AGELESS CAMPAIGN, Episode II, Part VI.

[Silver Moon]

"It's nothing, go!" she said urgently, catching up with Cal and moving toward the door with him. "Gerome will be bragging about how he mortally wounded me tomorrow, the gutless coward."

Callum appears to ignore Abby and instead establishes eye contact with Fouccault. "Make it right," Callum states. Fouccault pauses then gives a slight nod to the affirmative.

Callum then turns towards the door, pulling Abby behind him. While in front of the door he bends slightly and pushes himself off the floor, leaping into the side wall.

 

[Silver Moon]

"Well, I'm certainly not used to being wanted second to George but I understand," she laughed....George saved me, in more ways than one.

"Ruby, I cannot possibly imagine you with anybody else."

And I am so happy he can help you too. I can understand it's very important for you to make things your own, going forward. Perhaps in time you might have to add another Barrister, someone younger so you can represent the old and the new."

"Perhaps, but in truth I really do need him now. Three men have guided this country for the last quarter-century, my father the King, the Grand Vizer and the Barrister. Only one of them still lives, and if I hope to gain the respect of the various regional leaders I need to first earn Sefu's respect. If he views me as a silly young girl, more interested in my marriage than the country, that will never happen.

If by the time he arrives two days hence, a peace has been negotiated in Egypt's favor, that will put me in very high regard. That is another reason why I wanted my sister present during all interactions between myself and Mr. Eastman, so that when Barrister Sefu questions her, and he will, she will be able to attest to the instruction that I had given my Interim Chief of Staff and know that it was Egypt's best wishes alone that I was seeking, and not my own."

 

[Queenie]

"Perhaps, but in truth I really do need him now. Three men have guided this country for the last quarter-century, my father the King, the Grand Vizer and the Barrister. Only one of them still lives, and if I hope to gain the respect of the various regional leaders I need to first earn Sefu's respect. If he views me as a silly young girl, more interested in my marriage than the country, that will never happen.

If by the time he arrives two days hence, a peace has been negotiated in Egypt's favor, that will put me in very high regard. That is another reason why I wanted my sister present during all interactions between myself and Mr. Eastman, so that when Barrister Sefu questions her, and he will, she will be able to attest to the instruction that I had given my Interim Chief of Staff and know that it was Egypt's best wishes alone that I was seeking, and not my own."

"I would say that was a very smart move. In a time when things must seem very crazy to you, you were able to keep a calm head and make a good, wise choice. I certainly didn't mean to suggest you get rid of Sefu, I was only thinking of making sure you also had someone on your side. But you are right, he is well needed right now and will be able to help you in many ways on the long road ahead of you.

Besides, what do I know of such things? I am just a silly young girl and know nothing of things like this. If I was you, I wouldn't listen to me!"

 

[orchid blossom]

Callum appears to ignore Abby and instead establishes eye contact with Fouccault. "Make it right," Callum states. Fouccault pauses then gives a slight nod to the affirmative.

Callum then turns towards the door, pulling Abby behind him. While in front of the door he bends slightly and pushes himself off the floor, leaping into the side wall.

'Questions later, escape now,' she thought to herself. She copied Cal's movement, remembering the floor was solid, but she could pass through whatever she wished to, and tried to prepare herself for what she'd see outside.

 

[Silver Moon]

"Besides, what do I know of such things? I am just a silly young girl and know nothing of things like this. If I was you, I wouldn't listen to me!"

She smiles and says, "Not listen to you? Then whose advice will I get about a dress to wear for my ceremony?" Ela says, "Nobody's if we spend all day soaking here in the tub. And while most men would find what you are wearing to be pleasing, I do not think that is type of attention that you are looking for as our new ruler."

Neferka leans over and kisses Ela on her cheek. "What was that for?" the woman asks. Neferka replies, "For speaking to me as a friend instead of a superior, not many will be doing that any more, even my sister is now formal with me."

Ela replies, "In public I will show you the respect afforded the Pharaoh. Naked in a hot tub is another matter." Neferka laughs, "Well, the previous Pharaoh gave you many opportunities to do that as well." "Don't remind me," Ela comments.

