May: I just noticed that it was almost two months have passed since I last updated any of my stories in this site, since there was a lot of things going on here for my family have to handle the farm and I have to pitch in to help. This might be my last update for this story.
Chapter 22
Akununkamun was looking outside the window of his study, his hands on his back. His eyes looking out at the people strolling the streets, while small children ran in the middle, playing with each other.
The Pharaoh then heaved out a sigh as he thought of his children. No matter how he look at it, his children are expected to act as an adult early and leave childhood behind. Royal life is not something that could be put on hold even when one wanted it.
It made him remember his own childhood as well.
As the older between him and his brother, Akhenaden, much was expected from him. And he could very well attest that he could relate to his son, even his daughter as they were both raised strictly to abide by the station that they are in.
If he had his way back then, he could have pass the throne and live a life away from treachery and politics.
But...the Gods had wanted this...and so he became the Pharaoh of all Egypt at the age of 22.
He was about to immersed in his thoughts when he heard the doors to his study burst open and he turned his head to see his son, wild hair pointing in every direction which he still deemed slightly weird considering that the younger's hair is spikier than it was last.
"Atem..." he greeted his son as he fully turned to face the younger. "To what do I owe such a visit from you?" he asked as he looked sternly at his son.
The Crown Prince straightened up and walked towards the king. "Forgive me for my rudeness, Father." he started as he looked at the older. "But I feel that what I wanted to say is more important than going against protocol."
The Pharaoh looked at his son, his interest piqued. "Tell me what you have in mind, Atem."
Atem thought for awhile then spoke, his voice radiating the authority that would soon become his. "I want to request for a little time before Atemu leaves the palace."
Seto briskly entered the palace library, followed closely by Bakura and Marik as they frowned at the mere mention of entering a place that they weren't interested in save for pranking the taller one during his studies and some of the servants. Even the vizier and the upstanding council members at times.
"What are we doing here again?" Bakura drawled as he looked at priest-in-training, his arms crossed over his chest, an impatient frown on his face.
Seto turned his head to look at him. "We are here to help Prince Atem." he reminded the other. "And this is the best placd I could think of to get the information that we need."
"From these dusty old scrolls?" Marik remarked as he hastily pulled a scroll from its niche on the wall. And winced slightly as he no doubt heard a tiny tear came from it.
Seto's heart wrenched at the thought that if anything-anything befalls the oldest scrolls...then he wouldn't have anything to help the prince with. The oldest scrolls dating back to the first Pharaoh of the land was as important as the Nile itself, in it are the rules and laws predating to the beginning of civilization itself.
"Marik!" he scolded the younger. "Be careful with these scrolls!" he said as he gently took the scroll from the teen's hands. "If anything, what's inside these 'dusty old scrolls' could be important in itself. Who knows what we could find?"
Bakura rolled his eyes and let out a snort as he walked towards the pair. "Yeah, listen to the prick." he then looked up at the category from which the scroll was taken and grinned-a plan forming in his head.
Turning to the oldest of them, he grinned. "Yes, I believe every information in every scroll in this freaking library is important, but..." he raised an arm and pointed a finger at the sign above their heads. "If you can call pregnancy spells important for the case of the princess?" he asked with a sly grin.
Seto frowned at him at the thought Marik could have pulled a scroll from the said category-not with his sister training to become a palace healer. And that he had received an education worthy of his station as a noble. But to take a scroll from any category without reading it, it couldn't be far from Marik to do so.
Slowly unfurling the scroll in his hands, it didn't take him long to read the first few sentences...and his eyes widened as an embarassed blush came across his cheeks and quickly rolled back the scroll and threw a glare at the sandy haired blond.
"MARIK!"
"You're asking for time?" Akununkamun repeated as he looked at his son, his eyes slightly wide at the prince's declaration. "And if you find enough evidence proving that it is the law, I will have to stop Atemu's trip is that it?"
The prince nodded, a determined look in his eyes. "Yes, father. If I can find any evidence that her-as a princess of Egypt marrying a foreign prince is illegal you have to stop it altogether."
The Pharaoh looked at his son for a long time, then smiled in approval as his son is proving himself to be a capable ruler day after day. He let out a sigh. "Very well. But.."
"But?"
The older looked at him, his gaze hard. "But if you weren't able to find anything...everything will continue as it is, understood?"
The prince nodded, with a smirk playing on his lips. "When have you ever saw me fail, Father?"
The Pharaoh chuckled at his son's arrogance. "Never. But...Atem, life isn't always a game. Sometimes, you have to let nature win for the true importance of a task to be shown."
Unknown to them, a servant heard everything and quickly ran down the hallways and out of the palace, and went straight to the gardens, handing out a note behind the tree.
"So, it's true then?" the figure asked.
The servant nodded. "It is, my lord. The Pharaoh has agreed to the prince's request."
The figure let out a smirked. "The Crown Prince is quick and wise, I give him that. But not quick enough."
"What's the plan, my lord?"
The figure turned to look at the servant, an eerie smile playing across his lips. "Send a message to the King Taharqa, tell him he'll have what he wanted in less than a month's time."
