Incest/Taboo Pharaoh’s Curse

"That's one strange but polite boy," Nour muttered, having no idea what her daughter saw in Andrew. Turning her head when Jahi's own snapped over towards Andrew's ship's shrinking image. "What's the matter, Jahi?"

"He's given me the means to keep my dream alive," Jahi muttered softly, handing his wife his phone with his business account centered on the screen with the amount that had just been transferred to him displayed in big white numbers.

"My lord, just who were those people?" Halima asked low as she stepped up to Andrew's side as he stood at the bow of the ship.

"My future in-laws," Andrew said factually. "I hope the two of you know I'll be staying in my city tonight, given how we won't be there until," looking up to the sky, "five o'clock."

"I figured, my lord, we don't mind camping out if the need arises."

"Would hope not, then how did you ever survive at the dig site," Andrew teased.

"It was torture every day, I assure you," Halima joked, keeping her smile hidden that Andrew was speaking to her kindly and not as a combatant like he had over a month ago. Wondering what exactly he had faced in the land of the Gods for him to change like he had done. "Can I ask, what do you see with those eyes of yours?"

"Everything."

NeoHierakonpolis

Andrew's eyes scanned the shore as the people of his city lined up to greet him the moment he stepped off the dock. Not that he wasn't used to the pomp; he kind of figured that went along with being Pharaoh. Glancing over to Halima and her companion, noting how they were eyeing those on the shore and him as his ship glided towards the dock. Wondering if the Gods had started picking out their priests and priestesses yet like Bast did with Anta. He knew they were going to choose from the people before them. It was the only logical guess.

"Welcome to NeoHierakonpolis, my city, my capital," Andrew spoke proudly. "Pilous!" he called out in ancient Egyptian.

"Yes, my Pharaoh," Pilous answered from behind him.

"My watchers and I will be needing lodging for the night," Andrew said, gesturing with a wave at Halima and the man. Noting the sheer happiness on the man's face at the fact that he would be within the city for more than a few hours.

"Of course, of course, we've been hoping and praying that your lordship would grace us with your presence in your laborious tasks. We've been planning this, so we made an area just for you, my lord," Pilous said excitedly.

"Thank you, Pilous, your people are too kind to me," Andrew spoke softly to the man before ambling down the gangplank, feeling Bast's amusement in his mind as one of the women held the cushion she had been using high above her as she walked down the gangplank behind him followed by Halima and her friend. Noting how drunk on the praise and worship Bast was becoming as the inhabitants of his city paid homage to her as they all got to their knees and started to sing a hymn to her as the woman carried Bast around them so all could see Bast's magnificence. Wondering if all the Gods were going to become like that, given the lack of worshipers they had throughout the centuries. Nodding to Pilous, silently telling him to go about their daily lives like he wasn't even there as he set off to find Ptah before he went to the Duat to help guard Ra down the River of Night.

"My lord, wait for us," Halima called out to Andrew once her awe had faded as she heard the people's voices singing loudly as they walked down the center road of their village. Pondering if that was how her people acted so many thousands of years ago when the Gods would come down and interact with their people. "Pharaoh, this place is just amazing, and you saved all these people?" she asked in awe as her eyes were squarely on his back.

"Yes," Andrew answered, looking around before taking a right turn and walked aimlessly to where Ptah was working.

"I can't believe she let you hold her?!" Andrew heard Halima speaking behind him as he traveled through the narrow alleys between the buildings where the people had risen since his absence.

"And I will cherish that moment for the rest of my life," the man said in reverence.

"Stick around; it will happen more often than not; she's kind of prissy about walking on the ground," Andrew said, knowing full well she could hear him. Smirking when Bast made her displeasure known.

"My lord, is it wise to speak badly of a goddess?" Halima asked, hoping not to earn Bast's ire for being close to Andrew.

"How can I speak badly when it's the truth, and you know it," Andrew said, looking at the crude image of Bast that was painted onto one of the walls he walked passed. Chuckling in his mind when all Bast did was grumble in his head.

"So, how did this city get raised so quickly?" Halima asked from behind Andrew.

