Myshuno! prompt 3: Secrets.
Oct. 1st, 2013 05:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fuzzysporkPrompt: Never give away all your secrets. (from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lauriempress)
Rating: Everyone
Word Count: 1292
Notes: Sorry, kinda long. But I wasn't sure how much was needed to set up what was coming. This is very much canon, but won't happen for a couple of generations yet. I keep going back to this character's story because, besides the current generation, it's the one I'm definitely, absolutely, positively sure how it's going to play out from start to end and I've got it all outlined. This scene will give you a wee bit more insight into the situation (that I've hinted at in prompts from the last two years of Myshuno), though not a full disclosure. I've got to keep something for the chapters! D: Spoilers ahoy.
My Card
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“Be warned,” The noble woman pursed her lips as she rolled up the parchment, “The girl is willful, mouthy, and belligerent. You may beat her if you like.”
“What?” Neb tried not to look offended, “I don’t think that will be necessary.”
“She will drive you to it, I guarantee. And she deserves much worse than the back of your hand.” This was delivered in a cold and callous tone that made Neb feel uneasy.
The woman glanced at the doorway as if to make sure they were truly alone, then she leaned closer, “Her conviction has stripped her of all rights to counsel for as long as she lives in Egypt. You have a free hand with her, and you may use a lash if that is your pleasure.”
Neb was startled by this revelation. Even a slave had the right to be heard by the priests if he had a complaint of mistreatment. This girl’s crime must have been very serious. Neb asked suspiciously, “What exactly is she guilty of?”
“That is none of your concern,” the woman waved dismissively.
Neb now had the distinct feeling that he’d been misled when originally striking this deal and this woman’s attitude was vexing to say the least. So his response came out a bit more menacingly than he intended, “I expect it is very much my concern if I am sharing my bed with a murderer.” The last word came from behind clenched teeth. The woman gave only the slightest flinch.
“If you insist on knowing,” she sighed as if what followed was not important enough to waste her time voicing it, but it was accompanied by another nervous glance towards the doorway. “She is guilty of treason. There is no further information you are required to know for this arrangement and you are strongly advised to never discus the girl’s past with her.” The woman had regained her pompous poise at this point, and that callous tone returned to her voice. “Young man, you are making out like a king in this situation and, given the circumstances, you have very little room to complain. After all, I believe this arrangement is keeping you out of the prison quarry as well.”
Neb shifted. He could not argue that point. The woman smirked.
“Your new bride is young, fertile, and she just so happens to be mute in the courts and temples. So, as I said,” she gave him a quick once-over with her eyes, apparently measuring his strength, “You may give her any punishment you feel she deserves for her shortcomings as a wife. And I trust there will be many.” This was delivered with just enough cruel delight to indicate to Neb that this hateful woman would derive much pleasure from hearing that he had been beating his wife.
This deeply bothered him, but Neb simply nodded.
The noble woman seemed satisfied with his response. Where she had only given him a cursory appraisal with her eyes before, she was now openly contemplating his physique. Shamefully so! Thoroughly annoyed, Neb was about to ask her to save her meat shopping for the butcher’s stall when she suddenly made a tsk'ing sound.
She sighed and tsked again, “It’s really a shame that you are not ugly.”
Neb blinked. “I... apologize for that.”
“It would be a far better punishment for the girl if she was not only married to a lowly brick-maker, but also to someone whose appearance repulsed her.”
By Seth, this woman was galling! Neb ground his teeth together. “Since I am unable to change my face, I shall endeavor to showcase my most loathsome habits as compensation. Perhaps I can belch when I meet her.”
He meant it as spite but the noble woman laughed as if it was a pleasantry. Then she reached out and stroked his wrist in a way that was entirely too intimate for the situation. “Yes, you are hardly a punishment.”
“But the contract is signed,” She withdrew her hand, suddenly indifferent and businesslike again. “You have agreed to the terms and it is settled.” She reached the doorway and turned an icy smile towards him, “May the gods bless your marriage.” She made a sound like a laugh and disappeared.
Almost immediately an elderly priest and a scribe entered the room, followed by a young woman who was being pushed on by a prison guard. The weeping girl was slim and delicate, and clearly of an aristocratic lineage. Yet she had no wig or jewelry. Her slight frame and the simple dress she wore showed quite clearly that she was pregnant, perhaps nearly halfway along.
