Authors Note: I'm sorry it took so long to update. I've been away from my computer for months. I hope I didn't lose any you while the story was on hiatus. I plan on finishing this story for all of you and I hope you like what you read. Enjoy Chapter Four!

"You're sure that is what you saw?"

"Of course my Pharaoh," Akhenaden had his king awoken for an emergency council. "I felt an enormous surge of power flowing from within the city. We must investigate before the people start to panic."

"Hmm," Aknamkanon agreed with his brother. The people most certainly would have seen the pillar of raw power earlier that day. "Send a search party and the millennium ring to find the source." Akhenaden bowed and started to leave. "And bring them in alive,"

…

Mana started to panic. She had lashed back at her master and possibly killed him. She heard that horrible snap when she pushed back, but…

How did I do that?

She moved the thought to the back of her mind. Right now she had to figure out what her next step was. She knew that whether her master was alive or dead that they would blame her for what happened to her master. She crawled weakly to her masters limp body and looked for any sign that he was alive.

Please don't let him be dead…

He started to stir and breathe slightly.

Thank the gods.

She had to leave; she had to get out before anyone came by to restrain her. She couldn't stay in her owners keep so she left her master in his room grabbed a bag and started to fill it with food and water pouches.

Now I'm a thief.

She made her way to the front of the bar and moved outside.

I'll find a ship, get out of the city and…and leave my family to suffer.

She couldn't do that. She couldn't leave her family's debt to her baby brother. It would further destroy everything she had worked for. No. No she couldn't leave when she had caused such pain to someone, even if that someone was a hateful and terrible person. Maybe he wouldn't remember because of the trauma. She could run out into the street saying it was an accident and that he had fallen, but what if someone else saw that light? Then she would be punished for harming her master.

Maybe if she stepped outside for air.

She stepped outside and found people bowing around her and the royal guard surrounding her. They stood gallantly and sternly with their spears snapped at attention. Oh gods! They know! A few guards in front of her separated and out stood before her was the priest Akhenaden and priest Kouun. She fell to the ground and bowed immediately.

"My Lord," She murmured.

"Who are all of the residents and workers of this establishment?" Mana had no reason to lie and even if she did, then she would be punished severely if she were caught.

"My master, mistress, and I sir,"

"That is all?"

"Yes, My Lord," Mana said from a watching the ground.

"Where is your master?"

"He… He's," This is where Mana was stuck, where she had no answer. She dared to hesitate before coming up with an answer.

"I am here My Lord," Mana's heart stopped. Her master came before her and bowed in front of her to the two priests.

"Kouun," Akhenaden beckoned and the second priest came forth with an odd shaped necklace. The guards turned their backs and blocked the others from view and the necklace started to point in Mana's direction.

"You're sure?" Akhenaden asked and Kouun nodded in response. "Good. Guards take the girl and bring her into the palace.

"But…But my Lord I need my servant," Her Master murmured.

NO! Please don't let him get me. He'll force me under him and make me do awful things! Mana screamed in her head.

Akhenaden looked and nodded at one of the guards who threw down numerous gold coins at her masters' feet. "For your trouble,"

Mana didn't look back when she heard the shouts of glee from her Master, or when she heard her Mistress coming up the street with her bitter voice, or even when the other people in the street shout obscenities at her as they hauled her off.

…

Atem had Nguni stick practice with Mahado and his instructor that had come from the south. His instructor was a huge dark man, darker than Atem, with broad shoulders and arms that looked like they could shatter a tree. His face was covered with a thin beard and his eyes pierced into his students. He was an intimidating man that made it clear that when he spoke he was to be listened to and obeyed. His accent even sounded harsh.

"Your both late,"

"Yes sir," Atem and Mahado bowed to their master Inkunzi.

"Let's begin. Atem you will be Uboko the defense and Mahado you will be Isiquili the attack. You will switch positions when I say." He snapped his finger once and the two boys started their foreign martial dance. The loud crack and snap of their weapons slamming against the ground resonated throughout the courtyard.

"Switch!" Suddenly Atem was the one being attacked.

Back and forth, back and forth the boys practiced the basic steps without reprieve or hesitation.

"Switch!" Atem attacked and as Mahado tried to defend himself, Atem noticed a raised root from one of the trees. Atem smirked and forced Mahado to the tree root where he tripped and fell backwards.

"I win," Atem smiled and helped his friend up by offering his hand.

"Are you kidding? The tree root did all the work," Mahado laughed and took Atem's hand.

Inkunzi stepped forward and patted the two boys on the back.

"Well done Atem. Good use of terrain and had good situational awareness. Mahado well done on defense. I think both of you are ready for the next level." The two boys bowed to their instructor.

The gong rang for the attention of the gatekeepers informing them that the priests were coming into the palace. Atem and Mahado were anxious to see what the priests had found from that light that had shined brightly earlier this morning.

"I see that your attention lies elsewhere," Inkunzi said harshly. The boys winced.

