Seto continued his gaze upon the floor as he listened to a two hour long tormenting lecture from his mentor. This was only the tip of what he was to receive. His eyes looked up as the Millenium Eye holder stepped away for a moment. Seto watched with panged anguish as he saw more of his punishment. Akunadin was rummaging through a stockpile of scrolls! Grabbing a bodyful, Akunadin returned and dropped them at Seto's feet.
"As further punishment, you will read, study, and memorize every one of these spells and enchantments. I will expect a word for word recitement of them by midday tomorrow. If not, it will be five lashes for every one you forget. If you enjoy being awake rather than giving your body proper rest, then I feel I should accommodate you. "
Seto groaned under his breath. Surely he would have to get even with the prince. This was all his fault afterall!
Down the hall, the young prince was also suffering the fate of his little adventure. He too, was getting a very stern and very boring lecture from both his father the pharaoh and his mentor, Simon.
"Do you have anything more to say for yourself son?"
Yami pondered the question. It could be a double edge sword. He had to be very careful. This was the way of his father. He sometiems used riddles and misleading questions to foil his adversary. It was something Yami hoped to master some day as well. But first, he had to get through the mazes himself.
"Cat got your tongue, hmm? Not so talkative now are we?" his father taunted, urging his son to speak.
Yami knew now it was a trap. If he spoke, he'd be punished for talking back and disrespecting his father. The smartest move he could make was to hang his head low and take the guilt trip. He refused to make eye contact with his father. If he did so, it would most likely be read as a defiant challenge. He'd already paid for that more times than he wished to admit to.
"Fine then. Simon, I leave the rest of my son's punishment to you. And son, if I EVER catch you doing this again, you will not fare so lucky for I will complete your punishment on my own."
In truth, Yami wished his father would give him punishment. Severe boredom was worse than any whipping he could ever receive. And Simon was very good at dishing out boredom.
As the pharaoh left his son's room to retire for the evening, Simon took charge. "Let's see, what lessons are next...how about political and social reform and laws. Yeah, those will do for a start. " Simon said as he grabbed a wad of scrolls himself. Yami rolled his eyes. They were the two subjects he hated most!
"Excuse me, Mentor Simon?"
"Yes, prince?"
"I need to relieve myself. May I go to the latrine please?"
"I suppose, but I will go with you. "
"Why? I can take a leak by myself!"
"Because the last time I permitted such during one of your lessons, you did not return for an entire day!"
"I had drank a lot of beer and water that day. I was busy worshipping the god of latrines."
"I hardly think that was the case and we both know it. Well, if you prefer, you may relieve yourself here, in this bowl."
Yami moaned, there had to be a way out! "Fine, I'll wait then."
"So be it. Now, back to your lessons. Read this scroll, then recite it's meaning to me in your own words."
Yami pried open the scroll. He tried to focus, but his mind was definitely elsewhere. He wondered what Seto was doing. Suddenly an idea formed in his head! After scanning the scroll, he prepared to translate a portion of it. He looked up at Simon with a subtle smirk upon his lips. He HAD to see what Seto was up to!
"And the meaning?"
"All royal princes get lots of sex, drugs, and BEER!"
Simon's face grew red with anguish. "Do you wish me to summon your father, the almighty pharaoh, back here?"
"Look, my mind's not here. May I visit my harem first, for a quickie then maybe I can return and concentrate on my lessons?"
"You shouldn't even be thinking about that yet."
"Then why do I have a harem and choices of concubines?"
Simon sighed in annoyed defeat. If not given his way, this prince could annoy one to hell and back!
"If you do not return in ten minutes, I will summon your father, understand?"
"Ten minutes? C'mon Simon, it takes longer than that for the good stuff!"
"Not at your age. You'll be lucky if you can last five."
Yami dared not push it further. He quickly scribbled some notes on a bit of papyrus and slid it under his waistband unnoticed. Given some time was better than no time. And most importantly, it got him out of his bed chamber! Without a reaction to Simon's snide mark, Yami dashed out the door. He slowed down near Seto's chamber and listened. He could not hear Akunadin's voice. Either he was in there and quiet, or he had stepped out, leaving Seto alone. Seeing a young servent girl entering the hallway, Yami had an idea.
"Hey, you girl, come here a moment." he spoke softly, trying not to reveal his presence to those inside the chamber. The girl came obiently and bowed.
"Please don't." Yami said as he tried to urge her up, but she refused to break protocol and continued to bow before the prince. "Okay, uh, fine, what were those words dad said...ah yes, please, arise. "
The girl rose and awaited her orders.
"Please, enter that chamber and tell me all who are present within? But speak to no one."
"As you wish, your highness."
Yami rolled his eyes. He hated formalities. But quickly stepped aside against a wall as the girl entered. He heard the annoyed growl of Seto as he was interrupted from something. The girl departed the room after and returned to Yami.
"The high priest's apprentice, Seto is present sir. "
"No one else?"
"No, sir."
Yami fingered the note he had in his waistband. "Thank you. You may go." he told the girl. The note was now unnecessary. He could deliver his message to Seto in person. He quietly slipped into the room.
"WHAT NOW WENCH!" Seto snapped as he was interrupted from his study once again.
