"you are going to have scars, @Glaukos."
her voice was soft. she was delivering medicine and cleaning the edges of the healing wounds once more.
tamar lifted her eyes to his face.
"it makes you a soldier, i think."
He didn't want to be here, being treated. It wasn't that Glaukos wanted scars, or wanted to avoid the healers. He didn't rightly know what kept him away from the tablinum.
Tamar's comment made him huff.
That's all it takes?
What did she know about it.
That was unfair of him to think; Tamar had no physical scars, nothing obvious. He didn't know anything about her except that she was somehow attached to Arsenio... And that she was quiet.
Maybe that's why he liked her.
"no. that is not all."
tamar teased him gently but kept a watchful eye to see the changing of his face. he did not have a good humour. she was not sure she had ever seen him laugh or smile.
"it takes a good heart. you came back with kallik." she moved to the next slash. "and a strong soul. you fought and won."
tamar fell silent. she continued working as she waited for him to speak.
Her comments earned another sneer.
He felt something familiar between them. The way Tamar tended his wounds made Glaukos think of, of all people, Kukutux; he shifts his weight, crosses one paw over the other, and keeps his eyes off of her.
Tamar had the wrong impression of him.
He was an idiot,
he said of Kallik, Wanted to run when the cat came. That would've brought it here. It doesn't take a good heart to get the job done.
That said, Glaukos couldn't resist the praise she slathered upon him. He felt like he'd earned it by keeping the other soldier safe, keeping the whole of Mereo safe as a result.
I... can't afford to lose this place.
He went on to say, his voice lowering considerably. He didn't want anyone else to hear him admit it; that this was the only place left for him, given all he'd done.
"then do not lose it."
tamar's tone was resolute. it matched her bearing as she seemed to straighten in glaukos' shadow. "mind the imperator. be good to your fellow soldiers. take a wife." her brow arched. did tamar meant to jest or to tease? it would be his choice as to what was assumed.
"kallik is not an idiot. he is careful. you are more daring. neither of you are foolish."
Then do not lose it.
As if it were that simple.
Maybe it could be.
Glaukos had his own mind when it came to the soldiers, and especially so when he thought of the man that led them, but for now he kept his thoughts to himself. Tamar's suggestion to take a wife made him grimace and he shifted his weight as if her attention to his wounds was too much for him.
If I am to advance further, I will have to go to Aka... Akajingo, or whatever. The palace in the desert.
He turned the conversation to something useful. That's where you came from. What is it like?
Glaukos took a moment to revel in her reaction to this question, curious to see how it might affect her. See how she feels with the conversation spun on its head.
It would be some time before any of the soldiers had their tour of duty there, but Glaukos wanted to know more.
tamar's paw tightened involuntarily on his shoulder.
smoothly she pulled away from him and into herself.
"akashingo is a place of royalty. you will be posted at someone's door. you will be the guardian of their body. but you will be well-fed and well-tended by the fellahin, if you choose to let them entertain you."
her voice was composed. only her pale eyes showed the turmoil within.
"pharaoh is the leader there, with his queen. he will expect your utmost respect. even worship."
Tamar froze up a moment as if the shift in conversation had reached out to snap at her. She went on to explain what the palace was like for a guardian, and what would be expected.
Worship is a waste of time,
he comments before he can stop himself. Glaukos doesn't think that Tamar is foolish enough to give such power to any person, but maybe the cult of personality had her under some thrall in the past.
She was here now, which made Glaukos wonder about her loyalties. He knew it was hard to break out of beliefs when their existence kept you alive - so to that end, he softened beside her.
If all I must do is guard, it will be easy.
tamar shook her head gently.
"just do not let the pharaoh think you have no loyalty toward him. he will find ways to test you."
glaukos had not commented upon the other things. she wondered if he was even interested.
his great body untensed. tamar smiled up at him. "i do not think you will suffer there."
Glaukos wanted to speak out about this. To proclaim his loyalty was not for sale. That was a lie; he knew better than to think the world had finally stopped churning around him. His loyalty had always been up for debate, and if this pharaoh made him an offer he would consider its merit.
For now Glaukos was content with his life in a way that defied explanation - he merely huffed at the insinuation that Tamar made, as if the foreign ruler could tempt him!
A part of him was intrigued and wanted to seek out the mesa. What are the other people like?
There had to be more to Akashingo than one man's ego.
why was he asking her so many things?
"he has a queen. she is very beautiful. she is cold in the way that he is."
"there are others. jawahir. sayf." she could not speak of the young girl traded in her stead. "they are fellahin, meant to serve the royal ones and the guards. sayf was kindest to me."
"there is a boy there, crowfeather. he does not wish to be in the mesa. he reminds me of my youngest brother."
her eyes danced with sudden, damning tears. tamar turned away at once with a small sound of dismay.
Glaukos did not care for the specifics about Akashingo. He listened; that was why he asked. He wanted to have Tamar all to himself for as long as possible. To have her attention, to hold her voice in his head, whatever he could do without being overt with his fascination. She knew the most about Akashingo - and while she did not pretend to enjoy the topic, he knew she was trained to perform tasks asked of her. He took advantage of that.
The idea that someone was being kept somewhere against their will was not uncommon - it wasn't even offensive to Glaukos despite his own history - and there had to be a good reason for someone to linger where they were unhappy.
He opened his mouth to make another comment, or assert a question, but stopped when Tamar turned away. He smelled the salt of her tears which hadn't spilled; this quelled any further questions from being asked.
I should return to my work.
He rumbled as an afterthought, unsure of how to respond to her distress.
tamar nodded fiercely, still turned away from him.
"i should return to my own." she was embarrassed. the girl swallowed and willed the tears away; she looked back at glaukos, but not quite into his eyes.
"i will — perhaps we could have a meal again. i promise i will not cry every time."
but if she stayed now then she would. tamar put her head down and near dashed away from the soldier, ensconcing herself in the married-housing for the remainder of the hour.