"See to it that you are prepared for harsher lessons tomorrow,"

"Yes sir!" The boys said in unison.

Inkunzi may have been the toughest instructor from the south and known as the terror of Zulu.

But he was the kindest man and teacher any student could've ever had.

…

"Mahado, what are they doing?" Atem asked as he saw his uncle, Kouun, and a trail of guards bringing what looked like a small girl into the palace. The two boys hid behind a giant pillar of alabaster stone and watched as his uncle passed them. Without noticing the two boys following them, Akhenaden brought the girl into the palace to the bearer of the Millennium Rod.

…

Mana had every right to be frightened. Every fiber in her was telling her to run away screaming when she saw a giant man covered in wealth and carrying a strange golden stick. The thing he carried was more frightening to her than the man wielding it. It had a golden eye that seemed to be alive and two points sticking out of the head. She was put down in front of the man and ordered to stay still and silent. Mana didn't want to listen to them, but they might take her back to her master if she didn't behave. Or simply kill her to shut her up.

She was silent, but not because they told her to, but because she was terrified to do anything else.

"This is the power to found?" The man with the golden stick said questioningly.

"Without a doubt," The man named Kouun said as the necklace around his neck began to move and the hanging points began to point at her. The other man looked intrigued, while the oldest, the one with the golden eye, remained silent.

He scared her most of all.

"Then let's see what she bears before we present her,"

They're going to present me? To whom?

She bowed and remained on the ground as the two younger men stepped forward and waved their golden items in front of her.

Suddenly Mana felt a pull from her heart. The kind of pull she would feel when her father used to come and visit her, except this pull was more like a violent tug that threatened to burst from her chest. She cried out and put her hands over her chest to keep whatever it was from ripping open her ribs. Tears began to roll down her face as she continued to fell violated.

This is worse! This is worse than anything her master could have done to me!

Then a winding force began to build where the tug was, like a violent sand tornado that threatened to swallow everything in its path. It built in her chest, tearing and ripping at everything inside of her and moved its way up her throat into her mouth until she was blinded by a light that came from nowhere. She closed her eyes to stop from being blinded, but it seemed to be coming from behind her eyes.

"What are you doing!" A young voice that she had never heard before cried out from nowhere. She was grateful to whomever it came from because the feelings within her resided and ceased. She began to weep as voices around her began to argue. Her hearing and vision was blurred so nothing was clear and she flinched when she felt strong arms lifted her and seemed to carry her on clouds.

…

Akhenaden was certain that the girl held power, not as much as anyone that carried the Millennium Items for sure, but close enough that she needed to be watched. He was angry at his nephew when he stepped from the shadows to stop the ceremony, but it was no matter. He had seen what he needed to confirm his suspicions.

He knew without a doubt that his brother would hear of this and be angry since the Pharaoh had commanded that no one be hurt in the excavation, even the wielder of the power. He would deal with him later. Right now he needed to make preparations.

…

"Atem wait!" Mahado called out from behind him.

"Hurry up!" Atem yelled back as he carried the young girl to someone he knew would help her feel better. Iaia, a healer and wielder of the Millennium necklace, was renounced for her healing touch. If anyone could make the girl he carried better it was her.

Atem was angry with himself that he hadn't stepped forward sooner. He knew what his uncle and the others had in store for her when he saw them avoid the throne room, but he bit his lip thinking that maybe that it wasn't the case.

But he was angrier with his uncle.

The man always went a step too far with anything that had to be dealt with. He never knew when to quit, when to cease for the better of the cause. He needed to be watched on some level to keep him from going over the edge. He had to talk to his father, maybe come up with some solution….

Atem thought this over as Mahado caught up with him.

"She's not doing well,"

"I know that," Atem snapped. "My uncle isn't the kind of man that knows when to quit." Mahado knew that Atem was not angry with him, so he silently forgave Atem for snapping at him.

"Where is priestess Iaia?" Atem barked at a nearby guard that snapped to attention when the young prince came by.

"We just escorted her to the throne room your highness,"

"Excellent. Thank-you," Atem didn't have to thank the soldier, but he always did. Atem always tried to be kind and courteous like his father. Atem smiled because the throne room wasn't too far away and his father would more than likely be there. He could kill two birds with one stone.

"Atem what are you going to do?" Mahado asked.

Atem ignored him.

…

Mana was dead. She had to be. That was the only possible way she could be floating in the clouds. She tried to open her eyes but could only barely try. Through the slits in her eyelids she saw the sky, as blue and beautiful as the ocean. She loved the sky and the ocean. To be able to fly and breathe under water someday would be a feat she couldn't wait to master. A heavy ringing in her ears resonated throughout her skull as she heard what could have been described as voices. Except these voices were too low in pitch and muffled so the words made no sense.

She tried to open her eyes further and found that she was being carried by a young boy. He was handsome and strong, his hair an odd mix of colors of red and gold. His face was strangely masculine for a boy his age and Mana's heart skipped a beat when she realized that he was the one carrying her.

