AN: I'M BACCCK! I was sure this would be an easy chapter since it's more of Kay being a social disaster, and I consider myself good at writing that. Then I got stuck on the whole "he can't leave his room" thing, then school happened... Anyway, here's chapter 12, finally. Some Kay and Aknamkanon content because it's been a hot minute since they had a one-on-one interaction, and some vaseshipping thrown in at the beginning because I am nothing if not predictable.

PS: You could make a drinking game out of how often the general reaction to Kay's behavior is "Oh Ra, what HAPPENED to this poor kid!?"

The King And I

"-So then Jou comes in from behind and, BAM! Laid Obed flat on the ground. Then he turned right around and knocked Ashraf down too!" Mana said.

"Two opponents at the same time?" I asked. "Alone?"

"Yeah, Kay, I just said that," Mana said. She frowned and tilted her head to one side. "Are you having trouble remembering? Maybe I should stop and let you lie down…"

"No, I remember what you said. It just… surprised me, is all. This Jou character sounds like a powerful fighter."

"He was," Maahad observed. "The only one I saw of his equal was Shada."

"You know what would be amusing? Having those two fight each other," Seth commented offhandedly. He winced as he massaged his biceps, apparently still feeling the strain of all those stalemates with Shada.

"Kay, do you really need every little detail of the fights you missed laid out for you?" Kisara asked.

"Of course I do," I said, surprised the white-haired girl was even asking that question. Seth was wrong - she was naive. "I need to know how these people fight, so if I'm tasked with taking on any one of them, I can counter their strategies and crush them!"

Mana backed away a little bit. "Ooh-kay, you're getting a little intense there, my friend."

Seth, currently lying across the foot of my bed, gave me a sly look. "Yeah, maybe save the 'crush your enemies' talk for at least a day after you get clonked on the head and pass out for five hours." He sat up. "In all seriousness, Kay, it's fine for you to want to know these things. But now? You need to rest, or else you won't be up for the next competition."

I scowled. "I'm alright, I already told all of you that. It barely hurts, and I'm not dizzy anymore."

A wave of dizziness and nausea came over me in immediate contradiction to what I said.

Four expressions of doubtfulness met me as I steadied myself.

"Rest," Mana insisted. "I promise, I'll tell you the rest later. For now, your lunch is getting cold, and Naunet specifically told me you had to eat something and that would help."

I was sure if I ate anything I would just vomit it back up, but her glare when I opened my mouth to protest was so intense I scowled, tore a piece off of the hunk of bread, and ate it.

"We'll see you later," Seth said. "Hopefully when you're well enough to stand up. Ow! Kisara, what was that for!?"

"Seth, please, he's already upset over having to rest, don't rub it in!" Kisara snapped, having elbowed him in the stomach. "Idiot…"

Maahad shied away from Kisara's angry words. "If you wish, Kay, I can still help train you in magic after you've rested a little," he promised.

"I won't be able to give you combat pointers," I grumbled, glaring at the plate of food as if it were the cause of my suffering. "I can't even sit up without getting dizzy. Our agreement-"

"I don't mind that, Kay," Maahad interrupted, laying a hand on mine. "Your health matters more to me."

"The best way to get back on your feet again is to rest like everyone's telling you to," Kisara said firmly. "Come on, everyone. Let's leave him alone."

"Be sure to eat the roast duck," Mana said as everyone else filed out. "Naunet said it'd be good for you. And we'll be back with dinner later. And I promise, I'll tell you more about the fights you missed today when you're feeling better. And-"

"Alright, we get the point," Seth said, grabbing her by the back of her dress and dragging her away.

"I was gonna say I'm asking Naunet if she has any herbs that are good for headaches!" Mana griped as she was pulled out of the room, kicking her feet like a child.

Despite my irritated mood, I couldn't help but smile as they disappeared, Mana's complaining growing ever fainter as they got further away.

I did manage to eat, although it left my stomach churning from nausea. However, I couldn't fall back asleep. I felt wide awake after the five hours I had slept before, and with everything Mana had told me, I had a lot on my mind to sort out.

I know some of the contestants' fighting styles, at least, and it's as I expected - a mixed bag of strengths and weaknesses. There were quite a few that were like Maahad - they were more skilled in magic, to the point they were overly dependent on it. That'll be a help if there are more contests like this where magic isn't allowed. But then there were people like Shada and Jou who were very skilled combatants. I'll have to watch them carefully. There's no way to get them out of the contest without risking being disqualified myself. I've already caught Lord Aknadin's ire with what happened with Seth in the courtyard.

