-Carter Kane-

Eight hundred and forty-two is a rather decent number for short notice. My General of Armies nods in agreement, continuing about the number of tents on the Sixtieth's nomes parameter. "And the nome has cooperated?"

She hesitates a moment. "Kurtz was not fond of the idea of using his nome for a temporary base. I had meant to inform you on the matter, however…"

"However?" I ask to make her come back and finish what she is saying.

"Kurtz is against you, Pharaoh. He believes that war is not the answer in all of this. He tried to upheave my position in response. I had planned to send him your way. Trevor Starr barged in and took him. I fear what opposition we have within the Per Ankh, and I worry about your safety here."

I sigh at that. This is starting to get annoying, why is there so many people against my stance on this? The Romans clearly did something to my uncle, and they have yet to respond back to my many questions I've communicated. Am I to be expected to not react?

"The rest of the nome has cooperated with us," Whitaker wraps up.

I nod in understanding to that. It is concerning though who is seeming to be against me as of late. I was already accustomed to the Per Ankh not backing me up on anything. But this is people that lately had been strong supporters to my uncle.

I guess I can understand the want to value my uncle's efforts in establishing alliances with the Greeks and Romans. But how does it make sense in the end if one of those groups slaughter our ambassador? Ignoring the blatant act of aggression towards an effort at peace would be foolhardy. I doubt my uncle would want me to be ignorant of that. What is so hard to understand with these people about all of this?

"I believe the Romans are aware that we are planning to strike soon," Mel continues with her report. "One of our scouts is missing. Prisoner or killed, I don't have the information on that yet."

"Okay, then let's hope they don't expect us tomorrow then."

The combat magician nods in agreement. "Whatever happens tomorrow, you have more allies than foes. My past failure to protect your uncle will only strengthen my resolve to keep you safe."

"You did what you could," I reassure. "Get some good rest Whitaker, I'll be there in the morning."

"You as well, Pharaoh," the scry ends immediately to that.

I go to grab lunch, bringing it up to my room rather than stay in the veranda with the rest of the Twenty-First. I have to pack some still. I also have been uncomfortable around the nome as of late. I'm uncertain how many of them at this point agree with me or would rather interfere.

"I didn't have that many supporters either."

I jump and turn to the window to see Horus, in red-tail hawk form, has swooped in, perched on the window sill. He just cocks his head as I get up from the bed to approach. "You know as much; Set had more support for the throne than I ever did. Violence was required to show where we stood toe-to-toe."

"This isn't like that," I stop a foot away from the god peering at me.

"Oh?" Horus fixes his head to sit on straighter. "I'm here to try and talk you down, Carter. On behalf of your uncle, of course."

"Then maybe we should have just gone with him to Camp Jupiter originally?" I challenge. "So we both would have had an opportunity to stop them from killing him."

Horus isn't very happy about how quickly I turned the blame on the two of us. "I think you know as well as I do he wouldn't have allowed you to come with on his diplomatic mission. Besides, you are about to be wed." My right-hand flexes into a fist, but I know Horus is right. Uncle Amos wouldn't have allowed me to go with him no matter how insistent I ended up being.

"The pair of you have put too much effort into this alliance, Carter. It's almost disrespectful how easily you are willing to trash it all now."

"They killed my uncle."

"Yet I'm certain he would do it the same way over and over. You have your uncle's support as Pharaoh because you chose a new path, Carter. I doubt he would be very happy to see you march upon the Romans just for him."

I hesitate a moment before asking. "You're for the Romans killing Uncle Amos?"

"No," Horus answers swiftly. "I already miss having Set around to help with everything. But I know well enough they wouldn't want this."

Horus missing his uncle, that's a new one to me. But the god of birds caught on fast. "Set is a god of foreigners, if any of us was to do diplomacy, he's the best we have."

"But he's Set, so you're not that upset about him being gone."

"Don't dare paint me in that light, child," Horus has an edge to his voice now that has me standing a bit straighter. "Amos Kane was still a son of Narmer, therefore under my protection all the same. I haven't had a bond with my uncle beyond war in millennia. I grieve as much as you are for the loss. Dare I say more."

There's tense silence between us. "If I cannot persuade you, then you should know I do not support your war," Horus continues.

"Not the first time you've been annoyed with me," I point out.

