Truly Mine

The water was warm, caressing her
feet as the small servant girl gently polished them clean.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  After her soles were patted dry with a fine
cloth, the girl slipped a tiny gold band around one toe on each foot.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  She slipped on a scarlet tunic, embroidered
in gold, with long slits up the side to reveal her shapely legs.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  An assortment of jewels had been brought out
for her to choose from, and she selected an ornate choker with a ruby hanging
in the center. Her servant also adorned her with the matching earrings, and a
tiny ruby stud was placed through her nostril. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Her father would be furious at her attire,
insisting she wear one of her proper Egyptian dress tunics.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

If he demanded that she come to
dinner with his guests, she would be sure to make an impression.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  All year, she had been forced to attend
boring dinners with Lords and regal guests; her father wanted to find her a
suitor, no doubt.  He was looking toward w:st="on">Rome, hoping to marry her
off to one of the Emperor’s cousins; it would make for a fine alliance.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  The shy servant girl reappeared, waking Kanai
from her wandering thoughts.  She had a
gilded brush in her hand and several gold hairpins.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  “No,” Kanai said firmly, “I want my hair
loose, no heavy wig this evening.”  The
girl’s face registered a look of horror before she quickly set aside the pins
and commenced to brushing the Princess’ hair. 

Once she had rouged her lips and
applied some dark khol to her eyes, Kanai proceeded
to the banquet hall.  Many servants were
scampering back and forth, their oiled limbs shifting under their white
tunics.  The tunics had been made to
leave the sides completely open, much like a long table cloth that had been
draped from front to back with a belt wrapped around.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  There were several musicians in the far
corner, creating a soft music that filled the air. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Her father and mother’s eyes quickly spotted
her as she approached the table, her father sighing at her.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  The scarlet tunic had made her stand out,
just as she had hoped it would.  “May I
present my daughter, Princess Kanai,” he muttered quickly.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  The guests, all male, rose
briefly from their seats as she took her place next to her mother.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

Most of them were elderly men,
their hair had retreated to behind their ears, and their expressions had lost
all the laughter of youth.  However,
there was one younger man sitting on the right of her father.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  His head was tilted slightly back as he
looked at her, his brown locks falling to the side of his face.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  How different, not to be cut as short as all
of the other Romans.  This angle made his
eyes droop slightly, as though he were taking her in with some amusement.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Her cheeks burned suddenly as she reached
quickly for her glass.  She sipped the
wine gratefully; no doubt barrels had been brought as tribute from the Romans
to her father.  Over the rim of her
glass, she saw him smile briefly, and then he turned back to her father.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

She caught bits of their
conversation, something about trade, something else about war, but she was
focused completely on him. His smile, his laugh, the sweet melody of his voice;
everything about him suddenly enthralled her. 
Who was he?  No doubt some
nobleman of that faraway place, Rome.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  His rich, violet robes and polished jewelry
suggested some type of royalty.  He
smiled again, probably being polite to her father’s horrid jokes, and she
watched as his lips curled up on the sides. 
She suddenly wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips, to have
them locked against her, on her skin. 
The thought was too much, and she shivered in response.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  He looked over at her again, catching her
eyes as she tried to quiet the pounding of her heart.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

She felt as though he knew exactly
what she had thought, and he bit his bottom lip and smiled.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  How was she ever going to make it through
supper with him in such a close proximity? 
Luckily, her father found another topic of conversation to engage him
in, and she was spared the agony of his stare. 
Is eyes drifted back to her every once in awhile, and she tried to
engulf herself in the meal and the entertainment. style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Eventually the meal ended, and her father rose
to invite the men to join him in the garden. 
Her mother, always silently obedient, bid farewell, and disappeared
quietly.  She wanted so badly to go with
them, to sit near this intriguing stranger, but only men were allowed.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>  Reluctantly, she rose and bowed to the men on
their way out, receiving another playful smile from him as he left.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> 

In agony, she returned to her
quarters to bathe.  Her servants gently
washed and scrubbed her, yet nothing could rid her of her thoughts of this
man.  Once she was dry, she put on her
sheer dressing gown, laid down idly in her bed. 
All the servants had left, except for her timid little maid, and she
immediately called her into her chamber. 
“Fetch me Khemet, quickly,” she ordered, and watched as the girl hurried
out of the room.  He would serve to keep
her occupied, to drive away her lust for the Roman.