Hey everyone here's a new chapter. Hope you like it.
Tangled and twisted sheets surrounded a young, platinum haired, Egyptian boy as he slept peacefully. The cool winds from the desert entered the room ruffling his hair and caused him to snuggle up against the body next to him. The little girl beside him, feeling the boy shiver, moved closer to her friend and threw her arm over his shoulder. The shivering immediately stopped and both returned to the slumber they had momentarily drifted from. The peaceful moment would soon be interrupted though, as two guards entered the room and began to shake the two children gently.
"It is time to rise, young Malik." Malik swatted the guard away and tried to move closer to Destonia, who was being awakened by a guard as well. Malik pretended to be asleep and listened to the voices of the guards.
"Destonia, wake up." Malik could hear Destonia moan and then shift her position on the bed, as the guards sighed. Malik, thinking that the guards would leave after he and Destonia had shown their disapproval of being woken up at such a time, was surprised when he felt strong arms surround him and lift him from the bed. His eyes immediately opened and he heard Destonia yelp as he assumed the same thing was happening to her.
"It is time for you two to meet the Pharaoh and the Queen." Malik looked up at the voice and found it to belong to Tenru. Malik now being more awake slipped from the man's arms and moved toward Destonia, who had done the same to the guard who carried her. Malik looked through the window to see a dark sky and wondered if the guards had lost their minds.
"But you will disturb him. That is a offense that is carried by death if it is not important."
"It does not carry that much weight here, only a sleepy Queen and a still sleeping Pharaoh. They will be upset at first, but when they see you two I don't think that being sleepy will matter to them."
"Is this the big surprise that you were talking about?" Destonia asked between a yawn.
"Yes, now come. We are headed to the Pharaoh's chambers."
When Malik, Destonia, and the guards finally reached the Pharaoh's chambers, Malik had fallen asleep mid walk and had to be picked up and Destonia was hitting random objects along the way due to sleepiness, the two guards quietly opened the double doors and entered the room. The Pharaoh lay on his back and enveloped the queen in his arms, both covered in a linen bed sheet. The guards placed Malik and Destonia on their feet and Tenru hid them behind a cloak he had been wearing. While Tenru was quieting Destonia and Malik, the other guard went to the Pharaoh and proceeded to wake him up.
"Lord Pharaoh we have important news." Destonia could see the Pharaoh shift at the noise and sit up slowly in the candlelit room. He had moved his wife to the other side of the bed, being careful not to wake her, and squinted as his eyes adjusted to the low light.
"What is it Soreil?"
"We have a surprise."
"This no time for games Soreil. I am trying to rest." The Pharaoh said tiredly and turned to lie back down. The Queen, who had awoken, leaned on her elbow beside her husband and eyed the guards sleepily.
"What is wrong?"
"Nothing my Queen. Only that our Pharaoh does not wish to receive the gifts we bring him." The Queen rubbed her husband's back gently and he sat up, glaring at the guard.
"What is it Soreil?" The Pharaoh said slowly, noticing that the question came out harsher than he wanted. Then recognizing his mistake, he closed his eyes and apologized. "I am sorry. I have been very worried about the kingdom. It has..."
"Well I think that these gifts would work well to alleviate that worry." Soreil interrupted the Pharaoh.
"What gifts…" The Pharaoh stopped talking when he heard his wife gasp and sit erect in the bed.
"What is it?" The Pharaoh said taking his wife's hand.
The queen ignored her husband and got out of the bed, running over to Tenru and falling to her knees. Malik and Destonia wrapped themselves in the heavy cloak, trying to cover their faces. The Queen took the cloak firmly in her hand and pulled it away from the two sets of small hands. She looked at the two children behind Tenru's cloak and then ran her hand through Malik's hair, all the while gazing into Destonia's eyes.
"It can't be… It's the golden heirs." The Queen said, her voice a low whisper.
"What?" The Pharaoh immediately removed himself from the bed and stood beside his wife. Tenru moved aside to allow his rulers to get a better look at the miracles that would change their kingdom.
"It is them… How…?"
