Cursed Times - What Now?

Chapter 34 - With Fresh Eyes

All went well given the circumstances. Metjen and Iseret delivered a joint briefing-or grilling, depending on who was talking, and Seisi listened intently. He cheered when he learned that yesterday's menaces were only blackened bones on the ground. He was shocked to learn the Guardians and Pharaoh did not make it, and he was even more horrified when he learned about the plight of the sleepers.

'How long ago has all this happened?'

Iseret and Metjen sent sightless stares at the ceiling and the floor, respectively. Nebmutef tapped his shendyt-clad thigh and supposedly found a part of his impeccable attire which needed straightening.

'Pray tell me. I understood it would take 100 years until another attempt could be made. I can surmise more time has passed. You all behave in the most unusual of ways.'

'Er, no,' Metjen said. 'Add another zero to that number.'

'I see.' Seisi paled, then realised this was not the end of it. 'What else should I know?'

'Multiply it by four and add a few hundred.'

A shiver ran through Seisi's bony frame, and he went even whiter in the face than before. 'This gives me extreme fright. Are the good people of the temple as old as I am? For they look it where I do not?'

'Nah,' Metjen waved him off. 'A couple of hundred, some of them. Most are even younger. Forget it. And Trueth, Rani-Ra and I are even-how old were you when you got pickled?' Metjen asked.

'I do not comprehend?' Seisi said.

'Chucked... thrown into that container?'

Seisi's brow cleared, and he nodded eagerly. 'Ah, twenty and eight.'

Trueth took it to mean the bloke was in the same age bracket as she and Metjen. If one ignored a few millennia or so. No big deal.

Iseret's voice sounded from the back of the room. 'You and I are the only ones left on this plane to remember Kemet.'

'If it had not been for you, things would still be as they were before!' Seisi appeared to have overcome his unearthly fear of the dark prophet as he insisted on calling their ex-high priestess and treated her more as a parolee, one whose presence he did not care for.

'Then you would be long gone!' Iseret hissed.

'Yes, much enjoying the fields of eternity instead of sitting here with you!' Seisi shot back, finally showing his emotions.

Trueth wondered what the history between these two really was.

Seisi refused to yield to a spell for the drive into the capital. He wanted to experience his surroundings and mumbled about other dimensions which could not be worse. Trueth wondered what Beyond really was. These people controlled boatloads of power. She had been made to understand her talents might well be strong but to achieve real greatness she needed that blind eye stuff. She was certainly not ready for it and felt comfortable with what she had achieved. Plus she would be able to keep her hair and not run around like the Dalai Lama, bless him.

Nebmutef had shuffled up to her. He seemed to be listening to words only he could hear. 'Wait, I need to speak to you.' The old priest peeked behind him hervously, his hands trembling. 'Pray be cautious with Her Wisdom. I am not convinced Iseret is who she pretends to be.'

Trueth sighed. 'Metjen says she cannot lie. She might not always speak the truth, certainly not all at once—but what she told us so far was correct. Seisi confirms that.'

'A high priestess of Hathor can never deceive, I agree. But a dark priestess?' Nebmutef tutted. 'Metjen has become far too trusting these days—I will be vigilant, even if he is not. You think well, go and think about my words. Only time will tell.' Nebmutef nodded to himself—and a tic started in his cheek as Iseret came into the room and with impatience told them to move outside.