Chapter 11
"Jou, will you come on?" Heba asked.
"Not on your life. I'm the practice dummy way too much, and I hate training with you." Jou retorted, crossing his arms across his chest in a defiant posture.
Heba sighed as he swirled a practice staff in his hands. "Jou, you know that Ryou doesn't do much hand-to-hand combat, and you're the only other one who knows how I fight." Heba said.
"Find another practice dummy. I don't want to do this." Jou continued.
From the side, Atemu, Yami, Bakura, and Seth watched with interest.
"I wonder why it is that Jou is so uneasy about training with Heba." Atemu pondered.
"Yeah. Heba's half his size. I'm sure that Jou could take him down easily." Bakura added.
Seth smirked. "I never knew you were afraid of your younger cousin, puppy." Seth called.
Jou turned and glared at him. "I'm not afraid!" he shouted.
"Then fight him." Seth countered.
Jou turned back to Heba and glared. "You so owe me for this." he muttered.
Ryou tossed a practice staff to Jou, who caught it.
Jou sighed. 'I am going to be in so much pain for this.' Jou thought.
Without signaling, Heba went at Jou, who barely had time to block Heba's staff with his own. Heba used several different fighting moves with his staff, with Jou barely keeping up. Jou tried to strike Heba with his staff, but Heba blocked it and forced Jou's up before kicking Jou in the stomach. Jou stumbled backwards and had to duck to avoid being hit. Jou swung out his leg and tripped Heba up, but Heba's right hand hit the floor, and Heba pushed up, getting back onto his feet. Jou tried to strike him once more with his staff, but Heba side-stepped it and jabbed forward with his staff, but Jou barely had the chance to block the attack. Heba ducked down and tripped Jou up, causing his to land flat on his back. Jou rolled to the side to avoid being hit again, but Jou jumped up out of the way.
"Um, are you sure that they're not going to hurt each other, Ryou?" Seth asked.
"No. It's always been like this. Malik was a little more willing to fight against Heba, though. Malik always was up to a challenge, and Heba is a good one." Ryou replied.
"So, they won't hurt each other?" Atemu ventured.
"No, but I'm sure Jou will be a little sore. After all, no one has ever beat Heba in hand-to-hand combat when Heba gives it his all." Ryou replied.
"Sounds like a challenge worth taking up." Bakura mused.
"Not with Heba. Believe. He takes training too seriously." Ryou replied.
"Heba would've made a good soldier." Yami stated.
Jou brought his staff across sideways and hit Heba's hands, forcing Heba to drop his staff. Jou came down at him with his staff, but Heba caught the staff with his hands and then kicked Jou in he stomach, causing Jou to lose his grip on the staff and fall backwards. Jou landed on his back, but stood up to face Heba. Heba went at Jou with the staff, but Jou ducked and tripped Heba. Heba lost his grip on the staff a he fell, but quickly got back on his feet. Jou threw a punch at Heba, but Heba side-stepped it and kicked at Jou, who moved out of the way. Jou maneuvered behind Heba and grabbed Heba by the arm, twisting his arm behind his back.
"I think I won, Heba." Jou said, smiling victoriously.
"Never say its over, Jou," Heba said, ramming his other elbow back into Jou's stomach, knocking the wind out of Jou, "until it's over." Heba finished. Reaching back, Heba grabbed Jou by the upper arm and dragged Jou over his shoulder and slamming him into the stone floor.
Jou groaned and looked up at Heba, who was smirking. "Okay. Okay. You win." Jou said.
"I figured that you'd say that." Heba said. He reached down a hand , and Jou took it. Heba started to help Jou up, but Jou tripped to flip Heba. Heba twisted out of Jou's grip and grabbed both of Jou's arms, pinning them behind Jou's back. "Are you through now?" Heba asked.
"Yeah. I know when I'm beaten, and I am definitely beaten." Jou replied.
"All right." Heba replied and released Jou, who rubbed his wrists
"That's one of the reasons I don't like training with you." Jou muttered.
"Maybe, but at least it keep you on your toes." Heba replied.
"Nice work, guys. Neither one of you have lost your touch." Ryou said.
"Yeah. Let's just hope that we can say the same thing about our magic. That's what really needs to be worked with." Heba said.
"Well, I'd say that your fighting skills don't need any improvement. You're both better than some of the palace guards." Atemu said.
"Well, since I was the practice dummy for the fighting, Ryou, you get to do it for magic means." Jou said.
Ryou glared. "I'm always the one who does the magic." Ryou retorted.
"That's because you're much braver than I am." Jou replied.
