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“Look, nobody has to tear apart anybody.” I said. “My proposal is simple.”

Serquet spat again. “Mortals do NOT entreat with gods!”

The black spider flicked its mandibles. “I sense we may all get something this night. I’m intrigued.”

“I can postpone my hunger for a time.” Sobek agreed.

“Okay, first...”

“I come to you in good faith. I’m not trying to cheat any of you. But I don’t know enough to commit to an entire lifetime, because...”

“You shouldn’t be able to HAVE that, as a mortal.” Serquet said.

“I concur.” Sobek said. “We should take that from you.”

.....

“A moment,” I said, “None of us are dying of old age here, is my point. Unless I die from other means, I’m going to be around while nations and empires rise and fall. My lifetime is potentially that long.”

Sobek squinted. “I don’t see the point.”

“Are you concerned about length of service between now and when your soul is in our care?” Serquet asked.

“No,” I said. “Look, my point is there’s time. I can serve all of you.”

“No soul can serve two masters.” Anansi’s advocate said.

“But I’m not a soul, yet.” I said. “And...”

“I’m no stranger to doing quests, which means fulfilling oaths. Keeping promises.”

“What promise do you think will satisfy all of those assembled?” Serquet asked.

“I propose that I serve each of you in rotation for a number of years, and then we all meet to decide if another rotation is required.”

“That seems needlessly complex.” Sobek said.

“And tricky.” Serquet said. “What if you do something mortal, like die before you finish all your obligations?”

“Then let my soul serve each of you in turn until my obligations are fulfilled.” I said.

The advocate was very still. “And how do we determine order?”

“Well, which of you is most known for overthrowing powerful leaders who abuse their power?” I asked.

Sobek chuckled.

“That hardly seems fair.” the advocate said.

“And as relative to Sobek, I would then take the next set of seven years?” Serquet asked.

“Nobody agreed to seven years.” the advocate said.

“Seven is a number holy to the Egyptian gods.” Sobek said.

“Eight is holy to most spiders.” the advocate replied.

“Perhaps let him have eight years for going last?” I suggested.

“No.” Serquet said.

“No.” Sobek said.

“Uh.” Manajuwejet said, “Maybe you guys take seven years plus one, then, and Anansi gets eight?”

“How DARE you speak.” Sobek said.

“Brother.”

“Hrmph.”

“That is MY servant. I shall administer his discipline.”

“Very well.”

“Servant, apologize at once for speaking out of turn.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry. I didn’t see a speaking stick being used.”

“Brother?”

“I’m not providing a speaking stick.”

“So many sticks must fall into a river, even one as holy as the Nile.” the advocate said.

“We are agreed that we are above such primitive tools?” she asked.

“Agreed.” Said the advocate.

“Of course.” Sobek said.

“Well,” she said. “I find seven years plus one to be close enough to eight years to be acceptable.”

“How do we know this isn’t a trick?” Sobek asked.

“If it is, it isn’t one I’m intending.” I said. “I just don’t want to be trapped forever because of a decision I made when I’m only two years old.”

“We make decisions like that.” Sobek said.

“You are gods, and he is not.” the advocate said. “So long as each of us gets our years in turn, and we keep clear what are gifts offered forever, and which are just being loaned to him for the duration of his service, we can avoid the usual problems with power collection.”

“Because he is a Truthspeaker? That status has failed us before.” Serquet said.

“What if I make a binding oath that you get your powers back if I forfeit my Truthspeaker Oath?” I asked.

“That seems fair.” Sobek said.

“If it were sworn on something else that would still bind him.” Serquet said.

“Of course.” the advocate said. “What about upon the Nile, here? It seems to be...”

“No!” Sobek said, “Those of his bloodline do NOT swear upon my holy river.”

“What about upon his connection to the Powers?” Serquet asked.

“Now, that’s just unreasonable.” the advocate said.

“If he truly means what he proposes, that shouldn’t be any problem.” Sobek said.

“I’m willing to swear to it.” I said. And I did, by the Green Flame and upon the White Skull.

“And upon your Titan’s heritage.” Sobek insisted.

