Egyptian Timewave

Chapter 39

Kahotep bows again. "Of course, my lady. As you have already suspected, I have found more about how Abayomi may return to her home."

"How hard will it be to get home?"

Kahotep sighs. "It's hard to tell, but the process itself seems to be simple."

Abayomi frowns. "I- I don't understand."

"All that we would need to do is inscribe the return spell upon your skin."

Abayomi looks down, at where her entire body except for her hands, feet, and head are covered by cloth. It might be difficult to actually draw something.

"So we just need to figure out how to draw something on me and then I can go home?"

Kahotep sighs. "I'm afraid it's not that simple, Abayomi. Simple, yes, but there is still some effort required. But that is all we can do. All the princess and myself can do."

"But- What else is there?" Her voice is shaky.

Anippe pats Abayomi's back. "Breathe. You're okay. We'll get you home."

Kahotep nods. "The princess is right. This will not be as hard as it may seem. Something else must be done before you can go home, yes, but we already knew that you would not be able to return to your time without doing what you were sent here to do."

"But we still don't know what that is."

"You're right, we don't. At this point, there is too little left undetermined upon your scroll for it to name what you must do, so you must look to Amun-Ra for answers."

"So you're saying I have to do something without knowing what it is? How will that get me home?"

"That is the simple bit. As long as the return spell is placed upon your skin when the task is complete, the completion of the task will activate the spell and you will be returned to your home."

Abayomi shifts, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. "And if the spell isn't there?"

"Then you wouldn't go home until the spell was placed upon your skin, but when it was your return would be instant."

"Okay? When can we put the spell on? How long would it last? Would we have to reapply it?"

Kahotep laughs. "Slow down. The spell can be put on whenever you're ready, once we have something to write with. It would last however long it remains on your skin, so yes reapplication would be necessary."

All three of them frown, thinking of something to write with. Abayomi is the first to provide a suggestion. " Charcoal?"

Kahotep shakes his head. "It would smear too easily. Under clothing it would take all of a few minutes to disappear, and not much longer if it was placed upon exposed skin. Sweat and your daily movements would reduce it to just smudges."

Anippe nods. "What about kohl?"

"That would last for longer, but it may have to be reapplied daily."

Anippe's rebuttal is quick. "But that would be reapplying every morning in comparison to several times of day with charcoal, and I can't think of anything else we could make the marks with that would work on skin, unless we wanted to start using something like blood which I do not believe any of us would be comfortable with."

Abayomi lets the words spill out to prevent any further discussion on painting her skin with blood. "Yes, let's use kohl please!"

Kahotep nods. "I can go retrieve some, and then we can place the symbols while you're here." he takes a step towards the door.

Abayomi shifts nervously. "Could Anippe do it?"

"I suppose, if she is amenable to it."

Anippe nods, squeezing Abayomi's hand slightly. "Of course I can do it, if you'll provide me with what I need to write."

Kahotep turns to the desk and takes a few moments to write something down, periodically glancing at the scroll spread out beside him, the corners weighed down with stones. When he turns back around, he hands a scrap of papyrus paper to Anippe, the dark writing gleaming. It's still wet. She carefully folds it and tucks it away.

Abayomi gives him a grateful smile. "Can we go through what we have to do again?"

Kahotep bows slightly. "Of course. Write the spell upon your skin, and once you complete your task you will return home. We don't know how long it will take to complete your task, but if you listen to the signs I'm sure He will guide you to what you must do."

She mutters, "I wish I knew what the task was, though."

"Ask, and He will answer you. I promise, Abayomi, you will not be doing this alone. You will have us mortals helping you here, and He will help you from afar. You will only need to listen to the signs He sends you to know your path to completing this task."

Abayomi sighs. "Thank you for your help."

"I was glad to help. If you have further questions, do return or send a message to the temple."

When the two girls leave the room, there is a shuffle as Abayomi stumbles over something unseen on the ground and slaps her hand against the doorframe to hold her weight up. Anippe tries to help her from the other side, waiting until Abayomi is comfortable again to let go.

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What do you think the task is? What's your opinion of the spell? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out