Apep and the Sacred Scrolls of Duat

Chapter 14: A New Conundrum

The energetic race between the Pharaoh and Mai around the stables and courtyard of the palace ended in a reluctantly agreed upon draw. Neither one found conceding easy but they shook hands and shared a respected gaze as they laughed.

"Wow," Mana said in awe. "I've never and I mean never seen anyone almost beat him like that before," she said.

"Mai, that was amazing!" Serenity declared and hugged her friend.

"It was…fun," Mai said, sounding almost surprised at that fact.

"Agreed," Atemu nodded. "You could probably teach my army a thing or two," he joked.

"Now that sounds like a job offer I can't refuse. What's the pay like?" she grinned.

"Whatever you wish."

"Big mistake, oh mightily rich and wealthy king," Mai laughed. "I have expensive tastes," she said.

"And I have a palace, several actually," he retorted.

"Show off," Mai said and he shrugged innocently.

"Urgh great, it's princess pouty," Mana rolled her eyes. She was looking across from them and whispered to her friends. "She's heading this way. She's probably going to propose marriage again," she groaned.

"She never actually said the word…" Atemu began.

"She can't say it. But it's implied. It's so heavily implied she may as well carve it on an obelisk and then beat you over the head with it," Mana told him and they laughed.

"Would this assault on my person be before or after the marriage?" Atemu asked her.

"Maybe after, if she's smart," she shrugged.

"Good to know. However, as of yet, she had committed no crime against me, so please be polite, Mana," he said dryly.

"I know, I know. War; bad, alliances; good. Blah, blah, blah," she drawled. "We bow, you don't, yadd yadda…"

"Princess Ayten," the Pharaoh greeted her as she neared them.

Mana bowed low and nudged the others to do the same. They did so with some awkwardness but the Princess acknowledged them with a nod.

"Pharaoh," the princess replied and gave a bow of her own to him and him only. "My brother and sisters will join us shortly as agreed," she said.

"Of course. It would be my great pleasure to make their acquaintance," he replied.

"If I may, I watched your race with great interest," Atyen remarked. "Both you and your vassal are remarkably skilled."

"Vassal?" Serenity whispered but Mana shushed her quietly.

"This is the lady Mai, she is friend, and vassal to my distant cousin Prince Yugi," Atemu told her and once again, Yugi tried, he really did try not to blush.

"Ah, my apologies Prince," she bowed.

"Erm…sure…" Yugi replied with a nod.

Ayten raised an eyebrow at his expression and his manner but said nothing.

"Mana, would you be so kind as to arrange the horses for the princess and her siblings?" Atemu asked his friend.

"Of course, Pharaoh," she said politely and then bowed, once to him, then to the Princess, then again to Yugi, then she left, all but dragging Duke, Joey and Tristan with her.

Before he could speak, he saw Seto and Mahad come all but running towards them. An unusual sight in itself really, both were usually the epitome of calmness and tranquility even under pressure.

"My pharaoh," Seto began, sounding concerned.

"Seto, Mahad, my dear friends, you wish to join us on our sojourn around the city?" he asked. "I have promised my time to the Princess and her family," he explained.

"Regrettably, no, my king. A better has arisen which requires your attention. It cannot wait," Mahad explained.

"Why is this?" Atemu asked.

"It is a…delicate matter, sire," he answered with reluctance.

"I understand perfectly," the princess took a step back. "Please, attended to your court, pharaoh, I shall wait," she said with utmost politeness.

"Thank you," Atemu said to her and walked a short distance away with Seto and Shada.

They spoke in hushed whispers but they saw the pharaoh's face whiten in shock and his eyes darkened.

"That doesn't look good," Serenity said to Teà.

A moment later, the pharaoh walked back over to them while Seto and Shada returned to the palace.

"What happened?" Teà asked him.

He pursed his lip and sighed. "There has been a murder…several….in fact, in the city. My patrols discovered both the bodies and the murderer. He is waiting my judgment," he declared without preamble.

They suddenly understood why his mood had changed so drastically and the joy they had felt only moments ago seemed to vanish in an instant.