So I did.

“I am satisfied.” He said.

“As am I.” Serquet said.

“I find myself in an unenviable position.” the advocate said. “If he loses that much power, he won’t be of much service to my lord Anansi.”

Serquet waved a claw at him. “And if he doesn’t, you get him with the most power and experience. You’ll not be tricking us that way, old spider.”

“I can see that I will not.” He agreed. “In fact, I see only one more point of contention.”

“What are you talking about?” Sobek said.

“Yes, please do clarify.” Serquet said.

“There are other gods of vengeance with an interest in this soul. Horus, for one...”

“Stealer of Titles!” Sobek said, gnashing his jaws. “Let him...”

“Brother, calm yourself! Say nothing now that you will regret later.”

His tail swept the surface of the water, whipping it upstream, misting us all lightly with water. “He DID steal my title, though.”

“I believe we can all agree upon that.” Anansi’s advocate said.

Serquet sighed. “He TOOK your title, brother. Openly, and shamefully. He is still son of Ra.”

“May the light of Ra shine forever.” Sobek said. “But I don’t have to like it.”

“Perhaps those putting their claims forward should be relegated to the second or later cycles?” I suggested.

“Why does the mortal get a say in this?” Sobek asked.

“Is he being anything other than reasonable and respectful?” the advocate asked.

“He’s not being THAT respectful.” Serquet said. “But he is not being so disrespectful as others who had good ideas.”

.....

“We COULD just tear him into three pieces and each take one, but I am curious to see how big he’s capable of growing.” Sobek said.

“Uh, great and mighty gods?” Manajuwejet said. “Please decide soon, the sun will be coming up, and the mortal’s dreaming will end.”

“I think we’re all gaining from this compact.” the advocate said.

“Quests were mentioned, can we all assign him quests?” Serquet asked.

“Not during MY time.” Sobek said.

“Perhaps we can offer quests, provided they don’t interfere with his duties to others?” the advocate asked.

“Why would I agree to that?” Sobek asked.

“Brother, mortals make mistakes.” Said Serquet. “Do you really want to wait sixteen years for him to correct any that he might make?”

“But my time is mine!” Sobek said, “No quests that interfere with what I want him doing during my time.”

“Provided the inconvenience is on the mortal and on none of us.” the advocate said.

“Once every new moon, and once every full moon,” Serquet said, “it shall be YOUR duty, mortal, to check with each of us for such tasks.”

“I can agree to that.” I said.

“No you DON’T!” said Manajuwejet. “I’m his spirit guide, and quests should go through me.”

“This is right and proper.” Sobek said.

Anansi’s advocate sighed. “And this spirit guide can cross the borders between pantheons?”

“His aura is still too small,” Serquet said. “The costs to him would be...”

The advocate slapped two of its feet together. There was a visible ball of nothing there. “I trust this will cover those costs, for at least five years, if my math is correct?”

Manajuwejet slobbered. “YEAH! I mean, yes, I can certainly agree to that.”

“Have it, then.” He said, throwing it to the scorpion.

It looked like it should have hit him in the face, but instead merged with his being. Manajuwejet quivered slightly, radiating sheer ecstasy.

“By this payment, I affirm my commitment to this compact.” the advocate said.

“By the service of my servant, I affirm my commitment to this compact.” Serquet said.

“By my words and deeds, I affirm my commitment to this compact.” Sobek said.

“By my own service, I affirm my commitment to this compact.” I said.

“Seven years, plus one.” Serquet said. “Not a day longer.”

“Ask again in seven years.” Sobek retorted. “He might not be done by then.”

The advocate faded away. “You know where to find us, little scorpion.”

Serquet and her brother Sobek resumed squabbling like siblings.

“Lady Serquet. Lord Sobek.” Manajuwejet said animatedly, “The sun rises!”

“And it will set.” Sobek said.

“Either tell us things that are important, or go away.” Serquet said.

“Ah, okay, but the mortal...”

The sun rose, slipping its cursed talons through my eyes and directly into my brain. It’s actually kind of amazing. No matter how much pain you’re in, there’s always room for just a little more.