Title: Book of Tales: Tales of the People of the Sun
Author: Dragonwrangler
Rating: M
Feedback: Please. (By the way, if anyone out there can correct my Gaelic usage, feel free- I'm still only on my first few lessons (and my doujinshi's keep distracting me) so I still haven't quite figured out when a word needs to be aspirated. Thanks!)
Author's Notes: A special thank you to Crimson Eyed Dragon for the review on this story (yay). I figured it wouldn't be to the taste of a lot of people- lol, even I'm not looking for this type of story when I'm skimming through the M- rated ones- but it took on a life of it's own so I thought I'd share it with everyone! Thanks again!
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh is owned by Kazuki Takahashi. I do not make any money from these stories and only write them for my own entertainment and the entertainment of any who wish to read them.
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Book of Tales: Tales of the People of the Sun
Chapter Four
Looking across the vast open room Mahado referred to as the Dueling Grounds, Ciorstag permitted herself a moment of awe at its scale and size. Great columns, painted in brilliant colors, supported a high ceiling within which were slits that allowed light to filter in and the heat to slip out. The center of the space was dominated by a wide raised rectangular platform while at the opposite end of the room from where she entered, a high backed golden throne had been built into the raised dais upon which sat Pharaoh with Atemu, seated in a backless ebony chair, at his side. The Chief Vizier sat on a low bench on the opposite side, a papyrus spread across his lap, a writing utensil in one hand. Before them, the Iry of the Shrine of Wedju stood one step down from the dais on which the throne sat while the other four Priests of Wedju stood on the floor level, including one woman, Isis, robed in white with a golden heart shaped headdress, a golden torc at her throat.
"Impressive." Gaighdon said softly beside her.
"Yes. The Grounds were build for the Priest of Wedju to practice the art of dueling and to improve their connection with their Millennium Items.", Mahado answered as he lead the way into the room.
They walked quickly around the platform to stop between the Priests before the throne. Mahado stepped forward to drop to his knees, bowing forward to rest his forehead against the floor a moment before settling onto his left knee, his head bowed as he said in a strong voice, "Pharaoh- to you life, prosperity, health! - I bring before you, Màileachan naomh Ciorstag NicRigh de Dalriada and Ceann-feadha Gaighdon de Dalriada."
Ciorstag suppressed a smile as Mahado gave their full names and titles. It had not been necessary, in her opinion, but the youth had insisted that it was only proper they be introduced more formally in council. Gaighdon had attempted to give their titles in a translated form but again Mahado insisted it be in their own language.
From the delighted look in his eyes as they recited the information to him and he repeated them back flawlessly, Ciorstag suspected Mahado simply wished to hear the foreign words and their rhythms.
Ciorstag and Gaighdon bowed, having been informed by Siamun that they would not be required to kneel while in the presence of the Priests. She had the impression though that if the meeting had been held in a more public location the protocol would have been much different.
"Welcome magician Ciorstag and iry Gaighdon." Pharaoh said as two chairs were brought forward for their use. "We thank you for your service to our son. Please be comfortable while we learn more about you."
"Thank you." Ciorstag answered as she settled into one of the chairs while Mahado rose at a gesture from Pharaoh and positioned himself at Ciorstag's right hand. Once seated, Ciorstag said, "We wish to thank you for the hospitality that you have shown strangers such as us."
A smile crossed Pharaoh's face as he glanced back at Atemu. "You saved that which is beyond price; we are at a loss as to what gifts to give you in thanks."
Ciorstag looked at Gaighdon in surprise. "As we have said, your hospitality is more than enough." Ciorstag said as she turned to meet Pharaohs gaze. "We understand that the freedom you have granted us within your household is more than what we could have hoped for."
Pharaoh nodded, "You have not given us a reason to question your motives in aiding my son but we would like to know why you were within the temple at such a crucial time."
Deciding it was best to be forthright; Ciorstag answered truthfully, "We came to see what was at the end of a Crosspoint that opened within what we call the Shadow Realms."
She had not expected the startled looks from those around them. The looks told Ciorstag that they understood what she had said and she waited to see exactly how much they did know.
"You came here through the Shadow Realms?" the Iry asked as he stepped down to stand with the rest of the Priests.
"You are familiar with the Shadow Realms?" she asked carefully.
"The power the Millennium Items draw on originates within the Realms." the Iry answered.
It was her turn to be startled.