But above all else, what captured her more than his face and confidence was his beautiful eyes. A powerful crimson color that reminded her of the deep setting of the sun and looked at no one with fear.

She had been saved by a beautiful boy.

She must have stirred because the boy looked at her for the first time and Mana saw relief in his eyes. He spoke but she couldn't understand him and she tried to speak but she couldn't even understand herself.

…

"What is your name?" Atem asked when he felt her move in his arms. She looked confused when he asked as if he wasn't speaking clearly. "What is your name?"

"The moon," she answered her throat raw and scratched. Atem looked at her oddly. It was the middle of the day and no symbol of the moon on the walls in sight. So Atem looked at her with sympathy and said it was a beautiful name.

Atem began to pick up his pace and went into the enclosed area that led to the throne room. Atem's eyes adjusted immediately to the light of torches instead of the sun. Mana winced as they went inside trying to cover her eyes.

"Iaia!" He yelled seeing her surrounded by other women. Guards bowed as he and Mahado ran by until he reached her. The gaggle of women dispersed and bowed as Atem stepped forward to Iaia.

"What happened?" She asked with alarm.

"My uncle happened. Can you help her?" Iaia waved her arm and flicked her wrist to dismiss the other women.

"Bring her over here," Iaia commanded and Atem followed her into a side room off the throne room. Atem noticed that his father was nowhere in sight and had to suppress his disappointment.

The room was big and full of vases. Atem knew this room held spices, herbs, and incense but he didn't know it had a papyrus case full of scrolls and a bed in the far side near a window. Atem had never been in here before and only knew of it through passing by and smelling the different scents.

So much for my situational awareness.

"I need you to leave boys. I'll take good care of her,"

"Thank you Iaia, would you send for me when she is better?"

"Absolutely your highness,"

And the boys left leaving the girl alone with Iaia.

…

Aknamkanon had not been feeling well this morning, so he had isolated himself in his study. He loved being surrounded by knowledge. It helped to relax him when he was stressed. Cases upon cases filled with papyrus scrolls littered the walls, filled with medical information, architecture secrets, and the art of magick's that went back thousands of years. The pharaoh was proud to have added to his library and was preparing his son to add information for future generations of kings.

The Pharaoh began to feel a migraine coming and rubbed his temples to help ease the pain until he heard a knocking on his door. He knew it must be the report from the light Akhenaden had seen so he swallowed his distaste and said "Enter,"

"My king," Akhenaden bowed. "I have the information you need," His brother waited for the Pharaoh's permission to continue.

"Carry on," Aknamkanon said with weariness in his voice.

"The power came from one of our citizens. A girl no more than ten years old. We have—

"Father!" The Pharaoh groaned as his headache began to worsen. Atem ran to his father and stopped in front of Akhenaden panting as he tried to catch his breath. "He went too far!" Atem pointed at his uncle. "He went too far this time!"

"Explain," Aknamkanon said resolute to find the bottom of this. He listened as his son and his brother told their side of the story. When Atem told him what happened with the girl he became angry at his brother until Akhenaden defended himself.

"We must train her, my lord. Harness the power that resides within her and get her on our side,"

Atem looked shocked at this, but didn't seem to have any disagreements.

"It is settled then. We will train the girl in our magick's Atem you may go." The small prince left. Knowing this time his uncle would pay for what he had done. "Akhenaden you will stay I must discuss something important with you." The harshness of the Pharaoh's voice made Akhenaden nervous, but he stood and acted as if it didn't faze him.

Atem was not proud of betraying his uncle, but what other choice did he have?

…

Atem waited anxiously for news of the girl's health, he could hardly stand his studies that he had yet to finish. He let his head fall to his desk in his room and took a deep breath.

Maybe if I stay here my head will absorb all the information…

It didn't work and when Atem got frustrated he threw back the chair he was sitting on.

Why does he have to sacrifice people for the greater good? Why cant he find a better way?

"You seem frustrated my son,"

Atem stopped, took a deep breath, and turned to face his mother.

"I am mother," Queen Tai stood in his doorway with a kind look on her face. She moved toward Atem's bed and sat beckoning her son to join her and talk.

"What ails your mind my son?"

"Why did uncle have to go that far?"

"Ah, I see. This is about that girl," Tai said teasingly.

"No! This is about Akhenaden and the choices he makes. He hurts people mother,"

"And you fear he cannot be stopped?"

"I fear that when I am Pharaoh I will have no family but him to guide me."

"Oh my son," Tai reached for Atem and embraced him gently. "Even with your father and I gone we will guide you. We will always be with you,"

"Yes mother," Atem said trying to believe her.

"You feel this?" Tai pressed her hand to her sons' heart and continued when he nodded. "Your heart, your soul, is a part of mine, your fathers, and your friends that you hold dear. We'll always be here my son, whenever you need us."

Atem smiled and gave his mother a hug then he stepped off the bed and started to leave the room.

"Where are you going?"

"To help a friend start a new life,"

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