"No one gets hurt, do they?" Bakura asked.
"No. We use a low level of our magic to ensure that no one gets hurt. We use the same basic principle in a real battle with magic, although we just heighten the amount of magic that we use." Heba replied.
"Well, I suppose you'd better get started. Father wants you ready for when Mentrab decides to attack again." Atemu said.
"And he does so that Heba can show Anzu up the next time she's here." Yami added, smirking.
Atemu groaned. "Don't even joke about that. I don't won't to see that girl."
"Come on, Ryou. We'll work on your shields first." Heba said.
Ryou nodded.
Seth, Jou, Bakura, Atemu, and Yami backed up.
"Ryou, do you want to do it like we used to?" Heba asked.
"Yes. It'll be much more effective that way." Ryou replied.
"Okay." Heba replied.
"What does that mean?" Bakura asked.
"They don't let each other know when they are going to do something with their magic, They just do it. It's about the way it would be in a real battle. We treat each other like the enemy." Jou replied.
"Sounds a little dangerous." Atemu said, glancing at where Ryou and Heba were.
"It could be, but not usually. If one of them were to get hit, the most that it would do is knock them off their feet. They wouldn't be hurt." Jou said.
Heba formed a ball of magic in his hand and threw it at Ryou.
Ryou put his hand up, and the attack hit a shield.
Unfortunately, the attack was reversed and went right at Heba, who barely managed to duck before getting hit.
"Oops. Sorry, Heba. I forgot about the reflector capability of my shield." Ryou said.
"Well, you're not the only one." Heba said, getting back onto his feet.
"Seems like this might be a little dangerous." Yami said.
"It can be. Thankfully, even if the attack had hit Heba, it wouldn't have hurt him. Heba didn't put enough magic into it to do anymore than knock him down." Jou replied.
Aknankanon sighed after finishing reading the letter that he had just received. "Atemu will not like this." he muttered.
"Why is that, my Pharaoh?" Isis asked.
"Lord Mazaki has written me. He and Anzu will be coming here next week to stay for two weeks." Aknankanon replied.
"Whatever for?" Isis asked.
"It's the usual time for me to discuss the affairs of his house. Anzu is coming with him because Lord Mazaki does not trust her alone." Aknankanon replied.
"I see. I wonder how that will affect Atemu's relationship with Heba." Isis said.
"It won't, but if Atemu knows what's good for him and Heba, he won't mention it to her." Aknankanon replied.
"Shall I go and tell him, or ask him to come to here?" Isis asked.
Aknankanon sighed. "Go and tell Atemu to come here. For that matter, have Yami, Seth, and Bakura come as well. Heba, Jou, and Ryou will be coming as well." he said.
"Yes, my pharaoh." Isis replied, bowing before leaving the throne room.
Aknankanon rubbed his forehead. "I know Atemu doesn't want to deal with her, but we have no choice."
Anzu sat in her rooms alone, brushing her hair. "I want to go back to the palace so that I can see my Atemu." Anzu complained.
"Perhaps you will." a male voice said.
Anzu jumped and whirled around. "Who are you and what are you doing in my room?" she snapped.
"I'm helping you girl, so be quiet." Mentrab replied before walking into the light.
"Are you mad?! My father could find you." Anzu said, panicking.
"Calm down. And if you ever talk to me like that again, I will tell Aknankanon about your treachery. Or maybe I should tell Atemu." Mentrab said.
Anzu paled, knowing the penalty for treason. "Don't. I just thought you were a slave. I didn't realize." Anzu said.
"Be quiet. I just came here to tell you that I will make my move next week. I need to know the place to get in." Mentrab said.
"Oh. On the east wing of the palace near the Nile, there's a group of bushes in front of an opening in the palace. It's something that was used to get out of the palace when we were young. No one ever said anything about it to Aknankanon, so it's probably still there." Anzu said.
"You'd better be right, or it's you I'll kill instead of that slave." Mentrab said.
Anzu's eyes flared. "You wouldn't dare. You'd have all of Egypt after you." Anzu hissed.
Mentrab got right in Anzu's face, causing her to jump. "I killed two guards and three slaves. I already have all of Egypt after me. Killing you wouldn't bother me, and contrary to what you believe, there isn't a single person who likes you. Not even Atemu, and you know it. If you become on queen, you will see to it that nothing happens to me, or I will reveal your act of treason." Mentrab said in a threatening voice.
Anzu nodded, knowing that this was real.
Mentrab turned and left through the balcony.
Anzu smirked. "Once he kills Heba, I'll have him killed. Then I will have nothing to fear." Anzu said.
