Title: Book of Tales: Tales of the People of the Sun
Author: Dragonwrangler
Rating: M
Feedback: Please
Author's Notes: Just a few notes for this chapter. It is an odd chapter that has several points I wanted to make before getting into the last one in this half of the Book. (Next chapter everything basically hits the fan!) Feel free to skip over them!
First off- I apologize to Crimson Eyed Dragon (because I know you're reading this as it's written, thanks!) and anyone else reading this as I post chapters. One of the drawbacks of writing several stories at the same time is you occasionally forget the little things. My Egyptian characters are not suppose to use the word 'magic' unless they are referring to the Book of Millennium Magic but, in the last two chapters I used the wrong word in a few spots. I have corrected that and a few small grammatical errors that I found. Sorry!
I also forgot two names in the character list- Bakura (who makes one brief but important appearance in the next chapter) and Coeremar (Magus of Illusion/ Illusion Magician). All of my 'Book stories came out of three questions- the first was- how was Dark Magician Girl able to bring Pharaoh and Yugi to the Dominion to wake Timaeus? Which was followed by- okay, if duel monsters are real and Mahado became a duel monster, what exactly happened to Mahado when he died? Which then lead to the question- wait, if Mahado's duel monster- the Magus of Illusion- was real then what happened to the Magus when Mahado merged his ka and ba with it? Coeremar basically came out of the last question. I start touching on that in this chapter.
I also discovered with this chapter that I'm just the writer of this story and that my characters have ideas of their own about how this story is told. I'm trying to avoid any apprenticeshipping in this story but no matter how many times I wrote this Mana was determined to tease Mahado in this chapter. I finally got the scene down to the point where that's all she does- it's a little bit of a silly scene but I like how it turned out.
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 Six
Taking a deep breath, Mahado glanced up at the three great Iry carved into the ceiling above him. This was the first time he had seen them for himself.
He hoped it would not be the last.
Mahado resisted the urge to shift his position or run his fingers nervously through his now short hair. He had been slightly surprised when Isis herself had trimmed it as part of his ritual of purification before the Iry of the Shrine of Wedju allowed him to enter for the test of the Ring. His old clothes had been removed, his hair cut, his skin rubbed clean with scented swabu and water from the Shrine's sacred pool, before being dressed in a simple white linen kilt and led into the Shrine itself.
The soaring space- the center filled by the Pyramid of the Ka- left Mahado feeling small and insignificant. Trying hard to not make a sound that might disturb the holy stillness around him, Mahado followed Akhenaden to the top of the Pyramid where, with a gesture, he was directed to a kneeling position at the center of the dais under the watchful gaze of the three great Irys.
Bringing his eyes back down, Mahado watched Seth, distinctive and unique in his blue robe of the office of High Priest of Wedju, claim the Millennium Ring from Akhenaden before approaching Mahado where he knelt. Positioned before each of the massive firebrands at the corners of the dais stood the remaining Priests of Wedju. Akhenaden joined them as he moved to stand in front of the firebrand forward and to the left of Mahado.
Focusing on Seth, Mahado buried his nervousness, as the High Priest began to speaking in a low, deep voice.
"Mahado, we have brought you here into the presence of the three great Iry of the Kingdom, to discover if you are truly the one the Ring is searching for."
"If you are the chosen Keeper of the Ring you have nothing to fear. But if you are not, the cost will be your life and ka."
"Knowing this, are you willing to continue, Mahado?"
Mahado nodded. "I am willing, High Priest Seth."
"Then let the answer reveal itself."
With those words, Seth slipped the cord that held the Millennium Ring over Mahado's head, letting the Ring settle against Mahado's chest. Mahado was startled by the warmth of the Ring and the sensation of great power flooding through his thoughts and ka. The Ring grew warm against his bare skin, almost burning, the tines hanging down from points set evenly along the outer edge of the Ring twitching and shivering. Mahado attempted to remained still and calm. He knew there was nothing he could do now to stop the Ring.
