(The character of Yaminah is not mine. She is borrowed with great thanks from Aubrie-san. Thanks,Brie! Beni,Sagira and Sultana are all mine.)

Chapter Three-Break In

Bakare had been skulking the various corridors. He wasn't sure where his sister was being kept,but he was more than sure the priest Mahado had probably moved her. Curse him. Curse them all! Taking my sister like this! Poor Sagira...she must be so scared. Well,it's really her own damn fault for wandering off. A creak down the corridor brought Bakare back to the present moment. "Who's there?" He drew his sickle. "Show yourself,now!"

"Oh now,Bakare...why so tense? It's only me."

Bakare gasped at the girl who stepped out before him. "Ya-yaminah! What in the name of the gods are you doing here?!"

"Quiet,you dolt! Come with me. I know where your sister is." Yaminah dashed down the dark corridor,and Bakare was forced to follow. "She's being treated well though. She's safe enough."

"That is not the damn point. He already took my parents from me. I won't let him take my sister!" They were halted by three guards at a door. "Let us pass,or face the consequences of your actions."

"Heh. Will you listen to that, boys! The "King" is ordering us around with his new concubine."

"Watch it. You have no idea who you're messing with." Yaminah glared fiercely. Noticably, the wind picked behind them.

"You have no idea who this is,do you?" Bakare smirked. "You've heard tale of the Witch of the Sands,have you not?"

"Yeah right. That little thing is the Witch of the Sands?" The second guard snickered,reaching to pull her close to him.

"Fool!" Yaminah pulled back her black hood,revealing her flowing dark blonde hair. "You have just made the final mistake of your life!" For a few moments,everything was still. Suddenly,Yaminah let out a cry in an undeterimined tongue,causing the guards before them to fly through the palace wall, into the freezing dessert night.

"Damn. There's more coming!" Bakare,who'd seen this time and again never failed to show his amazement.

"You idiot,go get your sister, while I keep the big boys busy." The two friends parted ways, as Bakare entered the lavishly decorated room.

"Brother..." Sagira looked up,her eyes wide in anxiety. There was loud talking in the hallway.

"Sagira......." For a minute,Bakare just stared at the child in front of him. She was eating a sort of toasted something or other, and wearing silks,the likes of which the thief king had never seen. He shook his head. "Come,sister. I'll get you out of here."

"But.....I like it here." Sagira backed up. "You can stay too....."

"You couldn't pay me enough to stay in this place! Come now,stop acting like a moron." He grabbed her wrist gently,pulling slightly.

"NO! I don't want to!" Sagira's voice raised slightly. "He's nicer to me than you,and he wants me! You didn't!"

"Don't be a fool,child. If he didn't want you, he wouldn't have come." Yaminah stood just a little taller than Bakare, watching the siblings. "Now be a good girl, and go with your brother."

Bakare didn't bother to wait for Sagira to agree. He picked her up, and threw her over his shoulder. "We'll discuss this later,Sagira. Now, we go." The pair left the room,intending to just leave, when Bakare remembered his friend Beni was probably still at the mercy of the palace guards. "Beni....." He muttered.

"What is it?" Yaminah wanted to know. She saw the look of concern on her friend's face.

"Well, I have to go back for Beni,but if I do, the guards are sure to come, and confiscate Sagira." Bakare cursed under his breath. His sister wasn't helping the situation. She was crying, and kicking him. "Will you knock it off, you twit?!" He growled,setting her to her feet hard. "How could you betray us like this?! Acting all high and mighty! Don't you remember who you are?! You're a thief,just like the rest of us!"

"Hey,buddy,speak for yourself. I'm a witch,not a thief." Yaminah interrupted.

"Whatever! Now,you listen to me,Sagira,I'm only doing this-" He was cut off,feeling a blade at the back of his neck.

"You won't be doing anything with the princess,Bakare, King of Thieves." Mahadou yanked him to his feet. "I should throw you in the dungeon, you know."

Bakare spat on him. "Set curse you!" He was knocked back towards the entrance. "Give her back,damn it!"

"You know we won't, so just go on about your business." Seth,another of the Pharaoh's loyalists smirked, picking Sagira up. "Besides,she's happy here." He was trying to comfort the young girl, who was crying in confusion. Seth realized she probably would need to have the night explained to her somehow. His eyes caught Yaminah's and he looked away quickly, their message conveyed obviously.

"Let's just go, Bakare, before you get hurt more than you can take." Yaminah announced suddenly. She'd seen the message in Seth's glance well. They'd come after her too,eventually. She was certain he was being truthful. "We'll be back for her! Count on it!" The two friends disappeared into the shadows as quickly as they'd come.