I scowled. And with this injury setting me back, I'm not even allowed to train myself to fight the likes of them like I planned.

Mana was wrong - I needed to train. But how would I find a moment to myself to do so? And should I even try?

I scowled and kicked the bed as if it were to blame for my problem. Why did everything in this palace have to be so complicated? I wouldn't even be questioning whether I should do what I was contemplating back home with Mother. She would have beaten me for even thinking about it. I had been seen by a physician - a very coddling one at that. That meant I was fine - right?

I turned over in bed, grimacing as fireworks of pain exploded behind my eyes.

I have to get up. At least to look around. Work on my archery. Footwork. Something.

I picked up my knife and forced myself up, feeling a new surge of nausea and dizziness shoot across my body. Gingerly, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and wobbled to my feet. For a few seconds, I stood there, head pounding. But I kept my balance. I didn't immediately purge myself of the lunch that had been prepared for me.

Pain exploded behind my eyes whenever I took a step, and I became uncoordinated when I ran - but I could walk. I could definitely go look around the palace for more ideas on how and when I would enact the Pharaoh's death when it came. Slowly, I stepped out of my room and into the hallway.

As I walked, I racked my brain for places to look.

I didn't want to go anywhere near the Pharaoh's bedchamber again, nor did I want to chance going near the forbidden hallway.

The servants' quarters? No, during the contest, I was - temporarily - a noble. Gone were the days I could simply disappear unnoticed. Anyone who saw me near the servants' quarters was bound to ask me why I was there, and I would have no ready excuse.

The courtyard was too open. The other contestants' bedrooms would put me under suspicion of illegally sabotaging them. Going near the rooms of any of the Sacred Court was ruled out for the same reason as the Pharaoh's own room. Until I got one of them to favor me, I would have no reason to be in one of their rooms.

I also wanted to choose a place my reluctant allies were unlikely to be. They were adamant that I stay in bed, and I didn't want to argue with them about why I couldn't do so. They had already made it clear they didn't understand my concerns, and I had no valid excuse for why doing well in the games was so vital. Not one I could tell them.

That ruled out the library. Maahad was bound to be there.

So where…?

I stopped short as I registered who I saw in front of me.

The ghost woman.

At first glance, she looked the same as she had the night I had seen her - garbed in a dress decorated with black and green jewels, her messy red and gold hair tamed by a simple gold circlet. However, little differences jumped out at me the longer I looked. Black tear stains had dried on her face. Her cheeks were hollow and her fingers thin and bony. Lines had crept into her face.

She looked… tired. Old.

I shakily reached for my knife. But, somehow, I couldn't bring myself to draw it.

The ghost woman gave a distinct nod, then turned, walking back the way she had come. I stared after her in confusion and distrust.

Does she… want me to follow her?

My first instinct was, obviously, to ignore the spirit and keep thinking of a useful place I could utilize in my attempt on the Pharaoh's life. Following this ghost had gotten me in trouble with the guards the last time. It was only through my clumsy lie about being concerned for the Pharaoh's safety that I managed to direct suspicion away again.

However, when I turned around, there she was, standing behind me, blocking the hallway I had come through.

I backed away as she walked toward me, her feet becoming formless mist upon touching the floor.

She opened her mouth to speak, but only a mass of overlapping gibberish words spilled out. Of it, I could only understand the words, 'go' and 'father'.

"What do you want?"

The ghost woman lowered her head, looking pained, saying the same mess of overlapping words.

"What do you mean!?" I snapped at her.

The woman shrank back, but only a little. She said something again, only this time, in addition to catching the words 'go' and 'father' again, I caught the words 'ka' and 'need'.

She took another step forward, and I turned and ran.

Each step jolted up my entire body and sent new bursts of pain through my skull, but I didn't care. Spirits were not something I had been trained to handle, and I couldn't help but remember the encounter with the presence in the nursery hallway.

I rounded the corner and abruptly plowed right into someone. I yelped sharply, both in surprise and pain, and landed sprawled at the feet of the person I had crashed into. Through my blurred haze of double vision, I saw the hem of a pricelessly expensive indigo robe and sandals worth more than Mother's hut, then looked up and saw a pair of concerned pale blue eyes.

"Oh! Kay, are you alright!?"

Merciful Hathor, it was the Pharaoh - again. At least I had dropped my knife rather than put it to his neck this time.

