Neith

A Challenge and a Bet

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

- Barack Obama.

Neith's Pov

I stood transfixed, unable to move an inch. This was bad. Very, very bad. Aahotep, the freaking Pharaoh was here. He wasn't what scared me. The thought of Ammon finding out was what made my blood turn cold. Now Ammon would most definitely kill me. For the love of Aten, why did I have to have such horrible luck. Maybe he won't know who I am. Ya he defiantly won't know who I am. Why would a Pharaoh know the name of a commoner like me?

"Neith?" came his voice. It was soft and firm not harsh like I thought it would sound.

That wasn't important right now I said mentally. How did he knew my name? He had never seen me before so how did he know who I was?

I stood there for a good couple of seconds before my brain reminded me that I should say something instead of gawking at him.

"Hi..." I managed to say. Hi...? Oh dear Aten please kill me now. Out of all the words that ever existed, that was the one my mind can come up with? I mentally kick myself. I probably should have knelt and said good morning sire or something that normal people would do when they see royalty, but no, I had to say the most lamest thing in the world.

While I was lost in my own thoughts on how differently things could have gone, I didn't notice that Aahotep had come closer. I almost fell backward when I looked up to see him two feet away. Great, now I have completely made a fool of myself.

"Careful, I wasn't trying to scare you or anything," he said reaching out. It's not you who I'm afraid of I think mentally.

"No, you didn't scare me sire," I said looking up at him.

Wow! Those are some green eyes I saw on the day of the coronation. The power that they radiated was so immense and overpowering, that it was hard enough just looking at them. I probably should have looked away but I couldn't. They were so beautiful. They reminded me of life and of nature.

"Why are you here?" he asked, a small frown tugged his brow.

'I... um... I..." I didn't know what to say. I can't say that I was here to see Abu. What should I tell him?

"I was actually here to talk to you sire," I blurted out before I could evaluate where this could lead. I made a mental note to kick myself if I ever got out of this situation.

"Me? You're here to see me?" he asked confused. Well I couldn't back out now.

"Yes, I came to see if Abu was here so he could take me to see you sire," I said. Aahotep was about to say something before Abu came into the room. He held a tray with two clay cups. He seemed quite weak. I wondered if he was okay.

"Neith? What are you doing here?" he asked, looking puzzled.

"Abu I will be taking Neith outside for a bit. You rest up for today, I will visit you later," Aahotep said before I could reply. Where is he taking me? Oh God I hope it isn't to see Ammon.

Abu looked confused, but didn't say anything, he simply nodded and walked us out.

"Follow me," Aahotep said once we were outside Abu's chamber. I followed him in silence, a hundred and one thoughts coming up in my mind. In between he asked one of the guards stationed there to ask the royal swnw (doctor) to go to Abu's chamber before continuing.

We passed by a small pond around which many beautiful flowers of all colors grew, they same kind I saw at the entrance. Then we climbed a flight of stairs. The palace was brimming with servants doing their day to day tasks. We finally came up to a part of the palace which was so empty that the silence was almost frightening. What was this place?

The place had a closed roof but the sides were open letting the cool breeze to circulate. Aahotep stopped, turned around and a small smile appeared on his face.

"We can talk here. No one will hear us. So what did you want to ask me?" he asked, his voice gentle as a flower that had just bloomed. I swallowed. Well here goes nothing.

It's better if I just asked him. He would probably know a lot more than Abu I thought.

"It's about Ammon sire. He has been restless and really on edge since father um... I mean the General had passed away," I said looking straight at him, trying to conceal the pain that tugged my heart when I said those awful words. If Ammon wouldn't tell me what was going on I'll ask everyone I can. I really had to know what he was hiding from me. I could have sworn I saw Aahotep's face pale a bit.

"He probably is just grieving in his own way," he said, bring both his arms to his chest and crossing them.

"No, he isn't. I feel he is hiding something about father's death and I would really like to know what it is," I blurted out before I could think. Oh no, I should have at least worded it a bit more humbly. I mentally kick myself again. Calm down Neith!

"I'm sorry sire I didn't mean to say it like that. The thing is Ammon got really angry at me when he found out that I was investigating about father's death. He accidentally said I would be killed if I continued. Could you please tell me what actually happened to my father and why Ammon said something like that?" I asked more calmer. I hoped at least he would tell me. I had the right to know didn't I? He was my father after all.

