“You have a beautiful home. Whoever built it must have paid a lot of attention to the details.”
“That is a great compliment Akua. I built this house.”
Akua was as impressed with Lycan’s stonework as he was with his storytelling. The house was adorned with lovely landscaping. Small shrubs and trees were lined along a stone walkway complete with cut steps. Akua was reminded of the exquisite vestibule on Philae Island.
“I am eager for you to meet my wife,” Lycan said as he walked quickly into the house with Akua not far behind.
As soon as they entered the house, a woman came to greet them. She looked to be about eighteen to twenty years older than Akua.
“Alexa, meet Akua-Mat from Egypt. He is a priest from the city of Heliopolis.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Akua. I’m glad you are here.”
Alexa had a beautiful smile. Her teeth were as white as the marble structures in the Parthenon. Akua felt very comfortable in her presence.
“Supper will be served in about thirty minutes,” Alexa said as she walked back to the kitchen.
Akua and Lycan sat down on the couch in the front room. Akua could already smell something great coming from the kitchen. It smelled like fresh Lamprey Eel, similar to the smell when he went to the market at night with Kyros.
“So have you had a chance to learn about our priesthood?” Lycan asked.
“Some. I had been staying with Kyros, a young priest from the temple.”
“I was just curious. Do you find the Greek to be similar to the Egyptian?”
“For the most part. I mean, the names of the gods are different and all, but offerings and prayers are common to both.”
Akua didn’t really want to continue with that subject and Lycan read that. The remainder of the conversation centered on the Athenian political situation. Before Lycan could complain too much about corruption, Alexa called them both for supper.
Akua’s nose was accurate. The main dish was Lamprey served on a bed of lettuce. Akua proceeded to cut a piece of Lamprey. He also grabbed a few pieces of orange sesame seed muffins and olive rolls. He made sure to pour a full cup of red wine.
Lycan and Alexa also filled their plates.
“The food looks delicious, as always. It looks like the old couple at the market must have baked a fresh lot of olive bread. I do like this bread,” Lycan remarked.
Alexa couldn’t wait to start asking Akua personal questions. And, by now, Akua was used to the nosey tendencies of Greeks.
“So Akua, do you have a wife?”
Akua did not want to lie to her or to Lycan so he decided to just answer the questions truthfully. Though Akua was not about to offer more insight than he thought they needed.
“No. In Heliopolis I have a love, Nefertet. At one time our marriage was immanent, but the Egyptian priesthood fouled that up.”
“How is that?” Alexa asked.
“Basically, they made it impossible for us to be together. The priesthood had, and still has, a problem with the marriage. Originally, it was solely their problem. But in short order they made it mine.”
“Akua that is terrible. I’m so sorry. But you need to be with your loved one. Is there some way you can fix it?”
“Maybe. Actually, I hope there is.”
Akua was beginning to feel uncomfortable, so he changed the subject.
“Do you two have children?” Akua asked.
He knew the answer was yes. He remembered Lycan briefly mentioning his daughters.
“Yes, two lovely daughters. They are both married and live here in Athens,” Lycan answered.
The rest of the conversation was embroiled in small talk. As soon as they finished eating, Akua mentioned how tired he was.
“Is it alright if I go to sleep?”
“I’m with you Akua. This has been a tiring day. And tomorrow I begin a small stone finishing project, so I need my sleep,” Lycan replied.
Alexa left and came back with two blankets made of sheepskin.
“Akua, take these blankets and use our couch as a bed.”
Without any more conversation, Akua walked into the main room where the couch was and Lycan and Alexa headed to the small room in the back.
“Tomorrow, you should try to find out more about Akua. It is possible that we may be able to help him, there is also a slight chance that his troubles show up here at our house and we don’t want that,” Lycan said to Alexa once they were alone.
“I will try. But I don’t think he brings trouble. He is too sweet. But I do see through his sad eyes.”
