“Welcome home Princess,” he smiled, the white of his teeth standing out against his tanned skin. It had gotten darker, going from copper to something more like bronze. His sidelock of youth was still in place, now past his shoulders.

  “I should be welcoming you.” I stood up.

  “Oh no, Princess,” he said, holding up a hand. “Come on, your parents wish to speak to you.”

  “Do they?”

  “Yes.” He said, holding my door open, and I followed him out.

  “How is your father?” I asked.

  “He delivered the message to send me back here upon your arrival,” he said. “He’s quite well. As are your brothers.”

  “And the mountain lands?”

  “They’re beautiful,” he said. “Vast, but not filled with much of anything. The people of plateau lands have been driven out. Completely this time.”

  “That’s wonderful.” I said, but the mention of the Taks kept me from being able to smile. Those terrifying people were incredibley bloodthirsty, and needlessly violent. I didn’t like to think of them, or they’d follow me to my sleep and chase me around.

  I turned my eyes to his sidelock, a much better topic of conversation. “You have not cut it yet?”

  “No, not yet,” he said.

  “But you can.”

  “Yes, I could,” he said. “But I’d like for you and your brothers to all be present for it.”

  I smiled. “Oh, you’ve waited for me?”

  “Now I’m waiting for your brothers.” He teased.

  “But you did wait for me.”

  “Of course,” he said. “But enough about me. What’s this I’m hearing about your engagement?”

  “Well, it’s only being discussed, but it’s gone well.”

  “That’s not what Ai said.”

  “Don’t listen to her, you know she worries too much.” I said.

  “So he didn’t hit you?”

  “Well…” it wasn’t as though I could lie to him, he would see right through it.

  “Princess, you don’t need to marry some fool who’ll put his hands on you.”

  In many ways, Khu was quite similar to my father. He could speak to me with nothing but care in his voice, while his eyes held something strikingly different– different being a desire to use the things he had learned as a Medjay. His father was one of the few sent over with true Nuban blood, but it was so intermingled with our own it wasn’t noticeable. If it had been, his father wouldn’t have been sent here. The only place it lingered was his eyes.

  They had a distinct sharpness to them, and for once, I did not find that I wanted to see it there. He was so kind and gentle I often forgot he was capable of great violence. Not even someone as stragnely strong as Ryuu would be able to stand against him.

  “He has redeemable qualities,” I argued.

  “Find someone who needs no such redemption.”

  “Everyone needs some level of redemption.” I said.

  “Perhaps,” he said. “But this level is unacceptable.”

  “It really was nothing more than a childish thing,” I said. It felt almost dirty as soon as I’d said it, knowing I had been involved in such a thing. While yes, my younger age could be noted, 7 really was far too old for such behaviours. His older age of 8 was certainly so. Still… “It’s not a typical situation Khu, I do wish you’d be more understanding.”

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  “I understand he hit you. That’s all I need to know.”

  “I know he sounds quite brutish if you haven’t met him, oh, I suppose even if you have you wouldn’t like him much, but he really does have decent qualities. Ones I find more forefront to his violent behaviors. Such as straightforwardness and honestness. Not to mention, he’s quite similar to me in ways I find would make a union more bearable.”

  “You’re still a child, Nefret,” he sighed.

  “So are you.” I said.

  “No, no,” he shook his finger, flipping his sidelock. “This can go now. I’m only waiting for your brother’s return.”

  “Well, so is he.”

  “You have a loving father,” he smiled, his eyes still carrying that sharpness, more amber than they’d been since last meeting him, a clearer sign of his Blessing strengthening. It only made the look more knife-like. “You’ll let go of the idea on your own.”

  I huffed.

  Everyone seemed quite certain of what I was going to do, or what the best decision was. None of them had even spoken to the boy.

  Though it was quite likely that speaking to him would only make things worse, especially if that other boy wasn’t with him. Still, if that other boy could wrestle him under control, to some degree, anyway, then it wasn’t unreasonable to think that he could be tamed of his brutish temperment and grow into quite the respectable and level-headed young man. Of course, their worries were just as likely. It was possible he could grow worse.

  Khu opened the door, allowing for me to enter, and step inside my parent’s throne room.

  The two large, stone thrones, two large stone images of our Sand Cobra, pillars along the hallway. The golds were only decorated by blues and reds. Unlike other throne rooms in this continent, but my favorite, nonetheless.

  “Nefret…” Mother smiled, but I had grown used to knowing when one was meant for comfort or simply giving others a glimpse of the sun that she was. It was a comforting smile, and I had no reason to need such comforting, which could only mean this meeting would be giving me one too.

  “Mother?” I returned it, but my own smiles were not such a mask as hers.

  “Oh Nefret, I do apologize,” she said.

  “Things haven’t changed as far as finding a tutor,” Father said, not running around the issue. It was appreciated really, not treating me as if I would break upon hearing it. I wouldn’t… It was to be expected. “We’ll ask your grandparents–”

  I shook my head, not trusting myself to keep a steady voice, or even not cry if I tried, but I had to manage something. “Don’t ask them for anything else.”

  It was not so necessary. I tried to keep my eyes from blurring. I could always teach myself. However little that would be. The entire point of me and my brothers was to keep our independence from my mother’s homeland. We loved them. Their country, despite some of the older generations not taking kindly to us, for the most part was quite respectful toward us, at the very least. My grandparents themselves were quite loving. It was more than politeness. We were truly family.

  Still, we could not rely on them forever. It could not be guaranteed that relationships between our countries would remain so well forever, and if it came down to it, they would have no choice but to move in their own best interests. It was nothing indecent, simply how it was.

  We’d already taken their hand through marriage and been raised quite highly, but if we relied on them completely, we would simply fall down should they ever change their minds. Even if it was 100 years in the future.

  “It’s a small thing.”

  “Don’t ask them…” my voice had lost its resolve. “...for…”

  “A tutor, Your Majesties?” Khu asked, looking up at the two of them. “Has something happened with one of her educators?”

  Mother shook her head.

  “She’s taken up the desire to learn swordsmanship,” he said. “If we had the manpower to spare, it would be no issue, but since taming the mountain lands, it’s not a matter we can manage here.”

  “Well, it wouldn’t be official, Your Highness,” he bowed politely, more for show than anything else. “But if it would please you, it would be well within my capabilities to teach her at least the basics of the craft. I’m not qualified for more advanced matters, but simple forms and strength training are something I could manage. It wouldn’t take away from more serious matters, as she is my assignment regardless. It’s my station to be posted near her at most times.”

  “That does seem like a reasonable suggestion,” she said, turning to my Father.

  “I have no issues with the idea,” he nodded. “Give me an idea of a training regiment, and you’ll be able to begin.”

  I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, those silly tears forgotten. Khu looked down at me, sending a smile of his own. “I’ll get started at that right away sir. Thank you for the honor.”

  “Thank you Khu-Hotep,” he said.

  He winked at me. “I’d better get to writing.”