"Itet", Neb realized.
"Gods, she is barely into womanhood." He could not imagine this sprig of a girl being capable of any crime. Treason? What sort then, he wondered.
He didn't have time to dwell on it because the priest was already chanting the wedding text in a hurried manner and preparing a bowl of wine as he spoke.
Neb took the bowl when it was offered to him - or rather shoved at him, and he sipped from it. Then he held it out to Itet.
As visibly distraught as she was, Itet took the bowl without hesitating and touched it to her lips as she was required to, though with quaking hands. Neb feared she would drop the vessel before it could be returned to the priest, but despite the amount of wine that made its way to the floor, the bowl found the table again in one piece.
The priest barked out a final prayer, announced that they were now husband and wife while the scribe recorded it onto the contract Neb had signed earlier, and then they were gone in a flurry of papyrus scrolls and incense.
It had happened so quickly that it took Neb a full moment to realize the ceremony was over. And the trembling girl in front of him was now his wife. He was finally able to really study her face for the first time and decided that she was attractive enough. She hadn't quite grown out of the gangly look of a pre-adult, but her features hinted at a future mature beauty. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all.
Except her eyes were those of a mortally wounded gazelle being stalked by a hungry lion.
He spoke as gently as he could manage, “I do not know what that awful woman told you I would do to you, but I do not intend to harm you.” The girl’s eyes grew wider and fresh tears spilled out.
“I promise no harm will come to you! I am Neb. I hope you were at least told my name?” She remained silent so he continued to try to ease her fear, “I am sorry you are being forced into this when you don’t even know me, but I hope that in time you will come to know me as a good man and husband.”
Neb waited to see if she had a response, but Itet shifted her terrified gaze to the floor and simply stood there trembling.
He sighed. “Come then. I’ll show you to our house.” She flinched away from his offered hand, but followed him out of the room without needing insistence.
“Never discus the girl’s past with her” the hateful noble woman had said. Well, he would never be discussing his own past with her either. This was a new start. Apparently for both of them.
----------------------
lauriempress)Rating: Everyone
Word Count: 1292
Notes: Sorry, kinda long. But I wasn't sure how much was needed to set up what was coming. This is very much canon, but won't happen for a couple of generations yet. I keep going back to this character's story because, besides the current generation, it's the one I'm definitely, absolutely, positively sure how it's going to play out from start to end and I've got it all outlined. This scene will give you a wee bit more insight into the situation (that I've hinted at in prompts from the last two years of Myshuno), though not a full disclosure. I've got to keep something for the chapters! D: Spoilers ahoy.
My Card
----------------------
“Be warned,” The noble woman pursed her lips as she rolled up the parchment, “The girl is willful, mouthy, and belligerent. You may beat her if you like.”
“What?” Neb tried not to look offended, “I don’t think that will be necessary.”
“She will drive you to it, I guarantee. And she deserves much worse than the back of your hand.” This was delivered in a cold and callous tone that made Neb feel uneasy.
The woman glanced at the doorway as if to make sure they were truly alone, then she leaned closer, “Her conviction has stripped her of all rights to counsel for as long as she lives in Egypt. You have a free hand with her, and you may use a lash if that is your pleasure.”
Neb was startled by this revelation. Even a slave had the right to be heard by the priests if he had a complaint of mistreatment. This girl’s crime must have been very serious. Neb asked suspiciously, “What exactly is she guilty of?”
“That is none of your concern,” the woman waved dismissively.
Neb now had the distinct feeling that he’d been misled when originally striking this deal and this woman’s attitude was vexing to say the least. So his response came out a bit more menacingly than he intended, “I expect it is very much my concern if I am sharing my bed with a murderer.” The last word came from behind clenched teeth. The woman gave only the slightest flinch.
“If you insist on knowing,” she sighed as if what followed was not important enough to waste her time voicing it, but it was accompanied by another nervous glance towards the doorway. “She is guilty of treason. There is no further information you are required to know for this arrangement and you are strongly advised to never discus the girl’s past with her.” The woman had regained her pompous poise at this point, and that callous tone returned to her voice. “Young man, you are making out like a king in this situation and, given the circumstances, you have very little room to complain. After all, I believe this arrangement is keeping you out of the prison quarry as well.”
