Sorry for the long delay in updating. But I believe I have conquered my writer's block now! Go, read, 'n review! ~_^
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It belonged to the man wrapped in a dark cloak sitting at the edge of his bed. The bed was in a fairly large room, one with beautifully painted walls. "It" was a quiet voice, raspy from little use. Nevertheless, the voice held command. "You wanted to see me, Djurio?"
The unusually tall man bowed low. "I apologize for disturbing my lord, the Pharaoh Ka-aper," he said calmly, "You-"
"It's late. Forget the formalities and get on with it," ordered the hunched form on the bed.
"A messenger from the Temple of the Seventh Duel brings news," the advisor said. "The high priest Rai-djedi has been defeated in a duel...by a young boy."
"What?" The form stood erect, shedding its blanket to reveal a very surprised and middle-aged man. "Is this something done in jest?"
Djurio shook his head. "No, my lord," he replied.
"Who is this boy?"
"I...do not know."
The man stepped towards his vizier. "Find out who he is."
"At once, my lord." Djurio snapped his fingers, and a young man appeared.
"Zemti," Djurio said to him. "You are a priest at that temple. You were there when the high priest lost. Who was it who beat Rai-djedi?"
The man glanced from the pharaoh to the vizier. "It...was Yami, son of Xander the goldsmith," he said, clearly uneasy at being in Ka-aper's presence.
Djurio nodded. "You may go, Zemti."
"How old is he?"
"My lord?" Djurio arched an eyebrow.
"The boy who defeated Rai-djedi...what is his age?"
Djurio thought for a moment. "Fourteen, I heard."
The pharaoh Ka-aper scowled. "Xander, eh?" he mused. "Apparently, his son has the same spirit as he. A spirit of rebels." The man scoffed. "Nevertheless, I will meet this Yami. I desire my throne to pass to one more clever than I...and, unfortunately, my own son Amar hasn't the brain of a fool." He smiled bitterly. "Bring the boy to meet me...at dawn tomorrow."
Djurio nodded. "Is that all, my pharaoh?"
"Yes."
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Nakht yanked the reins forcing the horses to stop in the midst of the crowd that had formed although it was still early. Right at the palace's front steps.
Yami stared. He had never seen the palace up close. So much marble and silver and gold...it was a dazzling sight.
"Come." Nakht's voice broke the teenager's reverie. He stepped from the chariot handing the reins to a young porter standing nearby. Yami got off the chariot also, but before he followed Nakht into the bustling throng, he tossed the porter, who was just a boy, a few coins.
"For keeping the horses," he whispered. The boy grinned.
"Thank you!"
Yami didn't reply, only smiled.
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The guard met Nakht and Yami between the columns at the entrance to the palace. "What business brings you here?" he demanded curtly.
"Summons from the pharaoh," Nakht replied with equal abruptness, holding out a papyrus scroll. "Read it, if you like."
"Hmph." Snatching the scroll from the commander's hand, the sentinel opened and scanned it. "This way," he said after a moment, shoving the papyrus back into Nakht's hands.
Exchanging an unreadable glance, Yami and Nakht followed the man into the cool, dimly-lit palace and down a dark hallway. The dark haired teenager wrapped his cloak tightly around him. He hated the cold.
The surly guard led them down countless hallways before stopping before one particularly elaborately decorated room. He knocked twice.
"Enter," a voice within ordered. The guard hastily obeyed, opening the door and motioning the two with him inside.
Inside was a high writing table piled high with scrolls, behind which sat a man. He stood and approached the guard as they entered.
The man, Yami observed, was tall and wore a considerable amount of gold. He was obviously a high-ranking official, by the cool manner in which he acted. The man spoke with the guard for a moment, then dismissed him and turned to Yami and Nakht.
"I am Djurio," he said unceremoniously. "Come. The pharaoh will see you now."
Djurio. The vizier who replaced Terran, Yami recalled. It was all too strange, this cold, echoing place.
The vizier Djurio paused before a huge set of double doors, before which stood two bored, stiff-looking guards. The guards snapped to attention as soon as they saw the nobleman approaching. They moved to slowly open the heavy doors.
Yami froze with a faint gasp at all the light he saw. Ra...this is the throne room!! He began to feel so small and dirty compared to the splendor around him.
