Chapter Twenty Six: Betrayed
Dennu stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the glare of the sunshine. Kiya hurried to greet him. “Hello Dennu!” She smiled at him but received a stony look that made her heart sink.
“Hello, Kiya.” He glanced beyond her and saw Eopei. “Hello,” he said and this time his voice had warmth. “May I come in?”
“Of course,” said Kiya and stepped aside. “This is Eopei, a friend of mine.”
Eopei offered her hand palm down. Dennu stepped forwards and bowed so he could kiss it. For a long moment Kiya watched his lips press against Eopei’s flesh, then he raised his head. “What lovely soft skin,” he said. “This hand never knew hard work.”
“Oh no,” giggled Eopei. “I am a temple dancer.”
“Another dancer!” exclaimed Dennu. He kept hold of her hand and Kiya noted, with irritation, that Eopei made no attempt to disengage herself. “You mean I am in the presence of two temple dancers. Perhaps you would dance for me? What a delight that would be.”
“We dance only for the gods,” said Eopei with a complacent smile and removed her hand from his grasp.
“Ah, what a pity. I shall endeavour to become as god-like as possible.”
Kiya watched as Eopei glowed under the heat of his admiration. What did Dennu think he was doing? Was he paying attention to Eopei in order to hurt her? In that case he was succeeding.
Eopei showed no sensitivity to Kiya’s feelings. She preened herself and fluttered her eyelashes. “Where are you from?” she asked Dennu. “I have never seen you around here before and I am sure I would have noticed such an attractive man. Did you meet Kiya in Helwan?”
Dennu hesitated.
“Yes,” interrupted Kiya. “He was paid to accompany me home as a body guard.”
“A body guard?” Eopei looked him up and down. “I need a body guard.”
“With that body, I am not surprised,” Dennu said.
“Ha, ha.” Eopei laughed and tilted her head back to show off her long neck. Kiya’s irritation grew to include Eopei as well as Dennu. Her friend was making every effort to ensnare Dennu, despite knowing that she did not have Kiya’s permission to do so. “Are you in need of another job?” Eopei continued. “Would you like to accompany me to a wine bar in Thebes? You can fight off any man who might bother me and your payment will be all the wine you can drink plus a slap-up meal.” She laughed again and Kiya gritted her teeth.
“How can I resist such an invitation?” Dennu said.
“Kiya won’t be coming with us,” said Eopei. “She has to stay and look after the farm. The poor girl has no money, now that she is out of a job.” She turned to Kiya, her eyes bright with malice. “Perhaps you can find employment as a weaver, Kiya. There are plenty of little weaving shops in Thebes.” She fingered her tunic. “I believe to make linen this fine takes many hours of work.”
Kiya stared at her friend, amazed that even Eopei would suggest the lowest of all manual jobs - one that ruined the eyes and twisted the back within a few short years. She kept smiling but feared that her smile had become a rictus. “I told you, Eopei. I have to stay at home, I cannot look for employment in the town.”
“That’s right,” said Dennu. He nodded his agreement at Kiya, then he turned to Eopei. “It is better that nobody knows Kiya is here.”
Eopei shrugged, “Then, perhaps she shouldn’t have come to watch the funeral procession.”
“Did you?” Dennu glared at Kiya.
“I’m sorry...” she was about to make excuses, but he turned away from her.
“It is impossible to guard somebody who will not obey instructions,” he said to Eopei. “I have terminated my duties here and will very happily become your protector.”
“Ooh, good,” she clapped her hands in child-like delight. “Then let us waste no more time. I will wait while you change into something more suitable.”
“I regret that this tunic is all I have with me,” said Dennu.
“Really?” Eopei looked him up and down in, her eyes wide with astonishment. “It’s so old fashioned and it doesn’t even fit!”
“We had to leave in a hurry,” explained Kiya.
“Why?” Eopei demanded. “Did the temple throw you out? They must have been very disappointed with your dancing.”
“Not exactly,” said Kiya, wishing she had never made that excuse.
Eopei seemed about to ask more questions but Dennu turned to Kiya and his expression became one of distant politeness. “I have come to tell your parents that I am moving out and to thank them for their kindness to me.”
The shadows around Kiya deepened as she realised that Eopei’s presence had destroyed any hope of a reconciliation. “Where are you going?” she asked.
“I have arranged to move in with Aapep, the scribe. He needs an assistant and will offer me board and lodging for my help.”
“My parents are not here, they have gone to market. Would you like to wait for their return? I am sure they would appreciate seeing you before you leave.” She could hear the pleading in her voice. If only Eopei would leave and she could speak to Dennu alone, everything could be put right between them.
If Dennu was aware of her anguish, he chose to ignore it. “That won’t be necessary. Please let them know the situation.”
Kiya could not bear his coldness. She tried to smile. “I – I mean- they will miss you.”
He bowed his head in acknowledgement. “I will miss them, they are good people. I’m sorry things have worked out the way they have.”
Kiya would have said more but Eopei took a stick of kohl from her waist purse and positioned herself in front of Dennu. “Let me put some of this around your eyes, it will make you look more fashionable.” Kiya watched in silence as Eopei gently stroked the kohl around Dennu’s eyes, pressing closely against him as she did so. “Hold your head steady,” said Eopei and cupped her hand under his chin. Kiya could sense the sexual tension building and she glanced away. "There, don't you look handsome," said Eopei. “Don’t you think so, Kiya? If we shave your hair and buy you a wig you will be quite the gentleman.” She stood back and looked at his tunic with a frown. "I’m surprised that they do not sell better clothes in Helwan."
"Don’t worry," said Dennu. "The moment I can afford it, I intend to transform myself into a prince of fashion."
Eopei laughed and put her arm through Dennu's. “What fun we will have. Goodbye, Kiya. I’m sorry you are unable to accompany us.” She led him out of the house with a cheery wave.
"Goodbye, Dennu,” called Kiya, but he left without looking back.
Kiya watched them depart. They made an exotic couple. Dennu tall, dark and slender-waisted, Eopei voluptuous yet graceful. She clung to Dennu’s arm and tilted the parasol so they were both in the shade. When Eopei slipped on the muddy path, he slid his arm around her waist to support her. Kiya’s anger turned to depression. Dennu was a fool to fall so easily for Eopei's charms and she was no true friend to have stolen him away. Unbidden, came the memory of Dennu’s kiss in the inn and she felt a pang of jealousy so sharp it was like a knife.
Kiya and the God of Chaos Page 26
