Disclaimer: Not mine

Part Two

Pharaoh Atem sat at the foot of his bed, his head in his hands.

It had been a month since the vile tomb robber had first attacked the outer gate of the palace and the city of lower Kehmet was still in the midst of the war that it had brought on, the seventeen year old ruler was at a loss of what to do.

The minute war had been declared the kingdom had immediately been prepared for the oncoming battle, but it seemed that no matter what they did they could not defeat Bakura and his wanton beast, Zorc.

Just then the pharaoh was pulled from his troubled thoughts by a knock on the door to his chamber. Atem groaned, hoping with all his being that it was not his cousin.

"Come in." He said.

At his words the door slowly creaked open to reveal the small form of the palace slave that Atem had met in the gardens. The boys head was bowed as usual as he stepped into the room timidly.

Atem allowed himself to smile softly, he was happy to see the boy and not his nosey priest. In the month since their encounter in the gardens Atem began to get to know the boy better and had found out that once you got past his shyness he was actually quiet affable.

Atem stood up from his bed, "Is there something you need?"

Heba glanced up at the pharaoh quickly, but then looked away.

"Heba, I believe we've talked about this, you may look at me." Atem said slightly annoyed.

Heba looked up and bit his lip.

Atem looked at him curiously, "Is something wrong, Heba?"

"Well…ummm…its nothing-" Heba prevaricated.

Atem gave Heba a look, "Just tell me what it is Heba."

"P-priest Siamun says that I should know my place and not be so naïve as to think that I am your equal." Heba explained sadly.

Atem sighed in frustration why couldn't his esoteric vizier stay out of these kind of things, "Don't listen to anything Siamun tells you Heba, he's so old I'm surprised he can still get around this palace on his own, most of the time now-a-days he doesn't even know what he's saying. So, don't let that bother you."

Heba cocked his head to the side, "Are you sure it's okay?"

Atem smiled, "Yes, of course, I wouldn't want it any other way. I consider you a dear friend Heba. Now is there something you need?"

Heba blinked and looked confused for a moment and then suddenly gasped, "The head guard, Jono, said he needs to speak with you about plans on defeating The Dark God."

Atem groaned at the deliverance of the incumbent task, "Very well, then lead me to him."

Heba nodded, turned around, and walked out the door with Pharaoh Atem on his heals.

After walking down many hallways with lucid torches, taking many sharp turns, and going down a few flights of stairs Heba stopped at a door where he allowed Atem to get in front of him and go through the door first.

Atem strode past the slave and pushed the door open, inside was a large table and sitting at it were his cousin, Seth, the head guard, Jono, his vizier, Siamun, and his must trusted priest, Mahaddo.

As he entered everyone in the room stood and bowed. Atem walked farther into the room and took his seat at the head of the table, after he had done so the others also took their seats.

"Has anyone been able to come up with a plan to defeat Bakura and his monster?" Atem asked the occupants of the room.

Suddenly from the door way Heba cleared his throat and everyone in the room turned to look at him.

Seth stood from his spot and glared at the boy, "What are you doing here? This is a private meeting! It is no place for a lowly slave!"

Heba cowered by the door, at a complete lose of words as he stared at the angry priest.

Atem slammed his hands on the table and also stood glaring at Seth, "I would ask you to be kinder to my slave Seth. Remember that it is I that is pharaoh, not you. Now take a seat."

Seth glared at the teenage king and took his seat.

Atem nodded and then turned to Heba, "Why don't you go to the kitchens and see if you can help with anything for the evening meal?"

Heba nodded swiftly and ran from the room making sure to close the door behind him.

Seeing this Atem turned back to the others, "Now, as we were."

Siamun took this time to speak, "We need to figure out a way to defeat The Dark God, Zorc."

Atem sighed and restrained himself from rolling his eyes, "Yes, Siamun, this has already been stated. Does anyone have an idea?"

"I believe the only way to win this war without losing anymore lives then have already been lost is to summon the great God beasts." Seth said.

The malleable head of the guard nodded in agreement.

Again Atem had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes, "We have gone over this before Seth, none of us have the slightest knowledge of how we would go about summoning such powerful creatures, no one before us has been able to summon them so what makes you think we should be able to do so?"

"I have been doing some research and I have found a text that says only a son of Ptah with a pure heart that has never committed a sin and a shadow has never tempted them can summon the God creatures." Seth explained.

Atem blinked, "You have? But how would we ever find someone who has no sins?"

Mahaddo chose now to give something to the conversation, "I hope it does not anger you pr-ah, but I have already sent troops into the kingdom to judge the souls of the people and find this innocent being. They are being led by Shada."

Atem looked at Mahaddo, "Very well, then let us hope Ra finds us tenable, and grants us the power of these mighty creatures."