"Upon Ba'al's defeat," he knew he was acting like every other Pharaoh before him, rewriting history, "as penitence to those that are left from the land of Punt, she built them this city so they can live out their lives. Seems they've added some buildings to the place since I've been gone," Andrew mused as his eyes ran over what he could see of the area as he peered through those same narrow alleyways. "So since I was the one who freed them and brought them into this century, it falls on me to provide for these wanderers of time," he said low, gesturing to the people he passed.

"But how do they not know they're in the modern age?" the man asked, confused. He got all that, and he understood that; he even admired it.

"In order to protect the people of Punt not just from the world around them, yet also from themselves. You have to understand these people still think they're in 2000 BC. You don't honestly think it wise to slam the progression of the world over the past four thousand years all at once in their faces, right?" Andrew asked, peering over his shoulder at the man.

"But why make your city out here?" Halima inquired about their surroundings.

"This is where the rebirth of Egypt will rise once more," 'Andrew said, peering back at them when he stopped in his tracks. "Where the land, the people, and the Gods will reforge the link that was extinguished when Pepi II died. Why do you think I'm keeping it so low-tech? No one knows how to live like this anymore, and you can't tell me modern-day people would agree to live like this? Okay, they might," he admitted, "yet I don't have that kind of time. So these good people will help bring back the Age of the Gods to the world of man. Mean I have the knowledge to do it, but again, don't have that kind of time."

"I see," Halima muttered at a loss; she couldn't even begin to fathom what was going through his mind at the moment. The stress Andrew must be under to have all that responsibility resting on his shoulders that wasn't placed there by his own choices. Hoping to when Andrew continued his trek to where she couldn't say. Yet as she followed him through those narrow back streets, she knew the others of her order... her body stood frozen when her eyes stared horrifically at the cat-like men and, oddly, some women as they lined the rooftops, paying no heed to them as they scanned the city for danger.

"Now you know why I'm not all too concerned about your little group. I already have bodyguards," Andrew said smugly. Halima and her companion felt their killer instinct baring down on them the moment those words came out of his mouth. "Do you really think Bast, the Protector of the Pharaoh, is going to allow something like whatever your group might be plotting to happen? But they do present a challenge to me," he mused, tapping his chin in thought. "Since you wish to prove to me that not all your order are as rebellious as those plotting against me, you have chosen to become my personal bodyguards, oh?" he uttered when Bast told him to wait and watch; she wanted to see how they would react without knowing her eye was on them. "If that's what you want," Andrew stated with a shrug of his shoulders. "Sorry, sometimes that happens, don't let it bother you," he spoke, walking off with an amused look on his face.

"By the Gods, Halima, we are so not prepared for this?!" Nofre-it said, knowing Mido had no clue who he was moving against. There was no way Mido was going to win or get out alive when Andrew had a goddess looking after him.

"I know, to think he has all those protecting him. I got the sense they weren't mortal, if you know what I mean," Halima said slyly as she glanced over at him as they followed after Andrew.

"I'm totally with you on that," Nofre-it nodded; in all his years of army life, he didn't feel this sense of being outright outmatched as those strange beings' eyes never left them.

"Ptah! Hey, Ptah, you out here?" Andrew called out as he entered what he had come to learn was the foreman's dwelling.

"Of course I am, Pharaoh, you knew that," Ptah greeted, startling the other two with Andrew. Noticing the man nearly sharted himself when he had just appeared out of the air.

"True, just the looks on their faces were worth it," Andrew chuckled wickedly. "But I brought the blueprints of the temple and my Palace, but I want to design something else, just you and me. Might I bequeath you to impart your wisdom to me on that matter?" Andrew asked politely, not knowing if he could do what he was planning without the God's help.

"I might be able to; I suspect this project you're thinking of will require someone of a more... precise hand?" Ptah mused as he took the tube from Andrew.

"Something like that," Andrew nodded.

"I assume you have a quarry to mine all this stone, yes?" Ptah asked, casting Andrew a glance.

"Something better and without the cost," Andrew said with a smirk.

"I see, yes, wise to get the spawn of Yahweh's debt removed as soon as you can. His ilk leaves a bad taste in one's mouth," Ptah muttered low. "These will be no problem. It's a good thing I thought ahead and had the ground cleared for the foundation of the Palace."

"It is," Andrew nodded. "Can I ask a question, Lord Ptah?"

