Asenath (4 page)

My fingers brushed against something tiny and pointed.

The lapis lazuli lotus.

I held it to my chest. I would guard it with my life.

It was all I had left of everything I had ever known and loved.

I awoke the next morning to Nyla's gentle prodding. I opened my eyes. Nearly all the mats in the room were empty.

"Is everyone already up?" I rubbed my eyes.

"Yes. Come Kiya. We'll show you the bath house."

Her voice was barely audible.

I struggled to my feet and followed the twins outside.

Our roommates stood around in groups that looked to have been established long ago. They chatted and gossiped, completely ignoring us.

I envied at how confident they looked. I wondered if I would ever be able to find my place in Heliopolis, or if I even had one at all.

Later after breakfast, Irikara came rushing up to me. "Kiya! Lord Pentephres arrived earlier than expected. He wants to see you now. Come!"

I looked at Menah nervously.

He smiled. "It'll be all right. Go. I'll see you later."

I followed Irikara across the courtyard. I practically jogged to keep up with her.

"Hurry up, Kiya," Irikara said, even though we were already moving quite rapidly. "We don't want to keep the high priest waiting. Hurry!"

Gods. She had too much energy in her.

Midway down a tree-lined path, Irikara suddenly stopped and turned around.

I crashed into her. I braced myself, expecting an angry outburst.

"Now Kiya, Lord Pentephres and his wife, the Lady Satsepdu, are the most important people in Heliopolis. Remember to be on your best behaviour like you were last night. When we greet them, prostrate."

"What do you mean 'prostrate?'"

"Kneel and touch your head to the floor."

She wet her thumb and dabbed at a spot on my cheek. "There. Perfect. Now come on."

We approached a large rectangular pool that reflected the cloudless blue sky above. Ducks and water lilies floated on its surface. Around it were acacias, sycamores, palms and brightly coloured flower beds.

A couple stood by the pool with their backs to us. Irikara cleared her throat. They turned around.

She dropped to her knees. I followed suit.

"Life, health and prosperity to you, holy ones," Irikara said. "To you, Lord Pentephres,
hem-netjer-tepy
, Chief Prophet of Heliopolis, Great Seer. And to you, Lady Satsepdu,
werest heneret
, Chief Concubine of Atum-Re. Greetings in the name of Pharaoh Amenhotep, the living god, may he live forever."

"Arise," the high priest said.

We rose to our feet.

I stood slightly behind Irikara. She gently tugged me forward. I caught her expression and saw a hint of a frown.

"My lord and lady," she said. "Please allow me to introduce Kiya."

I bowed. I was very nervous. When I rose back up, I saw the regal couple staring at me intently.

They were dressed more opulently than the priests and priestess I had seen the previous night. Lord Pentephres donned a fine linen robe embroidered with golden stars. A large glittering pendant of the Eye of Re hung around his neck.

His wife wore a gown of silver folds that draped prettily across her slender frame. Upon her head was an ebony wig dusted with gold.

The couple's gaze was made more intense by the kohl streaks lining their large eyes. Then they broke into warm smiles, as if I was an old friend they had not seen in years.

"How have you been, Kiya?" Lord Pentephres asked.

"Very well, my lord."

"Has everyone been looking after you?"

"Yes." I swallowed. "Y-yes, my lord."

"That is good. We were worried about you."

"You were right, Pentephres," Lady Satsepdu spoke up. "She is quite an extraordinary child. So tall for her age too. My dear, Hathor has blessed you with the finest beauty in the Two Kingdoms."

I blushed and mumbled an incomprehensible thanks.

"She has indeed," Pentephres said. "Well, Kiya, you are going to stay here for a while so that we can look after you. Would you be happy for us to do that?"

"Yes, my lord."

"It is not such a bad place. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to approach us. We would very much like to help you."

"Thank you, my lord." I began to like the couple, even though I barely knew them.

"However," the high priest said. "We will need your help at times as well. Pharaoh will be coming in a couple of weeks for the Feast of Atum-Re. There will be much to do. Do you think you can help us there, Kiya?"

I grew excited. "Of course, my lord."

