My book - Triaxial Power - all three parts

"You have arrived safely. For that I am grateful. Sofia seems stable, but she is nowhere near recovering from the reaction." Paul said as they arrived in the temple.

"Francois is out there looking for tracks by the Southern entrance. We saw him at a distance. He did not spot us and we left no tracks to show our route, so we should be safe for the time being." Said John, as he finished his ritual of greeting Paul and the statue of Isis with Marie.
"You killed an entire army?" Martin asked.
"I killed 80 men sent to destroy the temple of Bast, Saska and myself. As for Alexander and his army, they never arrived at the temple, they vanished en-route to Egypt. It was not my doing, his invasion was not to be. His successor Alexander the Great was destined to lead Egypt. His arrival was foretold in the skies for many Centuries before his birth. When he came to Bast's temple to be crowned Pharaoh, I told him some of what was foretold about his destiny. The rest, which was written down during the time of the Triaxial Temple is still stored here. The time for it's release is close at hand, but not yet." Paul replied.
"I understand you have your traditions, but 80 men? Another 36 this year? That's nothing to do with tradition. It's mass murder." Martin said.
"Martin, you do not understand the traditions, you cannot call any of us mass murderers for what we have done in our lifetimes." Marie said.
"No, Marie. To the outside World we are mass murderers, there is no escaping that. No matter how long ago, we were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of men in the name of tradition. It is we who do not understand how the modern world views us. We can no longer do right in the eyes of the World. If we sacrifice a goat we are cruel, make a human sacrifice and we are murderers and cannibals. When we were much younger, the world was different to how it is now, human sacrifice was part of life for every tribe in every country, now it is seen as sacrilige to kill someone. Yet politicians around the world have indulged in sacrificing the lives of a great many more men than even I in the name af freedom. Worse, they willingly sacrifice women in the cause of their beliefs. Are they any worse than we are for what they do? No, but history is written by the winners, and in their eyes we are evil." Replied Paul. Marie pondered his words, watching Martin as he walked around the temple taking in ecerything. Kieran was standing in front of one of the walls studying it intently. "Uncle Paul, if this temple was hidden from the world before my father became High Priest at Amun-Ra's temple, how come he is pictured here with you?" He asked. Paul walked over.
"Kieran, that is not your father pictured with me. That is your Grandfather, Nicklaus, Amun-Ra's first High Priest and my very good friend." He replied.
"I wish he were still alive. When you give up the High Priesthood, is that it? You die soon after?" Kieran asked.
"I do not know. I do not believe your Grandfather wished to die when he did, with your father being still young, but it happened. Being High Priest or Priestess does not give us immunity from death, as Claire's death proves." Paul replied.
"You really loved her, didn't you?" Marie said, walking up to him.
"At least I avenged her death at the hands of Ademus, If only I had left the temple earlier that night, Claire would still be alive and we would not be in this mess we find ourselves in." Paul replied.
"Paul, Sofia is starting to come round, you should be with her." John called over. Paul hurried over, kneeling by his daughter.
"Sofia, do not panic. I am here as I promised you I would be. You must be strong now and fight against the pull of darkness. I am with you Sofia, at all times, you must not give up now." Sofia heard the words, stronger than she had heard the voice before. She recognised it as her father's and struggled to reply to him. Happiness surged through her body as she heard herself speak his name and felt his arms round her, seeing the inside of a temple sh did not recognise. "You must rest now, Sofia. Do not fear sleep, you have won the fight and avenged your mother's death at the hands of Ademus." Paul said, helping her to her feet and across to the quarters.

"So, many of you believe Paul responsible for the deaths of those tourists last year? What makes you think that he would something like that?" Martin asked Marie as the walked along.
"It wouldn't be the first time Paul has done something like that. True, it has been many centuries since he did something like that, but no one who serves the temples would think he has changed since then." She replied.
"What do you mean? He has done something similar before?"
"80 men sacrificed over the period of Bast's festival. That festival only runs for 10 days, our old week, so you can understand our reasoning. Those 80 men were a small part of an army sent to take control of Egypt by Alexander. Up until our temple they had had it easy. Everyone had renounced their God or Goddess, just like during the French invasion we are under. Pharaoh even handed his crown over. Alexander took the crown, believeing himself to be our ruler. He did not know that by decree of the Triaxial Power, the only recognised Pharoah of Egypt is one crowned by the Highest of High Priests, meaning Paul. We tried to resist, but we gave up out of compassion for our staff. I know that it took a threat to the life of Claire, Sofia's mother, before Nicklaus, Kieran's Grandfather, gave up. He would have ciontinued their resistance, but he was fearful of what Paul might do, they may have been friends, but Claire was the woman Paul loved. The temple of Anubis was destroyed due to the resistance of the High Priest and Priestess there. They sacrificed themselves on the altar of Anubis as the flames raged round them. Paul, however, captured the 81 men and their general. Killed the general there and then in front of his men, sacrificed 80 of them to Bast and sent the 81st back to Alexander clutching the clothes of his general and the heart of the 80th as warning." John butted in.
"What did Alexander the Great do?" Martin asked.
"This was Alexander the Great's ancestor, also named Alexander. He took almost his entire army with him to try and kill Paul. All of them vanished. Not a trace has ever been found of them or what happened." John said.
"Alexander the Great also came to Egypt, but, when he went to Bast's temple, he left his arms and fighting men behind. That made all the difference, I think. Paul crowned him Pharaoh of Egypt." Marie continued.
"You thik he killed an entire army?!" Martin said.
"Nothing has ever been proved about that. The tourists is more than possible, given the fuss made by them over Michael's appointment." Said Kieran.

