PH Adrasteia Hatshepsut in PiRamesses (PG-13) - Discovering the Destination
Date: 06-13-06 21:56
Silence ruled Adrasteia's world aboard the ship, quiet, cold, silence. It did take her a day or so to emerge from the darkness of the ships hull, but after that much time down below she found the cabin to cause her to be stir crazy. A breeze of fresh sea air was more than enough of an exchange for the constant eyes eagerly upon her skin. The only way Adrasteia felt she could save face with this new audience was to play off her noble stature. When presented with a pair of Mycenean eyes looking to her in her line of site, she returned it with her own steely gaze which pierced through to their fowl hearts. Such a belittling look to them as if to express the merciless pain they would each feel one day for the treachery they had committed against her, her lands, and the other lands from which they had stolen. So far this unsettling aristocratic response succeeded in causing any of the sailors to look away. Even the captain and his first began to grow uncomfortable by this, ignoring her as best they could, assuming she remain quiet.
It took some time, but eventually she became almost invisible. At appropriate times of day, meager portions we left beside the blanket she slept upon, and every few days a small bowl of water and sea sponge. Adrasteia had contented herself with these fine accommodations with no protests, no speech or communication whatsoever. Instead she watched and listened keenly. The sea, the sky, the men, she observed them with scrutiny, knowing that some way, some how, something would be revealed that would assist her in the future. Adrasteia would be damned if she would let them make a profit of her fathers love for her. She was no fool, King Minos loved his daughter dearly, for he considered her one of the most precious gifts that the goddesses had ever blessed him with. Kingdom, family, and religion ruled the heart and life of the happy king, and he was doubly dedicated to all of them. She knew that her father would give anything within his power to gain the release of his beloved only daughter, and the Minoans, not being a combative civilization (other than in sport), did not have the resources to negotiate her freedom by force.
This ship could not stay at sea forever, this was common sense. They would need to stop for rations, supplies, even to send off the ransom demand. It was then that Adrasteia knew she would need to make her move, a final outcome would occur at that time, one way or another. Either escape to freedom and hope to find her way home on her own, or to die for her freedom, knowing that in death her soul and family would be free of the infection that were these Mycenean pirates.
Sighing, Adrasteia closed her eyes and let the sound of the repetitive ores splashing into the water wash into the background of the sea. Instead, she listened intently to the whisper and gathering of crewmembers here and there. Two groups seemed to be off duty at this time, one gambling, and the other was three men, the captain, his first, and another important crewmember. Adrasteia feigned eavesdropping on the gamblers to negate the thought of her within earshot of the more important meeting held by the main mast pole.
"This time around, we'll be picking up tomb treasure and rare trade supplies for building and skilled crafts."
"What size is the cargo, everything must be adequate proportions to fit below in either of the cabins, otherwise it'll be to noticeable."
"Nothing too large, I believe some of it might be fine furniture, jewelry and other precious golden items, weapons, paints, rock hewing and sculpting equipment, of sorts like that."
"That sounds to be alright, not too much trouble to be had."
"We should make sure no weapons or tools end up in the secondary cabin, with the woman, we don't need to give her any bright ideas."
"Of course, she'll be bound before the sight of Pelusium. She won't know where she's at, what we've gotten, and after departure we should keep the main cabin closed as it has been."
"Agreed. How many days till we reach our destination."
"Few days time, give or take."
"Excellent. With this take and whatever ransom we get from the lady, we'll be set. This should be our final trip."
Adrasteia had heard numerous names of dozens of port cities, so the name sounded familiar and she played with the name inside her head. Pelusium, clay or silt was it’s meaning she could remember, and realized she knew it as a city sitting upon a branch of the Nile delta was thought to also be called by the Egyptians Pi-ha-hiroth, Mouth of the Canal. Adrasteia suddenly felt fortunate, for if there were any lands she would be stranded in, Egypt was by far the best choice. She had never been to the lands of her mother, but was very well educated in culture and language. Her mother NeferSesen had even gone as far as to never speak Minoan to her two royal children, rather to immerse them in her native language, determined to ingrain their Egyptian heritage into their very beings. Queen NeferSesen was a wise strong woman, and because of her wisdom Adrasteia now knew she had a chance, she thought she might just make it through this whole ordeal.
