The two teens spent the next few weeks battling out the shadows. After a month had past, the teens rode into Alexandria. They stayed in one of the inns, spending nine gold and ten silver. The next morning they went out, stopping at Kena to buy six pounds of feed at six gold, three silver and six copper. They left after lunch at Kena's, going to a famer who was outside the city gates. He sold them ten pounds of meat at five gold.

The teens headed back to the village, playing with the shadows along the way and arriving at sundown. Bakura set about unpacking the goods and unsaddling the horses while Bast started a fire for dinner and another to boil water. While she was cooking a bit of meat, Bakura sat down beside her and handed her a piece of cloth with something wrapped inside it. Bast unraveled the package to find a loaf of bread. Bast marveled in the quality, for stale bread was the common for pheasants.

"I stole it from the noble's house while you slept," said Bakura, shrugging when Bast asked him about it. "I was able to get some wine as well." Bast shook her head, removing the meat from the fire and passing some to the boy. She then broke the bread, placing half aside and separating the other half into two parts. Bakura handed her a jug of wine and the two ate. He watched as she played with the shadows, causing the fire to quiver and flicker. When they had finished, Bakura cleaned up as Bast took the boiled water from the other fire and setting it aside to cool. Once the bubbles had stopped, she placed a lid of bamboo over the saucepan and put it up on a shelf in one of the houses.

The girl took the rest of the meat and wrapped it in animal fat, and then dropped it into a large jar of water they had gathered to clean their clothing. She then nodded to her partner, who had Atsu saddled and ready to leave. He pulled her up, letting her take the seat in front of him, and Bast stirred Atsu into a run. It didn't take the two long to find what they were looking for. The guards protecting the queens' tomb had fallen asleep, but a quick sweep with the shadows told Bast that there were three inside talking.

Tying up the horse, Bast led Bakura to the entrance, looking down into the offering chamber. The guards had not seen them yet. Whispering her plan to Bakura, Bast headed down into the chamber. The guards looked up at her as she stopped before them. One stepped forward and asked what she needed.

"I have traveled for a year from the lower kingdom to give my offerings to the queen," she said in her most pathetic voice. The guards looked at each other for a second before nodding. Two stood at either side of the entrance while the third left. Bats approached the offering table, placing a bit of bread and meat on the plate. She then bowed her head, seemingly in prayer. Feeling her Mothers amusement at her actions, she smiled and called the shadows. The two guards dropped to the ground, their souls in the shadow realms. Bakura appeared beside her, panting a bit. He watched as she found the entrance into the main tomb and, using the shadows, entered the sacred ground. She glanced at her partner as they walked along the hallway to the burial chamber.

The story of the queen was written upon the walls. Bast noticed the other side was not written upon and noted this. The tomb they had entered was guarded so heavily because it had not been fully sealed. Nodding, she sped up, listening to the shadows as they danced around the teens. Suddenly, they quivered, causing the two to stop. Bast looked around for the sensors, seeing them easily. Calling the shadows to her, she grabbed Bakura's hand and pulled him closer. Not releasing him, she continued with the shadows as close to her as possible. Finally, she opened the door to the burial chamber and slipped inside. Bakura glared at her as she released the shadows.

"Why'd you grab me?" he growled. Bast glanced at him, moving forward. She looked around the treasures, noting the different things whose absence would be noticed. Coming to a chest, she opened it and looked through it. She growled at Bakura as he tried to take a headdress. "Why not?" he asked, pure amusement on his face.

"Because this tomb has yet to be sealed," she ground out. "This is the Pharaohs' wife. When his death comes, he will be buried here as well." Bakura's smile vanished as he nodded, turning to look around. "Open any chest, but leave the things in the open alone. We will return here after the Pharaoh kicks it." She lifted a choker, examining it. "And do not take anything with a seal on it. It must be unmarked."

"Black market rules?" was the question. Bast grunted the answer as she placed several rings and chokers in her sack. She grabbed a few gold goblets and stood, turning to her partner. His sack was becoming full, so she grabbed his shirt and kicked the chest he was in closed.

"We have to leave," she said. "I am going to release the souls of the guards in a second. Let us go." He nodded and followed her through a back exit. As they came out of the tomb, they heard someone yell and turned to see a guard. Cursing, Bast whistled. The Guard cried out, several more coming to his side as Atsu ran towards them. Bast ran to meet up with the beast, swinging up on the saddle and putting her arm out for Bakura to grab. She pulled him up, handing him her treasure sack, and stirred the horse faster.

"They're following us," Bakura said, turning to look back. Bast, in reply, called the shadows, sending the guards into a shadow game they couldn't win. Bakura turned to her, wrapping his arms around her waist as Atsu picked up speed. "Nice, Bast. Now what?"

"We go home, 'Kura," she replied. Bakura laid his head on her back, yawning. Bast smiled, glancing back at him as he breathing slowed. His grip tightened as she turned a corner and slowed, seeing the village through the shadows. When they arrived to the sleeping house, she woke her friend, letting him stumble into the building as she set about unsaddling Atsu and taking the treasure to the cove outside the village. Once done, she headed back to the sleeping house and lay back on her mat, grinning as the shadows began the flicker. She fell asleep watching the shadows play around her.

