V.E.: I know it's been awhile since I've updated. It's been like that for about four reasons.
1. I wanted to try writing a oneshot for an idea I had, but that's currently going nowhere. I'm probably going to delete it soon.
2. Combination of laziness and being a college student.
3. I got into this new internet game and as anyone knows, they tend to eat a person's attention in other things.
4. I was incredibly pissed off by something I found out recently. If you're interested in what it was, please check out the link below. Particularly, if you're a woman who believes in equality between the genders (Which I think most of my readers are that gender, no offense to any guys who do read this).
petitions/cartoon-network-stop-marginalizing-female-viewers (Unfortunetely, the website won't let me show the full link.)
I know I should probably be updating child of Ice next, but much like oneshot the next chapter isn't really going anywhere so I decided to move onto Princess of Egypt which I did have an idea of what I wanted to do.
Quote: "Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity." Hippocrates (You'll understand the quote more once this chapter is over.)
Kisara turned around almost circles as she called through the crowd of people going past her, the sounds of the city coming into play as everyone was going on with their own business and nto paying any attention to the girl covered in rags.
"Kiya! Kiya, where are you?"
The disguised princess finally sighed as she finally did a full circle.
Great. Now I have no idea where I am, or where I'm supposed to go.
Lapis Lazuli eyes still darted to the faces in the crowd, her hands keeping the rags covering over her face as she remembered what had brought this little impromptu trip on….
"Milady, have you gone mad?!"
At least, that is what it appeared to Kiya as she saw Kisara dressed more like a begging orphan than Egypt's princess. The short white linen dress and silver collar and bracelets had been discarded onto the floor while the crown lay on her disk, the dark rags reminding Kisara of the first day she had come to the capital before saving the Pharaoh and entering the Palace.
Once she had secured one of the rags to cover her hair, she turned around to show her friend.
"Well, how do I look?"
Kiya still seemed to be in shock, but still answered.
"Like a regular street urchin. What are you doing?!"
Kisara inspected her rags meticulously in the mirror while her back was turned to Kiya, making sure no sign of pale skin or snow-white hair was showing in her disguise.
"Isn't it obvious? We're going into the City and I don't want to be recognized."
"We?"
Kisara rolled her eyes.
"Yes, we. You know the city streets better than anyone I know, it'll be easy for you to take me there and get me back to the palace before anyone knows we're gone."
Kiya stammered, trying to think up a good point to stop persuade the princess from the idea.
"But….but what about your lessons?"
"I've got the day off, plus Shimon needs to do a private lesson with Atem today. And considering Nabirye's group hasn't spoken to me or accepted my invitations recently, I doubt they'll be expecting me to host another massage or make up session. Anyway, we sneak out now when it's still dawn, and we get back here before nightfall. No one needs to know."
Kiya's eyes were quite big as she pleaded.
"Kisara, if we got caught I could lose my job and you would be put under guard for the rest of your life!"
This time, Kisara didn't roll her eyes as she answered.
"That's not going to happen, the most that'll happen to me is being grounded for a month and you getting told off by Nephthys."
"That's still scary."
Kisara turned to face Kiya, pleading to her friend this time.
"Please Kiya, if I have to spend one more day just lazing around here with nothing to do, I am going to go mad!"
It was completely silent as Kiya stared at her friend sternly before sighing, giving up the battle.
"Fine."
Kisara broke out in a smile as she stood up, ready to go.
"Great!"
Kiya crossed her arms, looking at her friend with a skeptical.
"Alright, so where do you want to go."
Kisara told her.
That left Kiya frozen for a few seconds before she almost shouted.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!"
Kisara let out a mixture of a groan and a sigh, her own body out of the rushing crowds and off to the side where the stall were, merchants peddling their wears and where she was less likely to get mobbed.
Well, this plan has been going perfectly.
She still tried to glimpse Kiya's signature pink head scarf from where she was standing before a voice from the apple stall she was standing right next to.
"You, girl!"
Kisara repressed a wave of annoyance at being addressed so (her time in the palace definitely showing in her confidence). She came to see a very oily heavy-set merchant, a few of his yellow teeth missing, his big hands gesturing to his apples.
"Don't think I didn't see you take that apple!"
Kisara replied frankly, a hint of annoyance.
"I haven't even touched your apples."
The merchant's dark eyes merely narrowed as he opened and pushed his hand towards where she stood.
"Don't think you can fool me, girl. Pay up!"
Kisara winced as she remembered something she should have probably done but hadn't thought necessary.
"Pay? I don't have any money with me."
"For the last time girl, I…!"
"There you are!"
Kisara and the merchant turned from the quickly escalating conversation to find a girl dressed in a simple peasant dress and a white hair wrap to cover her thick shiny black hair. The piercing blue eyes accented by the kohl was ones Kisara recognized instantly.
"Isis?"
