“Caught is one way of putting it. I did willingly aid in its release.”
Oh.
“I told him he could have all of me if he ceased our remaining challenges and gave up the throne. He told me he would worship me greater than any of the other gods if I sided with him instead. We would rule together. I almost gave in to that offer, especially when he showed me just how well he could worship with his mouth.”
Oh.
“The lettuce part of the story was not a complete fabrication,” Horus continued. “He swallowed most of me, but when he pulled off and got up to clean himself, a little dripped from his chin onto one of the plates of food that we had been feasting from together.”
My eyes drifted to the current feast, noting the telling lack of greens.
“It did land upon a lettuce leaf, and Seth plucked it from the plate, licked the drop of me from it and ate the lettuce with his eyes locked on mine.” Horus licked his lips as he recalled it, eyes far away in that part of the memory. “There was no trick, only betrayal when I could not give him what he asked for.
“He took my eye for the part of me that sided with his enemies, and I spared his life for the part of me that had wanted…” He paused to clear his throat. “That had wanted so badly to side with him. But I had to do what was right by my brethren and the mortals we watch over.You. Seth was not fit to lead, especially not with how he had taken the throne. It has been ages and may be ages still until his atonement is complete.”
“True destruction of Apophis?” I asked.
“No. Ra could always handle the snake himself. Seth’s true atonement is to settle the chaos within him that Apophis represents. He is nearly ready, I truly hope he is, but not quite yet. We are all order and chaos combined, but Seth has more chaos in him than most, just as Osiris has more calm.”
My appetite was waning, and I cleansed my palate with a sip of beer before asking, “Is more calm also a negative?”
“It can be. Why else do you think Osiris fell by Seth’s hand? An eternal calm means trusting too easily sometimes.”
I could tell Horus did not believe he had trusted too easily when he allowed himself to be charmed. He merely had to wait. “Then even the most corrupt can be saved once they atone?”
“I hope so. I hope he will join me someday in that very seat you occupy.”
I smiled, for it had never dawned on me that even the gods might have their tragedies to overcome to win their beloveds. Isis had in the saving of Osiris, but that was an ancient tale. This between Horus and Seth was yet ongoing, not long past but part of their present.
I ate a few bites more to have my fill, amazed at just how much it revitalized me, same as Geb’s hot spring and my longer rest after being with Ra.
I said as much to Horus when I was finished and thanked him for the meal.
“You feel stronger then?” he asked.
“Very much so.”
“Good. You will need it for the hunt.”
“The… hunt?” I had nearly forgotten I had a trial yet to complete.
The abode we had flown to vanished, jolting me as I suddenly found myself standing instead of seated, and all around us were the lush trees of some magical oasis. It was like being in one of Pharaoh’s gardens but even grander. I had never seen trees so large or flowers of such perfect bloom and color.
The foliage was so thick, in fact, that I could barely see through it to know how deep in any direction it went.
“The hunt,” Horus repeated, and though his headdress had been left behind, he held himself in such a manner as tocommand menace. Slowly, he began to remove the rest of his armor, until he wore nothing but his loincloth and collar, less encumbered, I imagined, to better give chase.
A hunter eager to track and claim his prey. And looking into his darkly hungry expression now, I felt distinctly like I was his quarry.
“Do you understand now, Nakht?”
“I-I…”
“Go.”
My heart leapt into my throat as I turned on my heels and raced into the trees.
For the first time, I remembered that I was barefoot. It hadn't mattered in my other trials, not even as much on Geb's rocks, for they had been smooth and warm. The ground here was rough and more uneven than the caverns. I had to be careful or a stray pebble might mean my literal downfall.
