“You ask anyone and they will tell you a different story of how the fight started. I’m not even sure those involved have an idea what set it all off. All I can tell you is when that fight broke out, I put my money on the warrior in black.” - Masud, Gambler

  ~*~

  “How is your hand?” Bayek asked Athia.

  Athia knew the glass orb would cut into her hand, which is why she wrapped her palm several times over with rags. For the most part, it protected her hand, but some shards cut her nevertheless and she was working on staunching the bleeding. It was nothing to her but a scratch and she said as much.

  “It’s nothing compared to Taghi’s loss,” Athia said. “Still, I’m happy it ended that way, Bayek.”

  Bayek said nothing, but Athia continued.

  “After seeing one of Vel’s ‘miracles’, I shared the same thoughts you did, but that wasn’t Vel. Had I met a man that still kicked downwards, maybe I wouldn’t have stopped you.”

  “You take whatever chances you wish, Athia, but never forget that you risk it all when you give one such as that a second chance. Not everyone deserves one.”

  “Sultan Atlasi didn’t deserve one?” Athia asked.

  Bayek looked at her. She had finished rebinding her left hand, it was now covered entirely in the bandage, although he still noticed blood. He was growing to despise the face she pulled. It was cold neutrality whenever she spouted her obnoxious moral points, which left him feeling pitied and judged at the same time.

  “Ah,” Bayek grunted, waving her question away as if it were a fly that broke his patience. “The others are waiting to say goodbye, let us leave quickly. I grow tired of this unending noise of the sea.”

  Bayek walked around the building where the god of wealth was dealt with. He found Taghi, Abasi, and Basim talking amongst themselves. Taghi continued to rub his hand, his face still twitching with pain. Despite this, he wore a smile, a face relieved of burden. He had officially lost everything that made him a god and he was smiling!

  “I’ve never seen a man so happy knowing that someday he was going to die,” Bayek thought.

  Bayek walked straight to the camel to make the final preparations. He noticed one of them peeled off from the group and joined him.

  “I want to thank you for not telling the others,” Abasi began. “It’s best that you didn’t. I know I shouldn’t keep this from them, but it’s been so long that it shouldn’t matter.”

  Abasi’s face was painted with gratitude, but it disappointed Bayek. He shrugged in reply, crossing his arms. It must have come off as detached and judgemental because Abasi’s face fell. Bayek glanced at Athia who had joined Taghi and Basim.

  “Hm, everyone...everyone deserves a second chance,” Bayek said, still not looking at Abasi. “I won’t get in the way of yours.”

  Abasi didn’t expect to hear that from Bayek of all people, which only made Abasi’s smile larger.

  “Stop smiling,” Bayek grunted when he saw it. “I said nothing to you.”

  Abasi stowed his smile as best he could as the others joined them. Taghi was the first to speak, as he had the most to say.

  “I can’t thank you enough, both of you,” Taghi said. “I have hoped for this day for so long and a finger is a small price to pay. The air feels different, my heart flutters with excitement, it’s like I felt like a god but with all the pains of being mortal, it’s-”

  “You’re welcome,” Athia said, holding her hands up to tell him to calm down. “Just...don’t tell Nef how it happened if she seeks you out again. The last thing we need is for her to know that we have such a weapon that can harm a god.”

  “Ah, she could only find me and speak to me through the immortality that marked me as a god,” Taghi said. “My sister can’t find me now, I’m sure of it and I will be sure to never speak to her again even then...if she can even recognize me as a complete mortal.”

  It seemed the subject turned sour for Taghi, as he now looked at Bayek with caution.

  “You mean to kill her then?” Taghi asked Bayek.

  “Once Athia is free of her, then yes, Nef will die,” Bayek replied. Taghi nodded.

  “You don’t even blink when you say such things, as if you’ve already killed her,” Taghi said. “If she leaves you no other choice, then perhaps that is for the best. Ours was not a close family if you can even call us family. In my entire existence, I have spoken fewer words to her than I have to you this past day, but I could tell she was a god you don’t cross and that’s coming from an ex-god. I imagine her time as a mortal has done little to ease that side of her. Who will you find next?”

