As it turned out, Isis did not have to keep Aziza in the infirmary overnight. In fact, by the end of the day, she could walk on her own with only a small limp. She met Yugi back at their guest chambers and as the two sisters got ready for bed, Aziza asked her sister something she'd been wondering on and off all day. "Do you think you'll stay in the palace now?"
"Of course!" Yugi almost sang. "The Pharaoh said I'm to remain as Yami's suitor."
"What does that entail, exactly?" Aziza asked.
"Well, it means that I'm the only one Yami's thinking about seriously marrying. I get to be with him all the time, even during court sessions and meals, and other girls have to ask my permission before they talk to him, since it's been decided that I'm the most likely person for his wife."
"Ah." Aziza nodded. "Then everything's worked out for the best." She folded her clothes and pulled on the nightgown the palace servants had provided for her. "I guess I'll be going back tomorrow."
Crash!
Aziza turned around. Yugi had dropped her necklace on the floor. "What?" The girl stared at her older sister. "But you can't!"
"Why not?" Aziza shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just here for your sake. It's not like I work here, or have any official duties. I'm just a guest. It wouldn't be right for me to stay and keep infringing on their hospitality." She ruffled her sister's spiky hair. "We should get to bed. I'll probably leave early tomorrow morning."
She slipped between the linen sheets and let her head sink into the pillow, Yugi doing the same beside her, listening. Once Aziza's breath deepened into sleep's telltale rhythm, the little scamp slipped from the bed and out the door, trying not to wake her sister with rustling sheets or footsteps. She prayed no one, guard or servant, would stop her tonight.
Yami had just tied on his sleep shenti when footsteps sounded outside his door. Yami tensed and slipped his hand under his pillow, feeling around for the hilt of the dagger he kept there is case of attacks at night. The door opened and the light from the hall torches outlined a spiky hairdo that only belonged to two people, and the person was too short to be his brother. "Yugi, don't do that. You frightened me." He let go of the dagger and rushed forth to hug the smaller girl.
She chuckled. "Sorry. Did you think I was an assassin?" He scowled down at her, but that only made her laugh again. They walked over to the bed and sat down next to each other. "I know it's late, but I needed to talk to you about Aziza."
"Your sister?" Yugi nodded. "What's wrong? Is her leg hurting her?"
She shook her head. "No, but she told me she plans to leave early tomorrow morning. She said she didn't belong here."
"No!" Yami lurched to his feet. "She can't leave! Atem-"
"Yes, but she doesn't know anything about that," Yugi soothed, getting Yami to sit down next to her again. "She thinks that, since there's nothing here she can do, she should leave and not inconvenience anyone."
Yami brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "She's too kind for her own good. I suppose she learned it from you." Yugi giggled and grabbed his hand, taking it away from her face but holding tightly to his fingers. "I guess we just need to find something for her to do, then." He stood and pulled Yugi up with him. "We need to go speak with my father."
The Pharaoh looked up from his wash basin, the water dirty with the kohl from his eyes, when a knock sounded on his door. Unlike Yami, he didn't reach for a weapon, knowing the guards in the hallway would not allow for the approach of anyone who looked even slightly suspicious. "Come in." The door opened and the young lovebirds entered the Pharaoh's chambers. Ahknamkanen smiled at the two. "Well, this is a surprise." Then he noticed their worried expressions. "Is something the matter?"
"It's my sister Aziza, My Lord," Yugi answered.
"Please," asked the pharaoh, "Don't use my title when we're in private. What is wrong with your sister?"
"She plans to leave the palace tomorrow morning."
No. She couldn't, especially not when Atem- but he was getting ahead of himself. It was better that he get all the details first. "Did she say why?"
Yugi nodded. "She felt that, since she had no duties and didn't work here, that she should return home and not burden you."
The man began to think. With the fall of Lord Nizsm, many positions his supporters had held were now open. He needed to pick new guards, servants, a council member, and a librarian. Even the kitchens were now shorthanded. Then he remembered that last one. Perhaps… "Yugi, can your sister read?"
"Yes. We were taught by our parents." Okay, maybe it's a little white lie, she thought to herself, but we do know how to read.
Ahknamkanen smiled. "One of the disgraced Nizsm's retainers had the position of librarian here in our record hall. He has of course been moved from his position to avoid future incidents, but we are now in desperate need of someone who can keep the scrolls straight. Perhaps you sister would like to fill the position. With her reputation in the court as a person of impeccable character, it would not be difficult to procure the position for her."
Yugi face lit up. "That's perfect! But how will we keep her from leaving tomorrow?"
"Post two guards at the door to ensure she stays in the chamber until Atem or I can inform her of the change. You will have to ensure she gets ready, Yugi." The girl nodded fervently to Yami. "You should get back to your sister before she realizes you're missing." Grinning broadly, Yugi walked back out into the hall and towards the quarters she now shared with her sister.
Yami turned to his father, a small smirk lingering around his mouth. "Atem studies at the library almost every day, Father. I doubt he will learn much if Aziza is constantly distracting him."
"Ah, but you see, my son," he grinned at his second eldest, "that is precisely what I am hoping for."
With a new job and a audiobook project going on, I've not been writing very regularly. Those things, and the distinct lack of reviews are not encouraging. But I will continue to write, thanks for some inspiration from the books by Bruce Coville. He has almost the same writing style as me and has given me a few very good ideas.
