A/N: I promised faster updates, here's hoping I'll keep the promise! I do have quite a few scholarship essays due though, so don't be upset if I'm a little late. Trying to go to my dream university here! As usual, don't forget to R and R!

Disclaimer: I do not own Red River manga.

We got there just in time, surprisingly. Neither Ramses nor I had anticipated talks of war already occurring in the border city of Emesa.

Horemheb was actively screaming at the Hittite king, and it seemed the war would break out right then. The troops from each side were rallying, yelling slurs and insults. They even began marching toward each other. I sighed, lighting an arrow and drawing my bow. That was why women were manipulating the superpowers of Anatolia. I released it into the boundary between the two armies, then looked to Ramses. Everyone quieted, surprised into stopping. He cleared his throat.
"A word, before you all kill each other over the wrong thing."
"The Egyptians didn't do it!" Yuri yelled. "It was that man!" She pointed out the perpetrator, then fell into Kail's waiting arms. The man clutched her in his arms, like someone clinging to his own life. To see how obvious it was, that Prince Kail needed Yuri like he needed air, served to enrage me more that someone would try to destroy their happiness.
"She speaks the truth. We Egyptians found her, dying in the sand, but not by our hand." I affirmed.
"Oh dear," I heard a voice, and turned around. "The sun has baked her brain." The woman looked very much like Nadia, but she had a cruel look in her eye, and I immediately knew Nakia was standing among us.
"You will pay for this, Nakia." Yuri declared. I rushed to her side, kneeling alongside Kail.
"Look at her, she's raving! She needs medical attention and rest." Nakia said.
"Yes! She has a fever! The Egyptians killed Zananza!" The assassin affirmed. I rolled my eyes.
"To be quite honest, Your Majesty, Ramses and I would have had that job, and we were sent to meet the Prince." I explained.
"Bastet." Horemheb chided, believing I was out of line. I shrugged.
"And who's to say you didn't?" The queen sneered.
"Are you serious? This thinly shrouded assassination attempt is really ridiculous, Nakia." I scoffed, all pretense of politeness gone.
"Excuse me? Quiet, girl, before I have you imprisoned." She seethed.
"I mean, honestly, you would have your stepson killed. That's how heartless you are." I continued, gaining momentum.
"Careful, Bastet. We cannot throw accusations around." Kail advised. I rolled my eyes.
"You're right. We can't, but I sure as hell can. And I am. The Egyptians will not allow you to throw the people's goddess into jail."
"You cocky girl!" Nakia screeched.
"We are getting distracted from the main point. Yuri Ishtar and this soldier's reports differ greatly. I have already attempted to tell you that we had no involvement." Horemheb addressed the king. The soldier spoke up again.
"I escaped with my life from the Egyptians!" He proclaimed.
"You're lying! Your gang killed everyone, then you killed your gang!" Yuri spoke up.
"What an awful creature! You do not even have any evidence! Quiet, before I have you thrown in jail along with the Egyptian!" Nakia commanded. I scoffed at my mention.
"I do!" Yuri spat, almost triumphant. "Kail, pull this arrow out. We will see if it is made by Hittites or Egyptians." No wonder she wouldn't let me treat the wound…
"Huh," I remarked, "you're smarter than I thought, Yuri." She smiled a tiny smile.
"The skin has hardened, so I'll have to cut it out. Bite my shoulder, this will be painful." Kail warned. I handed him my dagger. As our exchange happened, Kail wouldn't look at me.
"Zananza…?" He asked. I shook my head.
"We didn't find him. I'm sorry, Prince Kail." I consoled. His eyes steeled, then he turned to the task at hand.
Yuri bit down as soon as the knife entered her, and I grimaced at her pain. She bit until she broke Kail's skin and blood flowed freely from his shoulder, but the arrow was effectively excavated.
"This is undoubtedly a Hittite arrow!" Kail exclaimed in anger. The soldier began running as guards attempted to detain him. He sprinted into a man cloaked in black, who promptly slit his throat.
"The hell? He can't be questioned if he's dead!" I roared, storming over to the man. Nakia looked smug. "Oh, you're the minion." I realized. He feigned innocence.
"He just ran at me; I didn't know what to do!" The man exclaimed. I rolled my eyes.
"You think you're fooling anybody?" I ask quietly.
"Tread carefully; you are questioning a high priest's integrity." He replied, smiling. I rolled my eyes and turned to Ramses.
"Dear God, he's worse than Amun." I mumbled, but there was nothing to do at that point. I went to tend to Yuri, who passed out once again in Kail's arms.

