The Rival: It depends on my mood and the level of inspiration I feel at any given time. Just keep an eye on the fic and I think you'll be pleased.
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The populace of the capital city gave overwhelming support to Theoris and his family, as was expected of them and it was also what they expected of themselves. Search parties were sent out in all directions, desperately trying to find Abana, but it was to no avail. She could not be found.
Days passed by like minutes in Theoris's eyes, which seemed a direct contrast to what he had experienced throughout his life, as far as tragedy went. He had always known tragedy to prolong time. Now, though, with as much tragedy as the population had suffered together, by that theory, time would virtually stand still.
The full moon passed over them, again and again. Theoris lost hope for his daughter, and soon, so did the rest of the city. There was a requiem his eyes were open during it, but they hardly saw anything that his mind registered as worth noticing; least of all the masses of coats that had been laid down before him.
He ventured into the desert more often, taking the Millennium Shield with him. He would weather the searing heat of the day and the blistering cold of the night, always in conference with the spirit of Khensthoth.
One cold evening, Theoris found himself huddling inside the minimal protection he possessed, with the Millennium Shield propped up to blunt the force of the wind.
I am glad that I am not able to sense temperature here. I never did enjoy the cold desert.
I am so happy for you, Theoris groused, pulling his tunic more tightly around his frame.
There are more of those mages out there somewhere.
I assume you are not speaking of the Shadow mages that the Pharaoh ousted.
Hardly. I refer to the mages that attacked us outside the city.
How do you know?
The shield allows me to sense them I know not where they lie now, but I do know that they remain in this world.
Why was the first one so eager to get his hands on the shield?
It is a Millennium item. Notice the fervor with which he attempted to touch it. He wanted the power held within, the power that you now control through it.
Are there others who want it?
Most definitely.
And what should I do about it?
After losing two of their kin to it, they will be more cautious about it but there is no mistake that they will still want it. And since the first one referred to it as "a Millennium item", rather than the Millennium Shield
They will want the other items, as well?
One can only assume so.
So, back to my original question what should I do about it?
Be careful. They will almost certainly try to attain the shield, and any other Millennium item within reach.
Theoris sighed. Is there nothing else we can do?
For the moment, I can think of little else.
Theoris sighed again and huddled even more securely behind the shield, as the wind began to rise. Then the thought struck him. Is not the shield meant to protect?
It is.
Then might we use the power of the shield to protect the other Millennium items from the view of those mages?
Hmm interesting proposal. Are you suggesting that the mages are able to sense the items?
Why else would two of them be that far outside the city? Certainly not for their health, with those creatures on the rampage. Something had to have drawn them there.
Perhaps, then, the items are in more danger than we first thought.
Are we going to assume they do not all have that same power?
If they did, there would have been more of them amongst our soldiers. Yet there was only one.
Then we have to find a way to protect them. How could we go about such a task?
I do not know. I must explore the abilities of the shield further.
You do that I need sleep if I am to have a clear mind tomorrow.
Very well.
Theoris slept.
And he dreamed.
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Theoris's dreams and Khensthoth's explorations were experienced by both of them at the same time, since Theoris had the shield covering his head to avoid the blistering winds. Both were terrified and amazed by what they saw, and Theoris did not awaken for many hours. Both of them explored the vast abilities of the shield, as well as the vast abilities of Theoris's mind.
When his eyes finally opened, they were nearly blinded by the sunlight that poured under the edge of the shield.
And Theoris knew exactly what to do.
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Theoris returned to the capital city a day later, drenched in sweat and breathing hard. Such journeys into the desert were extremely taxing on him; while this was the entire point, both he and Khensthoth knew that it was, nonetheless, dangerous for him to do so.
It is simply a test of will.
If you say so, Theoris.
Theoris trudged through the doorway to his modest home, where his wife and son were waiting for him. Salatis was ready for him with a bowl of water, while Tamin took him by the arm and sat him down on his cot.
"Theoris, why must you insist on risking your life out in that terrible heat?" Tamin asked, bitter concern in her voice. "It does you no good, nor does it do your family any good."
