CHAPTER 2

A/N: okay so just a reminder sometimes Potiphar calls Joseph Kontar. While Joseph calls Potiphar Malik.

Joseph sat alone where he had been left to guard his master's horse, "Easy, Nassor, easy boy," he softly said in Aramaic, his native tongue. He always spoke to the stallion in his native tongue, some how hearing the words of his homeland, no matter what they were soothed him. Next to the stallion was the carcass of an old lioness. To be honest, Joseph didn't like staying there, he had already been attacked by the cat and had been forced to kill it. A small growl let him know that he wasn't alone, the beast had a cub it was trying to feed, and that knowledge hurt him even more then the scratches on his arm. "Come here you," Joseph said as he crouched by the lioness' cub and gently scratched its ears, "That's it, I won't hurt you." He allowed a soft chuckle to escape from his lips as the lion kitten began to purr.

"What's this, Kontar?" Potiphar said calling Joseph by his slave name. Joseph knew that his master didn't have to keep his name, but was glad that he did. He only called Joseph by his slave name when they were alone, as they were now.

"Malik," Joseph said looking up at his master, "Please..."

Joseph didn't often ask for things, in fact he had never asked for anything, hadn't said anything at all in fact but the bare minimal since Potiphar had bought him nearly three months ago. "Please," he asked again.

"It is cute, I must admit," Potiphar said, "and it would be nice to have a lion around. Can you control him?"

"Her, my lord."

"What will you call her?"

"Gruit, my lord, for she is but a cub," Joseph said looking at the purring golden cat that lay it head on his lap.

"I do not mind you keeping her, Joseph," Potiphar told him as one of the other slaves returned with Lord Menet, "however if she attacks I will be forced to kill her."

"Yes, my lord, I understand."

Joseph went to the gardens; it had gotten darker than usual. It was the anniversary of his sell, on this day above all others he longed for his homeland; he always held a longing for home, but this day was even worse; it was a clawing need to see his father just once more. Somehow, Potiphar could sense Joseph's anguish and let him alone for the majority of the day. He watched as Joseph hurried to finish his duties before the sun set, and then retreat to the garden.

As Potiphar entered, Joseph took his usual slave position, kneeling on his left knee with his right arm resting on his right knee and his head bowed, his left fist firmly planted on the ground before him. He usually didn't leave his master's side, he knew he should have asked permission to leave. He knew what he was and that he belonged to Potiphar. Potiphar's will, was his will, Potiphar's word was law.

Joseph dared to to glance at the moonless sky. Even the moon hid behind he clouds, deeming him unworthy of its presence, was he destined to be alone the rest of his life. Was he to be a lowly slave until he died... At least then his brothers' lies would never be revealed.

"You seem down, Kontar," Potiphar said noticing the downcast expression that Joseph wore.

"I feel nothing, Malik," Joseph said banishing the pain he felt, "I am but a slave, an instrement of your will. A mere tool, who will unquestionably obey you with unwavering loyalty, I feel nothing but that which you tell me. Your will is mine, my lord."

"Joseph, I know that you will obey me." Potiphar said looking at Joseph. He isn't lying, Potiphar realized as he red the truth in Joseph's blue Horus eyes, he would lay his on the line and even kill himself I ask him to. "Why you would choose to be a servant rather then have one is a mystery to me, and I don't deny the fact that you are more trustworthy then others who would just as quickly obey another master as they would me," Potiphar said putting his hand on on Joseph's shoulder. "I have learned to stay out of the affairs of the commoners and servants, but when your heart screams out in pain, that is when I will not sit back and see you suffer. What is troubling your soul?" Potiphar again asked.

Joseph closed his eyes before looking at his master and asked, "Do you see the moon, it looks down on us completely unaware that it is what keeps me from running, oblivious to the fact that it is what keeps me in hiding. I need only look at the moon and I remember why I knelt in silence when I was scared." He said involuntarily holding onto his slave marked arm, "a whole year has passed, Malik and I am still your slave. I still hide, deep inside my heart who I am, and prey to God to both live and die."

"I think you just broke your record," Potiphar chuckled softly then spoke, "you don't have to hide, Kontar, I know that you are no slave. Deny it as much as you like, but there is nobility in your blood. If you wish to remain in my service until you find your answers I will allow you to, I ask only that you share your answers." Potiphar said before turning to his own problems. "Lady Zulika wishes to have a feast in celebration of the anniversary of her nieces birth." He told Joseph, "I trust you'll see to the preparation."

