Menkh stepped forward with a swagger. “Your Highness, I am worthy to be an Aten High Priest. My father served in your father, Pharaoh Amunhotep III’s, armies and fought for the glory of Khemit. I shall also fight against the Amunites for you. I am brave,” he bragged.
Two young women, one with dark Nubian skin and the other with skin of the color of milk, pushed each other to get to the front.
“Your Highness, I am Astuat,” said the tall Nubian girl, thin as a reed.
“I was educated within your harem at Malkata. My father is your Vassal and your most dedicated servant. I am educated and pious and have attended many rituals in the Gem-pa-Aten at Thebes. I could do those rituals with my eyes blindfolded.”
“And you?” asked my father, of the other girl.
“I am Ma’at Sherit,” she answered. She was beautiful, with creamy skin and hair the color of honey. “My mother is the owner of a bountiful goldmine, and she said if she could be guaranteed my future within your temple is assured, then she would offer her treasures to your coffers upon her death, my Lord of Light.”
“Ah, a noble and most generous offer,” said my father, showing those white teeth.
“You are quite welcome,” replied the girl.
“How fortunate that her mother’s riches afford her such an opportunity,” whispered the meek girl next to me.
“Does anyone else feel confident that they could fulfill a position in the Atenic Temple?”
No one else stepped forward. Even I did not consider myself able to fill the role of Priestess without a great deal of guidance and devotion. I expected Archollos to shove them out of the way and announce that only he could fill my father’s sandals.
“Ah, so the three of you are bold enough to have already envisioned yourself as the High Priest and Priestesses of this Temple?” Netri asked.
“Yes, Your Highness,” they agreed, in unison, as if sensing that the competition had begun.
“Menkh, I am dismissing you from continuing in the School of Aten. Better to serve the Aten in the military, as your calling is in complete opposition to the humble life in the temple.”
Menkh gasped.
“Astuat, your boldness and arrogance are perfect examples of egoic self-promotion. Although your interest in the Rituals of the Aten is admirable, your vessel would crack if I filled you with only one drop of Atenic light. I am sorry. I assign you to work as an attendant in my palace kitchens to teach you humility.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” she said, trembling.
“Ma’at Sherit, yes, I am aware that the blood of my forefather is within you. You have great potential.”
“Thank you, my Lord,” she said, smiling, expectant.
“But when monies are exchanged for spiritual positions, it could lead to distortion within the holy sanctum. These positions can only be earned with the acquisition of Light, not wealth. No money will ever be exchanged within this temple.”
Ma’at Sherit looked indignant.
Guards entered the temple doors and escorted out the three candidates. The surprise of this action sent waves of confusion through the remaining group, so unexpected that I, too, quaked. Little trickles of sweat drenched my garment. Those around me suffered the same way. The pungent smell of body odor permeated the air, proving no certainty that any of us would make it past today’s testing.
My father returned his attention to us. “Are there questions as to why such judgment was passed upon the three who wished to acquire these positions?” This time his manner was gentle.
A few nodded in wonderment.
“Yes, Your Highness,” I said, transfixed by his luminous quality yet confused. Hadn’t he told us last night that he wouldn’t be the one to pass judgment that only the Aten would?
“Very well. Allow me to teach you this most important lesson. These three came before the Aten with their egoic sense of self-intention, and that cannot exist in the presence of the most glorious One. I am asking each of you to empty the vessel of ego and self-importance for the plenipotence of Aten. I will be your greatest teacher if you can let go and trust.” He paused, then asked, “Do you understand what just transpired?”
All in my class, including me, nodded and murmured their acknowledgment. “Excellent. Then it is time for your next test, and trust me, this will be arduous. I do not offer this sacred knowledge without a constant test of your devotion and willingness to give yourself fully to the Aten. But there will be great rewards, and I do not mean material rewards.
“Material wealth ebbs and flows like the Nile, never truly belonging to anyone. What I give you will last an eternity and is worth more than mountains of gold. Please move to the center of this room and leave space between you. We are here within this crystalline chamber for a reason.”
The translucent walls were free of inclusions and even the crystalline floor dazzled beneath our feet. I had never seen a room this magnificent, made of the most perfect giant slabs of crystal. I wondered how something so splendid could have ever been crafted by the hands of a human.
“Prepare for your first blessing of the Aten which some of you will receive with grace.” The Pharaoh Akhenaten raised his scepter heavenward and a donkey’s bray later a brilliant scintillating white stream with a corona of rainbow light descended until the crystal walls pulsated with color. The entire chamber throbbed and lit up, vibrating with the sound of a deep cosmic Om. I could have lived forever in this essence. I played with the swirling colors and felt jubilant. Others swayed with joy. The dense rainbows of light jiggled like soap bubbles when touched.
