Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Six: A New Beginning
Kiya’s ka left her body and looked down at herself lying on the bed. Time must have passed for Huy and Laylos were standing, clutched in each other’s arms and weeping. There was no sign of Anubis.
The ka rose slowly upwards, drawn inexorable towards the heavens. Kiya fluttered her wings, trying to remain close to her body. Would Dennu honour his promise and embalm her corpse so her soul would live forever?
Somebody grabbed her legs and held them tight. She flapped her wings frantically trying to escape, but to no avail. She was pulled downwards and found herself face to face with Isis. The goddess smiled at her.
“I owe you a life, Kiya,” she said.
Kiya stopped struggling and allowed herself to be positioned close to her dead body’s mouth. Then Isis struck a blow upon the chest of the corpse and the mouth opened to take in a juddering breath. Kiya’s ka was sucked in and her body lived once more.
Laylos turned at the sound of Kiya’s first breath and gave a scream of astonishment. Huy also turned and saw the miracle.
“You have come back to us!” he cried and knelt as if to worship her.
“I should have know you would cheat death, Kiya!” said her aunt and threw herself upon the bed to give Kiya a hug. “But what happened? How have you managed to return to life?”
“Isis restored my ka,” said Kiya. She could speak clearly now and her body tingled as her newly-beating heart pushed blood around stagnant arteries.
“But how? Why?” Laylos struggled to understand the strangeness of the resurrection.
“I restored the ka of her husband, Osiris, so she was under an obligation to me.”
“Well, I would never have expected gratitude from that dreadful woman!” said Laylos.
“Shush,” said Kiya. “I am eternally grateful to her.” She gave Laylos another hug and a kiss and then held out her arms to embrace Huy.
“Dear, Kiya,” said Huy and she could feel the roughness of his unshaven cheek as he kissed her. “We were heartbroken when we thought we had lost you.”
“I am so pleased to be back.”
“How are you feeling, my dear?” asked Laylos.
“I felt a little strange at first,” said Kiya, “but I am fine now, apart from the wound on my leg which still throbs. The poison must have left my body.”
“That is the way with such poisons,” said Laylos. “They are derived from the venom of snakes. The body can destroy them, but not before they have done their evil work.” She rose from the bed. “Now, less talking my dear, you must be exhausted after your ordeal. I shall get you a goblet of beer.”
Kiya looked around as Laylos left the ruined room. “I fear that little remains of Akhetaten,” she said to her uncle. “Will the city be rebuilt?”
Huy shook his head. “Not by Ikhnaton. He has announced his abdication and thinks of nothing but the exodus.”
“Has a new king been chosen?”
“Yes, but he is just a child and will be advised by a council of elders. Let us hope they encourage him to forget this Aten nonsense and restore the old gods.”
“I agree,” said Kiya.
Laylos returned with a goblet, which she handed to Kiya. “The harem is empty,” she said. “The servants are gone and Itet has left with Dennu. It is fortunate that there are still beer barrels in the kitchen.”
Kiya thanked her aunt and took a deep draught of the refreshing liquid. “Will you be returning to Thebes?” she asked.
“Yes, indeed,” said Laylos. “I have heard it is undamaged, apart from the fire caused by the winged snake. Perhaps our apartment might still be available. There is room enough for me to have a baby there and we will be close to Ramala.”
“What about food?” asked Kiya. “Without Meri there will be famine.” She felt a pang of grief at the thought of her lost child and knew that there would always be a place for him in her heart.
“The famine will soon be over,” said Huy. The Nile has flooded at last and the farmers will be able to plant. We should have enough grain in the granaries to see us through.”
“Then it is a happy ending,” said Kiya.
“What do you plan to do, Kiya?” asked her aunt. “I know that Dennu is keen for you to go on the exodus with him and there are others who would be pleased to share their lives with you.”
Kiya thought back to the different worlds shown to her by Neter. She had been given another chance in life and the opportunity to choose many paths. She thought about her beloved river, of the rich soil of the farm and the variety of the seasons. She thought of her parents and Khamet and knew in her heart which path would bring her the most happiness.
She rose from her bed and embraced her aunt and uncle. “I will return home with you and live the life I was born to live, beside the Nile with my family around me.”
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Kiya and the God of Chaos Page 136
