by Jo Franklin
‘My real father?’ she wondered, in horror.
He came close to her, picking up her hair. “You’re not as meek as you should be. You seem not to have learnt your place. Are all you foreigners like that?”
He wound the veil several times around her lower face. Then almost instantly he released his hold of it.
“Oh, please sir,” she began, pulling the veil away from her mouth and trying to stop her voice from trembling. “I shouldn’t be here. I didn’t come of my own free will. I was being chased by someone who was trying to kill me and I thought this place was a temple and somewhere I could seek sanctuary. I beg you, sir, not to hurt or seduce me.”
He snorted, and moved away from her. “You are such an innocent, Tadinanefer,” he muttered. “You’ve been cosseted and are not worldly-wise. It’s a wonder you’ve lasted this long. I’m surprised no one has broken you in. I’d have thought your so-called father Ptah would have done that to you a long time ago. Maybe he was afraid of you.”
Ptah afraid of her! She’d never thought of that one. Why would he be afraid? Why did this man know all about her? Who had told him? Nephthys? Maybe she’d told tales about her to make her even more exciting and so get more money? There was something about him. She suddenly felt a glimmer of hope. She thought he was about to attack her when he’d touched her hair and grabbed her veil but he hadn’t done anything else. He didn’t look the type to bother with preliminaries. By now he should have deflowered her, as Masika would have put it, lifting her shifts and having done with it. But he just stood looking at her, sizing her up. What was he up to?
“Have you ever killed anyone?” he asked suddenly.
“No!” She was completely thrown.
“What are you like with the sight of a lot of blood?”
“I’m not sure.” Was he going to torture her?
“How would you react in a fight seeing men hacked to death?”
Was this some sort of game, she began to wonder. Maybe he only used women, with no idea how to talk to them. So why was he talking to her?
“I don’t think I’d like it.”
“What if it were to save yourself, would it matter then?”
“I don’t know; I’m not sure what I’d do, but if my life was threatened, I’d want to live and probably fight for it as best I could.”
He grinned. “I think you have a bit of courage under that white skin,” he said. “But you wouldn’t last any time at all with someone who really wanted to kill you.”
“Are you going to kill me?” she asked quietly. Had he come from Ptah?
“What do you think?”
“I don’t know.”
“So you’re not going to beg me to spare you? You could go down on your knees and kiss my feet.”
She sighed. Maybe this was it and she might as well accept her fate.
“I don’t think it would make any difference. If someone has paid you to execute me then you’ll do it. I would ask you, in your mother’s memory, not to make me suffer.”
“I never knew her.”
He still looked at her. She stood her ground, although her heart was pounding. Her knees began to tremble. She hoped he wouldn’t notice. There was nothing she could do. She lowered her eyes, waiting for the blow from a sword he had hidden somewhere. It didn’t come.
Instead he grabbed one of her wrists and dragged her forward towards the divan. She scarcely realised what was happening. He pushed her down onto it. Then he tied a belt round her waist. In the belt she could see a dagger.
“I’m going to get you out of here, Tadinanefer,” he said, to her utter astonishment. “Things could get nasty. I don’t want you fainting or getting in my way if I have to cut someone down. You’re to completely obey me, without question. I value my life as much as you seem to value yours, and I don’t want a screaming woman hanging on to me. I can blindfold you if you like, if you think you can’t take it.”
“No, please. I’ll be fine. I’ll do as you say. But why are you doing this?”
“No questions.”
“Can we take my friend Eboni with us?”
“No.”
She could tell by his sharp answer it was useless to argue. I’ll find a way somehow to come back and rescue her, she determined.
“Can you use a dagger?”
“Yes.” She wasn’t really certain.
