Chapter X

Priestess Zainab

Almost another year (2 months away from her birthday in Gregorian, Akhet the third day of the month was her birthday) so it was Tekh the first month of the flooding season. Zainab was growing up as a fine and beautiful young woman, like her mother expected her to become. But it was not her birthday, so she was yet to become sixteen. Though Zainab never married early like most girls did; it did not affect her because she never wanted to be like the other girls. She wanted freedom and maybe love if she can find that man. Still hoping to get that horse, she asked her parents years ago…when she was nine years old.

Having a horse to her meant freedom and she didn't have to be confined in Thebes. Zainab was perhaps more prettier than Nefertiti, she become a proper lady indirectly she became even though her heart screamed to be herself. She hid that part of herself from her family and only acted the way she was with her close animal friends. She met priest Set, he she saw him couple of times, not as much as she hoped for, they were somewhat of friends, Faiz understood somewhat of her strange ways with the crocodiles, but she never speak to the crocodiles in front of him perhaps to Set if not embarrassed.

Zainab's hair was much longer in length reaching down to her lower back; her bangs were now long strands in full bangs slightly curved, strands of hair laid in front on her breast; on her right side she had gold beads. She thought her hair was turning white, hopefully not. Zainab's outfit she wore was light blue kalasiris with a halter neckline; she had ankh earrings, a gold bead headpiece around her head; gold band around her waist and bracelets on her left wrists, and flat shoes.

She sat there looking bored as her two dogs laid there at her feet bored. She was reading a scroll on Magician Platypus, and sitting at the window sill with the sun basking her with its sunglow in her grandfather's library.

Amazonite lifted her head, as Keret entered the library, she turned from her own left of Zainab's right, wearing a black kalasiris with scoop neckline with a gold sash tied at her waist and no jewelry and she had black sandals, her grandmother frowned and clicked her tongue.

"Hey, kid how you are doing?" she crossed her arms and approached the teenager on the window, "are you ready to become a priestess?"

"I am so thrill…I cannot wait to be a priestess," Zainab said as she rolled the scroll up, "I was actually thinking about my ka, and well I…" her voice had changed as a soft spoken tone.

Keret smirked, "so you know you're going to the palace for official business," Keret said, she walked toward a table at the left and picked up a vase while examining it, "I mean your mentor didn't say anything else?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"Halima has well…actually knows who the next wielder is," Keret put the vase down and turned around, "aren't you curious who it is?"

"Hmm interesting…" Zainab said looking out at the window, Silver and Amazonite sat up. "I wonder who it is…"

"Damn no curiosity at all, well I guess you'll find out at the palace,"

Zainab twisted her body and dropped down onto the floor, "lucky them," Keret watched her granddaughter put the scroll on the floor, "If I had the Dragon's Eye I would actually find out the true purpose of it, but go beyond my lengths however…I did not find anything else besides Tahir Re was the designer of the Akhet item," Keret leaned back on the table with her arms supported her weight.

"Really?"

"Yes, I should get going now, Faiz should be waiting outside,"

"See you later kiddo," Keret said, Silver and Amazonite followed their master, and down the stairs.

Outside was busy day for most of the citizens; people were again busy with their lives and Zainab had a plan today, few days from now she was going to be a priestess but before that she wanted to test something out. She told Faiz was also growing up to be a fine young man though Zainab's wasn't interested in him, he black short hair and was now even muscular…Zainab still thought he was working out or doing manual labor. Besides that Faiz was excited to help out Zainab after she told him, he can finally be her assistant almost two years. They were moving forward with their strange relationship.

"So what are your plans, Zainab?" he asked, he still looked the same as ever, he wore a black cut sleeve tunic with a white shendyt and sandals and carried his bag with him like usual.

"Well first we need to head this secret base my grandfather said we could use,"

"Great, then we should get going," Faiz said.

They walked along to the city and reached the part of the poor district near the gates of the city. They stood in front of a grimy old building it was square shaped building of white however couple of cracks at the bottom edges looked like an elephant smack the bricks and slapped it on with no care at all. They looked around wondering if this was the building, Zainab was so because her grandfather said he used it a lot, no wonder why it looked so run down, the double wooden gray plain doors were at the center and there was a window at the right, and a broken vase laying on the side. No one, which was good she opened the door and Faiz followed her and they entered a semi-dark room. Silver and Amazonite stayed near Zainab, the interior of the building had a dark ceiling which was probably the same color as the exterior white but appeared black and dark gray with faintly cat paintings across the walls corners, a hallway at the right of the building and two or three doors, on the left had another corridor that lead to another room, the dogs were sniffing around.

"What is this place?"

"It's kind of complicated but my grandfather told me this is where he hid his secrets and now mine are too," she walked up toward a shelf full of scrolls and books. There was a desk with a miniature model of Thebes. Right in the far back, with a dim lamp sitting on the table,

"Oh wow is this Thebes?" he asked picking up a little camel and horse figures. "So much detail…" he paused and turned around as Zainab bent down to retrieve a chest and opened it revealing more scrolls. "Who built this?"

Zainab said "Who else?" as she rummaged through chest, "my grandfather is known as a bookman, and he likes building,"

"Well at least he doesn't study fish all time and spends his time fishing," Faiz said as he turned around bent down over a flower shop, he picked up the little flower cart, "I mean I literally visit him and we end up fishing and it's soooo boring,"

"You fish?" as she pulled out the scroll, "found it," whispering, and opened the scroll.

"Sometimes, but something I wouldn't want to do in my life," Faiz put the camel and nearly knocked down a solder figure and a naval ship. "So…what are you going to show me?"

"This," she came up toward him with the scroll opened. He looked at it and there were four box squares and some notes on the side, he stared at it with utter cluelessness. "I was study for quite some time, and I found out about characteristics…"

"On what?" he asked sounding curious, Zainab pointed at some cattle drawings as she opened the traits;

"I went to observe Karida's family cattle, and discovered there are characteristics of their coat coloring passed down to the offspring…" she paused "I put the recessive traits and dominate traits, I observed on a black bull and a white cow," she paused. "the recessive was white and dominate was black," so each parent had one trait each of dominant and recessive traits…and I found the results on the left side upper corner all were dominate and the lower left was recessive traits, and both parents had the mix of both traits on these other squares…"

"Wait what we talking about about…?"

"Coat coloring…"

"Oh uh," he laughed nervously. "So what color is the calf?"

"Well the bull and cow had three offspring over the past three years….so one calf was born black, the next year a calf was born black and white, and this year this calf is black and white but more white than the second calf…" showing the pictures of the calves.

"What are you getting at again?" he still didn't get it what she was actually telling him but he had to ask. "What are these findings for?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to prove that everyone had set of characteristics that their parents carry with them…."

"Right…." Faiz was starting to begin to understand why people thought priest Kateb was weird, and now realizes Zainab probably carries his traits….her strange personality. "Ahem so, does that count for everything?"

"Hmm you mean like personality or other characteristics? Eye color…?"

"Yes,"

"OH well, of course that theory goes to your answer," she said she rolled up the scroll and placed it back in the chest. "We should go and head to Nile…"

"Does your parents know they you do this?"

"No, if they did I would have been locked up in my own house," she said walking toward the door. "Besides my schedule changed, I have to now go during the night most of the times, my parents are not home, and my mother is too busy to notice lately besides seeing me working on my lessons. And as father he is busy with whatever he does…"

"So any other ideas you have?"

"Yes I do actually however I need you to fetch Hapi and bring her to his house, we have trial experiment" she opened the door and was half way through it. Faiz turned as the dogs ran up to them and squeezed through the door.

Faiz scratched his head, "and what about Cricket?"

"We will see her in the evening, but I cannot see her during the day I become a priestess it's in three days,"

"And tomorrow?"

"Uh not sure about tomorrow," Zainab said, she really wasn't so sure.

Faiz crossed his arms, "And what are we doing today?"

"A trial experiment tomorrow for sure," Zainab said, she placed her hands behind her back. Silver and Amazonite watched people they stood with their ears erected. The hounds guarded their master not flinching at one moment.

"Alright I will see you later," as Zainab walked out of the Secret Forge, Faiz closed the door. Amazonite and Silver barked at some people passing by, her assistant waved to her.

"Come on Amazon and Silver lets go for a walk,"

Zainab walked her dogs along the streets, they followed her with a slight trot ahead of her, the dogs panted because of their excitement, by the time they finished their walk. Silver ended up urinating in Kateb's gardens; Amazonite had found a bracelet and buried it. Zainab went to the library again and found a book on Magician Platypus and kas she held two books in each hand debating which she should read. She turned around to face the obedient hounds they sat there.

"Which one kas or the achievements of Magician Platypus?" the dogs got up and barked as they pointed at the book with their caramel colored noses at the book about ka. "Well I suppose I should that than the cloying charm of Magician Platypus," she put the book away, it had a little image of the Magician Platypus gleamed. Silver took off somewhere out into the stables when they left for the streets again, the walls of her grandfather's house were white however Amazonite stood by Zainab's side like a guard dog. Wondering around the marketplace and was intently reading about kas, she forgot about why she was out here. Apparently if she strengthen her ka, she might able to summon it. If she had a ka it would probably be a strange animal…a goose, or a platypus even though Magician Platypus was adorn by his audience (mainly females) his cute personality out shined his strange appearance however Zainab didn't have that. Well if I had a platypus it I hope it would be cute too, but maybe not…the ombre blonde held the book from the back of the spine with her left hand while other hand was on the pages. She dreamed it would look lovely but at the same time she probably knew it was that duck with four web feet and a flat tail! Because she was so weird according to her friends Faiz and Karida they joked she might have a fish or cat ka. Amazonite led Zainab through the crowds of people, she had a terrible habit of reading while walking. Ah I must have got that from Grandfather.

The Ibizan hound walked backwards as her ears pricked up, the piercing green eyes of the Amazonite, her eyes were literally almost green not even close to the actual gemstone. The gold collar gleamed. Her master glanced around and watched people passing by her, and they trekked around her. Zainab flipped the page and her female canine friend glanced at her. She could have sworn she saw a soldier looked at her, odd why was he looking at her or was it Amazonite. Maybe she was becoming like her mother as in her appearance not exactly with black hair but in beauty sense.

Zainab muttered, "Maybe I am living up to my name," Amazonite looked up at her master. Perhaps Zainab was living up to her name, after all it did meant desert flower or beauty. She was kind of curious of why her mother named her that, oh a curious idea or… came into her mind. Bright in the daylight and a pleasant weather as well, her dog paced around her, Zainab and Amazonite wander through the town, but were not sightseeing.

She found herself at the center of the city, she sat at circular pool area with lotus afloat, the water reminded her of the Nile, one of the most favorite things about her homeland and the only source of water, the pool area was surrounded by limestone elevated from the ground not floating but built onto the ground. Sitting down crossed legged with the book in her face. A flock of sheep came trotting passed her with the shepherd nearby, the bleated and greeted with everyone and everything. She smiled and the sheep peered to look over a book.

"Nothing like a good book to read, adventures of Magician Platypus has many records of his journey," she sat there with the sheep. After sitting there with the sheep that were curious and wanted to almost eat her book. She had to struggle to get them away from the book.

She heard voices, and didn't know where they were coming from. Zainab glanced around.

"Is that Zainab?" said a male voice. Zainab looked around, Amazonite stood there alerted as the dog pawed the sandy ground, however Zainab's eyes glued to the pages.

"My Ra is that her?" said another voice, Amazonite whipped around licking her white lips, "she has sure changed." Another laugh came from a familiar voice, Amazonite tapped on Zainab with her paw. The blonde ombre looked down and bent down.

