Always one to keep an ear out to snare whatever tidbits might come in handy, Odi found himself caught between a smirk and wincing as the two women began their back and forth exchange; the princess playing the role of curious yet demurely shrinking wife with uncanny skill while the canny street hustler probed, sniped, and soothed in equal measure. He could tell without really trying that Nanu was loving the exchange, gleaning little nuggets of information she might not have been privy to from the most eloquent and talkative of his 3 childhood friends. “I’ll thank you not to feed my gentle wife jackal’s tales,” he chided lightly, raising an eyebrow as Senu embellished a particular escapade involving an incontinent camel and an expensive pair of silk pantaloons. “My gift from Isis quails at the merest mention of danger so I would not wish to fuel her nightmares.” It amused him significantly to play the role of protective husband, knowing full well the Princess would have difficulty not rolling her lovely eyes. In a way, it reminded the young captain of how things used to be between them growing up, before the impediments of duty and expectation interrupted the 3 of them. He could tell that in spite of their precarious situation, Nanu welcomed this less complicated scenario, not having to hide herself behind a veil of protocol and snobbish etiquette but instead, concealing her truth behind the studied deception of one dealing in mendacity to preserve her life. Catching her eye, Odion sent her a familiar smirk; even despite the danger, he could see Nanu was having the time of her life.<br/><br/><br/>Finally, after what felt like hours, they arrived at the back entrance of what at first glance appeared to be an absent minded merchant’s warehouse tucked unprepossessingly between a spice merchant’s store, by the clying bouquet of smells, and what appeared to be a warren of meagre dwellings. “Well, there you have it, welcome to out humble enterprise.” The smaller of the 2 men grinned, his impossibly clean teeth seeming to glitter in the half light. “A little here, a little here, none the wiser, naturally.” While Odi knew the trio well enough to know what was meant by that, he wasn’t so sure the Princess would approve of a periodic spot of light fingered pilfering. Senu and her confederates were, not to put too fine a point on it, thieves. Their livelihood, and indeed survival was largely owed to being circumspect purloiners of amounts significant to be saleable, but insignificant enough as to not around the suspicion and ire of their rightful owners, and not to mention the powers that be. “Come now, boys, “ Senu smirked, sounding theatrically exasperated,  is this any way to entertain guests? Dion here finally gets dragged away from his human statue impersonations at the palace by the luckiest woman to drink from the mother Nile, and you would have them standing out here in the dust and muck?” Odi had reddened swiftly at her words pertaining to the princess, and it was to his sand—blasted garment that his gaze sank for fear of being unable to hold Nanu’s amused gaze. “Perhaps the oasis of my barren existence might like some refreshment,” he said, placing an arm protectively around his ‘wife’, “I will see to Barak here, you know how he gets.” “This way.” grunted the previously silent man mountain still rubbing the spot where Odion had nicked him, “we’ve a small stable for our wagon.” Gaining a brief moment when Senu and Arib darted into the store room cum living space and Jabar began to lumber off in the opposite direction, Odion quickly took Nanu’s hand. “I’ll see Abrax properly housed and I’ll be back in the whip of a lizard’s tail. Ask Senu for some tea, she’s very proud of her’ Dravidian’ wares, though I suspect it comes from much closer to home!” Then, in case watchful eyes lingered upon them, as if seeking to put the truth to their marital lie, he kissed her. It was a light, wary kiss, one that spoke of necessity and the existence of affection and while he told himself it was part of the act, Odiond was not entirely certain it was.<br/><br/>“Lovely? This dump?” In spite of her self-deprecating laugh, Senu felt an alien ember of pride at the woman’s words and a smile not many were privileged to see crept onto her lips, making her look decidedly more feminine than she had appeared thus far. “I can see why Dion chose you, if you don’t mind me saying. He used to run around with the royal children you know. The prince and princess! Small wonder he chose a desert blossom like yourself over the dust rats he grew up with.” Fingering the gilded etchings of a table lamp as she spoke, Fatima’s next question caused her to glance over. “Me? I should hope not indeed. I doubt anyone would buy any rag I’d make. No, those are from Nubia. I’m no judge of fashion, but I think it would suit you well. From one pretender to another, you, my girl, have a dancer’s build. The Dion I know likes his girls with a little fire, a little scorpion in them and I bet you could sting if you wanted to.”