They emerged from the castle, but Silver quickly noticed they weren't heading for the docks. "Where are we going?"
Celestia smiled gently. "We've been quite busy today while you were... resting."
Aila and Shei both looked reserved and hesitant, and Silver picked up on it swiftly. "Did something happen?"
Aila snorted softly. "You should know. It is your fault."
Shei nudged against Aila before advancing on Silver. "She's saying it very harshly, but she's not wrong. You're taking us away, so we're selling the inn."
Aila stomped a hoof. "And the money is ours. You may own our services, but you can't have that."
Silver turned to Aila and nodded lightly. "You deserve every bit from your inn. Just remember that you are mine."
Aila shuddered softly at his forceful words, and fell back in line with her sister, seemingly mollified for the moment.
Silver spoke lightly to Celestia as he walked, "I realized that half the problem is of my own making. Since the center's been relocated back there, any magic I want to get to my horn has to fight through the break. I should get some of my magic back once I'm healed, so I'm going to just... relax, and let that happen."
Celestia nodded lightly. "I understand what you were trying to do. If it had worked, it would have been very clever." She smiled gently. "But we won't know until afterwards, right? Let's look forward to the future, and be more mindful. I understand you're out of sorts right now, and I can't blame you." One of her wings reached out and she pulled Silver into a soft embrace, squeezing him. "You helped me get through my... difficult time. I will return the favor."
Silver warmed at her words and pressed back against her. Soon they arrived to find three people standing in front. Two cats and another Saddle Arabian.
Aila advanced with an unsure smile. "Alright, is this everyone?"
The male cat nodded. "The price you asked for was on the higher end. You're fortunate I'm feeling generous."
The horse gestured with a hoof towards the building. "I find the decorations tasteful and would be delighted to make something of it."
The female cat buffed her claws on her chest. "You'll do no better than these mares. Sell it to me and I'll at least see it's put to good use."
Aila shook her head. "You read our conditions, yes?"
The horse bobbed his head. "We all want the building to stand as it is. I will begin the bidding at 50 bits."
The expression on Aila's face made it clear that 50 bits was not an impressive amount. Fortunately, she didn't have to bear it for long as the bid raised to 60, then 75 quickly enough.
Shei stepped forward. "The building is right beside a major street, and so close to the docks. You can easily draw customers. Why, that's how we got these two honored guests to stay here."
The three looked over at Silver and Celestia, then the bid raised to 100. Silver got an idea. Making sure his red cloak was ready to conceal the side effects of his chicanery, he quietly began to release his energy, getting warm and lusty while slowly clouding the air around himself in the invisible mind-altering soup.
Celestia seemed to notice it almost immediately, giving Silver a look but keeping silent. When the cloud reached far enough to start getting in the noses of the bidders, they started getting distracted. Silver watched for their expressions to become less focused and he smiled at them. "Now I'm no expert in real estate, I admit, but this portion of town seems to draw the most... attractive cats." The three looked around, and those they saw did look... appealing to their slightly addled minds. The bid raised higher as inhibitions dropped and lust rose. In the end the she-cat was shouting at the horse.
"I'll pay 400 and not a bit more. Stop trying to outbid me you stupid equine! You think you can just get what you want by waving that big horse penis in my face?"
"You're one to speak, madame. I was told felines enter rut like any base animal, but I never thought I'd see it for myself."
She went red with fury and hissed at him. "As if you horses are any better!? You couldn't even try to satisfy me. I bet you're all talk."
He pressed against her, face-to-face. "Is that a challenge, madame? I'm saving myself for marriage."
The cat snorted. "Maybe it is!"
The other cat had backed off when the bidding reached around 300, leaving Aila looking back and forth between the two, also a bit muddled, but trying to keep herself composed. "We don't have to fight. Please, let's be civil about this."
The horse shoved the cat, "Maybe I accept!" He moved in and soon the two were kissing quite passionately. Silver wasn't sure, but he thought he heard a marriage proposal and its acceptance. He wondered if he had created the thought or just brought it out, but the scope of the power of his drug seemed... frightening.
The two didn't move past sloppy kisses before they sat up and looked to Aila. "We'll take it, 500, split between us."
Aila raised a hoof. "Going once, going twice, sold!"
Bags of bits were surrendered, and the deed exchanged hooves and paws. Aila and Shei held the deed together a moment quietly before they passed it forward to the new owners. Shei smiled sadly. "Please take care of it." And that was that.
Shei turned to Aila. "I want a moment, please." She trotted over to the sold building and rested her head against the smooth wall of it.
Aila joined her, speaking in hushed tone, "I'll miss it too, Shei."