The priestess in training (currently in disguise) practically stomped over in irritation towards the ragged princess.
"What are you doing here?"
Kisara twiddled her fingers as she responded.
"Well, it's kind of a long story…"
The merchant than focused his attention on Isis.
"Your friend took one of my apples and she says she doesn't have any money to pay up."
Kisara sharply rebutted.
"I didn't take any of your apples and she's not exactly my…"
Isis interrupted Kisara by throwing a small brown bag, almost jingling with some money in there which the merchant caught.
"Will this settle it?"
The eyes of the merchant lit up greedily as he counted the coins that were in the sack, obviously worth more than a mere apple.
"Yes, yes. In fact, if you want another apple or two…."
Isis took that moment to grab her princess by the wrist and led her away from the stall.
"Come on!"
The two walked on (though Kisara was much more dragged along) until they were a good distance away from any of the stalls. The white-haired girl then yanked herself out of Isis' grip, rubbing the sore spot (Isis had a tighter grip than one would expect).
"Was that really necessary?"
Isis crossed her arms, looking as serious as her aunt.
"I would expect a thank you after I dealt with that merchant."
"I didn't take any of his apples."
Isis nodded curtly.
"I know, it's a scam some cheating merchants will pull. They'll escalate the conflict more and more until it comes to the guards' attentions. The soldiers will side with the merchants and you would be in big trouble, most people who are smart know to just pay the men before it gets noticed."
Kisara's eyes sharpened harshly.
"That's vile."
Isis shrugged.
"That's life."
Kisara looked at the priestess in training questioningly before she answered the unasked question.
"Back home, I used to do the shopping. I've come across it being played a couple of times to know when to steer clear, some of my old friends weren't so lucky."
Kisara glanced at her hands.
"Oh, I see. I guess….I owe you then. Thank you."
Isis nodded accepting it with a nod before getting back to the gist of the situation.
"You're welcome. Now what are you doing outside the palace, Princess?"
Kisara explained before she remembered who she was talking to.
"I asked Kiya to take me somewhere in the city I wanted to go. I'm wearing rags so people won't recognize me, it was working when I lost Kiya and….wait a minute, what am I doing are here, what are you doing here?"
Isis noticeably stiffened, but covered it up as she answered.
"I saw you and your hand maiden sneak past the guards when I was heading back to my room after a bath."
Kisara wasn't necessarily buying all of what the girl her age was saying.
"And your first instinct was to dress up and follow me, not tell someone to stop me."
Isis flinched before sighing and letting everything else out.
"And, I guess I was little curious to what you were doing. Not to mention bored with nothing to do."
Kisara looked at the future seeress appraisingly.
"Day off too?"
Isis nodded slowly.
"Yes, and it was between following you or following Nabirye and the girls again. Not that they're all bad, but…."
Kisara spoke with understanding.
"Dealing with Nabirye is trying to anyone's patience."
The two shared a moment of silence before Kiya reappeared, a look of grateful thanks as she rushed right next to Kisara's side.
"Milady, thank goodness you're safe! I was so worried when I you weren't next to me…"
Kisara placed hands on her friend's shoulders to calm her down, glancing to Isis when she mentioned her.
"Easy Kiya, I'm fine thanks to Isis sorting out things with a merchant."
Kiya took a deep breath at that, calming down considerably before bowing her head to the other girl.
"My humblest thanks, Lady Isis."
Isis accepted before she turned her attention back to Kisara.
"Well, now what?"
She considered the words before answering.
"Well, you can either come with us or go back to the palace. Your choice, Isis."
Isis walked near to the three girls at that.
"Fine, then I'll come with you."
Kiya looked warily between the two girls, knowing the past experiences between the two. Nevertheless, she turned around to guide them through the streets.
"Okay…follow me."
As the two followed the pink scarf covered maid, Isis asked Kisara.
"So what is it you wanted to see so badly you snuck out of the palace for?"
"You'll see when we get there."
And that was all she said. Isis looked like she wanted to say more, but she kept silent.
The three passed by many homes and streets, the passersby and people doing business not taking any notice of three girls rushing to get somewhere. There was much going on already with merchants hawking, food cooking and the smell wafting out into the streets, glittering lamps and jewelry gleaming from the sun's glint. People were talking, laughing, working; oblivious that a princess and a priestess in training was passing them all by right now.
Finally, after walking for what seemed like forever, they came to their destination on the edge of the city.
Isis seemed a bit taken aback as they stopped.
"Why are we here?"
The building in question looked to be crumbling and dirty, nothing like the gleaming palace and even the smaller residences nearby the place looked better kept. It looked like a house, but Isis would be wondering who would live here? And there were people in there as she felt she heard something like groans come from the house.