Chapter 10
Lycan left the house early the next morning. Soon afterwards, Alexa asked Akua to go on a walk with her through Central Athens. Once outside, she wasted no time trying to learn more about Akua.
“Akua, I’m interested in your past. Can I ask you a few questions?”
“Sure.”
Akua was not surprised at all with her combination of curiosity and nosiness. It was a beautiful morning. Songbirds filled the air with music while the sun did its best to keep everything warm. Akua could feel life blossoming around him.
“What is your lover like? What is her name?” Alexa asked.
“Her name is Nefertet. It means beautiful. She has dark hair and green eyes. She has a wonderful smile and dark radiant skin. She will help anyone that she can. But best of all, she loves me.”
“Akua, she sounds special. Do you miss her?”
“I do. I miss her more every day. She is a part of my every thought. I long for her.”
“From what you told us last night, can you tell me what the problem with the priesthood is?”
“I just can’t elaborate much. Not because I don’t want to, but because I do not understand why they have done this.”
“Do you have any insight?” Alexa asked.
“Not much. Just that there is something about me that the priesthood fears. They sent me to Southern Egypt and now to Greece to learn religion and philosophy, but I know there is much more to it than that. They wanted to get rid of me. It’s like they forced me into a voluntary exile. I hate this. Sometimes I wonder why…” Akua answered.
“I wish there was a way I could help you. You know I would if I could,” Alexa said.
“Thanks, Alexa. I wish you could make it all go away. My father died not long ago. Sometimes I just look at the heavens and ask my father, Osiris Satni-Khaman, to help me, to be my guiding light.”
Alexa registered a stunned look almost immediately.
“What was your father’s name?”
“His full name was Satni-Khaman. Osiris was appended before his name when he entered the afterlife,” Akua answered.
When Alexa heard that name again, her face lit up.
“Akua, I must tell you. I had a sister. She is dead now. Her name was Ptolemais and we were inseparable when we were children. She could cook some of the best food in all of Greece.”
Akua wasn’t sure why Alexa was telling him this, but she was more serious than he had seen so he let her speak uninterrupted.
“When she was old enough, she followed my father, Chabrias, to Egypt. Chabrias is a general in the Athenian Mercenary Army. He has been in the army ever since I can remember.”
Alexa continued,
“My sister went with him on a military campaign to see a new land, perhaps she just wanted to be with him. Chabrias’s fight against the Persians eventually took them to Egypt. They made a temporary home in Heliopolis. Your city.”
Akua listened with intent when he heard mention of his home city.
“Akua, my father returned a year later without Ptolemais. She married a young man in Heliopolis. I remember my father clearly here, ‘Ptolemais has married a tomb builder in Heliopolis. His name is Satni-Khaman’.”
Akua’s face seemed to say nothing. He just gazed at Alexa with a piercing stare.
“Your sister was my mother?” Akua asked.
“Yes. I’m sure of it,” Alexa answered.
“Did your father speak of her?”
“Only a little. He told me that my mother died from fever when I was a baby.”
“Yes. That is correct. She died from The Fever.”
Alexa’s voice got shaky. She was working to hold back tears as she remembered her beloved sister.
“I see my sister in your eyes. She would have been so proud of you, her only son.”
Alexa looked straight at Akua.
“Akua, Ptolemais did not die married to Satni-Khaman. Did you know that?”
“No. My father never spoke of it,” Akua answered.
“My father led a young man in the army. He aspired to the Egyptian throne. In time, he grew strong enough, with father’s military support, to slay the king and queen. It was then that he took the throne by force. He is now king Nectanabo of Egypt.”
Alexa paused to regain her composure. Akua never took his eyes off of hers.
“My father gave my sister to the new king as a gift. She was taken from Satni and the new king promptly married her. Akua, you are the son of the former Queen of Egypt. I don’t know Egyptian law, but here in Greece even though you are not of the king’s blood, you would still be first in line to assume kingly powers when the time arrived.”