Once more he grinned. “You have this small one in your belt. Try to keep it covered with your sleeve. If you have to use it, give a short, sharp thrust anywhere that’s vulnerable. Keep near me and do as I say. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going very soon. There’s only one guard outside the doors and he’s in my pay. The women are keeping the men busy. We’ll easily get down the first flight of steps, then we have the second flight. They could be tricky and that’s where we have to be careful. When we get to the bottom I have a key to get us through into the outer building. If you have to speak my name for any reason, you can call me Ammon. It’s a pity I couldn’t get you dressed in black. You’d have been less conspicuous. They might have thought you were a servant from the outside helping a sick girl. Never mind. Your white clothes may be useful another way. Now, lie down and rest.”
She did as she was ordered. She watched him through half-closed eyes as he strapped on a wide belt and stuck a large dagger in it. He took a sword from beneath the divan and stood lifting and brandishing it. As she watched she felt relieved he was on her side.
*
It wasn’t long before he got her up and, clutching her wrist in a vice-like grip, he hurried her to the door. She could feel his strength and physical prowess bristling, as he prepared for the impending fight. He was single-minded in what he was about to do and nothing would stand in his way. As he opened the door the guard just ignored them. They walked carefully down the steps. Cautiously he pushed her behind a pillar. Then he swore under his breath.
“There’s a woman down there,” he cursed. “She may have just finished with a customer. We mustn’t alert the guards. We haven’t time to wait. Put your veil over your face and start to go down. I’ll be a few paces behind you. Hopefully she’ll think you’re Nephthys and I’m her lover. Can you do it?”
Tadinanefer nodded and, taking her courage from him, started to descend. At the bottom the woman looked up and, clearly thinking she was Nephthys, fell to her knees, wringing her hands together and begging for approval. Her noise alerted the guards and three hefty men came out of the darkness.
All hell broke loose. From the corner of her eye Tadinanefer saw Ammon take on two of them. But the third came after her.
“You’re not Nephthys,” he said. “I’ve just seen her go out. Let’s find out who you are.” He tore the veil from her face, ripping it from her hair and throwing it to the ground.
“You’re the white whore!” he hissed. “A troublemaker. I’m going to get rid of you once and for all.”
He stood holding his sword at an angle ready to slice it through her neck. She heard Ammon shout as he raced towards her, having finished off the other two. She knew he’d be too late. She seized her dagger but she couldn’t get close enough to use it. The guard was about to deliver the blow and cut off her head. Then he suddenly dropped the sword. His eyes started to bulge. His hands went to his neck; he was tugging at a huge cobra, which seemed to have dropped from the ceiling and was throttling the life out of him. He gurgled and sank to the ground. The snake’s head came round from his back, and it bit viciously into his arm, sending its poison deep into his body.
Tadinanefer stood quietly. Ammon was suddenly by her side. The woman on her knees looked on in horror.
“Don’t hurt the snake,” Tadinanefer commanded, laying a restraining arm on his. “It came to help me.”
Ammon hesitated, ready to strike if necessary. The snake raised its head and looked at Tadinanefer. Then, satisfied its work was done, it slid off into the shadows.
“The dagger wasn’t much use,” Ammon sai
d. “Doesn’t matter – you seem to be better at using snakes. Come on, I have the key.”
As soon as they were safely through the door he stopped.
“Something I have to do,” he muttered. “I’ll only be a second. You wait here and don’t move.”
She obeyed him. She heard a little cry, then nothing.
Ammon was soon back. Once more he grabbed her wrist and hurried her along.
“You’ve hurt her? You’ve killed her?” she asked, in shock.
“She’d raise the alarm. She won’t now.”
Tadinanefer felt sick. She wished she were back with Masika. She didn’t like all the bloodshed.
*
They didn’t meet anyone else. They were soon out into the field at the back of the building where she’d climbed over the wall that day. Ammon rushed her along almost at a running pace.
“Now listen. We have a long journey. I’ve arranged for changes of horses and an overnight stop. You’re okay with riding, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” She didn’t know how he knew, but that was something she’d been allowed to do which none of the other girls in Ptah’s family had done. Masika had said Tadinanefer’s real mother had been a good rider and it pleased Ptah to see Tadinanefer galloping on a big white horse. She remembered as she got older there were days when he would clear an area of other people and he’d watch her as she rode, dressed only in a short skirt. For his pleasure, as he put it.
