-------
Before long, Theoris again found himself standing in the midst of the court. Nebankh was conspicuously absent from the throne room. He chose not to speculate on where the old man might have gone; he was an eyesore and an earsore, and both Theoris and Khensthoth could feel remarkable relief at not having to face him again.
"We have made our decision," said Surero. "You will be granted access to the other Millennium items."
"However," said Adjedaa, "you may only be allowed contact under our terms."
"Name the terms, then," Theoris replied.
"The items will be brought into the midst of this court individually. One will be brought each day, until all are under the supposed protection you offer. You will remain in this palace during that time, under the watch of guards and mages. This court, as well as several guards and outside mages, will be present when you cast your protection onto the items. If anything is not as it seems, you will stop the process under threat of pain. Failing pain, death." Kenamun's voice was firm.
Theoris bowed. He didn't like the idea of people around him at all times and constantly being under threat, but it allowed him access to the items. That outweighs everything else. "Very well. When will this process begin?"
"Immediately," Adjedaa answered. "From this time forward, until we deem otherwise, you will not be permitted to leave the palace."
Theoris frowned. "In that case, does the court deem it appropriate to send a messenger to my wife and son, to inform them that I will not be back for several days? They will wonder where I am, especially after the loss of my daughter."
Adjedaa's expression softened. "Yes, we will send a messenger." She held one finger up. "But only for this. Do not attempt to use messengers yourself. Consult with the court."
Theoris bowed again.
"The process shall start tonight," said Surero. "You will be summoned when it is time."
-------
Theoris was given quarters within the palace, and most of his time was spent confined to them. If he wanted to leave, he had to do so under guard. However, as long as he had the reassurance that his family knew where he was, and that he would be able to achieve his goal, he was content.
It is not so bad here, anyway, he thought. The quarters are not cramped, and the guards are cordial.
It is ironic that they feel the need to have their army watch over one of their own former leaders.
I do not mind. Just so long as we can do what we came here to do.
You are rather accepting of this entire situation.
What would you have me do? I do not wish to argue any of the conditions with the council and risk having the request denied.
Their conditions are rather restrictive. I would find it uncomfortable.
No need to worry. We will do this and be finished with it... then we can go back to our lives.
You can go back, perhaps. I? I will remain within this shield for eternity. That is hardly life when I have no further purpose.
I am sure that you still have a purpose here. You would not still possess a soul if you did not.
That is hard to believe when I am without a body and trapped within an object of such terrible power, and have no inclination to use it. Were you in this position, you might be able to understand more easily. I would just as soon pass into the next life, rather than be doomed to remain here for all time.
Theoris sighed. I am just as glad I do not have to understand it.
As it should be.
-------
Time passed both slowly and quickly for Theoris and Khensthoth. Every night, under the cloak of darkness, Theoris was taken to the throne room by palace guards and mages. The first night, he had felt somewhat unsure of what he was supposed to do. That anxiety was amplified when he'd come into the presence of the Millennium item he was to protect.
The item itself was held in the hands of one of the court mages, a taller man named Tasetmerydjehuty. His face was set, his expression firm, his jaw locked; as Theoris approached him, he knew that he and the other mages could and would do whatever was necessary to stop the process, should they perceive something to be amiss.
At first glance, the item appeared to be a rather unremarkable scale. Its gold limbs had been painted an alluring blue, while the emerald stone atop it seemed to glow with an inner light. Its base was gold, as were the plates and the cables holding the plates.
And there was also the Eye of Horus, sitting at the junction of the three limbs.
Tasetmerydjehuty spoke clearly; his voice rang throughout the court. "The Millennium Scale has the ability to see into your heart and determine whether you have told us the truth. If the right side outweighs the left, then you have spoken the truth. If the left outweighs the right..." His eyes narrowed. "Then you will regret your sins."
Theoris tried hard, and failed, not to gulp in fear of the scale.
The scale's Eye glimmered, searching Theoris's heart and soul.
Theoris closed his eyes. If this was all a dream, that would be perfectly fine with me right now...
"The Millennium Scale has judged," the mage announced.
Theoris opened his eyes.
No visible weights had been applied to the plates of the scale, and because of that, its current position seemed to defy the laws of physics, or what they knew of physics, at any rate. The plate on the scale's right was now sitting lower in the air than the one on the left.
"The Millennium Scale has determined your spoken goal is your true goal," said Kenamun, who was standing nearby. "Therefore, you may cast your protection on it."
How will we do this, Khensthoth?
Simply follow my direction.
Theoris felt a strange sensation pass over him, as if his movements were no longer his own. He watched his arms, curious, as they reached out to the scale. His fists were open, fingers extended, but he did not touch the item directly.
The Eye of Horus that adorned the Millennium Shield glimmered, as the scale's had.
A faint aura of gold began to surround both the shield and the scale. The glow also washed over Theoris's arms and hands, and for one moment, Theoris began to wonder what would happen.
Do not fear, Theoris. The power passes through you. It is not intended to harm.
The glow brightened in intensity for a few brief moments. A murmur passed among the guards and mages as they watched.
Then the glow faded away. Theoris's arms fell to his sides, and suddenly he felt very tired... as though the energy of restlessness he'd saved through being restricted to the palace all day had suddenly vanished.
It is finished. The Millennium Scale is now protected.
Theoris felt dizzy. He began to topple forward. A pair of guards ambled up to him and grabbed his arms, helping him stay upright.
