Chapter Text
Seth
“You really have tamed him. I’m impressed.”
Seth tried to focus on Isis rather than the wonderful way sunshine felt on his skin from his travel here, or the smell of fresh air from the Nile that always surrounded Isis. Seth was back in his usual outfit, with a fresh black shendyt, his gold armlets, leglets, and usekh, and even his headdress, which he’d been allowed to form from sand so as to not encumber him in combat. Horus had tight control over Seth’s powers with Maat’s spell, so Seth couldn’t dissolve himself into sand exactly, or at least at present form much out of sand. And much as the idea of forming a fine sand dagger and stabbing it into Horus appealed, Seth didn’t want to revisit the pain of the cock ring any time soon. Seth was only allowed this much when he noted that his leading troops would be undercut by people being able to see his face: he had to present himself as a powerful god, after all, one who’d led their troops to victory after victory over the millennia, and could do so again. The spells on him already kept him physically weaker, they didn’t need to make his appeal even less in the eyes of their soldiers. Horus had cautiously obliged, with limitations to Seth’s abilities going forward.
Seth chafed at the leash, but he knew it was unavoidable. He’d just enjoy it while he could and just figure out some way to escape it in future. Perhaps he had nowhere to go and no one to accept him, but tasting freedom like this was too much for him to lay down and accept the status quo.
Isis and Maat had made camp with their troops a short distance from where the Greeks had moored their ships, to give negotiations for the Greek departure one last shot – which none of them expected to work – and Horus and Seth had to leave Heliopolis to meet them. When Horus had considered carrying Seth there while flying to save time, Seth argued that it would make Horus look more in charge to have Seth following in his wake. Plus, people might consider Horus carrying Seth as something a servant would do.
Horus agreed with the idea, and allowed Seth to make a sand chariot with sand crocodiles to carry himself instead. As Seth got into it, Horus said, “Don’t forget to stay close to me, Uncle Seth. We wouldn’t want you losing control, would we?” Then he’d flown up into the air to lead the way. The cock ring didn’t activate, but it was obvious what Horus was referencing.
You wanted me to re-learn how to be a god of war? Seth thought with a glare at Horus’ back. Perhaps you should recall who my main enemy is. He’d stayed silent during the trip, while Horus talked, half-listening, and half luxuriating in the return of some of his abilities, and feel of the wind in his hair as they raced across Egypt towards Isis and Maat. He thought he’d be over this, after so many years of feeling empty and defeated, and the levels of despair Horus had pushed him to during his punishment. But like this… he felt alive in a way he hadn't in some time.
Now Seth stood just behind Horus while Horus, Isis, and Maat stood in their command tent, with a table of battle plans, administrative documents, and assorted materials between them. Seth longed to go racing across the desert, but he could feel the cock ring on him like a brand. He also had no idea what Maat might do with her spell if she sensed Seth acting out of line. He knew it could smother his powers, but he had no idea if it could do worse, and he had no desire to test it.
“I told you it was possible, Mother,” Horus said with a smile. “It helps that his punishment has weakened him even more than usual. He won’t be as powerful as he was before the punishment, but he’s still strong enough to fight.”
Seth flattened his lips at Horus’ audacity. Seth was only weak because of the damn cock ring and Maat’s spell, not because of time on the sun boat. It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it was definitely overly vague in way that allowed Horus to skate the line of honesty and dishonesty. Maat was seemingly completely oblivious, and simply watched Seth with mild curiosity. Horus might say he had a good relationship with Isis, but a part of Seth wondered if the man enjoyed tricking her this way. Horus didn’t seem like Osiris, who seemingly hadn’t cared enough about Isis’ opinion of his behavior for it to be a going concern.
Seth recalled Horus’ threats and wondered if Horus wanted the truth to come out. Yes, Seth was afraid of what would happen, but Horus treated so much of this like a game. He almost seemed hungry for it back in Heliopolis. Or perhaps he really didn’t really care and liked the opportunity to belittle Seth more. Either was a possibility.
“As long as he can send the Greeks running home,” Isis said with a frown at Seth. If looks could kill, Seth knew hers would. He remembered hearing her wish to send him to punishment under Osiris. He remembered the night he’d gone to her for support and she turned her back on him. She was no ally, and Seth had burned any bridges he had left with her in the hundreds of years between then. Being this close to her set him on edge, but it was no worse than being constantly around Horus was. “Do you understand that?”
“Yes,” Seth replied. Simple enough. She already hated him. And if he was meant to play the cowed general, so be it. The sooner he got this over with, the sooner he could go to the battlefield and focus on plans for getting out of the cock ring.
Isis gave him an odd look, as if he’d still done something wrong, but didn’t say anything else.
“Seth will also be helping to train me in the ways of war,” Horus said.
Isis frowned at him. “What?”
