"Yugi!" Yami shouted and started towards her, but Atem grabbed his shoulders and nodded towards Jumoke, Joey for short, the guard who'd brought them in. Yami's eyebrows scrunched together. Joey knew Yugi. What was he doing embarrassing her like this?
Joey spoke up addressing the pharaoh. "I found these two at the south servant's entrance my lord. I believe one of them is the servant Yugi, who disappeared last week." He looked at the girl. She'd been a friend on his, one of his best friends, and he hadn't been happy with her when he'd looked everywhere in the palace and hadn't found her. She had better have a good reason for her disappearance.
The pharaoh leaned forward in his throne. "Tell me Yugi, why did you leave the royal service without notice?"
"She was threatened, my lord." For the first time, the royals noticed the other girl beside Yugi on the floor.
"Stand up. What is your name?" The Pharaoh asked. He'd never seen this girl before.
"My name is Aziza, My Pharaoh. I am Yugi's older sister."
Hm. Aziza, meaning precious. The Pharaoh commanded, "Explain your earlier remark."
"Yes, My Lord." The girl bowed and said, "Over a week ago, one of the noblemen threatened to hurt Prince Yami if Yugi did not leave the palace within a day. She left and therefore kept the prince from harm. But I do not believe they should be kept apart by such schemes."
The Pharaoh smiled inside. He liked this girl's attitude. But a threat to royalty was a serious matter. "Who was it who issued the threat?" he asked.
"My Lord, it was-" A commotion erupted in the crowd of watching nobles and an arrow struck Aziza in the leg.
Joey ran in the direction of the arrow's path and dragged a hooded and cloaked man out of the crowd. "Your Majesty," he said, "I believe this man was trying to silence the girl."
"Remove his hood at once," commanded the pharaoh. Joey flipped the hood off the man and several in the crowd gasped.
One of the other nobles shouted, "It's Lord Nizsm!" Yami scowled. Ramla's father. He should have known.
The pharaoh stood from his throne. "Jumoke, take Lord Nizsm to the prison cells. We will hold his trial by Millenium item tomorrow. We will see just how deeply the evil behind this plot has grown within him. Isis! Tend to Lady Aziza here as best you can. You may take her to the healing chambers after this matter is resolved."
"Yes, my king," the priestess and healer responded. She ran out onto the open floor and helped Yugi sit the wounded girl down before a servant brought forth a roll of bandages. Atem inspected the girl as the court paused to allow for the treatment of her injury. She wore no makeup and her short white dress was rather plain. Her hair held only two colors, a dark, almost black brown shot through with gold highlights, rather like his lightning bolt streaks. But hers laid flat on her back and shoulders, instead of sticking up in the star shape of her sister that his younger brother so adored. Her eyes, the same brilliant purple as her sister's, watched Isis wrap the bandage around her leg.
One of the servants brought a cushion to elevate the girl's leg to ease the wound and make the girl more comfortable. Once she was settled, the pharaoh resumed his seat and asked, "Was the noble who just left the one who threatened your sister?"
"Yes, My Lord," she answered.
"Very well," he concluded. "Thank you for bringing Yugi back to the palace. Isis, you may take her to the healing chambers now, see that she is well treated. If that is all…" He looked over at Shimon as servants carried the girl out on a stretcher.
The old advisor nodded. "We have finished our business."
"Then we shall adjourn for the day. Come Atem, Yami, Yugi." The royals left the room, followed by Yugi.
She caught up quickly and stuttered out, "I really should go check on my sister, she's-"
"Relax Yugi." Ahknamkanen smiled at the girl. "We're going to see her now."
As they walked towards the healing chambers, Yami slipped his arm around Yugi's shoulders. "I am glad you came back," he whispered into her ear. "I missed you."
Her face went bright red, but she kissed him on the cheek. "I missed you too. Aziza said I wouldn't stop moping."
Yami laughed at that. "Then I suppose I have her to thank for saving me from both my loneliness and Ramla's attempts to court me."
The girl made a face. "How bad was it?"
"Awful." He flinched at the memory. "She wouldn't leave me alone for even a moment! I had to hide in the gardens most of the time."
Yugi giggled at the image of Yami hiding up in a tree while Ramla ran around looking for him right underneath his dangling feet. Then she sobered. "What will happen to her?"