"Please, Pharaoh, I know you went through the trials. So I know you know what our relationship entails. Ptah will be fine; now, what is your question, young Pharaoh," Ptah stated, gesturing for Andrew to continue. He knew what had happened to Andrew; they all were watching. He was pleasantly surprised to find his calculations turned out wrong with his opposition to Ra's plan to bring this all about.

"That crossbow, or ballista," feeling his mother coming out in his question, "as you will, did you get it to take down Horus yet?" Andrew asked, remembering it when he passed them.

"Oh?" Ptah cooed, his eyes lit up in devilish glee at what happened after Andrew had entered the fissure. "Yes, Pharaoh, I did get my revenge, that I did," he said as shadows played along his face. "Now please enter this humble abode these generous people gifted me; your guards can wait outside," Ptah ordered.

"Best you stay here; better for your brain, trust me," Andrew said gently as he turned and followed after Ptah.

"Now, Pharaoh, what exactly could you not say in front of those people?"

"I need your mind on a way to pierce the heavens?" Andrew said factually, noting how that made Ptah sit up on the sofa the people made for him.

"My, that hasn't been done..."

"I know, since Senufo," Andrew said somberly, knowing he might not be coming back from this, given where he was going.

"Are you sure this is wise?"

"Wise or not, it has to be done, you know it, Ptah; without it, we should just forget the whole thing. You know, without Nu, Egypt's rise is as good as dead, and I'm the only one that can without starting an all-out war with him. I'm not saying I'm going to run out and do it right now. I'm not that crazy or stupid. I have other things to get in place before that happens. So it gives me time to get Egypt settled after the transfer of power. Because you and I know how bad this can and probably will go, don't you?" Andrew asked seriously.

"Of course I do! We all do! Whatever he's done, he's still a god! And he has the power of Nu! That makes him extra dangerous!"

"I know, you think I've forgotten; hey, I'm the one going into that place, remember?"

"Yes, but... are you sure this is the path you want to take?"

"Not really, no, think you have to be insane to even go along with this plan Ra cooked up!" Andrew nearly shouted, keeping his voice down. "But... as you all have stated numerous times to me, I don't have a choice. So I want to make sure Egypt will roll on if something happens and the line of the Pharaohs carries on even if I don't," Andrew stated, resigned to his fate.

"Then yes, you would need someone of the divine hand if you're planning what I think you're planning. What kind of stone were you thinking of making this out of?" Ptah asked, his hand lightly tapping the blueprint he was creating as they talked.

"Onyx," thinking it would symbolize how this all started for him, "and the rest pink granite," Andrew stated, wondering how the people were going to take this. He would face that if he actually survived his insane idea. "Also, I need a tomb, and honestly, you're about the only one here I know that could possibly figure out how to carve that out and make it where they can't find the entrance to it. I'm not about to have my mummy ransacked years down the road. And I need you to make tombs for my family. Oh, and you can use the stone from it to make the pylon Halima had added to the temple," he said, watching Ptah hurriedly shuffle to the blueprint.

"Oh, yes, Pharaoh, this will look nice when it's all complete," Ptah said, peering over the edge of it. "Now all I need is the stone, and I'll get right on that Palace of yours."

"I'll let you know when we're done," Andrew said, taking that as his cue to leave. "Come, we have a lot to do before nightfall," he spoke in a commanding tone as he led them off to where his Palace would sit.

"Where are we?" Halima asked, looking around at the giant hole in the ground.

"The future site of my Palace; please don't freak out," Andrew warned as he brought his phone up to his ear.

"Hey, Pharaoh, kind of quicker than I thought you would take to call me back. What can I do for you?"

"It's time." These were Andrew's only words.

"I see; I'm bringing someone..." Andrew looked at his phone oddly when the line went dead.

"Still hate that, you know?" said an unseen voice, causing Andrew to look up only to find six wings filling his view. Glancing over at his shadow, noting how their minds were melting and the hysteria was about to begin muttering: "Hold it together for a few minutes."

"I know; why do you think I do it?" Andrew heard Ira's evil chuckle as his wings began to unfold.

"This is how you treat your friends?" Andrew heard that same male voice answer, noting the rather too gothic appearance he was starting to see; he had an idea who Ira had brought along.