All he could do was wait.
It was for the Ring to decide whether he lived or died.
As he waited, he felt an odd shift in the heka running through him. Something seemed to be moving through the heka from the Ring and it was becoming aware of him, watching him. Closing his eyes to help focus his abilities, Mahado found the awareness suddenly reaching into memories that connected him to the Millennium Items, dislodging those tied to Atemu and Pharaoh to view them.
Something deep within Mahado resisted the intrusion, became protective of the memories. As he began to struggle against the awareness- gathering his heka as he tried to separate from the growing presence that was finding him through the Ring- a voice called out to him.
/Mahado/
Mahado blinked, suddenly distracted and confused. He recognized the voice that called his name but, for a moment, he could not place it.
/Mahado. /
Finding himself staring at Seth's face, a face suddenly full of surprise and uncertainty, Mahado blinked again and shifted his gaze up to the three Irys above the High Priest. He could feel the awareness taking advantage of his confusion to reach deeper into his mind, curling around more private thoughts- secrets and dreams Mahado kept to himself.
Feeling a sense of panic filling him, Mahado suddenly realized why the voice calling him by name was familiar.
It was the same as the one in the temple.
Trusting the voice once again, Mahado reached out toward the voice to ask/Who are you/
/Coeremar, the Magus of Illusion. /
Startled by the answer Mahado repeated/The Magus of Illusion/
/Yes. Are you in danger, Mahado? Are you in need my help/
Feeling himself losing ground to the presence in his memory, Mahado said desperately/Yes. I am being tested but I believe something has gone wrong. /
Mahado could feel the presence behind the voice trying to catch hold of him, trying to aid him. /What can I do/
/I don't know/Mahado shouted desperately as another voice began speaking in his mind. The voice was powerful, drowning out an urgent shout from the voice that had named itself Coeremar.
The new voice was ancient and dark and Mahado's mind instinctively tried to push it away. It was a voice he did not want to understand, a voice he tried desperately to block, but the voice began whispering promises and seductive offers of power Mahado was unable to shut out. The heka from the Ring merged with the voice, allowing Mahado to perceive the extent of the power that was flooding through him from the Ring.
It was immense.
Mahado reeled. The power incased within the Ring was beyond Mahado's comprehension. For a moment, he could not understand how that could be until he realized the power was not part of the Ring…
…but part of the voice.
It was the voice of a god.
The power emanating from the voice, cold and deadly, moved away from his memories and began to wrap itself around his ka. Mahado felt himself slipping away, losing awareness of himself as his ka was overwhelmed. The power was becoming him and Mahado knew when it was done he would be gone forever.
And he did not have the power to resist the strength of a god.
/MAHADO/
Coeremar's voice crashed through Mahado's awareness, bringing him back to himself. Grabbing the heka that surged up from Coeremar's voice- heka that was becoming as familiar as Coeremar's presence- Mahado turned it on the power that held him without thinking and shattered its hold.
Not allowing himself to think, united now with Coeremar, Mahado cut off the ancient, and now furious voice, separating it from the Ring's heka and drove it from his mind.
Mahado's senses vibrated, the power within him flashing like lightening as he tried to track the voice. The heka from the Ring dropped away, returning to the level it had been when it had first been placed around his neck.
/Are you all right, Mahado/
Finding no trace within his mind of the ancient voice, Mahado answered shakily/I believe so. /
/I will assume that means yes. / Coeremar loosened his grip on Mahado's mind, falling back to a comforting presence within his awareness. As Mahado relaxed slightly, letting the Ring continue to move impassively through him, Mahado found a growing curiosity filling him, until he felt the need to ask/Why have you been helping me/
Mahado could feel Coeremar consider his words before answering carefully. /When you go deep into yourself to call on your heka, you seem to pull on my own and draw me to you. /
Feeling uncomfortable that he had affected another in such a way, Mahado said apologetically/I was unaware that I was doing such a thing. /
Coeremar answered gently/I have no objection to you calling on me when you need assistance. /
/But why/
A feeling of amusement washed down from Coeremar. /Because it feels right, I suppose. It is rare, this sharing of heka but not unknown among the practitioners of heka in my world. /
Before Mahado could ask another question, golden light flooded his awareness then suddenly disappeared. As the power of the Ring withdrew from Mahado's thoughts and ka, Coeremar said/Would I be correct in assuming you have now passed your test/
/I believe I have. / Mahado answered, more than a little surprised.
