The Arrogance of Love
* Chapter III: Of Power and Glory *
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: The MA chars aren't mine, sadly. Otherwise, they'd
be on the air still. This fic is set in Ancient Egypt prior to
the birth of Rapses, and it is a SLASH story. That means two
characters- Rath and Scarab- are soon to be more than friends.
Don't like it, don't read it.
Note: The character refered to only as "the servant" is pretty
much Cyrus's character Rhett. Hope you don't mind Cy, but I
was just having a little fun... it is an alternate universe
after all :-)
On Historical Accuracy: I love Egyptian history, but this is
completely non factual. I made up Nefer-ka, and this entire
dynasty, for that matter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rath picked at his food, the coarse meat and tooth breakingly
hard bread holding no pleasure for him. As he artfully
removed the worst of the meal from his plate and slid it
under the table for the temple cats to enjoy, he was aware of
the presence of familiar magic. Looking up, he saw- as he had
so many nights before- Scarab weave his control around Amenhotep.
None around them noticed it, but Rath could feel the magic
pulsing through his blood nonetheless.
With his control over the pharoah strengthened, Scarab took
his seat, looking immeasurably smug. The pharoah rose almost
mechanically, causing all gathered to halt in their eating
and conversation and look at him expectantly.
Amenhotep beamed with pride as he spoke to the gathered
members of his household. "After consulting with the Head
Priests of Isis and Hathor, my wife Nefer-ka is with child.
A son!"
Rath looked up, startled. True, Nefer-ka, "beautiful soul",
was not Amenhotep's first wife, but she was an honored member
of the household and this was Amenhotep's only son, and
thus... the new living Horus. Rath saw relief in the eyes of
many courtiers and even the priests, finally Egypt had an heir.
But there was one face at the high table that did not look so
pleased.
The pharoah's only child until now, Chontra had always counted
on her position. Her mother had promised her, back when her
mother had still been alive, that someday she would have her
pick of husbands and be able to control the throne. Already 13
years of her life had passed, and the pharoah had seemed incapable
of fathering another child. Why, Chontra cursed bitterly, did
that suddenly have to change?
As the meal drew to an end, Rath rose, all thoughts of the
bitter princess and Nefer-ka's unborn child escaping his mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rath followed the servant through the many elegant rooms that
constituted Scarab's chambers in the palace, trying not to be
overawed by the finery that surrounded him. "Oh, to have such
power!" Rath murmured wistfully as he stared at a gold bust
of Scarab that could have only been done by one of the
Pharoah's own artisans.
The servant glanced back sharply at Rath's words, mentally
filing the scribe's reaction to report to Scarab later. The
servant's *own* reaction to the scribe, however, he planned
to keep to himself. Wherever did Scarab even find such men,
he wondered as he silently gestured to the doorway of Scarab's
study.
Rath went where the servant pointed, and finally came upon
Scarab. The vizier was huddled over a scroll in the flickering
torchlight, muttering to himself as he studied. When Rath
cleared his throat, Scarab glanced up sharply. "Well?" The
vizier asked simply.
Unnerved by a hint of venom in Scarab's tone, Rath shifted his
wait and stared at Scarab uneasily. Scarab, for his part,
watched Rath with growing impatience. "Come now scribe, I
haven't got all night to watch you cower. You came to ask
me for a favor... so ask."
Rath grimaced- now that was something far easier said than
done. What did he want, exactly? Power, obviously. Advancement.
A chance to do more with his life than record the words of
others... "I want a chance to be a guardian to the Queen's
new child." The words were out before Rath had even thought.
If the Queen's new child was a son, as the priests of Isis
had predicted, then there would soon be no greater position
of power in the two lands. For after all, guardians had more
influence than even the pharoah on their charges.
Scarab scoffed at Rath's proposal, "A scribe cannot serve
as a guardian. You know that as well as I."
"But a mage can, or a warrior..." Rath's protest was feeble,
but he could not simply back down now.
"You are neither."
A painful truth, and Rath winced to hear it. But still...
"I have been trained as both."
Scarab rose, pacing the room as he considered the request.
"What will you give me in return, if I bring you to the
pharoah's attention for such a post?"
Grimacing, Rath worked to gather his thoughts. If Scarab
took offense at what he said next, his life would be worth
nothing... less than that, for he would die here without
honor. It didn't help matters much that Rath wasn't exactly
positive of what he was about to say, he only had his
suspicions and the proof of his own eyes... which wasn't
enough when accusing the most powerful man in Egypt of
treason. Rath drew in a shuddering breath. "I know you are
using magic to manipulate the pharoah."
