I watch as Priest Seth and the Prince exit the cave; Seth glares toward me, as the Prince mounts his horse. Three Priests, the Prince, and Marik ride horses while the few thieves captured are shackled and tied to horses, a soldier watching each of them and me. The kidnapped ride in two carriages in the back of the group.

We walk for what seems like forever, before the sun begins to set. We don't slow down though, just keep walking. Finally I see the lights of the city ahead of us, glowing like a candle in the dark. The lights grow brighter as we keep walking; soon we are at the city gates.

Out of the corner of my eye I think I see something, glance back to the desert a flash of red dashes over a sand dune. My eyes grow wide as I pray to Ra that Mit doesn't follow me into the city.

Through the city streets-the palace straight ahead-the people glance, glare, and some even try to cut me. A few run to the kidnapped and talk to them. Some seemed to be family, saying they would meet them at the palace. Others simply bow as the Prince passes, a few seem almost afraid of his presents. I wonder if they are criminals, or do they really fear their soon to be Pharaoh?

We pass the palace gates as a green flash catches my eye. I want to tell him to leave, to get away, but if I say anything, the soldiers will notice.

Once inside the palace the Priests, Marik and the Prince dismount, soldiers taking the horses. The Prince walks up to me, "You will be dealt with last." Looking to the soldier beside me he orders I be taken to a private cell away from anyone else.

The soldier grins once the Prince has turned away, unshackling me he leads me to a side door, and around the gardens till we reach a tunnel leading underground, I catch a flash of red just before being pushed down the stairs.

"Looks like the Prince has something against you, little thief. I don't think he'll mind if I have a little fun with you." The soldier's words swim in my head as I try to think straight. Had he just said what I think he did?

The soldier opens a door pushing me inside, following closely behind me. He lights a torch next to the door, before pulling me to him. For the first time since the thieves took me fear is written all over me. I had never been so scared.

Pulling me close he whispers in my ear, "I'm going to make you wish you were never born, thief."

Several hours later, the soldier slams the door closed. Not an hour passes before another soldier opens my cell, "It's time to see the Pharaoh, thief."

I stand as best I can and slowly walk to the door. Glancing up I see the man's face, it's Chigaru. He lifts my head with one hand while holding a staff in the other, seeing my appearance worry crosses his face, "What have you been doing?" he asks, but I give no answer. He wouldn't care if I told him. Or he would think I was lying.

He leads me out of the tunnel, into the palace once again. Reaching the throne room, he brings me before the Pharaoh seated in his golden throne, the Prince standing beside his father, and the Priests holding their Millennium items as if they were weapons.

I kneel slowly trying not to hurt my already torn and aching body, Chigaru beside me one hand on my shoulder.

"This is the boy I spoke of father." The Prince says calmly.

"He tried to kill the Prince." I hear Seth say.

"I don't believe that."

"He had to have known there would be someone by the children. He led us there with the intention of killing you."

"Enough." That must be the Pharaoh, "His name son."

"He goes by the name of Yugi."

"Yugi, my son believes you are not guilty of trying to take his life. The Priest Seth and my general Marik think you should be killed. What do you have to say?"

"What I say is of no meaning here, Pharaoh."

"Here?"

"The palace is a place of great people, much greater than that of the thieves I lived among."

"Yes, my son tells me you claim you are not a thief. Did you try to kill the Prince?"

"No, Pharaoh. I am no thief, and I am no murderer, any of the thieves could tell you this. They saw me as pure and obedient. Even the King thought well of me."

"The Thief King?"

"Yes, Pharaoh. He found me useful at times and calming when he could not rest."

"I do not believe you." The Pharaoh's voice turning on edge.

"Father." I hear the Prince. Why is he defending me, I almost got him killed?

"I cannot ignore what this boy has done."

"Then let him prove himself father. If what he says is true we will see it. Father, I believe the boy. Please give him a chance. If he proves to be a liar I will kill him myself."

"You feel this strongly for the boy?"

"Yes father."

"Very well. The first time you mess up, you will be killed. Do you understand boy?"

"Yes Pharaoh."

Chigaru takes my arm, helping me up, and leading me away from the throne room. He leads me down several hall ways before entering a chamber filled with cloth of all kinds. Walking to a self in the middle of the room, he picks up a bundle and hands it to me, before leading me to another room.

"Clean up and put that on." He tells me pointing to the bundle in my arms. Chigaru walks to a bench beside the wall and sits down looking bored.

