"On and on they flew, over the countryside parceled out in patches of green and brown, over roads and rivers winding through the landscapes like strips of matte and glossy ribbon."
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Eshne watched Cullen and Oghren load their gear onto the small cruise ship owned by the Mahariels. She reapplied her scarlet lipstick, checking herself in her compact mirror.
"Sodding bags filled with sodding clothes." Oghren grumbled.
"What was that my bearded friend?" Eshne asked, fixing her sun hat.
"You couldn't help?" Alistair came up the ramp, two large cases with digging equipment under his arms.
"Morrigan said I shouldn't exert myself. Asthma." Eshne pretended to be weak, placing the back of her pale hand over her forehead, "The work would kill me."
Cullen tried to hide his snicker behind a clipboard, trying to take inventory. Eshne pretended to ignore him.
Nani eventually came up the ramp, easily handling five large bags over her shoulders. She slammed them down in front of Eshne and laughed when her sister jumped.
"Help me make sure all the guns are here." Nani laughed, fixing her leather arm braces.
"Guns?" Melia poked herself out from one of the storage rooms on deck, "I hardly think we need guns."
Everyone working on the deck at the moment looked up at her and started laughing. Melia frowned.
"Listen," Nani held her arms out and set one over Melia's shoulder, "Trust me when I say we need these. You ever been to the Arctic Circle getting chased by an angry male polar bear over melting ice armed with nothing but a fishing pole and a sack of frozen peas?"
"No."
"It's unbearable." Nani said.
Melia looked at Nani with a slight glare, "Right."
"I'm glad you understand." Nani said, patting Melia's shoulder.
Sten came over to Melia, dressed now in plaid slacks, suspenders, and a white buttoned shirt.
"Inventory is set, kadan." He told her.
"Excellent. We'll get everyone aboard and tell the captain to set sail." Melia said happily, "I'm so glad to have to with us." She said to Sten.
"You have my thanks." Sten said quietly, heading to the upper deck to speak to the captain.
Eshne pulled up a chair next to her, she looked to Melia, "Wicked Grace?"
Melia seemed caught off guard, "Me?"
"Yeah," Eshne flashed a smile, "Ever played?"
"I'm afraid not." Melia blushed, sitting uncomfortably next to Eshne.
"It's easy once you get the hang of it. I'll shuffle, we each get five cards," Eshne explained, "You draw and discard to enhance the deck. Once the Angel of Death appears the game is over."
"Okay." Melia said warily.
"Oh, Wicked Grace!" Leliana and Nani came over and set up chairs next to Eshne and Melia.
"Nani cheats." Eshne said to Melia.
"I play how I always play. To win." Nani explained, looking at her cards.
"She's tactful." Leliana shrugged, smiling at Melia.
"See?" Nani hugged Leliana.
"Tis a foolish game for chronic gamblers and liars." Morrigan said, she sat down with a book across from the others.
"You just say that because you lost last time." Eshne laughed, "To Jowan."
"I don't think anyone can recover from that, Eshne." Nani said.
"He was lucky, that is all." Morrigan glared.
Nani chuckled, "Say what you want, Morrigan. We know the truth."
"So, Lady Mahariel," Leliana began, "I noticed that lovely necklace you wear."
"Oh this?" Melia pointed to the golden ankh, "After I inherited the Mahariel fortune I found it amongst my mother's belongings. It symbolizes the concept of life. It's prevalent in many depictions of the Old Gods. I must admit it can get quite heavy at times." Melia gave a dry laugh, "I grew up wanting to know more about my parents, Ashalle would never really tell me much. I think that's why this expedition is so exhilarating."
"You are lucky to have the chance." Leliana said.
"And I really insist you all call me by my first name," Melia said, "I hate being so formal."
"Well none of us are really formal anyway." Eshne laughed.
"Angel of Death!" Nani shouted, scaring everyone at the table, "Show me your cards, ladies."
"Damn…" Eshne threw her cards down, "I would've been fine if you hadn't played, Nani."
"Does this mean I get the bigger room?" Nani cackled.
"Fine…" Eshne said through her teeth.
During their game, the ship had set out from Cairo. Everyone settled into the long voyage. It had taken almost half a day to get the ship loaded with supplies and then through the boat traffic, that once Cairo was out of sight everyone felt an overwhelming sense of adventure.
