"Remember your birthday tomorrow. We are sailing down the Nile."
"Do not worry, Father. I did not forget. After all it is my birthday."
"I know. I am just eager to see what the shipbuilders have made." The Pharaoh looked down at the steps leading up to his throne. "Are you planning on bringing the girl?"
Atem looked down at Nefret, who had somehow managed to fall asleep on the steps, the lion cub curled up at her feet. He smiled, admiring the unusual picture before him.
"I was hoping to, if that is alright with you."
"As I said, she is your slave. She is rather odd though, don't you think?"
"Not odd. Just, different. It's refreshing to have new faces in the palace."
"Hmm," the Pharaoh said thoughtfully, still watching the girl and lion cub. "Is the lion cub coming too?"
"I think Nefret would enjoy that."
"Well, get to bed. Dawn tomorrow, remember."
"I know. I will be there."
The Pharaoh stood up and exited the hall, nodding to Mahado who had just reentered the room.
"Would you like some help, Atem?" Mahado asked, watching him carefully pick up the sleeping Nefret. She stirred slightly in his arms, resting her head on his chest. Atem smiled, looking up at the priest.
"Do you mind bringing Sekhmet?" The priest looked down at the lion cub at his feet. Smiling, he bent over and picked it up lightly. It stretched, yawning. Atem laughed lightly, starting towards his bedroom. Mahado followed, cradling the little lioness.
Atem laid Nefret on his bed as they reached his room. Mahado put the cub on the floor at the foot of the bed. She looked up at the priest with her large amber eyes, before getting up and leaping onto the bed, where it crawled over and lay down beside Nefret. Mahado watched it go.
"Well fine," he told the cat. "Make yourself at home."
"Thank you my friend," Atem said, watching the lioness curl up on one of the pillows. "If the cat needs anything further, I shall call you. Goodnight."
Mahado smiled at the prince's joke, before saying goodnight and leaving for his own bed. Atem went into the adjoining room, and changed into his light sleeping tunic. He lay down on the couch beside the window. He took one last look at the sleeping girl and her lion cub before turning over and falling into a deep sleep.
"Nefret, wake up."
Rolling over, the girl looked up into the prince's bright violet eyes.
"What is it?" she asked, suppressing a yawn. The sun had not yet risen. She sat up slowly, looking out to the balcony.
"Would you like to get out of the palace for the day?"
"Oh yes," Nefret said, suddenly wide awake, swinging her legs off the edge of the bed. "But where are we going?"
"For a boat ride down the Nile. Here," he said, pulling aside the curtain that separated the bedroom from the adjoining room. "There is a new set of clothes for you to wear inside."
"Thank you," Nefret said softly, ducking under his arm and disappearing into the other room. As he looked back towards the bed, Atem saw the lion cub stretching, her mouth wide as she arched her back.
"You seem quite at home," he commented, Sekhmet gazing at him with her amber orbs.
"When are we to leave?"
The prince turned, watching Nefret return to the bedroom, dressed in a clean white gown with a plain golden belt and matching sandals. Her hair fell loosely past her shoulders.
"We are to meet my father at dawn beside the river. Come, he shall not be happy if we are late."
He began out the door, before noticing that Nefret had not moved. Turning, he looked at her, waiting for her to express her concerns.
"Is Sekhmet coming?"
"Yes, you may bring her." Happily, Nefret scooped up the lion cub in her arms and carried her out after the prince. Together they made their way down to the front gates, the lion cub Sekhmet complaining about being held for so long after the first three corridors they passed through. When she was finally put down on the cool desert sand, she scampered away, attacking the shoes of the nearest individual, which happened to be Mahado.
"Persistent aren't you?" the priest said, looking down at the large cat playing with the hem of his robe. Looking back up, he hailed the prince and his companion as they approached. "Good morning Prince Atem. Nefret."
"Good morning my friend," Atem said, glancing around at the few people assembled. Behind Mahado he saw Mana, a small cluster of guards, and several other people dressed in elegant robes. Upon seeing the prince, they walked over, exchanging greetings.
