admittedly, khaemwaset had grown spoiled outside the realm of proper courtly comportment. sitting upon these thrones appealed to a sense of completion in the young Horus, but he remained playful and perhaps informal. setemhotep's entry to their hall, therefore, found pharaoh lying across the arm of both uprights, sleek as a night's mink and fawning toward merneith. in his teeth, a white flower; he traced this slowly over one cheekbone, his eyes glowing with humour and love.
he had just been about to suggest that they retire to her newly decorated apartments when the priest arrived, along with another. recovering himself and thus his curiosity, khaemwaset leaned away from his queen with reluctance, settling himself into a straighter position as the Great Seer made his obeisances.
and an introduction.
el'zeath, from the red flame beyond. in the protection of the holy man, and with eyes made aware by -- what?
at once he was intrigued, and beckoned for her to come closer to their dais. she held an incredible height, cowled in jet and punctuated by a gilding that emphasized her lantern eyes. to complete this, a collection of feathers and curved talons were slung about her neck.
very interesting indeed. you came from the red fire itself? he asked without preamble, glancing toward merneith.

Flirtatiously, the queen had been protesting Pharaoh’s antics in a chamber of presence, where court advisors were sure to go strolling by— though the sweetness of jasmine did not veil the more fruitful scent of her longing which hung onto Pharaoh from their night prior, and she was captive to his voice as it spilled in lambent tone across the room.

Setemhotep; her eyes take warming hold of the hem's particular flare of gold before moving peculiarly over the woman at his side. She has a visual appeal in familiar drapes of ivory and obsidian. Her own voice is elegant to thrill through the halls of the sandstone temple. Streaming daylight reflects in darting and flickering gleams from a looped circlet around her neck.

“Satriya welcomes you, Lady El’Zeath,” Neith blinks her kohl-darkened eyelids and looks on eagerly to hear what knowledge she holds of the eternal flame.

Skill - Apostle 5/5

The scent of youthful indulgence wafted like incense across the room. It sent a ripple of discordance through Hotep's innermost parts, which he struggled privately to tamp down.

Yes. It was good that Pharaoh and Queen belove one another. Soon, the work of making heirs would begin, and they would benefit from the attachment in this coming spell.

It was the throne room, not the temple. Purifications were meant for those intending to stand in the presence of divinity, not, necessarily, the other way around. He supposed.

And they were young! (Though not that much younger than Hotep, who held ritual and manner so paramount in all his activities.)

So indeed there was a moment of conflict in the High Priest's heart, wherein he wished to be supportive of his god-heir dynasts, and still could not evade a measure of disappointment at how carelessly they took their seats before a sanctified guest he had only just praised them so highly to!

Well-guarded features would not reveal the dissonance. He unclenched his jaw and made the proper obeisance, and in response to their acknowledgement, spoke clarion, You know that I labour in your name to return Ra's light to the sky, against the agents of chaos which seek to destroy you.

He looked to his companion, From this endeavour, El'Zeath was reborn in sacred flame. But whether she was sent by the gods, she cannot say. So I bring her before you, the highest of priests, to make sense of what has happened.

Though his features might remain impassive, his tone measured and respectful... an ear accustomed to the subtleties of court might intuit the reminder of decorum folded into Setemhotep's explanation.

Orange eyes caught hold of the motion for her to step closer, and her great form rightened itself, but not so much that it would be considered disrespectful. She gave but a slow nod when he asked if she came from the flame itself, but was more jarred by the Queen calling her Lady.

”It is Sir-..... oh…yeah, Lady it is now, I suppose,” she said with great hesitance, her new form still startling. It did not feel right, to be a lady, as the memories of being male still clung to her deeply. It was not time to question and dawdle on such a thing, as there were more important matters occurring in this moment. Great paws of cream pressed against the ground, and her black drenched form got a little bit closer, but only by a few steps.

Hotep’s words echoed the chamber, and there was quite a bit of context she did not understand. Ra’s light, agents of chaos. It was a new world with new worries and new battles. Although she cannot remember specific details of her last life quite well, she knew the battle of good and evil was a constant one. She knew not what was expected of the two leaders in terms of Hotep’s expectations, and thus was rather unbothered. She was still in awe at being alive again, in a new world, to learn new things, and still damaged by the thought that her many powers and blessings may be gone here.

After Hotep completed his words, El’Zeath continued, ”Yes, well, from my perspective, my new friend here used the blessing of Life upon me, a very rare blessing indeed, so I am very grateful he used it on a stranger such as myself! Last I remember, I was an old wolf laying to sleep one last time, then an unimaginable darkness…then I heard Setemhotep’s voice and saw the red light,” she said seriously, looking from the leaders back to her companion.

”I then found myself here, although without my wings, but I am guessing blessings will need to be found anew here? What are your thoughts on this matter?” she asked curiously, turning back to the leaders and lowering his muzzle a bit. El’Zeath had a calm and collected aura to her despite the strange situation, having been in many, but this one was particularly odd. Perhaps none of them really knew what was going on, or these strangers all have knowledge she was unaware of. A new life in a new land, didn’t seem too farfetched. Orange eyes looked to them with a bit of hope, but not the kind that would be crushed if there were indeed no answers.

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.

Neith is intrigued by this small exchange between Pharaoh and seer, though she does not long think on it, too overcome with the story of rebirth from flame and the physical manifestations of such a marvel. Yes, the Pharaoh and queen understood intimately this magical transformation, and if the plague of darkness is a demonstration of greater evil, then ma’at is maintained by the advent of spiritual beings.