Ammon hurried her into a building where two horses waited.
“Put this on,” he said, taking a garment from the nearest horse’s back. It was a long black robe with a hood. “We have to hide ourselves. I have the same.”
When they were dressed, he led the horses out quietly, and then told her to mount; then he jumped onto his. “We’ve got to gallop like the wind. Nephthys is going to be after our blood.” He chuckled as if he was pleased to have annoyed her. “Just follow me,” he added, taking her bridle.
*
And so the long journey began. Tadinanefer lost count of how many places they stopped at and changed horses. They stayed in an outbuilding of a farm overnight where they slept on warm, clean hay and were brought food and drink. Ammon seemed to have organised everything himself but Tadinanefer guessed he was not the only person involved. She had no idea where they were going and Ammon refused to tell her.
*
At long last they came to a building. Ammon pulled up the horses in front of a sturdy wooden gate. He approached, knocked twice, and they were allowed to ride through.
“You’ll be safe here,” he said as they dismounted. “Come with me.”
He led her into the lower entrance of the building and paused just inside. Two female servants were waiting there.
“This is the lady you’ve been waiting for,” he barked at them. “Take great care of her. Make sure she is fed and rested, and I will collect her before nightfall.”
The women ushered Tadinanefer into a room. There they washed her, gave her victuals, and gently massaged her aching limbs. Soon she fell asleep, feeling warm and contented.
*
When she woke they dressed her in exquisite silk and put flowers in her hair.
Ammon returned. He too had rested and looked clean, and was now handsomely dressed in a skirt decorated with gold, and gold round his neck. His face was more relaxed, and the long scar on his cheek glowed in all its glory.
“Mm,” he muttered approvingly as he saw Tadinanefer. “You look better. Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Questions, questions, always questions.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Learn your place.”
Tadinanefer was silent for a while.
“Where did you get your scar?” she murmured as they went along.
Ammon sighed. “Fighting for my master. I am here to fight for him and defend him and his loved ones.”
“Will I meet him?”
He didn’t reply. He hurried her up some steps and into a chamber. They went in a few paces, and then Ammon knelt, drawing Tadinanefer down into the same kneeling position, and pushing her head gently to the floor so she couldn’t see. “Bow, girl,” he hissed.
They waited. Then she heard someone come in. With sudden dread, she feared it might be Ptah ready to take her to his tomb. Footsteps slowly came up to them, and she could see bejewelled sandals on masculine feet. She dared to glance up a little, and saw his brown muscular legs. It wasn’t Ptah, she was sure of that. Relieved, her heart thumping, she lowered her gaze.
“Sire,” Ammon began. “This is the white woman, Tadinanefer. I hereby deliver her safely to your keeping. I can assure you she’s not hurt in any way.”
“Stand, Ammon. You’ve done a good job, and you may go.”
Ammon got up, lightly pushing Tadinanefer’s head down again as he went.
She hardly noticed him go. She was more interested in the deep low voice she’d heard. It didn’t have the harsh, hated tone of an enemy. It was friendly, almost caressing. Could it be at long last someone special?
She was carefully drawn up to her feet. His hands were in her hair, pushing it back gently from her face, and feeling the flowers in it. He examined her closely. Still her eyes were lowered.
“So…” he murmured. “The white woman from the other ends of the earth, Tadinanefer. My name is Thoth. You have travelled a long way but I see you are rested.”
He took her hands and holding them between his, kissed them several times.
Then she looked up at him. She stared hard at him. His handsome face was plain to see. She couldn’t believe it. At long, long last she had found him. It was him! He was the Egyptian in the procession. His dark hair glistened. His dark eyes stared arrogantly into hers. His broad nose was of the aristocracy, his mouth generous and sexy. She felt elated. Again he stroked her hair. Then he closed her eyes, with a firm hand, feeling her eyelids. He slid his fingers to her lips, outlining them, and then pushed inside her mouth. He held her neck. She could feel his power, smell his skin; she was more than a little afraid of him.