A stuck up female voice with an imperious tone, and Zainab clearly remembered who that was, oh Ra the horrible memories were slowly coming back to her, "There is no way that's Zainab," their voices seemed to be getting louder however Zainab stood up and wanted to avoid them, she literally forgot about seeing that wicked bitch her grandmother called Nefertiti several times when she was nine years old.

"Nefertiti, she's the only one with that hair, it's her," said a cheerful voice.

Someone laughed, "Let's say hello to her,"

"Go ahead I won't, I already heard from my mother how pretty she supposedly had grown since she saw her at Shu and Karida's wedding." Nefertiti's voice chide,

"Zainab," said a male voice, Zainab looked at her book and didn't bother looking up, "aren't you going to look up from that book of yours?" Amazonite growled angrily the huntress bared her teeth at them; Zainab sighed and closed her book and keeping a mental note what page she was one. "Zainab it's good to see you," she stared at the three teenagers older than herself. She was near by a scroll shop where people went to buy papyrus, ink and reed pens.

She looked at black hair swept bangs, a grown pig assuming it was Ankh was no longer a piglet but a grown pet pig with a gleaming ankh collar. The boy stood there with his gold collar pig, Isar. He wore elaborate white robes down to his ankles and a gold band at his waist. Isar was mean to her? She didn't remember him that as much.

The other she recognized immediately was Ahmose with his brown messy hair, he wore a gold rim sleeveless pale beige tunic with a gold sash tied at his waist with white shendyt, and he had sandals and gold armbands. They have grown so much they looked like they could have been around six feet or slightly less. And smacked right in the middle was her so called friend Nefertiti however they broke their friendship long time ago. Zainab frowned so did the rival of hers.

Nefertiti was far taller than her, dear Ra she hoped she wasn't going to be short. Zainab was almost five feet and five inches. The black haired teen girl should be nineteen now, she her wavy curl had grown long down to end of her back, she wore a pale pink kalasiris with jewel neckline of red dazzled jewels at the collar, she had several bracelets on her right wrists and her arms were crossed. And her blue eyes didn't help with that scowl, she Ra how in the world she married Amun. What did he see in this horrible witch or how Keret had said once bitch. And worst her pompous worthless dog name Pharaoh had grown to, he was black as night and stood there with his red and blue collar, he was far bigger than Amazonite.

"Zainab," Nefertiti glanced from head to toe, Amazonite growled at the dark haired young woman. "Looks like you did grow." Her tone sounded as if she was the surprised.

Ahmose beamed at Zainab, he didn't seem to take his eyes off the ombre blonde, "You look so different from the last time I saw you," Isar and Nefertiti turned to him either with surprised or scowling expression. He scratched behind his head, "so um your hair has gotten lighter,"

Isar glanced at Zainab, "so how are you?" why did he care and why was everyone staring at her. Ahmose well she knew later on when she met him again at eleven, he had a crush on her. He wasn't afraid in showing his feelings. But she was not interested in him at all.

"Always trying to get attention like always," Nefertiti said.

"…" Zainab said say anything. There was nothing to say to them, they weren't her friends and would never be like Faiz, Atem, or Karida. Or even the nice random people she had met like Cleopatra or that girl who accidently threw that rock at her, which her name hadn't come to her mind yet.

"So um," Ahmose began his face slightly flushed, "so how's your family?"

Zainab blinked and gave a flat response, "their fine," Ahmose was her friend but he hanged around Nefertiti, the only person would be close was Amun but she hadn't seen him. She only heard once he joined the army and he loved horses so who knows what he did.

Ahmose smiled, "and so are you going any—" Nefertiti shot a glare at him and dropped her arms placed them on her hips. Isar didn't say anything but bent down petting Ankh the pig sat there being cuddled by his master.

"So, what have you been doing all this time?" Ahmose frowned at her and knitted his brows, Zainab didn't reply she knew what the snob would say "oh wait let me guess you went into hiding,"

Better than seeing your face, Nefertiti…Zainab looked down at her dog Amazonite, and glanced at Pharaoh the dogs were staring at one another and the black male dog slowly approached her dog.

"I know what you're thinking how in the world I married Amun," Zainab wasn't thinking about that, she was imagining a platypus slapping that girl in the face with a large fan. "Well I am not telling you, so I wonder why you aren't married?"

Isar stood up and turned to Nefertiti, "Um she's not going to—"

"Oh right, your weird," Nefertiti said rudely.

"I am surprised you are married, I thought you and Ahmose would be a nice pair…" Zainab said in low voice. "However I have no interested in marriage,"

Nefertiti chuckled sinister, "Of course you haven't, because you're so peculiar that no man would ever look at you. Reading books all the time, and talking to crocodiles." Zainab frowned and glared at her. Amazonite growled at Nefertiti.

Isar said in a low voice, "well her grandfather is a bookworm so…nothing wrong with that,"

Ahmose shot a glare at the black haired girl, "Nefertiti seriously don't be that stuck up girl like you were before," he turned to the snob. Zainab frowned and wanted to leave however they were blocking her way.

"Why would I be with him?" she pointed at Ahmose, Nefertiti pointed at herself, "Please, I can get any guy if I wanted too, but I had feelings for Amun,"

Isar said with a smile, "nothing wrong with that,"

Then why are you spending your time with Isar and Ahmose….?" Zainab asked, she gave a stern look at Nefertiti. The two boys looked at one another, the air felt tight and tense as if it all escaped from Egypt and into the atmosphere. Zainab and Nefertiti were glaring at one another.

"They're my friends," Nefertiti said with a pout. Pharaoh backed up and Amazonite glanced at her master.

"Hmm…" Zainab said as she glanced at the book, and then placed her hands behind her back.

Ahmose took a step forward in front of Nefertiti, but not to side with her, "um so Zainab," he glanced at Isar to keep an eye on Nefertiti, "what have you been doing all this time?"

Isar asked, looking at Amazonite, "you have a pretty dog, where did you get her?" the green eyes made the dog stood out, "she has a lovely eyes," the pig walked up to Amazonite which Zainab didn't mind at all, Ankh was always welcomed to her house, she actually believed he was adorable. The two animals sniffed one another.

"I got her from the Omari House as a gift however for my years of disappearance I have been studying to become a priestess—oh I already have reached that goal…" Zainab said out of arrogance, "I have been practicing magic, studying my swordsmanship," she wiped her nails on her shoulder looking at them while the other hand carried the book. She then held the book wrapped in her arms. "I wonder what you have been doing."

Ahmose looked shocked, "What? Damn Zainab," his voice was muffled since Nefertiti spoke at the same time.

"Ugh, you've been reading all this time?" Nefertiti said in disgust. Well at least I have a brain, and not just looks.

Suddenly Isar said looking at the black haired young woman, "I thought she had her crocodiles the last time we saw her," Nefertiti laughed and so did he slightly. Zainab was frowning at them.

"Oh right you're crocodile friends how are they?" asked Nefertiti, she laughed, "did they die or are they alive?" smirking at the ombre blonde. Dear Ra, kill her please. "What was that crocodile's name?" turning to the two boys, Ahmose didn't say anything.

"Scarab?" said Isar in naïve tone.

Ahmose shaking his head, "something with an insect name," shrugging.

"Cricket," Zainab said in low voice.

"Does it matter? Anyway it was nice seeing you Zainab," Ahmose said, he was about to grabbed Zainab's arm. Nefertiti shoved him aside and came right into Zainab's face.

"You and me have unfinished business," Nefertiti said growling.

"What business we were never friends," Zainab said with stern and uninterested expression. "I think you are wasting my time, so leave I have other things to attend to" she backed up and turned around.

"Fine," Nefertiti said, "more reasons why I didn't want my mother to invited you to my feast, " she gave that snobbish expression as if looking down at Zainab as an insignificant being or worthless creature, "I hope you never find happiness." Turned around and locks of black hair nearly touched the young soon to be priestess, she sternly watched Isar and Nefertiti disappeared into the crowd with Ankh and Pharaoh in their tracks.

Ahmose sighed, he placed his hands on hips, "so um I am so sorry she came I mean I thought she would change."

"…"

"I mean like she's gotten worse I suppose," Ahmose rubbing the back of his neck.

Ahmose and Zainab were still standing; he looked at her, Zainab looked completely serious. He just gave a gentle smile hoping that it would ease the tension between her and maybe the others like Nefertiti. "Um, it was nice seeing you, Zainab, standing up for yourself…"

"…." She didn't look at him. "Why are you here?"

"Well I haven't seen you in a long time" Ahmose said then looked at some woman who was carrying water jug. "So, how is your priestess training going?"

"I am actually finished, I'm going to become an official priestess in few days,"

"Congratulations…" he said smiling then he frowned and looked ashamed. "I'm sorry I doubted you, I guess you're not that weird that once thought you were and your actually pretty normal," she glanced at him.

Zainab wasn't so sure how to respond, "Um…well thank you?" uncertain if those were the right words to say.

Ahmose still glanced at her; his staring didn't make her feel any better. He seemed to like her because of her appearance, he was sure shallow and his dreams were probably far from hers. "I really think you've changed in a good way and this might sound strand but you—you remind of your mother but different and you became more pretty, or shall I say independent," scratching behind his head nervously, Zainab looked at him but didn't say anything. He said one last thing "I hope you have a good day and I hope to see you again," he waved at her. "See you later?" she just gave a nod, and apparently was lost in thought. Ahmose turned around and left Zainab, she looked down at the ka book. Amazonite glanced and whined at her master.

"Wow I suppose I changed? And that Nefertiti has not, I suppose some people never learn right Amazonite?" the dog barked in response, "so…what should we do?" the dog touched the book with her caramel nose. Zainab smiled at the dog, "that's what I was thinking, we should go to the library," they walked through the crowd with her dog galloping away.

Hmm….Did I change that much? Zainab thought.

The straps of a saddle being tighten around the black mare Magic, and the horse shook her head and pawed the ground in the stables. Keret stood there as Zainab entered the stables from the right double doors; the stables were repainted with few empty stalls at the right for new horses in the future. The wood was painted red with gold inlaid of lotuses. Her grandmother stood there in a midnight blue kalasiris with scoop neckline, her cleavage was showing, not a day old at all, the woman's dark blue eyes focus on the bridle of gold, Silver was sitting in the hay bale with Amazonite standing on her hind legs.

"What brings you here to my stables?" with a sly smile, Kateb was nearby checking on the horses with a scroll of their names Astennu, Isra, Magic, Rain, were Halima's horses their names were on their stables, and Keret's horses, Paint, Kmt, were in the right side of the stables stalls, and the rest were in the right stalls, Lovely, Sobek, Storm, Princess, Sandy, Prince Re, a red roan stallion, Milky was a white mare, Heart. A donkey was there and this was the main stables however a much smaller stabled across from here where most of the young horses lived excluding Magic, Lovely and Princess were fillies. Under the age of four but not foals anymore; Keret turned around as Zainab glanced at her grandfather in pale blue and gold robes with plain tunic underneath, he counted the horses. Muttering their names and their health status, he was right in front of a white mare's stall, the horse looked at him.

"She's obviously checking on the horses or us?" Kateb said, as she turned around and walked around the black mare, the messy mane looked like the wind swept the strands of hair. Checking the bridle, patting the neck, Magic neighed.
"Actually no I was wondering if I could borrow some your raw materials, Grandmother?" asked Zainab, Keret turned around with a smirked.

"And why would you think I would lend you my materials,"

Zainab shifted her feet in the ground, "I would like to use them and I am your granddaughter," she placed her hands behind her back, Keret walked around the horse touching her so the horse would know where's she at.