"Demon, remember?" Ira teased warmheartedly as he patted Samuel's shoulder. "And what's up with that outfit anyway?"

"What? Pandora picked it out; think I'm going to say no, even though it makes me look clique," the man countered.

"Yeah, I have met her; I can't fault you on that; come, want you to meet someone," Ira said, nodding over to Andrew.

"This the dude you mentioned when you brought me the book?"

"He is," Ira said, hiding his smile that his friend's group got another member.

"But he doesn't look like a Pharaoh."

"You don't look like some all-powerful vampire Ira told me about," Andrew countered, eyeing Samuel's ordinary exterior.

"Touché," Samuel chuckled, holding up his hands in surrender. "Just didn't think showing up the way I normally look wouldn't go too well with normal people," he said, pointing at the two that were having their worlds shattered.

"Oh? And what do you look like? Normally, I mean?" Andrew inquired, intrigued.

"I have gold skin, and I'm a vampire; not a combo you expose people to?"

"That all?" Andrew countered he would give anything not to shine like a lightbulb when he used his divine spark. "At least you don't light up like Coney Island." Wondering why Ira's friend was eyeing him; it was starting to border on the side of creepy. Only to watch how Ira gently nudged his friend in the ribs.

"You're a Demigod, aren't you?" Samuel asked curiously.

"Yes, and how do you know that?" Andrew asked suspiciously.

"When you're the hand of the Titan of Magic, you're around a lot of cosmic beings, plus having the well of magic residing in my body, you tend to develop a sense to other divine beings." Samuel said apologetically, "Samuel Goodall."

"Andrew McCain," he introduced himself. "So how about you do that thing you do before those two blow their tops," Andrew said, pointing over his shoulder at Halima and Nofre-it.

"Right, just tell me what kind of stone you want coming out here," Ira spoke, hastily making the pad where all the building supplies would appear on. While he could simply create the structures for Andrew, yet it seemed this was one thing he had to do on his own. Nodding when Andrew told him what he wanted to do, he quickly encased him in his wings and teleported them over to Djed.

"So you really the Pharaoh of Egypt?" Samuel asked once they appeared at the barren site of Djed.

"I am; you really some vampire sex witch?" Andrew rebutted, peering over at him when Ira was creating the pads for Andrew that held all the stones Andrew asked for on multiple pads.

"Yep," Samuel said, releasing his hold on his illusion.

"Ira?"

"Yeah?"

"I thought vampires were supposed to be the handsome type," Andrew called out.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Ira answered, trying not to ball out in laughter.

"Oh, now I know why Ira wanted me to come along, ass!" Samuel snapped, getting a howl of laughter out of Ira, who was bent over in his mirth. "Forget about him; he tends to do that, even when he wasn't on a level of a god. So can I ask, what are you building here?"

"Temple and some other things," Andrew said offhandedly. "Hey, you were serious about that help, right?" he asked; he had waited until he was well away from prying ears.

"What, like to get Nu back? Yeah, said I would; why?"

"Good, I'm taking you up on your offer. I know you can't enter, given..." Running his hand up and down Ira's body, who had a 'Really dude?' look on his face as Andrew did, "but thats to the gate and back if it's written like it says it, so yeah, going to need a hand," Andrew spoke, noting how Samuel was looking between the two.

"Ira, what's this Nu he's talking about, and why did it sound like he's planning to raid his realm?" Samuel asked, quickly picking up on the situation.

"Why I brought you here, Sam, even I know it'll be a death trap for him if he enters alone, I might be powerful, but there are things even I can't do, like entering his realm and reigniting what you and I fought to stop," Ira said in a serious tone. "Why I wanted you to meet Andrew. He's a cool dude, a little full of himself," flashing Andrew a smirk, "I chalk that up to the god part of him. Other than that, he's pretty much...." Ira' stopped in his tracks, really noticing the change in Andrew. He didn't think only a few months, he'd grow that much. "So I thought if I can't cover him when he's in Heaven, I thought someone with the power to put the being before everything back to sleep, then he would increase the odds of Andrew coming back alive."

"What's he talking about?" Andrew asked, confused.

