((August? Ye Gods I had no idea it was that long ago. No wonder you were worried.  I'm sorry, it won't happen again :D))<br/><br/>Despite the fact that the standoff had been largely for show, Odion could not help but fail to tame his rebelliously beating heart which had seemed convinced of the very real truth of the threat that had, a moment before, inconvenienced the hunted duo, with the sinister promise of worse besides. At thee mention of his ‘wife’, the wiry young woman strode forward, more masculine than feminine, eyeing the cloth shrouded figure that was, unbeknownst to her, quite possibly the most exalted personage she was likely to meet in this lifetime and any others the Gods might see fit to grant her. “Forgive me, but it intrigues me to know what manner of woman has it in her to leash this scraggy sand rat.” She smirked, ducking a playful blow Odi half aimed at her. “What? I recall the famous Odion, tamer of the sands once said he needed no woman unless that woman as a sword or a swift steed and, if I may be so bold, you look like neither.” Odi rolled his eyes and silently prayed that the princess would not be affronted by his streetwise friend’s forwardness, but in truth, he needn’t have worried. Nanu could verbally spar with the best of them, after all, how could he forget the number of times her silver tongue had facilitated a smooth resolution to a potentially sticky situation? “It is clear that the dusrt streets where we grew up did not excel when it came to manners,” he began by way of apology, only to be halted by a quick grin that danced onto his face like a talented harem dancer at the princess’s words.<br/><br/>As the women  engaged each other, the former captain of the palace guards shot a grubby shag-haired boy a look which made him start sharply and back away, knocking over his similarly attired dirt encrusted confederate, a motion that saw the small infection of hopeful grabbers scuttle away like roaches at the presence of a lamp. “So what brings you here, old friend?” The smaller of the 2 brothers, the one sometimes known as Arib, smirked, sheathing his weapons. His brother, the hulking man mountain known as Jabar cracked his knuckles with the sound of breaking furniture, curiosity writ large over his open, bearded face. “Yeah it’s been too long… captain. Bet you’re regretting statue duty now huh?” To their minds, serving as one of the Pharoah’s elite household guards meant standing stiff at attention whilst perfumed ladies and wine-bellied men swaggered past in their exotic silks. Indeed, during his time as a mere way watcher, Senu had made a suggestion, half jokingly, that he could help them to a score of a lifetime. It was true, in the performance of his duties, Odion had borne witness to the shameful excesses of the nobility; from a lofty nosed lady boasting as much jewellery that would keep an entire neighbourhood on fine bread for a month to the gluttonous excesses that had rendered a favoured lord too bloated to leave the banquet hall un assisted. “Perhaps we should retire indoors?” he suggested, stealing a quick glance at his ‘wife’. “I doubt the street would want to listen to us yammering away like a scrum of hyaenas.” Nodding Senu regarded her brothers, “very well, come, it’s not far. Your wife looks spent. Some husband you are, making her walk when you have a handsome beast she could ride.” Accepting the admonishment, Odi grimaced apologetically. “You’re right, of course, forgive me, my love.” Saying those words, even as a performance, it felt somehow wrong and right at the same time, and as he made to offer Nanu a protective support, he allowed the trio to edge ahead before turning to her. “What do you think? I can vouch for them, but your safety is what concerns me, and I will not proceed unless you are comfortable.”