Chapter 7 (Nicki French – Total Eclipse of the Heart)
Yugi rounded a corner and saw the pharaoh's escort up ahead. Kontar and his group of guards were bringing up the rear. Other groups of guards stood ready to close in the sides as soon as the escort moved into the open hall. Concubines, Mesi among them, stood in the next circle inwards, dressed to dance for the pharaoh. In the next circle stood the high priest Seto, Captain Joseph, and Ebe and Heqet. Heqet was dressed well, but plainly next to the radiant Ebe, and was walking beside her, whispering last-minute advice into her ear. At the center of the circle was the pharaoh, shining in red and gold. He was being carried in a sedan chair by four more guards, his personal bodyguards.
Yugi broke into a full run towards the escort. "Pharaoh!" he called "Pharaoh, wait!"
Kontar and his troop turned. "You!" Kontar shouted, his eyes flashing. He turned to Mudada, "You were supposed to take care of him! Why is he here now?!" Kontar stepped forward to meet Yugi as he ran.
"Kontar," Yugi panted "Kontar please, the pharaoh…Ah!" Yugi fell to the floor as Kontar hit him on the head with his spear. He looks up with dazed eyes as Kontar and his guards attacked.
"What makes you think the pharaoh will have anything to do with you! Disgusting little maggot!" Kontar aimed another kick at Yugi's ribs. "Runt!"
Heqet heard a commotion at the back of the procession. Ordering Ebe to keep walking, she stepped to the side and let the dancing girls pass her. She saw the guards gathered in the back and moved closer.
"Yugi!" she shouted "Oh Ra, Yugi!"
The pharaoh heard her call and turned in his chair. Seeing that his rear guard had fallen behind the procession, he gestured to Captain Joseph. The captain quickly brought a stop to the whole procession.
The pharaoh stepped down from the sedan chair. The crowd parted as he walked to the back of the procession. He saw his guards clustered around a bruised, bleeding, and filthy figure on the ground. He frowned.
"Stop!" he said. The guards, who hadn't even noticed that the procession had stopped, looked up and paled at the sight of the pharaoh. They stood to attention, still trying to hide Yugi from view.
"What are you doing?" the pharaoh asked. His voice was calm, but he was gazing at the guards as if he could see directly into their heads.
Kontar shuddered. "We were just punishing this trespasser who wanted to disturb you, my pharaoh." He bowed deeply to the pharaoh, motioning to his men to do the same.
Yugi heard the pharaoh's voice and pushed himself up off the floor, peering through the guard's legs.
'The pharaoh!' Yugi thought 'This is my only chance.' He kept his head down as he pushed through the guards on his hands and knees. "My pharaoh." he said. He placed the pendant at the pharaoh's feet and kneeled.
Yugi could feel the pharaoh's gaze on him like fire. The entire hall was silent. To his left he heard Heqet sob softly. Then he heard the pharaoh's voice.
"What is your name?"
"Yugi, my pharaoh."
"Why are you in the castle, Yugi?" the pharaoh asked.
"I belong to you as a concubine, my pharaoh." Yugi felt his heart was about to burst with both fear and relief. He felt the blood rush through his body as his head spun. The room tilted and he fell to the ground, sprawled face-down at the pharaoh's feet.
Pharaoh Atemu was intrigued. He motioned to Heqet.
"Is he truly one of your charges?" he asked.
Heqet bowed. "Yes, my pharaoh, one of your most loyal. Rest assured that he would never harm you."
Atemu gazed down at Yugi. He could not help but feel curious. Why had this slave not sold the pendant for money? The rubies alone would have bought his freedom and anything else he could have desired. And why had he gone through so much pain to bring it back to him? 'I didn't even know I had a male concubine. Why was he never presented to me?' Atemu wondered. 'Even beaten and dirty he is still cute.' he smiled. 'A night with him might have been enjoyable. I wonder what his face looks like.' Atemu bent down to pick up the pendant and examined it.
"Heqet," the pharaoh said "Don't stray too far during the banquet. I want to ask some questions later." Trumpets sounded in the nearby banquet hall and the pharaoh looked towards the guards.
"You!" he said, pointing.
"Yes, my pharaoh." replied Mudada.
"Take this slave back to my rooms and tell him to wait for me there. I wish to see him after the banquet." 'And maybe get some answers.' the pharaoh mentally added.
"Yes, my pharaoh." Mudada reached down and roughly pulled Yugi to his feet.
Yugi made a soft moaning noise and opened his eyes, still gazing at the ground. The pharaoh turned to go.
'Just this once I'll look.' thought Yugi 'I can't possibly be in any more trouble.'
Yugi's gaze traveled up from the pharaoh's sandals until he saw something that made his heart break. There, where the Winged Dragon of Ra pendant should have been, was an equally beautiful sapphire scarab broach! Yugi felt his heart break.
'I should have realized that he didn't need it back. He has enough power to have another pendant made anytime he likes. That pendant is probably worthless to him, just like me. And now I'll be punished for bothering him. I'm sorry, Heqet.' He trembled and tears fell down his cheeks as he allowed himself to be hauled away by Mudada.
Atemu climbed back into the sedan chair and waited for the procession to fall back into order. He looked down at the pendant Yugi had returned to him, still thinking of all the questions he wanted to ask. Just before the procession entered the hall, he took off the scarab broach and replaced it with the ruby pendant, tossing the broach to Seto.
Seto caught the broach, surprised. Since when did the pharaoh care about his clothes so much? He tucked the broach into his robe, intending to ask what this was all about when he returned the broach later.