Chapter 17 (James Howard – Always Know Where You Are)

'That was an understatement,' Yugi thought, walking down the corridor towards the pharaoh's chambers. He couldn't help the yawn that escaped.

***

After dinner Atemu had asked why his ears weren't pierced.

Yugi looked ashamed. "When I was young they took me to have it done, but I was so afraid of the needle that they couldn't hold me still. Heqet finally gave up and said that she would bring me back when I was older."

Atemu cringed. "Of course if you don't want to you don't have to get them done. I never thought, I mean, I would never force you to…" his voice faded as he noticed Yugi shaking his head.

"My pharaoh, I was very young then," Yugi said. "Besides, by now the goldsmiths have made several sets of gold earrings. They'll be useless if I don't have piercings to put them in."

"If you're sure?" Atemu said.

Yugi nodded, and soon they were heading towards the palace doctor.

Atemu stood aside as Yugi calmly lay down on the surgeon's table and the doctor fitted a piece of soft wood behind his ear. He didn't move as the needle slid in, although both he and Atemu winced as the small metal studs were forced through the bleeding holes. Yugi rolled over and the process was repeated, before both ears were wrapped in gauze to stop the bleeding and they were sent on their way.

Atemu discreetly took a long look at Yugi as they walked away. "I think the next stop should be-"

"My pharaoh! The council is waiting for you."

Atemu sighed as Captain Joseph swept down the corridor, his long blue cloak flaring behind him, as usual. "Can't they wait a while longer?"

Yugi could swear that he saw Captain Joseph stifle a smile. "I'm sorry, my pharaoh, but there are a lot of cases today."

"There are always a lot of cases."

Every three days the pharaoh held court in the throne room, so he could hear the disputes within his kingdom and settle them. In theory everyone was welcome to come, but in reality only the richer nobles ever made it. They were the only ones who could spare the time to stand around the throne room for hours, waiting for their case to be addressed.

Captain Joseph stifled another smile. "My pharaoh."

"Fine, fine, I'm going!" Atemu paused. "Joseph, would you escort Yugi back to the concubine's quarters for now? Tell them to pamper him, he's still recovering."

On hearing this Yugi wanted to object, but thought it best to keep silent in the presence of the captain of the guard.

"Come with me."

Yugi started. When had his pharaoh left!? He kept his head down as he followed Captain Joseph further down the corridor.

***

Captain Joseph looked down at the timid figure following him and franticly racked his mind. 'What did I do wrong? Why is he so frightened? Why doesn't he speak?' In desperation, Joseph awkwardly spoke up.

"It seems the pharaoh really likes you," he said.

"Y-yes, I g-g-guess s-so."

Joseph tried again. "So… do you like him?"

Yugi looked up with wide eyes. "I…I…" 'I can't tell him!' Yugi thought. 'He'll use it to hurt me. He'll keep me away from my pharaoh again.'

Joseph stopped and knelt on one knee in front of Yugi, concerned. "What's wrong, little gem?"

"H-how did you know…"

"Your pet name?" Joseph guessed. "Heqet told me. She's been working with General Taylor to question Kontar and his guards."

"Heqet wouldn't do that, she hates guards!" Yugi burst out, then paled as he realized who he was speaking to.

Joseph burst out laughing. "Yes, but General Taylor is as different from Kontar as it is possible to be. He'll see that the women are treated fairly." His smile took on a mischievous look. "I think the girls are having fun teasing him."

Yugi managed a smile at that. Joseph smiled back and then remembered something. His face grew serious and Yugi, afraid he had done something wrong, took a step back.

"The concubines will be treated well from now on, Taylor will see to that, but I owe you an apology. If I had paid more attention to what the guards inside the palace were doing, I would have found out what Kontar was doing and stopped him ages ago. All of the concubines were mistreated and you were almost killed because of my negligence. Is there anything I can do to gain your forgiveness, Yugi?" Captain Joseph brought both knees to the ground and bowed his head, waiting for Yugi's response.

Yugi was dumbstruck. 'I guard, no, the Captain of the Guard, is apologizing to me!? This can't be right.' He spent a quick moment silently shaking his head and trying to get the world to start making sense again, then took another look at Captain Joseph.

