Lu: I have returned to fanfiction world! Many of you may have noticed my gradual phasing out of this little niche, but I am back! I have been writing this since halfway through last year, but I do have excuses! Let me explain:
1. My thumb drive broke, and then got lost. Well, I lost it. But you know what I mean.
2. The only existing copy that I had left was on a couple of sheets of paper, which I lost several times before finding again.
3. I had yearly exams soon after we came back from the holidays in which I lost my thumb drive.
4. I forgot that I had to write this.
5. H-A told me to write Conflict Duel.
Lu: So :P. But I have finished now. Secondly, thanks to all my reviewers:
XXR.I.PXX, kittygurl1, Eye-Of-Misery, Mai Wheeler, Aa Miw-sher Mutnodjet Kiya, Jellybob, Hysterik-Angel, Shining Friendship, Healing Spirit, horse-crazy-gurl, Darkhope, silver-moon-sapphire-sky
Lu: This chappie isn't very long, but anyone who likes Priest Seto will enjoy it. So enjoy!
-
In Adoration of Ra
Chapter 3 – Caught Up Again
"If that's all that needs to be discussed, then this council is now dismissed," announced Atemu. High Priest Seto left with the flock priests, who were all discussing the meeting in hushed voices. Seto himself, however, did not join in the conversations, being a not very social person. The small crowd was filing out of the palace gates when Seto caught sight of Jono standing guard, his head bowed in quiet respect. Seto glared at him, which provoked no response from Jono, much to Seto's disappointment.
"I'm going home," he informed the other priest. They nodded dismissively and moved on, not pausing in their discussions. Once they had disappeared from sight so that Seto was completely alone, he fumbled in his robes for the parchment. What was written on it was absolutely confidential, meant for his eyes only. The hand that it was written in was that of Seto's fellow priest - Akunadin. He had been slipped the letter the night before, but had not had that chance to read it yet.
-
Seto,
I am still trying to find a ka powerful enough for you. The Pharaoh undoubtedly has a very strong ka, so it is compulsory for us to find a ka powerful enough to destroy his. However, I have heard rumours of a White Dragon ka residing in a girl of about your age, somewhere around the city. Keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour.
Akunadin
-
Seto considered Akunadin's words. He had offered to help him find a powerful ka, one so powerful that it could even overthrow the Pharaoh. Seto, although thinking it was highly unlikely that Akunadin was doing this entirely from the goodness of his heart, accepted his offer. Before Akunadin, Seto had never considered overthrowing the Pharaoh. Although Atemu was an excellent Pharaoh, he was still a child, and it would have been better if an adult were to run the country for a while. And since they were ruling for a while, why not rule until they are dead?
The idea of a White Dragon ka intrigued him also. Although it was a distant memory, he recalled seeing one once, when he was a small child. He couldn't remember much in the way of details, but the vision of a huge White Dragon was hard to erase from his mind.
A flicker in the bushes disrupted his reading. He glanced at it, but there was nothing visible, so he resumed reading. But no, there it was again. After a fraction of a second of thought, he decided to go in further to investigate.
But that turned out to be unnecessary, as two figures tumbled out of the bushes. One of them was easily recognisable as Jono, the Pharaoh's bodyguard, and the other was a girl that Seto knew to be Mahado's apprentice.
"Ouch!" yelled Jono, as the girl practically stood on is head in order to get up. "What da hell was dat for, Mana?"
"I didn't mean to, you pushed me! There's no possible way we're going to make it back in time no…" moaned Mana, leaving Jono to get himself up. Neither of them noticed Seto standing in front of them, as quiet and still as a cat stalking his prey. A moment later, he cleared his throat. Jono's head snapped to him, and his dark skin drained of all colour. Mana, still complaining about Jono's lack of co-ordination and speed, didn't quite catch the cough. She tuned back to Jono, still ranting, but fell silent when she saw him. She followed his gaze to find High Priest Seto standing before them.
"Umm… we're sorry, High Priest Seto, we'll get out of your way now," said Jono hastily, getting to his feet and tugging Mana back in the direction of the bushes. Mana stood frozen for a moment, but then came to her senses and followed Jono. But Seto was too quick. He grabbed the back of Mana's tunic.
"Bit late for that now, isn't it Jono? Where were you two off to?" he asked in a sneering voice. Jono gulped, afraid of the suddenly demonic looking Seto, but didn't reply.
"We were… going to… umm…" Mana began lamely, unable to think of a believable excuse as to why they would be out at that time of night. Seto snorted. He had expected a little more from such a seemingly feisty young woman.
"I think you two better come with me," suggested Seto icily, turning back towards the palace, although not before stuffing the letter back into his robes. Jono made a sound somewhere between a whimper and a growl, but Seto turned back, face plastered with a glare. Jono knew there was no way out of this that would save Atemu, Teana, Mana and himself. But if they had been caught…what about Atemu?
They followed Seto doggedly towards the palace, and back into the meeting room. But, much to Seto's surprise, Atemu was not inside. Nor was he in any of the other rooms of the palace, which was evident by the time he had rushed through and checked them all. Atemu had disappeared.
"Where did the Pharaoh go?" demanded Seto, addressing Jono. Jono shrugged, but didn't meet Seto's eyes. Seto knew that Jono knew where the Pharaoh was, but Jono was loyal to Atemu, and he wasn't about to tell him willingly.
'However,' thought Seto, eyes narrowing and mouth stretching into an evil smile, 'there is more than one way to make a man talk.'
But that turned out not to be necessary. Mana cracked.
"He took Teana back to Priestess Isis' house," she blurted out, and then realised what she said and covered her mouth in surprise and regret. It was too late, though. Seto's eyes glinted frighteningly, and a devilish smile spread across his face. He grabbed both Jono's and Mana's arms and dragged them back out of the palace.
