The Prince of Egypt: Half Breed

Tzipporah

Leaving the throne room, they left in search of Rameses. Walking inside one of the many large chambers and corridor filled with pillars and huge statue of a former Pharaoh seated, each facing one another. It was there they found Rameses stewing in his frustrations, sitting in the lap of one of the statues. Like many of the other times Skylar and Moses had found him as the three of them grew up.

Sighing, Skylar stood a respectful distance and waited for one of the princes to say something, not wanting to be on the receiving end of Rameses frustration. Unfortunately, Rameses was not in the mood to speak and Moses was too busy working on a small personal project. Sewing some type of sack while whistling a tune he heard since he was a baby. Skylar wasn't really sure what the name of it was or if it even had a name.

Leaning against a statue, Moses tried to speak to his brother, making light of the situation. "Well, that went well."

"Just go away!" Rameses growled.

"Could have been worse." Moses remarked, ignoring the snapping words of his brother.

"Oh, that's very smart coming from the guy who wanted to get some honey from a wild hive and got us stung by bees. It hurt for weeks, so yes, it could have been worse." Skylar reminded him.

"'The weak link in the chain.'" Rameses repeated. "That's what he called me."

Hearing his brother, Moses sighed, sensing his brother's pain, then continues sewing. "Well, you are rather pathetic." He admitted.

"Irresponsible, ignorant of the traditions. He practically accused me of bringing down the dynasty." Rameses ranted, looking down at his brother and Skylar.

"Yeah, I can see it now. There go the pyramids!" Moses joked, laughing as he finished his project and tied the last knot. Cutting the excess string with his teeth.

Growing angry as his brother for mocking the situation, Rameses jumped down as he watch Moses walk towards the balcony. "You can laugh about it!"

"Statues cracking and toppling over. The Nile drying up." Moses described as he walked over to a table with refreshments and put the bag into a bowl of juice. "Single-handedly, you will manage to bring the greatest kingdom on earth to ruin." He said as he pulled the bag back out and tied the top off to keep the juice in.

"Tell me this, Moses. Tell me this. Why is it that every time you start something, I'm the one who ends up in trouble?" Rameses asked as he followed Moses to the balcony.

Taking aim and waiting for the opportune moment, dropped the bag.

"Uh, because he's good at doing it and then disappearing with only you there to be the possible suspect like right now?" Skylar asked from beside them.

Happening to be walking underneath them were the priests Hotep and Huy, the bag fell on them and bursted like a water balloon while Moses and Skylar hide from their view while Rameses foolishly looked over the edge.

"Ah, man!" Hotep groaned.

"Oh!" Huy gasped from the sudden attack.

"Ah! Rameses! You're in trouble, young man!" Hotep yelled as he looked up to see who he believed was the culprit for their humiliation.

"Rameses, get down here! I think you owe us an apology." Huy insisted.

Jumping up, Rameses looked to where he last saw Moses only to realize he had vanished.

"Oh, my new thing!" Hotep continued to groan.

"I am so upset!" Huy complained.

Turning around, Rameses turns to find Moses holding the bowl of juice.

"You might as well." Moses said, offering the bowl.

"By the power of Ra, you'll pay for this!" Hotep promised.

"We're gonna tell the Pharaoh!" Huy warned.

Shaking his head at his brother's antics and thoroughly amused, Rameses accepted the bowl and proceeded to dump the rest of juice on Hotep and Huy. Gaining more complaints from the priest.

"Oh, look at me! I'm drenched again!" Hotep yelled.

"Now that was funny." Skylar chuckled.

"Hey. I figured it out. You know what your problem is, Rameses?" Moses asked.

"What?" Rameses asked as the two walked away from their latest mischief.

"You care too much." Moses pointed out.

"And your problem is, you don't care at all." Rameses replied as he spined the wig Moses was wearing.

Adjusted the wig, Moses took it off, revealing his true hair. "Oh, in that case, I suppose you care a lot more than I do that we're late for the banquet, for example."

Startled, Skylar turned towards Moses. "Banquet?"

Hearing the word, Rameses comes to a stop and his face lost it's amusement as a shocked look over took his face.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Rushing to their room and getting their finer jewelry, the three were rushing down the stairs to the banquet hall.