Mahado felt Coeremar's presence fade as he said reassuringly/If you have need of my help; do not hesitate to call on me, Mahado. /
/I will, Coeremar. You have my word. /
The power from the Ring settled to a low vibration at the edge of his awareness, as Mahado opened eyes he had forgotten he had closed. He was slightly surprised to find all of the Priest of Wedju now arrayed before him.
All of them with a look of unease on their face.
Seth glanced questioningly at the Iry of the Shrine of Wedju. Mahado felt the power of the Eye brush against his mind and he opened his thoughts without hesitation to the touch. Mahado suddenly realized that whatever had happened in his mind might simply have been a normal part of the test of an Item and hoped the Iry would reveal if he had truly passed the test. Or what god had been testing him.
Surprise filled Akhenaden's face as he abruptly knelt down before Mahado. Catching Mahado's chin in a firm grip, he asked, "Will you allow me to look deeper into what happened Mahado?"
Feeling uneasy, Mahado nodded. A rare smile crossed Akhenaden's lips as he said, "You have done nothing wrong, Mahado. Do not worry."
The heka from the Eye gently swirled through Mahado, only touching the memories of what had happened and nothing else. Mahado relaxed as the Iry expertly wielded the power of his Item.
A look of relief and satisfaction settled on Akhenaden's face as he withdrew the power of the Eye. "You have done well, Mahado.", he said reassuringly. Standing, the Iry nodded to Seth before resuming his position beside the High Priest. For a moment, Seth looked at Akhenaden, puzzlement clear on his face, before turning back to Mahado.
Reaching out his hand, Seth said firmly, "Welcome, Mahado, Keeper of the Millennium Ring and Priest of Wedju."
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Atemu awoke gasping for air, panic clinging to him as he sat up in bed, his hands clenching the cloth beneath him. For a moment, a nameless terror clung to him, but it slowly dissipated as the familiar shapes of his room came into focus.
As his heart slowed to a more reasonable tempo, Atemu wrapped one arm over the bandages around his waist as he tried to remember what had awaken him. It had been terrifying, that much was clear, but the details were slipping away, becoming lost to the fog of sleep.
A sound pulled his sight to the entrance of his room. He found Gaighdon leaning against the doorframe with a candle set in a shallow bowl in one hand, a look of curiosity on his face.
"Are you all right?"
Atemu nodded. "I didn't mean to wake you."
Gaighdon shook his head as he stepped into the room to settle in a chair. "It's all right." Gaighdon smiled. "You've actually slept for far longer than I thought you would. The dream that woke you only hit a few moments ago, as far as I can tell."
Atemu carefully laid back down and stared at the ceiling, his body aching and exhausted. "I feel as if it lasted all night."
"Well, that is possible. I can only sense your distress when it affects you physically. Do you remember what it is you dreamed of?"
Shaking his head, Atemu answered, "I'm not sure exactly but I have the feeling it was about something dark and evil." An irrational shiver passed through him as he added softly, "All that I remember was the feeling of my ka being pulled from my body."
"Perhaps the discussion at the Dueling Grounds is still on your mind, the one regarding the taking of the priest's ka."
"Possibly." Atemu sighed. "Has Mahado returned?"
Gaighdon shook his head. "Not yet but he said not to expect him before dawn."
Atemu nodded as he rolled onto his side, facing Gaighdon. A slight scowl had settled on Gaighdon's face, causing Atemu to ask, "Is something wrong?"
