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It was an hour past midnight when Neithotep crept quietly across the threshold of the Pharaoh’s bedchamber, pulling her shawl tight around her in the cooler air of the hall. The haggard expression on the young lady of Sheifa’s face said it all; tonight had been far more strenuous and even crueler than the last. It was the second time this week he’d summoned her from her parents’ home, and Nia wasn’t sure how much longer she could take these excursions before something in her broke. Surely he’d tire of her soon and these late night… sessions… would become a thing of the past. It was the mantra she kept repeating to herself every time she was within these walls, a monotone chorus in the back of her head that kept her just from the edge of despair.
But something about that heated look in his eyes told her that desperate hope was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Bare feet were silent against the cool floor as Nia walked down the hall, a slight limp in her step. Bright red marks littered the side of her neck, her thick hair gnarled in the knot she’d hastily thrown it in. Carmine was smeared at the edge of her lips, her clothing torn and disheveled—all it would take was one look in her direction to know what she’d just done. Or more accurately… what had been done to her. She hated this (and every other) part of the night, the sneaking through the winding corridors of the Evening Star Palace and hoping that no one saw or suspected what she was up to. It was a secret she and the Pharaoh both meant to keep, but the more he summoned her, the more likely it was to get out. Not that he listened to her.
It had been about a month since the Sed festival, and it was a month Nia was keen to forget. How she wished she’d never stepped foot at that party, had never found herself within eyesight of Iahotep H’Naddar. All that time spent avoiding Court had been for naught; the moment the Pharaoh laid his gaze on her, her fate was sealed. The girl’s time spent skulking in the shadows was over. Against all wishes to the contrary, she’d attracted the attentions of the most powerful man in Egypt, a power-hungry sadistic psychopath who was firm in his belief that the world was his to own.
What I wouldn’t give to go back to that night, Nia thought, holding her breath and slipping around the corner. The one time I actually attend a formal function… I should’ve known it was a poor choice from the start.
She didn’t have much more time for self-pity before she found herself nearly face to face with a man she wasn’t expecting, an older gentleman she’d frequently seen lingering around the halls of the palace, though never this late. Zoser, she believed his name was, trying to recall if they’d actually spoken before.
Her dark eyes widened in alarm before she stood up a little straighter, doing her best to expel the nerves from her face and hold herself as a woman of her position ought to. “Good evening, sir,” she said and cleared her throat, her gaze darting away as she smoothed her rumpled kalasiris. “I, uh… I seem to have found myself lost. So many twists and turns in this place, you know.” It was a lame excuse, and she was sure he would see right through it, but it was the best she could do on such short notice and little rest. What were the chances he’d just nod and pass on by?
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It was an hour past midnight when Neithotep crept quietly across the threshold of the Pharaoh’s bedchamber, pulling her shawl tight around her in the cooler air of the hall. The haggard expression on the young lady of Sheifa’s face said it all; tonight had been far more strenuous and even crueler than the last. It was the second time this week he’d summoned her from her parents’ home, and Nia wasn’t sure how much longer she could take these excursions before something in her broke. Surely he’d tire of her soon and these late night… sessions… would become a thing of the past. It was the mantra she kept repeating to herself every time she was within these walls, a monotone chorus in the back of her head that kept her just from the edge of despair.
But something about that heated look in his eyes told her that desperate hope was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Bare feet were silent against the cool floor as Nia walked down the hall, a slight limp in her step. Bright red marks littered the side of her neck, her thick hair gnarled in the knot she’d hastily thrown it in. Carmine was smeared at the edge of her lips, her clothing torn and disheveled—all it would take was one look in her direction to know what she’d just done. Or more accurately… what had been done to her. She hated this (and every other) part of the night, the sneaking through the winding corridors of the Evening Star Palace and hoping that no one saw or suspected what she was up to. It was a secret she and the Pharaoh both meant to keep, but the more he summoned her, the more likely it was to get out. Not that he listened to her.
It had been about a month since the Sed festival, and it was a month Nia was keen to forget. How she wished she’d never stepped foot at that party, had never found herself within eyesight of Iahotep H’Naddar. All that time spent avoiding Court had been for naught; the moment the Pharaoh laid his gaze on her, her fate was sealed. The girl’s time spent skulking in the shadows was over. Against all wishes to the contrary, she’d attracted the attentions of the most powerful man in Egypt, a power-hungry sadistic psychopath who was firm in his belief that the world was his to own.
What I wouldn’t give to go back to that night, Nia thought, holding her breath and slipping around the corner. The one time I actually attend a formal function… I should’ve known it was a poor choice from the start.
She didn’t have much more time for self-pity before she found herself nearly face to face with a man she wasn’t expecting, an older gentleman she’d frequently seen lingering around the halls of the palace, though never this late. Zoser, she believed his name was, trying to recall if they’d actually spoken before.
Her dark eyes widened in alarm before she stood up a little straighter, doing her best to expel the nerves from her face and hold herself as a woman of her position ought to. “Good evening, sir,” she said and cleared her throat, her gaze darting away as she smoothed her rumpled kalasiris. “I, uh… I seem to have found myself lost. So many twists and turns in this place, you know.” It was a lame excuse, and she was sure he would see right through it, but it was the best she could do on such short notice and little rest. What were the chances he’d just nod and pass on by?
It was an hour past midnight when Neithotep crept quietly across the threshold of the Pharaoh’s bedchamber, pulling her shawl tight around her in the cooler air of the hall. The haggard expression on the young lady of Sheifa’s face said it all; tonight had been far more strenuous and even crueler than the last. It was the second time this week he’d summoned her from her parents’ home, and Nia wasn’t sure how much longer she could take these excursions before something in her broke. Surely he’d tire of her soon and these late night… sessions… would become a thing of the past. It was the mantra she kept repeating to herself every time she was within these walls, a monotone chorus in the back of her head that kept her just from the edge of despair.
But something about that heated look in his eyes told her that desperate hope was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Bare feet were silent against the cool floor as Nia walked down the hall, a slight limp in her step. Bright red marks littered the side of her neck, her thick hair gnarled in the knot she’d hastily thrown it in. Carmine was smeared at the edge of her lips, her clothing torn and disheveled—all it would take was one look in her direction to know what she’d just done. Or more accurately… what had been done to her. She hated this (and every other) part of the night, the sneaking through the winding corridors of the Evening Star Palace and hoping that no one saw or suspected what she was up to. It was a secret she and the Pharaoh both meant to keep, but the more he summoned her, the more likely it was to get out. Not that he listened to her.
It had been about a month since the Sed festival, and it was a month Nia was keen to forget. How she wished she’d never stepped foot at that party, had never found herself within eyesight of Iahotep H’Naddar. All that time spent avoiding Court had been for naught; the moment the Pharaoh laid his gaze on her, her fate was sealed. The girl’s time spent skulking in the shadows was over. Against all wishes to the contrary, she’d attracted the attentions of the most powerful man in Egypt, a power-hungry sadistic psychopath who was firm in his belief that the world was his to own.
What I wouldn’t give to go back to that night, Nia thought, holding her breath and slipping around the corner. The one time I actually attend a formal function… I should’ve known it was a poor choice from the start.
She didn’t have much more time for self-pity before she found herself nearly face to face with a man she wasn’t expecting, an older gentleman she’d frequently seen lingering around the halls of the palace, though never this late. Zoser, she believed his name was, trying to recall if they’d actually spoken before.
Her dark eyes widened in alarm before she stood up a little straighter, doing her best to expel the nerves from her face and hold herself as a woman of her position ought to. “Good evening, sir,” she said and cleared her throat, her gaze darting away as she smoothed her rumpled kalasiris. “I, uh… I seem to have found myself lost. So many twists and turns in this place, you know.” It was a lame excuse, and she was sure he would see right through it, but it was the best she could do on such short notice and little rest. What were the chances he’d just nod and pass on by?
It was common if overlooked knowledge that sleep did not find Zoser easily. Often, lamps burned throughout the night deep within the archives of the Evening Star Palace as he continued to find task after task to preoccupy his sleepless mind. Long after his subordinate scribes had found their way home or to local bars and opium dens, he kept himself to one task or another, occasionally finding diversion in an interesting read.
Often, he spent time poring over translations of Greek and Judean texts as they were quietly translated into Coptic. It was an oddity for him to take such efforts within the Palace walls, an interest that his subordinate scribes did not understand, yet they persisted in their work under his tutelage. In his mind, it was better to have more knowledge than less, despite the fact that the sword was found to be far mightier than the pen along the Nile.
However, a man could not stay awake forever, and though he may not return directly to his riverside quarters within the city, he could at least offer his eyes some relief. Snuffing out each oil lamp precariously, he gathered his things - as well as a few smaller tomes of interest that he could read until sleep found him at home - and stepped into the tributary corridor that led to one of the main passageways and ultimately the exit.
Unused to hearing footfalls other than his own at this hour, his eyes became keen and narrowed in the moonlight that spilled through the tall open windows of the palace. It was often hard to tell the direction of sounds in the long, echoing corridors, but as he approached a junction that adjoined the Royal wing of the Palace, he saw her.
Zoser had many years behind him and had seen a number of things, both here and away in Greece. The sight of a disheveled young woman errant in the night was not uncommon, but there were unique conditions to her circumstance that led him to pause as she spoke. Particularly if she had just come from the wing where the Pharoah resided in such a state. The thought caused Zoser's lips to press into a tight line, even tighter when he realized who stood before him.
This was Iaheru H'Sheifa's daughter, Neithotep. The one that the woman seemed keen to have his dear friend, Narmer, draw closer to over time. As was the nature of such courtly relations. Even if he did not know her via her station and family name, he could have taken a guess in the dark - there was no mistaking the eyes that the two women shared.
Careful to conceal his expression as he noted her state of disarray and how she attempted to rectify it by bettering her posture, he bowed his head to her, silently acknowledging the difference in their stations, and offering a subtle friendliness to his expression as she spoke.
"Ah, it happens to the best of us, especially in the darkness of such a late hour," he offered, innocently enough. He paused a moment before adding, "If My Lady H'Sheifa wishes, it would be my pleasure to serve as a guide through this dark night..." His eyes made a few quick glances across her appearance, noting a few particular ripped seams that he quickly glanced away from as he offered his arm.
"Perhaps, though, by the baths before returning home," he offered, delicately, tilting his head towards the wing of the Palace that descended down to the River Nile, where it was ensconced in fabric where marble created shallow pools for bathing. During daylight hours, the handmaidens of the Queen and other nobles would dally there, giving themselves some relief from the heat of the day. Now, however, the offering was a delicate acknowledgement of her state, offered in an innocent manner. Whether she would take it as such was yet to be seen.
In a softer voice, he added with a knowing yet oddly fatherly tone, "You will feel better if you do."
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It was common if overlooked knowledge that sleep did not find Zoser easily. Often, lamps burned throughout the night deep within the archives of the Evening Star Palace as he continued to find task after task to preoccupy his sleepless mind. Long after his subordinate scribes had found their way home or to local bars and opium dens, he kept himself to one task or another, occasionally finding diversion in an interesting read.
Often, he spent time poring over translations of Greek and Judean texts as they were quietly translated into Coptic. It was an oddity for him to take such efforts within the Palace walls, an interest that his subordinate scribes did not understand, yet they persisted in their work under his tutelage. In his mind, it was better to have more knowledge than less, despite the fact that the sword was found to be far mightier than the pen along the Nile.
However, a man could not stay awake forever, and though he may not return directly to his riverside quarters within the city, he could at least offer his eyes some relief. Snuffing out each oil lamp precariously, he gathered his things - as well as a few smaller tomes of interest that he could read until sleep found him at home - and stepped into the tributary corridor that led to one of the main passageways and ultimately the exit.
Unused to hearing footfalls other than his own at this hour, his eyes became keen and narrowed in the moonlight that spilled through the tall open windows of the palace. It was often hard to tell the direction of sounds in the long, echoing corridors, but as he approached a junction that adjoined the Royal wing of the Palace, he saw her.
Zoser had many years behind him and had seen a number of things, both here and away in Greece. The sight of a disheveled young woman errant in the night was not uncommon, but there were unique conditions to her circumstance that led him to pause as she spoke. Particularly if she had just come from the wing where the Pharoah resided in such a state. The thought caused Zoser's lips to press into a tight line, even tighter when he realized who stood before him.
This was Iaheru H'Sheifa's daughter, Neithotep. The one that the woman seemed keen to have his dear friend, Narmer, draw closer to over time. As was the nature of such courtly relations. Even if he did not know her via her station and family name, he could have taken a guess in the dark - there was no mistaking the eyes that the two women shared.
Careful to conceal his expression as he noted her state of disarray and how she attempted to rectify it by bettering her posture, he bowed his head to her, silently acknowledging the difference in their stations, and offering a subtle friendliness to his expression as she spoke.
"Ah, it happens to the best of us, especially in the darkness of such a late hour," he offered, innocently enough. He paused a moment before adding, "If My Lady H'Sheifa wishes, it would be my pleasure to serve as a guide through this dark night..." His eyes made a few quick glances across her appearance, noting a few particular ripped seams that he quickly glanced away from as he offered his arm.
"Perhaps, though, by the baths before returning home," he offered, delicately, tilting his head towards the wing of the Palace that descended down to the River Nile, where it was ensconced in fabric where marble created shallow pools for bathing. During daylight hours, the handmaidens of the Queen and other nobles would dally there, giving themselves some relief from the heat of the day. Now, however, the offering was a delicate acknowledgement of her state, offered in an innocent manner. Whether she would take it as such was yet to be seen.
In a softer voice, he added with a knowing yet oddly fatherly tone, "You will feel better if you do."
It was common if overlooked knowledge that sleep did not find Zoser easily. Often, lamps burned throughout the night deep within the archives of the Evening Star Palace as he continued to find task after task to preoccupy his sleepless mind. Long after his subordinate scribes had found their way home or to local bars and opium dens, he kept himself to one task or another, occasionally finding diversion in an interesting read.
Often, he spent time poring over translations of Greek and Judean texts as they were quietly translated into Coptic. It was an oddity for him to take such efforts within the Palace walls, an interest that his subordinate scribes did not understand, yet they persisted in their work under his tutelage. In his mind, it was better to have more knowledge than less, despite the fact that the sword was found to be far mightier than the pen along the Nile.
However, a man could not stay awake forever, and though he may not return directly to his riverside quarters within the city, he could at least offer his eyes some relief. Snuffing out each oil lamp precariously, he gathered his things - as well as a few smaller tomes of interest that he could read until sleep found him at home - and stepped into the tributary corridor that led to one of the main passageways and ultimately the exit.
Unused to hearing footfalls other than his own at this hour, his eyes became keen and narrowed in the moonlight that spilled through the tall open windows of the palace. It was often hard to tell the direction of sounds in the long, echoing corridors, but as he approached a junction that adjoined the Royal wing of the Palace, he saw her.
