Bones

The desert cries.

A soldier marches.

Heatwaves escape the dunes in fleets. A million little soldiers prickle between the underside of the Kingsguard's worn pads. No matter for a war-bitten man on a path to serve the gods. Goddess's and King's made their altar's where their lust took them, and he will obey to their commands until there are blisters flowered on his feet. The safety of the divine is of first priority. 

Mesen-ka starts by traversing the far outskirts away from the rippling cold waters and haven's of vegetation. Ra is beastly with his rays.

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A solider marches under the supervision of a two-toned eye.

Briar had seen the kingsguard in passing. The man marched, stood guard, and attended the side of his king valiantly. So rare was is that Briar was called upon, never had he met the man formally. He only knew Mesen-ka's name from the twittering mouths of the working fellahin. Some of which being opinionated of his rowdy children.

The neb did not wish to leave the lovely shade of the oasis vegetation, but this land was foreign to them all. If would do no good if he got turned around in the dunes under the unforgiving sun. It was not an experience he wished to relive.

The regret is immediate, but Briar does not yield from his decision. The sand burned underfoot, the air sweltered, and the neb followed after the soldier at a steady clip.

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Man endures, even within the belly of the sun gods. The Kingsguard turns not his gaze upon his companion, for now it is the neb who is gifted the shield of the royal's right hand.

"Briar!" booms the voice. It's welcoming.

He knows all names who actively dwell near the dark king and his golden wife. 

"Tell me how you fair in the dawn of our new age."

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“Mesen-ka.” Briar straightened his posture upon reaching the man's flank. His voice is cool and level following his practice with Belen. “I am well. I've awakened uninjured, as did most others it seems.”

The closeness of the guard to semer-wati brought a whisper of unease. His words had to be chosen carefully, lest he find himself in an as unfavorable position as the sesh's. He locked his worried behind a cage; thrust to the back of his mind to prevent them from shaping his brow.

“You seem in good shape yourself. Where do you march, today?”

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Briar speaks a fine question fit for a soldier on the march! "What a bright question, my good nobleman!" His chest puffs with pride of duty, and the question is pondered. Not for long! He has an answer! "I've not a clue!" He boasts!​​​Looking down upon their good lord, the guard looks over his pelt briefly. Why, there were no marks at all. It was a hope the mind was not either!

"It is a mighty fine accomplishment that you've arrived unscathed, as it is for the rest of our great people! But I imagine the adjustment is far more difficult for the likes of some than others. What do you believe of our current settlement, good nobleman?"

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Mesen-ka's answer teased out a pained wince, a crack in his composure. Exhaling through his nose, Briar offered the kingsguard a shrug and a defeated smile.

“I do suppose that is the only fair answer. I don't know where we're going, either.” It really was a stupid of him to ask.

What do you believe of our current settlement, good nobleman?

A question received in return. Briar clicked his tongue as he drew his two-toned gaze across the dunes. Individual grains of sand glistened under the intensity of the sun. Sparse vegetation broke the surface of dunes, only growing thicker (and taller) the closer to a water source they remained. The horizon line rippled, a whisper of a mirage. A desert trick he had grown wary of.

“It is reminiscent of the lowlands; the desert beyond Muat-Riya.” The oasis the kingdom now resided by was meager in the wake of the cenote's glory, but just as welcome as a mineral laden puddle. “We are lucky to have risen near water—” he looked sidelong to the kingsguard “—water is the foundation of life, after all.”

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