Drabble 10
For those of you new to the LJ and wondering what story I'm talking about (and I alternate between calling it Desert Bride and Desert Marriage, so that's confusing) here is what I have written for all your viewing glory. Including notes and research.
Kiyoshi_chan: Couldn't decide, so it's author's choice!
"Senet? You do not know how to play?" Amenan asked, a few days later when Osmond brought it up. They were sitting at a low dinner, eating dinner in relative silence. It was the silence that finally drove Osmond to speak. He wouldn't admit it to anyone else, but he missed the way Amenan had talked to him the first few weeks he was here. "Do you not have games where you come from?"
"Nankah asked the same thing. Is it that surprising?" Osmond asked.
"Yes. Small children learn senet while sitting on their parents' knees. It is how we explain the journey of the soul through the after life to the very young," Amenan said. "It's almost sacred."
"Really," Osmond said dryly. "Nankah said you bet on it."
"Of course," Amenan replied. "What bigger gamble is there than life?" He laughed and Osmond couldn't help the smile that turned the corners of his mouth upwards. "Truly, you would like me to teach you?"
"Yes."
Amenan clapped twice and within moments a servant appeared. A murmured word and within minutes a board was being brought to the table. This one was much finer than the one Nankah had shown him. The board itself was carved out of dark ebony and the piece were made of ivory and clear blue pottery. The markings on the squares were simple designs inlaid in pale wood. There was also a set of four stick with one side painted dark and the other plain wood.
As he set up the board, Amenan explained the rules. You threw the sticks to move. The number that landed pale side up was the number of spaces you moved. When all four came up black, you could move five spaces. If you threw a one or a five, you threw again. Land on the opponents piece, and you traded spaces. This square prevented that from happening. This square sent you back a row, to where the ankh allowed you to be reborn. Two pieces of the same kind side by side meant protection, and could not be landed on. Three pieces of the same kind side by side meant a barrier, and could not be passed. If possible, you had to move one piece the number you threw, even if it meant landing on the unlucky square.
"I think I have it," Osmond said, still studying the board.
"Good. We should wager something. It's tradition," Amenan said.
"How?"
"For every piece I move off the board, I get something from you. For every piece you move off the board, you get something from me," Amenan explained. "That's how it is done."
"What am I going to give you?" Osmond said. "I don't..."
His voice died as Amenan's fingers traced down his cheek. It was hard to think, hard to breathe. Amenan was suddenly way too close and the tension was so thick that Osmond swore he could feel it pressing against him. His skin tingled where Amenan's fingers touched.
"A kiss for every piece I move off the board. What do you think your kisses are worth, Osmun?"
"A day in the market. I want to see something other than the way wall of this place."
"You put a high price on your kisses," Amenan said.
"Are you saying they aren't worth it?" Osmond challenged. Amenan grinned and sat back. Osmond sucked air into his lungs like he'd been holding his breath the entire time. Maybe he had.
"Not at all. Let us play."
All right people. How much are you going to bribe me with in order to make me write the next scene where Amenan cashes in that bet?
Kiyoshi_chan: Couldn't decide, so it's author's choice!
"Senet? You do not know how to play?" Amenan asked, a few days later when Osmond brought it up. They were sitting at a low dinner, eating dinner in relative silence. It was the silence that finally drove Osmond to speak. He wouldn't admit it to anyone else, but he missed the way Amenan had talked to him the first few weeks he was here. "Do you not have games where you come from?"
"Nankah asked the same thing. Is it that surprising?" Osmond asked.
"Yes. Small children learn senet while sitting on their parents' knees. It is how we explain the journey of the soul through the after life to the very young," Amenan said. "It's almost sacred."
"Really," Osmond said dryly. "Nankah said you bet on it."
"Of course," Amenan replied. "What bigger gamble is there than life?" He laughed and Osmond couldn't help the smile that turned the corners of his mouth upwards. "Truly, you would like me to teach you?"
"Yes."
Amenan clapped twice and within moments a servant appeared. A murmured word and within minutes a board was being brought to the table. This one was much finer than the one Nankah had shown him. The board itself was carved out of dark ebony and the piece were made of ivory and clear blue pottery. The markings on the squares were simple designs inlaid in pale wood. There was also a set of four stick with one side painted dark and the other plain wood.
As he set up the board, Amenan explained the rules. You threw the sticks to move. The number that landed pale side up was the number of spaces you moved. When all four came up black, you could move five spaces. If you threw a one or a five, you threw again. Land on the opponents piece, and you traded spaces. This square prevented that from happening. This square sent you back a row, to where the ankh allowed you to be reborn. Two pieces of the same kind side by side meant protection, and could not be landed on. Three pieces of the same kind side by side meant a barrier, and could not be passed. If possible, you had to move one piece the number you threw, even if it meant landing on the unlucky square.
"I think I have it," Osmond said, still studying the board.
"Good. We should wager something. It's tradition," Amenan said.
"How?"
"For every piece I move off the board, I get something from you. For every piece you move off the board, you get something from me," Amenan explained. "That's how it is done."
"What am I going to give you?" Osmond said. "I don't..."
His voice died as Amenan's fingers traced down his cheek. It was hard to think, hard to breathe. Amenan was suddenly way too close and the tension was so thick that Osmond swore he could feel it pressing against him. His skin tingled where Amenan's fingers touched.
"A kiss for every piece I move off the board. What do you think your kisses are worth, Osmun?"
"A day in the market. I want to see something other than the way wall of this place."
"You put a high price on your kisses," Amenan said.
"Are you saying they aren't worth it?" Osmond challenged. Amenan grinned and sat back. Osmond sucked air into his lungs like he'd been holding his breath the entire time. Maybe he had.
"Not at all. Let us play."
All right people. How much are you going to bribe me with in order to make me write the next scene where Amenan cashes in that bet?