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The Prince couldn’t hold back a laugh when the Haikkidad girl at his side suggested that the pair could start a trend with how new they were to navigate the festival. Although he could recognize it as a joke, he couldn’t help chuckling at the imagery of commoners and courtiers alike wandering about like lost babes in a market. The sad thing was that he knew that some of them would probably do it too, something he was sure to point out within between the small bouts of laughter, “ Wouldn’t that be quite a sight? Good gods, could you imagine someone like Chione or Mandisa wandering about like that?”
He was able to gather his composure though as Safiya began to speak of the location of her identical counterpart. Although the newest member of the Naddar Hei was not that surprised to hear that one of the girls had wandered off, he was a bit surprised to hear that the twin next to him had been distracted of all things. “ Distracted? By what?” He asked with an eyebrow slightly raised. She didn’t seem to be preoccupied when Sutekh had caught sight of her in the crowd. Perhaps it was something he had missed?
When she posed her own questions though, Sutekh had to shake his head and bite his own lip to keep himself from laughing as he thought up a witty answer to her inquiry. “ No, I mean I don’t have a twin so it is very difficult to be separated from them at parties.” He ducked his head slightly as he said this, having been well-conditioned to dodge any playful smacks that would come from his siblings whenever he retold a bad joke. They were all convinced that the stoic Sutekh didn’t have a sense of humor -- which was true in some aspects as he didn’t find the same things that made them laugh particularly funny most of the time. However, he was more than capable of cracking a joke or two, if he was with the right person and this girl -- whichever twin she may be-- was certainly the right person.
The mere mention of his siblings caused his face to fall a slight bit. His tone also grew more serious as he divulged his true experience with these sort of things, “ But errm no. Nenet normally stayed at my side and everyone else couldn’t stand me so they weren’t near me, to begin with.” His words were accompanied with a small shrug. He had always known that he had gotten on the nerves of his siblings as he held them to the same high standards that he was expected to keep. This was well known throughout the courts, as well as his fondness for his younger sister. The two had been as thick as thieves before everything imploded. Now she hadn’t even written him a letter since he was tossed out of the Saraaya Sheifa… Needless to say, it was her silence that hurt the most.
His eyes drifted up to the golden litters up ahead where his other little sister was. “ Though I guess you could say I’m separated now.” Sutekh’s words were only mournful as he watched as his younger sister was celebrated by the people of Thebes. It was so strange to think that they were related, but in an odd sort of way, Sutekh was glad that she of all people was his secret sibling. The girl was far too pure for this world and it’s only through her kindness and generosity that Sutekh had not found himself penniless on the street. They may have only known the truth of their parentage for a few weeks, but she was already more of a family to him than the others who had shunned him. “ I don’t know if I’m supposed to be up there with them -- not in the litters, of course, but once they reach the temples. No one said if I should join them or not.” He said absent-mindedly with a small shrug. Having a bastard prince live in the palace was rather unprecedented so no one knew what Sutekh could and could not do -- even with the full decorations of being a prince. It was new territory for everyone, not just him...
Though all of this faded away when Safiya reached for his arm.
Sutekh stiffened instinctively under her touch. For a brief second, the muscles in his arm hardened as his upbringing internally screamed at him to not let Safiya do that. He didn’t mean to and quite truthfully he couldn’t help it either. The boy had been told all his life that even though he could partake in any conquest he wanted, charm any peasant that he wished; Sutkeh was never to touch any of the young women in the upper class. All of them were strictly off-limits. No exceptions. The former Sheifa heir had accepted this rule, thinking that it stemmed from the possible consequences that came with getting too close to a girl with a powerful father. However, now that he knew the truth of his parentage, Sutekh couldn’t help but wonder if there was an ulterior motive to making sure that the boy didn’t let his eyes wander among his peers…
Could his mother have been trying to prevent Sutekh from becoming the monster that had sired him?