"You've gone and overstepped to a different path, Carter Kane. And that man is not the one you should follow. You're about to shame your family name if you follow through with this. The Per Ankh will not trust you. I will not vouch for your actions."

That takes me a moment to puzzle out who he is talking about. "Jabari Kane?"

"A warmonger that believed the throne was his, yes," Horus quickly paints a bad picture of his former host. "The number of lives he had trampled on for the goal he never reached has hurt the Kane name more than helped. He left behind sons trying to clean up the mess he handed them. You are spitting on both of his sons if you step foot into Camp Jupiter."

I take a shaky breath to that. "We both know I didn't want the throne, Horus."

The hawk nods, "I suggest you figure out a more diplomatic measure to get your answers, Kane." He then extends his wings and takes off before I can respond.

-Vika Menshikov-

Rua was surprisingly able to get us through the rift again. I was not able to keep the contents in my stomach in place, yet again. This time heaving on the side of the boat. Drinking water now, I roll my eyes as this Caroline ba approaches with a red potion in her hand.

"I'm good, thanks," I dismiss swiftly.

"This will help you recover your energy. I imagine you haven't slept in some time, and getting sick is not going to help." She places the potion into my left hand regardless. "You'll want to take it now."

That's an underlying message if I ever heard one. I study her for a moment, but she just gestures I do as she wants. "He didn't tell me everything, did he?" I demand of her immediately.

"Would you be shocked by that?" She humors some.

Honestly, no. I uncork the potion and drink it all down, quickly chasing it with more water to try and cleanse my tongue of it's foul taste. "Thank you," I make sure to sound towards the woman. "Do you mind informing me of what he hadn't told me?"

She frowns and shakes her head. "Sorry. He's protected my name for years; I can't bring myself to go against him. Just… know that he felt he was doing the right thing."

I snort at that. "Vladimir thought he was doing the right thing as well, and he helped Apophis."

The ba nods in understanding. "I wanted to thank you before we go our separate ways. Amos has always questioned if his efforts meant anything. Your alliance, though at first was private, was enough to show him that it did. Others have been quick to dismiss, but you took the time to actually see him."

I nod in understanding to what she is saying. "Not everyone knows that he's the reason Jabari Kane was exiled from the Per Ankh. Watching a child turn on his father is worthy of respect, whether anyone agrees or not. That's a difficult thing to do."

"It is," she voices agreement, her tone seeming upset to the reminder of the past. "He grew up watching his brother get polished and awarded for being who he is. Then constantly wondered what was wrong with him, despite trying his best to please his father to only get sneered at. That's a lot of time wasted for nothing."

I inhale, being hit with memories of my own. My mother wanted me to stay a noble woman, and my father was willing to oblige rather than follow through with his promise to teach me magic. I know what it's like to have to prove your worth to a parent while watching your siblings not have to work as hard. But at least my father recognized it and followed through.

"He does trust you; he's just concerned about what will happen if Sadie gets too close. He knows about Muto."

Oh, well that would explain why he's so upset. "Muto was a threat to not only me but himself. It had to be done."

"He knows, he just never… expected that outcome from it. Muto threatened him in the past for having been taking classes from Iskandar. He accused him of using his family name to do so. He just didn't see it to be an issue."

I roll my eyes at that, because of course Amos didn't see it as a problem. "I can tell he loves you," I start. "Even though he says you two never courted."

If a ba was capable of blushing, she was proving it. "Julius likes to call him a love-sick puppy. To be honest, I am looking forward to having time with him again. It's just going to be rough at first, but I hold faith we will be fine."

"So, you do love him still? Despite Sabrina?" I pry some.

"Of course. And even if he was to have a relationship with her, I would still love him all the same. My affection for him will not change simply because he moved on in his life. He just chose not to."

Because he's too damn loyal for his own good. "You have one of the good ones then. I do hope things work out for the two of you."

"Thank you." She hesitates a moment before continuing. "Mikhail wants you to know that he loves you still. What happened to him was not your fault."

A tear escapes my left eye that I quickly brush again with my finger. I have never told anyone about us, because I wanted to protect him. Vlad had an idea, just not to the degree of what our relationship even looked like. Mikhail and Caroline must have spoken to each other for her to know about it.

The faint image of him lying cold and lifeless hits again. Kwai had his fun torturing him, and Jacobi brought me in as a warning for speaking up like he had. Devastatingly it had worked like they had wanted. Leonid had been brave to still speak, I still owe the child for having talked with Amos about the situation.

