Bast's Warrior

by Walters, Janet Lane;

  She poured water on his back and used a cloth to wash the paste away. When he rolled over she gasped. “Are you sure you want me to continue?”

  Kashe raised his head. He saw desire flare in her eyes. He caught the subtle aroma of her readiness. “I would but things would be over before we begin. I want this time to show you the depth of what I feel for you.”

  “I could switch the water to cold.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll wash the rest.”

  She poured a stream of water from his head to his toes. Kashe scrubbed. He groaned. Even touching his erection made him ache. “Rinse, please. Then it will be my turn to torture you.”

  After she rinsed him he ran a cloth over his face and washed his hair. He wrapped toweling around his waist. He kissed Tira and walked to the cooking area for the remainder of the hot water.

  When he returned he found Tira had washed their kilts and spread them on a second table to dry. She lay on the table and he spread cleansing paste in whirls and spirals on her brown skin. Her moan teased him to urgent need. His erection throbbed. Her skin felt soft beneath his hands. As he massaged she hummed. Her muscles were well-defined and her buttocks tight. One of his hands strayed to caress between her thighs.

  Her body jerked. “You’re playing with fire.”

  “Hope so.” He continued his exploration. When he felt her muscles tighten he removed his fingers and washed her legs and feet. The hard calluses on the outer sides of her feet intrigued him. Would wearing sandals soften the areas?

  Once he rinsed her back she rolled over. He poured water from the pitcher. He caressed her breasts and enjoyed the sensations when her nipples hardened and pressed against her hands. He stepped back. “You’d better finish or I’ll ravish you here.”

  “You could.”

  The emotions in her eyes tempted him. He shook his head. “Hurry so we can go to bed.”

  She took a cloth and washed her arms. She trailed the cloth over her breasts. When she slid the fabric over abdomen and washed her private parts Kashe fought for control.

  His erect member throbbed and strained. He wanted to bury himself in her depths. He poured water over her head and body.

  “What was that for?”

  He tossed her a towel. “I can wait no longer.” As she dried he dragged her down the hall. When they stepped into a sleeping chamber he turned her into his arms. His tongue invaded her mouth and twined with hers. He raised his head. “Come to bed with me.”

  “Gladly.”

  He kept his arms around her and backed her to the platform. “Mine,” he whispered.

  She stepped up and sat on the bed. “And you are mine.” She lowered herself and slid over to make room for him.

  They turned to face each other. He prayed what they had would last forever. What would happen to him if the goddess decided to return Tira to her home? He pushed that thought aside and tightened the embrace.

  Their mouth met in a greedy kiss. Though he wanted to take time and explore every inch of her lithe body his need for her rushed through him like the river during inundation. He rolled her to her back and thrust into her depths. She grasped his shoulders and clasped her legs around his hips. As he moved her heels pressed on his buttocks.

  The sounds she made spurred him to increase the tempo into a frenzied dance. She met him stroke for stroke and used her inner muscles in rhythmic movements. Pressure built and pulsed. He felt as though a dam blocked him from fulfillment. He threw his head back. Fluid burst free and he pumped. His guttural cry of fulfillment rose to join her cries of his name.

  Slowly his breathing returned to normal. His racing heart slowed. “You have my heart.”

  “My love,” she said.

  Kashe covered her with his body. He nuzzled her neck and rolled to his side. He gathered her closer. “Wanted to go slow. Impossible.”

  She kissed his neck. “Someday we will.”

  “Maybe when we’re old.”

  She kissed the corner of his mouth. “Growing old with you would please me.” She yawned.

  He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Sleep.”

  “Then what?”

  “Come morning we’ll decide.”

  “The temples,” she said.

  “I believe so.” Her breathing slowed. Kashe stared into the darkness. When they delivered the symbols they would learn the goddess’ plan. Would she let Tira remain?

  Chapter 33

  Tira rolled from her stomach to her side and studied Kashe. In sleep he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. The tension lines around his eyes and mouth had vanished. Namose’s capture troubled him deeply. Even his grief over Tuten’s death and the pain caused by his father’s actions were gone.

  With a finger she lightly traced his full lips. Desire rose and she leaned forward to brush his lips with her tongue. In a lightning move his arms circled her and his mouth opened to receive her tongue. The kiss held the same urgency as the ones they’d exchanged last night. Would the fire burning between them ever become less than a conflagration?

  She slid her hands from his chest and over his abdomen. Her fingers brushed his erection and she knew his need was as great as hers. She raised her body and straddled his thighs. Then she positioned herself over him. She grasped his penis and slowly engulfed him. When he was deeply seated she sighed and leaned forward to kiss him. He grasped her hips. They moved in unison. The burn changed to flames and Tira felt her body ignite.

