the crocodile had won the case for
@Nahkt to accompany the first excursion. khusobek argued that the queen could not be bothered with a silent new
mazoi that did not yet know their ways, and that he himself should keep the giant close as the foreign princes converged.
in this, senmut nodded, and so it was that on the next night spent in the pass, khusobek called out to see if the bearman was close. the land here was not so striking as the meadow, but a closer corridor and one through which the queen could travel when it was time. a point to rashepses.
he waited, a hot wind stirring his hackles.
The bear‐wolf lurked near. For these past days, he hadn't strayed far, keeping to the land that had claimed him.
When the call of Khusobek rang out, the shadow moved with quickness in his pace, approaching soon with heavy steps.
A simple chuff of greeting was offered, then a quizical tilt of his head as he wondered why they had called for him.
"stay with me now," the mazoi grunted in a rough voice, half an order. "we're to map this place and claim it for an outpost, before we move off to find the summer palace. the queen is going to be joining us."
he glanced skyward. not a sign of rain, and yet the night was cold. he stalked off, looking for any lurking wolves or gaggle of coyotes straying too near.
There was work to be done. It would be his first official task as mazoi. Truthfully, it delighted him.
Moving to join along with Khusobek, he followed closely at their heel, almost entirely shadowing their frame with his. A silent guard, watchful of their way, while his fellow mazoi did work of mapping the territory.
by and by, khusobek stopped by a natural cave cut in the side of the pass, near the exit which would empty that corridor into the desert. it was near perfectly round, polished besides. large enough for some wolves, with a high-ceilinged set of rooms.
"quarters for the queen, maybe?" he said, glancing to nahkt.
Stepping past Khusobek, he took in a heavy whiff, assessing it.
Turning back, the bear‐wolf shook his head. Coyotes had been within recently, and may return.
While they may have had the strength to drive them away, it was certainly no place for the Queen.
nahkt was right. khusobek pushed away from the stone wall and gestured.
"after you," he said to the bearman, now intrigued to see what the new guardian would find as fitting for a queen.
Grunting lowly, he pulled back from the cave, leading them onward.
The pass was indeed spacious. But the question was, as for where was safest.
A mile in, or perhaps a half, he pauses. There was a collection of caverns ahead. Not too tall, alike the last. But it was enough space to fit any who stayed. The Queen, along with any relating royals or nobles that required similar quarters.
nahkt found large caverns. the mazoi stepped in to inspect them, snuffling here and there, approving of the way the white stone glittered like pearl.
a grunt of agreeability to nahkt came now, then a smirk. "which prince should we first tell, my friend?"
A question of which. There were two, Thutmose and Rashepses.
Nahkt thought on this, considering what was necessary to decide this a fitting place. And after a moment, Thutmose was the only to stick in mind. He had not met the man, but he knew that they were commander's son, born the way of a soldier and tactician. If the Queen were to remain here for any point of time, her safety would be the highest concern. Who best to approve of this place than the sphinx who was experienced in these things?
Wrinkling his nose, he chuffed, striking his claws against the dirt. Soldier. He suggests with a glaring ogle, the sun beating down uncomfortably over his face.
soldier it would be.
khusobek led nahkt in search of
@Thutmose now, pleased to give a report of what he and the other
mazoi had discovered.
their esteem, he expected, would rise in the eyes of the soldierly man.
Khusobek. A capable man, Thutmose thought. Devoted to his work as a mazoi, and his oath to his Queen.
The sphinx greets them with a chuff as he approaches. But seeing another comes as a surprise. They were not familiar, but Thutmose would take time to question this later. While for now, his attention was upon Khusobek.
What have you found?
"this mazoi has discovered a series of fine rooms, cut here into the wall. they are of gleaming marble."
he would lead them there, then stand aside as thutmose made his perusal of what khusobek thought was a fine space, and one that would bring him aplomb.
Placing Nahkt as a cameo for now
A place of fine rooms. Brow risen, Thutmose lumbers past the
mazoi and moves within the space they claim to have discovered.
It is certainly spacious. A good finding indeed. I applaud you both.
Khusobek, leadership of this paired venture. And the strangely new
mazoi that walks with him.
Return to tell the erpa–ha, and in turn, he will inform the Queen as to where she should travel.
As was the proper order of things.
"it shall be done, prince."
a bow. why did the soldier give this advantage to the priest? why not keep it for himself?
he turned and took nahkt with him, making for the temporary quarters of the red prince.