Lion Head Mesa yeet skeet bippity bop beep

the lonesome mountain was a standout among an otherwise blank canvas of barren plains. he took an interest in it, and set out with the intention of scaling it to it's peak. however the less distance between himself and the mountain there was, the more abundantly clear it became that the summit had already been conquered. the land surrounding the mount stunk of dutiful patrols, and he was not brave nor foolish enough to test the patience of a group well fortified.

besides, it's courteous to knock before entering.

and so he lifted his maw and let out a call for any who would answer, leader or otherwise.

He is wearing the elegance she sees in nobility, though he does not seem of the desert- disc of eyes gleaming warm and dressed with muted earth-tones. It is in her nature to evade borders so soon after a war but his call is not unfriendly; it is curious. And so she has descended from the high palace into the awaiting sands and the man wrought from it.

He is cautiously attended with a sweep of pale eye before her head dips slow into deferential greeting.

“Welcome. You stand upon the land of Akashingo, reign of Hemet-nekheb Muat-riya Isetnofret, Queen of the Red Serpent. How may I assist you?”

after some time a figure emerged, slender and rawboned, dusted with furs of cedar and umber. not unappealing, though not particularly remarkable either. she greeted him, and he offered a dip of his crown in return. the words that spewed from her mouth were unfamiliar and far too foreign for him to understand. he stood there, wide eyed and mouth agape for a moment, trying to recall what exactly she'd said.

akashingo, something about it's no fret? and oh yeah, queen of snakes.

at least he could understand the last part of her word vomit. "hello," he started with a chirper smile and soft swish of his tail. "i'd been meaning to climb this fine rock ya got here, but didn't realize it'd been claimed until just a bit ago." he gave a swift glance upwards towards the looming cliffsides before continuing. "i'm new to the area, was hoping to get acquainted with the locals."

If his countenance alludes to royal-blood, his turn of tongue held an everyday abrasion. But his speech is kind and his request for meeting innocent enough, even if her breath catches when their grand palace is referred to as a “rock”.

She will hold formal her posture as she informs him, “The Queen is amicable. I do not believe she will refuse an audience. However you must first meet with the Erpa-ha, Prince @Senmut. Our Queen’s time is limited, you see, the palace is preparing for her impending coronation.”

She makes no mention of the plague upon their pack, but it is this reason she will first see the foreign man to the High Priest instead of their Queen. Careful measure was needed during this time of chaos. She tilts her muzzle to call for a Mazoi, who would escort them through the mesa.

“What is your name?” She asks while they wait.

he'd not realized he'd been among a whole slew of royals. first a queen, then a prince, and apparently there was to be an entire coronation. "it seems i've intruded at a busy time." not that he was sorry for his unexpected visit, for he'd not known of them or their lively times until just now.

he wanders off in thought for a moment as she lifts her maw to request the presence of another, her question pulling him from the depths of his mind. "alphus," he introduces with a cheerful smile and sprightly nod of his head. "and you are?" 

summer brought many changes. senmut considered this was another suitor, for the edict had been farflung.

with the mazoi khusobek he came, the taller man's strides heavy at his flank.

the stranger was hued in pretty colors and a soft mien. senmut glanced to eset, who he assumed naturally had made the proper greeting of their kingdom as her words came easily of the other. the air was hot.

"alphus." the name was captured in the final step of his paw. "from where do you hail?"

Indeed it was not the auspicious time it should have been with an end put to the war and the young ruler’s crowning drawing near. That he is cognizant of their nobles’ limited time warms her, and also the smile she’s entreated with.

“Our Queen is generous,” she reveals as a consolation. “The kingdom will wish to make orderly relations with its neighbors.” Perhaps even one so plainly spoken as this peasant man. 

“I am servant to the Queen, Eset. It is nice to meet you, Alphus,” she serves a charmed look in kind. As the Mazoi answers her call she will direct the visitor with a gesture of her nose up the face of Lion’s Head, flanked on either side by the Palace guards.

“Please, follow me. Watch your step, the mesa can be steep. And do remember, it is customary to bow before our nobility,” She instructs the man with a sidelong glance.

At the sprawling summit she will bring Alphus to where Prince @Senmut will receive him, a prolonged kneel taken first before rising to present their guest.

“Prince Senmut, Erpa-ha of Akashingo. This is Alphus, neighbor to the Red Land.”

She looks between them a moment before fading back.

skippable! <3

another man. why else do men come but for the promise of power?

beside the prince walked the palace guardian, and his cold reptile's eyes fixed to the man who had the look of unworked paws about him.

when they moved, so would khusobek; for now he took up a posture near the side of the stranger, facing his royal with eyes kept ahead.

eset, a welcome diversion he would not allow to sway him in this moment.

he did not interrupt as the earthly toned woman spoke of her noble queen and of the intention to have relations with outsiders. this pleased him greatly. he was a tradesman to his core, and the satisfaction of good business was far more enticing to him than much else. if he could secure healthy relationships now with the local packs, it would make his stay during winter all the more bearable.

she introduced herself as eset just before they were joined by another. instructions are given to follow, which he does so dutifully. it looks as if he might yet still be able climb the lonely mountain after all, even if it was with escorts at either side.

he made note of her reminder to bow before nobility, and gave a swift nod to show he understood. bowing wasn't something he was regularly familiar with, but if it was what was customary here, then it is what would be done.

eventually there was another, this one beholding an aura of authority and eminence. he assumed this would be one of the nobles mentioned before, which was then confirmed when the title of prince was spoken. alphus gave a brief glance towards eset before lowering himself to offer as much of a courtly bow as he could muster.

he rose after a few moments, ears swiveling forward when a question reached his ears. "my homeland is far west of here, but i've not been there for many seasons." if he left now, he might arrive home before the final leaves fell from their branches.

it was a credit to this alphus that he appeared to listen well, and quickly. the answer was suitably vague and implied the noble creature had been traveling for a time. unlike the others, he did not mention the queen's edict, nor her search.

without this immediate offer of retinue or lineage, it remained less likely that the man was a possible suitor. senmut lifted his chin.

