V.E.: I know, I know. It's been awhile. Like I've been saying earlier, I'm lacking drive to do things lately that includes writing. Maybe it's depression, maybe it's my internalizing conflict boiling to a maximum, I don't know.
I have no idea what I want to do with my life and it makes feel crappy, okay? And I have two older brothers who pretty much have their lives figured out and it makes me feel worse. Do you know what it's like to wake up someday and realize there is nothing you want? To know that you don't have any abilities that stick out and make your family know you're special? You feel empty. You don't know you are, what little you do know is what you're not. And you huddle in your room and cry at night while you're trying to get to sleep.
(Takes a breath.)
Sorry, needed to rant. I've been at some low points lately. I know you guys want to just read the story, but the trap that people run into sometimes is not seeing the writers as actual people with actual problems. Goodness knows I fell into that trap, then I found out the author died. Just cut me some slack, okay?
Oh, I suppose I should I give you an idea what to expect this chapter (before the multitude of you ask when Seto's going to come in). Now that we addressed Kisara's future last chapter as a princess of Egypt domestically, we're going to get a little visit from another kingdom. That deals with her role as a princess outside of Egypt.
And then, I swear, I will get those two to meet! Even I realize how much this means to you guys.
Quote: "Diplomacy is more than saying or doing the right things at the right time, it is avoiding saying or doing the wrong things at any time."-Bo Bennett (Ain't that the truth?)
If there was one thing Kisara had mastered since going from peasant girl to princess, it was the ability to keep a clear head and a calm composure in public. As a royal, she often had to make appearances at Court, whether it be for a festival or a competition such as a magician's duel or a sporting event like chariot racing or perhaps an impromptu archery contest from the more high ranking soliders.
Now thirteen and just having celebrated (in Nephthys' terms, not hers) her first blood last month and therefore officially could be married, she was a young woman who everyone was looking to and she had to set an example.
Not that the same level of patience could applied to everyone she knew.
Kisara took a deep breath before she spoke sternly.
"Kiya, don't fidget."
Her friend (covered in her signature pink head scarf) stopped shifting her feet, standing at attention with the fan she was holding gently cooling the white haired princess down. An apologetic expression was on her face.
"My apologies, Princess."
Atem, who was off to her right side, seemed to stifle a couple of giggles at the servant being told off.
Mahad, who was on his other side, sharply met his eyes in disapproval and spoke firmly.
"That means you too, Prince. This is very important."
Atem stifled a groan as he took a glance around at the four's surroundings. They were at the gates of the palace, which were completely shut. The group was closer to the center of what seemed to be a rather tremendous crowd (which was in fact, almost the entire Inner Court along with several servants that had tagged along to watch) that had gathered, Pharaoh Aknamkamon at the utter front flanked by his Sacred Guardians. The crowd was obviously trying to be quiet for its king, but obviously the sounds of muffled talking were evident as was the occasional sneeze of cough to break the ice.
The four in question were in fact right behind that Pharoah's group, while to their other side were the other three Guardian apprentices. Kisara was pretty sure she had glimpsed Nabirye though she wasn't with the other girls and instead with her parents, her mother a plump and jolly looking person while her father a slim serious and just as piercing looking as his daughter. She was pretty sure she had also seen the other girls with their families. Hopefully, she would be able to talk to them later on as Isis had confirmed that away from Nabirye they were actually quite pleasant to talk to.
However there was one person who was absent, and it was that for that person Atem was currently sighing for.
"It's too bad Mana will miss this."
Mahad sighed fully exasperated.
"You know she's been banned from any court wide feasts until she displays some maturity, Prince."
Kisara nodded, her eyes narrowing in thought.
"Yeah, what did she blow up last time again?"
Another sigh escaped from the magician apprentice's lips.
"I don't remember what it was, I just remember it was right in front of the high priests visiting at the time. Master Rashidi had to apologize profusely to the poor man for over a week! Especially since it ruined his prize wig…"
Kiya 'hmmed' thoughtfully.