Quickly, the luminescence dimmed. Netri silently evaluated each of us, showing no expression. Then he signaled to Pa-Nesy and Pentu to beckon us to follow.
Pentu walked by me without acknowledgement. My heart ached.
Perhaps my father had spoken the truth and my actions last night were cause for dismissal. All the jubilation I felt only a moment ago had dissipated into a feeling that I wouldn’t be allowed to continue. I had brought shame upon my father.
Pa-Nesy tapped Archollos upon the shoulder and pointed to the far wall next to the harpist’s son. Because of my dislike of Archollos, I hoped Pentu would ask me to join the other group. But which group would be asked to continue and which would be assigned other duties couldn’t be predicted.
The group with Archollos grew as Pa-Nesy directed more of the invitees there. It seemed as if an eternity passed until only two of us remained. Finally, Pentu walked toward me with his head down, avoiding my eyes. My stomach soured. I stood still. Could he have plodded toward me at any duller pace? When only a duck’s bill length away, he tapped the dark girl with the short curls to my right. How dare he pass me by?
Without warning, Pa-Nesy came up behind me. Last? How could Pa-Nesy do this to me? My father’s most trusted counselors humiliated me by sending me to the group with Archollos to be dismissed. And having failed, I now desired to move up to an Adept more than ever. I wanted to sob, but if I showed my great disappointment and did not accept my defeat with grace, Netri would know and chastise me yet again. I couldn’t tolerate his discontent two days in a row.
I cast my eyes to the floor and took my place at the back of the line. We stood in the hot sun while the twelve proud Neophytes glowed as they followed Pentu into the shaded portico to receive blessings in the company of the Pharaoh.
Pa-Nesy turned to us and spoke without emotion. “I wish to thank you for attending today. You have been put through the Heraqhet test to measure your merit and your aptitude for holding the Atenic light.
Although it has been our most fervent hope you all would rise up to meet the high expectations of pure body, mind, and spirit, unfortunately this journey is not for everyone.
“The life of a Neophyte is strict, and most humans cannot abide by it.
By that I mean no imbibing in the strong beer or wine, no fornication, no substances that would alter the mind, no worship of any idols, no stealing, no lying, no harboring ill will toward anot
her in the house of the Aten.”
I knew he meant the last one for me. He denounced me in front of everyone because I broke the code without realizing it. The others looked down too, apparently having also disobeyed these codes. Beads of sweat appeared upon our foreheads; the pungent smell of body odor spiked the stale desert air.
“Do you all understand the severity of these codes?” asked Pa-Nesy.
“Yes,” we said in unison, like timid lambs, shuffling our feet. Pa-Nesy nodded. “Please follow me.”
The heat had caused the Mitannian boy’s eyes to redden and the short girl behind me seemed ready to faint, yet Archollos seemed unfazed. Didn’t he understand we were just dismissed? There would be no Aten Temple assignments, no life of education into the subtle mysteries. I would have to choose a consort. We entered a darkened room, and it took a moment for our eyes to adjust. Pitchers of honey water, and a platter of fruit and date cakes were set out.
“Sweets to soothe the sour moment ahead,” said Rennutet behind me. Our eyes became accustomed to the dark. There upon the silky cushions sat my father. Why did I have to face him now? Couldn’t I have snuck out the side door and run home crying?
“Before you leave today,” he said in his baritone voice, which vibrated within each of us, forcing us out of our self-loathing and back to the present moment, “I wish to congratulate you upon your acceptance into the First Aten Mystery School. Classes begin in the morning.” We stared at him in stunned silence. “Please accept a copy of the The Great Aten Invocation, The Ritual Texts, and The Hymnal Texts of Aten, which I just completed. They have been laid out for you by the door. We have a large amount of studies to complete, so please be prompt tomorrow morning. Now, enjoy the refreshments and Pentu and Pa-Nesy will answer any questions.” He departed, but before he left he looked directly into my eyes.
I am proud of you, Daughter.
I heard his words his words clearly, though they came not from his mouth but from his mind.
I couldn’t believe it. He accepted me. Unable to contain my joy, I impulsively hugged the student next to me.
“Oh,” said a surprised masculine voice.
I looked up into Archollos’ face and pulled back, horrified. Had he smiled, or was that smug look because I had shown emotion? That sneaky weasel of hidden rage popped its head up again within me. I had to slam the door shut upon it. He couldn’t possibly have known that he would be chosen. Even, I, the daughter of the Pharaoh, wasn’t certain.