Theoris sipped his water. "I know I am worrying you but it is something I have to do."
"It is because of that shield, is it not? That shield has something to do with this foolishness."
He sighed and nodded. "Yes."
"What is it about this new shield of yours that inspires you to defy nature itself? You know you cannot win with just a shield at your side a soldier must know the weaknesses he and his equipment possess."
"You could not understand if I tried to explain it to you, Tamin but the Millennium Shield has powers beyond my comprehension. Beyond the comprehension of any."
"But does it possess the power to keep you alive out there in the desert?"
He hesitated.
"Theoris, I lost a daughter so did you. Salatis lost a sister. Surely you do not want to add to our suffering by making us lose you, too." Tamin sat down next to him and softly stroked his back. "We have only just gotten you back from the duties of the army and we find we cannot have you even then?"
Theoris sipped more water, but again did not respond.
"Theoris I fear for you I do not want to lose you now, not after you have come back to us after so long." Tamin leaned into him and rested her head on his chest. "I have missed you"
Theoris brought a hand up to stroke her hair. He lightly kissed the top of her head. "And I have missed you."
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Theoris and Tamin made love that night. Theoris absorbed every single moment with his wife, even as a sense of impending began to creep into him. He lived for his wife, breathed with her, smiled with her, wept with her, cried out with her he took in every moment of it, wanting to leave nothing behind.
For some reason, a part of his mind seemed to think that very soon, he would be leaving everything behind.
He didn't know why.
But he didn't want to wake up in the morning and find that the feeling was right thus erasing his memory.
That was why he had a very hard time closing his eyes after.
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Theoris awoke early the next morning, just before the sun began to creep over the horizon. His wife lay sleeping in his arms, while his son was in the other room. He carefully moved to avoid waking Tamin from whatever dream was making her smile.
He trod to where the shield rested against the wall, covered by a blanket, and he hefted the shield. Khensthoth it is time.
Yes. It is.
Theoris set out for the palace.
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When they reached the palace gates, they were not surprised to see mages standing guard along with soldiers. The mages stepped forward one of them, Theoris recalled quite clearly.
"Haremakhet good to see you again," said Theoris.
"Theoris," Haremakhet acknowledged. His azure eyes glanced down at the shield, and widened somewhat upon spying the Eye of Horus that adorned it. "A Millennium item?"
"Yes."
"I was under the impression that the items had been sealed away."
"Do you know where they were sealed?"
Haremakhet's eyes flashed with a dangerous light. "No. And even if I did, I would not tell you."
Theoris sighed. He and Khensthoth had half-expected such resistance. "I can assure you that I am not here to take them for my own personal gain."
"For the gain of others, then?"
"No. I only require momentary contact with the items. I am looking to protect them."
"From what?"
"A band of magicians that wants the items."
Haremakhet's eyes narrowed. "I thought we had done away with the traitors."
"Not traitors. New magicians, ones with powers I cannot comprehend."
"If you cannot comprehend their powers, how can you claim to be able to protect the items from them?" Haremakhet asked, suspicion now evident in his tone.
"These magicians were drawn to the Millennium Shield by its power. I fear they will try to find the others in the same manner. I believe there is a way to protect the items, but I must be in contact with them in order for the protection to take place."
"Once again, I ask if you do not know the power these supposed magicians possess, how is it possible that your protection would do any good against them?"
Theoris's eyes hardened. "This is not supposition, Haremakhet, this is fact. I had thought you would know me better than this by now I do not take action unless I believe it to be necessary."
"That was never in doubt, Theoris, until you said so just now." Haremakhet folded his hands in front of his pelvis.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Perhaps your Millennium Shield has clouded your judgment. Perhaps you have tasted too much of its power and perhaps you now want to take the powers of the other items."
"To do that, I would require more than just momentary contact with the items I would need all of them at once. I only ask that I come into momentary contact even separately, if wished."
"I am sorry, Theoris, but it cannot be allowed."
Theoris could feel Khensthoth bristling within the shield. As if he held any dominion over you...
He does. I am a civilian now.
An honored one. He should harbor more respect.
