The Life and Times of Bonnie Chance

Fleeing Into The Night

"What? My Carol... was abducted right on Egyptian land? Tell me the whole story! Now!" Memphis ordered.

"Your Highness! After leaving Lower Egypt, the escorts were just passing through Giza and then a group of people surrounded us... Unas tried to stop them so Lady Bonnie and Ruka could take Her Highness in the direction of the Arabian desert... The three of them disappeared; there are many chances that they've fallen into the hands of the kidnappers!" the guard explained.

"Did you order the soldiers to search in the desert? What about Unas? Did he escape?" Memphis asked urgently.

"Your Highness... Luckily Unas escaped death... He went to the appointed place which was the abandoned well, but he didn't find Carol or Ruka."

"How unfortunate for Carol..." Memphis said, paling. Then he became angry. "Who is so daring as to do such a thing on my land?"

"Poor Highness," the soldier said.

"The Arabian Desert lies between the Red Sea... North of Egypt, stretching to the south is Assyria, a little farther is Hittite... Both countries do not like Egypt... Perhaps they are the culprit?" Memphis said. He squeezed his eyes shut. "I have my share of fault... When I received Unas's news, I should have gone to Lower Egypt at once, then this wouldn't have happened..."

"Your Highness... For a long time, the Arabian Desert has always been seen as the conflict ridden zone between Egypt and Assyria..." Imhotep said. "I'm afraid..."

"I understand what you mean... This can be a scheme used to provoke us... That's the reason why we must solve this problem!" Memphis said.

"I think so too!" Minue said.

"This is not the first time the Assyrians tried to aggravate us. They've wanted Egypt for a long time," Imhotep said. "But this time they've gone too far; they dare to kidnap Queen Carol, who is loved by all Egyptians."

"We must punish them severely!" a court member said.

"Algon must be the one that did this, no one else!" said another.

"We have been too soft!" said a third.

"This time I swear I will not go easy on them!" Memphis said. "Prime Minister Imhotep, please send three armed forces to blockade all routes to Assyria..."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Imhotep said.

"Also give this order to all troops patrolling the border in the country; capture anyone that seems suspicious!" Memphis added.

"Yes! We will have troops protecting the pharaoh," Imhotep said. "We'll do our best to find the queen, even if we have to unearth the Arabian Desert!"

"Bring me the horse!" Memphis ordered, hurrying down the steps of the palace. "We will go in the Arabian Desert once the sun is up!" Memphis mounted his horse. "Imhotep... I give you the power to maneuver the army."

"Yes! Please don't worry. I will take care of everything!" Imhotep said. "I just hope Your Highness finds our honorable queen quickly!" Memphis rode off with his escort.

"General Minue, you take care of the north!" Memphis said.

"Yes, sire!" Minue said.

"We pray for the gods' support, please let us find the daughter of the Nile, the guardian goddess of the Egyptians!" Imhotep said. "Please support us, gods!"

"..." Jamali watched him warily.

"I wonder who has kidnapped our queen!" a maid said.

"Those evil people!! The queen's wound just healed, now this..." another maid said.