So sorry for the late update! Almost three weeks have passed since the last update. I now have an e-mail address posted, so please feel free to e-mail me.
Thanks to Leona Saclat, ..., RedEyesDarknessDragonLady, Yami-AJ Yu-Yu-InuCaptor, Silver Fantasy, Amethyst Bubble and also to GothicShadow.
Chapter 7- The Inefficient Trial
Selket awoke to the sound of someone knocking on her door, followed by a feminine, rather chirpy voice. "Hello? Is anybody in there?" the voice said.
/...Oh, shut up/ she thought sleepily. Selket had the tempting notion of intentionally not opening the door until the woman had given up, but then decided it was not in her best interests, as a guest, to ignore possible residents.
Selket had just gotten on her feet when the door opened and a young girl rushed in. She was no older then 15, with spiky blond hair and blue eyes, despite her Egyptian skin. The strange girl had a bounce in her step as she ran to Selket.
"Oh, hello! Its nice to meet you! Sorry to come in though I wasn't invited, but I had to see you before the meanie Priest came."
"Oh!" the girl giggled, touching Selket's robe and adjusting it. It took all of Selket energy to not shove the girl away. "There," the girl stepped back and admired her work. "Much better. Don't want the meanie Priest to say anything bad." /15? Never mind. Try 12./
Selket looked at the girl again to find her walking with that bounce back to the door. She stopped and turned back to Selket. "Alright, I have to go now. Hope I'll see you again and best of luck!" with that, she was gone. Selket had a look of annoyance, then of confusion as she looked down at herself. There hadn't been any pain when she got up, even though there should have. In fact, she felt almost comfortable. Because there weren't any cuts. Not even a bruise. Selket looked baffled, but it was quickly hidden when someone new looked through the doorway.
A tall young man with brown hair and blue eyes locked coldly on her. He wore a blue robe and headdress adorned with gold. But the thing that got Selket's attention was the strange gold staff in his hand. /The Millennium Rod!/
"Are you the girl from the fields?" he asked her, voice harsh. Selket nodded. "Follow me," he said, turning his back to her. Selket followed him silently into the hall.
For a long time Selket followed behind the man through the long, wide hallways. Eventually, Selket cleared her throat. When the man didn't respond she repeated the noise much louder. "What?" he said in a bored tone. "Excuse me," Selket began, "but where are we?"
The man glared over his shoulder at Selket for a moment and kept walking. "Not very bright, are you? I figured as much from a slave girl. I really cannot believe I am Mahaado's delivery boy for a slave." he muttered the last part.
Selket considered telling the man to shove it, but he beat her to it. "My name is Seto. I am a Priest and a powerful one. You will refer to me as your lord and master if you want to remain standing. Is that clear, slave?"
"The only thing that is clear about you is the space between your ears."1 Priest Seto wheeled around. "What did you say?" he said in a dangerous tone. Selket smirked. "You heard what I said. Or are you that dull? Not very bright, are you?" she retorted.
The Priest was fuming. His hand was moving to the rod when a hand rested on his shoulder. "Calm yourself, Seto. She has been welcomed here." The hand belonged to a man in his early twenties, dressed in white adorned with gold /What? Is that the style these days?/ with warm, azure eyes. Around his neck hung the Millennium Ring. His warm eyes seemed to smile at Selket.
Selket forced a smile. "Excuse me, sir...but where is 'here'?"
The new man smiled back. "Here? In the palace of the Pharaoh. I am Priest Mahaado, by the way. It is a pleasure to meet you." Priest Mahaado took her hand in his and kissed it. Selket didn't know what to be more surprised about- the news of where she was or the kiss. She stood silently in shock until Mahaado draped an arm over her shoulders and steered her to the end of the hallway, Seto following with a grumble.
The three of them entered a very large room with a few dozen people inside. Many looked like guards, but about four of them were dressed like the two Priests, all with Millennium items. One man sat at the end if the room in a golden throne. /A throne? If this is the palace's throne room then that must be-/ Hate and anger wouldn't allow her thought to continue. He had the strangest apperance, though: large maroon eyes partially covered by blond bangs, which become a star-shaped mass of black and maroon hair.
