Chapter Sixteen
“Bastet, I had summoned you awhile ago. Where were you that prevented from receiving my message?”
Bastet was sitting on the edge of the cliff that overlooked the Capital. Ra stopped talked. His huge arms around his back his Falcon face twitching with irritation.
“I stopped in to visit with Bes. After battling, your war on humans. I think I deserve a break.”
“What war?” Hathor’s voice was dominating.
Bastet glared at Hathor through slit eyes, “ohhh… you know. The battle that got Set stabbed recently. The one the council said was of ‘urgent matters’ but failed to document the incident properly.”
“Bastet. You are now telling lies. What are you hiding?” The words came out as if Bastet were just a mere child tellings lies to get out of stealing treats before dinner.
Bastet opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it. She was clearly not going to win this argument.
“Back to my question, where were you? What kept you from being summoned?” Ra leaned forward glaring at the smaller deity.
“I do not need to report every little thing to you. Aren’t you All Seeing.” Bastet spat back at him folding her arms around her legs and pulling them to her chest. She kept her glare, daring Hathor or Ra to break the stance.
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“You make me sound like I micromanage you. I was simply summoning you as it appears we have been invited to a gathering between the Upper 9. I am expecting you to–”
A low hiss escaped her mouth. Her ears flattened against her head as she rose to her feet. Her shoulders were high and back arched, ready to pounce on anything and anyone who dared come near her. “And what do you need me for?”
“I am asking you to accompany myself and Hathor here to the get together. As a Protector of the Sands, we need to be able to show strength and unison.” Ra paced around, standing directly behind Bastet now giving her the option to either jump off the cliff or run directly into him.
Bastet remained silent, overlooking the Capital. Homes and structures littered the desert. A society regarded as one of the finest. Direct communication between the deities and their subjects. Bastet’s ears twitched at the crack of a wipe against a slave’s back. She could see the hungry children born in a lower class begging and searching for scraps along the streets as traders and merchants praised their products as the best in the world.
“No.”
“No?” Hathor’s gasp followed her physically as she stepped back from the audacity. “You can’t say no?”
“I just did.” Bastet turned to face Ra head on. Including her ears, she barely reached his beak. She refused to make eye contact and just stared forward.
Hathor looked between Ra and Bastet. She couldn’t understand why Ra insisted on involving Bastet as she was the most Common of all the Deities.
Ra looked out towards the Capital as Bastet stormed away. He ignored the look from Hathor, her judgment on his daughter’s behavior.
“Set.” Ra commanded.
Within seconds, Set was before Ra and Hathor. One knee on the bent facing Ra; his jackal face pointing directly to the ground with his huge ears facing forward awaiting the orders to come.
“Make sure Bastet is ready to attend the meeting.”
His voice shook Set to his core. Hathor flicked at the grains of sand as she followed Ra into the Throne Room. Set closed his eyes and tired to picture Bastet. He could see her walking amongst the humans, granting blessings to any and all whom asked.