  “Kye, God of Nature,” Athia replied. “We should find his power first, although it won’t be far.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Nef told me. As a god, she can sense the powers, even if she can’t do anything about it. Nef told me yours was the farthest, Kye’s was near, Aida’s was closer, and Ash’s in hand. For now, we only know we need to head to the South East, so Bayek and I are preparing as best we can.”

  “Will you two not join them?” Taghi asked Abasi and Basim.

  “We’ve had our hand in this adventure,” Abasi said.

  “Athia and Bayek don’t need our help,” Basim shrugged, more following Abasi’s lead than actually agreeing with him. “So, we will make our own adventure.”

  Bayek looked at Abasi, who returned the look with a nod. As always, they wanted to make a name for themselves and not for others, although they were happy to help Athia and Bayek in some small way.

  Taghi said his goodbye, returning to his home, and the two con artists said a similar farewell but left in search of trouble.

  Bayek climbed atop his camel, patting its neck more to wake it up than to show appreciation. Athia was about to join him when she saw someone waving at her from the harbor.

  It was Walter Cooke, the explorer.

  “One second, I want to say goodbye to another friend,” Athia told Bayek.

  “More friends, more goodbyes,” Bayek muttered to himself. “Will we ever leave this place?’

  No sooner did he say this when a change of color caught his eye. He turned to the entrance of Hammerdown. The Hammerdown guards, in their faded blue uniforms, parted to let another set of travelers in.

  Bayek’s eyes widened as he recognized them not just by the uniform, but also by the one who led the group.

  It was Mirza, flanked by two Red Guards. His eyes were already searching the crowd, trying to find someone, as if he already knew exactly who to look for.

  Bayek did not let this affect him, because there was no way that Mirza could recognize his face, let alone suspect him of being anything more than another traveler who was set to leave Hammerdown. Bayek settled down on his camel, trying to play the act of a calm and weary traveler.

  All the while, Bayek found his eyes darting to look at Athia, avoiding Mirza’s searching gaze at all times.

  “Athia, I have something that you might like,” Walter began the moment Athia was in earshot. “I enjoyed our conversation on the Everlasting Desert. I still find my mind buzzing with what you told me about the gods and their place in your culture. I thought since you showed much interest in the ‘Other Lands’, you might enjoy this.”

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  Athia had hardly any time to reply when Walter presented her with a book. It already fascinated her, as she had not seen paper so well bound. Scrolls were commonplace in the Everlasting Desert, perhaps even bundles of paper. The book itself was a marvel, but the title intrigued her further.

  “Kingdoms of the North, a history of the Enlightened Kingdom by Elsie and Lawrence Cooke,” Athia read.

  “My parents,” Walter said proudly. “You see, the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree!”

  “This is an...amazing gift to give someone you met only this morning,” Athia smiled, already handing it back.

  “Please, I have many copies, but I feel if there is anyone most deserving of one, it’s you,” Walter explained. “I can sense that you would make a great explorer and should you ever make your way to the Enlightened Kingdom, this book shall help you to get better acquainted with the people and our ways of life.”

  Bayek watched them talk, his patience running thin as the three Red Guards moved further into Hammerdown. Mirza was slowly moving down the center towards the harbor, in Athia’s direction.

  “Does he recognize her?” Bayek thought. “She is turning back, finally!”

  “That’s him!” a young man shouted, pointing at Bayek.

  Bayek turned his attention to the young man, who stood with several Hammerdown guards. One of these men stood tall, his robes a better cut and style, the pattern across his chest no doubt signifying his rank as captain of the Hammerdown guard.

  “That’s the one that knocked me out,” the young man said, whom Bayek now recognized as the man who ran into him in the alley, pursued by Abasi. It was hard to tell, the right side of his face had swollen up from the attack.

  The Red Guard had turned their attention to the Hammerdown guard who approached Bayek quickly. Mirza met Bayek’s eyes, but it was broken almost immediately by another exclamation.

  “I say!” Walter yelled.

