The Skin of the Gods

by Phil Armstrong

  Aya approached the hall’s entrance, balancing a large bowl of water. The bowl was heavy and she walked slowly, trying not to spill its contents. She focused on the water and not the occupants of the room. Nesu Narmer rose from his throne and began to speak. “The greatest Magician of the north, who makes a rod transform into a snake. I’m going to need some more convincing. The Naja Haje is well known to succumb to pressure at the base of its head. Pushing your thumbs into this area paralyzes the snake. After a while the snake goes to sleep and it becomes rigid like a walking shaft. You walked in with the rigid snake as your aid. You needed to release the pressure and the snake returns to life. But look at the poor thing. It’s still regaining its senses. We may need to get that under control. A little while from now and that angry snake will do some real damage.”

  Aya walked gingerly into the hall; she stared at Bener-ib. Bener-ib had removed her hood revealing her pretty face. Aya’s eyes flicked to the stage where the Nesu and her Queen were sitting. She could see an old man, whom she assumed was a Magician. She could also see a coiled snake. She assumed this to be the other Magician, performing some kind of illusion. Walking around the Magician, she gave the snake a wide birth as she knelt in front of Bener-ib. Bener-ib followed the conversation and was disappointed in the Magician’s crude trick. She watched the snake regain consciousness. From the corner of her eye, she saw a bowl of water being placed at her feet. She took little notice of the servant bringing the water. Aya would have raised her suspicions; Bener-ib knew this servant harbored ill will against her.

  Aya was positioned on the floor, resting her weight on her shins. She bent forward with her face surrounded by long black hair. With her identity concealed, she offered the bowl of water to Bener-ib. Bener-ib fell to her knees. She dipped her hands into the cool water. Once the water had surrounded her hands, she would be able to assume the Magical powers from her sister. Bener-ib was about to dip her hands, when the Nesu continued. “That was a crude trick suitable for children. I would expect more from the great Ka.”

  That was the moment. Some moments fly by and some seem to drag onwards for an eternity. This moment was unscripted, in a day so meticulously planned. The best moments are ones usually not planned. This moment was a combination of luck, skill, perception, planning and years of training. When Aya entered the room her movement caught Ka’s eyes. She was a pretty thing and Ka was partial to the ladies. He knew that the Queen was off limits. He did not want to dual with Bener-ib, for his powers would not impress her. Aya was an aide and easily impressed. Her simple beauty aroused him. He let his trained eye linger upon her entrance longer than he would normally have. It was in that lustful second, that he registered something odd. Being a great Magician is not easy. You need great power but you need to cultivate that power. You need an advanced sense of awareness, a keen eye, and a superb sense of timing.

  Aya was carrying a heavy bowl of water. The bowl rested upon her forearms for support. She kept the bowl level, causing the surface of the water to remain flat. She was determined not to spill any of the contents. The weight of the water was evenly distributed and should not have caused anything unusual. When Aya approached, her body seemed to labor more, on her right side. She wore a tight fitting white tunic that fell to her knees. Her hips swayed as she walked and she appeared to have strong toned legs. This was not unusual for palace aides. Aides walk a lot, work hard and are not allowed to eat excessively. Aya had no visible scars and her legs seemed strong. She definitely exhibited a strange gait. To the untrained eye, it was hardly noticeable. Ka knew something was not right.

  Aya had concealed something of considerable weight; it was affecting her natural balance. Her tunic concealed something tied to her right thigh. Logic is a wonderful thing and Ka loved to use his deductive powers. If you conceal something, your motivation is to prevent it from being seen. Aya would be punished if this concealed item were found. With this illustrious group present; you would not dare conceal anything, unless you were prepared to die for it. The consequences would be well understood. Bringing something this heavy into the great hall would be pointless unless you intended to use it. The effectiveness of this object would be based upon the element of surprise. It had to be a valuable object for Aya to take such a risk. What purpose would this object have?

  Ka tracked Aya closely with his eyes. He paid little attention to the barbed comments about his crude illusion. He was certain Aya had a concealed weapon. From the weight he deduced this to be a knife, probably made from heavy metal. Who was Aya’s intended target? As Aya withdrew her outstretched hands, she placed them close to her bended thighs. Bener-ib moved closer, ready to soak her hands. She was ready to assume her magical powers from her twin sister. Aya grabbed the concealed knife. Her motion was shielded by her thigh; not noticeable from the stage. No one suspected anything, except Ka. She slid the blade upwards away from its restraint and grabbed the heavy handle.

  It happened quickly but her movements were deliberate. It’s the surprise factor that seems to make time speed up. Bener-ib was staring downwards at her hands, dipped in the bowl of water. The Nesu, Queen Nithotep and the guards were too far away to alter the outcome. Ka was vigilant; as soon as he saw the raised blade, he threw his hand in the direction of the knife. The blade began its descent towards Bener-ib’s back; a blinding blue light shot from Ka’s palm. It struck the blade; causing Aya to recoil in surprise, shouting in pain. The blue light burned Aya’s hands. The heavy knife suddenly felt slimy and wiggled its way free from her grip.