"Alright, go ahead," Keret said, "just remember you don't owe me anything but to marry a handsome man,"

"Wh-what?" Zainab said blinking in confusion.

"You know who am I talking about?" Keret eyeing her granddaughter. Kateb turned around by the time he reached the lonely donkey, "What?"

"Keret, don't say that," Kateb shaking his head, he touched the donkey's muzzle. The black haired woman smirked as she took the reins of Magic.

Zainab slightly tilted her head, "What handsome man?"

"You'll see," Keret smirking, her granddaughter lifted a brow, "now get on with your so call building, whatever you're planning to make." Zainab gave a shy smile.

"Thank you,"

Zainab opened her Journal of Discoveries; she was in a small building filled with countless materials in shelves at the left and all the way to corner of the center of the room, from satin, cotton, leather, linen, wool, in the higher part of the shelves had copper and bronze jaws filled with jewels, gold and glass, and tools sat on a large table that was pushed against a table. Zainab flipped through the pages and a drawing of a hippo with a side bags similar to horse's saddle bags, however she flipped and a drawing of a black dragon with gold armor, she had a diagram of a saddle.

"Maybe if I see him again for now I need to make the Hapi's saddlebags," she didn't know why a couple of years ago, she thought to make a saddle for a dragon? She knew they exist there were evidence a dragon named Zal, he was white as the clouds, and the faint imaginative dream or believe she met a dragon with gold armor that shined like the god Ra.

She already had Hapi's measurement.

She spent five hours and just making the strap, and the door opened she turned around and her grandfather, "Zainab, Hapi in the back," he pointed "in the yard,"

"Good," Zainab said cutting the leather straps, Kateb left without a word, she could make anything in a day but she knew her limits would mean she would have inefficient sleep. But it didn't matter. She was diligent in her work. She spent the hours putting together the saddle bags together with the buckle of gold as Faiz came in sweating.

"Are we going to put it on her for a test?"

"Yes," Zainab turned around finishing the last buckle; she somehow managed to attach the metal pieces together, "Bring her in…" Faiz wiped his forehead and pulled his hair back, before it fell back into place, "It is done…"

"She can't fit in here," Zainab turned around with the saddle bag, and dragged to the floor as Faiz opened the door, "oh alright," the hippopotamus had grown over the years, she was nearly six years old as the hippo stood there eating watermelon on the floor munching as the pink juices dripped, the water horse stood in the large green yard with the high white walls and the palm trees swaying in the back. Some servants moved around the prop shops, Zainab and Faiz placed the saddlebags onto her and slipped it on fitting perfectly. Hapi slightly moved slowly, they tugged onto the straps. "It fits exactly to my calculations,"

They let Hapi walk around the yard, she seemed alright with the saddlebags, and Zainab commanded the hippo to run for a short distance, the water beast stopped. Zainab and Faiz concluded the testing would be finished tomorrow or next month for a final trial since these next couple of days would be busy. Kateb told his granddaughter he would keep Hapi here for a couple of hours in the coming weeks and take her back to the Nile.

When around lunch came Zainab went with home. She ate lunch with her father dressed a dark red cut sleeve tunic and black shendyt and of course his black sash sitting across from her Kalima and Beset were talking both dressed in white kalasiris.

"I can't believe she's going to become a priestess," Beset passed by, "it feels like the years just gone by,"

"Of course, she is, hard work pays off." Kalima said the two servants headed over the kitchen.

Zainab glanced at her father eating his Stuffed falafel with shredded beef, Zainab wasn't eating beef even though her family can afford it, she usually ate fruit half the time and cabbage, however she had a few stuffed falafel and ful medames with bread, water sat on the table.

Her mother wasn't here yet. Halima came downstairs dressed in a pale purple kalasiris that had a shoulder off neckline, and a slight opening at her left leg, her silver bracelets wrapped around her wrist, she had the Dragon's Eye with her and the jackal moon pendant. Ever since Zainab got that gift her mother wore the pendant. She pulled up a chair next to her daughter and sat there.

"Zainab," Halima said picking up a plate of grapes and onion soup as Raja placed more bread on the table, "how are you feeling?"

That was odd, Zainab turned around confused, she was about to popped a stuff falafel in her mouth. "Um… I am good?"

"Good," Halima started to eat, Zainab looked around and Khalid said nothing to his daughter. "Khalid, are you coming to the Palace for our daughter?" the platinum blonde haired man turned to his wife.

"She's becoming a priestess or is there something more?"

Halima turned and lowered her voice, Zainab tried to lean in their conversation, "I told you, remember," Khalid's gray eyes shifted, he picked up his copper cup and drank the water.

"Yes," he cleared his throat; he picked up bread and tore it in half scooping up the falafel, "I know what you told me, last night."

"So are you coming?" Zainab glanced at her parents they were discussing something in secret.

"Of course," Khalid said, he glanced at his daughter. Zainab's jolted when her mother turned around, "I wouldn't miss it," he almost has a faint smile as he looked down at his food.

Halima smiled, and dipped her bread in the ful medames from her daughter, "I'm sure you cannot eat all of this?" Zainab shyly smiled at her, as she moved the bowl closer sharing her food with her mother.

"No," Zainab said shaking her head.

The family ate together lunch and Zainab sat and read a book for thirty minutes then headed out for a stroll and ran into Set, he was heading home apparently, she talked to him. He didn't say anything else but was pleased that she was going to become a priestess, she wasn't so sure if she was excited to see him, but she hoped to see that other man. She was afraid to ask about the other priests and ended up talking about how Cricket was doing. In contract she wished she could ask him she felt like he didn't need to know. He said he would see her in couple of days. During the evening she visited Cricket and sat at the Nile, she watched the crocodiles swimming; they stood there with the fireflies twinkling under the tree, Cricket capture some in her mouth letting them glow in her mouth, she swallowed some and her stomached glowed briefly, Zainab didn't want to jump in the water it's been so long since she swam with them. The water was freezing cold so she had to go before her mother finds out she was out too long. She headed to Kateb's library reading until her mother told her it was time for her to go home and head home. Yet hadn't told her mother she ran into Nefertiti. That horrible person…ugh…why does she even exist. She sighed after changing into her night dress.

Zainab went to bed, and before that she told herself tomorrow will be better, she was up for a couple of hours and ended up drawing the dragon with the gold armor in her Journal of Discoveries and she pulled out a diary she kept about her thoughts on people including her family. She wrote about her father, mother, Set and her grandmother Keret. Then she put them underneath her bed and lay in her bed until she fell asleep.

Zainab woke up early in the morning put a linen dress with a beaded illusion neckline of pale lilac kalasiris, the skirt was faded and at the ends, there was an opening in the center that exposed her calves, gold strap sandals up to her ankles, decorated on her head was a matching tiara veil to her dress. Of course Zainab never forgets her chokers, a gold with pendant of ankh. Brushing her hair, she had one more day before she went to the palace and the dogs Silver and Amazonite laid there sleeping on the floor together. She quickly grabbed her bag slung it over her shoulder

She had to make sure leaving the house early and is back as she left before the sun rise and was out of the house to check on Cricket and Hapi; she walked passed through the gates without any of the soldiers asking her anything. She walked all the way to the Nile, Cricket was on shore with her siblings, Flute, Twilight, Amulet, Ra and Dawn, their parents were nearby, Flute and Ra were the only males and the rest were female of the clutch. They heard a disturbance and immediately saw Zainab. She bent down on her knees as the six young crocodiles surrounded her; they looked at her with their unfriendly eyes. Hmm let's see if I recall, Twilight a black with violet shades described to be mean, Flute pale yellow like his mother without at the blue coloring was known to be shy, he didn't even look at Zainab. Amulet was violet in color, Ra quiet and golden in color, Dawn pale yellow with hint of pink, the sweetest in the bunch I could have sworn they were all plain green or gray in color when they were so small and of course Cricket the lush leaf. She touched all their snouts in order, Amulet and Cricket tried to sit on her. Sitting on the grass, some birds began to wake from the dusk day, the sky was half dark and half-light not exactly twilight.

"Ah, you two are too large," as Amulet crawled on the ombre blonde back. The crocodile was now around six feet in length however they were still considered small in actual adult crocodile size.

"I miss being small," said Amulet.

"I don't, being small means easy prey for others," Twilight said, her eyes glared at her sisters. Cricket rested the pointed head on Zainab's lap, Ra and Flute approached her, it's been so long since they have gathered around her—it was when she was night.

"Um do…you all miss Rain, Cloudy, Hapi, Azul, Horus, Nile, Light, Dark, and Shadow?" the young crocodiles murmured among each other, she couldn't hear them. Night and Dusk didn't move at all.

"I do, nothing like missing family and having your heart torn from your body," Ra said.

Amulet said, as she slid down from Zainab's back, suddenly the young teenager felt cramped she had to straighten herself and sat side ways, "All of do miss them however they are in the afterlife watching from the skies,"

"Zainab how big are we now?" asked Twilight. Zainab looked around at them, Ra and Twilight were raising their heads high in pride as if trying to show how big they've grown, Flute turned around in a C shape, and calculating in her mind, Ra and Flute were bigger than their sisters almost nine feet for them, the females were at least seven and below, Dawn was the smallest.

"Well Ra, Flute you both are nine feet,"

Ra growled with joy, "Sweet," he then thrashed his tail, "I know I am eating right!" Flute nodded in agreement. The young crocodiles shifted around her, Twilight touched Zainab's bag, Cricket backed up and looked up at her dear friend.

Flute said in a low voice, "I knew I did something right…"

Twilight hissed, "the boys are always big,"

"And you girls are…" Zainab said touching their muzzles with the tip of her index finger in delicate manner, "are at least five to seven feet however I am sorry to say this Dawn you are the smallest about four feet and half,"

"Aww," Dawn said turning almost in a shy manner, "well I am working on it,"

Zainab said as she crossed her arms, "You need to get big," she paused and turned around with the crocodiles moving around, their tails swished, "If I am correct you need to eat more large prey,"

"Eat the sheep," said Ra in a low voice.

Twilight turned to him with her dark narrow mouth opened in hissing manner, "The cattle are bigger which means more meat,"

"A gazelle would be good too." Ra said.

"The better to get big, children nothing is waste it's an opportunity," chucked Dusk, "Dawn better get to the good hunting spots,"

Zainab clicked her tongue, "No one is eating the livestock," the crocodiles whispered in disappointment, she turned and saw Twilight snatching a resting goose before it could do anything the feathers drifted in the air, "besides you all have the Nile."

Ra said in a loud voice, "Well one day,"

"No you are not," Zainab said sternly, she looked at the sky. Lying down as the crocodiles moved aside into a line, Night said nothing and Dusk went into the river. She had her hands behind her head and prompt her legs up with her left crossed. "I think you all will…be large crocs, and flourish,"

They sat there silently watching the sunrise slowly the sky threw the night sheets aside and opening the curtains of light to Egypt. The skies were clear no single cloud in the sky maybe a few in the distance, she still could see the moon faintly vanishing from the light of Ra. She was thinking about getting the fish for her friends and Zainab suddenly sat up, and got up. Her parents wake up in two hours and she needed to trekked back into the city before it gets crowded and back into her room. Her heart raced, her parents shouldn't find out or she would never see the light of day again.

"Aw you have to leave?" asked Ra almost whiny.

"Yes," Zainab said putting the bag on her shoulder.

"Come back soon, whenever you can," said Dawn, the glittering in pink and yellow slipped into the water with Ra, Twilight, and the rest of them were in the water except Cricket.