Zoser had many years behind him and had seen a number of things, both here and away in Greece. The sight of a disheveled young woman errant in the night was not uncommon, but there were unique conditions to her circumstance that led him to pause as she spoke. Particularly if she had just come from the wing where the Pharoah resided in such a state. The thought caused Zoser's lips to press into a tight line, even tighter when he realized who stood before him.
This was Iaheru H'Sheifa's daughter, Neithotep. The one that the woman seemed keen to have his dear friend, Narmer, draw closer to over time. As was the nature of such courtly relations. Even if he did not know her via her station and family name, he could have taken a guess in the dark - there was no mistaking the eyes that the two women shared.
Careful to conceal his expression as he noted her state of disarray and how she attempted to rectify it by bettering her posture, he bowed his head to her, silently acknowledging the difference in their stations, and offering a subtle friendliness to his expression as she spoke.
"Ah, it happens to the best of us, especially in the darkness of such a late hour," he offered, innocently enough. He paused a moment before adding, "If My Lady H'Sheifa wishes, it would be my pleasure to serve as a guide through this dark night..." His eyes made a few quick glances across her appearance, noting a few particular ripped seams that he quickly glanced away from as he offered his arm.
"Perhaps, though, by the baths before returning home," he offered, delicately, tilting his head towards the wing of the Palace that descended down to the River Nile, where it was ensconced in fabric where marble created shallow pools for bathing. During daylight hours, the handmaidens of the Queen and other nobles would dally there, giving themselves some relief from the heat of the day. Now, however, the offering was a delicate acknowledgement of her state, offered in an innocent manner. Whether she would take it as such was yet to be seen.
In a softer voice, he added with a knowing yet oddly fatherly tone, "You will feel better if you do."
Nia wasn’t sure how to interpret Zoser’s kindness.
The young lady of Hei Sheifa knew the Court to be a pit of snakes, which was the main reason she’d avoided it for so long. It was hard for her to tell the truth from the lies, the good from the bad. She knew Zoser was a man frequently in the company of the Pharaoh, but so were many others. So was she, for that matter, and what did that reflect on her character? She didn’t have a choice. Who among them did?
Only recently had she come to mourn her lack of courtly knowledge, her naivete when it came to the ways of the nobility. Perhaps she should have paid more attention to Iaheru’s teachings, to better deciphering friend from foe. Then maybe she could read this man’s intentions and decipher for herself whether she should stay with him or pass right on by. Did he suspect where she’d been? And if so, was he one to share it? Was there some hidden motive in his escorting her? Was he a spy for the Pharaoh himself?
The hesitation was clear on Neithotep’s face when she looked at Zoser’s outstretched arm, glancing between it and the innocent look on his face as she thought furiously of what to do. She didn’t think for long, however; in the end, the choice wasn’t very hard. In the Palace, she was alone and friendless, a girl severely out of her depth and drowning in the unwanted obligation that had been forced upon her. She needed the kindness her unexpected companion was offering her. She needed the reminder that she was still a human being.
Blinking unwanted tears from her eyes, Nia took hold of Zoser’s arm and allowed him to guide her down the hall with only a whispered, “Thank you.” Narrowing her focus to putting one foot in front of the other, she remained silent for a few long moments as they found their way out of the royal wing.
“The baths…” Nervous dark eyes peered up at her companion, biting her lip. “I… if there are others there...” Her free hand reached up to self-consciously cover the marks on the side of her neck, her frustration palpable. Many other such marks littered her body, and the thought of anyone else seeing her in such a state… There were questions she didn’t want to answer, especially since she was normally so bold about her conquests. At least she had her reputation to rely on—a few love bites wouldn’t really be that shocking for a woman known to bed half of Egypt.
A bath would be lovely before she had to return home, however, and at this late hour, it was unlikely anyone else would be about. But the longer she lingered… A paranoid glance was thrown back over her shoulder, as if the shade of Iahotep was following in her wake. If he somehow caught her heading down to the baths with another man, whether the encounter was wholly innocent or not… He was dead asleep when you left. He’s not going to know.
“Just a quick stop,” she agreed, glancing over her shoulder again before setting her gaze resolutely forward. “So long as they’re empty.”
Decision made, she lapsed back into silence while they continued their walk. Her clutch on Zoser’s arm was perhaps a little harder than it needed to be, but that was not the only sign of her nerves. Her face was drawn and pale, her jaw clenched and muscles tight with an uneasy tension that one could spot from yards away. Nia thought she might retch before they ever reached the bathing chambers, but she managed to hold herself together, if only just.
“You won’t… you won’t tell anyone you saw me tonight, will you?” she broke the silence, doing her best to sound nonchalant, but failing miserably. “Should anyone ask. Not that I think they would, of course, because why would they, but…” She cleared her throat. “I just… I’d rather no one else knew I was here. I don’t want… I don’t want certain people to worry. I’m sure you understand.”
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Nia wasn’t sure how to interpret Zoser’s kindness.
The young lady of Hei Sheifa knew the Court to be a pit of snakes, which was the main reason she’d avoided it for so long. It was hard for her to tell the truth from the lies, the good from the bad. She knew Zoser was a man frequently in the company of the Pharaoh, but so were many others. So was she, for that matter, and what did that reflect on her character? She didn’t have a choice. Who among them did?
Only recently had she come to mourn her lack of courtly knowledge, her naivete when it came to the ways of the nobility. Perhaps she should have paid more attention to Iaheru’s teachings, to better deciphering friend from foe. Then maybe she could read this man’s intentions and decipher for herself whether she should stay with him or pass right on by. Did he suspect where she’d been? And if so, was he one to share it? Was there some hidden motive in his escorting her? Was he a spy for the Pharaoh himself?
The hesitation was clear on Neithotep’s face when she looked at Zoser’s outstretched arm, glancing between it and the innocent look on his face as she thought furiously of what to do. She didn’t think for long, however; in the end, the choice wasn’t very hard. In the Palace, she was alone and friendless, a girl severely out of her depth and drowning in the unwanted obligation that had been forced upon her. She needed the kindness her unexpected companion was offering her. She needed the reminder that she was still a human being.
Blinking unwanted tears from her eyes, Nia took hold of Zoser’s arm and allowed him to guide her down the hall with only a whispered, “Thank you.” Narrowing her focus to putting one foot in front of the other, she remained silent for a few long moments as they found their way out of the royal wing.
“The baths…” Nervous dark eyes peered up at her companion, biting her lip. “I… if there are others there...” Her free hand reached up to self-consciously cover the marks on the side of her neck, her frustration palpable. Many other such marks littered her body, and the thought of anyone else seeing her in such a state… There were questions she didn’t want to answer, especially since she was normally so bold about her conquests. At least she had her reputation to rely on—a few love bites wouldn’t really be that shocking for a woman known to bed half of Egypt.
A bath would be lovely before she had to return home, however, and at this late hour, it was unlikely anyone else would be about. But the longer she lingered… A paranoid glance was thrown back over her shoulder, as if the shade of Iahotep was following in her wake. If he somehow caught her heading down to the baths with another man, whether the encounter was wholly innocent or not… He was dead asleep when you left. He’s not going to know.
“Just a quick stop,” she agreed, glancing over her shoulder again before setting her gaze resolutely forward. “So long as they’re empty.”
Decision made, she lapsed back into silence while they continued their walk. Her clutch on Zoser’s arm was perhaps a little harder than it needed to be, but that was not the only sign of her nerves. Her face was drawn and pale, her jaw clenched and muscles tight with an uneasy tension that one could spot from yards away. Nia thought she might retch before they ever reached the bathing chambers, but she managed to hold herself together, if only just.
“You won’t… you won’t tell anyone you saw me tonight, will you?” she broke the silence, doing her best to sound nonchalant, but failing miserably. “Should anyone ask. Not that I think they would, of course, because why would they, but…” She cleared her throat. “I just… I’d rather no one else knew I was here. I don’t want… I don’t want certain people to worry. I’m sure you understand.”
Nia wasn’t sure how to interpret Zoser’s kindness.
The young lady of Hei Sheifa knew the Court to be a pit of snakes, which was the main reason she’d avoided it for so long. It was hard for her to tell the truth from the lies, the good from the bad. She knew Zoser was a man frequently in the company of the Pharaoh, but so were many others. So was she, for that matter, and what did that reflect on her character? She didn’t have a choice. Who among them did?
Only recently had she come to mourn her lack of courtly knowledge, her naivete when it came to the ways of the nobility. Perhaps she should have paid more attention to Iaheru’s teachings, to better deciphering friend from foe. Then maybe she could read this man’s intentions and decipher for herself whether she should stay with him or pass right on by. Did he suspect where she’d been? And if so, was he one to share it? Was there some hidden motive in his escorting her? Was he a spy for the Pharaoh himself?
The hesitation was clear on Neithotep’s face when she looked at Zoser’s outstretched arm, glancing between it and the innocent look on his face as she thought furiously of what to do. She didn’t think for long, however; in the end, the choice wasn’t very hard. In the Palace, she was alone and friendless, a girl severely out of her depth and drowning in the unwanted obligation that had been forced upon her. She needed the kindness her unexpected companion was offering her. She needed the reminder that she was still a human being.
Blinking unwanted tears from her eyes, Nia took hold of Zoser’s arm and allowed him to guide her down the hall with only a whispered, “Thank you.” Narrowing her focus to putting one foot in front of the other, she remained silent for a few long moments as they found their way out of the royal wing.
“The baths…” Nervous dark eyes peered up at her companion, biting her lip. “I… if there are others there...” Her free hand reached up to self-consciously cover the marks on the side of her neck, her frustration palpable. Many other such marks littered her body, and the thought of anyone else seeing her in such a state… There were questions she didn’t want to answer, especially since she was normally so bold about her conquests. At least she had her reputation to rely on—a few love bites wouldn’t really be that shocking for a woman known to bed half of Egypt.
A bath would be lovely before she had to return home, however, and at this late hour, it was unlikely anyone else would be about. But the longer she lingered… A paranoid glance was thrown back over her shoulder, as if the shade of Iahotep was following in her wake. If he somehow caught her heading down to the baths with another man, whether the encounter was wholly innocent or not… He was dead asleep when you left. He’s not going to know.
“Just a quick stop,” she agreed, glancing over her shoulder again before setting her gaze resolutely forward. “So long as they’re empty.”
Decision made, she lapsed back into silence while they continued their walk. Her clutch on Zoser’s arm was perhaps a little harder than it needed to be, but that was not the only sign of her nerves. Her face was drawn and pale, her jaw clenched and muscles tight with an uneasy tension that one could spot from yards away. Nia thought she might retch before they ever reached the bathing chambers, but she managed to hold herself together, if only just.
“You won’t… you won’t tell anyone you saw me tonight, will you?” she broke the silence, doing her best to sound nonchalant, but failing miserably. “Should anyone ask. Not that I think they would, of course, because why would they, but…” She cleared her throat. “I just… I’d rather no one else knew I was here. I don’t want… I don’t want certain people to worry. I’m sure you understand.”
Zoser knew what Iahotep was capable of, more than many. Bile churned in his gut at the thought of those first days following Iahotep's rise to Pharoah after marrying the young queen, Hatshepsut. For the past ten years, his daily visits with the Queen from early tutelage to long conversations to simple, pleasant company were the light of his life in the Palace. Though she had always been quiet, there was a gentle happiness in her that seemed to have faded since joining with Iahotep, though he never spoke of it or drew attention to it...or the marks.
Zoser would never say it aloud, but he was relieved to hear she was with child, despite her being hardly more than a child herself in his eyes. Still, with the future of Egypt in her womb, he could not help but hope that Iahotep would become more gentle with her in the coming days. As for Neithotep...it was not surprising that the Pharoah took a mistress while his wife gestated, though it was always easier to accept such things when the aftermath was not walking alongside him, arm in arm, with eyes as wide as saucers.
He had noticed the moments before when she tried to cover the marks on her neck as she spoke, hoping the darkness within the palace walls would hid them. He made a point not to look at them as they walked, though stole a glance as she turned to look over her shoulder for potential followers. Without thinking, his hand left a reassuring pat on the top of hers where it rested through his forearm, an attempt at offered comfort.
The bathing chamber was a grandiose, open-ceiling portico along the Nile, with moonlight fluttering through the white fabric hung along the colonnade to hide noble and royal flesh from curious commoner eyes. All seemed bathed in every shade of blue imaginable, and the starlight seemed to cast their shadows long across the rippling pool of waters. In the silence, the gentle bubbling of a crafted waterfall harmonized with the singing insects and frogs down by the shoreline.
As Zoser lowered his arm to break their contact, Neithotep took that moment to break the silence between them. His brows raised slightly at first, though his expression softened to one of understanding as her words struggled to create a cohesive request. Zoser carefully thought through a response as he turned to retrieve a drying cloth and some cleansing oils for her from a nearby shelf.
"Of course," he replied, honestly as he handed her the items, offering what he hoped was a reassuring smile, "No one needs to know." As he handed her the drying cloth and the small bottle of oils, he let his hand linger on her shoulder a moment, another offering of comfort, before turning to find a seat along the far edge of the pool, looking out over the few remaining specks of lamplight in the windows of the city buildings. He was cautious to leave his back to her, giving her privacy in this incredibly vulnerable moment.
However, that did not mean he could keep his thoughts from creeping forth.
He could hear the ripples in the pool from her bathing, and perched his elbows on his knees, steepling his fingers before his lips as he thought. Midway through a thought, his head tilted and brows raised, his shoulders shrugging as the potential alibi for her formed in his mind,
"Then again, no one would fault you for a visit to the young Prince, Sutekh," he mused, keeping his voice low but knowing that the sound carried well enough in the bathing chamber for her to hear him. It was an easy assumption, as they shared the same blood. Growing up together their entire lives, it would not be so farfetched for a sister to visit a brother, a true bond of family overcoming the deception and betrayal that was out of their hands. The story painted itself with a touch more color in his mind as he mused on it.
More importantly, it could provide her with a blanket of protection, should either of them be questioned.
"I know, I certainly would not fault you for such a visit."
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Zoser knew what Iahotep was capable of, more than many. Bile churned in his gut at the thought of those first days following Iahotep's rise to Pharoah after marrying the young queen, Hatshepsut. For the past ten years, his daily visits with the Queen from early tutelage to long conversations to simple, pleasant company were the light of his life in the Palace. Though she had always been quiet, there was a gentle happiness in her that seemed to have faded since joining with Iahotep, though he never spoke of it or drew attention to it...or the marks.
Zoser would never say it aloud, but he was relieved to hear she was with child, despite her being hardly more than a child herself in his eyes. Still, with the future of Egypt in her womb, he could not help but hope that Iahotep would become more gentle with her in the coming days. As for Neithotep...it was not surprising that the Pharoah took a mistress while his wife gestated, though it was always easier to accept such things when the aftermath was not walking alongside him, arm in arm, with eyes as wide as saucers.
