Phoenix inclined his head without speaking. His lack of reaction seemed to irritate Priscus.
"I understand you didn"t even get to finish your little ceremony?" the Proconsul continued, inspecting his nails. "Well, you"re welcome to take another prisoner to replace the boy. It"s the least we can do. Go ahead and pick one. The others we"ll execute or send as slaves to the Games in Rome."
Phoenix bowed again, struggling against the overwhelming urge to stick Blodbal between the fat Roman"s ribs right now. That would be a very short term gain, indeed. He was here to free his friends and destroy the obelisk. Priscus wasn"t important.
Priscus pursed his small mouth and looked at him through half-lidded eyes. He heaved himself to his feet and turned a plump shoulder.
"This is boring. I"ve been dragged here in the middle of the night for no very good reason I can see. Zhudai, just execute these troublemakers or send them to Rome for the Emperor"s Games and get it over with. I"m going home." He waddled away toward the exit, followed by three fawning servants.
Slightly taken aback, Phoenix decided that const.i.tuted a dismissal and followed the soldier over to where Zhudai conferred in quiet tones with one of the Roman generals. They seemed to be arguing. Interesting.
As he approached, they broke off and turned to face him. He bowed again, slightly shallower this time. He didn"t miss the flare of anger in Zhudai"s narrow eyes, nor the fleeting expression of disgust in the Roman general"s. So, there was a lack of unity in the camp, was there? The Roman and Zhudai obviously didn"t like the High Priest and there was a good chance the feeling was mutual which meant Phoenix didn"t have to wait for orders or instructions.
With an effort, he turned his back on his enemies and walked toward his friends. Jade raised her chin and glared defiantly back at him. Marcus" gaze was as unwavering as usual. Heron just shrugged.
"Take me, then. I"m old. Let the young ones live."
Phoenix stepped up to Jade and waved the soldiers back a little. They glanced at Zhudai before moving.
"It"s me," he whispered. To her credit, she managed to keep her reaction down to a slight widening of the eyes and a quick flicker of a glance at Zhudai.
"Give me the Bag," he instructed. He moved so he now blocked Zhudai"s view of her. Quickly, she slid the bag from under her shirt, into his waiting hand.
"Be ready to shield."
She nodded slightly and cast her eyes down as though frightened. He stepped up to Marcus and looked him up and down. The Roman stared stoically past him. As Phoenix moved past, he murmured, "Protect Jade." Marcus didn"t even twitch.
Phoenix nodded to Heron and waved a soldier over. "Bring the old one inside," he said softly, hoping the soldier had never heard the High Priest"s voice. Luck was with him. The soldier grabbed Heron, hauling the inventor back into the main hall. That was one out of the way.
He turned and began to pace back toward the hall. He was almost there when a voice called out to him.
"Anhotep, wait!" It was Zhudai. Phoenix looked back over his shoulder without turning. The Chinese sorcerer watched him with narrowed eyes. Phoenix knew that expression and it didn"t bode well for his disguise. It was the same look Jade got when she was checking something out for magical auras. Apart from Blodbal and the Bag, Phoenix was about as magical as a bowl of icecream. Possibly less.
Time for Plan B.
As calmly as he could, he reached into the Bag and muttered, "Iron gloves." Footsteps drew closer behind him. Zhudai was coming to investigate. He only had time to draw on the left one. Hopefully that would be enough to give him the strength to heft Mjolnir.
Phoenix spoke again to the Bag. "Mjolnir." The handle of the Hammer of Thor slapped into his iron-clad palm. He pulled it out, tucked the bag away and slid the Hammer up the other sleeve. He now had magical weapons in both hands. It was now or never.
A hand grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around. Zhudai stood before him.
"You are not Anhotep!" the sorcerer accused. "Who are you?" He reached out and shoved back the hood, eyes widening as he saw hair where there should be none. With claw-like fingernails, he cut the string that held the golden mask and ripped it from Phoenix"s face.