Once the thought entered his head, Sutekh knew that he probably would not be able to rid himself of it; just like every other query that centered around his biological father. However, as Safiya moved closer -- seemingly undeterred by her companion’s immediate reaction-- the Prince forced himself to relax. He was no longer held to those rules. His new rank allowed him to do whatever he liked, whenever he liked. So there were no consequences for him spending time with the twin. Even if her uncle happened to catch sight of the pair and was displeased, he couldn’t tell Sutekh to scram. Not when he was a member of the royal family. Not to mention that the Prince already knew that he would never anything like Imopehatsuma. He would not abuse his new station to get what he wanted and wipe his hands clean of the consequences as other lives were ruined. Sutekh would never let himself be that man.
So, even though he knew that gossips circuits would be running wild the next morning as other courtiers caught sight of the disgraced bastard and Haikkidad girl together; Sutekh let the girl draw closer to him. Anyone catching sight of them could chatter all they wanted, but at least he knew that he wouldn’t do anything to give them true ammunition against Safiya. The boy was not his father, after all.
“ Ah yes -- sorry, I don’t kn--” He apologized awkwardly as he moved to allow the girl to take hold of his arm. The Prince physically grimaced as he realized how poorly it must have come across that he didn’t want her to touch him. He doubted that she would immediately understand that it was a rule that was leftover from his former family -- something that he fully didn’t grasp yet that he was no longer required to listen to. If he was in her shoes, he would take it as an insult -- which was clearly not his intention at all. Not when she was the first person outside of Hatshepsut that had treated him with a modicum of kindness in this turbulent times… but wouldn’t directly addressing it make it worse and more awkward?
Good gods. He was an absolute mess, wasn’t he?
Shaking these thoughts out of his head, Sutekh decided that it would be best if he moved on. If she brought it up, well… he could figure out how to explain it without looking like some traumatized freak then. Until that moment though? It was better to save face.
Luckily for him, the Prince had an excellent distraction for the girl by his side. He finally knew which Haikkidad twin the girl was. After all, she couldn’t have honestly have expected to hide it any longer if she was going to be so forward with him. Her decision to draw so close to him like they currently were as they slowly moved through the crowd had all but confirmed the identity that Sutekh had been suspecting since he first approached the girl.
“ I’d say that was rather cruel of you to try and trick me,” He started to say with a wide smirk as he looked down at his companion for the pilgrimage, “ I know you’re Safiya.” His confident words brought the game to an end as Sutekh knew that Sameera would never be so bold as to practically embrace the Prince in front of a crowd of commoners and courtiers alike. Her sister, however? Sutekh would not put that sort of thing past her. The twenty-four-year-old may not have known that Safiya wasn’t treating this as some sort of game, but the grin on his face looked no different than that of a cat who got the cream. He was so proud of himself for figuring it out -- even though it really wasn’t that difficult of a thing to do. The twins were like night and day. Any fool could have seen that he was with Safiya… but the Prince had wanted to be certain.
How embarrassing would it be if he made the wrong guess, after all?
That didn’t matter now as he knew that he had gotten it right. There was no way that the girl could be Sameera… unless, of course, he had gotten everything wrong, but he couldn’t have done that.
Could he?
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The Prince couldn’t hold back a laugh when the Haikkidad girl at his side suggested that the pair could start a trend with how new they were to navigate the festival. Although he could recognize it as a joke, he couldn’t help chuckling at the imagery of commoners and courtiers alike wandering about like lost babes in a market. The sad thing was that he knew that some of them would probably do it too, something he was sure to point out within between the small bouts of laughter, “ Wouldn’t that be quite a sight? Good gods, could you imagine someone like Chione or Mandisa wandering about like that?”
He was able to gather his composure though as Safiya began to speak of the location of her identical counterpart. Although the newest member of the Naddar Hei was not that surprised to hear that one of the girls had wandered off, he was a bit surprised to hear that the twin next to him had been distracted of all things. “ Distracted? By what?” He asked with an eyebrow slightly raised. She didn’t seem to be preoccupied when Sutekh had caught sight of her in the crowd. Perhaps it was something he had missed?
When she posed her own questions though, Sutekh had to shake his head and bite his own lip to keep himself from laughing as he thought up a witty answer to her inquiry. “ No, I mean I don’t have a twin so it is very difficult to be separated from them at parties.” He ducked his head slightly as he said this, having been well-conditioned to dodge any playful smacks that would come from his siblings whenever he retold a bad joke. They were all convinced that the stoic Sutekh didn’t have a sense of humor -- which was true in some aspects as he didn’t find the same things that made them laugh particularly funny most of the time. However, he was more than capable of cracking a joke or two, if he was with the right person and this girl -- whichever twin she may be-- was certainly the right person.
