Chapter 7

AN: because Hally is in ancient Egypt now, I don't need to use italics when she speaks. I only used this effect before, to distinguish between English and Egyptian. But as I have already said, now, there is no need. So don't be confused when the language is in normal font from now on, ok?

Well, enjoy and I hope you like my long awaited update.

From

Draguna.

After Hally mounted Imhotep's horse and rode off, she galloped back around the front entrance. She tied the horse up for the priests to find, and snuck back into her room. She locked her door, and was on edge all the time. As if she expected Imhotep to knock on her door.

But he didn't.

Instead, she fell to sleep on her soft sinkable bed, and woke up early the next morning with a plan.

If the Pharaoh marries Ancksunamun, Imhotep will fall in love with her, kill the Pharaoh and endure the Homdai, only to have her break his heart. But, they could live together happily if I can only make sure she doesn't marry the Pharaoh. Hally thought to herself, as she dressed in a pure white, off the shoulder sleeved Kalasiris. It covered her white slipper shoes, and she found that this also had a long white veil behind her. One corner hoped around her middle finger, dipped down as if baggy, then raised up to attach to her left shoulder, dipped down her back again, rose to attach to her right shoulder, dipped, and the far corner hoped around her other middle finger. Her deco revival necklace (that was so thick it hugged the tops of her shoulders) was pure gold with a pair of huge golden dragon wings. The wings, of Osiris. One huge wing tip started at her shoulder, and the wing ended at the centre of her neck. The other wing did the same, but like a mirror reflected version, on the other side. She clipped an ornate golden shackle around each bicep, and wore thin gold bracelets around her wrists, three on each. And on her right hand, she looked down at her sapphire signet ring. She also wore a golden head piece, which had a smaller set of wings in the centre, which rested in the middle of her forehead when she pushed it on. She pulled her hair out, and hid the golden head-band beneath her locks, with only the gold strip over her forehead visible. Her eyes were lined perfectly with kohl eyeliner, in the Egyptian fashion, and she let her luscious blonde hair fan her back, and frame her face perfectly. Her fringe wasn't straight like everyone else around here. It curled like her mother's, and she had broader shoulders than the other women. So I stop the wedding, I save the high priest from heart ache. Which means I will have to find Ancksunamun first, and not forgetting finding where the forgotten temple of Osiris is. She sighed with a chuckle. What a pre-birthday.

But Hally didn't dwell on how she wouldn't be celebrating her birthday tomorrow. No, instead, she pushed the doors of her new room open, her sceptre sheathed to her left outer thigh beneath the Kalasiris, out of sight, and walked through the golden halls. Upon passing the prayer room however, she stopped. There was no one around, and she could use this as an opportunity to pay homage to her God, Osiris.

She peered inside, checked there was no one else there, and tip toed inside. She then stood tall and a smile graced her lips upon seeing the shrine before her. She had always wanted to perform the cleansing and caring for the statue, which represented a God. In this temple, Osiris.

She saw she had woken up early, as it was just before dawn.

Remembering the ceremony she deciphered from the old papyri Ardeth gave her, Hally went to work. She quickly went down to the kitchens, and found the water and food had already been prepared for the morning ritual. The cook didn't want to give it to her at first, until he saw her ring. Then he gave it to her willingly, and remembered the rumours of the new priestess. The one with the golden hair.

Hally had to make two trips, but she brought all the cleansed food and water up to the sanctuary. Little did she know, someone had entered the room and hid behind a tall pillar upon her arrival.

Imhotep watched from the shadows, as the illusive priestess astounded him once more. She probably couldn't see him more likel than not, because she had drawn the curtains, and led her way wih only a candle lighting her way. Hally propped a broom up against the wall, and brought the food and water forward. She knelt down, her white Kalasiris fanning out around her legs, as she gave offering to the Shrine. Hally

"Awake…in peace. May your awakening be peaceful." Imhotep couldn't believe his ears. Surely she wasn't…But she was. Hally rose slowly to her feet, her head bowed forward, as she pulled her sceptre from under her Kalasiris. She unsheathed it from her thigh, and twisted it in the centre. Imhotep marvelled at her knowledge as it extended into a mighty spear, and she brought the sharp end down on the seal of the double doors on the Naos. The doors swung open slowly, and Hally twisted the spear back into the rod, before returning it to her thigh. But because she was so concerned with the ritual, when she put her Sceptre into the sheath on her thigh, the Kalasiris bunched up behind it, giving off a full view of her long shapely legs.

