Hope you don't mind me getting this started.. but I figured it was better to do so sooner than later, as to not disrupt any threads that include dialogue from him since their return.
Dawn had come. Khaba paced the outer part of his chambers. They had been well acquainted to him since his return, newly decorated with fresh furs and the like. But the
jodai couldn't help ignore them, preferring the comfort of the cold, earthy floor.
Moments prior, he had sent a
fellahin to wake
@Makono. Only when she arrived, they would seek the throne room to share their news.
<3 !!
she was already awake, waiting for the dawn to shine upon them. bring forth in a new light and new day.
khaba would find her with warmth upon her features. even if they were about to plunge into the depth of lord pharaoh's domain.
her place today was as crown prince not as daughter, not as student.
shall we?
She was quick to join him.
There was warmth in her expression, despite the fact they both dreaded the events to come in some extent.
When her voice rang, the
jodai offered a short grunt in reply and turned to act an escort towards the throne room. It was there they would wait for
@Ramesses to receive them; the
shabti @Treva, even, if she so happened to be interested in their endeavors.
ramesses had dallied this hour. he returned resplendent with the aroma of wine and of love; he called for the pine liqueur to be brought for them all, but did not ask for food.
not until he had settled proudly into his throne did he motion for makono, but lately pharaoh saw little reason for her to wait in her words.
the lapis eyes turned toward her. "speak, young hawk."
she had no want to draw this out, nor dance around why she came. carrying the strongest soldier alongside her.
it was questionable, was it not?
i have taught the jodai words, i have given him a voice.
she wished to tell him to consider this a gift. yet there was not enough fondness in her heart that moment to muster it.
Ramesses came. He looked to them both, then commanded for his child to speak.
Standing near, Khaba's firm gaze searched the pharaoh breifly, contemplating possible responses.
But then as Makono spoke, the jodai's eyes peeled back towards her.
He waited for a reaction, then, prepared for any outcome.
and what was this? ramesses wanted to scoff at it as some trick of the voice.
but he would not do so beneath makono's eye.
his eyes rested on the dark man. "speak," came pharaoh's soft command.
He could feel eyes burning upon his skin.
First Makono, then Ramesses. Each were relentless. But he held no fear.
When the pharaoh commanded him to speak, he did so.
What the crown prince says is true.
The offering was kept brief. This was the only proof he needed.
she did not need to demand words from the mouth of the man.
pharaoh said his single command and the jodai played his part to it. a viper of pride curled in her chest as she now turned her gaze to her father.
silent still.
the man spoke. he was indeed made whole.
ramesses was impassive.
but in the next moment he did favour makono with an open sliver of true approval. "Ma'at chose well," he declared magnanimously of his child.
pharaoh sprang easily from his throne and came close to khaba. "did you have a vision? how was this done?"
The pharaoh sprung forward, approaching with no humility or hesitance.
Khaba tensed, but remained still. Almost too still.
Visions? And what "great" spirit, god, or goddess would send such a thing to a beast like him?
It was the doing of your heir, pharaoh.
It wasn't something he could explain. Or, maybe something he wouldn't.
And again, he gave little away.
"Ma'at chose well,"
as if it had been a question at all, when one stood where she did. regardless she took it for what it seemed to be meant as. a compliment.
my blessings seem plenty.
she offered mutedly, willing to let the two men entertain one another with the arrival of khaba's voice.
the doing of his heir. the doing of makono. he was not beyond believing intrigue, that khaba had waited to speak.
but the implacable eyes accepted the impossible.
"are you a priest also, my sweet," ramesses chuckled toward his heir, though his gaze approved of them both.
His voice was no longer necessary, nor did he want it to be.
Ramesses went on to jest and dote upon his daughter.
The jodai, content in silence, took a step back to let them be.
Then on, he was a simple guard in attendance of his charge.
she laughed. for once it was a warm sound, not the usual pained or cold piercing thing it had become in the presence of her father.
i am divine, am i not? Ma'at chose me and through me she shall act.
changing and changing. shapeshifting the world around them.
the soft pallor of the moment was ruined by her words. he needed no reminding. and yet ramesses would not allow ruination.
"indeed. crown prince, come with me to the serpent. we will fish and eat a meal upon the bank." his invitation was cool, but genuinely meant.
They spoke.
Pharaoh then offered an invitation.
If they parted the throne room, the jodai would follow dutifully behind as a watchman of both divinities.
Until then, he was silent and observant.
fade? <3
she was blinded by softer, genuine moments.
they came in between spats and disputes of politics. of time away from home. that when they arrived it was a cosmic event.
a shooting star across her heart.
she softened with warmth. prepared to join her father for a moment of kindness in all of their turmoil.