“Navigating the desert is tricky at the best of times. The searing sun discourages travel during the day, and the nights are frigid and encourage uncomfortable sleep. It is easy to get lost among the curves of its many dunes and even easier when a sand storm changes the face of the desert. Yet, despite its unpredictability, many of us who live here admire it and trust it with our lives. It is for these reasons that I believe that the god of the desert is a woman.” - Necho the Mad

  ~*~

  “She thinks I am racked with guilt,” Bayek thought. “That I regret my decision. No, I do not! It was the right thing to do! I saw blood, I saw death. I saw him take my people! His blood for theirs.”

  The giants eyed Bayek as they walked him and his dopey camel to the edge of the Porcelain City. It was not a difficult escort, as Bayek seemed preoccupied with his own thoughts. By the time they reached its edge, the moon was high in the sky and Bayek was starting to mutter angrily.

  Bayek stepped onto the sand and kept walking. The giants watched him from the city's edge feeling a sharp tug at their being, keeping them from following. It was familiar to every giant, which is why they didn’t feel the pain they first felt when they were too close to the city’s edge.

  “...and then there are the gods, just as malicious and evil,” one giant heard Bayek mutter. “There are no gods where I come from and that’s how I like it. People had their fate in their hands and they could do as they wished.”

  Bayek cast a look back at the city and the two giants.

  “The warriors of the First Lion have fallen low since those days,” Bayek thought bitterly.

  “What are you looking at?” Bayek snapped.

  The larger giant, scratching his bald head, spoke first.

  “Did Atlasi really attack our people?” the bald giant asked.

  “He did, I know so and so do many of our people,” Bayek returned. “I saw him, and had I been more experienced, I wouldn’t have been struck down before I had a chance to face him. Yet, our people chose to leave him be, let him and his father live and we continued to move from place to place, too weak to pursue, let alone fight. Only I decided to bring him to justice.”

  “If that’s the case, then I don’t blame you,” the bald giant said sternly. “If anything, I am more disappointed that nobody joined you in coming here.”

  “As am I,” Bayek murmured.

  “You should leave then, return home, tell them of your deed. It will bring shame to the cowards and bring peace to the rest. That is the best course of action for a proud nomad.”

  “I will wait for Athia. If she does not come out by tomorrow night, I will come back and get her.”

  Both giants smiled, taking a seat on the porcelain path. It was the smaller giant’s turn to speak.

  “Spoken like a nomad of the Blessed Paw,” he chuckled. “But bravery matters little here. Cunning is the strength of the desert. Athia was born in the desert and although her years are few, she is far more capable than you. Her words, her careful approach…you are lucky to have her by your side. She is the reason you are still alive.”

  “Don’t put me so low, I still-” Bayek lowered his hand to his side, then remembered that his sword still lay where it fell when Athia cut it from his belt. The giants laughed a little louder, showing the deepness of their voices when they didn’t whisper.

  “Even if you had your blade, you know you cannot pass us,” the bald one said.

  “We are stronger, we are faster,” the smaller one nodded. “Be patient, Bayek, we will make sure she leaves the city before the curse takes hold. We may be bound, but we still desire to save others from the same fate.”

  “It is why Nuru will help Athia,” the bald one added. “It is in our nature now to help, if we can.”

  “It is in our nature to move and fight!” Bayek corrected. “We live where the land is fresh and we spill the blood of those who wrong us!”

  “Don’t lecture us on the old ways.”

  “It is the only way!”

  “If you believe that then you are a fool!” the smaller giant boomed suddenly. It caused his friend and Bayek to jump and no doubt it echoed back to the rest of the First Lion giants. “This desert took many lives before the curse took us all, did you not listen? We had to change our ways, we had to adapt. The desert is not a land of bloodshed, it loathes such barbarism. Those who waste their energy on destruction will soon find themselves alone, dying of thirst and hunger as the sun beats down on them. The time of barbarians in the Everlasting Desert was impactful, but short. Even without Atlasi, it would eventually have come to an end. These sands are a great equalizer…that cannot be sound of our bountiful homeland.”

  “And when there aren’t any other tribes seeking your death, you have time to develop new values, better values even,” the bald one said softly. “We know what we were then, but we like the way we are now. Perhaps this is what the desert does, or perhaps it was only a matter of time before we changed. Something our people need to do one day.”

  “It was always heading that way,” Bomani’s words repeated in Bayek’s mind.

  “It’s no doubt something Atlasi realized as well, which is why he changed his ways,” the small added. “For the man you describe is nothing like the man we met. He abandoned his ways.”

  Bayek could not say a word, although he had many. He wanted to curse them, insult them. It didn’t feel like he was speaking to nomads anymore, which only made him more homesick.

