Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh isn't mine. If it was, I'd be as rich as Seto Kaiba himself. (Well, probably not, but you get the idea…)

Author's Note: Set's more in touch with his darker side at the end of this chapter, as I'm sure you'll agree. Dious itself cannot fly (please correct me on this), but I think it can hover; those wings of its have to have some use. And Per A'a is the actual word for Pharaoh. Any thoughts and comments are appreciated, especially ones on the characters or any mistakes I may need to correct. As you can see, I do go over my earlier chapters.

Summary: Set pursues the thief, and as he does so, he learns a few home truths about Isis' vision. Thus begins a tale of his quest for power, political backbiting, and what destiny has foreordained.

-o-

Chapter 11: Rescuing And Revealing

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Set hastened the horse onwards, tightly gripping the reins as it galloped past the network of fields outside Per Bast. The heads of those working on the fields turned to watch the Hem Ntjr, who was pursuing the thief who had abducted the High Priestess from her temple.

The said confounded thief was also testing the Hem Ntjr's patience.

Neith seemed equally displeased; Set had previously heard mumbled sounds coming from the bound-up woman and was worried about how she was coping. That, and he desired to catch the enemy who had dared to threaten the peace of Kemet. The young man rested a hand on the Sennen Rod, which was safely tucked away in his belt. This enemy was an enemy who would soon be brought to justice: his justice. Forget what the Per A'a thought.

"Dious, come out!" Set yelled, the landscape whizzing by him.

The young man's armoured spirit-beast hovered at speed alongside his horse, its wings outstretched as Set pointed a finger at the spy up ahead.

"Go and get Neith, but leave him to me," Set growled. No one got away with crossing him. The spy's time had run out.

Set's Ka flew forwards at lightning fast speed, snatching the confined Neith off the horse before the spy could react. All the spy could do was curse.

Set encouraged his horse to go faster, unsheathing the Sennen Rod from his belt.

"It's over for you. You've been judged guilty, so accept your punishment!" the Hem Ntjr exclaimed.

The eye on the Sennen Rod began to glow, and the spy was flung off his horse by a blast of energy. The Syrian landed painfully on the hard dusty path and banged his head, surrounded by the fertile fields. Coming up close, Set pulled on the reins of his horse and glanced down at the prone spy below him as Dious touched down on the ground. It held its sword in its right hand and was supporting Neith with the other.

"Very good. Now give her to me," Set ordered, thinking that Neith sounded oddly quiet for one who had just been rescued.

The Hem Ntjr dismounted his horse and took hold of the bound-up Neith, standing her upright. There was a quiet mumbling, and he then unsheathed the Sennen Rod's dagger. It sliced through the ropes that bound the carpet, cutting the restraints. How long had Neith been in there? An hour? Two hours? At least they could have that talk now. Set looked forward to discovering what the young woman had to say. He unwound her carefully from the fabric, which he allowed to fall to the ground.

"Just hold on a moment and be still," Set spoke, carefully slicing through the white blindfold and removing the gag from Neith's mouth. He heard the brunette sigh in relief as he looked down at her. "There you go."

Set then sheathed the Sennen Rod and placed it back in his belt before clasping one of Neith's hands between both his own. His hands slid slowly over hers. It was funny; how could his feelings change from hate to this? Set held Neith close as she began to cry, thinking carefully about where this relationship was going. He hated it when people got sentimental, but it was far better to keep Neith calm and quiet.

We really do need to talk, Set thought, stroking Neith's hair.

"Come on, you. Let's get you back home."

-o-

Once he had escorted Neith back to the city, amidst the chaos of the crowds, Set had retreated back to his room to enjoy its relative privacy. Not desiring to receive sycophantic praise, the Hem Ntjr was seated in his chair and was now going over a scroll that described a number of magic spells.

Set had brought the unconscious thief back on the horse, after which his guards had taken the man away. And now the young man found himself with time to think. Was she worth it? Perhaps. He had, once he started to feel that way about Neith, pursued her diligently. She did not judge him on his actions, and if she did she kept silent. They both agreed that one needed power, but that was where they digressed. If there was one thing Set enjoyed, it was the feeling power gave him. He loved the pursuit of it, and knew that one constantly needed more in order to maintain peace. However, some like Atemu said it should only be used to protect.

What a waste, Set scoffed.

Set focused on the scroll and the spells it contained, his fingers skimming the parchment as he heard the sound of knocking on his door. After this, he rose from his chair, leaving behind the Sennen Rod, and looked at the door.

"Enter!" the angry man barked. Who could it be? No one ever dared to disturb him.

The door opened to reveal Neith as she entered the room. The young woman was dressed in a clean linen dress and had a fresh-faced appearance; she seemed to have reapplied her make-up, as had he. Set could see that her eyes were looking straight at him, but as Neith realised her mistake, she mumbled an apology and forced herself to look down respectfully at the floor. It was so amusing, or so Set thought. She was caught between who he was and what he was.

"Hem Ntjr, we need to talk," Neith said, softly.

"At least you're using my official title," Set scoffed. Women were such fragile things. "Tell me, Neith; are you scared of me? You seem to waver between my title and my name. Is that the manner in which you treat someone who saved your life?"

Neith looked embarrassed, and Set knew that he would never let her forget that she owed him her life. He was no fool.

"I – I wanted to say what I was going to tell you those few nights ago, my lord," Neith spoke. "Once you hear, I hope you'll understand."

