In the early afternoon, they finally arrived at the oasis and could rest and cool off. The place was almost as idyllic as the Duat's basin, except it stretched several hundred meters. The land here was fertile, which explained the presence of a small hidden village and the frequent stay of nomadic caravans. They could refill their waterskins and drink their fill, much to the delight of Anaïs and the dromedaries that had carried them all morning. All around the basin, green grass tickled their toes, and large trees sheltered them from the sun.

"There’s an inn," Isis pointed out, indicating a small building not far from where they stood. "Let’s eat quietly; there’s no point in starving ourselves."

Anaïs didn’t doubt that the two deities had likely packed enough food for lunch or even dinner, but that clearly wouldn’t make a full, hearty meal given the size of their satchel and the objects already inside. And besides, the inn might offer a hot meal. The temperature was pleasant here, and the young woman had managed to slightly wet her face and neck to cool down. She certainly wouldn’t turn down a good meal to revive her energy after an exhausting morning.

"Food and drink for three," Anubis ordered as they entered the inn.

Near the entrance of the building and the oasis were a few wicker chairs around sturdy wooden tables, allowing guests to eat outside just like any modern restaurant. Eagerly, Anaïs followed the two deities and sat at the table they had chosen, a sigh of relief escaping her lips as her bottom finally met a comfortable surface. The saddle had begun to seriously bruise her thighs, back, and glutes since she wasn’t used to riding. And it was only the beginning, so it was best to make the most of these few moments of rest.

"I don’t think my body will survive the afternoon if we stay in the saddle," Anaïs groaned, waiting for the server to return with their drinks. "I’d kill for a massage…"

She said it in jest, briefly glancing at Anubis, who didn’t respond but gave her an amused look. This wasn’t the case for Isis, though, who didn’t appreciate the human’s subtle attempts at flirting while in the presence of the god’s mother. It was somewhat indecent, but Anaïs didn’t care much. The goddess was already aware of the attraction between the two companions, and a little joke wouldn’t hurt anyone.

"Ask a servant," Isis cut in sharply, ending the conversation before either of them could press further.

When Anaïs caught the jackal god’s mischievous glance, she had to stifle a laugh to avoid offending his mother. Best not to push the joke too far, lest they risk compromising their quest by creating unnecessary tension. She wasn’t reckless enough to deliberately stir up petty conflicts. Besides, what happened once they returned to Imentet and the goddess wasn’t around was their business alone.

Silence engulfed the table for the next five minutes until a servant placed three mugs of beer in front of them. Each of them seemed lost in thought, half-tired from the morning and appreciating the temporary calm. Anaïs eyed the alcoholic beverage skeptically. It was hot, and beer was dehydrating, the opposite of what was needed in the middle of a desert journey. However, she eventually gave in, reasoning that the relaxing effect of alcohol would do her good, and it wouldn’t be too bad since they were eating as well. The two gods didn’t seem to share her reservations, judging by how they immediately sipped their first gulp as soon as the server left. And they were right; the beer, in addition to being light, was surprisingly refreshing. Anaïs took a few sips, sighed contentedly, and set down her glass with a smile. The alcohol content was very mild, probably akin to a shandy, which likely explained why it was the most popular drink.

If someone had told me one day that I’d be drinking a beer on a restaurant terrace in Egypt, centuries before my time... In the company of a handsome god... It's a story worthy of a movie! she thought, her eyes sparkling.

About fifteen minutes later, as the conversation had resumed between Anaïs and Anubis, with his mother only occasionally adding her opinions, their meals were finally brought to them. Anaïs was delighted to discover that the inn served a menu cooked on a barbecue—or at least over a wood fire. There were various plates with skewers of different types of meat and vegetables, each more colorful than the last, both from the ingredients themselves and the spices that seasoned them. There were also wheat flatbreads to complement the meal, which could serve as a side like bread or be used to stuff the skewers inside, creating a sort of sandwich. Needless to say, the dish was more than enticing.

"These are lamb, beef, and chicken skewers," the server introduced, placing and pointing out the plates. "Enjoy your meal."

The smell was so appetizing that Anaïs was the first to dive into the steaming food, taking a skewer of each type onto her plate. Mixing the lamb and chicken in the flatbread to create something resembling a kebab, she enjoyed crafting a custom meal that delighted her taste buds. The meat was spicy, but she didn’t mind. She had tasted the same spices during her trip to Cairo.

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"Don’t eat too much," Isis warned them, seeing them devour their plates. "We’ll resume our search as soon as we’re done. There won’t be time to linger with a full stomach."

Anaïs felt the comment was more directed at her, but she chose not to take offense and simply nodded to acknowledge the advice. It wouldn’t change the fact that she intended to eat her fill. Isis was Anubis’s mother, not hers.

