In Chapter 5, Carter says his dad once told him that “the right choice is hardly ever the easy choice” (74). The characters of The Throne of Fire find themselves faced with many choices, and the most difficult ones often have the greatest impact. Through Bes’s choice to sacrifice himself for the Kanes, Carter’s choice to put Zia ahead of the mission, and Walt’s choice to fight despite his worsening condition, the novel shows that choices can be difficult, even when they seem right.

In Chapter 21, Carter, Sadie, and Bes play senet against Khonsu to win three hours of time—enough to enter and get through the Eighth House. Bes dislikes Khonsu because the moon god is known for his deception, and Bes knows that there’s no way Khonsu would permit all three of them to make it through the game. Understanding the importance of Carter and Sadie’s success, Bes sacrifices himself because he believes the battle against chaos is more important than his existence. On top of that, since meeting the Kanes, Bes has felt like he found family. While at first he only aided them as a favor to Bast, whom he loves, by the time they get to Khonsu’s game, Bes has come to value the siblings’ lives over his own.