He had noticed the moments before when she tried to cover the marks on her neck as she spoke, hoping the darkness within the palace walls would hid them. He made a point not to look at them as they walked, though stole a glance as she turned to look over her shoulder for potential followers. Without thinking, his hand left a reassuring pat on the top of hers where it rested through his forearm, an attempt at offered comfort.
The bathing chamber was a grandiose, open-ceiling portico along the Nile, with moonlight fluttering through the white fabric hung along the colonnade to hide noble and royal flesh from curious commoner eyes. All seemed bathed in every shade of blue imaginable, and the starlight seemed to cast their shadows long across the rippling pool of waters. In the silence, the gentle bubbling of a crafted waterfall harmonized with the singing insects and frogs down by the shoreline.
As Zoser lowered his arm to break their contact, Neithotep took that moment to break the silence between them. His brows raised slightly at first, though his expression softened to one of understanding as her words struggled to create a cohesive request. Zoser carefully thought through a response as he turned to retrieve a drying cloth and some cleansing oils for her from a nearby shelf.
"Of course," he replied, honestly as he handed her the items, offering what he hoped was a reassuring smile, "No one needs to know." As he handed her the drying cloth and the small bottle of oils, he let his hand linger on her shoulder a moment, another offering of comfort, before turning to find a seat along the far edge of the pool, looking out over the few remaining specks of lamplight in the windows of the city buildings. He was cautious to leave his back to her, giving her privacy in this incredibly vulnerable moment.
However, that did not mean he could keep his thoughts from creeping forth.
He could hear the ripples in the pool from her bathing, and perched his elbows on his knees, steepling his fingers before his lips as he thought. Midway through a thought, his head tilted and brows raised, his shoulders shrugging as the potential alibi for her formed in his mind,
"Then again, no one would fault you for a visit to the young Prince, Sutekh," he mused, keeping his voice low but knowing that the sound carried well enough in the bathing chamber for her to hear him. It was an easy assumption, as they shared the same blood. Growing up together their entire lives, it would not be so farfetched for a sister to visit a brother, a true bond of family overcoming the deception and betrayal that was out of their hands. The story painted itself with a touch more color in his mind as he mused on it.
More importantly, it could provide her with a blanket of protection, should either of them be questioned.
"I know, I certainly would not fault you for such a visit."
Zoser knew what Iahotep was capable of, more than many. Bile churned in his gut at the thought of those first days following Iahotep's rise to Pharoah after marrying the young queen, Hatshepsut. For the past ten years, his daily visits with the Queen from early tutelage to long conversations to simple, pleasant company were the light of his life in the Palace. Though she had always been quiet, there was a gentle happiness in her that seemed to have faded since joining with Iahotep, though he never spoke of it or drew attention to it...or the marks.
Zoser would never say it aloud, but he was relieved to hear she was with child, despite her being hardly more than a child herself in his eyes. Still, with the future of Egypt in her womb, he could not help but hope that Iahotep would become more gentle with her in the coming days. As for Neithotep...it was not surprising that the Pharoah took a mistress while his wife gestated, though it was always easier to accept such things when the aftermath was not walking alongside him, arm in arm, with eyes as wide as saucers.
He had noticed the moments before when she tried to cover the marks on her neck as she spoke, hoping the darkness within the palace walls would hid them. He made a point not to look at them as they walked, though stole a glance as she turned to look over her shoulder for potential followers. Without thinking, his hand left a reassuring pat on the top of hers where it rested through his forearm, an attempt at offered comfort.
The bathing chamber was a grandiose, open-ceiling portico along the Nile, with moonlight fluttering through the white fabric hung along the colonnade to hide noble and royal flesh from curious commoner eyes. All seemed bathed in every shade of blue imaginable, and the starlight seemed to cast their shadows long across the rippling pool of waters. In the silence, the gentle bubbling of a crafted waterfall harmonized with the singing insects and frogs down by the shoreline.
As Zoser lowered his arm to break their contact, Neithotep took that moment to break the silence between them. His brows raised slightly at first, though his expression softened to one of understanding as her words struggled to create a cohesive request. Zoser carefully thought through a response as he turned to retrieve a drying cloth and some cleansing oils for her from a nearby shelf.
"Of course," he replied, honestly as he handed her the items, offering what he hoped was a reassuring smile, "No one needs to know." As he handed her the drying cloth and the small bottle of oils, he let his hand linger on her shoulder a moment, another offering of comfort, before turning to find a seat along the far edge of the pool, looking out over the few remaining specks of lamplight in the windows of the city buildings. He was cautious to leave his back to her, giving her privacy in this incredibly vulnerable moment.
However, that did not mean he could keep his thoughts from creeping forth.
He could hear the ripples in the pool from her bathing, and perched his elbows on his knees, steepling his fingers before his lips as he thought. Midway through a thought, his head tilted and brows raised, his shoulders shrugging as the potential alibi for her formed in his mind,
"Then again, no one would fault you for a visit to the young Prince, Sutekh," he mused, keeping his voice low but knowing that the sound carried well enough in the bathing chamber for her to hear him. It was an easy assumption, as they shared the same blood. Growing up together their entire lives, it would not be so farfetched for a sister to visit a brother, a true bond of family overcoming the deception and betrayal that was out of their hands. The story painted itself with a touch more color in his mind as he mused on it.
More importantly, it could provide her with a blanket of protection, should either of them be questioned.
"I know, I certainly would not fault you for such a visit."
Nia glanced down at the hand patting hers, tears filling her eyes again. It felt like so long since the last time someone had shown her such simple kindness, and in the wake of what she’d just been through, she needed it now more than ever. Looking up at Zoser, she offered a weak smile, lightly squeezing his forearm in acknowledgement of what he’d done. She knew it wasn’t much, but in that moment, it meant everything to her.
When they entered the bathing chamber, she took a careful look around to see if any others still lingered. Dark eyes roamed every corner until she was sure they were alone, releasing a long breath of immense relief. She’d already been caught once tonight. She didn’t intend for it to happen again.
She met Zoser’s gaze gratefully when he handed her the bathing implements. “Thank you,” she murmured, taking the cloth and oils from his hands with a smile a little stronger than before. “Your discretion is… appreciated. People talk about my Hei enough, you know? The last thing we need is something else.” When his hand gently brushed against her shoulder, she reached to briefly cover it with hers, conveying her gratitude in the graze of her skin against his.
Dropping her hand and waiting until Zoser had turned around, Nia carefully undid the ties that held her kalasiris in place and winced as it dropped to the floor. Even the tiny whisper of fabric against her skin hurt, bruises fresh and old alike protesting its passage. At first, Iahotep had been rather careful not to leave marks, but they were clearly past that now. He said he would mark her as he liked, that she was his and she should be honored to bear them. The acts that followed this declaration had ensured that she never argued with him about it again.
One foot gingerly dipped into the tepid water before the rest of her followed, dunking her head with a gentle splash. Pouring a few drops of the hair oil in her hands, she started running it through her tangled tresses until it flowed like silk. Dipping her head again, she rinsed it as best she could and wrung it out before starting to work on the rest of her.
Nia paused when Zoser started to speak, casting a speculative glance at his back. Was he… helping her craft an alibi? She was impressed with his tacit acknowledgement of her situation in his possible solution while still refraining from saying anything about it. She knew she could never handle something so delicate in such a deft manner. How did one even begin to learn?
“Sutekh would probably be the most surprised of everyone, honestly,” she murmured with a soft laugh that echoed across the water, nonetheless. “We haven’t spoken much since he came to live here. We haven’t been very close since we were children, and now…” She trailed off with a shrug.
“Perhaps it’s time I remedied that, though,” she added thoughtfully. “Everything else aside, I do miss him.”
Sluicing water over her skin to rinse away the rest of the oils, Neithotep stepped back out of the bathing pool and gathered up the cloth to dry herself. Dabbing excess water from her skin, she looked over at Zoser again. She still couldn’t help but wonder why he would deign to help her. Was his kindness a façade for something else? Or was he genuinely just that good of a good man?
Sufficiently dry, she redressed herself, this time being more vigilant with the ties and fastenings of her kalasiris. At the very least, she looked less unkempt than she had before, some of the tension relaxing from her stiffened and abused muscles. Walking over to where her companion sat, she tapped his shoulder with a shy smile.
“I’m finished,” she told him quietly. “Thank you. This was… this was a good idea.”
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Nia glanced down at the hand patting hers, tears filling her eyes again. It felt like so long since the last time someone had shown her such simple kindness, and in the wake of what she’d just been through, she needed it now more than ever. Looking up at Zoser, she offered a weak smile, lightly squeezing his forearm in acknowledgement of what he’d done. She knew it wasn’t much, but in that moment, it meant everything to her.
When they entered the bathing chamber, she took a careful look around to see if any others still lingered. Dark eyes roamed every corner until she was sure they were alone, releasing a long breath of immense relief. She’d already been caught once tonight. She didn’t intend for it to happen again.
She met Zoser’s gaze gratefully when he handed her the bathing implements. “Thank you,” she murmured, taking the cloth and oils from his hands with a smile a little stronger than before. “Your discretion is… appreciated. People talk about my Hei enough, you know? The last thing we need is something else.” When his hand gently brushed against her shoulder, she reached to briefly cover it with hers, conveying her gratitude in the graze of her skin against his.
Dropping her hand and waiting until Zoser had turned around, Nia carefully undid the ties that held her kalasiris in place and winced as it dropped to the floor. Even the tiny whisper of fabric against her skin hurt, bruises fresh and old alike protesting its passage. At first, Iahotep had been rather careful not to leave marks, but they were clearly past that now. He said he would mark her as he liked, that she was his and she should be honored to bear them. The acts that followed this declaration had ensured that she never argued with him about it again.
One foot gingerly dipped into the tepid water before the rest of her followed, dunking her head with a gentle splash. Pouring a few drops of the hair oil in her hands, she started running it through her tangled tresses until it flowed like silk. Dipping her head again, she rinsed it as best she could and wrung it out before starting to work on the rest of her.
Nia paused when Zoser started to speak, casting a speculative glance at his back. Was he… helping her craft an alibi? She was impressed with his tacit acknowledgement of her situation in his possible solution while still refraining from saying anything about it. She knew she could never handle something so delicate in such a deft manner. How did one even begin to learn?
“Sutekh would probably be the most surprised of everyone, honestly,” she murmured with a soft laugh that echoed across the water, nonetheless. “We haven’t spoken much since he came to live here. We haven’t been very close since we were children, and now…” She trailed off with a shrug.
“Perhaps it’s time I remedied that, though,” she added thoughtfully. “Everything else aside, I do miss him.”
Sluicing water over her skin to rinse away the rest of the oils, Neithotep stepped back out of the bathing pool and gathered up the cloth to dry herself. Dabbing excess water from her skin, she looked over at Zoser again. She still couldn’t help but wonder why he would deign to help her. Was his kindness a façade for something else? Or was he genuinely just that good of a good man?
Sufficiently dry, she redressed herself, this time being more vigilant with the ties and fastenings of her kalasiris. At the very least, she looked less unkempt than she had before, some of the tension relaxing from her stiffened and abused muscles. Walking over to where her companion sat, she tapped his shoulder with a shy smile.
“I’m finished,” she told him quietly. “Thank you. This was… this was a good idea.”
Nia glanced down at the hand patting hers, tears filling her eyes again. It felt like so long since the last time someone had shown her such simple kindness, and in the wake of what she’d just been through, she needed it now more than ever. Looking up at Zoser, she offered a weak smile, lightly squeezing his forearm in acknowledgement of what he’d done. She knew it wasn’t much, but in that moment, it meant everything to her.
When they entered the bathing chamber, she took a careful look around to see if any others still lingered. Dark eyes roamed every corner until she was sure they were alone, releasing a long breath of immense relief. She’d already been caught once tonight. She didn’t intend for it to happen again.
She met Zoser’s gaze gratefully when he handed her the bathing implements. “Thank you,” she murmured, taking the cloth and oils from his hands with a smile a little stronger than before. “Your discretion is… appreciated. People talk about my Hei enough, you know? The last thing we need is something else.” When his hand gently brushed against her shoulder, she reached to briefly cover it with hers, conveying her gratitude in the graze of her skin against his.
Dropping her hand and waiting until Zoser had turned around, Nia carefully undid the ties that held her kalasiris in place and winced as it dropped to the floor. Even the tiny whisper of fabric against her skin hurt, bruises fresh and old alike protesting its passage. At first, Iahotep had been rather careful not to leave marks, but they were clearly past that now. He said he would mark her as he liked, that she was his and she should be honored to bear them. The acts that followed this declaration had ensured that she never argued with him about it again.
One foot gingerly dipped into the tepid water before the rest of her followed, dunking her head with a gentle splash. Pouring a few drops of the hair oil in her hands, she started running it through her tangled tresses until it flowed like silk. Dipping her head again, she rinsed it as best she could and wrung it out before starting to work on the rest of her.
Nia paused when Zoser started to speak, casting a speculative glance at his back. Was he… helping her craft an alibi? She was impressed with his tacit acknowledgement of her situation in his possible solution while still refraining from saying anything about it. She knew she could never handle something so delicate in such a deft manner. How did one even begin to learn?
“Sutekh would probably be the most surprised of everyone, honestly,” she murmured with a soft laugh that echoed across the water, nonetheless. “We haven’t spoken much since he came to live here. We haven’t been very close since we were children, and now…” She trailed off with a shrug.
“Perhaps it’s time I remedied that, though,” she added thoughtfully. “Everything else aside, I do miss him.”
Sluicing water over her skin to rinse away the rest of the oils, Neithotep stepped back out of the bathing pool and gathered up the cloth to dry herself. Dabbing excess water from her skin, she looked over at Zoser again. She still couldn’t help but wonder why he would deign to help her. Was his kindness a façade for something else? Or was he genuinely just that good of a good man?
Sufficiently dry, she redressed herself, this time being more vigilant with the ties and fastenings of her kalasiris. At the very least, she looked less unkempt than she had before, some of the tension relaxing from her stiffened and abused muscles. Walking over to where her companion sat, she tapped his shoulder with a shy smile.
“I’m finished,” she told him quietly. “Thank you. This was… this was a good idea.”
At her thanks, Zoser offer a soft, tight-lipped smile that seemed to make his eyes close and crinkle, much in the same way a cat's expression changed when being scratched behind the ears.
He needed no thanks for a small act. As someone who bore a soft heart in a world that preferred strength and iron-wills, he cherished moments like this, to serve as a sort of momentary caretaker for those who needed it. As a man of no name, no family, and in the waning years of his prime, the prospects of becoming a proper caretaker - a husband and father - seemed nearly behind him.
Having been spoiled by the last ten years of watching the Queen grow from child to woman to soon-to-be mother, he felt the joys of looking after someone, but as with many things given his lot in life, it seemed to exist out of reach.
