Leaning in, he sniffed at the ugly wound on his friend's belly. s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up his face in distaste, he glanced back at Jade.

"The wound is putrefying. We have to put him out of pain now, before the poison seeps into every organ." Lifting his dagger, he readied to strike. Jade could see his throat and jaw muscles working as he steeled himself to deliver the killing blow.

"Wait!" She grabbed at his wrist as he raised it. "I should be the one to do it."

"No," Marcus pulled his hand free. "You need to be ready to cleanse his body of poison; otherwise he'll come back to life with exactly the same problem."

She silently cursed her own stupidity. He was right. Why hadn't she thought of it? Nodding, she pulled out the last of her healing herbs and made them into a paste with a little water. When she was done, Marcus raised his arm again.

He looked down at Phoenix's sweating face and dropped his arm. "I...I don't think I can."

At that moment, Jade remembered he was only a sixteen year old boy, really; barely older than her own real self. He seemed so much wiser sometimes. She leaned her head on his shoulder and, together, they looked at their friend.

"So what do we do?" she whispered.

"Oh, for the love of the Earth Mother!" Brynn's slight figure slipped out from behind the billowing silk curtains that surrounded Phoenix's bed. "Stop being so pathetic, both of you. Just do what has to be done."

Without another word, he lifted his hand above his head and plunged his dagger into Phoenix's chest.

Jade gasped in shock and felt Marcus jerk beside her. Phoenix arched his back, his eyes wide and unseeing; his mouth opened in a silent scream of agony. Brynn pulled his dagger free with a look of horror. Phoenix slumped and his head lolled to one side.

For a few precious seconds, Jade stared at his body, unable to believe what had happened. Brynn! Brynn had just killed Phoenix. How could he? Then she looked up at the boy and her anger crumbled. Tears poured down Brynn's thin face. His bottom lip trembled and his brown eyes were black with misery. Swallowing her own confused emotions, she scrambled closer to the bed and s.n.a.t.c.hed up the cup of herb-paste.

"Quick, Brynn," she ordered. "Use your knife to cut away the worst of the dead flesh in that wound. Marcus, get me some more water. Hurry. We may only have a few moments before he comes back to life."

Marcus left and Jade s.n.a.t.c.hed Brynn into her arms for a brief hug. She didn't want to embarra.s.s him in front of Marcus but the boy needed rea.s.surance, as did she.

"You did the right thing, Brynn. I'm so sorry you had to do it, though. Thank you," she whispered. He nodded against her shoulder and squeezed her for a second before pushing away. Wiping his face, he eyed the injury on Phoenix's stomach with revulsion that turned quickly into resolve.

"Let's make him well so I never have to do it again," the boy ordered.

Phoenix drifted up from a deep sleep and wondered where he was. He tried to open his eyes but his eyelids were stuck together with grit and sleep. It took an extraordinary amount of effort to lift his hand up to rub them clear. It was even harder to control his arm. He kept smacking himself in the nose or the forehead. Finally he managed the task and opened his eyes. It didn't help. He still had no idea where he was.

Above him hung a whitewashed, wooden ceiling with exposed beams. From the sound of footsteps overhead, he guessed there was a room up there. Turning his head, he could see four walls and a doorway. The walls were smoothly plastered and the bottom half ornately decorated with paintings and frescoes, lit by dusty, golden, afternoon sunlight. People, animals and plants seemed to dance in front of his vision. For some reason, there were a lot of grapes. At least it wasn't another dark prison cell. That was a plus.

With a grunt, he pushed himself up on the bed and held his spinning head in the hopes that it wouldn't fall off. What the heck had happened? Last he remembered was riding through the streets of Memphis at dawn. No, wait. Blood. There had been blood on his hand and stomach.

Tossing the sheets aside, Phoenix pulled up the white, sleeveless tunic he now wore and felt his belly. Sure enough, there was a long, narrow scar almost dividing him in half. It felt well-healed, so he'd either been unconscious a long time or Jade had been at work again.

He glanced around for his things. Blodbal, his dagger and other possessions were piled on a nearby table. Standing shakily, he changed into his own, cleaned clothes and strapped on his weapons with a feeling of relief and security. Patting Blodbal, he picked up the dagger and examined it.

Even counting the rubies three times didn't make it easier to believe. What little strength he had, drained from his legs and he sank back onto the bed, still clutching the knife. He was still there when Jade, Marcus and Brynn came in.