Gaighdon glanced at her a moment before he began to speak. "We have been passing back and forth between our world and another for three generations now. Fifteen years ago a passage opened up halfway between the two Points. It was finally decided that, for the safety of our people, a pair should be sent to discover where the new point led to."
"We never considered it might lead back to our own world."
The Iry frowned, "Fifteen years ago?"
"Yes." Ciorstag answered, "The knowledge of the Crosspoints is quite ancient amongst our people. We no longer know all of their locations but in all our lore there is no record of a Crosspoint having more than an entrance and exit point."
"Was it the Crosspoint that caused you to be within the temple?" Isis asked.
Gaighdon nodded. "It was partially the cause. The Crosspoint is anchored to the outside wall facing the desert."
"And you entered the temple through the hole the assassins made." the Iry said.
"Yes. We had passed through it and were making our way down the corridor when we heard the fighting and found the Prince and Mahado being attacked."
"Why did you interfere? According to Mahado neither of you were armed." Pharaoh asked.
Ciorstag could not help but smile as Gaighdon blushed slightly. "For the simple reason that the two of them are a lot like Gaighdon's sons. That and he cannot help but get himself into trouble."
As a slight smile crossed Pharaoh's lips, a shift in position by the woman with the golden torc drew his eyes to her.
"Do you have another question you wish to ask, Isis?" he asked.
Nodding, she replied, "I do, my Pharaoh." Turning to Ciorstag she said, "Was the heka being used by the magicians familiar to you?"
Ciorstag shook her head. "The description of the circle seems familiar but without referencing the bardic records back home I am reluctant to guess. I do not wish to lead you in the wrong direction."
"How long would it take for you to check your theory?" she asked.
Ciorstag sighed. "Several weeks, I'm afraid. We would be expected to report what we have found here to the High Council of the Clans before we would be allowed to journey to Tara where the records are kept."
Glancing at the Iry Ciorstag asked, "Do you have any theories as to why the priest's kas were taken?"
He looked to Pharaoh a moment before answering. "No. The only clues we have are the words spoken in the temple when the magician approached the high priest. However we do not understand the meaning of those words."
"You were able to determine this using the Tauk?" Ciorstag asked.
Isis nodded and glanced a moment at the Prince. "Yes. I believe my shock may have interfered with the original vision. I also cannot see the fate of a Millennium Item Keeper. I was able to see as much as I did because of Mahado's presence. I have since been able to see more of what happened but," she shook her head, showing a slight frustration, "some things still remain unclear."
"What did the magician say?"
"The magician stated that they needed strong kas to feed to the great leviathan and, as a high priest of Ra, his had the strength they needed to aid in the awakening."
"What!"
"What is it?" Ciorstag asked, startled, as she reached out to grab Gaighdon's arm as he stood.
"The circle, the glyphs, they remind you of the ancient legends, don't they." he said urgently as he looked down at her. Turning back to the Iry he asked, "They dueled for his ka, correct? He called shadow monsters and dueled for his ka."
Gaighdon suddenly turned to look back at the platform in the center of the room, understanding flashing across his face. "That is what you do here. You duel with shadow monsters."
The Iry's eyes narrowed as he stared at Gaighdon. "You know of the Shadow Games." he stated sharply.
"That term is unknown to me. The taking of strong kas to feed the Great Beast was part of the war that destroyed the ancestral homeland. The shadow monsters were summoned by both sides to battle for the fate of the world."
Ciorstag frowned, not liking where this conversation was heading. "The stories say that they brought the shadow creature through the Crosspoints, not that they summoned them, Gaighdon."
"Nevertheless that is what you thought when I described the circle."
Reluctantly she said, "Yes, but…"
"It was always said that, if one knew the ancient heka, one could summon the essence of a shadow monster regardless of the presence of a Crosspoint." Gaighdon said as he turned to the Priests. "You summon them using the power of your Millennium Items?"
Before any of them could answer, Pharaoh interrupted. "Iry, is there anything else you wish to ask our guests regarding the Temple incident?"
He shook his head. "No, Pharaoh."
Pharaoh was silent a moment, his eyes sweeping over both of them, before saying, "We believe it may be in our best interests to begin your test while our guests are present. It may answer several questions, ones they may have and our own."
Ciorstag watched the surprised look that crossed the Iry's face swiftly vanish as he stepped closer to where she was seated.
"I will need to ask that you move to stand near the dais while we conduct our test." He reached out and helped her to her feet. As Mahado stepped to her other side the Iry said, "You must remain here, Mahado."
