It was a mild day as far as Egyptian weather went, just cool enough that Neithotep forwent more revealing attire in favor of a white linen kalasiris and a golden shawl thrown about her slim shoulders. Her long hair was worn loose around her face, a playful breeze occasionally tugging through her silken strands and causing a smile to form at her lips. Wandering through the markets alone on such a pleasant afternoon put a spring in the girl’s step, browsing from stall to stall for anything that might catch her eye. It was a lovely way to pass the hours, but afternoon was drawing closer to dusk, and she was getting hungry.
Patting her growling stomach, she walked further down the street to where she found fresh baskets of fruit practically screaming her name. Immediately, Nia’s mouth started to water, biting her lip indecisively as she looked between all the different options. It was rare to see so many options this late in the season, and because of that the price was steep. She didn’t have enough coin left on her to choose more than one.
The merchant turned on her with an irritable glance as she debated but as soon as he caught sight of the soft curve of her cheek and the liquid depths of her eyes, he softened. Let her take her time that she might linger a bit longer; who was he to complain about a beautiful woman hovering over his wares?
“Might I suggest the pomegranate, my lady?” he spoke up hopefully, picking up one of the larger fruits and displaying it for her inspection. “They’re particularly sweet this year.”
Looking up from her inspection of the figs, Neithotep smiled and took it from his proffered hand. “Maybe,” she replied thoughtfully, squeezing it gently between her fingers. “Sweet, yes, but so messy...”
Using her free hand to pick up one of the figs she’d been looking at, she deliberated between the two before a movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Turning her head, she caught sight of a striking man much paler than those around him, tall and slender with eyes even darker than hers. An appreciative glint sparkled in her own eye as he neared, stepping just enough into his path to halt his progress. Suddenly, she was much less focused on her growling stomach and more on her fluttering heart.
“What do you think?” she asked before the stranger could walk off, holding the two pieces of fruit in front of her. Nia was certainly not immune to her common effect on men, and this time was counting on it. She wasn’t about to let him get away without noticing her.
“Pomegranate?” she asked, lifting her left hand, then her right, “Or fig?”
Kreios of Phossis
Patting her growling stomach, she walked further down the street to where she found fresh baskets of fruit practically screaming her name. Immediately, Nia’s mouth started to water, biting her lip indecisively as she looked between all the different options. It was rare to see so many options this late in the season, and because of that the price was steep. She didn’t have enough coin left on her to choose more than one.
The merchant turned on her with an irritable glance as she debated but as soon as he caught sight of the soft curve of her cheek and the liquid depths of her eyes, he softened. Let her take her time that she might linger a bit longer; who was he to complain about a beautiful woman hovering over his wares?
“Might I suggest the pomegranate, my lady?” he spoke up hopefully, picking up one of the larger fruits and displaying it for her inspection. “They’re particularly sweet this year.”
Looking up from her inspection of the figs, Neithotep smiled and took it from his proffered hand. “Maybe,” she replied thoughtfully, squeezing it gently between her fingers. “Sweet, yes, but so messy...”
Using her free hand to pick up one of the figs she’d been looking at, she deliberated between the two before a movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Turning her head, she caught sight of a striking man much paler than those around him, tall and slender with eyes even darker than hers. An appreciative glint sparkled in her own eye as he neared, stepping just enough into his path to halt his progress. Suddenly, she was much less focused on her growling stomach and more on her fluttering heart.
“What do you think?” she asked before the stranger could walk off, holding the two pieces of fruit in front of her. Nia was certainly not immune to her common effect on men, and this time was counting on it. She wasn’t about to let him get away without noticing her.
“Pomegranate?” she asked, lifting her left hand, then her right, “Or fig?”
Kreios of Phossis