The sun had just begun setting on the Valley of Kings, illuminating the area with a reddish hue. Before me stretched a long, wide and royal looking stone isle that connected with a stairless ramp. The latter led up to the main section of tombs, with columns decorated with hieroglyphics bordering the entire entrance. The complex had been dug into the side of the mesa which towered above me. Upon looking closely, the silhouettes of people with swords in hand could be seen standing atop the massive table-mountain. 

“Calling it close there, Theophilus.” A female voice echoed from the top of the ramp. “Ascend.”

I did as was asked and walked down the rest of the isle and up the ramp. As I reached the top, a rectangular courtyard of sand opened up in front of the tomb’s entrance, with another smaller ramp on the other side which led to the tomb itself. Four obsidian statues of Anubis guarded the four edges, facing inwards. Each statue had a gold and white skirt and stood with open arms, one hand holding a flail and the other a caned scepter. Golden bands adorned their biceps and an ankh-necklace hung down to their abs.

“I must admit.” The same voice from before stepped out from the shadow of the tomb’s entrance and descended the ramp into the courtyard. “I didn’t expect you to show, considering the obvious nature of this trap.”

“Well.” I stepped into the center of the courtyard. “You have people I care about.”

She made her way out of the shadow of the mesa and into the reddish sunlight to reveal herself. She wore full hoplite attire, the traditional Greek-upperclass kind, as it was all bronze: a helmet with cheek plates, a belled cuirass and greaves. A blue skirt came down to her mid-thighs, and a horizontal plume of the same color adorned her helmet. 

“Still…” As she approached me, a soft breeze came through the area, tossing her cape ‒ a lighter blue than that of her skirt ‒ to the side. “A trap is a trap and you don’t take me for a fool.”

“You’re Artemisia, I presume?”

“In the flesh.” She leaned into me so that her face was right in front of mine. Her azure eyes twinkled as they looked into mine. “Are you hiding something?”

“Considering my lack of clothing.” I patted down my naked torso. “I don’t think I could be hiding much.”

“Funny.” She squinted at me, and her gaze shifted to the points of my crossed spears on my back. 

“Why have you asked me here?” My toes squirmed around in my sandals.

“To bargain, of course.” She removed her helmet and slotted it under her arm, letting her long, brunette hair shag down to her upper-back. “I thought it was obvious.”

“Bargain?” I raised an eyebrow. “What could you possibly want from me?”

“Your skill set.” She grinned. “And your connections.”

“I don’t follow.”

“Look.” She leaned into me again. “I know who sent you on this mission and I know what those weapons of yours are truly capable of.”

I gulped.

“Now I know what you’re thinking.” She stepped back and started pacing around me in circles. “You’re thinking: ‘why does she want Themistocles dead?’ But that’s where you’re wrong. I could care less about that politician. Truth be told, if I wanted him dead he’d be dead already. No. I’m talking about your other quest giver.”

“My other‒” I coughed as it came together. “Isadora?”

“You’re already proving smarter than your two friends.” She stopped pacing in front of me and set her helmet on the ground. “It is true that I originally just wanted you dead, but when I heard you befriended the high priestess…”

“You know.” I sighed. “A lot of people are asking me to do a lot of things.”

“You’re a soldier.” She scoffed. “That’s what you do. You take orders because you can’t think for yourself.”

A boom resounded from within the tomb behind her, followed by an ephemeral shimmer of light bursting forth from the entrance. 

“Haha!” A male voice cheered from the direction of the explosion. “It worked!”

Atemu rushed out from the entrance and stood at the top of the ramp, flanked by Illias, still in hoplite attire, and Damien.

“One of Isadora’s priestesses is with you, I see.” She rolled her eyes. “I was really hoping you would accept my deal.”

“I’m done making deals.” I drew both spears. 

“So be it.”

The figures of the people atop the mesa ‒ of which there were six ‒ jumped off the table-mountain. The tiny silhouettes of their bodies grew larger and larger as they neared us. Three landed at the base of the ramp, cutting off Atemu, Illias and Damien from myself and Artemisia, and the other three landed behind me, creating miniature sand clouds. I turned around to meet them and came face to face with their dark red flickering eyes through the haze. Their scale armor pulsated with the same color too, like it beat in tandem with their hearts. 

Once the cloud cleared, they drew their greatswords and cried out in unison. The weapons’ blades were long and jagged, the multiple spikes on the sides pointing upwards, and their long, bright-white hair, almost fully covered their pointy ears. 

“Meet the elven guardians of the blood moon.” Artemisia blared.

By the time I turned back to her, she had already created some distance between us with her helmet back on. She had also pulled her shield from her back, an insignia of a white crescent moon adorning it.

“Theo!” Illias called out from the tomb’s entrance. “Don’t worry about us! Focus on yourself!”

The other three elves, dressed the same way and wielding the same weapon as their brethren, had begun their ascent, climbing the stairless ramp to my friends. Damien, Atemu and Illias were ready to receive them with their daggers, ankh and spear drawn, respectively.

“I will let you choose your fate.” Artemisia grinned. “Though it’s more than you deserve, if you ask me. You may duel me, or take on the three dashing men behind you.”

“I think I’ll pick the woman without a weapon.” I swapped my right hand to reverse grip and javelined the spear forward. 

She sidestepped with ease. “Predictable.”

I javelined my left spear next, and she sidestepped again.

“Well?” She sighed. “Call them back. See what happens.”

I groaned with frustration then opened both hands, but only one spear came back to me. The other one had halted midair, hovering under Artemisia’s extended arm.

“How interesting.” She glanced at my levitating weapon, then back at me.

A lump formed in my throat as I tried bringing it back to me again. My veins bulged from my forearm as my fingers curled and tensed, but my spear wouldn’t budge. I hyperventilated as my body turned warm with anxiety. 

“What was that you were saying?” She continued grinning as my spear shot up into her hand. “About not having a weapon?”

“You…”

“You’re not as special as you think.” She sauntered forwards. “Nor were you ever worthy of your father’s attention. Of his affection. He was right to abandon you, though why he let you keep your spears and gifts in your exile, I’ll never understand. Perhaps he thought there was still hope for you.” 

“Stop it.” I growled. 

“Today I prove to his spirit how weak you truly are.” Her saunter sped up into a charge. “And tomorrow, I will say ‘I told you so’ as I spit on his grave.”