Her brother speaks. Through godliness they both possess the power of the inner eye, and Neith beside him smiles serenely in agreement. “The gods have delivered you to Satriya, and so we have need of each other.”

She sees El’Zeath’s rebirth as a benevolent act of golden magick, but it has seemingly come at the cost of profound change. “Does your ka recall much of the life it wore before this one?”

Pharaoh explained himself wisely and succinctly, which garnered a nod from the Seer. Even more Hotep was relieved to witness the young ruler reassert dignity at such speed. It unburdened the priest's heart as the pair walked in synchronized step toward divine interpretation.

His head bowed in acceptance of their decree, finding his own instinct congruent with their observations.

To supplement El'Zeath's knowledge, Hotep only added after Merneith, The ka is your vital spark, your life essence. It mirrors your physical khet. And your ba, the sense of self and the mark you make upon the world — as Pharaoh explained, inhabits it.

"These things are important in the crossing of worlds. So important, in fact, that after physical death, a ka statue in one's likeness can be molded, to allow the ba to visit from the afterlife. We do this so that our ancestors may receive offerings and answer our prayers.

"You did not die, not entirely. But your khet and ka have changed. It is a good sign that your ba still recognized them.

It must be quite a lot to absorb, for one unaccustomed to their ways. He smiled a gentle encouragement, Each god has many forms, male and female, and even those in-between. It is not so strange that they might have changed you, as well, to reflect the new task they have raised you for, or strengthen some aspect of your being that was not so prominent in the male form.

They were young, this much was true, but even so still impressive. El’Zeath’s orange eyes hold a wisdom of many years, even though her body was no longer gripped by age. Even with great wisdom, they holds them with curiosity and willingness to learn. One can learn much for those younger, and El’Zeath held no judgement based on age.

El’Zeath gave a dip of her muzzle as the Pharaoh steps towards her. This was not her land. This was not her world. She remembers a life of leadership, a life of leading, a life of diplomacy with other leaders, but it is almost like a passing wind. She gets no details. She gets no specifics. But she knows these things, knows them like she knows language.

They speak of things she does know exactly know. At least, the language they use is not familiar to her. So much to learn. New things to understand….exciting! She contains this excitement, though a slight uncontrolled wag of her tail barley comes out. She tries to absorb what is said, from the Pharaoh to his wife now. Both leaders seem convinced that El’Zeath was sent by the gods…

El’Zeath knows no gods. El’Zeath knew of powers…of great blessings, but not of gods. It was thing mentioned in passing at times, in wondering where such things come from. Some believed in specific gods, others different ones. Wolfy was basically a god…so, very much there could be others that used their power to bring her here.

”If these gods have sent me here, then so be it,” she speaks, bowing her head down once to Khaemwaset and once to Merneith. The question Merneith posed brought a slight tilt of the head. The fog was great. Memories seem to appear and disappear just as fast. Hotep speaks, and she turns to him with ears perked. Intensely, she listened.

She gives a small laugh at the end at mentioning the gods may have changed her from the male form to reflect a new aspect of her. ”That is fair I suppose, perhaps I have much to learn as a woman this time around. I thank you for your words, and I apologies to you all. These terms…they are new to me,” her raspy deep voice said, turning her attention back towards the leaders.

”The life before…I remember flying to the top of the largest mountain. I remember a few names, a few faces…I remember the struggle of good versus evil, a fight of magics…” she shook her head then, looking at the ground for a moment. It felt like a dream she was unable to recall fully…like she only had a few pages in a book. Frustration reflected on her visage of gold-touched cream and black. ”The fog of the mind is too great. Tell me, leaders of this land, how do I come to know why I was brought here, to fulfill what is needed of me?” she asked, unsure of the nature of these gods and this world. Was this something revealed to them? Or did they have to hunt it?

they converged, the three of them, to explain and to assure el’zeath. more than amused by this, pharaoh reminisced over those forces which had so threatened even himself, which setemhotep now meant to seek out again.
goldwealth eyes set first upon the High Priest, then el’zeath, and then the queen, for which khaemwaset glowed.
it felt as though they were agreed upon this. and now, with the holy sojourn now close at hand, Horus considered another thing.
he had enjoyed how swiftly el'zeath recovered, and now waited for her answer. such a powerful build, one which brought him to mind of ogre-blood and riverfolk. of loyal muscle and eyes that saw all.
both masculine and feminine -- he listened to the High Priest further clarify and explain. his sister's voice maintained its welcoming softness as if her tones had been spun on the looms of their gods itself. his counterpart in all things; his balance.
Ma'at and Ma'at repeating;
Atum is said to have created Himself, said khaemwaset. in time i believe all things will be revealed, provided that you keep all that setemhotep will decree for your learning. and as for your purpose, that is clear to me.
golden eyes glimmered. you are meant to be conduit, mouthpiece, aspect, and portal for the Duat.
daring. but was he wrong?

Even the queen’s mouth gaped in wonderment, for they had come alive in a time of magick. Khaem and Hotep were credited with great powers, and the being who lived both in masculine and feminine forms had received special gifts from Osiris.

Stariya meant to employ this knowledge.

Her eyes smile, her silence awaiting El’Zeath’s reception of Pharaoh’s bestowment.