---
They stopped in front of Sekhmet. They stared. Then all three spoke at once.
"You're alive!"
"You're taller!"
"You look like you fought a god!"
"You smell like—"
Sekhmet raised a hand quickly.
"Stop," he said, voice firm.
They froze.
Bat Bat puffed up.
"Obey master," it whispered loudly.
Sekhmet glared at Bat Bat.
The servant with flour on her cheek stepped closer, eyes wide and watery.
"Lord Sekhmet," she said, voice trembling. "We thought you were dead. There were rumors. So many rumors."
Sekhmet's jaw tightened.
"Rumors," he repeated.
The broom girl nodded rapidly.
"They said you married a demon in purgatory," she blurted.
Sekhmet blinked.
"What."
The tray girl added with deadly seriousness, "They said you fought a shadow beast with your bare hands and ate its heart."
Sekhmet stared.
"Why does everyone in this city assume eating things is a personality trait," he muttered.
Bat Bat perked up.
"Eating good," it said.
Sekhmet sighed.