“Osiris’ teachings were limited,” Horus said, making Seth’s eyes widen in surprise. “He wasn’t a trained military strategist and had little thought for using actual soldiers: he only relied on himself. You saw that yourself when you had to negotiate for people to help us during the trial, Mother, because Osiris’ plans were too small-minded.”
“He’s your father, Horus, you shouldn’t speak of him that way.”
Small-minded?! Seth wanted to burst out laughing. He wondered what in the world Osiris had planned versus what Horus and Isis chose to employ for the trial. It’s good to know he’s still an idiot and even the son he acknowledges thinks as much.
“And Ra is your great-grandmother,” Horus said. “I’m just being honest.”
Isis sighed.
“Seth, on the other hand, is actually a god of war,” Horus said. “And if I can learn from him, perhaps I can lead our troops on my own in future.”
“You trust him to not lead you astray?” Isis asked with a glare at Seth.
“It’s all we have,” Horus said. “And I trust myself to know what is bad advice and what is not.” Horus smiled at Seth. “Besides, if Ra trusts Seth on her sun boat, I believe I can trust him not to get our troops killed. It would make him look bad, after all, and self-interest is a core tenet of his mindset.”
Seth kept his expression blank. Horus hadn’t made it seem like he wanted Seth’s advice on how to win a war. He just wanted someone convenient to win it. This was likely just some cover for spending as much time with Seth as Horus wanted to. Seth dreaded being free in the day and returning to Horus’ side at night, but he currently had little choice, at least until he figured out how to undo the ring. Perhaps Horus was wiser than his father, but neither of them had dealt with Seth in the field. Seth would have more opportunities, hopefully. And if Seth managed to escape, even if Horus still followed up on his threat to tell the world what he’d done to Seth in private, they’d merely be the ravings of a new and somewhat weak ruler trying to rewrite the narrative of having lost his alleged pet soldier.
Seth promised himself that Horus would regret giving Seth so much leeway and making such stupid threats. He clearly had no idea who he was dealing with, even now.
Their army wasn’t ready to jump immediately into the fight: Seth had to get their troops back in order, shocking the humans with his reappearance. Many were alarmed at his return, but thankfully Horus’ presence helped assuage them to some extent, making them see that Seth answered to Horus. Not the other way around.
Many soldiers were actually elated at his return, and quickly fell back into formations or set out to clean up their camps. Seth imagined they felt their chances of victory were higher, better increasing their odds of returning home alive to their families, rather than under an unblooded king and the goddess who’d been Seth’s primary enemy for hundreds of years. The good news was, for all they clearly weren’t as together being behind Horus and Isis, Horus and Isis had done a decent enough job getting things organized. And barking orders at least let Seth vent a bit, especially with no Horus to grab and punish him, at least during the daylight hours.
As Seth met with the commanding officers and saw their loyalty to him, a part of him wondered about biding his time once this conflict was done and calling them to his side, to take back the throne for himself somehow. But another part of him thought, to what end? He had no desire to hold the throne. He’d hated every moment he’d had control over it. And the humans would be useless dealing with the spells on him. He’d have to find some other way to get back at Horus. He would just have to be more patient. At least he had sand underneath his feet, sunlight on his back, fresh air surrounding him, and the charged tension of approaching battle filling the people around him. It was familiar and grounding.
The first night, Seth reported to Horus’ tent for “more lessons”, which meant walking through his decisions for organizing their troops while kneeling at Horus’ side. Horus listened and took notes, which was surprising. Seth expected him to just fuck Seth to unconsciousness or something, even if Horus wanted to avoid leaving marks for their troops to see. Horus asked about Seth’s future plans, which Seth detailed based on what he’d learned of the army’s status.
“Hmm… Good,” Horus said, making more notations on the scroll he had open. Eventually he looked at Seth and said, “You know, seeing you working today, I can see why the soldiers follow you. You must have been something when you were a proper general.”
Seth’s hands stiffened on his thighs.
“It’s a pity you wasted it on killing my father and slowly letting Egypt rot,” Horus continued.
Seth rolled his eyes. Of course. More lectures. As if Horus had any idea what he was talking about.
“Then again, you’re now kneeling obediently before someone your soldiers failed to kill,” Horus continued. “But at least you did good work today.”
Seth waited for Horus to grab him and fuck him against the floor or something, to remind Seth of his place or just because Horus was bored. But nothing happened. “…Is that all?”
Horus glanced at him. “I’ll ask more questions when I have them. But you’ve given me much to consider.” He smiled. “Unless you want more?” Horus reached out and took hold of Seth’s chin in a strong grip. “Do you miss my cock so much after being parted from me for the day?”
Seth didn’t rise to the bait.
Horus laughed and let him go before turning back to his paperwork. “Consider this a gift for good behavior. It would hardly make sense if I punished you for doing as I commanded, would it?”
Something about being out and about must have made Seth foolish, because he muttered, “That’s never stopped you before.”