Not that Imhotep minded. He had to hold onto the pillar for support.

Hally then pulled a cord by her feet, and opened one of the curtains.

It was now dawn, and the western sun rose high in the sky, slowly seeping rays of light into the shrine. Hally entered the small shrine room, and held her hands at either side of the statue's face. As the first ray hit the face, she pulled the veil like cloth from the statue, and sang softly.

"Revelation of the Face!
Adoration of the Face:
Rise over the earth
Just as you emerge from Nun!
May your rays illuminate the earth!
Long live the gods who exhort his beauty:
(they are) like (your) sons in the East."

Her voice was like that of Isis, cooing her Babe Horis in her arms. The gentle melody than soared through the air elegantly, mystified him.

Hally then lit two incense burners, one at each side of the shrine, before starting to unravel all the cloths away. They were white, green, red and blue. White to protected the god against his enemies, the blue one to hide his face, the green cloth to give him bodily health and the red one to protected him. She smiled, and then bound the statue of Osiris once more with the same colours, with fresh cloth. She wrapped him perfectly, better than before. It was like she had been doing this for years. In a way, I guess I have. She then smiled for a moment at the statue, taking great care as if it was the God himself, before continuing the ritual. Hally turned and walked to the back of the hall, and gasped. "I don't have any ointment."

"That is my job." She almost shrieked when Imhotep emerged from the shadows, holding a small vial of blessed ointment. "It is my duty to perform most of what you have already done, and the sealing of the ritual." He smirked at her, before walking to the Statue. His hands were together in prayer, and his eyes closed with purpose. Upon standing before the God Statue, he uncorked the vial, and poured a small amount of it on his little finger, and touched the statue's forehead with it. He then closed the shrine door, waved his hand, and the seal was like it had never been broken. He then looked to his side, and saw Hally stood by him. he looked down to see she was holding the broom, and their eyes met. He bowed his head once with an impressed smile, and turned to leave. Behind him, Hally swept away their footsteps, leaving the shrine room as untouched as it had been before their entry.

She almost wished she could have stayed in there, as the conversation she was about to have, would not be a comfortable one. I bet he asks why I left yesterday, and how I know the high priest duties off by heart. Oh no… she kept her eyes cast downward, and walked with him until they were in the door way to the Hypostyle hall. It was quite empty, with only straggling priests and workers doing the odd thing here in there. But other than the odd three or four, they were alone. "Please, walk with me Lady Halimahotep." His voice was stern, as was his face.

Mommy. She gulped, and did as she was told. Her eyes looking forward and down the whole time. "I have a number of questions for you, know that you have settled into routine, it appears."

"Yes my Lord." He glanced over at her, and then faced forward again. They walked through the hall, towards the food hall. It very much looked like a master talking down to a worker, from their body language.

"I wish to know how someone, who is not of this land, learns so speak fluently in the tongue of the Gods."

"It was the first-"

"Language you heard. I accept that, but then I ask who you heard utter such words?" Damn…think fast.

"I heard it from other priests."

"Which other priests? I have already enquired all whom dwell in this temple, and none have heard of you. And you are distinguishable."

"…none of the priests here par say…"

"Par say?" oops, too British.

"I mean, none of the priests here exactly…" Hally held her hands before her, as they entered the empty food hall.

"Then who taught you?" she was hiding something, he knew that much. "And if you were taught by priests not of this Temple, then how did you become a priestess of Osiris?" Damn! He is seeing right through me! Imhotep was getting very suspicious. He sat down, and indicated that she should sit with him. His dark robes were closed today, but she could see his scarab necklace around his neck.

"Alright…I didn't just hear it." She looked away. Lying wasn't working.

"So. You lied to me." He said a little harsher than he had intended, and didn't like seeing her flinch at his words.

"You wouldn't believe the truth." She said quickly, wrapping her arms around herself. He saw how defensive her posture had become, and realised he was upsetting her. But he was the High Priest. She shouldn't expect anything other than this treatment.

"Try me." He didn't ask, he ordered.