"Fuss?"

"We can't escape the fact that every temple is open to the public in the day, so, sacrifices have to be made either when the temple is closed at the evening, or when the temple is open. Tradition dictates that the appointment of a High Priest or Priestess should take place in the full light of the Sun.So it was that, as part of the ritual of initiation, Michael had to sacrifice a goat, drink of it's blood and eat of it's flesh to become High Priest. Unfortunately, the temple was full of tourists, and some of them took exception to what happened and started hurling abuse at Michael for what he did. You don't need anyone to tell you how angry Paul was at that. He was still ranting about it after the temple had closed for the day, staorming out, saying that he would have no one call him cruel or insinuate such things of his staff. We don't know what happened after he left the temple, only that he returned the following morning and seemed much calmer, which is strange, because, if Paul is angry over something, it will take more than one night to calm him down." John said.

"It puzzles me, that, knowing what he does about Paul, Francois would still want rid of him." Said Martin.

Marie nodded, but pointed to a mound a short way off. "The triaxial Temple. We must tread carefully. If Paul has set a trap, it would not do for one of us to get caught in it. I would suppose Paul took the Eastern route in, expecting Francois to take the Southern route and that he will have placed any traps there. We should still be able to gain access by the Western route, though." She said. John nodded his agreement and set off in the direction of the mound.

"I see Francois in the distance. He is ahead of us." Said Martin. Marie followed his gaze. "Unless he is following the tracks of Paul and Sofia, he is headed in the wrong direction for the Triaxial Temple. I find it strange that there are no troops with him." She replied.
"I heard a rumour, when we were following Paul and Kieran last night, that many of his men think he has lost the plot. They think that, he was part of the plan to attack Paul and Saska, knowing that most of the men on that mission would lose their lives; including the General, Marc De la Cre. My own men would not follow his orders." Martin said. John stood up and watched Francois. " He is looking for tracks, if they are Paul's he is searching for, he will find none, unless he was stupid enough to take that route." He said.
"Why would that route be stupid?" Said Martin.
"Because that route, which runs right past the entrance to the Triaxial Temple, was the one he was taking to the temple of Isis when Saska lost her life. It is a well known route. Last year the bodies of 6 tourists were found on that route, disfigured, their throats and hearts ripped out. Their bodies were found on top of the sand that covers the Triaxial Temple, exactly where the altar is. There is suspicion amongst those of us who serve the temples that Paul sacrificed them himself, as their punishment for mocking the traditions of appointment for a High Priest." Said Marie, stretching. "So, why would Francois think to take that route? Unless Paul left tracks of some sort leading him in that direction." Said Martin.

" A trap. That is the only explanation. Paul expected Francois to try and follow him. Saska is his daughter, he would allow nothing to happen to her that he did not know would happen, hence his anxiety at what happened last night. Kieren is his nephew, again, Paul has vowed to protect him until he is appointed High Priest of the temple of Amun-Ra. Francois is out to kill Kieran. Francois' death would buy Paul a lot of time - enough to bring his daughter back to full health and appoint her and Kieran in their rightful role with in Amun-Ra's temple." Said John.

"We should move, Francois is heading in our direction, he will see us quite soon." Said Kieran, moving behind one of the dunes, the others following him and starting for the Triaxial Temple.