There was a knock on her door.
Anzu groaned. "Rotten slaves had to be gone." Anzu said. She opened the door and said, "What do you want?!" She paled at seeing who it was at her door.
Lord Mazaki's eyes flashed. "Do not speak to me like that, young lady. Pack your things. We are going to the palace next week." he said.
Anzu eyes lit up. "We are! Oh, good!" Anzu said happily.
"Listen, Anzu. You are not to lay a hand on Prince Atemu's slave. You do anything to him, and the Pharaoh has made it clear to me that he will show no mercy." Lord Mazaki said.
"Yes, Father." Anzu said.
"We leave tomorrow. Be ready." Lord Mazaki said.
"Yes, Father." Anzu replied.
Lord Mazaki left.
Anzu smiled happily as she shut her door. "Now I can visit Atemu, and make him mine next week." Anzu said. Her eyes widened in horror at what that meant. "No! Mentrab is attacking next week. If I'm there, he could kill me."
Heba, Jou, and Ryou were taking a break from training.
"Why are you practicing? It looks to me like you are all doing fine." Bakura said.
"Believe me. There's some work that we need to do." Jou said.
Isis walked in then and said, "Pardon the intrusion, but the Pharaoh wishes to see all of you in the throne room now."
"Thanks, Isis. We'll go." Yami said.
Isis nodded and left.
"I wonder what's on Father's mind. He wouldn't call us knowing you three were trying to train." Atemu said.
"It must be important, so we should go." Heba replied,
"He makes a good point." Yami agreed.
All seven got up and left the room, heading for the throne room.
Guards opened the doors for them, and the seven entered the room to have the door shut behind them.
"Father, Isis said that you sent for us." Atemu said.
"Yes, I did. I received a letter from Lord Mazaki today." Aknankanon explained.
Atemu, Yami, Seth, and Bakura all groaned.
Heba, Ryou, and Jou looked at everyone, confused.
"Who's Lord Mazaki?" Heba asked.
"Anzu's father." Bakura said, saying Anzu's name with disgust.
"In other words, we' have to deal with her again." Jou said.
"Yes. They will be here next week and will be staying for two." Aknankanon said.
"You do realize she has quite the grudge against Heba. She's going to go after him again." Yami stated.
"Not unless she wants to deal with going against my direct order. I have told Lord Mazaki to let Anzu know that she is not to lay a hand on any of you three, and if she does, she'll be punished for going against my words. The guards will also be told that you three are not to be touched, and that if Anzu complains to them, you three," Aknankanon said, pointing to Atemu, Seth, and Bakura, "will be the ones they report, and any guard who follows Anzu's commands will be treated as traitors."
"In other words, Anzu has no authority toward them." Bakura said.
"No, and she'll be punished otherwise. I also want you all to leave Anzu alone. With her father here, it'll make her complaints worse." Aknankanon said.
"Why are they coming anyway?" Seth asked.
"It's the time for Lord Mazaki and I to discuss his house's affairs, and he doesn't wish to leave Anzu there." Aknankanon replied.
"Well, as long as Anzu leaves us alone, we'll leave her alone." Heba said.
"Good. I expect that from all of you." Aknankanon said.
All seven nodded before leaving the throne room.
"Great. Miss Obvious will be back." Seth said.
"Which means that for the next few weeks, she'll be attempting to seduce Atemu." Yami added.
Atemu groaned. "Don't remind me. I'm already sick of it, and she's not even here yet."
Heba thought about it before speaking. "It's best that Anzu not know about our relationships."
"Why?" Bakura demanded.
"Think about it. As far as Anzu is concerned, Ryou, Jou, and I are nothing but worthless slaves. Relationships like ours between masters and slaves are forbidden. She'd go screaming to the Pharaoh and demand the three of us be punished, and he would have no choice but to do it unless he revealed the truth, and I definitely do not want Anzu knowing the truth." Heba said.
"He makes a good point. It would only give Anzu another reason to try and get Heba punished or killed." Yami agreed.
"You know, Heba's right. For our own sakes, we need to put up the façade that we are just in master-slave relationships." Ryou agreed.
"Fine. We'll give her that impression." Seth agreed.
"Although I'm sure Atemu wouldn't mind it if you got him away from Anzu a few times, Heba." Yami said.
"Any amount of times you wish would suit me." Atemu replied.
"Let's just hope that she doesn't get carried away like she usually does." Bakura said.
"Not much of a chance of that happening." Atemu muttered.
'I hope this doesn't affect anything. I have a feeling something bad is going to happen soon.' Heba thought.