Atem answered the question. "She will be questioned, and if she had knowledge of her father's plot, she will be judged by the millennium items and that will determine her punishment." He looked at Yugi. I should prepare her for the worst, he thought. "The nobles might also demand that your sister be judged, to prove that her testimony is worthy. She will face a similar fate, depending on the outcome of the judgment."
Yugi breathed in sharply. What if Aziza failed the test? Yami pulled her tight against his side. "Don't worry. If your sister is anything like you, her spirit will be as pure as the water of the Nile." He smiled at his little love and she tried to return it, although it came out more like a grimace than a grin. They continued their walk towards the healing chambers.
They turned the corner into the hallway that led off to the rooms where Isis and Aziza would be, and laughter filled their ears. Ahknamkanen chuckled. "I do believe that's Isis. Shall we go see what has so amused her?" Atem and the two lovebirds grinned, the laughter infecting their bad moods. They walked into the healing chambers and saw Isis doubled over one of the beds in a most undignified manner, laughing enough to make the whole room echo with the sound.
"And that's why you should never leave dates on your front porch," Aziza finished.
Isis wiped her eyes and looked up. "I do believe that's the funniest thing I've ever heard. Did Yugi really do that?"
"Yes," grinned Aziza. "But I'm sure it's nothing compared to the stories of what the princes were like when they were little."
"That won't be necessary," said Atem from the doorway. If Isis started talking about the time he tried to grab a crocodile's tail, he'd never hear the end of it.
The pharaoh walked over to where the older of the two sisters was resting. "How is your wound?"
"It's fine, thank you for asking, my Lord." She smiled up at him. Atem noticed how her eyes crinkled when she smiled. "To what do I owe this honor?"
"Your sister wanted to see you, and since Yami was not going to leave her side, I decided to accompany them." The man gestured for Yugi and the princes to draw closer. "I don't believe I've introduced you to my sons. This is Yami, who you probably already know."
Aziza nodded. "Yugi has told me much about you."
"And this is Atem, my oldest." He pushed his son forward to they were close enough to shake hands.
She eyed he crown prince for a moment before respectfully replying, "It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness." She shook the offered hand, shook it, and looked back at the pharaoh. "I hope you don't mind my asking, but what happens now?"
The pharaoh smiled. "Now, you rest. You will be judged in a few days, to make sure your testimony concerning the threat is valid. If you pass the judgment, we will deal with Lord Nizsm accordingly. What happens after that is up for debate."
She smiled. "Then I suppose I'd better heal quickly. Thank you for coming to visit me." She glanced over at her sister. "Would you mind if I talked alone with Prince Yami for a moment?"
Ahknamkanen glanced around the room. Joey was at the door, probably with another guard on the other side. Even if he and Atem left the room, Yami would still be protected. He smiled and said, "of course." The Pharaoh and his older son left the room taking Yugi with them.
Aziza looked at Yami. "May I speak candidly, Your Highness?"
"Of course," answered Yami with a smile.
The smile vanished as Aziza pinned him beneath her gaze. "Ijust watched my sister nearly drown in grief from the idea that you couldn't be together for the past week. That is the only reason I dragged her back here and got an arrow wound for my trouble. If you send her running from the palace again, Ra help me, you will be the one to bring her back, and that's if I decide you deserve a second chance. But first you need to answer a question." She stared him down. "What are your intentions for my sister?"
He gulped. "Not to hurt her. You have to believe me, I had no idea what was going on."
She let a small smile onto her face. "I believe you about that. But still, what do you intend for her? I will not allow you to keep her as a mistress-"
"I would never do that!" he roared, towering to his feet.
She smiled at his vehement rebuttal. "Good. Then you intend to marry her, should the laws allow it?"
"Yes, of course. I just need to find the proper loophole." She smiled. This would work out very well indeed.
She stretched. "Very well, you may continue to court my sister. If you hurt her…"
"I won't."
"Good. You can return to your family now." He walked out of the healing rooms.
Atem looked at his brother. "What did she say?"
"Nothing," answered Yami as he practically bounced over to Yugi.
"Nothing." He raised his eyebrow at his brother. "Right."
I just found out yesterday that starting Monday, I have a job, so daily updates may not be possible. That said, the amount of people taking an interest in this makes me want to write more! Please continue to read and please drop a review to tell me what you did or didn't like.