  “Come, let us leave him,” the bald giant murmured to his friend, then looked to Bayek. “We will make sure Athia leaves the city in time, rest easy.”

  It was a further kindness, but Bayek saw it as another insult he had to stomach.

  “You better know what you’re doing, Athia,” Bayek muttered, turning away from the city. “Because I’m starting to wonder why I’m here. This is not my land…these are not my people.”

  Bayek led his camel a little ways away from the city, deciding to climb a large dune and get a good look over the city and the desert surrounding it. It took some painful trudging through soft sand before he finally managed the climb, but the view was worth it when he sat down.

  The desert was a mix of blues that night, whatever warmth the sands had was washed in the cool light of the moon. The sky sparkled, but the moon gathered all attention for itself. Even Bayek, filled with frustration and worry, all created by Athia, found himself letting those heavy thoughts slip away and slide down the dune with the loose sand.

  Bayek’s camel, having found a flat, sturdy portion of the dune, sat down and did what it did best. The camel’s snores were a familiar, even comforting sound to Bayek.

  And yet, it didn’t soothe his heart and mind. With each passing minute, words within him grew louder, and he found himself speaking them aloud. The mutterings were filled with all negative emotions, frustrated grunts, and yells, until he calmed down, falling silent as his true feelings finally spoke.

  “I cannot return,” Bayek said softly. “Even the people I left behind I no longer know. Nobody would join me…because they were on the brink of change and I wasn’t. Now…I don’t know what I am now. I just know Athia needs my help…she can’t do this alone.”

  “A god watches over her, she is never alone.”

  Bayek heard the voice of the woman but did not hear her approach. He was on his feet in an instant, facing where the voice came from, yet he saw nothing. He stepped back onto the crest of the dune and looked all around him. He could not hear her movement but could feel her presence now.

  “Where are you?” Bayek thought as if he were a hunter tracking elusive prey.

  Bayek felt her appear again. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable if he wasn’t looking for it. The air shifted and he knew where. He had no weapon to defend himself, so he merely jumped away, twisting in the air to look at the tall woman who stood before him.

  Her eyes were a startling gold that almost glowed beneath her pale hood. Bayek knew immediately what she was, but her robes were not fitting. They were simple, the color of sand, made pale in the moonlight. Her boots were no more than rags wrapped around her feet and even her face was worn by the harshness of the desert.

  “Who are you?” Bayek asked.

  “I am the desert,” she replied simply. “And I have been watching you, Bayek. I know what you and Athia are doing and I am not pleased.”

  Her tone was harsh and commanding. Bayek wished that he had his sword, even if it were to mean nothing to a god.

  “You stay back, woman,” Bayek snapped, not letting even the slight hint of fear weaken his resolve. “I know that your godly powers are contained in some bauble lost to the sand. If you fight me, you will lose.”

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  The woman smiled.

  “I am not a god, at least, not like the ones you take me for,” the woman replied, crossing her arms, and slowly walking around Bayek. As she walked, the sands seemed to shift and coalesce, making a path in the air as deep as a few grains of sand.

  “I am the one who made them. These gods you say are contained, are my children. Nef, my eldest daughter, Aida, the twin that followed shortly after, Vel, the enjoyer of the finer things and Kye, keeping his own balance in all things. Oh, and of course, Ash, my troublesome youngest. Each is a finger from my hand.”

  To this, the woman raised her left hand, and Bayek saw what was wrong. Her left hand lacked every finger. She enjoyed Bayek’s flash of disgust before his usual fierce demeanor returned.

  “You created the gods? Then you should be happy we are freeing them.”

  “No, I am not. I was the one who had their powers stripped from them. With my guidance, Atlasi was able to contain them in these ‘baubles.’ Yet, it hasn’t been two decades and one already has their powers restored. As you can imagine, I find that most disappointing.”

  It answered a question that crossed Bayek’s mind before. How could a mortal contain a god's powers? He has the help of another god - the god who made them.

  “What is your name?” Bayek asked her.

  “I have no name; I've never needed one, I don’t need one now,” she said bitterly. “Call me what you wish, it does not matter.”

  “Then, desert woman, if you think Athia and I will stop because you say so, then you are wrong,” Bayek told her. “Nef won’t let Athia abandon this question. Athia won’t be free until your other children are made gods again.”

  “I am aware of this and it suits me,” the hooded woman replied. “Containing them appears to only be a temporary solution anyway. You have heard much of my children, even seen some of their greatest miracles. Tell me, what do you think of the gods?”

  It was a genuine question, but a testing one as well. Her golden eyes studied Bayek, reminding him of a cat the way they glowed.

