Chapter 5: New Masters

Pharaoh Akunumkanon and Juliana walked down the hallway in silence mostly. They walked up a flight of stairs and began walking down another hallway when Juliana finally broke the silence. "Um...Pharaoh Akunumkanon?"

He looked down at her and smiled. "What is it?"

"Uh...you...knew my parents?"

He nodded. "I did. They were great warriors and even better friends. The least I can do is take care of their daughter." Akunumkanon sighed and patted Juliana head. "We've been searching for you for quite some time, you know."

Juliana blinked. "You have?"

"Yes. Ever since the incident, we searched for about five years than finally gave up. I'm amazed you've survived for so long though. You must be pretty skilled right now to have lived by yourself." he laughed to himself. "Of course you ARE Zuberi and Safiya's child. And you look so much like your mother."

Juliana looked down at the ground and they continued walking in silence. They turned a few corners and walked all the way to the end of a hallway when they finally stopped. Akunumkanon walked through a door and Juliana followed. They walked into a large room that was fairly lit with torches. From where they stood, there was a balcony straight ahead. A large bed that had silk curtains around it stood to the right and the rest of the room was mostly empty except a carpet in the center, and a large desk with a mirror to the far left.

"This shall be your room. It's a little big, I know, but you'll have plenty to do. Let's see...you'll start your training next week-"

"Training?" Juliana asked looking up.

The Pharaoh nodded. "Yes, training. And you may train in anything you want: archery, sorcery, swordsmanship, you name it. But there is one catch to you living here." He knelt down to look at Juliana, who looked at him without blinking. "You will be trained to protect two boys. My son, Prince Atem, and another, young Seto. You must swear to protect these two with your life, do you understand?"

She nodded. "Anything."

He smiled. "Good. Someone shall be up here soon to tend to your clothes and such. I must go now." He stood and walked out, leaving Juliana alone in her new home.

Priest Akunadin walked down the hallway to the Pharaoh's private chambers mumbling to himself. He walked through the doors and looked at Akunumkanon, who stood staring out a window. "You wished to see me?"

"Yes, Akunadin. It's about Juliana."

"I don't like the idea of her staying here! I don't like the idea of her even being alive! All she can do for the kingdom is bring chaos and destruction!"

"What is it you have against her, Akunadin? You never liked Safiya either." Akunumkanon said, rather sternly.

"Priestess Safiya wasn't human-"

"She was more than human, Akunadin! All she and Zuberi wished to do was protect this kingdom! They DIED protecting this kingdom! The least we can do is take care of their only daughter!" They were both silent for a while, then Akunumkanon turned around. "You will train her."

"What!"

"You will train her in every art of combat our kingdom can offer. You will train Juliana to protect our sons."

"I refuse! There's no way I'm going to let that thing anywhere near my son, or the future Pharaoh! Besides, Seto won't come here for years, I imagine."

Akunumkanon quickly turned and glared at him, leaving Akunadin silent. "You will do as I say, brother! Juliana WILL be trained and she WILL protect Atem and Seto. I don't care what type of grudge you hold against her."

Akunadin growled and bowed. "As you wish..." He turned and stormed out. He walked until he was clear away from the chamber, then yelled. "I don't believe this! That girl should be put to death, not trained amongst royal and noble blood!" He stormed up the stairs and went straight into Juliana's room. Juliana had already been fitted into new robes and jewelery. The servants looked at Akunadin, who glared at all of them. "LEAVE!"

The servants quickly picked up their materials and quickly walked out of the room. Juliana looked at Akunadin who slammed the doors shut when all of the servants had left. He turned and glared at Juliana fiercely. "Look, I don't like you and I could care less about how you feel! But I've been charged to train you and you WILL obey me. You will NOT leave this room without the permission of either I or the Pharaoh. You will obey my every command-"

"Sir-"

"AND YOU WILL NOT SPEAK WITHOUT PERMISSION!" he shouted. He quickly smacked Juliana across the face, flying her into a table at the end of the room. The table broke and she coughed, holding her cheek. "If it wasn't for the Pharaoh I would have you locked up here forever. Or better yet, executed. But that's not for me to decide. Your training will begin when I say and you WILL NOT LEAVE THIS ROOM! Is that understood?"