"I am pleased to hear that. Very well." He flicked his wrist, indicating the meeting was over. "Go now. I shall see you again soon."

As soon as we were out of the priestly couple's hearing range, I squealed, "Irikara, Pharaoh is coming. That is so exciting."

"It is indeed." She smiled. "There will be a lot of work to do though. But it should be fun."

"Have you seen him before?"

"I certainly have."

"What is he like?"

"He is, as we know, the living god."

Then, she lowered her voice. "He is quite elderly now, but rather on the frail side. Not at all like what those statues of him depict."

CHAPTER FOUR

As the day of Pharaoh's arrival drew nearer, my tasks rose to a frantic peak. I grew so busy that I barely had time to brood over the family and home I had lost.

One day, one of the head servants fell ill. We exerted all of our blood and sweat to prevent the wrath of the less patient priests and priestesses.

On the day of the festival, my roommates and I were dressed in white sheath dresses that fell to our ankles. Ebony wigs with fringes were fitted onto our heads. The wigs were very simple, not at all like the opulent noblewomen's wigs I had seen, but they made me feel sophisticated and regal.

Outside in the courtyard, we were lined up in rows flanking the temple's great golden gates. The priests and priestesses were comfortably shaded in the front, while we underlings sweated and broiled in the back.

My scalp itched under my wig. I was tempted to tear it off.

After a blistering eternity, the gates swung open to a sudden blast of trumpets. I nearly jumped.

A voice boomed out, "On your knees before His Majesty Pharaoh Amenhotep, Horus of Gold, Son of Re, Beloved of the Two Ladies, Lord of the Two Lands and Her Majesty Queen Meritamen, Great Royal Wife and Beloved of Re. May they live forever."

Taking my cue from the girl in front of me, I dropped to my knees. I touched my forehead to the hard tiled floor.

I knelt for such a long time that I lost all feeling in my legs. However, I bore it in silence as I had learnt from my time in captivity.

A voice bade us rise.

I struggled to get up. Alas, my legs would not cooperate. I nearly toppled over the woman beside me.

She caught me and frowned. "You'll have to get used to this."

I mumbled my thanks.

Floating down the aisle was a glittering stream of silver and gold—the royal procession. The air grew heavy with incense. The priests began chanting hymns to the glory of the Pharaoh.

The spectacle before me amazed me.

One of the servants pointed out Pharaoh Amenhotep. I expected to feel awestruck knowing the powers he commanded, the wealth he possessed and the empire he ruled over. But just as Irikara said, he was indeed a frail little man. He looked as if he would collapse beneath the weight of his crown and emblems.

Beside him strode his principal wife, Queen Meritamen. She looked the same age as he, but had more of the air of a ruler than her husband. She walked confidently with her head high.

The royal family disappeared inside the temple to commune with the gods. Their entourage dispersed throughout the courtyard. As for us, we were finally relieved of our cruel places under the sun.

In the kitchen, I splashed my face and drank some water. Afterward, I returned to the courtyard balancing goblets of beer upon an ornate silver platter. I, along with Menah and the twins, had been assigned to serve the noble guests.

As I approached the beautifully made up aristocrats, a prickly nervousness came over me. Though I did not know who these people were, I knew I could lose my head if I behaved carelessly around them.

I glanced around for my friends, hoping to garner some courage. But they had already disappeared into the crowd. I had no choice but to go forward myself.

I made my way through the chattering nobles. I felt as if I were treading through a river of hungry crocodiles. Though no one seemed to notice me, I still strove to look as poised as possible.

Then I saw Lord Pentephres. He smiled and motioned for me to come over.

I inwardly sighed with relief. Though I certainly couldn't be too informal with him at least I knew him to be kind and amiable.

"Lord Potiphar," Lord Pentephres said.

A tall man wearing a formal army uniform appeared. He had eyes like a hawk's, alert and piercing.

I nearly shrunk back. He looked so intimidating, like the type of person who could
not
be disobeyed.

"Kiya, this is the Lord Potiphar, the Captain of Pharaoh's Guard," Pentephres said. "He and I were colleagues in the School of Life in Thebes."

I bowed slightly, taking care not to spill the drinks. "Life, health and prosperity to you, my lord."