The Pharaoh reached out his hand to help me up, but I refused his offered hand, getting shakily to my feet and rubbing my pounding head in hopes that would clear the stars flashing in front of my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Lord Pharaoh," I managed, trying to keep my anger out of my voice. Anger that once again I had walked right into my enemy and had to bow down and apologize - for the third time since my arrival.

What was the matter with me!?

"There's no need to apologize, really," Lord Aknamkanon said. "Especially since I think I did more damage to you than you did to me."

You wish, don't you?

The Pharaoh's eyebrows raised, and I clamped my mouth shut as I realized I had just voiced my thoughts out loud. For several terrified heartbeats, I didn't even dare breathe, sure that this was the moment my mission concluded for good - and my life.

"Sire, I-" I began, convinced it would be the last thing I was allowed to say before I was sent to the dungeon. "It slipped out - I didn't mean-"

Then the Lord Aknamkanon started chuckling under his breath.

I gingerly opened my eyes at the sound, then stood there in shocked silence as he laughed harder. When he recovered himself, his eyes twinkling merrily, he said, "Rest assured, Kay, I don't mean you any harm, nor do I mean any harm to the other contestants."

I stood there frozen in bewilderment. I was sure I was dead! That I had made a horrible blunder and ended my revenge attempt before it even properly began!

I insulted him to his face… and he didn't mind at all! He even found it amusing!

"...You're… not going to imprison me?" I asked, the panic beginning to drain out of my body.

Lord Aknamkanon laughed again."Why would I? It was only a slip of the tongue, after all." He gently put his hand around my back, pulling back when I flinched. "You… speak your mind, Kay. Didn't I say that I like that about you?" he said warmly.

"Ah… yes. Yes, you did, sire."

"Now-" His gaze turned serious. "Lady Mana told the council why you weren't present for the last of the days' games and lunch. I owe you an apology for that - I greatly underestimated how much danger you would be in with the rules I set in place."

"I'm alright, Lord Pharaoh," I insisted, trying not to wobble as another wave of dizziness almost overcame me. "Lady Naunet examined me afterward."

Lord Aknamkanon raised an eyebrow. "You're certain? From the fuss Lady Mana made over you, I wasn't expecting you to be up and about. She was very severe with the council about letting you rest."

"She didn't have to do that. I have rested enough," I said shortly. I didn't want to talk to the Pharaoh about anything or anyone, much less about Mana.

Lord Aknamkanon frowned, his gaze unreadable. "This contest is meant to test you, Kay. Not break you. If nothing else, you should be concerned that not resting will prevent you from doing your best in the next game."

"I'm sure I know what my limits are," I retorted. "I'm not the kind of person you and your court can coddle."

Lord Aknamkanon's eyes softened, and for a moment he seemed to be looking right through me.

"...Lord Pharaoh?" I asked after a too-long pause. "Is something wrong?"

"Oh - my apologies, Kay. No, nothing's wrong. You just… You reminded me of someone I knew very well, just now."

I felt a shiver. The thought hadn't crossed my mind in a few days since no one had apparently noticed, but I looked quite a bit like Mother. Had Lord Aknamkanon realized the resemblance? "Who, my lord?"

Lord Aknamkanon smiled, but it seemed bitter. "Not someone who lives here now. She hasn't been here for quite some time. Perhaps it's only the eyes of an old man playing tricks on me."

I debated what to answer. Was he trying to trick me into revealing my relation to him?

"Lord Pharaoh," a new voice - Lady Isis - said, saving me from having to speak.

"Oh, pardon me, Kay. Yes, Isis?"

"I have news, Lord Pharaoh. About the intruder. And-" She whispered something in his ear, of which I was only able to catch prophecy.

My stomach dropped. The mysterious prophecy that had Lord Aknadin so worried?

"Oh! I assume you want the rest of the council to hear this as well?"

Lady Isis nodded.

"Of course. Kay, I wish you a speedy recovery," he said, directing the last part at me. "Which is most likely to happen if you rest properly."

I gritted my teeth as the Pharaoh walked off with Lady Isis.

"I'm not made of delicate pottery!" I hissed under my breath. "Who does he think he is, telling me that I ought to rest?"

"The Pharaoh?"

I jumped at the sound of a familiar voice.

"Seth," I said.
"I know this sounds rich coming from me, but you're not doing yourself any favors pacing around like that."

"Not you too," I grumbled under my breath.