"I'm done for. Father will kill me." Rameses bemoaned, as Moses kept his brother going forward.

"Don't worry. Nobody will even notice us coming in." Moses assured him while Skylar fixed his wig.

Reaching their destination, Moses pulls back the curtains, then all three froze as everyone in the palace were standing there, applauding them for arriving.

"'Nobody will even notice.'" Rameses repeated, gritting his teeth as Moses had the gall to laugh sheepish about it.

"Wrong again, Moses." Skylar muttered behind them.

As they composed themselves, Queen Tuya walked over to Rameses and Moses, greeting them before hugging them. "Ah, the young princes."

Whispering in her eldest son's ear, Queen Tuya's words were harsh despite the good news she was delivering. "Rameses, you were just named Prince Regent. You are now responsible for overseeing all the temples. I suggest you get over there and thank your father."

Smiling, Rameses rushes over to his father.

"Apparently, Moses, someone thought he just needed the opportunity." Queen Tuya informed him, bringing a smile on his face, happy to have helped his brother.

Approaching them, Moses spoke. "My Lord Pharaoh." He bowed. "I propose that the high priests offer tribute to their new regent."

"An excellent idea. Hotep! Huy!" The Pharaoh called out to the two priests who were stuffing their faces with food and drinks. They nearly choke and spit out the fruit and wine.

Pulling Huy close, Hotep hissed in his companion's ear. "Huy."

"Hmm?" Huy asked, trying to think fast of something to offer the new regent despite how he felt about the boy.

"The Midian girl." Hotep suggested.

"That's a good idea!" Huy exclaimed.

"Go get her." Hotep instructed as the two set about setting the stage. Standing in the center of the room under a spotlight, Hotep spoke to both the princes and the gathered crowd of nobles. "By the power of Ra, we present for your delegation and delight, an exotic apparition stolen from a faraway land."

Creating a smoke screen, Hotep and Hoy setup a tent quickly as the crowd gasped in amazement. When the tent's panels dropped, it cleared the smoke to reveal Hoy holding the bonds of a beautiful young woman sitting on a camel. Her bonds tightly around her wrists. Looking at the girl, Skylar could easily tell she wasn't Egyptian or Hebrew. Her clothing making her look exotic.

She wore a blue outfit of various shades. The top being sleeveless and showed her midriff. On her upper arm was a gold band. Her shirt was long, reaching to her knees, but had slits in the side, showing her long legs. Around her ankles and above her bare feet were more golden bands. In her hair was a headband of blue and a golden spot in the center. Most of her hair pulled back into a thick ponytail with the exception of four braids, two on each side with a blue and red bead intertwined in it. Her ears were pierced with a single gold disk.

The girl appeared to be frightened, wildly looking around but still bearing a proud air.

Seeing the girl, Rameses and Moses were amazed. Sending appreciative looks her way. In Skylar's eyes, there was only horror. Her insides boiling with disgust. To think the priests would go so far as to steal a woman from her home. What in the world were they planning to do with her before being put on the spot by the Pharaoh?

Skylar had no time to dwell on the though as Hotep continued.

"We offer you this delicate desert flower." Hotep said as he unexpectedly tugged the woman's bonds, sending her tumbling off the camel. Regaining her balance before the princes.

Standing with a smug look on his face, Rameses approached his 'gift'. Gripping her face to make her look at him. "Let us inspect this desert flower." To which she tried to bite him, causing the prince to step back and the crowd gasp at her audacity.

"More like a desert cobra." Rameses remarked as he gingerly moved his fingers.

Laughing and looking at the woman as he addressed his brother, Moses joked. "Not much of a snake charmer, are you?"

"That's why I give her to you." Rameses offered, dumping what he saw as problem onto his brother as he pushed Moses closer to the woman, still struggling with the ropes.

"No, no, that's generous, but..." Moses tired to weasel out of it only for the woman to finally speak. Rameses hiding behind his brother.

"I won't be given to anyone. Especially an arrogant, pampered palace brat!" The woman defiantly yelled at them.

Both Moses and the crowd were shocked at her blatant disrespect.

Chuckling, Rameses taunted his brother. "Are you going to let her talk to you like that?"

