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Chapter Three
The summer season was filled of sultry and sweltering days which made the work of the labourers who were building the numerous temples and complex's for the Pharaoh difficult.
For the mistresses, the majority of their day they lounged about the lotus filled spas in the courtyard. There was much hostility between the mistresses due to the jealousy of favouritism and the entrance of Anck-su-namun increased this disposition. The twenty other girls saw Anck-su-namun as the highest of all threats due to her angelic beauty and aura. It was mostly Kiya, the nineteen year old with coffee coloured skin and almond cat-like eyes, whom was currently the Pharaoh's favourite, saw Anck-su-namun as her nemesis and vowed to do what she could to remain in this position. By being the favourite, she possessed authority over the other concubines, therefore enabling her to influence. She knew she would be able to turn all the girls against this new threat, she must not succeed, Kiya thought to herself.
Unfortunately for Anck-su-namun, Kiya was to be her teacher in dance and in sai fighting, although fortunately, Anck-su-namun's lessons were overseen by Eshe during the first half year, which gave her enough time to build skills. The first day in which Eshe was not to oversee Anck's training gave Kiya an opportunity to shake her opponent and warn her not to get in her way. The girls began the practice with sai weapons. They prowled in circles around each other, their eyes locked in an intense stare waiting for the other to make their move. Kiya lunged viciously and Anck-su-namun blocked. The metal of the sai's rang every time they connected with each other. Both girls were agile and moved quickly on their feet, however Kiya, being the more experienced fighter maneuvered to her advantage which resulted in Anck-su-namun losing both weapons and being thrown against the wall with Kiya's fingers clasped around her neck in a dominant position.
"I know you plan to become Seti's favourite when you are initiated, but I am not going to let you, you are to obey me, you are below me…" Kiya hissed,
"And if I don't…" Anck-su-namun challenged her, never breaking her defiant eye contact.
"oh… you will.." she smiled disdainfully and released her grasp and walked away.
Anck-su-namun was filled with anger and hate. She despised Kiya and wanted to get her revenge, thus vowing to practice in all her spare time so for the showcase she would be able to defeat her.
A couple of weeks later, during one of her solo practice Anck-su-namun was being watched. She had mastered the sai to perfection, yet she did not feel completely satisfied. As she replaced the sai weapons she wistfully looked at the other weapons hanging up. She picked up a Samurai, wishing she knew how to use it. Childishly she swung it around, not knowing what she should do. The person in the shadows saw her and decided to reveal themselves to the young adult.
"Have you ever used the samurai before, Anck-su-namun?" the old woman questioned.
Not expecting to see another person in the room with her, Anck-su-namun flinched.
"I am sorry, I did not know there was anyone else in here with me. No I haven't used them before, I have only been training with the sai's but I am so bored of them and wish to move onto something more advanced."
"I saw the practice when Kiya threatened you.. she is a tough fighter, but I see potential in you to be greater. I used to be the master here before the Pharaoh decided I was too old to teach. If you would like I can make you my apprentice and teach you the secrets of all martial arts."
"wow, thankyou so much," Anck-su-namun was in shock, with these lessons she would be able to achieve her goal.
"Your training shall begin now," Neithobet, picked up the samurai from Anck-su-namun and swirled it around her in grace and ease. "the secret to all fighting is so never stop moving, make it a dance," and with the agility of a person many years younger than her she leaped and bounded around Anck-su-namun.
Anck-su-namun trained with Neithobet daily, where she learnt all the arts and was ready when it came to the showcase.
The showcase was open to all students and their teachers and was performed in central square in the city, open for any who was interested to see. Seti and his closest advisors were seated at the front of the podium, above the rest of the audience, who ranged from priests to the ordinary merchant. Clad in a minute bronze top and skirt which did not leave much to the imagination, Anck-su-namun waited nervously side stage. Neithobet approached her to help calm her nerves.
"Good luck Anck-su-namun, may the gods be with you" she smiled mysteriously and kissed the girl on her forehead, then left.
Anck-su-namun turn finally came around and entered the stage with Kiya opposite her. Both girls glared at each other, both wanting to out-do each other. They picked the sai's from the range of weapons and moved into the starting position.
The Pharaoh clapped his hands which initiated them to begin. Both girls swung around and their weapons hit. Anck-su-namun moved with such swiftness, Kiya was caught off guard as her student had never shown this speed in any practices. A steady drum beat began which rapidly became faster and faster to match Anck-su-namun's pace. It is like a dance, thought Anck as she twirled and leaped around her opponent. Growing tired of her sai's she gracefully flipped over to the weapons and picked up the Escrima stick, which she twirled around like a baton and such a speed, the escrima looked as if it was flying around her. Kiya was shocked, she did not expect her student to have learnt any other skill besides the sai. She realized she was the unskilled one in this fight, however this made her act more fiercely in order to win. Kiya blocked Anck's thrusts, however she miscalculated the last and was sent flying to the ground. With the agility and speed of a cheetah, Anck-su-namun made her way over to her opponent and put her in the position of mercy. Anck-su-namun pressed the escrima hard against Kiya's throat…. She had won. However both girls were locked in a fierce gaze and unable to break from it..
"I think you should leave me alone now Kiya… afterall, I am a better fighter than you"
"This is not over…. You just wait…."
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