Soaring over Nile
Disclaimer- We don't own Yugioh or any of its characters! All we own are our OC's and our Amuenet so don't steal them!
Chapter Ten: Palace Woes
As it had been two years ago, a long line of people and carriages traveled across the hot, Egyptian Desert. Raging winds had buffeted the party, causing it to be delayed a few days. But now, they were making slow, steady progress as they neared Upper Egypt.
Inside the carriage, Amuenet stared out the window. She almost felt excited, despite all the fussing and stress that seemed to linger over her family like a dark cloud.
Eshe and Neema were debating over last-minute details with hair, jewellery and dresses while her father tried, in vain, to keep everything quiet. Ngozi and Oba had been left in Lower Egypt to run the country. Amuenet felt deeply annoyed with her brothers for opting to stay in Lower Egypt.
Amuenet let her fingers run over the comfortable wood of her pendant. Was it just the heat or did the little wooden bird seem to get warmer as they neared the palace?
Her light brown eyes gazed out the window at the dusty surroundings. She was, as usual, in an almost empty carriage. The only other person was Halyma.
Amuenet had allowed herself to be dressed in a papyrus coloured dress and had allowed the timid maids to plait her hair into dozens of thin strands during their brief rest at an oasis a few hours ago. Her face was now faintly dusted with ochre and there was some blue eye shadow and kohl on her face. Around her dress was a plaited belt and her sword.
Halyma glanced at her mistress. Amuenet looked calm and but face looked different. Those light brown eyes bore some emotion and were not as impassive as before. Halyma thought that maybe one could even predict what Amuenet was feeling through those orbs. The face, itself, was not in a constant frown but rather a calm, serene expression.
Halyma, as a maid, was just dressed in a simple, knee-length dress but Amuenet, in a surprising act of kindness, had given Halyma some of her blue eye shadow and kohl.
The maid smiled to herself. That last visit to the palace had changed Amuenet in a very good way. Halyma smiled to herself again. If only Amuenet was closer to her family…
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He paced in his room. What was he supposed to do? When he was Prince, all the decisions were made for him. Now he was Pharaoh, the freedom almost overwhelmed him.
"My Pharaoh?" Jarha asked, coming into his room and bowing low, "What is your will?"
Atem glanced in surprise at Jarha. The boy, unlike Seth had not changed except with his height. Jarha's face still bore his childish charm and cheerfulness.
Atem thought for a second and smiled to himself. Amuenet would like this command if she were to come to the palace.
"Tell them they are free to do what they like."
Jarha bowed and backed out of the room, face taking on a bewildered look at the very strange order. Perhaps the new Pharaoh was very strange…
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The family approached the palace and the Noble requested to see the Pharaoh after speaking to some of the guards.
"The Pharaoh is not present at the moment," a voice proclaimed behind them, "Please feel free to get used to your lodgings and chambers as the Pharaoh wishes."
Amuenet turned to see a guard with dark brown hair. Judging by his red tunic, he looked like the leader of them all with joyful, dark hazel eyes
"Noble of Lower Egypt," Jarha said boldly, "Your chambers are to the right of the West Wing. Your sons and daughters are all in the chambers in the West Wing."
The Noble surveyed the guard disdainfully, obviously annoyed that a person from a lower class was speaking to him as an equal. Amuenet felt slightly admirable toward the boy for this.
"Very well," Neema spoke up icily, "We shall go now."
Amuenet nodded and then turned to leave, ignoring the confusion written upon her family's faces.
"Lady Amuenet?" Jarha spoke up as though waiting for this moment, "Your room is located in the East Wing as the Pharaoh requested."
Feeling furious, Amuenet felt colour rise to her cheeks. Her father looked deeply surprised and even regretful. Neema and Hamilah were both frowning and Eshe looked fairly stunned.
"Very well," she muttered darkly, "Tell the Pharaoh that his kindness is appreciated."
The guard bowed, smirked and retreated from the room. Amuenet felt eyes upon her and turned.
"Yes?" she snapped bitterly, "What is there to laugh about?"
"Mind your temper Amuenet," her father growled warningly, the good humour evaporating into iciness of the distant hate between father and daughter, "This is not a time for cavern talk. It is a serious occasion."
