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The Pharaoh has made himself clear. It is time for war! Knowing that the Greeks will attempt to sail towards the southern lands to cut off their attack of the southern Grecian kingdom, the Pharaoh has opted for forming a large and impressive military force on the northern plains of Egypt, where his chariots and infantry will await the arrival of Grecian forces with the confidence of their native lands behind them...
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The Pharaoh has made himself clear. It is time for war! Knowing that the Greeks will attempt to sail towards the southern lands to cut off their attack of the southern Grecian kingdom, the Pharaoh has opted for forming a large and impressive military force on the northern plains of Egypt, where his chariots and infantry will await the arrival of Grecian forces with the confidence of their native lands behind them...
Secure the North Event - Egypt
The Pharaoh has made himself clear. It is time for war! Knowing that the Greeks will attempt to sail towards the southern lands to cut off their attack of the southern Grecian kingdom, the Pharaoh has opted for forming a large and impressive military force on the northern plains of Egypt, where his chariots and infantry will await the arrival of Grecian forces with the confidence of their native lands behind them...
It was just like as it had been when he was a boy, hungry for war, to cut down his enemies, and bring glory to his name. He felt the same swell of pride as he had then, though it felt different. No longer was he a boy, but a Pharaoh, the Pharaoh, the Supreme King of Kings, the Morning and Evening Star. No longer was he fighting someone else’s war in hopes of drawing the attention of his superiors. No, this was his war. A war that would bring glory to his name and solidify his reign as Pharaoh, silencing those who questioned him.
He had chosen to join his soldiers in the war that he created, to boost their morale to know that the King of Kings was there with them, and, more importantly, to set a precedent back in Cairo. He was not a fool who sat behind men and hoping that they would die strategically enough to assure victory, nor was he a coward that sent men to their deaths on a whim. He was a God on earth, how could he not oversee his first war as Pharaoh. With his generals at his side, Iahotep was confident they would make quick work of Greece.
As he overlooked his troops, he wondered how many Hei’s would be raised as a consequence of the war. Whom among these men was skilled enough to kill on the battle and outshine his brethren? Rewards, of course, would be discussed later, for someone wanted his attention.
“This had best be good.”
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It was just like as it had been when he was a boy, hungry for war, to cut down his enemies, and bring glory to his name. He felt the same swell of pride as he had then, though it felt different. No longer was he a boy, but a Pharaoh, the Pharaoh, the Supreme King of Kings, the Morning and Evening Star. No longer was he fighting someone else’s war in hopes of drawing the attention of his superiors. No, this was his war. A war that would bring glory to his name and solidify his reign as Pharaoh, silencing those who questioned him.
He had chosen to join his soldiers in the war that he created, to boost their morale to know that the King of Kings was there with them, and, more importantly, to set a precedent back in Cairo. He was not a fool who sat behind men and hoping that they would die strategically enough to assure victory, nor was he a coward that sent men to their deaths on a whim. He was a God on earth, how could he not oversee his first war as Pharaoh. With his generals at his side, Iahotep was confident they would make quick work of Greece.
As he overlooked his troops, he wondered how many Hei’s would be raised as a consequence of the war. Whom among these men was skilled enough to kill on the battle and outshine his brethren? Rewards, of course, would be discussed later, for someone wanted his attention.
“This had best be good.”
It was just like as it had been when he was a boy, hungry for war, to cut down his enemies, and bring glory to his name. He felt the same swell of pride as he had then, though it felt different. No longer was he a boy, but a Pharaoh, the Pharaoh, the Supreme King of Kings, the Morning and Evening Star. No longer was he fighting someone else’s war in hopes of drawing the attention of his superiors. No, this was his war. A war that would bring glory to his name and solidify his reign as Pharaoh, silencing those who questioned him.
He had chosen to join his soldiers in the war that he created, to boost their morale to know that the King of Kings was there with them, and, more importantly, to set a precedent back in Cairo. He was not a fool who sat behind men and hoping that they would die strategically enough to assure victory, nor was he a coward that sent men to their deaths on a whim. He was a God on earth, how could he not oversee his first war as Pharaoh. With his generals at his side, Iahotep was confident they would make quick work of Greece.
As he overlooked his troops, he wondered how many Hei’s would be raised as a consequence of the war. Whom among these men was skilled enough to kill on the battle and outshine his brethren? Rewards, of course, would be discussed later, for someone wanted his attention.
“This had best be good.”
As Onuphrious attended to business in Thebes, it was Iaheru that was left to travel from Cairo to Hei Sheifa’s waypoints scattered along the delta’s expansive fans. From the prow of a flat boat, she and a navigator would huddle over a crisp map just drafted and move from one store house to another. Though the Hei typically retained their stores in Cairo and Thebes, the growth of their storage complexes limited by the existing clay homes and taverns surrounding the massive buildings resulted in the need for waypoints along the arms of the Nile.
They’d move from store house to house, documenting the stock and loading it onto one of the vessels in their convoy. Iaheru would occasionally mark the map with ochre dots: one for minor disrepair and two for complete destruction. Her pursed lips were dissatisfied with the defunct and damaged store houses that bore a tattered sigil of Hei Sheifa, their stores empty and representative of a house in decline when that certainly was not the case.
Today, a particularly overcast and dreary day demarcated by exhaustion, she was fortifying a storehouse on the periphery of the Pharaoh’s camp, moving the bolts of fabric onto a drier faring ship, higher than the rest with wood less green. Her hair was up in a roughened linen wrap, kalasiris rumpled, but still becoming of a lady of her station. Legs folded over one another with pointed bare feet dangling from her perch atop dock crates. Workers and slaves alike would call out to the Sirdsett what they had, the quantity, and the ship it was loaded on to, and she’d scribble it down with an ochre pastel on rough, cheap papyrus. It was a display of industrious efficiency that would rival the structure of the Egyptian military itself.
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As Onuphrious attended to business in Thebes, it was Iaheru that was left to travel from Cairo to Hei Sheifa’s waypoints scattered along the delta’s expansive fans. From the prow of a flat boat, she and a navigator would huddle over a crisp map just drafted and move from one store house to another. Though the Hei typically retained their stores in Cairo and Thebes, the growth of their storage complexes limited by the existing clay homes and taverns surrounding the massive buildings resulted in the need for waypoints along the arms of the Nile.
They’d move from store house to house, documenting the stock and loading it onto one of the vessels in their convoy. Iaheru would occasionally mark the map with ochre dots: one for minor disrepair and two for complete destruction. Her pursed lips were dissatisfied with the defunct and damaged store houses that bore a tattered sigil of Hei Sheifa, their stores empty and representative of a house in decline when that certainly was not the case.
Today, a particularly overcast and dreary day demarcated by exhaustion, she was fortifying a storehouse on the periphery of the Pharaoh’s camp, moving the bolts of fabric onto a drier faring ship, higher than the rest with wood less green. Her hair was up in a roughened linen wrap, kalasiris rumpled, but still becoming of a lady of her station. Legs folded over one another with pointed bare feet dangling from her perch atop dock crates. Workers and slaves alike would call out to the Sirdsett what they had, the quantity, and the ship it was loaded on to, and she’d scribble it down with an ochre pastel on rough, cheap papyrus. It was a display of industrious efficiency that would rival the structure of the Egyptian military itself.
As Onuphrious attended to business in Thebes, it was Iaheru that was left to travel from Cairo to Hei Sheifa’s waypoints scattered along the delta’s expansive fans. From the prow of a flat boat, she and a navigator would huddle over a crisp map just drafted and move from one store house to another. Though the Hei typically retained their stores in Cairo and Thebes, the growth of their storage complexes limited by the existing clay homes and taverns surrounding the massive buildings resulted in the need for waypoints along the arms of the Nile.
They’d move from store house to house, documenting the stock and loading it onto one of the vessels in their convoy. Iaheru would occasionally mark the map with ochre dots: one for minor disrepair and two for complete destruction. Her pursed lips were dissatisfied with the defunct and damaged store houses that bore a tattered sigil of Hei Sheifa, their stores empty and representative of a house in decline when that certainly was not the case.
Today, a particularly overcast and dreary day demarcated by exhaustion, she was fortifying a storehouse on the periphery of the Pharaoh’s camp, moving the bolts of fabric onto a drier faring ship, higher than the rest with wood less green. Her hair was up in a roughened linen wrap, kalasiris rumpled, but still becoming of a lady of her station. Legs folded over one another with pointed bare feet dangling from her perch atop dock crates. Workers and slaves alike would call out to the Sirdsett what they had, the quantity, and the ship it was loaded on to, and she’d scribble it down with an ochre pastel on rough, cheap papyrus. It was a display of industrious efficiency that would rival the structure of the Egyptian military itself.
It had been far too long since Narmer had been in the saddle of a warhose, it unnerved him to feel so out of place. It had been so long a once upon a time that he had been on a warhose almost every other day, training or ensuring his men did their best, when all he had in mind for his future was to lead the men of his family's Hei, whilst his brother remained home to watch over the lands and people. It was how things should have been, how Narmer had always imagined it the day their father had died.
But the God's liked to be cruel it seemed, and Narmer was wrenched away from a promising military career to return home and sit as a land manager, a finance overseer who, right now, was failing miserably.
A part of him should feel glad that he now held a weapon in his hand, and controlled an animal eager and wanting to march into war, yet the cloud of an unmanaged Hei and unsettled ledgers hung over him like a tonne of weight that he simply could not remove. It did not help that Kissan had given him a look of pure disappointment when Narmer had announced he would be joining the pharoah to secure the norther plains of Egypt where they suspected the Greeks would be attacking. He knew his nephew wanted to pursue a life of a militant, yet the idea of Kissan facing the possible dangers in the field of battle seemed all sorts of wrong to Narmer.
If he had his way, Kissan would eventually take the seat as the Head of Hei, as Narutt would have wanted it. He was simply there as a placeholder, until his nephew grew older and wiser to take upon the helm as leader... Narmer never wanted the position to begin with.
He had greeted the Pharoah long ago, when he had first arrived with his troops, and now Narmer stood with them at the frontline of battle, simply waiting for instructions. Dressed in usual Egyptian military garb, his short sword strapped to his back, along with the scarab of Ra resting just above his ribcage for protection. With hair combed back and eyes alert, despite the dark shadows under them, there was an alertness in Narmer's eyes that usually wasn't tehre as he sat in the study of his family saraaya, obvious that the place was not his forte. Now in military form, the Narmer that was presented was one far removed from the one they would usually see in Egyptian court.
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It had been far too long since Narmer had been in the saddle of a warhose, it unnerved him to feel so out of place. It had been so long a once upon a time that he had been on a warhose almost every other day, training or ensuring his men did their best, when all he had in mind for his future was to lead the men of his family's Hei, whilst his brother remained home to watch over the lands and people. It was how things should have been, how Narmer had always imagined it the day their father had died.
But the God's liked to be cruel it seemed, and Narmer was wrenched away from a promising military career to return home and sit as a land manager, a finance overseer who, right now, was failing miserably.
A part of him should feel glad that he now held a weapon in his hand, and controlled an animal eager and wanting to march into war, yet the cloud of an unmanaged Hei and unsettled ledgers hung over him like a tonne of weight that he simply could not remove. It did not help that Kissan had given him a look of pure disappointment when Narmer had announced he would be joining the pharoah to secure the norther plains of Egypt where they suspected the Greeks would be attacking. He knew his nephew wanted to pursue a life of a militant, yet the idea of Kissan facing the possible dangers in the field of battle seemed all sorts of wrong to Narmer.
If he had his way, Kissan would eventually take the seat as the Head of Hei, as Narutt would have wanted it. He was simply there as a placeholder, until his nephew grew older and wiser to take upon the helm as leader... Narmer never wanted the position to begin with.
He had greeted the Pharoah long ago, when he had first arrived with his troops, and now Narmer stood with them at the frontline of battle, simply waiting for instructions. Dressed in usual Egyptian military garb, his short sword strapped to his back, along with the scarab of Ra resting just above his ribcage for protection. With hair combed back and eyes alert, despite the dark shadows under them, there was an alertness in Narmer's eyes that usually wasn't tehre as he sat in the study of his family saraaya, obvious that the place was not his forte. Now in military form, the Narmer that was presented was one far removed from the one they would usually see in Egyptian court.
It had been far too long since Narmer had been in the saddle of a warhose, it unnerved him to feel so out of place. It had been so long a once upon a time that he had been on a warhose almost every other day, training or ensuring his men did their best, when all he had in mind for his future was to lead the men of his family's Hei, whilst his brother remained home to watch over the lands and people. It was how things should have been, how Narmer had always imagined it the day their father had died.
But the God's liked to be cruel it seemed, and Narmer was wrenched away from a promising military career to return home and sit as a land manager, a finance overseer who, right now, was failing miserably.
A part of him should feel glad that he now held a weapon in his hand, and controlled an animal eager and wanting to march into war, yet the cloud of an unmanaged Hei and unsettled ledgers hung over him like a tonne of weight that he simply could not remove. It did not help that Kissan had given him a look of pure disappointment when Narmer had announced he would be joining the pharoah to secure the norther plains of Egypt where they suspected the Greeks would be attacking. He knew his nephew wanted to pursue a life of a militant, yet the idea of Kissan facing the possible dangers in the field of battle seemed all sorts of wrong to Narmer.
If he had his way, Kissan would eventually take the seat as the Head of Hei, as Narutt would have wanted it. He was simply there as a placeholder, until his nephew grew older and wiser to take upon the helm as leader... Narmer never wanted the position to begin with.
He had greeted the Pharoah long ago, when he had first arrived with his troops, and now Narmer stood with them at the frontline of battle, simply waiting for instructions. Dressed in usual Egyptian military garb, his short sword strapped to his back, along with the scarab of Ra resting just above his ribcage for protection. With hair combed back and eyes alert, despite the dark shadows under them, there was an alertness in Narmer's eyes that usually wasn't tehre as he sat in the study of his family saraaya, obvious that the place was not his forte. Now in military form, the Narmer that was presented was one far removed from the one they would usually see in Egyptian court.
