Chapter Thirteen

"You're not concentrating, Princess. Please, try and focus." Mahadou watched his pupil in dismay. He and Sagira had been at it for the last few days, with him trying to teach her a few simple counter spells. After the incident with the thieves, the sorcerer had decided to teach the young princess some defensive magic. Sagira's mind, however, seemed to be elsewhere these days. She never really returned to herself after the kidnapping. He sighed in reluctance. "Go on to Seth. I can't ask you to try any harder than you already have."

"I'm sorry, Master Mahadou. I keep trying my best, but it's never enough.." She left him, wiping her eyes on her long sleeved gown.

"It's not your fault..." Mahadou said, even as the door shut behind the girl. She will never be the same child she was.

Sagira walked down the corridor, deep in thought. Her mind had definitely been wandering lately. She kept thinking about her next visit into the thieves' village. She wondered what kind of things she would do this time. Last time, Bakare had made her learn how to cook. She'd liked that immensely. At the palace, no one really allowed her to poke about the kitchen. Mostly for her, it was lessons, and sewing. Though, on occasion, Master Seth'd allow her to watch him at his work, which wasn't much, as he always seemed to find a way out of doing it, using her as an excuse. They were nearly always together nowadays. She knocked on his study door. There was no answer. "Master Seth?" She waited for him to reply. Then she heard an unfamiliar sound, like something falling. Sagira gingerly turned the knob on the door, and opened it. "Master Seth?" She ventured into the study, noiselessly. Her eyes widened in worry. "Master Seth, are you okay!"

"Huh! Sagira! Get out of here, now!" Seth appeared out of nowhere, his hair going every which direction. He looked rather annoyed, as if she had interrupted something important. Then remembering the curse, he hastily called her back. "Wait! I mean, uh, is there something you need?"

"No...what happened to your robes! They're all messy!" She had yet to see Seth out of order in the corridors.

"Heh...I'm...just doing a little something in the back here. Why don't you run along and play? Lesson canceled for the time being." He escorted her gently to the door. "I'll be along for you shortly."

"O-okay, okay...sorry.." Sagira fled from the room, confused, and hurt that Seth had been so upset with her. Outside, she encountered Karim, one of the few priests of her father's that she despised.

"What is it, m'lady?" Karim asked, seeing the look of distress on the girl's face.

"Master Seth yelled at me." She allowed, scowling. "I didn't mean to interrupt his work..."

Karim's mouth curved into a scowl of distaste. "Her again? It's a wonder he still has his place." He muttered, as he shook his head. "Don't worry about it, highness. He'll forgive you once he's done with his business."

"Who, Master Karim?" Sagira was giving him a quizzical look now. "I didn't see anyone..."

"Never you mind that." Karim replied, reproachfully. "What Seth does on his time is not your business. Remember your place." He watched Sagira back up, and turn to go. "And now where are you headed?"

"I'm going out into the gardens for a while. He said he'd find me when he was ready." She picked up her skirts, and continued on her way. She wondered, briefly what Karim had meant by "her". She shook her head, and joined her handmaid in her room, to prepare for her garden wandering.

Seth and Yaminah leaned back against his cushioned bed, snuggling close. "I think I might've been a bit too hard on Sagira..." He muttered, sighing.

"I hate to say it, but it's your own fault that she just comes in now. You've let her get away with that ever since she was really little." Yaminah smirked, taking a sip of wine. "It's a good thing she didn't see me." This she said, as she curled up closer to the priest. "It's such a rarity that we even get these moments anymore."

"Yes...I have no doubt it might've accidentally slipped from her if she had." Seth muttered again. "It's getting harder and harder to get away together. With the new season coming, things are really very busy."

"I see. Well, we don't have to think about that now, do we?" Yaminah leaned in to kiss him softly. "We were having so much fun..."

Seth smirked, sliding his arm around her, pulling her closer again, and returning the kiss. "You're absolutely right." He held her tightly. "Mmm. We need to find our own little hideway sometime..."

"I agree..." The two stayed like that for a long time. Each enjoying the feel of the other's body so close to them At length, Seth spoke again.

"Sagira's going to be disappointed."

