Page 31 of Beyond the Ruby River
Was it possible?
Perhaps Daka had told the truth?
But that thought brought with it a tidal wave of regret, for if Daka hadn’t harmed him…
If Daka truly cared for him…
Mahu had said awful things. Unforgivable things. He’d spit words of hate. Accusations of evil. Even suggested Daka might have killed his own father. He’d sent Daka into the streets shaking and sobbing. Where would he have gone?
Mahu didn’t know where Daka lived. He had no way of knowing if Daka was all right. Hadn’t seen one wisp of him since he’d thrown him out, and that had been nearly a week ago.
Sitting in his papyrus shop, as he had each day since that fateful morning, Mahu’s spine curved forward. He rested elbows on his worktable, strips of pith lying ignored. They’d dry out and become useless, but he couldn’t bring himself to focus on work. Instead, he stared out the open doorway, wishing against his higher reason that Daka would come prancing through it.
Each day, day after day, he waited. Because waiting was all he could do. And Daka never came, just as Mahu had railed at him not to. If Daka had meant him ill, he’d have come back to finish off whatever curse had been started, but he hadn’t returned. So perhaps there was never any curse.
He gasped a deep breath, throat trembling, and let it out with a clutch of coughing. Though the sun indicated midday, Mahu was tired as if it were midnight. His bones heavy. His mind dull. He’d go home early, except…what if Daka finally showed up and Mahu wasn’t there?
So he stayed. Weary and depressed, his chest aching, he sat staring after an image he may never see again.
Worst of all, their predicament was his fault. Yes, Daka had lied, but he’d also begged Mahu to let him explain. Mahu hadn’t allowed it. At the time, he’d been angry. Panicked. He’d lashed out and gone too far.
He wondered what Daka would have said. He longed to know what explanations there were to be had. He wished for them more than air or sustenance but wishing brought him no closer to answers.
I would never hurt anyone. I’m not bad, Mahu.
Mahu had to admit, he didn’t feel cursed. Though his soul was heavy and sad, it didn’t feel tarnished. Would Osiris be as blind to his trespasses as the temple priests? Had he nothing to fear from the underworld after all?
All questions and no answers made for miserable days and sleepless nights.
At times like these, when his desperation soared to the forefront, a trinket of information gripped him and refused to let go.
Daka’s family lived in Rhakotis.
Daka might have gone to them. Even if he hadn’t, surely his family would know where to find him. His sister Niya, of whom Daka spoke so fondly, perhaps she would help? Rhakotis was a small town, a tenth the size of Naukratis. Searching for Daka here was like trying to find one particular brick in the mighty pyramid but searching in Rhakotis—Mahu would have a fighting chance.
Was that crazy? It must be. To leave his home to seek out a family of demons only to make sure a particular demon was faring all right without him?
The more he dwelled on the idea, the stronger the urge to see it through became, until Mahu could no longer deny his deepest wish.
He needed to see Daka again, and since he’d made sure Daka would never return to him, Mahu must be the one to put forth the effort.
* * *
Daka
His mother, Meditarai, petted his hair absently while Niya paced the great room, railing in spite of Daka’s silence.
“You must get over the human and feed. You’re wasting away in front of my eyes.”
Daka knew she spoke truth, and yet…
“Your sister is right.” Medit’s fingers paused at his nape. “This has gone on long enough.”
Daka lay on a massive lounging settee, his head pillowed by his mother’s thigh—an uncharacteristic show of affection from her Daka would not turn down. Not that she didn’t love him, only that her means of showing it were more likely to include a naked, dazed human rather than this gentle petting he much preferred.
Plus, she’d already tried a naked, dazed human, and the ploy hadn’t worked.
Eight days had passed since he’d been thrown out of Mahu’s bedroom and life, but the event felt like yesterday. He wondered how Mahu faired. Had his doctor cured the sickness Daka scented? He could only hope so.