The mere mention of his siblings caused his face to fall a slight bit. His tone also grew more serious as he divulged his true experience with these sort of things, “ But errm no. Nenet normally stayed at my side and everyone else couldn’t stand me so they weren’t near me, to begin with.” His words were accompanied with a small shrug. He had always known that he had gotten on the nerves of his siblings as he held them to the same high standards that he was expected to keep. This was well known throughout the courts, as well as his fondness for his younger sister. The two had been as thick as thieves before everything imploded. Now she hadn’t even written him a letter since he was tossed out of the Saraaya Sheifa… Needless to say, it was her silence that hurt the most.
His eyes drifted up to the golden litters up ahead where his other little sister was. “ Though I guess you could say I’m separated now.” Sutekh’s words were only mournful as he watched as his younger sister was celebrated by the people of Thebes. It was so strange to think that they were related, but in an odd sort of way, Sutekh was glad that she of all people was his secret sibling. The girl was far too pure for this world and it’s only through her kindness and generosity that Sutekh had not found himself penniless on the street. They may have only known the truth of their parentage for a few weeks, but she was already more of a family to him than the others who had shunned him. “ I don’t know if I’m supposed to be up there with them -- not in the litters, of course, but once they reach the temples. No one said if I should join them or not.” He said absent-mindedly with a small shrug. Having a bastard prince live in the palace was rather unprecedented so no one knew what Sutekh could and could not do -- even with the full decorations of being a prince. It was new territory for everyone, not just him...
Though all of this faded away when Safiya reached for his arm.
Sutekh stiffened instinctively under her touch. For a brief second, the muscles in his arm hardened as his upbringing internally screamed at him to not let Safiya do that. He didn’t mean to and quite truthfully he couldn’t help it either. The boy had been told all his life that even though he could partake in any conquest he wanted, charm any peasant that he wished; Sutkeh was never to touch any of the young women in the upper class. All of them were strictly off-limits. No exceptions. The former Sheifa heir had accepted this rule, thinking that it stemmed from the possible consequences that came with getting too close to a girl with a powerful father. However, now that he knew the truth of his parentage, Sutekh couldn’t help but wonder if there was an ulterior motive to making sure that the boy didn’t let his eyes wander among his peers…
Could his mother have been trying to prevent Sutekh from becoming the monster that had sired him?
Once the thought entered his head, Sutekh knew that he probably would not be able to rid himself of it; just like every other query that centered around his biological father. However, as Safiya moved closer -- seemingly undeterred by her companion’s immediate reaction-- the Prince forced himself to relax. He was no longer held to those rules. His new rank allowed him to do whatever he liked, whenever he liked. So there were no consequences for him spending time with the twin. Even if her uncle happened to catch sight of the pair and was displeased, he couldn’t tell Sutekh to scram. Not when he was a member of the royal family. Not to mention that the Prince already knew that he would never anything like Imopehatsuma. He would not abuse his new station to get what he wanted and wipe his hands clean of the consequences as other lives were ruined. Sutekh would never let himself be that man.
So, even though he knew that gossips circuits would be running wild the next morning as other courtiers caught sight of the disgraced bastard and Haikkidad girl together; Sutekh let the girl draw closer to him. Anyone catching sight of them could chatter all they wanted, but at least he knew that he wouldn’t do anything to give them true ammunition against Safiya. The boy was not his father, after all.
“ Ah yes -- sorry, I don’t kn--” He apologized awkwardly as he moved to allow the girl to take hold of his arm. The Prince physically grimaced as he realized how poorly it must have come across that he didn’t want her to touch him. He doubted that she would immediately understand that it was a rule that was leftover from his former family -- something that he fully didn’t grasp yet that he was no longer required to listen to. If he was in her shoes, he would take it as an insult -- which was clearly not his intention at all. Not when she was the first person outside of Hatshepsut that had treated him with a modicum of kindness in this turbulent times… but wouldn’t directly addressing it make it worse and more awkward?