"Murder…what…what'd you mean…" Yugi stammered.

"I shall spare you the details," Atemu swallowed, grimly. "It appears as though the recent string of thefts has escalated despite my best efforts. The thief was discovered and rather than surrender he murdered the family and the guard who first came upon the slaughter as he attempted to flee. He was apprehended by the patrol. His guilt is certain." He then turned to the princess. "The murderer is an Egyptian as are the victims. It has no bearing whatsoever on our treaty and justice shall be done, I assure you," he told her.

"I understand. Such regrettable circumstances occur even without our present predicament. it is human nature. I trust that the appropriate course of action will be taken to to reassure all who reside here," Ayten replied.

"Naturally. I would be satisfied with nothing less," Atemu assured her.

She placed her hand over her heart before speaking again. "My countrymen and my gods grieve with your people and we shall stand beside you in offering justice," she said. She then bowed and left.

"What does that mean?" Serenity pondered aloud after she was gone.

"Briefly," Atemu said with a sigh. "She means, that if I do not do my duty and deliver justice, I will be perceived as weak. My actions will be watched, recorded and never forgotten. If I do not dole out the appropriate punishment befitting of such a heinous crime, I will fail to 'reassure all who reside here' not only my own people and likely be overthrown or worse."

"Isn't that a little extreme?" Teà asked, stunned as his grim explanation.

"You recall what I told you about outdated cliches here?" he said and she nodded.

"So…you mean justice as in…throw this guy in jail, right?" Yugi asked.

"…Not exactly," Atemu looked away. "I…would ask that you leave this to me and stay clear of the throne room for…some time."

"Why?" Yugi asked, still confused.

"Because after this, after you know what I need to do, you may never forgive me. And I couldn't bear it if you hated me. Any of you," he replied, with despondent eyes.

"Hey, guys…we got the horses!" Joey called out to them. He, along with Duke, Tristan and Mana were walking over to them leading a group of horses along with them.

"Did we miss something? What's with the long faces?" Tristan asked them, confused.

"No horse jokes, please," Duke rolled his eyes. "After the smell in those stables, I don't ever wanna even hear any horse puns, jokes or noises for at least a year."

"Something happened…" Yugi said to them, slowly.

"Mana, I'm needed at once in the throne room," Atemu told her.

"Where'd the princess get to?" she asked, looking around.

"Circumstances have changed and a show of diplomacy is now the least of my concerns. Please, escort everyone back to my quarters as quickly and quietly as you can with an armed guard at the door for their protection. I expect no small amount of trouble soon enough. Then, as a member of my court, I need you with the others by my side," Atemu said seriously.

"Okay," Mana nodded, asking no questions on hearing his tone of seriousness.

She waved over a few guards and handed over the horses to them. "Come on guys, we gotta go," she said and lead them back to the palace, despite their flurry of questions as they explained what the 'change in circumstances' actually was to her.

"You can't just lock us in here!" Joey yelled.

"Sorry guys, pharaohs' orders," Mana told them. "And he's right. If there really has been a murder and they got the guy, then we need to deal with it fast. He really didn't need this now, not with the Sea guys here too! This is a disaster!" Mana threw her arms up frantically.

"What's he gonna have to do, he wouldn't tell us?" Yugi asked.

"What we always do with murderers or really bad criminals," she said dismissively.

"Lock 'em up, right?" Tristan asked.

"Well…" Gramps and the professor shared a knowing look.

"Errr…noooooo," Mana drawled. "Why would we do that? They could escape do so all that stuff all over again. No, they get executed and thrown in the desert," she shrugged as though it were perfectly normal.

"WHAT?!" They all cried out, except Mai and the two older archaeologists.

"Makes sense," Mai shrugged.

"Makes…what?" Yugi said, stunned. "You can't just…"

"Look I don't have time, I have to go," Mana said quickly. "Just stay in here where it's safe for now and I'll explain everything later. I promise," then she ran off.

"Hey, get back here!" Joey shouted but she didn't.

"Executed?" Teà repeated, stunned.

"Really?" Yugi turned to his grandfather who nodded.