"I… very well. We shall talk in a moment. Firstly, I should commend you for protecting that girl. However, I should warn you about the foolishness of such an act," Set replied. "You are more important that she is. Per-Bast can do without another commoner's child, but it needs its priestess. What would have happened if you were killed?"

Set spoke coldly, making it plain how he felt. The lie of one of them was insignificant when compared to the well being of the country. If, Ra forbid, Neith had been abducted or killed, there would have been a political clamour for power amongst the nobles to install their wives in her place. They were greedy men whose families did not deserve such a position. It was far better to have someone who thought less of lining their own pockets, and Set knew he was getting better at controlling Neith. The Temple of Bastet was a powerful ally, so to not cultivate such a relationship would be nonsensical. Akunadin had done so with Neith's father and had received the temple's support. Their relationship was also developing, but it was growing into something more.

"You should think about that before you end up like your father," Set added, glancing at Neith. "Take it as advice from someone more senior than yourself. It would be a shame if you were killed."

Neith looked angry, but Set knew she would keep her tongue in its cheek. She still bowed to his position and he liked it that way. It was better to have power and control.

"Yes, Nem Ntjr," Neith responded.

Honestly! She then inwardly cursed.

This man before her turned hot and cold more frequently than the desert. To him, were the events of a few nights ago little more than a sideshow? It would have taken a lot for him to do it; she knew that, but to seem so cold…

"Now, what is it you wanted to tell me?" Set asked.

Neith glanced at Set as he seated himself in the chair, looking down at the floor when he returned her gaze. How could she tell him? Earlier, she had decided upon blurting it out and then retreating before he could interrogate her, but he deserved better. He demanded better.

After all, the man saved my life, Neith added, speaking to herself.

"It's about what Isis showed me," she then spoke.

"Yes, yes." Set waved his hand dismissively. "I had gathered as much. Get to the point."

"I – she showed me something; Kemet was in ruins! The palace, everything was destroyed! I could see, hear and feel the chaos that was going on around me. Then I saw myself." Neith paused to catch her breath, her words catching in her throat. "Then I saw you, Set, seated in the throne of Per A'a."

There was a tense silence and then Set's eyes narrowed, as they did when he was angry.

"You're not telling me the whole truth; I can see it in your face!" Set yelled at Neith, who hugged her arms whilst sadly looking away.

"I –I don't know if – if I can," Neith stuttered.

"Of course you can!" Set snapped. "And you're not leaving here until you tell me!"

Neith gazed despondently at the Hem Ntjr, seeing his stern expression as he silently watched her. He continued to watch her, and Neith knew that she could only dream about what Set was thinking about.

"It's… I was… I mean, the future me was holding something in her arms. A child, Hem Ntjr. He was no bigger than a baby. Now do you see why I was so reluctant to tell you?" Neith announced, not using Set's name, watching Set's posture change uncomfortably in the chair.

"A child, you say?" Set asked, looking at Neith as he straightened. "I presume it was mine? Is that what was bothering you, Priestess?"

Neith opened her mouth to speak, but found she was beaten to it. Set pushed back the chair and stood up, but he had turned so his back was facing the young woman.

"Please, just leave. I need time to think," the young man murmured.

"But I..." Neith mumbled, only to be cut off mid-sentence.

"I thought I told you to get out? We can discuss this matter later," Set growled, still not turning to face Neith.

Neith turned around slowly, allowing herself one last glimpse of this tall, proud man. She should have known he would react like this. He was famous throughout the Per A'a's court for his moods, but at least he had offered to talk.

Neith then left Set's room.

This was going to be a very long day.

-o-

Once Neith had left, Set sighed to himself.

The young woman's news had been a revelation; it certainly explained why she had been off with him as of late. At least she had the good sense to leave him alone with his thoughts and to not to burst into tears.

Set then walked over to the window and ran his hand over the ledge. Isis's vision, which never strayed, had promised him a child. More than that, it had declared that he would take the place of Per A'a. He was fiercely loyal to and respected the office of Kingship, but as of late, the Hem Ntjr had been left feeling severely disappointed.

Atemu is going to become nothing more than a man with a bleeding heart for all those who seek his aid, Set thought. He's too nice a boy; he doesn't have what it takes. Not deep down inside. He's going to fall, and when he does he will take the whole of Kemet with him.

Walking back over to the chair, Set clutched the Sennen Rod he had left there to his chest and seated himself. He found himself thinking about what this child of his had looked like. Did it have his eyes, or perhaps his nose? What about his hair? The young man shook his head, getting rid of the thought. It was a vision. Even if it came to pass he would remain in control.

But Neith told you it was a boy. Do you know what that means? You'll have an heir. The one who was first raised to lead the country will have someone to carry on his line. That boy Per A'a, who only turned up later, has nothing of the sort, yet it is his duty to have just that.

Set could not help but smile. Always, he would be loyal to the office of Per A'a, but the person himself had to earn his respect. Power was what mattered, and if the ruler was not powerful enough to defend Kemet from her enemies, than he had to be disposed of. But Atemu deserved a chance to prove himself, to see if he truly deserved to be the living god. Perhaps a little test was needed…

Set smiled again, running his hand over the Sennen Rod.

Besides, it's not as if you can't make yourself new allies. Just think of it as a backup plan. No one's loyal forever.