Good gods. He was an absolute mess, wasn’t he?
Shaking these thoughts out of his head, Sutekh decided that it would be best if he moved on. If she brought it up, well… he could figure out how to explain it without looking like some traumatized freak then. Until that moment though? It was better to save face.
Luckily for him, the Prince had an excellent distraction for the girl by his side. He finally knew which Haikkidad twin the girl was. After all, she couldn’t have honestly have expected to hide it any longer if she was going to be so forward with him. Her decision to draw so close to him like they currently were as they slowly moved through the crowd had all but confirmed the identity that Sutekh had been suspecting since he first approached the girl.
“ I’d say that was rather cruel of you to try and trick me,” He started to say with a wide smirk as he looked down at his companion for the pilgrimage, “ I know you’re Safiya.” His confident words brought the game to an end as Sutekh knew that Sameera would never be so bold as to practically embrace the Prince in front of a crowd of commoners and courtiers alike. Her sister, however? Sutekh would not put that sort of thing past her. The twenty-four-year-old may not have known that Safiya wasn’t treating this as some sort of game, but the grin on his face looked no different than that of a cat who got the cream. He was so proud of himself for figuring it out -- even though it really wasn’t that difficult of a thing to do. The twins were like night and day. Any fool could have seen that he was with Safiya… but the Prince had wanted to be certain.
How embarrassing would it be if he made the wrong guess, after all?
That didn’t matter now as he knew that he had gotten it right. There was no way that the girl could be Sameera… unless, of course, he had gotten everything wrong, but he couldn’t have done that.
Could he?
The Prince couldn’t hold back a laugh when the Haikkidad girl at his side suggested that the pair could start a trend with how new they were to navigate the festival. Although he could recognize it as a joke, he couldn’t help chuckling at the imagery of commoners and courtiers alike wandering about like lost babes in a market. The sad thing was that he knew that some of them would probably do it too, something he was sure to point out within between the small bouts of laughter, “ Wouldn’t that be quite a sight? Good gods, could you imagine someone like Chione or Mandisa wandering about like that?”
He was able to gather his composure though as Safiya began to speak of the location of her identical counterpart. Although the newest member of the Naddar Hei was not that surprised to hear that one of the girls had wandered off, he was a bit surprised to hear that the twin next to him had been distracted of all things. “ Distracted? By what?” He asked with an eyebrow slightly raised. She didn’t seem to be preoccupied when Sutekh had caught sight of her in the crowd. Perhaps it was something he had missed?
When she posed her own questions though, Sutekh had to shake his head and bite his own lip to keep himself from laughing as he thought up a witty answer to her inquiry. “ No, I mean I don’t have a twin so it is very difficult to be separated from them at parties.” He ducked his head slightly as he said this, having been well-conditioned to dodge any playful smacks that would come from his siblings whenever he retold a bad joke. They were all convinced that the stoic Sutekh didn’t have a sense of humor -- which was true in some aspects as he didn’t find the same things that made them laugh particularly funny most of the time. However, he was more than capable of cracking a joke or two, if he was with the right person and this girl -- whichever twin she may be-- was certainly the right person.
The mere mention of his siblings caused his face to fall a slight bit. His tone also grew more serious as he divulged his true experience with these sort of things, “ But errm no. Nenet normally stayed at my side and everyone else couldn’t stand me so they weren’t near me, to begin with.” His words were accompanied with a small shrug. He had always known that he had gotten on the nerves of his siblings as he held them to the same high standards that he was expected to keep. This was well known throughout the courts, as well as his fondness for his younger sister. The two had been as thick as thieves before everything imploded. Now she hadn’t even written him a letter since he was tossed out of the Saraaya Sheifa… Needless to say, it was her silence that hurt the most.