"Good morning," Atem said, smiling at them all. "Nefret, these are a few of the royal priests," he said, indicating the three figures before him. "This is Isis, Shada, and Seth."
Nefret bowed to the three priests, feeling especially intimidated by the last priest, who towered over her and looked down at her sternly with his brilliant blue eyes.
"It is a pleasure, Nefret," said the first, the Priestess Isis. Nefret smiled shyly, unused to the attention. Her discomfort didn't last long, as Mana quickly bounded over, giving her a hug.
"Morning Nefret! Guess what? I got the disappearing thing down! Watch!"
Nefret didn't get a chance to reply, as Mana screwed up her face and vanished before she could come up with a retort. Nefret blinked, looking down to see if the shoes were again visible. It seemed that Mana had succeeded. However, Nefret could still tell where she was, for her feet left light prints in the sand. She watched as the invisible girl crept behind the prince, before becoming visible and jumping on his back. Atem had also noticed the footprints, and had braced himself, successfully avoiding being knocked over by the over-zealous magician-in-training.
"I wish you wouldn't do that Mana. I will suffer back trauma at an early age if you keep it up."
"You're no fun," Mana said, leaping off the prince. "Come on! Let's go to the docks!"
Mana and the other members of the court mounted horses already saddled and bridled. Looking around at them uncertainly, Nefret remained firmly on the ground. Atem had his foot in the stirrup, preparing to mount. But when he noticed Nefret had not budged, he came back over to her.
"Are you not going to ride?" he said, indicating a horse without a rider a few paces from her. She shook her head, her lips pursed and white.
"I do not like horses," she said faintly. "I would rather walk."
"Here," the prince said, taking her hand and leading her to his horse. Carefully, he took her by the waist and lifted her easily up onto the horse. She sat there petrified, eyes looking at the horse in fear. He quickly mounted behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Do not fear," he said softly in her ear. "I will keep you safe."
As the procession made their way out of the courtyard, Nefret sat stiffly on the horse, leaning into the prince, as if trying to stay as far from its head as possible. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Atem decided to ask her about it.
"Nefret, why are you afraid of horses, yet do not fear a lion?" The said lion was at that time following the horse the two were riding, trying to catch its swishing tail, much to the mare's annoyance.
"When I was little, I had a bad experience with a horse," she said quietly. "A nobleman had come to purchase something from my father. I do not remember why, for I was only three at the time. However, he left his horse tethered out front of my house, and I really wanted to pet it. So I carefully approached it, until I stood right in front of it. Just as I reached out to pet it, a loud sound echoed through the air, spooking the horse. It reared up, kicking out over my head. I was too terrified to move. I was lucky Djer was nearby, because he heard the horse and was able to drag me away before I was kicked in the head. The noble came out and blamed me for spooking his horse, but Djer stood up for me. He was only seven at the time, but he took a beating from the nobleman for me. The memory of my terror and his screams afterward are enough to keep me from going near a horse."
Atem was silent after she finished her story. Those nearby did not speak either, for they too had been listening closely to the story.
"I am sorry. But there is nothing to fear from these horses. They are well trained. And while I am here, I will not let anything happen to you."
"Thank you, Prince Atem," she said softly, just as the docks came into view.
"Good morning my son!" the Pharaoh said exuberantly as he walked towards the Prince.
"Morning, father," Atem said, sliding off the horse, before reaching up and helping Nefret off the horse. She quickly stepped away from the horse, putting Atem between herself and the whinnying beast. Atem watched her, eyes shining warmly. She was a very curious girl.
"I am glad you are on time. I have just finished inspecting the ship. It is quite fabulous. Are you ready to go?"
"I am," the Prince said, letting the Pharaoh lead the way onto the ship. Nefret picked up Sekhmet, who was pouncing on Mahado's feet again, and followed the royal family, the priests trailing behind.