"I suppose we should grateful that she won't cause anything drastic when the representatives from Hatti come, but it will go into the night and she really needs to be getting more sleep."
Kisara laughed a little at the concern her friend was showing.
"I suppose that motherly concern comes from all that time you used to babysit your younger cousins before you came to court, right Kiya?"
The mouse like servant fell silent, blushing as red as could be as her face turned downward and nodded silently.
Mahad smiled a little at the embarrassed girl. After seeing how shy the young servant was, the young magician had relaxed around her a little and could speak well enough. Maybe it was the shared personality or maybe it was the fact his crush on Isis made all other girl interactions seem less stressful, but whatever it was he had no problem talking to the servant girl with the pink head scarf.
"Thank you for the thought though, Kiya. At the very least though, we better sneak her some treats from the feast tonight."
Atem craned his neck, trying to get a better angle of the gate before him where the entourage would make their entrance.
"So how much longer do we have to wait for them to show up?"
Kisara sighed slightly, keeping her composure still.
"Patience is a virtue Atem, waiting is something you're going have to do a lot more when you get older."
The young prince crossed his arms in a bit of huff.
"I'd rather be doing something than just waiting for something to happen."
Mahad stepped into the conversation to offer his perspective.
"That may solve some things, but sometimes there will be times that the best way to solve a problem is to patient allow things to play out. Different problems need different strategies to deal with them. As the future Pharaoh, you should learn this better than anyone Prince."
The tricolored spiky haired prince looked a little sullen, but didn't do anything else then respond.
"FINE."
Kisara made eye contact with the magician apprentice before her flinted to Isis, who was waiting off to the side with Karim and Shada.
"Speaking of different strategies…."
Mahad caught where her direction was before turning back to her with a definite steel in his eyes.
"NO."
The young princess rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh come on Mahad, you seriously don't think running away from her whenever you seem to get within ten feet of her is really accomplishing anything, do you?"
Mahad stood his ground, the annoyance he was feeling clear on his face.
"I honestly don't see how I act around Lady Isis is any of your business."
Kisara raised an eyebrow at her friend.
"Well, for starters she's the only Guardian apprentice you refer to with a title…."
His tone was telling her to stop beating around the subject.
"Get to the point, Princess."
"You like her. As in REALLY like her."
"No, I don't!"
To which Kisara looked at him with a disbelieving look, who was joined by her brother wearing a matching expression at Mahad.
His voice became weaker as he try to convince them.
"Seriously."
The two royals didn't look convinced as they continued to stare him down.
Mahad sighed deeply, his tense shoulders slumping in defeat.
"I should really give up now, shouldn't I?"
The white haired princess and tricolored prince responded in unison.
"YEP."
The brunette priest in training himself up before finally giving in, though very quietly as trying not to let anyone other than the small group hear.
"FINE, yes, I like her."
Kisara smiled as she patted his arm.
"See, was that so hard?"
"Don't push it, Princess."
Kisara lost the bright smile with that, her face taking on a more serious tone.
"Well, considering how little time it took for me to figure that out, I wouldn't put up any defenses. Anyway, until I set the matter straight, Isis thought you didn't like her. She felt a little hurt. I suppose that's not surprising given the level of avoidance you were giving her…"
Mahad's face looked crest fallen as he spoke, as if hopes were being crushed into pieces.
"She…thought that?"
Atem replied in a dead pan tone voice.
"Well, it's not her fault you're terrible with girls."
Said boy who was terrible with girls looked like he wanted to beat his head against the stone pillars nearby (of which, there were quite a few).
Kiya spoke up then, turning to her young mistress.
"Umm, Prince, Princess, I think that's enough teasing of Mahad today."
Kisara sighed and gave an apologetic look at the brunet magician.
"Right, sorry Mahad."
That pulled the boy out of some of his depression.
"It's okay, I know how that those actions must make me seem like a weird person."
"Are you sure you don't want my help? I mean, I talk to Isis on a daily basis and…"
He held up a hand to stop her.
