Ka had been woken quite early and his sleep had been less than restful with the interruption. Left alone again, his first thought was that he would just go back to sleep. As his gaze shifted to the bed he sat on, he could feel his cheeks heat again. The bedding was still a mess, blankets crumpled down near the foot where Ka was sat. The scribe pulled his eyes away, scooted to the edge of the bed, and managed to stand on his good leg. He limped to his little nest of pillows and half fell into them to get a bit more sleep.

When he woke, it was immediately obvious someone had been in the room. Ka's first sight was that of his breakfast tray, sitting just beside his pillows. He looked around a bit in curiosity, but nothing else seemed different. Stretching up however, he could see the bed had been made with fresh linens. With a regretful sigh, Ka sat up and gathered his bowl of seasoned meat. He wished he'd been awake for the visit, but he also knew it would have only been disappointing to have the servant there only to ignore him completely.

With food in his stomach, Ka looked around the room again, curiosity building. He would be alone the entire day again, but this time he could at least explore. With that thought, the scribe began to get up. His knee ached, hampering his balance and his movements. He awkwardly got his good leg under him, using the bedpost to stand without falling. He was just about up when the pillow under his foot shifted and slid, quickly bringing him to the floor once more. Ka yelped loudly, grunting when he landed and moaning as the pain in his knee flared vibrantly.

Almost at once the door slammed open. A guard entered and Ka's pulse doubled in panic. He couldn't see who this was, but he remembered that Tamul was supposed to be on guard. The tall guard crossed towards him, but Ka honestly couldn't distinguish him from the dozens of other guards he'd seen in his time in the palace. The annoyed grumbling voice however was beginning to be very familiar. "What the hell are you doing? Damn idiot, why are you on the floor?!"

"Well it isn't by choice!" Ka snapped at him. He was trying to get up again on his own, but Tamul reached his side and simply pulled him back onto his feet.

"Oh, so you slept in the bed and then managed to fall when you had to use the chamber pot?" Tamul shook his head, voice filled with disdain and derision. "No. You moved yourself to the floor like an idiot, then tried to stand with no help like a fool!"

Ka glared at the guard. "I'm getting tired of you calling me stupid."

"Well then stop acting so stupid!" Tamul answered, almost yelling it at Ka. The scribe glared harder, but Tamul only glared back. "Just- be careful, would you? Re doesn't want you to get hurt."

"A bit late for that," Ka grumbled. He felt rather chastised though and the pain in his knee only cemented the feeling that he had done something wrong.

"You'll be fine if you just rest. You have it good here, I don't understand why you are so against it." The guard shook his head in bewilderment.

Ka scoffed angrily. "I am not here by choice."

"No," Tamul said again with disdain. "Your choice was the executioner. And you aren't the slightest bit grateful that your prince saved you."

Ka gestured around the room angrily, making his golden chains rattle. "This is hardly a life! You are the only other person that even looks at me and I am trapped here."

"Yes, trapped in the royal bedchambers of a living god. Your life is so terrible." Ka decided he missed the prince's company, glowering up at Tamul now. The guard just shook his head though. "Do you have any idea what Prince Re has gone through for you?"

Ka pursed his lips. "But it comes with a steep price."

Tamul rolled his eyes. "Anyone in this kingdom would be happy to take your place, idiot."

"Then you would share the prince's bed without question?"

"Yes!" Tamul cried. "If he had saved my life, yes! Even if he hadn't, he is my prince, a god upon the sands and a damn good man besides."

"The accident of his birth does not make him a good man!" Ka snapped, yelling now himself. "Royalty is nothing but nepotism and decay. Their indifference and inaction is a blight upon their own lands because they view the people as nothing more than fodder for their wars and monuments!"

For a few moments, Tamul was quiet. He narrowed his eyes at the scribe and then shook his head again. "Prince Re is a good man and royalty. If you do not see it, then you really are stupid." He continued to shake his head, but declared the argument finished by turning his back. He moved to the door again, calling back to the prisoner, "I am just outside. Call if you need help and don't fucking hurt yourself again."

