Chapter 21
{In a Small Village on Egypt's Border}
From the evening three days ago when they first met, Atem and Tameri were inseparable. Their feelings for each other were extremely strong, making them the object of envy and jealously for the young men and women in the village.
"Tameri ..." A boy, taking advantage of the time Atem wasn't around, called out to her.
"Is it you, Wati [1]?" She looked at the boy.
This boy named Wati was a playmate of Tameri in her childhood. Their relationship was one of the best in the village, to the point that everyone had silently recognized them as a pair of lovers. Even Wati himself thought that was the case. But ever since Atem had arrived in their village three days ago, he secretly felt that Tameri had gradually become distant from him while her heart had been taken away by Atem. He felt that he couldn't take this any longer ... because he felt that she ... would eternally belong to him!
"Tameri! Stop spending time with that guy from a foreign land!" Wati spoke, his tone sounding rather jealous.
"Why?" Tameri felt confused, not understanding why Wati seemed so angry.
"Because I am fond of you! I do not wish to see you with another man!" He uttered this in one breath.
"What?!" Tameri was very surprised. "Wa ... Wati?"
"In truth ... I've been in love with you ever since we were children. Recently ... I've often gone to speak with your mother (AN: foster mother) to discuss about our marriage ... but I don't know why ... she would always refuse my offer ... She told me that you were a person who shouldn't be living here. Although I don't understand what that means ..."
Meanwhile, Tameri's mind was a complete blank.
"So ..." Before Wati could complete his sentence, a voice cut him off.
"Tameri?" It was Atem!
Tameri seemed to regain her consciousness and cheerfully turned around. This left a bad taste in Wati's mouth as he watched.
"Hey! You ..." He called out to Atem.
"Are you talking to me?" Atem asked. Wati nodded in reply.
"Let's duel!"
"What?!" Atem felt slightly frightened at this sudden challenge.
"We spar with swords! Tameri will go to the winner!" Wati clarified.
"Wh ... what?!" Tameri felt herself go dumb again. 'I never agreed to this!' She was about to mouth a retort when Atem stopped her.
"I accept." He spoke calmly. His calmness seemed to Wati a bit evil in his eyes.
"That was rather quick ... Then in one hour, we meet in the village's public square!" Wati didn't believe that a merchant from a foreign land would know any form of sword fighting. Since he was one of the best swordsmen in their small village, he had much confidence in his abilities. He felt that he would most certainly defeat that other guy.
"Oh ... you really shouldn't have accepted his challenge!" Tameri spoke in a panic, looking the complete opposite to Atem's peaceful image. "Everyone in this village knows how good Wati is at sword fighting. You can't win against him ..." Tameri's voice dropped. 'If you were to lose ... then I ... what should I do?' The worry she felt was written all over her face.
"... Do you really believe that I would lose?" Atem was cleaning the sword that Tameri had just fetched for him, feeling that this whole thing was rather amusing. He never thought that someone would challenge him to a bout of sword fighting. While in the palace, his skill with the sword was enough to defeat the military officers with plenty of experience battling in the sands. At present, there wasn't anyone who could surpass him. Uh ... but now and then Seto would win against him. Yet that only happened a few times.
"That's not what I meant, but ..." She was cut off by Atem.
"Then believe in me ..." He revealed a confident smile. "I won't lose."
{In the Public Square}
Wati had already prepared himself for the fierce fighting ahead as he continued to give loathing looks in Atem's direction. Yet Atem only moved on ahead to the dueling area in a relaxed manner. His leisurely air had the spectators wiping the cold sweat from their heads.
'Damn him ... how could he be so at ease ...' Wati couldn't believe it. 'I will most certainly make your death the most unsightly one there is!'
"Now ..." The oldest person in the village was presiding over the duel. "Duel!"
Translator's Note:
[1] I changed this name from the original, 'Di Ang'/"carrying high". It sounded French, for some reason. In it's place, I chose the Egyptian name Wati meaning 'rebel'.
Author's Corner:
Youlan: Ah ... It's so boring that they're always playing with cards ... let's see them fighting with swords ...
Tameri: Oh ... how can you be like this?! How could you plan such a dangerous fighting scene ... 'They're using real swords here ...'
Seto: ... You won't lose, right?
Pharaoh: ... Who do you think I am?
Posted on August 21, 2004.