"You are mad, Francois. Marc took 50 man with him to kill Paul and only 15 of us survived. You were not there that day to see the destruction wreaked upon us. 35 men eviscerated, Marc had his windpipe and chest crushed and his heart ripped out. When I was dragged away the whole area was awash with the blood and guts of OUR men. Paul recieved injuries, but how severe can they have been for him to recover as quickly as he did? To lead only 20 men against him now, would be sheer folly. He knows that you will follow him and will ambush you. No, I will not accompany you on this suicide mission. I will stay here a while and then make my return to base." Olivier said as Francois outlined his plan of attack.
"Paul has an American officer hostage, we must go after him." Francois shot back.
"No way. Martin would have gone willingly with this Paul guy. I'm going nowhere, Martin is the one I take orders from and he ain't ordered me to go nowhere at your command. Besides, if what Olivier says, I ain't having my body sent back home in that sort of state. I didn't sign up to that." One of the American soldiers said, the others agreeing with him. Francois stormed from the tent, intent on following Paul.
"Olivier, you weren't having a joke on us with what happened that day were you?" The American asked after Francois had left. Olivier lifted his shirt to reveal the scars. "I was one of the lucky ones, if you could call those of us who survived lucky. My General and 35 of my friends were massacered by 1 man that day. 15 of us staggered from the field of battle, most badly wounded. It is a miracle we survived to tell the tale." He said. " And now Francios has gone after him, we may never see him alive again."
Sofia heard her name being spoken, but the voice sounded as if it was coming from a distance. She was lying on something soft, but her brain didn't seem to want to work. She could faintly hear someone crying, but her hearing and tounch seemed to be the only senses that worked. She felt paralysed and her eyes wouldn't open. Where was her father, why wasn't he helping her like he had promised he would after her first sacrifice?

Sofia was vaguely aware of voices inside the tent. She heard someone talking about the White stallion and getting ready to go. She tried to move, but her body seemed to be paralysed.

Paul once again reared, screaming with joy. The camp fell silent, their attention on this amazing stallion, his pure white coat, dazzling in the sunlight. Francois was shocked. He had seen Paul in the guise of a white stallion before, the first time he had visited Bast's temple, but this stallion could not possibly be Paul. There was an answering whinny from inside the tent of Osiris, and the crowd parted as the old stallion, walked out, to greet this old friend, who would lead him on his journey home. As the crowd closed behind him, Marie, Kieran and Martin carried Sofia from the tent and started hurrying back towards Amun-Ra's temple.
The old stallion approached Paul, whinying joyfully. Paul lowered his head, breathing on the old stallion, and rubbing his head against his neck. Then he turned away from the camp and gallopped out into the desert, the old stallion following willingly.

Francois watched the two stallions gallop away with the rest of the crowd until, they vanished into the haze. He turned to Saeed. "What makes you think that the White stallion will come for Paul when it is his time to die?" He asked. Saeed turned towards him, "You know that Paul favours the shape of the horse when he changes shape. He arrived in Egypt on the back of the White stallion, and his favoured shape is of a pure white stallion, the only explanation is that he and the White stallion are brothers. Divine offspring of the Gods. The temple of Bast was built long before Egypt as a united nation existed. We were still split into upper and lower Egypt when Paul rode to the courtyard of Bast's temple. How could he have known any such temple was being built if he was the child of a mortal couple? No the White stallion will come for Paul when it is his time, and take his brother home to reside where he truely belongs, with the Gods." He replied.

Francois thought over what Saeed had said about Paul, and remembered what Ademus had told him when he had been planning to attack Bast's temple "Followers of the goddess say that her blood flows in his veins." Had Ademus known that Paul could be the son of the Gods. It seemed unlikely to Francois, but in Ancient Greek civilization had not Hercules been the son of Zeus? Surely it would not be hard to present such a story to the ancient Egyptians themselves upon your arrival in their country? It would explain to them why you looked different to them, even the White stallion could be explained away by that story. But Paul did not seem to possess anything extraordinary about him other than his vast knowledge, which given his supposed age was no surprise.
Francois resolved to discuss the matter further with Martin and wandered over to the tent that Osiris had been in, only to find it empty.
"We must turn now and pick up Marie and the others. Francois may even now suspect where we are headed and attampt to catch us" Paul said to John as they walked parallel to the riverbed. John nodded and started to pick his way down the bank as he spotted Marie hurrying along with Keiran and Martin, Paul following him.
"You got out OK then?" John asked Marie who nodded. "It feels like it went almost too well." She replied. Paul nodded, looking concerned. "We must move quickly if we are to get to the Triaxial Temple today. I will carry Sofia. John, Marie, I ask you to look after Keiran and Martin. They also must get to the Triaxial Temple, but their need is not as urgent. Keep hidden, and try to ensure that Francois - who will follow us - does not see you. If he sees you he will kill you without thought. Yes, even you Martin. I must run now. I will meet you infront of the altar of the Triaxial Temple this evening." Paul said, lifting his daughter onto his back and taking the shape of a black stallion, before gallopping away.
"We had better start our journey then. We cannot follow Pauls route for fear of leading Francois to the Triaxial Temple, but we can still get there by this evening, going another route." Marie said, leading the way up the river bank.

Fear enclosed Michael in it's icy grip as he flew towards the temple of Isis. Something had gone badly wrong when Sofia had attempted to take her revenge on Ademus. Paul hadn't told him everything, but Michael knew that Sofia had wanted to avenge her mother's death. Paul obviously had not forseen her reaction else he surely would have risked allowing her to be present at the sacrifice. Spying the temple a short distance away, Michael swooped down, calling to John and Marie as he did so. By the time he reached th courtyard, they were waiting for him.

