A Wind Called Fate
Part III: Skill Against Skill
A Mummies Alive! Fanfic
I spent only a minute or so looking up at the night sky. Clouds spread their darkness across some of the stars, and the moon was hiding behind one. I went to the stable, and for a long moment I only looked at the golden chariot. It was so beautiful, I was in awe of it. But I was determined to ride in it once. I always used our own horses - which was probably why our visitors' never realized anything was out of the ordinary the next day. I had a feeling Father guessed my activities, but he said nothing so I wasn't certain.
I finally overcame my timidity, and pulled the chariot out of the stable, harnassing our horses to it. I ran my hand over the strange carvings on it once, wondering at their meaning. I knew they were writing, but I couldn't read them. Shrugging it off, I climbed in, and started our horses off - slowly at first. I never went fast until we were hidden in the mountains.
But suddenly there was a shout from behind me. I turned to look, and saw one of the guards of the nobleman. I realized he had seen me, and that the other guards and the nobleman were coming. I hesistated, wondering what to do. Should I go back and explain? Explain what?? That I was only borrowing it? As if they would believe me! Without thinking I stirred the horses into a run, and took off toward the mountains.
I learned several things that night. One was that it took a group of trained guards alot less time to prepare a chariot than I ever took. I heard the sounds of pursuit when I entered the mountains. It was like that morning three years before, racing the nobleman's guards. But I feared my skills would not be sufficient for the task ahead, as this nobleman seemed far more important than the last. and his guards far more trained. Still I kept going, knowing if they caught me then Anubis' domain was where I would rest that night.
I felt selfish later for not thinking that they might do something to Father. I suppose I felt that they somehow had to understand that I alone was guilty. So even though the moon broke through the clouds, full and shining as though it had become a pale sun, I kept fleeing. The chariot was gleaming in the night like a beacon, and I began to feel foolish - how could I hide in a golden chariot? I told myself that as soon as I got far enough ahead I would switch to foot and hide in among the caves. IF I got far enough ahead.
How long did the chase go on? I could never remember exactly. It seemed forever while I lived it. It seemed far too short once it was over. Somehow I had lost most of the chariots chasing me - though I put it down more to my head start than my skill. Soon only one was close enough to worry about it, and as the chariots thundered across an empty expanse, I dared a look back. It was the nobleman himself, in one of his guard's chariots, leading the chase.
That surprised me. Though he'd had us chased off his lands, the last nobleman had never come himself to pursue us. But then I hadn't stolen his chariot either. To my dismay I realized he was gaining. I looked desperately for a way out, and found none. It was skill against skill now - his verses mine. And my life depended on the outcome.
At the start of the chase I'd been terrified. later I'd been hopeful. Now I wasn't certain. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I realized I was enjoying myself. The nobleman was the best I'd ever seen, let alone faced. I kept fleeing, using the fact that I knew the terrain to my advantage. I knew that his skills were better, and it was my best chance at escape. Inspite of my efforts he was soon almost parallel to me. I spared a glance, and our eyes met. Something told me that, like me, a part of him was enjoying this - but it was also clear he had no intention of losing. Up ahead the path grew smaller, it was the end of the line if he reached it before me. I spurred the horses faster, and heard him do the same. It was then I made a mistake.
I was thinking of this as a race - like the night three years before. If I reached the path first, I could escape - but I never got that far. Suddenly he changed directions, and his chariot clashed into mine. I flew from the chariot, and I must have screamed - who wouldn't? I'd had crashes that had thrown me before, and I curled instinctively into a ball. The impact was no less painful, and for a long minute I didn't move. What surprised me most was that instead of chasing the chariot he returned to where I lay. I forced myself to my feet desspite the ringing in my head, backing away as he lept down to come towards me. I debated what to do, beg for forgiveness? Try to explain that it was all a misunderstanding. I half expected him to strike me, but he didn't.
He stopped a few steps away. "One must have guts to steal a royal chariot...but I suggest you bow to your Pharaoh, girl, if you wish to live through the night."
The night had been full of surprises, but this was one that took me completely by storm. I fought the urge to faint as I looked up at him and realized that he was speaking the truth. I had ridden the wind of fate again. But had I ridden it to death?
Yshta
To Be Continued...
Soon, too. Can't leave poor Yshta standing there in shock.