Twilight swam by the edges of the river, "could you get us the fried fish like last time?"

"Of course I mean…if I can…" Zainab said. Cricket hissed as if getting that fried fish was important, "Alright each of you will get one, but I might have to bring Faiz with me," rubbing her chin, she couldn't possibly carry on that fish and she knew the crocodiles wanted a large fish in their mouths.

Ra laughed "Sure, anything to get us that the fish!" he splashed in the water, but his siblings didn't seem to care.

"Well of course but it would be have to be after my busy week, if you all do not…mind I have an important day tomorrow," she placed her hands on hips briefly turning to her friends.

"Oh yes you become a priestess tomorrow?" said Flute,

Amulet commented, "She did mention that some time ago? Well good luck to you Zainab, I hope you have a good week,"

Zainab smiled at the reptiles, "thank you, Amulet," the croc giggled, "well I must get going," she took a few steps as Cricket watched her dear friend was leaving however the crocodiles were suddenly gossiping about her. She turned around when the golden male aquatic reptile almost leaped out of the water.

Suddenly Ra asked, "Are you getting married or that man was your husband?" Zainab suddenly realized what he was asking about. Her face flushed red, "Uh what was his name?"

Zainab suddenly muttered, "His name is Set and no he is not my husband…" nearly touching her cheek out of embarrassment and she knew they were never like that. He was a distant friend perhaps, she was surprised and relieved they didn't mention about Faiz.

Flute said something almost inaudible, "Well you're always here with Set."

Dawn swiftly turned around, "True, so true," then she giggled, "maybe she's secretly married to him,"

Dusk commented in the distance, "Children she is not married, and stop with your silly talk"

The black crocodile with gold, Amulet swam next to her mother, "I know she isn't, but she will be, and we would never know. But like you said mothing she's too young right now for a mate," with hint of dream like state as she drifted off to her fantasies.

Dusk the pale mother crocodile said in her daughter's response, "true, Amulet, very true however we should just wait and see what happens." She sounded so gentle in her voice like usual it was like soothing mother calming her baby with a lullaby.

"Who cares…we only care she becomes a priestess," Twilight said rudely.

Dawn, Flute, and Dusk who wasn't far said in unison, "We know about her becoming a priestess! No need to tell us," the large black croc of a father watched from the distance as he swam into and near other crocodiles float.

"Yes, that is correct…I will become a priestess" she paused, "well I will see you all later next week hopefully," Zainab turned her back. Cricket watched her friend leave the Nile,

Dawn, Ra, Twilight, Flute, Dusk, and Amulet with Cricket hissing, "Goodbye Zainab, and come to us when you have become a priestess, we hope to see you later gator!" they chimed in unison. The low breeze swerved and blew gently in the air. The crocodiles were all swimming in the Nile now.

"You all soon," the ombre blonde said with a shy smile, gave a short wave then raced home.

By the time she got home she dropped to the bed and fell asleep shortly, she jolted up and had to tell Beset who just came in that she woke up really early and got dress. Straightening her clothes and hair, and kohl, immediately going downstairs to be greeted by her mother and father, ate breakfast and headed out to meet up with Faiz at his house. While her parents had to go to work, Halima was pleased to see her daughter doing fine. However what she didn't know was that Zainab was secretly going to the Nile without her knowing, how awful it must have been to keep it from them.

Her destination was toward Faiz's house, she wanted to know where he was yesterday, he didn't seem to be happy once she asked a servant and led her to the gardens.

Faiz was wearing a linen tunic down to his knees with a gold sash at his waist, his gold armbands, crouched down in the garden; his sister Kali tied her hair into a loose pony tail, wearing a red gown and gold armband with a copper haired young man dress in dark blue robes over a tunic and white shendyt. They were laughing in the far of the gardens; Leila was nowhere to be found.

"Oh you're here in the worst timing ever,"

"What do you mean?" asked Zainab in a low voice hiding behind a tall plant, she glanced down at Faiz, he sighed.

"My sister decided to marry that boy over there," Faiz stood up, Zainab had a blank face then it turned into a confused expression, "His name Kafele and he is from a wealthy and yesterday I couldn't come to Nile, I am so sorry I didn't come," to the be honest truth she literally forgot about him coming to the Nile, "I mean I came home and my mother was pleased to have one of her children getting married," rolling his eyes, "then there's that moron,"

"Well if she wants him let her be,"

"She doesn't know him,"

"What do you mean by…that?" Zainab knitted her brows together; she placed her hands behind her back.

He sighed and threw his head back, "I mean she literally asked our Father to marry couple of weeks ago, and here's that jerk," he gestured toward the copperhead teenage boy, "I can't imagine them having sex," he walked over to the wall of his house and placed his head.

"Um…well how close are you are with your sister?"

"In the middle of the year around Rekh Wer or I think Renwet there isn't a set date so I was hoping you come to their wedding," he turned around and crossed his arms, "I mean could you?" he should know she didn't like public affairs which including weddings however she gave her time for her two friends as for Kali, she didn't know that well except the girl a year older than she was and prankster, rude, very outgoing.

"Uh…." Zainab said in a long pause, she had been to two weddings, Prince Atem and Karida. Faiz looked at her with sincere, "um I would think about it…" The handsome black haired boy, leaned against the wall.

"Alright, well you have a lot of time before their wedding comes, I mean I can't believe she did this to me, marrying herself into a family and worse it's a moron I don't know," with hint of disappointment. Zainab said nothing and just didn't give any support or a say into his distress. "I didn't think my sister would be stupid and random to ask him, but does have a rule for us we cannot have sex outside our house and we have be either in a relationship but I know my Mother she wants us to marry."

Well I have nothing to say to him, he needs to deal with it perhaps it is own struggle…a strange of feeling of loss. Zainab placed her hand underneath her chin and the left arm under the elbow. She glanced at Kali and Kafele laughing whatever they were giggling about, they acted like they were madly lovesick geese ready to take flight. She observed their body language, she saw Kali touching the future husband to be, on the arm, they were gazing one another in eyes. Interesting…physical touch I wonder how people do that or have that thought of touching one another must be some sort chemistry... The teens were close enough as if they were smiling brightly like a crocodile having a good day in the river. Zainab was lost in thought.

Faiz looked up at her, "what about your family?" she glanced at him, "Zainab?"

"W-what?"

"What about your family?"

"About what again?" distracted from his question.

"What are their rules for you in relationships?"

"Um…I have no idea….I suppose I court then wed?"

"Oh alright sounds restricting," Zainab ignored him and saw Kali turning around and running up to him. The ombre blonde watched him, as the assistant of hers suddenly straighten himself.

"Faiz come here,"

"Why?"

"Come meet Kefele," she grabbed his arm, and pulled him along, "we're busy, Zainab why don't you go and do something else?" Zainab didn't say anything, Kali frowned, and "you're kind of a distraction." Faiz's mouth slightly opened.

"Kali she's not a distraction, she's my friend,"

"Right, not with that hair of hers," Kali glancing at the ombre hair, Zainab picked up one of her several stands, "come on Faiz you haven't said a word since yesterday," pulling her older brother to move.

"Fine." Faiz said, he glanced at Zainab and left her there, she didn't know want to do, "um see you later maybe?" the high probability he wasn't coming back for the next days or so one of the servants had come to her telling that the Omari House would be busy. Which mean her assistant wouldn't be there perhaps, she glanced one more time at Faiz, Kali and Kalefe talking.

In the end she found herself wandering the city maybe not bored but she did know she should go and check out the new books her grandfather had bought couple of days ago. With her hands behind her back, she wondered about Kali's random choice to marry and Faiz's family rules and his father apparently is an Indulgent parenting, Zainab didn't know why she was thinking about it, with her mind checking every door with thoughts. If Faiz had so much freedom and money handed to him, dear Ra he's spoiled I wonder what he does in his free time….Zainab wasn't however quite the opposite, her parents never just handed her money or just let her do whatever she wanted.

On her way home, she was about to turned to Kateb's house until she heard a voice, "Zainab," as she turned around to find Set in his priest clothing his arms crossed and he carried his millennium rod. "It's been a while, how are you?"

"….uh," she wasn't so sure what to say to him, she hasn't seen him a while, she had nothing to say for a moment, she glanced around instead of looking in his eyes. Her heart raced, "fine," was that only word she said.

"Took you long enough," ouch those words, her heart crunched up her ribs, Zainab felt like her brain slapped her heart aside and left it in a dark room to wallow in self-pity while a book was thrown 'how to talk properly' thrown at its feet. The heart cried in bloody tears, and she remembered he wasn't exactly friendly.

"Right…" Zainab said, wondering what to say to him, she shouldn't be awkward with him after all he was there with her and the crocodiles. Now she felt like she owes him a debt, racking her brain for something to say to him. What was there to talk about Set…ask if has any pets…no, no that would be ridiculous he has a horse remember you nitwit…what do men like girls? Zainab wasn't so sure what type man was Set either. She really needed to spend some time with him, but she didn't have the courage ask him and suddenly felt shy. Zainab subconsciously tapped her index fingers together as she examined Set's clothes and turned away before he caught her staring.

Set glanced at Zainab's outfit, "You look nice," she felt her face become red hot, and put her hands behind her in a shy manner.

She slightly leaned in, "you too," then there was the awkward silence. Oh Ra you made it odd now…Zainab thought of words to formulate. "Uh so you are going to…work?" then moved away from him.

"Yes," Set said firmly, "What about you?"

"Um uh…" she saw her grandfather leaving the house in his violet robes, walking by them and glancing at her. Silver and Amazonite came dashing toward them, the two dogs stopped right in front of Set, he looked at them as they obediently sat down with their heads down. "Um well going to walk my dogs,"

"Besides that, you're coming to the palace tomorrow," how he knew that, she never told him must've been her mother.

"Oh yes…that I know of me becoming an official priestess…How you knew that?" she trailed off.

Set still looking at her, "your mother mention that,"

"T-to you?" Zainab said glancing at the dogs and at him while she pointed at him.

"Yes,"

"Why?" Zainab asked a question, wait why does Set know this, just because she met him doesn't mean her mother should tell him about things of her, didn't her mother never speak of her as much.

"Are you really asking me why she told me?" she felt like running from him why does he always sound like a hungry lion ready to dine.

"Um uh well not…really…" Zainab, "you are not obligated to tell me…"was muttering a low voice.

Set didn't say anything about him knowing of how he knew that she was going to become a priestess; however he changed the subject, "I'm looking forward in seeing you tomorrow,"

"Oh uh….same here…I think,"

"You figured out your schedule," Zainab suddenly leaned against the wall with her arm supporting her.

"Of course I have," she moved herself from the wall, "why are you asking this?" why did Set want to know about her schedule.

"You sure ask a lot of questions,"

Zainab twiddled her thumbs, "just answer my question," firmly frowning at him. They stared at one another. Silver and Amazonite glanced at them with curious eyes.

"Perhaps I'll tell you later,"

"No answer my question," firmly, Zainab said nearly walked up to him, then took a few steps away from him; she just realized how tall he was like a giraffe while she was the tiny gazelle gawking at him. She glanced away from him, "and later is a vague word…" nervously.

"You really persistent, well since last year we've met again and I saw you with the crocodiles," Zainab jolted, she looked around frantically as if to make sure her parents weren't here at all, "I thought you would want to spend time with me,"

"…I did?" Zainab said in surprised voice.

