Chapter 7: The Sun Upon The Sands
They had spent much of the following day in their room until it was time for the feast. Their room had two windows with a great view of the city below, especially when the fires for the celebration were lit up. None had come to bother them, save for a few servants bringing food or drinks. The gods were probably too busy, Freya assumed, and the pair had gained several odd looks upon their arrival so the locals most likely wanted to give foreigners distance. They were quite pale compared to the Egyptians' complexion, Kratos triply so. Also, most of them were rather short, barely standing even with Freya chin. They looked almost like giants moving through a crowd. The northerners were also dressed strangely to the local people, and spoke strangely. If it weren't for the glass translating orbs Thoth had given them, they wouldn't be able to communicate at all with the local mortals or gods.
When they had departed Midgard they left a stone with Mimir, Sif, and the others to be shared in order to communicate with Sobek. It seems the crocodile god had lost his somewhere along the long swim north.
It had already been nearly two weeks since they had left, but it still felt like yesterday in a way. A small group had gathered to see them off. Sif and her daughter, Hildisvini, a few of the elves' royalty, two of the shield maidens, and then Sigrun and Mimir.
"Be careful you two," the head spoke, choking back a tinge of remorse for being left behind. "Don't go down there and get yourselves killed, or Sigrun will fly me down there so we can bring you back and I'll kill ya meself."
Freya smiled and raised her hand to cup the Celtic god's cheek, "We will be fine, Mimir, I'll look after the big dolt."
Kratos stepped forward now to gaze down into Mimir's golden eyes as he sat in Sigrun's outstretched hand. "Be careful, brother."
The spartan nodded. "Yes, you as well, brother."
A few orders had been left behind in their absence. Smaller things like where the wood and supplies being sent from Egypt would be needed most. Kratos had dropped the wolves off with Angrboða so they could be fed and have company. Sobek was the only one not present at their departure. Mimir had informed them that Sobek had learned of the various challenges and foes to face in Musphelheim, and had been there since the night before. The crocodile god had disappeared shortly after his arrival. Freya assumed he had just gone to stay in water or get the lay of the land. Or find a goat to eat or fuck, I know not of his crude interests.
The pair had spent the day in their quite luxurious palace chambers talking and telling various stories. She knew relaxation did not come easily to the spartan, but despite being in a foreign land with enemies not too far away (most likely), Freya could see Kratos trying his best. Afterall, they were left in their room to their own devices with nothing to do until the feast.
The hour for the feast quickly arrived. They could hear the clatter and busied footsteps of the mortals running about the building. There was a large, walled garden without a ceiling that the feast was to be held in. Looking out the window, it seemed dozens of parties of well dressed, presumably noble mortals were making their ways through the city and up the stairs to the palace. They could smell the food from the window, even with them being several floors up from the ground.
Kratos was waiting at the foot of the stairs, he didn't want to stray far from Freya but she assured she would be right down once she finished dressing. He had turned down the local, colorless garb. They had tried to give him a similarly long, white robe with golden accents to what Thoth and many of the men wore. The spartan didn't want that much restriction in case he had to move. His usual shoulder pauldron was strapped across his chest, as well as his belt and waist armor. The blades crossed behind his back, the ring for the spear on his finger. His leviathan axe he chose to leave behind in their room, since it could be summoned at a moment's notice anyways.
"My friend, you..certainly dressed for the occasion," he heard Thoth speak from behind him.
Thoth was even more adorned than usual, golden necklaces around his neck, a multitude of rings on his fingers. He had a large, pointed headdress covering his white hair as well.
"Hnph. I did not wish to be underprepared. Freya chose to wear the dressings she was provided, if it makes you feel any better," he grunted.
Thoth lightly chuckled, "It would make me feel better if there were no weapons at the supper table, as it is a rule. Here, allow me. I'll put your blades in my private vault. No one will have access to them."
Kratos was hesitant at first, but soon folded to the god's wishes as it was his celebration after all, and the spartan didn't wish to stand out… too much more than he already would. Thoth bowed in gratitude as Kratos undid the blades against his back and handed them over. He disappeared back down into the crowd as quickly as he had come.
"Okay, this was a mistake, how they walk around in these damned things is beyond me," Freya growled from behind him. Kratos turned back around and was stunned at Freya's appearance.
Her hair was no longer wild and untamed. It looked like one of the servant's had attempted to wash and comb it out. It was quite more kept and straighter than usual. The dress was certainly a step away from her usual garb. It was long, flowing and solid white. Its edge waved around her stepping feet like an ever-shifting ripple. The shoulders were bare, as well as the deep cut of the chest. The material parted around her navel and split into a wide V up to each shoulder. Golden strands connect the two sides over the middle of her breasts, keeping the piece together. Her feet however, as always, were bare.
"This dress was a mistake, give me a moment. I'll just go back upstairs and throw my usual clothing on. I don't care if I'll die from the heat. Wh-, what? You're staring," She noted as she finally looked up from fussing about her new dress to meet the spartan's widened eyes.
