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_If this is the first story of this series you're coming across, the other parts are NSFW. This one how ever is going to be SFW for once, since some lore was needed. That being said, let's get you up to speed. _

After three years of war, the prince of dragons, Kheru is send to the kingdom of fennecs to negotiate their independence. On the first evening, he is attacked by their prince, Bakari. Later that night, Bakari comes to apologize. Soon, the two princes grow quite close and accidentally overhear a meeting between Bakaris brother Ruhak and the Pharaos advisor Amris. The two seem to be conspiring against the Pharaoh and when Bakari confronts his brother, he tells them to meet him in a hidden tavern close to the Nile.

The tavern proves to be a trap and Kheru is badly wounded during the ambush. Unleashing powerful magic, Bakari is able to heal his wounds enough to keep him alive and they are saved by his sister Nubia. In the same night, Bakari dreams of the god of magic Heka who tells him to search for an amulet hidden somewhere beneath the palace. They decide to investigate and find a temple of Heka hidden beneath the throne room. There, they find a piece of a silver amulet. But before they can leave, Ruhak appears and demands the amulet piece from them. Just in time, they are once again saved by Nubia who defuses the situation and takes them back to the palace...

Bakari wrapped the towel tighter around his waist. He settled down next to Kheru on one of the brushwood mats. His sister sat cross-legged across from them, one hand to her chin. "Ruhak, too, then?" She asked. The dragon nodded. With a sigh, she leaned back. "We knew about Amris planning something, and that Father would stand in the way of his plans. But I didn't think my brother would be involved in the betrayal."

Bakari rubbed his head dry with a smaller cloth and shook himself. Droplets of water splashed against Kheru's cheek. "What exactly is going on here, sister? Who is 'we'?" For a moment, Nubia seemed to look past him, as if considering how much she would be allowed to tell. "Our history goes back a long way," she finally began. "When the first mortals walked the earth and the gods still dwelt among us, there existed a constant struggle between the light and the darkness. One being, so enormous that his body covered the whole sky, fought an endless battle against the gods. This was the serpent Apophis, who abhorred life and whose only goal was to devour the sun."

Bakari tilted his head. "I know the legends sister, but what does this have to do with anything?" Nubia raised her paw. "These stories may be just that, but at their core they are true. Just as there are the gods, there is Apophis. But even they failed to stop the serpent. So they gave to the mortals abilities with which they were able to fight at their side. The priests, under the care of Heka, gained an understanding of the Ma'at, the structure of the universe, like no one else. To the Ahati, the warriors, Sekhmet gave her strength. And Bastet, her sister, gave us the power to protect our family and our home. But Aphophis also created a mortal army to fight for him." Kheru's mine hardened. "The dragons." "Yes," Nubia gave in reply. "But after the serpent was defeated, Ra built a ship to carry the sun over the horizon with it. Every day he watches from there, and every day he is ready to fight again. He could not erase the dragons' heritage, but gave them the opportunity to choose freely."

"How do you know all this?" Bakari asked, tail wagging. Nubia sat up straight. A depth previously hidden entered her posture. "I know because I am a daughter of Bastet. I was chosen to protect this family and our people with my life. There are about a dozen of us in the royal city. We suspected Amris for a long time, but we didn't know Ruhak was also involved." She turned to Kheru. "You carry the amulet, don't you? Could I see it?"

After a moment's hesitation, the dragon prince handed her the half of the medallion. She turned it in her paw and looked at it from all sides. "So it's true. Heka really hid part of the eye in his temple." Her brother tilted his head. "Eye? Ruhak called it that, too, but what does that mean?" Nubia handed the silver metal back to Kheru. "Long ago, there was a dispute between the descendants of Ra. Osiris believed the dragons should be allowed to choose their path, his brother Set believed they should be destroyed to prevent them from fighting under Apophis once more. In the quarrel, Set knocked out one of Osiris' eyes, and this medallion is a part of that very eye." Bakari gazed in awe at the amulet resting in Kheru's claws. "The eye of a god," he whispered as he reverently stroked it with one finger.

