CHAPTER 11: "I FORGED FOR YOUR PA"
I felt my body being carried along and opened my pain-filled eyes to see what was happening to me. Dense darkness surrounded me and I could see nothing, but I knew I was being carried downward from the angle of my body. I soon recognized the cold dampness pressed against my limbs, and realized I was being taken by Daedalus' strange servants back into the recesses of the mountain. But I could not speak, my head throbbed painfully and my eyes would not stay open.
I awoke later to the feeling of a cool, wet cloth being applied to my head. Opening my eyes, I saw before me one of Daedalus' women. Smiling gently, she greeted me with a friendly nod. Behind her stood the blacksmith himself, leaning on his cane and peering down upon me. He said something in the northern language and the woman rose and left the room. Then the blacksmith stepped forward.
"Young one, you are lucky to be alive," he said sharply.
"I know," I replied, remembering the blow I had taken from the Centaur.
"If your bones had not been strengthened during your prior conditioning, that creature would have split your skull. Even so, when my servants arrived, he was preparing to strike you again, which would have surely killed you regardless. They are truly a craven race of creatures, those Centaur..."
"What happened?" I asked.
"Luckily for you I sent several of my servants to observe the progress of the battle," Daedalus replied. "The Centaur feared them and ran away in fright. Then they brought you back here."
"Thank your servants for me, Daedalus. Now I must get up from here..."
I tried to rise, my head throbbed violently and dizziness overcame me. Daedalus shook his head as I fell back onto the bed. "You are still too weak. You must have more rest. Now that you are awake, though, there are things we must discuss."
I lay back and prepared myself to listen. Daedalus sat down on the edge of the bed, his cane between his legs, his hands perched atop it. He looked around the chamber cautiously, then peered deeply into my eyes.
"Know this, young Memnon: I have existed for many centuries, peacefully working metals here in my mountain, forging for any who could pay my fees. Having few earthly needs, it has been easy to remain apart from the affairs of the world."
I tried to pay attention, but the pain and ringing in my head distracted me. Daedalus noticed and rubbed my brow gently. The pain subsided and I could hear him better.
"But this time..." he continued, shaking his head sadly. "Never before have the affairs of the world threatened my way of life, so I must do what is necessary to maintain it. It seems, therefore, that I must break my code of neutrality to assist you."
"Assist me?" I asked. "How? Why?"
"Listen to me," said the blacksmith. "There are things you are not being told by Kho-An-Sa. Things you need to know."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Young Memnon, you are being deceived. I sense things about your spirit...the woman you have been given..."
"Nala?" I asked.
Daedalus nodded. "She is beautiful, is she not. A true mistress of pleasure...and power?"
"Why, yes," I replied with a smile.
Daedalus shook his head grimly. "She is a viper! She is using her skills to cloud your mind and change your nature."
"But she empowers me. After I am with her I feel as if I could do anything..."
"Yes," said Daedalus, poking a finger into my chest. "Yes, you are empowered, but do you not feel something else?"
I thought for a moment. "Why...sometimes...at times I have felt more warlike. Ready to fight...but...I...''
"You are being manipulated," the blacksmith continued. "It is Kho-An-Sa's wish that you become a killer with no remorse, and Nala is his instrument. When you are joined she attracts negative forces. Then, working her magical arts, she seals them to your spirit."
It all made sense to me now. Kho-An-Sa knew that I would never willingly be as he wanted me to be. So he gave me this woman, seeking to use her skills to change me. I lowered my head, ashamed that I had been so easily fooled. Daedalus placed his hand upon my shoulder.
"Be not ashamed, Memnon. For you are young and know nothing of these things. It is Kho-An-Sa's wish that you become dependent upon this woman, for only a warrior who combines his life force with that of a woman of power can manipulate the forces that have been set free within you. You have been away from her for a long while, and that is why your strength and weapons failed you."
"What should I do? I asked.