"Long story short? We stopped all reality from ending by returning she who will sleep for all eternity back to her slumber," Samuel said, giving a brief rundown of the event.

"And the silly titles you're saying?"

"It is wise not to speak her name. She is older than all of creation. To speak her name is to call upon her, and that is how Gods of old gained their power, so it's forbidden from speaking her name," Samuel answered, giving it to Andrew in a way he could understand.

"Ah. And you can do what he said about you?" Andrew asked; he wasn't going to turn down the help, not if that increased his odds.

"About keeping you alive? Well, sure, but it won't last for long, given me and a holy place... don't mix. Twenty-four hours is my limit; if we're not out by then, well, Ira's going have to hide for eternity," Samuel said sinfully at how that put fear into his friend. Ira knew who he was talking about.

"You wouldn't?"

"I would," Samuel retorted, savoring the fear on Ira's face.

"And you call me sadistic!" Ira snorted.

"So, what's this, Nu?" Samuel asked again.

"To put it in layman's terms?" Andrew asked, getting a nod from Samuel. "Sort of the start of everything."

"Ah, and you're going to go steal something that powerful and old from him?" Samuel inquired, testing Andrew's sanity.

"Yes, come or don't doesn't matter to me; I'm going regardless," Andrew said, seeing the futility of his choice on Samuel's face.

"Okay, but why is it so important?"

"Surely, given who you work for, surely you have had to see the signs?" Andrew stated, noticing how Samuel was studying him again.

"I might; what's that have to do with anything?"

"Simple, with Nu, I can reforge the link," Andrew uttered, not giving out everything so someone he just met.

"I see, and whatever it is, is the linchpin of your plan. Am I getting that right?" '

"Yes, as long as I can get it out of Heaven, the Gods will do the rest, whether I survive or not, that's another matter, but I knew that the moment I set this plan into motion. While if you are as strong as Ira says, I would gladly accept the help, but if you feel this is fool-hardy, then I understand if you back out.."

"Let's hold off on that for now since it appears you aren't ready yet. When the day comes, I'll let you know." Andrew could only nod at that, given if Samuel joined him, he would be signing his death warrant.

"Well, it's been real, Andrew, but it's probably best to get you back to the others," Ira said, knowing they were out in the open for too long.

"Yeah, I can already see the foaming at the mouth part already," Andrew grumbled as Ira's wings encased them.

"Andrew, just where are you?" Carla said in awe as she, along with Alex and Anta, clustered around the tablet they each were holding as they stared out onto a dark city with few lights to pollute the sky.

"NeoHierakonpolis, staying the night here..."

"What!" Alex roared, ripping the tablet out of the other's grips. "Baby, you knew how much I would have enjoyed that?!"

"Again, I must remind you, you're on the job," Andrew said offscreen. "Relax, there'll be plenty of times to come here and do whatever crazy thing that's going through your head," he teased, getting a huff and her famous pouty cheeks as Anta and Carla took hold of the tablet.

"Andy, you promise, right?" Anta asked, wondering if she had chosen anyone else.

"Of course," Andrew said, bringing his phone around to him. "So, how's the dig going?"

"Honestly, not much to do here other than the pavilion; no significant finds have been made. I don't think the site will be open for much longer if there's nothing forthcoming by the end of the week. Or that's what my gut is telling me," Alex said, shrugging her shoulders.

"So, where are you staying in the village?" Carla asked, wondering about the nights she would be sharing with him under those clear stars.

"Oh, the people built me this place while we were gone; I'm using it until my Palace is complete. Not bad for a mud-brick, plaster-covered house; you'd so love it, Mom, totally Egyptian up in there. You should see the hieroglyphics, the paintings, the crafts one would need for a fancy house back in 2000 BC."

"Baby? Why are you being so cruel to your Queen?" Alex asked, gently swaying her bosom in the camera of the tablet to fluster her son. "I thought you were supposed to love the woman you fuck?!" she purred, the last word low.

"Anywho," completely ignoring his mother's question, "you should see the model Mel made; Bast seemed to like it," Andrew said, looking at Anta, who was the one that wanted the cat garden.

"Really?!" Anda sucked in a loud gasp when she uttered a single word. "Did she like the garden?" she asked, praying that Bast did.

