Thanks to Buff, Kat, pokey, and Ratbrat (yes, I love BNL...have every album since 'Born on a Pirate Ship' and I'm still looking for some of the older ones.) Sorry this was so long coming. Hit a rather dry spell that I'll hopefully be getting over here soon.
And in case anyone is interested (plug time) I've opened the Rick O'Connell Fanlisting. Go have a look. :) http://www.zeldabelle.net/rickfl/
Chapter 7 ~ Utter Insanity
The streets glowed in the midday sun as Nefertiri and Onus tried to escape the preparations in the palace. But even the streets of Thebes teemed with decorations and stages being erected around the festival square for the coming of Khonsu's festival.
"I had forgotten so many people lived in Thebes!" Nefertiri said, stepping into a side alley, out of the flow of people. Onus nodded, watching the chaos abound. With only three days left until the festival, people were buzzing with excitement, and some were overcome with the panic of how they were going to be ready in time.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Princess and the Med-jai," a gravely voice said. Onus and Nefertiri turned, faced with one of the men that had assaulted the escaping Princess, what now felt like an eternity ago. Onus' hand went instinctively to the hilt of his scimitar.
"Stay behind me," Onus said, trying to guide the Princess out of harm's way.
"By Osiris, I will not," she replied defiantly. Eleven more men quickly joined the man; Onus's eyes grew wide.
"Time to go." They turned, taking off into a sprint through the crowded streets.
"Well, *that's* heroic," Nefertiri said, feeling herself pulled by the Med-jai down a small alley.
"There's a fine line between crazy and stupid," Onus shot, pulling her into a vacant building. They crouched close together in the deep shadows of the building as the dozen men pounded past. "And I'd sooner live to be crazy once more than stupid now."
Nefertiri watched the empty alley, her heart pounding. Never before had anyone made her feel quite the way he did – never before had anyone the courage to talk back to her for that matter. She wasn't sure what it was that completely enthralled her, pushing her into opening her mouth. "Then tell me," she started, facing the Med-jai. "How would you classify this?" Without allowing her mind to talk her out of it, she grabbed his face, laying a long kiss on his lips. Onus reeled back after a moment, his eyes opening slowly.
"Utter insanity."
"I suppose that'll do," she said with a smile as he leaned in, kissing her once more.
"This probably isn't the ideal place for this," he said softly, pulling her to her feet. "Not with so many people around and those guys looking for us."
"Yeah," she replied. "But it certainly makes life a little more interesting."
"Highness, you're all that needs to be in the vicinity for life to be more interesting. After all, chaos would not thrive without you in the world." She playfully smacked his arm, receiving another quick kiss. "Come on. We'd better get out of here before they backtrack."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What?!"
"Shhhh." Onus glanced up, noting that his outburst had only turned one head in the courtyard as he and Nefertiri passed through.
"Have you lost every ounce of thought Thoth had the grace to give you?"
"You needn't be harsh about this," Nefertiri shot back.
"All I'm saying, Highness, is that you realize what talking to your father would do?"
"What's the worst he could do?"
"Oh, I don't know...not much I guess...other than commit me to the Hom-Dai."
"Oh, come on, now. No one has ever succumbed to that before. What makes you think you're special enough to be the first?" Onus rolled his eyes, taking her by the arm in an empty hall. She was taking this all too lightly.
"Highness, listen. I just don't think it's such a good idea. Not yet. At least wait until after the festival." She could see the concern glaring through his crystal eyes.
"All right," she whispered. Her mind told her he was right...her heart, on the other hand, overreacted. "I'm...I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of it. I wished I had just kept to myself." She pulled away from him completely, running down the hall of the palace.