  Kashe erupted with a loud cry and pulled her against his chest. “Good morning to you.”

  “And to you.” She stretched atop him. Would all their days begin this way? She could only hope.

  He nuzzled her neck. “We need to find the temples.”

  “I know.” She raised her head and kissed him lightly before rising and padding to the bathing chamber. After a quick wash she dressed and walked to the kitchen.

  Kashe had set the lentils to heat and cut slices of hard cheese. He left her and went to wash and dress before joining her at the table. Tira quickly made more flatbread. By the time he returned the meal was ready. They ate, cleaned the dishes and banked the fire.

  “Should we take our bundles?” she asked.

  Kashe shook his head. “Just the symbols. We can return for our possessions once we know where we will go next.”

  “I wonder if the goddess and god have other plans for us.”

  “There could be.” He tucked the mace in his belt and lifted the bundle with the flail and the crook.

  Tira carried the sack holding the double crown. At the gate she turned and peered into the garden and noticed a rambling house in the distance. “Who do you think owns this estate?”

  “I think we spent the night in the gatehouse of the pharaoh’s compound.”

  “Notice the gardens. In all the years that have passed since the pharaoh lived here there should be weeds and plants grown wild. I wonder if servants remained.”

  “Probably.”

  “Should we look for them?”

  “Not now.” He opened the gate and walked to the end of the wall. “Look.” He pointed at the sky. “There are hawks and I believe this path leads to the temple of Horu.”

  They set off at a brisk pace. As the sun moved toward midday Tira noticed a long mud brick wall in the distance. The closer they came to the place the warmer her amulet grew. She glanced at Kashe. The gold medallion on his chest gleamed. “I see your amulet also reacts.”

  He nodded. “It does.”

  When they reached the wall, they paused at the gate. Kashe knocked.

  “Who comes,” a deep voice asked.

  “Kashe, a warrior of Horu and Tira, a warrior of Bast. Which temple is this?”

  “The complex contains the temples of the Three. Why have you come?”

  “To end a quest and bring something lost and now found,” Tira said.

  The gate opened. Two men and a woman dressed as priests and priestess of the main gods of the Two Lands faced Kashe and Tira. “You a
re most welcome.”

  The priestess smiled. “Be at rest.” She gestured to a bench set against the wall.

  One of the males called and three servants left the gatehouse. “Call the chief priests and the chief priestess and bid they join us.” The three sped away.

  Tira held the sack containing the crown on her lap. Kashe retained his hold on the bundle with the other symbols. A short time later he nudged Tira. He rose. So did she.

  Three people strode toward them. Tira studied the men and the woman. One of the priests wore a long robe. His head had been shaved. The other priest wore a kilt and his dark hair hung in a long braid. The priestess wore a dress that barred her breasts and the square cut of her hair made Tira think of a wig. Each wore a collar necklace with an amulet dangling from the center that marked the god or goddess they served.

  “Welcome.” The oldest of the trio bore a staff with an ankh at the tip. “Why have you come?”

  “I was drawn from my home to undertake a quest,” Tira said.

  “As a warrior of Horu, I was chosen to accompany her,” Kashe said.

  “We have found the crook, the flail and the double crown. We deliver them into your keeping to await the arrival of the pharaoh-to-be.” Tira opened the sack and drew out the crown.

  The gasps from those gathered nearby made her smile. The Toth priest stepped forward. “Never did I expect to behold these. How did you find them?”

  Tira smiled. “There was a map stolen from the temple across the river that marked the places in the Valley of the Pharaohs. I was given a scroll showing the keys by the chief priestess of Bast in Mero. In a Horu temple we found the keys.”

  Kashe opened the bundle he held and displayed the flail and the crook. He stared at the priestess of Bast. “I wish to ask what will happen to my companion since the quest is finished.”

  The priestess took the crook. “The warrior of Bast will remain in the Two Lands. She may enter the temple or remain in your company.”

  Tira reached for Kashe’s hand. “I will remain with him.”

  The priestess nodded. “Your choice will be honored.”

  Tira felt tension slide from Kashe’s grip. She drew a deep breath. “We have more to tell. A sacred cat accompanied me from Mero. During our journey we encountered the daughter. She was taken prisoner by the priests of Aken Re. She escaped. Bast Ka accompanied her.”

  The priestess moved closer. Tira gasped. The woman’s likeness to the one who had sent her on the quest amazed her.

  “Where did the daughter go?” the priestess asked.

