He had watched Akashingo for a few days time, tracking the comings and the goings. Oh, so much happening, so much to catch up upon, so much to lie about.
Akhtar Mirzadeh was a man who didn’t bother to hide the want for power, not anymore. His heavy lidded eyes watched the Mesa.
You are to go.
Oh yes. He would go.
He came striding up to the Mesa, letting power shimmer beneath his skin. On his shoulder alighted the bird, and together the two stood, statuesque, looking over the meadows below in the meanwhile.
senmut had become a man adjacent to power.
it was the hem who received the tall priest and his bird. "the princess of the red serpent ascends to her throne."
there was question in his eyes but none upon his tongue. he turned and began to lead akhtar home.
Senmut, no longer the boy but a priest in his own right. The nightingale tugged at a piece of fur on his ear, and took flight. Akhtar came along lazily, his walk slow and regal.
So I have learned.
He spoke aloud. His face held a wane little smile.
Word reaches far. Even to the ears of the gods.
He let his eyes turn to the distance, the smile never leaving his face.
You look well, Senmut.
senmut knew no longer what to make of akhtar. "Amun continues to smile upon me," was his only comment as they moved into the heart of akashingo.
"do you come to take up the mantle of high priest?" he asked, setting his eyes ahead as he moved toward the apartments which had once belonged to satsu, then treva, and now toula.
If it is open. I have been absent.
A dreamy look touched his face.
I went to the north, then to the east, back towards the south. I found myself in a place of sun and red sand, much like this.
He remembered the slosh of sand like water beneath his feet.
I met someone there. I met many people there.
His smile was a sleepy thing, his eyes far flung.
I met Djehuti. Toth. He found me under the light of the moon, reminded me of who I was and where I was and where I was to go.
You are to go.
I will go.
a vision had been granted to ahktar.
senmut nodded slowly. "it is a blessing indeed that the Moon Gambler has sent you." his lips at last curved into a genuine smile.
"there is room for you to join, akhtar. the Priestess of Hathor has gone. the daughter of gucci joins me as a Priestess of Osiris. and there is another noble among us."
silence now.
He hummed in a gentle voice.
You give my teachings such credit, Senmut.
He smiled as a mentor once again, before he packed that part of him away. He was not mentor. Not anymore.
An apprentice of your own, stepping up in the place of me, I dare say you have surpassed me in more ways that one.
The deer like figure gracefully ducked his head in something of a bow.
Well done, Priest of Osiris.
His smile widened.
Well done, my boy. Very well done.
senmut wanted to bristle.
but akhtar was older, and wiser in many ways. a good priest never ended his education. and so he opened his heart to the other's return.
"will you come to teach in our quarters once more?" came his next question. they stopped before the halls of the queen.
Would he?
Oh but that was the question wasn't it. He knew that he would. Even here, even here he had the power he wanted. Even here, as the very Mesa seemed to shift beneath him, he knew that something still existed here for him.
Brown sought Senmut after wandering away, and Akhtar gave a smile.
Of course. I shall teach of Ra again. Though, I may lean towards Toth myself.
Even evoking the name made him shiver. To speak such a divinity aloud, it made him feel positively blasphemous!
a nod. "then i will leave you to it, hem."
tones reverent, spine straight. he was a servant to divinity, and he, senmut, would be high priest of akashingo.
"we will rear an altar to Toth upon the mesa," the man invited as he turned to depart.