  Everyone in the great hall had witnessed Ka’s intense power. Aya’s hand fell, striking Bener-ib’s back. A slimy Catfish bounced off her back and slid across the stone floor, gulping for air. Bener-ib submerged her hands deeper into the bowl. Her mystical powers surged through her body. The guards raced to restrain Aya, who had failed in her attempt to kill Bener-ib.

  The Nesu stood and pointed to Aya. “Traitor, she must not live.” Queen Nithotep was shocked; she could not believe what she had just witnessed. If she had not seen this directly, she would not have believed it from Aya. She had always been a trusted aide.

  Aya knew she had been thwarted. It took a few moments to comprehend that the knife was now a gasping Catfish. Magic and sorcery were at work here and she knew she must now meet her inevitable fate. She had failed to kill Bener-ib but she did not regret trying. Queen Nithotep would be proud of her actions. Nesu Narmer raged, “Ka, you can decide how she must die.” The Nesu was incensed; his neck veins pulsed. He was so angry that this trusted servant had tried to disrupt his meticulously planned day.

  Ka glanced at the frightened woman and waved his hand in a circular motion. Her body fell apart, into a heap of dust. All that remained were Aya’s robes. Her jewelry rested in a pair of empty sandals. A few strands of twine, used to restrain the knife, lay twisted among her belongings. Ka walked towards the robes and carefully removed the objects. He left a cone of dust piled high upon the stone floor. He waved his hand and the dust swirled into a column; it fell to the floor with a hard clanging noise. Ka had turned the dust into a Chisel. Pleased with his work, he stepped backwards. “She will always serve you my Nesu; she will be hit with a mallet, the rest of her useful days.”

  The guards were amazed, as they looked at the Chisel lying on the stone floor. Bener-ib had risen to her feet; she raised her arms casting her own spell. The Catfish flipped and began to rise into the air. The Chisel shot across the floor, as if dragged by an invisible rope. The Chisel came to rest next to the bowl of water. The Catfish floated serenely towards the water, as if it were swimming through the air. It submerged into the bowl, causing a small splash. Bener-ib pushed her hands forward. The bowl and Chisel advanced towards the stage, coming to rest at its edge. Everyone could see the irony of this gesture. A Catfish lay beside the Chisel – the symbols of Nesu Narmer.

  “I think we’ve had enough excitement for tonight,” said Nesu Narmer, catching his breath. “I suggest we retire to our quarters and
resume in the morning, when the sun rises.” He moved forward to look at the bowl and the Chisel. The Catfish was content, safe in the surrounds of the comforting water. “Tomorrow will be a big day. I’ll explain why you’re here and I’ll ask you to help me. Rest, for you will need to be alert in the morning. I’ll double the guards tonight. Some people do not want us to meet and I can’t afford any mishaps. I’ll ask you to be extra vigilant.” The Nesu and his Queen walked towards the exit. They carried the Golden box; the Magicians bid them a good night.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 13: The Legend of Osirus

  Upper Egypt, 3150 B.C.

  It was a beautiful morning as the bright sunlight burst through the entrance to the great hall, flooding the room with light. Bener-ib had arrived first and positioned herself in her chair facing the stage. Ka was not far behind, sitting in his designated seat. Both had bowed their heads in a gesture of respectful acknowledgement. No words were spoken to validate their arrival. The Nesu and Queen Nithotep arrived with their entourage. After settling, they cleared the room of guards and aides.

  Nesu Narmer rose slowly and focused upon the two Magicians. “Today is an important day. Today is the day that I’ll teach you something new. I will however, need your help. I want to start by sharing one of the oldest stories ever told.” Nithotep looked at her husband, knowing this was an important moment. Nesu Narmer caught her questioning gaze and nodded reassuringly.

  “I have a lot of information to share with you today, but you must listen carefully. These important events in our history have been passed down from Nesu to Nesu. Its privileged information and I recognize that I’m breaking with tradition. I need to share with you of the true story of The King of the Dead.”

  He looked across at his attentive Queen still holding the Golden box; she nodded slightly to signal her encouragement. Nithotep placed the heavy box at her feet. She settled comfortably into her chair, knowing this was going to take a while. “I’ll begin, but I need you to pay attention and listen carefully. Help yourself to refreshments whenever you need to, but keep your concentration at all times. This story will change your life.” He stopped, took a deep breath, and looked at them both. If he continued, there would be no going back. He only had this one moment to retreat, or he must carry through with his intended direction. He swallowed hard and began his story for his willing listeners.