  As Athia passed the panther’s cage, it snuck a claw out to grab at her. She noticed the movement, but that didn’t stop it from snagging her blue sash. Only one item fell, stopping in front of the cage, causing Walter to yell his surprise, as did many others when they saw the Sultan’s Jewel!

  Athia, in those moments, noticed the Red Guard as well as Mirza.

  “The god of luck is truly gone,” Athia thought.

  Bayek turned the camel toward Athia in a sudden rush, while everyone took a moment to process what they had seen. Bayek had already rushed past Mirza, who moved to give chase, Balthasar and Rahele following after, along with most of the Hammerdown guards.

  Athia leaped towards the camel, Bayek snatching her arm and pulling her up.

  “This is not how I wish to leave every city, Athia!” Bayek told Athia as the camel ran out onto the harbor, having no choice but to turn and follow a line of buildings leading toward the upper district.

  “Stop those two!” they could hear the guards yelling. “Those two attacked the captain’s son!”

  “They murdered Sultan Atlasi!” Balthasar boomed.

  Yells rose throughout the city like a wave of panic. Those that were brave enough to try, attempted to slow down Bayek and Athia, who had now covered their lower faces to avoid being recognized. Everyone made way for Mirza, whose silence and determination sent a shiver down the spine of everyone who saw him. He was an agent of vengeance and his fury showed.

  Abasi and Basim did not miss these yells and both spied the pursuit from a distance. Basim sent Aida into the air and without a word to each other, they moved to help their friends escape the city.

  “Athia, the sword,” Bayek said, having no freedom from guiding his camel to remove the sword from the saddle himself.

  Athia didn’t hesitate, although she hoped it would never have come to this. No sooner did she draw the sword and hold it up to Bayek that he snatched it to meet Mirza’s sword, which had appeared suddenly around the next corner they took. Had his strike not been met with steel, then Bayek and Athia would have been divided by his mighty swing.

  “How did he move so quickly?” Athia thought.

  Mirza’s camel carried him past them too fast for him to strike again. Bayek charged onwards, his only thought being to escape from the city. Although, as their swords clashed for the first time, the gates had been shut, sealing them inside Hammerdown. Knowing this, Bayek continued towards the upper district, having seen another entrance to the Hammerdown when they arrived. It would open to a path down the hill, which led in the direction they needed to leave.

  Yet, that all depended on them reaching the gate before any other guards.

  It was the turn of the Hammerdown guards, as many had followed Mirza’s lead in cutting through the other streets to get ahead of Bayek, although further on so they could block the road. None had a camel to catch up to him and stop him that way.

  The street was blocked, and their swords were raised, ready to strike at the rider and his camel. Bayek saw this obstacle in the road but lacked any way of escape. If he slowed before reaching them, Mirza would catch up.

  Yet, Bayek did not need to find the answer, as Abasi and Basim had already found one. Bayek could see them on the rise, pushing a cart of goods down the hill. It trundled down towards the guards, gathering speed. One of the guards noticed it, no doubt hearing the clatter of its contents, and yelled out.

  The obstacle scattered as best it could as the cart crashed onto the street and continued with the moment, chasing one guard down a narrow path. He only just escaped by diving through the window of a house that marked the dead end.

  Bayek and Athia continued onwards, turning with the path to dash up the hill and amongst the large homes of the upper district.

  The Hammerdown guards that gathered their horses joined the pursuit, two more already gaining on Bayek with their faster steeds. Bayek blocked their strikes, while Athia did so on the other side. It seemed the rider that she focused on was only concerned with attacking the distracted Bayek, which was his mistake.

  When the guard neared, ready to strike when Bayek was in range, Athia clutched the saddle and leaned down far so her dagger could reach the straps that secured the saddle of his horse. With a few quick cuts, the saddle was already twisting on the galloping horse. By the time the guard noticed the shift, Athia had already placed her foot on his side and pushed him off.

  His eyes were wide and his yelp was cut off when he hit the ground.

  As for the rider attacking Bayek, he met a similar fate when he chanced a thrust. Bayek leaned back, the sword passing just in front of his chest. With the rider so close, he brought the hilt of his sword down hard on the rider’s head. It was hard to tell if the rider was already unconscious before he hit the ground, but he gave a similar squeak when he did.