"…alright." She put a hand at either side of her bum, and leaned forward on the bench. Her golden hair hid her face from him, and she sighed. "I didn't used to speak this language. I hadn't ever been to Egypt until recently. But…one day, I just spoke like this." She leaned her elbows on the table, and looked away slightly. "It just came to me. I opened my mouth, I started to talk what I thought was my language, and my own father couldn't understand me…and I couldn't understand him either. That was back when he was alive…my family." She whimpered at the end, and he saw her hands clench into fists on the table. "So I came here. I seem to just know things, I can do things I was never taught to do." She closed her eyes, and looked up. He saw there were tears on her cheeks.

"Show me." His voice was as blank as his evaluating expression.

"It isn't that easy. I…I'm learning. No." she opened her eyes, and looked forward. "No I'm not learning. I'm remembering. If that is even possible. It isn't that I don't know how to do these things, it is as if I am remembering old lessons." She held a flat palm up, and blew a kiss along it to the sand on the stone floors. It swept up, and danced in the air as if in the wind.

But there was no wind.

"You are blessed." He deduced. She had powers.

Like him. "You have been gifted by the Gods themselves."

"Osiris." She said casually. "I have been gifted by Osiris."

"And so you came to learn of the God whom has given you such abilities." He said, as if it all made sense now. "That is how you can talk like his highest disciples, and know of the rituals. Although…I am the only one who is supposed to know of those rites. The ceremony you performed this morning, that is the duty of the High Priest. And the knowledge of such a duty, is passed from one High Priest, to the next. So it would be impossible for you to know of these facts, unless given them by the Great Lord himself." Imhotep seemed excited now. "You are here to do his bidding."

"More of a task."

"Task?" now he was down right curious. "You have been sent on a mission?" He placed a hand on her shoulder, and waited patiently.

"Yes. And it is proving difficult. I still don't know what I am supposed to do. I just know I have to do it." She made the mistake of looking at him, and their eyes locked again. There was a sense of admiration and respect in those dark honey eyes now, and even what looked like a need to protect her. But she mentally shrugged it off, and forced her eyes to look ahead of her again.

"I believe you. But…how did you become a priestess?" he traced the outside rim of the signet ring, and Hally snapped her hand back against her chest, looking at the hand like it had tried to hurt her. Imhotep was confused at this action, and raised a brow at her. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, I just…I was told not to let anyone take my ring." He realised her need to keep her ring to herself now, and nodded.

"I understand. You do not wish to be forced into wedlock, I understand. Though I touched you ring to indicate your rank, not your marital position." He restrained the urge to smirk, and beckoned a slave over. "Serve us." He commanded, and the slave nodded.

"No." Hally interrupted before the slave could leave. "I will get my own food, thank you." Imhotep raised a brow. Did she just say thank you, to a slave? "In fact, I can get your food too my Lord if you wish?" with a stern look, Imhotep made the slave leave, very confused, and he turned to her.

"What was you life like before you came here?" she was a little taken back by this question.

"My life?" her head cocked to one side, adorably. "Why would that interest you?"

"Please answer the question." He said curtly.

"Oh, well." She closed her eyes in thought. "Well I used to have a mother, a brother, and a father. But they were attacked…and so a man who taught me a lot of things about Osiris, and protected my family and I with his life…he died too…"

"I did not wish to know about your family." He said a little kinder. "I wished to know about your life. Where did you come from? Why are you so…"

"So…what?" he didn't continue, so she answered his first question. "I come from a land where the sun is not as bright, and water falls from the sky on a daily basis. It snows in the winter, and nearly everyone has the same skin as I do."

"Do they all have golden hair and sapphire eyes as you do?" Hally smiled shyly, and averted her eyes to her hands on the table.

"No, not all of them. But some do. My brother did…"

"Were you a servant? Or a worker?"

"What? No no. my family were very prosperous actually." She smiled upon thinking of all the times she walked in on her father, catching her uncle Jonathan trying to 'borrow' their share of Gold. And all the times she sipped happily through the vast halls of her London based mansion home.

"Then why are you so willing to work? Why are you so selfless?" again, she was taken back. he even saw the confusion in her eyes.

"Selfless? I'm not selfless."

"Yes you are." He spoke quietly, as other priests started to arrive. "Only yesterday you were willing to take a possible beating for a young slave girl, whom you had only met that same day. And a few moments ago, you were if I dare say it, reluctant to let another serve you."