Joseph still stood with his head bowed, the picture of patience and repentance. Yugi remembered his bright blue eyes as he laughed, and his alive and welcoming air. Then and there, Yugi decided that, since the world was never going to go back to the way it used to be (thank Ra), then he would make this new world the best it could be. Daringly, he reached forward and put a hand on Joseph's shoulder.

"Can I call you friend?" he asked.

***

By the time Yugi and Joseph made it to the concubine's quarters they were talking like they had been friends for ages. Their talking, however, and all other noise in the room, came to an abrupt halt when they stepped through the door. There was a moment of tense silence.

"YUGI!!!!!"

Yugi struggled to keep his balance as Ebe glomped him. He looked up to see Heqet, Rehema, and even Mesi moving towards him, their eyes alight with happiness and questions.

"Oh Ra, Yugi, what was he like?" Ebe asked.

"What was who like?"

"The pharaoh, silly!" Ebe was almost screaming with over-eagerness.

Fortunately, Joseph loudly spoke up and gave Yugi a few moments to think. "I can see I'm not needed here. The pharaoh left orders to pamper him while he attends to the court. I'll be back to pick him up later. One more thing: if I could borrow General Taylor, please?"

There were some giggles from the other side of the room and a rather disoriented General Taylor made his way through the crowd. Joseph raised an eyebrow.

"Not abusing your position, are you General?"

"No, sir!" This sudden reply came, not just from Taylor, but from several of the women standing near him as well. Joseph laughed at this and left the room, leaving Taylor to follow behind him, blushing brightly.

***

Heqet took over as soon as they were gone. "Gem, your nails are a mess. Rehema, bring me the manicure set, would you? Ebe, some hot water. Take your time and make sure it's hot!" she shouted, after Ebe ran off in a frantic hurry, not wanting to miss a single detail about the pharaoh. "Mesi, bring me the hot wax." Yugi blanched at this, but didn't object. Heqet concluded with, "And somebody bring me some towels!"

As the girls took off running in different directions, Heqet led a stunned Yugi to a mat and got him settled.

"You don't have to do all of this Heqet, I'm sure the pharaoh won't know the difference."

"Nonsense, little gem. First of all, I saw how he looked at you when you were unconscious. You're the gem of his eye now and I'm sure he's going to notice every little detail. Secondly, who's to say you don't deserve a little pampering after what you've been through. Anyway it'll give the girls something to do while you tell them what's going on. And lastly, you want to look your best for the pharaoh, right?"

Yugi's grin could have been seen at midnight on a moonless desert. 'How does Heqet always know exactly what I need to hear? In this, at least, nothing has changed.'

"Yes, I want to look my best."

"Then sit still," Heqet replied as the girls gathered around again. "And tell us everything."

***

It was long past dark when Captain Joseph returned to escort Yugi back to the pharaoh's chambers. General Taylor had returned ages ago with several servants carrying food for everyone. After they had eaten he took a place at the edge of the crowd of girls, listening to Yugi's story as well. Yugi was tired and still stinging from the hot wax treatment (which had taken place before the General had returned, thank Ra), but happy. The girls here were his family, even if they were a rather odd one, and it was nice to spend time with them after all he had been through. They kept his feet firmly planted in the real world, especially now that he was in danger of being swept away by a tide of confusion and romance. Captain Joseph seemed tired as they walked back, so Yugi kept quiet and let his thoughts occupy him.

'I wonder if the pharaoh will want my company tonight. He seemed to think he needed to back off and let me rest this morning, but really I feel fine. I mean, I'm still stiff from the whips, stinging from the wax, and tired from what has to be the longest day of my life, but I really wouldn't mind if he did ask for something.' Yugi felt a shiver run through him at the thought of just what his pharaoh could ask for. 'Anything.'

"Can you find your way from here?" Captain Joseph's voice brought him back to the present. Yugi looked around and found himself in another corridor, with familiar golden light spilling out of the doorway to the room ahead. He nodded. Joseph gave a small smile before turning and leaving Yugi to make his way back to his pharaoh.