The teens spent the next year playing with the shadows. As Bakura's fourteenth cycle arrived, Bast began worrying about him. He had become more sadistic and had begun talking of revenge. She was worried that the boy would try to attack the Pharaoh before he was ready. Watching him, a week before his birthday, she realized that he would not. They were working hard on his training, and he was trying his hardest to beat her. Bast had already advanced her Magician to a higher level than his Diabound, which was now evolving.

As Bast destroyed his Diabound for the third time that day, rushing to him with a goblet of wine ready, she realized that the boy would need to learn hand-to-hand combat, as well as sword fighting. She cursed while he sipped on the wine, causing him to glance up at her with his amber eyes. Looking into the heartless amber, she blinked and shook her head.

"Quit staring at me with such a sad expression and tell what is wrong with you," he growled. Bast shrugged, brushing off the tone of his voice.

"I need to teach you how to fight. While shadow magic is strong, if you use it all the time you shall become weak in battle," she told him, sitting beside him and sighing. The boy leaned over, resting his head on her shoulder while taking a drink of the wine. She looked at him, noting the childlike expression on his face as the pain stopped and the wine began to warm him. With a smile he couldn't see, she looked up at the setting sun. It was disappearing behind the rock, leaving the village in shadows.

"So, are you going to teach me?" he asked. She glanced at him once more, seeing he was watching her. She nodded, smiling down at him. "Bast, we can't stay here much longer, huh?"

"No, we cannot," she answered. He nodded, looking out over the valley. "Is there a reason you wish to know?" He looked up at her again, his eyes clouded, though from the wine or not she couldn't tell. He turned back to the valley after a second, moving closer to her in search for some warmth.

"My mother," he began. "Was buried farther north. I have not been to her tomb in ten years. My father and I used to collect money over a year and ride off to her tomb once a year. I stopped going when I was three, since my father was having problems in the market. His trader was caught and father had troubles finding another." Bast frowned, watching this child remember his past was always hard on her. She still blamed herself for his father's death, although he did not know this.

"Do you wish to go see her?" asked Bast. The child did not answer, but nodded instead. Bast smiled as he tried to hide a yawn. "Well, I think we can, but I shall have to do some trading first. How much money do we have?"

"Well, we have not been going to Alexandria much in the last year, and Kena has been giving us free feed," said Bakura, stopping to stifle another yawn before continuing. "So, we have about seven gold, five silver and a copper coin." Bast nodded.

"We will go into the city first thing and say goodbye to Kena," said Bast. Bakura nodded, this time letting a yawn slip. Bast laughed at her friend and helped him up, his goblet falling to the ground, empty. She led him to the sleeping house, helping him onto his mat and watching him fall asleep. She sighed, realizing she was tired as well and heading over to her own mat. It did not take her long to fall asleep.

The teens awoke with the sun, Bast gathering what they could carry and Bakura saddling Zahur and Kakra. Atsu would be carrying the extra items that would not fit in Zahur's or Kakra's saddle bags. As they finished, Bakura tied a rope to Atsu's bridle and tying it to Kakra's saddle. They mounted and headed off to the treasure cove, Bast entering and collecting some of the items before they headed off to Alexandria.

They arrived that night, finding an inn and paying for their stay at five gold. The next morning they went to Kena's, earning fourteen gold, eleven silver and nine copper, and rode out of the city. Heading north, they rode for the next city, where they stayed for a week, spending six gold. They then rode farther north, arriving close to their target after three weeks. They found an abandoned house, probably one of a hermit, and set up to stay. Three days later, Bast rode into the nearby city, called Cairo, to find a potter in the black market.

Bakura went with her into the city, looking around as they rode with Zahur. They boy clutched onto her when a guard approached them. Bast spoke to the guard for a moment, getting directions to the potter. Smiling, Bast said goodbye and rode forward, soon finding the home. She glanced at the apprentices working in the courtyard, stopping one as he carried a pot off to cool. He pointed her to a closed workshop and Bast nodded her thanks and went to speak to the man. He looked up as she entered the workshop, frowning.

"May I help you, Children?" he asked. Bast nodded in reply.

"My name is Bast, daughter of the healer Sanura," she said, smiling as the man stepped back. "I want to know who you are." She dropped the formalities finally. "Look, my mother left some things in this area. I know she told you where they are."

"In a closed cave about a mile into the valley of kings," he said, fear in his eyes. "Follow the shadows, they shall lead you. But be warned, using shadow magic here is unsafe. The Pharaoh has men here who can sense the shadows. He is killing anyone who has a shadow creature within them."

"Thank you for the warning, but I doubt the Pharaoh will find us. I think I know my way around the shadows," Bast replied. She grinned sadistically as the man shivered. "But he may find that I am not one to be reckoned with. I do not take such things lightly, you should know."

"Well then," the man said. "I bid you goodbye and good luck." Bast nodded and left, mounting Zahur and pulling Bakura up behind. She stirred the horse forward and rode out of the city, cursing the pharaoh as they passed a group of soldiers.