Being the errand boy wasn't really what Kissan had had in mind when the Pharaoh had taken him under his wing and told him of this trip to the front. He'd imagined battle lessons and new armor. Not running back and forth between the Pharaoh's home away from home and where the Pharaoh currently stood near the front. Still, at least he had his young cheetah, Mekal's company while he relayed messages, packages of food and retrieved items.
As he returned from the latest errand and diligently handed the Pharaoh a bejeweled knife that had somehow been left in the tent, Kissan glanced down the line and his eyes widened when he saw his Narmer's form.
Somehow the subject of just what he was doing for the Pharaoh while under his wing had never quite come up as they say and while Kissan had made sure to seem sufficiently disappointed to see his uncle preparing for war, he'd made sure to omit the fact that he'd be joining him at the front in the Pharaoh's entourage. Attempting to blend in with the other attendants and servants near the Pharaoh, Kissan hoped that perhaps he would remain unnoticed by his uncle.
"Sir" he noted respectfully as he handed the older man the requested knife, Kissan prepared himself to be given another errand to take him away from the restless troops before them. His other hand absently rested on the loyal Mekal's head as her tail twitched in anticipation behind her. Had he been thinking he might have realized how easily her presence would give away his own to his uncle but he hadn't realized just how rare the sight of a cheetah on the front lines might be.
His ear was ready for the Pharaoh's next command but his eyes wandered to the troops ahead with longing. What would it be like to be among them? To feel the glory of war? He sensed the excitement around him. The anticipation and yes event he fear and yet it felt just out of reach. This almost seemed a crueler fate than being left at home.
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Being the errand boy wasn't really what Kissan had had in mind when the Pharaoh had taken him under his wing and told him of this trip to the front. He'd imagined battle lessons and new armor. Not running back and forth between the Pharaoh's home away from home and where the Pharaoh currently stood near the front. Still, at least he had his young cheetah, Mekal's company while he relayed messages, packages of food and retrieved items.
As he returned from the latest errand and diligently handed the Pharaoh a bejeweled knife that had somehow been left in the tent, Kissan glanced down the line and his eyes widened when he saw his Narmer's form.
Somehow the subject of just what he was doing for the Pharaoh while under his wing had never quite come up as they say and while Kissan had made sure to seem sufficiently disappointed to see his uncle preparing for war, he'd made sure to omit the fact that he'd be joining him at the front in the Pharaoh's entourage. Attempting to blend in with the other attendants and servants near the Pharaoh, Kissan hoped that perhaps he would remain unnoticed by his uncle.
"Sir" he noted respectfully as he handed the older man the requested knife, Kissan prepared himself to be given another errand to take him away from the restless troops before them. His other hand absently rested on the loyal Mekal's head as her tail twitched in anticipation behind her. Had he been thinking he might have realized how easily her presence would give away his own to his uncle but he hadn't realized just how rare the sight of a cheetah on the front lines might be.
His ear was ready for the Pharaoh's next command but his eyes wandered to the troops ahead with longing. What would it be like to be among them? To feel the glory of war? He sensed the excitement around him. The anticipation and yes event he fear and yet it felt just out of reach. This almost seemed a crueler fate than being left at home.
Being the errand boy wasn't really what Kissan had had in mind when the Pharaoh had taken him under his wing and told him of this trip to the front. He'd imagined battle lessons and new armor. Not running back and forth between the Pharaoh's home away from home and where the Pharaoh currently stood near the front. Still, at least he had his young cheetah, Mekal's company while he relayed messages, packages of food and retrieved items.
As he returned from the latest errand and diligently handed the Pharaoh a bejeweled knife that had somehow been left in the tent, Kissan glanced down the line and his eyes widened when he saw his Narmer's form.
Somehow the subject of just what he was doing for the Pharaoh while under his wing had never quite come up as they say and while Kissan had made sure to seem sufficiently disappointed to see his uncle preparing for war, he'd made sure to omit the fact that he'd be joining him at the front in the Pharaoh's entourage. Attempting to blend in with the other attendants and servants near the Pharaoh, Kissan hoped that perhaps he would remain unnoticed by his uncle.
"Sir" he noted respectfully as he handed the older man the requested knife, Kissan prepared himself to be given another errand to take him away from the restless troops before them. His other hand absently rested on the loyal Mekal's head as her tail twitched in anticipation behind her. Had he been thinking he might have realized how easily her presence would give away his own to his uncle but he hadn't realized just how rare the sight of a cheetah on the front lines might be.
His ear was ready for the Pharaoh's next command but his eyes wandered to the troops ahead with longing. What would it be like to be among them? To feel the glory of war? He sensed the excitement around him. The anticipation and yes event he fear and yet it felt just out of reach. This almost seemed a crueler fate than being left at home.
And so war was upon them.
Osorsen had taken his time gathering his men about him, only taking leave of Luxor once he had ensured that all were amply prepared and he had left the H'Moghadam properties in good hands. His stewards were all to report to his grandfather and Zoser in his absence, one out of courtesy and the other for decision making and communicating with him. He was relieved his uncle was staying behind, the older man along with the detail of guards he had left behind would keep Hatshepsut safe and Egypt running smoothly. Now all he had to do was survive.
Upon the back of the black warhorse that had been intended as a gift for the Greek King Stephanos, the sirdar led his troops into the camp. The H'Moghadam men seemed to file through the camp in an endless line, branching off eventually with his subordinate commanders taking the lead and instructing the soldiers in their preparations. His command was no stranger to battle and war, nearly always on the front line of some skirmish or another when rebellion rose or foreign kingdoms dared to press their luck, and he took great pride in how steady his troop was.
Instead of stopping with his men, Oso gestured for Rafa to follow him and along with the slave rode through the camp in search of the pharaoh and his fellow commanders. Giving a wave to those he knew, he kept his posture at ease, that of a man who had no fear for the upcoming battles and the confidence of more victories won than had been credited to him. One particularly familiar face drew a grin.
"Narmer, try to smile. We're going to war, think of all the glory you'll return home with." Knowing full well his friend was less than thrilled with the prospect, he'd already determined he would do what he could to ensure the other sirdar's safety. Narmer could fight as well as any, but there was something that held him back on occasion, and Osorsen would not see him fall. "I'll find you once I've paid my respects to himself."
With another grin, he rode forth, urging Altair to the pharaoh's station. Forcing his expression to stay pleasant and his smile in place, Osorsen dismounted and left the black stallion behind with Rafa as he approached. Kneeling before Iahotep still brought a bitter taste to his tongue, but he could not afford to appear anything but the most faithful, most loyal and loving subject.
"Pharaoh, my unit has arrived in full. Save those left behind to guard Her Radiance."
Lifting himself to his feet once more, he took an easy stance and looked to the young man by Iahotep's side. He hadn't seen Kissan looking so militant before, it was a striking change from the boy he had known. "Young Kissan, I didn't realize you were old enough to join us in this war. I thought you were in swaddling clothes still."
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And so war was upon them.
Osorsen had taken his time gathering his men about him, only taking leave of Luxor once he had ensured that all were amply prepared and he had left the H'Moghadam properties in good hands. His stewards were all to report to his grandfather and Zoser in his absence, one out of courtesy and the other for decision making and communicating with him. He was relieved his uncle was staying behind, the older man along with the detail of guards he had left behind would keep Hatshepsut safe and Egypt running smoothly. Now all he had to do was survive.
Upon the back of the black warhorse that had been intended as a gift for the Greek King Stephanos, the sirdar led his troops into the camp. The H'Moghadam men seemed to file through the camp in an endless line, branching off eventually with his subordinate commanders taking the lead and instructing the soldiers in their preparations. His command was no stranger to battle and war, nearly always on the front line of some skirmish or another when rebellion rose or foreign kingdoms dared to press their luck, and he took great pride in how steady his troop was.
Instead of stopping with his men, Oso gestured for Rafa to follow him and along with the slave rode through the camp in search of the pharaoh and his fellow commanders. Giving a wave to those he knew, he kept his posture at ease, that of a man who had no fear for the upcoming battles and the confidence of more victories won than had been credited to him. One particularly familiar face drew a grin.
"Narmer, try to smile. We're going to war, think of all the glory you'll return home with." Knowing full well his friend was less than thrilled with the prospect, he'd already determined he would do what he could to ensure the other sirdar's safety. Narmer could fight as well as any, but there was something that held him back on occasion, and Osorsen would not see him fall. "I'll find you once I've paid my respects to himself."
With another grin, he rode forth, urging Altair to the pharaoh's station. Forcing his expression to stay pleasant and his smile in place, Osorsen dismounted and left the black stallion behind with Rafa as he approached. Kneeling before Iahotep still brought a bitter taste to his tongue, but he could not afford to appear anything but the most faithful, most loyal and loving subject.
"Pharaoh, my unit has arrived in full. Save those left behind to guard Her Radiance."
Lifting himself to his feet once more, he took an easy stance and looked to the young man by Iahotep's side. He hadn't seen Kissan looking so militant before, it was a striking change from the boy he had known. "Young Kissan, I didn't realize you were old enough to join us in this war. I thought you were in swaddling clothes still."
And so war was upon them.
Osorsen had taken his time gathering his men about him, only taking leave of Luxor once he had ensured that all were amply prepared and he had left the H'Moghadam properties in good hands. His stewards were all to report to his grandfather and Zoser in his absence, one out of courtesy and the other for decision making and communicating with him. He was relieved his uncle was staying behind, the older man along with the detail of guards he had left behind would keep Hatshepsut safe and Egypt running smoothly. Now all he had to do was survive.
Upon the back of the black warhorse that had been intended as a gift for the Greek King Stephanos, the sirdar led his troops into the camp. The H'Moghadam men seemed to file through the camp in an endless line, branching off eventually with his subordinate commanders taking the lead and instructing the soldiers in their preparations. His command was no stranger to battle and war, nearly always on the front line of some skirmish or another when rebellion rose or foreign kingdoms dared to press their luck, and he took great pride in how steady his troop was.
Instead of stopping with his men, Oso gestured for Rafa to follow him and along with the slave rode through the camp in search of the pharaoh and his fellow commanders. Giving a wave to those he knew, he kept his posture at ease, that of a man who had no fear for the upcoming battles and the confidence of more victories won than had been credited to him. One particularly familiar face drew a grin.
"Narmer, try to smile. We're going to war, think of all the glory you'll return home with." Knowing full well his friend was less than thrilled with the prospect, he'd already determined he would do what he could to ensure the other sirdar's safety. Narmer could fight as well as any, but there was something that held him back on occasion, and Osorsen would not see him fall. "I'll find you once I've paid my respects to himself."
With another grin, he rode forth, urging Altair to the pharaoh's station. Forcing his expression to stay pleasant and his smile in place, Osorsen dismounted and left the black stallion behind with Rafa as he approached. Kneeling before Iahotep still brought a bitter taste to his tongue, but he could not afford to appear anything but the most faithful, most loyal and loving subject.
"Pharaoh, my unit has arrived in full. Save those left behind to guard Her Radiance."
Lifting himself to his feet once more, he took an easy stance and looked to the young man by Iahotep's side. He hadn't seen Kissan looking so militant before, it was a striking change from the boy he had known. "Young Kissan, I didn't realize you were old enough to join us in this war. I thought you were in swaddling clothes still."
Narmer had expressly stated Kissan was not to join the military. There was no way he would've been misunderstood. So as he sat upon his shifting steed awaiting the orders from the pharoah, the man had to do a double take as he saw his very familiar nephew who he had told to remain behind, appear on the fields of the Northern Nile where the Egyptian army amassed. Now truly, he would've not noticed yet another copper skinned male running the pharoah's orders. He has many, that the man would be easily overlooked.
But how many servants had their own cheetah? It was a feline Narmer recognized from his own backyard, the same creature which had terrorized the servants of the Haikaddad saraaya since the fateful day Kissan had brought her back.
Turning his horse around so he could get a closer look, Narmer's eyes narrowed when he spotted Kissan's features, and wanted to give an angry shout, had his own men not been looking at him. It would do no good to give Kissan the dressing down Narmer so dearly wanted to give, when he still wanted his nephew to have the chance to inherit the Hei. Kissan would lose credibility, and Narmer had the foresight to consider that still.
So instead, the man held his tongue, and merely flashed his nephew a stern look from across the troops, before he turned to flash a tight smile at his arriving friend. Osorsen was a respected General, and someone he had learned from as well as with when he had been training. The man gave a wry laugh at his words, and shrugged. "It's a fifty fifty chance of glory and death, my friend." he muttered in response, ever the realist, and nodded, turning back to the front lines as Osorsen drew away. Would he return with his life intact? He hoped so. At the very least, Kissan should. Someone should, or what would happen to the Hei and his nieces and sister in law? He doubted the pharoah would allow them to keep the saraaya and the lands if there was no male to handle them.
His grip tightened on the reins as he glanced at his troops, and then back at the widening expanse of the Northern Nile. They had the numbers. Narmer was convinced they would be fine.
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Narmer had expressly stated Kissan was not to join the military. There was no way he would've been misunderstood. So as he sat upon his shifting steed awaiting the orders from the pharoah, the man had to do a double take as he saw his very familiar nephew who he had told to remain behind, appear on the fields of the Northern Nile where the Egyptian army amassed. Now truly, he would've not noticed yet another copper skinned male running the pharoah's orders. He has many, that the man would be easily overlooked.
But how many servants had their own cheetah? It was a feline Narmer recognized from his own backyard, the same creature which had terrorized the servants of the Haikaddad saraaya since the fateful day Kissan had brought her back.
Turning his horse around so he could get a closer look, Narmer's eyes narrowed when he spotted Kissan's features, and wanted to give an angry shout, had his own men not been looking at him. It would do no good to give Kissan the dressing down Narmer so dearly wanted to give, when he still wanted his nephew to have the chance to inherit the Hei. Kissan would lose credibility, and Narmer had the foresight to consider that still.
So instead, the man held his tongue, and merely flashed his nephew a stern look from across the troops, before he turned to flash a tight smile at his arriving friend. Osorsen was a respected General, and someone he had learned from as well as with when he had been training. The man gave a wry laugh at his words, and shrugged. "It's a fifty fifty chance of glory and death, my friend." he muttered in response, ever the realist, and nodded, turning back to the front lines as Osorsen drew away. Would he return with his life intact? He hoped so. At the very least, Kissan should. Someone should, or what would happen to the Hei and his nieces and sister in law? He doubted the pharoah would allow them to keep the saraaya and the lands if there was no male to handle them.