"Good Morning, honored Pharaoh," said Mahaado and knelt briefly. Priest Seto did the same. Selket, however, did not, and hoped the absence of respect was overlooked. It was.
The Pharaoh sat up and looked directly at Mahaado. "Is this the girl you spoke about?"
"Yes, my Pharaoh," was his response. "I would like to accept this girl as a pupil."
Selket's eyes widened. What did he just say?
Priest Seto sneered. "Absolutely not! What do you know of this girl, Mahaado?"
Mahaado turned to his fellow Priest. "I know she is very strong, but is in need of guidance. If what we saw was true, she would become an excellent sorceress."
"How do we know it was true?" Priest Seto was fuming. "She cannot be trusted, not until we are sure she is not a threat to the Pharaoh. I say she is to be judged by the court of the six Priests!"
"Seto," Mahaado was glaring at the priest as he spoke, "there is no need to involve the court in this, this girl as committed no crime. I say accept her!"
Selket just stood there while the two priests argued. She really didn't understand what was going on, but she figured this "Mahaado" was on her side and Priest Seto wasn't. And also that facing the "court" would not be a good thing in her case.
/Hmmm. There are six priests. With the exception of the Pharaoh's puzzle, there are six Millennium items. Meaning the other four Millennium item bearers must be priests as well. The court is decided by the items?/
Right then another priest stepped forward. This one had shoulder-length black hair and was holding what looked like a gold scale.
"I, Kalim, have a proposal to make." He said.
The Pharaoh held up a hand to the priests Seto and Mahaado, who quieted down immediately.
"What if," Kalim continued, "if the girl did not receive full judgment, but only that of the Scales? Surely, if her intent was to do us harm, it would show us without the whole court getting involved."
The Pharaoh nodded in approval. "Very good, Kalim. Get on with your proposal." (A/N: If you havn't read the very first series of Yu-Gi-Oh, this may be a bit confusing)
Kalim walked up to Selket, then extended the hand so that the scales were directly in front of her. Selket didn't even flinch. Then he placed a golden feather on one side of the scales.
Kalim put his other hand on Selket's forehead and spoke to her. "Like the scales of the underworld weigh the hearts of the dead, the Millennium Scales will weigh your heart. If your heart is lighter then the feather of Ma'at, your heart is pure and you will do as Mahaado asks. But should your heart be heavier, you will be punished."
"Now, Millennium Scales, reveal to me her heart!"
Nothing happened. He tried again. "Reveal to me her heart!" The scales still remained balanced, while everyone but Selket and Mahaado looked confused. Things were quiet for a few moments.
"It seems there is a slight malfunction with the items today," said Mahaado to the Pharaoh. "So there is no point in testing her further. What is your decision, my Pharaoh?"
The Pharaoh looked from Mahaado to Selket. His gaze lingered on Selket before returning to Mahaado.
"She will stay."
Right now, I do not fully understand what happened. Do they really expect the Items to work for "good"? They hide behind the truth. I was accepted into the stronghold, that I understand. And I understand I will watch and wait. Watch and wait...
1. Seto just got dissed! If you didn't get it, Selket basically called him an airhead.
Please review! I need motivation because this is becoming painful to write.
Leona Saclat- Thanks! Sorry, you won't get to Selket's revenge for a while. You'll know when the time comes -.
...- Oh, thank you!
RedEyesDarknessDragonLady- Thank you. I updated, so you can keep your end of the bargain
-.
Yami-AJ Yu-Yu-Inucaptor- Hey, you took the time to finish reading, so why the need for apology? And yes, sponges are completely and utterly evil. Thank you!
Silver Fantasy- Oh? My writing is actually getting better? Thank you!
Amethyst Bubble- Thank you so much! The Amethyst Bubble? I was so happy to get this review. I've read two of your stories, (but didn't get a chance to review) and they're awesome too! Thanks again and see you around.