Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

S houts from the stallholders fill the air as we make our way through the market. I sneak a glance at Mesu, finding him looking at me with a smile on his face. There's something surreal about being out in public on a proper date, but I know we can't keep meeting on rooftops and hanging out in each other's rooms if we want to be sure that this is going to work between us.

I reach out and take his hand in mine, entwining our fingers.

He looks down, even managing to draw Kema's attention from where she's perching on my shoulder.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" he asks me.

I nod. "Of course." I lean in and kiss his cheek.

He flashes me a smile and my heart skips a beat.

"We can't really figure this out if we don't try and do the things a normal couple would," I point out. "And we're a couple, right?" I realise I should probably ask before jumping to conclusions.

He chuckles. "Unless you're trying to tell me you've been seeing someone else in the past few months..."

"You know I haven't."

"True, you'd have been so much more anxious if you'd been hiding that."

"Oi! I wouldn't have been."

He raises an eyebrow, and I have to concede defeat. He's not wrong.

Kema twitters from my shoulder.

"You should fly," I tell her.

Her wings stretch out and it's surprising that she doesn't manage to clip my head. She lifts herself into the air and flies around above us. I'm not sure what she's looking for, but considering how much is going on at the market, I doubt she'll find it.

"Impressive," Mesu says.

"What is?"

"How well she listened to you."

"Oh." I watch my kite flying through the air. "I guess so. We've had weekly training with the falconer, and then Blessed training. And not to mention we spend every day together, so we've just bonded."

"And here I was going to suggest it was magic."

I laugh and bump into him gently. "A bit of that too. Nephthys knew what she was doing when she created my bond with Kema."

"And when she Blessed you?"

"The jury is still out on that one," I respond. "Do you want to go to the grill or that place that sells the stew in bread bowls?"

"The stew, definitely. It never tastes as good at home."

"You don't cook."

He shrugs. "Don't think I noticed you changed the subject."

"I'm hungry." I turn towards the stall, seeing a surprisingly large queue in front of it. "I'm feeling better about being Blessed," I admit, looking up at my kite to make sure she's okay.

"Better is good."

I smile at him. "It is. I'm enjoying Kite training, and Blessed training too. I still feel like I don't know anything though."

"Which is normal. You've been Blessed for half a year, you're not going to know everything yet." He puts his arm around me and I sigh, leaning in and enjoying having him near.

"I know that. I think it's just my parents getting to me."

"Don't let them," he reminds me. "You're Shan, and you're amazing, but you don't have to know everything straight away."

I laugh and shift so I'm standing in front of him. I wrap my arms around his neck. "I thought you knew me."

"I know you very well," he responds.

"True." I lean in and kiss his cheek.

"Not worried that people will see?" he asks.

I shake my head. "Let them. They don't know who we are."

"Strong words," he murmurs, leaning in and capturing my lips with his. I melt into the kiss, getting a surprising buzz from feeling as if we don't need to hide it. Which we don't. We haven't really told anyone about us yet, but that doesn't mean it's a secret.

More like it's just a secret from my parents.

We break apart and I find myself grinning widely as we move down the queue. It is nice to be out in public together as a couple.

It only takes us a few more minutes to reach the stall and order our stew. Mesu hands over a handful of debens, the coins clicking together as the man behind the counter takes them.

I pick up the tray and take it over to one of the tables, sliding in and making myself comfortable.

"Hey, Mesu!" someone calls.

He looks over, his face saying just how little he wants to talk to the other guy. "Hi, Seb," he says through gritted teeth.

I'm surprised to see such animosity from him, he's normally so good with people.

"And you are?" Seb asks, looking at me.

I clear my throat. "His girlfriend."

A pleased expression crosses Mesu's face. "We're on a date," he says firmly.

Seb shrugs. "All right, I'll leave you to it. I'll see you at the next practice session." He starts to walk away.

Kema screeches and swoops back down, drawing his attention back to us as she perches herself on the back of the bench beside me.

Without thinking, I reach out to stroke her head, wanting her to know she's a good bird.

Thankfully, Seb chooses not to say anything and leaves the two of us alone to eat in peace. I break off a chunk of bread and use it to fish out some of the meat from my stew, offering it to Kema.

She leans in and takes it gingerly in her beak, clearly trying not to hurt me.

"Who was he?" I ask Mesu once I'm sure Seb is gone.

He sighs. "One of the apprentices of Horus. You'd think he was Blessed from the way he acts, but he isn't. He takes it all far too seriously and likes to actually punch people during tableau scenes because we're apprentices of Seth."

I stare at him. "How is he allowed to do that?"

"I don't think he is, but no one's reported him yet. I doubt he'll make it into the priesthood. Or maybe he will, but people like that never manage to keep their cool."

"I'm sorry you have to work with him."

Mesu shrugs. "It's not a big deal. Now you telling someone you're my girlfriend..."

"I am your girlfriend."

"I know. But hearing you say it to someone else is fun."

"I plan on saying it to a lot more people," I assure him, realising as I do that the words are true. I plan on a lot more people knowing we're together, I just have to figure out how to tell my parents without them going into Blessed mode first.