Chapter IV: The Larcenist

Bakura and Meskhenet rode on horses among the caravan. The people were nice enough to let them tag along. They were headed south just like Bakura and Meskhenet, but much further south than Beni Suef. Bakura and Meskhenet didn't talk about it, but once the caravan passed into Beni Suef, Meskhenet would find her way home and Bakura would probably continue on with the caravan to wherever he was headed. Somehow, it hurt Meskhenet to think about it. She hadn't known him for very long and still knew nothing about him, but he was the closest thing she had to a friend besides her sheep and she liked his company.

"You children are lucky, the desert isn't kind to many people," a man in fine clothes said. He seemed to be a jolly man and one of the leaders of the caravan. He told them he was a merchant and that he spent all his time travelling through Egypt and even below Egypt. "Where are your parents?"

"Oh, I got lost but my farm isn't far from Beni Suef. If I get there, I know someone will take me back to my farm," Meskhenet looked back at Bakura. He was gazing back at some other man who was probably a teenager. He held the bag filled with gold close. "That's my friend back there; I don't know where he's headed…"

The man laughed. "If you follow the Nile River, it will take you straight to Beni Suef," she remembered Momma used to tell her that the Nile was the way home. He looked at Bakura. "He has very unusual hair."

"Really? I like it. Who is that back there?" she asked, referring to the teenage boy. He was wearing a turban and a blue robe and light tan shendyt.

"Hmm? He too is a wanderer. He says he is headed south towards Thebes." Meskhenet didn't know much about the other towns of Egypt, but Thebes was the capital of the Egypt. It was well off compared to many of the other towns north of it. What business did he have there?

"By the way, what's that strange creature?" she pointed to the humped creature ahead of her.

"That is a camel."

"I have never heard of such a creature."

"We bought them from a breeder in Tanis; they had some lovely horses and much good merchandise."

"Father told me the Queen came from Tanis and was the elder daughter of breeders."

"Oooh, if it is the same breeders, I should be honored," the man seemed pleased to hear of this. Meskhenet slowed her horse down so that it walked side by side with Bakura's. He looked at her and smiled.

"It's good to finally be off our feet," he said. She nodded. He looked back at the teenage boy. "Does he look familiar?"

She looked at the teenage boy; he apparently noticed all the glances. He smiled at her, but it sent shivers down her spine. Something about him seemed odd. "No, but he seems kind of creepy."

"I think he was the same person who the soldiers were chasing back at Mn Nefer."

"Oh, really?"

"He's a thief. Watch out," she thought it was rather odd of him saying that since he was a thief. She wondered if she should ask him about his destination, but she was afraid that perhaps he forgot and that if she brought it up, he'd remember. Maybe he'd come back with her to her farm if he didn't remember. "Are you okay?"

"Oh! Yes, um… nothing," she smiled. He didn't look convinced but said nothing. The caravan slowly got closer towards the Nile River and the desert area changed drastically. The golden sand slowly gave way to soil and greenery. Trees were cluttered in some areas and grass grew here and there with patches of dirt scattered around. You could hear the river as well, glittering blue and sparkling in the sunlight. This reminded Meskhenet of her home and she was grateful for the cool breeze that followed.

The caravan stopped so the horses and camels could drink and eat. Some of the other people began to fill their jars with water. Whatever children were there began to play while the adults chatted with each other. Meskhenet descended her horse. Bakura had taken his horse for a drink. She looked over at the other children and decided to try and talk to them. The children were laughing and playing tag, some were running around the camels and others playing with the dogs of the caravan.

"Um…" Meskhenet said, some of the children stopped playing and looked at her. She felt embarrassed at how quiet it got. "Hello."

"Where are you from?" a boy asked, he was about Bakura's height with black hair.

"I'm from outside of Beni Suef."

"Oh, you're one of the three travelers that joined us," a girl with dark brown hair said. Most of the children were dressed pretty simply, but some had gold jewelry or other colored clothing.

