Rife with Conspiracy

[Raven]

Lucien tilted his head into the cloud like pillow that, though ornate, was extremely comfortable. His naked back slid along the cotton high-thread count sheets that only the elite of Axum's elite could even hope to possess. The soft scent of fragrance tickled his nostrils, keeping away the oppressive heat and gritty sand that lingered just outside his window, for the room was well and sweetly ventilated.

Even more intoxicating was the exotic woman at his side, Zahra, the High Priestess of his God. Her scent was all the sweeter, 'Duxum' as Lucien's native people would have said. He could hardly recall their language now...it seemed so distant.

The man, if a man he could be called, more an avatar than man, ran his head along the smooth surface of his bald head, and with his taut stomach muscles alone he sat up to cast a snake-like glance towards his sleeping beauty, and newly married wife.

"Awaken, I say awaken my dear..."

[Avena]

She squirmed a bit hugging the pillow her head laid on, "Mmm...and tell me love, why do I need to get up now?"

[Raven]

"Because you must, I stress must pack for our foray into southern lands. I have as much wisssh as you do to rise at this hour."

He stretched his muscular and sleek body in an open-armed yawn before slithering from the bed and into his robes. Lucien ran one more hand over his shaven head before pulling his hood up and over it.

[Avena]

"Our foray....when were we going on a foray? Why do you always keep everything a secret. I think you can give me a bit of leeway since we're married now...don't you think so?" she sat up and streached the sheets falling from her bare breasts.

[Raven]

"Curses woman, you drink too much wine. I told you last night, and the night before that, and probably even a night prior to that that we would be going to Tahl in order to secure the cities' support of us in the bid for the throne. Karthum's sons are becoming more and more aggressive with their...bargaining..."

Lucien's eyes darted across Zahra's chest, fixing her with an appreciative glance before he turned his head away, suddenly interested in the wall in order to cover up his looking.

[Avena]

She scratched her head mussing up her black hair, "Oh yeah...I think I remember that..." She laughed, "I've had so much to celebrate lately how can I not drink to it all?"

[Raven]

Lucien shook his head.

"Just get your son ready for our trip, we cannot leave him here by himself by any means."

Lucien was a suspicious man by nature, very cunning, and always wary. Thus when he went to the decanter on the dresser he poured himself some cool water, and held the cup to his lips. His tongue flicked out to check the liquid for poison, and thus satisfied of his safety he drank deeply.

[Avena]

"Right right," she slipped out of bed slipping into a dress tying her belt as she walked down the hall to get her son.

[Raven]

Lucien fell to his knees as Zahra left him, his hands folded together and his head nodding fervently. His eyes were shut closed with the utmost tightness, and he mumbled quietly to himself.

Or at least that's what it would have looked like to an outside. The Hand of Setis was merely conversing with his god, talking with him, updating him, asking for his dark blessing. He stood up ten minutes later, sweat rolling off his body in sheets. He was forced to sample from the decanter once more while he awaited the return of his wife and step-son.

[Avena]

Zahra wasn't too long bringing Akul and his small bag of clothes, her eyebrows furrowed as she looked to Lucien, "Are you alright?"

[Raven]

"Mmm Nriht, I ay Mmm Nriht."

He lowered the glass from his lips, wiping his mouth with two fingers and swallowing so he could speak better.

"I'm alright, I say quite alright my dear."

His eyes shifted towards little Akul, and the unspoken question passed between the small family 'is all else well'?

[Avena]

"Alright then....lets get going then," she smiled walking over to him kissing him quickly then picking up her son.

[Raven]

Akul turned his nose away from his mother's display of affection. Lucien may not be a stranger, but he would never be the boy's father. The thought of his mother kissing anyone, especially a man whose loins did not spawn Akul gritted on the boy's nerves.

Lucien returned the kiss and, sensing Akul's pain, chose not to deepen it. That'd be for later that night when they were alone.

"Have you any men or guards that could accompany usss? It is a two day's ride as a bird flies to Tahl, and the road is not always safe."

[Avena]

"I could grab some, I'm sure some would like to get out of town..." she headed out the door looking up and down the halls for a few guards. She wasn't too fond of just leaving, but if Lucien had been planning this for the past few days the least she could do was go along.

[Raven]

Lucien hissed quietly, pulling Zahra back into the room.

"Do you know nothing of plots my dear? We must have loyal men or no men at all, otherwise we are vulnerable, I say very vulnerable to an assassin's blade."