The servant quickly nodded his head. "As you wish, my lord." then quickly left to do as he was told.
And didn't notice a pair of eyes watching the exchange.
Malik ran down the hallway, looking about him as he no doubt had witnessed something worth nentioning to the king. He frowned as he replayed the scene in his head.
'It sure does look foreboding.' he thought. Then made up his mind. He have to tell the Pharaoh then the others. It seems they deserve to know.
He cursed himself for staying behind to spy on the servants behind the bushes to see if they were doing anything against the protocol, but he never expected a certain servant to run towards the tree near the wall and handed something behind the tree.
He could only deduce that someone was behind the tree. Someone powerful in court...or worse...an enemy spy but he knew it have to be the former.
Quickening his pace, he ran faster hoping that he would be able to tell anyone about what he found.
"Everything's in place." a figure spoke as he sat down opposite another hooded figure amd glanced warily at the patrons around them, and grimaced. It wouldn't do good for someone of his station to be found in such a place. "It would be a week-"
"Make it less than a week." the other figure snapped.
"Excuse me?" the former exclaimed. "What you wanted could never happen. The Pharaoh had put it down..."
"Then convinced the Pharaoh to make it less than a week." the latter told him as he leaned back on his chair. "As it stands, it is far better to get this done as early as possible."
"I take it that you're not fond of his decision, aren't you?" the former teased.
The other threw a glare at the other. "Whether I'm fond of his decision or not does not concern you. What concerns us now is for everything to fall into place." he said as he leaned forward and clasped his hands infront of him. "This will be the greatest tragedy that will befall the oh-so great royal family." he smirked.
"He's what?" Bakura asked as he looked at the prince. "Given you a freaking week?"
Atem nodded at the trio. "Yes," he replied, his stare hard. "We have a week to find any evidence that will prevent my sister from marrying a foreign prince."
Bakura looked at the prince for awhile then let out a scoff. "Then how do you propose we do this, Atem?" he hissed. "And how sure are you that we would be able to find the evidence we need?"
"I'm sure that we will." Atem told his friend. "If it's the only thing I have to do for my sister."
Seto looked at his cousin then let out a sigh. He knew that the prince cared for his sister a lot and tried to protect the younger against the world, against everyone who would dare to slander her name.
But he couldn't help but feel doubt settling on his stomach.
Would they able to find it in time?
Atem looked at his friends and cousin then placed his hands on the desk infront of him. A plan forming in his mind. "Alright. Let's start this now." he turned his head to look at his cousin and frowned. As he had never seen the older to look into his thoughts in the presence of others.
"Seto?" he called out.
Bakura looked at the older and a grin spread across his face. And nudged the older with his elbow. "Hey, stoic master! The prince is calling you!"
Seto blinked then turned to the teen beside him and growled. "Keep your elbow to yourself, Bakura."
The grin on the younger's face grew wider. "Well, if you haven't been frozen, I wouldn't have the need to thaw you out, wouldn't I?"
The priest-in-training scowled and was about to retaliate when a shout startled him from his thoughts.
"Enough!" Atem glared at his friend and cousin then straightened up. "Time is of the essence, we have no time for such childish antics."
A chorus of 'sorry, Atem and sorry, my Prince' came from the two.
The prince let out a heavy sigh and placed a hand on the crown on his forehead. "Anyways, we have a task ahead of us." He then turned to look at his cousin. "Seto, I tasked you to search in the oldest archives, particularly the ones on the time of the first Pharaohs."
Seto bowed his head at his prince's command. "As you wish, my Prince."
Atem nodded in approval then turned to Marik. "Marik, I want you to go over the recent ones, particularly on the ones before our time."
Marik nodded his head and grinned. The prince turned to look at Bakura and smirked. "And you my oldest friend, I want you to go outside the palace and find this person."
He slid a piece of papyrus towards the white haired male. "I want it done as quietly and quickly as possible."
Bakura grinned as he took the papyrus off the table, looked quickly at the name, folded the papyrus and slid it inside the black coat he was wearing. "You can expect nothing but the best from me, Atem."
"Good." the prince nodded then turned to all of them. "We have our tasks, and remember this is a matter of importance. No one must be told of what we are doing. Understood?"
Marik raised a hand prompting the royal to turned towards him. "Yes, Marik?"
"Then what are you going to do?" the sandy haired teen asked.
The prince looked at them all. "I'll go through the council archives. There's bound to be something in there." He then turned to look at the others. "Now we must separate."
The trio nodded and went on their separate ways. Seto to the farthest side of the library towards the ancients, while Marik to the more recent ones on the left side of the library near doors.
Atem walked down the hallway, his pace quick. His mind determined. 'I would do all it takes for you not be given away like a bartering tool, Atemu. I will fulfill mother's wish.'
Bakura ran inside his chambers and quickly changed into a white shendyt with a crimson belt. And removed the upper part of his tunic to make him more of a servant rather than a high ranking noble.