Leaning back in his chair, Gaighdon's scowl deepened as he sighed and said, "There is a matter Ciorstag and I need to discuss with you."
"You are both free to speak to me about anything." Atemu answered, intrigued.
"It is concerning the issue you have about your new wife."
"Issue?"
"The ones regarding the siring of an heir on that night."
"What?" Atemu pushed himself upright and stared at Gaighdon. "Why do you wish to discuss that?" he asked defensively.
Gaighdon let out a frustrated breath as he answered slowly. "We need to know if you will be taking any steps to keep from conceiving an heir on that night that may interfere with our working of the spells we have placed on you."
"Why would I do anything to keep from conceiving an heir?" Atemu asked in confusion.
"We have a tradition of…" Gaighdon paused as if searching for the proper words before continuing, "I suppose you would call them trial marriages. It is where two people pledge themselves to one another for a year and a day. During the trial marriage, conceiving a child may not be desirable until both are certain they would be able to maintain a household and raise a family. Part of Ciorstag's duty as Màileachan naomh is to set spells in place that would keep the pair from conceiving."
"However, such spells often run counter to the type we are using on you right now and it may make things difficult if such spells are present."
"We were uncertain as to what your traditions are regarding such matters and felt it necessary to ask what your intentions were. It has been brought to our attention that you may wish Ifenete to be the mother of your heir, not your new wife. Since we do not know your thoughts on the matter, we were uncertain if you might take steps to insure that was the case. We can adjust to the presence of such spells but then we will be very deep and may be able to read your thoughts."
A small smile pulled at Atemu's lips as he said, "You are not comfortable discussing this."
A rueful look crossed Gaighdon's face. "This is usually Ciorstag's discussion to conduct and she is giving me more information than I need to know to ask you this question."
"She is giving you?"
Gaighdon nodded. "Since she is close by, she is able to listen to this discussion through me." He suddenly rolled his eyes as he added, "And right now she is laughing at me for feeling embarrassed."
Atemu chuckled. "Well, you are not the only one." He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling a moment.
Curious despite himself, Atemu asked, "Could Ciorstag herself set such a spell in place to keep me from conceiving a child that night?"
"Only if both agree, Atemu. It will only work if both of you are involved."
Atemu noticed the frown was back. "You do not appear happy with your answer."
"It was not our intention to interfere to such a degree."
"Saving me was not interfering?"
A shadow of a smile pulled on Gaighdon's lips. "Well, we are trying to minimize our interference. I would not change my actions if faced with that particular decision again."
Atemu sighed before he said, "As much as I might wish to ask Ciorstag to do such a thing I cannot. It is my duty to produce an heir. You will not have to be concern with me seeking a way to stop such a thing from happening."
Raising an eyebrow, Gaighdon said, "You almost sound as if it is a curse."
"If I do not have an heir then it may become a curse. The lack of a legitimate heir would throw the kingdom into chaos. My father has worked hard to rebuild the kingdom and bring peace to the land and I will not be the one to undo that work."
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Mahado wearily made his way through the quiet Palace to his quarters just beyond Atemu's. His thoughts tumbled over one another, making it hard to focus, but he knew his way through the palace by heart and had no fear of bumping into anything as he reviewed the events of the night.
Something had held Mahado silent regarding what had transpired in his mind after Seth had greeted him as a fellow Priest. His first instinct was to speak to Akhenaden, to ask him what had happened, but the memory of the look of satisfaction on the Iry's face after the test made the questions die away unasked.
There had been something wrong with that look but Mahado could not decide what it was that made him uneasy.
Instead, Mahado had buried his unease and listened intently as Akhenaden took a moment after the ceremony to explain what some of his duties as Keeper of the Ring would be. Mahado had forgotten that the one who held the Ring was charged with insuring the personal safety of Pharaoh. That he would now be in charge of Pharaoh's personal guards.
Mahado was sure his mind had shut down at the enormity of that duty. He was at least certain he had missed several comments the Iry made after that.