His grip tightened on the reins as he glanced at his troops, and then back at the widening expanse of the Northern Nile. They had the numbers. Narmer was convinced they would be fine.
Narmer had expressly stated Kissan was not to join the military. There was no way he would've been misunderstood. So as he sat upon his shifting steed awaiting the orders from the pharoah, the man had to do a double take as he saw his very familiar nephew who he had told to remain behind, appear on the fields of the Northern Nile where the Egyptian army amassed. Now truly, he would've not noticed yet another copper skinned male running the pharoah's orders. He has many, that the man would be easily overlooked.
But how many servants had their own cheetah? It was a feline Narmer recognized from his own backyard, the same creature which had terrorized the servants of the Haikaddad saraaya since the fateful day Kissan had brought her back.
Turning his horse around so he could get a closer look, Narmer's eyes narrowed when he spotted Kissan's features, and wanted to give an angry shout, had his own men not been looking at him. It would do no good to give Kissan the dressing down Narmer so dearly wanted to give, when he still wanted his nephew to have the chance to inherit the Hei. Kissan would lose credibility, and Narmer had the foresight to consider that still.
So instead, the man held his tongue, and merely flashed his nephew a stern look from across the troops, before he turned to flash a tight smile at his arriving friend. Osorsen was a respected General, and someone he had learned from as well as with when he had been training. The man gave a wry laugh at his words, and shrugged. "It's a fifty fifty chance of glory and death, my friend." he muttered in response, ever the realist, and nodded, turning back to the front lines as Osorsen drew away. Would he return with his life intact? He hoped so. At the very least, Kissan should. Someone should, or what would happen to the Hei and his nieces and sister in law? He doubted the pharoah would allow them to keep the saraaya and the lands if there was no male to handle them.
His grip tightened on the reins as he glanced at his troops, and then back at the widening expanse of the Northern Nile. They had the numbers. Narmer was convinced they would be fine.
Egypt was on the brink of war and Sutekh never thought that he would be here.
The war with Greece was inevitable as armed conflicts always were. This was not the first skirmish with Egypt’s northern neighbors that Sutekh had lived through and it was not likely to be the last. It was just a common fact that there would be war. However, Sutekh never could have fathomed what his role in the conflict would be.
If he had been asked a month ago where he thought he would be when rumors of war rippled through Egypt; Sutekh thought that it would be on the homefront, working with his father to supply the army. Perhaps if Sutekh was lucky he would have the chance to return to his old rank of Captain and bring further glory and honor to his Hei through his actions on the battlefield. Never once did he consider that he would be here as a Deputy-General for the Naddar Harakat -- the Hei of his true father. How could it be that only a month ago, Sutekh had been cast out of the only home he had ever known? Now, he found himself preparing for war.
The rise in rank had not been his doing, of course, on either account. He was lucky that his newly found half-sister had taken him into the Evening Star Palace. It was under her favor that he had rooms in the shining jewel of all Egypt and the privileges that came with being a Prince. She had done more than what many people would have done when confronted with the revelation of a new sibling and he was immensely grateful for her kindness. She is the only one in the palace that he trusted and even though the pair had only known this truth for a month; she was just as much his sister as any of the Sheifa girls.
The same courtesy of trust could not be extended to those in Hatshepsut’s life though. That was something that was glaringly clear to the boy as he brought his horse to a pause outside of the Pharaoh’s tent. A ruler by marriage and not by blood, Sutekh felt that Iahotep has made no disguises about his disfavor of the bastard of Imopehatsuma being present in the Palace. Sutekh knew the cruel and power-hungry man saw him as a threat, no matter how many times the boy insisted that he only wished to be welcomed back into the Hei Shiefa and had no interest in a throne he could not inherit anyways.
It was Iahotep’s doing that Sutekh was a Deputy-General. The man had claimed that it was done out of respect for the role he played in the Queen’s life and the rank he had held previously. Sutekh didn’t believe this for a second. The Pharaoh did not do things out of the kindness of his heart. There were no gifts that the man could give that didn’t come with strings. Sutekh knew that there was a reason Iahotep wanted the Bastard Prince on the battlefield. If the boy was lucky, it would be just to keep an eye on him. Ensure that the one surviving male relative of the former Pharaoh was kept away from the court while Iahotep was at war. If he was not lucky…
Sutekh didn’t want to think about that.
Not when he entered his Brother-in-Law’s tent and came face to face with the Pharaoh himself. The man who was made the Supreme King of Kings through the marriage to his youngest half-sister and if his paranoia was correct? The very same man who was plotting Sutekh’s death as they spoke. The Bastard Prince had no proof, of course, and even if he did it would not matter. Iahotep was the Pharaoh and thus could do no wrong in the mortal realm. He was a god in the flesh and deserved all the respect that came with such a role.
That was why Sutekh was here; to pay his respects. “ My Pharaoh,” Sutekh said as he sunk into a low bow, ignoring all others in the room until the Morning and Evening Star had been properly greeted, “ Words cannot express my gratitude for your generous promotion. I am truly humbled by the gifts you have given.” The words were false, of course, but the stellar education he had received at the hands of his step-father and mother had ensured long ago that Sutekh could lie through his teeth when it came to court matters. That he could always appear to be agreeable and amicable, leaving no room for an offense no matter what the situation. His previous life was showing, but hopefully, the men in the room would be none the wiser. Iahotep would see right through it, Sutekh had no doubts about that as he didn’t think that his desire to avoid meals where Hatshepsut was not present had not gone unnoticed. However, just like Sutekh, he had no proof. For all he knew, Sutekh’s gratitude could be just as genuine.
Just like Iahotep’s desire to welcome the boy into the family.
“ King of Kings, I bring the news that the Naddar Harakat is assembled and awaiting your orders.” Sutekh relayed, fulfilling both of the reasons that he was in the Pharaoh’s tent, to begin with. If Iahotep wanted Sutekh gone at this point, his brother-in-law would have no complaints.
It was then that Sutekh took note of the other men in the room; General Osorsen of the Moghadam Hei and Kissan from the Haikaddad family. The former Sheifa heir could not hide his confused expression at seeing the younger boy there as he was sure that he had seen Sirdar Narmer among the forces as he made his way to the tent. Wasn’t it unwise to have the only men from the Hei involved in the war effort? What would happen to Kissan’s mother and sisters if something were to happen either him or his uncle? However, he hid his confusion behind an encouraging smile to the boy as Sutekh caught the tail end of Osorsen’s words and responded as such. “ Come now, the boy is sixteen, if I do so recall. It’s long past time he’s had a spear put in one hand and a shield in the other! Isn’t that right, Kissan?” The smile that Sutekh flashed to the young boy was a true one. Sutekh could remember how only a few short years ago he had been in the same position as Kissan; sixteen and eager to fight. That was the year that Sutekh had joined the Sheifa Harakat and it seemed to be that this would be the age the Hakkiddad boy would follow in his own family’s footsteps.
They were alike in that way, but Sutekh suspected that this was not the only similarity the boys shared going into this conflict. The two of them had not been close before this war given their differences in age, but perhaps that would change in the coming months.
Sutekh wondered what the other men thought of him; the bastard son of Pharaoh Imopethatsuma dressed in the garb of a Deputy-General with the title of Prince and the shame of Hei Sheifa lingering over his name. He doubted that it was positive given the current state the house that he had been raised in and the simple fact that their current state of decay was due to his scandal. Then again these were two men that Sutekh did not associate with the gossip circuits that brought the Sheifa household to its knees. Would they be disgusted with him? Pitiful of him? Respectful given his new rank? Sutekh didn’t know. This sort of thing was always a gamble nowadays.
Though if it was going to be negative, perhaps Sutekh could momentarily deflect that sort of attention. Just long enough for Iahotep to eventually dismiss him. “ Kissan,” The prince said, turning to the boy, “ What unit are you fighting for? Under your uncle I suppose?” Now, in truth, this was a dangerous line of questioning to partake in as Kissan was in the Pharaoh’s tent… but if the boy was anything like Sutekh had been at sixteen, he would excitedly talk all of their ears off until he was told to shut it. Which would hopefully not come before the Bastard Prince could make his escape...
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Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
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Egypt was on the brink of war and Sutekh never thought that he would be here.
The war with Greece was inevitable as armed conflicts always were. This was not the first skirmish with Egypt’s northern neighbors that Sutekh had lived through and it was not likely to be the last. It was just a common fact that there would be war. However, Sutekh never could have fathomed what his role in the conflict would be.
If he had been asked a month ago where he thought he would be when rumors of war rippled through Egypt; Sutekh thought that it would be on the homefront, working with his father to supply the army. Perhaps if Sutekh was lucky he would have the chance to return to his old rank of Captain and bring further glory and honor to his Hei through his actions on the battlefield. Never once did he consider that he would be here as a Deputy-General for the Naddar Harakat -- the Hei of his true father. How could it be that only a month ago, Sutekh had been cast out of the only home he had ever known? Now, he found himself preparing for war.
The rise in rank had not been his doing, of course, on either account. He was lucky that his newly found half-sister had taken him into the Evening Star Palace. It was under her favor that he had rooms in the shining jewel of all Egypt and the privileges that came with being a Prince. She had done more than what many people would have done when confronted with the revelation of a new sibling and he was immensely grateful for her kindness. She is the only one in the palace that he trusted and even though the pair had only known this truth for a month; she was just as much his sister as any of the Sheifa girls.
The same courtesy of trust could not be extended to those in Hatshepsut’s life though. That was something that was glaringly clear to the boy as he brought his horse to a pause outside of the Pharaoh’s tent. A ruler by marriage and not by blood, Sutekh felt that Iahotep has made no disguises about his disfavor of the bastard of Imopehatsuma being present in the Palace. Sutekh knew the cruel and power-hungry man saw him as a threat, no matter how many times the boy insisted that he only wished to be welcomed back into the Hei Shiefa and had no interest in a throne he could not inherit anyways.
It was Iahotep’s doing that Sutekh was a Deputy-General. The man had claimed that it was done out of respect for the role he played in the Queen’s life and the rank he had held previously. Sutekh didn’t believe this for a second. The Pharaoh did not do things out of the kindness of his heart. There were no gifts that the man could give that didn’t come with strings. Sutekh knew that there was a reason Iahotep wanted the Bastard Prince on the battlefield. If the boy was lucky, it would be just to keep an eye on him. Ensure that the one surviving male relative of the former Pharaoh was kept away from the court while Iahotep was at war. If he was not lucky…
Sutekh didn’t want to think about that.
Not when he entered his Brother-in-Law’s tent and came face to face with the Pharaoh himself. The man who was made the Supreme King of Kings through the marriage to his youngest half-sister and if his paranoia was correct? The very same man who was plotting Sutekh’s death as they spoke. The Bastard Prince had no proof, of course, and even if he did it would not matter. Iahotep was the Pharaoh and thus could do no wrong in the mortal realm. He was a god in the flesh and deserved all the respect that came with such a role.
That was why Sutekh was here; to pay his respects. “ My Pharaoh,” Sutekh said as he sunk into a low bow, ignoring all others in the room until the Morning and Evening Star had been properly greeted, “ Words cannot express my gratitude for your generous promotion. I am truly humbled by the gifts you have given.” The words were false, of course, but the stellar education he had received at the hands of his step-father and mother had ensured long ago that Sutekh could lie through his teeth when it came to court matters. That he could always appear to be agreeable and amicable, leaving no room for an offense no matter what the situation. His previous life was showing, but hopefully, the men in the room would be none the wiser. Iahotep would see right through it, Sutekh had no doubts about that as he didn’t think that his desire to avoid meals where Hatshepsut was not present had not gone unnoticed. However, just like Sutekh, he had no proof. For all he knew, Sutekh’s gratitude could be just as genuine.
Just like Iahotep’s desire to welcome the boy into the family.
“ King of Kings, I bring the news that the Naddar Harakat is assembled and awaiting your orders.” Sutekh relayed, fulfilling both of the reasons that he was in the Pharaoh’s tent, to begin with. If Iahotep wanted Sutekh gone at this point, his brother-in-law would have no complaints.
It was then that Sutekh took note of the other men in the room; General Osorsen of the Moghadam Hei and Kissan from the Haikaddad family. The former Sheifa heir could not hide his confused expression at seeing the younger boy there as he was sure that he had seen Sirdar Narmer among the forces as he made his way to the tent. Wasn’t it unwise to have the only men from the Hei involved in the war effort? What would happen to Kissan’s mother and sisters if something were to happen either him or his uncle? However, he hid his confusion behind an encouraging smile to the boy as Sutekh caught the tail end of Osorsen’s words and responded as such. “ Come now, the boy is sixteen, if I do so recall. It’s long past time he’s had a spear put in one hand and a shield in the other! Isn’t that right, Kissan?” The smile that Sutekh flashed to the young boy was a true one. Sutekh could remember how only a few short years ago he had been in the same position as Kissan; sixteen and eager to fight. That was the year that Sutekh had joined the Sheifa Harakat and it seemed to be that this would be the age the Hakkiddad boy would follow in his own family’s footsteps.
They were alike in that way, but Sutekh suspected that this was not the only similarity the boys shared going into this conflict. The two of them had not been close before this war given their differences in age, but perhaps that would change in the coming months.
Sutekh wondered what the other men thought of him; the bastard son of Pharaoh Imopethatsuma dressed in the garb of a Deputy-General with the title of Prince and the shame of Hei Sheifa lingering over his name. He doubted that it was positive given the current state the house that he had been raised in and the simple fact that their current state of decay was due to his scandal. Then again these were two men that Sutekh did not associate with the gossip circuits that brought the Sheifa household to its knees. Would they be disgusted with him? Pitiful of him? Respectful given his new rank? Sutekh didn’t know. This sort of thing was always a gamble nowadays.