Dumping his clothes on the bed, he then quickly took off his shoes and replaced them with shoes made of papyrus reeds-the ones made for servants and common people alike. Then he took of his collar, along with his arm bands, wrist bands and placed them on the table.
He then went out of the room, not before grabbing his cloak from the chair he had draped it over in his haste awhile ago.
Running outside of the palace quickly and into the west side gate, he was about to sprint out when he saw a blur of dirty white and crimson ran past him and he cursed under his breath.
He quickly hid behind one of the pillars and peeked out to see what it was all about and his eyes widened.
There was no mistake it was one of the servants-the ones on the lowest perhaps, and he was talking to a messenger-there was no mistake if the other's attire does not consist of a brown helmet and a white and brown clothes.
He frowned as he leaned in more to listen to the conversation.
The servant looked at the messenger before him and handed him a rolled papyrus tied with a red string. "See to it that this gets to King Taharqa of Libya." he whispered in an urgent tone. "No one must know about this. Understood?"
The messenger looked at the servant for awhile then nodded as he took the papyrus and slid it inside his coat. "I take my leave."
"Here's for your service." the servant whispered as he handed a small pouch towards the man. "For the good of all Egypt."
The messenger took the pouch, opened it and looked down as his eyes widened at the contents inside, then looked up at the servant with a frantic look in his face. "Surely-"
"Our Lord feels that this is enough to keep your mouth shut." the servant told the man, an unknown smile on his face. "Hope he is right, or else..." he didn't continue as he gave the other a knowing look.
"O-of course! the messenger sputtered as he attached the bag on a loop on his belt and bowed. "His orders will be carried out to the best of my ability."
"See to it."
The messenger bowed hastily then left. The servant, looking around him, making sure that no one was eavesdropping, closed the gate and went back inside the palace, opposite to where Bakura was hiding.
Bakura slowly went out of his hiding place, a frown on his face. He turned his head to look at the place where the servant from awhile ago had entered the palace.
And a thought entered his mind. Whatever that servant was doing, and had given the messenger, it couldn't be any good. Not where the monarchy is concerned.
Shaking his head, he ran towards the gate and opened it, and placed the tips of his index and middle fingers to his lips and blew.
Not before a black stallion with grey hair came galloping towards him.
Quickly easing himself up on the horse's back without a need of a stirrup, he then closed the gates and then quickly galloped out to the streets. He have a task to complete.
He'll have to send a messenger bird to the palace later.
"What do you intend to do?" the man asked as he looked at his companion opposite him. "Surely..." he trailed off.
"Everyone who interferes in our plans needs to be silenced." the latter replied. "We can't afford anyone to know of anything."
"Regardless if it was the Crown Prince?" the former asked slyly.
"I did say, everyone." the other intoned. "It will be the same fate with him just like with one of the sons of minister Bakura. Regardless of who and what he is."
"Just checking." the former said with a scoff as he leaned back on his chair. "We wouldn't problems on the long run, don't we?"
"How can we," the latter started with a smirk. "When the gods have surely blessed our endeavour?"
"Truly no one can deny that our society is centered on gods." he continued. "Let's see if the Pharaoh can keep up his image once he hears this."
Seto took out one scroll after another as he quickly ran his eyes through the content. Then quickly placed it down gently on the table beside him and took out another scroll from shelf.
Marik meanwhile was chuckling to himself as replayed the scenario in his head. The one that Seto took the scroll from him, a scroll about pregnancy spells.
And the look on the older's face as he read the content, then slowly raised his head to look at him and angrily shout at him like it was his fault-partly.
He just wasn't the type to read what the categories are, he just took a scroll from one of the shelves and be done with it. He cared less where it came from, for him it's all scrolls.
As he took out another scroll, his hearts perked up as he heard quick pattering footsteps rushing towards the place. And he turned his head to look at the person who appeared in the doorway, his breathing ragged.
"What brings you here, Malik?"
Bakura galloped through the desert, his cloak flying behind him as he raced through the sand, his horse's hooves raising dust in the air.
He sighed in relief as he saw a small clump of greenery in the distance. It would do no good if both him and his horse died in the heat.
Curse him forgetting to take a water skin with him.
'You can do it' he thought as he tightened his grip on the horse's reins. ''Just a little more.'
He arrived at last at the greenery and heaved out a relieved sigh then got down his horse and led him by the reins as he looked around his environment.
Tall trees stand in a circle around them, providing shade against the heat of the sun, while a few bushes dotted the spaces in between the trees, some with fruits hanging on them.
A pool of water sat in the middle, glistening under the light.
Leading his horse towards the water, he searched for any sign of life and let go as he let the horse take a refreshing drink to alleviate its thirst in their trip along the desert.
He slowly walked towards the bushes and parted it, hoping that someone-the person he was looking for was here. And if anything, the person is quite lucky to live in a shade like this.
Unlike the stuffy airs of the palace.
He was about to turn his head back to look at his horse, to see if it was alright, when he felt the tip of the knife pressed onto his back.
And a voice spoke, filled with frustration and threat.
"Who are you, stranger?"
So much for planning a more 'pleasant' way of greeting.