Chapter Text
Maat reached up to the white ostrich feather in her hair as she stood before the assembled immortals in Heliopolis, and declared, “I shall confirm for myself.” She gazed at Horus steadily, clearly firm in her decision to learn the truth about the stone boat race.
There were mutterings throughout the area as onlookers wondered just what would come of this. Had Horus really cheated?
Seth felt antsy and wanted to continue talking, to drag the truth to light himself out of Horus’ very flesh if he had to. He hated being played for a fool, on multiple fronts. And it would serve Osiris right to watch his heir ground into the dirt.
But it would be even better if these arrogant morons proved their own duplicity. They came to Heliopolis all self-righteous in their entitlement to take what was his, to prove he was weak and unworthy.
They could clean up their own mess.
So he crossed his arms as Maat’s scales appeared once more.
Horus’ heart appeared on the scale.
The demigod, for all his arrogance during the second match, stared ahead calmly. He looked like a bloody mess after what Seth had already done to him.
Hathor dithered nearby, looking worried and unsure about what to do.
“Horus,” Maat said, gazing at him levelly before repeating her earlier question, “Is it true that you did not use a stone boat in the stone boat race?”
Seth smirked. There was no way for Horus to duck around it like Osiris had when he’d testified before. For once, Seth almost respected Maat.
Horus gazed at Maat for a while before pushing himself to stand. Red blood dripped to the floor as he moved, and Hathor rose with him, making worried noises.
Horus squared his shoulders, as if trying to look dignified somehow, despite his injuries.
Seth scoffed, but almost respected the demigod’s drive.
“Yes,” Horus said, before gasps filled the area from the observing immortals. “It’s true. I did not use a stone boat in the stone boat race. I used a wooden boat.”
Ra shook her head while smiling. Her golden jewelry glittered in the sunshine.
Isis clenched her hands from where she stood by Ra and glared.
“And I won largely with the help of my mother and father,” Horus continued, “not my own power.”
“Horus!” Isis half-hissed, clutching her flail. She looked ready to fight.
Seth grinned, wondering just how far Horus was willing to dig himself into a hole.
“Osiris gave my mother a seed to use,” Horus continued as he met Maat’s gaze, “to destroy Seth’s boat, while I distracted him.”
Seth recalled the black vines creeping over his own boat, with those hideous red flowers Osiris had tried to gift him hundreds of years ago. The parasite is still trying to claw his way back to me, Seth thought, angrily, recalling their confrontation after Osiris testified, when Seth had been again unable to fight back. He still won’t let things go.
He’d crush the other god however he could. Starting with his precious son.
“Did they give you the boat you used?” Maat asked, focusing on Horus.
“The wooden boat I used…” Horus began. He looked at Seth, making Seth frown. “Came from Anubis, the son of Seth and Nephthys.”
Seth’s grin twitched. Anubis?
The scales didn’t move. Horus was telling the truth.
Somehow, Seth was still surprised. He wasn’t sure why, after everything that happened, particularly Anubis helping Seth’s enemies enter Heliopolis largely unchallenged.
He looked around for the boy, to see Anubis hiding in the shadow of an entryway.
Anubis met Seth’s gaze. There was some fear in his eyes, but anger, too. He expected Seth to punish him again, and he wasn’t running away. He was only just barely shaking.
Seth frowned at him, then shook his head and looked away. He’d deal with Anubis later.
Seth wondered if Horus was trying to spin things to imply Seth ordered Anubis to make Horus cheat, losing the match for Horus. But Seth would have been better served had Anubis not acted at all: Seth would have won, fair and square, while it was unlikely for Horus to have ever left the initial shore.
Not that it would stop the gossip, Seth thought. But he’d survive that. It was practically tame in comparison to other things they said about him.
At worst, he thought, I’ll have lost this round anyway.
“It was not with his father’s blessing,” Horus continued, surprising Seth. “It was of his own volition, to ensure his father lost.”
There were more murmurs around the court: chatter that Seth couldn’t control his own son.
He led Isis’ group here before the trial began, Seth thought in some annoyance as he glanced around at the audience. I already couldn’t control him. Or did you flighty morons forget already? He’d punished Anubis for that.