"There will always be talk of Heis and their scandals," he noted as he had settled into his spot looking out over the Nile, "It is not my place to add fuel to the fire. Nor do I care to. I would rather use words to describe beautiful things...like this..."
With his back to her still, he gestured up at the speckled sky and the rooftops bathed in moonlight. To be quite honest, he preferred this time of night and enjoyed the river-side walk he would take to his quarters along the Nile.
Behind him, he could hear her bathing and found only the mildest temptation to cast a glance over his shoulder. When he offered his idea, he could hear the ripple of the water pause ever so slightly as she seemed to ponder his words. At her laugh, he could not help the soft laugh in response. After all, it was comforting to know that even given her current conditions, she could still manage a lighter air. Youth helped with such things.
"Family is a blessing to be cherished, regardless of the trials," he noted, speaking the words and trying not to let his mind linger on them too long, lest his own shortcomings in that realm sting too much. "And, if you miss him, I can only imagine that he may miss you, as well. Perhaps some time spent together may help heal some of the wounds of the past, to overcome sullied names and court gossip. Some of the best tales and legends follow such a path."
He paused, feeling the sting of his own words and the hypocrisy behind them, knowing his own family - or lack thereof, in official terms - was not something he could speak on. Still, words could help and hurt, and he hoped that what he offered might not only help solidify an alibi to keep her Hei's name from further torment, but perhaps even cause some healing to take place in their torn family - at least between her and Sutekh
He was meddling and he knew it. Yet, he could not help it.
After a moment, Zoser visibly shrugged and added with an unseen, over-broad smile that rang through his voice, "But, what do I know, eh?"
It was a teasing tone that allowed him to hide behind some form of self-deprecation. It was one of the benefits of his position - he could talk on and on about many things, but he found comfort in the ability to fall back on the humility of his lack of name. It was honestly the best of both worlds.
At her tap, he glanced up at her, a dark brow raising in an almost comical fashion to see that her shoulders had released most of their tension and that her kalasaris were now more properly tied for a woman of her station. He offered the same, polite smile as she thanked him again.
"I am blessed by the gods to have those on occasion, my lady," he replied, a smile in his voice as he started to lift himself to his feet until once again he was towering over the young noblewoman. "And I am thankful to you for not thinking it too bold of a suggestion at such an hour."
Extending an arm ever so slightly, he offered, "If I may, Lady Neithotep...allow me to escort you wherever you wish..."
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At her thanks, Zoser offer a soft, tight-lipped smile that seemed to make his eyes close and crinkle, much in the same way a cat's expression changed when being scratched behind the ears.
He needed no thanks for a small act. As someone who bore a soft heart in a world that preferred strength and iron-wills, he cherished moments like this, to serve as a sort of momentary caretaker for those who needed it. As a man of no name, no family, and in the waning years of his prime, the prospects of becoming a proper caretaker - a husband and father - seemed nearly behind him.
Having been spoiled by the last ten years of watching the Queen grow from child to woman to soon-to-be mother, he felt the joys of looking after someone, but as with many things given his lot in life, it seemed to exist out of reach.
"There will always be talk of Heis and their scandals," he noted as he had settled into his spot looking out over the Nile, "It is not my place to add fuel to the fire. Nor do I care to. I would rather use words to describe beautiful things...like this..."
With his back to her still, he gestured up at the speckled sky and the rooftops bathed in moonlight. To be quite honest, he preferred this time of night and enjoyed the river-side walk he would take to his quarters along the Nile.
Behind him, he could hear her bathing and found only the mildest temptation to cast a glance over his shoulder. When he offered his idea, he could hear the ripple of the water pause ever so slightly as she seemed to ponder his words. At her laugh, he could not help the soft laugh in response. After all, it was comforting to know that even given her current conditions, she could still manage a lighter air. Youth helped with such things.
"Family is a blessing to be cherished, regardless of the trials," he noted, speaking the words and trying not to let his mind linger on them too long, lest his own shortcomings in that realm sting too much. "And, if you miss him, I can only imagine that he may miss you, as well. Perhaps some time spent together may help heal some of the wounds of the past, to overcome sullied names and court gossip. Some of the best tales and legends follow such a path."
He paused, feeling the sting of his own words and the hypocrisy behind them, knowing his own family - or lack thereof, in official terms - was not something he could speak on. Still, words could help and hurt, and he hoped that what he offered might not only help solidify an alibi to keep her Hei's name from further torment, but perhaps even cause some healing to take place in their torn family - at least between her and Sutekh
He was meddling and he knew it. Yet, he could not help it.
After a moment, Zoser visibly shrugged and added with an unseen, over-broad smile that rang through his voice, "But, what do I know, eh?"
It was a teasing tone that allowed him to hide behind some form of self-deprecation. It was one of the benefits of his position - he could talk on and on about many things, but he found comfort in the ability to fall back on the humility of his lack of name. It was honestly the best of both worlds.
At her tap, he glanced up at her, a dark brow raising in an almost comical fashion to see that her shoulders had released most of their tension and that her kalasaris were now more properly tied for a woman of her station. He offered the same, polite smile as she thanked him again.
"I am blessed by the gods to have those on occasion, my lady," he replied, a smile in his voice as he started to lift himself to his feet until once again he was towering over the young noblewoman. "And I am thankful to you for not thinking it too bold of a suggestion at such an hour."
Extending an arm ever so slightly, he offered, "If I may, Lady Neithotep...allow me to escort you wherever you wish..."
At her thanks, Zoser offer a soft, tight-lipped smile that seemed to make his eyes close and crinkle, much in the same way a cat's expression changed when being scratched behind the ears.
He needed no thanks for a small act. As someone who bore a soft heart in a world that preferred strength and iron-wills, he cherished moments like this, to serve as a sort of momentary caretaker for those who needed it. As a man of no name, no family, and in the waning years of his prime, the prospects of becoming a proper caretaker - a husband and father - seemed nearly behind him.
Having been spoiled by the last ten years of watching the Queen grow from child to woman to soon-to-be mother, he felt the joys of looking after someone, but as with many things given his lot in life, it seemed to exist out of reach.
"There will always be talk of Heis and their scandals," he noted as he had settled into his spot looking out over the Nile, "It is not my place to add fuel to the fire. Nor do I care to. I would rather use words to describe beautiful things...like this..."
With his back to her still, he gestured up at the speckled sky and the rooftops bathed in moonlight. To be quite honest, he preferred this time of night and enjoyed the river-side walk he would take to his quarters along the Nile.
Behind him, he could hear her bathing and found only the mildest temptation to cast a glance over his shoulder. When he offered his idea, he could hear the ripple of the water pause ever so slightly as she seemed to ponder his words. At her laugh, he could not help the soft laugh in response. After all, it was comforting to know that even given her current conditions, she could still manage a lighter air. Youth helped with such things.
"Family is a blessing to be cherished, regardless of the trials," he noted, speaking the words and trying not to let his mind linger on them too long, lest his own shortcomings in that realm sting too much. "And, if you miss him, I can only imagine that he may miss you, as well. Perhaps some time spent together may help heal some of the wounds of the past, to overcome sullied names and court gossip. Some of the best tales and legends follow such a path."
He paused, feeling the sting of his own words and the hypocrisy behind them, knowing his own family - or lack thereof, in official terms - was not something he could speak on. Still, words could help and hurt, and he hoped that what he offered might not only help solidify an alibi to keep her Hei's name from further torment, but perhaps even cause some healing to take place in their torn family - at least between her and Sutekh
He was meddling and he knew it. Yet, he could not help it.
After a moment, Zoser visibly shrugged and added with an unseen, over-broad smile that rang through his voice, "But, what do I know, eh?"
It was a teasing tone that allowed him to hide behind some form of self-deprecation. It was one of the benefits of his position - he could talk on and on about many things, but he found comfort in the ability to fall back on the humility of his lack of name. It was honestly the best of both worlds.
At her tap, he glanced up at her, a dark brow raising in an almost comical fashion to see that her shoulders had released most of their tension and that her kalasaris were now more properly tied for a woman of her station. He offered the same, polite smile as she thanked him again.
"I am blessed by the gods to have those on occasion, my lady," he replied, a smile in his voice as he started to lift himself to his feet until once again he was towering over the young noblewoman. "And I am thankful to you for not thinking it too bold of a suggestion at such an hour."
Extending an arm ever so slightly, he offered, "If I may, Lady Neithotep...allow me to escort you wherever you wish..."
It was hard to remember the beauty in the world when so many of her nights were tarnished by the evil, but listening to Zoser’s calming voice as he gestured to the stars above, it became a little easier to recall. Nia had always been the type to see the best in other people, to find the good in the bad. But these recent weeks had started to diminish that, to open her eyes to the world’s sharp and varied cruelties. It was nice to have a moment of peace, an instant of calm in an otherwise chaotic and fearful day. Even if Zoser thought little of what he’d done for her, Nia wouldn’t soon forget.
His words on family made her pause; while she wasn’t always the first one to catch on to deeper meaning behind someone’s speech, the longing in his voice was clear. For such a seemingly fatherly man, she wondered why Zoser didn’t have a wife and children of his own—or at least not any that she was aware of. Opening her mouth, she nearly commented on it, but stopped before she actually said anything. For all she knew, it could be a sensitive topic, and she didn’t want to pry. She had no wish to upset the only man to show her any semblance of kindness in the past month, and instead decided to keep her thoughts to herself. Perhaps another time.
Her attachment to her own family was tenuous, having always felt like the forgotten and unwanted child lost in the shadow of her siblings. Wild and unpredictable, she’d vexed her parents since she was barely more than a toddler, and that sentiment had not waned into adulthood. Most of the time, she didn’t mind it; she’d found attachments elsewhere that kept her from spiraling into loneliness. However, there were times that she mourned that loss, that she longed to feel the warm embrace of her mother’s arms or see the rare quirk of a smile on her father’s face. She was human, after all, and what child did not secretly long for the love and acceptance of their parents?
Nia forced all of this to the back of her mind when she finished her bath and joined Zoser on his bench. “I’ve heard nothing but bold suggestions tonight,” she said softly, the closest she’d come to outright saying what she’d been through in the past few hours. ‘Bold suggestions’ was a mild term compared to the barking orders and harsh commands the Pharaoh had given her, but it would suit. She wasn’t about to go into more detail than that. “Yours came nowhere close.”
Tentatively accepting Zoser’s arm when he offered it, she looked up at him with a trembling smile. “I… I don’t want to go home yet,” Nia told him softly. “My mother is often up this late watching the door for my return. I don’t… I don’t think I’m ready to face her yet.” Swallowing hard, she looked away, fiddling with the fabric of her kalasiris. “Is there somewhere else we might go? Somewhere quiet and empty to wind down the next hour or so? I don’t want to impose on you or get in your way, but I just… I’d rather not be alone.” She looked at him hopefully before her gaze darted away again, settling on the calm water of the bathing pool. “If it’s not too much to ask, of course. I don’t want to be a bother.”
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It was hard to remember the beauty in the world when so many of her nights were tarnished by the evil, but listening to Zoser’s calming voice as he gestured to the stars above, it became a little easier to recall. Nia had always been the type to see the best in other people, to find the good in the bad. But these recent weeks had started to diminish that, to open her eyes to the world’s sharp and varied cruelties. It was nice to have a moment of peace, an instant of calm in an otherwise chaotic and fearful day. Even if Zoser thought little of what he’d done for her, Nia wouldn’t soon forget.
His words on family made her pause; while she wasn’t always the first one to catch on to deeper meaning behind someone’s speech, the longing in his voice was clear. For such a seemingly fatherly man, she wondered why Zoser didn’t have a wife and children of his own—or at least not any that she was aware of. Opening her mouth, she nearly commented on it, but stopped before she actually said anything. For all she knew, it could be a sensitive topic, and she didn’t want to pry. She had no wish to upset the only man to show her any semblance of kindness in the past month, and instead decided to keep her thoughts to herself. Perhaps another time.
Her attachment to her own family was tenuous, having always felt like the forgotten and unwanted child lost in the shadow of her siblings. Wild and unpredictable, she’d vexed her parents since she was barely more than a toddler, and that sentiment had not waned into adulthood. Most of the time, she didn’t mind it; she’d found attachments elsewhere that kept her from spiraling into loneliness. However, there were times that she mourned that loss, that she longed to feel the warm embrace of her mother’s arms or see the rare quirk of a smile on her father’s face. She was human, after all, and what child did not secretly long for the love and acceptance of their parents?
Nia forced all of this to the back of her mind when she finished her bath and joined Zoser on his bench. “I’ve heard nothing but bold suggestions tonight,” she said softly, the closest she’d come to outright saying what she’d been through in the past few hours. ‘Bold suggestions’ was a mild term compared to the barking orders and harsh commands the Pharaoh had given her, but it would suit. She wasn’t about to go into more detail than that. “Yours came nowhere close.”
Tentatively accepting Zoser’s arm when he offered it, she looked up at him with a trembling smile. “I… I don’t want to go home yet,” Nia told him softly. “My mother is often up this late watching the door for my return. I don’t… I don’t think I’m ready to face her yet.” Swallowing hard, she looked away, fiddling with the fabric of her kalasiris. “Is there somewhere else we might go? Somewhere quiet and empty to wind down the next hour or so? I don’t want to impose on you or get in your way, but I just… I’d rather not be alone.” She looked at him hopefully before her gaze darted away again, settling on the calm water of the bathing pool. “If it’s not too much to ask, of course. I don’t want to be a bother.”
It was hard to remember the beauty in the world when so many of her nights were tarnished by the evil, but listening to Zoser’s calming voice as he gestured to the stars above, it became a little easier to recall. Nia had always been the type to see the best in other people, to find the good in the bad. But these recent weeks had started to diminish that, to open her eyes to the world’s sharp and varied cruelties. It was nice to have a moment of peace, an instant of calm in an otherwise chaotic and fearful day. Even if Zoser thought little of what he’d done for her, Nia wouldn’t soon forget.
His words on family made her pause; while she wasn’t always the first one to catch on to deeper meaning behind someone’s speech, the longing in his voice was clear. For such a seemingly fatherly man, she wondered why Zoser didn’t have a wife and children of his own—or at least not any that she was aware of. Opening her mouth, she nearly commented on it, but stopped before she actually said anything. For all she knew, it could be a sensitive topic, and she didn’t want to pry. She had no wish to upset the only man to show her any semblance of kindness in the past month, and instead decided to keep her thoughts to herself. Perhaps another time.
Her attachment to her own family was tenuous, having always felt like the forgotten and unwanted child lost in the shadow of her siblings. Wild and unpredictable, she’d vexed her parents since she was barely more than a toddler, and that sentiment had not waned into adulthood. Most of the time, she didn’t mind it; she’d found attachments elsewhere that kept her from spiraling into loneliness. However, there were times that she mourned that loss, that she longed to feel the warm embrace of her mother’s arms or see the rare quirk of a smile on her father’s face. She was human, after all, and what child did not secretly long for the love and acceptance of their parents?
