Page 47 of Sobek’s Joy

“I am Horus.” The man said it like he expected trumpets. “King of Egypt.”

“Ah.” Rudy relaxed slightly. “Sobek mentioned you as one of his kin that he spoke to at times. You’re a sort of cousin, aren’t you?”

Horus’s expression soured. “What else did Sobek tell you about me?”

“Nothing much.” Which was true. Rudy had learned a bit about Sobek’s family since they’d claimed each other, but honestly between the kids, the house and everything else, learning family histories wasn’t high on the list of priorities.

“He had to have said something. I’m a very important person in our pantheon.”

“Fine, if you must know, he told me you have a beef with one of the other members of your pantheon - Seth, I think he said - and that all stemmed from the fact you won your kingly position by cheating.”

The god’s face turned an impressive shade of red. “I did not cheat.”

“He literally told me you cheated.” Rudy crossed his arms. “What are you doing here anyway? Sobek is out buying groceries.”

“Pfft…running errands like a mortal when he has the powers to fill the cupboards a hundred times over.”

“We like to do things the mortal way in this house.”

“No matter.” Horus waved dismissively. “I sensed a new claiming in the family and came to investigate. Word travels fast among the ancient gods.”

“So you just decided to appear in my living room?”

“Yes.” Horus looked around again, his nose wrinkling. “Is this where you live?”

“No, I just come here to do laundry for fun.” Rudy gestured at the laundry basket. “Of course, this is where I live.”

Timothy giggled, and Jack tried to hide his smile behind his hand. Rose bounced on her toes, completely unafraid.

“You’re very shiny,” she announced.

Horus’s expression softened slightly. “Thank you, small one. I am the king of Egypt, after all. Shininess is expected.”

“Were you really a king?” Jack asked, edging closer.

“I was. I am.” Horus straightened, clearly warming to his favorite subject. “I defeated Seth in single combat for the throne of Egypt and have ruled…”

“You cheated, though,” Rudy interrupted. “In the contest. I do remember that. I learned about it in school.”

Horus’s jaw dropped. “I did not cheat. I simply...used strategic advantages available to me at the time.”

“That’s literally what cheating is.” Rudy picked up a shirt from the basket and folded it. “Own it.”

“I will not own something I didn’t do.”

“Can you make things appear?” Rose tugged on Horus’s gold tracksuit pants. “Sobek can make things appear. He made pancakes appear this morning without cooking them.”

Horus glanced down at her, his expression one of someone who really hadn’t had a lot to do with children. “Of course, I can make things appear. I’m a god.”

“Can you make me a gold crown? Like yours?” Rose pointed at the air above Horus’s head where, Rudy now noticed, a faint shimmer suggested an invisible crown.

“A tiara,” Rose amended. “A proper one, not plastic, but a real gold one with sparkles.”

Horus snapped his fingers. A delicate golden tiara materialized, studded with what looked like actual diamonds. He placed it carefully on Rose’s dark curls.

Her eyes went huge. “It’s beautiful.”

“Of course it is.” Horus sniffed. “I don’t do anything halfway.”