Life From Your Lips (Ruby Rose fanfic)

THIRTY-TWO (Ruby POV)

A/N: these ladies are Idet and Ruiu, depicted in a form typical to married couples, although some historians disagree and try to convince us that they were twin sisters or mother and daughter. Anyway, Ancient Egyptian documents never clearly say that same-sex relationships were seen as reprehensible or despicable. No ancient Egyptian document mentions that homosexual acts were punishable offenses.

"Do you think Tiaa has ratted us out?" Iselen asks worried while we trot through Thebe's narrow streets under the scorching sun. "I can't believe she betrayed us deliberately. It was unintentionally, probably."

"No, of course not, I trust her. One of the boys working in the stables let something slip, most likely. If Tiaa asks them to get a mule ready to go out but not giving them any details, people assume she's doing it for because I ordered it, I guess. Fuck, I should've thought about it before," I growl digging my heels on the poor animal's sides that's gasping for air while we go up the streets.

"This was a huge mistake, Meri, look at that... Two big guys are blocking our way with some barrels." Iselen is right, two thugs are blocking the street and they're doing it deliberately judging by the evil look in their eyes. Luckily, I manage to persuade the mule to turn left at a corner quickly in order to dodge them only we're going down now, which means we're moving away from the palace and safety.

"Damn it," I whisper quietly so my girl can't hear me, I don't want her to feel more concerned than she already is. I can't tell her I'm completely lost and don't know where we're heading, I don't know this city that well despite I was born here because I grew up locked up in a palace surrounded by gardens. The streets are deserted at this hour and we can't ask for help, we don't have more gold to bribe a citizen in exchange for hiding us and, besides, how am I supposed to convince them that I'm the high priestess of Isis when I'm wearing these clothes? I've done something incredibly stupid letting myself get carried away by my temper, I can't behave in Ancient Egypt the same way I do in the modern world.

"What do you think about those?" Iselen points at two boys that seem to be waiting for someone sitting on a house doorstep, protected from the sun under a mat. I don't know if they're Set's acolytes or if they're waiting for us but I'm not taking any risk so I make a turn again, zigzagging through the alleys. I take a quick look back over my shoulder: the big thugs are still jogging behind us, chasing the mule, but the young boy who was following us firstly is nowhere to be seen now. Maybe he went to get reinforcements... "What are we going to do?"

"Calm down, Meri," I answer with a confidence I don't actually feel. I can sense she's getting very nervous even if she tries to hide it, her hands are tense while grabbing my waist. "Goddess Isis will help us, I'm sure, she'll guide us through this labyrinth."

"Tell the goddess to hurry up because I think they're trying to ambush us a little further ahead." I clench my jaw and pull the rope, the mule turns right and dodges the two men that were running towards us; now there're four thugs chasing us and who knows how many more patrolling the narrow streets. Maybe we should leave the mule behind and run into one house, trying to escape through the backyards, but the owners of the houses would get pretty mad and we'd be lost in this city. At least we're faster than them while riding this animal, even if the mule is getting tired and it's very hot today.

"Iselen, look at that... I think I know where we are, finally," I whisper excitedly pointing at some wooden wheels leaned against a wall. "This is the district where chariot builders live, I know them, I've visited them here sometimes to watch them while they were working on my own chariots. We're not that far away from the main avenue, as I thought."

"Great, I'm happy that your inner GPS works so well, but the assholes are still chasing us and are getting closer," my girl growls in my ear, worried.

"I told you the goddess would help us. Jump!" I order with a harsh tone of voice and the pretty brunette obeys, confused, leaving the mule abandoned in the middle of an alley, breathing heavily. "You must hold onto me, babe."