Yuki didn't think she'd be greeted in Mahagah by a crowd of people kneeling and bowing their heads as they passed. She was worried about how they would receive the news that their pharaoh would be divorced in a few weeks.
They arrived at a building with a square roof and walls lined with crystal on the outside, lending a feeling of wealth, as if everything was cut from diamond. And perhaps it was. She thought as Durin walked confidently beside her, encouraging her to enter the building.
"This is Pharaoh's palace." He said with a somber expression.
Yuki thought she would see a room with a throne as soon as they passed the lobby, but instead, countless people bowed in reverence, just like everyone else outside, in a room furnished with several tables, vaguely reminiscent of a restaurant. Durin, as he had done all the way there, ignored all the people and advanced to the largest of the tables. Beside the chairs, people were still bowing in reverence without daring to look at the new Pharaoh.
Durin stopped next to one of them and stared at him coldly.
"Stand up, Tykar."
A strong man, the same height as Durin, stood up with an icy gaze and regarded Durin as an equal. All the other people stood up too, but didn't take their seats.
"What are you doing here?"
"This is my Pharaoh's presentation ceremony."
"I'm not talking about this enclosure, Tykar. What are you doing at Pharaoh's table?"
Tykar's eyes darkened.
"I'm your brother. That guarantees me a place at this table."
Yuki looked at Tykar in amazement. If he hadn't had black hair in contrast to Durin's blond hair, she would have sworn they were twins.
Her surprise must have been noticed by Tykar, because his eyes turned away from Durin and met hers. He raised an eyebrow as he studied her with interest.
"That's going to change. I'm not going to be eating my meals next to my enemy. And you're a bastard, Tykar. I forbid you to spread the word that we have the same blood. I'm ashamed." Durin said mercilessly and Tykar turned his gaze on him.
"I don't want to eat my meals next to you either, brother. Unfortunately for you, my not being a legitimate son of the Pharaoh didn't stop me from inheriting some... Gifts from the gods."
"Really? What can you do? Put out a candle fire with a blow?" Durin asked mockingly and saw a livid Tykan looking very interested at Yuki.
"No, brother. Perhaps, I'd rather see your Phoenix flame go out with the snow you've carried for your life." He said and touched Yuki's chin. "You're the mother." He concluded and let her go.
One of the other men at the table approached. He was wearing a gold dress, with blue collars at the neck and cuffs.
"Uhn... Pharaoh... Your father has made some demands and Tykar must not be banished from the family table. The Gumis may only speak in his presence."
Durin didn't answer, but pulled Yuki close and took her to the table, placing her on his right, at the head of the table and as soon as he sat down, everyone in the room sat down too. Durin's eyes met Celesty's, who raised her glass with a smile. He was relieved to know that he wouldn't have to eat with her.
Very soft violin music began to play in the background and some waiters came in bringing food and serving all the tables.
Yuki looked intently at her plate. Lamb with potatoes au gratin. She looked at Durin. He winked at her, as if they were sharing a secret, and then he concentrated on his own plate in front of him.
Yuki didn't understand the warnings that the Gumis gave sporadically while they ate. He heard words that didn't make much sense. Just like Tykar and Durin's conversation.
"The Phoenix will fully manifest when you fulfill all the rituals required of a Pharaoh..."
"Your enemy is a Kodak."
"The stars foretell a battle of fire and ice soon..."
"Mahagah will be divided..."
"You must ensure that the people do not love two kings..."
The meal ended and Durin escorted her to her room.
Yuki entered a luxurious environment, full of young girls to serve her. Three apartments just like hers in Michigan could fit in her room. She looked at Durin.
"This place is too big. I won't get used to it. I prefer a smaller room."
"For two weeks, you'll be Farida. You can't stay in a smaller room. You have a position in this house." He said and smiled. "It's not hard to get used to good things, Yuki. Enjoy your experience."
"Where are you going to sleep?"
"Do you want to know my room, or my bed?"
Yuki looked at him coldly.
"Don't try to be funny, Durin."
"I'll try." He said and kissed her forehead, pausing to stare at Yuki's lips. She pulled away.
"Your brother looks a lot like you." She said, trying to understand why Durin didn't like him.
"Forget Tykar. Don't go near him. He won't bother with the Pharaohs' rules. He's wicked."
"What does that mean? Do you have a rule for Ra wives?"
Durin took Yuki's hand and kissed it gently.
"Tykar wasn't born in the traditional way and that prevents us from finding out what he has from his older relatives. Our rules about never being rude to our wives may not apply to him. In short, Tykar is like a walking box of surprises. Unpredictable." He said and bowed to Yuki before leaving.
Yuki looked around. The young women began to approach.
"Where are my bags?"
They pointed to a trunk at the foot of the bed.
Yuki opened it and saw her clothes carefully stored there and looked at one of the young women who had accompanied her.
"Don't you know closets?"
The girl's face immediately flushed and she pointed to the wall.
Yuki realized that the wall was actually covered by a huge cupboard.
"Our Pharaoh doesn't want his wife Ra to wear clothes that don't match her position." She said shakily, her eyes on her own feet.
"I don't care what your Pharaoh wants." Yuki said, stripping off the kimono Durin had made her wear during that trip and pulling jeans, a T-shirt and sneakers out of the trunk, to the horror of the young women watching.
"Farida Ra! You can't go out like that!" One of them said in horror.
"This is going to be our secret. I'll go out after dinner every day and if anyone knocks on the door looking for me, you must tell them that... That I like to sleep early and that I threatened to cut out your tongues if you dared to let anyone wake me up. And I will, if any of you tell on me."
They stared at her in fear.
"Pharaoh will kill us if he finds out." One of them said worriedly.
"That's why it's called a secret." Yuki said, moving towards the door.
"Your Majesty! When will you be back?"
"Before dawn, I'll be back." She said and left.
...
Mycon and Tykan stood at the huge window on the second floor of the palace, watching as Yuki hurried out and got into a car outside.
"Are you sure it's her?" Mycon asked, appraising with contempt the woman with black hair tied up in a ponytail and wearing jeans.
"Don't underestimate her, Mycon. I felt the same ice that emanates from her... It emanates from Selytha too."
"But it could be something inherited from the girl's father." Mycon considered.
Tykar looked coldly at Mycon.
"For your protégé's sake, I hope I'm wrong, because if I'm right..."
"...Durin has brought his own ruin to Mahagah." Mycon finished his sentence and looked at Tykon, frowning. His eyes were silver, and not even Tykon himself seemed to notice.