Could you blame him for his suspicion? I do not. And that is why I put up with his accusations. Theoris breathed a small sigh. "Very well. Then at least allow me to speak with the court on the matter."
Haremakhet grunted. "You believe you will have any more luck with twelve mages than you did with one? Now you are suffering delusions, as well. One might wonder if the demons of the Shadow have returned in another form."
How dare he imply that, after what you've done for him!
Khensthoth, please, please believe me... I am angry as well. But we cannot let our anger distract us. Focus on the goal. "If I am truly suffering delusions, as you say, then the court will see it even more easily than you, and they shall determine my fate. Until then, I am still considered sane and clear-minded by the rest of the populace, and ask that you at least pretend to still hold respect for me. I must speak to the court. Will you let me pass?"
Haremakhet growled, but otherwise quietly stepped aside.
Theoris passed through the gate and moved toward the palace. This does not bode well for us, if one mage is that insistent. What happens if the court rejects our request?
Then we will simply have to find another way.
We will, indeed. Are you willing to do what it takes to protect the items?
Yes. Whatever the cost may be.
Even your own life?
I will protect the items if it means the next thousand generations place a curse on my name. You have shown me what power just one item possesses. No one should come into control of the powers of the items except through destiny. Least of all, those magicians.
Indeed.
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Theoris could feel the sudden weight in the air when he entered the throne room, where the court of mages resided. All eyes were on the Millennium Shield. Theoris could sense that they were spying it with great wariness, and he supposed he could understand why. They must know the powers of the Millennium items, including this one. And this one has been "out in the open", so to speak. One can still hope that Haremakhet will remain the heaviest opposition, but something else tells me that will not be the case...
"What business have you with this court, Theoris?" The mage who had spoken, Kenamun, was a stout and portly sort, but he was also one of the most powerful and wise mages of the court.
"My business concerns the Millennium items," Theoris flatly answered. There is no sense in straining their patience with a story.
"I thought as much!" Nebankh declared. Nebankh was older and more frail than most of the other mages, but he was also known for his narrow-mindedness. That trait had actually kept Egypt sane all this time, because his ability to focus on goals was unparalleled in the court. He was decisive and knew the course of action he would take the instant he considered anything.
The mages were all seated, but Nebankh looked as if he wanted to get to his feet. As it was, he pointed an accusing finger at Theoris. "One item was not enough for you... now you seek them all!"
Theoris raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "That is not the case, Nebankh, I can assure you."
"Then the question that comes next is: What business have you with the Millennium items?" This time it was a youthful healer, Adjedaa, who had spoken. She had not been on the court very long, but she had presented valuable insight on the morale of the general population, and on how to keep it high, despite the trials of late.
Theoris was hesitant in answering flat-out again. He didn't want another roaring accusation from Nebankh. Should I tell them the whole story?
Tell them what you wish, but the more quickly this matter is concluded, the better off the items will be.
I must appease the court in order to do this the most quickly. "When General Khensthoth directed his armies to protect the people on the night the Shadow creatures roamed, he did so while bearing this shield. He was given the blessing of the Pharaoh. However, when he traveled to the edge of the city, this shield became his death sentence.
"A magician bearing a power I cannot describe fell upon Khensthoth and his men. The magician was clearly seeking the shield. I only barely managed to escape him and another like him with my life and this item. Khensthoth and the other men were not as fortunate.
"I seek the Millennium items to grant them protection from those magicians, using the powers this shield possesses."
"To offer this service means that you have learned to harness its power," uttered Surero, one of the more rash of the court. He was generally an unorthodox man -- this by nature -- and that trait had served well to balance out Nebankh's irritating petulance. "Is that not so?"
Theoris nodded once. "It is."
"And if you have harnessed the power of one item, what is to stop you from harnessing that of the others?" Nebankh crowed. His bony finger had fallen back to his side, but his ice-cold stare remained directly on Theoris. "What makes you even think we should believe what you have to say to us?"