Finally, he turned back to Nubia. "Father must know of this." His sister nodded. "So far, I have not been able to tell him. What could I have said without proof? That his own son is plotting against him and that the heart of his closest confidant, whom he has known since childhood, is shrouded in darkness?" Bakari moved closer to her. "But now we have the amulet, in addition to the word of Kheru and of me. Father will hear us out." A little more confidently, Nubia looked from one prince to the other. "Perhaps. Let us try."

The sun was already rising as the three of them walked down the corridors to the throne room. The old fox was just about to open the heavy wooden doors when they reached him. Seeing their worried expressions, his smile vanished. "My children, Prince Kheru. Has something happened?" Nubia touched his shoulder with her paw as she walked past him. "We need to talk father. It is important." With furrowed brows, the pharaoh followed. The princess glanced around to make sure no one else was in the throne room, then she turned to her father. "It's about Ruhak. He's trying to stop the alliance with the dragons by any means necessary. He didn't even shy away from an attempt on Prince Kheru's life." Pharaoh folded his arms. "Why would he do that." "It is true," Bakari took over. "Last night we found an entrance to Heka's temple, here in the throne room. The Eye of Osiris had been hidden there. Ruhak followed us. He wanted to destroy it. More than that, it seems Amris is also involved." The king lowered his arms. He looked back and forth between the three, then called for a servant. "Fetch Amris, and my son. I want to hear what they have to say."

As soon as the servant left the room, the pharaoh continued to speak more quietly. "Are you telling the truth? Not only my son, but also my friend." He allowed himself to take one deep breath, then straightened up. The tapping of the cane announced the arrival of the two accused.

"I am told that you do not agree with our alliance," the Pharaoh confronted his son in a stern voice. "That you attempted the murder of Prince Kheru." Defiantly, Ruhak thrust his chin forward. "These children of Apep¹ are a danger to us! I tried to warn you father, but you would not listen. You are putting the kingdom in danger."

"I am protecting our people!" The voice of the Pharaoh echoed from the crystal-studded ceiling. "Haven't we talked about this enough? I did listen to your concerns and included them in my decision, didn't I? Wasn't it so that you said you realized my decision was the right one? Was all of that a lie?" "All my concerns did not change your decision!" Ruhak shouted back. Amris put a paw on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Athothes. I'm afraid your son is right. The dragons are a danger. They must be destroyed." The facade of royal detachment crumbled. "In a pointless war that neither side can win? Has the magic you have studied for so long robbed you of your wits, friend?" The pharaoh's ears drooped. "What was your plan. You knew I would not cede the throne easily. Even if I had, Bakari would have succeeded me as the firstborn. Were you planning to kill us both?" "My brother is no better than our enemies. He's fucking that dragon, did you know that? When our cities burn, he will lay at his feet!"

The Pharaoh's mine resembled a mask. "Yes, I know about Bakari and Kheru. They have my blessing." With an angry growl, Ruhak threw himself forward and drew his sword. Quick as a gust of wind, the king stepped aside and grabbed the sword arm. With a yelp, Ruhak dropped his blade as he twisted his arm. The king's voice trembled. "Ruhak, son of Atothes. From today you are banished from the land of the foxes. Go now, and never enter this palace again." His gaze straightened. "That goes for you, too, Amris." Ruhak stumbled backward as he let go of him. "You can't do this!" He roared. "I can and I will." Gave the king in reply. "Now leave before I have to have you escorted outside."

Amris bowed. "I'm sorry it had to end this way, my friend." He turned to the outcast prince and nodded. "Let us go. Our time will come." With these words, he turned away and left the hall. The pharaoh slumped down. Nubia put her paw on his back. "Father, I am sorry." The king smiled grimly. "So many condolences in such a short time. Please, go. I want to be alone. We will talk about everything tomorrow."

As they left the throne room, Kheru sighed heavily. Bakari's ears drooped. "Did we do the right thing?" He asked the group. "I don't know," Nubia gave in reply. "But we prevented the alliance with the dragons from being destroyed before it even began. I just wish there had been another solution. Maybe it would be better to have them monitored, Kheru thought to himself. Amris last words haunted his mind. Our time will come. He couldn't shake the feeling that it had been more than an empty threat. If only he had known how right he was in making that assumption.

1: Apep is another name for Apophis