"Yes. Long term imprisonment really is a fairly modern concept," he told them. "Execution of the criminal followed by the abandonment of their body in the dessert really is the worst punishment the Egyptians had. Without a mummified, intact body and a record of the name, there can be no afterlife. The deprivation of this, in many cases, for this civilisation is worse than anything else."

"But…she said 'execution'." Yugi said and more or less fell to the floor onto the piles of cushions. "He knew…the pharaoh knew that, that why he doesn't want us there…is he gonna have to…y'know…is that why…"

"Who cares?! If this person murdered people and they can prove it, then what's it matter," Mai shrugged. "Horrible things happen, I'm sorry but you need to deal with it. I don't know much…hardly anything about Egypt…but we're here now, and if that's their rules then that's their rules."

"But the pharaoh might have to kill someone," Serenity whispered as though she couldn't quite believe it.

"You said you'd seen him training with soldiers. You dont do that just fun.. And didn't you say he'd been in battles?" Mai asked Solomon who nodded. "There you go. He's not had a sheltered life. He's a king. And he's tough. He better do whatever he has to or you heard what the consequences will be," she said, matter of factly.

"I'm sorry to say, but Mai is right," the professor said. "I don't like it either, but we can't interfere."

"But…" Rebecca began to protest.

"We can't just…let someone be…" Yugi said at the same time.

"At least wait until the pharaoh returns and talk to him about it. If we burst into the throne room while he's holding court over this, we'll do far more damage than he can ever hope to repair," Solomon took his grandson by the shoulders and grimly spoke to him. "His situation is already beyond precarious, so please, all of you…we'll do as he says and wait here."

"…Right…" Yugi nodded, as did the others.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the throne room was strained and rigid. The pharaoh, surrounded by his court, sat on his throne looking down at the restrained and chained prisoner before them.

The room was filled with people; some representing the temples, some representing the city at large as well as those giving evidence. King Taresh and his court watched on also, eager to see justice be done.

"Then it was witnessed," Shimon recounted. "By no less than five guards. This cannot be disputed. Several townspeople, comprising of Egyptians and Canaanite's saw him attempt to flee capture whilst covered in the blood of his victims. All of them good and honest people," he said and waved a hand over at those same people who had been called to offer their accounts to the Pharaoh and the court.

Shimon then turned back to the man in chains. "Have you anything to say? Anything at all in your defence?" he asked.

The man said nothing.

"You have nothing to say concerning your guilt?"

Again, the prisoner was silent.

"You offer no apology for your crimes?" the old man asked again. "Three people lie dead in their own home! A child was brutally butchered, left bleeding out while the healers tried in vain to save the poor girl! Her mother and father were hacked to pieces and deprived of their afterlife and yet you remain silent?! Alas, what more is there to be done?" he sighed.

"What more evidence is needed?" Seto shook his head. "The court has heard enough. This wretch's soul is scarcely worthy of a stone tablet to seal away his creature of darkness!" he brandished the millennium rod.

"Agreed," Shimon said. "Remove him from our sight at once. He is a stain upon this great nation and the pharaoh who presides upon it. You shame our great king and country. Pharaoh, your judgment?" Shimon turned to him, as did everyone else in the room.

The king solemnly regarded the man on his knees. His head was bowed, he was dressed fairly well though he still had the stains of blood on him, even if her had been cleaned a little before being brought in in chains. He was young, silent and unmoving.

"None shall not repeat your name. It shall be forgotten henceforth," the king declared and all listened. "Your guilt is established and your punishment will fit your crimes. As you have inflicted upon others, so shall be done to you. Tomorrow at dawn, you shall breathe your last. You have until then to consider your actions and to speak, I suggest that you use that time well. So let it be written so let it be done," he finished.

"Begone with him," Shimon said.

The guards dutifully dragged the prisoner away and a murmer ran through the room, quietly.

"Such crimes as this will not be tolerated," the pharaoh then said to the court which fell silent. "Let this be known. Justice is done and it was swift. We in this country do not relish the thought of taking a life, it is abhorrent but there can be no reparations made for this crime. Many of you have seen the bodies and all have heard the evidence. If any among you can find fault with this judgment, I urge you to speak now," he said and only silence prevailed.