"Very well," Amuenet said rudely, ignoring the angry mutters from Eshe and Neema, "Leave me alone then if you please Father."
She ran out of the room angrily as her 'family' watched. Little did she know Hamilah was following her upon Neema's request…
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Amuenet ran towards the stables, which she remembered was to the North-West of the palace. She walked quickly, not willing to gather unwanted attention. She turned a corner…but was barred by Hamilah.
"Where are you going?" Hamilah demanded, wearing a frown and a scowl.
"That is none of your concern," Amuenet snapped, though she wondered how Hamilah could have gotten here before her.
"You are always sneaking off and doing your own little jobs," Hamilah accused.
"So?" Amuenet smirked, "You have a problem with that?"
"Yes," Hamilah answered, "You've always boasted your fighting skills were better than mine. Prove it."
"Why must you be so persistant?" Amuenet asked angrily, annoyed that she was being forced to fight, "There are plenty of other people to fight you!"
"No!" Hamilah yelled, eyes burning dangerously, "I want you to fight me now!"
For a split second, Amuenet thought she saw something purple radiate from her half-sister's arm but pushed the thought down. It was no time to think about that now.
"I happen to have other things to do Hamilah unlike you," Amuenet answered in annoyance, "So let me pass!"
"No," Hamilah said, her tone sly.
Amuenet's eyes looked warily at her half-sister. Hamilah's dress and face gave the impression of wealthiness but her savage look and her gold, jewel encrusted sword made her look like a painted doll.
Amuenet's stance tensed for a battle…
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Atem walked along the wide corridors, into the courtyard. He was searching for some form of life. No wind rustled his cloak. Everything was deathly silent.
Or was it?
Distantly, he heard angry voices and feeling curious, he followed the sound…
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Amuenet hesitated, not wanting to waste any more time. She faced Hamilah defiantly, her mind made up and her will hardening into solid steel.
"I will not fight you."
Hamilah's eyes flashed dangerously.
"You will," she hissed venomously, "You will…"
Amuenet stepped back. She studied Hamilah carefully.
Look at her position! Her mind screamed She is going to fight whether you like it or not!
It was true. Hamilah now drew her long, gold, jewel covered sword.
Amuenet wanted to run and avoid violence. Through the past years, the girl had managed to exercise some control over her anger and longing for competition.
But one small part of her still thirsted to prove her sister wrong. One part of her still wanted to win and crush the huge pride Hamilah possessed. Her competitive spirit never allowed her to back down from a challenge.
Now, looking at Hamilah's triumphant eyes, Amuenet realized that this weakness may be her undoing.
Slowly, Amuenet drew her blade. The silver blade glinted in the sunlight and flashed, almost as if it too, was excited at the prospect of a battle.
"I will fight you on one condition," Amuenet said carefully.
"Name it," Hamilah hissed and for a second, Amuenet thought she saw a gigantic cobra rise instead of her sister.
Neither was aware of a figure standing to the right of them, a silent shadow, watching and listening.
"We will only disarm," Amuenet said firmly, "I have no wish to draw blood."
"Very well," Hamilah hissed in a tone Amuenet didn't trust, "I will beat you anyway."
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Atem heard one of the people say they would only disarm. Judging by the voice, he recognized it as a girl. Feeling confused, Atem thought.
Which girl in the palace would fight with swords?
He watched the battle begin in silence.
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Hamilah lunged furiously at Amuenet, who managed to dodge it.
Her mind began to analyse Hamilah's fighting style. Amuenet thought it over and planned a counterattack while dodging Hamilah's slashes.
She tends to release heavy bursts of strength and defends for a bit while recovering. She also has a tendency to hold lightly on her sword-a weak point. Heavy blows and recovery for a delayed minute. Maybe I can turn her strategy against her…
Amuenet slashed out, her hand firmly on her sword, feeling her body respond instantly to the commands she put on it. Amuenet's experience in disarming battles taught her to always keep a firm grip on the handle.
Amuenet swung out lightly, teasingly while dodging heavy blows. This went on for a long time until Hamilah started panting. Amuenet was breathing heavily too. At one point, her half-sister had actually managed to let Amuenet lose her grip on the sword. But now…
She's tiring! Now…let the real fun begin!
