In Asim's quarters, Asim stepped out of the bed half naked as he stretched lazily. He looked down at Nubia who was still lying naked on the bed.
"Get her to leave before I return from my bath." Asim ordered the maids standing at his door.
Asim stepped into the bathroom and sat comfortably in the large tub at the middle of the bathroom as the maids scrubbed and cleaned him.
"Pharaoh Asim, there's news." Lapis stepped in and bowed her head.
"What is it?" Asim asked not even sparing her a glance.
"Lady Kissa got a new guard and the head of guards said the guard is a good one for Lady Kissa because he won't allow her to escape." Lapis informed.
"Or maybe he'll be the one to help her escape." Asim hissed. "Even if she leaves Egypt, I'll always find her."
"Lady Kissa seems distant these days. She rarely does anything and she looks bored sitting in her room all day." Lapis said in a concerned voice. "And this can reduce her connection with nature, thereby making her lose her powers slowly."
"Why are there so many absurd rules about those Sorceresses?" Asim thundered angrily, making the maids around him shake in fear.
"Her mother was worse than this. She had to sleep in open spaces to connect frequently with her powers." Lapis reminded him and he brought his palm to his face with a sigh.
"Let her do anything to increase her powers or make it flow, whatever." Asim ordered. "I still need her."
"Yes Pharaoh." Lapis bowed before he dismissed her.
In Kissa's quarters, she just stepped out of bed yawning with her vision still a bit blurry. She was planning to go back to sleep when Lapis stepped in.
"Greetings Lady Kissa. I hope I did not disturb your sleep?" Lapis asked as Kissa turned back to look at her.
"It would be a lie if I said you did not." Kissa frowned. "What is it?"
Lapis who stood there rolled her eyes internally. She couldn't blame the lady, Pharaoh refused to continue teaching her well after brought her to the palace.
"Pharaoh said you can move freely now in the palace once in a while but with your maids and guards." Lapis informed Kissa and she looked at her without saying a word. Her expressionless face didn't pass any information across either.
"Whatever." Kissa finally said after five minutes then stood up.
Kissa walked into the bathroom, not even glancing back at Lapis before she disappeared into the room.
Lapis hissed angrily as she turned to leave. "Make sure she doesn't escape or your heads would be off." Lapis threatened the maids before she stepped out of the room.
Lapis stopped before Cairo, examining him for a few seconds with a hint of suspicion before she walked away.
Cairo watched her as she walked away rolling his eyes. He couldn't believe he was going to be in the enemy's lair after he was asked to kill the Sorceress.
"Hey, what is your name?" The other guard finally spoke to him since they've been standing there.
"Cairo." He replied.
"Ohh, that's a fancy name." The guard replied as he rubbed his chin. "Do you drink? We come off work this evening."
"Sure thing." Cairo replied and the other guard nodded.
One of the doors was pulled open, making both of them stand in position. Sabola stepped out of the room and looked at Cairo.
"Lady Kissa sent for you, new guard." Sabola informed before stepping back into the room.
"I hope you don't get into trouble bro. Lady Kissa rarely sends for guards or she never sends for them and she can be pretty savage." The other guard warned and Cairo nodded before he stepped into the room after knocking.
Kissa was sitting on her bed looking at him where he stood below the stairs. Cairo had his head bowed as he remembered how her face looked yesterday when he saw her.
He was wondering why she would have eyeliner on to go to bed and now have it again.
"It is not eyeliner, it is how I was born so keep your thoughts to yourself." Kissa replied as she crossed her legs and leaned back in bed a bit.
"Can you read my thoughts?" He raised his eyebrows and Kissa waved to Sabola and Ramla to leave the room which they hurriedly did.
"I can't but it is obvious on your face that you're a curious cat." Kissa replied as she stood up and walked towards him.
She stood on the last stairs before him and raised her brow as she looked down at him. He was looking back at her and she didn't actually feel uncomfortable that someone was gazing at her like she was a beautiful statue put up for admiration.
"Don't look at me for longer than one minute. It makes me want to kick you out." Kissa folded her arms across her chest.
"Are you always this rude?" Cairo raised his brows questioningly.
"Good way to talk to someone who can easily kick you out of this place in a second." Kissa replied with a hint of pride in her voice.
"You act so much like a peacock." Cairo complained.
"I don't fancy peacocks. For your information, I am not proud. It's just the way you view me." Kissa replied as she turned to her bed and sat on it.
"So Cairo, which kingdom exactly are you from? You can't tell me you're from none because clearly, you were sent here by someone." Kissa asked.
"I'm telling you nothing. I know the reason why you haven't told Asim about me is because you have a plan that has to do with me." Cairo stood up and took a step towards her.
"Men are forbidden to go up those stairs. Not even the Pharaoh can come up so stay down where you're safe." Kissa warned and he slowly took a step back. "Thank you."
"Tell me what you're plotting, Kissa."
"Why would I tell you? And if I had a plan, it'll kill you."