Atemu waited a moment and glanced around the room. Many looked physically ill after hearing the descriptions of the wounds inflicted or from seeing the damage done. None could speak to question the judgment.

"Very well. This is the eve of war with a great enemy at our door, now is not the time to be weak or isolated. I have a great need of you all in these dark times; those of all nations," the king said looking over at the representatives of the Canaan refugees and at the Sea People's. "Such a blow is one felt by all and this will be a day of mourning for those who fell today," he said and stood.

The gong was struck and prayers were then offered for the dead by the temple priests.

In the palace prisons, which lay deep underground, the Pharaoh stood by the cell of the condemned prisoner. It was a dark and dreary place, lit dimly by flickering torch lights on the stone walls and the stagnant air was abhorrent.

"Have you still nothing to say?" Atemu demanded.

"This wrench can say nothing of significance, my king, you waste your time," Seto sneered at the murderer.

"You will soon meet your end," the king remarked.

"I will meet that end regardless of whether I speak," the man finally spoke.

"Your actions have assured that, not I," Atemu said and the man scoffed. "You disagree?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"His opinion is irrelevant," Seto said.

"Why did you kill those people? What had they done to warrant such an end?" Atemu asked.

"We're all going to die soon. The serpents will see to that," he shrugged.

"That is no answer," Mahad replied.

"It is all the answer that I offer."

"You blame the serpents. But it was not they who took three innocent lives this day. You did. Do you even acknowledge that?" Atemu asked.

"Hardly innocent."

"Then what was their offence?"

"We are all guilty," the prisoner answered, obtusely.

"Of what?" Atemu asked.

"Of living a lie," he whispered. "This place…this lie…you see it too," he said, gripping the bars of his unmoving prison.

"What is it that I see?" the king asked.

The prisoner then began to chuckle. "That you are king of none. We are nothing. I am already dust…" he laughed.

The king glanced at both Mahad and Seto and then turned back to the prisoner.

"He is mad," Seto remarked.

"Clearly," Mahad nodded. "Let us take our leave, my king," he said.

The three of them began to leave when they heard the prisoner shouting to them.

"Don't you see?!" he yelled. "They sent me! They are coming for you! There is nowhere to hide! Fate abandoned me before I could do more, but mark me, there is nothing you can do!" he cackled. "You are king of nothing! You are nothing! Soon you will join them in darkness and all shall perish!"

They still heard his ravings and mad chortles even after they had left the prison.

"He knows," Atemu said to them, quietly. "How is this possible?" he frowned.

"He claims to be sent by 'them'. Are we to assume that he refers to Apep and his ally?" Mahad pondered.

"One assumes so," Seto said. "The God of chaos would delight in spreading such discord. And if that is so, we can likely expect more of such…incidents to weaken and thereby destroy his enemy from within."

"And to simply kill him is return him to his god. A god that has already proven his control over the lost souls and his ability to return them at his will," the king sighed, recalling his disturbing dream in which Aknadin had been returned to them. He still couldn't quite understand why the enemy would show such mercy and still leave the man to walk among them, there had to be a reason, surely.

"What else can be done? Nothing. He must be executed and we must remain vigilant," Seto replied.

"Agreed. But we do not have eyes everywhere," Mahad said.

"The execution will be done with and the people will be content. It does not sit well with me…" Atemu said. "But we have far more pressing matters than this. I want the patrols around the city doubled…no, tripled. This cannot be repeated. People must be reassured."

"I shall see it done," Seto nodded and left.

"I shall continue my work with master Aknadin. You will require all your strength, my king, and I can see you fading even now," Mahad said quietly to him.

"Thank you," Atemu gave him a small smile.

The pharaoh rested his hand against the wall, leaning on it now that he was finally alone and he sighed. He was tired but there was still much to do and her once again, his head was splitting the tiredness he felt was gone weary.

Now, he had to face his friends and explain this to them. That would not be an easy task, he knew.

By the time the pharaoh made it back to his rooms where Yugi and the others were still waiting, Mana had already told them all. They were sat with his mother too and though she also had tried to explain to them the differences in the land they now resided, it didn't seem to help much.

