2/19/2026, 8:06 PM
![[Image: dd8rnsn-3f0d7905-62c6-4066-9c31-4588d1cb...iHgzqQRbN4]](https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/d2b3a0d4-24b8-4179-ad96-7bb8f88cc929/dd8rnsn-3f0d7905-62c6-4066-9c31-4588d1cb077a.png?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcL2QyYjNhMGQ0LTI0YjgtNDE3OS1hZDk2LTdiYjhmODhjYzkyOVwvZGQ4cm5zbi0zZjBkNzkwNS02MmM2LTQwNjYtOWMzMS00NTg4ZDFjYjA3N2EucG5nIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.sGIeAzj9HJrO3HXW7wAN0K4wShSrvVJW-iHgzqQRbN4)
The hair along his spine prickled being in such close proximity with Pharaoh. It wasn't unnerving, precisely, but just the knowledge of being so near someone as holy as he, the divine linked directly with the gods - with Seti it had been almost casual, and looking back, Mekh wondered if their friendship had been wrong in the eyes of their deities.
It is true,he affirmed Khaemwaset's proud statement. The coywolf had seen it with his own eyes; Satriya was truly as he said it was, and Mekh still wondered that he was allowed at all into their gilded embrace.
He watched with quiet respect as Pharaoh grazed his paw against the monument of their victory. Mekh had touched very much of the great pyramid up to this point; the tile, the gypsum-lime grout, the walls, even the odd artifact still left standing against the tides of time, scrubbing furiously with every appendage at his disposal to make them shine once more.
I - I suppose I have never had any aspirations,Mekh admitted. Beneath his former master's rule, there had been the option of working out a degree of freedom in that of a hunter-rank, but he had grown so fat, so comfortable in his position as Seti's confidante - slave, yes, but also something a little more - why bother?
In hindsight, he probably should have developed a skillset of some kind to fall back on. Mekh could never have anticipated where he was now.
The red dunes stretched infinitely before them.
I will not lie to you,he began,
I come from a place similar to this; hot sands, stones piled as high as the sun. I was selfish. Bloated with my own pride, my greatest talent being that of a whisper-gatherer, and my days were spent serving and gifting secrets to my Pharaoh. There was little holiness in my work, and I saw no reason to change.
Golden eyes lifted, reflecting the red sheen from the warm sands surrounding them.
If I were to aspire to priesthood, it would be meticulous work for those who trained me, as if I were a child,he professed.
If I were to walk the path of a warrior, the road would be long, and my bite will still never be as strong as that of - one who is pure.
This was surely not what Khaemwaset wished to hear, yet the truth must be said.
But I wish with all the light of Ra to be useful to you.
