fortunate for pharaoh and courtly manners that the queen quickly swept up the tendrils of his abruptness with her sweet voice. setemhotep's pious tones reminded all ears that plague and vicious things still roamed the earth. into their scythes would their Great Seer go, and as khaemwaset contemplated this again, he disliked the idea. agreement had been made. to forbid was to ruin trust. a man blessed by the gods was able to walk through any fire.
the highest of priests -- yes. it was so. Horus took the most elevated incarnation and most esteemed post, and this too, straightened the ruler until he became as carved black stone there beside merneith.
el'zeath had the build of a warrior, of taliba and of the ones who had made her strong. it did not escape khaemwaset that she had first offered a masculine title and then spoke of a great age which had lifted away her spirit to wander in those first parts. that setemhotep had reached through to el'zeath and plucked her from death to rebirth brought pharaoh's goldgleam eyes back to the priest.
his step down from the dais on approach was light. the High Priest is a man of purest power, came first remark. he will know that the soul is made of many parts. in flesh, khet is before us. by admission, your spiritual flesh, el'zeath, sah, was called by divine word through setemhotep. you remember your name, which is ren. and we see that you recall who you are, which is the part called ba.
but had the vital essence crossed over? what of the shadow and the heart? what of the power? Great Royal Wife, First Servant to the Gods, pharaoh said lightly, moving to encompass both satriya's queen and its highest priest in his gaze, if you agree and even if only these portions of spirit have been restored, then i move that the gods have indeed sent you, el'zeath. and khaemwaset's expression now rested on the fascinating newcomer.