Her problem, as Bast put it, was that people didn't understand Chaos. Neither, it seemed, did the gods. Ahti's viewpoint, misconstrued or not, was that most only saw the immediate result of her actions. Even the Elders seemed to focus too much on the here and now. Too often things went a different way than even she had planned. Fact was, by the time the chaos dwindled, leaving behind the end result, it was all too often chalked up to someone else's ability. Especially if that end result turned out to be a blessing. They never saw that one incident was connected to the other.
A little chaos went a long way toward making a different future. It wasn't always bad. She thought for a moment on the point Bast was trying to make. Did she need the recognition? Did it matter that no one knew what she really did? Yes, it did, dammit!
"Toot away then, dear. Good luck. When Sekhmet or Aset get credit for your protection of the throne, remember what I said. Because it stinks to do something completely brilliant, only to have the mortals think it was someone else. Eventually, when it happens over and over and over, just knowing the truth yourself isn't enough."
Already far overshadowed by the other gods, Ahti's power in this land had dwindled. Not her actual abilities, but her worship, her place in the grand scheme of things had long been jeopardized. She didn't even have one damned temple to call her own.
"When they forget you, as they've forgotten me, maybe then you will understand. Take a little advice from me, sweetie; find your own place, make your mark, and don't give them a chance to ignore you. You'll thank me for it later."
It might seem that Ahti was just trying to take potshots at Bast, but despite her own advantages to such a change, she was being sincere. Because she actually did like Bast, and being forgotten completely sucked. "There is talk, you know. You must have heard it. The day will come when one king will rule them all. It may take decades or even centuries, but a unified land will arise." It must, for Kemet to be the proud land the gods had created. The people longed for a peace like that when Asar was the one true ruler. All it would take was one king, with enough power and greed and will, and the land would once again be joined.
"Where will that leave you when there is only one Pharaoh to protect? How many gods do you think it takes to watch over one man?" Apparently more than Asar had thought, but Ahti wasn't going to remind Bast of that. And looking after a mortal king was a different breed of protection altogether.
"Just think about it. Don't let your future be the same as mine."