Within the huge impressive room sat the gold and silver throne. Lining it on either side down the long red carpet were countless guards, each in white uniform. The pillars of silver were surrounded by a large crowd; the caravan from Kush delivering tribute to their overlord the pharaoh.
Ka-aper. The pharaoh... Ka-aper was a middle-aged man with jet and gray hair. He wore the red and white double crown of Upper and Lower Egypt besides all the gold ornaments on his fingers and arms.
There was soft pipe music playing in the room, but it stopped the moment the doors opened. It was then that Yami realized how loudly his heart was pounding. Ra, kill me now and take me to hell, I pray. This is not where I should be...
The pharaoh glanced up at the three intruders as they drew near. He scowled. For a split second his steely black eyes met Yami's crimson ones. Each looked away, unable to closely examine the darkness he saw in the other's eyes. Yami swallowed back the fear welling up. He couldn't move.
I shouldn't be here...
Ra...if you don't kill me...then help me not to not panic.
"These are the ones you summoned, my lord," Djurio declared, breaking the taut silence in the lighted room.
Pharaoh Ka-aper nodded. Djurio bowed halfway and slipped into his customary place at the man's left hand.
"So..." the pharaoh began after another silent moment. "You are Yami. I've heard quite a lot about you ever since you beat Rai-djedi."
Yami bowed. "Thank you, my lord," he said quietly. There was something in Ka-aper's voice that he instantly disliked; something that seemed to taunt him.
"And Nakht, my old friend. It is good to see you again."
Nakht smiled slightly, inclining his head. "I feel the same, my pharaoh," he replied.
Noticing that the others in the room were listening closely and trying not to, Ka-aper raised a hand.
"I must speak with this boy. Alone," he said calmly, as if speaking with unusually gifted boys alone was something he did every day.
After everyone had gone, Pharaoh Ka-aper turned his attention back to the spiky haired teenager standing before him. "Tell me this," he began. "How did Rai-djedi lose so easily?"
Yami glared at the ground. "It wasn't easy," he muttered.
"Oh?" The pharaoh was suddenly interested. "How did you defeat him at all, then? The high priest doesn't lose without a fight. If he loses at all, that is."
Yami hesitated, but only for a moment. Reaching under his cloak, he pulled out the Millennium Puzzle. Ka-aper sucked in his breath.
So this is the legendary Millennium Puzzle...the Charm that has been sought after for so long, he mused silently. Strange. This boy has an incredibly developed gaming mind...and power...to possess an Item this powerful...
This is no ordinary boy, Ra help me.
Yami observed the change that came over the pharaoh's face. He wants the Puzzle, he realized. And I sense he'll do anything to get it.
"Why do you think I summoned you here?" Ka-aper questioned after examining the triangular object for a long moment.
The teenager replied levelly, "Because you are interested in me and in what I can do. Everyone is, now that I've beaten the high priest."
"Hn. So you know then." The pharaoh stood and came over to Yami. "So I'll tell you the entire truth. Yes, I am interested in you. I need an heir who is wise enough to rule Egypt when I die. My own son Amar is not so wise."
Yami's eyes narrowed. "You're going to adopt me...as your successor?"
Ka-aper smiled; a wide, unsettling smirk. "I might want to."
"But I'm not your son!" the teenager protested, forgetting respectfulness and his apprehension about speaking to the pharaoh. "I am two summers younger than Amar!"
"Do you think that makes a difference?" Ka-aper leaned forward, eyes becoming dangerous. "From what I know about my son, if he inherits the throne, Egypt will not survive his reign! I might as well throw this city to the crocodiles!"
Yami clenched his teeth. "You must be desperate for Egypt to survive if you wish to leave it to former slaves like me," he muttered.
"Yes. I've thought of that." The pharaoh nodded. "But it does not matter who is in the throne as it does how he rules."
"I can't become the pharaoh after you," the teenager muttered bitterly. "If I couldn't control my own anger and tongue, how do I expect to control a country that hates those like me?"
"But Ra knows you have no choice."
Yami winced at the scathing tone in the man's voice.
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"What do you think, my lord?" Djurio asked when Yami and Nakht had gone. "Should I send them home?"
"No. Tell Ruia to prepare another room."
"What?"
Ka-aper smiled again. "This boy...I like his way of thinking. He is the one who shall be my heir."