Daedalus rubbed his chin.
"There are other women who have such talents. Temple women, priestesses, others. Until you find a mate with the required skills, these are the women you must seek out. For now, take my advice: do not go near this Nala again. Refuse her. Reject her."
"But ...what shall I tell Kho-An-Sa?" I asked.
Daedalus tightened his grip upon my shoulder.
"I am sure you will think of something. I tell you this because you play a large part in Kho-An-Sa's plans."
"You know his goals?" I asked.
"I can see where he is going. I have seen this coming for some time," the blacksmith replied sadly. "He and his coalition, the People of the Sea and other Servants of the Serpents, wish to take control of the force of the Reckoning and twist it to their own ends. They wish to recover the riches and the dominion they once possessed."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Daedalus held up both his arms, nodding towards the metal bands upon each of his wrists. One band shone a lustrous yellowish-brown; the other was polished just as highly, but had a dark, coal-black sheen.
"This is the metal of the past," he said, pushing the bronze band toward me. "And this, the metal of the future."
I looked closely at the darker band as he held it close.
"Iron," the blacksmith said grimly.
"The time of iron is upon us and the world will run red with blood."
"But why?"
"The People of the Sea wrested control of the trade in bronze and held it for many years. Your pa's Kushite coalition, who started this trade long ago, took it back, rendering the Sea Kings to the status of couriers. But now that iron is coming into general use, their share of the profits are shrinking..."
"And so... ?"
"And so, the Sea Kings have lost their fortunes. At first they took to piracy and highway robbery. But the taking of two strategic cities, Troy in the north and Petra in the south, shows that their ambitions are much more serious now. This, I think, is where you are involved, young Memnon."
"How so?"
"Your pa was once their main opponent, combating them in all lands, upon all seas. It would please them greatly if you, his son, would be their warrior and assassin."
"Do you know my pa?"
The blacksmith leaned forward, smiling. "I forged for your pa."
My mouth fell open in surprise and my mind reeled with many questions. But just then we heard footsteps and Daedalus placed a finger to his lips. We passed a moment in silence, then Kho-An-Sa strolled into the room.
"Ah, young panther! You are finally awake. I feared you would not wake up after the many days you lay there."
"Many days ... how long was I asleep?"
Kho-An-Sa and the blacksmith looked at each other.
"You were severely injured, Memnon." replied Kho-An-Sa. "You have been here for 14 days."
I sat up and shook my head even though the pain of moving went through my every limb. Kho-An-Sa stepped toward the bed, holding a small wooden box in one hand and an object I did not immediately recognize in the other.
"You performed better than I expected in this last venture, Kho-An-Sa said with a satisfied smile. "So I have decided to reward you."
He placed the box in my hand and opened it. Inside was the ring given to me by the Anu prince on the Island of the Ka.
"My ring," I cried, snatching it from the box.
It was shining in all its obsidian glory, the torchlight bouncing off the contours of the feline
carvings. But I noticed that the special mark was not there.
"I can detect nothing more than an ornamental use for that ring," said Kho-An-Sa, "and so I return it to you."
"Thank you," I replied, pulling the ring onto the middle finger of my right hand. As I positioned it there, the feline face moved and the symbol of leadership re-appeared upon its brow. I covered it discreetly to conceal these things from Kho-An-Sa.
"And this," the magician said, offering me the other object.
My mouth fell open as I recognized an object I thought I would never see again: It was a leather helm with a lustrous ring of carved bronze circling the crown.
"Yes," Kho-An-Sa said. "It belonged to your pa."
My eyes widened. Here before me was the very helm worn by my sire as he battled his way across the world. Tighter fitting and different from the protective headgear worn by the native warriors of Kamit, the helm made my pa stand out from all others and added to the legends about him. "Brazen crested Memnon" he was often called. He had told me the helm was from his homeland.