  “To the delta. She had a dream and was told she would find the pharaoh-to-be there.”

  “The omens verify her thoughts.” The priestess took the crook from Kashe. “We would keep this symbol among the treasures of the temple until it is needed.”

  The Horu priest lifted the flail. “We will keep this safe until the pharaoh arrives. Our thanks for a task well done.”

  Tira squeezed Kashe’s hand. “What will we do now?”

  The priestess of Bast smiled. “Though your quest has ended the daughter may need your help.”

  Kashe bowed. “There is another of our party missing. My younger brother was carried off by a priest of Aken Re. They traveled north. Perhaps after the daughter or maybe for another purpose. Though Namose hasn’t chosen a god Toth is the one he favors.”

  The Toth priest tapped his staff against the ground. The ankh glowed with a ruddy hue. He cupped his hand above the symbol and softly chanted. “Your brother will live. He has much to learn and a role to play in the future of the Two Lands. He will return in three times three seasons.”

  Three years, Tira thought. “Is there anything we can do to aid him?”

  “At the moment, no. He faces a testing time. One will come from afar to help him. He will recover the keys taken from you and will learn all manner of things.”

  The priest of Horu turned to Kashe. “I sense troubled thoughts.”

  Kashe released Tira’s hand. “When a dying priest carried my name to the god he asked me to find and aid the daughter. After a raid on the temple where the hawks are caught and trained she fled into the desert.” He stared at the ground. “There was a scroll delivered with the amulet. The scroll forbade Tira and me to come together. We broke the restriction when our quest ended but I fear that was wrong.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Tira asked.

  “The priest’s request wasn’t part of your search for the symbols. I alone was asked.”

  Like a black storm cloud fear gathered in Tira’s thoughts. Did Kashe face punishment? Had their love-making changed their fate and that of the Two Lands?

  The priest of Horu faced them. “That was no quest sent by the god, just a hope you could aid her and you did. Now you walk with a warrior of Bast as the scroll promised. The daughter has her own quest to accomplish.”

  “What will we do now?” Tira asked. “We have no home and our friends are on their own journeys.”

  The priest motioned to his companions. They stepped aside and spoke quietly. Finally the Horu priest turned back. “Your quest has been accomplished but your help will be needed to aid the daughter and the pharaoh-to-come. Before then the daughter must find and aid the pharaoh as he arrives from a distant land. In time you will join them.”

  Kashe straightened. “I want to find my brother. He is young and alone.”

  The Toth priest shook his head. “He is alive. When the time is auspicious you and he will be united. Before that time a new pharaoh must be crowned to rule the Two Lands.”

  Tira met Kashe’s gaze. “We must listen, wait and be prepared.” She turned back to the priest. “Must we leave for the delta at once?”

  The Horu priest frowned. “This is not the time. There will be a season or more before you are needed.”

  The Toth priest nodded. “The stars must be read and the omens deciphered.”

  The Bast priestess stepped closer. “Warriors from my temple and those of Horu must be chosen and a team trained to accompany you. You will teach my warriors your style of fighting and any other who will learn.”

  “Where do we go now?” Tira asked. “Should we seek a place in Tebes or in one of the temples?”

  The priestess turned to her companions. “Not Tebes though you can visit the town. I believe you should return to the pharaoh’s compound and wait for a summons. A messenger will be sent to the servants who remain at the estate. They will open rooms for you where you await until our plans to consolidate.” She gestured to one of the guards. He sped off.

  The Toth priest tapped his staff. "The daughter’s quest will take her to the delta but he has not come yet. She will remain until she finds and rescues him. When that occurs I believe she will come here.”

  Tira frowned. “Her jewelry was stolen from her. She will need them to prove she is the one. They were placed on the altar of the temple the priests of Aken Re took from you.”

  “We will send warriors to the Valley,” the Horu priest said.

  Kashe nodded. “They may have been removed by the priest who took my brother.”

  The priestess of Bast stepped forward. “Our warriors will join yours.”

  The Toth priest smiled. “And some of ours will go to cleanse the temple.” He bowed to Tira and Kashe. “Go now and enjoy a time of peace. When the time is right we will send for you.”

  Tira led the way through the gates. Kashe clasped her hand. “I’m sorry you were so concerned about our love-making,” she said.

  “I feared they would send you back.”

  She stepped into his embrace. “When I agreed to come here I knew I would never leave.”

  He tightened the embrace. “When they send for us I would vow to cleave to you even into the afterlife.”

  Tira raised her head. “Gladly.” She had found the place of her dreams and the man who held her heart. Their lips met in a kiss filled with promise.

  The End

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