One interesting incident occurred at the end of the meeting, or I should say an incident occurred that caused the end of the meeting. After we had met for more than three hours, Zenty came running into the room, having seen Herihor enter the meeting earlier. Zenty was dressed in the leather chest armor that Herihor had ordered made for him. He barged into the meeting, his wood sword drawn.
“It is time to end this meeting, for it has gone on too long already,” he declared, to the laughs of everyone attending.
Then Zenty saw the dark Nekau, seated opposite me, and his eyes widened. His sword hand dropped as he surveyed the dark face and deep-set eyes. Now smiling, Nekau stood to bow to the future King, but when Zenty saw the priest stretch out to his full height, he dropped his sword and ran screaming from the room. I excused myself to tend to Zenty, who Abana now held tightly, while the rest of those in the room laughed uncontrollably.
Later that day I received word from Tepemkau that Nekau wished a private audience with me. Herihor objected strongly, but after that day’s earlier session I felt safe. Herihor, however, would not relent and privately defended his position not as that of a lover but as Chief of the Army and Overseer of the King’s Guards. We compromised and Herihor stationed himself and a contingent of King’s Guards immediately outside the meeting room, but outside hearing range. Fortunately, the palace was built so that the central meeting room was skirted in plantings that deadened sound, a direct result of Anhotek’s planning generations before.
To this day I look back on that meeting with a mixture of, even now I am not sure of what. Nekau was most pleasant, truly a joy to be with, modest, yet with a wry sense of humor that was partly his unique ba and partly due to the differences in our people that governed our talk and customs. His laugh was deep and hearty and lit up his eyes. And while the meeting did not last long, it changed my life forever. All I can do now is pray to Isis and Horus for forgiveness, which I do every day.
“I wish for you to know that I am here to serve, like my great-grandfather before me,” he said matter-of-factly. “Since Meruka walked from the Two Lands into the Afterlife, our priesthood has waited patiently to be called upon to serve once again, for it is written that that is our destiny.”
Later that night, as I lay awake or else paced back and forth throughout my quarters in distress, I thought back to Nekau’s words, trying to comprehend by what powerful magic he was able to divine what he said next to me. By dawn it was clear to me that Nekau was not only a respected priest, but an even more powerful shaman, like his great-grandfather before him.
“When I laid my hands upon you,” he continued, “a great vision began to appear to me, but it was soon overshadowed by another vision. Horus himself threw me off you.”
“What… was it that you saw?” I asked, the hairs on my neck rising like a plucked goose.
“You are with child,” he said without emotion, “and Herihor is the father.”
SCROLL THIRTEEN
Nubiti
“Do not take too much, for the line between reality and dreams, between life and death is a fine one,” he said. As he leaned forward to hand me the parchment filled with a powder, his tattooed arm slipped out of the sleeve of his black robe and it gave the appearance of the serpent Apep slithering out of the Underworld.
“I’ll stay with you throughout,” he added.
“How long will the journey take?”
“Perhaps a few hours. Perhaps a few days. Perhaps forever. It’s unpredictable and that’s why I have strongly warned you against this method.”
“It’s the only way,” I said.
“Sometimes it is,” Bakht whispered, nodding his head. “Sometimes it is.”
I opened the parchment and saw the dark powder, laced with small black bits that were not fully crushed. It smelled earthy, musty. Bakht handed me a cup of tea.
“How much do I take?”
“Here, let me add it for you.” He took the parchment from me and used an ivory scoop that he withdrew from his shaman’s bag to put a small measure into the tea, which he stirred carefully.
Unscented candles burned in the corners of my quarters, unscented so as not to interfere with the magic contained in the powder. Kainefuru and Nyla stood with their arms interlaced, trembling behind Bakht, as much from his presence as from what was to transpire. All furniture had been removed and Bakht and I sat cross-legged on a stack of blankets set in the midst of the floor. Pillows were scattered about. Bakht had chosen my quarters for the ceremony, because he said it was necessary for me to be in familiar surroundings. That is why he insisted that Nyla and Kainefuru attend to me. As he explained it, their familiar faces might serve as an anchor to the real world if my ka needed to be restrained from venturing to worlds beyond, worlds that might hold mortal danger.
