Beneath the starry sky Will had been gazing up at.
Mount Catherine, Sinai, Egypt.
At the mouth of a Cave tucked between cliffs cleverly hidden by magic.
An elite team drawn from two groups stood at attention before the entrance. A strange, clammy smell hung in the air, leaving everyone uneasy.
On the left were the official Curse-Breakers and Aurors of the Egyptian Wizards' Council. They wore matching sand-colored robes bearing the Scarab and Eye of Horus emblems, their expressions grave.
Their leader was a gaunt old Wizard named Kassem. His wrinkles spoke of years spent dealing with ancient curses and vicious criminals. His hawklike eyes were fixed on the nearly invisible black mist seeping from the cave.
"The curse's presence is already spreading," Kassem said, his voice dry and heavy. He held something like a compass, set with an irregular black-and-red stone. "It's bigger than we expected. Akri and those fools..."
The lead Auror was powerfully built and brisk in his movements. He said quietly, "Remember our primary task: help the Curse-Breakers establish a cordon and stop the curse from spreading. Our secondary task is to bring Akori, the traitor who robbed Ramesses II's tomb, back to the council for trial. Keep your priorities straight. Understood?"
The Aurors nodded. Some glanced toward the Gringotts Curse-Breakers on the right.
The Gringotts team dressed for practicality, in Dragon Hide protective gear and utility belts hung with all manner of detection and defensive Alchemical Items.
The Gringotts Leader was speaking rapidly with a council Curse-Breaker. "Those people might already be laying curses in there. Do we really have to go in?"
The council Curse-Breaker glanced at the gaunt Kassem. "It's our responsibility. You can guard the perimeter, but we have to go in ourselves. This is exactly what the council's Curse-Breakers are