His eyes drifted up to the golden litters up ahead where his other little sister was. “ Though I guess you could say I’m separated now.” Sutekh’s words were only mournful as he watched as his younger sister was celebrated by the people of Thebes. It was so strange to think that they were related, but in an odd sort of way, Sutekh was glad that she of all people was his secret sibling. The girl was far too pure for this world and it’s only through her kindness and generosity that Sutekh had not found himself penniless on the street. They may have only known the truth of their parentage for a few weeks, but she was already more of a family to him than the others who had shunned him. “ I don’t know if I’m supposed to be up there with them -- not in the litters, of course, but once they reach the temples. No one said if I should join them or not.” He said absent-mindedly with a small shrug. Having a bastard prince live in the palace was rather unprecedented so no one knew what Sutekh could and could not do -- even with the full decorations of being a prince. It was new territory for everyone, not just him...
Though all of this faded away when Safiya reached for his arm.
Sutekh stiffened instinctively under her touch. For a brief second, the muscles in his arm hardened as his upbringing internally screamed at him to not let Safiya do that. He didn’t mean to and quite truthfully he couldn’t help it either. The boy had been told all his life that even though he could partake in any conquest he wanted, charm any peasant that he wished; Sutkeh was never to touch any of the young women in the upper class. All of them were strictly off-limits. No exceptions. The former Sheifa heir had accepted this rule, thinking that it stemmed from the possible consequences that came with getting too close to a girl with a powerful father. However, now that he knew the truth of his parentage, Sutekh couldn’t help but wonder if there was an ulterior motive to making sure that the boy didn’t let his eyes wander among his peers…
Could his mother have been trying to prevent Sutekh from becoming the monster that had sired him?
Once the thought entered his head, Sutekh knew that he probably would not be able to rid himself of it; just like every other query that centered around his biological father. However, as Safiya moved closer -- seemingly undeterred by her companion’s immediate reaction-- the Prince forced himself to relax. He was no longer held to those rules. His new rank allowed him to do whatever he liked, whenever he liked. So there were no consequences for him spending time with the twin. Even if her uncle happened to catch sight of the pair and was displeased, he couldn’t tell Sutekh to scram. Not when he was a member of the royal family. Not to mention that the Prince already knew that he would never anything like Imopehatsuma. He would not abuse his new station to get what he wanted and wipe his hands clean of the consequences as other lives were ruined. Sutekh would never let himself be that man.
So, even though he knew that gossips circuits would be running wild the next morning as other courtiers caught sight of the disgraced bastard and Haikkidad girl together; Sutekh let the girl draw closer to him. Anyone catching sight of them could chatter all they wanted, but at least he knew that he wouldn’t do anything to give them true ammunition against Safiya. The boy was not his father, after all.
“ Ah yes -- sorry, I don’t kn--” He apologized awkwardly as he moved to allow the girl to take hold of his arm. The Prince physically grimaced as he realized how poorly it must have come across that he didn’t want her to touch him. He doubted that she would immediately understand that it was a rule that was leftover from his former family -- something that he fully didn’t grasp yet that he was no longer required to listen to. If he was in her shoes, he would take it as an insult -- which was clearly not his intention at all. Not when she was the first person outside of Hatshepsut that had treated him with a modicum of kindness in this turbulent times… but wouldn’t directly addressing it make it worse and more awkward?
Good gods. He was an absolute mess, wasn’t he?
Shaking these thoughts out of his head, Sutekh decided that it would be best if he moved on. If she brought it up, well… he could figure out how to explain it without looking like some traumatized freak then. Until that moment though? It was better to save face.
Luckily for him, the Prince had an excellent distraction for the girl by his side. He finally knew which Haikkidad twin the girl was. After all, she couldn’t have honestly have expected to hide it any longer if she was going to be so forward with him. Her decision to draw so close to him like they currently were as they slowly moved through the crowd had all but confirmed the identity that Sutekh had been suspecting since he first approached the girl.
“ I’d say that was rather cruel of you to try and trick me,” He started to say with a wide smirk as he looked down at his companion for the pilgrimage, “ I know you’re Safiya.” His confident words brought the game to an end as Sutekh knew that Sameera would never be so bold as to practically embrace the Prince in front of a crowd of commoners and courtiers alike. Her sister, however? Sutekh would not put that sort of thing past her. The twenty-four-year-old may not have known that Safiya wasn’t treating this as some sort of game, but the grin on his face looked no different than that of a cat who got the cream. He was so proud of himself for figuring it out -- even though it really wasn’t that difficult of a thing to do. The twins were like night and day. Any fool could have seen that he was with Safiya… but the Prince had wanted to be certain.