  “I don’t care for them,” Bayek grunted. “You spoiled them with power. It seemed the only pleasure they took was in the creative ways they tormented us mortals.”

  The hooded woman didn’t frown at Bayek’s words, it only made her smile wider.

  “It seems my interest in you is founded,” she told Bayek, stepping closer to him, far more than he would like. It was not threatening, but still disconcerting. “If you had the power to slay a god, would you?”

  Her voice was smooth and delicate, edge abandoned for charm. Even Bayek found it appealing, but wouldn’t let it show. He met her eyes with animosity.

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “I will help you, Bayek, and that little girl you seem so protective of,” the hooded woman clarified, retreating a step, returning to her circling. It was no longer playful, but animal in nature. Once more, Bayek was reminded of a cat, this time a lioness. “I shall be your guiding star and show you the way. I will be the storm that masks your approach. I will be your unbreaking shield in battle. All I ask is that you rid this desert of the gods once and for all.”

  For Bayek, this was most interesting, most tempting, but he still hesitated. He heard too many stories of the gods to trust one.

  “What is it you are not telling me?” Bayek said. “What cruel twist do you have in store for me if I accept?”

  It seemed this, of all Bayek’s words, were the only ones she found insulting.

  “Don’t compare me to my children,” she said. “My miracles aren’t punishments in disguise. You need only look at Red Rock Oasis as proof.”

  “You answered the Sultan’s prayers,” Bayek murmured, recalling the story Athia told him.

  It was true. Red Rock certainly wasn’t a Porcelain City. The people who made buildings and carved the palace wouldn’t have been able to if the waters of the oasis were cursed. Still, Bayek found himself hesitating, but it passed in a moment.

  “You say you are the Everlasting Desert?” Bayek asked, and the hooded woman nodded. “Then can I ask you a question concerning the Sultan?”

  “You wish to know why you regret killing Atlasi, yes,” the hooded woman nodded, as if she expected him to ask. “I overheard your argument with the trapped tribe.”

  “Well?”

  “Twenty years ago, he did kill many of your people and he did take slaves,” she answered. “He was young, caring about nothing except pleasing his mad father. When his father received a vision of a place needing conquering far to the South, Atlasi didn’t hesitate to join him. His campaign to your land was disappointing and made more disappointing when practically all the slaves died during the crossing of the White Plains. I saw all these spirits, the innocents who were killed by his command and by his very own sword...but unlike his father, he didn’t enjoy it.”

  Bayek’s fingernails were digging into his palm, his heart pounding as the desire to fight something built.

  “Atlasi eventually lost his patience,” she continued. “The journey left a mark on his spirit and it cut deeper when he realized the bandits that plagued these sands were a product of his and his father’s conquests. He realized he could never change his father, nor did he want to become like him. After killing his father, I believe he spent the rest of his life trying to undo his acts, to redeem himself not in the eyes of his people or his enemies, but his own, for those were the most unforgiving of his deeds. He died with more malice towards himself than you had against him. He did more good in this desert than any other before, but he could only see his mistakes. That is why you regret killing him because he was not the cruel, evil man who led a bloody march across your land, he was not the man you cut down. Just a fool trying to atone for his sins and always falling short.”

  Bayek was silent, his thoughts his own. Once more, the hooded woman stepped close to them.

  “I answer your question because I need you to come to peace with what is done, so you can focus on what must be done,” she said softly.

  Bayek met her eyes.

  “Very well,” Bayek nodded once. “How do I kill a god?”

  The hooded woman was hoping he would say that.

  ~*~

  Nuru placed the chest down and sat down with it.

  “Bibi, you broke it.”

  “I know, Bomani, I know.”

  Athia approached the chest. Nobody stopped her from getting so close to the chest now, because they all wondered what would happen now that it was broken. It seemed Nuru was perfectly fine with the chest being broken, but she was tapping her knee rapidly.

  The chest contained cloth, simple and clean, making a nest for an orb like the one Athia found containing Nef’s power. Instead of a strange darkness, the orb contained something in rich purple. Athia plucked it from the cloth and held it to the light. It caught the light splendidly, making Athia believe the contents to be a liquid substance. Nef’s orb wasn't as clear.

  Yet, when it caught the light, Athia could see that it swirled gently in the orb.

  “The powers of Vel,” Athia thought. “Once free, I wonder if he would grant me a boon of luck? Best not ask.”

  “You have what you came for,” Bomani said stiffly, bringing her back to reality. “What will you do now?”

  “Find Vel and bring him his powers,” Athia told him honestly. “I know you hope that I don’t…”

  “We understand, Athia,” Nuru waved her hand. “You can leave in the morning.”