The man continued to grumble and Ka heard the word 'idiot' again before he pulled the door closed behind him. Ka was worked up now, angry about his situation, about his isolation, about going hungry even here, surrounded by abundance. Why should he be grateful to be kept as a dog, unable to even see the sun?! While his master took pleasure in laughing at him and showing him around like a prize bull, demanding entertainment and still deriding Ka's best efforts. Not to mention the way he treated the palace staff - not just servants but trained workers as well, ignored and forgotten about the moment Re's attention was elsewhere.

Ka wanted to kick a pillow in his rage. He managed to restrain himself, knowing it would only bring him down to the floor again. He wanted to scream, but that would only make Tamul return. He wanted to be anywhere else, back in his home or at the tavern with his friends. He raised his hands to his head and pulled roughly at his hair just to vent somehow. Then he took a few breaths and struggled to calm down. He was going to explore, he remembered, and finally his anger settled again.

It was difficult to move around, but with some concentration Ka was able to limp to the table that sat against the wall, between the bed and the door. The prince took his meals here, but now it only held the water pitcher. Ka glanced back to his pillow nest where his goblet remained, forgotten. It wasn't worth the effort of limping back; Ka leaned against the heavy wooden table and lifted the pitcher to drink straight from it instead. The water was still cool, even as the morning grew warm under the desert sun.

As Ka set the water down again, he turned his attention to the tapestry that covered the wall. This one was a large, finely woven piece of art, showing a scene of fruit trees and grain fields - the kingdom in abundance. The table made moving easier and he inched closer to the door, able to see the walls clearly for the first time. The next tapestry was beautiful and geometric, rich cream colors crossed with deep blue shapes.

The chain pulled tight, marking the limit of Ka's range just at the far end of the table. Still a few arms lengths from the door and the far wall- Ka's jaw dropped. In the far corner there was a tall and slim stack of shelves made of pale wood. Prince Re had a bookcase of his own, far from full but sporting many tomes. And all still tauntingly, terribly out of reach. Ka glanced at the door, briefly considering if he should call Tamul in. He decided against it and with an audible growl he turned back to explore the rest of the room. He grabbed the pitcher of water on the way to leave beside his pillows as he limped to the other side of the bedchamber.

On the far side of the prince's room, chests of drawers lined the wall all the way to the corner where the last had the mirror atop it. They were finely carved, made by a master carpenter surely. They all matched each other in a polished, pale wood that was accented by the sandstone walls. Personal things were scattered along the top: combs and oils and face powders. There was an elaborate quill pen, but Ka saw no ink or parchment.

He reached for the first of the drawers, resting one hand against the pull. For a moment he hesitated, unsure if this would be considered an infraction or otherwise frowned upon. His frustration surged again and he quickly decided he didn't care and yanked the drawer open. These drawers held the prince's clothing, mostly fine silk and all in lush, rich colors. The type of garments that took entire seasons to weave and perhaps years to gather enough material for the dyes. Ka checked a few other drawers to find more of the same, including lush furs for colder weathers. He was still angry and pushed that drawer shut with a harsh little bang. Most people he knew only had a few outfits, even Ka only had three in the past. Mei had five dresses and most considered that extravagant.

Ka reached the mirror in the corner, feeling his chain loose slack again. For a moment he looked at himself in the mirror, frowning. The chains only made his bandages seem more severe. Still without his necklaces, there was nothing to hide the injuries. Ka pulled his gaze down to the drawers and opened the top one. No cloth here, this was where Re kept his jewels. Each piece was finely carved, all from precious stones and pure gold and silver. If sold, each one could have fed his family for a month, at least.

Ka didn't necessarily object to the expensive jewelry, it was just the possession of so many when families in the kingdom starved. Admiring the pieces up close, the skill and carving was absolutely exquisite. Not as gaudy as the jewels that had been dumped onto him. After a few moments to decide, Ka chose a couple of pendants to wear. He lifted a bead collar as well, tying this in place before he moved on. The long white beads were accented with blues and greens, hanging just below the gold of his locked collar. Checking the other drawers, Ka picked a ruby ring to wear as well before turning to continue his exploration.