"Probably the last person you wanted to see right now," Phoenix grinned at him and drew both weapons from his sleeves. Before anyone could react, he pulled back his arms, stabbed at Zhudai with Blodbal and clumsily threw Mjolnir at the tekhen of Set at the same time. The sorcerer made a desperate grab at the weapon as it sailed past, but the sheer weight and momentum of it knocked his hand aside. Unfortunately, his movement also took him out of range of Blodbal"s thrust.
There was a hoa.r.s.e scream as Mjolnir connected with the obelisk. Phoenix thought it came from Zhudai, but he wasn"t sure, because this time they had the right tekhen. This time there was a serious light show.
The hammer smashed into the column, sending stone fragments shooting across the courtyard. Then it rebounded, arced around like a boomerang and struck it again from a different direction. More stone flew. Cracks appeared like jigsaw pieces up and down the length of the column. A thousand beams of green-white light shone from the breaks, illuminating the obelisk like a Christmas tree.
Phoenix held up a hand to shield his eyes and felt the Hammer of Thor smack into his palm. He only just missed hitting himself in the forehead. Stuffing Mjolnir and the glove back into the Bag, he turned his attention to the enemy. Anuket should be able to break free on her own now.
His caution was unnecessary. Most of the Roman soldiers had either bolted or were standing, watching the lights, apparently transfixed. Zhudai had vanished. Jade and Marcus appeared by Phoenix"s side. They had s.n.a.t.c.hed their weapons back from fleeing Roman guards. Together, they stared at the tekhen. The cracks got wider.
"I know I"ve said this before," Jade said softly, "but now would be a good time to run away." So they did.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.
They made it inside the door and flattened themselves against the wall just as all h.e.l.l broke loose. The Tekhen of Set blew outward and upward, carried on beams of light in all directions. It sounded like an enormous waterfall roaring into the depths of a valley. Scents of springtime washed into the hall: gra.s.s, water and flowers. There was the faint echo of a woman"s exultant cry of freedom and a man"s cry of anger.
Then, light and sound vanished, leaving everything in total darkness. Outside, great lumps of rock came crashing to earth like solid rain. Screams of fear were cut off with sickening abruptness. Finally, silence reigned.
Jade whispered a few small witchlights to life and sent them out. The four companions peered around the doorway. The courtyard was strewn with pieces of rock. Any people left were buried under tonnes of granite. The Tekhen of Set had disintegrated and the first hints of dawn washed the sky faintly pink over the eastern horizon.
A woman appeared. She stepped gracefully amongst the destruction, placing her bare feet with care. She wore a long, red-brown tunic dress and a headdress of tall feathers crowning thick, dark hair. Her tanned face was exquisitely beautiful with green eyes, full lips and a straight nose. If it weren"t for the fact that she glowed faintly, she could have simply been a very lovely woman.
Phoenix blinked. Jade elbowed him then poked Marcus, who appeared similarly stunned. They left the Temple, approached the woman and bowed.
"Anuket," Jade spoke for them all. "We are honoured to meet you."
The G.o.ddess smiled. Her voice was musical and many-layered, as though three or more people were speaking at once. "You have done me a great service this day, Arawn"s daughter. My fellow G.o.ds of the Nile thank you also: Hapi, Khnum, Setis." She raised a hand and three more beings appeared beside her: two male and one female all equally beautiful. They kissed her cheeks, nodded to the humans then vanished.
Anuket smiled again on her rescuers. "What reward can I give you for freeing me from Set"s power?"
"Er...." Jade glanced at Phoenix, who shrugged. "We thought you were just supposed to give us a task for our next quest in India."
"Yes, of course," the G.o.ddess inclined her head. She held out a hand and large disc made of pure silver appeared in it. She handed it to Jade who took it gingerly, avoiding the sharpened edge. One face was engraved with intricate, beautiful, geometric designs. Anuket spoke again.
"This chakra needs to be placed in the hand of its rightful owner, six nights hence, on the last night of the dying moon. If you succeed, a path will be taken that will make whole what is torn asunder, he who has wronged will be redeemed and an Empire will unite. The weapon"s name is Sudarshana."
"Cryptic, as usual," Phoenix muttered in Jade"s ear, handing over the Hyllion Bagia. She shushed him, trying to remember the instructions. She dropped the silver disc into the Bag, whispering its name as she did.