"What now, Bast?" asked her friend. Bast sighed as they approached the small house they were staying in, Zahur calling out to the yearlings. She could hear them call back in response as they slowed.

"We cannot stay in the area long. I will let you visit your mother before I head off to my own mother's treasure cove," she replied, sliding off Zahur as they stopped outside the small stable. Bakura jumped down and led Zahur into the stable, unsaddling him and heading into the house. Bast started dinner, a meal of hard bread and fish that she had caught, along with some wine they had left over. She smiled at her friend as he sat beside her.

"Where will we go next?" he asked. She shrugged her reply, poking the fire with a stick.

"I am unfor sure, my friend," she said. She leaned back on her hands, crossing her legs beneath her. Bakura was watching her as she glanced up at the ceiling. "I am confused. The Pharaoh has men here, which means he is in the area. Why else would the city be so heavy with soldiers?" Bakura shrugged.

"So we cannot train here?" he asked. Bast shook her head.

"Not with the shadows," she replied. "But I can teach you hand-to-hand. I do not have a sword, so I cannot teach you that just yet. But I do believe my mother had some collected that I can use. We will go and retrieve them in a few days." Bakura nodded as Bast leaned forward and removed the food from the fire, cutting it and handing some to her partner. They ate in silence, Bakura finishing first and setting about cleaning up. He put out the fire with the shadows, frowning as he did. He then set about putting out the mats they used to sleep. Bast handed him her empty plate and goblet, which he cleaned and put away.

Frowning at the boy as he moved about the small house, she stood and walked outside. Staring up at the sky, she sent a prayer to her Mother, hoping for a chance to continue hiding. She then went and fed the horses, noting that they needed to buy feed for them. Once finished, the teen went back into the house to find Bakura already asleep. She stood in the doorway, watching the younger sleep for a moment, a smile beginning. Shaking the smile away, she found her money bag in one of the saddle bags they kept nearby.

Sitting on her mat, as dumped the money out and counted it. Fifteen gold, sixteen silver and ten copper. She sighed, collecting the coins and putting them back in the bag. She didn't know prices in this area and they needed a few items for their survival. Putting the bag back into the saddle bag, she grinned as she stood and headed back to the door. Staring out over the sands to the fading lights of the city, the grinned twisted into a smirk as an idea slipped into her twisted mind.

It wouldn't take much to steal what they needed. Bakura was the best at slipping through the darkness without using the shadows, and his small stature would keep him from being seen. Besides, they stole to get money, why not steal for food? Letting out a sadistic chuckle, she slipped out into the shadows. She wondered around the area for a while, following the quivering shadows. She soon found a group of rouges about four miles from the small house. She watched them as they drank their beer, grinning.

Her smile disappeared as one, apparently the leader, began speaking of Sanura the shadow healer. Sliding down from her overhead position, she crept up the group, grinning again as they noticed her and jumped up. Calling out derogatory terms to her, they surrounded the teen. Bast's grin twisted into a sneer as the leader approached her. He smelled of death and the shadows seemed to fear him.

"Who is this pretty little girl?" the man asked. Bast cracked her neck, chuckling when he stepped back. She looked up; her eyes adjusting to the fire light that illuminated her. The leader stepped back again, fear appearing on his face. "You, you're that healers girl. I thought you all were killed."

"You cannot kill the darkness. You can only open the light and watch as the shadows quiver in fear," Bast said, her voice dark and sadistic. The leader opened his mouth to speak but did not get the chance, for the girl had moved. Looking around, he did not see her, but he knew she was still by. In the shadows, Bast grinned. "You cannot hurt something that does not physically exist. You will never catch the shadows around you."

She struck, killing him in an instant. The other rouges yelled in anger when they realized what she had done, and attacked. She dodged easily, turning and ripping the throat of two of them before grabbing a sword resting against a rock. She drove the sword through one before turning and ripping the neck of the last. She then turned to the one holding the sword that was driven through his chest.

"You shall die soon," she said with a sadistic laugh. "Maybe soon you will learn that thieves never make it to the afterlife." With another laughed, she walked away, leaving the man to die. The shadows shivered around her as she walked back to her little home, slipping in without waking her partner.

It took a while to clean the blood from her hands. After she had finished, she found a change of clothing and took the bloody ones outside, away from the small house, where she burned them. She grinned as she watched the smoke rise, and as the fire died, she returned to the house, collapsing on her mat.

The teen fell asleep quickly. Her dreams turned bloody and she watched as the villagers of Kul Elna were dropped into a vat of molten gold, her own blood covering the bodies, mingling with their blood. Watched as the items were created from the mixture of gold and blood and bone. A laugh sounded in her dreams, and she realized it was her own as the soldiers were dropped into the vat as well. Waking from the disturbed dream, she looked around the darkened room, her eyes landing on the survivor of the village.

The boy had turned towards her, his face calm. The scar tissue on his cheek stood out in the darkness as she stared at him. She soon realized why she was so protective of this child. Her feelings for him become known to her at that instant. Shaking her head and frowning, the teen turned onto her side and drifted off back into the dream world. She would never forget that dream, that night for the rest of her life. She just hoped it was true that her blood was mortal.