Seth felt a cold knot - not the magic, fortunately - form in his stomach as he looked up at the palace. He'd seen it from a distance of course, but only from a distance. He'd never thought he'd actually enter it.

"Have you seen anything like it before, Seth?"

He turned sharply, almost tripping over his own feet in his surprise. How had she managed to sneak up on him? Ramla...yes, that was what the prince had called her

"No, my lady." Honesty and a rather literal mind compelled him to add: "Though I've seen it before, many times. From the outside."

She laughed. "Well, you do not need to worry."

"Don't I?"

She hesitated a moment before replying. "Not if you tell Pharaoh the truth," she said. She studied him, and he felt unbearably conscious of his dirty face and ragged clothes. "You saved the prince's life, I think."

They passed through the gleaming gates.

The prince was visibly drooping by the time they were escorted past the endless petitioners in the courtyard. He keep his eyes half-shut and winced at the sound when a group of calvary soldiers rode by. Seth automatically moved a little closer, ready to catch the other boy if he fell.

But whether it was willpower or the blessing of the gods, the prince made it up the steps and into the cooler interior of the palace. At once, Ramla halted and turned to the leader of the soldiers.

"Kosey," she said. Seth started at the familiar name. "Please escort the prince to the healers immediately. I believe he was struck a hard blow to the head."

"I'm fine, Ramla," the prince said, making an effort to straighten. "I have to explain to my fa...to Pharaoh what happened. Seth..."

"Is not on trial, my prince," Ramla said gently. "His part in this is easy to determine. He goes only to receive the pharaoh's thanks."

"Come, my lord," Kosey said.

The prince opened his mouth, winced, and went without protest. He shot Seth one last glance as he was taken away. Seth quelled the ridiculous urge to call out after him. He could not escape the feeling that he was gradually being stripped of allies in a hostile place.

As if she read his mind, Ramla laid a hand on his shoulder. "Come, Seth," she said.

Taking a deep breath, but strangely comforted by her manner, Seth followed her into the throne room. It was far more magnificent than anything he had dared imagine. The room was lined with marble, the ceiling nearly a hundred feet overhead. Lavish decorations lined both walls. He had expected to see lots of people, scribes and court officials and...and whoever else made up the court. But there was only the golden throne at the far end of the hall.

Pharaoh sat on that throne.

Seth found himself kneeling, face pressed to the floor, before he had consciously decided to do so. Pharaoh looked like a god. The air shimmered and hummed around him, and the visible symbols of his power...

Wait a moment. Hummed?

He raised his head a little. It wasn't the air that was humming. Around Pharaoh's neck hung a golden pyramid upside down on a thick, gold chain. It was engraved with the same eye of Horus that he'd seen on the priestess' necklace, but the hum from it was deeper and more insistent. What he'd thought was a shimmer from all the gold, or perhaps from the king's divinity, wasn't that...

"Who is this?" Pharaoh asked, leaning forward slightly. "Where is my son?"

"Great Pharaoh," Ramla said. "Your son is with the healers, being treated for a blow to the head. Had it not been for this boy here," she added, smiling at Seth encouragingly. "It would have been much worse."

Pharaoh stared at her a moment, and Seth had the feeling that they were exchanging words that he could not hear. Then the pharaoh sat back on his throne with a murmur that sounded suspiciously like "At least he did not injure anything he uses regularly." Then he turned dark eyes on Seth.

"Well, boy," he said. "If what Ramla says is true, it seems that I owe you a great debt of thanks. Tell me what happened."

Unnoticed by Seth, the doors to the throne room opened and a man slipped through.

Seth took a deep breath. "Tell the Pharaoh the truth," Ramla had told him. "Pharaoh doesn't tolerate the existence of Shadowmancers who don't work for him," Bakura had said. Cautiously, Seth told the king about coming across Ryuk and his gang in the alley and his impromptu decision to interfere.