"I really don't mean to be a bother." She began, but he raised a hand to stop her.

"You are a priestess of Osiris…and yet you act so…"

"So…?" what exactly was he trying to say.

"My Lord, My Lady." The slave returned, with both their meals.

"Oh you didn't have to-"

"Leave." Imhotep ordered, and took a long drink from his goblet, before looking at her with confusion. He just couldn't understand her.

Hally looked down at her meal, and her stomach growled loudly. She ate some of the fruit, and left the large clumps of bread and cakes. There was so much here, when there were so many who had nothing… I know. She then drank from her goblet, and lifted up her plate.

"Excuse me my Lord, I will be right back." Imhotep watched, and his confusion grew, as she walked out of the food hall with the tray of almost full food. He got up, and followed her.

What he found, was Halimahotep knelt with the slave girl from the day before.

"Mistress Hally. I am glad you returned safely."

"Thank you Akila. Here, I want you to take this."

"Mistress! I can't!" Hally put the bread in her hands, and then pushed the cakes into her pockets. "Mistress no!"

"Poppycock. I want you to have this, and share this is the other boys and girls if you can. Just stay healthy for me, alright?"

"I will Mistress but-ah!" Akila looked terrified and jumped back. Hally stood up and span on her feet, her golden locks whipping through the air with her. She stood looking up at a very angry looking Imhotep, and turned to Akila. 'run'. She did, and Imhotep flinched, as if he was going to run after her.

But Hally side stepped in front of him, and let her fringe shadow her eyes. Her face was blank, and her stance was strong.

And he noticed her right hand lingered over where her Sceptre strapped to her thigh.

"It is forbidden to give food to the slaves. They get fed when they get fed, no sooner."

"She is skin and bone, as are her 'co-workers'. They are children…and I think it is cruel to starve them. I wasn't going to eat it, it was going to be thrown away, so why not give it to them?" she looked up at him defiantly, and they now glared at each other.

"I can tell you are not of this kingdom."

"If being humane means I am 'not of this kingdom', then so be it." His eyes flared in anger, and he raised his hand to strike her. "Go ahead." He stopped. She wasn't afraid. Hally raised her arms up at either side of her, and never looked away from him. "Strike me down. I will just get right back up."

"Insolence." He spat.

"Humanity." She retorted, but no longer scowled. "I happen to find starving children wrong. But if you require your blood payment for kindness…" she turned her back, and pulled her golden hair over one shoulder. Hally showed her back to him, and waited. "Then so be it." But the hit never came.

"And you said you were not selfless." They both stood perfectly still, and silent. Until Hally lowered her arms, and turned her head towards him. "From now on, the High Priest Duties, remain the High Priest Duties. You shall eat your meals, and give the excess back to the slaves to dispose of." Return to your room, immediately." He turned his back to her now, and she turned to face it. "And we are not done here. We will have words about your actions. Defying your High Priest is unacceptable."

"Then punish me." Her words silenced him, and Hally knew he was confused. He had probably never met anyone like her before, with the spirit to stand up for herself and others. It probably scared him…

"I shall." He walked off, back towards the shrine, and left her there.

"But I will not be here." She said to no one, and turned to leave the golden temple.

Outside, she showed her ring to a man with a horse, and asked to borrow it. He agreed eagerly, and she mounted it, side saddle. I will not be here. I will be looking for Ancksunamun, and saving your hide. Hally pulled away from the entrance, and rode down the sandy roads.

Hally had to smile as she passed crowds of playing children by the road side. The girls were playing with home made dolls, and the boys wooden swords or reeds. She rode through the market place, content with just watching the people getting through their lives, seeing mothers bat their son's heads for fighting in the street, and young men giving beautiful beads to the women of their desires.

Men of all shapes and sizes, all with false black hair, shouted to sell their goods, and then all stared at her.

Suddenly, all eyes were on her, and she knew why.

A large white stallion, with a women with golden hair, blue eyes and peach skin, now stationary in the middle of the street, in a bright white Kalasiris and wearing golden jewellery.

No, she didn't stand out one little bit.

She shyly looked forward, and urged the horse onwards.

Then, she heard music.

For some reason she didn't understand, she turned her horse down an alley, and followed the sounds. It led her far down to the back of a stone building, and the doorway was a curtain that was half open.

