“An interesting tale,” said Set then.

  “It is, isn't it?” said Simon rather pompously. It wasn't every day that he got to bask in the attention of an eager audience … He could get used to this. His stomach was full for once, and it wasn't with strange tubers or unknown meats, and he felt rather sleepy from the (possibly alcoholic) beverages they had consumed...

  Set's eyes flashed irritably again, but he didn't reprimand Simon for this moment of boastfulness.

  “Do you know why I brought you here, against your will?” he asked abruptly.

  “You are going to teach me magic,” replied Simon at once – how could he forget?

  “Indeed I was...”

  “You still are, aren't you?” asked Simon, suddenly desperate that the god could have changed his mind – but then why would the god have brought him here if not for his powers, which he had praised so exuberantly the last time they had met?

  “I didn't think you wanted to be taught.”

  Set's eyes glinted maliciously, evidently relishing in Simon's discomfort.

  Simon hesitated for a moment; if it came down to it, nothing was as important as getting back home at the moment, find out what had really happened, and whether Anubis had shown him the truth after all … On the other hand, taking into account the journey he had just retold, considering all the bumps in the road and the fact that Set wasn't likely to let him go right away, perhaps the most sensible choice was to accept the offer for now, learn as much as was possible, then try again in a few days when he was certain his escape would succeed? He could use this opportunity... He could become stronger and more powerful than he was now, return home as a rich man...

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  “I'll teach you,” said Set at that moment, interrupting the wave of blissful images streamlining across Simon's inner eye.

  “You will?” said Simon, startled.

  “If you prove yourself worthy,” answered Set softly.

  “How?” The word had slipped without Simon's volition, betraying a sudden surge greed that had gushed up inside of him.

  Set's smile now slipped into a wide, leering grimace.

  “Loyalty,” he said softly. “Show me your devotion – prove to me that you are dependable, that you belong to me – to us – to our cause. Convince me that I am right in taking you in as my apprentice.”

  “How am I supposed to do that?” croaked Simon.

  Was he already agreeing to this? He didn't want to belong to anybody, but if this was the only way home … And it wasn't so bad, was it? It was more like allegiance to a cause than passing into the ownership of a person anyway... And though he had no idea why Set would want his loyalty, the thought flattered him...

  At the same time, his temporary agreement with the cause wasn't too much to give in order to go back home, was it? Of course, an alliance with Set meant allegiance to Apep as well … On the other hand – what did he really care about the politics of ancient Egypt? He didn't plan to linger after all, and he would be gone before long...

  “I will let you know when the time comes to decide where your allegiance lies,” Set replied with an air of suppressed triumph that elicited a new surge of anxiety in Simon. But what choice did he really have?