 

[Silver Moon]

'Questions later, escape now,' she thought to herself. She copied Cal's movement, remembering the floor was solid, but she could pass through whatever she wished to, and tried to prepare herself for what she'd see outside.

Still holding Callum's hand, she passes through the wall behind him. Based upon speed gauged from prior train travels it appears that they are travelling at close to sixty-miles per hour, faster than the quickest race horse ever ran. They are leaping towards the other carriage running alongside but it is too far away, and they start to fall. But Callum manages to maneuver in the air and get his arm and leg to pass through the closed doorway of the opposite carriage, while still holding onto Abby's hand with the other arm.

He swings his second leg up and inside next, as Abby now grabs his hand with both of hers. Thankfully gravity no longer seems to be a factor so the weight of the rest of her body is not dragging her down. She dares not look down either, as from looking up at the carriage from where she is, it is certain that from the waist down she is currently underground.

 

[Queenie]

She smiles and says, "Not listen to you? Then whose advice will I get about a dress to wear for my ceremony?" Ela says, "Nobody's if we spend all day soaking here in the tub. And while most men would find what you are wearing to be pleasing, I do not think that is type of attention that you are looking for as our new ruler."

Neferka leans over and kisses Ela on her cheek. "What was that for?" the woman asks. Neferka replies, "For speaking to me as a friend instead of a superior, not many will be doing that any more, even my sister is now formal with me."

Ela replies, "In public I will show you the respect afforded the Pharaoh. Naked in a hot tub is another matter." Neferka laughs, "Well, the previous Pharaoh gave you many opportunities to do that as well." "Don't remind me," Ela comments.

"Oh my.... Do I want to know? Of course I do, what are you talking about?!?"

Ruby paused for a moment, considering. "Nerfeka, if you'd like your sister to treat you as a sister in private, why don't you tell her that? She may be afraid to do so and might be happy to hear otherwise."

 

[Silver Moon]

"Oh my.... Do I want to know? Of course I do, what are you talking about?!?"

Ela says, "The King wanted me as part of his harem. That was not the career I was seeking. Thankfully the Sultan was able to distract him with gifts and other women who welcomed the privilege." Neferka says, "Yes, and once father saw how much he would be rewarded he continued to ask the sultan for you every time he saw you, realizing he would come out ahead either way."

Ruby paused for a moment, considering. "Nerfeka, if you'd like your sister to treat you as a sister in private, why don't you tell her that? She may be afraid to do so and might be happy to hear otherwise."

Neferka says, "I may eventually, but right now that would just confuse her. The current situation is shocking enough, and if I ever hope to train her to be anything other than the wife of a sheik or sultan than I had best keep things on a formal level. She has opportunities now that she never had before, but it may take her a while to realize that."

 

[Queenie]

Ela says, "The King wanted me as part of his harem. That was not the career I was seeking. Thankfully the Sultan was able to distract him with gifts and other women who welcomed the privilege." Neferka says, "Yes, and once father saw how much he would be rewarded he continued to ask the sultan for you every time he saw you, realizing he would come out ahead either way."


Neferka says, "I may eventually, but right now that would just confuse her. The current situation is shocking enough, and if I ever hope to train her to be anything other than the wife of a sheik or sultan that I had best keep things on a formal level. She has opportunities now that she never had before, but it may take her a while to realize that."

Ruby tried to stifle her laugh. "Oh my, I imagine it's hard to say no to a King or someone else in power if they desire you enough... I'm glad the Sultan was able to help you. I really can't imagine being a part of a harem with all those other women. I mean, how unsatisfying for the girls! Though I realize that's not the point.

One day your sister will appreciate all you will do for her. You are a good sister."

 

[Silver Moon]

One day your sister will appreciate all you will do for her. You are a good sister."

Neferka says, "Well, if she doesn't I still have one other sister who is even younger. And if that vision the goddess showed us is true Ahmed and I will one day have a son."