A new father was eager to meet his newborn child but was asked to wait until the Seer could accompany him into the room. Aknamkanon paced the hall outside the healing chambers until he arrived, a young child in tow. The Seer knelt, "My pharaoh, forgive my tardiness. My child's daughter has gained the gift of Sight."

"None save for yourself could have seen this, Asim."

Asim stood, his clouded eyes turned towards the door. The man smiled, "Fortune smiles upon you, my king. Four sons has your favored wife birthed you on this important day. The blessings of Ra and his son, Horus, call for the three younger sons' lives to be spared as they were all born shortly with identifying marks. Let us see the children before Ra wakes again."

The men entered as the child waited with the healer's aide in the hall. Only one newborn occupied a single golden cradle while another was in a wooden cradle borrowed from the servants' furniture. The remaining two were placed together in the cradle reserved for the second-born child of the Pharaoh. Asim looked over the children before approaching the silver cradle with the two babies. "Healer, which child was born last?"

The Healer, a woman past middle-age, approached them. "The smallest of them all. We nearly lost him, but he survives thus far. We tried to place him alone, but the second-born boy cries when separated from him."

"How fares their mother," Aknamkanon asked her.

She wrung her hands before answering, "Anubis called her midway through delivering the last babe. We tried to save her, Pharaoh."

"None can deny the Gods their requests," the Pharaoh stated sadly. "Asim, what future do you see for the children?"

Asim looked over the child the Healer stated was the youngest, "I foresee great trials for this one as he bears the mark of the Heron and Crescent Moon on both ankles. Ra, or Osiris, and Khonsu have lay claim to this boy, but it is likely that they will have conflict over him. The one who cries for being away from him is also a Chosen of Khonsu and Ra or Osiris. Teach him the Laws and he will aid his brothers in keeping order in the land. He will also protect the youngest child and keep him balanced."

As he spoke, Asim looked at the boy's ankles and saw the same markings of the three Gods in reverse of the ones on the youngest infant. Aknamkanon remembered that this wife had come from a foreign land and wished to name two of her children, if she had more than one, Yami and Yugi-Hikari. He had planned to name two of his heirs Atem and Heba. "I wish to name the youngest boy Yugi-Hikari," he announced suddenly. "His brother, following their mother's request, is Yami."

"A pair of good names, Pharaoh," Asim stated. He approached the borrowed wooden cradle and peered at the baby within. "The Third-born Prince carries an Ankh upon his right wrist. He will be a fine warrior, upholding the Law for the Firstborn Prince and defending the throne."

Aknamkanon was fearful for the firstborn prince's announcement from Asim. He held his tongue as the Seer reached the golden cradle, "welcome to the realm of the Living, young prince. My pharaoh, he carries no physical markings, but he will be a great king with three princes under him. However, he will need to show great care to the youngest as this one may be the downfall if ill befalls him. Instill within them the means to treat the chosen of the Heron and the Moon as they would each other."

The Pharaoh informed the Healer of the boys' names and headed out to the main balcony to announce the birth of the Princes of Egypt.

()()()()()()()()

"Yami, come on," ten-year-old Atem whined at his second youngest brother, "he's going to be fine like always. Heba and I want to play in the pond before father calls for lunch."

"I promised Yugi that I'd visit him with a story."

Atem glared at his brother, "You can't go to the Healing Chambers because Isis has sealed them off to anyone not sick. You aren't sick with the spots and paleness that Yugi-Hikari had so you can't go in."

"I've been feeling faint," Yami argued. "Perhaps she will let me in."

"Nu-uh. She will just send you to your rooms and see you there."

Yami hated the fact that Atem was right and sighed, "Fine, but the second that I hear Yugi can have company, I'm taking off."

"Whatever, Yami. I can't believe that you're more concerned over him than you are over having a little fun!"

Yami felt hurt at Atem's statement. When they had learned the meaning of their markings Yugi-Hikari had been shunned by Atem and Heba, leaving Yami to keep him from falling into despair.

()()()()()()

A small boy lay in the cot struggling to stay awake. He'd been looking forward to seeing his brother and didn't want to miss him. Sweat-soaked golden bangs stuck to his face. An aide ran a cold wet cloth over his forehead. "Sleep little prince. Isis will wake you when your brother shows," she said, trying to get him to sleep.

Yugi weakly shook his head, the illness having stolen his voice. He wanted to see his favored brother so badly. A wave of pain forced a faint moan from Yugi's fever-weakened body. Isis had no clue as to what the illness was that swept through the slaves and lower-servants, but she was determined not to lose the youngest prince to it. So far four had died and thirteen others, besides Yugi, had fallen ill in the week that the illness had taken residence in the Palace.

Having been left with no other choice, she gave a sleeping draught to Yugi who took a few sips of the liquid. Isis watched as Yugi succumbed to the potion and fell asleep. She would give Yugi the same message that Yami had written when he had visited at the beginning of the epidemic. In his condition, Yugi would believe that Yami had attempted to visit him.