"Thank you Princess, but I think I need to deal with this situation on my own."
Kisara looked at him intensely as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Alright, but if a certain time goes by and you're still acting like the cowardly idiot you are now, I will probably knock your skull against these stone pillars so they can beat some sense into you."
Mahad grimaced, but still kept a tight smile on his face.
"Duly noted."
And before anyone in the group could speak another word, loud yells over the sealed gates were heard from the other side of the sealed gates. From the top of them, the soldiers on guard were moving around, getting ready to open them.
The restless crowd was starting to straighten as the murmuring settled down, the small group also anticipating what was coming as Atem stated the thought that was in everyone's minds.
"They must be here now!"
His sister added on to that, making her stance even straighter and trying not to go up on her tip toes. She then grabbed her brother's hand, nodding her head goodbye to Mahad with Kiya standing behind them with the fan.
"Don't have to say it Atem, we know. Sorry Mahad, Pharaoh Aknamkamon wanted us to be nearby when the company arrived."
Mahad nodded in understanding as the two were about ready to leave them, the giant doors in front of the crowd slowly creaking open with the help of the guards.
"Alright, see you at the feast."
The two royals nodded in thanks, Kisara pulling the Crown Prince by the hand while Kiya still followed with the fan. It only a few steps to get close to Pharaoh's group, Kiya staying behind the priests as Kisara and Atem came to a stop right beside the Egyptian king.
Aknamakmon seemed to notice the two's arrival at his side, a small smile curling at the edge of his lips. The gates were becoming farther and farther apart as the opening got bigger and the crowd could now see some of the host through the gate.
"I see you two are right on time."
Atem spoke quietly in response, still hand in hand with his sister.
'Well, technically Kisara was the one who…"
The white haired princess 'shushed' the young boy as she turned his attention back to the gate, the loud noise of opening starting to stop.
"Hush, we'll talk later."
At those words, the three royals seemed to be perfectly at attention to the relatively small but still decent sized group of perhaps twenty entering the courtyard (though Kisara got the impression most of the group was outside the palace walls, these were the highest of rank of the party). They were all men, mostly from middle aged to a few that seemed about twenty or below that, the majority were dressed in the armor and dress of the Hittites that Kisara had seen on several pictures in her studies on them.
One thing that caught the princess' eye was how that along with Hittite clothing, there also seemed to a small but still distinctive portion of them wearing Assyrian clothing. Which made sense as she recalled hearing how the Hittites weren't as powerful as they used to be and they and Assyrians seemed to be blending together
Despite the difference in clothing or armor, all of them were on a horse and all of those were either brown or black. The majority of the host seemed to be lined up in an arch, flanking the small group that stood in front of them and in the center of it.
The small group comprised of three men, two middle aged and one that seemed to be in his late teen or early twenties. The first had a long silver beard with the most aged face and was the only one of the three dressed in Hittite clothing, reminding her a little of Vizier Shimon. The second man was younger with a dark curly beard that matched the curls on his head and a face that seemed to always be smiling, even as he was trying to look serious at that moment with his rich toned clothes. The final one was the younger male who had no beard with a cleanly shaved face (most likely having made his first kill recently) along with a recent cut for the hair on his head that hung around his ears. He seemed to be in fact the tallest and the most nervous of the small group though the nervousness seemed to disappear briefly as his dark brown eyes caught sight of Kisara.
Said princess didn't even flinch, knowing very well how much people would gawk around the first to tenth time at seeing her. She simply stood there as the three dismounted and walked to the pharaoh, kneeling with their left leg to the great king, offering respect in unison.
Aknamkamon's eyes lit up before motioning them with his hand, the three standing as directed.
"I believe that's enough. General Teshub, General Nabu(1); I trust your journey here was uneventful and relaxing."
The older man spoke first, serious and calm at dealing with the pharaoh.
"For the most part, yes though we did run into some bandits around your borders, Pharaoh Aknamkamon."
The pharaoh took a brief sigh at that, a headache beginning to form in his mind.