"Oh yeah, should have seen her, got her nose all up in it," Andrew joked. "What? You did; why lie about it?" he asked, looking offscreen.

"Andy, what happened to your beard?" Carla asked; she sort of liked how it tickled her kitty.

"Oh?! Nofre-it cut it off for me; he's the guy who's with me," Andrew answered when they looked at him, wondering who the man was. "Remind me to bring razors next time," he said, trying not to think about the straight razor against his throat.

"How are you getting along with them?" Alex asked in a motherly voice.

"They're fine, I guess; they got a little weird when they learned Bast was the Bast, but other than that, they're fine. Not like I need the bodyguards; Bast takes care of that," Andrew said as he stood on the roof of the home Pilous and the others had made for him. Feeling how solid the building was as he gazed out onto the other rooftops in his city. An evil thought appeared in his mind as he pulled out the laser pointer he used to torment Bast with. Grinning madly when, the memories of her trying to catch it and the commentary that went along with it played out in his head as he pointed the laser at the closest rooftop. Keeping from keeling over as he watched how two of his guards tried to catch the little red dot. "What about the men there?"

"Oh, they're fine, pretty professional, given how secret their order is. They're keeping a very close eye on Bill," Anta informed him. Wondering what he was doing when she noted the amusement in his eyes.

"Good, listen, I should get off here; they're going to start laying the foundation tomorrow morning."

"You are going to show your wives what this Palace, where we will be residing, aren't you, baby?" Alex asked, giving her son a look he knew all too well.

"Yeah, I'll send you pics when we get back tomorrow."

"You better," Alex stated, each one of them blowing Andrew a kiss before their connection was cut.

Andrew knew his mother was going to lose her mind, maybe the other two, if or when they watched the stoneworkers at work. He knew he clearly did; it was one thing to know how they moved such stones; it was another thing to watch it in action. The sight of the men laying the first stone of his foundation played out in his mind as they sailed down the Nile back to Cairo around lunchtime. Standing out on the bow like he always did, to show the people that he was strong enough to brace the torrent of the Nile's current as he contemplated on how he was going to test Halima's order. After all, the man said to test them, just not in how to go about that; then his mind combed his memories for one of his closest temples. If he was going to test their loyalty, why not have the God of deceit judge their trustworthiness. They might be able to lie to him, yet not to a god.

"Pilous?!" Andrew called out to him as the soft breeze of the Nile played along his clothes as he turned to look at the man.

"Yes, my lord?"

"We're going to stop at Abydos just for a visit," Andrew instructed, knowing it was around the bend so they would have time to slow the barge down.

"Yes, my lord," Pilous uttered, calling out orders for his men to make the ship ready to dock.

"My lord Pharaoh, where are you going?" Halima asked as Andrew stepped onto the dock that was used for tourism boats.

"Wait here, have to speak with a god, best to do that alone," Andrew informed them, not to keep what he did secret, just what the Gods required was rather embarrassing. "Won't be gone long," he stated before starting off down the dock.

As half an hour approached, Halima and Nofre-it used that time to get to know the ship they would always be on. Also, speaking to the crew about their lives, learning that when Ba'al had trapped them. They all heard the stories growing up in Punt about the Pharaoh, so when they saw the light and heard the hum of the pyramid, they raced toward it. Thinking that the Gods had finally heard their prayers, Halima looked to Nofre-it, when it seemed to them they did think this was 2000 BC. While their little chats didn't last long, nevertheless, they were able to suss out that the crew was a good sort and Andrew was right to keep the modern world from them.

"Nofre-it, what do you think we should do?" Halima whispered low to him.

"We protect the Pharaoh, that's what we're going to do," peering over at the awning, noting how Bast was watching them from the shade, "I have no wish to be hunted by a goddess, as for the rest, I can't say," Nofre-it mumbled.

"Yeah, but I was talking about our order," Halima said with a little smirk on her lips.

"Oh," feeling slightly embarrassed, "that I can't say; hopefully, we can talk Mido and the others out of their plans," Nofre-it stated, scanning the area around them. "Have you given any thought to what Egypt is going to look like from what Menes has spoken?" he asked, nodding towards the temple's direction.

"I've tried, I can picture some of it, just not all of it, to think what he must have wandering his mind at any given time of the day. I don't envy him," Halima said truthfully.