"Take him back to his room," Kenamun ordered. "He will need his rest."
Khensthoth... I'm so tired...
I know. You will survive.
-------
When the guards returned Theoris to his designated quarters, they felt that his body temperature was considerably above what it should have been. They decided to call for Adjedaa to visit him. Theoris could barely understand what was happening around him; he hadn't even the strength to return to his own bed. One guard remained to help him reach that destination while the other sought out Adjedaa.
Minutes later, the young healer mage walked into the room, to see Theoris sprawled out on the bed. He breathed heavily, his brow coated with sweat. The Millennium Shield sat next to the bed; presumably, it had been placed there by the guard.
She knelt down beside him and gently took his hand into hers. His hand, like the rest of him, was burning hot.
He looked up at her, his eyes glazed over. "Wh-What... is h-happening to me?"
"So zealous were you in your 'protection' of the item, your shield's demand for power must have overtaxed you." She sighed softly. "This is one reason why the items are so feared, Theoris. Use of the dark power within them requires you to give up a portion of your own life force. In time, that portion will be replaced, but you must rest."
"C-Can you not h-heal me...?"
"This is beyond my ability to heal, Theoris. Only time and rest can heal you."
Theoris shuddered violently. "H-Hot... so hot..."
Adjedaa nodded. "The fever is your body's reaction to having lost a part of something vital to its survival. That, also, must be left to the healing agents of time and rest."
Theoris reached a trembling arm out and off the side of his bed. "Sh-sh-shield...?"
Adjedaa snapped her fingers at one of the guards, who obediently picked up the shield and affixed it to Theoris's arm. As soon as the shield was mounted, Theoris swung the arm back and across his chest, so that the shield lay atop him.
"K-K-Khenst-thoth..." he whispered. His voice had cracked; Adjedaa could barely hear him. "Burns... like fire..."
The young healer sighed more heavily. He must be suffering delusions. His fever is bad, but there is nothing I can do except bring cool water to try to soothe him.
She resolved to do that much, at the least. Less than ten minutes later, she returned with two palace servants bearing four buckets of water and several towels.
"Keep him covered in cool, wet cloths, and give him drink as often as he needs it," she instructed them. "If you require more water, send a guard to retrieve it. If you believe his condition is worsening, send a guard to tell me. But do not let Theoris escape your sight. Do you understand?"
The servants nodded wordlessly and set to work.
-------
Theoris's condition seemed to neither improve nor worsen through the night. He lay there and shuddered the entire time. The servants feared that his muscles would tire to the point of his expiration in this world, but they said nothing as they diligently worked to lessen the burning fever that raged through him.
That wasn't they only thing they feared. Theoris spent the entire night with his eyes open, unblinking, glazed over, staring at nothing and everything at once. An occasional moan would escape him, and he quietly babbled in tongues that neither of them could even hope to recognize.
Through the Millennium Shield, Khensthoth kept watch over his former ward. He hadn't known that Theoris would react this badly to using the powers of the shield, and he cursed himself for it. I should have anticipated this. I should have warned him that using the shield that way would likely be very dangerous.
Khensthoth...?
Yes, Theoris?
Am I going to die?
Eventually, yes, you shall.
Will it happen before the last item can be protected?
I cannot claim to know the future, Theoris. Even the powers of the shield do not grant me such vision.
Then I am granted something you are not...
Khensthoth projected a mental frown. What?
See, Khensthoth... can you see?
See what?
It is magnificent... I cannot begin to describe... buildings to dwarf our great pyramids... even to dwarf the palace itself...! And the people... so many people... so many different faces...
Khensthoth became even more worried than before. Theoris, your body weakens... do not try to use a power the shield does not possess, and most especially not when you are in this state... rest...
...Khensthoth?
...Yes?
I wish to be with my family... I miss them...
You shall be with them, Theoris. Rest.
-------
The next morning, Theoris appeared to become more stable. His limbs began relaxing, and his fever lessened. Adjedaa came to visit him, and found herself pleased with the diligence of the servants.
She could see the slightly frightened look in their eyes. She did not envy them the task she'd set before them the previous night.
"You may rest now," she said. "Send two servants here. I will instruct them when they arrive."
The servants bowed and quietly shuffled out of the room.
Adjedaa sat quietly by Theoris's side. The former soldier slowly opened his eyes and looked up at her. His brow was hidden beneath a wet cloth.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
"Terrible," he muttered. "But the fire has been sated, at least in part."
She nodded. "Good. I hope that you will be well enough to perform your task tonight."
"If I am to regain my energy, I must continue to abide by your recommendation of rest. I know this. Therefore, I shall do so."
She nodded again. "Very well. Inform the servants when you require food or drink; you shall have it instantly."
Theoris gave a slight nod. "Thank you."
Adjedaa placed her hand atop his, a sign of sympathy, then took her leave.
-------
Kenamun visited Theoris mid-day. Theoris had been drifting in and out of sleep through the morning. Kenamun's visit was during one of his erratic sleeping periods.
The stout mage stood over Theoris for a long time, watching the servant girls perform the task Adjedaa had set for them. He sighed softly and spoke more to himself than anyone else.
"If Theoris is telling the truth, Egypt may yet face great danger. By all rights, they ought to be destroyed... but to destroy them would be to unleash the power we all fear."
He sighed again and left Theoris's quarters, leaving two very confused servants behind.