"why have you come to the Red Land?" he asked quietly. "do you seek the queen? or only wisdom of akashingo?"

time now, to venture certain into what he knew how to extract. the fact he was not a suitor now mattered little to senmut. all men who attended their border were now appraised for such.

Don't mind me! Nabs is just observing and being a pig.

Many came to the herald of Toula's ascension into power and the open place at her side as equal. Some of which were on high nobility, some not. Some of mixed blood as many in their court, others of pure, untarnished blood. 

As Naberius strolls the gardens of their home, he happens upon one particular man of such blood. Servant and Prince already being addressed and introduced. Naberius sunburst eyes rove the man, fitted with pale hues of creams and sands. A beautiful thing, indeed. If their beloved Queen did not want a taste, perhaps Naberius would take one instead. 

Here, Naberius paused only long enough to make sure The Priest-Prince did not require his service before continuing on.

never change naby <3 please skip me

She is conscious of the mazoi’s nearness from his smell but her eyes train obediently ahead, watching Senmut as he appraises the vagrant man and communicates only an edge of impartiality, which is in itself an art. If a judgment is made it never once crosses his face. Is this a veil of his own making- or had someone else placed it there?

the inhabitants of the mesa were far more neighborly than what the vagrant was accustomed to. their hospitality an unusual practice, but one perhaps standard in this foreign land.

he paid little attention to the movement caught in the corner of his vision. his nose told him it was another body of their gathering, one he assumed unimportant given the lack of response from those surrounding him. and so his focus remained fixated upon the prince and the questions asked.

"the queen not need bothered unless ya wish her presence here." she was busy, was she not?

as for his intention, "it is my desire to forge a relationship of mutual benefit to us both." well, actually his initial goal had been to climb the mountain, but that wasn't of much importance now. "a business proposal. my services, in trade for what ya see as fair payment."

senmut's ear flicked. he had little reason to suspect this man could offer anything, and wanted to send him away. and yet he listened to some sensation within himself, or perhaps it was only loyalty to any tribute he felt the queen deserved.

"what makes you believe we are in need of anything?" the scarlet prince of the red sand tested lightly, a challenging light aglow amid his pupils.

"what can you offer a queen?" senmut asked quietly, and though his eyes had not cooled, his humour dissolved. he would not have any of her time wasted.

"it is not a question of what is needed." they seemed well off, fed, protected, educated. they did not need anything from him, but he often did not deal in the acquiring of necessities. "it is what is wanted." the dirty secrets, the whispered rumors, the dark desires. scouts could obtain as much as he, but they were bound by laws and morals. speak a certain way, act a certain way, do this, don't do this. their shortcoming fell not on just themselves but their entire group. he held no such affiliation and was bound only by the promise of payment.

he was questioned on what he could offer, and so he gave his usual open-ended answer. "my services are limited only by what can be afforded." he paused to shift his weight, a glance around at those near to him.

"if there is truly nothing ya desire, then i shall be on my way." alphus would not believe the noble prince's words should he deny any want. there was always hunger rooted in the heart, especially that of a man.

sly one, golden tongue. senmut smiled indulgently. he would rather have put this alphus out than invited him forward, but if there was anything that could be gotten for the queen, he would have it.

"suppose you were asked to assassinate a rival? would you do it?" the prince asked, voice cool as he began to press around the edges of that which was offered.

"or perhaps, if you were commanded to take a captive in my name, would you do so without question?"

there was no rival nor one intended for capture. senmut only wished to know to what end this traveller might go.

he was not excused from their company, at least not yet.

ah, the question so often asked. to take a life. "the price of blood does not come cheap." there was more to consider than just the removal of one's soul. the aftermath and repercussions were often more a hassle than the act itself. not many could afford such an expensive service.

he went on to ask about a captive, and with this alphus simply gave a nod of his head. "if it can be afforded, it will be done." and that was all there was to it. "i don't ask questions, and i do as i am paid." simple as that.

so long as payment was made, he could do or be anything one could desire. a mercenary, a friend, a lover, a confidant.

senmut considered with a slow blink.

he thought of seth. perhaps this man too might be of use.

"instead of death, akashingo will soon want for more land," the prince intoned dryly. "make yourself useful on a southerly journey, find something beautiful of note for the queen. then we will discuss your payment."

the palace was rich with fine things; senmut wished to know if it was baubles or bond that the wolf sought.

his task was delivered, and so it would be fulfilled.

among the many errands he had been paid to complete, he did not think this one special or beyond his capabilities. he gave a nod in acceptance of the endeavor. to the south he would go. a gem he would find.

"i will return as soon as i have something worthy of a queen."

the prettier the treasure, the prettier the payment.

he waited to hear of any further instructions or requests bound to his task. should none come, he would wait to be excused and then make for his exit, likely with an escort by his side.

<3

senmut nodded.

he would send khusobek with this alphus, to the borderlands, and would receive a report of which direction their new acquaintance took away from akashingo.

the prince was intrigued, and anticipated knowing whether or not the man would return.