Chapter 2: Unexpected Beginnings
"Mahado, hush! Seth will hear us if you don't keep silent!" 9-year old Crown Prince Atemu whispered as they hid in the bushes of the palace gardens.
As of on cue, Seth appeared arrogantly as ever. But this time, he wasn't alone. Beside him were the oldest of the small circle of "friends", Karimu and Shadi, acting unlikely as 13 year olds. The three high priests-in-training were apparently looking for both Atemu and Mahado.
And it was also apparent that Karimu and Shadi going with Seth to the gardens wasn't part of their "foolproof" plan.
Atemu met Mahado's gaze and they inwardly panicked. Creeping out ever so quietly, the two friends made their exit and headed to Atemu's chambers but not without hearing Seth, Karimu and Shadi, now victims (again) of their prank, shout out their name in annoyance.
The Crown Prince smiled at his best friend as Mahado smiled back, both of them pretending to read scrolls the pharaoh's advisor, Shimon, recently gave them. They smirked knowingly when Seth knocked, or rather, rapped on his cousin's door.
Atemu opened the door, feigning innocence as he smiled sweetly at his obviously annoyed and dripping cousin.
"Good day, Seth. How can we help you three today?" he greeted politely as ever, although the sparkle in his crimson orbs failed to hide the mischief they caused earlier.
"We were planning on going out today. Would you and Mahado like to join us?" Seth greeted back, his plan known by all five of them.
Atemu shook his head, declining the offer, "No thank you. We are quite busy as you can plainly see, Seth," he answered, showing the scroll. Mahado nodded from where he was seating and presented his own scroll.
"Who said I'm giving you a choice?" Seth asked. He smirked the moment his cousin gave a squeak when he hoisted his cousin up to his shoulders.
Karimu and Shadi smiled wickedly at each other before jumping at poor unsuspecting Mahado. Now with their captives, the three headed outside. Later that day, Mahado, Atemu, Karimu and Shadi entered the palace smiling and grinning at each other, thoroughly amused at Seth's scowl. They were covered with mud, soaking wet, their clothes torn and filthy. They would have been mistaken as civilians.
Isis, poor Isis, gaped at them first in shock then in exasperation when she saw Atemu's triumphant smirk, an obvious sign for a prank and a grapple between the boys… again. She sighed. Well, boys will be boys.
"No, do not tell me," she started cutting off Shadi who was about to explain. "I already know," she finished; Atemu smirked.
Akunamkannon and Akunadin sighed in defeat the moment they saw their mud-covered sons. Seth scowled at his cousin's grinning form.
After getting their punishments, the two cousins ran to where the others stood waiting for them with their own punishments.
Of course the palace only got worst whatever angle you look at it. Isis snickered behind her palm-covered mouth as her friends faced the seemingly amused pharaoh.
Although they did get to spend an entire day with Shimon in the library, decoding scrolls and such. How exciting, she thought wryly. And she knew it all started with one small disastrous idea from the prince involving well… all four future high priests.
"Atemu, do not tarry. Come along," the pharaoh said, snapping his 12-year old son from his reverie.
"Yes father," Atemu answered, nudging his horse to move and catch up with his father.
The pharaoh stole a quick glance at his son and smiled, knowing his Atemu, young as he may be, will be a good pharaoh someday.
"You should always be alert, my son. This is bad land, rebels could easily jump on you and attack," he told his son.
"Yes father, I assure you it will not happen again," Atemu answered.
The pharaoh ruffled his son's hair affectionately, getting a brilliant smile in return. But the tender moment was broken when battle cries rang through the air.
"Atemu behind me!" the monarch ordered, drawing out his sword, his Millennium Puzzle hanging dangerously on his neck ready to devour any threat.
Crown Prince Atemu hastily followed his father's oders. There were about thirty rebels coming down from the nearby mountain, twenty fighting with his father's soldiers and seven trying to knock the pharaoh out. All in all, they were severely outnumbered.
"Father?" he asked, his voice apparent with worry and fear.
"Stay behind me, Atemu," the pharaoh answered. The young prince obeyed but still not knowing what to do. Suddenly, two strong arms pulled him away from his father. He cried out, relieved to know his father heard him but the pharaoh still couldn't make it through him. Then there was a crack and before he knew it, his captor and he fell over to the river.
"Atemu!" the pharaoh cried, seeing what happened. They have already called on their soul monsters, further giving them the advantage despite them being outnumbered.
The pharaoh watched his men recover from the ambush and he frowned. They have survived the ambush but it was clear as broad daylight that they paied a high price. The Crown Prince was still missing.
"Has my son been found?" he asked, as the captain of his soldiers appeared to report to him. The captain shook his head in defeat, "No sire," he solemnly answered.
Pharaoh Akunamkannon frowned deeper, "I want troops to go to the river and look for my son. Am I understood?" he odered. The soldier bowed and hastily left.
He sighed worriedly. What if something happened to his Atemu?
"My pharaoh, sire, please rest. We will find the Crown Prince, I assure you," Shimon said. The pharaoh looked at his advisor, "I must find Atemu, Shimon," he answered, "He is my everything."
"Yes sire but please rest for a while. We will continue the search for the prince, I assure you," Shimon insisted.
The pharaoh sighed.
"Very well," he replied.
Shimon watched his king ride off, knowing what he must do. The Crown Prince was still missing and he must find young Atemu. The pharaoh cannot be heartbroken again. It would definitely kill him.
Just below, in the river, a small form, unconscious and young, floated its way to a small town near the cradle of life. But no one noticed.
A/N: Oh man, I think the chapter's quite boring. What do you think? Don't worry, Chapter 3's coming up next!