There were a few of other chests along the walls, providing obstacles to Ka as he limped along. A couple were actually locked, but those whose lids opened were filled with trinkets and toys. There were even some stone games, only some of which Ka recognized. He would enjoy spending some time digging through these, but for now he had different goal in mind.

Across from the table, therefore just out of reach, Prince Re had a large window with a deep sill one could sit on. On this end of the room was a smaller window, but this one Ka could get to. It was high enough that Ka could lean onto the sill, poking his head out past the sheer drapes and into the warmth of the day. The sun was high now, approaching midday. Then it would begin to descend, directly in front of this viewpoint; just imagining it made Ka smile.

The scribe was honestly considering simply staying there for the rest of the day. However, sound in the hall made him turn to the door curiously. He used the wall to help keep his balance, limping that way as he heard voices. He was fairly sure Tamul was speaking - Ka assumed to the prince - but he couldn't make out his words. The heavy chain pulled tight as he neared the larger window and Ka stopped, straining to hear.

The two conversed another moment before Re's voice confirmed that he was there. "Are you joking?!" he demanded loudly, his tone angry.

"She knows how to fight!" Tamul yelped back before continuing quietly enough Ka couldn't make out the words. He frowned, only more curious, but the talking trailed off and then he was left in the quiet of the room.

With a sigh, the scribe limped back the other way again, practically perching in the window he could reach. He looked out at the azure sky and his smile soon returned. Below the clear blue, the wall around the palace made a stark line, but then everything blurred together into a nearly uniform sand-colored mass. Ka kept his eyes aimed skyward and lingered in his pleasant mood.

He wasn't sure how long he stayed there, he only turned back to the room when he heard the door open. Prince Re stepped inside and smiled at his pet as he crossed the room. "Life here does not have to be all bad. It's a wonderful view," he said and nodded to the window.

Ka looked back towards the sky, hidden behind the sheer curtain again. He sighed a bit and his gaze fell. "It is nice to feel the sun on my face. I will have to take your word about the view."

The prince frowned, pausing several steps back from his pet. "That's right," he murmured thoughtfully. "Your eyes. How well can you see; will you tell me this time?"

Ka glared at the royal, but the look faded. The redhead had been showing real concern for him; Ka sighed again and decided he would answer. Looking around the room slightly, his gaze landed on a vase of fresh flowers sitting near the large mirror. He'd noticed them earlier and now he gestured to them across the room. "Those flowers, they're pansies I think. The stimen stand out against the purple petals . . . but I cannot tell you how many there are." He turned back to Re with another sigh. "I can see light and movement with no trouble, but anything I cannot reach is blurred and dim. Even the color seems to fade."

For a long moment, Re didn't move beyond a frown pulling at his expression. "You cannot even read the temple walls," he almost whispered.

Ka looked at him, then lowered his eyes again. "No, I wouldn't be able to."

'Wouldn't' . . . of course, Re realized. His pet wouldn't have been in a temple since before his arrest. He hadn't even been outside in the sunlight and another thought occurred to the prince. "That means you can't see me."

Ka's eyes snapped to the royal, just slightly wide. He swallowed before saying, "I can see you. You are quite distinct from your surroundings . . . and you've been close many times."

Re shook his head. "From this distance though, can you see my face?"

Ka hesitated for a long moment before repeating, "I can see you."

The prince did not believe him and shook his head again. "What is my pendant?" he asked and brushed back his hair so the jewelry was unhidden.

It was a small piece, finely carved from blue lapis. Ka focused on it for a long and silent moment before answering, "It's a pheonix."

Re's eyes narrowed suspiciously. That was correct, but the scribe's hesitation made him doubt. This was one of his favorite necklaces and he realized he'd worn it a couple of times since taking Ka in. "You have an excellent memory," he said before he lifted his chin in challenge. "What color are my eyes?"

Ka faltered. "W-what?" His own eyes widened more, panic flashing in their depths.