Though if it was going to be negative, perhaps Sutekh could momentarily deflect that sort of attention. Just long enough for Iahotep to eventually dismiss him. “ Kissan,” The prince said, turning to the boy, “ What unit are you fighting for? Under your uncle I suppose?” Now, in truth, this was a dangerous line of questioning to partake in as Kissan was in the Pharaoh’s tent… but if the boy was anything like Sutekh had been at sixteen, he would excitedly talk all of their ears off until he was told to shut it. Which would hopefully not come before the Bastard Prince could make his escape...
Egypt was on the brink of war and Sutekh never thought that he would be here.
The war with Greece was inevitable as armed conflicts always were. This was not the first skirmish with Egypt’s northern neighbors that Sutekh had lived through and it was not likely to be the last. It was just a common fact that there would be war. However, Sutekh never could have fathomed what his role in the conflict would be.
If he had been asked a month ago where he thought he would be when rumors of war rippled through Egypt; Sutekh thought that it would be on the homefront, working with his father to supply the army. Perhaps if Sutekh was lucky he would have the chance to return to his old rank of Captain and bring further glory and honor to his Hei through his actions on the battlefield. Never once did he consider that he would be here as a Deputy-General for the Naddar Harakat -- the Hei of his true father. How could it be that only a month ago, Sutekh had been cast out of the only home he had ever known? Now, he found himself preparing for war.
The rise in rank had not been his doing, of course, on either account. He was lucky that his newly found half-sister had taken him into the Evening Star Palace. It was under her favor that he had rooms in the shining jewel of all Egypt and the privileges that came with being a Prince. She had done more than what many people would have done when confronted with the revelation of a new sibling and he was immensely grateful for her kindness. She is the only one in the palace that he trusted and even though the pair had only known this truth for a month; she was just as much his sister as any of the Sheifa girls.
The same courtesy of trust could not be extended to those in Hatshepsut’s life though. That was something that was glaringly clear to the boy as he brought his horse to a pause outside of the Pharaoh’s tent. A ruler by marriage and not by blood, Sutekh felt that Iahotep has made no disguises about his disfavor of the bastard of Imopehatsuma being present in the Palace. Sutekh knew the cruel and power-hungry man saw him as a threat, no matter how many times the boy insisted that he only wished to be welcomed back into the Hei Shiefa and had no interest in a throne he could not inherit anyways.
It was Iahotep’s doing that Sutekh was a Deputy-General. The man had claimed that it was done out of respect for the role he played in the Queen’s life and the rank he had held previously. Sutekh didn’t believe this for a second. The Pharaoh did not do things out of the kindness of his heart. There were no gifts that the man could give that didn’t come with strings. Sutekh knew that there was a reason Iahotep wanted the Bastard Prince on the battlefield. If the boy was lucky, it would be just to keep an eye on him. Ensure that the one surviving male relative of the former Pharaoh was kept away from the court while Iahotep was at war. If he was not lucky…
Sutekh didn’t want to think about that.
Not when he entered his Brother-in-Law’s tent and came face to face with the Pharaoh himself. The man who was made the Supreme King of Kings through the marriage to his youngest half-sister and if his paranoia was correct? The very same man who was plotting Sutekh’s death as they spoke. The Bastard Prince had no proof, of course, and even if he did it would not matter. Iahotep was the Pharaoh and thus could do no wrong in the mortal realm. He was a god in the flesh and deserved all the respect that came with such a role.
That was why Sutekh was here; to pay his respects. “ My Pharaoh,” Sutekh said as he sunk into a low bow, ignoring all others in the room until the Morning and Evening Star had been properly greeted, “ Words cannot express my gratitude for your generous promotion. I am truly humbled by the gifts you have given.” The words were false, of course, but the stellar education he had received at the hands of his step-father and mother had ensured long ago that Sutekh could lie through his teeth when it came to court matters. That he could always appear to be agreeable and amicable, leaving no room for an offense no matter what the situation. His previous life was showing, but hopefully, the men in the room would be none the wiser. Iahotep would see right through it, Sutekh had no doubts about that as he didn’t think that his desire to avoid meals where Hatshepsut was not present had not gone unnoticed. However, just like Sutekh, he had no proof. For all he knew, Sutekh’s gratitude could be just as genuine.
Just like Iahotep’s desire to welcome the boy into the family.
“ King of Kings, I bring the news that the Naddar Harakat is assembled and awaiting your orders.” Sutekh relayed, fulfilling both of the reasons that he was in the Pharaoh’s tent, to begin with. If Iahotep wanted Sutekh gone at this point, his brother-in-law would have no complaints.
It was then that Sutekh took note of the other men in the room; General Osorsen of the Moghadam Hei and Kissan from the Haikaddad family. The former Sheifa heir could not hide his confused expression at seeing the younger boy there as he was sure that he had seen Sirdar Narmer among the forces as he made his way to the tent. Wasn’t it unwise to have the only men from the Hei involved in the war effort? What would happen to Kissan’s mother and sisters if something were to happen either him or his uncle? However, he hid his confusion behind an encouraging smile to the boy as Sutekh caught the tail end of Osorsen’s words and responded as such. “ Come now, the boy is sixteen, if I do so recall. It’s long past time he’s had a spear put in one hand and a shield in the other! Isn’t that right, Kissan?” The smile that Sutekh flashed to the young boy was a true one. Sutekh could remember how only a few short years ago he had been in the same position as Kissan; sixteen and eager to fight. That was the year that Sutekh had joined the Sheifa Harakat and it seemed to be that this would be the age the Hakkiddad boy would follow in his own family’s footsteps.
They were alike in that way, but Sutekh suspected that this was not the only similarity the boys shared going into this conflict. The two of them had not been close before this war given their differences in age, but perhaps that would change in the coming months.
Sutekh wondered what the other men thought of him; the bastard son of Pharaoh Imopethatsuma dressed in the garb of a Deputy-General with the title of Prince and the shame of Hei Sheifa lingering over his name. He doubted that it was positive given the current state the house that he had been raised in and the simple fact that their current state of decay was due to his scandal. Then again these were two men that Sutekh did not associate with the gossip circuits that brought the Sheifa household to its knees. Would they be disgusted with him? Pitiful of him? Respectful given his new rank? Sutekh didn’t know. This sort of thing was always a gamble nowadays.
Though if it was going to be negative, perhaps Sutekh could momentarily deflect that sort of attention. Just long enough for Iahotep to eventually dismiss him. “ Kissan,” The prince said, turning to the boy, “ What unit are you fighting for? Under your uncle I suppose?” Now, in truth, this was a dangerous line of questioning to partake in as Kissan was in the Pharaoh’s tent… but if the boy was anything like Sutekh had been at sixteen, he would excitedly talk all of their ears off until he was told to shut it. Which would hopefully not come before the Bastard Prince could make his escape...
It was a little bit dangerous, well, that was the part that was probably mostly in her head but it felt dangerous to have a chance to be involved in what was about as close to a battlefield as she would likely ever end up being. Not that it was a bad achievement to hold, Safiya might not fully understand what precisely being on a battlefield was like or even how the experience affected the psyche of those involved but she could appreciate that she wanted her family to be safe - both Kissan and Narmer were both here and she was concerned for them both but it was not just them who was putting their lives on the line.
The reality of this situation was increasing as she spent more time. Even though she was attempting to bring some smiles and small tokens designed to help protect those from harm, the reality was very much that it was dirty, loud and a lot less pleasant than some of the songs and stories she'd heard growing up. It made her feel more anxious about the fates of her uncle and Kissan in particular. He was so young and she felt protective over him, when it came to Narmer it was far more complicated and something that she wasn't really capable of putting into words or more likely she didn't really want to try, especially not now.
Safiya noticed the movement of the other noblewomen who had come here as well, this was not a mission of mercy but rather a reminder of what they would be fighting for during this war, and those others included Sameera not that it was surprising as where one went so did the other.
For a brief moment, she wondered if that was why Kissan had made such an effort to come here, she knew that it was going to upset their uncle but then it wasn't difficult for him to become upset about the choices his nieces and nephew were making. It was almost amusing the way that he regretted, almost and there was a certain part of Safiya that could feel sympathy toward him. Not enough to always temper her decisions but she did at least have the capacity to feel guilty and regretful when they caused him problems. Not that Safiya ever really thought about how it might be affecting Narmer when she did certain things. It was often the most in the moment decisions that affected other matters so negatively and it was why she was trying to avoid those kinds of thoughts.
So, she had thought about what it would be like to come with the other women of rank to farewell their menfolk and wish them the best as well as blessings for the days ahead.
Glancing over to where she could see Nenet, she grinned "Have you seen prince Sutekh yet?" they weren't close and technically she could have asked Sameera but she was already way ahead and appeared to be giggling with someone, it was the sort of thing that Safiya fully expected of her sister and while she was looking for Sutekh specifically but it was as good a place as any to hopefully locate her uncle and Kissan, while also allowing her to be casual and ...well, perhaps not casual but she had like then new prince, the result of him being a lot less pompous than a lot of the others who outranked her or were older - often both. Safiya was heartily sick of always feeling like she was on the back foot in conversations and in a lot of ways the young man reminded her of the Queen and Safiya liked the Queen.
Even if the friendship was possibly something that was only in her head. However, that suited her for the time being. She was content and not many could say as much.
Besides, she was sure that Nenet would want to see her brother, this way she would have company and a good excuse, so that was good, right? Safiya was probably overthinking this but she tended to do that when she was attempting to be clever.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
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It was a little bit dangerous, well, that was the part that was probably mostly in her head but it felt dangerous to have a chance to be involved in what was about as close to a battlefield as she would likely ever end up being. Not that it was a bad achievement to hold, Safiya might not fully understand what precisely being on a battlefield was like or even how the experience affected the psyche of those involved but she could appreciate that she wanted her family to be safe - both Kissan and Narmer were both here and she was concerned for them both but it was not just them who was putting their lives on the line.
The reality of this situation was increasing as she spent more time. Even though she was attempting to bring some smiles and small tokens designed to help protect those from harm, the reality was very much that it was dirty, loud and a lot less pleasant than some of the songs and stories she'd heard growing up. It made her feel more anxious about the fates of her uncle and Kissan in particular. He was so young and she felt protective over him, when it came to Narmer it was far more complicated and something that she wasn't really capable of putting into words or more likely she didn't really want to try, especially not now.
Safiya noticed the movement of the other noblewomen who had come here as well, this was not a mission of mercy but rather a reminder of what they would be fighting for during this war, and those others included Sameera not that it was surprising as where one went so did the other.
For a brief moment, she wondered if that was why Kissan had made such an effort to come here, she knew that it was going to upset their uncle but then it wasn't difficult for him to become upset about the choices his nieces and nephew were making. It was almost amusing the way that he regretted, almost and there was a certain part of Safiya that could feel sympathy toward him. Not enough to always temper her decisions but she did at least have the capacity to feel guilty and regretful when they caused him problems. Not that Safiya ever really thought about how it might be affecting Narmer when she did certain things. It was often the most in the moment decisions that affected other matters so negatively and it was why she was trying to avoid those kinds of thoughts.
So, she had thought about what it would be like to come with the other women of rank to farewell their menfolk and wish them the best as well as blessings for the days ahead.
Glancing over to where she could see Nenet, she grinned "Have you seen prince Sutekh yet?" they weren't close and technically she could have asked Sameera but she was already way ahead and appeared to be giggling with someone, it was the sort of thing that Safiya fully expected of her sister and while she was looking for Sutekh specifically but it was as good a place as any to hopefully locate her uncle and Kissan, while also allowing her to be casual and ...well, perhaps not casual but she had like then new prince, the result of him being a lot less pompous than a lot of the others who outranked her or were older - often both. Safiya was heartily sick of always feeling like she was on the back foot in conversations and in a lot of ways the young man reminded her of the Queen and Safiya liked the Queen.
Even if the friendship was possibly something that was only in her head. However, that suited her for the time being. She was content and not many could say as much.
Besides, she was sure that Nenet would want to see her brother, this way she would have company and a good excuse, so that was good, right? Safiya was probably overthinking this but she tended to do that when she was attempting to be clever.
It was a little bit dangerous, well, that was the part that was probably mostly in her head but it felt dangerous to have a chance to be involved in what was about as close to a battlefield as she would likely ever end up being. Not that it was a bad achievement to hold, Safiya might not fully understand what precisely being on a battlefield was like or even how the experience affected the psyche of those involved but she could appreciate that she wanted her family to be safe - both Kissan and Narmer were both here and she was concerned for them both but it was not just them who was putting their lives on the line.
The reality of this situation was increasing as she spent more time. Even though she was attempting to bring some smiles and small tokens designed to help protect those from harm, the reality was very much that it was dirty, loud and a lot less pleasant than some of the songs and stories she'd heard growing up. It made her feel more anxious about the fates of her uncle and Kissan in particular. He was so young and she felt protective over him, when it came to Narmer it was far more complicated and something that she wasn't really capable of putting into words or more likely she didn't really want to try, especially not now.
Safiya noticed the movement of the other noblewomen who had come here as well, this was not a mission of mercy but rather a reminder of what they would be fighting for during this war, and those others included Sameera not that it was surprising as where one went so did the other.
For a brief moment, she wondered if that was why Kissan had made such an effort to come here, she knew that it was going to upset their uncle but then it wasn't difficult for him to become upset about the choices his nieces and nephew were making. It was almost amusing the way that he regretted, almost and there was a certain part of Safiya that could feel sympathy toward him. Not enough to always temper her decisions but she did at least have the capacity to feel guilty and regretful when they caused him problems. Not that Safiya ever really thought about how it might be affecting Narmer when she did certain things. It was often the most in the moment decisions that affected other matters so negatively and it was why she was trying to avoid those kinds of thoughts.
So, she had thought about what it would be like to come with the other women of rank to farewell their menfolk and wish them the best as well as blessings for the days ahead.
Glancing over to where she could see Nenet, she grinned "Have you seen prince Sutekh yet?" they weren't close and technically she could have asked Sameera but she was already way ahead and appeared to be giggling with someone, it was the sort of thing that Safiya fully expected of her sister and while she was looking for Sutekh specifically but it was as good a place as any to hopefully locate her uncle and Kissan, while also allowing her to be casual and ...well, perhaps not casual but she had like then new prince, the result of him being a lot less pompous than a lot of the others who outranked her or were older - often both. Safiya was heartily sick of always feeling like she was on the back foot in conversations and in a lot of ways the young man reminded her of the Queen and Safiya liked the Queen.