But he also wasn’t surprised Anubis stood up to him again. Clearly, Seth’s little lesson after discovering Anubis’ first betrayal just made Anubis more determined in his goals to rip away Seth’s throne. Perhaps he even hoped to have Seth executed, should Seth lose the trial.
Seth didn’t know what he’d do with Anubis going so far to directly hinder him. But there was nothing he could do about it now. He wasn’t planning to drag Anubis out for another beating. That would hardly win Seth the trial.
“I see,” Maat said, looking between Horus, Seth, and Anubis. “This changes things, then. And Seth is correct, there must be discipline for this indiscretion.”
“How was Horus meant to win?” Isis demanded, making Maat turn to her. Isis still looked furious as she gestured to Horus. “He’s not even a god! You allowed him to use Nut’s blessing during the first match!”
“Nut’s blessing is part of Horus,” Maat said, coolly. “It is not a false boat pretending to be something else. Or unauthorized aid from an outside party to damage his opposition.”
Isis scoffed at that and glared at Seth, as if it was Seth’s fault that she and her allies had cheated. He supposed she probably blamed him for making her do these things.
“Perhaps it would be best to consider this match null and void,” Maat suggested, glancing between Horus and Seth. “Although Horus did not rightfully win, Seth did not make it to the finish line with a stone boat, either.”
“How is that discipline?!” Seth demanded, furious at the arrogance of the suggestion. “He might as well have won anyway!” They’d have the third match all the same.
They always just help each other, Seth thought, angrily. They always let him sneak away into the shadows… It’s no different than the tricks he pulled in the first match… But they hadn’t been successful in making Horus win, so he hadn’t fought that. This, though…
“It would be wrong to say the match is null and void,” Horus interjected, stepping towards Maat. “If not for my, and my parents’, deceptions, Seth would have won, handily. And we counted on Seth’s arrogance to win. And I still might have won, had Seth been the braggadocious monster people say he is, and lost his temper here.”
Seth had half a mind to beat the demigod up some more.
“But Seth chose the peaceful route in resolving this,” Horus continued, looking at Seth coolly. “I believe that deserves merit. Give him the win. The trial is over.”
“Horus!” Isis cried, angrily. “Think of everything we’ve done! He’ll kill us! He’ll destroy Egypt again!” Her eyes were wild and she clutched her flail.
“I believe that Seth can be reasoned with,” Horus said with a glance at Isis before turning again to Seth. “I believe Seth could have killed me any number of times now, and he hasn’t. Isn’t that true, Uncle?”
Seth raised an eyebrow at Horus, still not liking the demigod’s presumption. “I just wanted to give you a fair chance of winning.” He needed to prove before everyone that he deserved his position.
Horus nodded. “Then I hope you’ll use this trial as a learning experience and consider your future actions as God Supreme fairly, too, and treat your fellow gods and the people of Egypt with mercy. Because I will uphold my promise to serve you with sincerity, in part because I believe you can be righteous.”
Seth rolled his eyes. He had no idea what he was going to do with the demigod. Kill him? Imprison him?
Maybe Nephthys wants company she can stand, he thought, glumly.
“But should you fail that,” Horus continued, “I have lived my life scrounging for survival. And as Representative of the Heavens, I am not above trying this again.” There was a hardness in his expression that Seth was surprised by, when he was facing loss, servitude, and possibly death.
The pigeon still thinks he can stand up to me, how adorable. Seth gave him a sharp grin. “You’re ridiculous to demand anything from me. Let alone make threats.” He would rule as he pleased, not how this malcontent demanded. Osiris would have no sway in Seth’s reign.
“The gods stood up to you once,” Horus countered. “What’s to stop them from doing so again?”
“Their precious Representative of the Heavens wouldn’t be with them,” Seth said with a smirk. “You’re the only reason any of them have the courage to be here.” Probably because Horus was a useful sacrificial pawn: he was the child of Isis and Osiris, neither of whom had much power. He was also a demigod who could be abandoned on a whim, rather than any of the gods still shaking in their crowns whenever Seth walked near. Even Osiris risked nothing by losing him.
Osiris already nearly killed one son. What was a second?
Horus nodded. “Be that as it may. With the trial potentially concluded in this manner, I have other considerations to discuss with you, but I think they’re best spoken of in private.”
Seth frowned at this. “What? You really think I need to listen to anything you say, after you faked your way through an entire match?”
