For my sake (and yours) instead of describing dinner to you, let me just summarize it. There had been lots snide remarks, some yelling, a threat, a promise, and a consideration.
Most of the snide remarks were that I smelled bad, and wherever I came from must have smelled absolutely putrid and I brought the stench with me, and they'd have to burn all the sheets I slept with. Then there was my hair. I was a demon, his father said, with my hair. The slave girls muttered to themselves. I didn't overhear them, but evidently they still adored my hair and that's why a glass goblet was thrown at them, shattering against the wall and shooing them back to their quarters.
I, naturally, defended myself. Maaliki grabbed me shoulder and gave me pleading eyes, which prevented me from saying anything other than "it wasn't fair" and that I disagreed completely. Maaliki promised his father I'd get a bath, but his father threatened to homeschool him instead of ship him off to Karnak to be trained as a 'priest of the earth'. Maaliki was angry, but didn't defend himself.
That kids got issues. He won't even fight back against his father... so much for a rebellious childhood.
I went to bed hungry, but I didn't mind nor care. Maaliki followed me after I marched out of the room, but after some time. He must have had a silent conversation with his father, apologizing for my rash attitude. I didn't need forgiving. I didn't want it. I told him so. Maaliki found me leaning up against a wall in his room and gave me his sad pleading eyes again.
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault."
"Well I..."
"What? Do you feel sorry FOR me? I don't care about your pity."
He looked at the floor and picked up a thick blanket and handed it to me.
"Here..." he said, looking away. He curled up on his own side of the room and blew out the lamp's candle.
I looked at the blanket in my hands and wrapped it around me. I'd be plenty warm tonight. With this thick blanket and the nice coat he had given me earlier today. Maaliki really was a nice fellow...
Laying down on the floor, I faced the wall with the blanket around me. I got to thinking about what I would do now that my life was over and I'd have to either give up or restart on my own.
I closed my eyes. I remembered my parents. They had told me never to give up. Never to give up on anything. I felt recently buried emotions rising. And I would never, ever give up on them. I would avenge them. I would take my revenge out on the palace. But anger could blind a person. I must not let it blind me. I had to be be clever, I had to be be resourceful, and I had to never give up on myself.
I opened my eyes. I had to leave here. I had to leave here tonight. I had to go back to Kru-elna and salvage what I can. I had to go...
Chapter Eleven - Destination Home
I rested and pretended to sleep for what had seemed like forever, until all noise had stopped and all visible lights were dim or out.
I opened one eye in caution, then the other, and tilted my head over to look and to make sure my sandy blonde savior was asleep. I was convinced, so I threw off my blanket and darted quickly and soundlessly across the room.
One last glance back at him and I turned the corner of the room and marched quickly down the steps.
"MREOW!" a cat screeched.
Shit. I must have stepped on its tail. Stupid cat, sleeping on the last step of a staircase. I hope no one heard me. I left the house and slinked in the shadows out of the entire complex. A ladder at a wall sparked my attention.
It was a dead end anyway. For curiosity's sake... I placed my hands on the ladder and climbed up and poked my head over.
Vast desert expanded in every direction. Was this... the outer wall of the city? I swung myself over the wall, but missed the ladder on the other side and fell. Ten feet was an awful long way to fall. I resisted the urge to yell out as I lost my balance and landed with a hard but silenced thud in the sand.
The wind was knocked out of me as I struggled to crawl onto my knees. Gasping for breath, that came only slowly at first, I stayed still and made sure all my attempts at regaining my stability were hushed.
I looked towards the Nile, to my far right. If I follow it against the current, I should find my raft... but I have no energy left to paddle against the current. And crocodiles were a constant threat. No, I reconsidered, I will walk to my destination, however far away it was.
"I'm going HOME," I said stubbornly to no one but myself.