But she was also afraid of a totally new feeling inside herself, one she’d never experienced before, an urgent feeling, a physical passion.
“Open your eyes,” he commanded softly. “I have seen one or two white women but you are so different, very beautiful. No wonder Ptah wanted to take you with him. He was deluded. I feel as if I have always known you, from the beginning of time. I love you, Tadinanefer. Oh, I do so want to see you, the servant of the Snake Goddess, in all your glory.”
“Sire, please let me disrobe for you.”
“If you wish, my beautiful lady; I would be honoured.”
She stood back from him a little and pulled off her shift.
He smiled, pleased at what he saw, and started stroking her body. He put his arms round her and held her close. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about yourself, perhaps never will. Since I heard of your existence a few weeks ago, when you escaped from Ptah, I have found out a lot. Your mother was a High Priestess of the Stones who was commanded to bring you here in her womb and when you were given life you were to become mine. But things went wrong, and she was sold into slavery and died. When you were born, Ptah – your master – wanted to kill you, angry at losing his woman, but a cobra circled round your tiny body and refused to leave you. Ptah had to swear to the Snake Goddess, Wadjet, he would look after you. However he forgot his promise and became as obsessed with you as with your mother, Finn. He was determined to keep you pure until the day he could take you with him into the afterlife. Wadjet protected you that night in the cold tomb Ptah imprisoned you. She sent one of her special snakes to keep you warm; it was seen leaving after Ptah released you. Wadjet has always protected you because she intended me to have you. Forever.”
Tadinanefer listened quietly.
“I have something to give you. This is my pledge to you,” he said, slipping a ring onto the middle finger of her left hand; it fitt
ed perfectly. “This ring comes from the Temple of the Snake Goddess herself and in her name I will always protect and look after you, until the day I die. Anubis will also protect you. You are the daughter of noble people. I love you and have always loved you. We belong together, now and in death. You will always be mine.”
He put his arms round her waist, lifting and drawing her to him. He began to feel her breasts and between her legs. She responded, pushing herself into him. He quickly slipped off his skirt and she could see he was ready for her. He urgently started caressing and gripping her thighs. Finally he lifted her in his arms, kissing her passionately. She clung to him, wanting him as much as he wanted her.
“I too have always loved you, but I don’t know why,” she whispered. “Perhaps my people came to Egypt for me to find you. Perhaps it was always written that I should love you. I don’t know, but what I do know is that I pledge myself to you, and no other man will ever take me from you.”
He put her down gently, and then lay on top of her, with his hands under her lower back, pulling her to him and pushing her legs apart. When their passion finally reached its height, she gave a little cry of complete abandonment.
Afterwards they lay intertwined for some time.
No one disturbed them that night. They made love many times in their fervour, and finally slept, exhausted, his legs between hers.
*
Once, she awoke and examined her ring, which was glowing. ‘It has special powers.’ she thought. ‘I’m sure it has special powers.’
Towards daylight she was roused from her sleep. The ring was becoming smaller on her finger and causing pain. It seemed as if it was warning her something was wrong. Surely there was nothing to worry about. She was safe and loved, so why did she suddenly feel so apprehensive?
Chapter 8
Aline could feel the ring digging into her skin. She was no longer standing where she was before she went back in time. She found herself lying on the bed, still fully clothed. Although some of the memories from her journey back were quickly clouding, the last few minutes were fresh and vivid in her mind. She knew the Egyptian from the past had been with her, and they’d made love. She could still see his face, feel his warmth, feel his arms around her. She stroked the bed where he should be lying next to her, and could see the imprint of his body slowly fading. But he had gone. Once more he’d slipped away from her. She buried her head in her hands and wept, sobs coming from deep within her soul. How many more times would she feel the total frustration of being a part of his world and then cut off from it whenever the portal closed?
