"The gods wouldn't have shared everything," Max said. "But some information must have leaked out."
Kalugal refilled their glasses. "Perhaps we'll find more clues on this trip. The figurines are our priority, though. We need to locate Esag, and with his help, hopefully we will find Khiann."
Max raised his glass. "To successful hunting, then. May we find what we seek in Egypt."
They toasted, crystal chiming against crystal.
"You know," Fenella said, "I've been wondering about something. If Esag survived the destruction, why didn't he try to find other survivors? Why didn't he come looking for Annani?"
"Perhaps he tried," Jacki suggested. "But the world is a big place, and immortals went into hiding. It would have been nearly impossible for him to find any of the others."
"Maybe he thought that they were all dead," Kyra said. "He was far enough away to survive, but he might have assumed no one else did."
"Well, that got dark quickly," Max said. "How about we talk about something more cheerful? Like, how many ways the Egyptian authorities might try to kill us?"
"Max!" Kyra smacked his arm.
"What? I'm being practical. We're heading into a country where the Brotherhood has a significant presence and influence. I'd like to know what we're walking into."
"The situation is tense but manageable," Kalugal assured them. "We have security, and we'll be staying in my house and not a hotel. I've been doing this for years, Max. I know how to keep my people safe."
Din appreciated the reassurance, but he noticed Fenella had gone quiet beside him. When he glanced over, she was staring out the window at the clouds below, her expression distant.
"What are you thinking?" he asked.
She turned to him with a rueful smile. "Just processing the fact that we're flying into danger. Again. I thought I was done with that when I reached the village. I just wish the world wasn't so full of people trying to kill each other."
"Amen to that," Jasmine said from across the aisle. "Though if it wasn't, we'd be out of a job."
"Speak for yourself," Din said. "I'd be perfectly happy studying ancient civilizations without people trying to blow themselves up, along with as many innocent bystanders as possible."
"Where's the fun in that?" Ever one to trip over himself as he tried to lighten the mood, Max grinned. "Nothing like a little danger to spice up academic research, true?"
"Your definition of 'little' needs work," Kyra told him.
As the banter continued, lifting the collective mood, Din relaxed into it, enjoying the camaraderie.
"More whiskey?" Kalugal offered, bottle in hand.
"Why not?" Din said. "It's a long flight."