Making her decision, she tied the horse up, and pushed the curtain aside.

Inside there was cheap incense burning in lamps, the room was dark, and she heard that lively music in the form of drums, Ouds (like banjos), flutes, harps, and cow skin tambourines. There was even a type of long smooth trumpet playing, and many other beaded percussion instruments. All were being plaid by a number of young men in their teens or twenties, while girls with long lilac and pink Kalasiris' danced, coloured veils covering their faces and tied to show the top of their head, and their dark black wigs.

"Faster! Ain, snake hips! And Jamila, loosen those arms! Let them flow like the nile." An older woman in black Arabian clothing clapped her hands to the music, and seemed to be instructing the girls.

"AA!" a young girl wearing lilac, tripped over her own bangle bound feet, and twisted over until she landed on the floor with a thud. She landed right in front of Hally, who instinctively helped her up.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, thank you." Her accent was crude, and she had to listen hard to understand what she was saying, but she assumed that was because they were speaking 'common' Egyptian. "Oh my Gods." The girl with light chestnut eyes, a shocked expression, backed off from seeing her. "Your skin is white! Your hair is yellow! What are you? Are you a spirit? Are you a deity!" she dropped to her knees and started bowing. "Only a deity would have a heavenly glow about her skin. Forgive me for falling at your fell, I beg you." Hally looked up from the girl, and saw all the other girls and musicians alike had bowed to her. All, but the women in black. The instructor waded forward, and stood before her.

"I fear you have me confused. I am not a deity, but a mere human like yourself."

"No, not like us." The woman took her right hand, and bowed her head. "You are a Priestess of Osiris." Now the only one left standing, Hally sighed.

"Yes, I am one of his disciples, but I am not anything for you to bow before. Please, stand. I implore you." The woman stood first, and then slowly, everyone else stood also. "Now, what is this place?"

"We are rehearsing for tomorrows festivities. We have been selected to dance in the ceremony of Osiris' rebirth tomorrow." After a moment, Hally seemed to know all she needed about the festival to an extent. She knew why it was held, to honour Osiris and welcoming him into the year with them, through his rebirth once a year.

But what happened…she hadn't the foggiest.

"And what have you been selected to do exactly?" the young girl who fell on her, answered again.

"We are to dance in the procession tomorrow, and perform the ritual dance before the Pharaoh outside his Palace, in the courtyard."

"Ain." The woman scorned. "The Priestess did not tell you to answer her." She looked livid.

"Please, it matters not." She smiled, and they all looked worried.

Why was she smiling? "May I watch?"

"But we aren't ready! We don't have a lead dancer!"

"AIN! Hold you tongue!" the woman shouted, and then sighed. "I'm afraid she is right though. In years past, I would have danced if we didn't have a backup. But I am far too old now, and none of my girls are skilled enough to take the lead…"

"Show me anyway." Hally beamed, making them all feel at ease. With a clap of the woman's hands, they all got into formations.

"That was excellent!" Hally jumped up from her cushion seat, and applauded them. "Very spiffy."

"Spiffy?"

"Oh, I mean good." Don't be too British damn it! "That was very, very good." They all seemed pleased with her response, but Ain stepped forward.

"We still don't have a lead dancer…and when the Pharaoh sees this…we will all be punished…" the girls all muttered their worries together, and the elder woman had to stare them into silence.

"We will have to do our best." She sighed even after her words, and walked back out the room. "Forgive me Priestess, but I must lay down and think upon our situation." She vanished behind a curtain, and they all looked to Hally.

"Well…I liked how you danced." She spoke to Ain. "Could you teach me?"

"Me? Teach you? How to dance! I would love to!" Hally chuckled, and then giggled with the 8 girls, who all swarmed round her.

The music started up, and reminded her very much of an Egyptian version of Ricky Martin's the Cup of life. As the girls all rattled beads and bells on their wrists. She was handed two fans, and the girls moved slowly next to her. As they shifted to one foot, so did she. As they curved their hip to one side, so did she.

Before long, she was spinning and twisting her body in rhythm to the fast music, and she even did a back flip into the centre of the girls. She put one hand in the air, the other by her side, and danced in a circle on the spot. "The trick is, to have snake hips, a swan's neck, and water arms. If you can do that, and skip around, you can do it."

