A Wind Called Fate
Part VI: Scarab
A Mummies Alive! Fanfic
I wasn't really sure what to do at the Palace with Amenutept gone. I hadn't been all that certain what to do at the Palace when he was there, in all truth. There was a walled garden deep among the Palace's grounds and I wandered it daily - it reminded me of the only life I had ever known. I don't think I was homesick, though I missed my father a great deal. But in my short stay I'd already grown accustomed to thinking of the room as my own, and that was proof enough that I didn't miss my old surroundings.
One thing I couldn't decide was if my present circumstances was a gift of the gods or a curse. Maybe even a joke. A peasant farm girl was going to be the next Pharaohess? That seemed like something the prankster of the gods would find amusing, didn't it? But would it all be yanked away from me then?
It was the day after Amenutept had left that I met Scarab. I was in the garden when he entered. I'd seen him wandering the Palace grounds from my window, and my servants had told me who he was. I debated about bowing or some kind of show of respect, but if I didn't bow to the Pharaoh why bow to his Advisor? Scarab somehow knew who I was too. I wasn't surprised, he seemed to know everything...that was probably why he was Amenutept's Advisor. Even though I could see in his eyes he was unhappy by my lack of respect he said nothing about it.
"You are Yshta." He greeted me.
I nodded. "I am." I paused, then added. , "And you are Scarab." Since he'd made a point of knowing my name, I thought it wise to do the same. No need to mention who had told me.
"I am." He smiled. It wasn't a pleasant smile. The truth was that I didn't really care for Scarab, but one thing I was quickly learning in Amenutept's court was personal feelings had no place. You could think someone was a complete fool or vicious scorpion, but if they were an ally you ignored it. That, I knew, wouldn't come easily to me, so mainly I simply kept my opinions to myself. "Our Pharaoh is full of praise for you. It has been a long wait for him to find a Pharaohess."
I didn't manage to stop the frown that came to my face. "Yes, he said something similair to me."
"The court will be jubilant over the news of this marriage...Do you know what business drew him away before he could announce it?"
"No...he told me only that he had to go."
"You must feel honored, to have been chosen as the next Pharaohess."
"I am...apprehensive. It's rather overwhelming." I replied cautiously. His questions were bothering me, but I couldn't place my finger on why.
"Indeed? Surprising. Most nobles would be pleased by the offer of such power."
"Power?" I stared at him blankly.
"You sound surprised. You did not think of the fact that you would be the most powerful woman in all of Egypt?" Scarab's eyes bore into mine, and I couldn't look away.
"No. I had other reasons for accepting his proposal. "
"And now that you understand what you have been offered, what will be yours, what do you think?"
"I think it frightens me a little. Power is dangerous." I was surprised to hear myself answer. I felt like I wasn't fully involved in the conversation, as if I were watching it from the sidelines and had no power over my answers.
Scarab frowned, and I knew my answers surprised him. "I see." He said simply.
But it was clear to me he didn't. He didn't see or understand what I had meant. Scarab liked power - that was as clear to me as the sky on a cloudless day. And anyone who liked power could be very dangerous. Strange that despite it all, I didn't fear Scarab. Amenutept seemed to trust him, and somehow that was all that mattered to me.
Yshta
To be continued...
Salmon '03
Part VI: Scarab
A Mummies Alive! Fanfic
I wasn't really sure what to do at the Palace with Amenutept gone. I hadn't been all that certain what to do at the Palace when he was there, in all truth. There was a walled garden deep among the Palace's grounds and I wandered it daily - it reminded me of the only life I had ever known. I don't think I was homesick, though I missed my father a great deal. But in my short stay I'd already grown accustomed to thinking of the room as my own, and that was proof enough that I didn't miss my old surroundings.
One thing I couldn't decide was if my present circumstances was a gift of the gods or a curse. Maybe even a joke. A peasant farm girl was going to be the next Pharaohess? That seemed like something the prankster of the gods would find amusing, didn't it? But would it all be yanked away from me then?
It was the day after Amenutept had left that I met Scarab. I was in the garden when he entered. I'd seen him wandering the Palace grounds from my window, and my servants had told me who he was. I debated about bowing or some kind of show of respect, but if I didn't bow to the Pharaoh why bow to his Advisor? Scarab somehow knew who I was too. I wasn't surprised, he seemed to know everything...that was probably why he was Amenutept's Advisor. Even though I could see in his eyes he was unhappy by my lack of respect he said nothing about it.
"You are Yshta." He greeted me.
I nodded. "I am." I paused, then added. , "And you are Scarab." Since he'd made a point of knowing my name, I thought it wise to do the same. No need to mention who had told me.
"I am." He smiled. It wasn't a pleasant smile. The truth was that I didn't really care for Scarab, but one thing I was quickly learning in Amenutept's court was personal feelings had no place. You could think someone was a complete fool or vicious scorpion, but if they were an ally you ignored it. That, I knew, wouldn't come easily to me, so mainly I simply kept my opinions to myself. "Our Pharaoh is full of praise for you. It has been a long wait for him to find a Pharaohess."
I didn't manage to stop the frown that came to my face. "Yes, he said something similair to me."
"The court will be jubilant over the news of this marriage...Do you know what business drew him away before he could announce it?"
"No...he told me only that he had to go."
"You must feel honored, to have been chosen as the next Pharaohess."
"I am...apprehensive. It's rather overwhelming." I replied cautiously. His questions were bothering me, but I couldn't place my finger on why.
"Indeed? Surprising. Most nobles would be pleased by the offer of such power."
"Power?" I stared at him blankly.
"You sound surprised. You did not think of the fact that you would be the most powerful woman in all of Egypt?" Scarab's eyes bore into mine, and I couldn't look away.
"No. I had other reasons for accepting his proposal. "
"And now that you understand what you have been offered, what will be yours, what do you think?"
"I think it frightens me a little. Power is dangerous." I was surprised to hear myself answer. I felt like I wasn't fully involved in the conversation, as if I were watching it from the sidelines and had no power over my answers.
Scarab frowned, and I knew my answers surprised him. "I see." He said simply.
But it was clear to me he didn't. He didn't see or understand what I had meant. Scarab liked power - that was as clear to me as the sky on a cloudless day. And anyone who liked power could be very dangerous. Strange that despite it all, I didn't fear Scarab. Amenutept seemed to trust him, and somehow that was all that mattered to me.
Yshta
To be continued...
Salmon '03