Just as Ivyari was thinking about her next move, she heard a soft thud behind her. She turned ready to fight, but realised, that it was Korina and some of her fellow tribeswomen. "How is the situation?" Korina asked.
Ivyari point at building. "One Egiptian girl managed to escape and enter that building. They let her enter so I think they are involed in the treason too, so I get shoot down guards outside, but I don't know how much there are inside."
'So far so good, any idea how to get past her?' Aulus asked Maat, 'I don't suppose we have an appointment.'
Korina nods and examines the situation. "We don't have much time. We storm the building." She looks resolutely at the building. "What do you think 'vari? Should we split up and attack from multiple entrances, or all go in through the same one?"
Maat shakes her head as she looks at the female warrior. "Not sure, I'm afraid. This isn't really my area of expertise." Agorix snorts. "We can take her, if we attack together." The Egyptian shakes her head. "I'm not sure..." Aulus thinks over his options. - He can do as Agorix says, and attack the woman, with the obvious pros and cons. - He could try to cause a distraction, or wait for the distraction the high priest is going to set off - They could try to gain entry through false pretenses, such as that Maat is an agent reporting in to Taia, or that Aulus and Agorix are slaves sent to see to the heiress' needs - Lastly, Maat suggests, they could simply walk up and tell the truth, trusting that Taia is enough of a schemer to hear out their offer without alerting the guards.
Pesca idly thinks as he walks. A triumph would do wonders for his career, but it would take a great deal of political maneuvering to be granted one. He's already a senator, having gained the rank of praetor to become commander of this army, and he has no intention of retiring any time soon. The logical next step for him is to run for consul, Rome's head of state in next year's election, and for that he'll need political support, a fact that's keenly on his mind as he enters the senator's tent. "No wine, thank you, not while I'm on duty." Pesca smiles diplomatically as he sits down. "I hear you wished to speak to me, ma'am?"
"Wine is not what I'm here for." The voice gets closer, and Anai feels cold steel touch her neck. "It's time for you to repent to the gods." Outside, Anai hears someone talking with her guards, so close by, but with her body mostly paralysed, and her voice lowered, signalling them will be difficult, and require that she keep her wits about her. Anai thinks to herself. - She can try to signal the guards outside. Her voice is too quiet, but she does have some limited movement available to her, if a little sluggish. She could possibly use her body to knock something over and create a loud noise. Her guards are attentive, and likely to notice any loud noise, but if Anai fails, this could anger the mysterious person in the room. - She could try to continue talking with the person. She's a skilled negotiator and manipulator, and if the person is capable of being talked down, Anai would be the person to do it. That said, if the figure is not willing to negotiate at all, talking might just be a waste of time.
'Hmm,' Aulus thought, 'Perhaps you can present Agorix and I as new slaves gifted to Taia by some Nane noble to get in her good graces?'
"Indeed." the woman chuckled. "Your campaigning is slowly coming to an end, general." She said as she and her brother took a glass of wine, each. After a comfortable moment of silence, as they sipped the wine, the woman continued. "Have you thought about your plans after your triumph?" She asked. "For a man of your success, there will be many doors open..."
"We should split up, inside building our numbers will be disadvantage for us, we should cover all their escape ways."
"Repent to gods, you say... but I am serving the gods cause, preparing at this very moment a sacrifice for them. Fighting Romans. Securing the Phantom, while the lands of Nile are occupied by Macedonians." Anai said as she nodded to the table. She did entertain the idea of negotiating... But if she was dealing with a fanatic - she would fail by default... unless she gave proof of her devotion - the sacrifice she planned for tomorrow would be a boon. Depending on the response, she would call the guards - if there was no hesitation in intruder's condemnation of her, if she saw not even a glint of place for negotiations, she would fall on the ground, throwing the things from the table - that would make enough noise. "I work to preserve the city, waiting for an opportune moment, when Egypt will raise again. For that, I will do whatever necessary. Should I face the gods, I will know I did what I needed, for them. Can you say the same?"
The woman thought for a moment. "That is possible." Maat frowned as she looked at Aulus. "You will need to leave any weapons you have. The guard will not allow us in armed or armoured." "Hey, I am not leaving my weapons." Agorix snarked back. "I am also not sure if she will let all of us in." Maat continued ignoring the Gaul. "But it's worth a try."
'I only have a small knife anyway,' Aulus said, 'I do hope she let's all of us in. Where should we meet up again if we are separated?' Removing the knife from his sash and putting it somewhere inconspicuous, Aulus nodded that he was ready to head to the guard.
"So one group storms the building, while the other secures the sorrundings." Korina nodded. "Which one you want to be in?"
"And what do you call that, outside?" There's a grunt from the assassin. She seems unconvinced, but not unwilling to listen, at least for a brief while. Outside, the person speaking with the guards continues to do so, and Anai begins to hear shouting from far away. "Was bringing the Romans to our gates an act of devotion? Or were you just acting in arrogance and greed?" The woman's voice breaks slightly, and Anai gets the sense that this assassin is emotionally invested in this. It's not just business to her.
Maat nods. "Taia will recognise me, so I'll hang back. As for where we meet? How about the bedchamber we came into this wing through?" The guard at the door regard Aulus and Agorix cooly, weapon constantly at the ready, hearing Maat's explanation. She briefly opens the door slightly and says something in Egyptian, at which point an imperious voice responds. "Fine." The guard looks at Aulus. "But only you. She don't want girl." She moves aside to let Aulus enter the room, but blocks his path at the last moment. "My ears are keen, and I know Lady Taia's voice well. I know if you try something foolish." She opens the door, and lets Aulus inside. The door closes behind him, and Aulus sees a chamber even larger and more opulent than the last. The heir sits upon an elegant chair, regarding Aulus. "Hmm. You're not exactly as strapping as I'd imagined, but you are rather cute, I suppose. Come here." She orders dismissively. "Tell me, boy, who is your master? Who seeks my favour tonight?"
Korina nods, and with a group of amazons, storms into the building. Ivyari hears the sounds of fighting from within, and soon the front door opens up again with a crash, as Korina goes flying out of it, landing hard on the stones of the street. Walking out of the building come two figures, both dark of skin. One is a female warrior, her body a similar lean musculature to an amazon. Behind her walks a living colossus, so massively muscular as to dwarf the woman, though they stride out into the open as equals. "Who dares disturb us?" The woman calls out in the clear, demanding voice of a leader. "State your name, and make your intentions known!" The man stands silently behind her, glaring at the amazons outside and holding his shield at the ready to defend him and the woman from arrow shots. It takes a few moments before Ivyari recognises the two: They're siblings, children of one of Governor Anai's top generals, the commander of the Nubian troops.
Anai smiled, she could convince her. "Romans destroy or integrate any culture they come in contact with. It happened to Etruscans, to Sibillians and many others. They believe in their own superiority. Allaying with Carthaginians against them, was a natural decision." She sighted. "Alas, the gods are on their side, we can now only try to survive by becoming their client... that, or we shall face our destruction and destruction of our ways." She explained while trying to catch the sight of her... guest.
"Becoming their client?" The woman asks, letting Anai get a look at her. "You desired to become their client by raping their messenger and murdering his bodyguards? You say one thing, but your actions point to something else. Why would the Romans give you anything but scorched Earth, after you did that to their messenger?"