Even if the friendship was possibly something that was only in her head. However, that suited her for the time being. She was content and not many could say as much.
Besides, she was sure that Nenet would want to see her brother, this way she would have company and a good excuse, so that was good, right? Safiya was probably overthinking this but she tended to do that when she was attempting to be clever.
In the novels she devoured, Nenet had been on the edges of battle many, many times. Sometimes, through the eyes of the heroes, she’d even fought in them, shed blood, collected glory for family or friends. Yet, for all the fiction in the world, it did not compare in the least to the simultaneously nerve wracking and dull prospective that lay before her. A seemingly endless, flat expanse of earth, ending in an eye-wateringly-blue sky. Wisps of cloud floated serene and faint above and Nenet squinted up, trying to see if any of them held even the merest hint of rain. No such luck.
In coming here, she’d had nightmares the entire time while her mother appeared to sleep soundly on the boat. But none of Nenet’s nightmares were coming true; she wasn’t forced into the fray, no one was being rough or awful to her, and she had yet to even lay eyes on Sutekh, which was the actual reason she’d begged to come. He would be here and she both yearned for and dreaded the moment of seeing him. There was no way in this life or the next that she could rest easy knowing she might never speak to him again. Mustering all the minimal courage she had, she’d tailed Iaheru up the Nile and now stood apart from almost everyone, standing on tiptoes, trying to find her estranged elder brother.
A familiar voice called out to her and she turned to find Sameera coming towards her. But then, Nenet squinted, second guessing that assumption and realized it was Safiya instead. Thank the gods that Safiya would never know the momentary confusion, and with a small smile, eyes squinted against the sun, Nenet gave her a little wave. "Have you seen prince Sutekh yet?" Safiya asked as she drew closer and Nenet shook her head. No. She hadn’t seen him.
A blush creeped along Nenet’s cheeks as she looked back out over the soldiers. She should say something. Safiya would expect her to speak...would being dragged behind wild horses be less embarrassing? Probably. Drawing in a deep breath she was about to ask if Safiya had seen him and then thought better of it. If Safiya was asking her, then that meant that, no, she hadn’t. Maybe, she could pretend to faint. It was hot. Really hot. Pretending to be unconscious would definitely get her out of talking. But, then when she ‘came to’, she’d have to explain a lot. Drat.
This was why she rarely came to things. Gods this was embarrassing. Now too much time had passed. Hadn’t it? Or had it? It was hard to say. “Uh,” Nenet stalled, making a huge show of looking and then shrugged her shoulders. Yes...that’d solve it. ‘Uh’ was good. No...it wasn’t. She should have stayed home. Her cheeks burned worse than ever and she pressed her lips together, thinking fast, but couldn’t see an alternative to speaking and so drew in a deep breath, let it out, and looked at Safiya’s chin, rather than her eyes.
“H-he’s-s s-ss-ssomew-where,” she offered, completely unhelpfully and then curled her fist against her mouth, because that would totally save her from having to stammer and stutter through more conversation. If the ground could open up right now and swallow her whole, that’d be great.
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In the novels she devoured, Nenet had been on the edges of battle many, many times. Sometimes, through the eyes of the heroes, she’d even fought in them, shed blood, collected glory for family or friends. Yet, for all the fiction in the world, it did not compare in the least to the simultaneously nerve wracking and dull prospective that lay before her. A seemingly endless, flat expanse of earth, ending in an eye-wateringly-blue sky. Wisps of cloud floated serene and faint above and Nenet squinted up, trying to see if any of them held even the merest hint of rain. No such luck.
In coming here, she’d had nightmares the entire time while her mother appeared to sleep soundly on the boat. But none of Nenet’s nightmares were coming true; she wasn’t forced into the fray, no one was being rough or awful to her, and she had yet to even lay eyes on Sutekh, which was the actual reason she’d begged to come. He would be here and she both yearned for and dreaded the moment of seeing him. There was no way in this life or the next that she could rest easy knowing she might never speak to him again. Mustering all the minimal courage she had, she’d tailed Iaheru up the Nile and now stood apart from almost everyone, standing on tiptoes, trying to find her estranged elder brother.
A familiar voice called out to her and she turned to find Sameera coming towards her. But then, Nenet squinted, second guessing that assumption and realized it was Safiya instead. Thank the gods that Safiya would never know the momentary confusion, and with a small smile, eyes squinted against the sun, Nenet gave her a little wave. "Have you seen prince Sutekh yet?" Safiya asked as she drew closer and Nenet shook her head. No. She hadn’t seen him.
A blush creeped along Nenet’s cheeks as she looked back out over the soldiers. She should say something. Safiya would expect her to speak...would being dragged behind wild horses be less embarrassing? Probably. Drawing in a deep breath she was about to ask if Safiya had seen him and then thought better of it. If Safiya was asking her, then that meant that, no, she hadn’t. Maybe, she could pretend to faint. It was hot. Really hot. Pretending to be unconscious would definitely get her out of talking. But, then when she ‘came to’, she’d have to explain a lot. Drat.
This was why she rarely came to things. Gods this was embarrassing. Now too much time had passed. Hadn’t it? Or had it? It was hard to say. “Uh,” Nenet stalled, making a huge show of looking and then shrugged her shoulders. Yes...that’d solve it. ‘Uh’ was good. No...it wasn’t. She should have stayed home. Her cheeks burned worse than ever and she pressed her lips together, thinking fast, but couldn’t see an alternative to speaking and so drew in a deep breath, let it out, and looked at Safiya’s chin, rather than her eyes.
“H-he’s-s s-ss-ssomew-where,” she offered, completely unhelpfully and then curled her fist against her mouth, because that would totally save her from having to stammer and stutter through more conversation. If the ground could open up right now and swallow her whole, that’d be great.
In the novels she devoured, Nenet had been on the edges of battle many, many times. Sometimes, through the eyes of the heroes, she’d even fought in them, shed blood, collected glory for family or friends. Yet, for all the fiction in the world, it did not compare in the least to the simultaneously nerve wracking and dull prospective that lay before her. A seemingly endless, flat expanse of earth, ending in an eye-wateringly-blue sky. Wisps of cloud floated serene and faint above and Nenet squinted up, trying to see if any of them held even the merest hint of rain. No such luck.
In coming here, she’d had nightmares the entire time while her mother appeared to sleep soundly on the boat. But none of Nenet’s nightmares were coming true; she wasn’t forced into the fray, no one was being rough or awful to her, and she had yet to even lay eyes on Sutekh, which was the actual reason she’d begged to come. He would be here and she both yearned for and dreaded the moment of seeing him. There was no way in this life or the next that she could rest easy knowing she might never speak to him again. Mustering all the minimal courage she had, she’d tailed Iaheru up the Nile and now stood apart from almost everyone, standing on tiptoes, trying to find her estranged elder brother.
A familiar voice called out to her and she turned to find Sameera coming towards her. But then, Nenet squinted, second guessing that assumption and realized it was Safiya instead. Thank the gods that Safiya would never know the momentary confusion, and with a small smile, eyes squinted against the sun, Nenet gave her a little wave. "Have you seen prince Sutekh yet?" Safiya asked as she drew closer and Nenet shook her head. No. She hadn’t seen him.
A blush creeped along Nenet’s cheeks as she looked back out over the soldiers. She should say something. Safiya would expect her to speak...would being dragged behind wild horses be less embarrassing? Probably. Drawing in a deep breath she was about to ask if Safiya had seen him and then thought better of it. If Safiya was asking her, then that meant that, no, she hadn’t. Maybe, she could pretend to faint. It was hot. Really hot. Pretending to be unconscious would definitely get her out of talking. But, then when she ‘came to’, she’d have to explain a lot. Drat.
This was why she rarely came to things. Gods this was embarrassing. Now too much time had passed. Hadn’t it? Or had it? It was hard to say. “Uh,” Nenet stalled, making a huge show of looking and then shrugged her shoulders. Yes...that’d solve it. ‘Uh’ was good. No...it wasn’t. She should have stayed home. Her cheeks burned worse than ever and she pressed her lips together, thinking fast, but couldn’t see an alternative to speaking and so drew in a deep breath, let it out, and looked at Safiya’s chin, rather than her eyes.
“H-he’s-s s-ss-ssomew-where,” she offered, completely unhelpfully and then curled her fist against her mouth, because that would totally save her from having to stammer and stutter through more conversation. If the ground could open up right now and swallow her whole, that’d be great.
The arrival of Hatshepsut's half brother was a welcome one, and Oso gave the younger man a warm smile. His grace and strength in the way he had handled his entire life having been thrown into turmoil, his family torn away and another less welcoming replacing it instead, had been truly remarkable. Though he was not so familiar with him as he could be, the General had plans to change that in the coming days. Someone like Sutekh would go places, and Osorsen wanted to be there when he did. Especially someone who held the Queen's best interests and familial connections so close.
"Ah of course, you are right your highness. I am away so often keeping our borders safe and putting down rebellion, I forget sometimes how quickly the years pass us by." Battles and wars that on occasion had begotten his former friend the post and woman he had most wanted. He made it a point to use the prince's proper address, grinning easily to the younger man before turning back to look at Kissan once more. "I see the young one has grown into a man indeed, Hei Haikaddad has much to be proud of."
Turning to Sutekh once more he gave a bow of his head in respect for the title of prince though the man would be under his command as General. "My lord, I would be honored to host you this evening if you would be willing. We have much strategy to speak of, once we hear the plans of his eminence of course."
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The arrival of Hatshepsut's half brother was a welcome one, and Oso gave the younger man a warm smile. His grace and strength in the way he had handled his entire life having been thrown into turmoil, his family torn away and another less welcoming replacing it instead, had been truly remarkable. Though he was not so familiar with him as he could be, the General had plans to change that in the coming days. Someone like Sutekh would go places, and Osorsen wanted to be there when he did. Especially someone who held the Queen's best interests and familial connections so close.
"Ah of course, you are right your highness. I am away so often keeping our borders safe and putting down rebellion, I forget sometimes how quickly the years pass us by." Battles and wars that on occasion had begotten his former friend the post and woman he had most wanted. He made it a point to use the prince's proper address, grinning easily to the younger man before turning back to look at Kissan once more. "I see the young one has grown into a man indeed, Hei Haikaddad has much to be proud of."
Turning to Sutekh once more he gave a bow of his head in respect for the title of prince though the man would be under his command as General. "My lord, I would be honored to host you this evening if you would be willing. We have much strategy to speak of, once we hear the plans of his eminence of course."
The arrival of Hatshepsut's half brother was a welcome one, and Oso gave the younger man a warm smile. His grace and strength in the way he had handled his entire life having been thrown into turmoil, his family torn away and another less welcoming replacing it instead, had been truly remarkable. Though he was not so familiar with him as he could be, the General had plans to change that in the coming days. Someone like Sutekh would go places, and Osorsen wanted to be there when he did. Especially someone who held the Queen's best interests and familial connections so close.
"Ah of course, you are right your highness. I am away so often keeping our borders safe and putting down rebellion, I forget sometimes how quickly the years pass us by." Battles and wars that on occasion had begotten his former friend the post and woman he had most wanted. He made it a point to use the prince's proper address, grinning easily to the younger man before turning back to look at Kissan once more. "I see the young one has grown into a man indeed, Hei Haikaddad has much to be proud of."
Turning to Sutekh once more he gave a bow of his head in respect for the title of prince though the man would be under his command as General. "My lord, I would be honored to host you this evening if you would be willing. We have much strategy to speak of, once we hear the plans of his eminence of course."
She wasn't sure why Nenet was so nervous about being asked about her brother, she could tell that he was really not sure but that didn't mean that it was anything specific. Safiya knew a little bit about the whole affair and installing of him as a royal prince, with the title and privileges involved with all of that, but it was mostly rumoured and her memories of him as a man had been good ones. She couldn't imagine that there would be anything negative between Nenet and him.
Of course, Safiya had her own brother and she adored him. But he was her brother and while she did care deeply, there was always Sameera would be the more important of her siblings, as well as the most intimate. At least in terms of her affections. Thankfully, they both liked to indulge in spending time with him and making sure he wasn't excluded. It had worked mostly, although Safiya sometimes wondered if he was really lonely without a mirror image like she had with her sister. It wasn't the kind of thing that she wanted to bring up though, not unless she really had to as it was a rather painful kind of idea to even think about.
Safiya looked over at her and raised an eyebrow "Well, I know that. I meant more, can you see him? Two eyes and all of that - unless did you want to see him alone first?" perhaps it was just a case of Nenet being anxious about becoming emotional. Safiya wasn't sure that she wouldn't.
This was both her uncle and her brother who would be going into the intangible lion's mouth. One that could suddenly become very much real as well as deadly "It's okay if we cry, you know, I think the men expect us to be really emotional and everything. It might even help them - I don't know. I mean this is the first time I've been old enough for anything like this. It was all different when it was my uncle" and she knew that it was hardly the kindest thing to say, Safiya was assuming things but then this wasn't the first time that she'd been guilty of doing just that.
"Do you want me to go and leave you two alone when we find him?" she wouldn't mind doing that if it would help.
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She wasn't sure why Nenet was so nervous about being asked about her brother, she could tell that he was really not sure but that didn't mean that it was anything specific. Safiya knew a little bit about the whole affair and installing of him as a royal prince, with the title and privileges involved with all of that, but it was mostly rumoured and her memories of him as a man had been good ones. She couldn't imagine that there would be anything negative between Nenet and him.
Of course, Safiya had her own brother and she adored him. But he was her brother and while she did care deeply, there was always Sameera would be the more important of her siblings, as well as the most intimate. At least in terms of her affections. Thankfully, they both liked to indulge in spending time with him and making sure he wasn't excluded. It had worked mostly, although Safiya sometimes wondered if he was really lonely without a mirror image like she had with her sister. It wasn't the kind of thing that she wanted to bring up though, not unless she really had to as it was a rather painful kind of idea to even think about.