"You're awake!" Jade cried, clearly relieved. "You've been asleep since yesterday. We were getting worried. We're running out of time." The three of them crowded around him, patting and thumping him as though they had to confirm he really was there. Dumbly, he held the dagger out and they all fell silent. Marcus turned away to lean against a wall. Brynn scratched his s.h.a.ggy head and fell to picking at his fingernails.

"There are only three left," he said, dazed. "How? What happened? I got away from the Temple of Set with hardly a scratch. Why was I asleep so long?"

Jade crouched beside him, looking both guilty and concerned. "We think the knife that cut you was poisoned. I couldn't heal you."

"So you let me die?" Phoenix gaped at her.

"Kind of," she murmured, glancing at Marcus and Brynn.

"What do you mean, 'kind of'," his brain was still foggy. "Did you let me die or not?"

Marcus pushed himself off the wall and stepped forward. "We didn't have the time or resources to try and find an antidote for the poison. It seemed like the best option we had was to...take another of your lives."

Phoenix raised his eyebrows as the implications of that sentence sank in. "You mean... you mean....you...you killed me? I only had four lives left and you killed me? How am I supposed to get through the rest of this G.o.d-riddled world with only three lives? Who did it?" He staggered to his feet, ignoring Jades wordless plea. He glared, first at Marcus, then at Jade, feeling an old, helpless anger rise from deep within.

"I'm sorry, Phoenix," her green eyes were clouded with worry. "We really didn't have a choice."

"You didn't answer me," he stepped nearer, glowering. "Which one of you killed me?"

"Enough dramatics!" Marcus moved between them and grabbed his shoulder with an iron grip. "We did what we thought was the right thing at the time. We still think it was the right thing. We're in Heron's house in Alexandria, it's only one day later and you're perfectly healthy. We still have time to complete the quest before the death of the moon - which is probably tonight, by the way. If we'd tried to cure you we would have been here for weeks or months at least and still might not have succeeded. It doesn't matter who wielded the knife."

Phoenix looked at him coldly and pushed his hands aside. "It matters to me. I need to know who I can trust."

Without a backward look, he strode from the room, out into the blazing sunshine of Alexandria. For a moment, he was blinded as light reflected off the four walls of a courtyard. His room opened out onto it, as did many others. Angry momentum carried him into the centre of the open s.p.a.ce before he had time to look around. Three sides of the yard seemed to be part of a large, white-walled house; the fourth some sort of entranceway. The floor boasted a huge, intricate mosaic of tiles in geometric patterns. All around were large potted plants and stone benches.

Behind, Jade called his name. The sound triggered a renewed surge of fury. He had to get away and think. With his hand on Blodbal's hilt, he felt its rea.s.suring strength rush into him. It fuelled his anger at his friends and he almost ran toward the barred entranceway door. Shoving aside a curious servant, Phoenix pushed up the bar and opened the door.

Heron's house fronted onto a ma.s.sive, open, paved public square. In its centre, an ornately carved stone fountain burbled gently at the base of a huge stone column. All around the square were brightly coloured market tents and stalls. Dozens of people moved among them; chattering and inspecting food and wares for sale. Most were clad in the toga and tunic of the Roman citizen, showing this to be a very Roman section of Alexandria.

On either side of Heron's house, a cobbled street stretched away to the east and west. It was lined with houses of similar, Roman design. Phoenix turned east at random and began walking. He picked up the pace to a jog as his limbs regained strength. When he heard his name called again, he broke into a run without looking back.

"Should I follow him?" Brynn asked Jade, frowning after Phoenix's retreating figure.

"Do you think you can do it without him seeing?" she responded, worried. Waves of anger were almost visible in his wake. She'd known he wouldn't be happy, but she hadn't expected such an extreme reaction.

"Absolutely," Brynn replied with determination. She nodded and the boy took off, sprinting to keep Phoenix in sight.

She sank down on a bench outside the front door, shaking with reaction. Even with a full night's rest, she wasn't yet recovered after curing Phoenix. Cleansing his body of poison had been easier without his life force fighting her for control of his body, but it was still draining. To make things worse, her sleep had been disturbed by nightmarish images of the Temple of Set burning and the gold-faced High Priest cursing them. She shivered, hoping fervently that they would never encounter him again.

"Will you be alright here?" Marcus looked up the street in the direction Phoenix and Brynn had gone.