"You're a peasant, aren't you? And that boy too," the black haired boy said with an air of superiority.

It sounded rather unpleasant the way he said it, but yes, she was a peasant. "I'm a farmer—well, my family is."

"Hmph, farmers are practically slaves." How rude! Meskhenet wanted to slap the boy for saying that. Slaves were war criminals and farmers were people who grew crops so people like him could eat! She had land and property, she was no slave.

"Tasmeem, stop being so rude," an older girl said. She shook her head at the boy. "I apologize for his attitude." The girl was very pretty with light brown hair, cascading down her shoulders. She wore a simple dress with a single golden belt around her waist. Her eyes were the color of water.

"But he's right! They do the same amount of work as slaves do," the girl with dark brown hair said. The older girl glared at the brown haired one.

"There is a fine line between saying the truth and being rude about it. If you cannot say anything nice or wish not to speak with her, please feel free to leave," the black haired boy, Tasmeem and some of the other children took off to play elsewhere, but many of the younger children stayed with the older girl. "Again, I apologize."

Meskhenet frowned. She really didn't like the world. She wished she had never left her farm. "No, I mean, they are right… I guess we work the same as slaves."

"No. Do not let people talk down to you. You may not be a merchant's daughter, but you are not a slave and if be you were, it still would not be nice for people to talk to you that way," the girl bent down to meet Meskhenet's eye. "I am Anya and you are?"

"Meskhenet," Anya smiled at her. She was really kind and reminded Meskhenet of her mother.

"You have the same name as the goddess of childbirth," Anya giggled. "Welcome to our caravan. Is that your friend over there?"

She nodded towards Bakura who was washing his face in the river. "Yes…" maybe she should stop telling herself that, it probably would hurt less if she acted like he was just a thief boy. It still hurt to think of them parting ways.

"Is something wrong?"

"I think we're going to stop seeing each other when we reach Beni Suef. I want to go home, but I don't want to say goodbye," Meskhenet sniffled. No, she didn't want to cry. She wiped her eyes. She should stop thinking about it. They were still here and Beni Suef was a ways to go. Anya patted her head.

"Have you told him?"

"No! I—I mean… I don't know if he remembers…"

"And you are not planning on telling him," Anya smiled sadly at her. "Perhaps one day you will see each other again. For now," she helped Meskhenet wipe away the tears. "Enjoy your time together." Meskhenet nodded. Someone called Anya over and she looked backed. "I will be right back."

She left and went over to a man who was unloading the luggage off a camel. Bakura tapped Meskhenet on her shoulder and she turned around surprised. She quickly wiped her eyes some more and sniffled. "Are you alright? Why are you crying?"

"N—nothing, I'm alright," she said, faking a smile.

He merely looked at her. "You're a poor liar."

She didn't know what to say to that so she changed the subject. "What color do you like? He looked surprised and raised an eyebrow.

"Is it important?"

"No, I just want to know," she placed her hands behind her back and rocked a little. He crossed his arms and thought for a moment.

"I hate the color gold," she was surprised by that statement. Most people liked gold and he seemed really inclined on taking gold back at the tomb. "Red… I guess I like red. It is a powerful and painful color…"

His statement was a little odd, red was a powerful color, but painful… yes, it was the color of blood but she couldn't see the point in liking a color that was painful. Personally, she didn't like red. Red was the color of the desert which meant no crops during a bad harvest. Maybe she was being narrow-minded.

"Hello," she turned around and Bakura looked up. It was the teenage boy who was standing there; he had a smile on his face with his eyes close. He seemed friendly but there was something wrong with him and Meskhenet didn't like it. She moved away and he noticed, he knitted his eyebrows together and laughed a little. "Oh, I did not mean to frighten you."

"Do you want something?" Bakura asked, rudely. The teenage boy merely laughed.

"I am Zaabit, I too am a traveler. I merely wanted to greet the two of you," he bent down a little so he wasn't looming over them. "I remember seeing the two of you back at Mn Nefer. I want to personally apologize for running into you. I was not particularly paying attention to what was in front of me."