How embarrassing would it be if he made the wrong guess, after all?
That didn’t matter now as he knew that he had gotten it right. There was no way that the girl could be Sameera… unless, of course, he had gotten everything wrong, but he couldn’t have done that.
Could he?
"Where is he going?!" Nafretiri ignored the priestess who had called to her as she watched one of the only people she was finally able to trust be hauled away. At last, she felt herself break. "Am I ever going to see her again?" In the far corner of her mind, she doubted if anyone really cared how Neena fared or not, or if she came back to Egypt. And Nafretiri was a simple priestess. What could she do?
Find a nobleman. Find the queen. Something. That man she'd talked to before... the one who'd sentenced the thief who had been the cause of all this... she had to find him. But she was really in no fit state to talk to anyone. On the one hand, Neena was probably safe from anyone who might try to threaten her for wanting to stop the boy's punishment. On the other hand, she might never see her again, and she couldn't stand it anymore, finally giving in to the tears that wanted to come. Nafretiri's sobs were quiet, but she was shaking with them all the same. Hadn't she lost enough? She so rarely cried about the unfairness of her life thus far that Naftretiri wondered just how long it had really been since she'd shed a significant amount of tears. She'd been tempted to when she met Lukos, but even that hadn't turned out to be quite as awful as it had seemed at first. This, though.... Nafretiri gulped. Meena was a wanderer, never staying in one place for very long, but this leave-taking was most likely forced, or so Nafretiri thought.
"You'll have to let them go, sweet sister," said another priestess softly, approaching carefully- for she knew the young woman still startled easily after her ordeal- and supporting her with an arm meant to be comforting. "It's almost time for the-"
"Ceremonies be damned! Someone might be being kidnapped!" The tears continued to streak Nafretiri's cheeks, hot and stinging. but there was a burning rage in her eyes now as well. "The least we can do is ask if someone can try to follow him."
"What, you want to save her from possibly enduring what you did? I understand, dear, but the gods can't wait." The older woman pulled Nafretiri along, beside her, forcing her to run.
"And if the gods want us to stop it?" Nafretiri demanded. "What then?"
The older woman's eyes bugged, as if she'd never considered the thought before and would not have done so in a thousand lifetimes. But then she thought for a minute, and at least according to the principles of Ma'at. some of her words were wise.
"One of the principles of Ma'at that one must recite as being true in their life to the gods in order to enter Aaru- sorry, in your original language that would mean paradise- says "I have not overstepped my boundaries of concern." Yes, this may be your concern because she is your friend, but it is a feast day, so I think the gods matter more. Another of those precepts says that you have not cursed the gods and goddesses. And while you did not specifically mention them, you have just said to curse their ceremonies. I am sympathetic, but Ma'at is Ma'at. I suggest you make restitution to each god or goddess celebrated here today in whatever way you feel you are able."
"Why does everyone still think I'm a child- as if this is spilled milk and I will forget it? I won't forget. I have lost too much to forget this."
Nafretiri was so tired of either thinking or being told that nothing she did or wanted to do mattered!
Still, Nafretiri could not argue, even though it was possible the situation would have been handled differently in Israel- but she was not in Israel, now. But following a religion didn't mean some people agreed with every precept of it. Her father and his Law discussions were proof enough of that. Even here, it seemed that she could not agree with everything from a religious standpoint- but these gods had seemingly been kinder to her than the one she had been raised with. And though it only frustrated her all the more that no one answered her question about why everyone seemed to think her concerns were trifling, she heaved a sigh that came from her toes and nodded, though she could no longer feel quite so at ease with the priestesses as she had before.
No one seemed to care that she was crying, anyway. Thus far, that had not been addressed. For another time in her life, a plea for help had seemingly fallen on deaf ears. And the other priestess might be correct, Nafretiri probably had offended the gods, emergency or no emergency. That was a problem indeed.
She did wonder if anyone here might agree with her concern for Neena, but what was she supposed to do now?
