"So, the poor farm boy woos the lovely princess Nefertiri," came the mocking voice of Sechmet, as the noble's son moved about the room he shared with about twelve other boys. His group of friends, all nobles and the few privileged to be acknowledged, laughed. Ankhnut ignored them and continued to put his things away in the drawers beneath his bed.
"But the poor ox will not get the princess," declared the voice of the older boy, "For, at this very moment, my father is writing a letter to the Pharaoh, requesting that I wed her."
Ankhnut turned and gave him an incredulous look. Then he began to laugh, he couldn't help it. Hearing that Sechmet would even consider himself worthy of marrying a woman, much less the Princess, was hysterical. The sixteen year-old boy, besting Ankhnut by four years, fumed.
"You think you're worthy of her," Ankhnut replied. "And that she would even consider marrying the likes of you. Ha!"
"You pompous ox!" Sechmet cried and launched himself at the younger boy.
Ankhnut knew he was, by far, stronger than the other boy, and could dispose of him in the blink of an eye, but before he could even move a muscle, Ausar, another boy, wrestled Sechmet to the ground. The noble gave a surprised cry as Ausar hissed," Your nobility does you no good here, understand? You're just like the rest of us! So, put your pettiness aside, or else your father will receive you home snapped in two."
Sechmet nodded weakly as Ausar let him up. The other boy, barely coming up to Sechmet's shoulder, and barely even his size, went back to his own bed. Ankhnut grinned slightly and went to see the boy. As he passed Sechmet, the noble whispered," This isn't over. By Horus, this isn't over."
Ankhnut ignored him and stood beside Ausar. The boy glanced up at him, but that was all he did to acknowledge his presence.
"Thank you, Ausar," Ankhnut told him. Then hardened his voice saying, "But next time, stay out of my way."
Ausar looked up at him in surprise. Ankhnut felt the spirit of Anubis arise in him at that moment and he used the power to enforce his words. He could take care of himself. He didn't need anyone. His father sent him from home to become a priest worthy of Pharaoh's honor, and that was what he was going to do. He didn't want help, didn't need it and refused to have it. Ankhnut stalked away and went to his own bed. He could feel Ausar's eyes on him and chose to ignore it. At that moment, Anukaten entered the room. The old Priest stared at each boy appraisingly and when his eyes landed on Ankhnut, they lingered there.
"You shall present yourselves before Pharaoh and the nobility of Egypt," he informed them, his voice hoarse and rasping like old, dry parchment. "Bathe and be ready, for you shall be a show to them and when they tell you to do something, then you shall do so. For some of you it is the last time you shall see your families, for a long, long time. Go, now, quickly."
The boys were off, lead down to the hallways from their rooms by the priests of Anukaten. They were just outside of the palace grounds when, finally, they reached the bathe houses. It was steamy and hot and the water was warm, like a desert breeze. The boys removed their loin cloths and got into the water. Ankhnut waded towards a far corner, to be away from the splashing frenzy of the other playful boys. He wasn't in the mood. He was around water, and while he had great control over the sands while in the spirit of Anubis, using the power of the water gods was something else.
Ankhnut concentrated on creating a small bubble. It was simple enough; he'd done it many times at home. As always the bubble rose out of the water and kept its form floating in front of him until he took his concentration off of it. He wasn't aware he had an audience until every boy was silent watching the young boy as he formed other shapes with the water. Then all of a sudden, Ausar joined in. He created vague animal sharps from the water and curled them around Ankhnut's creations. There was a hushed awe from the gathered as both boys weaved magick. The very construction of the pyramids was re-created for them, and the building of the Sphinx. A statue of Anubis then Horus floated in and out of existence as Ausar and Ankhnut wove their own power around each other's. For a moment, Ankhnut felt whole, with Ausar's own spirit intertwining with his. He could almost taste the flavor of the boy's style and could feel how much of the spirit of Anubis and Osiris he possessed.
He was strong, but no where near as powerful as Ankhnut.
'You protect me, I'll protect you?' came Ausar's question. 'You be my friend, I'll be your's?'
The boy was a loner, almost as alone as Ankhnut. He was brought to the palace, not by his real family, but by a couple that thought they could get money for him. His real family had abandoned him when he was young, at that time, the control of his power was weak and hell would break loose whenever he got upset. Even now, he didn't have a full control over them. Ankhnut considered his offer. The boy could most certainly fight, that would be a good asset against Sechmet and his goonies. Ankhnut, though not a priest, had made plans to have a protégé at some point. He could have one now. And, Ausar's powers almost begged to be controlled.
'Indeed,' Ankhnut answered. 'Yes.'
Ausar grinned as Anukaten came into the bathe house, his priests setting down stools and on those, white raiment of the palace servants.