"I knew that Kieran would be killed. I did not know that you had cannibalistic tendancies, to drink his blood and eat his flesh." Francois replied. Paul laughed. "That is what it is called now, is it? I had never thought of it that way, that I might be a cannibal. It is an intersting thought, never mentioned by Michael or Ademus. But surely you must have realised what went on when I took you on the tour of my temple." Paul replied. Francois thought back to the tour. He had seen the paintings depicting the appointment of Paul, they had not shown the actual act of killing the victim, but they had shown Paul drinking the blood and eating the flesh. "Yes, you remeber, and if you had seen the images at this temple when you were a priest, they shown the same things, Nicklaus drinking the blood and eating the flesh of the sacrifice. That is how it was laid down in the tradition of every temple in Egypt and it is still held dear today. Of course, now we do not make human sacrifices anymore, but this was the exception. The anger of Amun-Ra could only be sated by human sacrifice. If we had been able to sacrifice a goat, we would have done, but when this temple last abandoned Amun-Ra, they did not make their peace with him when they returned to worshipping him, unlike the other temples, who offered a sacrifice within days of the invasion being crushed. I trust that you are satisfied that Kieran did not suffer." Paul said. Francois nodded. "He would not have had time. You drew the dagger across his throat that quickly; I am surprised that he knows he is dead. I saw you speak to him, just before he was laid upon the altar. What did you say?" He replied. "I told him that his ancestors would have been proud of him, for I knew his grandfather many years ago. That is why I picked him for sacrifice; his family has a proud history connected with this temple. Kieran never knew his grandfather for he was aged when Kieran's father was born and died not long after." Paul said.
Francois was surprised to find he was standing across the altar from Paul, he could not remember moving from where he had been watching the ceremony. "Now, you must pay the consequences of staying to watch the ceremony, Francois. Because you have been witness to what has happened, you also must drink of Kieran's blood and eat his flesh." Paul said, holding the cup out to him. Fearful of what might happen if he refused; Francois took the cup and drank from it. The taste of blood filled his senses; it was intoxicating, making him feel slightly drunk. He passed the cup back to Paul, who raised it to his lips and drank deeply, before placing the empty cup on the altar. Paul then took a piece of Kieran's flesh from the plate and passed it to Francois. This had been the part he had been dreading, having to eat another human being's flesh. He tentatively took a bite. The taste overloaded his senses, and he felt his legs shaking under him, Paul was standing by him quickly and helped him to a seat. Francois finished the piece Paul had given him as quickly as he could, and watched Paul walk back towards him with the plate. He hoped that Paul would not give him any more; as he felt that, he would collapse any moment if made to go through the process again. Paul sat next to him and started to eat the flesh that was left on the plate. Once he had finished he turned to Francois. Only Kieran's heart was left on the plate. "You should not worry, the same thing happens to everyone the first time they drink the blood and eat the flesh of a human sacrifice. That is because; it is a serious undertaking to sacrifice a person on the altar of a god or goddess. Saska almost fainted after eating of the victim's flesh, and Nicklaus was unable to carry out his duties for 2 days, it affected him so much. Even I was affected by the taste of human flesh and blood. I have been told that I passed out on the floor and was sick after eating the victim's flesh. It is the only part of my appointment that I cannot fully remember. With the passing years it became easier until now I am immune to the effects." He said. "Just how many human sacrifices have you made?" Francois asked. Paul thought for a few moments. "Possibly about 60 over my lifetime thus far. The first when I was appointed High Priest and the last today." He finally replied. "It is a strange fact that if Kieran had not volunteered himself as the sacrificial victim, he would have been appointed the next High Priest as it would have been Ademus whose life was made forfeit upon the altar. I am still not convinced of his credentials as High Priest. His was a rushed appointment when the last High Priest left his post because he had fallen in love as his father had before him. The last High Priest was Kieran's father, and his grandfather was Nicklaus himself. Those two were the best High Priests this temple will ever see. Nicklaus would have refused the invaders who destroyed the temple of Anubis, but the High Priestess and other priests over ruled him. He never forgot what had happened. If he had not fallen in love, we would not have been making a human sacrifice today, for Amun-Ra would not have held his actions against him. My heart is saddened at sacrificing Kieran, but I know that if his grandfather had still been here, he would have sacrificed himself upon Amun-Ra's altar." Paul said.