She trudged until they reached the destination, feeling powerless even if she were to ask for help anyway, and too hopeless and full of rage on both Neena's behalf and her own to say another word. She wished someone would comfort her, that there was a person there who could really understand how she felt, but to her credit, she did not lose her temper entirely and stomp her feet childishly as she wanted to.
Miserable or not, she always tried to maintain at least some poise.
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"Where is he going?!" Nafretiri ignored the priestess who had called to her as she watched one of the only people she was finally able to trust be hauled away. At last, she felt herself break. "Am I ever going to see her again?" In the far corner of her mind, she doubted if anyone really cared how Neena fared or not, or if she came back to Egypt. And Nafretiri was a simple priestess. What could she do?
Find a nobleman. Find the queen. Something. That man she'd talked to before... the one who'd sentenced the thief who had been the cause of all this... she had to find him. But she was really in no fit state to talk to anyone. On the one hand, Neena was probably safe from anyone who might try to threaten her for wanting to stop the boy's punishment. On the other hand, she might never see her again, and she couldn't stand it anymore, finally giving in to the tears that wanted to come. Nafretiri's sobs were quiet, but she was shaking with them all the same. Hadn't she lost enough? She so rarely cried about the unfairness of her life thus far that Naftretiri wondered just how long it had really been since she'd shed a significant amount of tears. She'd been tempted to when she met Lukos, but even that hadn't turned out to be quite as awful as it had seemed at first. This, though.... Nafretiri gulped. Meena was a wanderer, never staying in one place for very long, but this leave-taking was most likely forced, or so Nafretiri thought.
"You'll have to let them go, sweet sister," said another priestess softly, approaching carefully- for she knew the young woman still startled easily after her ordeal- and supporting her with an arm meant to be comforting. "It's almost time for the-"
"Ceremonies be damned! Someone might be being kidnapped!" The tears continued to streak Nafretiri's cheeks, hot and stinging. but there was a burning rage in her eyes now as well. "The least we can do is ask if someone can try to follow him."
"What, you want to save her from possibly enduring what you did? I understand, dear, but the gods can't wait." The older woman pulled Nafretiri along, beside her, forcing her to run.
"And if the gods want us to stop it?" Nafretiri demanded. "What then?"
The older woman's eyes bugged, as if she'd never considered the thought before and would not have done so in a thousand lifetimes. But then she thought for a minute, and at least according to the principles of Ma'at. some of her words were wise.
"One of the principles of Ma'at that one must recite as being true in their life to the gods in order to enter Aaru- sorry, in your original language that would mean paradise- says "I have not overstepped my boundaries of concern." Yes, this may be your concern because she is your friend, but it is a feast day, so I think the gods matter more. Another of those precepts says that you have not cursed the gods and goddesses. And while you did not specifically mention them, you have just said to curse their ceremonies. I am sympathetic, but Ma'at is Ma'at. I suggest you make restitution to each god or goddess celebrated here today in whatever way you feel you are able."
"Why does everyone still think I'm a child- as if this is spilled milk and I will forget it? I won't forget. I have lost too much to forget this."
Nafretiri was so tired of either thinking or being told that nothing she did or wanted to do mattered!
Still, Nafretiri could not argue, even though it was possible the situation would have been handled differently in Israel- but she was not in Israel, now. But following a religion didn't mean some people agreed with every precept of it. Her father and his Law discussions were proof enough of that. Even here, it seemed that she could not agree with everything from a religious standpoint- but these gods had seemingly been kinder to her than the one she had been raised with. And though it only frustrated her all the more that no one answered her question about why everyone seemed to think her concerns were trifling, she heaved a sigh that came from her toes and nodded, though she could no longer feel quite so at ease with the priestesses as she had before.
No one seemed to care that she was crying, anyway. Thus far, that had not been addressed. For another time in her life, a plea for help had seemingly fallen on deaf ears. And the other priestess might be correct, Nafretiri probably had offended the gods, emergency or no emergency. That was a problem indeed.
She did wonder if anyone here might agree with her concern for Neena, but what was she supposed to do now?
She trudged until they reached the destination, feeling powerless even if she were to ask for help anyway, and too hopeless and full of rage on both Neena's behalf and her own to say another word. She wished someone would comfort her, that there was a person there who could really understand how she felt, but to her credit, she did not lose her temper entirely and stomp her feet childishly as she wanted to.