  The Hammerdown guards had been left behind, but Balthasar and Rahele were still in pursuit, with Mirza not far behind.

  The path weaved upwards amongst the buildings. The rise and turns slowed the pursuit more than Bayek would like, as it seemed the Red Guards were a lot better at taking the hill, so when it started to level out near the top, he knew the Red Guard would reach him He readied his sword, as these would be tougher adversaries than the soft guards of Hammerdown.

  Once more, Abasi and Basim stepped in, lending a final helping hand.

  Athia saw the line of cloth that hung over them drop, a trap prepared by the waiting duo. It was so quick to fall into place that it caught Rahele and Balthasar off guard, the two colliding with it and being pulled off their camels who ran on without them. As the two Red Guards hit the ground, Mirza grunted his frustration.

  Raising his sword, Mirza divided the sheet down the middle, the camel able to rip through what remained. However, Mirza was left surprised by the path which turned suddenly after the sheet. Unable to take the turn in time, Mirza was left to be carried by the camel, who, unable to stop its momentum fast enough, ended up launching Mirza into a noble’s home.

  With all their pursuers dealt with, Bayek and Athia had a clear shot to the second gate. The guards, uninformed thus far of what was happening in Hammerdown, looked at the approaching camel with curiosity. One of the guards recognized them, as he was the one who recorded their entry.

  Bayek did not stop the camel to have their exit recorded, catching the guards by surprise as the camel dashed through the gates and down the path out of the city, having escaped.

  The record keeper dipped his quill in ink and then scratched their names down.

  “Eima...Tonah…oh, dear, or was that Kuhd?” the guard asked himself. “I really should have noted...wait a second...those sneaky…”

  Realizing he had been fooled, the guard decided to scratch out the names and hide his shameful mistake. When asked about it, he would suggest they must have snuck in by climbing over the wall when nobody was looking.

  While plans and excuses were being made, Mirza and his Red Guard gathered themselves and their camels. It seemed they were all too ready to give chase straight away, Mirza already dashing down the path, when Balthasar called to him to stop.

  Mirza, angered by this request, looked back at Balthasar.

  “We’re this close, Balthasar, let justice be done!” Mirza shouted back.

  “Don’t be a fool, Mirza, we used all our supplies getting here!” Balthasar shouted back. “We can leave later tonight, with fresh camels. We can see where they are heading, so let us rest and then pursue, or lose more time!”

  Rahele marveled at how Balthasar spoke to Mirza. It didn’t sound like a lower rank soldier suggesting something to a higher rank soldier, but instead stern instructions between equals. She considered that truly brave of Balthasar, considering how enraged Captain Mirza already was.

  Yet, with one final look at the camel shrinking in the distance, Mirza did turn around. Mirza was so easily swayed by his passion, that it was up to Balthasar to keep him level-headed when he needed to be. That’s why Mirza didn’t go alone; he needed a level head to ensure he caught the assassins.

  “Come, Rahele, you must learn what you can from the guards,” Balthasar told her. “Mirza and I will prepare the rest.”

  ~*~

  Athia and Bayek gave one final look at Hammerdown and saw that the pursuit was held off for a moment.

  “We must be quick now, Bayek,” Athia said. “He will not suffer comfort in chasing us.”

  Bayek had already come to the same conclusion when Mirza’s sword collided with his; Bayek’s hand still hurt.

  “Let us not waste time then,” Bayek said, ready to urge the camel onwards, but hesitated when they heard a screech.

  Looking up, Athia and Bayek saw a falcon swoop down towards them. Athia held out her left hand, and Aida landed on it gracefully. Athia was grateful that her hand was bound so well in bandages, because even with the protection she could feel the sharpness of Aida’s claws.

  Yet, what interested her most was what was in Aida’s beak; Basim’s necklace.

  Once Athia wrapped her fingers around the chord, Aida released it and flew away towards Hammerdown. Bayek’s eyebrows raised for a moment, but then he diverted his attention towards riding the camel.

  Athia smiled as she held the clay falcon. Once she had put it on, she turned her attention to the South East, to Kye, the God of Nature.