Surprised, he stopped as Ciorstag joined Gaighdon where he had moved, after a gesture from Pharaoh, to stand between Seth and the first step of the dais.
As the chairs were removed, Ciorstag watched as Pharaoh rose and stepped down to stand before Mahado, the Iry beside him, to say, "It has come to our attention that you have far outstripped the abilities of your teachers in the ways of heka. I have given the Iry of Wedju Temple my permission to test you to become the new Keeper of the Millennium Ring."
Before Pharaoh could continue, Mahado dropped swiftly to one knee, bowing his head, saying, "I am too young for such an honor, Pharaoh! I…"
"I did not ask for your opinion, Mahado." The words, cutting through Mahado's protest, were firm but Ciorstag could hear a slight tremor of amusement in Pharaoh's voice. She wondered if Mahado was too shocked to notice.
"Your fate will be decided once you have been tested by the Scales and the Ankh." Resting a hand on Mahado's head Pharaoh said softly, "Be true, Mahado. We would be sore in heart if you fall."
"My life is yours, my Pharaoh. I will be true."
Pharaoh nodded then turned to the Iry, a shadow of a smile on his lips. "He is now yours to command, Iry."
As he stepped back up to the throne, Ciorstag glanced at Gaighdon. He meet her gaze and said softly, "This sounds as if it will be interesting."
"Yes, but what exactly are they going to test?"
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Mahado watched Pharaoh return to the throne as Shada and Karim joined the Iry before him. Focusing on the three priests Mahado felt the calm he had experienced in the fight at the temple fill him once again as he handed his fate into the hands of the gods.
Karim, Keeper of the Millennium Scales, stepped forward, keeping the Scales he held in the palm of his left hand in perfect balance. Speaking in a soft but strong voice as he placed a feather in one of the Scale's cups, Karim said, "Mahado, you stand before the Scales of Truth upon which your heart will be weighed against the feather of Ma'at. If your heart proves to be heavy with crimes against Ma'at it will be devoured by the goddess Ammit and your ka banished forever from existence." Mahado could feel the upswing of power at his back as Karim spoke, the Scales summoning the goddess Ammit, the eater of hearts. He felt the goddess' breath brushing against his neck; saw the surprised look on Ciorstag and Gaighdon's faces where they stood before the royal dais. Mahado waited calmly for the goddess to reach out to hold him in place while Karim asked the questions of the heart, but the touch never came.
He could sense the goddess moving, startling Karim's focus away from him. Glancing to the side Mahado found the goddess moving silently around him, the long crooked smile of her crocodile head leading the way. She watched the group before Mahado, her reptilian eyes sweeping their inhuman gaze over each person. The childlike urge to reach out and run his fingers from the scales of her head into the soft tawny fur that covered the goddess' midsection and forelegs as she passed close to him, to let them run over the change between the fur and the leathery hippopotamus skin of her hind section drifted through Mahado but he refrained himself.
That would have been blasphemous.
The Priests of Wedju dropped to their knees before the goddess but as Mahado followed their example, Ammit's head snapped around, the tip of her snout catching him under his chin, knocking his head up.
Mahado took a startled step back as Ammit swiveled her head toward the royal dais at the sound of someone approaching. Glancing over the goddess' head as he rubbed his chin, Mahado could see Gaighdon moving forward- only to stop when Ammit spoke.
The words were fluid, filled with blended constants and long vowels that he recognizes as the language Ciorstag used to cast her spell. For a moment, Mahado fell into the words, hearing the potential power within the sounds, almost missing the exchange between the goddess and Gaighdon.
Mahado could see being addressed by a goddess did not surprise Gaighdon; it only seemed to make him cautious. Gaighdon spoke a few words and was answered by Ammit, an answer that sent Ciorstag into a surprised burst of laughter. Gaighdon gave her an annoyed look and said a few words toward her that sounded to Mahado like a question. Ciorstag nodded, and this time it seemed Ammit joined her laughter, snapping her teeth-filled jaws opened and shut with a snort. Gaighdon shook his head and returned to Ciorstag's side, bowing a moment to Ammit.
As the goddess turned her attention back to him, settling back onto her hindquarters, her head level with his own, Mahado was unsure what to do. He had memorized the spells and names of the gods and goddesses who would judge him at the final weighing of his heart before the mighty Osiris, and this was in no way like the texts described.
He did not know what to do.
"There is nothing you need to do, child", a mellow, female voice said. "Your heart is already known to us."
Without thinking, Mahado asked, "How?"