Salmon '03
Part III: Skill Against Skill
A Mummies Alive! Fanfic
I spent only a minute or so looking up at the night sky. Clouds spread their darkness across some of the stars, and the moon was hiding behind one. I went to the stable, and for a long moment I only looked at the golden chariot. It was so beautiful, I was in awe of it. But I was determined to ride in it once. I always used our own horses - which was probably why our visitors' never realized anything was out of the ordinary the next day. I had a feeling Father guessed my activities, but he said nothing so I wasn't certain.
I finally overcame my timidity, and pulled the chariot out of the stable, harnassing our horses to it. I ran my hand over the strange carvings on it once, wondering at their meaning. I knew they were writing, but I couldn't read them. Shrugging it off, I climbed in, and started our horses off - slowly at first. I never went fast until we were hidden in the mountains.
But suddenly there was a shout from behind me. I turned to look, and saw one of the guards of the nobleman. I realized he had seen me, and that the other guards and the nobleman were coming. I hesistated, wondering what to do. Should I go back and explain? Explain what?? That I was only borrowing it? As if they would believe me! Without thinking I stirred the horses into a run, and took off toward the mountains.
I learned several things that night. One was that it took a group of trained guards alot less time to prepare a chariot than I ever took. I heard the sounds of pursuit when I entered the mountains. It was like that morning three years before, racing the nobleman's guards. But I feared my skills would not be sufficient for the task ahead, as this nobleman seemed far more important than the last. and his guards far more trained. Still I kept going, knowing if they caught me then Anubis' domain was where I would rest that night.
I felt selfish later for not thinking that they might do something to Father. I suppose I felt that they somehow had to understand that I alone was guilty. So even though the moon broke through the clouds, full and shining as though it had become a pale sun, I kept fleeing. The chariot was gleaming in the night like a beacon, and I began to feel foolish - how could I hide in a golden chariot? I told myself that as soon as I got far enough ahead I would switch to foot and hide in among the caves. IF I got far enough ahead.
How long did the chase go on? I could never remember exactly. It seemed forever while I lived it. It seemed far too short once it was over. Somehow I had lost most of the chariots chasing me - though I put it down more to my head start than my skill. Soon only one was close enough to worry about it, and as the chariots thundered across an empty expanse, I dared a look back. It was the nobleman himself, in one of his guard's chariots, leading the chase.
That surprised me. Though he'd had us chased off his lands, the last nobleman had never come himself to pursue us. But then I hadn't stolen his chariot either. To my dismay I realized he was gaining. I looked desperately for a way out, and found none. It was skill against skill now - his verses mine. And my life depended on the outcome.
At the start of the chase I'd been terrified. later I'd been hopeful. Now I wasn't certain. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I realized I was enjoying myself. The nobleman was the best I'd ever seen, let alone faced. I kept fleeing, using the fact that I knew the terrain to my advantage. I knew that his skills were better, and it was my best chance at escape. Inspite of my efforts he was soon almost parallel to me. I spared a glance, and our eyes met. Something told me that, like me, a part of him was enjoying this - but it was also clear he had no intention of losing. Up ahead the path grew smaller, it was the end of the line if he reached it before me. I spurred the horses faster, and heard him do the same. It was then I made a mistake.
I was thinking of this as a race - like the night three years before. If I reached the path first, I could escape - but I never got that far. Suddenly he changed directions, and his chariot clashed into mine. I flew from the chariot, and I must have screamed - who wouldn't? I'd had crashes that had thrown me before, and I curled instinctively into a ball. The impact was no less painful, and for a long minute I didn't move. What surprised me most was that instead of chasing the chariot he returned to where I lay. I forced myself to my feet desspite the ringing in my head, backing away as he lept down to come towards me. I debated what to do, beg for forgiveness? Try to explain that it was all a misunderstanding. I half expected him to strike me, but he didn't.
He stopped a few steps away. "One must have guts to steal a royal chariot...but I suggest you bow to your Pharaoh, girl, if you wish to live through the night."
The night had been full of surprises, but this was one that took me completely by storm. I fought the urge to faint as I looked up at him and realized that he was speaking the truth. I had ridden the wind of fate again. But had I ridden it to death?
Yshta
To Be Continued...
Soon, too. Can't leave poor Yshta standing there in shock.
Salmon '03