The Curse in Her Blood

Chapter 35

Set

It was grueling, the battles my father and I waged the five nights I was on the Atet. By dawn we would drive Apophis back and we would get a chance to rest. We'd take turns at the helm, ensuring the boat didn't stray off course and by dusk Apophis would be back and ready to fight again.

And yet, each night I spent up there in the stars, each day I spent attempting to sleep the weariness out of my bones I dreamed about Robin and what she was doing.

I wondered if someone told her what was going on, where I had went? Was she surprised I had left without informing her, would she be mad when I got back?

Was she getting into mischief while I was gone? I rather hoped not, without me there to run interference with my brother there was no telling what he'd do if she angered him enough.

Did she miss me?

Was it sad that I missed her?

When my father brought the Atet back to Duat both to let me off and to restock I was relieved. I fought all the desire flowing through me to go and find my mortal just to make sure she was okay. Instead I stayed by the massive golden boat and took stock of all my father would need before going back up.

I had just handed the list of things I wanted my men to stock the boat with when I heard a shrill female scream of: "You!"

I turn around expecting to find a rather angry Robin coming towards me, but instead I find Hathor storming down the palace steps. That is not who I wanted to see at all.

"What are you doing here?" I ask her. "Are you okay? Did you have another fight with Horus? Did Robin let you stay?"

"Yes. And she's absolutely lovely. Did you know that? You don't deserve her! She's too good for you!" she cries. I find myself standing there very confused. "You have a lot of work to make this up to her. To think, you actually called her a subpar copy of Astarte..."

Now, up until that point everything Hathor is saying as accurate. I very much don't deserve Robin, that much is clear. But I never once called her a subpar copy of Astarte.

"I didn't say subpar... just... a copy..."

"A plain copy! You absolute fool of a god!" Hathor cries. "How could you say something so horrid to someone who is so clearly uncomfortable with her own self?"

She was? I know Robin said she wasn't brave and that she was social awkward but honestly, she had been anything but. She was just regular awkward and rather prone to getting herself into misunderstandings. She had stood up for me, had taken on the Keeper of the Snakes, and had only cowered slightly when I was a beast. She was rather brave in my eyes.

"Alright, well... I didn't know that, but I could... actually how do you know all of this? Did she tell you this?" Hathor glares at me and I realize she doesn't plan on telling me. Well, fine. She doesn't have to tell me, though I'd appreciate it if she did. She knew very well that I needed all the help I could get in this department. "Right, well... do you have any idea on how I could possibly start making it up to her?

"Yes. Don't you dare let her go to that wedding! Do you understand?"

"What wedding? Who's getting married?"

She groans like I should just already know what wedding she's talking about. As if I haven't just been resurrected after a thousand years and have just spent five nights and days away. Honestly, I wasn't all knowing like Ra, how was I supposed to know?

"Just don't let her go! Do you hear me? Say you understand!"

Sometimes when she got like this it was best to just agree. So I nodded emphatically and simply said: "I do. No wedding. Got it."