At Bakht’s insistence, I wore nothing but a loincloth to avoid becoming entangled in my clothing if I were to roll about. In one corner a small harp stood, in case Bakht called for soothing music to calm my ka.
“Close your eyes and breath deeply for a minute or two,” Bakht said softly, in his gravely voice. “As you do so, think of what it is you wish to attain from the experience. The clearer you are now, the easier the transition as you enter the vision state.”
I breathed in and out, with each breath thinking of my purpose, my desire for clarity in my mission, for a vision of Kem under my rule, for signs from the gods that would illuminate our path, for we surely did not have the history and resources of the Horus priesthood to light our way. Suddenly, thoughts of Sekhemkasedj came to me and I shook my head to dispel his bulbous image. But as soon as I did so, Herihor loomed large in my heart and then his sculpted body over me and just as quickly, him atop Mery, as my spies reported to me they had done many times. Bile rose in my throat.
“You are troubled,” Bakht cautioned. “I can see it in your eyes and your tense muscles. Relax, or there is the real danger that this magical powder will turn rancid in your body and sour the experience.”
I opened my eyes, shook my arms and bent my neck to and fro. I again breathed deeply, trying as hard as I could to focus on my breaths, as I so readily reminded my acolytes to do when they practiced their meditations. When I felt I had regained control, I reached out my hand to Bakht. In it he placed the cup.
“Drink it steadily, all at once, although it will not taste pleasant,” he cautioned.
I did so and felt the gritty liquid warm my throat and stomach, followed by a slight burning and metallic sensation on the back of my throat. “And now what?” I asked.
“We wait. It may take some time to work. You might try to lay down or else meditate until you begin to feel the e-f-f-e-e-e-e-c-t-t-t-t….” Bakht’s voice deepened to a slow, echoing rumble and his words trailed off into the corners of the room and now I could see them streaming from his mouth, although I believe my eyes were closed. I tried desperately to catch them and to place them back in his mouth so that they would emerge more slowly and I could better understand what he said. I felt hands on my wrists restraining me, and a deep rumbling sound emanating from a cavernous, black void. I turned, my eyes open or closed, I could not be sure, and saw Nyla’s face, dear sweet, lovely Nyla. I felt an urge to suckle her breast, to feel her hard nipple on my tongue. I tried to reach out my hand, but instead I fell backward slowly, ever so slowly, drifting, as does a leaf. I was later told I slept, but my ka did not sleep. My body remained in that room, but my ka drifted above and I saw Bakht and Nyla and Kainefuru all huddled around my body, and I laughed at their concern, for I saw how insignificant my mortal body was.
I floated, I flew, I soared up and down. Below me was Dep, but it was not Dep, not the Dep I knew. A hill lay below me and at its top was the walled city of Dep and strewn about the field were the rotting corpses of men killed in battle. And then it occurred to me that I witnessed the effects of Narmer’s battle for Unification, when our noble King W’ash lost more than twenty thousand valiant Delta warriors. Arms and legs and headless t
orsos lay scattered about like crumbs and vultures feasted until they could eat no more and all the while the faces of the dead called out to me, but nothing but picture words came from their mouths and I could not hear their words.
I swooped lower and suddenly the severed arms of King Narmer’s warriors reached up and clutched at me and I fought them and I pushed and kicked, trying to fly away, but I could not do so, and then there was Nyla’s face again, just inches from my own and oh, how I wanted her, to kiss and hold her, how I wanted to taste her, to eat her and make her part of me. But instead the rumbling sound grew louder and it shook me to my core and I hated it. I screamed at it, I flailed at it, but still it penetrated me and finally I tore off my ears to remove its frightening presence.