"Arum and I found them in your bother's kingdom and bought them." Tenru answered. The pharaoh kneeled pulling Destonia and Malik into his arms. After hugging the children for what seemed like an eternity, the Pharaoh addressed Tenru.
"You will wake everyone in the kingdom and let them know the good news. Tell them that the future rulers of Iteah have been found."
"What?!" Malik and Destonia said in unison as the guards left to spread the news.
Malik and Destonia were in shock even as the female servants were scurrying around getting them ready to be presented to the people of the kingdom. All they could do was stand and stare as the women rubbed them with scented oils, straightened their linen togas, did their hair, strapped their sandals, and adorned them in jewelry. When they were finished the women walked the children to the throne room, where they met the Pharaoh and the Queen, both who were dressed for celebration in jewelry and pleated togas in a golden brown tone.
"Are you ready to meet your people." The Queen smiled warmly and grabbed Destonia's hand, while the Pharaoh grabbed Malik's. Not knowing what to do or say, both children followed the rulers of Iteah to a large balcony, where they could see the people and the children that they would later rule. A massive crowd of people cheered when the Pharaoh and Queen pushed aside the linen piece of fabric that covered the window to reveal themselves. The cheering grew even louder when Malik and Destonia were pulled into view, the sound of the people's clapping, chanting, and cheering becoming deafening. The Pharaoh raised his hands, signaling that he was about to speak, and the crowd quieted.
"My people the future rulers have been found. None are as happy as we. We are happy because our people are happy. The diligent search has ended and now standing beside me are the 'golden mane and the golden eyes' that the prophet spoke of. The crowd cheered once again and the Pharaoh had to raise his hands to quiet them. "We are very thankful for the help of our gods Ra, Bes, and even Min. Ra because his sacred light has helped to lead two of my most trusted guards to the heirs of Iteah." The Pharaoh stopped talking and gave Arum and Tenru the crowd's applause and cheers, before he continued speaking.
"The god Bes for guarding against misfortune and evil spirits. If not for his help we would not have found our heirs in such a large land and at such cruel a time as this. A time when brothers are no longer together because they have different views of ruling a kingdom and are at each other's throats." The Pharaoh of Iteah looked to the ground sadly, but quickly gained his composure, not wanting the feud between he and his brother to ruin this joyous day. "And to Min, who although did not bless my wife with fertility, blessed her with something more; two children that she has gained without the worry of meeting Osiris in the afterlife…" The speech continued and the people cheered as Destonia and Malik were raised into the air by two guards.
"Malik!" Destonia yelled over the noise below them as she waved.
"Huh?!"
"See I told you it wouldn't hurt to come here." Malik smiled as they continued to wave to the people they would be leading some day.
"Do you have all the tools necessary for the marking of Malik and Destonia, Mirten?" Arum walked into the room, interrupting the elder man as he put the last of his cutting blades on a small table and a few linen cloths.
"Yes Arum, when will the marking ceremony take place?"
"The Pharaoh said as soon as the feast is over."
"Hmm it is quite awful that the children can not have the pain dulled. The ceremony calls for marking without the use of a pain reliever. That is most unfortunate because the marks are most delicate."
"That is very unfortunate, but it must be done."
"Yes, I know, but it will truly be upsetting to hear them cry and scream as I mark them. I have done this many times and it does not get easier. You want so badly to help them, but then you realize that you cannot."
"I understand… just try to…" Arum stopped talking, not knowing what else to say.
It was late in the evening when the Pharaoh called the two heirs into the confines of the palace walls. They had spent all morning playing and eating with the children outside of the palace. The pair ran to the palace steps waving to the children behind them.
"Come in you two you must be prepared." When Malik and Destonia entered the main room they could see the queen looking at them sadly. As Malik and Destonia moved toward the Pharaoh, they both could see the queen leave her chair and exit the room.
"What is wrong?" Destonia asked as she watched the door close.
"She does not wish to hear of the ritual that is planned tonight for the two of you."
"Ritual? What ritual?"
"The ceremony tonight is a very important one that you must do in order to become the rulers of Iteah."
"What is it?"