"I agree, I can understand if this was back in the past, yet now, I think Andrew's just a little too young to be bearing such responsibilities. Yet the Gods are wiser than I," Nofre-it said in reverence.

"Nofre-it? Have you noticed how Menes doesn't sweat?" Halima asked, wiping her own from her brow.

"I have," Nofre-it nodded.

"What do you think is the reason he doesn't? A medical condition, you suppose?" Halima mused as they stood in the shade of the awning.

"Could be," Nofre-it mumbled as he nodded along, yet he had a different idea as to why Andrew didn't do such a thing as he slyly glanced at Bast. Tapping Halima on her shoulder after an hour of waiting as he noted Andrew's exit from the temple. Holding the gangplank steady as he neared it.

"How did your talk go?'

"It was interesting," Andrew mused as he passed them. "Pilous, break out our lunch; no sense in having your crew starving; you two are hungry, right?" he inquired as he peered over at them.

"Yes, my lord, lunch on the Nile sounds very pleasant for a change."

"I'm going to ask this once and once only and never bring it up again. Who do you serve? Me or yourselves?" Andrew asked in an authoritative voice, waiting for Halima and Nofre-it to respond. Not feeling the item Set had given him vibrating in his pocket like he had told it would if there was no hint of deception within them.

"You and Egypt, my lord Pharaoh," they answered as one.

"Good enough for me, come; the comfort of my awning will keep some of the sun off of you," Andrew stated, leading them across the deck.

Once their lunch was over, Andrew spent the rest of the time searching the land of Egypt with his mind. Paying no attention to anyone as he just stood there with his eyes closed and his hands behind his back. He knew he was going to need a way to pay for all this, let alone the temples that would be built over the years. While taxes would cover most of the public works, an influx of gold never hurt anyone. Now that he knew there were some untapped gold mines in Egypt, the question was how he was going to mine them.

Andrew smirked from the backseat when Nofre-it and Halima sighed loudly once the A/C kicked on after Nofre-it started up the Rover. He wondered just how hot it was for them when they waited on the ship. He was so glad he didn't have to sweat his butt off anymore. Wondering how hot Egypt will be once it all gets sorted.

Smiling down at the model, pondering how they were going to act once they saw it. He could already see Anta racing around in her quest to decorate the place. Giving Nofre-it his mother's apartment address as the man backed out, waving to Pilous and his men as they made ready to sail up the Nile. His eyes moved along the bank of the east side of the Nile, looking for the right place to put his other Palace when he was in Cairo. He knew it was going to have its own dock, so it had to be somewhere around that area. How he was going to acquire the land, he had no clue.

"Halima," Andrew spoke as his eyes moved over the people as he passed.

"Yes?"

"There wouldn't be someone in the real estate business in your order, would there?" Andrew asked offhandedly.

"I... don't know, but I can ask if you like..."

"Andrew is fine in the car or in the privacy of my homes," Andrew cut in.

"Andrew," Halima's voice softened when he said his name, "I'll get right on that for you, sire."

"Thank you," Andrew said, returning to his harmless gazing. Pondering when their next meeting was and should he crash it or not.

"We do, two in fact," Halima said happily once she got a response on their group text.

"Good, have them bring what they have as listings for the area along the east bank of the Nile from the dock we just left and upwards to my mother's apartment. If they have any, if they do not, then bring the paperwork I would need to do in order to acquire said properties," Andrew instructed.

"Yes, my lord," Halima nodded, not that she wasn't happy Andrew was calling on her. She would just have thought Nofre-it would be his go-to guy since he was older.

"Nofre-it, since it's unlikely you two would leave my side, I'll let you set the rotation of the guards at the door for the evening," Andrew said, letting Nofre-it handle the tedious work, given he knew the man wasn't going to betray him. The item Set gave him would have detected that, and it had been calm throughout their voyage.

"Of course, my lord," Nofre-it said with pride. "Pharaoh?"

"Yes."

"I understand you're reasons about those people, yet you will need a place outside your city. I know you have those... guards, yet that would only cause a fright in the masses. Have you thought about having some mortal guards in view to keep those who think you defenseless from thinking it," Nofre-it said, hoping to be put in charge of his security.