This time he was sure that she was amused. Snapping her jaws shut with another snort, her laughter rippled through his mind. "I am a goddess, child. I have my ways." She turned to look back the kneeling Priests and said, "You are welcome to stand in our presence, we will not object."
As the Priests cautiously rose to their feet Ammit asked the Iry, stretching slightly to bring her head close to his, "You are sure, one who goes by the name Akhenaden, Iry of Wedju Shrine and maker of the Millennium Items, that you wish this one to be Keeper of the Millennium Ring? The child is not easily fooled or dissuaded and will discover much that has been hidden if he is given this responsibility."
Mahado found the question curious and the Iry's reaction the same. A flash of fear that changed almost immediately to acceptance crossed his face. Before he could answer, though, Pharaoh stated sharply, "Yes, we are sure."
A momentary scowl creased the Iry's features but quickly disappeared as he said evenly, "I am sure."
The goddess nodded her head as she said, "Events have been set in motion that will require the strongest hearts to do what will need to be done." Ammit glanced back as she said, "And this child has such a heart." She looking up at the dais, her gaze locking on Atemu. "As do many in this room." Looking over to Shada she added, "It may be wise for you to open the room of his soul, Shada, Priest of Wedju." Rising to her feet she began to walk away, fading as she said, "There is something there that need to be let loose."
Shaking his head slightly, Shada stepped directly before Mahado. Holding the Millennium Ankh between them, he said, "Within each person there is a room that holds the truth of who they are." A rare smile flashed briefly across his face. "I expect there is nothing for you to fear while we look within the truth of you, Mahado." Power flared in Mahado's mind, power he recognized as from both the Ankh and the Eye but almost as soon as he sensed it, the power dropped away. Mahado watched the Iry pull Shada's hand down and, looking at Shada, found the Priest staring at him with wide eyes. A contemplative look settled on the Iry's face as he crossed his arm to say, "Do you know the ritual to summon a spirit ka, Mahado?"
Mahado glanced briefly at Atemu before nodding, answering, "I am familiar with the words required to summon."
"I would like you to summon a spirit ka now."
Surprised, Mahado asked, "Which monster do you wish me to summon, Iry?"
"Simply call the name that enters your mind as you summon."
Uncertain, but sensing he did know the name he should call, Mahado took a deep breath to center himself, before chanting out without hesitation, "Spirit ka within my body, mirror of my soul! I summon thee- Magus of Illusion!"
The calm within Mahado suddenly shifted out, forming a shape beside him. A tall figure floated next to his left shoulder, dressed in black with black armor covering his chest, back, and shoulders and a forward curving, conical helm covering his head, a staff held tightly in his left hand.
A light, musical, laugh reached his ears as he stared at the figure, Isis's laughter.
"A magician! How appropriate!" Isis said, amused.
The Iry smiled slightly as he nodded to Shada. "I believe we are done. If I am not mistaken, the Magus may react against us if we continue on our current course." He turned back to Mahado to say, "You have passed our tests and have earned the right to become a Priest of Wedju. Tonight we will present you with the Millennium Ring at the Shine of Wedju."
"You may release the Magus."
Bowing to the figure, Mahado said, "Thank you for answering my call. I am in your debt."
Mahado heard Seth let out a breath of derision. "There is no reason to thank it, it is just a…" His voice died out as the Magus returned Mahado's bow before fading away. Glancing toward Seth, Mahado watched a frown cross his face. Looking beyond to the royal dais, Mahado could see both Atemu and Pharaoh grinning broadly. Unable to stop himself, Mahado grinned back.
As the Priests returned to their spots before the dais, Mahado watched Ciorstag turn toward the Iry. "How exactly do you call on the power of your Items?"
Stopping before her, the Iry answered, "It is an ability few have. When a Keeper focuses on the Item they carry it allows them to manipulate a certain aspect of creation."
"Like opening the thoughts of another."
The Iry nodded. "The power of the Items aid us in seeing the truth and, if Ma'at's balance has been altered, return the balance, keeping the forces of chaos from harming creation."
Ciorstag's eyes narrowed as she asked, "It must drain you when you use your Item."
Mahado watched the Iry glance at the Pharaoh before answering. "Yes, it can if used too often without rest, but it is rare when an Item is used for such an extended period."
Raising his eyes to the dais Mahado could see Atemu straighten slightly in his chair. He could tell Atemu was waiting for Ciorstag to make a comment regarding his use of the Puzzle but a slight shake of Gaighdon's head seemed to stop her from speaking.