"It's the Ritual of…" Just as the Pharaoh was about to finish his sentence, someone entered the chamber, pulling his attention. The man that entered the area had a young body, he was tall and well built, but his face showed his true age to be that of a man in mid years. His skin was of a gray pallor and his facial features well defined. He wore the uniform of a high mage, but from the way that the Pharaoh accepted him he was more of a personal figure. Destonia shivered, as the man passed her, not knowing the reason for the action. She felt a looming aura of distrust around him; he kept secrets, deadly secrets. Destonia listened and watched as the two men spoke.
"My Lord, I have heard that the search for the heirs is over. You have found the heirs of Iteah." The man turned and smiled at the two children. Destonia saw a friendly smile, but a sense of fear filled her as the man looked at her and Malik, he was not being truthful, lies filled his words.
"Yes. We are very grateful. How did you get the news so quickly?"
"I know when everything happens."
"You are a remarkable man Heishin."
"Yes I only wish for your kingdom to remain in good leadership…" The men continued to talk as two female servants from the lower level of the palace entered the room and removed the children to ready them for the ritual. When they were out of the room and a good way down the hall, Destonia tapped Malik on the shoulder and whispered,
"He is not who he seems to be."
"I don't like him either. He seems wrong for a place like this. He portrays kindness, but he reminds me of someone from our kingdom. He hides behind many faces."
"Yes, but I feel that the Pharaoh will never see his true face."
"What do you mean?"
"I think that we will be the ones to see his true intentions." Malik shrugged not fully understanding his friend and they both ran to catch up with the servants to prepare for the ritual.
After they had finished, the servants led Malik and Destonia toward the room that the ritual would be taking place in. Many servants passed them with solemn and glum expressions on their faces. Destonia looked at all the servants that passed and based on her observations, asked,
"Malik is it not strange that the servants are giving us looks of sympathy?"
"What? You are just…"
"I am not imagining anything. Something important is happening tonight."
"Yeah the ritual thing the Pharaoh was going to tell us about."
"Yes, but what is the ritual?"
Destonia and Malik were led into a room and left as two guards grabbed their shoulders. Destonia and Malik looked panicked as they tried to squirm away from the guards, but soon relaxed when they saw Mirten.
"Why are they holding us Mirten?" Malik asked. "Tell them to let us go." Mirten looked saddened by the fear in the children's' voices as he shook his head.
"But why...?"
"Tonight you will be taking part in the Sacred Blade Ritual. The ritual consists of me cutting the story of the Iteah Pharaohs into your backs. All of this will be done without the aid of any anesthetic, so you will feel it all. It is believed that the pain you feel will only make you stronger and cause you not to falter as the rulers of Iteah." Mirten walked towards the two children and cupped their faces in his hands.
"I am truly sorry." Mirten walked away and sat behind the small table with his tools on it. He called the guard with Malik in his arms and the man came immediately, picking the boy up, who was struggling and kicking, placing him on a low flat table, and tying him down tightly. Malik was now crying and Destonia, who was still held by the guard, was screaming.
"I shall try to be as quick as possible young Malik." Mirten whispered as he raised his first cutting blade.
The Queen sat beside her husband as she listened to the young girl's scream echo throughout the palace walls. The queen closed her eyes trying desperately to take her mind off the screaming and crying, by petting the cat in her arms.
"Can't we stop…?" She trailed off as her husband looked at her sadly.
"You know that this has to be done. It pains me also, but the prophet's words must be carried out." The queen nodded in understanding and dropped the cat as she heard another scream, this time coming from the boy.
"All will be fine." The Pharaoh said trying to comfort his wife, but all she did was look at him and nod.
It had been close to an hour and Mirten was still placing small, delicate cuts into Malik's back. Bloody cloths littered the floor and thin streams of blood slid across Malik's back. The boy now had sweat running down his face and his expression was the complete opposite of the happy expression he wore earlier that morning. Now his teeth chattered as he anticipated the blade coming in contact with his skin. He was not spared the pain, as he felt the blade slice him again. Malik felt nauseous, a sudden urge to vomit overtaking him as the blade connected with his back, slicing and marking him with another Egyptian hieroglyphic. Malik drifted in and out of consciousness as the pain continued to overwhelm him, each cut sending shock waves through his body. Each time a new incision was made a scream was pulled from his throat. Malik's throat, now raw from screaming and sore from hiccupping, was blazing with pain. Malik had stopped begging long ago, knowing that Mirten would not or could not untie him or let him up, instead he settled for withering under the knife. The pain had become so severe that Malik wished that the darkness that seized him periodically would just keep him. The slicing in his back caused the young boy to wildly buck against the table and tremble as his nerves received the pain and then coursed it through his body.