The prince looked down at himself, emphasizing that his gender was quite the opposite. "Wench? Hardly. So,are we busy slaving away at those boring things eh?" Yami joked as he scanned the room...just in case. Akunadin was as quiet as a snake slithering about. One didn't always know when he was present or not, even if the servent girl didn't see him.
"And I hardly think you escaped punishment. So what brings me the honor of this visit? Surely if found, you will be punished even moreso."
"Honor? I guess it is...for you. I'm supposed to be having sex right now. To think I traded that for chatting with you. What am I thinking!?"
"What priviledge it must be to be heir to the throne. You get punished yet you get a break for some trivial sexual romp?"
"Hey, it's only ten minutes. Though Simon predicts five."
"I predict five too."
"Then that puts your abilities at three."
"Look, I don't have time for this. My mentor will be back any time now. He just went to take a leak."
"Good thing that excuse didn't work. Wouldn't want to run into him." Yami muttered under his breath. "Fine, I'll make this brief. Meet me at the royal bath house at sundown tomorrow."
"Not if I'm going to get in trouble again!"
"Only if you don't come." Yami replied cockily with a wink.
"I hate it when you speak in riddles."
"Well grump, I'll leave you to your work then. Have fun!" Yami said with a jaunty salute before dashing out of the room. He closed the door just as something hard whacked the door behind him. It was soon followed by the utterence of several curse words from within the room.
As the prince made his way back to his own chambers, he suddenly remembered something...he was supposed to look spent and relaxed! With a slight detour, he ran into the nearest wash room, doused himself with water, dropped to the floor, and did fifty quick physical training moves he learned from the military (ahem, sit ups and push ups). As he prepared to return to his feet, something told him to look up before getting up. Sure enough, three forms were standing over him...three of his father's scantily-clad favorite concubines! He never bothered to check whose wash room it was!
"Well, well, what have we here?" one teased as she eyed the young prince.
"A little royal snooper by the looks." another added.
"Like the view?" another said. Yami wasn't even paying attention to the view until that was brought up. His violet eyes then took in the view above him. He liked what he saw despite himself. But, at his age, his hormones were not entirely at his command. They did what they wanted.
"I think he does. Just think, in a few years prince, you may be able to enjoy this." a concubine said as she gave the prince a rather informative pose. Her boldness embarrassed the young prince slightly. He wasn't used to such aggressive women.
"We'd better let him go. We wouldn't want to anger his father for corrupting the future heir to the throne now would we?" another concubine mentioned.
"I suppose you're right." the one said as she backed away from the prince, allowing him to regain his footing.
With a dignified walk, Yami cooly walked out. "Good evening ladies." Little did the concubines of his father know that the innocence and naivety of this curious prince had been gone for some time now.
Upon exiting the room, Yami ran down the halls. He wasn't sure how much time had been spent. He lost track once he was surprised by the concubines. Luckily for him, the running, sweat, water, and red flush of embarrassment gave him the appearance of having one heck of a romp. He burst into his bedchamber.
Simon was currently reading scrolls when the prince hastily entered. Casually, he set them aside. "Are you that anxious to return to your lessons eh prince? Guess you still have much to learn in the ways of women. You're back before your ten. Too bad we didn't wager."
"But I beat your five. And I am saving three minutes for later, so I can continue with myself. Therefore, your wager would have been invalid." Yami replied with a devious smirk.
Simon coughed, or rather choked. He honestly didn't wish to know so much about the prince's private affairs. He opted for a quick change of subject. "Shall we continue with your lessons then?"
Yami pulled up a chair beside the table of scrolls and sighed in defeat. There was little he could do now except take the punishment and get it over with.
"Good. Now, I want you to read this and this. Then, give me the proper solution given current Egyptian protocol."
Yami's brain growled in protest. It had better things to do, like duel and come up with fascinating games of intrigue and challenge. Going over protocols and policies weren't much interest to his creative genius.
Elsewhere, Akunadin had returned to young priest Seto's chamber. Seto didn't really despise his punishment. The more scrolls and lessons he had, the better edge he had against the prince who he knew fought mundane tasks. The more Seto could learn, the more powerful he could become. Each scroll contained magical spells, chants, and other powers a high priest would find useful. The prince possessed magical abilities, but only practiced them as the need arose. The young priest practiced daily without fail. One day he would surpass his cousin. He could feel the challenge within his bones. But again, the young priest's mind was distracted. He wondered about the prince's demand to meet at the royal bath. What was the prince thinking!? Sometimes he wondered if someone hadn't dropped the prince on his head when he was an infant.
Both youths continued their punishment studies until the sun rose and stretched its rays of light across the lands. There would be no sleep for them. Upon daybreak, the two youths had to move on to their normal daily duties. The young prince had to shadow his father in daily duties. This time, he stood beside the pharaoh in the royal chariot as they travelled with a military envoy to a village on the outskirts of the main city. Twice the prince found himself asleep while he stood and twice he felt the riding crop upon his back. There would be no rest for the weary.
Young priest Seto continued learning spells and assisting Akunadin in various matters. He too, felt the heavy weight of sleep upon his eyes. Whenever he nodded off, the high pitched screech of a hunting hawk was placed beside his ear. In his mind, he muttered every curse word he know, from his language to that of others. But somehow it didn't seem enough for the torment he had to go through. One day he would give the prince his due...one day.
to be continued...
author's note: No princes, priests, or hawks were harmed during the writing of this chapter. ;p