"This will help to protect your head the next time some creature takes a swing at it," Kho-An-Sa said. "Why do you hesitate? Take it! "
Many questions ran through my mind. Where had he acquired my pa's helm? What did he know about his fate? And why was he giving it to me now? In light of the conversation I had just had with the blacksmith the answer to the last question became immediately clear-the magician wanted me to be the image of my pa, to continue the legend of Memnon, but as a servant loyal to his evil purposes. Little did he know that his plans to change me had been discovered. Pushing my questions aside for the time being, I reached out and took my pa's helm. Turning it over in my hands, I vowed that the legend would go on, but not in the way the magician expected.
"Good, good," Kho-An-Sa exclaimed. "Your next gift will be time with Nala. She will help to bring you back to full strength-and bring you much pleasure."
"I no longer want Nala," I replied.
"What?" cried Kho-An-Sa.
"I no longer want her," I shot back. "She no longer pleases me."
Kho-An-Sa shook his head in disbelief. "What do you mean? Nala is one of the most beautiful women in creation. Stop this foolish talk."
"I mean it. I no longer want her. I want," I began, but had to stop and think for a moment. "I want a Tamahu woman," I lied. "That's it. Get me a Tamahu."
Kho-An-Sa was taken aback. He looked at Daedalus, but the blacksmith only shrugged his shoulders.
"Who can fathom the lusts of youth?" the blacksmith said dryly.
"A Tamahu," said Kho-An-Sa, shaking his head. "You want a Tamahu?"
"Yes," I said. "Like Daedalus' women who took care of me. And I want two of them, just like Daedalus has."
Kho-An-Sa's mouth dropped open. "You want...two of them?"
"Yes. Two of them. I prefer one with yellow hair and one with red. Just like Daedalus' women. I admire his taste."
Kho-An-Sa looked at the blacksmith again. Daedalus shrugged once more, turning toward the doorway.
"Perhaps we should let him rest now. Tomorrow he will receive the final gift for what he has done for me. Kho-An-Sa, we should let him sleep."
The magician nodded in agreement, the incredulous look still upon his face. I turned over in bed, clutching my pa's helm to my breast. Then I laughed silently and drifted off to sleep.
This time my slumber was tortured by anguished dreams of my family and images of Kam-Atef, all cascading before me in a deluge of confused images. They were mercifully interrupted when a tug at the covers of my bed woke me with a start. Rousing from my fitful dreams, I rolled over to find one of Daedalus' elemental servants standing nearby. As I rose, washed myself and dressed, the lingering image of the great serpent remained. I knew I had to contact him soon.
Daedalus' servant led me down a long corridor, identical to hundreds in the domain of the blacksmith. Soon we emerged into the familiar hall and were greeted by the smoke, sounds and odors of the great workshop. There, next to a large table, stood Daedalus and Kho-An-Sa. On the floor nearby I saw the boy I had brought. Upon seeing me, he leapt to his feet and ran into my arms. I hugged him affectionately.
"Greetings, Memnon," said Daedalus. "Today you will receive my final gift as payment for what you have done for me in this land."
I stepped forward and bowed to the blacksmith and nodded at Kho-An-Sa.
The boy then tugged at my arm, leading me to the floor where he had been playing. There I saw numerous metal objects, including crude replicas of animals, tools and other implements. Looking closely, I noticed some slight movements among the animal replicas. The blacksmith leaned towards us.
"I was correct, Memnon, in choosing this child as my apprentice," he said.
"It seems so, great blacksmith," I replied.
The boy walked to Daedalus and stood next to him. Kho-An-Sa stood nearby, silently nodding, rubbing his chin.
"The child certainly is gifted," the magician said.
"He is much more than gifted, Kho-An-Sa," replied the blacksmith. "This boy is chosen. He is attuned to the elements of the earth, as I suspected by the love my servants have shown him. He will be a master blacksmith."
I looked carefully at the child. He seemed happy and quite proud of himself, and I was glad he had found something to give his life meaning, after what had happened to his people.