"Oh, uh, I'm sorry. You look..good, for the night's events."
She smirked. "Yes, well, I might be suited for a grand feast but should it turn into a brawl with foreign gods, I'll be ill prepared. Also, wait, did you just say I look pretty?"
Kratos' eyes darted to the right in the direction of the crowd. "Should we go?"
An even wider smirk grew on Freya's lips. "Very well." She hooked her arm around Kratos'. "Lead on. Also, I see you still have your shield. Where did the blades go?" Her fingers tapped against the golden metal bracer on Kratos' arm that contained his wound up shield.
"The bird took them."
They walked into the large outdoor space. Greenery and beautifully colored plants surrounded the perimeter walls on all sides. People flooded the courtyard, drinking and laughing and talking in a tumultuous wave of flesh and wine. If Freya didn't like the heat before, being surrounded by so many warm bodied desert dwellers surely wouldn't help. She could immediately feel the muscles in Kratos' arm tense as they took in their surroundings.
"You alright?" She posed lightly with a raised brow.
The Greek's eyes continued to search around, ever vigilant of potential threats and problems. "Where do we sit?"
"That would be next to me," a woman spoke from their right.
She had very dark colored skin, with piercing yellow eyes. Her head was shaved bald, and she wore a dress similar to Freya's only without the golden threads breaching the deep cut of the chest, and it had an exposed midriff. Dark painted wings reached from the corners of her eyes, with a matching color on her lips.
"Oh, wonderful, I'm sorry but you are…?" Freya led open ended.
"Ah, forgive my manners. I am not as easily recognizable in this form without the whiskers and pointed teeth. I am Bast, Lady Freya, the one whose son is missing and the reason for your journey down here."
Recognition snapped in Freya's mind as her brow lifted in surprise. "Oh of course! With you saying that it makes it so obvious. Lead away."
The Egyptian cat goddess guided them to their seats at one of the tables to their left, towards the front of the outdoor area. Before they reached their destination they were stopped by an excited Ra.
"Ah, esteemed guests, welcome! We are honored by your presence," the human appearing king of the Egyptian gods bowed. "Lord Kratos, I was wondering if I might pluck you away for a bit to meet some of our other guests. If I might borrow your companion, Lady Freya."
Freya took amusement in the slight uneasiness Kratos displayed shifting upon being called "Lord." Her hand withdrew from Kratos' arm as she patted his shoulder. "He's all yours, your grace, he was just telling me he wished to learn even more about your land on our way here."
"Excellent!" Ra thundered as he guided Kratos by the shoulder away. The spartan shot a distressed and irritated look back over his shoulder as he was taken away by a rambling sun god.
Freya could not contain her laughter as her and Bast sat.
"He is quite the serious specimen is he not?" The cat goddess thought aloud as servants filled their cups with wine.
"Yes, he is," she affirmed as they watched the pale giant of a man part the crowd, a whole head or more above the rest's height.
"How long have you been together?"
Freya blinked in shock, and turned to face the curious cat. "We… are not. I'm sorry for any confusion."
The cat goddess' hand raised to her lips in guilt. "Oh, I'm so sorry, the two of you are just so close. You even walked in here in the same step and pace. You just seem so..unified wordlessly."
"No need for apologies, but no, we are not romantically linked. We work and fight together, yes. We met because of his son, years ago. I saved his life soon after that," she murmured as she stared into the red liquid in her cup.
Bast's eyes perked up. "I had heard he was a father, he must make for an…interesting one."
Freya smiled. "Oh he's a wonderful father. Not perfect, no, but he tries more in the role than any man I've ever met."
She sat up as reality washed over her briskly. Here I am prattling on about Kratos and Atreus when she herself has her son missing, and her sister slain.
"My lady, apologies, I sit here going on about another's son when you-"
Bast silenced her with the angered slit eyes of a cornered leopard. "Not here, we do not know who might be listening."
Freya nodded in understanding, and they continued to drink as the topic turned to lighter things once more.
Kratos on the other hand, was anything but light and comfortable. He had met several gods in quick succession, Ra's wife, Hathor, another of Ra's children, Montu. It was only just this night he even learned that Ra had sired Thoth as well..or created him? The spartan had not fully been listening, too focused on scanning the crowd and seeing if anyone had approached Freya and Bast's table.
"Khonsu!" Ra suddenly shouted in delight, parting the crowd.
A thin, decrepit looking figure slowly turned to meet his king's gaze. He had quite the pale greenish complexion, a very striking difference from Egyptians' usual tone. A long bent nose descended from his face, and piercing, hawk-like eyes widened in surprise of the guest Ra had brought forward to meet him.
"Kratos, this is my nephew, Khonsu, son of my brother, and god of the moon here in our lands. I'm glad you have come out to join us. Did your father finally convince you to start welcoming more of your family with open arms?"