"Well, it looks I'll be needing a word with my border patrol. My sincerest apologies."
The older gentleman was about to speak just as the younger interrupted, talking in a rather easy going manner.
"Oh don't worry, it's not a real journey unless we do SOME fighting. The bandits were the perfect excuse."
The man gave several laughed the silver bearded man yanked his ear, holding quite the grip.
"OW! OW!"
"Remind me what I said about the purpose of this visit?"
The younger man bristled under the deathlike grip on his ear and the similar tone of voice the older man had just used. Nevertheless, he got out his answer.
"To…improve the…relationship between our nations…in trade and alliances."
The older man let go, his expression never having changed during the exchange and glanced towards Shimon as the younger man rubbed his sore ear.
"One wonders whether I ever actually managed to teach you any sense. It is good to see you Vizier Shimon, my old friend."
Shimon smiled genuinely at the old general.
"I feel the same Teshub, but catching up will have to wait until the feast tonight."
The other man, Nabu, brightened and distracted from the pain at this news spoke firmly but still lightly.
"A grand feast for our small group? You shouldn't have, we'll be heading back before three days are out."
Pharaoh Aknamkamon answered warmly before turning his attention to the unnamed youth.
"Well before you all go, you will experience some Egyptian hospitality. And who is this young man here? I don't believe recognize him."
General Nabu chuckled warmly as he gestured to the young man, who still seemed to be in a daze at looking at Kisara.
"Well, you will no doubt be hearing him more someday. May I present Ashur(1) son of Hamata, one of our youngest and brightest soldiers. He is under my and Teshub's joint tutelage."
It was then Nabu seemed to notice the expression on the young man's face.
"Speak lad, else the Pharaoh and his Guardians think you mute."
The young man seemed to still be in a daze as his tone was trancelike in his own tongue, his dark eyes directed at Kisara.
"Beautiful….as beautiful as the lady Ishtar…"
That certainly raised some eyebrows from the Pharaoh and the priests (though Atem looked confused, not as fluent with the language of the Hittites as his own) along with the two generals and the men in back of them who heard the young man (the latter of had a good laugh). Kisara on the other hand, didn't seem to have visibly reacted.
Teshub raised a hand for patience, one fs his fingers pointed upward as he smiled uneasily at the Pharaoh and his Sacred Guardians.
"Uh, but a moment Pharaoh."
He gazed at Nabu who stepped lightly out of the older man's way, giving a direct way to Ashur.
"Be my guest, old friend."
Teshub needed no other invitation as he resolutely marched over and gave Ashur a hard smack on the back of the head which finally seemed to rouse the boy out of his daze as he rubbed the impact point.
"OW!"
"Show some respect, Ashur! That girl is the Princess of Egypt, not one of the camp followers (2) anyone can gawk at! Besides, no girl from another land likes to be flattered by being compared to goddesses other than her own."
Teshub turned to the royals and other of the group in front of them with an apologizing look.
"My apologies for what was said especially you Princess, for all his skill in battle he is not the most gifted with words. He only speaks his native tongue so pay no mind to it, I beg of you."
Before the pharaoh could give a clear opinion on exactly what he thought with his stern expression, the uneasy tension broke as Kisara gave a few chuckles that tinkled like bells as she smiled at the Hittite generals and solider.
"There is no need to apologize, I rarely get such things said to me in an honest manner. I should hope he never loses it. And in response to what you said General Teshub, I honestly find it quite flattering to be compared to a goddess of beauty whether she be Egyptian or of any other people."
The three Hittties' eyebrows raised as their faces became astonished at what they just heard, Ashur most of all as he stuttered out a reply.
"You…you speak our….our language?!"
He was rewarded with another set of tinkling laughter from Kisara, Atem looking back and forth as he had only recognized a few words of the exchange. Aknamkamon smiled at the men's faces as he gave a proud look at his adopted daughter.
"Kisara has quiet the gift for languages, just as much as my son has for games. Even I have trouble winning against him."
