Neena had been in Egypt approximately two weeks. It had been a long trek to reach the cities through so many provinces - for the Egyptian empire seemed huge when travelling on foot or with any small caravans that would allow her passage for a time - but she had reached Thebes just under fourteen days ago. And she had used that time to see just about everything that Thebes had to offer. A quieter city than the capitol in the north, Thebes had been a good introduction to Egypt as a whole without being overwhelmed and feeling like the actual "whole" of the country was raining down on you.

Cairo was not the same.

For it was to the capitol that Neena had now travelled. Paying for a ride on one of the transport ships headed down the Nile, Neena had spent the last day and a half on the calm waters of the river (normally Thebes to Cairo was only about three hours, but the boatman was a trader and had had to make many stops along the way), watching animals and people alike taking life from its banks. Whether through reed and crop growth, washing or drinking, or ensuring their animals were well watered, it didn't matter. The Nile was clearly the veins of life to this country. And beautiful to boot.

Almost sad for the journey to have been over, Neena had arrived in Cairo into the later afternoon. But this didn't stop the city being busy and alive with energy! Traders were still selling their wares, even as a dusky orange settled over the place... servants and mothers with small children still searched and paid for the items they needed. Military men marched the streets acting as a city guard. The taverns were starting to open up and the brothels too. Cairo seemed to be the city that never slept.

Which meant that Neena might have the opportunity to sleep somewhere with a roof tonight. Or get a decent meal. She rarely had both in one day.

Setting up shop on a particular street corner, Neena took the satchel she kept over her shoulder and took out three little cups made of ivory bone - a gift from someone back home with the Zaire-

She mentally ground to a halt and frowned in her mind. No. Not home. She had no home. And she liked it that way... She knew that she missed what had been her family, but she couldn't let it impede on her life now... Hasani and Tanishe would understand that and encourage it. They would want her to be happy. Not wistful and grieving.

Taking a small glass marble with a tiny but expensive gem set into its centre, she placed all the items on floor where she sat cross legged with them. She then started to call out her trade, juggling the cups or playing with the marble as it flashed in the dying light intent on catching people's attention.

"Come one, come all, you think you have a keen eye? Manage to tell me which cup the marble is in and you'll get your own version of the precious jewel inside."

Slowly she began to build a bit of an audience and a few people turned up to bet a single bronze coin for a go at the game. By the time the sun had come to set fully and the streets were lit only by fire beacons outside the taverns and brothels, Neena had seven bronze coins in hand.

But the streets had not emptied by half and there were still many hours before she had to worry about sleep. And so, her calls and games continued...