The near corpse of a man lightly chuckled and replied with a faint, dry voice. "I thought I should try to show my face once every millenia, yes, my lord uncle. The festival of the new year and rebirth seemed a fitting time to try and make my return."
Ra clasped a hand to his nephew's shoulder, "It is good to see you, kin. Drink some wine, have some food, enjoy yourself!"
Kratos continued to follow the king of gods around. He seemed quite cheery, and in a far higher mood than when they spoke at the meeting and the god solemnly sought their help.
"I think I've dragged you around long enough, go join your partner. I suppose I shall start this night off in earnest with a speech," he finally uttered over the crowd's loud volume. He leaned in to embrace the spartan in a hug. Suddenly, his voice grew far graver, as he whispered, "Kratos, someone amongst this crowd, most likely even my family, seeks my demise. Use your eyes, instincts, find them, stop them if you can. If you can't, see retribution delivered."
Kratos' mouth was agape ever so slightly in surprise as Ra leaned back with a grand smile looking into his golden eyes. "Good luck, spartan."
With that, Kratos returned to his seat across the crowd beside Freya, and whispered what he had been told to her. Freya nodded in silent understanding, and the pair began looking in earnest around the large, free air hall for any potential suspects.
"I should have worn my damned armor. Give me a moment, I'll run upstairs and change," the queen lamented as she stood. She was stopped just as quickly however, as Kratos' hand grasped her own, gazing up at her. "I need you here, your eyes are better at searching than mine." Freya sighed and resumed her seat. Bast had left them to begin speaking with Amun, Ra's brother, some tables over.
"What do we even look for? Do you really think whoever it is would strike here? Surrounded by gods and witnesses?" She exclaimed.
Kratos nodded with a short grunt. "If they're arrogant and wish to make a statement, yes."
The pair continued shifting focus from person to person, but it was nigh impossible. There were still people arriving to the festivities, and the crowd was a tumultuous mess of bodies draped in white and gold robes.
After a few minutes Freya began wrapping her finger against the table. "Do you see Thoth anywhere? It's a bit odd to not be present at your own feast, isn't it?"
Kratos sat straighter in his seat and began peering at the crowd specifically for the short, older figure of the Egyptian god. "I do not, perhaps he is on the other end of the garden, out of sight."
The spartan was unable to continue his line of thought further as suddenly a bright, piercing light erupted from the right edge of the crowd. The light was blinding, and so intense it made both the foreigners' eyes water as they shielded their face. After a few moments, the light disappeared as quick as it came, and a long, heartbreaking cry followed soon after. Kratos and Freya jumped onto the table to better see across the crowd. They had a hard time making it out, but they could see Hathor, Ra's wife clutching a body and moaning in heartache. Kratos' eyes quickly noticed a figure fleeing the scene and running out the entrance on the far corner of the garden.
"Freya, to Ra, keep him alive!" Kratos roared as he leapt from the table after the figure.
"Kratos, no I'll have your ba-"
Before the goddess could finish her sentence Kratos shouted out again, "Keep him alive!"
The spartan barreled his way through the crowd, knocking over several people, either mortals or gods in human form, as he reached the hallway. The distant footsteps of the fleeing figure echoed through the corridor, so Kratos pursued to the left.
After a quick right, followed by two lefts, he had exited a rear entrance just in time to see his target bound up over the two story wall with ease.
Definitely a god.
Kratos leaped for a stray block in the wall that left just enough room for his fingers to take hold. With another swing he grabbed a flag pole and swung himself up over the wall. His target was still within eyesight, but had made a surprising amount of distance.
The Greek god fell from the wall and continued his pursuit out into the desert sands. His right hand twitched, and the ring around his third finger glowed as the draupnir spear appeared in his clenched fist. Spinning it deftly in his hand he launched it, several hundred feet, and it made contact as it pierced the fleeing assassin's thigh and they crumbled to the ground.
Kratos had halved the distance between them when the figure rose back to his feet, spear ripped from thigh, and continued their escape. It was then that Kratos suddenly heard the screech of a falcon above him. He spared a quick glance up to his right to see the falcon shoot past his location towards the assassin.
Not Freya, one of the other Egyptians?
The god's pondering was answered in a few short moments as the falcon closed in on the figure and began to glow as they transformed. It had been over a year since Kratos had last laid eyes on him. In the dark of the night with nothing but the moon's shine to light the landscape, Kratos recognized the voice before he could fully see the young man.
"LIGHTNING!" The falcon turned man shouted, as the arrow drawn in his bow began to crackle with a yellow electricity as it flew. It found its mark in the assassin's shoulder, bringing them once more to the ground. The voice sounded a bit deeper than it had the last time they spoke over a year ago. As Kratos closed the difference to stand beside the young man ready to face the felled assailant, he couldn't help but notice his son had grown quite taller too since they last saw each other.
"Atreus!?"