"Listen, I was about to ignore you stumbling around the palace with a major head injury, but contrary to what everyone thinks, I'm not heartless. In addition, if your magician girl doesn't kill me for not at least trying to get you back in bed, Kisara definitely will."

"I need to train!" I insisted.

"You need to make sure you don't fall on your own sword during the next combat practice, jackal boy. As supremely entertaining as that would be to watch, I'd prefer it if it happened to someone else, not the first swordsman I've met in a long time who's given me a tough fight."

I scowled at the brunet.

"Put it this way, either you go back to your room to rest, or I get Mana and she drags you back to bed again."

I was sure I could easily fight Mana off - her fighting had improved, but not enough to match me - but I had little interest in doing so. Not when my head was pounding so much it was getting hard to think, and not when she had so effortlessly dragged me to Naunet in the first place.

"Alright, alright, fine," I said sharply. "I'll rest for a little longer. Only a little."

Seth pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's all I'm going to get, I'm sure," he said. Under his breath, he added, "Great Sobek, is this what it's like for Kisara?"

I did find myself back in my room, but only because Seth, after he had ostensibly said goodbye to me in the hall, had followed me to ensure I went back there. In secret, I was sure, but Seth was not a person used to being stealthy, and I quickly caught on that he was there.

That led me back to square one - lying in bed with nothing to do.

I could have always slept, but my thoughts were swirling too fast for me to relax. I had just gotten enough new information to tantalize me, make me nervous, but no clear answers to any of my questions and still no plan for my assassination attempt.

The Pharaoh may have connected me to my mother. The fond way he spoke of the person I reminded him of surprised me - but at the same time I knew it shouldn't have. Lord Aknamkanon was good at making himself out to be a kind person and ruler - he had effortlessly turned the court against my mother, after all. The fondness he expressed for this person had to be a lie also.

And then there was the prophecy. All I knew about it was that it frightened Lord Aknadin and possibly Lady Isis too, it concerned the Pharaoh, and that no one was supposed to know about it. That didn't give me nearly enough information to see how it might affect my plan. I needed to know more.

But how would I get that information? Surely no one would tell me. I didn't have the trust of the Sacred Court yet.

A dull thump on the balcony made me force myself up, scrambling to grab my knife.

"Please, I admire your reflexes, but sheathe your knife, child."

"Mother?" I asked, throwing off the blankets and struggling to my feet.

The curtain parted, and Mother stood there, garbed in a hood like before.

"Child, what are you doing sleeping in the middle of the day?"

My shoulders hunched, and I looked away. "I got injured in the fight today. I was ordered to lay down and rest until I recovered."

Mother's eyes narrowed, and I closed my eyes, knowing what to anticipate next.

SLAP!

I gritted my teeth against the stinging on my face where her hand had struck.

"How long until the Pharaoh thinks you have recovered?" Mother asked.

"Two days. He is sure I will be healed before the next contest, but not long before."

Mother's shoulders slumped in disappointment. "I taught you better than to jeopardize a mission like that, child. You know better than to accept the Pharaoh's coddling, as well."

"Yes, Mother," I said, looking at the floor in shame.

"How long until the task is done?" Mother asked.

"I still need more time, Mother. The Pharaoh seems to trust me, which is a start, but others among the priests are more suspicious."

"So the old fool hasn't changed, has he?" Mother whispered under her breath.

"Mother?"

"He is still arrogant. Still so faithful that his crown, his gates, his kowtowing slaves will protect him," Mother clarified. "Good." She smiled at me, which took the edge off of my shame. Mother was only reminding me of my mission. Only being cold with me because I seemed to have forgotten it.

I'm trying, Mother - I haven't forgotten. I just need more time.

"As soon as I am sure that the crown will pass to me, I will do it," I said.

"Do not dither, child," Mother said sternly. "You know what your purpose is. You understand the importance of it." Her eyes flickered up toward the Pharaoh's watchtower, vacant now, but standing like a monolith to his power even without him in it, and her gaze darkened. "That wretched man has avoided his fate for fifteen years. No more."

"Yes, Mother," I said.

An idea seized me - the idea to wrap my arms around her like I had with the strange woman's spirit. I squashed it down immediately. Mother had never coddled me with such touch, and it was pathetic of me to want it now.

Mother turned away. "Do not forget," she reminded me firmly, before she vanished with a swish of her cloak. Only a passing shadow slipped off the balcony, which the guards dismissed as just the wind.