Nia forced all of this to the back of her mind when she finished her bath and joined Zoser on his bench. “I’ve heard nothing but bold suggestions tonight,” she said softly, the closest she’d come to outright saying what she’d been through in the past few hours. ‘Bold suggestions’ was a mild term compared to the barking orders and harsh commands the Pharaoh had given her, but it would suit. She wasn’t about to go into more detail than that. “Yours came nowhere close.”
Tentatively accepting Zoser’s arm when he offered it, she looked up at him with a trembling smile. “I… I don’t want to go home yet,” Nia told him softly. “My mother is often up this late watching the door for my return. I don’t… I don’t think I’m ready to face her yet.” Swallowing hard, she looked away, fiddling with the fabric of her kalasiris. “Is there somewhere else we might go? Somewhere quiet and empty to wind down the next hour or so? I don’t want to impose on you or get in your way, but I just… I’d rather not be alone.” She looked at him hopefully before her gaze darted away again, settling on the calm water of the bathing pool. “If it’s not too much to ask, of course. I don’t want to be a bother.”
At first, Zoser adjusted so that he could come to stand before Neithotep joined him on the bench briefly. Between the late hour and the beauty of the evening, Zoser found himself quite relaxed, despite the situations that brought them to this point. As the young Lady H'Sheifa made her comment, Zoser felt his expression falter ever so slightly.
He knew Iahotep and his means. As one of the few men within the Palace close to the new Pharoah's age and with slightly similar experiences as being common born, they had formed a companionship. It was...relatively one-sided and with many differences. They differed in almost every opinion, but for Iahotep, that was necessary - if he could see those he disagreed with and learn from it, perhaps his rule would be more favorable.
Then, there were matters of his personal life that set Zoser's jaw on edge merely at the thought. His care for Hatshepsut only grew, despite its silence, as Iahotep discussed the more intimate issues that had been 'discovered' in these early months of their marriage. With the Queen now bearing the future of Egypt in her womb, it was clear that those preferences had turned elsewhere - in this case, to Neithotep.
At her words, he tried to keep his eyes from flickering to the dark mottling of crescent shaped bruises on her neck, but ended up glancing away slightly before looking to her again, offering a softer expression, unable to stop the slight pitying downturn of his eyes as he softly offered an apology that was not his to give...
"I am sorry."
Shifting away from the uncomfortable subject that had been felt strongly but not discussed, he stood and offered to escort her home. As she accepted his hand, he returned her smile, only for it to dim again slightly at her request. He thought a moment and swallowed hard, considering the options.
Hei Sheifa's manor was in the opposite direction of his own home, though he immediately shed the possibility of taking her there - how crass and awkward. No, they would need to stay here, but...where?
Perhaps for her to take some time to rest in the small study that served as his office. It was not the tidiest or coziest of places, but had some interesting artistry of Greek, Judean, and Egyptian origin decorating the walls and shelves. It would be quite dull, and he would have the tendency to consider working once again...
Then, the idea lighted on him, and a broad smile spread across his face in a flash.
"I have just the idea," he started, patting the top of her hand as he nestled it through the crook of his arm and quietly strode down an exterior promenade that led to the rear entrance of the Archives through a set of narrow back corridors that the servants had already snuffed the torches for the night. Still, there was enough moonlight pouring in for them to reach the lofty rooms of the Archives through a pressed door.
"It...is sort of a secret, but not for any real purpose," he started, as if trying to explain himself out of trouble, "And, honestly, it is not for lack of trying to prevent it from happening, but...I suppose the gods willed it, and we follow their wills, yes?"
Leading her through towering shelves stacked with roll upon roll of papyrus and scrolls and codexes from far away lands, meticulously laid in an almost geometric fashion - many by Zoser's own hands. They rounded a corner through a particularly unkept corner of the archives - an eyesore that any other time Zoser would have DEMANDED be rectified, were it not serving a particular purpose now.
Lighting a small lamp that was kept on a table at the last shelf before rounding a corner. Once it was lit, the small area was flooded in golden light, mixing with the dim silver of the moon from the high windows on the far wall.
Laying there, in a pile of old linens, was an Abyssinan cat, who blinked lazily at the introduction of light - and four small tawny kittens nursing at her belly.
"We tried to keep her out of here for the longest time, but as you can see, she had her reasons for staying. Everyone needs a safe harbor every now and then, I suppose. She found hers."
As Zoser reached forward to gently scratch the mother behind the ears, he dared a look at Neithotep, offering a slightly sideways smirk.
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At first, Zoser adjusted so that he could come to stand before Neithotep joined him on the bench briefly. Between the late hour and the beauty of the evening, Zoser found himself quite relaxed, despite the situations that brought them to this point. As the young Lady H'Sheifa made her comment, Zoser felt his expression falter ever so slightly.
He knew Iahotep and his means. As one of the few men within the Palace close to the new Pharoah's age and with slightly similar experiences as being common born, they had formed a companionship. It was...relatively one-sided and with many differences. They differed in almost every opinion, but for Iahotep, that was necessary - if he could see those he disagreed with and learn from it, perhaps his rule would be more favorable.
Then, there were matters of his personal life that set Zoser's jaw on edge merely at the thought. His care for Hatshepsut only grew, despite its silence, as Iahotep discussed the more intimate issues that had been 'discovered' in these early months of their marriage. With the Queen now bearing the future of Egypt in her womb, it was clear that those preferences had turned elsewhere - in this case, to Neithotep.
At her words, he tried to keep his eyes from flickering to the dark mottling of crescent shaped bruises on her neck, but ended up glancing away slightly before looking to her again, offering a softer expression, unable to stop the slight pitying downturn of his eyes as he softly offered an apology that was not his to give...
"I am sorry."
Shifting away from the uncomfortable subject that had been felt strongly but not discussed, he stood and offered to escort her home. As she accepted his hand, he returned her smile, only for it to dim again slightly at her request. He thought a moment and swallowed hard, considering the options.
Hei Sheifa's manor was in the opposite direction of his own home, though he immediately shed the possibility of taking her there - how crass and awkward. No, they would need to stay here, but...where?
Perhaps for her to take some time to rest in the small study that served as his office. It was not the tidiest or coziest of places, but had some interesting artistry of Greek, Judean, and Egyptian origin decorating the walls and shelves. It would be quite dull, and he would have the tendency to consider working once again...
Then, the idea lighted on him, and a broad smile spread across his face in a flash.
"I have just the idea," he started, patting the top of her hand as he nestled it through the crook of his arm and quietly strode down an exterior promenade that led to the rear entrance of the Archives through a set of narrow back corridors that the servants had already snuffed the torches for the night. Still, there was enough moonlight pouring in for them to reach the lofty rooms of the Archives through a pressed door.
"It...is sort of a secret, but not for any real purpose," he started, as if trying to explain himself out of trouble, "And, honestly, it is not for lack of trying to prevent it from happening, but...I suppose the gods willed it, and we follow their wills, yes?"
Leading her through towering shelves stacked with roll upon roll of papyrus and scrolls and codexes from far away lands, meticulously laid in an almost geometric fashion - many by Zoser's own hands. They rounded a corner through a particularly unkept corner of the archives - an eyesore that any other time Zoser would have DEMANDED be rectified, were it not serving a particular purpose now.
Lighting a small lamp that was kept on a table at the last shelf before rounding a corner. Once it was lit, the small area was flooded in golden light, mixing with the dim silver of the moon from the high windows on the far wall.
Laying there, in a pile of old linens, was an Abyssinan cat, who blinked lazily at the introduction of light - and four small tawny kittens nursing at her belly.
"We tried to keep her out of here for the longest time, but as you can see, she had her reasons for staying. Everyone needs a safe harbor every now and then, I suppose. She found hers."
As Zoser reached forward to gently scratch the mother behind the ears, he dared a look at Neithotep, offering a slightly sideways smirk.
At first, Zoser adjusted so that he could come to stand before Neithotep joined him on the bench briefly. Between the late hour and the beauty of the evening, Zoser found himself quite relaxed, despite the situations that brought them to this point. As the young Lady H'Sheifa made her comment, Zoser felt his expression falter ever so slightly.
He knew Iahotep and his means. As one of the few men within the Palace close to the new Pharoah's age and with slightly similar experiences as being common born, they had formed a companionship. It was...relatively one-sided and with many differences. They differed in almost every opinion, but for Iahotep, that was necessary - if he could see those he disagreed with and learn from it, perhaps his rule would be more favorable.
Then, there were matters of his personal life that set Zoser's jaw on edge merely at the thought. His care for Hatshepsut only grew, despite its silence, as Iahotep discussed the more intimate issues that had been 'discovered' in these early months of their marriage. With the Queen now bearing the future of Egypt in her womb, it was clear that those preferences had turned elsewhere - in this case, to Neithotep.
At her words, he tried to keep his eyes from flickering to the dark mottling of crescent shaped bruises on her neck, but ended up glancing away slightly before looking to her again, offering a softer expression, unable to stop the slight pitying downturn of his eyes as he softly offered an apology that was not his to give...
"I am sorry."
Shifting away from the uncomfortable subject that had been felt strongly but not discussed, he stood and offered to escort her home. As she accepted his hand, he returned her smile, only for it to dim again slightly at her request. He thought a moment and swallowed hard, considering the options.
Hei Sheifa's manor was in the opposite direction of his own home, though he immediately shed the possibility of taking her there - how crass and awkward. No, they would need to stay here, but...where?
Perhaps for her to take some time to rest in the small study that served as his office. It was not the tidiest or coziest of places, but had some interesting artistry of Greek, Judean, and Egyptian origin decorating the walls and shelves. It would be quite dull, and he would have the tendency to consider working once again...
Then, the idea lighted on him, and a broad smile spread across his face in a flash.
"I have just the idea," he started, patting the top of her hand as he nestled it through the crook of his arm and quietly strode down an exterior promenade that led to the rear entrance of the Archives through a set of narrow back corridors that the servants had already snuffed the torches for the night. Still, there was enough moonlight pouring in for them to reach the lofty rooms of the Archives through a pressed door.
"It...is sort of a secret, but not for any real purpose," he started, as if trying to explain himself out of trouble, "And, honestly, it is not for lack of trying to prevent it from happening, but...I suppose the gods willed it, and we follow their wills, yes?"
Leading her through towering shelves stacked with roll upon roll of papyrus and scrolls and codexes from far away lands, meticulously laid in an almost geometric fashion - many by Zoser's own hands. They rounded a corner through a particularly unkept corner of the archives - an eyesore that any other time Zoser would have DEMANDED be rectified, were it not serving a particular purpose now.
Lighting a small lamp that was kept on a table at the last shelf before rounding a corner. Once it was lit, the small area was flooded in golden light, mixing with the dim silver of the moon from the high windows on the far wall.
Laying there, in a pile of old linens, was an Abyssinan cat, who blinked lazily at the introduction of light - and four small tawny kittens nursing at her belly.
"We tried to keep her out of here for the longest time, but as you can see, she had her reasons for staying. Everyone needs a safe harbor every now and then, I suppose. She found hers."
As Zoser reached forward to gently scratch the mother behind the ears, he dared a look at Neithotep, offering a slightly sideways smirk.
I am sorry.
Nia’s eyes filled with tears, which she impatiently blinked away. It was an apology she needed to hear, but not the lips she needed to hear it from. Nonetheless, his sympathy touched her, even if she wished that pity on his face was for someone else. “You’re not the one who should be sorry,” she whispered, a dark tinge to her voice that surprised even herself. The young lady of Hei Sheifa was not a hateful woman by any means, but the vengeful loathing that crept into her tone was genuine and unfiltered. As much as she was forced to pretend otherwise, she despised Iahotep and what he did to her. The twisted ‘pleasure’ that he inflicted on the softness of her flesh. She knew she would bear scars on both her body and her mind until the day she died.
Looking up at him, she offered a weak smile. “But thank you.”
Intrigued as Zoser seemed to decide where they should go, she clutched tight to his arm and followed him down the back corridors of the Evening Star Palace. Dark eyes glanced at his face in surprise and vague suspicion when he started talking about secrets and the gods’ will, wondering what exactly it was he was pulling her into. She’d felt no malice from the older scholar, but Nia wasn’t always very good at attuning herself to such things. Hopefully, she wasn’t walking from one trap right into another.
However, when they entered the archives and rounded a corner, the sight that met her eyes caused any doubt or worry she harbored to instantly dissolve. She gasped in delight, letting go of Zoser’s arm to drop to her knees beside the cats. Holding out her hand for the mother’s inspection, she was awarded with a lazy chirp of inquiry and a gentle headbutt, a genuine smile pulling at Nia’s lips. Smoothing her palm over the animal’s head, she let one finger of the other hand trail down the back of the smallest kitten. They were so beautiful…
Everyone needs a safe harbor every now and then, I suppose. She found hers.
“Don’t we all?” she murmured, a longing sadness creeping into her words. She couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like to have her own safe harbor, a place she could go to escape when all else seemed to be weighing down and crushing her. Her home was far from such a place, the hefty demands of her parents constantly lingering over her head. The Palace was even worse, the threat of the Pharaoh’s presence idling around every corner. It was why she spent so much time in the port or along the banks of the Nile; it was the only place she could find peace, but it was never a peace that remained for very long. To find herself envious of a cat… She shook her head. She needed to pull herself together.
Smiling up at Zoser while her hand continued to rub along the mother’s head, she tucked her sorrow away for the time being. There was no sense in feeling sorry for herself when there was nothing she could change. “Do they have names?” she asked, glancing back down toward the kittens who were breaking away from their nursing to start nosily sniffing at her. Giggling, she stopped petting the mother to offer her hands to her babies instead, their tiny mews and purrs easing a tension in her that had plagued her since the night began. Picking up the runt, she nuzzled her nose against his, only giggling harder when his little paw swatted at her cheek.
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I am sorry.
Nia’s eyes filled with tears, which she impatiently blinked away. It was an apology she needed to hear, but not the lips she needed to hear it from. Nonetheless, his sympathy touched her, even if she wished that pity on his face was for someone else. “You’re not the one who should be sorry,” she whispered, a dark tinge to her voice that surprised even herself. The young lady of Hei Sheifa was not a hateful woman by any means, but the vengeful loathing that crept into her tone was genuine and unfiltered. As much as she was forced to pretend otherwise, she despised Iahotep and what he did to her. The twisted ‘pleasure’ that he inflicted on the softness of her flesh. She knew she would bear scars on both her body and her mind until the day she died.
Looking up at him, she offered a weak smile. “But thank you.”
Intrigued as Zoser seemed to decide where they should go, she clutched tight to his arm and followed him down the back corridors of the Evening Star Palace. Dark eyes glanced at his face in surprise and vague suspicion when he started talking about secrets and the gods’ will, wondering what exactly it was he was pulling her into. She’d felt no malice from the older scholar, but Nia wasn’t always very good at attuning herself to such things. Hopefully, she wasn’t walking from one trap right into another.