  “In the beginning, our land was the realm of the ancient Gods. The mightiest of all was the Sun God Ra, King of the Gods. Ra took the Goddess Nut, Mother of the Sky, as his beautiful wife; just as I have been blessed with Nithotep.” He turned and smiled at her beautiful face. She responded with a small upturn of the corners of her mouth. Ka remained stone faced at this romantic gesture; Bener-ib lowered her eyes, not wanting to intrude on this private moment. “Often things are not what they seem. Unlike Nithotep, Nut was not in love with Ra. Her heart was not pure, for she loved another God named Geb, Father of the Land. She could not conceal her admiring looks and her touch grew cold and infrequent. When Ra discovered this relationship, he was enraged. He forbid Nut to have children on any day of the year and cursed her. Nut loved children; Ra knew this was the deepest hurt that he could inflict. Nut was devastated; she was a broken shell of a woman. In her loneliness, she sought advice from the God of Wisdom, Thoth. Thoth listened to Nut and knew that Ra’s curse must be upheld. He had an idea, but it required some ingenuity. There were 360 days in a year; Nut was not allowed to have a child on any of them.” Nesu Narmer pushed his weight from his chair and approached the table, laden with food. He poured a cool glass of water, to ease his dry throat. He recalled his parents telling him stories and how hooked he would become. He would hang on every word. He looked at the two Magicians and saw the same curious look in their eyes. He took a small drink and returned to his chair, setting the goblet down at his feet.

  “Thoth wanted to help Nut, for she was clearly distraught. Thoth contacted his friend Silene, Goddess of the Moon. Silene’s light, at this time, was equally as vibrant and strong as the Sun; she rivaled Ra’s intensity. Thoth entered into a wager with Silene, but Thoth was full of Wisdom and Silene was destined to lose their wager. Thoth was the victor and was awarded one seventh of Silene’s intensity. The moon wanes each month, as a result of this wager. Thoth used his wisdom and used this light, to extend the year by 5 days. There would now be 365 days in a year. This was the clever solution. Nut would have 5 days that she was allowed to have children. She still would obey Ra’s curse of not having children for 360 days a year.

  On the first extra day, Nut gave birth to Osiris. On the second extra day, Horus was born. On the third extra day, Seth was born. On the fourth extra day, Isis was born and the fifth extra day, Nephthys was born. On the first extra day, a loud voice rattled across the sky and was heard by all mortal inhabitants. The Lord of all of the Land is born. This powerful King Osiris became magnificent. He taught the people agriculture, building and civilization. He instilled upon them a code of laws, in which to live their lives. He taught them respect and how to worship the Gods. Under his rule, Egypt became a prosperous and powerful land. Osiris was a kind, supportive and gentle ruler. His people loved and adored him. Once he had civilized Egypt, he decided to take his teachings to lands outside of Egypt’s borders.

  When he travelled, he would leave his wife Isis, to rule Egypt in the same manner. Isis was also adored and respected by the people of Egypt. Osiris attracted a bitter enemy, who resented his ways and popularity. Seth was born on the third extra day and became intensely jealous of Osiris.

  Seth devised an elaborate plan, but he would need help with its execution. He aligned himself with Aso, the Queen of Ethiopia; between them, they recruited 72 other conspirators. No plot could ever succeed with Isis ruling the country. Her authority was never questioned and her motives were always pure. Anyone hearing of dissent would kill the uprising and restore order, through loyalty to Isis. She was so popular; nobody would turn against her.

  One hot lazy afternoon Seth approached the royal tailor. Nuba was a skilled tailor, with a flare for creating divine styles. He would create clothing that was so unique; the Nesu would look like a God from another planet. He had developed a popular style and knew which fabrics the Nesu and his Queen favored.

  Nuba raised his head to a presence felt over his left shoulder. Seth watched him decorate a cloth with the design of a falcon. Nuba stopped working to ask Seth, why was he being honored by this visit?

  Seth explained to Nuba; his brother was returning to Egypt soon. Seth wanted to host him at a lavish reception thrown in his honor. He wanted to surprise him with a garment, the likes of which had never been seen before. Nuba agreed to design the garment. Seth asked Nuba to draw three unique designs, and present them after two moons. Seth would pick the most appropriate design; he wanted to surprise both Osiris and his wife Isis. Nuba was instructed to keep this a secret.

  Nuba was excited about the task at hand and agreed. He worked hard, creating many intricate designs. Most were rejected, until he finally settled on his favorite three. Each design was carefully selected which he considered to be elaborate and unique. He had outdone himself. He was determined not to disappoint Seth when he came to visit. Seth reviewed the designs later that day; he considered each drawing carefully. He selected the strongest design and Nuba was visibly pleased. Seth brought wine as a thank you gesture. Nuba drank the wine and casually explained how he would make the garment. During the relaxed conversation, Seth managed to extract the personal measurements of Osiris. He left Nuba with the orders to start the garment immediately.

  Seth approached a conspirator. He commissioned the building of an elaborately decorated box; it would emulate Osiris’s exact measurements. The box was completed quickly. It was discreetly shipped to Seth, under the guise of a secret gift. When Osiris returned, there was much to be thankful for. Great celebrations were erupting throughout the land. The people were excited and relieved to see Osiris return safely. Isis welcomed
her husband back to Egypt; everyone seemed happy.”

  Nesu Narmer paused, as he reached for his goblet of water. He swallowed a cool mouthful, to help hydrate his dry throat. He had been talking for a while, relaying the story. Queen Nithotep was also thirsty; she dare not move and break her husband’s concentration. The Magicians seemed to be on the same wavelength; they sat silently waiting for the story to continue. Queen Nithotep had heard many of the old legends, but this one was new. She hung on her husband’s every word.