Thankfully, he had been assure that he was not expected to begin such a duty right away; that duty would be held by the other Keepers until Mahado could be properly trained.
Mahado did consider discussing Coeremar with the Iry but decided to wait until after the Sed. He realized that each time he needed Coeremar's help he had accepted it without thought or question. He trusted the touch of Coeremar in his mind and made no effort to block it.
But now that he knew Coeremar was also his spirit ka, Mahado wondered why he was able to hear him. Mahado could not remember anyone mentioning their spirit ka conversed with them or Atemu speaking of such a thing happening in regards to his monsters. If such a thing happened, it would have already happened to Atemu.
Mahado thought about the surprised look on Seth's face when the Magus had bowed to him on the Dueling Grounds. Judging by that look, spirit kas also did not normally interact with their summoner in such a way.
As he become aware that he was approaching someone standing in his path, Mahado decided it was time to give his thoughts a rest until he was more awake. He stopped, and focused on the person before him.
"Ifenete!" Mahado said in surprise.
Atemu's wife smiled as she said, "I see you passed the test. Congratulations, Mahado."
Bowing slightly, Mahado answered, "Thank you." As he straightened, he asked, "I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you."
"You have not disturbed me any more than the preparations have." Ifenete shook her head. "There is still quite a bit left for us to do before the festival starts. Actually, your return is a pleasant distraction." Turning, Ifenete began walking toward the courtyard. "I am also here to inform you that one of your household may need to be put to bed."
Confused, Mahado said, "My household?"
Ifenete nodded and pointed at a bench with another smile. "She is your student, is she not? I believe that makes her your responsibility, now."
Realizing it was Mana, curled up on the bench fast asleep, Mahado glanced at Ifenete and recognized a familiar gleam in her eyes. Mahado sighed. "You're enjoying this as much as Atemu, aren't you."
"Probably."
Ifenete reached down and gently touched Mana's shoulder. The girl curled up tighter for a moment then suddenly snapped her eyes open. Mana blinked up at Ifenete in confusion then gave her a guilty smile.
"Sorry, I'm not much help right now am I.", Mana said as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. Mahado watched Mana glance at him, a puzzled frown on her face.
"They cut your hair!", she said with a laugh. Jumping up, she leaned closer to look at the Ring.
"That didn't take long." Mana stated.
"Actually the moon is just setting, Mana." Ifenete said.
Mana turned to Ifenete in surprise. "You let me sleep!", she said, accusingly. A look crossed her face as she turned back to Mahado. "And that means you need to get ready for the Sed!"
Mahado felt a shiver of suspicion at the sudden grin that appeared on Ifenete's face as she said, "Yes he does, Mana, and I will leave him in your care to make sure he is presentable when he joins Atemu and Pharaoh."
"I can take care of that myself!", Mahado protested instinctively.
Ifenete gave him a look, although she made no attempt to temper her smile. "Not with tomorrow being Pharaoh's Sed, Mahado. And since I cannot spare one of my household right now, you will just have to accept Mana assisting you tonight. As I said, she is part of your household, now."
A confused look passed over Mana's face as she asked, "Part of his household?"
Leaning toward Mana, Ifenete said, "He's your new heka teacher."
"He is? You are?" Mana said in astonishment.
He knew better than to argue with Ifenete but Mahado could not stop himself from saying, "It means she's my student not my servant!"
Ifenete stepped to his side, the grin still in place. "Mahado, it would make your life much easier if you simply accept this."
"You are now a Priest of Wedju and will need someone to assist you from time to time and who better than your new student?" Ifenete gave Mana a fond look. "You do know what is expected of you, Mana?"
Mana broke out into a huge grin as she grabbed Mahado's arm and began pulling him toward the bath. "Of course, Ifenete. I will make sure he is presentable when he reports to the Prince."
"Then I will see you in the morning, Mana." Ifenete turned to go back to her quarters, but not before Mahado heard, "Have fun, Mahado."
