Chapter 8
"About time you showed up," Seti teased.
"Princes are always on time- everyone else is either late or early, like you."
"What's that stain on your tunic? Is that-?"
"It is nothing, merely some sauce I spilled last night- must have grabbed an old tunic," Kahmunrah shrugged. The last thing he needed was Seti asking questions. As far as Asim and his friends were concerned, they were not something to worry about anymore- only an idiot would try to squeal about getting beaten up by the king's heir, especially when they deserved it. Ahkmenrah would not appreciate it if he found out, not that he needed to... Ever. He knew he should feel worse about his actions- surely only a tyrant beat up future subjects? Still, when he remembered the looks of abject terror on Asim's face, it was all he could do to bite back a smirk. They had asked for it and then some- they were lucky he'd let them crawl away with all their limbs intact! Though one of them had a broken wrist. He had almost told his father, but he knew how this would end, and like it or not, he held remarkably similar stance as Ahkmenrah when it came to capital punishment. He'd nearly reconsidered last night, though...
"Hello? Are you still with us mortals?" Seti snapped his fingers before Kahmunrah's nose, making him blink out of his inner meditations.
"Must you do that? You know I hate it."
"Only when you aren't listening to me! What great distractions occupy your mind today?"
"None of your concern," Kahmunrah snapped.
"Well, if you're going to be like that, I think I'll leave you to your grand musings. Remember us commoners when you are crowned King of All Egypt," Seti sulked, suddenly sullen. Groaning more at his own behavior than at Seti, Kahmunrah chased after him.
"Wait! I apologize. Yesterday was just mildly taxing, you know?"
"Really? What could possibly have been so difficult an exalted prince could not cope with? Too few ladies at baby brother's party?"
"No! Well, yes, but that's not... Don't you mock me!" He growled when Seti looked back, biting his lip in a most customary, Cheshire-cat manner. "As if I would be the only one disappointed by a lack of beautiful women. I have things on my mind, that's all."
"Such as?"
"As I said, never you mind!" Much as he adored his cousin, he knew he would never let Ahkmenrah live it down if he found out about the bullying, something he doubted Ahkmenrah would be able to handle at the moment. Besides, Ahkmenrah had sworn him to virtual secrecy, almost making it a blood oath; he could never break a promise. Not even to baby brother.
"And here I thought we kept nothing from each other brother."
Kahmunrah made a face. "Much as I would wish it otherwise, as we grow into our stations, the less we will have to discuss, the more secrets we will likely keep, and so forth. You know this, Seti."
"I see. As I said, don't forget me when you ascend to godhood." Seti stalked away, shoulders hunched forward in spite of the summer heat.
Damn it, I did it again. "Don't be like this! Wait!" Only when he caught up a second time did he notice the wet shine in Seti's eyes. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing to worry yourself about, clearly," Seti growled, shrugging the arm off.
"Scribe training is truly so challenging? I sympathize." Putting an arm on his shoulder, Kahmunrah hugged him a little. "Come on, we were always able to be honest with each other. Will we break with tradition now?"
"You said so yourself- eventually our paths will diverge. Why put it off?"
"I didn't mean right now!"
"When it happens does not matter."
"Could we put it off until later, at least? Please?" When Seti refused to answer, he almost stomped his foot in frustration. "Fine! If you are going to be that way, sulk! See how much I care!" He was half a block away when he heard racing footsteps behind him.
"Wait! I'm sorry Kah, I didn't mean it. It's just between scribe lessons and everything else, I am at a loss."
"I would think seeing me again after two months would perk you up, but apparently not."
"It's not you! I am worried about my father," Seti murmured, gazing off into the distance. "He's unwell."
"Unwell how? Unwell as in drinking and beating you every night, or unwell as in coughing and brushing it off?"
Seti shook his head. "With him, I cannot... I cannot explain it. You know your uncle." What he wanted to say was he was becoming more himself than before, but he bit his tongue as he did so often in life.
"Always on the grumpy, melodramatic side, but if he's giving you trouble, you know you can come to my father. They are brothers, for gods' sake!"
"Not with this."
Now Kahmunrah's interest was piqued. "Being secretive? You never were before."
Seti giggled nervously. "When one becomes a scribe and is training to be an adviser to nobility, one learns how to keep secrets. Not that they will ever come between us, eh?"
Shaking hands on it, Kahmunrah agreed. "Speaking of brothers, how is your little one doing? Still following you around with those beseeching puppy eyes?" Seti joked.
"What can I do? I can't seem to get rid of the little brat. Not that I blame him- how can one help being enraptured by my greatness?"
"I can think of one person who is immune," Seti replied, pointing to himself.
"Let's see if you're immune to my fist!" Kahmunrah cried, dramatically bringing his hand up. Laughing, Seti dashed away as the chase began. He thought again about telling Seti about the croonies, but decided not to- why bother when he'd already dealt with them? Asim's nose would never look the same again. His own knuckles would be bruised for weeks, but it was worth it. Now, he wouldn't have to worry about Ahkmenrah's safety in their own training grounds.
Ever since his birthday, Kahmunrah had noticed a change in baby brother. Lately he'd grown quieter, more withdrawn- then again, perhaps he'd always been that way and he'd never noticed. He tended to be silent unless he wanted something. Nevertheless, he couldn't shake the urge something was bothering him. At least it wasn't the goons- they were gone, shipped off to another country as "reinforcements" to the Hittite region, where endless war threatened every New or Full Moon. Fitting punishment.
What was wrong with Ahkmenrah?
As if summoned, they stumbled upon the youngest son who was hiding away in a corner, looking like he was trying to shadowbox part of the wall into submission. Kahmunrah sighed.
"What is he doing? Is he so afraid of his own shadow he fights it?" Seti asked, all family drama forgotten.
"Occasionally. Sometimes he still sleeps with a lantern! Gotta go, Mother will be frantic if she finds out him out so late."
Seti grimaced sympathetically. "I'm afraid I must leave you, too. Apprenticeship awaits!"
Kahmunrah waited until he was out of earshot before approaching Ahkmenrah, startling him from behind. "You punch like that, all you will get are bloody knuckles. And what would have happened to you if I were an assassin?"
Biting back a comeback, Ahkmenrah struggled to escape his bear hug. "If you were an assassin, I would be dead," he admitted reluctantly.
"Correct." Playfully dropping him to the ground, Kahmunrah chuckled. "Maybe we should skip the fist fighting and return to basic awareness? Seti and I were not even whispering, and you failed to notice us."
Several words fell on deaf ears as Ahkmenrah looked up in excitement. "You will teach me to fight?"
"To defend yourself, yes. Only if you listen and do every single thing I tell you!" Ignoring the gentle warmth spreading throughout his body as Ahkmenrah hugged him, Kahmunrah gently untangled himself from his embrace. "You might not thank me later- Uruk will probably want to help, and I have little time to instruct you."
"We train with Uruk enough already!"
"Do you know how I became an even better warrior? Uruk trained me privately. He will do the same for you if you need."
"I would rather you did. I do not like practicing in front of the others."
"How do you think battles are fought, in duels? As we progress, you will feel differently, I promise. Do you still want me to help you?" When he nodded, Kahmunrah sighed inwardly. "All right, we begin tomorrow evening. Now get to bed, or Mother will ground you for a month!"
