Life From Your Lips (Ruby Rose fanfic)

EIGHT (Iselen POV)

"That's my spot..."

"I'm sorry," I whisper moving away immediately and bowing my head respectfully while Tiyi, wife of the pharaoh Ramses III, flops down on a pillow under the gazebo in the great garden of the Jeneret House not looking at me or speaking to me to say thank you.

"Sit down here, next to me, Iselen, please," Ruby whispers kindly, smiling and pointing at the pillow to her right before glaring at the woman who ignores her and keeps looking straight ahead. A group of girls is getting their musical instruments ready on a small stage built near the pond, they look nervous while an older woman tries to calm them and impose order onto this chaos, I guess she's the music teacher and this is the first concert the young princesses are going to give. The Great Wife looks more tired than ever before leaning her back on a pillow close to us and surrounded by servants pouring drinks and bringing food while the Pharaoh talks to his two sons and some courtiers. Some children are waiting patiently to greet him in the portico with more servants and concubines, it's amazing to think that all these children, even the young princesses that are going to play instruments tonight, are his offspring.

"Ruby, when's the Beautiful Festival of the Valley?"

"In three days but don't worry, everything is ready and the parade and offering in the temple will be a great success, it's celebrated every year and the priests know what to so they don't need further instructions..."

"Three days..." I whisper pensively, watching Tiyi out of the corner of my eye smiling and nodding to greet some court officials. "Who is Panouk? The man in charge of managing the Jeneret House..." Ruby blinks surprised and points at a short and chubby man who wears a short wig and leans his shoulder against a column while talking to a taller man. "I bet that's the mayor of the palace, Mastesuria..."

"Yes... Do you know him?" the princess asks confused.

"No, I just guessed it." I smile taking the cup full of wine Atet is giving me and both women shrug, they seem shocked by my new powers of deduction. Actually, I only need to watch Tiyi greeting friends while remembering the names I saw in that papyrus about the conspiracy. Prince Pentawer is still laughing and talking to his father, diverting his attention so he doesn't notice the tension skyrocketing around him, I guess, or maybe he prefers to let his mom do the dirty work while he reaps the fruits of her machinations later. "Where is Pebekkamen? I think he's in charge of the palace pantry although he was in charge of the pharaoh's rooms and his personal servants before."

"It's that guy over there, the skinny and tall man talking to the livestock supervisor..."

"Panhayboni..." I cut her off and she looks at me like I have two heads all of a sudden.

"Since when you're so interested in court officials?"

"Since they're Tiyi's best friends," I answer firmly looking right at her eyes. "Have you seen her greeting and nodding at them discreetly?"

"My dad's favorite is a really kind woman and knows the Court etiquette perfectly, I know she's mean to you but she's not like that when she's around other people and other nobles really like her even if we both know she's a bitch deep inside. I guess she hates us because we won the chariot race against his adorable son and she's jealous since you gave me your silver jewels... To be honest, I don't know why she hates you so much, it's ridiculous... It makes no sense for me at all."

"I understand it, I think," I growl quietly when the girls start playing finally. I think Tiyi suspects that Isis has sent me here to protect Ruby and maybe the pharaoh too and my presence in the palace has caused problems to her, it's not the same to kill a living god that's actually a weak old man, that doing it while a messenger of a powerful goddess is watching the Jeneret House. Maybe some of the conspirators have tried to back off and she's made an effort to persuade them telling them that they're running out of time and the Beautiful Festival of the Valley is their last chance. Everybody in this palace will be too busy attending the parade and above all the guards in charge of the pharaoh's security, no one will think the king will be in danger inside his house instead of wandering around Thebes' streets.