Keket joined behind the scenes. This is open to anyone!
Mere hours ago, Keket had found herself upon the chilled sand of the coast, alone. She mulled over the idea of returning to the warmth of her natal pack, for she would be well received there - a princess returning from a long journey. She missed summer heat, and the smell of the dust after rain, as rare as it was. What she missed more was the attention. The many attendants, her servants, complying to her every whim.
This place was similar, or so Caiaphas had told her; the men bowed to the will of women, utterly subservient. It was a start. If Keket were to have her way - if her will were to truly be enacted in this strange, cold place - then it would be more than men who bowed. As she paced along the sandy shore, her steps long and languid, she thought about this. The next step - how to build an empire. With a glance towards the sea, the resting place of Nun and his bride Naunet, she paused in her wandering - trying to gather the many thoughts that lay scattered throughout her mind.
Can you bump up the font size? My eyes are old/bad!
Spyridon was worried for the future of the sound, though he had not voiced these concerns outright. They were not his to worry about, even if he did so. It was his job to protect. It was his job to teach the spawn. It was his job to do whatever the queen and her sisters asked of him. Anything else was beyond him. If they did not ask him to worry, he knew he should not. But even Spyridon had limits as to what he could restrain himself from doing. It was also his job to ensure that the sisters were well and that their land was safe. And so he worried for them.
When an unfamiliar, albeit distinctly Ankyra Sound, scent caught his attention, Spyro immediately began to track it down. It was not a sister he knew, but one that he knew he could assist in some way. The sisters often needed assisting with various tasks. Spyridon had been hungry for such work since the incident with Nishu and his wretched "other."
He approached her slowly, letting out a soft "woof," to announce his presence.
Sorry about that, I thought I had set it up to be bigger. Also I'm watching the Prince of Egypt as I write her, hahaha.
A brisk wind buffeted at her, pushing her away from the sea and towards the tree line, as if it were the will of the gods themselves. For a moment she resisted and her expression went from casual and thoughtful to utterly scathing - but then she heard a sound behind her, and Keket turned. The expression melted away quickly, shifting like sand. Nearby there was a rugged male - and Keket, interested in just how far her will could be carried, found her interest piqued.
She knew these wolves to be Greeks, just as any true Greek would recognize her lineage. A veiled smile slipped across her features, but the expression was as chilled as the winter wind. Ah, you must be one of the servants. The woman purred lowly and slunk towards him, her gaze sharp as she inspected every inch. This would do nicely.
Spyridon immediately shrunk when she turned to face him. It was the only thing he knew how to do. When she spoke, his ears listened, but they did not understand. “Δεν μπορώ να καταλάβω την κοινή γλώσσα. Δεν επιτρέπεται για μένα να το γνωρίζουν.” His voice, as usual, was as smooth as ever, and laced with a formality that only consorts could ever hope to attain. True, he was the Epivitoras, but that only meant that he was required to work harder for the sisters, and he took blame for anything that should happen to the spawn, such as what had happened with Larus.
Perhaps he could have been of more use if he had known the common tongue, but it also made consorts a greater risk. They could communicate with outsiders, and the sisters of Hippo Tang had decided not to teach it for that reason. Instead, they restricted its use to only those who were brought in from the outside, and they were often used merely as translators for the consorts who did not know the outside language. The sisters, of course, had always been taught both.
His initial reaction caused a great wave of pleasure to rise within Keket. This was how she was meant to be treated. Bowed to, beloved and obeyed. Her smile grew for a moment and a flash of fire burned in her eyes - but then everything faltered, for the man was speaking in the tongue of slaves. Of course he would speak Greek - he was a Greek - and Keket was forced to use the same repulsive language. Στη συνέχεια, θα κάνω το καλύτερό μου για να μιλήσει το δρόμο σας. She was lucky to have been taught more than the language of the Pharaohs... Although, it was not her strength, as evidenced by the occasional misplaced sound. ποιος είναι ο ρόλος σας εδώ?
