Sitefnut sat on a rock as the rest sprawled in the scant shade of some stunted trees, the only shelter they'd found anywhere near where the diamond had drilled its way up through the mountain. She shifted, trying to find a position in which the hip that had begun to show signs of arthritis wouldn't ache so. Damn thing. Was never quite right after that ox kicked me. She watched Mayet, sitting cross-legged with her back against a tree, eyes closed, praying. Silently, for once.
I should see if I can't encourage her to take refuge in a Temple sometime soon. Things are getting dangerous. It's one thing for me to be risking my life, I'm old and have nothing to lose. She's got her whole life ahead of her. It was an uncomfortable thought. She had thought the worst danger they'd run into on the road was rape or robbery; but now the entire priesthood of Anubis was howling for their blood. I should make sure Mayet knows exactly what she's getting into, and that she really wants to be here.
She heard the sound of Usi's feet just before she felt him lean against her legs. Without thought, she scratched him behind the ears. His voice sounded in her mind. Of all of you, Mayet is the one most certain to survive. I have seen high level Hathor clerics. They are nearly impossible to kill.
Sitefnut raised her eyebrow at the hyena. I don't recall saying that aloud.
In reply, he opened his mouth in a wide grin. You didn't. I'm telepathically bonded to you.
Startled, she replied aloud, "That isn't supposed to happen yet! I'm not that powerful."
Snort from the hyena. I've always been an early bloomer. He lifted his head and swiped a long and remarkably wet tongue across her face.
"Gah! Usi!" She wiped off her face and glared at the hyena. She could almost hear that chuckle again in his voice, the dark humor in it. "Sheesh. Well, I did figure you had to be something unusual. Hyenas aren't often alone in the desert."
Very unusual. Still the laughter in his voice. Sitefnut couldn't decide if he was making fun of her or not.
"I suppose you're not going to tell me how exactly you're unusual, are you?"
Usi laid down and nipped at his flank. The discovery of a mystery seems to intrigue you, and I think that you like to solve mysteries on your own. So add me to the pile.
"The large pile." Looking around, she dropped back into mind-speech. Though it's gotten smaller, now that we know about Pepy.
Yes, Pepy the immortal. Usi slapped his tail in the dust; whether it was an indication of approval, disgust, or something else, Sitefnut couldn't tell.
The cursed immortal, no less. Maybe one of these days he'll tell us the story about why he was cursed. It sounded like a sore subject--seducing the pharaoh's wife and then killing her. The summary he gave us makes little sense. Eventually, I'll get the story out of him. It was really only a matter of time. Secrets had always had a habit of coming unraveled around Sitefnut; none of her children had ever gotten away with anything she didn't choose to let by.
Might get the story from him someday. The hyena grinned again and pointed his nose at Sitefnut's pack, currently heavy with books. Might want to give the bluish book over there a look. Looks like it has second level spells in it.
The mage blinked. Casually, she replied, One of the ones that's not trapped, I hope?
Of course. Now Usi sounded smug. Interesting reading, for sure.
I'll bet. Maybe I can learn a few new things.
I've always found invisibility to be a fun spell, myself.
Sitefnut gave the hyena a suspicious look. Ignoring the large implications of that statement, she replied, Oh, yes. The really fun part is that I can turn both of us invisible for the price of one spell. Bet that would make hunting easier, when you have to.
Tail-thump again. Sure does. Though silence helps, too.
With both, the gazelle would never know what hit it.
Nope. We'd be in fresh meat for years. Usi paused, and sniffed the air. The mage could have sworn he raised one eyebrow at her. Do you realize you're talking spellbooks and spells with a hyena, the smartest of whom are usually only as intelligent as a rather dimwitted human? Who knows what a high level Hathor cleric can do and can recognize a spellbook's spell levels just by looking at it? That was definitely a laugh in his voice, though Sitefnut didn't think he was actually mocking her. Much, anyway.
She drew herself upwards and sniffed at Usi. You, Usi, are at least as smart as I am, and possibly smarter. I'd noticed, yes.
Dark laughter filled his mind-voice. Oh, good. I would hate to have a dumb familiar.
It was her turn to raise an eyebrow. I figured I wouldn't insult you by pointing it out. She paused, and added, Sure you're not going to tell me what you are? In a small, secret part of her mind, she thought, He's a mage. How the hell does a hyena get to be a mage?
He cocked his head. A hyena who can trace his lineage all the way back to his mother.
Sitefnut snorted. You, sir, are no help.
None at all, Usi agreed affably.
Casually, she said, You know, I'd think the lack of hands would be a hindrance in casting spells. I take it, from what you've said, that you've found a way around that?
The hyena nipped at his flank again. Not in hyena form. He paused, mid-snap. Oops. I shouldn't have said that. He flattened his ears, looking annoyed.
Oh, *really*. No, you probably shouldn't have. She waited, wondering if he was going to keep talking.
Usi, instead, got to his feet. He stretched deliberately, shaking out his tail. Oh, well. Time to go hunt. Feeling like a bit of gazelle?
Nice change of subject, Usi. But sure.
Without replying, the hyena finished stretching and then loped off. Sitefnut chuckled to herself. "And I'll never know if you deliberately let that one slip, or if I managed to catch you off guard, will I? Even my familiar has secrets. And I wonder what your other form is, sir. We'll see. We'll see, indeed..."
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.
(1 Corinthians)