"Like this?" she span like a cutting disc on the spot, and when she stopped, one leg was extended before her, on level with her hips, and her head and back arched back. Ain then grabbed her foot, and pushed it, so she span. As she lost her balance, two girls hooked under her arms, and pushed her up into the air. She landed on her feet, but slid down into the slits.

"Wow! Just like that!" Hally leaned forward, slid her feet from their horizontal position, to together as she laid on the floor. She then rolled onto her back, popped her hips, and jumped up with the music. "Now, try this." The music got faster, and Ain started to hips from side to side, to the front, in time with the music. Very Arabian belly dancer style. Her arms were forward, and they rose up to the ceiling as she danced. Hally tried, and had to try twice before she got it. "That's really good Priestess! Now follow my lead." She stepped to the side, and so did Hally. Then they both fell back into the Crab. In perfect timing. Then, in sinc , they flipped back to their feat, made a cross over their chest with their arms, wrist against wrist, before walking forward. Each foot taking a step on beat with the music. Then, they flew their arms up, kicked up, and one handed cartwheeled forward into the splits, one leg behind and one in front of their bodies. The back leg bent and curled up to them, and they looked up at the ceiling, reaching up to it like it was the sky. They then brought their hands forward forcefully, and only Hally had enough strength to push her hands before her, and lift herself up. She stood on her hands, her body in a perfect line, and held it for a dramatic pause. All was silent.

Then, the music crashed back into action, and she snapped one leg to either side of her. She pivoted on one hand, and span like a spinning top, before one foot hit the floor. Hally then twisted back, twirling on her feet, getting slower and slower as the music died down, until she stopped in a pose. One foot pointed before her, a toe on the floor, and her other foot flat and her back leg straight. One arm held an almost ballet hold, curved before her, and the other arm curved over her head.

Silence.

Ok…where the hell did that come from? I haven't danced once in my life…wait…I haven't danced in this life. But did I dance in my past life? She didn't get her answer, as Ain and her friends clapped her performance.

"Priestess! I thought you didn't know how to dance?"

"I didn't." she chuckled weakly. "It just, came to me I suppose." She smiled softly, as her eyes locked with the same veil the Arabian woman had left through.

Where the Arabian woman was now stood.

"I beg of you." She began, her hands cupped together in prayer before her. "Please, please be our lead dancer for the ceremony tomorrow." She crossed the floor, and cupped her hands. "You already know the dance, I saw you. Please."

"Please Priestess." Ain held her other hand, and also begged. "Save us from the Pharaoh's wrath. We shall all be punished with death if we fail to honour the God Osiris properly. He has already given us that promise upon selecting us. And without a lead dancer, we are doomed! Please help us!"

"I…I can't." What would Imhotep say if I danced in the ceremony? I know the priests carry the Basque with the God Statue through the city to the palace, and he will ride the chariot behind it. If he saw me…and I should really be looking for Ancksunamun, and the temple of Osiris… "I have duties to perform."

"Please! Just one day! I will be indebted to you always. Ancksunamun was out lead dancer, before the Pharaoh took her. Now she can only watch from the palace-"

"Wait a moment." She covered her mouth with a finger. "Did you say, Ancksunamun?"

"Yes, I did Priestess." She no longer had a choice.

"I will do it."

"You will!" Ain almost screamed. "Thank you!"

"Let the Gods bless your soul." The woman kissed her hand, and beckoned them all to bow to her. "Show your respect!" even the musicians bowed under order, and Hally chuckled. "Please, what is the name of our saviour." She chuckled again, and made them all stand up by holding their chins, and raising them.

"Halimahotep."

"Gentle Peace. You name must surely be a true representation of your character, Priestess." Ain then looked outside.

"Is that your horse?"

"Horse?" she looked outside, and saw someone was untying it, and yanking it out of the place she left it. "Yes!" she ran out the curtain and shouted back to them. "I will meet you outside the Temple tomorrow morning." Before running after the thief. "Stop!" the man didn't stop, and instead mounted the horse. He kicked it hard, and it whinnied in pain, before galloping off. That horse isn't mine! I can't lose it! Hally growled, and picked up the pace.