Anuket turned her fathomless green gaze on Phoenix and smiled as though she had heard his comment. "Have you chosen your reward? Gold; power; a life?"
He shrugged then his expression froze.
"Did you say "a life"? Can you restore a life?"
Anuket nodded. He spun on his heel and ran into the dark temple. Bewildered, the others watched the empty doorway in silence. Moments later, he emerged, bearing the small body of Brynn in his arms. Jade had to look away. She wasn"t yet ready to admit Brynn was really gone. Phoenix laid Brynn down on a flat piece of the broken obelisk and smoothed back his unruly hair. He looked pale, peaceful and absurdly young.
"Can you give me back his life?" His voice was rough, angry, as if he was afraid the answer would be "no".
Anuket sent him a puzzled glance. "You would have me restore the life of this child when you have lost too many of your own? You would risk everything you are trying to achieve in this realm to save one small, insignificant soul? Why?"
"He is not insignificant. Time and time again, Brynn has proved himself the truest companion. We"re family. We need him. I need him." Phoenix ground to a halt, obviously struggling to speak through a tight throat.
"Very well," Anuket acceded. "All of you, kneel by his side and place your hands over his heart and head. Jade, the vine. I will restore your Binding, as well."
They did as ordered, feeling fragments of stone dig into their knees. Anuket closed her eyes and raised her hands to the heavens, murmuring and whispering in a singsong voice that reminded Jade of Elven music and the Druid Spring Equinox ritual. A gentle green glow formed in the palms of her hands, getting stronger by the minute. It began to spill over, flowing onto their heads in a waterfall of light. Jade"s hair almost stood on end as the powerful magic washed over her. She could taste springtime and growing things; hear birdsong and smell gra.s.s. Her body felt renewed and strong. It was like the Druid ritual a life-spell of unimaginable power.
The singing stopped. Anuket clapped her hands four times and a shower of purple-blue sparks cascaded over them. The G.o.ddess touched each of them on the forehead with a fingertip then stepped back.
"It is done."
Beneath her hand, Jade felt a flutter. She sensed, too, the deep, inner renewal of the Binding Spell she had placed on her friends. The vine was gone. Their circle was once again complete. Brynn"s thin chest rose once; twice. He coughed and groaned and his eyes flickered open. For a moment, he stared blankly up at them then grimaced.
"Ouch. If this is what it feels like to die and come back to life, I don"t envy you two any more at all!"
Jade and Phoenix laughed and crowded around the boy, thumping him on the back and hugging him until he pushed them all away with a protest.
"OK, OK, I get the message. You"re glad to see me." He stared around at their surroundings. "Now will someone please explain to me what"s going on? The last thing I remember was the High Priest sticking a knife into me."
He touched the still-sticky blood on his chest with a shudder and looked at Phoenix. "Hey, I"m really sorry I killed you. Did I say that before? Well now I really, really mean it."
Phoenix squeezed the boy"s shoulder. "I"m sorry I overreacted. You did the right thing and I"m....well, I"m glad you"re back."
Brynn grinned. "Does this mean I get a bigger share of the treasure because you"re feeling guilty?"
Phoenix shoved at him. "You can have the whole lot for all I care, kid. Just don"t die on us again, ok?"
"I"ll try not to," the boy a.s.sured him, rubbing his chest. He looked up and noticed Anuket smiling down at him. "Oh, hi. So you"d be Anuket? You brought me back?"
The G.o.ddess nodded.
"Thanks. A lot. A big, huge lot," he said with awkward grace. "But can I ask a question? Why is that thing still standing?" He pointed at the temple, looming behind them.
"Good point," Phoenix said, eyeing the structure with noticeable distaste. "I think we"d be doing the city a favour if we smashed it with the Hammer. Marcus!"
Glancing around, Jade realised that Marcus was nowhere to be seen. "Where"d he go?"
"I"m here," the Roman"s deep voice carried from behind a large piece of stone not far away. He stepped backward into the light, his sword raised and ready to thrust. A second person emerged from the shadow, a mere inch from the end of Marcus" blade. Their nemesis: Feng Zhudai.
