Disclaimer: I don't own any of the "Mummy" characters. Though I suppose it doesn't matter so much since I'm really only utilizing the collective images everyone has of them for a different purpose with different characters. So I guess I should say that I am not employing (or in any way associated with, DANG the luck) Oded Fehr, Rachel Weisz, Brendan Fraser, etc… Yes, I know it's been awhile, had a busy summer. Slow updates are better than no updates. Oh, and chapter titles got changed. I was having a tough time with Chris Isaak song titles so I moved on to Ben Folds.
"Sir" Baal addressed, returning to the harem, "None of the girls speak Egyptian, but –" he continued before his captain could go on a tirade, "one of them does speak Mycenaean." Dakarai considered for a moment. Double-translation was always problematic, enough got lost between two languages, never mind three, but seeing the wound on Nabirye's arm and the defiant, indignant fury in the foreigner's face he knew the new concubine would need all the help she could get. Dakarai gave a curt nod, barely paying any attention to the dark, gawky teenage girl Baal had brought along, and motioned for Chanda to come to his side. Her hands were clenched in fists, her chin raised and her amber eyes unwavering.
She stepped forward, ignoring the women around her and their stares, some hateful, others baffled. She flinched slightly as her bare foot came down on one of the earrings which now littered the floor, but didn't stop until she was inches from the foreboding guard. She stared up at him, all bravado on the outside, but a trembling mess of fear, frustration, and confusion on the inside. The dark-haired wall of leather and bronze stepped aside a fraction, motioning with his opposite hand for her to go ahead of him out the door. His face was stern, but not unkind and so she allowed her gaze to leave his face only to fix it straight ahead.
"Amunet, Nabirye, you'll follow behind. Baal, bring the other Indian girl. Kafele," Dakarai addressed the remaining eunuch, "stay here, I will send for another to replace Baal." Kafele nodded and Dakarai exited the room, fuming, with Amunet and Nabirye silently bringing up the rear. Tear tracks ran down the latter's face, making Dakarai wince. Everything was stacked against the dancer. A concubine was, above all, a performer, and Dakarai had witnessed Nabirye's theatrics any number of times. She'd nearly taken the head off of a statue of Bastet with a stone ewer not two weeks ago when Mosi mistakenly wore one of her gowns to entertain Seti.
Still, the recent concubine walked steadily down the hall, back rigidly straight, and setting a fair pace. It crossed his mind to wonder why he was so concerned with the fate of a stranger, but filed the thought away for a more opportune time. Pharaoh's receiving chamber was ahead on the left and Dakarai had more critical thoughts to concern himself with. He hoped the king's economic advisor, who spoke Mycenaean, was still there. If he had to be sent for, and Nabirye got her say first, Seti might not wait for Msrah. Soon enough, Chanda stopped before the massive chamber doors and Dakarai ordered the soldiers to open them.
Msrah, a thin, aged man boasting considerable hight and a calm, elegant air stood dutifully at Seti's side. Dakarai sighed, that was one disaster averted. Seti, however, looked eminently displeased and so Dakarai bowed deeper and more formally than he might have otherwise.
"Dakarai, why do you bring this women here. You've been ordered to see that she was settled in." Seti said firmly. Dakarai remained prostrate.
"Yes, my highness, but there has been a problem, an altercation between your new… acquisition and one of your consorts." Dakarai explained to the tile floor, "Due to the risk of danger each woman seems to pose to the other I did not think your judgement could wait for morning."
"Oh?" Seti sounded, if nothing else, at least interested. Dakarai finally raised his head, still bent over and on one knee. Seti motioned, distractedly, for his soldier to stand, his attention focused on Chanda. "What seems to be the problem?" It was Nabirye who chimed in first.
"My master, your highness," she began, her voice soft and smooth in supplication, "I have served you gladly for my two years as your companion. You have been wise and fair in all things and I ask you now to discard this mad woman. She has physically assaulted me. Normally, I am not one to complain, my lord, but she used a pair of shears and she has drawn blood. You see?" Nabirye's eyes were open wide, pleading, as she draw away the strip of cloth to reveal a long, but shallow, cut across her upper arm. Dakarai realized now how skilled an actress she was. She knew better than to rant and rave as she had done in the harem. His eyes narrowed at her imperceptibly.
"Hmm," Seti murmured, his brow furrowed, clearly sympathetic to his young concubine's pain. His head turned, regarding Chanda. "It's a shame she's no means of speaking for herself."
