I gave a smile as I finish accepting the image from my sister's pendant. Even though it appeared Akila didn't have her pendant, it still was aware of her. That memory scene surely had been for me to be at ease with my sister's predicament. She wasn't in imminent danger. I was appeased. I resumed walking toward the caravan outside the temple. I didn't have many belongings under hand, but one could tell I was leaving for good. I approached the guard, prepared to explain myself. I was saved that by a man dressed in blue gold robes. I gave him a glare.
"This way." He turned, and I was expected to follow him. I hated to do so, but I did it anyway. He led me straight to the Pharaoh's tent. Immediately I was overcome by the scent on incense. When my eyes adjusted to the dimmer light, I could see the entire place was strewn about with rich pillows. I shook my head a tiny bit. I should have known. But I'd have to get used to this now, huh?
The Pharaoh gave the Priest fellow a nod. "You're excused, Thank you." With a bow, Ole Blue and gold disappeared. The Pharaoh gestured to one pillow. "Please, Kamilah-khet, have a seat…"
I bite my lip at being called that. I'm not used to being called that. I try to avoid that part of my name. I was not perfect. I shouldn't masquerade as it, even in name. I do obey however, without protest. Both because it was the Pharaoh, and because I was getting dizzy from the incense. The tent flap had hardly closed when the Pharaoh turned and extinguished the incense flames nearest him with his fingers.
"Mind grabbing that one next to you. I can't stand these things in this stuffy tent." I obliged immediately. The air began to clear a bit, and I sighed a little. "Much better…" I was only partially surprised to see there was a similar expression on him. What a happy sigh we both gave.
"Pharaoh-"
"Please. We're not in the court. Just call me Atemu."
"Alright… I really don't think your guardian likes me very much."
"Oh, Set? He's okay once you get to know him. Just a little standoffish to start. Down to business I suppose. I have an extra mare. Give her a test run on our way to Thebes. If you like her, she's yours. Once in Thebes… your official oath taking… I suppose the court will be having a ball to celebrate my homecoming. They do despise it when I'm gone more than a week. You'll have to come, as is likely you'll have to come to everything in the future. Can't protect me if you're not there."
Great. Can't he have picked someone else?
"Oh course, Atemu."
"Now you'd best get out there, or I have a feeling Set will have an appropriate behavior lecture for us both. I'll see you again in Thebes."
I stand, and bow on my way out. I hadn't been in fresh air very long before I heard a whinny, and a man leading a horse through the camp. I assumed this was the mare I was supposed to have, and approached. He was an older man, and seemed to be having trouble with the spirited creature.
"Let me help…"
"Back off, little one. She's already thrown ten of our best riders."
What an odd thing to say. I ignored him and swung myself up on the mare's back. Oh yes, she struggled, trying to throw me off. I spoke quietly to her, telling her I wasn't going to hurt her, and other things. She eventually reduced herself to just fidgeting. I patted her mane and smiled down at the stunned keeper.
"Does she have a name?"
"No, we found her in the desert recently. Entirely out of the blue."
I ran my fingers through the long rough hairs. "She does now. Welcome to the fold, Irisi." I rode her away to another part of the camp, where I set up my own little tent. Several men came by while I was setting it up, offering to do it. I turned them down gently. Once my tent was set up, I found several more men were offering to picket Irisi. She didn't need it, so I declined the offer. I only rolled my eyes after they left.
I saw little of the Pharaoh. When I did see him, he gave a smile. I didn't see much of that Set person. That is definitely a relief. Despite what the Pharaoh said, I got the impression that he just didn't like me. Probably because of the way I'd talked to him. I still got a good chuckle out of it when I thought about it though…
The ride was uneventful. Meaning, it was boring. For a whole week I did nothing but ride. I love riding. But not in a pack. Sometimes it was just easier to hang back for a bit, let everyone else pulls ahead, just so I could have a brief moment of exhilaration when I decided to catch up. Irisi seemed to like running fast too. I had almost lost my mind of boredom when the walls of Thebes came into view. I knew it was Thebes because of the cry that went up, and how everyone suddenly spurred their horses into a gallop.
"To the gate…" I whispered to my mare. "…as fast as you can." A whinny, happy and excited answered me before we took off, my fingers entangled in her mane to stay on. We passed person after person, finally pulling even with the leads. Irisi wanted to keep on going. I made her stop, but only because the Pharaoh waved me down.
"Eager?"
"Out of boredom, Your Highness."
I didn't get an answer because we'd reached the gates. People were crowded on the rooftops, in alleyways, and in the open streets. They came to doorways and hung out of windows to see and to welcome the Pharaoh. I tried my hardest to fade into the background. Didn't work so well. I felt people's stares on me. I ignored them as best I could. Finally we were within the palace walls and the noise seemed to fade out. Everything was of the finest workmanship, but I had a feeling that would only serve to make me even more out of place.
I followed the people to the stable, where I promptly ignored the stable boy, putting Irisi up myself. I slipped out of the stable with a laugh, seeking out the royal kennels immediately. I look through the enclosures, appraising each creature carefully. I would have stayed there all day. But a little servant found me and said that the Pharaoh wished to see me. He took me straight to a hallway somewhere in the palace and gestured through a door.