"He still has not uttered a word," said Daedalus. "So I don't know what he was named at birth. I call him Phastos - he seems to like it."
"Hail, Phastos," I said, bowing to the boy. "Great smith in training."
Kho-An-Sa stepped forward.
"Ahem," he cleared his throat. "I think now it is time to be about the real business of the day. We must be gone from here soon."
"Quite true," replied the blacksmith. "Memnon, approach the table, please."
I walked up to the large table to find my long and short swords, dagger and throwing knife Iying upon it. The weapons had been shined and polished to a sparkle. Next to them sat a large tub of water. Daedalus waved his hand over the tub and spoke a word. Suddenly the water began to smoke and bubble. "Memnon," said the blacksmith. "How much do you want these weapons?"
I looked at the him curiously.
"Very much," I replied. "I want them very, very much, Daedalus."
"Good," he said. "Soon you shall have a chance to prove it."
The blacksmith clapped his hands and four of his little servants appeared. They leapt upon the table, and each sat upon one of my weapons. Daedalus said another word that I could not understand and their little bodies began to dissolve. Sinking down slowly, they were absorbed into the very metal of my weapons. Each blade shook violently as a creature became one with it. I looked at the blacksmith in astonishment.
"Fear not, younger Memnon," he said. "Here is your first test."
He clapped his hands once again and suddenly each weapon stood upon its own handle. Then one by one the blades hopped to the tub and leapt into the bubbling water.
"Now, Memnon," said Daedalus, "retrieve your weapons."
I looked at the blacksmith as if he had taken leave of his senses. More smoke was rising from the tub and it bubbled more violently.
"Do as he says, Memnon," Kho-An-Sa ordered.
I had no doubt that my hands would be scalded severely, but I stepped up to the tub nevertheless. The water bubbled so violently that I could not see the weapons, but I steadied myself and plunged my hands into it. To my surprise and relief, the water was cool to the touch.
Immediately the long and short swords placed themselves into my hands and I brought them out. After laying them to the side, I plunged my hands back in for the others. They too leapt into my grasp and I pulled them from the water. I placed them all on the table, then turned to face Daedalus and Kho-An-Sa.
"Very good, Memnon," said the magician.
"You have passed the first test," said Daedalus. "Your weapons have been bonded with ea
rth spirits. And because you have proven to them that they are wanted, by rescuing them from apparent danger, they are forever bonded to you. But now comes an even more difficult test: you must harmonize the earth spirits with the ka of Sekmet."
"How do I do that?"
"You must convince the lady of vengeance to accept the other spirits," Daedalus replied. "It will be dangerous, for the only way is to trick her into devouring them. You must go inside yourself, to your place of power, where you and these weapons are one. Once there, you must taunt Sekmet into eating the spirits. Then, at the correct time, you must embrace her so that you are all one."
I thought for a moment of the terrible figure of the Neter Sekmet. During the forging of my weapons she had drunk my blood. Though she was the fighting spirit of my weapons, I had no wish to meet her face to face again.
"Are you sure this is necessary?" I asked Kho-An-Sa.
"It is," replied the magician. "Do it, young panther. She does not harm those she has become bound to. At least, not much."
I nodded and proceeded to sit cross-legged upon the floor. Kho-An-Sa stood over me, moving his hands in strange patterns over my head.
"Do not let her catch you until all the spirits have been devoured," he said. "It is then that she must be embraced. Good luck, young panther."
I closed my eyes while Kho-An-Sa continued to wave his hands over me, now murmuring potent words of power. Suddenly there was a flash of light in my mind.
I opened my eyes to find myself standing before a huge red temple. The walls of the structure were covered with paintings and carvings of me battling all the creatures and men I had faced thus far in combat, from the men I had killed in my first encounter with Kho-An-Sa, to the Wolven creatures from the land of Daedalus. In all the encounters I held the Claws of Sekmet, even in situations where I had yet to possess them.