* * *

The second piece of Osiris was buried somewhere around the western part of the oasis. Anubis hadn’t been able to pinpoint it exactly since it was buried under moist soil, forcing them to move blindly until Anaïs felt a particular connection. Since she hadn’t yet mastered her magic, her detection range was much smaller than that of the amulet, and she couldn’t concentrate enough to expand it in such open spaces.

After about thirty minutes of walking, Anaïs felt a tug at the back of her mind, similar to the onset of a headache. The sensation hadn’t been as intense when they found the hand earlier that morning, but that was easily explained by the fact that she hadn’t been actively trying to pinpoint the exact location of Osiris’s flesh. She rubbed her temples, hoping the pain wouldn’t bother her for the rest of the day, then pointed out the spot on the ground where their target was buried. Satisfied, Isis stepped forward and began to move the soil with magic to spare them from digging themselves, while the jackal god watched Anaïs with a concerned eye. She could tell from his gaze that he wanted to ask if she was okay, and she answered his unspoken question with a nod and a smile to reassure him. She didn’t want to be a burden so early in the adventure; it was pointless to start complaining about a little headache. After all, she had wanted this adventure.

"It’s a big piece, probably a thigh," Isis analyzed as she cleared the earth and a few bones buried next to her husband’s limb.

As the goddess tried in vain to fit it into her satchel without too much of it sticking out—which was a losing battle given the size of the limb—a beastly growl startled them from behind. Through the foliage of the bushes surrounding the oasis, an animal slowly approached the trio, its fangs ready to strike. It didn’t take them long to realize they had raided the pantry of a leopard that had claimed Osiris’s flesh. The piece was still intact, a sign that no animal could truly feed on it, but the beast seemed to have become attached to it, perhaps in the hope of being able to tear it apart one day.

It approached slowly, one step at a time, its growls echoing in the surroundings. Even the few birds perched quietly in the nearby trees took flight under the threat. Their position was uncomfortable, and Anaïs would be lying if she said the animal didn’t scare her. But she was in the company of two deities. Surely, they wouldn’t let themselves be attacked by a mere beast, right?

Anubis positioned himself in front of the two women, staring down the leopard, daring it to come closer. At first, the animal didn’t stop, accepting the challenge. But when a deep, powerful growl escaped the jackal god’s mouth in response, the leopard began to hesitate. Anubis took a step forward, his threatening growls growing louder to drive it away. Suddenly frightened, the leopard flattened its ears and ran off, abandoning Osiris’s piece and the few bones stored beside it. The beast could retrieve them later after they had left, anyway.

The tension in Anaïs’s body dissipated as she exhaled deeply, regaining her calm. If encountering animals defending their territory was the only danger they would face during their quest, she definitely had nothing to worry about. Still, her restless imagination liked to remind her that the tranquility they were currently enjoying likely wouldn’t last much longer.

Just eleven more pieces... At this rate, we’ll be done in a few days. We can do this.

Two hours later, the trio decided to take a break and dismount to stretch their legs. The afternoon sun was more aggressive than the morning rays, worsening Anaïs’s headache. Despite drinking plenty of water—Anubis had given her his waterskin, claiming he needed it less than she did—the effects of the detection spell still lingered.

"I’m sorry, but you’ll have to use your magic to locate the last piece," the jackal god announced to the young woman, looking apologetic.

He had spent the first five minutes of their break studying his maps again, uncertain, while Anaïs quenched her thirst and relaxed her muscles, sore from their camel ride.

"I suspected we were lost," Isis remarked, slightly irritated. "Apparently, my intuition was correct. You could have said something earlier, and we would have wasted less time relying on the amulet’s power."

I’m not just an object now, there’s no need to talk about me like one, she held back from saying to the deity.

"So that’s why you gave me your water," she sighed, realizing it wasn’t just a considerate gesture.

"I would have preferred not to worsen your headache, but we have no choice," Anubis admitted, resigned. "I thought the images matched this area, but I don’t recognize anything here. I don’t know if I made a mistake, or if the piece was moved today..."

Anaïs sighed and closed her eyes. Despite the pain pounding in her head, the sooner they located Osiris’s flesh, the sooner they could return to the Duat to rest. It was better to finish quickly. She focused her magic as best as she could under the circumstances, repeating the previous day’s experience and creating a ball of energy between her fingers, which she extended forward. Anubis intertwined his hands with hers to help her visualize the images she sent him through their magical connection. She didn’t sense the divine flesh nearby, forcing her to resort to this exercise instead of simply opening her energy and letting it overflow in an attempt to capture a particular connection. Like a phone searching for a signal.

"It’s probably an eye. It wasn’t in that spot yesterday,” Anubis explained as he received the images in his mind. "A vulture must have carried it to its nest, about an hour north of here. It takes us quite far from our starting point, but once we retrieve it, we’ll have finished this part of the shore. We should be back in time for dinner."