"Why were those soldiers chasing you?" Bakura asked.

"Ah, I am afraid it was a misunderstanding," Meskhenet wasn't sure how Bakura knew he was a thief, but she trusted him more than she trusted Zaabit. She doubted the soldiers would have caused such a scare in town for a misunderstanding. "Where are you both from? Or are you siblings?"

"No," Bakura and Meskhenet rushed to answer in unison. Zaabit laughed.

"Well, that is good. You certainly do not look like each other. Where did you say you were from?"

"We didn't…"

"I am heading to Thebes; perhaps that is where you are headed too?"

Meskhenet looked at Bakura but he was staring at Zaabit. She realized Zaabit had just brought up destinations and she rushed to say something before Bakura could answer, but she couldn't think of anything and in the end, Bakura beat her to it.

"I'm just heading south." Her heart sank, he hadn't forgotten, but now why was he heading south? Zaabit looked at Meskhenet with a questionable face and she lowered her head and voice.

"Just down to Beni Suef…"

"Beni Suef is not entirely far. You will be home in no time," Meskhenet wasn't sure if she should rejoice at that. "Perhaps you can accompany me to Thebes?" he inquired to Bakura but Bakura didn't say anything. Luckily, the people were getting ready to move. "Ah, I should get back to my horse. I wish you both luck and hope to talk to you soon."

Meskhenet left to her horse and Bakura to his. They didn't talk the rest of the day. Meskhenet made small chatter with the man from earlier and with Anya, but in the end, she kept to herself. The caravan stayed close to the Nile, moving downwards passed the basin of Faiyum. They spent many days with the caravan. Meskhenet didn't see Bakura much; if anything he saw more of Zaabit and she saw more of Anya. It wasn't bad to talk to Anya, she just kind of wish Bakura met Anya and would be with her.

Whenever night fell, the caravan made camp and the men would take turns in pairs of keeping watch. Most of the children slept together but Meskhenet avoid them so she slept near her horse. She didn't know where Bakura slept, she couldn't find him. He must've been at the back of the caravan. A couple of the older women would keep Meskhenet company but they didn't talk to her much, though they seemed kind. Pretty soon the caravan went through a town near Al Fayyum and continued onwards.

They were getting real close to Beni Suef that meant Meskhenet would've to say goodbye to Bakura real soon. She figured she better spend the rest of her days with him. Who knew when they would ever see each other again, if at all anyways. Anya encouraged her to do so but warned her about Zaabit, Meskhenet didn't really need the warning, Zaabit gave her the creeps. Pretty soon she found Bakura; he was literally at the end of the caravan. He seemed happy to see her when she brought her horse over to his.

"You know I was looking at the stars the nights before. I finally saw your wheel with the wand," he said. Meskhenet laughed. She hadn't really thought of the stars recently, she had been too anxious about getting home and saying goodbye. Maybe his nightmares had kept him up so maybe that was all he could do to get away.

"We should be arriving at Beni Suef tomorrow evening," Meskhenet said. She didn't want to talk about saying goodbye, but now was as good a time as any. Bakura nodded. "I guess that's goodbye?"

He was silent for a while but then said, "It doesn't have to be. We could meet each other again," he whispered something else but Meskhenet couldn't hear. She looked at him sadly. The chances of them ever meeting again was slim, he was heading further south, she was going back to her farm but when she grew up she was going to be a court magician, meaning she would be heading to Thebes, maybe then she could see him if he was still in Egypt.

"Well, I don't really want to think of it. I guess we will see what happens when it happens," she smiled at him. He didn't say anything but he grabbed her hand and held onto it.

That night, the caravan made camp. Bakura and Meskhenet sat next to each other while the horses slept and grazed. He still had the bag filled with gold with him. She was surprised to see that the bag hadn't been stolen though people probably didn't know it was filled with gold, either that or they were actually nice not to touch other people's stuff.