"Please stop!" Malik said in between a yell and a sob. He gripped the table so tight that it seemed that he would pull the chunks of it out. His voice was raspy and his pleading came out as a whisper. "Please. You're hurting me."
"Stop it! Stop it!" Destonia screamed from the corner of the room, her voice dying out as well. She had been crying the entire time Malik was being marked and struggled helplessly as the guard held onto her tightly. Destonia saw Malik's eyes roll to the back of his head and his lashes flutter, signaling that he was about to black out again. Malik screamed again as he fell unconscious. Mirten finished minutes later, cleaning the boy's back and ordering the guard to take him to his chamber, so that a second healer could apply ointment. The guard picked Malik up like a sleeping child and carried him past Destonia. When Mirten could no longer see the guard and Malik, he motion for the other guard to bring Destonia. She struggled and began screaming for Malik as the second guard brought her to the table and tied her down as well. Mirten had a new set of tools brought to him and he began the marking of Destonia's back. Destonia screamed and cried helplessly as the ritual continued, but unlike Malik, she had no one to cry for her.
When Mirten finally finished with Destonia and had her back treated, he went to report to the Pharaoh, but found that it was not needed. The Pharaoh had been up the whole night pacing his palace, with his wife at his side. Both looked incredibly tired, but very worried at the same time.
"They have both been marked my Lord and are in their chambers. All precautions have been taken as to insure a quick recovery." The Queen responding before her husband asked,
"Are they alright?"
"Yes, my Queen they are fine. They are now sleeping, but two servants have been assigned to their room to make sure that they do on ruin the marks on their backs." The Pharaoh nodded and the healer left his chambers.
"We now have our rulers of Iteah and if they are half as gentle and caring as you my Queen, they will be magnificent leaders."
Heishin entered the palace of Pharaoh Yugioh quickly and bowed. The Pharaoh looked extremely upset and instead of greeting the high mage he threw a random plant at him. Heishin dodged the plant and bowed once more. He knew that he was bound to hear the Pharaoh's mouth, so he stood and waited.
"We will never get his kingdom now! You have failed!"
"I have not failed My Lord, it will only take a little more time."
"I don't have forever, Heishin. I want that kingdom in my hands so that I may rule it and if I am unable I want my son to rule it. I want to see it in his hands. He deserves it not some street trash. Only those of royal blood should rule, not outsiders." Pharaoh Yugioh spat the last word showing his disgust in his brother's choice of heirs.
"I understand."
"You obviously do not. I send you to do a simple task and you mess that up. Do not fail me Heishin. I have waited too long for his kingdom and to have it slip between my fingers is unacceptable…" Heishin continued to listen to the Pharaoh as he belittled him, but secretly he wanted to kill the man standing there. Heishin smiled to himself as he thought of killing the rambling Pharaoh once he took over Iteah. There was no need to share the power with someone he hated and less need to give it to the Pharaoh's son. Heishin was more patient than the Pharaoh could ever be and could wait a few years to rid himself of all his opposition at once.
"Heishin are you listening to me?"
"Yes, Pharaoh Yugioh."
"Like I said I want that kingdom in my son's hands, so you will not fail me again. I'll have that kingdom in his hands if it kills me. Do you understand?"
"Completely, Lord Pharaoh."
"Now leave my chambers." Heishin stood and exited the chamber thinking to himself. 'You truly don't know how close your words will resemble my exact actions later on."
Another chapter complete you guys I hope you all are enjoying the story. Sorry about the late update, but I had an essay to write and I have a Biology, Chemistry, and Trig test on Wednesday so I need to study. I'll try to update for 'Living a Little of the Farm Life' soon. So look forward to that.
Read and Review please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!