Safiya looked over at her and raised an eyebrow "Well, I know that. I meant more, can you see him? Two eyes and all of that - unless did you want to see him alone first?" perhaps it was just a case of Nenet being anxious about becoming emotional. Safiya wasn't sure that she wouldn't.
This was both her uncle and her brother who would be going into the intangible lion's mouth. One that could suddenly become very much real as well as deadly "It's okay if we cry, you know, I think the men expect us to be really emotional and everything. It might even help them - I don't know. I mean this is the first time I've been old enough for anything like this. It was all different when it was my uncle" and she knew that it was hardly the kindest thing to say, Safiya was assuming things but then this wasn't the first time that she'd been guilty of doing just that.
"Do you want me to go and leave you two alone when we find him?" she wouldn't mind doing that if it would help.
She wasn't sure why Nenet was so nervous about being asked about her brother, she could tell that he was really not sure but that didn't mean that it was anything specific. Safiya knew a little bit about the whole affair and installing of him as a royal prince, with the title and privileges involved with all of that, but it was mostly rumoured and her memories of him as a man had been good ones. She couldn't imagine that there would be anything negative between Nenet and him.
Of course, Safiya had her own brother and she adored him. But he was her brother and while she did care deeply, there was always Sameera would be the more important of her siblings, as well as the most intimate. At least in terms of her affections. Thankfully, they both liked to indulge in spending time with him and making sure he wasn't excluded. It had worked mostly, although Safiya sometimes wondered if he was really lonely without a mirror image like she had with her sister. It wasn't the kind of thing that she wanted to bring up though, not unless she really had to as it was a rather painful kind of idea to even think about.
Safiya looked over at her and raised an eyebrow "Well, I know that. I meant more, can you see him? Two eyes and all of that - unless did you want to see him alone first?" perhaps it was just a case of Nenet being anxious about becoming emotional. Safiya wasn't sure that she wouldn't.
This was both her uncle and her brother who would be going into the intangible lion's mouth. One that could suddenly become very much real as well as deadly "It's okay if we cry, you know, I think the men expect us to be really emotional and everything. It might even help them - I don't know. I mean this is the first time I've been old enough for anything like this. It was all different when it was my uncle" and she knew that it was hardly the kindest thing to say, Safiya was assuming things but then this wasn't the first time that she'd been guilty of doing just that.
"Do you want me to go and leave you two alone when we find him?" she wouldn't mind doing that if it would help.
This was going exactly as well as Nenet had assumed it would. Safiya mistook her meaning and Nenet realized with a sinking feeling that she was going to have to speak again, as the other girl clarified that they were attempting to find Sutekh to speak with him. Swallowing, she listened as Safiya vaguely offered to leave off and let Nenet speak to Sutekh alone. That was, without a doubt, the last thing that Nenet wanted to do. She didn’t want to be alone with her brother. What would she say? ‘Sorry I have been a coward and haven’t written to you since father threw you out? Sorry that you’re the talk of the court but I haven’t seen you?’ No. All Nenet wanted to do was wish him well in case she never saw him again. And Safiya could be present for that. In fact, Nenet wanted her there. It would make all this less awkward, surely, if another person was in the room. Sutekh would be far less likely to spew hatred in Nenet’s direction if Safiya was standing there, too.
“N-n-no,” Nenet stammered, heat blazing in her cheeks. “W-w-we c-c-can-n l-l-l-ook-k t-t-t-og-g-e-th-ther.”
When Safiya smoothly moved on, assuring her that it was alright to cry, Nenet’s eyes widened a fraction. Cry? Why would she cry? Oh. Right. A lot of women cried when their men went to war. She’d have to work up some tears, then, which shouldn’t be too hard and then people would accept them as those born from womanly sensibilities, rather than embarrassment. She nodded along as Safiya spoke, mentioning her uncle, when he’d gone to war and realized, with belated surprise, that she and Safiya were going to be related….sort of. At least, with Narmer probably marrying her sister, Neihotep, that would make Safiya and herself...cousins? Or...probably nothing. Nothing important, at any rate, but it was still a connection in the families that would strengthen them both. The H’Haikaddad name paired nicely with the H’Sheifa money.
The two of them started to walk along the line of men, Nenet keeping half a lookout for her brother. She knew she really should put more effort to finding him, since she’d come all this way to do exactly that, but now that she was here, the easy part had been getting on the boat and making the trip up the Nile. Actually facing Sutekh for the first time in...what a month? Month and a half? Would be so, so much harder.
”Do you want me to go and leave you two alone when we find him?” Safiya asked presently, to which Nenet violently shook her head and slipped her arm through Safiya’s.
“N-n-no,” she assured her and gave her arm a pat as she looked around. “N-n-no. S-s-t-tay.” She hated how much she stuttered and she hated speaking, truthfully, but there were times, like this, where not speaking was impossible.
The two girls moved closer to the tent where most of the men were gathered and she heard Sutekh, rather than saw him. Nenet pointed it out but hung back, reluctant to burst into a tent where the Pharaoh and whoever else made plans.
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This was going exactly as well as Nenet had assumed it would. Safiya mistook her meaning and Nenet realized with a sinking feeling that she was going to have to speak again, as the other girl clarified that they were attempting to find Sutekh to speak with him. Swallowing, she listened as Safiya vaguely offered to leave off and let Nenet speak to Sutekh alone. That was, without a doubt, the last thing that Nenet wanted to do. She didn’t want to be alone with her brother. What would she say? ‘Sorry I have been a coward and haven’t written to you since father threw you out? Sorry that you’re the talk of the court but I haven’t seen you?’ No. All Nenet wanted to do was wish him well in case she never saw him again. And Safiya could be present for that. In fact, Nenet wanted her there. It would make all this less awkward, surely, if another person was in the room. Sutekh would be far less likely to spew hatred in Nenet’s direction if Safiya was standing there, too.
“N-n-no,” Nenet stammered, heat blazing in her cheeks. “W-w-we c-c-can-n l-l-l-ook-k t-t-t-og-g-e-th-ther.”
When Safiya smoothly moved on, assuring her that it was alright to cry, Nenet’s eyes widened a fraction. Cry? Why would she cry? Oh. Right. A lot of women cried when their men went to war. She’d have to work up some tears, then, which shouldn’t be too hard and then people would accept them as those born from womanly sensibilities, rather than embarrassment. She nodded along as Safiya spoke, mentioning her uncle, when he’d gone to war and realized, with belated surprise, that she and Safiya were going to be related….sort of. At least, with Narmer probably marrying her sister, Neihotep, that would make Safiya and herself...cousins? Or...probably nothing. Nothing important, at any rate, but it was still a connection in the families that would strengthen them both. The H’Haikaddad name paired nicely with the H’Sheifa money.
The two of them started to walk along the line of men, Nenet keeping half a lookout for her brother. She knew she really should put more effort to finding him, since she’d come all this way to do exactly that, but now that she was here, the easy part had been getting on the boat and making the trip up the Nile. Actually facing Sutekh for the first time in...what a month? Month and a half? Would be so, so much harder.
”Do you want me to go and leave you two alone when we find him?” Safiya asked presently, to which Nenet violently shook her head and slipped her arm through Safiya’s.
“N-n-no,” she assured her and gave her arm a pat as she looked around. “N-n-no. S-s-t-tay.” She hated how much she stuttered and she hated speaking, truthfully, but there were times, like this, where not speaking was impossible.
The two girls moved closer to the tent where most of the men were gathered and she heard Sutekh, rather than saw him. Nenet pointed it out but hung back, reluctant to burst into a tent where the Pharaoh and whoever else made plans.
This was going exactly as well as Nenet had assumed it would. Safiya mistook her meaning and Nenet realized with a sinking feeling that she was going to have to speak again, as the other girl clarified that they were attempting to find Sutekh to speak with him. Swallowing, she listened as Safiya vaguely offered to leave off and let Nenet speak to Sutekh alone. That was, without a doubt, the last thing that Nenet wanted to do. She didn’t want to be alone with her brother. What would she say? ‘Sorry I have been a coward and haven’t written to you since father threw you out? Sorry that you’re the talk of the court but I haven’t seen you?’ No. All Nenet wanted to do was wish him well in case she never saw him again. And Safiya could be present for that. In fact, Nenet wanted her there. It would make all this less awkward, surely, if another person was in the room. Sutekh would be far less likely to spew hatred in Nenet’s direction if Safiya was standing there, too.
“N-n-no,” Nenet stammered, heat blazing in her cheeks. “W-w-we c-c-can-n l-l-l-ook-k t-t-t-og-g-e-th-ther.”
When Safiya smoothly moved on, assuring her that it was alright to cry, Nenet’s eyes widened a fraction. Cry? Why would she cry? Oh. Right. A lot of women cried when their men went to war. She’d have to work up some tears, then, which shouldn’t be too hard and then people would accept them as those born from womanly sensibilities, rather than embarrassment. She nodded along as Safiya spoke, mentioning her uncle, when he’d gone to war and realized, with belated surprise, that she and Safiya were going to be related….sort of. At least, with Narmer probably marrying her sister, Neihotep, that would make Safiya and herself...cousins? Or...probably nothing. Nothing important, at any rate, but it was still a connection in the families that would strengthen them both. The H’Haikaddad name paired nicely with the H’Sheifa money.
The two of them started to walk along the line of men, Nenet keeping half a lookout for her brother. She knew she really should put more effort to finding him, since she’d come all this way to do exactly that, but now that she was here, the easy part had been getting on the boat and making the trip up the Nile. Actually facing Sutekh for the first time in...what a month? Month and a half? Would be so, so much harder.
”Do you want me to go and leave you two alone when we find him?” Safiya asked presently, to which Nenet violently shook her head and slipped her arm through Safiya’s.
“N-n-no,” she assured her and gave her arm a pat as she looked around. “N-n-no. S-s-t-tay.” She hated how much she stuttered and she hated speaking, truthfully, but there were times, like this, where not speaking was impossible.
The two girls moved closer to the tent where most of the men were gathered and she heard Sutekh, rather than saw him. Nenet pointed it out but hung back, reluctant to burst into a tent where the Pharaoh and whoever else made plans.
Kissan noted the General’s approach with a nod but then shifted uncomfortably at the jab about his age. He glanced at the Pharaoh and simply gave a slightly pained smile to Osorsen. This was not the time to be making enemies on either side of what he well knew was tension between the two. He was encouraged instead by the young Sutekh’s words and stood up a bit straighter as a result. “Yes sir!” he noted enthusiastically and then with another quick glance at the Pharaoh, made note to be at least a little quieter moving forward. Wouldn’t do to upset his new…teacher.
Still he smiled at Sutekh and when the fellow young man asked him under whom he was fighting, he chose his words carefully. “I am honored to serve at the Pharaoh’s side” he noted. “Directly.”
His eyes seemed to ask the young prince not to question him further on this. It was not a lie, he was honored. He was also not so blinded by loyalty or excitement to not realize just how much danger this proximity put him in. Perhaps even more than out there on the front lines.
In the short amount of time he had been attending to Iahotep, he had already become well aware of the Pharaoh’s temper if more by hearsay than directly observing it. He wondered whether the queen also had such mood swings and it was a common thing among royals or if she merely endured her husband’s. He made note to speak with Safiya about it if they ever had a moment truly alone.
At least out there on the front lines you knew who your enemy was. Or so he assumed from his uncle’s stories. But in here. Next to the Pharaoh. One wrong move. He tried not to think about it any further and instead tried to focus on his job. He had to be alert. The Pharaoh could task him with another mission any moment.
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Kissan noted the General’s approach with a nod but then shifted uncomfortably at the jab about his age. He glanced at the Pharaoh and simply gave a slightly pained smile to Osorsen. This was not the time to be making enemies on either side of what he well knew was tension between the two. He was encouraged instead by the young Sutekh’s words and stood up a bit straighter as a result. “Yes sir!” he noted enthusiastically and then with another quick glance at the Pharaoh, made note to be at least a little quieter moving forward. Wouldn’t do to upset his new…teacher.
Still he smiled at Sutekh and when the fellow young man asked him under whom he was fighting, he chose his words carefully. “I am honored to serve at the Pharaoh’s side” he noted. “Directly.”
His eyes seemed to ask the young prince not to question him further on this. It was not a lie, he was honored. He was also not so blinded by loyalty or excitement to not realize just how much danger this proximity put him in. Perhaps even more than out there on the front lines.
In the short amount of time he had been attending to Iahotep, he had already become well aware of the Pharaoh’s temper if more by hearsay than directly observing it. He wondered whether the queen also had such mood swings and it was a common thing among royals or if she merely endured her husband’s. He made note to speak with Safiya about it if they ever had a moment truly alone.
At least out there on the front lines you knew who your enemy was. Or so he assumed from his uncle’s stories. But in here. Next to the Pharaoh. One wrong move. He tried not to think about it any further and instead tried to focus on his job. He had to be alert. The Pharaoh could task him with another mission any moment.
Kissan noted the General’s approach with a nod but then shifted uncomfortably at the jab about his age. He glanced at the Pharaoh and simply gave a slightly pained smile to Osorsen. This was not the time to be making enemies on either side of what he well knew was tension between the two. He was encouraged instead by the young Sutekh’s words and stood up a bit straighter as a result. “Yes sir!” he noted enthusiastically and then with another quick glance at the Pharaoh, made note to be at least a little quieter moving forward. Wouldn’t do to upset his new…teacher.
Still he smiled at Sutekh and when the fellow young man asked him under whom he was fighting, he chose his words carefully. “I am honored to serve at the Pharaoh’s side” he noted. “Directly.”
His eyes seemed to ask the young prince not to question him further on this. It was not a lie, he was honored. He was also not so blinded by loyalty or excitement to not realize just how much danger this proximity put him in. Perhaps even more than out there on the front lines.
In the short amount of time he had been attending to Iahotep, he had already become well aware of the Pharaoh’s temper if more by hearsay than directly observing it. He wondered whether the queen also had such mood swings and it was a common thing among royals or if she merely endured her husband’s. He made note to speak with Safiya about it if they ever had a moment truly alone.