"Yes you mention that to me,"

"…well I do not remember that,"

"Well, I'm reminding you,"

"Oh alright, um uh…well I suppose we can….uh my schedule is almost the same except I am free evening but not tomorrow,"

"For your cro-"

"Yes, yes stop saying that aloud!" Zainab cleared her throat, "talk to me later about it,"

Set said, "About what?"

"Oh uh you know…the spending time, later in the month," Zainab said shyly, she looked at him.

Set looked at her, then at the dogs staring at him. "I must be going now, nice chatting with you Zainab," with a faint smile, she shyly smile back him, her thoughts on them and their secrecy about her Nile friends. Awkward relationship we have… "See you tomorrow at the palace" He then left without looking back at her, she stared at him then felt a relief of air in her lungs. It was like talking to a stiff at times with Set. She looked down at her dogs.

"How bout we go for a walk," the dogs barked in unison, they strolled down the city and outside at the farm land sight-seeing the farmlands and double back into the city. In an hour the dogs had to go home and be fed by the servants, she spent the rest of day checking on Hapi who was in the backyard with Kateb, the hippo had a trial run for the test, and she wouldn't be ready to be released into the shopping world until after a month or two. She did see them since her mother was never home during the day lucky for them she gave them mutton some scraps. She had to wash her hands, and went reading for the remaining day.

The next morning Halima woke her daughter abruptly early in the morning and Zainab got up groggily while her mother told her to get ready, it was the day she would meet the Great Wife or Queen Regent to make Zainab an official priestess let her meet the other priests and priestesses. Zainab was in her room getting ready she put on a white with a keyhole neckline white kalasiris, gold band around her waist, and lapis earrings, on her wrists she had gold bracelets, and she had a white veil, flat shoes. She was putting kohl around her eyes this was to protect the eyes from the sun. Silver and Amazonite were watching her intently. Silver looked at the mirror at his own reflection while Zainab was applying the kohl then grabbed Silver and placed kohl on his eyes. She hoped she wouldn't get any eye sickness from her own dog. The dogs sat there in the bed upright.

The worst part was socializing, she also just realized she had to be on the spot light and wasn't really looking forward to it. "Oh gods, I hope will not have to speak with everyone…" The dogs whined and tilted their heads, "if I do I must correctly remember my proper manners of proper speech hopefully I will not…stutter and have loss of words." Zainab turned around immediately as the dogs ears alert and awake.

Her mother just came in her daughter's room as the door opened, wearing a blue kalasiris with silver earrings, which was hardly worn by her, silver cuff bracelets cling to her wrists and criss-cross shin sandals wrapped around her calves. She also wore the Dragon's Eye as the Queen's Guards, she was the wielder of the Akhet item. Even as the years went by her mother looked pretty young and she had dark blue eyes which she inherited from her own grandparents. Halima looked like Keret in a far graceful way, Keret was like a ruffled goose and Halima was an elegant mare.

"Do I have to talk a lot?" asked Zainab getting up from the chair, Silver jumped on the chair and looked at his face because he had kohl on his eyes. Amazonite jumped onto the bed and sat there.

Halima turned to her and ushered the dogs to get off the chair and bed, they jumped down and ran downstairs like rush of water in the river. "Well not as much, I do want you to talk to the Great Wife at least,"

"Oh," Zainab said.

Halima hugged her daughter and was pleased that her daughter has finally become the lady she dreamed of. While with her arms wrapped around her daughter's arms, "I am so proud of you," rubbing her back then she released her. Zainab gave her mother a shy smile in return.

"Your father is downstairs and your grandmother is already at the palace," Halima said as they left her room, Halima closed the door gently, and they were in the hallway and went downstairs.

"What about grandfather?"

Halima turned to her daughter, "he's already there,"

Khalid was there at the foot of the stairs, in his usual pose crossed arms accompanied with a frown, and of course Lucky was there to give some of his eternal luck to Zainab, the smiling shut eyed cat sat there, the dogs stood by the ceramic room. Khalid was wearing a cut sleeved black tunic with beaded collar of gold and violet, his shendyt was black, and that sash around his head. Either he looked like some bandit or the Tau House probably dressed like that.

Raja, Beset, Awi and Kalima the main servants peeked out of the dining room from the left. Halima and Khalid stood there, Zainab turned around facing her parents, and they glanced at her while she placed her hands behind her back.

Halima sighed with gleeful smile, "I am just taking this in, right now," she examined her daughter and stood there as if taking this memory permanently in her mind.

"Bye Zainab," Raja said he walked up to her and Khalid grabbed the boy's shendyt stopping him from coming near his daughter. "I always I believed in you," her parents glanced at him.

Kalima had no expression on her face, "Never had a second thought about you," she passed by the ombre blonde and pinched her hard on her arm, she flinched and winced at the pain, Beset and Awi smiled at her however the extraverted servant came up to her and placed her hands on her shoulders.

"I am so glad you're not locked up in the house, now go and make your parents proud,"

Khalid frowned, "We are proud of her,"

Beset gave a thumbs up, "I already know and so am I," she winked at him and left to the kitchen grabbing her nephew Raja who had to struggle to keep his shendyt on since Khalid apparently untied to humiliate him.

"Well, Khalid shall we get going," Halima turning to her husband, Khalid nodded and he opened the door with Lucky running out to sit outside on his patrol. Khalid walked with his wife and met Kateb outside the gates; they walked ahead of Zainab and her mother.

Halima and Zainab were now at the palace gates, the guards had let them in since it was official business with the Great Wife. They walked along the smooth stone floors, passing by guards that held spears in their hands, all the men were shirtless and muscular, Zainab tried not to look at them. The tall walls and palace stood high compare to every building in Thebes, it was decorated with the trees and flowers like a neat ornaments. She and her mother entered the tall halls; there were statues that stood high above them. The second floor she could see the windows and some servants cleaning and passing by.

"Now remember, Zainab, you are going to be a priestess here at the palace," her mother began speaking. "That means you'll be here with other priests and priestess that you might not like, but you need to tolerate them…"

"Yes, Mother," said Zainab obediently.

The pillars of the palace were stone and painted decoratively like everything else. She entered the long corridor heading toward the throne room; she was admiring the palace's architecture until she spotted two men talking.

Halima went on about "Just remember this is important family history of being a priestess—" Zainab was now not paying any attention to her mother's words for the next thing she saw was two men talking but one made her heart raced. Oh no is that him?…I feel like I could not breath calm down Zainab, calm down.

One was bald had tattoos etched to his forehead, wore long linen colored dress with a cape, and a gold band around his waist and had gold arm bands on his arm, he was with that man Zainab remembered she slowed down and stared at them intently. Could it be that man…she ran into…she took few steps closer, the two men haven't notice her yet.

The man with linen robes, with the strange gold bat shape headdress, wearing that linen clothing attach with gold on his shoulders of his outfit and cape, with gold armbands and a gold with blue band around his waist. And the unmistakable millennium ring. His back was toward her but the bald man could probably see her if he noticed her.

She gasped and her face flushed red, it was him. She was not even noticing she walking toward, the men were much taller than she was. Especially that man…she crept closer to them.

"Well, I told Karim some advice about having a daughter and what to expect to in having a daughter," the bald man said looking so seriously toward the other one. "Now having a girl does not mean, you're going to have the same problems,"

"Hm hmm," the other man said was his response.

"So, what I told him is that girls, when they are growing up…they might want a horse…"

"Do your daughters want a horse?" asked the man. "Shada?" he said in his smooth calm voice.

"Well, one of them does," Shada replied.

"Did you give—" before the man could continue, he was cut off; when Shada's eyes turned to Zainab who froze. The beautiful man turned around see what was Shada looking at.

"Oh, hello…Do you need something?" asked Shada. Zainab was frozen, she was looking at Shada and the other man was about to say something. Her heart was racing and was finally found the man she wanted to see for a whole year! Zainab was about to open her mouth until Halima came marching there.

"I'm sorry, my daughter just wandered off," grabbing Zainab's wrist.

"Oh, Priestess Halima," said Shada. "I didn't know you had a daughter too?"

"I did, I just didn't talk about her that often." Halima said shooting a glare at Zainab, "come, Zainab," she said as she was pulling her daughter along. Zainab looked at the men once more but mainly at the beautiful kind man that met a year and half ago. "What are you doing?" her mother finally asked.

"Oh nothing…I was curious who was that man over there…"

"Shada is a high priest," she wasn't talking about the bald one, but the one with the millennium ring.

"What about the other one?" asked Zainab hoping her mother would answer her. But she didn't get the respond she wanted to her. She glanced back where the beautiful man was at, she sighed. But I really need to know his name…it is a must.

"Not important right now, we have to see the Great Wife," in firm voice.

Zainab frowned but deep down she felt joy, the man she wanted to know his name…WAS here that means he was a priest like Shada. She smiled while thinking about how lucky she was to meet him here and now didn't have to worry about getting a horse. Her heart danced and her face flushed red, she quickly stole a glance at that beautiful man who was talking to Shada. She bit her lip.

The Great Wife was in the throne room with her two children Prince Atem with his sister who had pink long hair tied into pony tail; they were talking. Zainab also notice there was a woman with light purple eyes, dark brown long hair down to her lower back, she wore linen with green and was writing most likely a scribe, there were few others with her. Shimon was the royal advisor an old man with his granddaughter the Prince's wife.

Guards were near the entrance of the room. The queen of Egypt was also known as the Great Wife of late Pharaoh Aknamkanon. His mother wore a black long wig and wore more elaborate kalasiris of white and blue gown, she had a transparent white shawl and wore gold earrings, and bracelets and armbands, and she had a crown on her head.

She stood there as servants quickly was dismissed as Halima and Zainab walked in the large room there were tall stone pillars and an upper part of the floor was second floor. Zainab didn't realize the other priests and priestess were there too, why was they were here. Shada and that handsome man came in the room, Zainab saw the man in blue clothing with the millennium rod, and another man with black even cut hair who was buff liked a bull holding the scales. An old man wearing linen in a hood with a gold eye, a woman with headdress that had gold frame around her face, she wore kalasiris dress and had blue and gold bracelets and waist band. A blonde hair man that looked so dead series, he wasn't even looking at her. Her mentor Subira who smiled at her also nodded at her.

Zainab glanced and saw her grandparents, her grandmother wearing all black kalasiris. Lastly she saw red hair long layered hair woman wearing all black, she had a Akhet dagger on her gold band, she wore all black but stood there next to Kateb and his wife. Her father was already there speaking with Keret, and of course there were other people that Zainab's eyes glanced over a dog? And a girl with purple hair that covered her eyes on her left side; another girl she didn't pay any attention. She suddenly felt like she on the spotlight. And there were so much people but she glanced over a lot toward the beautiful man and Set.

"Good morning, Priestess Halima," the Great Wife said. In a kind voice, Halima bowed the queen and so did Zainab. They rise up and looked at the Great Wife, "have not heard news about you, Zainab of the Re House,"

"…" Zainab didn't say anything.

"I welcome you, to the palace as an official priestess," said the Great Wife, "as priestess and future priestess to the future pharaoh, I bestow you upon with my blessings," she paused. "Your mother and I discuss come matters in coming, your mother wanted you to become a priestess yes?" Zainab just nodded. "But she has told me, she is also going to give her position as Queen's Guard to you,"

Zainab then looked at her mother. Halima took a step toward Zainab. "It's true, as I planned before you were born, to take my place in the Queen's Guard, but for the future Queen of Egypt,"

"Wha-what?" Zainab said. Why have the Dragon's Eye? No one has ever properly used it.

