the young Goddess is possessed of a bounty of guards and handmaidens alike, many of whom have paws and mouths suited to her care and upkeep. ashait does not. no matter her fondness for the girl, cobras are not made to play nursemaid.

Ra has selected in her His protector, a Divine servant placed upon this earth that she might strike against enemies of Pharaoh. under Khonsu's light she moves unseen, with swift fangs to outmatch even a lion. now that there are many upon this island who do not travel under Ra's gaze, she must be even quicker.

she counts them- the lady's retinue, the Emperor's people, pinpoints of heat beneath the wisteria trees.

satisfied they are accounted for, she moves back through the grass, swift and certain, returning with precision to Pharaoh's camp.

hoofbeats feel like distant thunder, she has learned.

" Nakhtmin." unless there is another oryx upon this island, a possibility ashait does not wish to consider. "watch your step."

Skill - Ranger 1/5

Only the greatest of fools would dare ignore the warning of a hooded serpent! Staggering to a halt, he threw up forest floor and flower petals in the abruptness and snorted. Ashait! It is a fine place for an ambush you have chosen!, oryx replied cheerfully, with only a little admonishment.

A velvet nose sought her out — this being a boldness he was proud to display. How has your hunting tonight fared, oh Longest One?

truly, she does not have any ire reserved for nakhtmin- loud and brash though he may be, he serves his purpose. and occasionally, though she would not admit it, he manages to surprise her.

and sometimes he does not.

but they are altogether greater than the sum of their parts. not even the eye of Ra can hope to remain intent upon little Goddess at all times! she is still young, and inquisitive in the ways children are, apt to test their boundaries. it is only her duty that the boundaries do not test back.

"i thought i might spare myself broken ribs, and you a missing leg." ashait flicks her tongue out, pleased though it is not like her voice to give any sign. "i do not hunt prey tonight- rather wolves."

her glance upon the oryx is thoughtful. "tell me. the chinese. what do you make of them?"

Your forethought is appreciated, as always. He rumbled, for though he might daydream about how best to battle a hooded serpent, Ashait was of a Kind no sane oryx truly desired to cross spears with.

Now, had he been a mongoose —

But no, she was asking him of the visitors!

Hmm. He snorted, lifting his head in the direction of their beds.

They are like Wildebeest. He had less than appreciative memories of the taupe coated antelope who moved in a great horde after the rains, and the sentiment was plain in his dry tone. Floods of them came into his territory each year without fail, greedy for grass and in far greater number than zebra and gazelle. They trampled any who did not yield to their claim. Pfah!

ashait coils around herself with a shift of scales, a hissing sound of amusement.

"it is a shame that, like wildebeest, they move in such herds." not even she carries the venom to deal with so many, if she had willed it.

there is always a musk of blood about nakhtmin; she is rather more delicate in these things than he. the Goddess must have her shield, but the blade itself need not be precise with a coat of poison.

Ra has favored them with these particular gifts for a reason. he would know not what to do with teeth that might fell a buffalo; she could not wield his scythes to slay a lion. still, there is a part of her that wonders what it would be like were she to have his horns, or xingyu's fangs, or osiris' claws.

it is idle fantasy.

"that an Emperor would not consider where he steps does not surprise. he expects that the world will bend to him. but this is not his empire, no matter what he wills." she considers this with another flick of the tongue. "that his advisors would not make him understand speaks more poorly of him than of them."

Skill - Ranger 2/5

Nakhtmin nodded in agreement. Indeed. It is a short lived bull who surrounds himself with cowards that bow always to their awe of him. When a worthy opponent finally came, there would be no readiness to face them. Lacking conflict, spears grew brittle, and legs weak. Oryx sharpened one another, and the best of them did not shy from challenge.

This was what made him a suitable guardian for the Young Goddess. His wariness was in part a protective instinct.

But o the beach, the strangers had not seemed to understand his severity at their intrusion at all. A party of ill-intent might have slipped through their defenses and fast slaughtered their Emperor. The predictable consequence of arrogance. Even now, Ashait might! She did not need the venom to kill them all, only careless eyes and undisciplined guards, to place the bare pinch of her fangs into his sleeping flank and escape unnoticed, unchallenged. Their dragon turned nose up at his own peril.

The world does not bend, not even to a god. Nakhtmin scoffed. Our own young divinity knows this already better than the pretender. And was better protected, besides. She had Nakhtmin!

---

(if you're reading this I'm sorry Shenlei, I love you lmao)

ashait is no politician, and less a soldier. she knows this.

and she is no creature of royal blood.

but in the serving of it, she knows that to have Ra's favor is a dangerous thing indeed. to be so beloved by a God makes fools of men. their Chosen brash and reckless, so assured of their immortality they forget that to become Pharaoh means another of their blood must die. to become Pharaoh means the eyes of a people are upon you, searching for weakness, for weakness in Pharaoh is weakness in the Kingdom, and it is a delicate hand to marry strength with wisdom.

it has been the way for hundreds of years. but she does not think the young Goddess will be this way. it is more often men that are fools, in the way of this Emperor, to dismiss both blade and shield so readily.

the Emperor's woman- concubine, she thinks, for it is the way of such men to keep many to hand and dismiss each as no more than womb to be filled- has wisdom that better befits his title. a shame.

"he will learn, or he will die." ashait hisses. "it would please me to teach this lesson. but i think young Satiset would disapprove."

such is the purview of children. the cruelties of men will hone their sharp edge in time.

"but come, nakhtmin-" her expression is near a smile, a teasing flash of fang. "what brings you here this night? patrol, or the desire to cross blades with them yourself?"

Skill - Ranger 3/5

Nodding, Nakhtmin grunted a laugh, Still, if he threatens her, it would bring joy to my heart watching you do so. Enough that I might not protest being denied the honour, myself. Or at least, would only complain a little.

The little goddess was yet unacquainted with war. Death for her kin was a temporary state of affairs, when great magics preserved their souls in Duat. And her family had long used strength to enforce diplomacy. So he thought it wise their determination to send her here, to foreign lands, and continue her learning. For kindness and goodness of heart to be true, it needs must be proven against forces that discouraged them. He would protect her in the tempering of these virtues, so that they, like oryx spears, did not turn brittle. Perhaps the emperor would be of use in such endeavors.

Ashait preferred to ask of Nakhtmin, though, so he grinned back, and swished his tail. This was a topic he could continue at length. Let them try to stand against me, if they are brave enough! He laughed. Alas. I do not think I will spill wolf blood, tonight. But nor will I not deny them the right to test their mettle — if any come wandering, I shall not be found idle!