Teshub seemed intrigued the shock seemed to be wearing off on his face quicker than the other two.
"Well, that sounds like a worthy challenge that I will have to try before we leave. But before such things can be done, may I present our ruler's tribute to you Pharaoh?"
Aknamkamon waved the general off with a polite and diplomatic expression.
"Oh, that can wait until later, can it?"
Nabu interceded, his easy going tone entering the conversation expertly.
"Well, at the very least will you allow us to present the gifts that were intended your children?"
Both Kisara and Atem met at each other's eyes at that, never having heard of such a thing being done before. The purple eyed pharaoh seemed to contemplate this before giving a single nod.
"I see no harm in that, bring them out."
At that, Nabu clapped his hands twice, to which one of the riders behind them dismounted his horse and reached for a box that he seemed to be carrying with him during the ride. The man took his steps toward his group before kneeling and offering the box toward the royal Egyptian group.
Once again, Teshub took the initiative and opened the small box, taking out a sword that looked expertly crafted. He took several steps towards the young prince before kneeling (still managing it despite his obvious age) to offer it, though it looked like it was a bit too big for him at the moment.
"This was made by one of our most talented smiths as a gift to Crown Prince Atem."
Atem looked at the sword warily, glancing to his father who nodded to him solemnly, getting close enough to unsheathe it to find the shiny telltale look of an iron sword.
The young boy's eyes widened as he pulled out the sword, looking at it admiringly as Teshub went on.
"Though we have provided many our iron swords to Egypt in our alliance, we thought it best that the future Pharaoh have a sword to call his own."
Atem was still admiring the sword before his eyes lit up in remembrance as he bowed his head ot the kneeling general.
"Oh, thank you General Teshub."
Aknamkamon smiled at his son's politeness as Nabu cleared his throat.
"Now as for the Princess Kisara, normally we would have gotten some jewelry or some of our most popular clothing fashions, but we realized that since she must get that from any other ambassador that comes to call, so we decided to give something that any person of our nation, man or woman, would be proud to have."
Once again, Nabu clapped his hands three times, but instead of one of the riders from the ring coming forth, several of the riders parted for a clear opening as two men that had been outside the gate were leading a silvery white mare into the courtyard by rope. It seemed several years old, still seeming to resist to the people leading her in, but Kisara had never seen such a magnificent horse in all her life.
Even as the two young men still had problems with the horse, she walked without fear towards the horse. As she stood directly before the horse, the silvery white creature seemed to calm down at the young princess' calm lapis lazuli gaze and stood still. Kisara reached out her hand gently and the horse's head met it.
Stroking the animal gently, Kisara smiled at the now docile horse, prompting bewildered looks at the girl from the two young men that had brought the horse in not just for her looks, but her way with the mare.
She spoke in reverence, stroking the horse's head up and down.
"She is beautiful."
Teshub smiled at the instant bonding the pair had, long since risen from his kneeling when Nabu had clapped for the horse.
"Indeed, that is a horse that any king would be grateful to have in his stable, my dear. In all my years, I have seen only three horses that could rival her. Though, none of them quite had the temper this one has."
Kisara smiled at Teshub before going back to the mare.
"Oh, I don't think I'll have much of a problem from this sweetie. Though, I will have to take some lessons first. I'm not as familiar with riding as I am with languages and the harp."
Nabu smiled merrily as he spoke.
"Well then, Princess, no time to begin like the present. You might want to start by riding the girl before you make any more decisions."
Kisara nodded, grasping the horse though having a little trouble getting on before being lifted up by someone behind her up onto the horse. She turned to find the General Nabu himself was the one to lift her up. He gently handed her the rope reins as she settled herself up on the silvery white mount.
As soon as she seemed settled, the curly bearded general gave her a waving hand to go.
"Go ahead, Princess."
Kisara stared straight ahead, pulling the reins in a direction to the left which seemed to be clear path. She focused ahead she gave the horse a gentle kick.
"HYA!"
