Alex shoved his belongings into his bag. His mother hated him now. Absolutely despised him. He could see it in her face, hear it in her voice. As he threw his homemade cape of deerskin over his back, he ran down the corridors with a torch. He burst into the stables, holding the torch aloft, and found Scham by the fact that he was the only horse who did not shy from his figure. He patted the stallion gently, before moving on to a camel, the same camel that he had come in on, in point of fact. The army would be a good place for him, but not for Scham. He had decided to go for the military simply because of the fact that it was far away. He would thus leave Scham here, where he would be well cared for. They would treat the fiery stallion well, and he would know that Scham would be happy.

As Alex headed away from the Cliffside homes, the last thing he heard before cresting the dune was Scham’s scream.

“Look here, Nefi,” Jonathan said, handing her a scrap of paper. It had writing on it.

Mother,

I am writing you to tell you that I am exceedingly sorry about what I did to you. This is no place for me, for I cannot live where I know that I have caused such pain. Therefore, I am going back to Britain, to join the Royal Air Force against the demonic Germans and Japanese.

I also cannot live in the same vicinity as the High Priest, for he has done much to hurt this family. I cannot stand to see you in pain, and now that I know that I caused it, I cannot remain here longer. Make my farewells to Uncle Jonathan and Father for me. I know that Uncle was not suited to the nomadic lifestyle we lived for many years. He needs greens and fresh fruits as well, and I can see the onset of scurvy is near with him.

Please care well for my stallion Scham for me. He is all I have left in this world, for I never wed and I love him more than were he my son. He is loyal and gentle, and I know he will be well cared for here.

I will see you again in Heaven, when you return, Mother.

Fare well,

Your son,

Alexander Michael O’Connell

Imhotep: When you read this, know that I will come for you with hatred should you harm my family. My mother is in your care, and you will be held responsible for her well being. If she is unhappy, I will find out, and you will rot in Hell for eternity. That is a promise, Priest.

Nefertiri clenched the letter to her.

“He’s gone to the military,” she whispered.

“He’s what??” Jonathan yelped.

“The military? Why?” Senakhtenre asked.

“He knows that he took me from Heaven, ‘Tenre. He’s left his horse, whom he says here he loves more than a son, for us to care for. He left us because he couldn’t be here.”

“We took you from Heaven, Evy?” Jonathan asked. His joking demeanor was very solemn, and he seemed to radiate sorrow.

“Yes, you two did. That’s why I left, and also why I moved out here. To get away from everything familiar that would remind me of what I had lost. I became a priestess, then I was in Bastet’s temple once, Germans attacked, and I was surrounded. Imhotep appeared, killed the Germans, and we have lived together ever since.”

“Actually, I became one of the Medjai before long,” Senakhtenre put in. “When we left you, we did not discuss where we would go. We came here, to the Egyptian desert, and soon after Nefertiri became a priestess. She was honoring Bastet at one point, and a group of Germans surrounded us. Bastet must have taken offence.”

“She did. I was sent to the Mortal plain again, and I did away with the Germans,” Imhotep explained. “Senakhtenre then gave me permission to wed Nefertiri, which I did. We moved here, into these ruins and made them our home. They are now one of the many places which are again habitable.”

“And now Alex found out about his actions,” Jonathan summed up.

“Yes,” the ancient High Priest replied, rubbing his hand self-consciously across his bald pate. “I should bring him back, make him listen.”

“Don’t, love. I can’t bear the thought of him hating you more than he does. It is my fault for not being clearer, or not outlining the reason for my departure so many years ago.”

“Don’t beat yourself up over this, Nefertiri,” Senakhtenre said softly. “It’s us that were in the wrong, not you. I’ll go back with Ardeth and arrange a search party.”

“’Tenre, no. If he’s gone to the army, then that means that he doesn’t want any of us to follow him.”

“Mother,” Seti called. He and his sister, Anck-su-namun, Suni for short, came over. “We can’t find Alex anywhere.”

“He’s gone, sweethearts. He left for the army this morning.”

“The army? Why?” Suni asked.

“I want to join the army!” Seti exclaimed. Imhotep and Nefertiri looked at each other.

“Not yet, Seti. Wait until you have seen at least twenty one Floods,” Imhotep said kindly.

“Twenty-one Floods?! Father, that’s a long time away! I’ve only seen eight Floods!”

“Well, Seti, you’ll just have to grow up a bit, Pal,” Jonathan put in, revealing that he was as fluent in Ancient Egyptian as anyone there. “Come on, let’s go see what we can do until your parents are finished talking to Sen—Sen—Rick.”

“It’s Senakhtenre, and who exactly are you?” Seti asked.

“I’m your uncle, your mother’s brother.”

“No you’re not. Mother keeps telling us stories about her brothers, and they were kind and caring, even Ramesses, who was Pharaoh after Grandfather.”

“Seti,” Nefertiri said, “He is your uncle. I forgot about him for a bit because I wished to only recall my life as Nefertiri, daughter of the Pharaoh. But Jonathan is my brother from current times. He is kind, however be careful, he can be a massive coward when he chooses to be. Why don’t you help him find some necessities for the amount of time that he’ll be spending here? With all the Germans running around, I don’t want him to be in an oasis.”

“Alright, Mother. I’ll be back in a bit.” The two of them then left the hall, leaving the adults to mull over what had happened and try to salvage the situation without letting the world know of their abilities or the fact that they were there. This would prove to be a long life, if Alex wasn’t found and brought back.

Balrog: Alright, I guess. Could have been better.

Celebwen Telcontar: (sarcastically) Thanks for the high review. Please review people! So that I don’t get bogged down by Balrog! Please!