Disclaimer: Imohtep, Anck-su-namun Nefertiri, the Pharaoh and the concept of the Med-jai ain't mine. I'm just borrowing them.
Imohtep stood in the dead of night on a balcony overlooking the city. It was not a place in his rooms, but rather was somewhere he had ended up after walking for a large part of the night. 'She is with him'. The thought ran through his head continually, and he clenched his fists unknowingly. Part of him wanted to … do something. He couldn't just stand here all night.
"You seem troubled, my lord". At the sound of a woman's voice he spun round sharply. Before him stood one of the advisors to the Pharaoh, a girl known as Kesand. He knew her better than most did, although not well enough to know if the rumours of her ability to see the future were unfounded or not. Still, the advice she had given, before she fell out of favour with the Pharaoh, had been sensible and insightful.
Despite his foul mood and desire for solitude he smiled at her. She was strangely fascinating and had always seemed to hold him in respect. "And what makes you say that?" he questioned.
"Because while all others are asleep, you are awake, and stand here in the dark, alone" The gaze from her dark green eyes was steady and fixed on his face.
"But you are also awake, and here" He didn't know why he had chosen to respond in that way, continuing the game she seemed to be playing.
Her smile was sad as she replied quietly "I did not say that I was not troubled, my lord". Imohtep frowned, annoyed that he had allowed himself to be drawn in. Usually he admired her skill in court, her ability to twist words or manipulate conversations so that people ending up looking foolish, or revealing more than they intended. It was a skill that he had himself. Tonight, however, he was not in the mood.
She took a step forwards and turned so that she was looking out over the balcony. He turned back as well, and for some time they stood in the dark silence. Her arms were bare, as were his, and they were so close that their arms touched. Her skin was cool in the night air, and he became aware that she was shivering slightly.
Kesand stood next to the High Priest, afraid to break the silence that had returned. She could not help being aware of the power of the man she stood next to, not only a physical power, and authority gained from his position at court, but also a power of character. She rarely spoke to him in court, and the few times she did, her ability to speak was almost completely lost, he intimidated her that easily. She wished that she were like Nefertiri, with a natural authority and self-confidence. In desperation she turned, holding out the flower she had impulsively brought with her from the garden, where she'd been working through the night, trying to come to a decision.
Imohtep accepted the flower off the silent, enigmatic girl, wondering as he did what it meant, and where it had come from. He had not seen a night blooming flower in some time. Trying to cover his unease, he smiled mockingly at her. "This is a rare gift".
Kesand flinched at the smile, one he used whenever someone had been particularly foolish or done something ridiculous. 'He is laughing at me' she thought, cursing the impulse that had brought here. Still, she felt she had to do this. "And unlike others possessing things of rare beauty, this I give freely to you".
Imohtep froze. 'Could she know about…?' he panicked. They had always tried to be circumspect, to hide their attraction to each other. He tried to force himself to relax.
Kesand drew in a deep breath. "The Pharaoh is happy with Anck-su-namun" she began, then faltered and fell silent again.
Imohtep stiffened, then shifted himself, drawing himself up. Kesand had to force herself to stay where she was. Then he smiled mockingly again. "As he should be" Imohtep continued smoothly. "She is, after all, his wife-to-be".
Kesand locked eyes with him for a moment, then knowing that she could not continue any further she bowed gracefully, and began to turn away.
Imohtep watched the girl turn to go, and inwardly he cursed. He had no doubt that she had just delivered a serious warning. If he just let her go like this, there could be trouble. He called her name.
Kesand turned back, feeling slightly sick, and looked up at him. "As the Pharaohs wife-to-be" he began "Anck-su-namun is in something of a position of power. The Pharaoh … dotes on her, and listens to her every word. If he was to hear that someone had been less then complimentary, he would not be … happy."
He was mocking her. Now that she was in the Pharaoh's disfavour, she would be vulnerable to any word against her. Kesand felt young, foolish and tired, as she bowed again to Imohtep, and murmured softly "My thanks for your words."
For a second, Imohtep wondered whether he should let her go. His hand slipped up to where he wore his knife. Kesand didn't move or turn to go, but stood there instead, just looking at him, waiting. Imohtep wrestled with his conscience, then finally dropped his hand back down, away from the knife. 'What am I becoming?' he wondered
As Kesand turned quickly to leave, inwardly she was shaking. 'He was going to kill me. Can I really just leave it like this?' But, he hadn't killed her. That had to mean something, didn't it?
She looked so young and vulnerable as she left, but Imohtep had no doubt that she had the reserve and strength similar to that he had seen in the Med-jai. As he watched her go, he unthinkingly brought the flower up, and inhaled its perfume.
Kesand reached the bottom of the stairs leading from the balcony, and began to hurry back to her chambers. Before she had gone more than a few steps she stopped, frowned, then strode over to the shadows at the bottom of the stairs. The leader of the Med-jai, Seneth, was waiting in the shadows. For a moment she regarded him steadily, then jerked her head in the direction of the balcony and said "Well, if you are going to kill him, Imohtep presents a perfect target at the moment."
Seneth sighed. "If we knew for certain, then we would kill him. But, we cannot kill the High Priest unless we are sure that he has done something wrong. No other man may touch Anck-su-namun…"
"But you don't even know if he has touched her". Kesand shook her head in annoyance. "This is ridiculous" she muttered softly.
She began to walk away again, but Seneth called softly after her "Do you know what will happen? Is that why you are here?". She scowled. "If I could see into the future as clearly or as deeply as you all seem to think, I wouldn't be wandering around the court giving advice." She frowned as the words seemed to echo in the hallway, then shrugged. "Do what you will".