Immediately, the mare raced forward with a speed that Kisara had only felt once before. Guiding the horse all the way down, she was surprised how natural it felt to her, but then again that natural touch she had with animals probably also extended to horses. Even though she felt the entire court watching her little ride, never before had Kisara felt like she could do anything, go anywhere.
She eventually turned around after going a distance that showed off the talent to a good portion of the court, coming back to the two groups that looked in a mixture of astonished and impressed faces.
Nabu seemed pleased as he asked the pale princess.
"Well, how did it feel?"
Kisara couldn't keep the smile off her face as she replied.
"I felt like I was riding the wind! Does she have a name?"
Teshub shook his head at the girl's obvious happiness, but with a warm smile that seemed so different than his stern manner from before.
"No, Princess Kisara, that name will have to be up to you."
Kisara thought for a moment before patting the horse.
"In that case….I think….I'll call her Moswen (3)."
With that, Kisara swung around to get off, but not before noticing she was being helped down by Ashur. Her feet touching the ground, she smiled warmly at the tall yet awkward solider.
"Thank you."
Ashur just blushed, looking at his sandals, obviously unused to such attention before.
It was at that point the pharaoh cleared his throat gaining the attention of the whole courtyard.
"Well, now that the greetings are settled, how about we move onto the feast?"
Teshub and Nabu nodded in unison, the elder speaking for the both of them.
"A wise course of action."
As the crowd began to disperse with most heading towards the feast along with the Pharaoh, Kisara simply stood with Ashur who still looked the young princess with a face that seemed sunburned. Finally, he spoke.
"Are…are you okay?"
She smiled at him disarmingly at the solider youth.
"I'm fine. I haven't been on a horse in long time, it felt wonderful."
Ashur looked at the young girl in amazement.
"How strange, I can't remember a time when I wasn't on a horse. My father insisted I spend time in the royal stables to get familiar with horse with different temperaments. Though, I've never seen that horse act like that."
Kisara spoke, glad that he wasn't stammering any more.
"Well, most of the emphasis in my life was placed on education, including some rather obscure things. May I escort you in?"
That made the red on his face even brighter at the thought of the beautiful young girl walking beside him.
"But…but….but…but…"
Kisara interlocked her arm with his, smiling in the way Nephthys had taught her to encourage a man's decision.
"Considering I'm the only about our ages to speak your language fluently, I can help you make sure you don't make yourself look too clumsy. Besides, we're kind of far behind the generals."
It took a while for the youth to think before he gave his answer, still as red ass ever.
"If…if you insist, your Highness."
Leading him gently but briskly towards where the feast was being held, she continued to smile.
"Please, just Kisara for the evening."
Unknowingly, they had several key people notice their interaction, the most intense feelings from a glaring purple eyed prince. Mahad had come up to the young royal's side, looking at his expression with great concern.
"Is there something wrong my Prince?"
Atem still kept his eyes on Kisara and Hittite solider, his tone deathly serious.
"Mahad, why is it that when I look at Kisara with that guy I want to rip his arms off?"
Mahad looked at the tricolor hair prince warily before sighing.
"Those are your protective brotherly instincts, you'll have them a lot more in the future."
The young boy looked to the magician apprentice with some curiosity, some his mind diverted from the two walking behind them and speaking in the rapid language Luwian (4).
"Do you have those kind of feelings when it comes to Mana?"
Mahad nodded, holding back another sigh that was threatening to slip out.
"Yes, though mine are of a bit of a differ nature than why you're feeling yours now. Though, no doubt I will have to deal with that side in the future…."
While Atem stared at the person he admired like a brother in absolute confusion at his words, another two that had gotten a glance at the white haired princess and solider boy were in discussion.
Nabu's smile was sincere as he returned his gaze to where he was going as he walked a few steps behind the Pharaoh.
"Well, I never thought the day would come I would see Ashur talking to a pretty girl like that. That's quite the little treasure you've picked up there."
Aknamkamon smiled with his fatherly pride at that.