Upon reaching the bath, Mahado stepped into the center of the room and turned to order Mana out, but the order died on his lips when he found Mana already stripping off her clothes and setting them on the table beside her. Looking up at Mahado, she shrugged and said, "I'm not getting my clothes wet. And unless you're planning on washing that kilt at the same time, you should get undressed too."
Mahado just stared. Mana, at some point, had blossomed into adult curves, curves he had never bothered to notice before.
The servant girls that helped him in the past always stripped before getting into the bath but for some reason he had not even considered Mana doing the same thing. He also never felt what he was beginning to feel right now with the servant girls.
As he continued to stare, Mana stated reasonably, "This isn't the first time you've seen me without my clothes on, Mahado."
"But you didn't look like that!", Mahado blurted out.
Mana giggled and leaned forward slightly, her hands clasped behind her back. "I've looked like this for a while, Mahado." Straightening, she gave him a look and said, "Would it help if I turned around so you can take off your clothes and get in the bath? I won't look." She spun around and covered her eyes with one hand.
Presented with a view of Mana's back, firm buttocks and long legs was not helping Mahado at all, especially when she started bouncing up and down on her toes as she waited.
Finding it difficult to believe he was actually going along with this, and now unable to trust his voice, Mahado stripped the kilt and Ring off and quickly dropped into the warm bath water. Even with the tension the sight of a naked Mana was producing, Mahado felt himself relax slightly.
Until he heard Mana shift and walk up behind him. That made parts of him react in ways he had never connected with Mana before.
"Ah, I see you want me to start cleaning you from the front, Mahado. You're leaning against the edge so I'm obviously unable to start washing your back.", she said in a teasing voice. Mahado immediately moved toward the center of the bath, settling in a kneeling position, a blush beginning to heat his face as he listened to Mana slip into the water.
She began scrubbing his back, briskly and efficiently rubbing him from shoulder to hip and back again. As her hands brushed across the suddenly sensitive skin of his back, Mahado found himself clenching his hands into fists where they rested on his thighs to resist the impulse to relieve the growing pressure her touch was producing.
He felt her rinse the lather from his back, letting several handfuls of water flow down him before moving on to his hair. She massaged his scalp, her fingers easily combing through the short strands. Even as that simple action was putting new thoughts in Mahado's head, he found himself relaxing and sighing in pleasure.
When she finally pulled her hands away, leaving Mahado feeling at ease, she said, "I just need you to rinse that, Mahado."
Leaning forward to dunk his head into the water, he quickly rubbed his hair free of lather before straightening back up. As he wiped the water from his face, he found Mana standing in front of him, her face full of amusement and a cloth in one hand.
Mahado froze, which only seemed to encourage Mana. She made a show of leaning forward, bracing her hands on her legs, to glance down toward his crotch before looking him in the face. "Oh, you seem to have grown bigger since you got in the water, Mahado." Mana's grin turned wicked. "Did I do that or is it the nice warm water that is making it look that way?"
Looking at her in astonishment as she grinned down at him, Mahado finally found himself able to ask, "What are you doing, Mana?"
"Helping you get ready, Mahado.", she answered reasonably.
"You're not helping right now."
"Yes I am, I'm helping you relax so you will be able to stay awake later."
He looked at her a few moments before pointing out, "This is not relaxing me, Mana."
She stood up and crossed her arms. "Well, that's your fault, Mahado." She pointed at his crotch, amused. "If you would just let me take care of that or," she rolled her eyes at him, "take care of it yourself, you would be relaxed right now."
They started at one another in silence before Mana asked with a laugh, "Would you like me to go now, Mahado?"
"Yes!" Mahado managed to answer.
Mana handed him the cloth. "I'll be back to make sure you're up in time to meet the Prince." As she climbed out of the bath she added with a snicker, "Have fun Mahado!"
As Mahado finally reached down to relieve some of his tension, he idly wondered which god was testing him right now.
Mahado just hoped Atemu remembered to pray for him tomorrow.
He was beginning to feel he was going to need all the help he could get.