At least out there on the front lines you knew who your enemy was. Or so he assumed from his uncle’s stories. But in here. Next to the Pharaoh. One wrong move. He tried not to think about it any further and instead tried to focus on his job. He had to be alert. The Pharaoh could task him with another mission any moment.
The Deputy-General was honestly surprised at how quickly he had been welcomed into the conversation between the higher-ranking military men. Granted, he had every right to be a part of these talks due to the titles that had been bestowed upon Sutekh in recent months. A General’s second-in-command should be included in such strategy talks and there wasn’t a man alive who would be foolish to dismiss the presence of a prince under any circumstances. Sutekh was more than aware of this. He was not blind to the shift in how people treated him since he moved into the Evening Star Palace. Even though for the most part, these changes were positive for Sutekh, he knew that this wasn’t the case for everyone he now encountered. There were a few people that had been less than thrilled about his new status… to put it mildly.
At the top of that list was the Pharaoh that was now before him.
That was why Sutekh hadn’t been expecting to stay in the tent for very long. He may not have done anything to directly stoke his brother-in-law’s ire, but the Bastard Prince knew that it was there, just bubbling beneath the surface. Ra almighty, Sutekh didn’t even need to do anything to end up in Iahotep’s ill-graces. His mere existence was enough to put him there and no amount of reassurance from the illegitimate man that he had no interest in the throne could placate the King of Kings. As long as the son of Imopehatsuma breathed he would be a threat in Iahotep’s eyes. Sutekh was incredibly lucky that he was held so highly in the Queen’s favor as it was her fondness of her newfound-brother that protected him from the wrath of the relatives who weren’t eager to let go of their fragile hold on the political power of Egypt.
It was because of this annoyance that the elder man had with him that had convinced Sutekh before he even stepped foot into the tent that he would be quickly dismissed. However, this wasn’t to be the case as General Osorsen turned to greet the Prince with a level of kindness that was uncharacteristic of Iahotep’s friends. Even though the younger man was trained well enough not to show it, he was genuinely surprised that his comments to the older man hadn’t earned him some sort of scorn. Instead, it seemed that the Moghadam heir had given Sutekh the slightest of smiles when the elder man countered the prince’s quips. It was genuine too. Not the tense, rueful ones that he had come to expect thus far whenever he was around Iahotep.
“ Ah, well that is a silent sacrifice that must be made sometimes for the greater good. I am sure the gratitude of the people of Egypt more than supplement the loss of a few blended years, General Osorsen.” The Prince responded with a nod of respect towards the older man. It was simply indisputable that Oso was an accomplished military leader and the people of Egypt owed quite a lot to the man as a result. Sutekh would show the man the respect that he was due. “ Though, hopefully, this conflict will not last nearly as long as some of your previous campaigns General. The Greeks won’t stand a chance against our forces with you at the helm.” His words pulled the smallest of smirks from the Prince. It was common knowledge within the camps that the Greeks were not ready for a conflict with the forces of the greatest empire in the realm. Not when Taengea was in political turmoil from the rapid succession of kings and Athenia barely being able to hold itself together after allowing a woman to take the throne. Sutekh may not have been the most brilliant strategist nor did he have the experience to accurately predict such things; but the Prince would be surprised if this war lasted more than a month with the sorry state the Greeks were in.
However, it looked like he may soon be privy to these sorts of plans as the General extended the younger man an invitation to discuss the battle plans of the Egyptians over dinner. That one word alone almost encouraged Sutekh to outright refuse the offer on instinct. Who could blame him for that though? The Prince had spent the last two months refusing any meals that had not been tested by his sister’s servants out of fear that they might have been poisoned by the Pharaoh or Sutekh’s step-mother. It was something that he constantly worried about, trying to outthink Iahotep at every step of the way to ensure that he not only openly displayed that he suspected the King of Kings to commit such a crime but also secured a safe meal. On the surface, eating with Oso did not seem to be a safe option. Their friendship was well-known in Egypt. It would be so easy for Ia to use Oso as a shield if he wished to do such a thing.
At the same time though… Sutekh knew that Hatshepsut liked Oso. Granted, he was utterly blind to how deep the fondness was between them as the Prince thought that his half-sister only held a deep respect for the man. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that his sister had fully intended to marry Oso. Yet he knew from the brief times the General had come up in conversations between the siblings that Hatshepsut spoke of him as she trusted him. He believed that his half-sister, as young as she may be, was an excellent judge of character. That was what set him at ease as he graciously accepted the offer from the General. “ That sounds wonderful. I have to say, I’m more than eager to hear what we have in store for our adversaries. ” The Prince didn’t press for details or meeting time, confident that now the offer had been placed on the table that the General would see that Sutekh was properly summoned to this dinner.
It was then that the attention shifted back to the young sixteen-year-old who was with the men. Sutekh had to stifle a chuckle at how eager the boy seemed to be the fight as he had answered the Prince’s defense of his age just a tad bit too loudly. The Naddar man couldn’t blame the boy though as he had been the same way just a short eight years ago. He knew all too well the excitement the boy had at the prospect of fighting and the dreams of glory that came with it. Sweet Anubis, Sutekh might have even been the same way himself as this war was to be his first true conflict… that was if he wasn’t so wary of the circumstances that came with him being promoted to the rank of Deputy-General. After all, anyone close to Iahotep knew that any gifts from the Pharaoh were bound to come with strings and the Bastard Prince had yet to see the ones tied to his own.
Before Sutekh had a chance to toss in a light joke about how ready the boy seemed to be, Kissan offered an answer to the Prince’s question about where the young lad was serving. The answer made the young man’s blood run cold and for as collected as he had been thus far, the last word was enough to throw Sutekh off balance as his eyes widened out of the sheer surprise of it. However, he was quick to gather his composure, hoping that none of the other men saw how he had reacted to the silent news that Kissan was effectively in the same boat as him. Both were trapped under Iahotep’s thumb with very little wiggle room to escape the danger.
Perhaps Sutekh was misinterpreting how the boy spoke. Maybe he was just merely disappointed that he would not be able to fight on the front lines with the other men. Sutekh silently prayed that this was the answer. After all, Kissan was so young. He might be old enough to take up the trappings of a soldier, but compared to the others in the room? He was still very much a boy. Boys did stupid things without thinking and Ia was not a man who tolerated stupid things. If Sutekh was right and this wasn’t his own paranoia with the Pharaoh kicking into high gear, Kissan might be spared from the threat of battle, but he was far from safe.
A solemn look crossed over Sutekh’s face, the only outward indication that he would give to the young boy that he understood the situation that Kissan was in. Maybe if the pair were lucky enough to find themselves away from prying ears, Sutekh might press the boy for details. If nothing more than to see if there was anything he could do to help Safiya’s younger brother. It was unlikely, but if his suspicions were right, he owed it to his friend to at least try.
In the meantime though, perhaps there was something that Sutekh could do that could help the boy a bit. “ The gods must have smiled on you for such an honor Kissan.” Sutekh said cheerfully as a large smile overtook his face. The prince was able to do this on account of him to think of it as a broad honor, not of Kissan being directly beneath Iahotep. He even tried to conjure up an image of it being his own father that bestowed this upon the boy, but that quickly proved itself to be too difficult for Sutekh to do given that Imopehatsuma was a very touchy subject for the Prince. However, that didn’t matter as his cheeriness was only a segue for the plan that Sutekh had thought of just a moment ago.
“ General Osorsen,” Sutekh called out to the other man, bringing him back into the fold with the younger men, but still quiet enough that it would hopefully not bring the conversation to the attention of Iahotep, “ I think you might want to make room for another at your table tonight. Our King of Kings seems to see something in the boy and I am quite curious to see what that may be...” Sutekh shot the boy an encouraging smirk at the end of this, giving off the impression that he was merely impressed with the boy’s position and was not actually concerned for his safety. This was the best way Sutekh could think of getting the boy alone or at least away from Ia long enough to make sure that Kissan was alright. Surely, Iahotep wouldn’t oppose letting the boy spend an evening with the General and it wasn’t like Oso could defy Sutekh either and deny Kissan a spot. Not when the former Sheifa heir was now a prince.
A weird sort of feeling crept up in Sutekh when the realization dawned over him that this was the first time that he was using his new rank to his advantage. Up until now, he had tried to ignore the difference, pretending that things were no different from when he had been the shining jewel of the Sheifa household. But now? He wouldn’t be able to use that anymore. Not when he was consciously making the decision to utilize it.
That weird feeling settled in his stomach, causing it to come dangerously close to lurching as the Prince considered the implications of recognizing his role for the first time. If he truly saw himself as a Prince, that meant he was slowly beginning to let go of the Sheifa ties that had defined him his whole life… the one thing that kept him going during this period where he lived in daily mortal fear because of the change that had been thrust upon him and if he was starting to come to terms with that…
No. Sutekh quietly thought as he tried to chase these scary notions away for the moment. He couldn’t let himself think of these things while he was quite literally in Lion’s Den.
However, the thoughts wouldn’t leave his mind. They kept swirling about, spurring him to say rather quickly, “ If you two would excuse me for a moment, there are some duties I need to attend to.” His words were a bit too hasty to come off as collected as the Prince thought that they would, but he couldn’t exactly take them back as the overwhelming need to get out of that tent overwhelmed his senses for a moment.
“ General, I look forward to seeing you this evening, but now if you’ll excuse me, I must take my leave.” Sutekh said before giving the higher ranking military man a small bow before offering a deeper one to his brother-in-law. Once those formalities were out of the way, Sutekh headed towards the exit and made his way out of the tent. He could make apologies for his quick departure later. Right now he just needed to find somewhere he could breathe and not have to think about everything that happened.
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The Deputy-General was honestly surprised at how quickly he had been welcomed into the conversation between the higher-ranking military men. Granted, he had every right to be a part of these talks due to the titles that had been bestowed upon Sutekh in recent months. A General’s second-in-command should be included in such strategy talks and there wasn’t a man alive who would be foolish to dismiss the presence of a prince under any circumstances. Sutekh was more than aware of this. He was not blind to the shift in how people treated him since he moved into the Evening Star Palace. Even though for the most part, these changes were positive for Sutekh, he knew that this wasn’t the case for everyone he now encountered. There were a few people that had been less than thrilled about his new status… to put it mildly.
At the top of that list was the Pharaoh that was now before him.
That was why Sutekh hadn’t been expecting to stay in the tent for very long. He may not have done anything to directly stoke his brother-in-law’s ire, but the Bastard Prince knew that it was there, just bubbling beneath the surface. Ra almighty, Sutekh didn’t even need to do anything to end up in Iahotep’s ill-graces. His mere existence was enough to put him there and no amount of reassurance from the illegitimate man that he had no interest in the throne could placate the King of Kings. As long as the son of Imopehatsuma breathed he would be a threat in Iahotep’s eyes. Sutekh was incredibly lucky that he was held so highly in the Queen’s favor as it was her fondness of her newfound-brother that protected him from the wrath of the relatives who weren’t eager to let go of their fragile hold on the political power of Egypt.
It was because of this annoyance that the elder man had with him that had convinced Sutekh before he even stepped foot into the tent that he would be quickly dismissed. However, this wasn’t to be the case as General Osorsen turned to greet the Prince with a level of kindness that was uncharacteristic of Iahotep’s friends. Even though the younger man was trained well enough not to show it, he was genuinely surprised that his comments to the older man hadn’t earned him some sort of scorn. Instead, it seemed that the Moghadam heir had given Sutekh the slightest of smiles when the elder man countered the prince’s quips. It was genuine too. Not the tense, rueful ones that he had come to expect thus far whenever he was around Iahotep.
“ Ah, well that is a silent sacrifice that must be made sometimes for the greater good. I am sure the gratitude of the people of Egypt more than supplement the loss of a few blended years, General Osorsen.” The Prince responded with a nod of respect towards the older man. It was simply indisputable that Oso was an accomplished military leader and the people of Egypt owed quite a lot to the man as a result. Sutekh would show the man the respect that he was due. “ Though, hopefully, this conflict will not last nearly as long as some of your previous campaigns General. The Greeks won’t stand a chance against our forces with you at the helm.” His words pulled the smallest of smirks from the Prince. It was common knowledge within the camps that the Greeks were not ready for a conflict with the forces of the greatest empire in the realm. Not when Taengea was in political turmoil from the rapid succession of kings and Athenia barely being able to hold itself together after allowing a woman to take the throne. Sutekh may not have been the most brilliant strategist nor did he have the experience to accurately predict such things; but the Prince would be surprised if this war lasted more than a month with the sorry state the Greeks were in.
However, it looked like he may soon be privy to these sorts of plans as the General extended the younger man an invitation to discuss the battle plans of the Egyptians over dinner. That one word alone almost encouraged Sutekh to outright refuse the offer on instinct. Who could blame him for that though? The Prince had spent the last two months refusing any meals that had not been tested by his sister’s servants out of fear that they might have been poisoned by the Pharaoh or Sutekh’s step-mother. It was something that he constantly worried about, trying to outthink Iahotep at every step of the way to ensure that he not only openly displayed that he suspected the King of Kings to commit such a crime but also secured a safe meal. On the surface, eating with Oso did not seem to be a safe option. Their friendship was well-known in Egypt. It would be so easy for Ia to use Oso as a shield if he wished to do such a thing.
At the same time though… Sutekh knew that Hatshepsut liked Oso. Granted, he was utterly blind to how deep the fondness was between them as the Prince thought that his half-sister only held a deep respect for the man. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that his sister had fully intended to marry Oso. Yet he knew from the brief times the General had come up in conversations between the siblings that Hatshepsut spoke of him as she trusted him. He believed that his half-sister, as young as she may be, was an excellent judge of character. That was what set him at ease as he graciously accepted the offer from the General. “ That sounds wonderful. I have to say, I’m more than eager to hear what we have in store for our adversaries. ” The Prince didn’t press for details or meeting time, confident that now the offer had been placed on the table that the General would see that Sutekh was properly summoned to this dinner.