I strolled through the door, pausing quietly."Yes, Your Highness."
"I told you to call me Atemu when not in the court…"
"Is this not the court?"
"Court is in public. This isn't public." I realized it was pointless to argue and relinquished my argument with a nod. He continued. "This will be your room." I gave a glance around.. The room was simple. Basic linens were on the low pallet. Several jars sat on a low long bench. It was very basic room. Perfect. I wouldn't be able to handle lavish things.
By the time I finished taking this in, the Pharaoh had disappeared. I hoped once I was sworn in he wouldn't make a habit of doing that. It'd make it awful hard to protect him. I sighed as I settled down. I saw the door open but ignored it for the moment. I found however, that someone wasn't willing to do the same to me. Two people actually. They looked like twins to me. A boy and a girl. They looked a bit familiar though…where had I…
"Mkhait? Kahotep?"
The two started. I had the right names, which meant… I hurried forward and embraced my siblings. It was a tearless reunion, but a reunion none the less. All three of out names were being called out repeatedly and we were quite happy. The two had left a few years ago. I had no idea where exactly they had gone, and I certainly didn't know how they got to work here, but I was happy…However, someone else had gone with them. And she wasn't here… "Where's Ebio?"
They gave a smile. "She's around the palace too. She got a job as an assistant to an important fellow around here. Works with another girl named Mana." My body untensed.
"Kisara?"
"She…disappeared a while ago. Wandered off before we got jobs here." I sighed… great…still one missing…two if you count Akila. Which, I knew was about to come up…. "How's Akila doing?"
I pause a little. "She's…been kidnapped…by the Thief King Bakura…" They blinked surprised. Kahotep immediately left the room, presumably to go tell Ebio. Mkhait gave me a look that said she was trying not to cry. I gave her a smile in return. "Don't worry. I got a message from her pendant. She's holding her own against him. Other than knocking her unconscious to kidnap her, hanging her from a ceiling, and tripping her once, he hasn't hurt her. She'll be okay. Come on, she's Akila." Yeah, I was the oldest. But Akila was almost as mature as me, and perfectly capable of taking care of herself. Always had been. Hence why she was allowed to live with her desert cat.
Mkhait managed to shake that off and gave a smile. "The Pharaoh sent us so we could help you get ready for the welcoming party. It's important that at least for this one you look nice. First, we have to get the desert off you. There's a bath through that room." She didn't mention something. She was holding back information. I cocked an eyebrow at her, but either she didn't notice, or refused to share her knowledge. There was a doorway with a curtain facing one direction, but she'd pointed in a door on the wall next to it. I pushed aside the curtain and smiled.
There was a sunken space in the floor, and several cosmetic jars lining it. There were also several other much larger jars. In the corner there was a firepit. I watched as my sister moved to the embers and stirred them up until she had a blaze. Then she took each one of the huge jars in turn and heated them over the fire, then dumped them into the pit. When three of the jars had been emptied, she gave me a happy smile and indicated for her to slip inside the water. I gave a grimace then obeyed. It was just Mkhait, after all.
As soon as I was in, she pointed to one of the vessels. "Soap is in there, Khet. Oh, you're going to have to take that wig off, sweetie. You have to wear it on temple grounds, but not here. Your natural hair is so much better anyway, dear." Before I could object she snatched it off my head. My natural hair came tumbling down. There was a smirk n her face as she poured an entire bottle of soap on it. I suspect, because it was warm, it was diluted with water. Before I could do anything she was cleaning my hair, and viciously so. When she was done, she handed me another thing of soap and started in on braiding it. Small plaits as was tradition. I hated it. She knew I'd take it out tomorrow. I tried to object, but I was ignored. Actually I even begged. The only thing I succeeded in accomplishing was that she'd let me pull the plaits back when she was done. At least they wouldn't be hanging in my face. She did manage to find a few beads and insisted on threading them on. To be honest with you, I wanted to tear it all out, but I didn't. I tried to focus by scrubbing the sand off my body. Finally, Mkhait was done with my hair, and I was handed a thin towel.
(For reference, type in animated heroines. com/ Tzipporah. Html Take out the spaces. That's the best way to describe the overall effect.)
She then smirked and slipped out. Shortly thereafter I heard bickering, and lots of it. I slipped out of the bath room and stared. Mkhait and Kahotep were arguing by a pile of cloth. I roll my eyes.
"What are you arguing about? What I'm going to wear?"
To my shock, they nod. Mkhait seemed to be in favor a nice soft linen gown. Her twin seemed to be leaning toward something much more practical and brisker, something like I normally wore. I managed to get them to compromise. They would have to find something like I normally wear, of a bit nicer fabric. Personally, I would rather just wear my old clothes. I suspected however Mkhait had sent them out to the washer, or even just burned them…
They even made me do more cosmetics than I thought I ever needed. They did the kohl as expected, and then they fished some kind of green eyepaint out of somewhere. I had a minor chance to protest. They ignored me. How annoying. Finally they were done with me and I was allowed to leave the room. They pointed to the biggest doorway in the main hall and said to go there. Normally, I would have ducked it all. But they definitely weren't allowing it. Nor would the Pharaoh or Set appreciate it. So, I reluctantly slipped through the doors into the giant, noisy, hall.