[center][color=f26522][h2]Satiah[/h2][/color][/center]
As Nebet spoke and as she moved, Satiah could feel it in the back of her brain. A sense that she knew quite well: the sense of foreboding before a conflict.

The priestess really, really wanted to inflict a great deal of harm her, didn’t she? Her barely restrained rage was evident in her language, both verbal and corporal. She was close to snapping, Satiah was sure. If she could get the priestess to succumb to her rage, the attendant would consider it a job well-done. This would be good in that esoteric way that they loved so much, maybe even for Nebet herself; the priestess’ repression was clear - no doubt the result of those “divine edicts” that priestly types clung to like a man drowning - and maybe she would get to learn a something she couldn’t get from those scriptures of hers. For example, Satiah had often been called a fool, and what was the first rule when dealing with fools? Don’t argue unless you’re willing to match them.

[color=f26522]“It’s interesting that you say those things...”[/color] Just one final push, and she had lots of options. Challenge her infallible wisdom? Refute her answer with increasing nonsensicality? Poke more holes in her reliance on fickle nobility? Suggest she lacks faith in the kingdom and the Pharaoh? Or maybe all at once? [color=f26522]“Because why wou-”[/color]

-----------Damn it. 

It was before she could say anything else that Amen and Qar reappeared, shifting the attention to them and, sadly, stopping Satiah from stoking the flames of the priestess’ passion. Was this what the men in her troop called ‘getting blueballed’ felt like?  She even planned on giving her a cute nickname like Apple: “Nebby”. Whatever the case, she was quite unsatisfied with this resolution, but soon found satisfaction from a different source.

She’d keep that nickname in her back pocket, though. She quite liked the sound of it, even in a non-mocking respect.

[color=f26522]“A great Pharaoh for the kingdom’s sake, huh?” [/color]Satiah echoed, more to consider the thought herself than any mockery of the sentiment. She liked the sound of it, at least. The affirmation of his resolve was definitely a step in the right direction, as far as knowing himself and  improving the people's’ quality of life went, but it was still an untested resolve, malleable and in flux - albeit not as much as it seemed before. He still had his doubts and his misgivings, and he too quickly resolved to merely ‘try’ and all too readily accepted a short reign. But the slave had hopes for the boy, and for now, she was confident in his abilities to grow. [color=f26522]“I like the sound of that.”[/color]

Of course now, with Qar’s lie of omission and Nebet so kindly bringing up what exactly they were doing for so long, there was a choice to make here. A well-placed comment could ignite further chaos within the study - a veritable shatterpoint of discord, as it were. The question here was: did she want to tap it? Yes, if only just to see everyone squirm a bit more and to test the Pharaoh’s resolve. But would she?

No.

She was quite aware that small actions could lead to wide-reaching consequences. In the past, this had been well-applied with surgical strikes on key enemy formations. Now though, cross-applying those principles to human interaction was a simple enough effort; as much as she hated political process and held little talent for the subterfuge part, the ‘impact’ part was not lost on her. This one had too many negative consequences for friendly entities. Entertaining consequences, but still negative. She’d had too much fun today anyway, and it was kind of a dick move.

Besides, [i]someone[/i] was bound to do it eventually for her. 

[color=f26522]“Is that so…? Okay then,”[/color] Satiah commented in response to Qar’s explanation. [color=f26522]“Now I guess it’s only right that we catch you guys up on what’s been happening too then. Let’s see...”[/color] She paused in thought, thinking of how to convey the right combination of barely restrained rage and lack of anything being done in the most appropriate way possible. 

[color=f26522]“...We were slaving away here, discussing topics like upper class dissent and how to effectively deflect it, Amen’s tone, and how to direct the speech in the most strategic manner. Of course our discussion was getting [i]pretty [/i]heated,”[/color] she paused, then continued innocently and remorselessly. In her mind, she justified it as being an indication of her awareness. [color=f26522]“You’d almost think you were about to watch a brawl in the streets, except friendlier, made of palace officials, inside a study, and more liable to cause a great scandal among any civilians who became aware of it. Fortunately everything seems to have ended for the best, isn’t that right Priestess Neb-”[/color]

The air became strange. Forbodingly strange, and everyone could tell. 

[color=f26522]“-et?”[/color]

The atmosphere faded as fast as it came. Weird. Maybe it was just because she was using a title? At any rate, Satiah rested her hands on her lap, unaffected. 

[color=f26522]“But anyway, yes, that concludes my report. We should get moving though. Time’s running out,”[/color] she said, gesturing to the hourglass on the table, [color=f26522]“Guess the most important question here is: what’d you see out there, Amen? That's definitely the best place to start if we want to get anywhere.”[/color]