"What brings you here at this time of night, Michael?" John asked. Michael took a couple of seconds to gather his thoughts before replying. "Paul has sent me. He is with Sofia and Kieran at the tribesmen's camp. He would have travelled himself, but Francois and his men are also camped there with some American soldiers, looking for Paul and Kieran so that they may kill them in vengance for the death of Ademus upon the altar of Amun-Ra. Paul requests you to travel to the camp with all haste as Sofia has reacted badly to the sacrifice." He replied. John nodded.

"Paul should have waited to pass that sentence on Ademus." Marie said.
"No. We know what tradition states on that matter. If Paul had hesitated in passing down the judgement of Amun-Ra upon Ademus when he did, Isfet would have come upon the World until such a time as Amun-Ra was once again appeased and Maat restored. Paul had no choice in this." John replied. Michael turned to leave, "I have to go back to the temple of Bast and prepare for the festival." He said, once more taking the shape of a hwak. John turned to Marie, "We have no time to spare, we must leave now if we are to arrive at Saeed's camp before Re-Horakhte rises." He said.
Francois awoke the following morning to hear crying outside the tent. Looking out he saw a large number of people gathered at the entrance to the tent he had been told the old stallion, Osiris, slept in. "What is going on?" He asked Saeed.
"I am vey sorry that we have woken you, but we are consumed with grief. Osiris awaits the arrival of the White stallion to lead him home." Saeed replied.
"Is the White stallion, not Paul?" Francois asked.
"The Highest of High Priests is able to take the shape of a white stallion, but he is not the White stallion. The stallion of which we speak is older even than the Highest of High Priests. Paul rode the White stallion upto the courtyard of Bast's temple the day it was finished. Such a sight had never been seen in all our land. Paul was not Egyptian and there had never been horses in Egypt before that time. The White stallion comes for a horse when they are ready to die, so that he may lead them on their last journey home. Maybe he will also come for Paul when it is time for him to die so they may return to where they came from." Saeed replied. Francois was puzzled by this, he had considered Paul to be Egyptian, just choosing a new name to fit the times. That he had come from a country outside Egypt had never crossed his mind.
Inside the tent, John and Marie were frantically working with Paul to help Sofia recover from her reaction to the sacrifice. "There is nowhere we can take her in Egypt that can be kept secret for long, Paul. Not even the Triaxial Temple itself. At the same time, trying to get her out of Egypt and back home, is going to be even harder. If Francois gets a whiff of what is going on, every route out of the country will be blocked by the French army. We are facing a hopeless situation." John said. Paul looked up at him. "We must try. Even if for a short time, the Triaxial Temple is the only place that both Sofia and Kieran will be safe. I can do nothing until the Festival of Bast is finished. Once the celebrations at my temple are completed, I can appoint them in their rightful positions at Amun-Ra's temple. Francois and his men will not be able to gain access until Amun-Ra, Bast and Isis deem the time is right. Then, it will be too late for him to do anything. By that time, both Kieran and Sofia will be appointed High Priest and Priestess at the temple of Amun-Ra and my period of rest will have finished." Paul replied. "What about the White stallion. Saeed will have told Francois all about that by now. He will be expected by noon. If he does not come, then francois will be suspicious and determined to gain access to this tent." Martin said. Paul nodded. "This is a problem. But, it is easily solved. Marie, you need to be ready to get Sofia out of this tent as soon as there is sufficient distraction. Kieran will help you with this. John, I must ask you to undertake the greatest risk by playing the part of Osiris. You will know what you must do, but for a short time, I must leave the tent." He said. the others nodded, as Paul left the tent from the back, grateful to Saeed that that particular side of the tent had been placed so that it faced onto the bank of the dried riverbed. Quietly making his way along the bottom of the bank, he turned towards the desert, taking the shape of a White stallion as he did so. Still hidden from view of the camp, he worked round the back of it, taking care not to leave a mark by which he could be followed. When he judged himself to be sufficiently far from the camp so that his arrival back could not be pre-empted, he threw caution to the wind and started to gallop across the sand towards the camp. He came to a sudden halt in full view of the entire camp and reared up, screaming with joy.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know there was anyone in here. I only came to brush Osiris." Martin looked round to see a young girl stood at the entrance of the tent. The stallion snorted in greeting and started to try and stand. It was quickly clear that his legs were no longer string enough to support him, as they kept giving way under him. Martin understood, the stallion was Paul.

"What craziness possessed you to do this to yourself? You are not young any more, you are not upto galloping the distance you did carrying Kieran." The young girl burst out.