"You investigated about your father's death?" he asked shocked. I looked at him with confusion. Why would he be shocked at that?

"You're a kid and you shouldn't go around asking silly questions. I can't tell you anything more because there isn't anything more to it. Your father did die of a heart problem. If that is all you wanted to ask, you may leave," Aahotep said with a stern face. His gentle demeanor complete vanished.

Why is there a change of attitude? And what did he mean by that. I'm not a little kid! I'm almost thirteen. As I stood there trying to process what he said, Aahotep started walking off.

I knew for a fact now that he was hiding something from me. But what do I do? I had the right to know didn't I? I had to stop him from leaving. At that moment the most stupidest idea struck me and before my mind could think of the consequences for it, my body had already moved.

I ran to a nearby pillar and took out one of the swords stacked near it.

"I challenge you to a duel," I said loudly but the silent room made it sound even louder. I knew the moment the words came out of my mouth that this would not end well. But I couldn't back down, not now. Besides it was already too late.

Aahotep stopped abruptly. He turned around to see me pointing a sword at him. He looked dumbstruck, you could literally see it in his face that he didn't believe what he saw. This somehow made me feel a little happy inside.

Ha... you probably have never seen a women hold up a sword have you.

He took a few seconds to recover. He walked back slowing, eyeing me like a hawk.

"You can fight?" he asked, his voice mocking me. This angered me. I wouldn't be holding a sword if I couldn't.

"If I win you have to tell me what is going on. Sorry your Highness but I don't think I have any other way to find out the truth," I said, still holding the sword firmly in my hands.

Aahotep laughed, it wasn't a chuckle or those empty laughs that people fake when they hear a bad joke. No, this was a real whole hearted laugh.

"You're actually serious about this, aren't you? And you really think you can win on top of that?" he asked finally calming down a bit.

I sung the sword around a bit to show that I indeed knew how to wield a sword. I have practiced hard for years and there is no way someone like him who mocks me will win. I won't let it, not when I have to find out the truth. No way am I gonna lose.

"Very well I shall fight you even though you're a child and a female one at that. But if you lose then you have to do something for me. Do you agree?" he asked, eyeing me, challenging me to accept.

"What do you want me to do sire?" I asked, looking at him with suspicion. My gut had a bad feeling about this.

"I won't tell you that now. But do remember if you go through with this you have to obey whatever I tell you to do and if you intend on forfeiting this fight then you will end up in jail for assaulting the Pharaoh," he said, his lips curled up to an evil smile.

What...? He didn't really mean that I would end up in jail if I actually forfeit. Not that I would ever back down from a fight but to think he would go so far made my blood boil. I will kick his arrogant bottom and I don't care if he is the Pharaoh of Egypt.

"I agree," was all I said. I didn't address him as sire or Highness. He didn't deserve it. He pulled out a sword. He removed all the jewelry and scarf he had on, neatly placing it on the shelf. He took his stance. From the way he stood and held his sword I knew he was serious. He took me seriously and I appreciate that. At least he was honorable.

I was the first one to move. I swung the sword, left... right... dead center. He took then head on. I put in all of my strength. I kept attacking and he kept defending. He wasn't gonna defend forever was he? I think he was allowing me to get used to the rhythm of the fight. At one point when I began to slow down, he counter attacked. His movements were fast and very precise. He definitely wasn't an easy opponent but it didn't mean I would just give up. No, my father taught me better. I almost got hit a couple of times. I quickly recovered though.

"You're an excellent fighter. Definitely better than me when I was your age," his voice came in-between harsh breaths. Wow the Pharaoh actually complimented me.

Not the time to fell happy Neith.

This gave me confidence and I came back hard. But it was too much force due to which my center became weak. He used that to knock out my sword. It flew from my hand and landed a few feet away with a loud thud.

Before I could react there was a sword pointing at my throat.

"I said you were better than me at your age not now. Looks like I won," Aahotep said with a satisfied smile.

I lost? I literally lost? I just stood there dumbfounded. I put my all into it and I still lost? I shook myself. I might have lost but I still had my pride.

I looked him straight in the eye, "Guess I did, so what is it that I should do for you then," I asked him. Somehow the look on his face made me regret saying so immediately. What was he gonna have me do?