Nezzar

Part One: The Wedding

Amon-Ra bounded into the embalmment shrine, fists clenched and vision red. He jabbed an accusing finger at the god reclined upon a shadowed dais. "You did not come when I called."

Amber coloured eyes shifted from the humming priestess kneeling before a mummified body and rested on Amon-Ra. "You seem angry," Anubis said.

"Do not toy with me," Amon-Ra roared at the lounging god. "I lost Sekhmet and Sobek to that worm. Why did you not come when I called?"

Sitting up at his own pace, Anubis rested both arms upon his bent knees and observed Amon-Ra. With the head of a black jackal, dark muscular build, and no wings in sight, Anubis always appeared unassuming until a fool thought to cross him. Amon-Ra was no fool but that did not mean he would hide his anger. Anubis had abandoned him, leaving him to bleed in battle.

"Because there was no point," Anubis finally answered.

"No point?" Amon-Ra pushed the question through gritted teeth. "And why is that?"

"I promised to fight by your side but said nothing about the circumstances where that would be possible," Anubis answered with grating calm.

"You—"

"You should let me finish, Amon-Ra," Anubis cut in, amber gaze hardening and white fangs flashing.

Amon-Ra forced some calm; it would be foolish to lash out at Anubis. The solitary god kept to himself and accorded him enough respect to appear whenever summoned. As for the extent of Anubis' powers, Amon-Ra had never fully witnessed it to come to an informed conclusion. Sweeping a hand over his face, Amon-Ra nodded.

After observing him for a heavy moment, Anubis continued speaking. "I dwell in these catacombs and do all in my power to separate myself from unnecessary squabbles. What you had with Apophis was a squabble. A war is coming. Soon, Babylon would be upon us and if we are ill-prepared, Egypt will pay for it."

"That was why I attacked Apophis when I did. What? You would have it that I wait until he becomes too strong before I strike? That would be foolish."

"But you still failed."

"If you had come when I called, I wouldn't have," Amon-Ra spat. The sting of Anubis's betrayal almost felt worse than losing Sekhmet and Sobek, almost.

"I saw it all, Amon-Ra." Rising to his feet, Anubis strolled over to the body lying flat on the elevated marble slab. It was wrapped in strips of white sheets with its head resting on a curved stone headrest. The priestess had turned toward the only window in the shrine, smoking pot raised and lips moving with a prayer of supplication for the dead. "I came just in time to see the shadows rise from the earth." Anubis continued. "It was too late to attempt anything. Marduk could only be stopped if I knew where his body lay, but I am not privy to that knowledge. You should be grateful Apophis did not take you too."

Snarling, Amon-Ra slashed a hand. "No one saw it coming. I did not know Apophis had allied with Marduk." Shame and rage mixed within Amon-Ra forming an oily ugly mass.

Apophis had taken them completely by surprise. Sekhmet and Sobek had shot forward with weapons swinging when the shadows came. Thick and black with Marduk's fingerprint all over it. Once the shadow disappeared, Sobek and Sekhmet were missing. And those taunting words of Apophis just before he vanished.

"Thank you for these gifts, Ra. I shall soon grace you with my presence. Count the days."

"You do not understand." Amon-Ra's shoulders drooped as his rage leaked from him. That oily shame remained though. "I fear that when Apophis does return, I shall be no match for him."