Ancient Egypt: The Age of Magic discussion

((RP with approved characters only))

Looking around, Nadira fingered the small coin purse at her waist. Turning to her companion, she asked, "Perhaps you would like to dine with me this evening? Unless you are busy, then I understand."

"I would be delighted to dine with you." Darius smiled and felt for his leather bag of gold pieces and other small valuables.

She smiled and nodded. "Good. I'm sure it would be lonesome to dine alone," Nadira said as she went to approach the innkeeper. Though her words were implying Darius was the one to be lonesome, she knew the reason for her invitation was the idea of so many strange men around that frightened her.

"True, but not if we done together." He said, not catching the underlying meaning in her words. He walked up to the innkeeper behind her.

Telling the innkeeper the days she would be staying, Nadira handed him her payment. Then stepping aside to let Darius pay, she looked around. "So, what sort of foods are you favorite?" she asked, trying to distract herself.

"Fish is good, especially with some fresh bread and a little cheese, washed down with some beer. I'm used to traveling, so I never really have proper meals." He said with a shrug. "And what about yours?"

"Living in the palace does have its perks," she said with a smile, leading him away to a small table. "We have many fruit and fish as well. I think the fruit is what I especially like."

"I haven't had a good bit of fruit in ages, meals are a quick thing on trading missions." He said, following her to a table.

Taking a seat facing him, she tilted her head. "Maybe while we tour the city you can buy some fruit for yourself," she suggested, smoothing out her skirts.

"I think I will, I might be able to find some pomegranates or bananas, that would be a find." He said, feeling hungrier than before.

Feeling her stomach growl, Nadira let out a small laugh. "You are making me hungry with your words. Perhaps we should order something?"

"Yes I think we should, you can order first." He looked over to the young boy standing, waiting for them to say why they wanted.

((Not sure how historically accurate this is, but who knows ^_^))

((Me neither. I was thinking that perhaps an inn might not even be serving more than one thing. :P))

She was about to refuse him politely and insist he should order first when her stomach grumbled in protest. Embarrassed, she gave a small nod and turned to the boy. "Fish, bread, and beer for me please."

((Haha yah, we'll have to roll with it.))

Darius smiled. "The same for me too please." He watched as the boy hurried to the kitchen and then turned back to the woman. "So, how did you get into the palace?"

A flicker of a shadow came to her eyes at the loaded question. Tucking a stray hair behind her ear as she regained her composure, Nadira replied smoothly, "An act of kindness from one of the Pharaoh's advisers."

"How long ago was that? You talk like you've been in the palace for a while, if it's not prying, stop me if I am." He said with a small smile.

"Actually, I've only lived there for only a couple of years. For me, my life began when I came to the palace." Nadira then smiled back at him. "And it would be prying to ask what was before that," she added, not unkindly.

Darius nodded. "I understand, yours is an interesting story, but I won't pry." At the moment the boy came back with the plates and laid them before them. Darius pulled a small gold piece from his pouch and slipped it to the boy who's eyes widened and he quickly shot off. Darius chuckled and began eating.

Noticing the man's kind gesture, Nadira felt her interest pique. As she broke the bread on her plate and after she muttered a quick prayer, she asked him curiously, "What about you? Have you always been a spice trader?"

"I have, just like my father before me and his father." He took a bite of bread and broke off a few pomegranate seeds.

"That is admirable. Must be special being able to continue your ancestor's trade," she said thoughtfully, thinking to herself that if she ever followed her mother's "trade" she might never have ever stepped foot in the palace.

"Yes I suppose it is, I always knew I would be trading spice when I became old enough." He sat back and began cutting his fish.

Processing his words, Nadira thought she detected something in the tone of his voice. Tentatively, she asked, "But you dream of being a scribe in the palace?" She didn't look at him in case she hit a nerve as she began to nibble on a piece of fish.

Darius stopped cutting and looked up, a look of surprise. "Yes actually, how did you...?" He laid down his utensils.

"You mentioned something about being a scribe in the palace back at the temple," she said with a smile. "Don't worry, I'm not all-knowing like Ra or magical like Isis."

"Ah of course, my mistake." He chuckled and resumed cutting. "Yes, I do have that little dream, but I see no way it will ever become a reality."

"Why not?" she asked a little too forcefully, leaning forward to look at him. Realizing she might have been too pushy, she leaned back in her chair and quickly took a drink from her cup to hide her embarrassment.

"I would have to get noticed. I suppose it could happen, I mean look at the labour leader on the sphinx, he was a common worker when he started." He thought for a moment. "I don't know though."

Pursing her lips thoughtfully, Nadira pushed around the food on her plate. "Is there anyway for you to get noticed? Like a fair or contest, perhaps? Or maybe I should try to recommend you when I'm at the palace," she said.

"Perhaps, no, yes? Oh, you know what, I'll think about it, just please don't say anything until I have." He was feeling slightly flustered, which wasn't like him, from the thought of it.

Nodding, Nadira smiled. "I promise to not do anything unless you ask," she said and popped a few pomegranate seeds in her mouth.

Darius nodded. "Thank you." He took a piece of bread and put some seeds on it before popping it into his mouth.

((So, what shall we do with them?))

((Hmmmm, we could send them to bed and have them meet the next day? Or we could have them meet other people if you want to free her.))

((Let's finish the meal and send them to bed. If you want to, we can continue. I don't care either way. ^^))

Digging into her meal, Nadira thought to herself what it would be like if she had a friend outside the palace. She never ventured far, but she didn't see any reason to. In fact, she didn't have any friends, always spending her time practicing dancing or singing or memorizing a new story.

Darius was also thinking, wondering if he'd run into her again after he left on his next trading mission. He knew he'd like to, she seemed like a good person and he liked her company.

As they were finishing their meal, Nadira looked up at Darius. "Though I said this already, thank you for the gift. And thank you for your company this evening."

"It was a pleasure. Thank you for letting me spend it with you." He sat back and smiled at her.

Nadira nodded graciously as she rose to her feet. Holding out her hand, she said in a light tone, "Well, you know where to find me, if you would want to tour the city together."

Darius kissed her hand and stood. "I will have to do just that." He bowed slightly and smiled at her. "May you be blessed by Ma'at and always have Ra's rays warm you."

"And may Thoth give your wisdom and Ra light your path," she said in return, her tone sincere. Nadira gave him a small smile and a nod farewell before she slipped between the tables, moving gracefully past the other occupants in the room.

Darius watched her go before turning and heading towards his room. Walking up to the balcony he looked out over the dark city, a warm desert breeze blowing over the landscape. Sending up a prayer of thanks he smiled and went to his bed.

((Btw, look up an ancient Egyptian bed, they're pretty great))

((Better than a lot of Medieval mattresses I've seen. :P))

*END OF SCENE*