With a slow and well-articulated delivery she continued,
“Akua, I think that you may be the righteous heir to the Egyptian throne.”
Alexa’s words hit Akua in the chest like a brick. His heart pounded as he began to piece together why he had been persecuted.
“The priesthood would ruin my life because of this? How vile! How corrupt! How heinous!” Akua said in a loud and angry voice.
“I’ve been fighting demons, fighting for the only life I have ever known for all of this time and it is all because of the priesthood. Do they care about anything or anyone?”
Akua fell to the ground where he stood, tears in his eyes. He could not even speak to Alexa for a minute. He just held his head in his hands. When he regained enough strength he spoke.
“How do I repair my life? What do I do now, Alexa?”
Alexa was saddened with this question. She felt like hugging Akua tightly.
“It seems you have a few choices. You can continue to stay away, continue to run as you now know why they have coaxed you to leave, or you can go back to Egypt and live in hiding with or without Nefertet or you can return and challenge your right and stand up for yourself. Akua, do you want to be king?”
“Yes. It’s my challenge. It’s my right. I have so much to give,” he answered.
“Then time is of the essence. You can wait until those that know your truth are dead or you can return now. I am sorry, but I can’t tell you what to do.”
“Do you think my life and the life of Nefertet and her family will be in danger if I return?” Akua asked.
“Yes. But your love’s life may be in danger even if you do not return. Whether you return or not, this ordeal will eventually come to a head. The timing of your return must be carefully calculated. As well as the way you make your presence known.”
“I wish I could get some divine guidance here,” Akua said.
Alexa responded immediately in a forceful voice.
“You can. The Oracle at Delphi can tell you what to do.”
“An oracle? I had a bad experience with an oracle in Abu Simbel in Egypt. It sent an innocent man to his death. I don’t know,” Akua said sternly.
“But this oracle is the most powerful in the world. Throngs of people flock to it. Don’t compare it to a small-time oracle because it is blessed with Apollo’s prophetic wisdom.”
“Alexa, I may go to the oracle. I don’t know. I’ll ask Lycan if he thinks I should go to the oracle when he returns.”
Akua looked at Alexa and said with a smile, “I am happy that you are my aunt. And I thank the gods for being led to you and Lycan. No matter what happens when I finally do return, I am blessed that I got to stay with my family.”
“The feeling is mutual. I’ve missed my sister greatly and to see you, her flesh and blood, is truly wonderful,” Alexa responded.
“What did my mother look like?” Akua asked.
“She wore her brown hair below her shoulders. She had big blue eyes and full lips. She was fond of eye paint and that gave her striking looks. She was always happy and I will never forget her smile.”
“Is Chabrias still alive?” Akua asked.
“He is. He is up north, now that Greece is not as strongly allied with Egypt. We are not close though.”
A light rain began to fall. Akua and Alexa continued to walk slowly under overcast skies.
“This is one of the most ancient parts of Athens,” Alexa said pointing to the small houses around her.
They continued on for a few hours. Akua felt a sense of relief although he was also troubled. In time, they returned to the house to wait for Lycan. Lycan showed up at the same time Alexa and Akua did.
“My work day was shortened. I plan to relax this evening,” Lycan said as soon as he entered the house.
As soon as Lycan sat down on the couch, Alexa sat down next to him.
“Akua and I have learned a great deal about each other,” Alexa said.
“Oh? Anything significant?” Lycan responded.
“Definitely,” Alexa said with a big smile.
Akua jumped in next.
“Yesterday when I listened to your story, I felt compelled to speak to you. I now know that was divine guidance. You see, I was lost. I did not even have a place to stay. I was facing some extremely difficult decisions,” Akua said to Lycan.
“Akua, I had no idea. What have you and Alexa been discussing?”
“This morning as we started our walk, one thing led to another in our conversation and, before long, we were talking about my sister,” Alexa said to Lycan.