Atemu was met with a flurry of frantic questions and he held up his hands, closing his eyes to the piercing noise that assaulted his already aching head.

"Please, my friends, please," he begged them. "It has been a trying day, at least allow me to rest before I answer your questions," he said and sat down beside them all. It helped to keep at bay, the slight dizziness he was beginning to feel too.

"I erm…told them everything," Mana explained. "And apparently, in their time things like this get dealt with differently. I thought it was weird. But I guess you'd know, you've been there and all, but yeah, they know everything."

"Everything?" he asked.

"Yep."

"Ah."

"It's horrible," Serenity said, leaning against her brother. "How could someone just…do that?"

Joey had his arm around her shoulders, comfortingly. "There's some bad people out there, sis," he said.

"There is…one thing you do not know," Atemu said. "I spoke to the prisoner. He claims that he was sent by Apep to spread chaos and…he knows that this is…the land of the dead. I don't know how or even if he was bluffing, or simply mad."

"This is the doing of the serpent?" Meskhenet sighed. "This is a new tactic for him. Bold. Or perhaps desperate," she said.

"Perhaps," her son said. "But the fact remains, that as far as the rest of the people are concerned, this is their life. If they knew the truth…everything would be destroyed. This is meant as a place of peace and it seems to be unraveling before my eyes. An enemy at the gate, an enemy in my own palace and now this. Sooner or later, something will have to give way and I cannot predict what will happen. Regardless…he killed three people. He will be executed in the morning," he said, looking away from his friends.

"Just…just like that?" Yugi muttered.

"There was a trial. There is ample, irrefutable evidence. And if I do not…" he sighed.

"But…" Teà but her lip.

"But what? I realise that this isn't…something that you are accustomed to…"

She let out a rueful scoff and stood up. "We don't kill people it's just…not you! I just can't…you just…you're gonna kill him just like that?"

"Yes," Atemu said simply. "That is my duty," he added gravely.

She began pacing in front of them, clearly agitated and she was shaking her head. The others were sitting amidst the piles of soft cushions, looking on at them.

"You do not approve?" Atemu asked her. Then he looked at the others. "Any of you? This is why I didn't want you to know, or to be there at the trial."

"No…I…I get it, man, I do," Joey said. "But it's…it's not…good," he finished, not knowing what to say.

"Yeah," Duke and Tristan nodded.

"I don't…I don't know, I get that he did it but…" Teà muttered

"What is the alternative?"

"Prison," she shrugged, sounding more as though she was asking a question rather than posing a solution.

"For life? And who is to pay for that? The people? Not only that, but practically who is to see to it? Manpower is stretched at its limit, I do not have people to spare to keep guard over this wretch at all hours. And even if I did, you think they would agree to that? I would not. Were it you or anyone here to have met such an end I would demand justice. None spoke in his defence today. Not a single person."

"Mom and dad are fighting," Joey muttered.

"'S weird," Tristan remarked.

"No kidding," Duke mumbled.

"Really not the time for jokes, guys," Rebecca said.

"Who's joking," Joey muttered.

"But…" Yugi began.

"Do you have any conception of what this man has done?" Atemu said. "I saw the bodies…"

"You can't just…kill him…"

"Whether he was acting under the orders of Apep are irrelevant to the outcome. Those people suffered a horrific death at his hands…"

"Stop…" Teà put a hand over her mouth, disgusted and Yugi looked away.

"He cannot be allowed to live. If I simply decreed that this murderer is to spend his life behind bars, at the very least, there would be riots in the streets. His punishment must fit his crime and it must be public. That is the law."

"But that's just revenge, isn't it?" Yugi asked.

"It's the law, Yugi," Rebecca told him as kindly as she could.

"What? You too?" Yugi turned to her, stunned.

"I studied dozen of ancient cultures, and gramps…and other gramps, are both right. He's a murderer and this is their justice."

"But…"

"Don't his victims deserve it?" Atemu replied.

"It won't bring back the people he killed," Teà added

"No. But they may rest a little easier in the knowledge that justice has been done."

