Ancient Times Chapter 1


Imhotep's Chambers:

Imhotep sat down on his carved chair, his chamber curtains flowing gently in the breeze. Torchlight reflected the hieroglyphed walls and ornate furnishings with an orange-gold hue that transformed the room into one of warmth as well as opulence.

"Katriel." Imhotep said, gently removing his golden and silver rings from his fingers.

A slave, with long, curly, dark hair tied back in a turquoise band and wearing the wool cloth of the Hebrews, came in bearing a water vessel. Imhotep, high priest of anubis, allowed his slave to dress in the modest cloth as he saw no reason not to respect the decree of all known and unknown gods. The Hebrew God being the most conservative of all.

Katriel poured the water from the vessel into the golden basin before Imhotep, then held out an ornate bowl for his rings which he set in. Imhotep raised his arms and Katriel removed his black and gold priest robe and set it up on its stand as Imhotep leaned forward, cupped cool water up and poured it over his face and head. He reached out for the waiting cloth in Katriel's hands and patted his face off.

Katriel bowed, face low to the floor as he stood, "Does my master require anything else?"

"No, you may g-" Suddenly Imhotep paused, head turning slightly, "No…How long have you served me?"

"Ten years, master." Katriel kept her head bowed, "Ever since I was taken to the temple to serve you at eleven years old."

"And you have served me well these ten years, haven't you?" Imhotep said, looking down at her with a small smile. Mind whirring with a new thought.

Katriel raised her eyes cautiously, to see his open palm gesturing for her to stand. Katriel slowly stood, her brown eyes on Imhotep's dark, shiny eyes.

"You are my faithful servant, are you not?" Imhotep said, "And I have treated you well?"

"Yes, master." Katriel replied, bowing her head.

Imhotep's smile grew slightly wider, "What would you do, to continue to serve me?"

Katriel lifted her head, wide eyes fixing on Imhotep, "Anything, master."

Imhotep smirked, nodding. Taking a few steps back he retrieved a roll of papyrus and cut a small section off, quickly inscribing it with ink. He fanned the glyphs gently to dry them, then rolled up the paper, sealing it with an ornate tie.

He held it up to his slave, "Take this, deliver it to the chambers of Anck-su-Namun. Tell no one but her I gave this to you."

Katriel blinked, looking at the small roll of parchment. Cautiously she lifted her fingers and took it, hiding it in the palm of her hand.

Imhotep smiled, "My faithful servant."

Katriel averted her eyes, bowed her head, and slowly departed from the room. Imhotep smiled, closing his eyes in pleasure as the cooling air of Thebes wafted about his room from the balcony.

Closing the door of her master's room Katriel slowly and carefully took a deep breath, squeezing the tiny roll in her hand. Moisture already starting to wick at the papyrus from her palm as her heart raced. In a moment she turned and walked calmly down the hallway, bare feet padding the polished floor silently. She pretended not to notice the palace guards as she passed them, or their weaponry. Never before had she paid them much attention. Never before had she been carrying a clearly forbidden note.

Never before had such a note been written from her master to anyone, regardless of the clearly forbidden nature. But was it clearly forbidden?

Katriel's sinking heart, as she turned corner after corner down corridors, told her otherwise. If she held anything in her hidden palm right now to Anck-su-Namun, the most beautiful woman in the palace, it was a love note.

Thinking quickly Katriel took a side route to the slave quarters. Head down she raced quickly through the attached rooms, hoping she wasn't too late. Suddenly she saw the slave she wanted, Adina.

The long-haired Hebrew kept her hair plated with beaded ties, she was washing in a basin in the women's washroom, getting herself ready to serve her mistress.

Katriel was very prompt in her service, the other slaves were thankfully a little more lax in attending to their masters, making them later in their duties. It gave Katriel the opportunity she desired.

"Adina, I must ask a favor of you." Katriel said, quietly checking to ensure they were not being overheard.

Adina looked up at her, "Hm?"

"Please allow me to attend to your mistress tonight. I have heard rumors of her beauty and truly I have seen her before in glimpses, but I should like to visit her up close, as I have never been able to view her for any length. Please." Katriel said.

"You wish to serve the lady, Anck-su-Namun?" Adina frowned.

"Yes, I will owe you a favor." Katriel smiled.

"Well…they are strict about who attends her…but I suppose it would be alright. All men of course are forbidden there. I am meeting with Ehud tonight, to meet him earlier than curfew start would be nice…" Adina thought.

"Ehud is very handsome. What fortunate timing for you, I could not have asked on a more opportune night." Katriel laughed lightly, feeling beads of cold sweat start to form on her brow.

"Alright, " Adina said, "What could it hurt? Mistress if very strict about her cares though, I will walk with you to the door, and explain to you the correct procedures. Her hair is the most difficult. You must be careful not to touch her skin, of course. The ink has already been painted on her tonight by Miriam and it smudges easily when other human skin touches it."

Katriel nodded, heart skipping frantically. Together they walked side by side down the torch lit halls, Adina explaining the steps to attending to Anck-su-Namun. Katriel tried very hard to listen carefully, but her head wrapped around the note as tightly as her fingers did.