"I believe you have something far more than I ever had, Zainab," she said "a strong bond, with your love for nature," Halima was referring to Cricket and the crocodiles. But wasn't she trying to stop her from being with them? Zainab was confused, "I want you to take over my position, Zainab," but her mother paused. "You don't have too, it's your choice…"

Zainab was thinking, if she took the position as Queen's Guard not only she will see Prince Atem every day, she'll get to explore the palace more importantly she will get to see that beautiful man every single day. She looked around as she placed her hand on her chin thinking.

How can I refuse? It sounds like it's my destiny to be the wielder of the Dragon's Eye perhaps I will discover things I never did before…She thought. Zainab gave a confident smile.

"I think you'll make a wonderful Queen's Guard, you'll get to serve me for a while until…" she looked at Atem. "Until my son is Pharaoh and his future queen and then you'll be the next Queen's Guards" Zainab didn't know what to say but for one thing for sure. It was her duty to serve the future rulers of Egypt.

"Of course, I accept," Zainab said. "Your grace,"

"Hmm….Priestess Zainab, as the new Queen's Guard, I officially made you a Queen's Guard, and official priestess who has finished her training," the Great Wife said. The scribes were scribbling like crazy though the brunette woman looked pretty calm. But they were still writing.

Halima gave Zainab the Dragon's Eye to her in her hands.

"Keep it with you and never give it to someone else, the item has great power if you know how to use it properly," she said to Zainab.

Zainab looked down at the Dragon's Eye; it was an eye made of either some sort of gemstone and gold but Zainab didn't know what it was yet. She had to experiment with it later because she was in the palace now. She placed it around her neck it gleamed. Atem saw Zainab and Halima leaving toward off another direction, he ran after them.

Halima turned around "yes, your highness?"

"Oh, Priestess Halima, if you don't mind if I speak with Zainab?"

"Not at all," she said "I'll be at the south wing of the palace. That's where you can find me," everything about gossip hopefully nothing that involved herself.

"Alright," Zainab said placing her hands behind her back.

"I knew you can do it," Prince Atem said. Taira was Atem's wife they been married for a year or so at least that's what Zainab remember.

"I can't wait to see what you can do," Taira said, she had black hair that was passed her shoulders and few strands on her shoulder, her hair had gold beads and a braid around her head and had a band around it but kind like Esmeralda from Hunchback of Notre Dame Disney. She wore white kalasiris and smiled at Zainab.

"Of course, I did why I practically spend my childhood preparing for this day…" Zainab said in taunting voice. Atem was talking to Taira, the ombre blonde turned around and stared at him.

Keret was standing next to the man, talking to him, she saw her grandmother pointed at her. She glanced around and saw that red hair woman. By Ra her hair is so red…I wonder who she is, perhaps I will go and ask—no, no Zainab you never go walk up to people…She still stared at the man with the gold bat like headdress until Set came over to her, she didn't seem to notice him.

"So you are now the Dragon's Eye wielder," Set said, he glanced at her.

"Yes I am…" she muttered. "However I am not going to have my turn wasted while…I wield the akhet item,"

Set turned to her, "You already have plans for the Dragon's Eye,"

"No one has the knowledge of the Dragon's Eye, so I will do my research," she paused, "I am sure whoever made the akhet items were written down in history,"

"I'm confident you can find the information, if I recalled Tahir was the one responsible for designing the Dragon's Eye,"

"Does the palace library have anything on him?"

Set glanced at her and the other priests, "Yes there are accounts of Pharaoh Amenhotep II that Tahir served as a court magician,"

Zainab turned to him with a frown and surprised that he knew Tahir, "You know about Tahir?" she didn't think he would know about Tahir a magician from the Re House and very famous for his ka, the Magician Platypus.

Set almost gave an arrogant smirked, "Of course after all it's in Egypt's history,"

She gave him a small smile, "Hmm I will look at that, Set," glancing at the man, her heart raced, she looked at him. "Um so do—I mean never mind I will see you later then?"

"Of course," Set said to her, she turned to look at him then at the man with the millennium ring. Dear Ra let me speak with him…Zainab looked at him, "I hope to see you again, in the meantime I believe you should start at the palace library,"

"Thank you for your consideration, I will take your advice…" Zainab said, Set turned around and walked up to Shada. Zainab glanced at the beautiful man as her grandmother laughed and jabbed at him, they glanced at one another, and her eyes shifted and darted from her grandmother, suddenly her heart leaped over a fence. Does he recognize me? She instantly turned her attention somewhere else. Perhaps I should I start my research…she touched her chin lightly. Mana pulled on Keret's skirt, the black haired woman shooed the girl away. Zainab turned around still glancing at her; she stared at that man with millennium ring it gleamed. Subira her mentor came by almost running with Kateb behind her in his violet robes, she wore orange kalasiris and suddenly hugged her student.

"Zainab!" Subira said, Kateb gave a gentle small smile at her, the woman released her, the ombre blonde tried to pry the woman's hands from her arms, "I am so glad you are here and made it I am so proud of you," taking a step back.

Kateb turned to his daughter while she saw her parents there talking to one of the priestess, "Zainab what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Zainab said in a low voice.

"What are you going to do?" asked Subira, "I mean now you have that item around your neck,"

"Well…uh study it," Zainab seemed distracted. She constantly glanced from Set to that man as if comparing them. Subira and Kateb turned to one another, "why are you asking?"

The peppered haired woman replied, "I wanted to know how you feel. I mean you inherited an item that has been lost,"

Kateb scratched his head, "Subira its fine, Zainab knows what she is doing,"

"I hope so, I need to get going but I hope to see you around in the temples," Subira patted Zainab on the back like a father congratulated his son after a successful hunt. She left immediately, Kateb turned to his granddaughter.

"So how are you and Set?" Zainab jumped and turned to him in a frighten manner, "I saw you with him,"

"Um uh nothing we just talked…" her face suddenly blushed.

"Are you—I mean I don't mean to ask but are you interested in him?" the white haired man looked embarrassed to ask his only granddaughter, she froze and face red as apple. "I mean I have seen you with him and um well you sure like to—"

"No, no nothing is, we are just distant friends…"

Kateb nodded, and laughed "No need to be ashamed if you have feelings for him, you're at the age when you are able to marry,"

"Uh…" Zainab stared hard at Set and tried to imagined herself with him, it somewhat fit but she kind liked the other man who she didn't know his name. "Um well will not say I will not have feelings for him but um…it is kind of early to say,"

"Ah, so you have a secret crush," NO that wasn't what I said, ugh my family just tends to assume I have someone in mind. Kateb grabbed her shoulder while her mother and father were about to approached them but was stopped by Set, "I would love to know if you have someone in your mind," she winced a smile at him. "It's alright, if you have conflicting feelings I am ready to be all ears, trust me I— oh never mind," Zainab glanced the millennium ring wielder as he looked down at Mana.

Keret came over and grabbed Kateb, "Zainab would you mind if I borrow your grandfather?—no wait I don't care what you have to say," she grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the ombre blonde. Halima came over while Khalid stood there nodding to Set, Zainab was wondering what they were talking about. What are they talking about…? She was about to approached them.

Halima gave a gentle hug to Zainab and touched the strands of hair, "Zainab are alright?" she was so distracted, her mother turned to glanced at priest Set and Khalid, "your father seems to like Set," those words crunched like a rotten mummy to Zainab, "And I heard from your grandfather that—"

"No, nothing is going on," Zainab said with haste. No the rumors have spread already!? She felt like jumping off a cliff if this kept happening. But the other one with the millennium ring.

Her mother sighed and examined her own daughter; she didn't like the expression her mother gave almost if she was teasing her, "Zainab you're old enough to have feelings,"

"Not interested in anyone…" Zainab said quickly.

"Nothing wrong with it, but I am pleased you have finished your training in all your lessons and your sixteen birthday is coming soon,"

"I know…" muttered the ombre blonde; she stared at the millennium ring. Then at Set, her mother glanced at the priest in blue.

"Are you going spend some time in library or with the priests?"

"UH….no idea yet, I will find out," Zainab said pointed in the air, "I have a plan that I would find more about the Dragon's Eye," she touched the pendant.

"Hmm, I see well if you have anything to ask me, we can discuss it at home, I hope you enjoy yourself as a new priestess who has responsibilities to attend to,"

"I know," Zainab said in a low voice.

"I will see you later, Zainab; I hope you make friends besides Faiz and Karida." Her mother hugged her one more time before leaving her. Zainab left there with her thoughts, she twiddled her fingers together.

After announcement over, Zainab was relieved to leave the throne room, and finally was about to explore the palace on her own to go to the library actually. But she really hoped to meet him however her shyness always made her cautious around others; her mother had left to care of something, she warned Zainab not to do anything to taint the family's name. Zainab was walking around the palace away from everyone it felt like a market in the throne room. But she was free to explore right? After all she was a priestess and a Queen's guard. Zainab wandered the halls and stared at the smooth stones. She looked around and jumped when she saw the beautiful man with Mana talking to him, coming from the opposite direction she came from, she started to freak out. Eavesdropping on their conversation; she looked for way to hide from them. They weren't close but she could hear them.

"So you know her?" Mana said skipping along, she had a short dress of linen and blue, she looked up at the man.

"If you mean Ms. Keret then yes,"

"No I mean the other one with the blonde hair?"

"Oh no, Mana I don't know her at all," with a laugh, "surely you must know she became the wielder of the Dragon's Eye," Zainab was biting her nails out of her anxiety.

"I know!"

"Well you should head out to the court yard and I will meet you there later in the afternoon,"

Oh no, here uh….why is he coming here….Zainab thought. She looked around and ran behind a pillar hopefully he didn't notice her yet. She held onto her breast; she sighed out of relief. Mana disappeared into the far corridor. Zainab was trying to make sure that man went with her but she wrong when she heard his voice.

"What are you hiding from?" Zainab jumped, her heart jolted and hit the ceiling and raced fast as a horse running and turned around to find the beautiful man right behind her. As she cling onto the pillar.

"M-me?"

"Yes, you,"

"Oh, nothing…" Zainab said embarrassed the fact she was hiding from him, she didn't have the courage to come to him. She looked at him. "Um uh…." She looked down. She should probably say something toward him but her racking her brain for words instead he talked first. He probably knew she was shy because she didn't look so confident when talking to him. "I was hiding from no one," he didn't look like he believed her however he greeted her.

"Good, morning to you, priestess Zainab," he said in calm voice. Zainab looked at him.

"Good morning to you too…." She paused. Her heart was racing like hippo dancing on a drum and crocodile playing a tambourine; images of Hapi playing the drum and Cricket shaking the tambourine with her tail was in her mind.

"I do not mean to ask this but…" he closed his eyes briefly and looked at her directly. "You looked familiar," he paused. "I mean are the girl that ran into me almost two years ago?" Zainab froze, like a dagger stabbing her in the heart. He remembered her but how? Zainab was wondering what would make her recognizable. Must be my hair as that creepy servant had said once to me… She blushed out of embarrassment.

"Oh, uh really how would you know that was me?" asked Zainab looking around the room but him.

He smiled at her "Your hair…." She froze and looked at him. I KNEW it; it's a curse perhaps… Though she wished she could calm self, she felt like she was talking to high ranking person or something it felt odd and she didn't know why she was freaking out so much. Maybe it's the fact he was really beautiful and she finally got to talk him. "It is unusual…"

"Oh this," she grabbed one of her locks of her hair "I think it might get lighter than this…" which she honestly believed her was getting lighter it was blonde ombre. "it's from my father's side I think…" she paused. "I did not ask for this…." Referring to her of being so different from society; Zainab made mental notes, about him.