Miserable or not, she always tried to maintain at least some poise.
"Where is he going?!" Nafretiri ignored the priestess who had called to her as she watched one of the only people she was finally able to trust be hauled away. At last, she felt herself break. "Am I ever going to see her again?" In the far corner of her mind, she doubted if anyone really cared how Neena fared or not, or if she came back to Egypt. And Nafretiri was a simple priestess. What could she do?
Find a nobleman. Find the queen. Something. That man she'd talked to before... the one who'd sentenced the thief who had been the cause of all this... she had to find him. But she was really in no fit state to talk to anyone. On the one hand, Neena was probably safe from anyone who might try to threaten her for wanting to stop the boy's punishment. On the other hand, she might never see her again, and she couldn't stand it anymore, finally giving in to the tears that wanted to come. Nafretiri's sobs were quiet, but she was shaking with them all the same. Hadn't she lost enough? She so rarely cried about the unfairness of her life thus far that Naftretiri wondered just how long it had really been since she'd shed a significant amount of tears. She'd been tempted to when she met Lukos, but even that hadn't turned out to be quite as awful as it had seemed at first. This, though.... Nafretiri gulped. Meena was a wanderer, never staying in one place for very long, but this leave-taking was most likely forced, or so Nafretiri thought.
"You'll have to let them go, sweet sister," said another priestess softly, approaching carefully- for she knew the young woman still startled easily after her ordeal- and supporting her with an arm meant to be comforting. "It's almost time for the-"
"Ceremonies be damned! Someone might be being kidnapped!" The tears continued to streak Nafretiri's cheeks, hot and stinging. but there was a burning rage in her eyes now as well. "The least we can do is ask if someone can try to follow him."
"What, you want to save her from possibly enduring what you did? I understand, dear, but the gods can't wait." The older woman pulled Nafretiri along, beside her, forcing her to run.
"And if the gods want us to stop it?" Nafretiri demanded. "What then?"
The older woman's eyes bugged, as if she'd never considered the thought before and would not have done so in a thousand lifetimes. But then she thought for a minute, and at least according to the principles of Ma'at. some of her words were wise.
"One of the principles of Ma'at that one must recite as being true in their life to the gods in order to enter Aaru- sorry, in your original language that would mean paradise- says "I have not overstepped my boundaries of concern." Yes, this may be your concern because she is your friend, but it is a feast day, so I think the gods matter more. Another of those precepts says that you have not cursed the gods and goddesses. And while you did not specifically mention them, you have just said to curse their ceremonies. I am sympathetic, but Ma'at is Ma'at. I suggest you make restitution to each god or goddess celebrated here today in whatever way you feel you are able."
"Why does everyone still think I'm a child- as if this is spilled milk and I will forget it? I won't forget. I have lost too much to forget this."
Nafretiri was so tired of either thinking or being told that nothing she did or wanted to do mattered!
Still, Nafretiri could not argue, even though it was possible the situation would have been handled differently in Israel- but she was not in Israel, now. But following a religion didn't mean some people agreed with every precept of it. Her father and his Law discussions were proof enough of that. Even here, it seemed that she could not agree with everything from a religious standpoint- but these gods had seemingly been kinder to her than the one she had been raised with. And though it only frustrated her all the more that no one answered her question about why everyone seemed to think her concerns were trifling, she heaved a sigh that came from her toes and nodded, though she could no longer feel quite so at ease with the priestesses as she had before.
No one seemed to care that she was crying, anyway. Thus far, that had not been addressed. For another time in her life, a plea for help had seemingly fallen on deaf ears. And the other priestess might be correct, Nafretiri probably had offended the gods, emergency or no emergency. That was a problem indeed.
She did wonder if anyone here might agree with her concern for Neena, but what was she supposed to do now?
She trudged until they reached the destination, feeling powerless even if she were to ask for help anyway, and too hopeless and full of rage on both Neena's behalf and her own to say another word. She wished someone would comfort her, that there was a person there who could really understand how she felt, but to her credit, she did not lose her temper entirely and stomp her feet childishly as she wanted to.
Miserable or not, she always tried to maintain at least some poise.