"You're impressed now, but she was even more nervous than your pupil over there when it came to talking to anyone. She's gained a lot more confidence since coming here, which I think is in no small part to the people she's met. Unfortunetely, I'm not that big an influence on her."
Nabu stroke his beard with a sly smile.
"Still, if not for the fact he's just lowly solider right now, those two might make a good match, don't you think?"
The pharaoh's answer was calm, but still stern.
"There's still time to be thinking about that. Anyway, about those Israelites (5)…"
Nabu nodded, the laughter fading from his face and his dark eyes hard as stones.
"Yes, that's what I wanted to talk to your about as well."
While the two leaders in question descended into politics, a third group consisting of the four Sacred Guardians Nephthys, Aknadin, Thabit, and Vizier Shimon. The one eyed Guardian pondering at the two before speaking his mind.
"Well, that girl's no doubt your former student."
Nephthys' hawk like eyes turned fierce at the insinuation in the priest's words.
"She's just being friendly, which is beneficial to diplomacy and will no doubt continue such behavior in the future. Or are you wanting to go to war with the Hittites?"
Aknadin scoffed lightly.
"I never said it was a bad thing."
Thabit laughed uneasily beore turning his attention to the senior guardian.
"Well….at least she knows how to get along with people. Maybe we should have her and Khalid's apprentice talk when he finally gets here. Speaking of which, you're supposed to see him next month for his final exams, right Shimon?"
The older Guardian nodded.
"Yes, though I won't be there to give the final exam, only oversee the ones taking it. And to do a full testing may take several months, considering all the spells to be performed."
Nephthys pondered the facts that had just been said.
"Still, this apprentice of Khalid has had less teaching than Mahad who has been properly educated since he could walk and Khalid thinks his formerly peasant apprentice ready to take the final tests to become a Sacred Guardian? Being trained away from the court no less. That man must really want to let go of the Millennium Rod."
Thabit piped up then with his own thoughts.
"I think it's no different than what you had to go through with Princess Kisara when she first came to palace. And considering who's teaching him, I think it's safe to say he's gotten a pretty good education. Although, Khalid did mention that the boy is a bit stubborn and more prone to studying than working with others. Apparently, he also had a problem getting the boy to stop and take breaks."
Aknadin considered this with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Driven and intelligent, interesting. I'd like to meet this boy. What's his name?"
Shimon searched his mind before drawing a blank, but spoke with assurance.
"Khalid never mentioned it, but once he passes the tests and is presented to the Court, I'll be sure to introduce you to him."
V.E.: Okay, I started this back at the beginning of July and I feel really guilty it's taken me this long. Partially because I did most of my writing at night when I could have done more during the day instead of goofing off with my computer.
Okay checking word count…oh my God, over 5600 words!? I think I broke my own personal record, though I can't remember what it was. I was originally going to put in a banquet scene, but this was just too much as it is.
1. Teshub is Hittite name while Nabu and Ashur are actually Assyrian names. This reflects how the Hittie kingdom was in fact more of a mixture between the Assyrians and the Hittites. (Look it up, I'm not joking.) That and there weren't too many names when it came to Hittites outside of royalty.
2. Camp followers referring to women who would follow an army for the services of the soldiers (in other words, whores.)
3. Moswen means light skinned. Doubly fitting name when considering her owner now.
4. Luwain is the common tongue Hittite people that started around the Iron Age and would be what they would still be using around this time period.
5. This would also be around the time that Israel would be getting close being united under a king soon. They may or may not have role in Egypt's future politics.
That little thing with Aknadin and Nephthys's exchange, might mean something, might mean nothing. You'll just have to wait and see.
Next chapter will be another Interlude from Seto's view again (though not every interlude will be from his POV). I know how much you guys will like that.
Also, I'm flying out for vacation on Tuesday, so don't hold your breaths for a quick update within the next forty eight hours. Matter of fact, I'll be doing Child of Ice next, which breaks my update cycle but I have more of an idea of what I want to do there.
I know it's late and I don't deserve it, but please review. And try to be specific about what you like please?