By: Rayisha
Papyrus one: The Gift of Dance
An: This chapter has been redone for better introduction of the Egyptian setting and better length.
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The Blazing Sun began to set making the hellish desert cool. This also made the Pharaoh's palace light up with torches as it too began to chill. A black two-humped camel came to the palace gates. It groaned as two figures swung off of its back. One of them was chained with silver cuffs and covered in a cloak. This person was pulled by the camel's owner.
Meanwhile Prince Atemu watched the jugglers and fire breathers, the entertainment provided by his father. He was quite board despite how many beautiful dancers there were among the other performers. As he was about to leave the performers made a path for a crooked looking man pulling someone behind him shrouded in a thin cloak, which was commonly worn in the evening. The crooked man limped over to the pharaoh bowing.
"My pharaoh, I have brought the prince a gift I'm sure he will like."
That made Atemu linger, 'It's probably another "personal" entertainer. All I want is a companion that I can talk to anyone with besides Priest Mahado and his apprentice, Mana.'
"Slave trader Akuma, present the face of Atemu's gift." the pharaoh commanded.
"Show yourself to your master!" Akuma shouted pushing the cloaked one.
It did as it was told; the whole cloak was stripped from its body, revealing a young woman. Her outfit was red as roses; it looked Arabic by the design, which all the palace dancers wore. The woman's long black hair snaked to the back of her knees. A transparent jacket laced around her upper garments. On her forehead was a silver headpiece in the shape of a fox. Dangling from both ears were gold hoop earrings. Glittering on each wrist were two bracelets rubbing up against her cuffs. A light red, thin veil embroidered with blue sequins, hid half of her face. Her eyes were blue as the deepest sea and her feet were bare and undecorated. Her thin belly was exposed.
Atemu gawked at her with awe, she in return gave him a glare as if she were a princess and her were a commoner!
"Why do you look at me so?" Atemu asked.
"I can not truly answer that Master." She answered spiting the word 'master'.
"She will bring quite a lot of pleasure my prince. Not only can she dance gracefully, she can provide the same in bed. At least that's what I offer from her. This one still has her flower. Plus she is from the exotic land Kitsune Isle…"
"My name is Iri not 'she' or 'woman' or 'you' ! How many times must I tell you that!" interrupted the woman.
" You will not raise your voice at me!" Akuma retorted, ready to strike the girl with his hand.
"Akuma, you will not harm her in my presence nor my father's. Do I make myself clear!" Atemu ordered.
"Yes, Prince Atemu. Now do you accept my gift, or shall I take my business elsewhere?"
"I accept your gift. But never come here again."
Akuma looked at the pharaoh, "Do you agree with his command your highness?"
"Yes, for the past few years you have brought many fine entertainers for my son and me. But you always treat them so cruelly."
"But they are just slaves…"
"Leave and never return." demanded the pharaoh pointing to the exit.
"As you wish." Akuma hissed, "but don't expect any beauties as mine from the other slave traders. Farewell."
Without another word he limped off never to be seen again…or so they thought.
While Atemu and Akuma had been speaking the guard had taken Iri to Atemu's sleeping chambers. After her cuffs were removed she was thrown on to his bed, after the guards left she began to weep.
'Why did I have to kidnapped on my last night of being at home?' she thought hugging her knees.
The sound of approaching footsteps was heard coming down the marble hallway. Iri looked up as more tears trickled down her face. Atemu entered. He cautiously came closer to her and sat next to her. Next, he wiped the tears away.
"Someone as beautiful as you shouldn't cry. A smile suit's a woman's face better." he commented, with a gentle voice.
Iri's heart skipped a beat at his kind words. She took her eyes away from him,"Why do you say that when I am a lowly slave performer for you?"
" I think the slaves including you should be free to do what they wish and to be treated equal. The is no superior beings among the human races besides the gods. To me everyone is in the same rank…no matter whose line you are a part of."
Her gaze came back to the prince,she gazed at him.In the room's torch light, Iri got a better look at her new master, he was remarkably handsome his eyes purple as an amethyst. Below his shoulders were gold bands on each side. His wrists were hidden by thinner bands of gold. His head piece, which was also gold, had a large eye in the center. Red, black, and yellow. Two gold earrings hung from his ears. He wore something that looked like a skirt that stopped at the top of his knees. Nothing covered his chest accept a necklace. His skin was tanned. Suddenly a light blush came across his cheeks.
"Why do you stare at me so?" he asked, looking embarrassed.
"…..Umm…uhhh… I…don't know. W-where shall I sleep?"
"Either the floor or…" Atemu paused blushing a little bit darker, "in this bed with me."
"I'll take the floor." Iri replied instantly after his answer.
"…I could always arrange that you have your own chambers."
Iri nodded and yawned rather largely, tired from the long trip across the desert. Soon she was asleep, Atemu caught her before she fell onto the floor. He sighed and laid her on his bed. His father came in to wish him good night.
"Father, may Iri have her own chambers? After all it's best she is comfortable." Atemu requested.
"She may sleep with the other slaves…"
Atemu's head went down, "At least she won't have to sleep on the floor there." he said looking at the slumbering Iri.
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Plz R&R the next chaper