"You will show the proper respect for a prince of Egypt!" Moses declared.

"But I am showing you all the respect you deserve. None!" The woman yelled as she pulled the rope from Hotep's hands and started using it like a whip cracking to fight.

Seeing the commotion, the guards were on their way to subdue her.

"No. Wait!" Moses ordered, jumping forward and grabs the end of the rope. "Be still!"

"Untie this rope! I demand you set me free!" The woman screeched.

"Be still!" Moses insisted.

Unable stand and do nothing, Skylar ran forward and tried to untie the rope, the woman jerking away from her. "Calm down!" She whispered so only the woman could hear her. "I want to help you!"

"Let go!" The woman shouted at Moses.

Seeing the pool behind the woman, Moses came up with an idea. "As you wish." He replied as he lets go of the rope, the sudden move making Skylar lose her grip as the woman fell backwards into a shallow garden pool. The crowd laughing at her.

Laughing, Moses looked behind to see both Pharaoh and Tuya frowning. His face turned to shame as his mother gave him a look of disappointment, then she looked away from him, embarrassed at how he treated the woman.

He turned to see Skylar looking angry at him before she turned to the woman and stepping into the pool, began helping her up.

Laughing, Rameses patted his brother on the back for the entertainment. "You there!" He called out, seeing Skylar and another servant helping the woman. "Have her dried off, and sent to Prince Moses' chambers."

Turning back to the pharaoh, Rameses guided his brother over. "If it pleases you, Father, my first act as regent," He says as he takes off his blue scarab ring. "Is to appoint Moses, as royal chief architect." He declared as he places it on Moses' middle finger, raising both their arms in unity.

The crowd cheering in celebration.

"Don't encourage him!" Skylar hissed, though her words were drowned by the cheers of the crowd. Steaming mad, Skylar goes on a rant under her breath as she walked on.

Happy to have the ring and new position, Moses was happy until her looked over to the Midian woman, who was draped in a towel and soaking wet while the servant and Skylar was guiding her out of the hall.

The woman looked back at Mose with a glare and eyes full of loathing as she looked away in embarrassment. Moses looked at her with regret, realizing what he did to her, but unable to do anything at the party.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Meanwhile, back in Moses' room, Skylar sent the other servant to get more towels.

"I'm sorry about what happened back there." Skylar began as she untied the rope. "Don't be afraid. I just want to help you get back to your home."

"Why would you help me? Aren't you a servant? Won't you get in trouble for helping me?" The woman asked, suspicious.

"I help you because it's the right thing to do. I am a servant and I know the palace better than you so I can help you escape easier. If you get caught, I can make up an excuse if needed. I might get in trouble, but only if we get caught. Ready to go home?" Skylar asked.

Nodding, hope filling the woman, the two were quick to get to work. While Skylar took care of the dogs, the woman tied up the servant. As they worked, Skylar learned the woman's name was Tzipporah.

Creating a rope down and fetching a camel, the two were slipping away with the camel.

"Shh. Come on." Tzipporah urged the camel.

As they headed towards the exit, they stopped as they heard Moses call out to the guards.

"Prince Moses." Both said as they stood in attention, nervous as to know what he wanted.

The two women look fearfully at him.

"Uh, there's a... a man tied up in my room." Moses said, when the guards did nothing, he urged them on. "Well, look into it."

"Right away, sire." Both said as they rushed to do his bidding.

Taking the opportunity, the two hurried on. As they walked, Skylar suggested that he was trying to make up for what he did. Tzipporah shrugged it off as they headed to the slave settlement and find a man and woman near a well. As they approached, the woman took a close look at Skylar.

Skylar assumed it was because she was an Egyptian servant and they weren't seen in the settlement that often.

Softly but urgently, Tzipporah spoke to them. "Please, I need water. I have a long journey ahead of me."

Filling her water bag, the woman spoke. "May God protect you."

"Thank you." Tzipporah said as she got atop the camel. "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" She asked Skylar.

"My place is here for now. Do not worry about me. I will be fine. Return to your home." Skylar insisted.

Nodding, Tzipporah urged the camel on. "Hut-hut!"

Watching her go, Skylar stared at Tzipporah heading into the desert, wishing for some day the chance to leave as well.