Yay, I've finished translating another chapter. In this one, we finally meet the teenage Atem and Seto. it's been a LONG wait, ne? Atem also finds out a secret he didn't know about ...
To NeferNeferi: Hope you like this chapter!
Reviews are always welcome!
Past Memory
Chapter 13
Time flies by very quickly. In a blink of an eye, sixteen years has passed.
In the capital city of Thebes, the people were very joyful about the ascension of their young Pharaoh -- Atem Monasia [1] and celebrated by conducting lively parties everywhere. Although the new Pharaoh was barely sixteen years old, he handled the state affairs methodically and had his own views on things. Moreover, he was very skilled and competent. It seemed that it would be soon that he wouldn't need the assistance of the chancellors.
Originally, everyone felt the effect of the death of the old Pharaoh on their moods but had been bestirred by this young Pharaoh. Egypt's influence had grown with each passing day and all loyally supported him. But also because of his youth, all of the officials had been sending reports, hoping that he would marry and continue the royal family's lineage. Perhaps they were too vigorious in their actions and as a result, the young Pharaoh didn't look happy at the mention of a wife.
{In the Royal Palace}
On this day, this young Pharaoh, who had just finished with handling the country's matters, was being pressed by the group of old officials to marry.
"Haven't I already informed you of this?! I do not have such an intention at this time!"
The young Pharaoh indignantly threw out these words and turning around, he left towards the inner halls of the Palace.
'Ugh! I truly can not stand those old fellows ... each and every one of them only speak of recommending their own daughters for ...'
He entered the inner hall, still angry, when someone suddenly called out to him.
"Atem!" He did not need to turn around because he already knew who it was who called out. There was only one person in the whole of Egypt who dared to call him by his name and not some form of respectful title. However, the man was not annoying at all. At the very least, he was better than those who were simply flattering him by calling him with a title.
"It's you, Seto ..." He looked towards a young priest who was heading towards him.
"Have you been forced by those old fellows to marry again?" Seto was smiling.
"This isn't funny, Seto. If it was you, I guarantee you won't be able to laugh about it!" Atem answered, still in a foul mood.
"Hehe, that is something I don't even want to think about." Seto, as before, used a jesting tone of voice while saying this.
"Stop it ... Oh, that's right. Have you caught that old thief Akunadin yet?" Atem asked as he walked.
Not too long ago, Priest Akunadin had been discovered to be spreading heresy among the people as well as collecting taxes from them. What's more, he began capturing women from all over the country. He explained that they were to work at the temples as female workers when in truth, he treated them as tools for his own entertainment. The populace finally had enough of it and started to launch a succession of attacks against the temples. This caused the affair to be revealed to everyone. After this happened, Akunadin and his gang of aides all slipped away without a trace.
"We still haven't arrested him yet but ... just recently the Temple of Light had detained one of his close aides. I came here to tell you of this while my grandfather is currently interrogating him." Seto said.
"Are you speaking of Priest Meti? Isn't he in retirement?" Atem remembered when his father had passed away from an illness, Priest Meti had then submitted his resignation of his official post. No matter how he tried to dissuade him, Meti had been insistent on his leaving.
"I heard my grandfather say that over ten years ago, Akunadin had ... when you were just born ... once tried to plan to kill you. That's why my grandfather was so angry that he personally went to interrogate that aide." Seto answered.
Atem didn't speak as they quickly headed to the Temple of Light.
{In the Temple of Light}
A criminal was currently being interrogated by Priest Meti. He constantly demanded that the man reveal the whereabouts of Akunadin but the man wouldn't speak a word, even if his body was whipped by the guards until there were wounds all over. As Atem and Seto stood on a path away from the temple, they could clearly hear the sounds of the whip that can bring fear to anyone.
When they entered the temple, they saw Meti angrily talking to the prisoner.
"Grandfather ..." Seto saw him loudly cursing and was worried. "Don't get angry. If this goes on, your body will ..." Starting from last month, the condition of Meti's body had worsened.
"That's true. High Priest Meti, you should rest for a moment." Atem urged, standing next to him.
"Since Your Majesty has spoken ... take him away! We'll interrogate him on another day!"
Seto spoke to the guards, who pulled the criminal to his feet. They binded him with a cord as well as cuffs then dragged him towards the prisons.
"My Pharaoh, since Akunadin's crimes has been disclosed ... then I should tell you something."
"Something?" Atem looked at Meti, who nodded slightly.
"A truth that we High Priests have been concealing for many years ..." That cruel ceremony with the life sacrifice that occurred sixteen years ago ..."
{In the Palace}
"Mother!" Atem, upon entering the Palace, went in search for his mother.
"What is it, Uro [2]?" The old Queen [3] asked, confused. "Is there something wrong, Uro? Why were you in such a hurry?" She continued, concerned.
"Mother ... just a few moments ago, Priest Meti informed me of something." Atem spoke, sitting next to his mother.
'Priest Meti?!' The old Queen suddenly felt a premonition. She thought that what Atem was planning on asking her was not something good. As she expected ...
"Mother ... did I have a younger sister?! Not only that, was she my twin sister?!"
'Ohh ... it's here. What she was most unwilling to remember ...'
Author's Corner:
Youlan: Once again, I've typed up another chapter ... because tomorrow is my first day of school ... It's possible that I won't have much time to type more chapters ... so I'm using the last surplus time I have to work hard at typing this out ...
Yami Youlan: What you're doing is very good. (After reading the chapter) Hey, who is 'Ku'? [see note #2 in my notes for more info. -- RIKA]
Youlan: Eh ... I'm sorry. I forgot to mention that 'Ku' is the old Queen's nickname for Atem. But most of his friends, like Seto, would still call him by his full name.
Translator's Notes:
[1] I'm not entirely sure if this is right or not. It's not a common surname and I ended up just improvising on the whole thing. Frankly, I don't see why there even should be a surname since I don't recall ancient Egyptians ever having one. But since Youlan included this, I'm doing the same here.
[2] The original text used a simple character 'Ku' which was a shortened form of his name, 'Kuleide'. Because, as I explained in the first chapter, I had changed his name to Atem ... this nickname would make no sense to anyone else who had not read the original Chinese text. I instead chose to use the Egyptian name 'Uro' in its place. Uro means king, so I thought it would be fitting.
[3] Youlan originally used the title 'Empress Dowager' which is a common title in China for the mother of the current Emperor. I don't recall anything about having such a title for the mother of a Pharaoh so I chose not to use it.
Posted on May 11, 2004 by Rika.