Amenhotep was grateful when the city in front of them came into view. He quickly made sure to cover his khopesh, not wanting any signal of the wealth the princes' carried to get around. Wealth made you noticeable and that made you a target. They wanted to get in and out with the fewest casualties. To get that they needed to be conspicuous, hidden. He gave up his horse as Sethos found them a place to stay. He wrapped himself up just a little more than he normally would. They didn't have to worry about being recognized. This was a new country and he was sure none of them had every been there before. He was sure he would have remembered a sleezy smile from Firuz.
He moved with Sethos to find the palace. When he saw the size he knew it wouldn't be difficult getting in but finding her that would be the problem. Changing the plan to looking like wealthy merchants was easy enough when they saw the slaves being traded in the front courtyard of the palace. The sight sickened him and there was no getting the disgusted sneer off his face as they walked through. Sadly they all knew that ten men wouldn't be able to stop the slave trade this time. It would be dealt with as much as they could but there wouldn't be much done this time. At least the disgusted look on his face could be passed off for thinking the state of the slaves could be disgusting. Many of them looked like they were in desperate need of a bath.
Getting into the palace was easy enough and finding guard uniforms that they could use. From there he followed Sethos' lead and they went in search of their sister together. When they found the room the guards were protecting it was an easy decision. If they were unconscious, they could be positioned to look like they were asleep and it would be less suspicious. If they were dead, well a storm would come tromping in on top of them for sure. Amenhotep let Sethos do the dirty work this time but followed quickly after as he went into the room. His racing heart stopped for a moment as he saw Necolita standing there talking to a servant and relief washed over him as he noticed that she wasn't hurt.
Necolita was stunned into shock when she heard Sethos come through the door. Her eyes were slightly wide and she couldn't move until Sethos enveloped her in a hug, which she quickly returned as tears started down her cheeks. "I knew you would come," she said into his shoulder. Relief finally hers. When he passed her off to Amenhotep, she hugged him just as warmly as she had Sethos. "We must take Nanu back with us," she told them gently. "She was from Egypt before she was stolen into slavery," she informed them, repeating what had just been told to her.
Amenhotep looked over to the slave girl and knew that it would be the right thing to do. They could afford to bring one extra with them. As long as she didn't slow them down, it would be fine. He sighed, to show slight frustration, not wanting Necolita to ask for more and said, "First we need to get out of here. Then we can take both of you home. Together." He turned as Sethos said someone knew they were here and drew his khopesh, not waiting to see who it was.
Necolita tried to grab Nanu's hand when the guards took her away and threw her to the floor but Sethos had her securely behind him and wasn't about to let her go. She looked to her worriedly as the man Sethos and Amen had brought with them was thrown in front of them. Amenhotep scowled at Firuz and only waited moments after he finished his speech. "She's not answering anything of yours," he said angrily before he quickly started swinging his khopesh at the guards. He didn't need Sethos' blessing or permission. He would get them out of here if it was the last thing he did. They were all stuck here and he knew how to get out. He had swung enough to slice three of them down to pools of blood before five men were attacking him at once. He got another two before one flipped his khopesh out of his hand and they grabbed him from behind, forcing him on his knees and a blade sitting at his throat, waiting for the order from the king.
Necolita saw this and knew how to stop it. Sethos couldn't do it with his own blade. This had to be her. She pushed her way out from behind Sethos and shouted, "Stop!" When the guards didn't move to do so she looked to Firuz, desperation in her eyes. "Please, King Firuz, stop them," she begged. "I accept. I accept the offer to become your Queen. Doing this to my brother will be an act of war against Egypt and you promised that you wouldn't make war against them. Not if I accepted," she said hurriedly.
Amenhotep was panting hard on the floor in fury as he looked up at his sister agreeing to marry this monster, his eyes wide. "Necolita, what are you doing?" he hissed from where he was.
"I will speak with my father," Necolita added, trying to make this as sincere as she could. "He will accept this. I know he will," she finished.
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