Chapter Six

"I believe it. That damn Pharaoh wishes to make an example out of Sultana." Bakare fumed. "Beni, are you okay"

"I...my sister...my only family..." Beni stood up. "Bakare,we have to go after her."

"It could be too late..." Bakare replied softly. He himself was outraged at what Sultana had pulled with his sister. Yes, he still saw Sagira as his sister, and the idea that one of his "subjects" would commit such an act against her made him furious.

"Seth is only going by the law set by the pharaoh, Love." Yaminah ventured at last. "When one of his own is threatened, the pharaoh has a right to punish the guilty party as he sees fit..."

"Sagira is Not his own! Don't you dare even think of her in that manner." Bakare glared at her fiercely. Then he sighed in resignation, glancing over at Beni. "What ever the laws may be, they have never applied to this village, and they won't start now." He got up now. "Come on, Beni. We go to the palace tonight."

"Sultana..." Sagira spoke softly, from the bars of the cell Sultana was inprisoned in.

"Don't bother." Sultana huffed, crossing her arms. "I hate you."

"This not my doing..." Sagira replied softly, her little fingers wrapping around the bars. "F-father said you broke the law."

"He ain't your father. Your father's dead." Sultana replied. "He died,same as mine." Sultana's usually tough voice now cracked. "And now Beni'll be alone for real, since Seika's gone."

"I'm sorry..." Sagira looked up suddenly, hearing a loud creak, indicating someone was coming. Her eyes widened. If it was one of her teachers, she'd be in real trouble. She ran to hide in one of the shadows in a far corner.

"So...this one, eh? Yeah,I'm glad to see another one of those dirty thieves go." Someone said.

"Makes two of us. Especially this one. She went after Princess Sagira you know."

"Well, we can't have that." There was a creak of the metal cell door being opened. "Up,Girl." There was a sharp slap. "I said get up!"

Sagira stared in horror, as Sultana was dragged from her cell, and chained to the ajacent wall. She could barely breathe, when the first crack of the whip sounded. She felt rooted to the floor. She glanced to the door, wondering if she could make it out of there unnoticed. Just as she was making the decision to make a run for it, Sultana's shriek filled her ears. She returned her gaze to Sultana again, and withheld a gasp. Sultana's captors were now cutting her soft, tanned skin well. She wanted to scream for them to stop, but she couldn't. Her eyes were as wide as the saucers of milk her father fed the royal cats. "Sultana..." She swallowed hard, her throat dry in fear.

"I've had enough fun with this one, how about you, Genja" The first speaker asked, a twisted, sick smile playing on his mouth.

"Yeah...she's too loud for me." Sultana's last plea for life was ignored, and turned into a shriek as the two men finished her off with violent, repetitive stabs.

"No!" Sagira couldn't stand it anymore. She showed herself to the two men, who were surprised.

"Pr-princess...what are you d-doing down here" The one called Genja demanded. "H-how much have you seen"

"S-she was my friend..." Was all Sagira could manage, before running upstairs. She ran as fast as she could to her suite.

"Sagira" Seth watched her flee past him, and wondered if she was okay. I'll check on her in a little while. Right now, I need to stop the execution. I don't need Yaminah too furious with me...

Bakare stared as Beni sobbed over the puddle of blood that had been his sister's. "Beni,we cannot linger." He said softly. "I know it's hard, but you have to let her go, and trust the gods will take care of her now."

"Don't tell me what to do, damn you!" Beni cursed Bakare. "This is your fault! I'm blaming you for letting your sister get caught in the first place"

"Damn it, Beni! Now is not the time for blame laying" Bakare retorted. "We need to get out, before someone comes down here and finds us." It was lucky enough this portion of the palace was so often left unattended.

"I won't leave without Sultana's body!" Beni growled. "Would you want to leave without Sagira"

"I will have to." Bakare replied calmly. Emotionless. He learned years ago emotions only held you back. The only person he truly loved belonged to the Pharaoh now, and he'd learned a lesson from that. "Let's go. That's an order from your king." It wasn't often he took advantage of his self-proclaimed status, but this was one instance where he would,since Beni wasn't likely to defy him. He was right. His friend forced himself up to his feet, and made his way to the exit. As they were leaving the palace premise, he turned and glared at it. "Mark my words, Pharaoh! You'll pay for this!"