Prompt #275 - Tranquil - Calm Only on the Surface - Tekia - original

[tekia.livejournal.com]

Title: Calm Only on the Surface
Fandom: Original
Prompt: tranquil
Warnings: none
Rating: G
Summary: Jacky and Mata’ka’ala arrive in Egypt via boat.


The river was fuller than he expected it to be.
It was still brown with silt and mud, but the bank was farther away from the boat than he had thought it would be. For some reason he had thought that the Nile would be thinner. Perhaps because it was in the middle of a desert. It wasn’t at all as barren as he had thought it would be. There were tall, healthy, green trees on the banks where they hadn’t been cleared away for docks and mills.
Green shrubs littered every available space between buildings and stalls that housed donkeys and mules. The roads were well-kept and there were guards strolling through the streets, their hands resting easily on the hilts of their swords. The market, as they passed it on the boat, was filled with people that blurred into a colorful cloud.
Jacky leaned over the boat’s reed rail and watched the scenes of Ancient Egypt pass them by. Mata’ka’ala had dropped to the boat’s bottom, his long legs stretched out before him and his head easily resting against Jacky’s thigh. A quick glance down reassured Jacky that Mata’ka’ala was still sleeping.
He had been sleeping since he had acquired their passage on the boat up the river. When Mata’ka’ala had rushed them from Jarbalos, Jacky had been worried about the speed he had set. They stopped only to eat and sleep, and even then they had eaten in the saddle more often than not, and they had stopped well after the sun and set and resumed their trek well before the sun rose.
Jacky was glad that Mata’ka’ala was finally sleeping. He still kept Jacky close, close enough to touch, at all times. Jacky shifted his weight and felt Mata’ka’ala lean more heavily against him. With a fond smile, Jacky resumed hanging over the rail to watch the beautiful city pass them by.
The sun was bright in the sky, reflecting off the calm, tranquil waters under them, blinding the unwary eye. Jacky’s face was hot, likely burnt, and his eyes watered. The tunic he had been wearing when they left had been removed and replaced with a thin cotton one of pure white thread. It had been a gift from one of the sailors that took pity on him. After they got tired of laughing at his suffering from the heat. Called him a pale Northern.
In the distance there was a tall building steadily coming closer toward them. He had noticed it right away, but couldn’t make out what it was until now. It must have been a temple, or a palace. It was massive and painted with bright colors that glowed in the sunlight. There were massive pillars that framed the front and a set of alabaster stairs between them that stepped down toward the river.
It was beautiful. Like a dream, he thought. He hadn’t ever been to Egypt until now, and he was glad he could see it in this time. The empire was massive, maybe even at its peak. In the modern day, this city was likely gone, lost to time. That beautiful building was long covered by sand and silt.
Mata’ka’ala was suddenly standing at his back, his muscular arms framing Jacky. He looked out at the city a moment before he spoke, “There’s the dock.” He pointed upriver some more and Jacky turned in his arms to face him.
“Where are we?”
“I’m not quite sure. I paid them to take us as far south as they were going. I thought perhaps being deep into Egypt will deter Kuzi-Teshub somewhat.”
Jacky nodded and leaned against Mata’ka’ala the same way he had leaned against Jacky’s leg. “How far will we have to flee until we’re safe?”
“Until he’s dead, to the ends of the Earth if needs be.”