Joseph woke in a cold sweat yet again, would he ever again have a restful night sleep. The night was the only time when his heart was free to wander, and every night that he slept he was forced to relive the pain of his betrayal in his dreams. Dreams, they got him in this mess in the first place, he could still hear Simeon's sneering, "May you die, and your dreams along with you."

"Judah!" he yelled as his eyes flashed open and he ripped the woven reed-mat that he used as a blanket. After a few deep breaths to calm his nerves, "it was just a dream," he softly mumbled to himself making sure that no one would be able to hear him and if they did that they wouldn't be able to understand his words. "just a stupid dream. Get a hold of yourself," he ordered himself as he walked to the small pond to wash of the cold sweat that now covered him.

"Whatever I did to make you so angry, brother, I am sorry, so sorry."

Potiphar stood in the shadows, he could only understand about half of what Joseph said, quietly he crept out of he shadows and asked, "Trouble sleeping?"

Instantly Joseph returned to is slave role, he quickly dropped to his knees and bowed.

"I am sorry if I have disturbed you, my lord."

"Something wrong, Kontar?"

"No, my lord, I simply come out here to think at times."

"Joseph, I vaguely remember telling you something about lying to me."

Death, Joseph thought to himself, would death be such a horrid fate. Would it be any better or worse than the living dead existence that he now endured?

You can't, Joseph thought to himself, your life no longer belongs to you, it is no longer yours to end.

"You were speaking earlier, what did you say?"

"I...I can't tell you," Joseph whispered softly, "I can't tell anyone. The truth may set me free, but it would kill my father."

Potiphar had always wondered about Joseph's family, and what kind of a man raised him to be able to sacrifice his own life out of honor.

Joseph looked up at the rising sun, he had just finished the previous day's work, it seemed he wouldn't sleep tonight. Perhaps it as for the best, night was a time he feared having nothing to do, he had at least survived this night without unwanted memories assaulting him as they did every night he slept. As he leaned his back against the date tree that he would have to harvest soon, he would have went to the barn to rest as usual, but Potiphar was still in the capital and Nessor was with him and his absence would only saddened him.

Joseph woke to the sound of some one calling his slave name, "Kontar." He knew that it was his master, he alone called him Kontar.

"Malik," Joseph said instantly fully awake and on his left knee, his right arm resting on his right knee, his head bowed, "I was unaware that you had returned."

"It is alright, Joseph," Potiphar said calling Joseph by his true name. He never called him by his slave name if anyone was within earshot. He didn't know what had happened to the young man, but he instinctual knew that the slave clung to his name like a lifeline, especially during those first few weeks, even now he only answered to his own name unless it was Potiphar who spoke. "I had not meant to wake you."

"It is alright, Malik," Joseph said looking at the sun, "I should have woken earlier anyway. With you here, Nassor will need to be cared for." Joseph added as he got up.

"Joseph, you need to sleep," Potiphar told him as he placed his hand hon Joseph's shoulder.

Joseph instantly tensed at the contact as he said, "I doubt you bought me to sleep, Lord Potiphar."

"Neither do I need a weak servant," he said, "get something to eat then get some rest. I am not expecting anyone, nor am I going anywhere for the rest of the day." Potiphar told him, letting him know that he would not be disturbed in the barn.

"Thank you, Malik," Joseph said, he still didn't trust many and didn't like others to see him asleep and vulnerable, he had thought he had found a save place for a nap since the dates were not to be harvested for another week.

Kuy watched as Joseph entered the barn where he had just stabled Potiphar's prized stallion. He had seen Joseph on hour ago by the date trees, some one must have disturbed him; for most slaves, only in there dreams were they free, but for Joseph... It seemed he was more free as a slave in whatever dream he would have, as a result he did his best not to not sleep. So Potiphar had ordered that no one was to disterb him unessasaraly, not even Potiphar disterbed him when he found Joseph resting in the late afternoon. He would simply cover him with a linen sheet and let him lie.

"Kuy," Potiphar called to him.

"Yes, milord."

"How long has it been, since Joseph came here?" Potiphar asked.

"Nearly a year, why?"

"Has he told you anything of his past." As a rule, slaves did not confide in thier masters, and usualy did bond closely to other slaves in the household they were bound to.

"Not much," Kuy said, "I think he had a traumatic event happen to him recently. You know how he sometimes sleeps outside side in the afternoon; I think it has something to do with what happened to him. When he sleeps inside at night, none of us get any sleep."