"Have you tried talking to the other children?" Meskhenet asked.

Bakura made a face. "They said they hated my hair. The younger ones were nicer, probably because they haven't learned about hierarchy yet. By the way, can I call you Mes?"

Meskhenet giggled. He hadn't ever said her name and she just assumed he forgot but she guessed he found it too long to say. "No, Father is the only one who calls me that."

Bakura raised an eyebrow at her and shook his head. "Khenet then," she laughed.

"Is my name too long?"

"No, it's just a mouthful," he said. It really wasn't, it had the same amount of syllables as his, but she didn't tell him that. Someone approached them and the two of them looked up, it was Zaabit. Anya warned Meskhenet about him, said something about items going missing. He looked surprised to see Meskhenet.

"What's he doing here?" she whispered to Bakura.

"He keeps talking to me," Bakura whispered back. Zaabit bent down and smiled.

"Well, hello, looks like your friend is here today," he chuckled. "I never caught your name, friend."

She didn't like how he called her friend. He wasn't her friend. "Meskhenet…" she said.

"Well, that is a pretty name. Bakura did not want to tell me himself and I had not expected to see you again."

"What do you want?" Meskhenet asked, moving closer to Bakura.

"Nothing, Bakura has trouble sleeping so I keep him company at times," she wondered why Bakura never said anything about Zaabit to her. She didn't like Zaabit talking to Bakura. They both were thieves though… maybe Bakura felt comfortable around Zaabit, but thieves were thieves, weren't their job just competition?

"I'm alright," Bakura said but Zaabit just smiled. "Tomorrow is Khenet's last day with the caravan."

"Oh? Nicknames, how cute," Zaabit chuckled. "Do you want to accompany me to town? It is not that far from here." He was referring that to Bakura only.

"The town? We passed it not too long ago."

Meskhenet didn't like where this was going. "Yes. I know, but I need to fetch some supplies for the caravan. The leader though is stubborn, he does not want to listen to me, and after all I am an outsider."

"Why not wait until morning?" Bakura asked.

"By then it will be too late. The caravan will start moving and we will be left behind. If you would like, your friend may certainly come with us." Bakura got up and looked at Meskhenet. "We will not be long."

She hesitated. How much did Bakura know about Zaabit? He warned her when they first joined to be wary of him, but during her absence she didn't know how close they were now. Bakura seemed comfortable around Zaabit and he even told Zaabit his name. Maybe Bakura was more comfortable with thieves like himself. That made Meskhenet sad, Bakura wasn't like Zaabit but maybe he thought they were. She got up and decided to join them.

They walked passed the sleeping caravan; some of the men on watch regarded Zaabit and the children but said nothing. One man that Meskhenet recognized as the man who frequently talked to Anya (perhaps her brother or father) waved at Meskhenet, she just smiled at him. Did Zaabit already tell them they were heading to town? Why would he do that, wouldn't the leader get wind of this? Meskhenet felt a boding feeling within her and she quickly grabbed Bakura's hand.

Zaabit talked a lot about Thebes and many other places such as Tanis and Abydos. He seemed well verse in the geography of Egypt. Meskhenet asked about him and his family and he merely laughed. "My father hated me," he laughed bitterly. "He took my mother from her husband and made her a slave." She wished she hadn't asked.

"I'm sorry," she said, quietly.

Zaabit stopped. "It is no secret. He met his end not very long ago," he whispered.

She clung onto Bakura's sleeve. She didn't like how he said 'end'. "Zaabit said a… lar-lar…" he struggled for the word but couldn't bring it out until Zaabit said.

"Larcenist."

"Yes, a larcenist killed his dad," Bakura said. So Zaabit already told Bakura his tale.

They were quite far from the caravan now; Meskhenet could barely see it save for a small fire's glow. The town was in walking distance. No fires were lit, the town was asleep. They wouldn't be able to get the supplies. Zaabit continued to lead them to the town; he seemed unaffected by the fact that there weren't any people outside. He stopped and turned around.