Teà sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"I understand why this is so distressing you, and I can only hope that you can forgive me. I know that you don't mean this to defend his actions, but it comes from your good heart…"

"He's…a monster, I get it. I do. But back home we're not used to…"

"I am aware. I was there," he interrupted her. "I know how things are done in your time but this is not your time. This place is a much more violent world than you are accustomed to. I learned a lot from my time in your world. But it does not negate the fact that this man will kill again if he gets the chance. I do not intend to give him that chance."

"You're not going to be the one to…actually kill him, are you?"

"No."

"Well, that's easy for you to say then, isn't it?" she muttered, biting her lip and regretting what she'd said even as the words came out.

"You think so?" he asked her, staring at her with piercing amethyst eyes. "You think it is an easy thing to condemn another human being to death? His blood will be on my hands. I have to be there. I have to watch."

"But you're not going to kill him!"

"No. But I have killed before," he admitted, not sounding at all proud.

"W…what?" Teà stammered, too stunned to understand what he'd just said.

"I fought in wars to defend my country in my father's place. I have killed in war. I am not an innocent. And you have all seen me banish many a soul to the shadows. That may as well be death for those whom I banish for they do not return."

"I told them that," Mai shrugged. "The battle part, I mean, not the shadows part," she added.

"You…killed people?" Teà stared at him as did Yugi.

"I did," he admitted, not sounding at all proud. "This is not an excuse, but you must understand, the differences between our worlds are vast and many."

"But that doesn't just give you the right to…just kill this guy!"

"I have every right," he told her sternly, and stood up. He took a step forward and she in turn took a step back. "I am king. He is my subject and he took three lives, not in defence of his country or his life, but to spread chaos! It is my duty to uphold the law. Even in your time, the crime of murder is unforgivable."

"But we don't kill people for it!"

"Well…some places still do," Joey remarked.

"There were witnesses to the crime. It is proved beyond any doubt this this man is guilty. If you are concerned that an innocent man will be executed…"

"That's not it," she shook her head. "I just…I'm not used to seeing…I can't imagine you killing," she said.

"Neither could I…until I did. Make no mistake, I'm still not easy in my mind about it. I still see their faces at times and for months after my return, I found sleep impossible," he said, his voice much more quiet and pained.

Then he looked up and his usual confidence returned, though whether it was a a mask or not, she couldn't quite tell. "But I did my duty as Crown Prince. I had no choice. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I am not the innocent you think me to be. Our childhoods here do not last nearly as long as yours and we cannot afford to be complacent here. More importantly, I will not go back on my word," he insisted. "I will rid my country of this maniac and I will not risk war because I am not strong enough to do as I must. I am…sorry to disappoint you…but perhaps it is for the best," he sighed. "This is what it means to be king here. This is what I am and what I must be."

Atemu reluctantly turned away. "For what it's worth, I am sorry that this has sown the chaos it was intended to do and caused you all such distress, but I do not regret my choice. If you wish to distance yourselves I shall respect your wishes. It will not affect my desire to see you all safely back to your time, you have my word."

"I…" Teà began

"I…have other duties to attend to," he stopped her, quickly. Then, without another word, the pharaoh all but fled from his own rooms, leaving them in silence.

As the doors closed behind him, the pharaoh was greeted by the sight of the smiling princess Ayten standing there, as though quaint for him.

"I am to congratulate you, pharaoh," she declared. "My people approve of swift and righteous justice. Now the dead may rest easy. We shall be present at the execution with your permission, of course," she asked and he nodded.

"Of course, if that is your kings' wish," he replied. And it was with great effort that he not only set aside his tiredness but also the conflict he felt after speaking to his friends. "This is a most regrettable affair and we cannot allow it to divide us," he said.

"No, indeed. And it shall not," Ayten said with a nod then she sauntered away.

"Quite the viper, that one," Meskhenet remarked.

When exactly she'd joined her son in the corridor he wasn't entirely sure.

"Yes, I noticed," he said.

"Swift and sharp. In many ways I approve of such actions. Vipers can be quite useful," she said.

"Understood," Atemu said simply.