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Ruby, Lapis, and Gold By Amber Michelle K. The camp was quiet, abandoned save for three people. The cavernous darkness of Lorien was noisome, full of odd echoes of life where none should be, as his new companions traipsed through the streets looking for treasure. The dark-eyed mage said they weren't there for any such thing, that they were simply interested in the ruins, but if he'd had a hat, Judas would have eaten it rather than believe that. She was too much an elegant lady to be a run-of-the-mill treasure hunter as he claimed to be, but she was definitely looking for something more interesting than moldering ruins. And they were moldering now, without the queen's barrier. He sniffed the air distastefully, and fought the urge to sneeze. The dry smell of snow hung in the air too, carried in from the entrance, the wind more than happy to break into his sanctuary now that no magic blocked the way. He should have rebuilt the barriers when he'd returned. The effort would have saved him this problem. A glance at his companions earned a sneer, hidden by the high collar of his coat. The snobbish little brat of a princess had been silent so far, and all the knight did was clink around. They were a temptation he didn't need, not when he could be surrounded by a powerful force of enemies at the drop of a hat. Really, what he needed was a hat, he thought to himself idly, flicking his earlobe and turning his gaze to the more mundane vista of the city. The little girl's comment, when it came, only confirmed his thought. "Why do you wear earings?" Judas blinked at the scenery, only glancing over when he knew he could supress his glare. "Why not?" The girl rolled her eyes, ringlets shaking. Thinking he was an idiot, no doubt. "Just answer the question!" "Didn't I?" He laughed, and the sharp bark echoed back to them. "Stupid questions deserve stupid answers, little girl." Her glare would have been formidable from an older woman. As things stood, he knew she didn't have the power to cause a problem, if she resorted to throwing fire. Definitely nobility, she was, no matter if they denied it. He could smell it a mile away under the worst circumstances. "Where I'm from," he said with a toothy grin, deciding to humor her, "Men wear earings. Just one, just like this." He flicked the gem to set it swinging, and watched the glitter of gold catch her eye. "Amulets?" she asked, some of the edge softening from her voice. "Sometimes." He leaned back against a fallen pile of stones and gazed at the ceiling. "This one is lapis and ruby. Our chief god, when people still believed in him, made these his favored materials. And gold, of course," he added blandly, knowing she was still watching. "It catches every greedy eye." She gave an unladylike snort, but made no other response. No one remembered Egypt. It wasn't even the stuff of faerytales any longer. He'd not have cared before, but now, with his strings cut loose and the project in Amenti waiting to be finished, it seemed a good idea to revive the memory. If he succeeded, they would rise again, and he didn't want Akhetamen's new subjects to be ignorant of his power. Besides, it made a good story. Just fantastical enough to catch the ears of his new traveling companions, he'd wager. The bits about great treasures and magic would surely be well-received. So should he introduce the tales of the gods first, or the tales of men? In Egypt there was rarely much difference between the two. |