Ciorstag fell silent, frowning at Gaighdon as he looked at Karim. "The first one that appear, the one called Ammit, referred to herself as a goddess. You seemed surprised when she moved. Did she allow herself to be summoned or would you have been able to call her without her permission?"
Shaking his head Karim answered, "If the goddess refused there would have been nothing I could have done to bring her here."
"So you cannot simple summon a monster, you must have a bond."
"Not necessarily. If the monster is weak then any with the ability to summon can call it." the Iry said. "However, the more powerful the monster then the more powerful the summoner must be."
"In the case of a spirit ka, the only way another can wield it is by killing the one the spirit resides in and claiming it as their own."
"Does this fit the legends that you mention, iry Gaighdon?" Pharaoh asked.
Gaighdon shook his head. "I am unsure. The legends tend to fluctuate depending on the teller and the clan as to how the monsters were brought to this world."
"Do you agree with him, Màileachan naomh?"
Mahado could see she was torn as she replied, "I do not but Gaighdon is much more familiar with the legends than I am."
A sigh slipped from Pharaoh as he turned to Atemu. "I do not like the fact we are no closer to an answer but perhaps, with all the information set before you we may yet find what we seek."
Rising, Pharaoh nodded to the Priests and said, "We will meet again in three days. Atemu, Ciorstag, Gaighdon and Mahado, we require you to accompany us."
"Come."
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Slowing his steps, Atemu fell back to walk with Mahado as they left the Dueling Grounds and made their way to one of the smaller rooms within the complex.
Leaning toward his slightly bemused looking friend, Atemu whispered, "Are you all right?"
Mahado nodded. "I think so." He glanced at Atemu and grinned. "I'm not sure though."
Atemu smiled.
Stepping into the room his father had led them to, Atemu waited until his father had settled into a chair before dropping onto a bench against a wall. After a wave from his father, Ciorstag and Gaighdon sat down in the chairs before him while Mahado joined Atemu on the bench.
"Before I explain why I have asked you to join me, I assume you wish to discuss my son's use of the Puzzle, Màileachan naomh?" Pharaoh ask.
Atemu sighed inwardly, not surprised by the question, and not looking forward to the discussion that was about to follow.
A scowl momentarily creased Ciorstag's features as she turned to Gaighdon. They spoke swiftly in their own language a few moments before she turned back to say, "As much as I would like to ask that he stop using the Puzzle's power it seems to be doing him no harm." Turning toward Atemu she asked, "I would ask exactly what the power does when you call on it, though."
Not sure that he understood her question, Atemu said with a shrug, "It simply does what I ask."
She shook her head. "I'm sorry. I meant, what does the power feel like when you use it?"
Atemu frowned. "I'm not sure what you…"
"It responds and interacts consciously with him." Mahado said.
Giving him a curious look Atemu said, "Of course it does. That's how a Millennium Item is suppose to work."
"No it's not." Pharaoh answered, surprising him.
"What?" Atemu asked, looking at his father uncertainly.
"The Puzzle allowed me to coordinate the heka of the other Items. It did not interact with me." Pharaoh frowned as he continued thoughtfully, "And I do not believe any of the other Items work in such a way."
"Did you notice the Items used on you working like the Puzzle, Mahado?" Gaighdon asked.
"No, they did not have the same feel as the heka from the Puzzle."
"Why do you ask Mahado if he can tell the difference, iry?" Pharaoh asked Gaighdon.
Gaighdon gave Pharaoh a cautious look as he answered, "Because he was able to tell when I pushed Atemu to rest earlier."
Atemu saw a dangerous frown pass across his father's face as he said, "Pushed?"
Before Gaighdon could answer or Atemu could come to his defense, Mahado said with a sudden smile, "Yeah. He said it was a trick he uses on his sons when they stop listening to him."
Atemu watched the frown slowly dissolve into a slight smile as Pharaoh turned to look at the two of them before looking at Gaighdon.
"This trick, might you be able to teach us this ability so we may us it on these two?"
Gaighdon nodded, an answering smile on his face. "I can certainly try."
Mahado leaned over to Atemu to whisper, "Sorry."
Leaning back, Atemu said, "Oh, I'll get you for that later."
Finding his father giving them a look, Atemu straightened and tried to school his features into something more suitable. His father rolled his eyes toward the heavens a moment before focusing on Ciorstag as she asked, "Do you know why the Puzzle acts differently for Atemu than for you, Pharaoh?"