“You’ll want to hear what I have to say,” Horus said. “As your subject, it would serve you well to show you care about our troubles.” He smiled softly. “And you can just kill me if you want afterward, anyway.”
Seth scoffed at that, wondering if representatives of heaven were picked for their audacity.
Horus looked at Maat. “Maat, I wish you to oversee the talks.” He looked at Isis and Thoth. “Mother, Thoth, I also ask for your presence there.”
Maat sighed and said, “Very well. The trial is paused for the moment while we consider ending it due to recent events.”
Seth rolled his eyes, because of course she wasn’t conceding defeat yet. Of course this was still the golden boy’s show, because of course everyone worshipped the ground Osiris had tread on centuries later, including his better-known progeny.
It made Seth furious. He still didn’t have what he wanted: a full end to the trial. He wanted it done with. He wanted…
…He needed time to think about what to do with Anubis.
“Hathor,” Horus said, “Please wait here.”
“B-But your injuries!” Hathor said, glancing between Horus and Seth, just in case Seth lunged forward again.
“I’ll be fine,” Horus said with a gentle smile. “Thank you for your concern.” He walked past her to follow after Maat, despite his still-bleeding injuries.
Seth smirked at Hathor, who grimaced at him before returning to her throne.
Isis walked past Ra, glaring at Seth as she went.
Thoth stood up to follow after Maat, Isis, and Horus.
Seth supposed hearing out the damn bird wouldn’t take up too much time, and he really could just kill the damn pigeon at any time. So he angrily followed the group back inside the palace, leaving the bickering immortals behind. But he paused at the entryway to call back, “Anyone I didn’t personally invite here might consider being elsewhere when these talks are done.” He grinned, showing his sharp teeth, and heard alarmed cries before he turned and followed Maat again.
That would send them scattering. He didn’t want any of their noisy nonsense around his palace anymore.
He saw Maat shaking her head. As if he’d care about her opinion after witnessing her eating up Osiris’ lies and Isis and Horus’ manipulations.
Their small group walked into a quiet side chamber in the palace chosen by Maat. There was a sky portal, showing the sun and blue sky. Potted plants rested around the walls. Murals showing Seth and his siblings working covered the walls. All the servants raced away from them.
“So?” Seth asked once they were all gathered. He glared at Horus. “What nonsense are you going to beg for?” He assumed Horus would plead to be spared or something. And Seth wasn’t sure on the matter: killing Horus would keep Seth’s position safer and perhaps salve some of his own anger, but he imagined Isis would interfere. She hadn’t stopped him from beating Horus up earlier, but the other gods had stepped in for her. And she’d had victory within her reach. With the trial essentially lost for her, things were more complicated.
He knew what she was like when she felt wronged.
“I wish to bargain for my mother’s safety,” Horus said.
Isis gripped her flail, clearly furious, but stayed silent when Maat glanced at her.
Seth scoffed before replying, “With what? You have nothing I want.”
“You need Isis for what I’m about to tell you,” Horus said, keeping his eyes on Seth. “I don’t know of any god who can replace her knowledge or abilities.” He looked at Thoth. “Not even Thoth.”
Thoth frowned at that, clearly a little put out, but still said, “Isis is the god of magic, if that’s what this is about?” He avoided Seth’s gaze.
Seth rolled his eyes. “Ah yes, another leader of my enemies. I definitely need her.” He could just imagine her trying to stab him in the back as he strolled about the palace. And he knew she still had other plans to work to get his throne and take her revenge. “For what?”
“A plot that involves your wife,” Horus said.
Seth stiffened, thinking of Nephthys sitting in her unlocked cell, not speaking the few times he went near her in the hundreds of years since she’d placed herself there. She hadn’t done anything in regard to him since he discovered what she’d done with Osiris, and then when she’d helped Isis out of the labyrinth.
Has she, like Anubis, finally decided to move, as well? He wondered. Is that why I’d need Isis? To undo Nephthys’ magic? It wasn’t like she was in any danger: everyone assumed she was a victim of Seth’s. But he had many enemies… He wondered if one of them might try to attack him through her.
Or if Horus was threatening her. And Seth wouldn’t let that stand.
Seth kept a cool face as he met Horus’ gaze and demanded, “What the fuck are you talking about?”