there is not a pinch of amusement on her face.

with a deep sigh, then a proud lift of the chin, imenet gestures a wrist at skyspear.

lead, oryx.

although she makes it fifteen paces with a biped gait, knuckles hit the sand again. she'll conserve strength and grace for her presentation.

oddly, her heart begins to thrum.

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i wish viva had a kudos feature just for nakhtmin's posts ;-;

WAUUUGH tyy ;A; likewise every post u make im having heart eyes about hahahah

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Very well! He exulted, and trotted on. To the archway, past the guards, and where water was prepared for cleansing one's self before presentation to that most holy. Imenet had 'bathed' in the River, so he rather doubted she could be considered impure.

But he had been running, sweating! Yes, greatly! So he must be cleansed. With sponges soaked and the practiced paws of servants, for Nakhtmin, regrettably, lacked the dexterity of wolves. His hooves could shatter skulls! But they could not hold soft things for scrubbing.

This would give fellahin time to summon the proper authority. What would Pharaoh Khaemwaset and Queen Merneith think of this newcomer? Nakhtmin was quite excited to find out!

When the gods summon us, you must bow, and praise their might and mercy. He explained, Do not let their youth fool you! The Horus could slay you with a word, if he chose! This was not likely, for Khaemwaset was a benevolent bull, but Nakhtmin found some enjoyment in attempting to instill trepidation.

I find your spirit inspiring, Imenet, but I do believe it would be best if you proclaimed manners before Pharaoh. Oryx nodded. Make no demands. You receive aid only at their pleasure.

it's the most people she has ever seen. although her memory is a day long.

all well-toothed beasts, from the gruff guardsmen stiff as statues, to the harried servants rushing past carrying furs and papyrus reeds.

she is looked at. rudely or subtly. but the beast bearing the name imenet is an oddity here.

she draws in as nakhtmin is bathed. pulls away from wary servants. peers into the water, and tries to arrange her fur in a manner least barbarous.

as the thick lock falls over her eye anew, imenet forfeits her efforts.

nakhtmin is easy to glare at when he speaks up.

gods. imenet repeats. she doesn't know where her skepticism rises from. mention of youth pads it out. nakhtim's insistence upon manners firms it up.

she is seated with knees drawn up, arms around them, facing the oryx and away from the grand entrance, when the divinity of skyspear arrive.

Neith is in love with her bump.

She carries on with her work, ignoring a heaviness in limbs and bursts of colorful spots which sometimes cloud her sight. Through every audience, every procession, and each moment between obligations, she is speaking to Khaem's children, telling them all about their palace and of the nursery they’d prepared in the sunlit room across the hall from the Chamber of Garnets. She speaks about every inhabitant of satriya, in detail, their quirks and lovelinesses.

She tells them that mother and father have built the substance of their own dreams, that their daddy had planted a garden for her where they will one day chase and play. It sows again in Neith’s mind that reality is not confined to what the eye alone perceives— that their world is full of magic. A thought which settles more firmly by the curious figure slumped beside her painted warrior.

Neith’s countenance is serene. It is in her eyes where curiosity roves.

“Whom have you brought to us, mazoi Nakhtmin?”

The Queen was with child, and this was now quite obvious to most with the power to scent it, or familiarity with her figure to know it had enlarged most noticeably!

Nakhtmin felt uncertain whether Imenet would understand this, but he believed that for all her conceit she would surely not be crass enough to call a living goddess fat, and so did not concern himself with it overmuch.

For those to whom it matters — Queen would bear heirs and Pharaoh would put to rest any whispered notions of an improper bride. This was good! Nakhtmin had been told so, by those with sterner minds for politics, and generally believed it.

But he must not be distracted!

Oryx had entered the chamber and bowed low, and made obeisance — praising the twin gods strength, virility, and goodness. And then risen to answer their questions, A secret, Great Falcons! Hmm... He glanced to the not-baboon woman, and offered what was intended to be an encouraging grin.

Tail swished. She knows not her name! So I have called her Imenet. We met first on the dunes, and she vanished into oasis waters. Now she has reawoken from the River, and this, I thought, was a matter for the priesthood to examine.

Khaemwaset, as Pharaoh, would be highest of priests, and so was qualified to make determinations.

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Skippable hereforward unless directly addressed :3 <3