Scarab's expression did not change, and his tone was
imbued with calm indifference as he ordered, "Go on."
Even so, Rath saw the flash of a blade in Scarab's hand,
and knew that his next words must be carefully chosen.
"Such tactics are useful, of course, but they are too
easily detected."
"Obviously, if you noticed my spells." Scarab replied
dryly. The fact that Rath had managed to detect his
sorcery almost frightened Scarab- almost. He hadn't
even realized the scribe was formally trained in
magic, and thus had lapsed his guard when only with the
scribe and the pharoah. Ten times a fool, he berated
himself. But perhaps the situation was not entirely
beyond salvaging... "Do you have a better notion
then magic, scribe?"
"I believe so." Rath hesitated. "If I were a guardian
to the Living Horus, I would be his teacher. Views
that would someday be to both our benefits... could
be instilled in him, making him more open to our
suggestions without coercion."
"An interesting theory." Scarab murmured, probing
Rath's mind for any sign this was a trap. But it was
not. Scarab sensed no threat in Rath's thoughts... only
ambition, raw and untempered. Turned to Scarab's side,
the scribe could be most useful indeed. "And what of
Amenhotep."
Rath smiled, more a smirk than a real grin, Scarab
noted curiously. "When the boy is of age, there will
be no need for Amenhotep."
The words were high treason, yes, but that was
something Scarab was pleased with. "Very well, Rath."
He murmured. "I will talk to Amenhotep about pulling
you from your duties as *my* apprentice. When the
time comes, if you do not betray me... then I will
insure your acceptance as a guardian."
Bowing low, the tip of his hat nearly touching the
ground, Rath whispered, "Thank you, lord Scarab."
Scarab turned back to his scrolls, waving his
hand in dismissal. "Return to your rooms. It will
not do for someone to notice that you are missing."
"Of course." Rath turned from the light of the
chamber, and ran towards his own quarters in
elation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be continued...
Yes, I'm having fun with Chontra's character. It came to
me as I was editing this and I just couldn't resist. Wait and
see, Chontra's going to have quite the part in this fic :-D
Review if you've got any suggestions or comments, as usual!
* Chapter III: Of Power and Glory *
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: The MA chars aren't mine, sadly. Otherwise, they'd
be on the air still. This fic is set in Ancient Egypt prior to
the birth of Rapses, and it is a SLASH story. That means two
characters- Rath and Scarab- are soon to be more than friends.
Don't like it, don't read it.
Note: The character refered to only as "the servant" is pretty
much Cyrus's character Rhett. Hope you don't mind Cy, but I
was just having a little fun... it is an alternate universe
after all :-)
On Historical Accuracy: I love Egyptian history, but this is
completely non factual. I made up Nefer-ka, and this entire
dynasty, for that matter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rath picked at his food, the coarse meat and tooth breakingly
hard bread holding no pleasure for him. As he artfully
removed the worst of the meal from his plate and slid it
under the table for the temple cats to enjoy, he was aware of
the presence of familiar magic. Looking up, he saw- as he had
so many nights before- Scarab weave his control around Amenhotep.
None around them noticed it, but Rath could feel the magic
pulsing through his blood nonetheless.
With his control over the pharoah strengthened, Scarab took
his seat, looking immeasurably smug. The pharoah rose almost
mechanically, causing all gathered to halt in their eating
and conversation and look at him expectantly.
Amenhotep beamed with pride as he spoke to the gathered
members of his household. "After consulting with the Head
Priests of Isis and Hathor, my wife Nefer-ka is with child.
A son!"
Rath looked up, startled. True, Nefer-ka, "beautiful soul",
was not Amenhotep's first wife, but she was an honored member
of the household and this was Amenhotep's only son, and
thus... the new living Horus. Rath saw relief in the eyes of
many courtiers and even the priests, finally Egypt had an heir.
But there was one face at the high table that did not look so
pleased.
The pharoah's only child until now, Chontra had always counted
on her position. Her mother had promised her, back when her
mother had still been alive, that someday she would have her
pick of husbands and be able to control the throne. Already 13
years of her life had passed, and the pharoah had seemed incapable
of fathering another child. Why, Chontra cursed bitterly, did
that suddenly have to change?