Kisara took a few steps with Kiya right by her side, Isis following behind the two. The disguised princess pushed away a wooden thing (looking a little unhinged) that seemed to serve as a door for this place) and stepped inside before covering her mouth in horror. Isis was not too far behind her as Kiya merely looked grim at what was there.
Across the dirty floor, people were sprawled out everywhere. Cups of wine were overturned and bits of fish and other trash were also strewn where the people were laying. There was no distinction between them; men, women, children, old. A few were covered, some had mats, and others just laid on the dirt floor. The air was stifling with the scene of sickness and the cloths that had been applied to them were dirty (and there might have been a rat in the shadowy corner). A jug of water stood by the door.
They all one thing in common; they all were sick.
Isis was the first to react.
"This is a…"
Kiya explained.
"Milady asked me about how the plague was affecting us. When I told her how the people who could afford the help of the priest doctors came to what we call the 'Houses of Rest,' she wanted to see it."
Kisara took in everyone's expression, grim acceptance of Anubis' looming judgment.
"It's even worse than I thought it would be. This isn't a place of healing at all."
Kiya continued in her grim tone.
"True, this is more of a place where people come to die."
Kisara gestured around the room, the people holding their stomachs and breathing heavily of the sickness.
"Still, these conditions are horrible."
Isis perked up in interest.
"What do you mean?"
Kisara assessed the situation even more, like a healer checking her patient's surroundings.
"My Amma was a healer in my village and she taught me some of her methods. I don't have any of the herbs she may have used, but I know that this place is the worst place for a sick person. Everything is dirty and putting everyone here together will merely spread the sickness even more."
An old creaky voice from an old man nearby Kisara took away her attention on the surroundings.
"Please….water…."
Kisara was startled before nodding. She hesitantly picked a cup up off the floor before going over to the jug, staring down at the murky contaminated water.
This water won't be doing them any favors either.
Still, she got the drink and walked back to the old man, kneeling down and helping the man sit up to drink it. After a coughing fit after water slipped down his throat, the old man gave a great smile to her.
"Thank….you…."
Kisara set him down gently, standing up again to look at all that was around her.
This wasn't a House of Rest at all. House of Anubis was more appropriate.
Kiya broke the princess' chain of thought, gesturing to the door.
"Milady, we should go. Sooner or later, people will notice your absence."
Kisara was still as she took in her last few moments of the place.
Isis spoke this time, wondering what was going on beyond in the princess' mind and dint' notice what she called her.
"Kisara?"
Kisara turned around, walking through the door, not glancing back at the sick. Kiya and Isis looked at each other in mutual confusion before following her out.
Kiya sighed in safe comfort of Kisara's room, just as beautiful as ever, especially compared to where they had been today. She placed the food and water Neftis' supper on the floor, the setting sun red with the accompanied oranges, pinks, and yellows.
"Well, thank the gods that Mana and Atem pranked those priests. They were so busy with finding those two and punishing them, no one noticed you were gone."
Kisara (back in her short white dress and silver bracelets, neck collar and snake crown) simply stared like she was seeing far away, Neftis purring in her lap and the rhythmic petting with the cat suddenly getting up as soon as food was in her reach. The white fluffy cat jumped off the bed and went to the water to drink.
This didn't change the princess' thoughtful expression. Kiya spoke louder.
"Kisara, are you alright?"
Her little master awoke from her thinking as she glanced at Kiya now taking up her old clothes.
"Oh, sorry."
Kiya gathered up the fine white dresses as she continued talking.
"Still, I'm surprised Lady Isis helped you like that, even coming along with us."
Kisara nodded, remembering how assertive Isis had been which was a change to how she had previously seen Nephthys' niece.
"Yeah, I guess she's not all bad then."
Kiya came over with the clothes piled in her arms like a bundle.
"Well, I'm off to the laundry servants with these things."
Kisara waved her off smiling gently.
"I'll be good, go."
Kiya smiled with her small bow as she walked to the door, closing behind her as she walked out with the laundry.
Once she was out of the room, Kisara dropped the smile and sighed. Getting up to head to the balcony, her mind wandered back to the House of Rest and the sick old man.
That place….if it remains like that, all of those people will die.
She took a look at the brilliant sunset before her eyes drifted near her bed, where pure white cloth hung down near her bed.
She walked back to them, stroking the white fabric.
So clean…so soft.
Perfect for bandages, if bound tight enough.
Suddenly, her medina lit up with an idea. She knew what to do.
Her hands stopped roaming the shear fabric, tightening and finally applying the right pressure.
RIP!
V.E.: I know, I know. This is late. Allow me a little more of your attention for the Author's Note.
Yeah, the apple stand reminds me of Aladdin, so you guys probably noticed that too.
Also, yeah Kisara is kind of doing the same thing Yuri did in Red River. As any who might have been hear from the beginning would know, I took inspiration for this story from there. Please don't be too mad. Just think of Kisara's Amma as being ahead of her time.
Please review.