Pa-Nesy stood before us with a warm smile. We peppered him with questions about time and clothing and whether we should still be secretive.
He answered all, then said, “Pack up one satchel of items, for tomorrow you will begin your residency in the Neophyte quarters. An invitation scroll has been sent to each of your parents with the official seal of the Royal House upon it. It will ensure that there would not be any problems for you to obey the wishes of the Aten.” With that decree, he dismissed us to go home in celebration of our new destiny.
My attendants dressed me in a brand new sheath of sky blue with a fine golden material draped over my shoulder and tied under my right breast. I snuggled my scroll in the fine embroidered purse around my waist. An elaborate wig adorned my head and as I fussed with the braid it came loose. An attendant scurried to fix the hairpiece by stuffing it back in but the weave again dropped to the floor.
My attendant presented me with a silver wrapped box. “Your Highness, please accept this gift from your father.” I opened the box and held up a gold Right Eye of Horus necklace with a sparkling jewel in the center hung upon a golden chain.
Then she bowed and handed me a scroll. “He said to be sure to read this.”
‘I am honored by this occasion. Please wear this necklace and remember that I am watching over you, Precious Daughter. Your devotion to the Aten gladdens my heart.’
Feeling elated, I arrived for dinner in the royal dining room. Netri sat at the head of the carved wood table. He placed his palms together and greeted me in ceremonial fashion. His eyes glistened with pride and his sallow skin seemed luminous with the light of a thousand candles. Meti’s eyes narrowed with suspicion as she saw this exchange. “You are late, Daughter. Did something keep you?” she asked.
“No, Meti, the attendants fussed with this wig. One of the braids tore out, so they decided to sew it back into place.”
She relaxed. “I see. Have they been checked for lice?”
“I forgot to ask, Meti.”
“Allow me to send my Royal Nitpicker to your quarters to oversee that all your wigs are well looked after.”
“The attendants proceeded to lay a banquet before us. Platters of great kabobs of beef hot from the grill, fresh fried mullet with a hazelnut savory sauce, rice with spinach, dried mullet roe with artichokes and sun bread.
Bountiful servings were heaped upon our silver plates. My father commenced with the praise.
“Great Aten, within our hearts and souls we give multitudes of blessings for the plentitude you have bestowed upon us in this earthly meal and through the primordial light from which you nourish our eternal souls. May we bow our heads in thanks,” he said in his reverent tone of gratitude.
“Ahhhhhh Ten,” we all said in unison, acknowledging the magnificence of our maker.
“You have indeed turned this land into one of plentitude. I was wrong, all I could see was barrenness. You have transformed this land of abundance and light with your vision and hard work. I apologize, my Heart. I just could not imagine that it could become a city of this magnitude in such a short period of time.”
Meti eyed me. I said nothing but felt joyful at her admission, chewing bitefuls of food one hundred times, liquefying it, thinking the name of the Aten over and over, thereby having my food blessed to add greater health and vitality to my body. The sacred scroll, proof of admittance into the Mystery School, burned in the pouch tied around my waist.
It would be an ideal time to present it to her after she finished eating.
I couldn’t keep my mind on the idle chatter because my stomach grew nervous. Tonight, she would understand that my destiny had been chosen for me by the Aten.
“Merit-Aten, please join me tomorrow for a ride up the Nile,” said Meti. “New importers have gathered at Memphis and the latest textiles and cosmetics will be presented for our approval. It is time you learn some of the responsibilities of running a palace when I’m not here,” she commanded in between sips from her jeweled wine goblet.
“Tomorrow is not possible, Meti, although it would give me great joy to accompany you. But, tomorrow—” I stammered, and pulled the scroll from my pouch and presented it. I hoped she would see greater value in me, as her first-born daughter, heir to the throne and now new Neophyte. She took the scroll, reading it with diligence. She pulled on her earring and grew agitated.
“What is this?” she demanded and stood up. “You were accepted into the first Mystery School of Aten?”
“Yes, Meti. I passed the test,” I said, trying to calm her.
Netri rose from his seat, “My Heart, this is her destiny. The Aten chose her.” He extended his hand. “She was duly tested and Merit-Aten indeed held the first primordial light.”
“But I thought we had come to an understanding about this. Enough with this idealism! How will her path of purity save us if the Amunites raise their own armies and Khemit falls into chaos with a civil war?” She threw my sacred scroll so hard that it bounced upon the limestone floor.
My father’s face turned to a mask of horror. “How dare you denigrate the Aten? You will never speak that way again within these halls. Everything I am and do is in veneration to the Aten. Merit-Aten has chosen her own path.”
Shadow of the Sun (The Shadow Saga) Page 30