Shei nodded into the building before rising up, forcing a smile despite the tears. "Our master awaits us. It's... for the best, right?"
The group set out as a whole for the docks. Celestia bumped against Silver. "That was very heavy-hoofed of you. I thought you valued personal agency more than that."
Silver darkened at the accusation. "I didn't think it would be... that effective."
Shei and Aila quickly joined the conversation, Shei asking, "You did that?"
Aila nodded. "How? Tell us, please."
Silver explained how he could cloud judgment and encourage lust with his pheromones, and how his magic was basically wired. Shei nuzzled up under his cloak just long enough to see he was trotting at full mast. "I... See. You've developed a very curious, and powerful, magic, master."
Aila rolled her eyes. "Just don't think you can drug me into rolling over and playing nice with you."
Silver leaned over and bit at one of Aila's ears lightly. "I'll take what I want from you directly, without drugs to cheat with."
Aila smiled and bit back at him before nuzzling into his cheek. Despite her words, she was clearly affected by the fog from before, and was being affectionate. Silver didn't push what felt like an unfair advantage, gently returning the nuzzle before turning away and resuming their journey to the docks.
Despite the excitement that had followed them through the city, no harm had befallen their ship, and it bobbed peacefully in the bay, awaiting their approach. As they boarded, a pony in golden armor hurriedly rushed to Celestia. "The cats want to inspect and begin repairs on the boat. They say you've paid for it in advance? We didn't want to agree without your direct leave, your majesty."
Celestia tapped the boat with a hoof. "Do you think we're fit and ready to reach Saddle Arabia?"
He scuffled a hoof. "We should be fine, but It... The sea monsters did do some surface damage, and when there are fell creatures involved, sometimes the rot runs deep."
Celestia nodded. "Then let them get to work. I did pay for it. These two are servants of Prince Silver Stars, and should be treated with proper respect."
The guard turned to Shei and Aila, blinking. "Uh, yes, your majesty. I'll inform everypony at once. Will they require their own quarters?"
Celestia raised a brow. "That might be best. We don't want the Prince getting ideas."
Silver frowned a little, blushing in his cheeks. "Why would they distract me when I have the sun to gaze on?"
Celestia burst into laughter. "Oh, you flatterer. Still, my decision stands. See they have their own room, but they have permission to go as they please."
The guard led the two away even as he shouted things to the other guards. The ship's activity clearly picked up, only to redouble as word got out and cats started coming aboard to start repairs and upkeep on the vessel. Celestia pointed at Silver's box, peeking out of his saddle bag as it was. "I'm surprised you've held out this long from peeking."
Reminded of its existence, he reached for it with his magic, only to end up in the increasingly familiar state of stiffness. "Ugh... Can you open it for me?"
Celestia's horn glowed a soft golden as the box lifted out of Silver's bag and floated before him. The delicate ribbon was pulled open quietly before the box popped open, revealing a book. Silver tilted his head. "I'm... surprised." Celestia took hold of the book in her magic and set it before Silver.
"A potentially thoughtful gift," said Celestia as she opened the book. "We'll have time for you to discover the meaning of it. I admit I feared she would give you another... interesting... artifact to undo the harm of the first."
Silver nodded. "I'll admit, I thought it might be that too. Nothing wrong with the book though." He leaned in, peering into the book curiously. With some work he figured out how to turn the pages with his hooves alone with careful manipulation. The book seemed to be of ancient myths and fables of the nation, with a bookmark having a story about the creation of the baastians. "Ah! It's the origin story of my... gift. This might be useful, or at least distracting reading."
Celestia settled beside Silver. "I want to keep an eye on things up here, so if you don't mind, I'll sit here with you."
Silver did not mind, and gently snuggled against Celestia as his eyes swept back and forth over the words. The original feline was not given the artifact as punishment or gift, but rather found it in a forgotten place. The true 'curse' of the item was that it wanted to be worn, and subtly encouraged the owner to do just that.
Silver sat up with a frown. "I don't think Amenti was entirely aware of what she was doing."
Celestia tilted her head. "Of course she wasn't."
"No no." Silver waved a hoof. "Whoever gave her the bracelet probably knew she'd eventually be overcome with the urge to get it on someone, and I was the most likely target."
Celestia leaned in over Silver to peek at the book. "I wasn't aware it did that. Hmm, perhaps I should have been a little more forgiving, that is, if that book speaks the truth and isn't made to make her look better."
Silver sniffed at the book and its old scent, and looked over its weathered pages. "If she had it made up, they did a really good job with it. It looks old."
Celestia neither fought or supported the statement. Silver saw nothing to be gained in it, just quietly hoping Amenti would do well without them. Soon they would be out to sea and leave Anugypt and its troubles behind.