"Good point," Andrew muttered, knowing that was exactly what he was going to do.

"I know this great restaurant near here; I'll just pop down and pick us up some dinner," Halima offered, keeping her pleased look contained as Andrew rattled off his order once he knew the name of the place. "I'll only be a minute," Halima said, taking Nofre-it's order before rushing out the door.

Halima's head was on a swivel as she walked down the hall, smiling and greeting the people who lived on that floor of the building yet keeping her eyes open for any trouble. A goddess might be watching over Andrew, but that didn't mean she was going to get complacent in her duties. She was going to live up to her claim that Andrew could trust them. Smiling at Nofre-it when he opened the door for her after she knocked, only to hear the voice of two women on the air. Watching Andrew getting to his feet at the sight of her, laying the bag down on the counter, hearing Andrew thanking the two women for coming and telling them he would meet them at eight in the morning as the front door closed and locked.

"You two watch tv. I have a call to make," Andrew said, rolling his mother's bedroom doors closed once their dinner was over. Snapping off pictures of the model with and without the roof on and sending them to their phones. Laying on the bed, waiting for when they blew up his phone. Smiling when it didn't take long before his skype app rang out. "So, hello," he greeted, waving to the three faces on his phone.

"Andy, is that how it's going to look?" They asked as one.

"Pretty much, minus the paint, but that's just the one for NeoHierakonpolis," Andrew said factually.

"Andy, does that mean you're building a Palace in Cairo?" Carla asked; Andrew wondered where she was on the dig site from what little he could see of the background.

"Already in the works on buying the land I need; I'll give them a fair price for it," Andrew stated when he got that look from Anta and Carla. "Now, how it will look, I haven't a clue yet."

"So you don't have an architect in mind?" Anta asked, wishing she was back in Cairo and on that bed, recounting all the fun things they did on it.

"Not at the moment," Andrew admitted. "But it will be modern-ish," he informed them.

"So then we're going to have a nice, big, private room to ourselves?" Alex asked in a husky tone as she allowed the collar of her shirt to hang up, showing off the tops of her braless breasts to her son.

"Of course, think I'm into having people watch us? Hardly," Andrew teased his mother.

"So when are you coming back?" Alex asked, sucking her lip at what they would do the moment they were free.

"Thinking the day after tomorrow, have something to do in the city," Andrew said ominously.

"Okay, but you better be safe, hear me?" Anta uttered sternly, with her worry very clearly in her eyes.

"I will, I promise."

"What about that Halima woman? Surely you're okay with her work since you're using her design, why not have her design you one, since then you don't have to give your reasons why you're wanting it to look like a Pharaoh's Place," Carla cooed, she couldn't wait to spend the night's marking every surface in their Palace.

"Oh, stopped by your family's place yesterday; I meant to tell you about it," Andrew said, looking at Anta, totally forgetting to last night.

"I know; they called me an hour or two after you left. I don't know what you did, but you should have heard my father going on about a new boat," Anta replied with a knowing grin on her face. So very pleased he would do that for her family, and also pleased to learn about how much he did love her.

"What about the other one?"

"Oh, Papa already talked to the drydock place; they can fix it, he thinks."

"Good, glad to hear it," Andrew nodded, noting the quivering eyes Anta was giving him.

"Baby, what are you going to do? You know this site won't stay open for much longer, and you know the moment your father hears about it, he'll be calling and then coming to get you if you haven't answered," Alex said, knowing that was exactly what her ex-husband would do.

"I know, thinking of something as we speak," Andrew lied; he had no earthly idea how he was going to explain all this to his father.

"Well, you better think of something because you know how your father is when it comes to you," Alex stated in a sweet voice as she gazed lovingly at her son.

"Alright, I'm going to see about a design," Andrew said, waving goodbye to them after speaking for two hours.

"Do you think you can build the Palace I told you about here?" Andrew spoke, gesturing to the thirty-plus acres of city blocks that were once at the heart of Memphis until the modern world spread out around it. Now the land was left to rot in its disuse due to the abandoned buildings that laid out before him.

"I take it this will be the site of the future Palace grounds?" Halima mused as she peered around the area. Her mind raced to what she could design in that large of an area.​