"Hmm?" Yaminah looked up, and saw the sobered look on her lover's face. "Why?"

"I won't be able to take her to her brother tonight. I have to help the Pharaoh with something of importance." Seth sighed. "I can only imagine what Bakare's reaction is going to be."

"What reaction? I could take her for you." Yaminah offered now, sitting up to get another glass of wine.

"No no. That would never work. I have to bring the food too. Could you, perhaps take a message to him?"

Yaminah shrugged. "I could, but I could take her myself. Forget the food. I won't let anything go wrong. She's been looking so forward to it." She curled up next to Seth a bit longer, before finishing her wine, and standing up to straighten her clothing. "You should go talk to her, Love. I know she was really hurt."

"Heh..yeah, I know." Seth stood up as well, fixing his robes, and straightening his hair. "I will meet you with her at sunset. And don't worry. I'll come up with a good cover."

"Alright. In the garden, then?" Seth nodded, then watched as Yaminah wrapped her cape around herself, and disappeared.

"Mind if I sit down?" Seth came up behind Sagira soundlessly. He'd been watching her tend to her plants and flowers carefully. He spoke softly, in an apologetic manner.

"If you want..." Sagira replied nonchalantly. She didn't turn around to look at her teacher though. "We're not going to see my brother, are we?" This she asked vaguely. She hadn't admitted to the new sixth sense she had developed.

"What in the name of Ra gave you that impression?" Seth came over to sit beside the girl. He turned her to face him. "Of course you're going to see your brother. I'm not the one taking you though." He paused, studying the girl in front of him Sagira had changed so much since the curse had been laid upon her. She was far to submissive. Part of it, Seth knew, was the fear that if she didn't obey, she'd be thrown out. The priest figured her brother was aat fault for that belief. "Sagira...about earlier.." He rubbed the back of his neck. " I'm sorry I yelled at you." He smiled a little, then sobered. "We have to set new boundaries. You're not a toddler anymore. It's time to start acting like a real princess."

"What do you mean?" Sagira looked up at her old friend, not understanding. "I thought your door was always open for me..?"

"I did that when you were little. Call it paternal instinct...you were so frightened of the large palace when you were first brought here, I offered to leave it open in case you needed anything." Seth gave her one of his rare, genuine smiles. " You used to end up sleeping in my bed, more than your own. Drove your poor nursemaid crazy! As time went by, you came in less and less. I guess I should've sat you down at that point and laid new rules. So...from now on. If my door's closed, I would appreciate it if you would wait until I give you the okay to enter." He stood up. "After dinner, we're meeting Yaminah back here. She is going to take you to Bakare."

"Won't father worry?" Sagira blinked. "Won't he?"

"Leave the Pharaoh to me, princess. Come now, let's get to your lesson for the day." Seth didn't have to look back to see if the girl was following. He knew she was. If only I hadn't made that deal with the king of thieves. Sagira would be well settled by now. She loves it here so much. Maybe if Yaminah takes her, she'll be able to make that fool see reason. As they got to the entrance to the palace, he sensed that she had stopped. He turned around. "Sagira?"

"Who was she, Master Seth?" Sagira stood still, watching Seth's reaction. "The one you were with...?"

"That is none of your business, you inquisitive little imp!" Seth smirked. "Anyway, who said I was with anyone?" He started walking again.

"Karim did." Sagira said.

"That nosy little..." Seth grunted, then turned to face Sagira. "Never you mind what that man says to you. Put it out of your mind. I was doing something on my own time. That's all you need to know. Understand?"

"Yes, Master Seth." She smiled to herself, knowing he wasn't being entirely truthful.

"Good. Now come on, before we run out of time for your rune scrying." He opened the door to his now empty study and let her in. "And Sagira?"

"Yes?" Sagira caught the fond tone in the priest's voice.

"When you go down to your brother tonight... promise me you'll come back." Seth suddenly seemed to have foreseen something forboding.

"I promise. I promise!" Sagira swore, going to unroll the translations she'd been dutifully trying to memorize.

"Good girl." Seth sighed in relief, though the nagging feeling of a misfortune still ate at him. He would make mention of it to Yaminah, before he let her go down there.