It was then that the attention shifted back to the young sixteen-year-old who was with the men. Sutekh had to stifle a chuckle at how eager the boy seemed to be the fight as he had answered the Prince’s defense of his age just a tad bit too loudly. The Naddar man couldn’t blame the boy though as he had been the same way just a short eight years ago. He knew all too well the excitement the boy had at the prospect of fighting and the dreams of glory that came with it. Sweet Anubis, Sutekh might have even been the same way himself as this war was to be his first true conflict… that was if he wasn’t so wary of the circumstances that came with him being promoted to the rank of Deputy-General. After all, anyone close to Iahotep knew that any gifts from the Pharaoh were bound to come with strings and the Bastard Prince had yet to see the ones tied to his own.
Before Sutekh had a chance to toss in a light joke about how ready the boy seemed to be, Kissan offered an answer to the Prince’s question about where the young lad was serving. The answer made the young man’s blood run cold and for as collected as he had been thus far, the last word was enough to throw Sutekh off balance as his eyes widened out of the sheer surprise of it. However, he was quick to gather his composure, hoping that none of the other men saw how he had reacted to the silent news that Kissan was effectively in the same boat as him. Both were trapped under Iahotep’s thumb with very little wiggle room to escape the danger.
Perhaps Sutekh was misinterpreting how the boy spoke. Maybe he was just merely disappointed that he would not be able to fight on the front lines with the other men. Sutekh silently prayed that this was the answer. After all, Kissan was so young. He might be old enough to take up the trappings of a soldier, but compared to the others in the room? He was still very much a boy. Boys did stupid things without thinking and Ia was not a man who tolerated stupid things. If Sutekh was right and this wasn’t his own paranoia with the Pharaoh kicking into high gear, Kissan might be spared from the threat of battle, but he was far from safe.
A solemn look crossed over Sutekh’s face, the only outward indication that he would give to the young boy that he understood the situation that Kissan was in. Maybe if the pair were lucky enough to find themselves away from prying ears, Sutekh might press the boy for details. If nothing more than to see if there was anything he could do to help Safiya’s younger brother. It was unlikely, but if his suspicions were right, he owed it to his friend to at least try.
In the meantime though, perhaps there was something that Sutekh could do that could help the boy a bit. “ The gods must have smiled on you for such an honor Kissan.” Sutekh said cheerfully as a large smile overtook his face. The prince was able to do this on account of him to think of it as a broad honor, not of Kissan being directly beneath Iahotep. He even tried to conjure up an image of it being his own father that bestowed this upon the boy, but that quickly proved itself to be too difficult for Sutekh to do given that Imopehatsuma was a very touchy subject for the Prince. However, that didn’t matter as his cheeriness was only a segue for the plan that Sutekh had thought of just a moment ago.
“ General Osorsen,” Sutekh called out to the other man, bringing him back into the fold with the younger men, but still quiet enough that it would hopefully not bring the conversation to the attention of Iahotep, “ I think you might want to make room for another at your table tonight. Our King of Kings seems to see something in the boy and I am quite curious to see what that may be...” Sutekh shot the boy an encouraging smirk at the end of this, giving off the impression that he was merely impressed with the boy’s position and was not actually concerned for his safety. This was the best way Sutekh could think of getting the boy alone or at least away from Ia long enough to make sure that Kissan was alright. Surely, Iahotep wouldn’t oppose letting the boy spend an evening with the General and it wasn’t like Oso could defy Sutekh either and deny Kissan a spot. Not when the former Sheifa heir was now a prince.
A weird sort of feeling crept up in Sutekh when the realization dawned over him that this was the first time that he was using his new rank to his advantage. Up until now, he had tried to ignore the difference, pretending that things were no different from when he had been the shining jewel of the Sheifa household. But now? He wouldn’t be able to use that anymore. Not when he was consciously making the decision to utilize it.
That weird feeling settled in his stomach, causing it to come dangerously close to lurching as the Prince considered the implications of recognizing his role for the first time. If he truly saw himself as a Prince, that meant he was slowly beginning to let go of the Sheifa ties that had defined him his whole life… the one thing that kept him going during this period where he lived in daily mortal fear because of the change that had been thrust upon him and if he was starting to come to terms with that…
No. Sutekh quietly thought as he tried to chase these scary notions away for the moment. He couldn’t let himself think of these things while he was quite literally in Lion’s Den.
However, the thoughts wouldn’t leave his mind. They kept swirling about, spurring him to say rather quickly, “ If you two would excuse me for a moment, there are some duties I need to attend to.” His words were a bit too hasty to come off as collected as the Prince thought that they would, but he couldn’t exactly take them back as the overwhelming need to get out of that tent overwhelmed his senses for a moment.
“ General, I look forward to seeing you this evening, but now if you’ll excuse me, I must take my leave.” Sutekh said before giving the higher ranking military man a small bow before offering a deeper one to his brother-in-law. Once those formalities were out of the way, Sutekh headed towards the exit and made his way out of the tent. He could make apologies for his quick departure later. Right now he just needed to find somewhere he could breathe and not have to think about everything that happened.
The Deputy-General was honestly surprised at how quickly he had been welcomed into the conversation between the higher-ranking military men. Granted, he had every right to be a part of these talks due to the titles that had been bestowed upon Sutekh in recent months. A General’s second-in-command should be included in such strategy talks and there wasn’t a man alive who would be foolish to dismiss the presence of a prince under any circumstances. Sutekh was more than aware of this. He was not blind to the shift in how people treated him since he moved into the Evening Star Palace. Even though for the most part, these changes were positive for Sutekh, he knew that this wasn’t the case for everyone he now encountered. There were a few people that had been less than thrilled about his new status… to put it mildly.
At the top of that list was the Pharaoh that was now before him.
That was why Sutekh hadn’t been expecting to stay in the tent for very long. He may not have done anything to directly stoke his brother-in-law’s ire, but the Bastard Prince knew that it was there, just bubbling beneath the surface. Ra almighty, Sutekh didn’t even need to do anything to end up in Iahotep’s ill-graces. His mere existence was enough to put him there and no amount of reassurance from the illegitimate man that he had no interest in the throne could placate the King of Kings. As long as the son of Imopehatsuma breathed he would be a threat in Iahotep’s eyes. Sutekh was incredibly lucky that he was held so highly in the Queen’s favor as it was her fondness of her newfound-brother that protected him from the wrath of the relatives who weren’t eager to let go of their fragile hold on the political power of Egypt.
It was because of this annoyance that the elder man had with him that had convinced Sutekh before he even stepped foot into the tent that he would be quickly dismissed. However, this wasn’t to be the case as General Osorsen turned to greet the Prince with a level of kindness that was uncharacteristic of Iahotep’s friends. Even though the younger man was trained well enough not to show it, he was genuinely surprised that his comments to the older man hadn’t earned him some sort of scorn. Instead, it seemed that the Moghadam heir had given Sutekh the slightest of smiles when the elder man countered the prince’s quips. It was genuine too. Not the tense, rueful ones that he had come to expect thus far whenever he was around Iahotep.
“ Ah, well that is a silent sacrifice that must be made sometimes for the greater good. I am sure the gratitude of the people of Egypt more than supplement the loss of a few blended years, General Osorsen.” The Prince responded with a nod of respect towards the older man. It was simply indisputable that Oso was an accomplished military leader and the people of Egypt owed quite a lot to the man as a result. Sutekh would show the man the respect that he was due. “ Though, hopefully, this conflict will not last nearly as long as some of your previous campaigns General. The Greeks won’t stand a chance against our forces with you at the helm.” His words pulled the smallest of smirks from the Prince. It was common knowledge within the camps that the Greeks were not ready for a conflict with the forces of the greatest empire in the realm. Not when Taengea was in political turmoil from the rapid succession of kings and Athenia barely being able to hold itself together after allowing a woman to take the throne. Sutekh may not have been the most brilliant strategist nor did he have the experience to accurately predict such things; but the Prince would be surprised if this war lasted more than a month with the sorry state the Greeks were in.
However, it looked like he may soon be privy to these sorts of plans as the General extended the younger man an invitation to discuss the battle plans of the Egyptians over dinner. That one word alone almost encouraged Sutekh to outright refuse the offer on instinct. Who could blame him for that though? The Prince had spent the last two months refusing any meals that had not been tested by his sister’s servants out of fear that they might have been poisoned by the Pharaoh or Sutekh’s step-mother. It was something that he constantly worried about, trying to outthink Iahotep at every step of the way to ensure that he not only openly displayed that he suspected the King of Kings to commit such a crime but also secured a safe meal. On the surface, eating with Oso did not seem to be a safe option. Their friendship was well-known in Egypt. It would be so easy for Ia to use Oso as a shield if he wished to do such a thing.
At the same time though… Sutekh knew that Hatshepsut liked Oso. Granted, he was utterly blind to how deep the fondness was between them as the Prince thought that his half-sister only held a deep respect for the man. Never in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that his sister had fully intended to marry Oso. Yet he knew from the brief times the General had come up in conversations between the siblings that Hatshepsut spoke of him as she trusted him. He believed that his half-sister, as young as she may be, was an excellent judge of character. That was what set him at ease as he graciously accepted the offer from the General. “ That sounds wonderful. I have to say, I’m more than eager to hear what we have in store for our adversaries. ” The Prince didn’t press for details or meeting time, confident that now the offer had been placed on the table that the General would see that Sutekh was properly summoned to this dinner.
It was then that the attention shifted back to the young sixteen-year-old who was with the men. Sutekh had to stifle a chuckle at how eager the boy seemed to be the fight as he had answered the Prince’s defense of his age just a tad bit too loudly. The Naddar man couldn’t blame the boy though as he had been the same way just a short eight years ago. He knew all too well the excitement the boy had at the prospect of fighting and the dreams of glory that came with it. Sweet Anubis, Sutekh might have even been the same way himself as this war was to be his first true conflict… that was if he wasn’t so wary of the circumstances that came with him being promoted to the rank of Deputy-General. After all, anyone close to Iahotep knew that any gifts from the Pharaoh were bound to come with strings and the Bastard Prince had yet to see the ones tied to his own.
Before Sutekh had a chance to toss in a light joke about how ready the boy seemed to be, Kissan offered an answer to the Prince’s question about where the young lad was serving. The answer made the young man’s blood run cold and for as collected as he had been thus far, the last word was enough to throw Sutekh off balance as his eyes widened out of the sheer surprise of it. However, he was quick to gather his composure, hoping that none of the other men saw how he had reacted to the silent news that Kissan was effectively in the same boat as him. Both were trapped under Iahotep’s thumb with very little wiggle room to escape the danger.
Perhaps Sutekh was misinterpreting how the boy spoke. Maybe he was just merely disappointed that he would not be able to fight on the front lines with the other men. Sutekh silently prayed that this was the answer. After all, Kissan was so young. He might be old enough to take up the trappings of a soldier, but compared to the others in the room? He was still very much a boy. Boys did stupid things without thinking and Ia was not a man who tolerated stupid things. If Sutekh was right and this wasn’t his own paranoia with the Pharaoh kicking into high gear, Kissan might be spared from the threat of battle, but he was far from safe.
A solemn look crossed over Sutekh’s face, the only outward indication that he would give to the young boy that he understood the situation that Kissan was in. Maybe if the pair were lucky enough to find themselves away from prying ears, Sutekh might press the boy for details. If nothing more than to see if there was anything he could do to help Safiya’s younger brother. It was unlikely, but if his suspicions were right, he owed it to his friend to at least try.
In the meantime though, perhaps there was something that Sutekh could do that could help the boy a bit. “ The gods must have smiled on you for such an honor Kissan.” Sutekh said cheerfully as a large smile overtook his face. The prince was able to do this on account of him to think of it as a broad honor, not of Kissan being directly beneath Iahotep. He even tried to conjure up an image of it being his own father that bestowed this upon the boy, but that quickly proved itself to be too difficult for Sutekh to do given that Imopehatsuma was a very touchy subject for the Prince. However, that didn’t matter as his cheeriness was only a segue for the plan that Sutekh had thought of just a moment ago.
“ General Osorsen,” Sutekh called out to the other man, bringing him back into the fold with the younger men, but still quiet enough that it would hopefully not bring the conversation to the attention of Iahotep, “ I think you might want to make room for another at your table tonight. Our King of Kings seems to see something in the boy and I am quite curious to see what that may be...” Sutekh shot the boy an encouraging smirk at the end of this, giving off the impression that he was merely impressed with the boy’s position and was not actually concerned for his safety. This was the best way Sutekh could think of getting the boy alone or at least away from Ia long enough to make sure that Kissan was alright. Surely, Iahotep wouldn’t oppose letting the boy spend an evening with the General and it wasn’t like Oso could defy Sutekh either and deny Kissan a spot. Not when the former Sheifa heir was now a prince.
A weird sort of feeling crept up in Sutekh when the realization dawned over him that this was the first time that he was using his new rank to his advantage. Up until now, he had tried to ignore the difference, pretending that things were no different from when he had been the shining jewel of the Sheifa household. But now? He wouldn’t be able to use that anymore. Not when he was consciously making the decision to utilize it.
That weird feeling settled in his stomach, causing it to come dangerously close to lurching as the Prince considered the implications of recognizing his role for the first time. If he truly saw himself as a Prince, that meant he was slowly beginning to let go of the Sheifa ties that had defined him his whole life… the one thing that kept him going during this period where he lived in daily mortal fear because of the change that had been thrust upon him and if he was starting to come to terms with that…
No. Sutekh quietly thought as he tried to chase these scary notions away for the moment. He couldn’t let himself think of these things while he was quite literally in Lion’s Den.
However, the thoughts wouldn’t leave his mind. They kept swirling about, spurring him to say rather quickly, “ If you two would excuse me for a moment, there are some duties I need to attend to.” His words were a bit too hasty to come off as collected as the Prince thought that they would, but he couldn’t exactly take them back as the overwhelming need to get out of that tent overwhelmed his senses for a moment.
“ General, I look forward to seeing you this evening, but now if you’ll excuse me, I must take my leave.” Sutekh said before giving the higher ranking military man a small bow before offering a deeper one to his brother-in-law. Once those formalities were out of the way, Sutekh headed towards the exit and made his way out of the tent. He could make apologies for his quick departure later. Right now he just needed to find somewhere he could breathe and not have to think about everything that happened.