"I'll be fine," she a.s.sured him. "I need to restock my herb supply and Heron's anxious to show me his workshop when he gets back. You go after them. I'm worried about Brynn, too."

Marcus answered with distracted curiosity. "Where has our host gone?"

"He said something about reporting to the Proconsul of Rome about his mission to Memphis," Jade shrugged.

"Do you think he'll mention us?" He frowned, apparently troubled by the thought. She realised the last thing he would want was a Roman governor who might recognise him or remember his father.

She shook her head. "I don't think so. I asked him not to and he seems trustworthy enough. I hope. We don't have much choice at the moment, anyway."

"Go back inside and rest, then," Marcus ordered. "I'll follow the others and bring them back as soon as Phoenix has cooled down." He ran two steps then stopped and looked back.

"You did put that illusion spell on Brynn and Phoenix, didn't you? Zhudai can't Fa.r.s.ee us, can he?"

"No, he can't," she a.s.sured him. "It was the first thing I did when we got onto Heron's barge. Promise."

He nodded and took off. The sound of his sandals. .h.i.tting the cobblestones echoed sharply back from the walls. Jade sat for a few moments, soaking in the afternoon sun. Eventually, feeling stronger, she tried to put Phoenix out of her head and went inside to consult with the housekeeper about replenishing her herb bag and their food supplies.

Phoenix ran out of breath and strength almost before he ran out of sight of Heron's house. This was the worst death ever. He'd never felt so weak after being killed. Slowing to a walk, he put a hand to his stomach, pressing against a st.i.tch here. Beneath his fingers, he felt the hard line of scartissue. Poison blade! Poison was the weapon of cowards too afraid to fight with only their skill and a clean blade.

He followed the street until it intersected with one going south. Still moving at random, he turned and kept walking, beginning to take an interest in his surroundings. The streets were wide and regularly laid-out in a grid pattern. It was a well-planned city and this area seemed affluent and clean. All the houses appeared similar to Heron's a three-sided, two-storied affair with a front wall. He could hear children playing in the courtyards inside.

Children. Sometimes he felt little more than a child, himself. He was, really. He'd started this character as an alter ego a strongman who could cope with more than his own, 13 year old real life body could. Since he couldn't stand up to his stepfather, Jacob, in the real world, he'd just wanted somewhere he could at least pretend he was invincible. Now it was clear that he wasn't good enough in this form, either. How could he possibly handle two, even harder, levels of this game? He flexed his arm, feeling the muscles move. His warrior body was strong, but obviously not strong enough if he'd been killed by poison.

No! Not the poison; by his own friends! The people he was supposed to trust; the people he had come to trust. They were as bad as Jacob always telling him what to do; never listening. It was pretty obvious they didn't really care about him. Jade just needed him and his sword arm to get her home. Brynn wanted treasure and Marcus just wanted revenge against Zhudai.

Phoenix kicked savagely at a loose stone in the street. It ricocheted off a wall and skittered up the cobblestones. A pa.s.sing servant gave him a scared glance and hurried away. Turning west into another cross-street Phoenix kept going, lost in a maze of anger and self-doubt.

This street opened out onto a large square full of tents and people. He stared in confusion before realised he'd come in a big loop and now stood in the market square outside of Heron's house.

He wasn't ready to go back yet. With one hand laid on the hilt of his sword, he pushed moodily through the crowds, ignoring outraged protests and whispered comments. Shoving his way past hawkers and customers alike, he strode into the centre of the square.

The peaceful burbling of the fountain appealed. He was hot and already tired. Sitting on the stone edge, he gazed into the murky water and wished for a drink. He didn't have any money on him to buy one. Reaching down, he cupped a handful and rubbed it over his head. At least it helped cool him a little. Shaking his head like a dog sent sparkling drops of water spraying in all directions.

Sighing, Phoenix sc.r.a.ped his long hair back from his face and gazed around at the busy scene before him. The sun sank lower in the sky behind him, sending long shadows sliding up the walls of the surrounding houses.

Shadows. The significance of what he was seeing finally sank in. He focussed on one, very long shadow that outstripped the others. One very long, pointy shadow. Skewing around, he squinted up at the stone column arising from the centre of the fountain.

It was an obelisk. An obelisk covered in Egyptian hieroglyphs. An obelisk, covered in hieroglyphs, right outside Heron's house. The Obelisk of Anuket.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

"Marcus! Where are you!"

Jade hurried out of the kitchens at the sound of Phoenix's excited yell. At least he didn't sound angry any more. When she got to the courtyard, he was there, still hollering. He saw her and ran over.