"Bakura, do you want to come with me to Thebes?" he asked, bending down. Bakura seemed surprise by his question. Meskhenet was too. Why was he asking this of him? "You have no place to go, yes? If you come with me, we can go to Thebes together." Bakura looked at Meskhenet uncertainly. "You have no place with her. Her family will never accept you. You are a thief, like me."

Bakura shook his head, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Zaabit laughed. The worse thing about it was it wasn't maniacal like Apep's but it was so much creepier. Meskhenet shivered and huddled close to Bakura. "Do not pretend, I saw you steal food from the other children." Meskhenet looked at Bakura but he shook his head again.

"No, they took from me. I was only taking back what was mine!"

"You are just like me, a thief at heart. It does not matter what the reasons are, once we want something, we must have it," Zaabit held out his hand. "Come on, little thief Bakura."

"He's not like you!" Meskhenet said as she tightened her grip on Bakura. "And he never will be." She pulled Bakura back the way they came but Zaabit stood there, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Run, run, run little children, you cannot escape me for I am the Thief Lord," he slowly came after them then he picked up his speed. Bakura pulled Meskhenet into an alleyway then made a sharp turn to the left. But just like Apep, Zaabit was taller than them and he caught up to them pretty fast. He wasn't like Apep, persistent they both were, Zaabit was sly, he was toying with them, letting them outrun him at times before closing the distance in no time. He grabbed Bakura in a headlock, Bakura let Meskhenet's hand go and she turned around.

"Bakura!" she shouted.

Zaabit laughed. "Bakura, you remind me of a younger me. But you do not know the real horrors of the world. Whatever you have seen, whatever makes you turn at night, it is nothing compared to what is out there! It is only a small portion of what the world truly is. You need someone, someone who understands you, who knows what you have been through to guide you."

"Stop!" Meskhenet was about to run towards them, she didn't know what she was going to do. She wished she had magic, to burn him, to freeze him—anything, anything!

"Khenet, no!" Bakura said. Meskhenet stopped. He tried prying Zaabit's arm off him, but it was no good.

"But…"

"Just go!"

"Go on, little calf, little thief Bakura does not need you."

Meskhenet clenched her fists. She wasn't going to leave Bakura. They were friends, but what could she do, her magic was weak, she barely knew any spells. She closed her eyes and chanted, "Sedjet en sedjet!"

To her disappointment, nothing happened. Zaabit laughed. "What was that? Magic? Just go little calf, no one wants you here. I said it before. Bakura is just like me."

"I'm nothing like you!" Bakura shouted, struggling to get loose. "I would never do to my father what you did to yours!"

Zaabit gave a hollow laugh. "He was no father of mine! He got what he deserved." Meskhenet chanted her spell again, envisioning fire, willing it to come. When she opened her eyes again, a small flame danced at the end of Zaabit's robe. He looked at it and easily put it out. "Was that all?"

"Run, Khenet!" Meskhenet didn't know what to do. She couldn't save Bakura. She bit her lip; if she ran back to the caravan someone might be able to help her. She hesitated… what was Zaabit going to do with Bakura? If she left what would happen to Bakura? No, Zaabit wanted Bakura… she needed to get help that was what she needed. She took off at a run, looking for a door or someone, anyone. She knocked on doors, called for help, but when no one came she decided her best bet was the caravan. She looked back, hoping to see Bakura, but he wasn't there. She was getting really far from where Bakura was. She hoped someone at the caravan would help.

She slammed right into someone and fell on her rear. "Oof!"

"Are you trying to get help from the caravan?" Zaabit's voice came from above her. She looked up in shock. Zaabit was standing in front of her, his hands behind his back. Bakura was not there. Where was Bakura? "No one from the caravan will help you, little calf." The most sickening thing about Zaabit was the fact he could say all this with a fake smile and a sweet voice. Meskhenet crawled away from him but he grabbed her leg and pulled her closer to him.

