“Yes, and I think deep down you know what must happen.”
I could see the moment when Amon realized what was necessary. “Is there not another way?”
“Not one that I know of. You will have to nullify it, of course, when it is done. Otherwise—”
“I am aware of the ramifications.” Amon squeezed my hand and I could barely feel the pressure. “What if she cannot do it?”
“I will be here to aid her in any way I can.” Seeing Amon’s hesitation, Anubis added, “If you would rather leave her here and allow the natural order of things to determine the outcome, that is also an option.”
Amon sighed deeply before squaring his shoulders. “No. I will do it.”
“You should know that this is merely a formality,” said Anubis. “As much as you tried to prevent it from happening, it did. Now it is only a matter of you saying the words.”
“I was hoping that would not be the case.”
“Really?” Anubis said, smiling as he folded his arms across his chest. “If it were me, I would be hesitant to cast such a thing aside…until it became necessary, that is.”
“I hoped to spare her the pain.”
“Mortal pain is short-lived.”
I frowned at the god’s words and thought, Says you.
Anubis continued, “Whereas your suffering lasts a very long time. A good memory could make your internment seem bearable.”
“Perhaps, in truth, I wanted to spare us both,” Amon said.
“Ah, well, this is a good lesson to reflect upon until the next rising.”
“Yes, Anubis,” Amon answered quietly.
I wasn’t sure I understood much of their conversation, but whatever it was about, Amon wasn’t happy about it, and I couldn’t help going back over their words and counting the number of times pain was mentioned. Whatever was going to happen could not be good.
Anubis moved back, his faithful dog at his side, as Amon began chanting a spell, one that I recognized. It was the incantation he’d used to bind the two of us, but this time the words were slightly changed. Wind ruffled my hair, though we were entombed inside the pyramid.
With the power of my mouth,
The power in my heart,
I utter a spell.
As our forms are bound this day,
So are our lives.
Tirelessly, she has served me,
As I have served Egypt.
Make light our feathers.
Make swift our wings.
Make steady our hearts.
We combine the strength of our bodies,
And, in doing so,
Pledge to renew one another.
Where she is unknown, I will attend.
Where she is alone, there will I be.
When she is weak, I will sustain,
Even unto death.
Our hearts are firm.
Our souls are triumphant.
Our bond is unbreakable.
By the time Amon finished the spell, he was leaning over me, holding me in place as a strong wind threatened to blow me off the stone slab. Our prior bond had drained me, made me feel ill, but the bond he formed now was exactly the opposite.
I sucked in a deep breath as a burning sensation ran through my veins. It was hot, but it didn’t hurt. My whole body glowed with a golden light. I suddenly felt aware of Amon. The strength of his body was my own. The pain where his eyes had once been caused my eyes to sting and blur with tears. The heaviness in his heart almost made me weep.
“Amon?” I said weakly, and he reached out for me, pulling me to his chest as he buried his face in my neck.
“Lily,” he sighed.
“What…what just happened?”
He leaned back, lowering his head so I wouldn’t have to look at his empty eyes. “I have sealed the bond between us,” he answered softly.
“I don’t understand. What does that mean? Weren’t you already bound to me?”
“It was a temporary thing. I had hoped to avoid this. What is between us now is virtually unchangeable.”
“Why? Why would you want to avoid it?” I wiped the tears from my cheeks, irritated that they were falling.