However, when they entered the archives and rounded a corner, the sight that met her eyes caused any doubt or worry she harbored to instantly dissolve. She gasped in delight, letting go of Zoser’s arm to drop to her knees beside the cats. Holding out her hand for the mother’s inspection, she was awarded with a lazy chirp of inquiry and a gentle headbutt, a genuine smile pulling at Nia’s lips. Smoothing her palm over the animal’s head, she let one finger of the other hand trail down the back of the smallest kitten. They were so beautiful…
Everyone needs a safe harbor every now and then, I suppose. She found hers.
“Don’t we all?” she murmured, a longing sadness creeping into her words. She couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like to have her own safe harbor, a place she could go to escape when all else seemed to be weighing down and crushing her. Her home was far from such a place, the hefty demands of her parents constantly lingering over her head. The Palace was even worse, the threat of the Pharaoh’s presence idling around every corner. It was why she spent so much time in the port or along the banks of the Nile; it was the only place she could find peace, but it was never a peace that remained for very long. To find herself envious of a cat… She shook her head. She needed to pull herself together.
Smiling up at Zoser while her hand continued to rub along the mother’s head, she tucked her sorrow away for the time being. There was no sense in feeling sorry for herself when there was nothing she could change. “Do they have names?” she asked, glancing back down toward the kittens who were breaking away from their nursing to start nosily sniffing at her. Giggling, she stopped petting the mother to offer her hands to her babies instead, their tiny mews and purrs easing a tension in her that had plagued her since the night began. Picking up the runt, she nuzzled her nose against his, only giggling harder when his little paw swatted at her cheek.
I am sorry.
Nia’s eyes filled with tears, which she impatiently blinked away. It was an apology she needed to hear, but not the lips she needed to hear it from. Nonetheless, his sympathy touched her, even if she wished that pity on his face was for someone else. “You’re not the one who should be sorry,” she whispered, a dark tinge to her voice that surprised even herself. The young lady of Hei Sheifa was not a hateful woman by any means, but the vengeful loathing that crept into her tone was genuine and unfiltered. As much as she was forced to pretend otherwise, she despised Iahotep and what he did to her. The twisted ‘pleasure’ that he inflicted on the softness of her flesh. She knew she would bear scars on both her body and her mind until the day she died.
Looking up at him, she offered a weak smile. “But thank you.”
Intrigued as Zoser seemed to decide where they should go, she clutched tight to his arm and followed him down the back corridors of the Evening Star Palace. Dark eyes glanced at his face in surprise and vague suspicion when he started talking about secrets and the gods’ will, wondering what exactly it was he was pulling her into. She’d felt no malice from the older scholar, but Nia wasn’t always very good at attuning herself to such things. Hopefully, she wasn’t walking from one trap right into another.
However, when they entered the archives and rounded a corner, the sight that met her eyes caused any doubt or worry she harbored to instantly dissolve. She gasped in delight, letting go of Zoser’s arm to drop to her knees beside the cats. Holding out her hand for the mother’s inspection, she was awarded with a lazy chirp of inquiry and a gentle headbutt, a genuine smile pulling at Nia’s lips. Smoothing her palm over the animal’s head, she let one finger of the other hand trail down the back of the smallest kitten. They were so beautiful…
Everyone needs a safe harbor every now and then, I suppose. She found hers.
“Don’t we all?” she murmured, a longing sadness creeping into her words. She couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like to have her own safe harbor, a place she could go to escape when all else seemed to be weighing down and crushing her. Her home was far from such a place, the hefty demands of her parents constantly lingering over her head. The Palace was even worse, the threat of the Pharaoh’s presence idling around every corner. It was why she spent so much time in the port or along the banks of the Nile; it was the only place she could find peace, but it was never a peace that remained for very long. To find herself envious of a cat… She shook her head. She needed to pull herself together.
Smiling up at Zoser while her hand continued to rub along the mother’s head, she tucked her sorrow away for the time being. There was no sense in feeling sorry for herself when there was nothing she could change. “Do they have names?” she asked, glancing back down toward the kittens who were breaking away from their nursing to start nosily sniffing at her. Giggling, she stopped petting the mother to offer her hands to her babies instead, their tiny mews and purrs easing a tension in her that had plagued her since the night began. Picking up the runt, she nuzzled her nose against his, only giggling harder when his little paw swatted at her cheek.
When Neithotep knelt down beside the litter, Zoser felt himself sit back onto his heels, a smile playing on his lips as he watched the significant shift in the young woman's mood seem to take over. While Bast and her purposes were not aligned entirely with Zoser's patronage to his gods of choice - both Coptic and Greek - there was absolutely no denying her blessing to allow her kind to live among mortals.
Now that their presence had roused the kittens, small mews began to echo in the sandstone chamber, and their tenuous steps were staggered as they ventured from their mother's side to inspect the newcomers. One of the more adventurous ones had started to climb the cliffside his bent knee created, the tiniest of claws puncturing through the linen fabric and in a few places pricking into his skin. Still, he did not want to assist it in its adventure - some things, the young had to learn for themselves.
Once the kitten had made its way onto his lap, mewling and demanding the entire time, he laughed slightly and began to massage its little tiny ear between his forefinger and thumb. Glancing over to see Lady H'Sheifa coddling and toying with another kitten, he offered a grin, before her question made her falter.
"Not yet," he confessed, a slightly sheepish grin on his lips as he reached forward to scratch the mother cat's ears again, "I simply call her Maut." There was a slight sparkle in his eye at the play on words, blending the two words for mother and cat into one. Continuing, he said, "Usually the others go by some variety of 'No', 'Stop That', and 'Get Away From There'..."
Humor was one of the few things he relied on heavily. In fact, it was much of his humor and over-friendlieness that had most of his staff and other nobles and palace workers uncertain about him. Egyptians tended to be straightforward with their thoughts and words, leaving cleverness aside in preference towards blunt focus. To charm and to tease was so obstinately Greek, and it was a habit that he could not shake. Nor would he if he chose.
"I am open to suggestions," he offered, scooping up one of the kittens and letting it perch warily on his open palm. The four paws fit perfectly in the palm of his large hand, and it meowed uncertainly as it splayed its legs further. Maut did not seem to approve and stood to rub against his leg briefly before placing her front paws on it and looking up at her mildly distressed young. Lowering the kitten down again, he offered it to Maut, who promptly wrapped her mouth around the little one's scruff and carried it back to the makeshift nest.
"Or, we could just pull down one of those scrolls and start naming them with the first words we find."
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When Neithotep knelt down beside the litter, Zoser felt himself sit back onto his heels, a smile playing on his lips as he watched the significant shift in the young woman's mood seem to take over. While Bast and her purposes were not aligned entirely with Zoser's patronage to his gods of choice - both Coptic and Greek - there was absolutely no denying her blessing to allow her kind to live among mortals.
Now that their presence had roused the kittens, small mews began to echo in the sandstone chamber, and their tenuous steps were staggered as they ventured from their mother's side to inspect the newcomers. One of the more adventurous ones had started to climb the cliffside his bent knee created, the tiniest of claws puncturing through the linen fabric and in a few places pricking into his skin. Still, he did not want to assist it in its adventure - some things, the young had to learn for themselves.
Once the kitten had made its way onto his lap, mewling and demanding the entire time, he laughed slightly and began to massage its little tiny ear between his forefinger and thumb. Glancing over to see Lady H'Sheifa coddling and toying with another kitten, he offered a grin, before her question made her falter.
"Not yet," he confessed, a slightly sheepish grin on his lips as he reached forward to scratch the mother cat's ears again, "I simply call her Maut." There was a slight sparkle in his eye at the play on words, blending the two words for mother and cat into one. Continuing, he said, "Usually the others go by some variety of 'No', 'Stop That', and 'Get Away From There'..."
Humor was one of the few things he relied on heavily. In fact, it was much of his humor and over-friendlieness that had most of his staff and other nobles and palace workers uncertain about him. Egyptians tended to be straightforward with their thoughts and words, leaving cleverness aside in preference towards blunt focus. To charm and to tease was so obstinately Greek, and it was a habit that he could not shake. Nor would he if he chose.
"I am open to suggestions," he offered, scooping up one of the kittens and letting it perch warily on his open palm. The four paws fit perfectly in the palm of his large hand, and it meowed uncertainly as it splayed its legs further. Maut did not seem to approve and stood to rub against his leg briefly before placing her front paws on it and looking up at her mildly distressed young. Lowering the kitten down again, he offered it to Maut, who promptly wrapped her mouth around the little one's scruff and carried it back to the makeshift nest.
"Or, we could just pull down one of those scrolls and start naming them with the first words we find."
When Neithotep knelt down beside the litter, Zoser felt himself sit back onto his heels, a smile playing on his lips as he watched the significant shift in the young woman's mood seem to take over. While Bast and her purposes were not aligned entirely with Zoser's patronage to his gods of choice - both Coptic and Greek - there was absolutely no denying her blessing to allow her kind to live among mortals.
Now that their presence had roused the kittens, small mews began to echo in the sandstone chamber, and their tenuous steps were staggered as they ventured from their mother's side to inspect the newcomers. One of the more adventurous ones had started to climb the cliffside his bent knee created, the tiniest of claws puncturing through the linen fabric and in a few places pricking into his skin. Still, he did not want to assist it in its adventure - some things, the young had to learn for themselves.
Once the kitten had made its way onto his lap, mewling and demanding the entire time, he laughed slightly and began to massage its little tiny ear between his forefinger and thumb. Glancing over to see Lady H'Sheifa coddling and toying with another kitten, he offered a grin, before her question made her falter.
"Not yet," he confessed, a slightly sheepish grin on his lips as he reached forward to scratch the mother cat's ears again, "I simply call her Maut." There was a slight sparkle in his eye at the play on words, blending the two words for mother and cat into one. Continuing, he said, "Usually the others go by some variety of 'No', 'Stop That', and 'Get Away From There'..."
Humor was one of the few things he relied on heavily. In fact, it was much of his humor and over-friendlieness that had most of his staff and other nobles and palace workers uncertain about him. Egyptians tended to be straightforward with their thoughts and words, leaving cleverness aside in preference towards blunt focus. To charm and to tease was so obstinately Greek, and it was a habit that he could not shake. Nor would he if he chose.
"I am open to suggestions," he offered, scooping up one of the kittens and letting it perch warily on his open palm. The four paws fit perfectly in the palm of his large hand, and it meowed uncertainly as it splayed its legs further. Maut did not seem to approve and stood to rub against his leg briefly before placing her front paws on it and looking up at her mildly distressed young. Lowering the kitten down again, he offered it to Maut, who promptly wrapped her mouth around the little one's scruff and carried it back to the makeshift nest.
"Or, we could just pull down one of those scrolls and start naming them with the first words we find."
Nia appreciated Zoser’s humor, even if others didn’t. In times like these, she needed the levity, a reminder that there were still good people in the world when it was hard to remember otherwise. Her lips curled in a grin at his comment, nestling the kitten she held in her lap. “I bet this one is ‘Get Away from There,’” she teased back as the little cat started trying to nuzzle its way under her kalasiris. Plucking the tiny kitten away from the fabric before it was ripped to shreds, she placed it back with Maut and gently patted its head.
“Come now, Zoser, names must have meaning,” she insisted when he suggested they could pick random names out of a scroll. The one she’d picked up before started making its way back to her, stumbling and almost falling before she caught it. It lifted its little head indignantly and continued walking as if it hadn’t just tripped over its own paws.
“Jahi,” she declared with a little giggle, the name ironically meaning ‘dignified.’ The little one made its way back to her lap and curled up on her knee, and this time she didn’t put it back. As far as she was concerned, it could stay there for as long as it liked.
“How old are they?” she asked curiously, her fingertip gently traveling down her small friend’s back. She watched as Maut gathered up one of the other kittens and started bathing it with her tongue, the peacefully maternal scene setting Nia’s heart at ease. “How long until they’re weaned?” Her question held a certain longing to it, the desire clear on her face. Surely he didn’t mean to keep all five of them himself when he’d claimed to try to get them out of the archives in the first place?
Nia had always liked cats, but her parents had never deemed her responsible enough to keep a pet of her own. When she was younger, that was probably a smart move on their part, but now that she was older, she was starting to regret that lack. While she didn’t have a particularly nurturing personality, she was a very loving woman, and she figured cats were pretty sufficient unto themselves. All she really needed to do was feed it, right? She figured she could do that much. It would be nice to have a companion who demanded little more from her than table scraps.
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Nia appreciated Zoser’s humor, even if others didn’t. In times like these, she needed the levity, a reminder that there were still good people in the world when it was hard to remember otherwise. Her lips curled in a grin at his comment, nestling the kitten she held in her lap. “I bet this one is ‘Get Away from There,’” she teased back as the little cat started trying to nuzzle its way under her kalasiris. Plucking the tiny kitten away from the fabric before it was ripped to shreds, she placed it back with Maut and gently patted its head.
“Come now, Zoser, names must have meaning,” she insisted when he suggested they could pick random names out of a scroll. The one she’d picked up before started making its way back to her, stumbling and almost falling before she caught it. It lifted its little head indignantly and continued walking as if it hadn’t just tripped over its own paws.
“Jahi,” she declared with a little giggle, the name ironically meaning ‘dignified.’ The little one made its way back to her lap and curled up on her knee, and this time she didn’t put it back. As far as she was concerned, it could stay there for as long as it liked.
“How old are they?” she asked curiously, her fingertip gently traveling down her small friend’s back. She watched as Maut gathered up one of the other kittens and started bathing it with her tongue, the peacefully maternal scene setting Nia’s heart at ease. “How long until they’re weaned?” Her question held a certain longing to it, the desire clear on her face. Surely he didn’t mean to keep all five of them himself when he’d claimed to try to get them out of the archives in the first place?
Nia had always liked cats, but her parents had never deemed her responsible enough to keep a pet of her own. When she was younger, that was probably a smart move on their part, but now that she was older, she was starting to regret that lack. While she didn’t have a particularly nurturing personality, she was a very loving woman, and she figured cats were pretty sufficient unto themselves. All she really needed to do was feed it, right? She figured she could do that much. It would be nice to have a companion who demanded little more from her than table scraps.
Nia appreciated Zoser’s humor, even if others didn’t. In times like these, she needed the levity, a reminder that there were still good people in the world when it was hard to remember otherwise. Her lips curled in a grin at his comment, nestling the kitten she held in her lap. “I bet this one is ‘Get Away from There,’” she teased back as the little cat started trying to nuzzle its way under her kalasiris. Plucking the tiny kitten away from the fabric before it was ripped to shreds, she placed it back with Maut and gently patted its head.
“Come now, Zoser, names must have meaning,” she insisted when he suggested they could pick random names out of a scroll. The one she’d picked up before started making its way back to her, stumbling and almost falling before she caught it. It lifted its little head indignantly and continued walking as if it hadn’t just tripped over its own paws.
