down the gods road,

 they would begin again, anew. she would do as her father once had in this new land—and she would do it as well as he had, too. the Gods were good and brought with them her people. some had not yet risen, and were awaited—she thought of her Jodai with a heavy heart.
 her fellahin attended her in the waters of the Oasis. they called her Isis—and she wondered if they thought it was Her own magic that had brought them all here! certainly Iset was within her—it could be!
 but she thought also of the future. now, it felt limitless. she looked into the horizon and imagined what next they might find. home, she hoped!
 emerging from the waters, Toula was toweled down with soft furs that had already been skinned in preparation for her bath. she lifted a forearm and gazed at the golden gift given to her from husband in their past life.

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Their golden Queen and Pharaoh bathes. He feels the weight of her intensity from even here, and bows with a turned head as she dries from bathing.

Rashepses is a lucky man.

It is after the shuffling comes to a quiet that the guard approaches, just beside the river on submissive legs known only to that of the Pharaoh and King, low-headed and slow blinking. Their royalty can strike him into death a second time if they desire. "My Pharaoh," he addresses, dry mouthed as suspicion is casted from his eyes across the rest of the unknown land. Shrubs bloomed in small batches.
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 her head rose as she heard the approach of her husbands dearest friend. Toula loved this man a well for it, but has also come to love him for who he had shown himself to be—as brilliant a father as he was a man.
 “you reaffirm your vows to my husband in I, even in this lifetime?” comes her fond inquiry, eyes warm. she notes his suspicion, but does not yet speak on it. better first to keep them both anchored, and to provide him that same tether he had known in his last life.

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It's a sting that courses through.

"I vowed myself to your blood and honor in life, it is yours to take even in death." A bond stronger than any armor.

The tips of his ears feel hot, bring near her, but behind them also screams the voices of the palace. Voices, littered with terror and the walls stench releasing with the spill of blood. The waters sound bitter now.

It reminds him of the tunnels.

But Toula must not know his betrayal when he abandoned hers and Rashepses' side in favor of his children. Shame ruins him. "And yet I have failed you."
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“it is a sacred oath,” she breathed, “one you did not fail. you did as Pharaoh wished,” she soothed, “you protected our people.” and his children were just that, then and now. she would not have him feel shame for acting rightly!
 “we live again. in a place that will be better, I think. fairer,” all their hearts had been weighed, measured—and there was more life yet to live, she knew. and perhaps they had not died, but she had no desire to crawl through those tunnels to find out. they would be flooded in any event—to return was an impossibility she did not entertain.
 “here shall not be home, but… it does not feel right to leave, yet. we must build altars. and create a clear path for those not yet awakened to follow,” she looks to the soldier, to see what he thinks. to hear what he believes.

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What say the gods now? 
She says breathe.
He feels a million weights on his shoulders all at once, and closes both eyes with baited breath. 

This was truly it, and yet he had earned none of it. What was he now? A dishonorable kingsguard to his throned king. To the face of those wicked scoundrels who had riddled the desert and smeared their names by taking an eye, a face, it was he who had not swiftly finished the job. In the crumbling of their kingdom, their great palace, protected not his majesty but instead– 

His people, she says.

His children.


He knows.


"I know in my chest it is not enough. I would follow your honor to my last breath. For the people, I swear more than blood to you, and to the King. Test me. See to it that I will not break, my Pharaoh. I am yours, even in eternity."

He will not fail his goddess and hears her ideas strong as vibrant colors than any of the dreary blasts of sand at their feet. They should rebuild. "It is a good start. Hapi has taken us today, but it is you who's brought us back into the light. Altars are the least of where we can begin to light the right path. Perhaps this is part of your ascension, my Pharaoh."
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gonna format this later but am v lazy rn hahaha

---

 Hapi, creator of all things—He likely had a hand in creating this place, too! his wisdom was considered. truly, she saw no fault in the actions of Mesen-Ka—but she did not think he could be soothed out of his perspective. it would take time. she only reached to touch the paw of the brother of her husband and said, “your heart has been weighed and measured. you are a worthy subordinate of the Gods,” came her gentle voice. whatever it was he had not done, the Gods knew he would have had he been given more time.
 which They had delivered to him, here! “who is the God you most often pray to?” she asked of him, curious—had it changed, since his cubs came into the world!?
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"You." 

It's a fool who chooses not to pray to the goddess they lived within the realms of. The kingsguard is not one of those maggots.

​​​​​​She touches him with a gentle paw. Chest aching. It's something he's undeserving of, because even now as he works for forgiveness, worthiness, Mesen-ka knows he would do it again.
Each and every time, if it meant giving his children even a mere smidgen of comfort in their final waking moments.

"Many nights I bow to Maahes. He guides me through my journey to become a better man, father, and servant to you and the king." Maahes, who would make a single mortal know the strength of a beast.

"In every morning, I pray to only you, divine one."

It's true even now.
​​​​​​
"It is you who guides my loyalty to the people, and to myself."
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 her! his words warmed her deeply. it was no doubt his worship that aided in keeping her strong, and in the Gods good graces.
 Maahes! ah! He was a God of many things—and it was no wonder he bowed to Him. a God of protection and of war—two things the man excelled in. of weather too, and of lotuses… of devouring captives! how fortunate the monsters of their past life had not but even one more encounter with the Mazoi.
 “we will build something for Him, here and where we come to reside. and for Myself, too,” her smile was soft. “you know, our Hem, is the priest of Bast,” whom Maahes fathered! “I am sure it would please him, to know of your devotion,” and give them something in common, too!

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Goddess has a heart of gold that does not belong to animals like him.

A bright star of a spirit that lights their lost ways into her gemstone paradise. If only the world had existed under her rule for an eternity. Perhaps then he would have been born amongst a different life. 

It is worth it now if it has brought him to serve under her reign and protect the people. An honor. 

"My divine one, you honor me. I will not fail your kindness. I seek to learn more of your divine ancestors, both gods, goddesses, and those who controlled Akashingo's throne before your rule. Perhaps our priests can guide me deeper into my journey. Do you have a vision for where you would like to begin building, goddess?"
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