The sorcerer stepped out proudly into the grey dawn light, ignoring the sharp edge at his throat. He drew the dark silk of his severe robes about him and sneered down at their astonished faces.
Jade gasped and gripped her staff. Phoenix stood and drew his sword in one smooth move. Even Brynn s.n.a.t.c.hed up a handy rock and held it ready to throw, looking like a barbaric, blood-streaked cave-boy in his loincloth.
Anuket glided to Marcus" side, her eyes full of frowning wonder. "I know this one," she said softly. "You are the one who convinced Set to imprison me; whispering sly evils in the ear of a G.o.d already insane with the desire for power. That is your way, isn"t it? You manipulate others to grant you power that you do not have yourself."
Zhudai said nothing. He raised his chin and stared at them scornfully through lowered eyelids. Furious, Jade stepped forward, her staff ready. United, Phoenix, Marcus and Brynn stood with her, facing their archenemy at last.
Marcus spoke, his normally-calm voice harsh with hatred. "My Lady, Anuket. I claim his life as my reward."
Zhudai tucked his hands inside the long sleeves of his black silk robe and looked at him disdainfully. "Stupid child," he said, his voice heavily accented. He stretched out one hand, long nails curling like claws. "I still hold your father"s life and mind in my hand. If I die now, so does he. Is that what you want?"
"My father is no longer my father. He has been twisted by your corruption," Marcus spat.
Zhudai laughed. "Agricola needed little convincing, boy. He wanted power as much as I. You were simply in our way. He would probably even be grateful if I eliminated his puling brat of a child." He made a curious twisting gesture of his fingers and muttered a single word.
Jade realised what he was doing and desperately cast a shield spell between the sorcerer and Marcus but nothing happened. Neither Zhudai"s spell nor her shield spell worked, leaving them both stunned.
Anuket waved her back. "He can do nothing in my presence and nor can you. He is out of his realm; far from his source of power. Here, my power is vastly stronger than his. That is why he had Set imprison me while he worked his will on Priscus. The question is: what do we do with him?"
"Again, my lady, I claim his life as mine," Marcus growled, raising his sword.
Anuket shook her head sadly. "I cannot take a life, only give it."
"Then let me take it," Marcus shot back.
"I"m sorry. I cannot allow it," she sounded regretful.
Jade stepped in, trying to deflect his anger from Anuket.
"Then can we at least banish him from ever coming to Albion, Sweden, Egypt or India? Make him stay in his own land for now. Stop him from sowing the seeds of chaos around the world."
The G.o.ddess inclined her head. "That would be a fitting punishment, I believe; and well within my power to grant. It is only just that I imprison him within his own lands in return for his actions against me."
Zhudai made a hasty, angry motion with his hand, as though trying to cast another spell. Nothing happened. He glared at the G.o.ddess. "You will regret this; all of you. When I am imm....." He stopped himself in mid sentence, seeming to think he"d almost said too much. Snapping his mouth shut he wiped all expression off his face and once more tucked his hands away, ignoring them all.
Anuket sent him a long, measuring look then nodded to the companions. "Stand aside."
They did, shielding their faces as Anuket and Zhudai disappeared inside a brilliant ball of greenish light. It lasted only a second before it faded and was replaced by the pale wash of dawn.
Zhudai was gone. Anuket now sat on a rock, her glow dimmed, her face older.
Jade rushed forward. "Are you alright? What happened?"
Anuket laid a soft hand on her head and gave a tired smile. "I am fine, child. The sorcerer fought me with everything he had and I am weakened from my long confinement. Once the Nile has risen, I will be restored."
"And what about Zhudai," Phoenix interrupted.
"He is now restricted to his own lands. His power outside them was always limited. Now he cannot interfere directly. He cannot use the portals, either," Anuket confirmed. "But be aware that he has much influence and has already set the kingdoms of India on the path to war. There will be many obstacles in your way and, if you reach his own lands, he will be almost invincible."
"So what"s new about that?" Brynn said in a quiet aside to Jade.
"Now," the G.o.ddess pushed herself up. "I believe there is one last task for you to perform."
When they all looked blankly at her, she laughed. "I think Thor would like his hammer back, don"t you?"