"You mean I should have trusted his life to Michael? He would have not known where he was going, I would have had to guide him myself. I would have been less upto that than I was carrying Kieran, Sofia. Do not remonstrate with me on this. It is done and can not be changed." Paul shot back. Martin was worried to see him. He had been speaking to some of the French soldiers as they had followed the tracks along the riverbed. They had told him plenty about Paul, that he was held in the utmost respect by every High Priest. Some of them had spoken about his abilities as a fighter. They had been the remainder of a regiment that had ambushed Paul and the Highest of High Priestesses, Saska a few months previously. They told about the fight in graphic detail. One of them, Olivier, had been badly wounded and lucky to escape with his life. Even so, he spoke about Paul with admiration:

"We were led by Amun-Ra's High Priest, Ademus to a hiding place overlooking the main route between the temples of Bast and Isis. 2 horses were pointed out to our General, Marc, and identified as Highest of High Priests, Paul and Highest of High Priestesses, Saska. Saska was identified as a golden chestnut mare and Paul as a pure white stallion. They were travelling along the road, totally unaware of us. We were given the command to circle round them and close in by Marc. At this time Paul became aware of us and started to canter, urging Saska to do the same. Suddenly, with out warning or reason, Saska stopped and started back towards us. This seemed to enrage Paul, and I heard him shout her name, even though he was still in the form of a stallion. After trying to turn Saska away from us, Paul turned back towards the temple of Isis, only to find that we had cut off his escape. He seemed to know that we were going to kill Saska as he moved to the side of her, trying to protect her. Eventually he had to move slightly away from her in order to give himself room. We took our chance and closed round her. Marc had his gun ready and shot her. We thought that Paul would run off towards the temple of Isis, and were prepared to chase him. He didn't, he whipped round, changing shape, becoming a tiger. Marc had no time to lift his gun to defend himself, and I doubt it would have done him much good if he had. In the split second it took us to realise that Paul was going to fight us, Marc was dead. We were so shocked that we started backing away from him, we were not prepared for anything like that. No one had ever trained us to deal with a situation where your adversary can change shape at will. I have never been so worried for my life as I was at that time. I knew that, if we fought him, we might kill him, but our losses would be significant, maybe only one of us would survive if we were lucky. Paul challenged us, he dared us to take him on, told us what would happen if we did. 7 of our men thought they might stand a chance and rushed at him, they emboldened the rest of us, or we would have stood where we were, too frightened to take him on. Their heroism did not last long, they hard barely drawn blood from Paul, before they too were dead. We continued to fight him because it was what we had been trained to do. I was lucky, I anticipated his attack on me and managed to jump clear as he struck out at me. By this time we knew that our numbers were starting to take a toll on him, but his strike at my chest still went deep, and I was lucky that I jumped back when I did or I would have been dead also. Only a few seconds after he had struck me, Paul dropped to the ground. We thought that we had managed it, that he was dead. One of the men walked over and bent over his body, to see if our hopes were confirmed. Paul moved like lightening, his head lifted from the ground, his jaws clamped round the neck of that young man and dragged him down to his death. In the distance we saw some of the tribesmen of the desert charging towards us. Some of the men were supporting me by this time, lest I should fall. They almost carried me to safety, running for our lives as the tribesmen came after us. I was shocked to later hear that Paul had survived."
"But you still did this to yourself father. Do you think I am filled with joy to see you like this, unable to stand, weak? You say that you are going to your rest this year, but how long for, a year? You are never able to rest as long as you need. Mother was right about you, you do not possess the sense to rest sufficiently, to refresh your body. I know you need to find the successor of Saska as Bast's High Priestess, and prepare to appoint the Highest of High Priestesses, but there is no rush, you know that as well as I do." Sofia told him. Paul's face hardly betrayed his emotions, but Martin could tell that he was angered by her words.
" I am resting here am I not? I should be looking after my priests and priestesses and yet I am here, resting. I am Highest of High Priests in Egypt, I have no help for the moment in this. When Emma is ready to fulfil her role in life, then I will have a better chance to rest fully. Until that time I must concern myself with ensuring that our traditions are upheld. This is the reason I sent you here before the sacrifice. It was only afterwards that Francois knew of the switch, that he was enlightened to the sentence passed on Ademus this morning. Had you been there, the sentence would never have been carried out, as your impatience to avenge your mother would have given away the truth much sooner. I am here only to ensure the continues safety of you and Kieran. You are my daughter, you were brought up within the traditions, and should know by now how it must be. Yet you challenge me and question my desicions as if I am incapable of acting of my own accord." Paul replied, his voice sharp, his face full of anger. Then his expression softened slightly, "Speaking of traditions, this is for you, Sofia. It is only right that you avenge your mother." He said, handing a blood soaked bundle to her. Martin already knew that it would contain Ademus's heart. Sofia took the bundle from Paul and unwrapped it. "Why did you not eat it? You swore that you would avenge Mum and Saska." She asked.

