the night was deep now. mereo lay not far away. and yet he did not want to return. and yet he wanted to be among those halls once more.
he looked for
@Makono now, settling near under the eye of her retinue.
"how long will you stay with us, great one?"
how long will it take you to give me a proper soldier's training, imperator?
she asked with good nature, an arch of a brow above lapis eyes.
as she lounged she became the image of her father.
"at least a month. six in earnest. but i do not believe your father will want you gone so long."
humour warred with tiredness upon his face. "may i ask how you came to be akashingo's heir?" germanicus had not yet heard the story.
six. it was far too long to be gone from akashingo, in this she agreed. a month was a good start. from there she could discuss with her father.
see what had become of things in her absence.
i knew where i must go, what i must do. my strength was beyond princess. Ma'at changed for me when i sought her.
there was a humbleness in her voice. i would have been contender, if i had not become crown prince outright.
she did not speak on the absence of her brother.
a spot too tender and too venomous.
germanicus knew nothing of ma'at. well perhaps very little. he knew it to be a force of both change and chaos. makono spoke with a particular reverence.
"i believe akashingo will be better to have a woman as heir," he said simply. it flouted the ways of pharaoh and for that reason he supported such.
if you were not so logical, i would think you speak to please me.
she smiled warmly. knowing that he would see she meant nothing but humor for these words.
perhaps you see why a soldier's training is so vital to me with this, imperator.
germanicus chuckled softly.
"i have no head for flattery, divine one."
his eyes shone as did her own. "i understand. and among us you will receive it. but i will not show leniency, not even to a prince."
she could tease him. tell him it was abundantly clear her didn't.
otherwise perhaps her father might not speak questionably of the roman. these things she kept to herself, of course!
if i wish for leniency, i would not have asked for training from you.
this was not flattery from her either. only an observation. i'm not seeking codling and praise. i need the proper knowledge.
"have you sparred before?"
he stood and put a small distance between he and makono, turning to face her.
"show me a hunting strike."
no.
she would embarrass herself.
she was prepared to be humbled before training began. already tasting the sting of it.
once she had hunted with her now wayward brother. the mazoi had come along and she had been instructed by the grieving woman.
she moved in a crescent shape around the imperator, almost certain he would see this and defend. still she dove to snip at his hip. in the same manner she recalled pursuing pronghorns, herding them towards harsher teeth.
she drove.
she was a shepherd.
germanicus allowed himself to be hunted by her teeth.
then abruptly he swung his hard hip against her jawline.
a click of her teeth, this time against her own tongue. shockwaves of the man against her jaw.
her head swung as her brain buzzed.
teeth snapping towards his ribs now.
she would be a violent thing to watch if either nazli or khaba witnessed. only germanicus would feel that her teeth did not seek to tear as violent as she looked.
his check did not deter her. but she came again for the same side.
germanicus sought to slam her broadside, a great shield.
at the same time his teeth cut to scruff the crown prince.
up to you if she actually lands the hit/what it does! :D
he was a hammer.
then a scalpel.
the sensation of him moving for her scruff was unnerving, a fire against everything she had ever done or allowed.
she sought to drive her shoulders and head up into his own now. she cared not if she might stun herself against him in it all.
she unfurled into a little lion. germanicus was reminded of his spar with veteran.
his teeth ached as she struck him with her head. he chose to release her, swiping out with his forepaw instead to seek a trip.
already the imperator was impressed.
down.
the earth greeted her with a kiss to her chin. her tail trembled behind her.
he had won, her body conveyed this in wordless manners.
non plus.
it was over.
it was done.
germanicus smiled gently. "vade et requiesce."
the first spar was finished. she would have many more in the month to come.
closing <3
his smile smoothed the worst of her ego.
that he did not scowl upon her, scold her for not yet knowing the finer things.
when she returned to the bodies of akashingo she had brought with, it was with pensive silence.