  Athia looked at Nuru, but Nuru did not look at her. It was clear to Athia that the giants were thinking about what would happen to them if Vel returned to full power. Would he return to make their punishment worse? Would he answer the foolish prayers of other desperate people, bringing them similar grief and misery?

  It was too much to dwell on for Nuru and she stood up. She asked Bomani to help her home, as she was feeling tired. As Athia watched her leave, the other giants decided that the feast was over and began to clean up or go to bed. It wasn’t long before the girl with white hair was standing by the fire, alone.

  ~*~

  Athia awoke on the makeshift bed she prepared. The morning light was made a lot stronger by the bright city, making it difficult for her to open her eyes all the way. She kept her focus on the cast shadows or even the sky.

  The giants were moving about, packing things onto bags that they wore like saddles. The animals they had were being tied together and guided from their pens. There was brief chatter, questions about whether to bring something along or leave it behind, but otherwise, not much else.

  Athia still felt their large cold shoulders as she got to her feet. It seemed the giants were done with this section of the city and were ready to move deeper. Athia followed only as far as the main path that ran down the center of the city. She looked down the path towards the desert, the way she had come. She then looked down the way the giants were going and could see nothing except the ever repeating buildings.

  “Eternity lies before these people,” Athia thought. “My heart sinks just thinking of a life trapped here.”

  “Athia, before you go,” a deep voice said beside her. She turned to see a bald giant holding out his hand. In his palm was her knife and Bayek’s sword. “We hope you succeed in your quest.”

  Athia looked at the giant surprised.

  “I think you might be the only one who hopes that,” Athia replied, sheathing her dagger and slinging the sword over her shoulder.

  “No, he isn’t,” Nuru added, walking up behind Athia. “Even though the thought of the gods returning pains us, we hold nothing against you.”

  “I was the one who released Nef, this is all my fault,” Athia replied.

  “If it wasn’t you, it would have been another,” Nuru said. “In some ways, I consider it fortunate that it was you. If you can talk sense into us old nomads, maybe you can talk some sense into the gods.”

  “I…will try,” Athia said, although the idea sounded both terrifying and foolish.

  Athia could not meet Nuru’s eyes, but Nuru raised her head with a single finger under Athia’s chin. The giantess was smiling, her kind eyes spoke volumes more than her words.

  “One foot in front of the other, Athia,” Nuru told her.

  It was the last words Nuru said to her before she walked after her tribe, followed by the bald giant and Bomani.

  ~*~

  Athia walked the rest of the way alone. stuck to the shadows where she could as the sun’s gaze grew fiercer. She didn’t want to linger any longer in the city, so she jogged whenever she had the energy, and her efforts were rewarded when she saw the desert fast approaching.

  For a brief moment, Athia’s heart stopped. She could not see Bayek anywhere, nor his drowsy camel. It passed when she saw a distant figure waving at her from the shade of a dune. It was Bayek, who was almost invisible behind his camel. The two met at the foot of the dune.

  “I was starting to wonder if I had to go in there and get you,” Bayek said.

  “I’m sorry, Bayek,” Athia said quickly. “Last night, when I told the giants those things-”

  Bayek held up his hand.

  “It only wounded my pride, but that’s probably a good thing,” Bayek told her. “You were right. I do regret killing the Sultan and if I could go back, I would stop myself.”

  Athia looked at him. Bayek appeared calm again, no longer troubled. If anything, he appeared more at peace than she had ever seen him. She didn’t linger long on this thought as his sword seemed to weigh more the longer she carried it. She lifted it off and held it out to him.

  “Here, mustn’t forget this,” Athia smiled, but then her eyes dropped to see he already carried a sword. “Where did you find that?”

  “It was a gift from the desert,” Bayek told her cryptically, but he wasn’t one to keep secrets from Athia. He took his old sword from her and began packing it beneath the folds of the saddle. “I will tell you all on our way to the coast.”

  “How do you know we need to go to the coast?”

  Athia felt like she was talking to an entirely different person, but was quickly reminded of who he was when his stomach grumbled loudly. The camel looked up from its lazy slouch and brayed as if another camel had called for it.

  “It’s good that you packed some of that feast before you had me thrown out of the city,” Bayek muttered, pained by his stomach’s plight.

  Bayek mantled the camel, finding something to chew on before he helped Athia climb onto the saddle as well. Her stomach mumbled something as well and she found herself some food while Bayek pointed the camel North, skirting around the corner of the city before heading straight.

  They both decided to eat soft fruit before it spoiled. Athia wondered if they could eat so much so fast, the fruit was so large.

  “Ngow, hi kimed dis une…” Bayek began.

  “You can tell me after breakfast, Bayek,” Athia told him.