Juliana coughed and tried to stand up. Akunadin glared and fired a blast of energy at her, sending her into the wall. "I ASKED YOU A QUESTION, WRETCH!"

"Yes!" Juliana shouted.

"Yes what!" he prepared another blasted.

"Yes, I understand!"

The blast disappeared. "Good. And you will refer to me as master. Now, fix that table." Akunadin smirked and walked out, locking the doors behind him.

Juliana looked at the doors than coughed again. She put a hand on her arm and looked at it. Blood dripped down from her arm and across her cheek. She moaned then waved her hand over the table. The table floated up then put itself back together, exactly as it had looked before. When the table floated back to it's original spot, Juliana leaned up against the wall and hugged her legs, already not liking her stay.

The young boy with red, black and yellow spiked hair ran down a hallway and stopped in front of a servant. "Excuse me, but what is with all the commotion?"

"Oh, young master prince." The servant looked around, then back down at the boy. "Your father has taken a new resident into the palace."

The boy blinked. "Who?"

"I'm not sure. But I heard the kid's the child of that priest and priestess that died during the dark war seven years ago. They put the kid," he pointed up. "in the top corridor. That room at the end of the hallway."

"Oh...thank you."

"Anytime, young master Prince Atem." The servant nodded then quickly walked passed the boy.

Atem shrugged, then walked the way the servant came, right toward Juliana's room. He walked up to her door and looked at the huge block of wood that locked the door. "Why is it locked...?" He slowly pushed the wood away and gently placed it on the ground. He opened the door and looked inside. "Hello?"

He slowly closed the door behind him and walked further inside. "Is anyone here?" he walked to the center of the room, then saw Juliana huddled in a corner. He walked over and knelt in front of her. "Hello there."

Juliana quickly looked up, causing Atem to fall back a bit. They both slowly stood up and looked at each other. Atem was only a big higher than Juliana.

"Hi. What's your name?" Atem asked. Juliana just stayed silent and looked at him. "Well? What is your name? You going to tell me?"

"...Juliana."

He blinked. "That your name?" She nodded. "Neat. I'm Atem."

Her eyes widened. "Prince Atem!" He nodded. Juliana bowed down and Atem blinked.

"You don't need to do that..."

"I have been charged with protecting Prince Atem and Seto with my life."

Atem blinked again. "Really? I don't know a Seto though...and you know, you can get up now."

Juliana slowly looked up and then stood. "But...you are of royal blood. As the future Pharaoh, you deserve respect from everyone."

"I guess. But it seems weird to have your friends bowing to you everytime you see them." Atem smiled.

"Friend..? I've never had a friend..."

"Well, guess I'll be your first then, right? Hey, what happened to your arm! You're bleeding pretty badly!" He said, grabbing Juliana's arm. He looked at her. "You're cheek's bleeding too. What happened?"

"I...fell..." Juliana said looking over at the table.

He looked over at the table then back at her. "It looks like you fell down a cliff. I'll be back with water to clean your wounds." He ran out of the room and closed the door behind him.

Juliana stared at the door and rubbed her arm. Atem returned a few minutes later with a bucket of water and a few cloths. He knelt next to her, dipped one of the cloths in the bucket, and started cleaning her arm. While he wrapped her arm in bandages, Juliana stared at the door. "Master Atem...?"

"Just Atem, and what?"

"What does Master Akunadin have against me...?"

He looked at her. "Against you? I don't know. I always heard Priest Akunadin fighting with Priest Zuberi when I was younger though. There. All better." The tied the cloth around Juliana's arm to fit and he moved the bucket of water away. "I better go. They'll be looking for me soon..."

Juliana nodded and watched Atem stand. "Of course...thank you."

Atem smiled. "No problem. I'll come as often as I have to, ok? See you later, Juliana." He grabbed the bucket and walked out once again. This time Juliana could hear him replaceing the wood on the door.

When she heard him leave, Juliana stood up and walked to the balcony to stare at the city. Maybe it wasn't so bad...after all, she had made a friend.