"Ah, I see," he said looking at her; she wasn't the same small girl he met two years ago briefly. He crossed his arms, she had become 5'5 approx. she didn't tie hair anymore. But he didn't know her that well besides knowing she was from the Re House one of the few families of long priestess/priests and magicians. "Your hair makes you unique," Zainab turned her gaze from but then looked directly at him with serious look on her face.

"Thank you," she said. "For the compliment?...Um…" she said suddenly looking nervous.

"I am Mahad, a high priest for the Sacred Society," he said. Hoping that will make; she was twiddling fingers and leaning against the stone pillar.

His name was Mahad and he apparently already know her name from the Queen's announcement surely it was impolite. Zainab looked at him. Mahad…hmm never heard anyone name that before.

"Zainab of the Re House," introducing herself to him in calm manner, even though he knew her name it would be better to introduce herself again properly. She stopped twiddling with her fingers. Mahad gave her a small smile for this the first time she actually was talking to him. But for her it was a big deal talking to something that was completely interested in this man.

"Is it a pleasure to meet you Zainab," Mahad had said to her.

"As do I," she said. Nice to hear his name and his voice at least that's what she thinking. But the question was will he be interested in her if not Zainab didn't know what she would do and if he accepted her weird strange behaviors. "So um…." She said moving away from the pillar and standing next to him. "I did not mean to run into you… that day,"

"It is fine, things happen, you were in a hurry."

"Oh," Zainab said. "How long you been serving the royal family?" she asked.

"Quite some time but not as long as Akhenaden, he wields the Millennium Eye,"

"Oh…." They started walking out of the corridor. She looked at his Millennium Ring, placed her hands behind her back. "You wield the Ring?"

"Yes," he paused "I am curious of why your mother handed the Dragon's Eye so soon?" Zainab didn't know either. But true why did Halima gave the Dragon's Eye to her it was question perhaps it would not be answered. "It was said that those who wield the Dragon's Eye has some sort of affinity with an animal…" he turned to her. "You have any affinity with any animal, Zainab?"

"…Crocodiles…" she said flatly.

"Hmm, priestess Halima had affinity with cats," he didn't say anything yet to her. Zainab hoped he didn't think she was weird to have that strange connection with crocodiles. "I suppose it just depends on the person…" he paused. "Zainab are you the only child in the Re House?"

"What?"

"No brothers or sisters?"

"No…" she didn't know why he asked her that. Was he the only child too of his family? Zainab looked at him from his side profile; he looked beautiful no matter what angle she gazed at, it made her heart sort of melt. "No cousins either…" but then she changed the subject. "Um are you a magician to?"

"Yes, I am from the Hadiqa House,"

"Really?" she wondered what else they had in common. As they walked along the palace, he glanced at her. Zainab wasn't as serious at least not in this situation. "Long line of magicians?"

"Yes, I am," he said. "Do you want me to show you around the palace?" he suddenly asked. Zainab looked at him for a while and didn't say anything, her heart pound screaming GO WITH HIM. She was going into deep thought until he asked her again. "Zainab, do want me to show you around the palace?"

"Of course," Zainab smiled at him.

Zainab spent the seven hours from the morning to the around lunch time touring around the palace; there huge gardens, the stables, the countless rooms, the library of the palace the Pharaoh's bedroom that Mahad had to stop Zainab from going in. The kitchen was grander it was filled with servants; there were also the dungeons which he told her not to go in there. She didn't know why he told her that, not like it would stop her, she never actually was allowed to explore the palace walls even with the prince, only certain areas such as the stables and library. Then there were the Shrine of Wedju where the high priests and priestess kept their monsters and kas. Zainab saw the entire walls were covered with monsters; they were at Mahad's Shrine of Wedju.

He turned to her. "I have seen your mother's ka…I am not sure if you have," Zainab has seen it once. "Sand Cat,"

"Once or twice…but I have seen my father's ka at times…" she trailed off, her thoughts were on ka, and her family had assorted kas from human like to animals. She wondered if her ka would be as pleasant, "so you all have your monsters kept here?'

"Yes, and I am sure, you have learned the shadow games?"

"Yes, I have," she said, "I have seen my mother mock duel my father last year," counting the monsters plastered on the walls, she swung her arms lightly and counted however her mind was jumbled with numbers. Oh Ra there must be more than five hundred in his shrine…what does he do in his free time monster hunt? Zainab looked at him from his side profile; she examined him, what on Egypt's soil have men doing, he was so muscular not as that man she saw in the throne seven hours ago. He was that courteous man she met when she was fourteen years old. A sweat trickle down her face, wait why she staring at him? She must be so shallow with his appearance, he sounded nice too. Heart went thump, thump. She glanced at the millennium ring the triangle with the eye surrounded by a gold ring and five pointed points; she looked around and suddenly felt embarrassed she was looking at him while he was gazing straight ahead. Oh every angle he looks so good in every angle…the more I look at him the more I just want stare at him. When he spoke, she slightly jolted.

"Oh you have? I have she does very well in duels," Mahad said in his pleasant voice.

Mahad turned to her, she fidgeted with her dress, and suddenly turned away from him, "Have you strengthened your ka yet?"

"No," Zainab said. "Though I will be working on that…" she said.

"Good and I hope see it one day," Mahad paused and said "We should meet up with Mana, outside, I am sure, she's waiting for me outside the gates,"

They left Mahad's Shrine of Wedju, Set's must been somewhere around her, they walked all the way back to the palace which wasn't far from. Mana ran to Mahad with excitement, even though Zainab knew her, she wasn't as close to her. The girl was at least six years apart from her; Mahad seemed to like her wait was he her mentor? She never bumped into Mahad ever perhaps their schedules conflicted there was a chance of meeting him? She wondered if he remembered when she came to the accessory shop wait was that him. Mana pulled out a magic book out of nowhere as she watched them as Mahad took the book from his student, Mana swung her arms around. She suddenly grabbed onto Zainab's skirt of kalasiris, the ombre blonde looked down,

"What?" Zainab said confused of what the young ten year old girl was trying to tell her. Mahad flipped through the book.

"Come here!" Mana pulled Zainab

"Alright," he said, "Mana you've been practicing levitation spells and I want you to learn the next level of magic," and he went on muttering what kind of magic, his student was going to learn next.

Mana and Zainab were behind a tree six feet away from Mahad, and the girl leaned in forward while glancing at her mentor.

"He's the same person I mention before remember?" Mana spoke in a low voice, "I mention him once to you,"

"You did?" she didn't recall it when she did told her this? Ahh it some years ago…how old was I? I was uh nine I believed at the palace after sword practice with the prince.

"Yes,"

Zainab looked back at Mahad, and every time it was like looking at prize stallion with glorious and she couldn't stop staring at him. Most beautiful man she every laid her eyes on, and he was courteous. However she didn't know him that well, she was just attracted to him.

"You know Mahad is older than both of us," Mana said, looking up at the ombre blonde. The millennium ring gleamed under the sun light; he flipped through the magic book. Something about him reminded her of her mother. No, no I should not compare him with my own mother that is the most disturbing thought…he could be gentle but not like my mother.

"I always did like Master Mahad, he's very strong you know,"

"No…" Zainab had no idea but she probably recalled her mother talking about a powerful magician that was so talented but modest. Was he the same person, Mana was still swaying back and forth on her heels, while she rubbed her chin staring at him, she felt her heart skipped a beat. "Um what do you mean by that strong?" she was thinking of his physique, Dear Ra how in the Egyptian gods name did men become sooo…muscular I wonder if that has anything do with physical labor…but they all look really good, hmm wielder of the millennium ring Mahad is, and Set is the millennium rod wielder both the most beautiful people I have met.

"Oh Mahad is a powerful magician," Mana said with gleeful smile, Zainab glanced back at Mahad. How is he strong? Was he born with that kind of magic or was he gifted I need to know…The ten year old girl smiled, "He told me he is from—"

"Mana!?" Mahad shouted, the girl nearly jumped and ran back toward him, with Zainab following closely behind in a slow pace, her hands behind her back. "What are you doing?" Before Mana could explain, "I was in the middle of explaining the lesson,"

Mana dug her foot onto the ground, "I'm sorry,"

Mahad sighed and turned to Zainab, "I would like you to leave, Mana doesn't focus well with other people are around," his grayish blue eyes shifted to the young girl, Zainab glanced at the girl then back at the magician.

"Ah, very well then, I shall see you…." Mahad looked at her, "uh later," she turned around, "carry on with your lesson," saluting at them as she walked toward the pathway at the gates of the palace.

"Have a nice rest of the day!" Mahad shouted, however she didn't respond, he turned back at his student, she watched them from afar with her right arm underneath her left while she lightly touched chin with slight smile. What a pleasant day for me.

Zainab left the palace, her father apparently had left, she made sure she didn't want to waste any time, she couldn't see Cricket now, so she headed toward the temples for couple hours then visited Karida had lunch with her, Karida wanted to hear all about Zainab getting the Dragon's Eye and what was she going to do for the rest of the day. Her visit was brief because, Shu came home telling her that they had to visit his brother, everyone seemed busy. Even her loyal assistant Faiz was trapped in house with his sister's future husband Kalefe, she didn't bother going to his house. In the end she found herself strolling to the Nile.

She sat there in the grass staring at the river and the trees, the waters looked so calming, the inseparable bonded mates Night and Dusk were sitting at her right next to each other, the black crocodile looked like he was much bigger than last time she saw him. The crocodiles were talking to her, but she wasn't listening to them, she was thinking about Mahad. Her arms wrapped around her knees in hugging position. I cannot believe I talked to him…It was as if I talked to the pharaoh himself, hmm I should probably ask him about um that wonderful mess up when I was eleven, I hardly doubt he would know that was me…Zainab looked at the sky, silhouettes of birds flying.

The sunset was lovely nice shades of pink, orange and little yellow with the night blue coming in. Some geese flew by honking; the hippos were bobbing in and out of the water. Some heard of sheep were drinking across the other side of the Nile.

"Zainab, congratulations on becoming a priestess" Dusk said, she opened her mouth. The ombre blonde turned to her the pale yellow crocodile,her eye turned to Zainab who just not here in the moment. "I see you have joy in your heart?"

"..Yes," Zainab said looking at the water, it reflected the sky's colors and it looked gorgeous, she turned and looked at Night who was still trying to bask as much as possible. He shifted in his place as his tail curved almost to an S shape. He didn't say anything yet. "What have you two been doing?"

"Crocodile things, hunting, walking, swimming, boring things to you. " Night said. "Nothing that perhaps does not interest you, Zainab"

"I contrast your words, Night," Zainab said closing her eyes and pointing at the sky. "Many things you crocodiles do, make me question such as do you have a learning capacity or do rely on instincts…" Zainab stopped and looked at Night.

"Hmph, I suppose to you, however you're still a human who will never exactly understand us," Night shot a glare at Zainab and moved away and slid into the Nile, he didn't' say another word to her or his mate Dusk. He went swimming and disappeared into the Nile for the rest of the day. Zainab sat leaning on her arm with her legs at her side. She grabbed the blue pendant of the Dragon's Eye, it gleamed under the sunlight, it really looked kind of liked an eye with some strange curves. Holding it with her fingers, she flipped it examining the akhet item. The blue pendant gleamed.

"Oh I just realize you possess the Dragon's Eye…" Dusk raised herself and turned around to face Zainab, she hissed with joy. "I rejoice, and shall tell my children about it, tell me what are you going to do with it?'

"I am going to find out the history of the item….and then see if I can discover its powers," she got up and dusted herself. "That reminds me, I know Tahir of the Re House has designed this item," the pale crocodile raised her head.