"You observe me when we are together, but you actually rarely meet my gaze. Now you can't recall," Re challenged. "What color are they?"

Ka's breath was shallow and he licked his lips nervously before answering, "They're brown."

The prince burst into laughter, smiling wide. As the sound faded into softer chuckles, he took a single step closer. "No one in this entire kingdom has ever described my eyes as simply 'brown'."

He took another step and Ka fell back a step, leaning against the window once more. The prince advanced again, still chuckling. Ka swallowed and struggled to remember, trying in vain to see now. He fought off a blush as Re took another step, only making his weakness more and more obvious. Then Re took a final step, reaching out to catch the scribe's chin and Ka's own eyes widened. "They're golden!" The prince's eyes were the color of dark honey, catching the light and scattering it like amber.

Re's face lit up with joy at the correct answer. The expression faded quickly as he looked at his outstretched arm, visibly measuring the distance. He was just at the edge of Ka's reach; such a small space to have your world limited to, he thought. Ka followed his line of thought, explaining, "I can tell when someone is focused on me. I can see it when you smile wide."

Re was not smiling now. He pulled his hand back and Ka's head dropped at once, feeling defeated. The prince pursed his lips and reached out again, cupping his pet's cheek briefly. "I think I will take you shopping with me tomorrow. The sun will do us some good. And it will be a wonderful treat after tonight's tortuous dinner."

"The banquet?" Ka asked, looking up with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, with some idiotic trade partner," the prince grumbled with annoyance. He huffed and then gave Ka a tight smile. "You needn't worry about that, though. I came back to introduce you to my new guard." Re stepped aside, turning to gesture back at the door. Ka's jaw dropped, completely mortified to see they weren't alone in the room. "This is Elia and she had Tamul's trust, so she has mine as well."

The woman had been standing silently beside the closed door, but she crossed to the men once she was introduced. Ka felt his face turning red, but the embarrassment was tempered a bit with surprise, first by the woman's name. If it was the same woman, Re had been talking about her being in the harem. Perhaps even more startling was the woman's stature; she was a dwarf, not even as tall as the scribe's chest. Her olive skin was well cared for and her brown hair looked just as pampered, gathered onto her head in loose coiled braids. She was also smiling extremely wide and bowed to Re when she reached their side. Ka couldn't help but blink, completely stunned by this 'new guard'.

"I must go," Re said, drawing the scribe's attention again. "Tamul is gone, but Elia will keep you safe. I will see you later." He gave another smile, more relaxed this time. Then the redhead turned and Ka could hear him sigh as he went back to the door.

Once they were alone, Ka's gaze slid to Elia again and he felt his blush return. The woman had been watching the prince, but she turned back as the door shut. She clasped her hands together, amplifying her small bosom, and bounced slightly with excitement. Then she darted forward, wrapping her arms around Ka's waist and proceeded to bounced another few times. "Thank you!" She said as she pulled away to beam up at him again.

Ka just shook his head slightly, still utterly baffled and honestly rather overwhelmed. "For- for what?"

The tiny woman calmed a bit, but her smile seemed permanent. "You got me made a guard! It's Ka, right? I owe you, really. Just let me know if I can help you at all."

Ka swallowed, still flushed. "Um, actually . . ."

"What do you need?" Elia asked. Her smile became reassuring and warm, helping to put Ka more at ease.

"Would you bring me a book?" Ka asked and gestured to the shelves near the door. Elia nodded at once and went to do so. As she turned back, Ka pointed to his little nest at the end of the bed. "Can you help bring my pillows over here, too?" Elia brought over the small book before making a few trips to bring the pillows and the water pitcher. Ka settled down before looking about the pillows and then back towards the bed. "Is my blanket there?"

"Right here, sweetie." She grabbed the blue cloth, handing it over with another bright smile. "I'll be right outside, if you need me."

"Thank you," Ka said with real gratitude, finally feeling like he had an ally in this place. As she left he was happy to relax where he was and read for the rest of the day.

-o-o-o-o-o-