I turn to the large tub in the middle of the room, setting the bundle aside I take off my tattered clothes and step into the water. The warm water instantly soothing my sore body, making it sting at the same time. I breathe in slowly trying to ease the pain as I wash the sand off me and pick dirt out of my nails before looking over the few cuts and bruises on my legs and arms, finding more than I thought there would be-living with thieves you learn to be a little tough.

Once I'm as clean as I've ever been, I step out of the water, dry off, and put on the new clothes, a simple short white dress with no sleeves. With that done I walk over to Chigaru, who had fallen asleep, and tap his shoulder. Instantly he jumps up, dropping his staff, making me laugh slightly, "I didn't mean to startle you."

Glaring at me he picks up his staff and leads me out of the wash room, through an archway that lead to a massive hall, pillars line the sides, the roof covered in images of the gods and their adventures. Chigaru turns to another arch, and a normal sized hall headed away from the massive hall. Another hall and three turns later he stops, "Go on." He says indicating for me to enter the chamber before me.

Gingerly stepping through the door entering a rather large room, the walls telling a story of a Pharaoh long ago, a large gold trunk sits open beside a desk covered in jewelry, a shelf above the desk displaying three small crowns, each smaller than the one before. In the center of the room sits a bed fit for a king, poles reaching the ceiling far above draped with blue, purple, and crimson silk, the bedding as white as clouds. Pillars along the walls draped with green, orange, and crimson silk making the chamber seem to be more of a celebration hall then someone's personal chamber. The room was beautiful, but it couldn't hold my attention once a young man steps out from around a pillar; his eyes seem to burn as he stares at me, a question in his eyes. I fall to my knees bowing my head as the Prince nears me. I can see his feet in front of me, but I dare not look up.

"Stand up." I stand obediently, my head still bowed, "Look at me."

I hesitate knowing the law against looking the royal family in the eye, "My Lord?"

"Look at me." The Prince repeats calmly. Slowly I look up until I'm staring into his eyes, "Good."

"My Lord?" I ask.

"Come," the Prince waves a hand toward his desk; walking to it I notice the three mall crowns above the desk are exactly like the one resting on the Prince's head. Noticing the question in my eyes the Prince smiles, "Father always believed the prince-no matter what age- should wear a crown." Nodding I stop beside the desk a few feet away from the Prince as he looked over the jewels, "My father also believes that you should be a pleasure slave as you are rather small. How old are you anyway?"

"How old are you, My Lord?"

Looking at me as if I'd grown an extra head the Prince asks, "What?"

The floor became a fascinating subject to study as I answered the Prince, "The King once told me one of his reasons he kept me alive was because I was born the same year as the Prince, but he never told me the year."

"Then you are seventeen. You're very short for your age, did you know that?"

Thinking about how the thieves would torment me about my height I answer, "Yes, My Lord."

"Look at me." Lifting my head I show none of my thought to the Prince. He studies my face for a moment before turning back to the jewels, "I disagree with my father, and since you have been placed in my care, I am making you my personal slave." Picking up a blue and purple necklace the Prince holds it to my neck before putting it down again, "I've always hated personal slaves, they seem to always be in the way, and never letting you have a moment alone. Yet I see no other way to show my father I trust you. You understand what my father said was no lie, don't you? He will have you killed for the slightest mistake. He doesn't take kindly to his son nearly dying."

"I understand, My Lord."

"Turn around." Turning I hear the Prince pull something from the deck, moments later a necklace is resting around my throat, I look down at it, it's gold and crimson beads aligned perfectly, "This will show who you are." I turn around to see the Prince as he moves to the trunk where he pulls out three bracelets, "Put these on your left arm."

After sliding them on, over my elbow and fit them to my upper arm, I bow to the Prince and thank him for his kindness, promising I will do my absolute best not to disappoint him. He's smiling softly as I stand to my feet.

"One more thing, Yugi. You are my slave. Only I and the Pharaoh can tell you what to do, and we are the only two who can pass judgment on you. No one is to speak to you, or touch you without my permission. There are guards and soldiers in the palace that will not like the position I have given you. If anything happens do not fight back, and do not speak if they provoke you. Come to me, and tell me exactly what happened. I will handle it."

"Of course, My Lord." I say wishing I had this position a few hours earlier.

"Good. There is a chamber across from this one, that will be yours. Go to sleep, I will have another slave instruct you as to your duties tomorrow."

"Thank you, My Lord." I bow before leaving the chamber for my own.

I spend little time looking around my new chamber before lying down, falling asleep instantly.