"Because it likes him." Mahado answered. Atemu turned to him in astonishment. Mahado shrugged and said as he met his gaze, "Well, it does."
"An inanimate object cannot like someone, Mahado." Pharaoh said as he rose up to walk over to where they sat.
"That may be true but I believe he is right, Pharaoh." Ciorstag sighed as she said, "The Puzzle seemed to want to help him when I touched his wound, and it guided me so that I could save him. I've never felt power react in such a way."
Pharaoh stared at the Puzzle until Atemu thought he might begin to squirm to get him to look anywhere else but Pharaoh soon turned away with a sigh to say, "I believe this is something I will need to discuss with the Iry. In the meantime…"
"You're not going to make me take it off, are you?", Atemu interrupted, a slight sense of panic filling him. With the Puzzle he could hold his pain at bay but without it he knew he would be confined to his bed for days.
That would drive him crazy.
"The Puzzle has been helping him manage the pain. It may not be wise to separate them right now, Pharaoh." Gaighdon said.
Pharaoh glanced at him and smiled gently. "We will not have you remove it my son, at least not at the moment." Sitting back down he spoke to Ciorstag, "Atemu will probably draw on the Puzzle even more in the next few days. Is there anything you can do to help minimize his need to use it?"
A curious look crossed Ciorstag's face as she asked, "Why would he use it more than he is now?"
"He will be expected to consummate a marriage treaty when his new wife arrives."
"Dakhamazu is not going to arrive for a few weeks, I should be fine by then." Atemu said.
Pharaoh turned and held his gaze. "She will be here either during the Festival tomorrow or the day after."
Slumping against the wall Atemu asked, a sense of dread beginning to grow, "Has my household been informed?"
"Yes. You were apparently asleep when Siamun delivered my message."
As Atemu tried to keep his thoughts in line as they started to work out all that he would need to do before the princess arrived, including managing his other wives, he heard Ciorstag say carefully, "There are several things that can be done but," Ciorstag glanced at Gaighdon before continuing, "it would involve one of us listening in more closely than we are now to adjust the spells as they are strained."
Looking at Mahado she added, "We may also need Mahado to listen as well since he seems to know what is normal for Atemu."
As Mahado blushed slightly at the thought, Atemu could not resist leaning over to say, "I said I'd get you."
"Yeah, you did.", he whispered back.
"Then he can go through this without seriously damaging himself?" Pharaoh asked.
Ciorstag shrugged her shoulders as she answered. "I believe so. However, as I said, it would require one of us to link with him while he is bedding his wife. There are a few spells we can use to suppress most of his pain and reinforce the healing spells during that time but we will also know everything he is feeling."
Feeling himself blush now, Atemu watched Pharaoh as he frown and asked, "Will you know his thoughts?"
"Not what he is thinking, no. We would not need to go that deep.", she answered.
"However it will not be difficult to figure out what he might be thinking." Gaighdon added.
Watching Mahado lean forward to rest his elbows on his legs before glancing back with a sympathetic smile, Atemu asked, "Can I at least choose who is listening?"
Ciorstag smiled gently. "You can choose, yes. However if you get too energetic you may end up with more than one person listening, Atemu."
Making a face, Atemu said, "I'll be sure to control my enthusiasm then."
"How close will you need to be?" Pharaoh asked.
"Preferably in the next room. The farther away the more the listener will be strained."
Pharaoh nodded and said as he rose, "I will inform Siamun to arrange it." Stopping to rest a hand on Atemu's shoulder he said softly, "I expect you to spend the rest of the day resting, my son."
Turning to Mahado he said, "Once you are a Priest of Wedju, Mahado, our first order to you will be to begin training Mana in the proper ways of magic." He sighed as he straightened. "She seems to be finding ways to experiment and it is beginning to cost us in redecorating."
"When do you wish me to begin training her, Pharaoh?", Mahado asked in a strained voice.
"We will give you time to adjust but we will expect you to start her training before the end of the year."
Desperately trying not to break out in a burst of laughter as Pharaoh left the room, Atemu leaned into Mahado and said, "You never should have tempted Shay, Mahado. That was your own fault."
Shaking his head and looking stunned as he answered, Mahado said, "Next time I open my mouth and tempt the god of fate, promise me you'll shut me up."
Grinning as he pushed off the bench, Atemu answered, "You have my word, Mahado."
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-de Dalriada- of Dalriada
NicRigh de Dalriada- daughter of Kings of Dalriada
Màileachan naomh- holy elf
Ceann-feadha- clan chieftain