Melia had given up playing Wicked Grace after Nani won for the fourth time. She had been having a time trying to figure out how exactly she was cheating, but she gave up.
She walked around deck, stretching her legs, when a young man came up to her. His neat gingery hair placed under a brown newsboy hat. His grey eyes almost lit up despite being shaded by the canopy.
"Lady Mahariel?" He asked, his voice deep and brassy.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm Nicolai Tabris. I tried catching you while boarding but there was a great deal of shouting." He smiled.
"Right." Melia remembered, "You work for the Director. I look forward to travelling with you. Have you found a place for the next few nights?"
"Yes. Everyone is very accommodating. Um...I think one of the women on board thinks I'm a concubine..."
"Oh, Eshne." Melia whispered to herself, "I'm sorry. I'll get it cleared up right away."
"That's very kind of you, my Lady."
"And I insist that everyone calls me Melia." She laughed.
"I will try, my L...Melia." Nicolai said, "The Director did have a few things he wanted me to go over with you once you have the time, if you wouldn't mind."
"Not at all," Melia said, rolling up the sleeves to her white blouse, "What is it exactly?" She asked.
"Well he had a few questions about where exactly the dig would be…"
"I was afraid he'd want a specific location. I already told him the general area we would set camp." Melia sighed, "I have a map in my room with the area circled, I'll show you after supper."
"Thank you," Nicolai said, "I know the Director was apprehensive."
The two walked along the deck, passing a snoring Oghren holding a bottle of Brandy. Both dogs were sitting by him, eyeing the plate of sausages he had.
"This is quite the crew." Nicolai commented.
"It shall certainly be interesting," Melia laughed, "I know Sajjad was hesitant to the idea of Americans coming to Egypt to dig up one of our Kings. I think they're quite charming."
"FUCKING HELL, NANI!"
One of the doors to the right swung open. Nani ran out, holding a brazzire while cackling. She raced to the upper deck.
Eshne came close behind, holding her breasts with one arm, her face was red.
Both Nicolai and Melia pointed to the deck above, Eshne promptly thanked them and ran up the stairs, screaming Nani's name.
"Charming." Nicolai said with a smirk.
Melia just sighed and quickly walked away.
"What do you think of Melia?" Alistair asked. He was sitting atop a crate of Oghren's digging supplies, swinging his leg and eating an orange.
Cullen looked up from his maps, "I think she's a fine woman. Why?"
"No reason I suppose." Alistair shrugged, "I just, keep thinking of stupid excuses to run into her."
"You don't want to ask me about women, Alistair," Cullen said, "Trust me."
"Why are you and Eshne still on bad terms?"
Cullen looked past Alistair to see Eshne going into her private room. He got up to follow her.
"Cullen?" Alistair watched him leave, "Unbelievable." He looked to see where his friends disappeared to, but couldn't see past a few poles, "I...damn."
Alistair sat by himself for a while, he watched the sun slowly sink into the horizon, the water of the Nile going from a rich blue now to black. he was so entranced by the way the light of the lowering sun sparkled over the wake of the boat that he jumped when he heard a woman talking to herself.
"And I don't...oh...wait nevermind. Right there. Damn. Why did he just go right out and say it was Queen Tia'a. But if she's there then...where? Well there were eighteen others so I suppose. N-no I suppose he might not have been married given it all went to the step-mother. I think? Oh…I should like to go back there at least…"
Alistair could hear Melia's oxfords clicking at a slow pace as she rounded the corner. He hair had started falling over her reading glasses and she was heavily entranced by her book.
Alistair let out a small 'Hello'. Startled, Melia dropped her book, her glasses now crooked. She held her chest.
"I'm so sorry," Alistair ran over to pick up her book, "I didn't mean to frighten you."
"It's quite alright," Melia fixed her glasses, "I just didn't see you. Fool I am for getting distracted." She dusted off her skirt.
"Foolish?" Alistair laughed, "No. I don't think so. Another one of your father's journals?" He held out the book to her.
"Huh?" Melia shook herself from staring at his arms of all things, "Yes," She took the book gently, "I was reading about one of the tombs he discovered for the museum. I thought maybe I could find something else. It's an interesting read, but nothing really integral to our dig I'm afraid."
Melia's eye caught the sparkles coming off of the water. She gave a small gasp and walked slowly to the edge of the stern.
"Is something wrong?" Alistair asked.
