The summons to the opening assembly sounds, yet Sekmet remains up on the battlements of the school wall, arms crossed, staring out at the landscape around the school with haunted eyes picking out so many grim landmarks.  At a discrete distance, one of her people (a girl from one of the minor houses) keeps watch.  It is unlikely that there will be any perfidy here, let alone on Opening Day, but only a fool takes no precautions, especially since she is not bearing Abjure-Injustice today.  It would not be appropriate to arrive for the opening feast fully armed.<br/><br/><strong><em>There the River Lords stood, before we cut them down to the last squire.  Brave souls, every one.  And that is where the desperate charge of the Scarlet Cataphractoi broke.  Barely one in ten survived.</em></strong><br/><br/>She keeps her face still and placid, knowing only too well how her own people regard her, how they have spoken in their cups about offering her the Suzerainty if not the Crown should the current Heir prove too weak for it...knowing it, hating it.<br/><br/>Behind her, the other girl clears her throat softly, reluctant to interrupt.<br/><br/><strong>"We ought to attend presently, Lady.  Our absence will be noted otherwise and comment will be made of it."</strong><br/><br/>Sekhmet sighs internally and replies with a stiff, formal nod.  This is true enough--she's pushing the limits of what is permitted by being up here before the school is properly open, but she was early and has already secured her quarters so coming up for a few moments of private contemplation was a temptation too easy to indulge.<br/><br/><strong>"No snubbing our foes on the first day, is it,"</strong>she replies, the humor in her tone desert-dry as she turns away from the scenery.<strong>"I could eat, and if not a few speeches will add sauce to my appetite."</strong><br/><br/>The guard snorts softly, shakes her head, grins, then falls in to Sekmet's left and slightly behind as they make their way down into the school proper.  They cut an interesting pair: Sekhmet, clad in her dark leathers with a saffron-bright sash around her narrow waist, might seem the guard, as her companion is wearing a more traditional noblewoman's robes for the occasion.  Soon they join the throng, slipping easily into the press of students...Sekhmet's fingers twitch at the closeness, feeling almost naked without her blade at her side but accepting the necessity and the sacrifice.<br/><br/>Inside, as the room opens up and they are able to pull apart a bit, Sekhmet casts about to see if certain others have arrived.  While she has no love for either Dog or Crow, there are members of each whose company is bearable...more than those of her fellow Scorpions, at times.