"And how did you overcome these attackers?" Pharaoh asked. "It sounds as if you were gravely outnumbered."

Seth hesitated only for a moment. "The prince stretched out his hand, Great Pharaoh. It got cold...and dark...bolts of darkness leapt out and struck them. They..." He did not have to fake the tremor in his voice as he thought of Ryuk and the others. He swallowed. "They died."

Pharaoh said nothing for a long moment, then bowed his head. "And so." He sighed. "Continue."

Seth told him about the last attacker, the one who had survived, and then about carrying the prince up to the rooftop to wait for him to wake up. Then about the appearance of the monster - Sangan - and the arrival of Ramla.

"And then I was brought here, my lo...Great Pharaoh," he finished lamely. "I didn't do very much, really. I didn't know he was the prince."

Pharaoh smiled. "And yet he was, and your actions may have saved his life." He met Seth's eyes with his own and Seth felt a thrill of warmth. "I must consider how your actions will be rewarded. Do you have family in the city?"

Seth shook his head.

"Tonight then, we will feed you and give you a bed. Ramla, will you see to it?"

"Of course, my king," she said. "Come, Seth."

At her encouraging smile, Seth got awkwardly to his feet. He bowed again, and as he lifted his head, his eyes were caught again by the golden pyramid. It hummed a little louder, and Seth's stomach churned. Pharaoh's eyes met his. Seth tore himself hastily away and went with Ramla towards the doors. On the way, they passed an old man in the white robes of a priest, who must have come in some time while Seth was talking. The hood was pulled low over his face. His head turned to follow Seth's passing.

The man unnerved him, and Seth was glad when the doors closed behind them.

"Well?" Pharaoh asked.

Aknadin finally turned away from the door. "Everything he said was true."

"Then the boys were slain by Shadow Magic." Pharaoh sighed. "Well, I cannot punish Atem for defending himself. But you know this will increase tensions in the city. Many of the people are wary of magic."

"Blame one of the thieving crews," Aknadin said bluntly. "This "Thief King" we have been hearing of lately should do nicely. Is he not said to have some magic? In fact, the news that he is killing children may prevent him from gaining any more power."

"Or frighten people into doing what he says." Pharaoh stroked his beard in thought. "Well, I will consider it."

"In the meantime, my lord," Aknadin said, "give the boy a position in the palace. You heard him say himself he has no family, and his actions deserve a better reward than starving to death in the streets."

Pharaoh nodded. "Thank you for your presence today, Aknadin."

"Of course." Aknadin bowed and left the room, keeping to himself the other images he had seen in the boy's mind.

The Shadows had taken physical form today, a pair of golden lions which sat majestically by Pharaoh's throne. One glance at them was enough to tell Atem exactly how much trouble he was in. He had to fight the urge to squirm.

His father studied him in silence. "If you meant to demonstrate your readiness to be king," he said at last, "You have failed utterly."

The words rang in the almost empty room. All of Atem's planned explanations and excuses fell apart.

"It is not that you visited the city alone against my wishes," Pharaoh said, still in the same level voice. "It is not even that you risked your life and had to be treated by a healer before you could even appear before me. The first is impatience, and the second the price of your foolishness."

To his horror, Atem felt tears brimming in his eyes. He fought them back, clenching his fists at his sides.

For the first time, Pharaoh's voice rose slightly. "It is that you abandoned your duties. By skipping your lessons like the errant child you are, you have forgotten your duty to educate yourself to please the gods, and it is the kingdom's future you risk when you fling yourself into danger without heed for the consequences."

"I-I was careful, Father," Atem stammered. "I had my magic…"

"Magic is not a toy to be used for childish means!" Pharaoh's voice cracked like a whip. Atem flinched. Then, his father's voice grew quieter, and when he spoke, it was almost to himself. "It is both a gift and a terrible curse."

A curse?

Pharaoh passed a hand over his eyes. "Go."

"Father..."

"Go."

Wordlessly, Atem did as he was told.