He listened to traders talk about a lion tribe that had become stronger.
He listened to poachers complain about a pregnant goddess who had ruined their plans.
Sometimes he went deeper, toward places where only those who knew about hidden gates could pass.
He visited his own secret city, a place where dark stone towers rose among river mist, where souls and strange beasts moved under the watch of carved jackal statues.
Here, in the land connected to Anubis, he was no longer a playful, shameless male chasing after a stubborn female. Here, he was a prince, a ruler of shadows.
Reports waited for him.
"Divine movement has increased," one of his agents told him. "Strange beasts from the higher realm are leaking into mortal grounds more often. Some seem drawn to the same region you are in."
Zyran frowned.
"That region has my woman in it," he thought.
Aloud, he said, "Watch them. Do not let them get too close. If the divine realm wants to look down, let them look at me first."
