Steampunk World by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Steampunk, Science Fiction, Fantasy
ISBN: 9781939840127
Publisher: Alliteration Ink
Published: 2014-08-13T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

The interior of Sa-Seti’s tomb was, surprisingly, well-lit by some mystic form of illumination and the monument smelled pleasantly of frankincense and myrrh.

“Strange,” Akhu whispered.

“What did you expect,” a rich, baritone voice asked. “Something akin to a vampire’s rectum?”

Akhu whirled toward the voice. Sitting upon a golden stool was a beautiful, cinnamon-skinned woman with curly brown locks that fell past her shoulders.

“Ta-Sut!”

“Well…sort of,” the woman giggled.

“Sa-Seti.”

“You are a smart boy!”

Akhu pointed the Steamsword at Ta-Sut’s chest. “Release her, demon, or I will…”

“You’ll what?” Sa-Seti asked, interrupting him. “Murder the daughter of your Shekhem?” Ta-Sut’s mouth moved, but it was Sa-Seti’s voice that continued to escape it.

“The Shekhem will not negotiate with demons! He will not relinquish the hand,” Akhu said.

“I knew he would not,” Sa-Seti replied. “That’s fine. I have no use for it anymore.”

“Then, why kidnap his daughter?”

“To lure you here.”

Akhu frowned. “Me? Why?”

“Because you are the only man in Menu-Kash with the wits to defy him.”

“I would never betray my Shekhem!” Akhu spat.

“Your Shekhem will, one day, crush this world beneath his boot-heel if he is not stopped!” Sa-Seti hissed.

“What?” Akhu asked, confused. “Why do you say such things?”

“Although my physical form is long gone, I still maintain much of my power,” Sa-Seti began. “Recently, I had a vision of Shekhem Tehuti Ur-Amun. He had five faces. Each face ordered its own army to rape, murder and pillage all the lands of Ki-Khanga. I knew, then, that he must be stopped.”

“And how do you know I will come against him? How do you know I won’t tell the Shekhem what you have told me?”

“Shekhem Tehuti needs my hand to see the future,” Sa-Seti replied. “I, myself, do not. Besides, your test against my scarab-warriors confirmed that you are more than capable.”

“And what of my uncle?” Akhu inquired. “He is dying because of your ‘test’.”

“He is dying because I cursed him with a rot spell when he fought his way into my tomb and nearly foiled my plans,” Sa-Seti replied. “The antidote is the ichor of a white dove. He must fully drain a dove of its blood every three days for the rest of his life or his condition will worsen and he will die. If he does this, however, his health will stabilize rapidly.”

“And what of Ta-Sut?”

“She is free to return home with you,” Sa-Seti replied. “She will not remember this conversation. Just tell her and everyone else that you destroyed me.”

Akhu paced back and forth, rubbing the crest of his head with his moist palm. His hand tightened its grip on the hilt of his sword. I cannot kill a spirit, he thought. His grip loosened and he lowered his sword. .

“I will leave you now,” Sa-Seti said. “Oh…one last thing…”

“Yes?”

“That apprentice of yours will make a fine wife and a great Shekhem one day.”

With that, Ta-Sut fell limp. Akhu caught her in his arms.

“Wait,” Akhu shouted. “Umat…wife? Shekhem?”

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