She skidded into the street, a blur of white and blonde, and ran as fast as she could after the horse. Luckily, the people had all parted for the horse, so she had a clear path. Her pure white Kalasiris billowed behind her, and she pulled her sceptre from her thigh. She extended it into a staff before her, and aimed it like a javelin.

"My Lord, everything is in order. The streets will be lined with Med Jai to ensure the people stand back for the precession. The last thing e want is for some fool to run out and slow down the parade to the Palace."

"Good." Imhotep spoke, only half interested in the conversation with his priest. Since this morning, all his interest had revolved around that verdant temptress herself, Halimahotep. Her words had been so calm, and yet so powerful.

"And we are not done here. We will have words about your actions. Defying your High Priest is unacceptable."

"Then punish me."

If she had been anyone else, he would have. He would have beaten her himself, then sent her to the Med Jai to deal with for her insolence. But he hadn't. He had backed down…and that worried him. Her words kept repeating in her head.

She was so ready to take the punishment for her crime, for giving her food to another. He had pardoned her actions her first day, but to tell him she had done it (even if by accident) and then blatantly do it again the next day?

She didn't think she was important. She has been in effect chosen by Osiris to do a task, given powers and knowledge, and is a Priestess of high rank, from her ring.

And yet she didn't think herself important. She even said so.

"Well, we shall soon be back to the temple in time for-"

"AAAA!" The priest yanked on the reins, pulling the chariot to a stop. A white horse in slow motion, galloped before them. The rider a common man, in only a loincloth, a tattered cow skin short shoulder jacket, and leather sandals, screamed in agony as a thin blur of gold zipped and collided with his shoulder. He convulsed on himself in an inhuman position, and twisted to one side, falling off the horse. He landed right before them, and he had a golden staff with a moon and star on the top, protruding from his shoulder.

"Alright mister!" Imhotep knew that voice. But it sounded very angry. He looked, and sure enough, an exotic beauty with long wavy blonde hair, a pure white Kalasiris, peach skin and deep blue oceanic eyes, stormed forward towards the man. "Three things." She put her delicate foot on his chest, and pushed down on it not so delicately. She then held up three fingers, and counted them off so he could see. "One, stealing is wrong. And you didn't even have the decency to see if I would have let you borrowed the horse, which I would have." She shouted, oblivious to her audience. "Two, how could you steal from a defenceless young woman, who has no way of walking through the city safely? ANYTHING could have happened to me after you took that horse. I could have been mugged, attacked, or even raped! I was all alone, and you took advantage. And if you haven't noticed." She ground her foot harder into his chest, making him cry out in pain. "This, is also wrong." She wrapped her fingers around the Sceptre staff, and twisted it painfully, making him scream again. Blood was started to flow faster from his shoulder. But she had missed all his organs purposely. "Three, you underestimated your victim." She pulled the staff from his shoulder with a sickening squelch, and he arched his body in pain. Hally grabbed his jacket collar, and dragged him up to his feet. When he wouldn't stand, she held him off the ground, with inhuman strength. "Just because I am a woman, all alone, who is obviously a foreigner, doesn't make me any less deadly than the darkest creature from your darkest nightmare." She seethed, a dark look on her face, as she simply dropped him to the ground. "Moral of the story is, don't steal, think before you act, and pick your fights wisely. Now you better get some water to clean that shoulder. It looks nasty." She wiped the blood off on his jacket, before letting him run off. She then shortened it into a rod, sheathed it to her thigh, and walked over to the jittery horse. "There there, it's alright now." she stroked its face, above its nose, and hugged its face slightly. "Now, shall we get you back to your owner? Good boy." She patted his neck, before walking round to the side. She elegantly swung a leg over to mount the horse, her arm veils fanning with her 'dress' behind her, and she rode it happily back to the Temple.

Imhotep, was in a state of shock.

He had just witnessed a darker side of Halimahotep, and yet, it was still one of justification. She had done that, because he was stealing something that didn't belong to her. He watched her vanish, and looked to his equally shocked Priest.

"…who is she?"

"I have often found myself asking that very same question." When she was gone, he ordered his priest to go on. He soon separated with him, as he was the personal priest of the Pharaoh, Seti. As he walked up the temple steps, after making a detour to the Palace to tell the Pharaoh everything was on track, it was nightfall and he knew there was one place he wanted, no, needed to be.

And it was right where he went.

To Halimahotep's room.