Two giant statues stood outside the walls on high pedestals. One was an exact likeness of Sekmet as I had encountered her during the forging of my blades. The other statue was of me, standing tall and holding my weapons. There was another pedestal which stood empty. Instinctively I knew it was the one I had come to fill.
As I approached the steps of the temple I noticed one of the earth spirits sitting there. When I stopped to have a closer look, it transformed itself into a plump, juicy black pig. Continuing up the stairs, I approached the entrance, where there was another earth spirit sitting patiently. As I walked by, it transformed itself into a fat monkey. Continuing on, I stepped into the temple and started down a long hall. In the distance there were three silver thrones. A bright red creature with the body of a woman and the head of a lioness sat in one of them. It was Sekmet.
I looked around for the other earth spirits and saw one sitting halfway down the hall, right in the middle of the floor. As I passed by, it lifted its shapeless black body and transformed into a black sheep. I kept going towards the thrones, looking for the last of the earth spirits. When I came near, I found Sekmet asleep, her head slumping to the side. The last earth spirit sat right before her. It looked up at me before changing into a small black deer.
I stood before the throne, gazing up at the sleeping deity. Deciding to take the direct approach, I seized the black deer and tossed it into her lap. Sekmet's eyes blinked open at once, and her fiery stare bore right through me. Then her jaws opened to impossible proportions, and her roar shook the entire temple. I swallowed nervously, praying I had taken the right approach, as she looked down into her lap.
I watched in amazement as she lunged without hesitation, seizing the disguised earth spirit. Smacking her lips hungrily, she lifted it to her gaping jaws and slid it down her throat. Then she stood up looking at me, the hungry look still in her eyes. Turning on my heels, I ran down the hall, with Sekmet close behind. As we ran, I came to the little black sheep, bent down and scooped it up. Then I turned quickly and tossed it to the deity. She caught it deftly in her claws, looked it over and tossed it into her mouth. She was chewing loudly as I headed for the entrance.
Just outside the other spirit awaited calmly for its turn to be devoured. I scooped it up and tossed Sekmet this latest morsel. The monkey disappeared just as quickly as the others, but this time I could see a visible lump in Sekmet's belly. Nevertheless, she came at me again as I ran down the stairs of the temple. At the bottom stood the first earth spirit in its pig guise. I bent down to scoop it up, but when I turned Sekmet was upon me. Knocking me down to the ground, she raised her sharp claws and opened her razor-toothed maw. The heat of her breath scorched my face as I pushed the pig into her mouth.
Her jaws slammed shut like a trap and she swallowed again. This time her belly bulged to huge proportions and she stepped back from me. To my great relief, the hunger in her eyes subsided, a gentle purr arose from her throat and she took on a peaceful demeanor. Sensing that the danger was over, I extended my arms to embrace her.
When we touched, the lump in Sekmet's belly pushed into me and I felt the stirrings of the creatures she'd just devoured. I also felt an overwhelming sense of security and strength, as if nothing could ever harm me. Peering over her shoulder toward the temple, I gazed at the last pedestal. It was occupied now by the statue of an earth spirit. Hugging the deity tightly, I closed my eyes and smiled.
Then the voice of Kho-An-Sa aroused me.
"Memnon! Memnon, awake!"
I opened my eyes to find the magician and blacksmith standing before me with satisfied smiles. They nodded to each other triumphantly, and Daedalus pointed to my weapons.
"Memnon, you have harmonized the forces of your blades. Sekmet has accepted the earth spirits, making it possible for them to do what they must do. Never will you have to worry about losing these weapons: they will always make their way back to you. Throw the dagger as you will, plunge the blades as you must. The Gift of Infinite Return is yours."
I lifted my long sword and held it up high. Immediately the familiar rush of Rau from my middle, through my arms and into the weapon. Its weight disappeared as the powers of the Rau force washed over me and I smiled. Then suddenly the feeling was gone. I lowered the heavy blade carefully, so that Kho-An-Sa would not detect how weak the force was within me.