Silence. Again my ka drifted, gently, peacefully, for how long I do not know, but time itself stood still. With no ears I heard no sounds, not Mother Nile’s waters gently swishing through the papyrus reeds, not a breeze rustling leaves, no sounds of donkeys braying. Nothing. And in that nothingness I knew with all my heart that this was a message from the gods, although hard though I tried I could not discern it. I struggled, but all my ka wanted to do was melt into the fog of nothingness that swirled about me.
I floated, alone and aware of my loneliness. A gray haze surrounded me and I shivered with cold and fear. Slowly the gray became darker and darker and yet the fear was gone. I was at peace. I commanded my ka to stay, to rest, to absorb every bit of the utter blackness. I was home.
A being surrounded me. A presence. A thing without words. It massaged my skin, it caressed me. I drew sustenance from it. I floated on my back and when I turned to see what was below me, it was Dep again, but the corpses were gone. Dep stood strong once again and Ra’s rays shined brightly upon its walls. Calm breezes blew in from Wadj-wer and I could smell the salt in the air. I felt whole, I felt happy.
Below me, on the same hill, stood a woman and from the distance I felt her loneliness. She knelt in prayer, trembling, her arms outstretched, pleading, pleading, but I could not hear her words. Again I swooped down and too late saw that it was Mery who pleaded, but to whom I still could not tell. Was it to me or to her beloved Horus? Suddenly she withdrew a dagger from her robe and sliced me with it and I fell on the ground. And behind her I could hear Herihor laughing and urging her on.
I thought she had sliced me in the abdomen, but instead I felt a sharp pain in my head like none I had ever experienced before. The pain was intense and I held my hands to it and rolled on the ground screaming.
“Do not fear, Nubiti, for I shall remove your head and you will feel pain no more!” I think Mery called out, for the rumbling sound had come again and shook the ground beneath us and it was hard to be sure of any sound but that. She advanced toward me with her dagger, a look of pure hatred on her face. I pulled at her gown and she fell and I jumped up, frantic, for I had no weapon. I quickly glanced about and found a rock and when I turned to face her it was no longer Mery I faced, but a man dressed in battle gear. His back was toward me and I thought it to be Herihor, for his body was rippled with muscle and he grasped his sword in his hand with such force his forearm bulged. But when he turned to face me, his breastplate insignia was not that of Sobek the crocodile god, but instead bore the serekh of the catfish and chisel. I knew at once that I faced Narmer himself!
I circled to Narmer’s left, to avoid his striking hand, for his reputation as a fearsome warrior was legendary. I heard a shrill cry above me and looked up to see a falcon soaring above us. I knew I was in danger for Narmer, too, looked skyward, smiled and bowed to his beloved god. I felt the ground below me shake and something whispered into the hole that had been my ear and told me not to fear.
“Horus has reigned far too long,” it said, its voice a drawn out growl with no words, but profound meaning. “It is time for Apep to reign supreme.” And from below the ground that separated Narmer from me, a serpent slithered up from behind a rock. At first Narmer laughed and he turned backwards and there were Mery and Herihor laughing, too. But the serpent grew taller and taller and its shiny black head expanded and became monstrous, swaying back and forth and spewing thick venom from its fangs. Soon Apep blocked out Ra’s rays and Narmer and Mery and Herihor were cast in deep shadow and they shook in fear.
Now a piercing cry came from the sky again and Apep looked up. The falcon had become huge and it spread its wings and there could be no doubt that it was Horus in his falcon form. He dived at Apep and struck him in the head. Black blood oozed from the wound and an agonizing cry escaped its mouth.
But before Horus could rise again for another strike, Apep grabbed him and threw him to the ground. Feathers flew in all directions as Apep prepared to strike him with his venomous teeth. I instantly felt a pang of regret, for Horus the mighty was about to be vanquished and the battle between good and evil would finally end.
I watched Apep hesitate and I wanted to help, to take a sword and finish the job, but I was defenseless. Only Narmer and Mery and Herihor carried weapons. I screamed and ran about frantically searching for a weapon. I ran and I ran and then I awoke.
“Mistress, mistress, wake up, please wake up!” Nyla called to me as she shook my face. Kainefuru held down my shoulders.
