Age of Majesty
Chapter 9
" Ah, Mahaado," Akil poured him some wine, " 'Tis bad fortune, indeed, but we know the Pharaoh does not blame you."
" I ought to have sensed it." Mahaado sighed. " Too late to ponder on that now."
" You can stay here as long as you like." Akil insisted. " Seriously. It is tough work at the palace, and even if it is more luxurious there, I can definitely provide for you if you allow it."
Mahaado through him a grateful look. " Thank you, brother."
Akil grinned.
" Come." Akil lifted his glass. " Do not stress over what's past. Let us toast to your return home again."
" And staying alive." Mahaado replied dryly. The cups clinked.
They chugged the wine. Mahaado set his glass down and Akil poured both of them some more.
" Ah, my brother," Akil reached out to grasp Mahaado's arm as the other reached to pick up his cup, " We are all fortunate this Pharaoh has both heart and brains."
" Indeed." Though Egyptians feel the heart is the source of life in humans, there came no question that intelligence came from the head, and the educated knew its value, especially in a leader. " I hear you are summoned to contribute to the navy?"
" Of course. We need as much power as is possible." Akil replied. " All vassals are to send troops to the navy."
Mahaado paused. " The navy?"
" Yes. I found it strange as well." Akil admitted. " But his Highness apparently is not confident in our chances of splitting up the potential alliance. He seems intent on using the Nile somehow."
" The Nile flows north…but not all enemies lie north." Mahaado frowned. " Ah, I know now."
" Hm?"
" The ones up north are skilled with boats." Mahaado explained. " But the Nile flows north. The people down south are more skilled at land warfare. The Pharaoh plans to lure them to the Nile where they will fare worse. Even with the current being against us, the odds are still strongly against them. Not to mention Egypt gets its life from the Nile. If those down south manage to block or tamper with the river, we will be in trouble."
" The Nile is too wide. They cannot possibly block it."
Mahaado frowned. " Obviously the Pharaoh knows something we do not."
" It seems like a roundabout way of doing things." Akil observed. " Something High Priest Seto would have suggested."
" I would not be surprised." Mahaado replied woefully. " His death was not unpredicted. Just not in this fashion. And no doubt Seto had approached the Pharaoh with this in mind beforehand."
" Still, what is the purpose of getting the boats ready? Surely they would not be so stupid as to be lured onto the river?"
" Not lured." Mahaado thought carefully. " Forced." He thought again. " If the navy sets fire to the crops along the river, the other countries will have no choice but to come onto water."
" Too many loose holes in this one." Akil insisted. " I wonder what the final strategy is."
" Hm." Mahaado dropped the endeavor. He was no longer High Priest, after all, so there was no point.
oO
" Huh." Kisara considered her options. They were good and lost, even though Kisara had seen Seto not a few minutes before.
Akenadon had hired her to find a cure for Seto's chronic illness. Light magicians are often thought of as evil beings, in contrast to their names. In the past Kisara had been called many things, from witch, to hag, to crone, and the like. Never mind that it was the Shadow users that allowed monsters to rampage the land, that wrecked destruction on crops and all things that grow. When the Pharaoh is a light magician, Kisara thought ruefully, Light magicians are good. When the Pharaoh is a shadow user, shadow users are good. That is just how life is, unfortunately.
And equally unfortunately, High Priest Seto ups and disappears. It was only through her light magic that Kisara realized Seto was not dead. Akenadon had instantly put her in charge of locating his wayward son. Kisara told him she is charging double for this. Akenadon loved his son too much to care.
So here they were. Searching for the High Priest Seto, apparently a scribe now, and no longer as sick as his father had feared. Something else had been keeping Seto's illness at bay, despite the lack of medicines. Kisara was not interested as long as she had her money. However, it appeared Seto was being taken care of…by the Thief King no less.
The major question is what to do from here. She could lead Akenadon straight to Seto and hence Bakura, or they could waste a little time being part of the community and luring Seto away from Bakura inconspicuously. She preferred neither, really. She really wanted to go home—Seto was none of her business except for the money, but neither did she want to get between three shadow users. As a Light magician, she was thought of as a an evil witch, and even if she was more powerful than any one of the three, against all of them together she stood no chance.
" He is in the cottage right outside the city." She turned to Akenadon. " He should be home by the evening. If you can pay me now, I have other matters to attend to."
Akenadon snorted and pulled out the money. He had no interest remaining with the witch any longer than he had to. Before his son was priority, but now that they found him he really had no more need of her. " Take it, then." He snapped.
Ingrate. Kisara thought. Not even so much as a 'thank you'.
She turned around and started off. The streets were loud and noisy with people, random individuals playing flutes next to houses, children chasing goats, babies gurgling. She thought of Bakura leading a confused looking Seto away from the street. The Thief King is afraid of something. It was obvious that he cared about Seto, which meant that something was threatening the High Priest.
This really is not any of her business, but Kisara was a bit moved.
Absorbed in her thoughts, Kisara continued walking. Akenadon had paid her well. She could afford to take a look around the city, even, before heading back to her abode.
She mused. She wondered briefly how the High Priest survived so long without medicine.