Anzu stood outside the door to her father's room. 'I have to convince Father to wait another week or at least let me stay here.' Anzu thought. She raised her hand and knocked on the door.
"Enter." Lord Mazaki commanded.
Anzu opened the door and walked inside. "Father, may I speak with you?" Anzu asked.
"Yes." Lord Mazaki replied.
"Father, could we postpone the trip to the palace for a week?" Anzu asked sweetly.
Lord Mazaki turned to his daughter. "Why?"
"Well, the Pharaoh was angry with me when I left. I'm afraid he might do something to me." Anzu said.
"Aknankanon has told me that no harm will come to you as long as you do not disobey him. The slaves of Prince Atemu, Priest Seth, and Priest Bakura are off-limits to you. If you do anything to them, you will be punished, and there will be nothing I can do." Lord Mazaki said.
"But if they do something to me-" Anzu started.
"If they do anything, go to their masters. They will deal with the situation, and do not go to the guards. They are not going to help you. They will only go to their masters or tell you to. If you raise a hand to any of them, your actions will be construed as an act of treason, punishable by death." Lord Mazaki said.
Anzu paled. "Father, go without me this time. I will stay here." Anzu said.
"No. You are going. The last time I left you here alone, the entire house was in disarray when I returned Every slave had been punished within an inch of their life, the routine was off, and you were barking orders like you ran the house. I will not have you staying here, and I will not postpone the trip. If it conflicts with your plans, then deal with it. I do not care." Lord Mazaki said.
"But Father-" Anzu whined.
"No! One more word, and you will be punished!" Lord Mazaki shouted.
Anzu's eyes widened. Her father had never raised his voice to her.
"You are not getting out of this. Go get packed now, and not one more word about this." Lord Mazaki said.
Anzu nodded before leaving. 'What do I do? Mentrab will attack, and if he's caught, he'll sell me out. I have to do something.' Anzu thought.
Atemu walked into the room he still shared with Yami and fell onto the bed. "I hate this." Atemu muttered into the pillow.
"Now, Atemu. I know that you don't like Anzu period, but you are sharing a room with Yami. It's not like she could be alone with you." Heba said, massaging Atemu's shoulders.
Atemu groaned. "That'll just mean she'll suggest we go to her chambers." Atemu replied.
Heba rolled his eyes. "Have you ever been inside her guest chamber in any of her visits here?" Heba asked.
"No. I've always refused when she suggested it before." Atemu replied.
"Problem solved, and I'll get you out of being with her, even if I have to lie to her to get you away." Heba promised.
Atemu sat up. "You'd better. I would much rather spend time with you than that annoying gold-digger." he said.
Heba laughed. "That's the first time I've heard you really insult her." Heba said.
"All she wants is the position and wealth that comes with it. She doesn't care at all about me. All she wants is to be queen one day." Atemu said.
Heba leaned up kissed Atemu. "You don't have to do anything with her. All you have to do is tolerate her for a few weeks." Heba said.
"What about you? Anzu might try to strike you again." Atemu said.
Heba shrugged. "I just tell you and then I'll let you tell your father. After all, I really don't think that he's going to let her get away with it this time." Heba said.
Atemu sighed. "I hope that she doesn't get too carried away."
"What are the real chances of that happening?" Heba asked.
"Nonexistent." Atemu replied.
Heba smiled. "Just bear it."
"I'll try, Heba. I'll try." Atemu promised.
Mentrab stood in a cave, looking at the palace in the distance. "Soon, I'll have my revenge against Aknankanon and Atemu. They'll both die for their acts against me. I'll kill those priests and the younger prince as well. Killing the three slaves will just be an added bonus for me." Mentrab said.
"Sir, we're ready." a raider said.
Mentrab turned to the raider behind him. "Good. We'll leave tomorrow morning. The Pharaoh and his court will be dead very soon."
"What about the woman you made the deal with?" the raider asked.
"I'll enjoy slitting her throat. After all, she's just annoying. I thought I'd let her live to see what she has caused. I'm sure every Egyptian would love to kill her knowing that she helped a known traitor get into the palace unseen." Mentrab said.
"You do know how to work people." the raider said.
"All you have to know is a dark desire they have and exploit it. She wants to marry Atemu and feels his salve is getting in her way. Make a deal to kill the slave if she tells you how to get in. You kill the court, and she'll be blamed as well." Mentrab said.
"Yes, sir." the raider said.
Mentrab looked up at the night sky. "We attack soon."
That's it for Chapter 11. Anzu will cause a bit of trouble in the next chapter.
R&R.