"Take her to a surgeon!" Kail ordered, passing to the guards. Ramses was strangely contemplative, but I dismissed it to answer to Horemheb.
"How typical of you two, to wander off at the right time." He said, almost angrily.
"Yeah, good thing we did, or who knows what would have happened…" I replied, accusation apparent in my tone. He glared back, but remained silent.
"We apologize for wrongly accusing Egypt. May we discuss this further at a later date?" Kail asked, dipping his head. Horemheb, Ramses, and I all repeated the gesture.
"Of course, your highness." He replied, and began walking away.
"I find myself in your gratitude once again, Bastet." Kail said.
"I know. I'm just sorry we couldn't prove Nakia's deception. It will catch up to her, though." I reassured. Kail nodded his agreement, then turned to Ramses.
"I thank you, as well, Ramses. I will never forget that you returned Yuri Ishtar to me."
"It was my pleasure." Ramses accepted quietly.
"We need to get back to Memphis. I pray we will meet under friendlier terms next time." I said. Kail smiled and turned to attend to Yuri.
"Mursili surely knows how to pick a woman. She would be a great queen." Ramses remarked. I glared at him.
"Seriously? We are planning our wedding, yet you ogle Yuri?" I asked, outraged. I wondered if the man would ever learn. He sighed.
"It's a fact, Bastet. Geez."
I still reached to punch him.

"Horemheb. You're joking." I told the man. After our return to Memphis, Ramses and I were met by Horemheb at our home.
"This comes straight from Queen Nefertiti herself. You two ran off, putting your purpose in jeopardy. You must answer to that." He replied.
"By being exiled to an enemy country?" I asked in disbelief.
"Bastet, you're overreacting. You have friends in Hattusa and it's hardly exile." Ramses interjected. I gaped at him.
"We have to live as foreigners at the Egyptian Embassy! Really, Horemheb, we saved your ass today. You were about to start a war with those people based on silly accusations!" I laughed humorlessly.
I saw I had gone too far as he stepped closer.
"You are out of line, Bastet! You seem to forget who you are talking to; I will remind you that I am Iry-pat, future Pharaoh of Egypt. It would do you well to just stop talking and agree." he growled, menace in his tone. I glared back.

"You do not have the authority, Iry-pat or not. Only the Pharaoh does, and Ay took the throne before you could, right?" I asked, bringing up the fact that Ay had become Pharaoh before him. He stared at me in anger, then turned to leave.

"It has been decided. You have today to prepare, but you leave in the morning." Horemheb said, his cold demeanor bringing weight to his words.
"Horemheb, we are to be married in a week! You would have us postpone it?" I asked. He did not answer, and I shook my head in disgust. His silence effectively ended the conversation for me. I left the room to go pack our things.
Nefertiti had found the perfect opportunity to stop our nuptials. I had to think through why she would want us to stay unwed. I had already produced Seti, and Egyptian royalty recognized all offspring, illegetimate or otherwise. There was an heir already for when Ramses would take the throne.
She thinks she can kill the baby, suddenly came to my head. I nearly tore apart our bedroom in anger. She had taken so much from me, then intended to take more. By killing Seti and keeping Ramses unwed, Nefertiti was trying to make his claim to the throne look foolish.
"Oh my." I heard from behind me and I whirled to greet it. Horus stood in the doorway, assessing the damage I'd done.
"It seems someone is quite upset." He continued, striding over to me.
"Not now, Horus. You should be getting your things ready." I snapped.
"Yes, I was well informed."
"What are you waiting for, then?"
"I'm waiting on you."
I scoffed. "Me?"
"Yes. You are obviously disturbed by these occurrences, so I'm not accepting it until you do." He replied solemnly. I stared at him, then an unwanted tear rolled down my eye.
"Why must she constantly try to ruin things for us?" I screamed at him, sobbing. He pulled me into his arms as I began bawling. Ramses came in silently, figuring out Nefertiti's true intentions and allowing Horus to comfort me.
It was about twenty minutes later that Ramses spoke up.
"We all need to prepare now. I will die for those children, whether destiny says I will become the next pharaoh or not."
"As will I." Horus affirmed.
"Could you question my devotion?" I asked quietly.
"Of course not. But we must all be ready for the attempts on Seti's life that will occur." Ramses reasoned. I nodded. I would not let anyone destroy what little bit of solace I had found in this century.
No one.