"Because I also fought in the service of the Pharaoh." Theoris did not look at Nebankh, but rather at the entire assembly, as he spoke. "I did what was asked of me, and I did more. Yes, I do know the powers of the shield. And if I did not, our city would still be infested with Shadow creatures, and not a single one of us would be alive to tell the tale."
"Yet there is no Pharaoh to hold your allegiance to now," said Nebankh, in a quieter tone.
"That is through no fault of my own," Theoris calmly responded. "I owe my allegiance to my people. That is what both the Pharaoh and General Khensthoth taught me, and that is the lesson I will take with me when I leave this world."
He looked around the court once more. "And it is because of my allegiance to my people that I am here before you today. I believe the magicians were able to sense the shield because of the power it possesses. And if this is the case, then they are also able to sense the other items and where they are located."
A low murmur passed through the court upon this revelation. Kenamun spoke up above the others. "And this is why you are offering your services? To hide the other items from the view of these magicians?"
Theoris again nodded once. "That is precisely the reason. I seek only momentary contact with the items to grant them the protection they need."
"You claim to be unable to describe the powers of these magicians," said Surero. "I shall leave it for the sake of argument that these magicians exist in the first place. If that is true, how do you know that your efforts will have any effect on whether they are able to find the items?"
"I do not," Theoris answered. "I freely admit that. But if they are searching for the items, it would not be a hindrance to at least try."
"And what guarantee have we that you will not attempt to take the power of the Millennium items for yourself?" Surero asked.
"You have my word," Theoris responded. "And that is all I can give you. The word of a soldier of the very army sworn to protect the people."
"Need I remind you," Nebankh sneered, "that you are no longer a soldier of that army. Therefore, your word may be less. Indeed, it may not be honorable at all."
Theoris's eyes hardened. "You are questioning my honor? I thought a member of this council would be possessed of more decency than that."
Another murmur passed through the council, this one more audible. Nebankh rose to his feet and aimed that bony finger at Theoris again. "Indeed, I question your honor! And to question my decency, you must be possessed of the power within that abominable engine of destruction!"
"SILENCE!" Kenamun roared. He glowered at Nebankh. "You will take your seat, and you will not question the honor of anyone who is deemed worthy to traverse the halls of this palace and stand in the presence of this council. Is that understood?"
Nebankh glared straight back at Kenamun. "He--"
"Is that understood?"
No heart dared beat. For a moment, it looked as if Nebankh was going to openly challenge Kenamun.
But instead he sat down, and harrumphed.
Kenamun sighed, and turned back to Theoris. "I, for one, am still skeptical of your cause. You come before us bearing an extremely dangerous and unpredictable weapon, with a story that, despite your credentials, strains your credibility. And you tell us that you require contact with the other Millennium items."
"Then I must ask this court how I can prove my honor and trustworthiness," Theoris answered. "I must be given a fair chance. I, more than any of you, am aware that I bring a dangerous thing into your midst. And if I so chose, I could send you where I sent the creatures."
Kenamun's eyes hardened. "Presuming to threaten this court does not assist your cause in our eyes."
Theoris held his hands up in a gesture of peace. "I presume nothing of the sort. I mean no disrespect nor threat. It is simply a matter of fact. And I choose not to, no matter what your ruling on this matter may be. My honor and loyalty is to my people. You are just as much my people as any servant working the fields, and I wish you no harm. Therefore, I will attempt no harm on you."
"And well that you will not," Kenamun responded, eyeing Theoris warily. "Leave us. We will summon you when we have made our decision upon the matter. And be aware that our judgment is final." Kenamun's voice was grave. "You must respect it."
"I appreciate your time," Theoris responded. He bowed respectfully, then turned and left the throne room.
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What if they choose not to allow contact with the other items?
Khensthoth quoted back to Theoris what his former lieutenant had said to him as they'd passed through the gate. Then we will simply have to find another way.
That is easier said than done. You and I both have yet to discover any power within the shield that would allow us to find them.
I am aware of that. But we must find a way, nonetheless. You and I know what those magicians are capable of, even if the court -- indeed, the rest of Egypt -- does not. We know what must be done.
Yes. That does not make the task any easier.
I do not believe anyone said this would be an easy task.
True.
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