"Ahum..." somebody said behind them.
The Nubian Highpriest stood in the doorway.
"You...." Incon growled and started forward, only to be stopped by Jayhawk.
"Shush, " he mumbled, and then to the priest,
"Yes?"
The priest went down to the ground and stood up again, dust clinging to his vestly robes.
"I ask your help, Heavenly One" he spoke in his deep voice.
"Help, after all you did to him you dare ask for help" Incon glared at the priest who took an involuntary step back.
"The...the people of Nubia are an unhappy people. Da-An-Seth and La-Am-Badha have long ago forsaken us when the grandfather of our current king forbid his people to dance. "
His voice grew stronger.
"Our people need them to return. We borrowed..."
"Stole!" La-Am-Badha's Priestess interjected.
"...stole the goddess' belt to get her attention. We wanted to force the angel to help us as he seems to be linked to her."
"You could have asked, " Jayhawk said.
"I did not know you, or your friends. " the priest seemed to sag a bit.
"Please help us. Please forgive me and my people."
Jayhawk looked at Incontinetia and raised an eyebrow.
"Are you...oh, well, okay" she flashed him a bright smile.
"You heard the lady, " Jayhawk says as he turns back to the priest. Then he faces the Egyptian priestesses and says:
"If you would so kind as to help us?"
Later that day.
The Royal banquet is coming to an end. Food and drink has been flowing in a virtually unending stream. The hour of midnight is approaching and music starts to filter in from the main court. The king rises and, followed by the priest, Jayhawk, Incontinentia and their friends, walks to the court.
The court is filled with the people of Nubia, torches shed light in bright circles and the music settles into a seductive rythm. The king takes a seat as Jayhawk and Incontinentia walk up to the platform.
The angel lifts his friend up. One of La-Am-Badha's priestesses hands him the belt and a single wing beat takes him to the platform. Jayhawk clasps the belt round Incontinentia's slender waist and then takes her hand as he leads her in to the dance.
"Just flow with it, " he whispers in her ear.
They move into the music and let it fill them up to brimming. A soft glow is starting to appear around the pair. People are whispering excitedly.
Incontinentia's feature seem to change in the light and slowly but surely she takes on the aspect of La-Am-Badha. Jayhawk smiles
"Hello, Lady, " he whispers.
"Hail, Angel, " she answers, "it has been too long since we danced."
The music grows more and more intense. The people are shouting and laughing. Tears of joy stream across the old priests cheeks.
"See, " mouse tells him, "you should have asked."
"Would you mind hosting my Lord? " the goddess asks the angel.
"Never, dear lady, never." he answers and feels the power of the God flow through him. He seems to grow, the wings fade and a sharp muzzled face with golden eyes looks over the gathered crowd.
"Da-An-Seth..." the priests sighs and falls to his knees.
"Priest?"
He looks up to see La-Am-Badha's priestess reaching for him. He accepts the hand and soon is dancing on the stage. A little later the stage is crowded with dancing people.
Mouse and Rat are dancing on a table, safely out of reach from the big people's feet.
"Ah, " ET sighs, as he grabs another beer filled bowl, "this is the life. Look at them dancing, just look at them, Tusky, are they not beautiful."
Tusky reaches for another beer barrel and nods his big grey head.
As the stars fade from the sky the heavenly couple is still dancing.
As Khepher pushes the Ssolar disk up, the glow starts to fade and slowly Jayhawk and Incontinentia take shape again.
She staggers and almost falls, but the angel holds her up.
"What..." she mumbles.
Jayhhawk kisses her upturned face and says,
"I think we just made peace."
------------------
Homage to thee, Osiris, Lord of Eternity, King of the Gods, whose names are manifold, whose forms are holy, thou being of hidden form in the temples, whose Ka is holy."
-- Book of the Dead (1240 BC)