"Ah that sounds interesting Zainab, are you going to find out about him?"

Zainab popped her fingers and knuckles, "Yes, I will and when I do, I will end up having more unanswered questions, I have a plan and it's going to take a while,"

"I have always liked your inquisitive personality," chuckled Dusk, she turned to face the river, the grass bend at the wind and the soft bristle. Zainab stretched then placed her hands behind her back. Dusk looked around at the sky as she raised herself. "Oh Cricket has told me, you let her moved in your house,"

"Wha-what pardon me?" Zainab asked in surprised, she never knew Cricket wanted to live with her, she did have a pool in her front yard.

"Well they planned to some ways to live in your house,"

"W-wait what? How and why?"

"Cricket and her siblings went to explore the city,"

Zainab squinted at river while she placed her hand over her eyes looking for the crocodiles, she only saw Dawn and Flute, "Um yes, I did and where is….Twilight, Ra, Amulet?"

"Oh they went into the city few hours ago…" Dusk said in cheerful tone.

Zainab turned as she climbed up the Nile bank. "Ah farewell, I will see you later,"

"Have a good evening!" shouted Dusk. "Zainab!" Zainab was gone by the time she said farewell to her. The sun was literally at the lowest.

Zainab made it back to the city it was it was already night time; there were now few people in the streets either closing their vendors, shops except the inns they were usually open till midnight. Mostly there were soldiers and guards patrolling the city. Zainab saw some guards chatting as they passed by her and greeted her. Literally running from the Nile and farmlands, she could have sworn she saw an old man with white large crocodile waving at her, she didn't have time. Slowed down and had lost her stamina, sometimes she wished she was like the soldiers they always looked like they always had bundle of energy to spare. But she quicken walk because her mother usually comes home in this hour of the night.

She turned around and smacked right into someone. She backed away realizing it was Mahad. Zainab almost lost her balance, she felt embarrassed and hoped it wasn't Set or her father.

"Zainab?" she looked at him, he was with some of the guards. "What are you doing so late at this hour?" Zainab freaked out and looked at him; she cleared her throat and thought to herself.

Why are you out Mahad at this time of night? She thought.

"M-me? I mean ahem I was exploring the city…." She said hoping he will not counter her reply. She tapped her

"Well it's dangerous for a woman to wander out at this hour," he said sounding concern. Then he sighed, Zainab was thinking by the gods, she smacked him into again. This might become a habit of hers, hopefully he will not mention it again. "I will walk you home,"

"No need to, it is not like you know where I live," she said walking passed him with her eyes closed and hint of pride as if she knew where she was going; but he grabbed her wrist. "Mahad?"

"No, I insist," he said in firm voice. She looked at him and just gave in, she couldn't win with Mahad. The guards didn't say anything. "I will return, so you two go on your patrol,"

"Yes, sir," said one of the guards. Mahad and Zainab were walking now; he had let go of her wrist which was a relief for her because any longer she probably would have fainted. Ah why do you have be this way Mahad stop being so courteous? They didn't say anything to each other and it was awfully quiet. Zainab glanced at Mahad shyly. He saw her gaze, she quickly looked away.

"You seem shy…" he said. Not in a mean way. "Not that it is bad or anything," Zainab was frozen in her heart. He didn't have to point that out, was she shy? She wasn't so sure herself anymore. Zainab frowned, and place her finger her lip; and didn't know what to say, perhaps it was better to keep her mouth shut.

"What are you doing out this late Zainab?" he asked turning to her. Zainab looked away not looking him in the eyes, she couldn't just tell him she went to the Nile River…can she? She glanced at him, No Zainab could have change the subject even if didn't matter.

"Um…I was visiting a friend," she said calmly with a straight face. He blinked and was apparently thinking about she mentioned.

"So you were exploring the city with your friend?" Mahad asked.

"Yes," trying to sound as normal as possible and hopefully he took that and won't ask any more questions. He can't know her secret true self! Then he if knew he might tell her mother Halima who will surely send off in marriage with an older man! Zainab knew her parents would be trying to marry her off soon. Now to think about it, Zainab never knew if Mahad was married but this was no time to ask him…it would be very odd to ask and she didn't want her strange behavior shown at him.

"Oh, so…who's your friend?" Mahad asked, suddenly curious.

"Karida!" what a relief, she didn't mention Faiz the last thing she wanted to give that she hangs out with a man who isn't married. It would look bad on her. "Yes, I'm friends with a farm girl, who lives at the craftsman district,"

"Hmm, nothing wrong with that," he said. "…Where do you live Zainab?"

"East side of the noble district," in confidently, she then pointed at the left side, Mahad looked at her.

"You mean the other way…" he said stopping. Zainab then pointed that way.

"Exactly what I mean…." She said. "Uh…you should see a cat wondering around…" she saw a black crocodile crawling under someone else's house and some hissing noise. Mahad quickly came in front of her.

"What was that?" Zainab looked around, oh no Twilight and Amulet were nearby, she hoped he thought it was a cat. A pottery nearby started to shake and an orange cat popped out. "Oh it's a cat…" he trailed off. Oh Ra, they are really are in the city! Zainab started to panicked, she hoped they were just exploring and nothing else.

"Oh yes, it's a cat," she saw a glimpse of Twilight's tail popping up and she went to Mahad's left side so he would look at her hopefully and not the crocodiles. "What else wanders the dark?" Mahad turned to her as she was about to take off before.

"Any animals your family has?" why was he asking her this. She looked at him and saw a white pharaoh hound with a gold and blue color coming at them. "Is that yours or someone else's?" he asked he placed an arm in front of her.

Silver came at him and stopped, the white dog wagged his tail. "Silver…."

"But he is white? Why did you name him Silver?" Mahad asked looking at her. Silver led the way to Zainab's house, apparently her father let the dogs out.

"Um uh a friend gave me, and he already had a name," as they continued to walk the path toward her house, a cat statue stood at the cats on each side. And torches of fire that light the house's gates; Mahad saw Raja coming at them.

"Hm…" he said. Raja was outside petting Amazonite apparently walked the dogs.

"Oh, Zainab your back and uh priest Mahad," Raja said, he glanced at Zainab then at Mahad while Silver glanced at Zainab, then at Mahad and Raja. "You're here?"

"I was just walking, Zainab home," the beautiful priest said to Raja.

"Oh…well her-" the dog barked and ran passed through the gates. "Nothing, just follow me," Raja said he then whispered at Zainab while Mahad walked ahead of them. "Your mother has yet to return…so you're in good hands," he then ran to catch up with Mahad; some of the servants were watering and cleaning the outside of the entrance of the house.

Zainab came next to Mahad and said "thank you for walking me home," giving him a pleasant shy smile.

"The pleasure is all mine," he said with a small smile. Zainab smiled back at him; hopefully she didn't have to stare at his lovely grayish blue eyes for another second. The white dog sat next to her before splashing into the pool.

Raja tried to open the door, but it seemed locked he gave a sheepish grin at Mahad and said. "One moment…" he then ran around the large house and they heard him climbed up a window and something broke inside. They stood there, and Zainab felt very awkward as she swung her arms lightly. Shattering of pottery continued, they briefly glanced at one another. Someone shouted sounded like Beset saying something about the cat guardians were at Kateb's house. Raja's voice saying something, "Mr. Khalid uh calm down I- I mean Zainab has come back home and is—" the door unlocked of a door as the servant boy was shoved outside, with Khalid frowning.

The ombre blonde priestess tapped her index fingers, embarrassed as her father stepped outside and he shut the door, and was glaring at her? She turned to glanced at Mahad then back at her own father. Raja ran to the dog out of the pool and went inside, muttering something about drying him.

In a meek voice, Zainab spoke the only words that came into her mind, "Oh uh um…I just came home…" Khalid turned to her.

Mahad gave a rigid expression in return as he crossed his arms; Khalid took a step forward as he pointed at the high priest. "Why are you here?" she didn't like his tone, he sounded angry, "and why did you bring him home?" he turned to his only daughter.

"With all do, respect sir, I only walked her home," Mahad said in calm voice even though Khalid embarrassed Zainab, she hid her face behind her hands.

"Oh really!" Khalid said in angry tone.

"No, it's the truth," Zainab said in low voice.

The platinum haired man turned to the handsome priest, "I could have sworn I saw you wandering the palace with her,"

Mahad, "We just talked while I showed her the palace," Her father placed his hands on his hips, as he glanced at him then at the priest; Khalid didn't seem to like Mahad, she saw him earlier speaking to Set, "nothing else," with frown. He unfolded his arms, he

"If you say so," Khalid said then there was a long paused, he promptly grabbed Zainab by her left arm and pulled her behind him, "I thank you for bringing my odd daughter, I hope to Ra, she would not wander at the night again." Ah no please do not say odd Father! Embarrassed she felt her face hot red. Magician and priest Mahad blinked in confusion, he looked like he about say something. It was hard enough for her to make friends; she still knew she was an outcast.

Zainab said muttered in a low voice, she knew what her father was thinking, "Um odd?"

"Nothing you don't need to know, so I—" Khalid said in hard tone.

"It was nice meeting you and your daughter," Mahad cut him off with a smile; he changed his attitude so sudden. Sympathetic expression on his face and Khalid still gave a suspicious look on his face. "I will see you tomorrow, Zainab," Zainab smiled at him back. He turned around and walked away as Khalid opened the door shoving his daughter in.

"Get in!" He about to shut the door until a hand stopped the door; her mother walked in and locked the door. Zainab sat onto the stairs and prepared herself for a long lectured. Halima smiled at her daughter.

"Is there something wrong?" as Beset walked by holding an oil lamp, Halima turned to her husband and touched his shoulder. "Khalid?"

Khalid crossed his arms and gave that same look like he always did, his brows knitted, "She was out all night," her mother turned to her, "and Mahad brought her home,"

Halima sighed as she turned to her husband, "I'm sure she went out with her friends Karida and Faiz, after all she became the new wielder of the Dragon's Eye, and a priestess," she paused, "Khalid she isn't going to Nile anymore,"

"I know…"

"Zainab I think you should off to bed, or are you hungry?' Zainab shook her head, "alright then just go on," Khalid examined his daughter with his gray eyes as if expecting her to screw up.

"Night, Mother and Father," Zainab stood up and ran up the stairs as she glanced at them. She heard them discussing, she heard father saying something about Set and Mahad, she felt embarrassed. Silver and his sister ran after her before she shut the door leaning with her ear pressed against it.

"Khalid she isn't the type to wander out of the night," Halima said while in the hallway.

Khalid replied, "Well your mother does it, what makes you think she doesn't do it,"

"Khalid, have some faith in our daughter," then after that she didn't hear anything else after that.

Zainab quickly took her clothes off and changed into her night white gown while brushing her hair. Looking in the mirror, the akhet item gleamed. Then she flopped down and sighed. This was the best day of her life, Silver and Amazonite wagged their tails. She didn't take off the Dragon's Eye and placed in the jewelry box, she sighed and her dogs came in and cuddled in the corner near the window. And tucked herself in bed writing her code in the Journal of Discoveries, she looked at dragon dressed in armor. Why did I draw that? She looked at her window with the stars twinkling in the sky, she flipped through the journal and sighed before she put it underneath her bed and blew the lamp out and went to bed smiling. She was so pleased to have met Mahad, felt like weight was off her shoulders.

One of my longest chapters I have ever wrote, she finally meets Mahad! (I have 10 chapters to read/edit lol) it only got extended a bit because of Faiz's family and Set, I'm almost done with Part I of her story, three more chapters including the ten, Cricket and the crocodiles play an important role in this story.

Later gators