“Water,” I whispered and Nyla quickly tilted my head up and helped me to drink cup after cup. My mouth had never tasted so foul. My head throbbed in pain and my ears felt like a Horus priest had disciplined me by twisting them. My assistants helped me to pee and then I fell back on the blankets and slept fitfully, but without dreams that I could recall. When I awoke, Bakht knelt beside me and I could see that it was still dark outside.
“Whew! That was quite something,” I said, still groggy. “I… my head aches. What time is it?” I asked.
“Maybe four hours to Ra’s rise.”
“So, I journeyed for… what?... four hours?” Nyla walked over and knelt beside me.
“It was yesterday you began your journey, my mistress. You have been away for more than a day.”
I was struck dumb by this news. “A day?” I struggled to sit up, but my head ached and my muscles felt as if I had run for miles.
“You would do better to rest right now and have some food and drink,” Bakht said. “You battled terrible demons throughout your journey.”
I managed to sit up and drink the water that Nyla gave me. She offered me a bowl of dates and dried fruits.
“I must go back,” I said to Bakht, as I pushed away the bowl of fruits.
“Oh, no, my mistress!” Kainefuru shouted from across the room. “Please, you mustn’t. I could not stand it.” She began whimpering and Nyla went to comfort her.
“Why?” Bakht asked.
“My work isn’t finished. Yes I battled demons, great demons, but the battle’s not over. I didn’t see my vision. I came close, but it evaded me.”
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that, but it is of no matter,” Bakht said. “You cannot take more of this magic powder. It’s too strong. It could kill you.” He began to put away his medicines and potions. “And if not you, those girls will die of fright,” he said, trying to make light of the situation.
But I was not to be so easily denied. I knew in my heart that the battles held a message and that if I were to get past them, whether with evasion or cunning, I would triumph. Beyond the battles lay the vision of the future Kem, whether united or divided. I had to know. I was willing to risk all to find out.
Once more Bakht tried to dissuade me. “I have witnessed shamans, respected shamans, die from a second dose. If you die, all our plans, our entire strategy, goes up in smoke. We will have wasted twenty years of efforts. You mustn’t do this, Nubiti. I will have no part in it.”
“We don’t have the advantage of a Horus priesthood casually reading the omens,” I began.
“Ah, that is nothing. Our priests read the omens, too.”
“And have you provided me with an answer, with a vision of how this all plays out?”
“The omens
are mixed. They always are, for there are too many paths one can walk. You know that. At each junction we make a choice. Eventually the destination becomes clearer.”
“No, I must know the destination… now. That will make my choices easier. I want answers from the gods themselves, some glimpse of our future, a direction to which we can march. Khnum has given me the authority to command your actions, Bakht. I command you to give me another measure of your foul powder!”
Bakht leaned back, his hands on his knees, his brow furrowed. For their parts, Nyla and Kainefuru stood together, shaking their heads. Kainefuru whined something unintelligible.
“’I’ll do as you command, princess, but before these two priestesses as my witness, I advise you against it. I’ll pray to Apep that he protect you in your journey and I suggest you two,” he said, turning to my assistants, “do the same to your Isis.” At this point Kainefuru began to cry.
“But I do it under one condition and that is that these two leave your quarters. They can serve as guards. Their negative emotions will contaminate your ability to see or to comprehend your vision.”
I agreed with Bakht, for I was already distracted by their emotions. I sent them from the room, asking them to be ready to help Bakht if called upon.
“But you are not to enter unless I call you,” Bakht added sternly. “No matter what you may hear.” He stared at them until they nodded their assent.
The pair rushed from the room. Bakht asked me to tell him everything I had seen in my journey thus far. I explained every encounter, but also the satisfaction I felt floating in utter silence.
“These are important omens,” he pronounced. “The gods appear to be preparing you for some great battle and Apep’s appearance is a very positive sign. And the silence, Nubiti, that is a profound omen, although I did wonder at the time when you pulled so viciously at your ears. We had to hold you down. I believe the gods are trying to send you an important message.”
The Dagger of Isis (The First Dynasty Book 2) Page 24