She spoke, this time in a way that he could understand. Like Caiaphas and the others who had not grown up speaking it every day, she faltered on words. But Spyridon did not fault her. She was new, she would learn, and he would be patient. It was his job, his life, his entire being. As far as he was concerned, the sisters could do no harm. They were the only thing he had in this world, and without them, he would be lost.
“Είμαι ο επιβήτορας. Ι προστατεύουν και να υπηρετούν,” he replied. He wondered how much of their culture Caiaphas had revealed. It was not uncommon for the new sisters to be tested before they were granted more access to the ways of The Nereides. “Πώς μπορώ να σας βοηθήσει;” he asked.
Just as she struggled to speak this language, she struggled to hear it and understand. Keket listened, and once again she was invigorated by the prospect of being waited upon. θ απαιτούν... ένα μέρος για να ξεκουραστούν . Έλα, να βοηθήσει εμένα
With this order given, Keket strode by him. This was a test, one of many which she was eager to bestow upon him. Just how much was a man willing to do for these women? As she drifted on by, Keket thought of other ways to test these boundaries.. But that would come later. For now, she simply watched him with a demure expression upon her regal face.
A place to rest. That was easy enough, although if she did not already know of the common denning ground, it likely meant that she had not yet been invited by Caiaphas. Or perhaps the ways of Ankyra Sound had changed, and the sisters no longer slept alongside one another. Whatever the reason, she had asked for his help, and so Spyridon would provide it. If she sought his guidance in choosing a denning spot, he would lead the way.
With no questions asked, and no further communication spoken, Spyridon began to lead her further away from the coast and toward the Megalith Forest. It was a wise choice for those who had recently made Ankyra Sound their home, but had not yet proven themselves devoted to the sisters. The large trees would protect them from storms and wind, and the prey was plentiful, so food was never too far away.
Spyro stopped in front of a hollowed tree, then looked to the sister, seeking approval.
Keket pursed her lips, thoughtful for a moment, and then as the man turned away from her, she followed. She was aloof; drifting after the Greek as he led her away from the chilled ocean edge and towards the towering trees. He moved with efficiency, and came to an abrupt halt after only a few minutes of perusing. He seemed... Indifferent. Not pleased by his own work, nor made bored by the simple request.
The girl stepped around him with one fluid step, ducking her head for just a second so that she could peer in to the hollow. Hm. θα το κάνει. She sighed, as if disappointed - and then, it was as if Keket had all but forgotten about the empty tree. She turned her eyes upon the man as if to size him up, although she had gotten an eyeful already, during their short journey.
Ένα γεύμα , το επόμενο. Έχω την πείνα. She wasn't really in any sort of great need, but it was another test. Αλλά εγώ δεν τρώνε τα ψάρια - και αυτό πρέπει να είναι φρέσκα. With these specifics outlined, Keket paused to watch him, expectant.
While she did not seem terribly pleased by the home he had chosen for her, she also did not seem terribly displeased. Perhaps she was merely indifferent to it, just as Spyridon was indifferent to the orders he was given. Instead of resting in her new resting place, the woman demanded food. Not just any food, but fresh food that was not fish. Perhaps a less obedient consort would have questioned her for that. The sirens ate fish for nearly every meal and thrived on it. Spyro, however, said nothing and gave no indication that he was puzzled in the slightest.
“Θα ξεκουραστούν εδώ, ενώ εγώ φέρω κάτι;” he asked, confirming that she would not be off doing some other important task while he provided her with the sustenance she needed to survive. The kill would only be fresh for so long, and then it would turn cold. It would be best if he could get it back to her quickly. If she remained here, it would make his task easier. If he was required to track her down, it could take days to complete her request.
She said nothing in return, and so Spyro went to track down a meal for her. When he returned, rabbit fresh in his maw, she had disappeared. And after searching for her over the next few days, he would realize she was gone for good.