"No…" Melia said quietly, "I got a bit carried away I guess." She sighed, "They don't have sunsets like these on the farm. Don't get me wrong, they're just as wonderful but...there's something about seeing it over the Nile I think. There's an enchantment to it. Have you ever seen anything quite as beautiful?"
"Yes." Alistair looked down at Melia, when she looked at up at him he sputtered, "I mean no. No I haven't."
"You're quite strange." Melia said.
Alistair laughed, "I suppose so."
A few moments of comfortable silence passed before Alistair cleared his throat.
"You keep mentioning a farm." He said.
"What?" Melia came out of her trance.
"A farm. I mean. I thought." Alistair rubbed the back of his neck, "It's none of my business."
"Oh!" Melia started to laugh, "Do you all think I grew up in some gold plated house raised by the Queen of England?"
"Well…"
"No, no," Melia tried to stifle her laughter, "Actually my adopted mother was very poor. I grew up making my own dresses and dolls. I worked on her farm, selling what food we could spare." She sighed, "When I turned eighteen I received a letter from a solicitor in London that I had come into a large inheritance left by my parents. I've spent this past year trying to get all of their affairs in order." She thought for a moment, "Sometimes I wish I could go back. I used to go out during the summer, collecting honey from the beehives. Everyone in the village would call me the local bee charmer. I was quite proud of that."
"That's incredible." Alistair set both arms on the boat rail, "You would…?" He made a gesture with his hand.
"Oh yes. Right into the beehive. You have to go about it slowly," Melia explained, "The bees don't really mind. Sometimes I would talk to them. Thank them for sharing. It's silly really."
"No I think it's fascinating. I wouldn't even know how to stop screaming if a bee flew too close to me." Alistair laughed.
Melia giggled, "Maybe one day I'll show you."
"I would like that."
"Where were you?" Nani asked Eshne, watching her walk out on deck for her tea.
"I was under the weather. I thought a nap might do some good." Eshne answered.
"Under the weather or under Cullen?" Morrigan asked.
Eshne spit up her drink while Nani cackled.
"Scandalous." Leliana smirked, looking up from her 'Fantome De L'Opera' serials.
"I'm going back to my room. I feel too attacked when I'm with you bastards." Eshne scowled.
"What about me?" Alistair asked cheerily as he walked into the nook.
"Not you too." Morrigan wrinkled her nose, "Disgusting."
"Not me what? If it's grossing her out then I definitely want to have done that." Alistair said while getting food, everyone started snickering.
"Sleeping with Cullen." Nani smiled at Alistair who turned almost green, "Is that your heart's desire, Alistair? He is strapping. I thought you might prefer yours shorter, with breasts and a great ass."
"I uh-I'm leaving." Alistair left all of the food he had collected save a few pieces of cheese.
"Would it help if they're Egyptian?" Morrigan called after him, Alistair walked even faster to his room.
"Where's Jowan?" Eshne asked, looking around for her friend.
"I saw him bent over the railing," Leliana said, "The poor dear has been ill since we boarded."
"He always did have a weak stomach." Nani said, "When Redd took us sailing down to Bermuda, Jowan hugged a bucket the whole time."
"I think he's improved since then." Eshne added, getting a nod from Nani.
Morrigan sighed, "Perhaps I'll see that the fool drinks more of the tonic I gave him. I expect to be compensated for the ingredients."
"You always are, Morrigan." Eshne said, she took a sip from her drink, "I think I will retire, however, we have a long couple days on the water."
"Oh I'm sure I know how you'll pass the time." Nani snickered.
"One day I'm going to get you back for all these comments, dear sweet sister." Eshne glared.
"Until then." Nani raised her whiskery and laughed.
After Eshne left, Leliana looked back at her serials.
"I'm sure you are aware of the prints on deck." She said nonchalantly.
"Yup." Nani took a sip of her drink.
"Perhaps, Lady Mahariel should be warned." Leliana suggested, "Also that large man who is always following her."
"I agree. I think it would be best if we split off. I'll talk to Melia, you go to the rooms and let people know what to expect."
"Who do you think it is?"
"At this point? Anyone who is willing to sneak onto the boat when we're halfway to Luxor can't be good."
"I'll tell Eshne first." Leliana said, "She'll want to find Jowan."
"Tell the boys to meet me below deck." Nani said, setting her bottle down, "It's going to be a long night."