"I took my revenge on Ademus. Who do you think made his body scrifice to Amun-Ra, Kieran or Michael? No. As Highest of High Priests, and High Priest of the Triaxial Temple, with the authority of Amun-Ra I sentenced him to immediate death upon the altar of Amun-Ra for his crimes against our traditions. It was me who slit his throat and, as the human embodiment of Amun-Ra ate of his flesh and drank his blood. I have fulfiled my promise to avenge Saska and your mother. Now is the time for you to take your revenge." Paul replied. Saska looked uncertainly at Martin, he knew the question in her mind and answered it. "I am not going to stand in the way of your traditions." He said.

Saska nodded and lifted Ademus's heart to her mouth, biting into it. Within a spilt second of biting into it, she fell to the ground. The transformation in Paul was dramatic. He leapt to his feet, running over to his daughter. Kneeling by her side, he lifted her into a sitting postition and moved Ademus's heart away from her mouth. Martin was worried for the young girl. Had Paul know that this would happen?

"Get Saeed, tell him that Amun-Ra's High Priestess is in distress." Paul said. Martin didn't waste any time. He jumped to his feet, running from the tent, over to where the tribesmen were. Saeed looked up as he raced over. "What is wrong?" He asked.

"The young girl, Sofia, Amun-Ra's High Priestess, she is in trouble. Paul sent me to get you." Martin replied. He was shaking with fear at what he had seen. Saeed stood up, his face worried. "Come with me, there is obviously a problem, or the Highest of High Priests would not have sent you." He said, walking back towards the tent. Martin followed him, wondering what they would find when they got back.

Paul looked up as Saeed walked into the tent. "I must get her back to Amun-Ra's temple without Francois knowing what has happened. Her reaction is the most severe I have seen in my life." He said. Saeed shook his head. "That will not be possible to achieve. We can stop him looking in this tent and seeing what has happened, but trying to remove her from the camp will make far too much noise." He replied. Paul nodded, "Send Michael then. I must trust him with our lives." He replied.

Michael came into the tent frightened, "What do you want me to do, Paul?" He asked.

"Go to the temple of Isis. Tell Marie and John that Sofia is in dire need of their help. Once you have done this, return to Bast's temple until I send for you. Leave the sacred book on display until I get back. Read the copy in my quarters, and use it to help you prepare for the festival. Once Sofia is well, I will return." Paul told him. Michael nodded, turned and walked from the tent.

Saeed approached Michael. "It must be you and Kieran that I speak with as the Highest of High Priests in Egypt is spent. Why are these invading troops after the grandson of High Priest Nicklaus?" He asked them. "The great Amun-Ra instructed me to make Ademus's life forfiet upon his altar this evening and appoint Kieran as High Priest of the temple in his place. It has not gone down well with the leader of the French invaders, Francois, and he will bring the American troops round to his way of thinking. In Ademus they had no opposition to what they were doing throughout Egypt. In Kieran they have someone who will do everything in his power to stop them." Paul replied weakly from one of the tents. "Then Kieran will be hidden and you also Highest of High Priests. Kieran can easily be disguised as one of our own people, but you must take your equine form. There will be provisions for you to rest for a few days until you are quite able to return to your temple. Michael, I know will only stay the night, and will sleep amongst our own falcons until day break, safe in the knowledge that he will not be noticed." Saeed said. Michael nodded and took the shape of a flacon, consenting to be placed with those belonging to the tribesmen. Kieran was disguised as one of their young men and taken to one of tents. "And now Highest of High Priests, the tent you are in is reserved for your use alone, you will find adequate provision for your rest." Said Saeed. There was no answer, looking in the tent; he saw that Paul had fallen asleep, now in the shape of an old, bright bay stallion.
"They can not be much farther ahead. I see tents in the distance. They have taken refuge with one of the desert tribes." Francois said. He knew that the tribes were loyal to Paul and would soon be loyal to Kieran also, which worried him. "Do we go in guns blazing, or hold fire till we know whether or not they are there?" The American officer asked. "It would be wise if we were not to fire any shots. If we can secure their backing, they will be extremely useful allies to us." Francois replied. A few minutes later, they reached the guards at the entrance to the camp. "Can you tell me if an Arabian stallion has come this way tonight?" Francois asked. In response, the guards started to laugh. Saeed walked over. "We have many Arabian horses here. However, none has come this way since early evening. I am sorry that you have had a wasted journey, but please, come and join us for the night. We have a spare tent in which you can sleep." He said, leading the way into the camp.
Paul awoke with a snort as Francois and the Americans walked past his tent. "What was that?" The American officer asked. "That was our old stallion, Osiris. He is fleet of foot and never leaves a hoof mark to follow him by. It is our custom to provide our best and oldest horses with a tent to sleep in. You can look if you like." Saeed replied. "Can I ask your name?" Francois asked. "My name is Saeed. May I ask the name of you and your friend?" Came the answer. "My name is Francois, and this is Martin." Francois replied. Martin looked into the tent and found himself looking at a beautiful stallion, lying at the far end of the tent, pulling at the pile of hay that had been placed upon the floor for it. "You friends will be in the tent next door." Said Saeed. Martin nodded and walked into the tent. He had seen photos of Arabian horses and seen them in the show ring in America, but had never seen one so close as this. The stallion paid no attention to him as he walked up to him and stroked his neck. "It would be unwise of you to try and hunt down Kieran, Martin. You would bring Amun-Ra's wrath upon the whole world, by that action. Both the temple of Amun-Ra and my own temple, Bast's temple, are no threat to your country's policies. I lie here in front of you unable to defend myself. I have not the strength to stand, and you could easily kill me, yet you treat me with kindness. Kieran would be a much more useful ally to you than Ademus would ever have been. He had no loyalty to anyone, and was only interested in furthering himself. It was his lack of loyalty to Amun-Ra that lead to his death this evening, not my personal dislike of him. After next weekend, I go to find the successor of our late High Priestess, and my period of rest. I do not know how long I will be away from my temple, it may be a few months, or it may be a year or more. I will only return when I feel ready, or am called to return by the goddess." Martin looked round the tent, trying to find the source of the voice, but it was deserted save for him and the stallion.