Too soon they arrived at the door, guarded not by two ordinary palace guards, but two Medjai. Adina approached them, giving a few coughs. Katriel stood a step behind, feeling her heart move to her throat, making it difficult to swallow.

"I am not feeling well enough to attend the lady Anck-su-Namun, the slave Katriel will be attending to her in my place tonight." Adina said, making her voice hoarse.

The two Medjai looked between Adina and Katriel with brief, black stares. One spoke, his voice deep, "Our orders are strict not to allow anyone but Anck-su-Namun's servants."

Adina raised a painted eyebrow, "I am sure pharaoh would not like the lady Anck-su-Namun to get sick from her serving girl. I have brought a replacement here personally, I am sure my illness is not great, but I do not think we should risk spreading it to my mistress. If you disagree, however…."

The Medjai looked at one another.

"It shall be allowed tonight." The one said.

Katriel kept her head bowed as she entered in through the large door of Anck-su-Namun's personal chambers. Shutting the door behind her she looked up.

Anck-su-Namun. Hair black as ebony and skin a creamy tan lounged on a cushioned sofa, draped in a white linen dress. Her painted tattoos rose to the surface around her neck, face, arms and even feet. They appeared to curl and swerve down beneath the fabric the dress as well. Pharaoh's way to keep her from being touched by anyone but him. A prison with bars that could be painted on a body.

Anck-su-Namun's almond eyes looked up in apathy at Katriel, her makeup done thickly and as beautifully as the Princess'. If not a little more enticingly….

A perfectly penciled eyebrow raised upon taking her in, "What are you doing here?"

Katriel bowed low, using her best Egyptian, "My lady, I am here to take Adina's place for the night."

She hoped she sounded alright, she only ever used Hebrew with Imhotep. It was easier for her and Imhotep didn't mind it. He was a man of great learning, demonstrating his abilities with language was just one of the many things he was greatly proficient with.

With pursed lips, Anck-su-Namun viewed her, "Hmph." Leaning herself up on the couch she picked at the fruit laid before her in a bowl on the table, "I do not tolerate mistakes, I hope you have been prepared for this well, or I will call the guards."

Looking around the room carefully, Katriel approached Anck-su-Namun, bowing down directly before her she spoke in hushed tones, "I would beg my lady's patience as my purpose here is not for simply serving you, but for serving my master, Imhotep, high priest of anubis."

"Imhotep? The Pharaoh's advisor?" Anck-su-Namun sat up, voice intrigued.

"He begs me deliver this to you, and for your eyes only." Katriel lifted the small, tightly rolled up scroll.

Anck-su-Namun hesitated, eyes wide as she looked from the slave girl to the note. Reaching out she took the scroll and unraveled the tie, reading carefully.

Katriel kept her eyes on the ground as Anck-su-Namun read the note. There was a long silence before Katriel finally looked up, to see the lady staring off into space, note clasped tightly in her hand.

Heart leaping, Katriel wondered if perhaps she had been wrong? Could her master, strong and gentle, handsome and powerful, with eyes as deep and dark as the night sky have sent pharaoh's most beautiful and talented concubine nothing more than a simple note? Maybe even a negative response to any advances she had made in secret to him? A reminder for her to attend more religious ceremonies?

Anck-su-Namun's eyes turned slowly to see Katriel watching her, suddenly voice clipped and cold she spoke, "Well, you said you were here to serve me. Start."

Katriel bowed and began to do her best to remember all that Adina had instructed her on during the journey there. She was certain she messed up at least twice, but Anck-su-Namun's eyes were far away and not paying any attention to the slave the entire time. Finally, the lady was ready for the night, she would not be seeing Pharaoh that night and was wiped of her facial make up and had her waxed hair tied back. She was still more beautiful than any woman in the palace. Or Thebes. Or probably all of Egypt.

Katriel, cautiously optimistic, did not speak a word the entire time. Perhaps she had misinterpreted her master's meaning, Anck-su-Namun's cold demeanor could be a confirmation of that.

Finally done, Katriel bowed and as always she asked, "Does my mistress require anything else?"

Imhotep was usually finished with her early, having very little cares for her to attend to at night, and rarely was there more to be done after she asked this question. She was almost completely used to walking away after asking, and her mind preoccupied with other things, she was not readied for the words spoken next:

"Yes. Tell lord Imhotep that I accept his advance, and I will meet him tomorrow at noon, in the courtyard. He can remain unseen on the back side of the statue of horus, so we may speak."

Katriel froze in her bow, heart stopping. No.

No. No. No. No. No.

Rising slowly she turned her back on Anck-su-Namun and walked back towards the door.

"Hold. Slave."

Katriel stopped.

"Pour my cup before you leave."

Katriel turned, bowed, and walked to the table where the cup and water vessel were. She poured the cup full and turned around again.

"Well, bring it here!" Anck-su-Namun said, annoyed.

Katriel did, setting the cup on the side table beside the lady's bed, "My lady."

"Hmph. Go now." Anck-su-Namun said, turning her head away.

Katriel did not bow out again, but promptly turned and left the room. Closing the door behind her. She faced the Medjai guards, "The lady is done for the night."

They nodded briefly and Katriel turned, making her way back to the servants' quarters in case anyone was watching, a note to deliver no longer clenched in her hand, but burning in her heart.