"They'll come looking for us when they notice we're missing!"

Zaabit laughed and stood up, removing his hands from behind him. Meskhenet's heart pounded loudly in her ears. In his hand was a knife, it gleamed in the moonlight and sparkled at its fine edge. "No, they will not. You see, I already took the liberty to tell everyone that the three of us were leaving tonight." Meskhenet's heart sank. That's why that man, Anya's father or brother waved at her, he wasn't waving to say hi, he was waving goodbye.

"Where's Bakura?"

"Hmm, I could not convince him to come with me. It does not matter, where he is at no one will find him." He looked down at her then grabbed her right arm. "For the little trick you did back there with magic, I should slit your throat. I am in a generous mood though," his hand slid down her arm to her wrist and he brought her closer to him. With his blade, he pressed it right up against her hand. The cold blade met with her warm blood, it felt like her skin was being ripped open—to be exact, it really was. She cried out in pain and he laughed, pressing the knife deeper as he clenched her fingers around the blade.

He finally pulled away and she fell on the ground, she shakily brought her hand to her chest and cradled it. The pain burned like fire and her hand was drenched in her own blood. Red really was a painful color. Zaabit merely looked down at her. He smiled and adjusted the bag around his shoulder—that bag! That was theirs! "If I am lucky, you will die from an infection or better yet maybe bleed out. Ah well, you are no longer my problem." He waved at her and walked away.

Meskhenet got up and watched his back as he slowly but surely got further away. He took their gold and he did something to Bakura. She needed to find Bakura, the caravan could wait. Her hand hurt so bad, she hugged it. Momma always told her wounds needed pressure. She could wrap something around it! She loosened her sash and the earring Bakura gave her fell out. The point at the end could help. She picked up the earring and poked a hole in her sash, she forced it through the sash to cut a strip out, she then ripped the strip she had made and quickly tied it around her hand, she tightened it then use her mouth and free hand to tie a knot. It throbbed but that should do. She placed the earring back within her sash. Now to look for Bakura…

She didn't know where he was, but looking down in the sand, she saw that Zaabit had left a trail from where he walked away and when he came to her. If she followed it, she should be able to find Bakura. She may not know much about the world outside her farm, but she knew the seasons. Winter and spring were not here therefore the winds were weak; his trail should still be fresh if she looked hard enough.

She followed his trail, at times she lost it, but it curved and winded throughout the town until it split in two. One way led to the alleyway she had left Bakura in, the other trailed off elsewhere. She decided to follow the second trail. She followed it; it passed a street vendor, a potter's house and led all the way over to an old house that looked rather abandoned. Was Bakura inside? The trailed stopped here…

She went to the door, it was jammed shut when she tried pushing it so she went over to the window near it, it was too small for her to fit through, but the window was too high. She listened carefully trying to hear if there was any breathing but all she heard was rats squeaking. "Bakura!" she called to no answer. She jumped to get a better view but ended up falling backwards. She saw at the side of the house was a storm cellar.

She crawled over to it and saw that it was locked shut. How was she going to get it open? She nudged, pulled and yanked on it, but with one hand, she could barely do anything. Bakura must be down there. The doors were wooden, if she burned it… "Sedjet en sedjet!" she tried, a small flame grew at the corner of one of the doors. Yes! But it was a feeble flame so Meskhenet chanted again. The flame grew a bit and ate more of the wood; she repeated the spell over and over until a good enough corner of the door had been eaten away. She peeked through and saw sand, she scanned the area and sure enough Bakura was there!

I should've made Bakura do more, but I felt like he'd be doing too much (especially when he's older so yeah, I didn't want Meskhenet not doing anything all the time). I'm actually not sure if sedjet en sedjet translates to what I wanted. Supposedly it translates to 'fire to fire' in English from Egyptian, I was aiming for ashes to ashes but couldn't find the word 'ashes' in Egyptian. If that's wrong, please let me know if that's right if you know Egyptian :3. Please read and review!