Desperation
Anubis paced in his audience chamber with a deliberately slow pace. His few remaining soldiers were preparing for a last ditch assault on these adventurers. Their presence in his old staging warehouse told him it was only a matter of time before they would find him.
He stopped, his right side twitching randomly. If they could destroy these meddlers utterly, then his Reich had a chance for ascendancy once again! His loyal Jackal had expressed doubt that four robots and a dozen troops could do it, but he knew his cause was righteous. He knew they would prevail.
He began pacing again, a manic giggle escaping his lips. A giggle? Had he ever done that before? He was sure he had. No matter, he simply had to wait for his loyal men to signal victory.
He had concerns about Brother Oord, however. The once ascetic man had failed to shave his head for several days. He had started to find excuses to be elsewhere. No matter. He had sent Jackal to deal with him. Even worse, he had not be able to contact Oord’s brother. That was something he would deal with after these meddling adventurers. He did not take betrayal lightly. Hem-Netjer Tepay found that out, and if Oord, either of them, proved to be traitorous, they would find out as well.
After all, was he not the great and powerful Anubis?
“You are making a mistake here, Jackal.” Oord’s unshaven scalp just added to the haggard appearance as he glared at the dog soldier who chained him to the wall.
“A mistake? No, my lord Anubis feels you may betray him, and your own words to me confirm this. I would dispose of you now, but Lord Anubis wishes to use you as an example to your brother.”
Oord laughed, a defeated sound that ended in a wet cough. “You haven’t been able to contact him? Of course not. As soon as I left to join you here, he and the rest of our people most likely left. My brother is a coward who never had the stomach for the cause.”
“Then Lord Anubis will find him and make an example of him. Just like you.”
Oord peered at Jackal. The being’s suit wasn’t turned on, so he wasn’t on fire, however that didn’t diminish his threat. “Jackal, listen. Anubis has taken leave of his senses. He sent the last of his forces to take out children. If these adventurers of his were close or not, this is his death knell! You have to see that!”
“I only see the Glory of Anubis being played out for all to see. Repent your words, and perhaps he will be merciful.” The being turned and stalked out, leaving Oord to his thoughts.
Oord stared after Jackal for a moment, then closed his eyes. He would get out of this. He would build his own movement. Then he would be triumphant.
Then his brother would regret leaving him to his fate.
He stopped, his right side twitching randomly. If they could destroy these meddlers utterly, then his Reich had a chance for ascendancy once again! His loyal Jackal had expressed doubt that four robots and a dozen troops could do it, but he knew his cause was righteous. He knew they would prevail.
He began pacing again, a manic giggle escaping his lips. A giggle? Had he ever done that before? He was sure he had. No matter, he simply had to wait for his loyal men to signal victory.
He had concerns about Brother Oord, however. The once ascetic man had failed to shave his head for several days. He had started to find excuses to be elsewhere. No matter. He had sent Jackal to deal with him. Even worse, he had not be able to contact Oord’s brother. That was something he would deal with after these meddling adventurers. He did not take betrayal lightly. Hem-Netjer Tepay found that out, and if Oord, either of them, proved to be traitorous, they would find out as well.
After all, was he not the great and powerful Anubis?
# # #
“You are making a mistake here, Jackal.” Oord’s unshaven scalp just added to the haggard appearance as he glared at the dog soldier who chained him to the wall.
“A mistake? No, my lord Anubis feels you may betray him, and your own words to me confirm this. I would dispose of you now, but Lord Anubis wishes to use you as an example to your brother.”
Oord laughed, a defeated sound that ended in a wet cough. “You haven’t been able to contact him? Of course not. As soon as I left to join you here, he and the rest of our people most likely left. My brother is a coward who never had the stomach for the cause.”
“Then Lord Anubis will find him and make an example of him. Just like you.”
Oord peered at Jackal. The being’s suit wasn’t turned on, so he wasn’t on fire, however that didn’t diminish his threat. “Jackal, listen. Anubis has taken leave of his senses. He sent the last of his forces to take out children. If these adventurers of his were close or not, this is his death knell! You have to see that!”
“I only see the Glory of Anubis being played out for all to see. Repent your words, and perhaps he will be merciful.” The being turned and stalked out, leaving Oord to his thoughts.
Oord stared after Jackal for a moment, then closed his eyes. He would get out of this. He would build his own movement. Then he would be triumphant.
Then his brother would regret leaving him to his fate.
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