“Lycan, remember how my sister traveled to Egypt with my father when we were first married?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Well she eventually went to Heliopolis. In Heliopolis she married a man named Satni-Khaman. Soon after, they were married and in time she had a child. She and Satni named the child Akua-Mat. So what I’m saying is that Akua is my sister’s child!”
“Wow! This is truly extraordinary. But your sister died when she was still married to King Nectanabo. She never had a child with the king. So it must be she had a child with her first husband.”
Lycan put things together quickly.
“Ptolemais was the Egyptian Queen when she died. And that makes Akua of royal blood. Akua, as I see it, you are the first heir to the throne. How wonderful, but I also strongly suspect this is the root of your troubles with the priesthood.”
“I’m not positive this puts me first in line but I am positive that the priesthood has gone to great lengths to keep myself and others from this,” Akua said.
“I am going to return to Heliopolis and challenge my right. It may be the death of me, but this is a fight I have to choose. In the priesthood we learn that all of us have a divine seed within, a direct connection to the gods, and I am not about to let my seed be withered by injustice.”
“Akua, your success, which includes staying alive, depends upon precise timing. Do you see it this way also?”
“Yes.”
“Then go to see Apollo’s Oracle. You’ll get the answer you need.”
Akua thought for a moment.
“You and Alexa think as one. I’ll go to the Oracle, but I’ll need a guide.”
“I’d be proud to show you the way, after all you are family. We can leave tomorrow. It is about a week’s journey to Delphi,” Lycan said to Akua.
Alexa wanted to say something about Lycan’s work commitments, but in the end she decided that this was much more important.
Chapter 11
By the time Lycan and Akua woke the next morning, Alexa had packed a bag with food and bedding for the upcoming journey.
“How long do you think you’ll be away?” Alexa asked as Akua
and Lycan sat down to eat breakfast.
“About two weeks. We will sail the bays when possible to make better time.”
“I’m eager to get there as soon as possible,” Akua said.
“We won’t tarry in Delphi long. As soon as Akua gets an answer, we’ll head back to Athens,” Lycan said.
Lycan and Akua ate some bread and fruit rapidly as Alexa finished packing their bag with a few long tunics, shorts and robes. After eating, Alexa hugged them in succession and wished them both a safe and prosperous trip.
The journey was rather uneventful. Lycan and Akua travelled the country roads made by chariots and caravan vehicles. The entire trip was adorned with lush green vegetation and clear running water. They both stopped a couple of times a day just to admire the Greek countryside. They encountered many people, as traveling to the oracle was very popular.
Akua and Lycan sailed to within four miles of Delphi. The trip seemed especially long due to the cramped spaces. Coming off the ship, they could see the city.
“Boy, am I glad to be on land,” Akua said.
“It is rather roomy, isn’t it?”
“Yep,” Akua answered.
“We should be there before sunset. I’ve been to the oracle before. There are tents setup outside where we can sleep. We’ll get in line early tomorrow morning. Start thinking and formulating your question. It needs to be short and spoken plainly,” Lycan said to Akua.
Akua had nothing to hide, so he chose to let Lycan in on his thoughts here.
“How’s this, ‘I am destined to return to Egypt to clear my name. When should I return?’”
“It’s sufficient. But I think the Lady of the Oracle needs to know more.”
“Why more?”
“The more detail you provide, the more accurate and comprehensible the answer. Remember, this is no small-time oracle.”
“Just how big is it?” Akua asked.
“It’s quite structured. There are about three dozen advocates, interpreters and priestesses.”
“I’ve only witnessed a smaller oracle in Egypt where only a few assembled. Is this one different?”
“Not much. The lady priestess, the Pythia, sits in the Oracular Shroud or temple and no one is allowed to enter it. So you have to ask your question from a short distance,” Lycan answered.
The Reed Fields Page 12
