PreviousElsewhere...
"I don't understand it! There is some trickery at play here!"
"But he took the oath father. You were there."
"Never mind that! I'm not wrong. It's him, he and my brother."
"Father he took the sacred oath. It can't be him."
"Your affection for him blinds you Ishtar, but he knows. And I know. I just don't know what he's planning." The elder strokes his bare chin and sighs. A horse-hooved man with enormous wings appears before him and bows.
"My Lord -"
"Yes, yes, I know why you're here. Ishtar, call your mother." Ishtar leaves the room. "So. I suppose my brother is having a good laugh over this?"
"I know not my lord. I am only a messenger."
"Of course you are...it's him isn't it? It's Muta. It has to be him."
"I'm afraid I -"
"Afraid? Afraid? No. None of you are afraid yet. But the time will come. You think you can play with the God of Light? The giver of life? Holder of the day! Master of the sun! When my rays turn your worshipers to ash, when they die of thirst as the rivers run dry, when the forests are consumed by my fire, then you will fear! Then you will bow at my feet and beg for mercy!"
"My dear, you called?"
"Yes my darling. I leave now. The household lies under your watchful eye. Watch my brother's house with care, they plot against us."
"Of course dear."
"Good. Now then messenger, lead the way."
"My lord." The hooved man bows and walks ahead. The great God of Light walks in easy loping steps and soon disappears beneath the clouds.
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"Hrm. You enter my realm Muta?" Even Muta cannot help but shudder at the timbre of that voice -- like the chattering of a billion billion mouths. He kneels to one foot.
"Forgive me Ancient One. But given my new position, I believe I am allowed an audience with
any god."
"Hmm. That is true. Very well, come. What is it you want?"
"I think you know."
"Perhaps." There is a pause as the two gods regard each other. The red-robed one, relaxed upon his throne, assured of his dominance. The newly white-robed one, still kneeling on one foot. "Yes. I know of what you seek, youngling. But you of all gods know that there is a price to all things." The red-robed one chuckles and the ice in Muta's veins somehow grows colder.
"Name your price Ancient One."
"
My price?" The red-robed one laughs and terror grips Muta's heart at the sound. "Little God, there are forces beyond your limited imagination.
They determine the price, not I."
"You know my resolve."
"Hmm. I do indeed. But you know..."
"Yes?"
"It will not bring her back." There is another silence. "But perhaps you are driven by greater emotions hmm? Ambition? Greed? Ah, and of course,
pride." The last word is spoken with a particular relish that turns Muta's stomach. He swallows.
"So. Will you help me?"
"Beneath the rock of the mortal realm, in the distant deeps even Death does not know, there are things which the gods have forgotten. There are things which the gods fear. There, my creatures make their homes. There no god can enter."
"I don't understand. So it's impossible after all?"
"Hmm. I didn't say that. I think you know what must be done." Muta gives a puzzled look, then one of understanding. He nods.
"I see. Yes. But that hasn't been done in nearly a century. There hasn't been a need to. The mortals have been compliant thus far."
"You will do as you deem best. But I warn you little god. Somethings are beyond all control."
"I am a god, Ancient One. The High God."
"So you are. But you are mistaken if you believe your power is absolute. But that, you shall find out in due time. Go in peace. I shall send you the information you seek when my messengers bring it to me." Muta get's up from his kneel, bows, then walks away. The Red-robed God reclines in his seat and watches him go.
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You decide to exercise your powers a bit, borrowing the consciousness of faraway rodents. Suddenly your sight is fractured between numberless pairs of eyes. You focus your powers, filtering out the eyes that are not close to the voices and pushing them into the background. Finally you collect the relevant images into two cohesive streams. One part of your consciousness observes a small band of hunters hiding in the woods, you cannot see Eve among them, though you suspect (and hope) she is there. The other part sees a group of worshipers with short hair kneeling before a shrine. The shrine is in the woods. You cannot recognize either of the two group's surroundings. You note that both groups are gaunt and emaciated.
You begin to wonder exactly how much time has passed in the mortal realm while you were with the immortals. Something catches your eye in one of the background images. You see Akhentef's banner, but to your dismay, it hangs not from a soldier's flagpole but in the center of Eve's hometown.
What do you do?
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