Suddenly, she crashed into something. Or rather, someone. A flash of magical aura told her it was a fellow Light magician. She looked up.
" Oh! Sorry!" But Seto had no more time to apologize further, as the white-haired Bakura dragged him away from her before he could react, and he had to turn around to keep from crashing into other people.
Kisara stared, mouth open in a gape of disbelief.
oO
" Why are we hurrying?" Adjo was worried. " Wati—"
" Just get home." Bakura told Adjo, tugging at the taller boy. " Come on, trust me."
Adjo followed quietly after that. When they finally arrived home Bakura let out a relieved breath. Seto got home safely. Seto was safe. Seto was—
" Wati?" Adjo asked nervously. " What happened?"
Bakura looked at Adjo. The former priest looked truly frightened now. He summoned a tense smile for Seto's sake.
" Everything's alright now." He assured Adjo. " We're home."
Adjo gave him an inquiring look, but Bakura did not elaborate. " Come." The ex-thief gestured. " Let's make something to eat."
Confused, Adjo just looked at him skeptically. Bakura slipped past Adjo to the kitchen to find something to eat. Adjo followed for a moment before stopping at the entrance, then opted for going to sit down at the table and just watch.
As Adjo considered him Bakura was lost in his own thoughts. He knew Gahiji did not see Adjo yet. And the leave of absence should take care that he never does as long as he is in the city. Adjo was safe. Adjo is safe…
He had been making the meal at an erratic pace, but as this thought crossed his mind he slowed down, relaxing. No, as long as Adjo stays inside for the next week or so, he should have no problem. And Gahiji would not recognize Bakura because of his hair. Bakura simply had to send in the letter to the court requesting leave of absence, and Seto was safe.
oO
Isis headed through the gardens to Shada's building. Inside, the room smelling of papyrus pressed and dusty, Shada peered over his scrolls, frowning. He looked up when the priestess entered.
She said two breathless words. " Seto's dragons."
Shada shot to his feet. " They have sensed it?"
" They are mating!" Isis's eyes were wide with disbelief. " Or they were. There's a fourth."
Shada could not react at all.
Seto's dragons were one of the main reasons why he had been so powerful in life. He was a Dragon Tamer, with all three Blue Eyes White Dragons under his command. Not only was this completely unheard of, it was also rather odd, because the Blue Eyes White Dragons were not originally of Shadow Magic. The late Pharaoh was the first to discover this, but had kept quiet about it purposefully. Afterwards it was Isis that saw that the dragons were actually not of shadow magic, even though they seemed to live rather happily in the shadow realm. Eventually, all the owners of the Millennium Items learned about this except for the Pharaoh, but none spoke of it to him and the issue was kept quiet.
" Did it hatch?"
" No."
For years, it seemed, there were only three. At the very least, they were there when Seto assumed power, and may have existed before Seto was even born. However, dragons were notorious for the lack of breeding, and reproducing was even harder. Seto had never even tried to get them to mate.
" What does this mean?" Shada asked out loud. " Why would they mate when their master is dead?"
That was just it.
" They would not."
" That means…"
" Seto is still alive."
The two high clerics were silent.
" Should we…"
" No."
" Why not?"
" What if this was a mistake? What if we were mistaken? What if someone else assumed control over the dragons?"
" But what if he is alive?"
" We will have to conduct our own search."
" Under the Pharaoh's nose? He will have our heads! Are you mad?"
" He will not find out."
They were silent again.
" We cannot risk that Seto might be alive and in danger." Shada shook his head.
" I am just puzzled why we cannot sense his shadow magic."
" He had been worried about it himself." Shada pointed out. " Perhaps his illness made it undetectable."
" Perhaps. Or perhaps…perhaps someone is strong enough to cloak him so that his rod cannot respond to him either."
This was extremely troubling.
" Who would have the power to do that, if they are not holding an item?" Shada asked.
The two priests looked at each other.
" Bakura."
oO
Later, a scribe came into the room bearing a letter.
" I really should get someone else to do this." Akil looked at the papyrus sheet.
" What is it?"
" New scribe. Asking for some sick days." Akil waved at the scribe, who brought a seal.
Mahaado glanced at the letter. Akil stamped the papyrus and lifted the sheet to hand back to the scribe. Mahaado suddenly slammed his hand down on it.
" What?" Akil stared at Mahaado, alarmed. " Is…is something wrong?"
Mahaado stared wordlessly at it. " That is Seto's handwriting."
Akil stared. " You are certain?"
" What did your scribe look like?"
" I know not. I have never seen him."
" Summon him to court. Now."
" But he is sick…surely—"
" Akil!" Mahaado trembled. " Do not keep me in suspense, if you can."
Akil looked at Mahaado searchingly. " Alright." He turned to the servant. " Bring me some paper."
The papyrus was brought, along with a pen and ink. Mahaado watched anxiously as Akil printed the words, requesting this new Adjo to head to the palace immediately. As lord, Akil did not have to give any explanations, and upon reflecting, figured that he would use that privilege.
He handed the sheet to the servant. " See that this gets delivered, and do not return without the receiver."
The servant bowed and left.
Nervous and edgy, Mahaado poured himself another goblet of wine and drank it down.