"Thank you, great blacksmith," I said. "This is a gift without price."
"Thank you, Memnon, for what you have done for me," Daedalus replied. "May these weapons serve you well."
Kho-An-Sa stepped forward and bowed to the blacksmith.
"Great Daedalus," he pronounced graciously, "I will see to it that your name is known in the four corners of the world for what you have done. We thank you for your work. Now we must be gone."
I embraced Phastos warmly as we stood before the long tunnel that would take Kho-An-Sa and I back to the camp. The boy still had no voice, but the tears in his eyes told me he was greatly saddened by my departure. Though I had grown fond of him also, I thought it best to leave him with the blacksmith. As I looked down into his sea-green eyes, he handed me a small panther made of silver.
"Thank you, Phastos," I said. "One day, my little friend, we shall meet again."
"He will be well taken care of here," said Daedalus. "He has a destiny to fulfill and I will see him through it."
The blacksmith assigned another of his little servants to lead us back to the camp. From there we were to follow the creature back into the tunnels with all the men. It would then lead us to another tunnel that would take us back to our ship, avoiding entirely any hostile confrontations like those we had encountered coming here.
As we walked along through the tunnel, I noticed that Kho-An-Sa seemed especially preoccupied and irritated. Lost in thought, his face contorted into expressions of anger and worry, and he glanced at me many times before he spoke.
"Memnon," he began slowly, "there is a task to be done."
"What sort of task?" I asked.
"A task I had hoped to avoid..."
"What is it?"
The magician shifted the torch he was carrying from his left t
o his right hand, then stopped walking and turned to me. "Do you know of Minos?" he asked.
I thought for a moment.
"You are speaking of the king?" I asked. "Mad king Minos of Keftui?"
"The same," replied Kho-An-Sa, as we commenced walking.
"What about him?"
"He and his sires before him have been valuable allies in our coalition, especially since they took the Island of Keftui and opened it for our purposes. But madness has always run in their bloodline, none worse than the current king, Minos the fourth."
"And so?" I asked.
"And so he is no longer of any use to us. He also refuses to give back a valuable tool I loaned him. As you lay recovering from your wounds, Daedalus informed me of the mad king's latest misdeeds."
"Daedalus knows him?"
"Daedalus forged for him. It was the only time the blacksmith left his mountain home to do his work. Minos repaid him by trying to enslave him and caused the death of the smith's only son; this is why the blacksmith longed so for an apprentice. There is no love between the great blacksmith and mad King Minos, I assure you."
Suddenly it occurred to me what the task might be, but I decided to ask regardless. "What do you plan to do?"
"Something that has never been done in the history of our coalition. You, Memnon, must go to the court of Minos. First you must find my property...."
"And then?"
"And then you must relieve the mad king of his pathetic life."
When we arrived at the camp, the men greeted us with loud cheers and questions about our journey. They were very curious about my pa's helm and our strange guide, but cautiously kept their distance from it. Only Cronn, who stood off to the side, leaning upon his huge sword, seemed unconcerned with our presence. Kho-An-Sa joined the giant and they talked for a while. Then he barked orders at his warriors to break camp. As we hurriedly packed, I asked Kho-An-Sa about this new urgency.
"Though it is no affair of yours, Memnon," said the magician, "we are very late in departing from this land. Cronn and I have pressing business in the far northern regions he calls home. We must get back to the ship quickly."
We broke camp and followed the little creature to a large cave on the side of a nearby hill. Inside was a long dark tunnel leading down into the ground. Some of the warriors were reluctant to go in, but after a few threats from Kho-An-Sa and Cronn, torches were lit and we descended.
We walked for many miles for what seemed to be several days, stopping periodically for brief rests. Finally, we emerged from the tunnel just before daybreak, onto the sands of a beach. Our strange little guide bowed once, then slipped back into the tunnel and disappeared.