"Where's Marcus with the hammer. I've found the tekhen the obelisk of Anuket!" His blue eyes sparkled with antic.i.p.ation.

"I'm here," Marcus' steady voice sounded from behind him and Phoenix spun to face Marcus and Brynn as they came into the courtyard through the outer door. Jade held her breath, hoping he wouldn't take offence at being followed. He didn't even seem to notice.

"C'mon," Phoenix urged. "The obelisk is right out front. We can destroy it now, release Anuket and finish this quest." Dragging Marcus and Brynn by the arms, he jerked his head at Jade. Together they all went out and stared at the towering monument that dominated the square.

"That's it?" Marcus asked. Phoenix nodded, grinning.

"In the Temple of Set, Heron mentioned it was in front of his house. That's why we agreed to take him with us." He slapped Marcus on the shoulder and gave him a shove. "Get that hammer out and start pounding."

Jade, Marcus and Brynn exchanged glances then looked around at the busy marketplace. None of them wanted to burst Phoenix's bubble, but it had to be done.

"Ummm," she began. "Maybe I should read the hieroglyphs to make sure and then we could wait until dark when there's not so many people around. Someone might get hurt by the falling rock."

The darkness came into Phoenix's eyes again and he glowered at her. "So you're worried about killing one of them, but not me, huh?"

"That's not fair," she said, trying to keep him calm. He really was acting strangely. Maybe she hadn't got all the poison out of him; maybe it was affecting his mind. Stretching out a hand, she moved to touch his head, thinking to try and sense the presence of a toxin. He jerked back, batting her fingers away with a growl. He laid a hand on Blodbal and half-drew it out. Jade backed up, staring at him in disbelief.

For several tense moments, he glared at his three friends as though they were mortal enemies. n.o.body moved. Then Phoenix seemed to fold in on himself. His eyes rolled up and he crumpled to the ground in a dead faint.

Jade hurried forward to check his vital signs.

"What happened?" Brynn stared down at the fallen warrior, worry and regret pinching his face.

She pursed her lips. "Sleep Command." She touched the pulse at the base of his throat. "He'll be out for an hour or so, I'd say. He was still tired anyway."

Marcus raised sceptical brows but said nothing as he stooped to slide his hands beneath Phoenix's shoulders.

"He's not going to be happy when he wakes up," Brynn grabbed Phoenix around the stomach.

"Can't be much worse than he already is," she grimaced, gathering up his legs.

Together the three managed to get him back into Heron's house and into bed. They stood over him, examining his peaceful expression. Jade touched a hand to his forehead, frowning in concentration. There were no toxins in his system at all.

"He's being really weird, isn't he?" Brynn broke the silence at last.

"I don't know what's got into him," she shook her head.

Marcus raised one dark brow. "Being killed by us seems to be playing on his mind. In fact, he doesn't seem to like being killed at all."

"Who does?" she shrugged, "but it's more than that. Something is exaggerating his anger; making it worse."

As one the three companions looked at the magic sword that lay sheathed by their friends' side. When the king of the Svear people had given Blodbal to Phoenix, he'd warned them of its power. Its name meant 'blood-fire', the berserker rage that sometimes engulfed Norse warriors of legend. Could it be having an effect on Phoenix?

"We could take it off him?" Brynn suggested.

Jade sent him a sceptical look. "You think he'll be unhappy when he wakes up and realises I Commanded him? Just imagine what he'd be like if he woke up and Blodbal was gone." She snorted, looking at the sword. "Besides, it makes his fighting awesomely good. We can't afford him to be less than brilliant as a swordsman. We'll just have to keep a close eye on him. In the mean time, we should get packed again, in case we have to leave in a hurry after we destroy the tekhen."

A disturbance in the courtyard interrupted their low conversation. They closed the door on Phoenix's room and went out to see what was happening. Heron had returned from the Proconsul's palace and hurried toward them, smiling. He had bathed and changed into a clean tunic and toga. His white beard and hair were neatly trimmed and his looked like a different man after a feed and a decent night's sleep in his own bed.

"Right!" He exclaimed. "That's over and done with. How's our patient doing?"

Jade stepped in his way as he tried to get to Phoenix's door. "He's still weak, but he'll be fine. He just needs some more sleep. Say, weren't you going to show me your workshop? I'd so love to see your inventions." She took the old man by the elbow and turned him around.