The Mummy Queen was not satisfied with the turnout. It seemed her old-and true-genes counted for nothing when she reproduced in this form. Even her wounds had passed over. Pathetic. The boy was likely to have her raspy voice. If it had cut into his vocal chords. It was fortunate, at least, he didn't seem to have the same texture as her body had. Thus far he had yet to flake as she did. This was good. This meant she could use him.
He had also yet to talk. At least in her presence. Then again, for a new mother, she really hadn't been in his life very much already. Too busy was she settling into her new territory to bother with little children. Maybe if they had been born before her death she would have cared. Would have been all too willing to cuddle them until they slept. Now? All her compassion had left her long ago. Nefertari couldn't even muster enough to pretend to care.
Thus, as she stared at her son, the new Pharaoh did so with critical eyes narrowed. It didn't go unnoticed how the boy trembled slightly in her presence. She felt no feelings about this. No guilt. No shame. Not even enjoyment at his obvious fear. Which was something she normally would have done.
Nothing quite completed a day like a little torment of the peasants.
Parushta was no more pleased with the arrangement as his mother was. From what little he'd seen of his family so far, he was nothing like them. Where they enjoyed their pride and putting down others, he would rather lay down and listen to the stories the adventurers passing through would tell. The herd was new, but there were already a good number of merchants passing through. On their way to another herd deeper in the desert, to hear them tell it. There was a sandstorm over their usual path, so they were detouring through an area previously unoccupied.
Until his mother got there, of course.
Already Nefertari had ordered the construction of a temple to the only God of old she now recognized. There were not many herd members to do the job, but she made sure everyone pulled their weight. Except her, of course. Until she tracked down linen for new bandages, she wasn't doing anything that required too much activity. That included Parushta's training. Morrigan would have been just as fitting to train the boy as she was. However, she had a special job for him to do. One she felt only she could prepare him for. Parushta remained in the dark about this purpose, knowing only that the Mummy Queen had something in store for him.
Truthfully, it frightened him, not knowing what it was. Both mothers were fearsome. Nefertari had those glowing eyes that only seemed to brighten when she was made. And that dry body that cracked and flaked every time she moved. That scratchy voice like something out of the Underworld-not far from the truth. She had never given him a kind word. Every time she spoke to him or his sisters it was with a stern voice. Like she was and would forever be displeased with them. He couldn't imagine why. They were too young to prove themselves worthy of her attention. Perhaps that was the problem.
"Parushta." The sharp voice cut into the foal's thoughts, making him jump. He stared at Nefertari, noting with nervousness how her eyes narrowed a little further. Like he was something she despised. She couldn't truly, could she?
"I have a job for you." Parushta stiffened, having learned quickly not to expect much love from either parent. If there was anything he was allowed pride in, it was being a quick learner. There were others who were nice to him. He satisfied his need of companionship off them.
"Find Mosenth. I require his assistence." With that said, Nefertari walked away without so much as a glance at the foal. A task thought simple by the boy. Go through the grounds and locate the small stallion who served the Pharaoh. Easy enough.
But as he ran off to do his mother's bidding, Nefertari glanced back with a smirk on her face. She knew where Mosenth was. He wouldn't be easy to get to. This would be a perfect test of the potential her son had in him as a warrior.
And if Morrigan was after all a good match for the blood of the Pharaoh.