“Jahi,” she declared with a little giggle, the name ironically meaning ‘dignified.’ The little one made its way back to her lap and curled up on her knee, and this time she didn’t put it back. As far as she was concerned, it could stay there for as long as it liked.
“How old are they?” she asked curiously, her fingertip gently traveling down her small friend’s back. She watched as Maut gathered up one of the other kittens and started bathing it with her tongue, the peacefully maternal scene setting Nia’s heart at ease. “How long until they’re weaned?” Her question held a certain longing to it, the desire clear on her face. Surely he didn’t mean to keep all five of them himself when he’d claimed to try to get them out of the archives in the first place?
Nia had always liked cats, but her parents had never deemed her responsible enough to keep a pet of her own. When she was younger, that was probably a smart move on their part, but now that she was older, she was starting to regret that lack. While she didn’t have a particularly nurturing personality, she was a very loving woman, and she figured cats were pretty sufficient unto themselves. All she really needed to do was feed it, right? She figured she could do that much. It would be nice to have a companion who demanded little more from her than table scraps.
Zoser smirked, pleased that his humor was appreciated by at least someone. Most he came across simply bore it as they would bear other menial tasks. Honestly, bearing his humor was simply enough, sometimes. Still, seeing Neithotep smiling despite the circumstances that brought them here, it lifted his own spirit.
It was clear that one of the kittens had taken an interest in the noblewoman and vice versa. Neithotep named the kitten in an instance, which caused a slight bubble of a laugh from Zoser as he readjusted the way he sat, leaning his shoulder against one of the shelves and stretching his long legs behind where the young woman and the kittens lingered, almost as if creating a fence to keep the small wanderers from wandering too far.
Zoser raised a brow slightly at her question, and mused a moment.
"One of my scribes had this same thing happen, but in his own house. He said it took just between two or three months before they stopped suckling. Or at least, when she will stop them from nursing on her." He looked at Maut as she groomed one of the nursing kittens, smiling softly a moment and then doing the math. "It has been roughly six weeks since they were born. So, in another month's time, they will start weaning."
There was no deceit in this line of questioning, and Zoser smiled.
"I would not be surprised if your Jahi was one of the first to separate himself from the litter," he noted, pointing to the kitten that made itself at home on her knee. His purrs seemed to echo lightly against the sandstone columns. "You are always welcome to visit him until he is old enough to join you at home."
With a laugh and then a feigned heavy sigh with a gesture to the rest of the litter, "And if you know anyone else who has a mouse problem, I am certain they could be trained to become tiny rat-killers."
He teased mostly...but then became aware of his own fondness for the kittens, and felt the earliest pinprick of impending loneliness once the time came for them to leave. They could not live here in the Archives. Additionally, now that Maut had born one set of children, it was known that should she live long enough, she would bear many more.
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Sept 21, 2019 13:13:05 GMT
Posted In Red-Handed on Sept 21, 2019 13:13:05 GMT
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Zoser smirked, pleased that his humor was appreciated by at least someone. Most he came across simply bore it as they would bear other menial tasks. Honestly, bearing his humor was simply enough, sometimes. Still, seeing Neithotep smiling despite the circumstances that brought them here, it lifted his own spirit.
It was clear that one of the kittens had taken an interest in the noblewoman and vice versa. Neithotep named the kitten in an instance, which caused a slight bubble of a laugh from Zoser as he readjusted the way he sat, leaning his shoulder against one of the shelves and stretching his long legs behind where the young woman and the kittens lingered, almost as if creating a fence to keep the small wanderers from wandering too far.
Zoser raised a brow slightly at her question, and mused a moment.
"One of my scribes had this same thing happen, but in his own house. He said it took just between two or three months before they stopped suckling. Or at least, when she will stop them from nursing on her." He looked at Maut as she groomed one of the nursing kittens, smiling softly a moment and then doing the math. "It has been roughly six weeks since they were born. So, in another month's time, they will start weaning."
There was no deceit in this line of questioning, and Zoser smiled.
"I would not be surprised if your Jahi was one of the first to separate himself from the litter," he noted, pointing to the kitten that made itself at home on her knee. His purrs seemed to echo lightly against the sandstone columns. "You are always welcome to visit him until he is old enough to join you at home."
With a laugh and then a feigned heavy sigh with a gesture to the rest of the litter, "And if you know anyone else who has a mouse problem, I am certain they could be trained to become tiny rat-killers."
He teased mostly...but then became aware of his own fondness for the kittens, and felt the earliest pinprick of impending loneliness once the time came for them to leave. They could not live here in the Archives. Additionally, now that Maut had born one set of children, it was known that should she live long enough, she would bear many more.
Zoser smirked, pleased that his humor was appreciated by at least someone. Most he came across simply bore it as they would bear other menial tasks. Honestly, bearing his humor was simply enough, sometimes. Still, seeing Neithotep smiling despite the circumstances that brought them here, it lifted his own spirit.
It was clear that one of the kittens had taken an interest in the noblewoman and vice versa. Neithotep named the kitten in an instance, which caused a slight bubble of a laugh from Zoser as he readjusted the way he sat, leaning his shoulder against one of the shelves and stretching his long legs behind where the young woman and the kittens lingered, almost as if creating a fence to keep the small wanderers from wandering too far.
Zoser raised a brow slightly at her question, and mused a moment.
"One of my scribes had this same thing happen, but in his own house. He said it took just between two or three months before they stopped suckling. Or at least, when she will stop them from nursing on her." He looked at Maut as she groomed one of the nursing kittens, smiling softly a moment and then doing the math. "It has been roughly six weeks since they were born. So, in another month's time, they will start weaning."
There was no deceit in this line of questioning, and Zoser smiled.
"I would not be surprised if your Jahi was one of the first to separate himself from the litter," he noted, pointing to the kitten that made itself at home on her knee. His purrs seemed to echo lightly against the sandstone columns. "You are always welcome to visit him until he is old enough to join you at home."
With a laugh and then a feigned heavy sigh with a gesture to the rest of the litter, "And if you know anyone else who has a mouse problem, I am certain they could be trained to become tiny rat-killers."
He teased mostly...but then became aware of his own fondness for the kittens, and felt the earliest pinprick of impending loneliness once the time came for them to leave. They could not live here in the Archives. Additionally, now that Maut had born one set of children, it was known that should she live long enough, she would bear many more.
Nia’s face lit up, lifting the little kitten to cuddle him against her chest and holding onto the words ‘until he is old enough to join you at home.’ The tiny cat had stolen her heart already, and to think of being able to take him with her… The young noblewoman smiled as she looked at Zoser, her face soft and dreamy. “He will be well cared for, I promise,” she swore, kissing Jahi’s nose and wrinkling her own when he licked her in response.
“A month…” she trailed off wistfully, setting the kit down and ushering him back toward his mother. Nia watched him indulgently for a moment before she turned her attention back to her human companion.
“I should like to visit him quite often, I think,” she told Zoser with a decisive nod. Her smile was tentative when she added, “And… you. If… if you don’t mind, that is.” She suddenly became very interested in the fabric of her kalasiris, running it between her fingers while her eyes dropped to her lap. “I only mean…” Releasing a short, annoyed huff, Nia struggled for the right words to say. “You’re very kind. And kindness is something that’s… I haven’t had much of it lately, that’s all.” Her lips twisted into a frown, knotting the linen in her hands. “I just… it’s nice to be around someone who doesn’t seem to want anything from me.”
Everyone in the woman’s life seemed to demand something from her, and it was always something she wasn’t willing to give, but had no choice. Whether it was the perverse demands of the pharaoh or the unrealistic expectations of her family, it seemed Nia was always caught up in a web too strong to break free, but here, tonight, she’d felt a measure of peace—a feeling absent for far too long. She desperately wanted to chase that feeling before it was snatched from her again.
“I can help you around the archives too, if you’d like,” she added, though she wasn’t quite sure what use she would be. The rebellious young noblewoman was able to read and write passably well, but one could never describe Nia as studious. However, she didn’t want to just take up Zoser’s time without contributing to it; she felt the least she could do was extend the offer. Plus, it would give her a more plausible excuse for why she was in the Palace so often. She could only use the excuse of visiting Sutekh so many times before her mother, at least, would start to get suspicious.
Nia finally looked up at him again, untying the ragged knot she’d formed and resting her hands in her lap. There was a burning hope in her eyes, one that she was not quite adept enough to cover with any true subtlety. “I…” She trailed off again, taking a deep breath, releasing it, and offering a smile. “Thank you. I know I said it before, but… thank you. The Palace needs more men like you.”
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Nia’s face lit up, lifting the little kitten to cuddle him against her chest and holding onto the words ‘until he is old enough to join you at home.’ The tiny cat had stolen her heart already, and to think of being able to take him with her… The young noblewoman smiled as she looked at Zoser, her face soft and dreamy. “He will be well cared for, I promise,” she swore, kissing Jahi’s nose and wrinkling her own when he licked her in response.
“A month…” she trailed off wistfully, setting the kit down and ushering him back toward his mother. Nia watched him indulgently for a moment before she turned her attention back to her human companion.
“I should like to visit him quite often, I think,” she told Zoser with a decisive nod. Her smile was tentative when she added, “And… you. If… if you don’t mind, that is.” She suddenly became very interested in the fabric of her kalasiris, running it between her fingers while her eyes dropped to her lap. “I only mean…” Releasing a short, annoyed huff, Nia struggled for the right words to say. “You’re very kind. And kindness is something that’s… I haven’t had much of it lately, that’s all.” Her lips twisted into a frown, knotting the linen in her hands. “I just… it’s nice to be around someone who doesn’t seem to want anything from me.”
Everyone in the woman’s life seemed to demand something from her, and it was always something she wasn’t willing to give, but had no choice. Whether it was the perverse demands of the pharaoh or the unrealistic expectations of her family, it seemed Nia was always caught up in a web too strong to break free, but here, tonight, she’d felt a measure of peace—a feeling absent for far too long. She desperately wanted to chase that feeling before it was snatched from her again.
“I can help you around the archives too, if you’d like,” she added, though she wasn’t quite sure what use she would be. The rebellious young noblewoman was able to read and write passably well, but one could never describe Nia as studious. However, she didn’t want to just take up Zoser’s time without contributing to it; she felt the least she could do was extend the offer. Plus, it would give her a more plausible excuse for why she was in the Palace so often. She could only use the excuse of visiting Sutekh so many times before her mother, at least, would start to get suspicious.
Nia finally looked up at him again, untying the ragged knot she’d formed and resting her hands in her lap. There was a burning hope in her eyes, one that she was not quite adept enough to cover with any true subtlety. “I…” She trailed off again, taking a deep breath, releasing it, and offering a smile. “Thank you. I know I said it before, but… thank you. The Palace needs more men like you.”
Nia’s face lit up, lifting the little kitten to cuddle him against her chest and holding onto the words ‘until he is old enough to join you at home.’ The tiny cat had stolen her heart already, and to think of being able to take him with her… The young noblewoman smiled as she looked at Zoser, her face soft and dreamy. “He will be well cared for, I promise,” she swore, kissing Jahi’s nose and wrinkling her own when he licked her in response.
“A month…” she trailed off wistfully, setting the kit down and ushering him back toward his mother. Nia watched him indulgently for a moment before she turned her attention back to her human companion.
“I should like to visit him quite often, I think,” she told Zoser with a decisive nod. Her smile was tentative when she added, “And… you. If… if you don’t mind, that is.” She suddenly became very interested in the fabric of her kalasiris, running it between her fingers while her eyes dropped to her lap. “I only mean…” Releasing a short, annoyed huff, Nia struggled for the right words to say. “You’re very kind. And kindness is something that’s… I haven’t had much of it lately, that’s all.” Her lips twisted into a frown, knotting the linen in her hands. “I just… it’s nice to be around someone who doesn’t seem to want anything from me.”
Everyone in the woman’s life seemed to demand something from her, and it was always something she wasn’t willing to give, but had no choice. Whether it was the perverse demands of the pharaoh or the unrealistic expectations of her family, it seemed Nia was always caught up in a web too strong to break free, but here, tonight, she’d felt a measure of peace—a feeling absent for far too long. She desperately wanted to chase that feeling before it was snatched from her again.
“I can help you around the archives too, if you’d like,” she added, though she wasn’t quite sure what use she would be. The rebellious young noblewoman was able to read and write passably well, but one could never describe Nia as studious. However, she didn’t want to just take up Zoser’s time without contributing to it; she felt the least she could do was extend the offer. Plus, it would give her a more plausible excuse for why she was in the Palace so often. She could only use the excuse of visiting Sutekh so many times before her mother, at least, would start to get suspicious.
Nia finally looked up at him again, untying the ragged knot she’d formed and resting her hands in her lap. There was a burning hope in her eyes, one that she was not quite adept enough to cover with any true subtlety. “I…” She trailed off again, taking a deep breath, releasing it, and offering a smile. “Thank you. I know I said it before, but… thank you. The Palace needs more men like you.”
Zoser smiled as he watched the young noblewoman dote upon the kitten, a feeling of relief washing through him to see her demeanor so changed from when their paths had first crossed that evening. It was no grand thing for him to have done what he had - compassion had always been his folly, and yet, he never minded it. It always felt better to care than not to care.
"I would never doubt it, Lady Neithotep," he replied as he shifted back to rest his shoulders against the shelves again. He absentmindedly glanced along at the golden-capped scrolls that stuck out in a precise, geometric manner. His fingers fidgeted with the bauble on the end of one, twisting it and shifting it in further so as to have all of the caps aligned perfectly. It was a habit that consumed more hours in his day than he thought necessary to ever draw attention to, and it was another way to soothe his mind. It had been like this since he was young, ensuring perfection and aligning everything. It added to his usual lack of normal sleeping patterns as well.
He paused in his fiddling however at her words, stilling his hand a moment before looking to her. His silence lingered along just long enough for her to elaborate, and he felt himself swallow slightly - somewhere between flattery and truth. There was no kindness in the Palace, it was true. The fact that he bore sensitivity was seen as an error in character among Egyptian men, yet it was mostly because none had truly felt compassion the way he had growing up in Greece. It prodded at his heart the way a finger prodded an old bruise, aching slightly but not damaging.
"You are welcome here any time, day or night, My Lady," he offered, dipping his head in a slight bow, but looking up through his lashes at her and offering a reassuring smile. At her secondary offer, his brows furrowed a bit in mild confusion yet a slight laugh escaped him. At first, he began to decline her offer. After all, she was a noblewoman, not a commonborn scribe like most within the archives, and yet, he did not decline her.
Instead, he shrugged slightly, "As you wish it. This room does not see many beautiful women within its walls. A lady's touch could only help improve the look of the place, I imagine."
