Chapter 4
The Great Pharaoh Atem was perched upon his regal, golden throne, gradually becoming aware of some commotion outside of the palace gates. The sounds of the guards shouting was mixed with the cries of a familiar voice.
High Priest Seto had undoubtedly heard it as well and both men rose from their current positions and raced through the main doors of the great hall, out into the palace garden.
Here, the two men saw four of the pharaoh's guards, trying desperately to restrain a ragged, dirty woman.
"STOP THIS AT ONCE!," Atem raised his hands and the flustered guards immediately released the struggling woman, who flung herself into the High Priest's arms.
"Ishizu!," Seto cried, stroking his wife's hair affectionately, " What happened? Is the baby alright?"
The hysterical Priestess nodded her head, snuggling into her husband's comforting embrace, weeping freely. The guards, recognizing that this woman was of quite a high standing, decided to wander back to the front of the palace gates.
"W….while I was visiting my brother, I received a vision from the blessed Sun God, Ra. The vision dictated that I was to take the millennium items from our home and bring them to the palace. I know that we were planning on hiding them there until the Great Fast was over, but if Ra desires it, so shall it be," she paused, her eyes shimmering with tears, "All of a sudden, from the darkness, the screams of my father and older brother, Odeon, pierced through the night. I w…wan…..wanted to get Marik….before……..," Ishizu hid herself in Seto's chest, wishing she could simply melt away.
"A murderer killed my brothers and my father, all he wanted were the millennium items…. maybe……. if I hadn't taken them…… he wouldn't have killed Marik….." her voice trailed off into a grave silence.
"Ishizu," Atem whispered solemnly, "Did the murderer see you?"
The air seemed to thicken with the gravity of the question and the implications the answer would have.
Ishizu raised her head to look hopelessly into the Pharaoh's violet eyes.
"Yes," was all she could say, before collapsing into a fit of tears.