"The Highest of the 2 High Priests of the temple of Bast has lost his mind. He is old and frail, and will not present you with a problem. The younger High Priest, will be the problem, he is strong and still only in his 20's. I do not feel that the High Priest of this temple will be a problem. He has not yet been fully appointed, so could be over thrown easily and replaced with some one more suitable." Francois said. The American officer nodded his agreement and was about to answer when he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. Looking up he saw a hawk hovering above the temple. "Is it normal for hawks to be flying at this time of day in Egypt?" He asked. Francois looked up. "That is no ordinary hawk. They are planning to smuggle Kieran from the temple to safety. We must follow them. The hawk is better known to me as the younger of Bast's 2 High Priests." Francois replied starting towards the exit of the courtyard. The American officer followed him, intrigued.
"I have been seen. Francois and the American officer are heading towards the courtyard now. You will have to run for your lives. The American has a regiment of troops with him. Make quick you escape, Paul and Kieran, I will gain height and join you shortly." Michael said to Paul. "Come Kieran, we have no time to waste." He said, changing shape. In place of Paul there now stood a dark Bay Arabian Stallion. "Get on my back and hold tightly to the reins. We run for our lives to the tribesmen of the desert." He said. Kieran quickly swung up onto Paul's back, and just had time to steady himself, before Paul galloped from the courtyard and swept towards the desert. "You said that it would be a pure white stallion, not a bay." The American officer said, as he and Francois ran for their cars. "He is trying to throw us off the trail, by using a different colour that is all. The stallion you saw thundering from the temple is the Highest of Bast's two High Priests. And the man on his back was Kieran." Francois replied. They turned their cars round and started to follow the quickly retreating stallion and rider. "They are out to capture you using their cars; you must leave the road and use the sand to your advantage." Michael called out. Paul swerved from the road, quite a distance, and changed direction again. He was now travelling directly west, towards a dry riverbed a mile away. "Hold tight, the route I take is steep, but once we are down, we will be safe. There is no safe way down to the river bed for many miles further back from the route I take." Paul told Kieran, who gripped tightly with his knees, and grabbed at Paul's mane. The slope was only a few strides away and he could feel Paul shortening his stride as he approached, suddenly he lurched forwards as they started down the slope, Paul's hind legs sliding under him and his front legs jumping forwards to keep his balance. After what seemed an eternity, they reached the riverbed and Paul changed direction and started to gallop North-West towards where the tribe was based. "They've gone straight down the slope. There is no way we can get down in the cars. We'll either have to go farther down or get out and walk." Said one of the soldiers to Francois as they stopped short of the edge of the slope. "Then we will walk, there may not be a safe way down for the vehicles, so we have no choice." Francois replied, getting out of his car and walking to the side of the valley and looking down the slope. The American officer and his men followed him. "It is a long way down; we'll have to be mighty careful not to lose anyone." He said. Francois nodded, and started down the slope, the loose sand almost giving way underfoot. The others followed him, picking their way carefully down the side of the valley until they reached the bottom. "They went North-West, the hoof prints lead that way." One of the soldiers said pointing in the direction that Paul and Kieran had taken.
"You are alright, Paul?" Kieran asked as Paul galloped on. "Yes, I am fine, my run with the wild herd last night and the sacrifice have refreshed me sufficiently for this journey. I will rest when we reach the tribe, before heading back to my temple. We are nearly there now." Paul replied. In reality, he was spent, running on adrenaline alone. The thought that they were almost upon the tribesmen kept his legs from giving way. He could make out their tents in the distance and gave a shrill whinny that he knew would rouse those on watch to his arrival. Suddenly, he was amongst them, Kieran was grabbed from his back, and strong arms were holding him up, guiding him to a tent where he could rest. Michael swooped down from the sky, alighting not long after Paul and Kieran had arrived. "The American officer and his soldiers are approaching on foot; they will be arriving in a few hours. Paul, Kieran and I must be kept from their sight or they will kill all of you for hiding Kieran." He said.