"Your highness," Dakarai said softly, "If I may?" Seti nodded. "The young woman next to Baal is one of the girls brought here with Chanda. She doesn't speak Egyptian, but she speaks Mycenaean." Dakarai said, shifting his gaze to Msrah at the end. Pharaoh and advisor regarded one another and without need for commands, Msrah nodded and descended the steps of the platform to stand closer to the girl. Greeting the young woman, she couldn't have been more than seventeen, Msrah inclined his head and seemed to ask her a question. Wide-eyed, she stuttered a moment before replying.
"The young woman's name," Msrah relayed in his slow, measured speech, "is Sitara. She says she will translate as best she may." The post-thin old man turned back to the girl and spoke. She seemed to consider for a moment, absorbing it all, before turning to Chanda shyly and speaking to her in their odd, lyrical tongue. Chanda didn't look at the girl but instead stared at the pharaoh as Sitara spoke briefly. There was a moment of silence before the calm inevitably broke in the face of the storm. Chanda was shouting at the king, pointing fanatically at Nabirye, and alternately tugging at her long raven hair. Dakarai winced. Sitara looked startled and finally began frantically relaying the tirade to Msrah in Mycenaean, pausing often to think and listen. Msrah, to his credit, kept much of his composure, relaying the message in a firm, controlled tone that carried well in spite of the racket Chanda made.
"The young woman claims that Nabirye attacked her first, grabbing her hair and threatening to cut it off. Seeing a wig on the table she realized what was going on and defended herself accordingly. It is not customary, in her country, to cut off one's hair and she took it as a personal affront. She says she only grabbed her hair away from Nabirye's grasp, but when the woman slapped her hand and grabbed hold of her hair once again she snatched the shears away and the rest is, well, the rest." Msrah said. By now, Chanda had quieted but she was huffing in anger, her hands trembling slightly. The pharaoh regarded the scene a moment, elbow propped on the arm of his chair, his chin resting in his palm. Dakarai, who'd been unwittingly holding his own breath, exhaled slowly.
"While I agree that the young Indian girl cannot be trusted in the harem," Seti began, and Dakarai realized his eyes had a purely enraptured glow to them, "I am more unwilling now to part form her. While the intentions of my mistresses were good, I must insist that this woman remain as she is. One would not seek to relieve a lion of its mane and so I shall not bear to alter what is exotic and unique. I realize some punishment should be set forth, but I do not want to discourage this behavior. I want her fire, her defiance, it is… refreshing to me. As a compromise, she shall be kept in a solitary room. She will not see her friends. She will not have contact with anyone save her guards, the occasional servant, and myself. She is not permitted to learn our language, though the other women, who are now without ownership, will be encouraged to do so."
Nabirye was clearly outraged, but kept her mouth shut. Amunet, laid a consoling hand on the consort's shoulder and shout a venomous glare toward Chanda. The latter ignored it. Msrah was relating this decision to Sitara who was in turn relaying it to Chanda. Still the Indian woman stared vehemently at her new master. Dakarai was unaccountably relieved. Seti signaled their dismissal and all but Msrah turned toward the door. Dakarai, however, got but a few steps before being called back. He bowed before Seti.
"Dakarai," the king began as the company filed out of the room, "You have served me well this day. I was not pleased to have this interruption, but I see why it was important. I have an offer for you, a slight promotion, in fact." Dakarai looked up abruptly to his smiling king.
"Your highness, I cannot convey my honor," Dakarai said, and he meant it. While he did not lust after rank, service to the throne was in his blood. His heart beat increased, proud and energized by the praise of his sovereign.
"You are a captain now, I see, and so you shall remain, but Captain First Class. You shall keep the majority of your current duties, but in addition you shall be in charge of five Second Class captains and as a personal service I expect you to take charge of Chanda's confinement." Seti intoned, Dakarai's heart lurched a beat. Confinement? "You will personally select and schedule the rotation of the eunuch guards to her room. I want minimal contact between her and any of our women. She must remain… untouched. Authentic." Seti was now gazing somewhat dreamily out a far window that overlooked the blessed Nile. Dakarai swallowed hard.
"Yes, your highness."
A/N: This was a bit shorter, but it was a good place to end. If I had tried to tack on what's written after this the chapter would have turned into a beast all its own. Many MANY thanks, and prostrate apologies, to MemoryStillHauntsMe, albinocuriosity, Rachel Sparrow, and Faeriely odd. Particularly you should all thank albinocuriosity for PMing me and guilting me into getting my arse in gear. You'll make a terrific mother one day if you aren't already :P