As the meal drew to an end, Rath rose, all thoughts of the
bitter princess and Nefer-ka's unborn child escaping his mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rath followed the servant through the many elegant rooms that
constituted Scarab's chambers in the palace, trying not to be
overawed by the finery that surrounded him. "Oh, to have such
power!" Rath murmured wistfully as he stared at a gold bust
of Scarab that could have only been done by one of the
Pharoah's own artisans.
The servant glanced back sharply at Rath's words, mentally
filing the scribe's reaction to report to Scarab later. The
servant's *own* reaction to the scribe, however, he planned
to keep to himself. Wherever did Scarab even find such men,
he wondered as he silently gestured to the doorway of Scarab's
study.
Rath went where the servant pointed, and finally came upon
Scarab. The vizier was huddled over a scroll in the flickering
torchlight, muttering to himself as he studied. When Rath
cleared his throat, Scarab glanced up sharply. "Well?" The
vizier asked simply.
Unnerved by a hint of venom in Scarab's tone, Rath shifted his
wait and stared at Scarab uneasily. Scarab, for his part,
watched Rath with growing impatience. "Come now scribe, I
haven't got all night to watch you cower. You came to ask
me for a favor... so ask."
Rath grimaced- now that was something far easier said than
done. What did he want, exactly? Power, obviously. Advancement.
A chance to do more with his life than record the words of
others... "I want a chance to be a guardian to the Queen's
new child." The words were out before Rath had even thought.
If the Queen's new child was a son, as the priests of Isis
had predicted, then there would soon be no greater position
of power in the two lands. For after all, guardians had more
influence than even the pharoah on their charges.
Scarab scoffed at Rath's proposal, "A scribe cannot serve
as a guardian. You know that as well as I."
"But a mage can, or a warrior..." Rath's protest was feeble,
but he could not simply back down now.
"You are neither."
A painful truth, and Rath winced to hear it. But still...
"I have been trained as both."
Scarab rose, pacing the room as he considered the request.
"What will you give me in return, if I bring you to the
pharoah's attention for such a post?"
Grimacing, Rath worked to gather his thoughts. If Scarab
took offense at what he said next, his life would be worth
nothing... less than that, for he would die here without
honor. It didn't help matters much that Rath wasn't exactly
positive of what he was about to say, he only had his
suspicions and the proof of his own eyes... which wasn't
enough when accusing the most powerful man in Egypt of
treason. Rath drew in a shuddering breath. "I know you are
using magic to manipulate the pharoah."
Scarab's expression did not change, and his tone was
imbued with calm indifference as he ordered, "Go on."
Even so, Rath saw the flash of a blade in Scarab's hand,
and knew that his next words must be carefully chosen.
"Such tactics are useful, of course, but they are too
easily detected."
"Obviously, if you noticed my spells." Scarab replied
dryly. The fact that Rath had managed to detect his
sorcery almost frightened Scarab- almost. He hadn't
even realized the scribe was formally trained in
magic, and thus had lapsed his guard when only with the
scribe and the pharoah. Ten times a fool, he berated
himself. But perhaps the situation was not entirely
beyond salvaging... "Do you have a better notion
then magic, scribe?"
"I believe so." Rath hesitated. "If I were a guardian
to the Living Horus, I would be his teacher. Views
that would someday be to both our benefits... could
be instilled in him, making him more open to our
suggestions without coercion."
"An interesting theory." Scarab murmured, probing
Rath's mind for any sign this was a trap. But it was
not. Scarab sensed no threat in Rath's thoughts... only
ambition, raw and untempered. Turned to Scarab's side,
the scribe could be most useful indeed. "And what of
Amenhotep."
Rath smiled, more a smirk than a real grin, Scarab
noted curiously. "When the boy is of age, there will
be no need for Amenhotep."
The words were high treason, yes, but that was
something Scarab was pleased with. "Very well, Rath."
He murmured. "I will talk to Amenhotep about pulling
you from your duties as *my* apprentice. When the
time comes, if you do not betray me... then I will
insure your acceptance as a guardian."
Bowing low, the tip of his hat nearly touching the
ground, Rath whispered, "Thank you, lord Scarab."
Scarab turned back to his scrolls, waving his
hand in dismissal. "Return to your rooms. It will
not do for someone to notice that you are missing."
"Of course." Rath turned from the light of the
chamber, and ran towards his own quarters in
elation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To be continued...
Yes, I'm having fun with Chontra's character. It came to
me as I was editing this and I just couldn't resist. Wait and
see, Chontra's going to have quite the part in this fic :-D
Review if you've got any suggestions or comments, as usual!