Neb shifted. He could not argue that point. The woman smirked.
“Your new bride is young, fertile, and she just so happens to be mute in the courts and temples. So, as I said,” she gave him a quick once-over with her eyes, apparently measuring his strength, “You may give her any punishment you feel she deserves for her shortcomings as a wife. And I trust there will be many.” This was delivered with just enough cruel delight to indicate to Neb that this hateful woman would derive much pleasure from hearing that he had been beating his wife.
This deeply bothered him, but Neb simply nodded.
The noble woman seemed satisfied with his response. Where she had only given him a cursory appraisal with her eyes before, she was now openly contemplating his physique. Shamefully so! Thoroughly annoyed, Neb was about to ask her to save her meat shopping for the butcher’s stall when she suddenly made a tsk'ing sound.
She sighed and tsked again, “It’s really a shame that you are not ugly.”
Neb blinked. “I... apologize for that.”
“It would be a far better punishment for the girl if she was not only married to a lowly brick-maker, but also to someone whose appearance repulsed her.”
By Seth, this woman was galling! Neb ground his teeth together. “Since I am unable to change my face, I shall endeavor to showcase my most loathsome habits as compensation. Perhaps I can belch when I meet her.”
He meant it as spite but the noble woman laughed as if it was a pleasantry. Then she reached out and stroked his wrist in a way that was entirely too intimate for the situation. “Yes, you are hardly a punishment.”
“But the contract is signed,” She withdrew her hand, suddenly indifferent and businesslike again. “You have agreed to the terms and it is settled.” She reached the doorway and turned an icy smile towards him, “May the gods bless your marriage.” She made a sound like a laugh and disappeared.
Almost immediately an elderly priest and a scribe entered the room, followed by a young woman who was being pushed on by a prison guard. The weeping girl was slim and delicate, and clearly of an aristocratic lineage. Yet she had no wig or jewelry. Her slight frame and the simple dress she wore showed quite clearly that she was pregnant, perhaps nearly halfway along.
"Itet", Neb realized.
"Gods, she is barely into womanhood." He could not imagine this sprig of a girl being capable of any crime. Treason? What sort then, he wondered.
He didn't have time to dwell on it because the priest was already chanting the wedding text in a hurried manner and preparing a bowl of wine as he spoke.
Neb took the bowl when it was offered to him - or rather shoved at him, and he sipped from it. Then he held it out to Itet.
As visibly distraught as she was, Itet took the bowl without hesitating and touched it to her lips as she was required to, though with quaking hands. Neb feared she would drop the vessel before it could be returned to the priest, but despite the amount of wine that made its way to the floor, the bowl found the table again in one piece.
The priest barked out a final prayer, announced that they were now husband and wife while the scribe recorded it onto the contract Neb had signed earlier, and then they were gone in a flurry of papyrus scrolls and incense.
It had happened so quickly that it took Neb a full moment to realize the ceremony was over. And the trembling girl in front of him was now his wife. He was finally able to really study her face for the first time and decided that she was attractive enough. She hadn't quite grown out of the gangly look of a pre-adult, but her features hinted at a future mature beauty. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all.
Except her eyes were those of a mortally wounded gazelle being stalked by a hungry lion.
He spoke as gently as he could manage, “I do not know what that awful woman told you I would do to you, but I do not intend to harm you.” The girl’s eyes grew wider and fresh tears spilled out.
“I promise no harm will come to you! I am Neb. I hope you were at least told my name?” She remained silent so he continued to try to ease her fear, “I am sorry you are being forced into this when you don’t even know me, but I hope that in time you will come to know me as a good man and husband.”
Neb waited to see if she had a response, but Itet shifted her terrified gaze to the floor and simply stood there trembling.
He sighed. “Come then. I’ll show you to our house.” She flinched away from his offered hand, but followed him out of the room without needing insistence.
“Never discus the girl’s past with her” the hateful noble woman had said. Well, he would never be discussing his own past with her either. This was a new start. Apparently for both of them.
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