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"What?"

"The combination of water over fire could alsoto hide her from Apophis…" His eyes widened "Holy Mother Nut Is that the crook and flail?"

"Yeah, I think" I wasn’t sure why he acted so shocked "Didn’t a lot of iave me an incredulous look "You don’t understand, kid Those are the original crook and flail, the royal instruments of Ra"

Suddenly I felt like I’d sed a marble I don’t think I could’ve been ainst a hydrogen bomb The crook and flail of Ra were the od Yet in Zia’s hands they didn’t appear to be anything special The crook looked like an oversize gold and blue candy cane The flail was a wooden rod with three spiked chains at the end They didn’t glow or say PROPERTY OF RA

"Why would they be here?" I asked

"Dunno," Bes said, "but that’s them Last I heard they were locked in the First Nouess Iskandar buried them with your friend here"

"To protect her?"

Bes shrugged, clearly baffled "That’d be like wiring your home security system to a nuclear missile Complete overkill No wonder Apophis hasn’t been able to attack her That’s soainst Chaos"

"What happens if I wake her?"

"The spells shielding her will be broken That could be why Apophis led you here Once Zia’s out of that sarcophagus, she’s an easier target As to why Apophis would want her dead, or why Iskandar would go to such trouble to guard her--your guess is as good as mine"

I studied Zia’s face For threeher Noas al the sleep spell, I ht accidentally hurt her, or leave her open to an attack from Apophis Even if I succeeded, what if she woke up and decided that she hated me? I wanted to believe she possessed shared memories with her shabti, so that she would reether But if she hadn’t, I wasn’t sure I could stand the rejection

I touched the water coffin

"Careful, kid," Bes warned

Magic energy rippled throughin the face of the water dehts She was trapped in a dreaood memory: Iskandar’s kindly face as he placed the crook and flail in her hands: Keep these, my dear You will need them And do not fear Dreams will not bother you

But Iskandar had been wrong Nightmares had invaded her sleep The voice of Apophis hissed in the darkness: I destroyed your fa for you Zia saw the dehed, and the spirit of Nephthys churned uncooddess too in an enchanted sleep, and she tried to protect Zia, calling on the Nile to cover this chamber and shield them both from the Serpent Still, she couldn’t stop the dreaht

"I have to free her," I said "She’s partially conscious"

Bes sucked air through his teeth "That shouldn’t be possible, but if it’s true--"

"She’s in serious trouble" I sank us I channeled the saic I’d used to part the river, only on a s like an ice cube Before Zia could spill off the dais, I caught her in my arms She dropped the crook and flail Her staff and wand clattered to the floor

As the last of the sarcophagus trickled away, Zia’s eyes flew open She tried to breathe but couldn’t see with her?" I said "What do I do?"

"The goddess," he said "Zia’s body is rejecting the spirit of Nephthys Get her to the river!"

Zia’s face started to turn blue I gathered her in my arms and raced up the slippery stairs, which wasn’t easy with Zia kicking and hitting ed toand eased her down next to the riverbank

She clawed at her throat, her eyes full of fear; but as soon as her body touched the Nile, a blue aura flickered around her Her face turned back to its norushed fro back on it, I suppose that was pretty gross, but at the time I was too relieved to care

From the surface of the river rose the watery forreeak in running water, but Nephthys was clearly an exception She gloith power She wore a silver Egyptian crown on her long black hair Her regal face reentler smile and kinder eyes

"Hello, Bes" Her voice was soft and rustling, like a breeze through the river grass

"Nephthys," said the dwarf "Long tioddess looked down at Zia, as shivering infor breath

"I a her as a host," Nephthys said "It was a poor choice, which almost destroyed us both Guard her well, Carter Kane She has a good heart, and an important destiny"

"What destiny?" I asked "How do I protect her?"

Instead of answering, the spirit of Nephthys runted with approval "The Nile’s where she should be That’s her proper body"