The Heart of the Nile: Decoding the Map
Unable to sleep, Sesshomaru returned to his balcony and began to investigate the map more thoroughly. While inspecting it he noticed what appeared to be very faint blue stains on the front. Not remembering seeing them during the daytime he began folding and pulling the blue patches together. While doing this he noticed the blue spots created the image of a moon with a lotus flower in its center. It was there in the lotus flower he uncovered light pink lettering in the ancient language of Kythera.
Not wanting to unfold the map and lose the image he decided to keep the map as it was and go to the temple of Ra to wait for morning to come. As he was walking down the steps of the temple he looked up in time to see his younger half-brother Prince Inuhotep and Kaede the sea witch making their way inside. They had arrive just in time for the first rays of the sun to cast its light about the temple.
"Good morning my Lord Pharaoh Sesshothumote and older brother. I would like to introduce you to lady Kaede; sea witch of Kythera and our interpreter of the map." Inuyasha said while bowing with his hand over his heart.
"Hn. This one has heard much of your wisdom regarding the lost treasure, Keade of Kythera. This one is looking forward to seeing great results in this quest," Sesshomaru said as he eyed the old woman. It was obvious by her attire that she was no more than a common peasant. Her long grey gown was simple in design and was poorly tied with a red sash around her waist. Her skin was a warm tan that was speckled with sunspots. It told him that she worked outside and with her pepper grey hair tied low down her back she made a humble sight.
"In fact, while we still have moonlight left, this one would like to show you this before it disappears. These blue spots on the map did not appear in the sunlight. As you can see with it folded like so, a hidden moon with a lotus flower appears. In the center of the flower is a hidden message amongst the petals. Are you able to read what it says?" Sesshomaru questioned to lady Kaede as he pointed at the image.
"Do ye mind if thee holds the map up close? It seems thee's old age has caught up with thee." Kaede asked while bowing to Sesshomaru respectfully.
"Hn, take as much time as you need but do try to finish before the sun rises." He ordered as he handed her the map.
As Kaede held the parchment in the moonlight, pink letters decorating the pedals of the lotus flower were revealed.
It read:
By night one way, by day another, amongst the lunar flowers awake.
A heart of stone, changed by fate, only true loves kiss will it break.
A selfless wish, untainted power will release, only then will the test be beat.
Caution must be taken, or plagues and curses will awaken, sacrifices must then be made.
After reading the script aloud Kaede had an epiphany. "Thy know what this message means! These be the guidelines to the power of the treasure. Once it has been passed over to ye as the new master, these be the rules ye need to follow to use it. However, thy am unsure what all of it means. Once ye obtain this power thee is certain it will make more sense. Perhaps there be more instructions with the treasure?"
"Very well, let us unfold the map and return it to the beetle of Ra. There is an inscription around the beetle as well. Do you know what it says?" Sesshomaru asked Kaede. After unfolding the map and refolding it back into the eight-pointed star, a red beetle of Ra appeared with a black circle around it with the script saying,
It reads:
A god above, sees man bellow, east to west you will show.
A light against the shadows path, a central point you will cast.
Tides will change, storms may brew, but I always will be facing you.
Go north, let sails fly, it will be a dangerous ride,
Only the master will hear my cry.
"On the way here we tried coming up with some answers to this riddle. Would ye mind giving us ye thoughts?" Kaede asked.
"By all means, do continue. This one is curious to know what you have uncovered," Sesshomaru replied.
"Well the first part is obviously the temple of Ra. I mean come on! The sun rises from the east and sets in the west. It is a temple dedicated to the sun god and the sun is above us! Along with the beetle of Ra on the map I'd say it is a safe bet we are in the right place." Inuyasha exclaimed while crossing his arms across his chest.
"Agreed. So what about the next part?" Sesshomaru asked.
A light against the shadows path, a central point will cast.
"Thee thinks this be referring to the sunrays coming into the temple itself. Possibly landing on something either on the floors, walls or pillars with meaningful significance. Does the light coming into ye temple pinpoint at a particular spot?" Kaede questioned.
"Yes, above this one's chair on the podium. There is a sundial on the back wall that follows the path of the sun throughout the day and the moon at night." Sesshomaru stated. They all made their way over to the podium and noticed a sun and a crescent moon in the center of the dial embracing each other like lovers.
"A moon…" Kaede said just above a whisper. "Thee thinks this next part of the riddle be referring to the moon, not the sun. As ye can see in the dial one cannot be without the other. They together create balance and harmony."
"But what does the moon have to do with the treasure? This doesn't make any sense!" Inuyasha barked. "I thought we came here to get clarification, not more riddles!"
"Patience little brother. Only one more line of the riddle remains after this one." Sesshomaru scolded. "But what can it mean…" He thought to himself.
Tides will change, storms may brew, but I will always be facing you.
"Yes, this one agrees this is definitely referring to the moon. The moon pulls the tides making the waves and the waves make the winds." Sesshomaru finished.
"Aye, and the moon never turns itself away from the earth. It always be facing the same way. Only the casting of the sun causes the shadows upon the moon." Kaede said.
"So how do we tie the moon to the location?" Sesshomaru asked.
Go north and let sails fly, it will be a dangerous ride, only the master will hear my cry.
"Is there any particularly dangerous part to the Northern Mediterranean Sea that has caused a lot of shipwrecks? That's the only thing I can think of that might help solve that one." Inuyasha said.
"Ye might be on to something there Prince Inuhotep. There is a clutch of islands and sandbars off the coast of Greece called the Cyclades Islands. I'm not sure what island or where to go once there but thee thinks heading towards those Islands be our best bet we got at the moment. What do ye suggest Lord Pharaoh?" Kaede asked. Sesshomaru sat in his chair looking from the sundial to his half-brother and elderly woman.
After a few minutes Sesshomaru said, "Inuyasha, you will remain here in the palace while this one is gone. The last thing we want is for us both to die in an accident with neither of us having sons. Being that you are married should something happen to me it will be your duty to provide a male heir. This one will not be known as the last pharaoh of our line nor the reason our father's deplorable brother takes the thrown. By the will of the gods this trip will not last nearly as long as yours."
"Sounds good to me! I'll keep things going here as long as I don't have to step foot onto another damn boat! I ain't interested in the thrown though. The responsibility is yours so you best get your ass back here." Inuyasha teased.
"Hm." Sesshomaru smirked as they began to walk out of the temple. "You dislike boats little brother?"
"After three fuckin long years... hell yes!" Inuyasha said making Kaede chuckle. "While you're gone it will give me time to restore my energy and focus on my marriage with Kikyo. I'm assuming you plan on heading out tomorrow?" Inuyasha asked.
"We will depart at dawn." Sesshomaru nodded. "Until then, escort lady Kaede to her quarters. Also, send her a servant to show her the splendors of our home. Who knows what our journey tomorrow will take us."
After Sesshomaru finished speaking prince Inuhotep and lady Kaede bowed to pharaoh as he crossed his arms in an x-shape over his chest and walked out of the temple. The following morning Lord Pharaoh Sesshothumote, lady Kaede and the royal navy set sail for the Cyclades Islands off the southeastern coast of Greece. As they traveled lord pharaoh and lady Kaede continued to try and decipher the mystery of the map. Only time however, would tell what would happen next as the true journey began.
[End of Chapter 3]