TBC
Silence ruled Adrasteia's world aboard the ship, quiet, cold, silence. It did take her a day or so to emerge from the darkness of the ships hull, but after that much time down below she found the cabin to cause her to be stir crazy. A breeze of fresh sea air was more than enough of an exchange for the constant eyes eagerly upon her skin. The only way Adrasteia felt she could save face with this new audience was to play off her noble stature. When presented with a pair of Mycenean eyes looking to her in her line of site, she returned it with her own steely gaze which pierced through to their fowl hearts. Such a belittling look to them as if to express the merciless pain they would each feel one day for the treachery they had committed against her, her lands, and the other lands from which they had stolen. So far this unsettling aristocratic response succeeded in causing any of the sailors to look away. Even the captain and his first began to grow uncomfortable by this, ignoring her as best they could, assuming she remain quiet.
It took some time, but eventually she became almost invisible. At appropriate times of day, meager portions we left beside the blanket she slept upon, and every few days a small bowl of water and sea sponge. Adrasteia had contented herself with these fine accommodations with no protests, no speech or communication whatsoever. Instead she watched and listened keenly. The sea, the sky, the men, she observed them with scrutiny, knowing that some way, some how, something would be revealed that would assist her in the future. Adrasteia would be damned if she would let them make a profit of her fathers love for her. She was no fool, King Minos loved his daughter dearly, for he considered her one of the most precious gifts that the goddesses had ever blessed him with. Kingdom, family, and religion ruled the heart and life of the happy king, and he was doubly dedicated to all of them. She knew that her father would give anything within his power to gain the release of his beloved only daughter, and the Minoans, not being a combative civilization (other than in sport), did not have the resources to negotiate her freedom by force.
This ship could not stay at sea forever, this was common sense. They would need to stop for rations, supplies, even to send off the ransom demand. It was then that Adrasteia knew she would need to make her move, a final outcome would occur at that time, one way or another. Either escape to freedom and hope to find her way home on her own, or to die for her freedom, knowing that in death her soul and family would be free of the infection that were these Mycenean pirates.
Sighing, Adrasteia closed her eyes and let the sound of the repetitive ores splashing into the water wash into the background of the sea. Instead, she listened intently to the whisper and gathering of crewmembers here and there. Two groups seemed to be off duty at this time, one gambling, and the other was three men, the captain, his first, and another important crewmember. Adrasteia feigned eavesdropping on the gamblers to negate the thought of her within earshot of the more important meeting held by the main mast pole.
"This time around, we'll be picking up tomb treasure and rare trade supplies for building and skilled crafts."
"What size is the cargo, everything must be adequate proportions to fit below in either of the cabins, otherwise it'll be to noticeable."
"Nothing too large, I believe some of it might be fine furniture, jewelry and other precious golden items, weapons, paints, rock hewing and sculpting equipment, of sorts like that."
"That sounds to be alright, not too much trouble to be had."
"We should make sure no weapons or tools end up in the secondary cabin, with the woman, we don't need to give her any bright ideas."
"Of course, she'll be bound before the sight of Pelusium. She won't know where she's at, what we've gotten, and after departure we should keep the main cabin closed as it has been."
"Agreed. How many days till we reach our destination."
"Few days time, give or take."
"Excellent. With this take and whatever ransom we get from the lady, we'll be set. This should be our final trip."
Adrasteia had heard numerous names of dozens of port cities, so the name sounded familiar and she played with the name inside her head. Pelusium, clay or silt was it’s meaning she could remember, and realized she knew it as a city sitting upon a branch of the Nile delta was thought to also be called by the Egyptians Pi-ha-hiroth, Mouth of the Canal. Adrasteia suddenly felt fortunate, for if there were any lands she would be stranded in, Egypt was by far the best choice. She had never been to the lands of her mother, but was very well educated in culture and language. Her mother NeferSesen had even gone as far as to never speak Minoan to her two royal children, rather to immerse them in her native language, determined to ingrain their Egyptian heritage into their very beings. Queen NeferSesen was a wise strong woman, and because of her wisdom Adrasteia now knew she had a chance, she thought she might just make it through this whole ordeal.
TBC