There. It was an offer and yet another alibi for her. Zoser knew that Iaheru would not be keen on knowing her daughter's true position within the Pharaoh's bedchambers, and yet, to save his dear friend the grief of knowing her daughter's true purpose and fate here, he would assist in any way he could.
At her words, Zoser could not help but look away and shake his head a bit, before raising a brow at her and shifting to move to his feet, his jesting tone punctuated slightly by the grunts in his movements.
"More old men? Bah," he teased with his words, but his eyes caught hers as he stood and offered a hand to help her to her feet. It was an acceptance of her thanks, silent but certainly present. He knew what she meant in all of this, but Zoser had always been terrible at accepting praise, compliments, and thanks.
"Let us inform your mother of your new position within the Archives, if she is still awake. Though...first, let me also bring her a bottle of wine from my stores here as an apology, to soften the blow of me keeping you away from home so late. The scrolls are known to steal hours upon hours away." Like a child scheming, Zoser offered her a wink, happy to play along with this new ruse to keep her secret safe with him.
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Zoser smiled as he watched the young noblewoman dote upon the kitten, a feeling of relief washing through him to see her demeanor so changed from when their paths had first crossed that evening. It was no grand thing for him to have done what he had - compassion had always been his folly, and yet, he never minded it. It always felt better to care than not to care.
"I would never doubt it, Lady Neithotep," he replied as he shifted back to rest his shoulders against the shelves again. He absentmindedly glanced along at the golden-capped scrolls that stuck out in a precise, geometric manner. His fingers fidgeted with the bauble on the end of one, twisting it and shifting it in further so as to have all of the caps aligned perfectly. It was a habit that consumed more hours in his day than he thought necessary to ever draw attention to, and it was another way to soothe his mind. It had been like this since he was young, ensuring perfection and aligning everything. It added to his usual lack of normal sleeping patterns as well.
He paused in his fiddling however at her words, stilling his hand a moment before looking to her. His silence lingered along just long enough for her to elaborate, and he felt himself swallow slightly - somewhere between flattery and truth. There was no kindness in the Palace, it was true. The fact that he bore sensitivity was seen as an error in character among Egyptian men, yet it was mostly because none had truly felt compassion the way he had growing up in Greece. It prodded at his heart the way a finger prodded an old bruise, aching slightly but not damaging.
"You are welcome here any time, day or night, My Lady," he offered, dipping his head in a slight bow, but looking up through his lashes at her and offering a reassuring smile. At her secondary offer, his brows furrowed a bit in mild confusion yet a slight laugh escaped him. At first, he began to decline her offer. After all, she was a noblewoman, not a commonborn scribe like most within the archives, and yet, he did not decline her.
Instead, he shrugged slightly, "As you wish it. This room does not see many beautiful women within its walls. A lady's touch could only help improve the look of the place, I imagine."
There. It was an offer and yet another alibi for her. Zoser knew that Iaheru would not be keen on knowing her daughter's true position within the Pharaoh's bedchambers, and yet, to save his dear friend the grief of knowing her daughter's true purpose and fate here, he would assist in any way he could.
At her words, Zoser could not help but look away and shake his head a bit, before raising a brow at her and shifting to move to his feet, his jesting tone punctuated slightly by the grunts in his movements.
"More old men? Bah," he teased with his words, but his eyes caught hers as he stood and offered a hand to help her to her feet. It was an acceptance of her thanks, silent but certainly present. He knew what she meant in all of this, but Zoser had always been terrible at accepting praise, compliments, and thanks.
"Let us inform your mother of your new position within the Archives, if she is still awake. Though...first, let me also bring her a bottle of wine from my stores here as an apology, to soften the blow of me keeping you away from home so late. The scrolls are known to steal hours upon hours away." Like a child scheming, Zoser offered her a wink, happy to play along with this new ruse to keep her secret safe with him.
Zoser smiled as he watched the young noblewoman dote upon the kitten, a feeling of relief washing through him to see her demeanor so changed from when their paths had first crossed that evening. It was no grand thing for him to have done what he had - compassion had always been his folly, and yet, he never minded it. It always felt better to care than not to care.
"I would never doubt it, Lady Neithotep," he replied as he shifted back to rest his shoulders against the shelves again. He absentmindedly glanced along at the golden-capped scrolls that stuck out in a precise, geometric manner. His fingers fidgeted with the bauble on the end of one, twisting it and shifting it in further so as to have all of the caps aligned perfectly. It was a habit that consumed more hours in his day than he thought necessary to ever draw attention to, and it was another way to soothe his mind. It had been like this since he was young, ensuring perfection and aligning everything. It added to his usual lack of normal sleeping patterns as well.
He paused in his fiddling however at her words, stilling his hand a moment before looking to her. His silence lingered along just long enough for her to elaborate, and he felt himself swallow slightly - somewhere between flattery and truth. There was no kindness in the Palace, it was true. The fact that he bore sensitivity was seen as an error in character among Egyptian men, yet it was mostly because none had truly felt compassion the way he had growing up in Greece. It prodded at his heart the way a finger prodded an old bruise, aching slightly but not damaging.
"You are welcome here any time, day or night, My Lady," he offered, dipping his head in a slight bow, but looking up through his lashes at her and offering a reassuring smile. At her secondary offer, his brows furrowed a bit in mild confusion yet a slight laugh escaped him. At first, he began to decline her offer. After all, she was a noblewoman, not a commonborn scribe like most within the archives, and yet, he did not decline her.
Instead, he shrugged slightly, "As you wish it. This room does not see many beautiful women within its walls. A lady's touch could only help improve the look of the place, I imagine."
There. It was an offer and yet another alibi for her. Zoser knew that Iaheru would not be keen on knowing her daughter's true position within the Pharaoh's bedchambers, and yet, to save his dear friend the grief of knowing her daughter's true purpose and fate here, he would assist in any way he could.
At her words, Zoser could not help but look away and shake his head a bit, before raising a brow at her and shifting to move to his feet, his jesting tone punctuated slightly by the grunts in his movements.
"More old men? Bah," he teased with his words, but his eyes caught hers as he stood and offered a hand to help her to her feet. It was an acceptance of her thanks, silent but certainly present. He knew what she meant in all of this, but Zoser had always been terrible at accepting praise, compliments, and thanks.
"Let us inform your mother of your new position within the Archives, if she is still awake. Though...first, let me also bring her a bottle of wine from my stores here as an apology, to soften the blow of me keeping you away from home so late. The scrolls are known to steal hours upon hours away." Like a child scheming, Zoser offered her a wink, happy to play along with this new ruse to keep her secret safe with him.
Nia’s heart was in her throat when Zoser accepted her offer, looking at him with a gratitude shining in her eyes that words could never adequately express. She happily took the hand that would help her to her feet, pulling herself up to stand next to him with a soft wistfulness on her face. That such a kind man should linger so long within the Egyptian Court was nothing short of shocking to her. How had this gentleness not been tempered or erased altogether with the types of men that lingered within the walls of the Evening Star Palace? Whatever it was, she thought she ought not to question it too much, lest her inquiries make it disappear entirely.
At his comment that she’d improve the look of the archives, she grinned and glanced about. She couldn’t help but agree, the austere look of the room somehow out of place within the confines of the building’s typical opulence. She figured she could at least make a few shy scribes blush and stutter, even if she couldn’t do much else, but at least it was better than attending Iahotep every night and day. They might give her a few odd looks and skeptical whispers, but that was nothing less than what she was used to. She’d let it run off her like water, just as she always did.
“You’re hardly an old man, Zoser,” she replied with a soft laugh, taking his arm so that they could head to the stores for this bottle of wine he wanted to give her mother. He was younger even than the pharaoh, who always acted with the desires of a much more youthful man. Glancing toward the greying hair on his head and reaching to gently tease it with her free hand, she grinned. “Even if your head tries to tell a different story.”
She couldn’t begin to express her relief, both in that she had another to share the weight of her secret with, and that she had a safe space to come to when she felt the world might swallow her whole. It was an unexpected and unsought haven, even if there was still the lingering bit of paranoia that sharing this with Zoser was not in either of their best interests. What if he sold her out? What if Iahotep discovered that he knew? However, she sensed no underlying malice in the man at her side and had to trust that he would keep her confidence. For what choice did she have? He knew now, and there was nothing she could do to change that.
Nothing she was willing to do, anyway.
“Honestly, I kind of can’t wait to see the look on her face when we tell her that I’ll be helping you in the archives,” she commented with a laugh after they’d retrieved the bottle of wine and started heading for the exit. “That is, if her heart doesn’t stop from the shock of it. Let’s just say I… never really took to my lessons. Undoubtedly, she’ll question why I seem so eager for such scholarly work now.”
But it was a questioning Nia could handle, so long as it served its purpose to divert Iaheru’s attention away from the true reason she spent so much time in the Palace. Perhaps someday the Sirdsett would discover how it was that her daughter spent her nights, but Nia wanted to make sure that revelation was staved off for as long as possible. The last thing their family needed was another scandal, especially with such similar circumstances to the one that had come before.
The walk to the Sheifa saraaya was short and pleasant, her company setting her heart more at ease while she fought to dispel the rest of the tension that filled her. When she finally arrived home that night, she was not filled with the same sense of dread that had plagued her these past few weeks, but instead a cautious optimism that at least she wasn’t alone. If nothing else, she’d made a new friend, one whom she didn’t have to hide from.
She just had to hope it would be enough.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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Nia’s heart was in her throat when Zoser accepted her offer, looking at him with a gratitude shining in her eyes that words could never adequately express. She happily took the hand that would help her to her feet, pulling herself up to stand next to him with a soft wistfulness on her face. That such a kind man should linger so long within the Egyptian Court was nothing short of shocking to her. How had this gentleness not been tempered or erased altogether with the types of men that lingered within the walls of the Evening Star Palace? Whatever it was, she thought she ought not to question it too much, lest her inquiries make it disappear entirely.
At his comment that she’d improve the look of the archives, she grinned and glanced about. She couldn’t help but agree, the austere look of the room somehow out of place within the confines of the building’s typical opulence. She figured she could at least make a few shy scribes blush and stutter, even if she couldn’t do much else, but at least it was better than attending Iahotep every night and day. They might give her a few odd looks and skeptical whispers, but that was nothing less than what she was used to. She’d let it run off her like water, just as she always did.
“You’re hardly an old man, Zoser,” she replied with a soft laugh, taking his arm so that they could head to the stores for this bottle of wine he wanted to give her mother. He was younger even than the pharaoh, who always acted with the desires of a much more youthful man. Glancing toward the greying hair on his head and reaching to gently tease it with her free hand, she grinned. “Even if your head tries to tell a different story.”
She couldn’t begin to express her relief, both in that she had another to share the weight of her secret with, and that she had a safe space to come to when she felt the world might swallow her whole. It was an unexpected and unsought haven, even if there was still the lingering bit of paranoia that sharing this with Zoser was not in either of their best interests. What if he sold her out? What if Iahotep discovered that he knew? However, she sensed no underlying malice in the man at her side and had to trust that he would keep her confidence. For what choice did she have? He knew now, and there was nothing she could do to change that.
Nothing she was willing to do, anyway.
“Honestly, I kind of can’t wait to see the look on her face when we tell her that I’ll be helping you in the archives,” she commented with a laugh after they’d retrieved the bottle of wine and started heading for the exit. “That is, if her heart doesn’t stop from the shock of it. Let’s just say I… never really took to my lessons. Undoubtedly, she’ll question why I seem so eager for such scholarly work now.”
But it was a questioning Nia could handle, so long as it served its purpose to divert Iaheru’s attention away from the true reason she spent so much time in the Palace. Perhaps someday the Sirdsett would discover how it was that her daughter spent her nights, but Nia wanted to make sure that revelation was staved off for as long as possible. The last thing their family needed was another scandal, especially with such similar circumstances to the one that had come before.
The walk to the Sheifa saraaya was short and pleasant, her company setting her heart more at ease while she fought to dispel the rest of the tension that filled her. When she finally arrived home that night, she was not filled with the same sense of dread that had plagued her these past few weeks, but instead a cautious optimism that at least she wasn’t alone. If nothing else, she’d made a new friend, one whom she didn’t have to hide from.
She just had to hope it would be enough.
Nia’s heart was in her throat when Zoser accepted her offer, looking at him with a gratitude shining in her eyes that words could never adequately express. She happily took the hand that would help her to her feet, pulling herself up to stand next to him with a soft wistfulness on her face. That such a kind man should linger so long within the Egyptian Court was nothing short of shocking to her. How had this gentleness not been tempered or erased altogether with the types of men that lingered within the walls of the Evening Star Palace? Whatever it was, she thought she ought not to question it too much, lest her inquiries make it disappear entirely.
At his comment that she’d improve the look of the archives, she grinned and glanced about. She couldn’t help but agree, the austere look of the room somehow out of place within the confines of the building’s typical opulence. She figured she could at least make a few shy scribes blush and stutter, even if she couldn’t do much else, but at least it was better than attending Iahotep every night and day. They might give her a few odd looks and skeptical whispers, but that was nothing less than what she was used to. She’d let it run off her like water, just as she always did.
“You’re hardly an old man, Zoser,” she replied with a soft laugh, taking his arm so that they could head to the stores for this bottle of wine he wanted to give her mother. He was younger even than the pharaoh, who always acted with the desires of a much more youthful man. Glancing toward the greying hair on his head and reaching to gently tease it with her free hand, she grinned. “Even if your head tries to tell a different story.”
She couldn’t begin to express her relief, both in that she had another to share the weight of her secret with, and that she had a safe space to come to when she felt the world might swallow her whole. It was an unexpected and unsought haven, even if there was still the lingering bit of paranoia that sharing this with Zoser was not in either of their best interests. What if he sold her out? What if Iahotep discovered that he knew? However, she sensed no underlying malice in the man at her side and had to trust that he would keep her confidence. For what choice did she have? He knew now, and there was nothing she could do to change that.
Nothing she was willing to do, anyway.
“Honestly, I kind of can’t wait to see the look on her face when we tell her that I’ll be helping you in the archives,” she commented with a laugh after they’d retrieved the bottle of wine and started heading for the exit. “That is, if her heart doesn’t stop from the shock of it. Let’s just say I… never really took to my lessons. Undoubtedly, she’ll question why I seem so eager for such scholarly work now.”
But it was a questioning Nia could handle, so long as it served its purpose to divert Iaheru’s attention away from the true reason she spent so much time in the Palace. Perhaps someday the Sirdsett would discover how it was that her daughter spent her nights, but Nia wanted to make sure that revelation was staved off for as long as possible. The last thing their family needed was another scandal, especially with such similar circumstances to the one that had come before.
The walk to the Sheifa saraaya was short and pleasant, her company setting her heart more at ease while she fought to dispel the rest of the tension that filled her. When she finally arrived home that night, she was not filled with the same sense of dread that had plagued her these past few weeks, but instead a cautious optimism that at least she wasn’t alone. If nothing else, she’d made a new friend, one whom she didn’t have to hide from.