I felt safe being held by Ahmose, I closed my eyes and waited for the impact. I opened them in surprise when I felt Ahmose’s arms wrap fully around my waist and lower me to the ground without so much as a jostle.
Asten, who Ahmose had dropped onto the sand, was slowly getting to his feet, while Ahmose stepped away, rubbing the back of his neck and watching me out of the corner of his eye. I wondered if he had been as affected by me as I’d been by him and felt more comfortable not meeting his eyes.
Quickly moving into his line of sight, I called Asten’s name, and when he didn’t respond, I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. He didn’t so much as twitch. I tried to swallow my disappointment and then cocked my head, wondering why I felt that particular emotion. Did I want his attention, too?
“He won’t be able to answer us until we find his heart,” Ahmose explained.
“Ah, I see,” I said, still not making eye contact. “So, where do we begin looking?” I asked as I reluctantly let go of Asten.
“The heart seeks out the thing that pains him the most. A banished soul only recovers his heart if he fights the demons that haunt him. The worse the crime, the more sore the battle. Whatever demon has the strongest hold on Asten’s heart will be guarding it. If we follow Asten, he’ll be drawn toward his monster.”
“Right.”
Ahmose lifted his eyes, peering into the foreboding landscape around us. We seemed to be in a wasteland. A burning, sulfurous scent was carried on the wind. Large mounds of dirt and rocks were piled up haphazardly. With my sphinx eyesight, I could detect the slight pulsing of a few of them, which, if they had been on earth, would have made me think they were termite mounds. Since they were in the netherworld, who knew what kind of horrible creatures made the hills their homes.
At first, I thought the terrain similar to the Place Where Dreams Are Born with its pinnacles and rock formations, but upon further inspection, the colors that brightened the rock were garish and menacing. The mounds of stone cast dark shadows where sinister things quivered and hid or slunk through the dusky gloom. Instead of beauty, I was struck by the idea that death and decay were slowly eating away at the landscape.
The ground was rocky with sharp stones that peppered the sand. And the thick depth of the grains sucked at our feet, nearly toppling me with every step as I slogged through it. My white sandals were quickly becoming uncomfortable. The only landmarks I spied were a few barren and ugly trees that stretched out sharp, skeletal claws to snag my hair. Tia lent me her strength so I could tolerate the hellish temperature, but she could do nothing about the stench of sulfur and corruption.
Asten seemed to be headed toward the place where the sulfur smell was emanating from. Not knowing if that was a good thing or a bad thing, I checked that our knives were ready and that my bow and the quiver of arrows were still at my back and then started after him.
My heart told me Amon was in a different direction, but I feared that if we didn’t follow Asten, we’d lose him. Tia agreed and we began tracking him. Within four steps, I was struggling to catch up. Asten glided over the terrain like a ghost, while I slogged as if moving through mud. “He’s getting ahead of us,” I called out.
“Here,” Ahmose said. “Take my hand. I can find the surest path.”
I placed my hand in his and it was quickly enveloped in his large, warm palm.
This feels nice, Tia said. Not like the embrace of Horus, but it is soothing. Comforting. I understand your desire regarding this one. Your cubs would be of a good size and healthy.
Gah! You’re talking about cubs? Cut it out! This is weird enough as it is, I thought back to her. I am way, way too young to be thinking about offspring.
You are not capable of reproduction at your age? she asked.
This was getting uncomfortable. I explained reluctantly, My body has the ability, but humans don’t usually reproduce until they have settled down. They finish college, get married, and buy a house first.
Ah, she said. It would be appropriate, I suppose, to find the proper location for the raising of cubs first. Since you