"Is it normal for a High Priest to sacrifice themselves?" Francios asked. Paul thought for a moment. "I have never seen it happen yet, but I believe that the High Priest and Priestess of the temple of Anubis, when they were shut in the temple, before it was set alight, killed themselves to ask the forgiveness of Anubis. If I were to be put in a similar predicament, I would have no hesitation in sacrificing myself upon Bast’s altar. It is considered the ultimate sacrifice, for a High Priest or Priestess to kill themselves upon the altar of their temple’s deity. I hope that it would never come to that, but if it did, then I know what must be done. It would be an interesting experience, for the goddess tells me that when I am finally released from my service to her, I shall learn the identity of my parents. I never knew them; I was abandoned as a baby and brought up by another couple, until I was called to serve the goddess. You will find that many of the original High Priests and Priestesses did not know the identity of their parents. Nicklaus was raised by his Grandparents and never learned about his parents as they were never mentioned. Saska, like me, was abandoned as a baby and raised by an old couple.” Paul said. “I feel that there is something you have not told me about the sacrifice today.” Francois said. Paul looked down at the floor and avoided his gaze for a few seconds. “You are quite right, I did think that you had noticed, but I doubt that the priests did, and if they noticed, I very much doubt that they cared. Earlier today, I was instructed by Amun-Ra to appoint a new High Priest of his temple as Ademus’s service was ended as of this morning. I was instructed to appoint Kieran as High Priest and to make Ademus’s body sacrifice to Amun-Ra for his crimes against this temple. I was reluctant at first, but it would have been disastrous for me to think of disobeying Bast’s great father, so I agreed. As I told you, I was never convinced of Ademus’s credentials as High Priest. From day one, he has been bad news for this temple. Tradition dictates that whether animal or human, a sacrifice must be killed quickly and without suffering. Ademus was unable to do that, he did not slit the throat of the sacrificial goat; he tried to stab it through the heart. I was not there that day, as I was in one of my periods of rest, but I was told of the events that had happened upon my return.” Paul finally said. “So, for that, it was decided that he should be sacrificed?!” Francois shouted. “Ademus is no great loss to this temple or his family, they are dead and he has no living relatives. His greatest crime was to stand idly by while your troops desecrated this temple and destroyed the sacred book of Amun-Ra. A High Priest is bound to defend his temple to the last beat of his heart, Nicklaus, if given the chance would have done that, as would his son and Kieran. Ademus was only chosen, as there were no others suitable, I know, as I looked myself. I told Amun-Ra that he would not make the best High Priest in the world, but he was the best of the priests at that time. Since then Kieran has been appointed as a priest and tradition dictates that, since he is descended from the first High Priest, he must be promoted to that position.” Paul shouted back. The commotion brought Kieran and Michael hurrying from the priest’s quarters to see what was happening. “Kieran’s life should have been forfeit today and I will see to it that he is killed.” Francois said. Paul stood up, “If that is your wish, then it will be me you have to kill first. Kieran’s life is bound to Amun-Ra and will only be ended by his will alone, not yours.” He replied, turning and walking away, carrying Ademus‘s heart. “Then you will have to watch your back, as your release will come sooner than you think.” Francois replied walking from the temple. Paul turned to Kieran, “You must leave the temple immediately, Francois will try to hunt you down before your ceremony of appointment, and kill you. Until you have been fully appointed, the full protection of Amun-Ra will not reside in your veins. I will take you to a safe place. Michael will accompany us on the journey also.” He said, leading the way out into the courtyard. “They will see you leaving, and follow to the hiding place.” Michael said. “Only if I were to go as a pure white Arabian stallion, would I be recognised. You must walk a short distance from the temple to make it seem as if you are going back to Bast’s temple, when you are certain that you will not be seen, take the shape of a hawk and tell me what you see. By the time, you have done that; Kieran and I will be ready to leave. At all times, Michael, you must look out for danger, as we will be travelling quickly and I will not always be able to tell if we are being followed. I will be in the guise of a bay Arabian stallion, and Kieran will be disguised as one of the tribesmen from the desert. They are loyal to Amun-Ra and Bast. Above all they are loyal to the High Priests of those temples and will offer their protection to Kieran until he is appointed fully High Priest.” Paul said, grabbing some clothes from the High Priests Quarters. Michael nodded and headed out of the temple. He kept looking around as he walked, it was a quiet evening, the sun was just starting to set, which would provide cover for Kieran’s escape. When he was finally certain he was not being followed, he jumped into the air changing into a hawk as he did so. Gaining height, he started to scan the area around the temple. He could see Francois, stood outside the front entrance of the temple, speaking to some one, swooping nearer to investigate; he almost dropped from the air with shock. Francois was talking to an officer from the US Army.