Horus chuckled. “You’re right. Perhaps I’m in a good mood, then.” Horus glanced down at him, a heated look in his gaze. “Seeing the god of war all these soldiers worship being so obedient to you will do that."
Seth kept himself still, even though he wanted to yell instead. People would hear them.
Horus snorted. "Train our troops properly and make sure I stay in a good mood. It wouldn’t be that hard to fuck you while you’re gagged in a way that wouldn’t leave marks, after all, even here, and everyone has orders to leave me alone at night, so we’d be undisturbed except in an emergency.” His eyes moved down to Seth’s crotch, pointedly. “And I don’t have to touch you at all to hurt you, do I?”
Seth recalled that burst of sharp pain from when Horus first gave him the cock ring, and breathed in and remained still, knowing Horus was just looking for an excuse to do something. In a way it reminded him of Osiris, and that terrible night, which brought to mind Horus’ comments earlier. “Do you really not support Osiris?”
“I support my father,” Horus replied, clearly confused by the change in topic. “What gave you the impression I didn’t?”
“You were so critical of him when we arrived,” Seth replied. “But he helped you during the trial.” It should be Osiris whom Horus was seeking aid from, not Seth.
Horus studied Seth for a moment before replying, “You mean my comments to Mother about his skills as a strategist?”
“Or lack thereof,” Seth commented with a slight smirk, recalling Osiris’ frustration when he’d realized he’d been tricked.
Horus snorted. “That he fell for your tricks speaks volumes of his incompetence. If he were better skilled, he wouldn’t have done so.”
Seth’s smirk faded and his face burned. The little upstart sure had some ridiculous ideas about things he knew nothing about!
“Osiris was apparently a wise king,” Horus said, ignoring Seth’s fury, as he often did, “who led Egypt well, and was beloved by all. But not even Ra was perfect at everything when she ruled Egypt. Mother was the better strategist of my parents when we prepared for the trial, and Osiris often ignored her contributions to focus on his own anger, even more than Mother can be at her worst. It was self-defeating.” He was clearly disgusted by the attitude and gazed angrily at his desk, with his hands clasped tightly on his thighs. “While I’m grateful for Osiris’ aid on our path back to the throne, Mother is the main reason we made the headway we did. Not Osiris.”
“But he’s your father,” Seth insisted.
“I’m confused how my parentage is meant to change my opinion of his skills,” Horus replied idly. “After all, you’re one of the most powerful gods of war in Egypt, and yet your son is a weakling.”
Seth’s eyes widened. “What?”
“He’s good at many types of combat,” Horus allowed, “And useful for administration. But all those years and he couldn’t take his mother away from Heliopolis, find his own path in life, or even try to unseat you, despite his hatred of you? It’s pathetic.”
If Seth hadn’t spent so much time with Horus, the odd callousness might have shocked him. But perhaps Anubis’ reputation was tainted by association with Seth. “He’s just a demigod,” Seth said, angrily. That he’d accomplished so much just as a demigod spoke volumes. Nephthys had practically abandoned him and Seth had actually abandoned him. He didn’t have someone like Isis at his side, supporting him. Or even someone as minorly helpful as Osiris apparently was for Horus.
“He’s older than me and failed to ascend,” Horus said. “I’m sure at some point he’ll figure it out. Perhaps even during the war. I’m willing to let him prove himself in combat, anyway.”
Seth paled as he realized what Horus was saying. “You can’t bring him here!”
“He’s already here,” Horus said. “He came with Isis to help her manage affairs here.”
Seth’s heart raced. He hadn’t spotted Anubis at all, but he'd been distracted by his newfound freedom, small as it was, and Anubis had grown deft at staying out of sight in recent years. Likely he’d hidden himself when Seth was around, particularly since Seth hadn’t known to look for him. “He’s not a war god!” Anubis was a good learner, and seemed to enjoy weapons practice, but he’d never given any indications his leanings as a god would be towards war. He had shown no inclination of anything, actually, much as Nephthys and Seth had tried to figure things out. He was just a gentle boy, that was all. Eventually twisted by Seth’s abuse. Despite his time in the arena at Seth’s orders, he wasn’t trained for a battlefield in war, and didn’t belong there.
“We don’t know what he is,” Horus said. “But he’s a trained soldier, and we need to turn back the Greeks. A demigod is better than a score of humans.”
“He could be killed…” Seth said, squeezing his hands on his thighs, trying to keep himself from shaking in fear.
“Since when do you care?” Horus asked, gazing down at him thoughtfully. “You nearly killed him yourself any number of times over the years.”
Seth pressed his lips together and didn’t reply, focusing on calming his breathing.
Horus tilted his head at Seth thoughtfully. “Then that will be another encouragement for you to finish this matter up quickly, won’t it?”
Seth pressed his hands down against the skin of his thighs. He refused to further rise to Horus’ goading. This was worse than everything else Horus had done. Seth had to end this all as fast as he could. For Anubis.