Imhotep - Destiny Lost

But the world had turned, many times, since he had been cast out from his place of power, and now the time had come when he could finally redeem himself. And it surprised him not that the astrolabe would be the instrument of his deliverance. Like a map it would guide him back to his appointed destiny, like a map it had given him the key to finally escaping the prison of the Southern Caves. Though it had once led him astray, the astrolabe would now lead him back to where he belonged. Back to the nation he once ruled. And he would rule again. Of that he solemnly swore.

Imhotep stepped away from the occult device. The astral alignments, the planetary conjunctions, that swept along the razor fine edges of the bronze rings left him with no doubt. The time to act had come. And after all the years of waiting the ancient magician was ready to break free of the Dragon's odious spells and reclaim his rightful destiny. The wizard reached out toward a small gong and struck it three times. Immediately three shrouded forms walked in procession into the room.

Of all his servants these three were the mightiest. Two he had brought with him when he fled from the destruction of his home. They were old and worn, though still dangerous. The third was Paulito; fresh, his wrappings white and clean. Each had once been noble, masterful, superior to those around them. But now each of them was a monstrous parody of humanity, a mindless slave to the dictates of an inhuman sorcerer.

Imhotep gazed at them and smiled. He always smiled when he looked upon his slaves, but especially so when he was in the company of the two age old mummies. They had been with him since the beginning of his exile, since when he was forced to flee from his home so long ago. They were his most endearing subjects though this had not always been the case. They had suffered much in his employ, over the years of their entrapment in the Dragon's caves. They had done battle many times in Imhotep's name. The Dragon's Caves were a most inhospitable place. The first mummy was torn and ragged, his left arm held in a tattered sling across his chest. The second was emaciated, his exposed skin crumbling like sand. They had suffered much because of Imhotep, these two Living Mummies, and the sorcerer was happy for it. For once upon a time they had been living Men, once upon a time they had each been entrusted with great power and given authority by Imhotep himself, and once upon a time they had both betrayed that trust and had set in motion the events which had led to his one and only defeat.

"So," Imhotep spoke to them. "You have each been fed with the tana leaf. You are ready to go out and do my bidding. Listen carefully. Each of you will be accompanied by a force of men. You are to search the passages and caverns that surround us. You are looking for a woman. I do not know what she looks like or her name or from where she comes. But she is here. Now. You must find her. GO."

The three mummies turned and left the room. With armed men at their heels they each passed out into the maze of the Dragon's Caves. He who was once Kharis went off toward the right, he who was once Ramseht went off toward the left and he who was once Paulito went straight on.

Imhotep sat back on his throne and waited for their return. He betrayed no hint of impatience. After 3000 years of captivity within the Southern Caves, a few more hours were meaningless to him.

1. searching the passageways...

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