As the rays of Aten brightened the landscape, we saw our ship moored nearby and set out for it. When we came within signaling distance, Kho-An-Sa lit a large torch and waved it in a special pattern for several moments. The pattern was repeated on the deck of the ship, and soon three small boats were sent in to retrieve us.
As we rowed back to the vessel, I took one last look at the land that had given me so much but had nearly taken my life. When we were climbing aboard the ship, I wondered if I would ever see Daedalus or Phastos again. And, remembering what the blacksmith had said, I wondered when my pa had come this way.
The sailors and warriors rushed to greet us, embracing friends and, in some cases, mourning those who had not come back. Pushing through that crowd and heading right for me was Nala. I looked for a way to avoid her, but it was too late.
She threw her arms around me, smothering my face with kisses "Oh, Memnon," she said, "I knew you would come back to me. Come to our room. Please, please come."
She was as beautiful as ever and her perfume was invigorating, but I pushed all that out of mind, then pushed her away too.
"Memnon, what is wrong?" she asked.
"Nala," I began, "there have been...changes since we parted..."
"Changes? What changes?", she snapped, finally sensing my mood.
"Changes," I said with finality.
As I walked away, Kho-An-Sa appeared and began talking to her. I headed for the warriors' quarters to find myself a space to sleep, but before I stepped inside I turned to look at Kho-An-Sa and Nala. He was gesturing vigorously, shaking his head and tossing both hands into the air. Suddenly there was a long pause, and then Nala turned and looked at me, her beautiful face twisted into a bitter mask of pure hatred. With a petulant flip of her hair, she stormed off to her quarters.
The ship immediately set sail, rapidly putting distance between us and this strange land with its strange creatures. After watching the shore disappear, I spent the entire day observing the warriors in their quarters and polishing my weapons. Several times I saw Nala peeking through the window, but I ignored her. When night fell the other warriors engaged in games of chance and the sharing of tales, but I sat in a corner alone. Ignoring all that was going on around me, I quieted my mind and slowed my breathing. It was time for me to contact Kam-Atef.
I rested my head for long moments, concentrating on the image of the great serpent. Finally I heard his voice.
"Greetings, Memna-un!"
"Greetings, Kam-Atef," I answered. "It is so good to speak to you again. So much has happened..."
I told the great serpent what had taken place since I last had spoken to him. He was proud of the way I had handled the various challenges, but he scolded me harshly about my hesitation to contact him.
"I'm sorry, great one. I won't hesitate next time."
"You should not have been ashamed of what you had to do to save your lives," said Kam-Atef. "No one forced through torture and threats is expected to keep his word."
"But let us continue," Kam-Atef said. "I have tried a number of times to send you messages, but some force has prevented it."
I thought for a moment. "I too have tried to contact you. Could the influence of Nala have blocked our communications?"
"Hmmm," he replied thoughtfully. "That is highly probable. Even now, it is more difficult than it should be. Daedalus was correct, you must not go near this woman again."
I then told Kam-Atef about the latest assignment I had received to kill King Minos and retrieve some mysterious "tool" from the kingdom of the mad monarch.
"The kingdom of Minos..." sighed the great serpent. "Hold, Memna-un. I must contact another."
A few moments later, Kam-Atef's voice was with me again. "Go to the court of Minos, Memna-un. There you will find someone who can help you. But first you must assist him."
"But what about King Minos?"
"My friend at Minos' court says that political intrigue will be the king's undoing very soon. You will not have to kill him."
"I am relieved, great one. I will not kill for Kho-An-Sa."
"I know you wouldn't, Memna-un. Contact me again after my friend has made you stronger."
"But wait, great serpent. How will I know this friend at the court of Minos? How will I know how to help him?"
"You will know what he needs when you meet him," Kam-Atef replied. "And fear not. He will know you."
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