"You're really going to do this?" Mariano's voice sounds stressed.

I peer over to see the Italian is glaring holes into the American now. "I really don't know where-"

"Stop trying to play around, Clay Boy. You direct us to where you put it and then we will make our way to the Hall of Judgement."

Amos doesn't seem very happy about the nickname but seems to recognize that he won't be able to manipulate the matter in his favor. "If you already know so much, then what do you need me for?"

"It's step one for you, Kane. I'm doing you a favor," Rua is quick to snap. "You're dead, so stop with the lying already."

Amos can't seem to help but laugh. "Sorry, are you implying that you're trying to help me with my judgement?"

"You actually might be dumber than your brother," Rua insults quickly. "Yes, idiot. But if you stroll in and start lying your face off you won't be passing. Use this opportunity now to lessen the weight of it all."

Amos shakes his head. "I don't think it'll resolve anything-"

"You want Julius to watch his brother's soul disappear, don't you?" Rua sneers. "Just roll over because you were unfortunate enough to host Set? You don't want to spend time with any loved ones? After everything?"

Amos goes quiet to his point. Rua gestures towards Caroline now with his left hand. "She passed into Aaru. The gods are not who determine if we are good people or not, Kane." His hand comes to land on his chest now. "I'm living my best afterlife now. I hosted Set too. Do you think I shouldn't have made it into Aaru?"

"That's not-"

"You're allowed peace," Rua interrupts swiftly. "You've done enough for the living."

It's silent on board, but I can tell that Amos is in disbelief from where I'm sitting. However, it would appear that Rua's lecture made something of an impact. "Okay, I'll send us where we need to go."

Rua nods in acceptance of this answer. "It's scary, I know, but it's no longer your burden, Kane."

"Just Amos, please."

Rua gives a hurt smile at that but nods. "My apologies for my harshness. I just know you seem to only respond to tough love outside of your self-hatred. Now, the coordinates?"

Amos cooperates, rattling numbers off to Mariano's approval on the matter. The demon is traveling in the direction in the duat Amos had rattled off. As if everyone's feeling on board was enough of a sign about what is about to come next. I cave to smoke another cigar because I'm now uncertain when the next break will be to have later.

-Kyra Teal-

I hold my breath, keeping my hand strictly over Sebastian's mouth. "I've just been informed that Kurtz is a traitor to our Pharaoh."

Maria hums at that, "I've told you several times before Palacios, I don't heed the politics of the Per Ankh. I just tend to patients."

Brayan isn't satisfied with that answer. "Do you know where they went?"

"No," she doesn't hesitate with her answer. "I'm just glad that he is well enough to feel up to leaving. Perhaps you should take the time to consider why someone as injured as he was would suddenly be claimed as an enemy to the House?"

"Why would I do a thing like that?" Brayan laughs at her as if she's the crazy one at this point. "If I can deliver him to Pharaoh, I will be in his good graces."

"Well, I'm sorry for being so blunt, Brayan, but that's a stupid way to live. Now, if you don't mind leaving me to clean up?"

I can barely see Maria watching the Nome Leader close the door behind him. She waits a little longer before turning on the heels of her feet. Unlocking the closet she had shoved us into earlier without explaining, she opened the door to take us in.

"Thank you," I breathe out, earning a nod of recognition.

That's when I noticed everything wasn't in the clear yet. Sebastian had buckled upon attempting to take a step out. His blue eyes immediately rolled up into his head, the warning to catch him before he could hit the floor.

Maria was quick to place a pillow for me to gently rest his head on as he convulsed in my arms. I keep my left hand on his shoulder to ensure he stays on his side on the floor. At least this isn't as violent as the first I had seen. I want to still comfort him, but force myself to stay quiet until his body slackens.

Maria handed me a bag she had been quickly filling with things. "There's two more doses of medicine, some first aid items just in case, and I threw in a random shabti." I give her a look at the last item. The rehket waves it off, "The number of extra shabtis I get from patients would surprise you. It's yours to keep."

"I'm transporting you two to my room for now. Later on, tonight, I'll secure your safety back to the dock. I-" She pauses to take a heavy breath. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to help more."

"You didn't have to help us at all," I point out. "Thank you, truly."