Amuenet suddenly lashed out heavily, aiming for the handle of Hamilah's sword. Hamilah, used to the light slashes Amuenet was giving was not prepared for the blow.
A clatter of a fallen sword told Amuenet her job was done.
"You have a long way to go Hamilah," Amuenet said lightly before walking off, self-satisfied and leaving a fuming girl behind her.
A slash of pain shot up her arm and Amuenet cried out, startled. She felt fresh blood begin to flow from a wound in her arm.
"Cheater!" Amuenet hissed, clutching her arm.
Hamilah smirked, drawing back her blood-stained sword and ran off before Amuenet could go after her. Wincing slightly from the pain in her arm, Amuenet continued, briefly covering the wound with her hand.
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Atem narrowed his eyes angrily as he watched the other girl sneak up on the winner. So…the loser was a cheater and very sly.
Her turned the opposite direction and walked away, not wishing to see what would happen next…
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Amuenet rushed into the stables, now bathed in a slight red light. She looked around and spied the familiar gleam of chestnut hair. The blood on her arm had dried up and she felt it was healed.
"Haquikah? Are you there?"
Haquikah, now twelve years old looked up in surprise. Her dark hazel eyes widened as she studied the girl standing before her.
"Amuenet!"
Haquikah scrambled up and rushed to Amuenet. Amuenet smiled at her and then put a hand on the younger girl's shoulder
"You're grown!" Amuenet laughed for Haquikah had reached her eyeline in height.
Haquikah laughed and remarked, "You've changed too!"
Amuenet laughed and took away her hand. Haquikah laughed but the laughter was soon cut short as she saw Amuenet's hand close up.
The girl peered at Amuenet's hand and cried out in alarm, "Amuenet! What happened to your hand?"
"Nothing," Amuenet replied hastily, "Just…just a small incident on my way here…"
She laughed nervously as Haquikah peered at her with huge hazel eyes.
"If you say so…"
The two talked for a long time about the past two years and their lives. Haquikah was fine, it turned out, because Jarha had gotten a place as the head palace guard and the two were living well.
Haquikah had still been tending to horses. Amuenet, talking about her life nowadays, barely noticed the stables were getting steadily darker.
After about an hour or so, Amuenet looked up in alarm.
"It is sunset! I must go!" she cried, "I'll be back tomorrow Haquikah!"
"My Lady!" Haquikah exclaimed, "Be careful! I shall wait!"
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Amuenet ran frantically through the corridors. If she were late, she would be in great trouble.
She was so frantic that she bumped into someone who was coming around the corner.
Amuenet picked herself up from the ground, her head spinning. She felt dizzy. Clutching her head, Amuenet felt the wound on her arm open again and blood pouring out.
Oh brilliant… She thought sarcastically.
"I-I'm sorry," She managed to stammer as she clutched her arm.
"Are you alright?" a deep, almost gentle voice asked from above her.
Amuenet gripped her arm, wincing as she felt a jab of pain run up it and a hand was offered to her. She jerked her arm back, feeling scared. It was pitch-black and she had no way of telling who this person was.
"Who are you?" she asked hesitantly, feeling a weird sense of nervousness in the pit of her stomach. She stood up unsteadily, swaying slightly.
The person stood in front of her and Amuenet noticed he was only a few inches taller than herself. Amuenet glanced behind her and saw a few torches lighting up in the darkened hallway. It was night…
She jumped as a torch beside her lit up in a whirl of flames. She felt even more shocked as the bright torchlight illuminated the figure's face in front of her.
Tri-coloured hair. Glittering gold jewellery. The Millennium Puzzle was shining around his neck. Those crimson eyes were a mixture of emotions.
Amuenet gasped as she recognized the person.
Was this who she thought it was?
Author's NoteFear the evil, evil cliffies! EVIL I TELL YA! Ahem. Sorry about that. Our little 'break' did not go too long (Reviewers sigh in relief) so here's the next chapter. Anyway, a HUGE thanks to reviewers but, sadly, the responses are now banned. How sad!
See you all next time!
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