"No, Seto, he wasn't! I just told Mana that so that she'd come with me!" whined Jono hopelessly, trying to hinder Seto as much as possible. Seto simply ignored Jono, continuing to pull them forward. They arrived at Isis' house quickly, and Seto pulled all three of them down into the bushes, settling into a crouching position and covering his captive's mouths with his hands. It turned out they were just in time – moments after they had concealed themselves in the bushes, a hand appeared at the top of the wall, and was momentarily followed by the head and torso of the Pharaoh.
"Yes…" hissed Seto. Atemu dropped down and landed cat-like on the ground. A slight moan emitted from the other side of the wall, and Teana hauled herself over, and landed considerably less gracefully than Atemu. They had a short, hushed conversation, and Atemu crawled back over the wall.
"Please Seto, don't do it," moaned Joey, but Seto simply clamped a hand over Jono's mouth. He continued to watch his prey like a hawk, ignoring the muffled protests of Jono, until Jono bit him on the hand. Seto let go immediately, clutching his hand and wincing, while Jono took this opportunity to call out to Teana. However, Teana seemed too preoccupied to notice.
"Be quiet, you idiot," growled Seto, but decided it was time to strike, lest Jono destroy the advantage of surprise. He stepped out from behind the bushes, pulling his captives up behind him.
-
Isis returned home, yawning widely. The midnight secret meetings that the Pharaoh had been calling lately were depriving her of sleep that she desperately needed. When the Pharaoh was a little younger, he called one or two, savouring the opportunity to stay up late. But now, when most priests felt there was little need for them, the Pharaoh was calling them almost weekly. Most of the priests were irritated by this 'necessity', but as they were called by the Pharaoh, there was little they could do to oppose them.
She rounded the corner to where the sleeping quarters were. She, unlike most other priests and nobles, shared the same sleeping area with her servants. On instinct, she decided to quickly check in on Teana, who hadn't been sleeping well lately. But as she popped her head inside Teana's room, she saw, not one sleeping person as she had expected, but four people, all wide awake.
"Isis, do forgive me for disturbing you after the terribly late night you have just had, but there is something I need to discuss with you," said Seto fluently, standing up from his stool. He had been preparing this speech inside his head while he waited for Isis to return.
Isis, startled, looked around at the other people. Sitting on the bed, her knees hugged tightly against her chest as she curled up in the foetal position, was Teana, looking frightened. A man was haunting the corner, who was easily recognisable as Jono, the Pharaoh's ever-present bodyguard. And the small girl pacing the room was Mana, Mahado's apprentice. She shook her head, as if trying to come to grips with the situation. What was High Priest Seto doing with a servant, an apprentice and a bodyguard for company? And what were they doing in her house, in her servant's bedroom?
"I'm sorry, Priest Seto, but I do not understand. Why are you here?" asked Isis, dreading the answer. There was only one reason why the High Priest would be here with such a strange group – it had to be bad news.
"I'm afraid I caught your servant, Teana, and Mahado's apprentice, Mana, being escorted back to their rooms by the Pharaoh and his dog, Jono." At this, Jono made a gurgling noise in his throat, something between a snarl and a growl. Seto glanced over at him, smirking, before turning back to Isis.
"I see. Teana, is this true?" Isis asked in an accusing voice. Teana did not move, still staring pleadingly at the floor as if it could swallow her up and make it all go away. Isis shook her head, knowing that this most likely meant yes. She then directed her attention to Mana.
"Mana, what were you and Teana doing out of bed at this hour? And why were you in the company of the Pharaoh and his bodyguard?"
"I'm sorry, Priestess Isis, but it was all my fault. I convinced Teana to accompany me in spying on this so-called important midnight meeting. The Pharaoh knew we were there and called us in after the meeting had been dismissed. He told Jono to take me back to Mahado's house while he took Teana back here. Jono and I got in a bit of an argument while we were hiding from High Priest Seto and he caught us. And… that's what happened."
Isis sighed unhappily. "Teana, it's not easy to say this, but I can not let this one slip. Usually I am able to excuse you from most of your misadventures, but as this is a matter that goes all the way up to the Pharaoh, this cannot go unpunished. Priest Seto, Jono, Mana, please excuse Teana and me."
"Of course, Priestess. Come Mana, mutt." Mana and Jono followed Priest Seto out of the room, Jono swearing in his native language under his breath.
Teana finally moved from her position, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Please Isis, I didn't mean to… I didn't want to… I'm sorry…" she wailed, tears filling her eyes.
"Ssh… Teana, it's fine. I don't blame you. I know how Mana can be. But please, Teana, do not do it again. The Pharaoh and Jono will be in serious trouble if the High Priest tells anyone, so I have to convince him that I am taking care of your punishment," whispered Isis. Teana sniffed heartily but nodded. Isis stood up, stroked Teana's hair in a motherly fashion, and left the room.
Teana lay back on the bed, breathing heavily. She was safe. Finally. 'What a wild night! First, we get caught by the Pharaoh. Then I am escorted back to my house by the Pharaoh of Egypt. Then I am caught by the High Priest, before returning to my mistress's house only to escape punishment. Could this get any weirder?'
Unfortunately for her, it could. A soft rustle from her window announced the arrival of an unexpected visitor, or visitors. She gasped as two figures clambered through the window, one graceful and the other less so.
"Oh Isis! What are you doing here?" (A/N: When I say Isis here, I refer to the god rather than Teana's mistress. From here on in, I'm going to refer to the goddess Isis in bold.)
-
Lu: Another cliffie! I did give you a hint as to who they were though. You're all welcome to guess. In fact, I'll dedicate a chapter to the first correct guess of the two people who have joined her. Review!