to get into our afterlife because it's cooler. But some of the older tombs…well, we'll just have to see. With two parts of the Book of Ra, you should be able to track down the third part once you get close enough."

"How, exactly?" Sadie leaned forward.

Bes shrugged. "When magic items get broken up, the pieces are like magnets. The closer they get, the more they attract each other."

Sadie looked somewhat unhappy, but Percy nodded, "That'll be pretty useful."

"Right." Sadie let out a snort, "So all we have to do is creep through a network of tombs past ten thousand golden mummies, who probably, almost for sure, won't come to life and kill us."

"Yeah," Bes said. "Well, they're not really solid gold. Most of them are just painted with gold. But, yeah."

"That makes a huge difference."

"Then it's decided." Carter sounded thrilled. "We can leave in the morning. How far is it?"

"A little over two hundred miles," Bes said, "but the roads are iffy. And portals…well, like I said, the oasis is cursed against them. And even if it wasn't, we're back in the First Nome. It would be wise to use as little magic as possible. If you're discovered in Desjardins' home territory…"

"It'd be bad." Percy spoke up, pursing her lips. "For you guys anyway. He wants me alive."

"He certainly doesn't want me alive." Zoe looked uncomfortable as she said that. "Being back here is very dangerous. We have no choice I know- but this won't be easy."

"It won't." Percy shook her head, pulling a face, "'S why Set was so happy-"

"Set!" Sadie's eyes widened, "There's something else- gods I'd almost forgot about it- he said something weird."

"What?" Carter straightened up, "What is it Sadie?"

"It was the last thing he said to us." Sadie glanced at Percy, who nodded slowly, straightening as she tried to remember what Set had said.

"He said something about Iskander." she said slowly, "Said he hid something before his death, something about how it'd be helpful if we want to wake Ra."

"What?" Zia's eyes widened. "Iskander hid something? But what-"

"He didn't say." Sadie shook her head, "But he told us where whatever it was he hid was hidden." she told them, "He said it was hidden in Makan al-Ramal al-Hamrah?"

And Zia lurched to her feet so suddenly that she knocked over the little table.

Percy let out a startled yelp as her drink- some orange squash, spilled all over her- before she could even get to her feet Zia was rushing inside and Carter let out a curse.

"What the- I'll go after her!" he rushed inside-and Percy exchanged worried looks with Sadie and Bes, before she pouted as he looked down at her new clothes- which were now wet, with a steadily growing patch of orange.

"Awe..." her nose scrunched up, "Come on-and I can't even go inside and get changed 'cause Carter's gotta find out what's up with Zia."

"She recognised the name." Bes looked worried, "I can't say it rings any bells- but clearly it's important to her-"

"Which kind of makes sense. Iskander loved Zia. If he left something important- he'd leave it somewhere to do with her."

"Wherever this place is-" Sadie's voice was hesitant, "We can't go there and get the scroll at the same time- we won't have enough time." she pointed out quietly, an unhappy look on her face.

"We-" Percy blinked, "We'll have to split up." she felt a little bit sick

"That is a terrible idea." Bes shook his head, "You two-"

"We'll discuss it when Carter and Zia come back out." Sadie's voice was firm, and she tugged Percy into her side.

And Carter and Zia returned, perhaps an hour late- Zia's face was paler than usual, but her eyes were bloodshot and red rimmed, and Carter's expression was grim, "You two- we're going to need to-"

"Split up," Sadie finished, "We already figured that out."

"If-" Zia's voice was slightly hoarse, "If Iskander hid something there of all places... then there is some reason-it must be something important."

"Where is there?" Percy asked hesitantly, watching Zia with a worried look on her face.

"My village." Zia answered stiffly, "It was where I was found- destroyed as a child."

Sadie sucked in a sharp little breath at that and Percy's eyes widened. "Oh."

"We must find whatever Iskander left there- it must be important- to leave it there of all places."

"Of course." Sadie nodded, squeezing Percy closer, "We understand. Right?"

"Yeah." Percy nodded before aiming a warning look at her big brother, "Look after Zia for me." she ordered, "You gotta look after Zia okay?"

"Of course." Carter managed a strained smile, gripping Zia's hand tightly- and Percy could see that Zia's knuckles where white too.

"We don't know where exactly it is but we're going to find it."

"Bes." Sadie's gaze turned to the god, "Do you think you could find it."

"I-" Bes still looked very unhappy, "Maybe, but it would take time. You've got a little more than two days left. The equinox starts the day after tomorrow at sunset. Getting to the oasis of Bahariya is a full day of travel. Finding this ruined village—easily a day too. Once you've got the Book of Ra, you'll need to allow another day at least to figure out how to use it. I guarantee awakening Ra will mean a trip into the Duat, where time is always unpredictable. You'll have to be back with Ra at dawn on the equinox— It's possible if you split ways but... you won't have much time and if anything goes wrong-"

"We have no choice." Carter looked like he wanted to scream- Percy knew that the last thing he wanted was to split up, but they could need whatever it was Iskander had hidden.

"How will we find each other?"

"Let's meet back here." Sadie decided, "You, Bes and Zia go to this village, leave at dawn- Percy and I will too. Allow ourselves twenty-four hours, no longer, for me and Percy to find the scroll, and for you guys to find the village, and then get back to Alexandria.

Bes grunted. "Not enough time. Even if everything goes perfectly, that'll leave you about twelve hours to put together the Book of Ra and use it before the eve of the equinox."

"We've worked on time limits before." Percy piped up, "We pulled it off last time."

"We did." Carter took a deep breath, "It's our only chance. We have to try but-"

"But what?" Sadie frowned, "Are you going to say something stupid"

"No-" Carter shook his head, "I just- I don't like the idea of you two going off into the desert on your own-"

"Why?" Percy's eyes narrowed and she put her hands on her hips, "Don't think we can do it?"

"Oh gods know-" Carter's lips twitched and he managed a weak smile, "I'm just worried about the destruction you two will cause together. You need someone to keep you from blowing things up-"

"Now that's just rude." Sadie shot back, managing a smile too- and as she spoke she raised her hand, fingers brushing over her necklace- the one Walt had gotten her. "But if it worries you that much... I can call for some help."

"Walt." Carter looked almost pleased as he said that and Sadie nodded.

"He can't."Bes shook his head."

"Why not?" Percy asked before Sadie could, "Walt's smart and he's skilled."

"I—" Bes faltered. "Look, I promised Bast I'd watch you, keep you safe."

"And I expect you to watch Carter and Zia very well. They'll need you to find this village. As for us.., Percy and I could manage fine on our own but if you insist that we need back up then Walt can help us."

"But—"

"Whatever Walt's bloody secret is, whatever you're trying to protect him from, it's making him miserable. He wants to help. And I'm going to let him."

"I wouldn't argue." Percy remarked, "That's her stubborn voice."