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He gestured toward the door of darkness Just to show hih first

On the other side, we found ourselves in the throne rooods A crowd of asserander than the last time we’d been there The columns were taller, more intricately painted The polished ns, as if ere stepping across the galaxy The ceiling blazed like one giant fluorescent panel The dais and throne of Horus had been moved to one side, so it looked more like an observer’s chair now, rather than the main event

In the center of the rooht-orb crew fluttered about, cleaning the hull and checking the rigging Uraei circled the throne of fire, where Ra sat dressed in the rai, his flail and crook in his lap His chin was on his chest, and he snored loudly

Aman in leather armor stepped toward us He had a shaven head and two different-colored eyes--one silver, one gold

"Welcome, Carter and Sadie," Horus said "We are honored"

His words didn’t ods bowed respectfully to us, but I could feel their hostility si just below the surface They were all dressed in their finest arod (not reen chain mail and carried a massive staff that floater Nekhbet looked about as cleaned-up as a vulture can, her feathered black cloak silky and plush She inclined her head to me, but her eyes told od had gotten his teeth brushed and his fur coby ball--possibly because Gramps had infected hilittery silver suit, tossing a coin in the air and s I wanted to punch him, but he nodded as if ere old friends Even Set was there, in his devilish red disco suit, leaning against a colu his black iron staff I remembered that he’d promised not to kill me only until we freed Ra, but at the rinned atod was the only one who hadn’t dressed up He wore his usual jeans and lab coat covered with scribbles He studiedhe was the only one in the room who actually pitiedblack hair was braided down behind the shoulders of her gossas shimmered behind her She bowed tooff her

Horus turned to the asse the pharaoh’s crown

"Behold!" he told the crowd "Carter and Sadie Kane, akened our king! Let there be no doubt: Apophis the enemy has risen We must unite behind Ra"

Ra muttered in his sleep, "Fish, cookie, weasel," then went back to snoring

Horus cleared his throat "I pledge my loyalty! I expect you all to do the saht Each of you shall take turns with this duty until the sun god is…fully recovered"

He sounded absolutely unconvinced this would ever happen

"We will find a way to defeat Apophis!" he said "Now, celebrate the return of Ra! I ean to play, echoing through the halls Ra, still on his throne on his boat, woke up and started clapping He grinned as gods swirled around hi into wisps of cloud, flaht

Isis took , Sadie," she said in a frigid voice "Our greatest eneod our leader"

"Give it a chance," I said, thoughto butter

Horus clasped Carter’s shoulders His words weren’t any friendlier

"I am your ally, Carter," Horus proth whenever you ask You will revive the path of ether to destroy the Serpent But make no mistake: you have cost me a throne If your choice costs us the war, I swear my last act before Apophis ss nat And if it comes to pass that in this ithout Ra’s help, if you have disgraced , I swear that the death of Cleopatra and the curse of Akhenaton will look like nothing compared to the wrath I will visit on you and your family for all time Do you understand?"

To Carter’s credit, he held up under the gaze of the war god

"Just do your part," Carter said

Horus laughed for the audience as if he and Carter had just shared a good joke "Go now, Carter See what your victory has cost Let us hope all your allies do not share such a fate"

Horus turned his back on us and joined the celebration Isis s rainbow

Bast stood at ue, but she looked as if she wanted to shred Horus like a scratching post

Anubis looked eods can be--"

"Ungrateful?" I asked "Infuriating?"

His face flushed I supposed he thought I was referring to him

"We can be slow to realize what is important," he said at last "So new, soe us for the better"

He fixed me with those warm eyes, and I wanted to o," Bast interrupted "One more stop, if you’re up for it"

"The cost of victory," Carter rehed "Difficult question This way"

The last place I wanted to see again was Sunny Acres