Lion Head Mesa fourth

today senmut departed the top of the mesa in search of the princess @Makono. he had heard a little of her, how she had already gone on an ambassador's mission, how she comported herself like a prince rather than a royal girl.

unlike her sisters, he suspected.

he carried a pair of delicate gold flowers wrapped in white fur.

if assumptions aren't okay, let me know <3

she was often surrounded — this her own doing.

mazoi, fellahin. whoever she beckoned to her for entertainment or conversation. she found a great stretching and yearning in the wake of her last grand conversation — or perhaps the one before that, she should say.

the thoughts of a queenly state laid heavy upon her.

she said not a word of this to anyone besides her father.

not her sisters, not her brothers, not even the priests who might concoct something for her grandness. a sacrifice, she wondered.

but a fellahin had spotted him in her direction and came at once to announce the arrival of the very thing she thought of. this hem she had not seen, she beckoned him closer as she stood. lapis gaze heavy upon him and the bundle he carried.

white fur.

hem, she greeted coolly.

all good!

the royal girl gestured. senmut held his breath and came near."amiirad."

his obeisance to the princess would be much smoother than the one he had given their queen. senmut prostrated himself, forehead to the ground, offering carefully set aside.

he would not rise until she bid, and even then would he keep his eyes averted, for she was divine and he was not. "i have brought the seal of the Apis Bull, if you would care to see it, blessed one."

she would bid him to rise.

of course i would. her gaze remained half-lidded, exhausted with the thoughts she held close to herself. she imagined he asked to humor her, respect her.

she was not sure if she loathed the bluntness of the soldiers in mereo now.

she motioned for the bodies in the room to clear the area, so that the hem might have room to show his work.

makono was only a child, but a far more ancient spirit inhabited her. senmut saw much of pharaoh in the girl, what little he had glimpsed of the ruler.

and there was something else in her attitude, a preternatural polish leant only by elegance on two sides. and that must be the gilded hand of the dead queen, gone before she could see what her daughter might become.

her gesture was imperious. those therein obeyed. senmut rolled out the soft white pelts to reveal the two golden blossoms, perfectly pressed. "the valleys of this world were made by the sacred hooves of the Apis Bull. He wears a white pelt and horns of gold. His feet too are gold, and he leaves it behind in His steps. the Apis Bull is He Who Crosses the Earth, and each autumn it is traditional to make a great sacrifice to Him."

she listened to it all with intrigue, even if her mind landed on the last detail the most. that he might make a sacrifice to Apis Bull. a great one.

a thoughtful lick of her lips, gaze shining with something unknown.

a divine one should be involved in the divine, no?

what is your idea of a great sacrifice to Him, hem? what appeases One of such strength?

"blood, blessed one." 

senmut's answer was simple. his eyes remained downturned.

"living blood. cut from the throat of a large beast." he did not think this would shake the princess. he expected more curiosity, and he was uncertain if he would be able to quell it.

blood!

she stirred, but not with unease. she merely sat straighter upon her miniature throne. the ecology of akashingo was unique, expansive.

have you made plans with the mazoi?

she thought of how the giant one might look, bringing down something for a divine sacrifice.

another thought at the whole process, that of the hem's work.

shivers.

senmut felt her shift.

"i have made no such plans, blessed one. it is customary that a member of the royal family order the sacrifice for the Apis Bull." 

the priest took his own turn to move slightly beneath her gaze. "it would be an auspicious gesture for a wedding, for instance."

for a moment, she wondered if he had possibly known of her discussion with her father.

only to boldly realize that of course not. there would be no way. this man was surely discussing the wedding that her father and his mazoi-wife were soon to have.

have you spoken to pharaoh then? or have you come to me with a favor, hem?

her voice teased, she wished to see how he reacted.

"not a favour," his cheeks burned.

"i am only an instructor. not even that, blessed one. a priest in training."

he hoped the princess would not winkle out of him that he had made up an excuse to meet her. he kept his face turned away from her brightness.

an instructor!

but not even!

her spine straightened further, her lapis gaze stayed hard upon him, even if he did not meet her gaze. she took unnecessary joy in making the priest in training unable to even gaze upon her.

she imagined her greatness might burn him.

she moved off of her throne, to approach him closer and closer.

the only distance between them his presented Apis Bull seal.

is it instruction or not, priest in training?

unpredictable princess as usual, apologies heh

makono's nearness did indeed seem to scorch the young we'eb priest.

he prostrated himself once more, unwilling even to turn his cheek toward her eye.

"the gods sent me to you, blessed one," senmut said with an ease he did not feel. he inhaled the smell of the red stone beneath him and was silent, awaiting her judgement.

she wondered if the Gods took joy in wasting beautiful features on priests and priestess.

an unbecoming thought, but she could not ignore it.

the older priest was a man of long locks and silver hues. this priest was young. handsome with muscles and sand tones. jeweled eyes she could never meet with his aversion.

so be it.

she did not move, she did not instruct him to move.

say if i ordered mazoi to fell one of the wild horses the night of my father's marriage? what would the Apis Bull say to him and his bride?

she held him snared.

senmut was well aware that political dances were beyond him. it was why he cleaved unto the gods and would not be parted from his worship. it was the only consistent thing he bore himself.

at last the young priest lifted his eyes to her own, slowly, past the poised paw and up to just where he could catch a glimpse of ramesses' own lapis stare reflected and piercing.

his heart galloped. he looked away. "if the Apis Bull saw goodness in the match, then the new queen's reign will be without war."

he dared to bring himself to offer her a look.

practically fleeting. a glance, at best. a wayward gaze at worse.

her nostrils flared, as if the seal of the bull had given her its life. her patience grew thin with the boy. priest in training.

she held back anything as she turned away from him. back to her perch, she leaned across it, lapis gaze settled on the things he had brought with him.

what better gift to give. consider it done, hem to be.

she offered only a snort now, bidding him away if his work here was done.

senmut was all too grateful to bow himself out of her presence.

when he was gone from her piercing sight, he stopped to gasp frantic breaths, anxiety breaking over him in horrid waves. better to have been the scribe of home than to have been sent here! 

he did not take the seal. akhtar would send a servant for it later.