Potiphar gave me a slight bow. "The pleasure is mine, little girl."

I was surprised by the gesture.

The Captain turned to Pentephres. "You are right, Holiness. She is indeed a charming child. You are very lucky."

"I believe I am." Pentephres smiled.

I was so flattered by all the attention that I nearly forgot my place. Then I caught sight of Lyla serving the other guests.

"Would my lords care for some beer?" I held out the platter.

"Certainly," Potiphar said.

He was about to reach for a goblet when a hand appeared over my shoulder and snatched one up. I was caught off-guard by the rude gesture, but decided to ignore it.

But suddenly, I was pushed forward. I lost my grip of the platter. The goblets crashed to the ground. Beer flooded the polished tiles. Some drops splashed onto the elegant cream-coloured gown of a lady standing nearby.

"You stupid slave!" she screamed. "Look what you've done!"

I looked up. An exquisitely lovely face glared at me.

I trembled. "My lady, I'm so―"

The lady blasted out an expression which I had thought too vile to exist.

I stared at her in shock.

"Now, Zalikha," Potiphar said. "She didn't mean it. It was Lord Anhurerau's fault. I saw him push her. You know how perennially drunk he is."

I bowed. "My lady, I am very sorry. Please forgive me."

When I rose, she struck my face with such a force that I stumbled backward.

Inihue, one of the kind elderly servants, hurried up to me. She led me back to the kitchen. There, she sat me down and pressed cool cucumber slices to my face.

"Are you all right, Kiya?" she asked.

"Inihue, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it."

"We know you didn't. Some of these noblewomen are just horribly short-tempered." Her voice was calm, but there were lines of exasperation on her face.

"Who was that lady anyway?" I asked. "She was very pretty, even though she was so angry."

"Lady Zalikha, the wife of Lord Potiphar. Listen, why don't you help Enehy and Hrere with the vegetables? Come, I'll take you over to them."

She led me over to where two young women sat before a pile of diced vegetables. She sat me with them and told them to let me help them.

Later, just as I had completed my task, Lord Pentephres appeared.

I dropped to my knees, shuddering. Any moment now, he would call for me to be flogged.

"Don't be afraid, Kiya. Arise."

I rose with my eyes still to the floor.

The high priest took my face into his hands and lifted it. His large painted eyes peered directly into me.

"Don't feel bad, little one. These things happen. Just forget about it." He patted my cheek and left.

I nearly collapsed with relief.

Sometime after the madness of the festivities had ended, Lord Pentephres informed me and my friends that he would teach us how to read and write. We were illiterate, as peasants were. But now that we lived in the city, we had to learn this.

Unless he was away, we had classes nearly every day. They were held in the House of Life, the part of the temple which contained the sacred texts. Lord Pentephres gave us writing materials to keep—reeds, a palette and a water pot.

I was also allowed to explore around Heliopolis. When I first ventured out with some of the temple servants, my jaw fell open at the magnificent city before me.

Gleaming buildings of limestone and alabaster lined wide paved roads. Colourful obelisks rose in every corner, their golden
benben
pyramids flashing in the Egyptian sun. Fountains and miniature gardens dotted the grounds, giving everything a fresh, pristine look.

At the marketplace, I hardly knew where to focus my gaze. It was a teeming mass of life—vendors shouting about the quality of their wares, delicious cooking smells hanging thickly in the air, colourful rugs flapping in the breeze, street jugglers performing and animals grunting.

The people were an interesting mix. There were not only noble and peasant Egyptians mingling side by side, but also foreigners from places I had never heard of before—Nubia, Canaan, Libya, Babylon. Some of the foreigners had skin as dark as night. Others had their faces covered with thick, curly hair.

However, what I did not like about the marketplace were the stalls of the slave traders. They reminded me of my captivity. I hurried away every time I came across these dark sinister men lording themselves over their helpless merchandise.

One day, I passed by a row of slaves ready to be auctioned. I was about to rush off when I stopped in my steps.

In the middle of the row was one slave who was very weak. He lay curled up on the ground, like a stray animal trying to keep warm. His skin was filthy and bruised. Every once in a while, he took deep ragged breaths.