"What do you mean?"

"The gods do not deal kindly with him in the dreamscape," Kuy told Potiphar as he looked over to the stable wher he could hear Nessor nickering.

"Has he said anything about it?"

"No, my lord, Joseph is a very privet person. He is not one to tell anyone anything, as you well know. However I believe that he feels guilty about something."

"Why do you say that?"

"One of the few things that I can understand is 'sorry, I am sorry'"

"Thank you, Kuy."

Joseph entered Potiphar's reception hall, "Lord Rachmeara here to see you, my lord."

"He's late, show him in, Kotar," Potiphar said. Joseph left but hesitated at the door. "Something wrong, Joseph?" Potiphar asked. How had he come to rely on the slave in such a short amount of time.

"It's nothing, Malik," Joseph said turning to face Potiphar. Joseph always held a touch of sorrow in his brilliant blue eyes, but now there was another tint in them...one of concern. He was honor bound to protect his master yet he couldn't risk accusing a nobleman without proof and even then it would be risky, "just a feeling." he said as he went to bring in Rachmera.

Joseph knelt in the shadows across from Potiphar. It was not uncommon for his master to forget that as a slave, Joseph was forbidden to leave without leave to go. So he would just remain, this had always annoyed Potiphar. He was use to his men coming and going as needed, but it seemed that Joseph refused to forget his place even if his maser did at times. He always over heard his master's conversations, but Potiphar didn't mind, he knew that Joseph wasn't fool enough to betray him, not after his past.

"What is th progress?" Potiphar asked.

"Victory, my lord, with 300 new captives. With so many strong men I am sure you are going to sell this Hebrew dog." Potiphar intently shot a glance to Joseph who had suddenly gone ridged from the memories that instantly flooded his mind. A subtle nod from Potiphar gave Joseph leave to go, but he heard Potiphar firmly say, "I will never get rid of Joseph unless he asks for his freedom."

Joseph entered the garden, it was one of the few things that gave him true comfort. There he stood alone until Potiphar ended his meeting and came to see how he was doing, "I'm sorry about that, Kontar."

"Don't be, you know as well as I that I remain a slave by choice, and I knew the risks I took when I chose this life," Joseph said as he walked behind Potiphar and a bit to his right. "May I speak, my lord?" Joseph asked softly

"You needn't ask to speak, Kontar," Potiphar said, "but speak," he added when it became apparent that Joseph had no intention of speaking without permission.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Keeping me, I couldn't live through another sale, I'd rather die than go through that again," Joseph said solemnly.

"Don't worry about that, Kontar, I will never sell you. I've sworn to Ra to never get rid of you until you ask to return home."

"Thank you, Malik," he said, "But that will never happen," he said touching the palm tree next to him, "I have no reason to return."

"Your lips say you have no wish to return but your eyes tell a different story."

"I never said that I had no wish to return," Joseph said, "I just can't."

"Anyway Rachmera brought a message from my wife," Potiphar said, he always confided in Joseph. He had told the truth when he said that he chose this life, and he had chosen to be a slave to Potiphar. Potiphar was sure that Joseph had a way of escaping if he wanted to, and in truth Potiphar would let him if he tried, but he never did. At times Potiphar would purposely leave him with ways of escaping and then bet his friends on whether or not Joseph would still be waiting when they returned, he always was. Once he left Joseph for a week only to return to find Joseph restless and tired, even Gurit was on edge. The lioness cub paced at his bare feet just as she did now.

"Lord Potipharah will be coming..." Potiphar began, but Joseph ceased listening, he knew that Potiphar held no love for his brother-in-law, and he needed to get some things off his chest and trust that it would not be repeated. So Joseph simply knelt scratching the cub's golden fur.

Lord Potipharah arrived at the estate late the next morning, apparently Lord Potipharah was a high priest in Heliopolis. "My dear sister, how I have missed you," Lord Potipharah said as he hugged Lady Zulika.

"Welcome, Lord Potipharah," Potiphar said politely, but Joseph could tell there was no love between the two. One look told Joseph all about him, told him that he was vicious and ruthlessly exploited the weaknesses of others. He had to sneak and connive his way to power. He only cared for those that could be useful to him; he knew little of those that were of no use to him and cared even less.

And unlike Abasi, Joseph knew that this man could hurt Potiphar politicly if he wanted to, Joseph would have to keep an eye on him without his knowing it. It was not a slave's place to watch a lord; it was their job to serve and obey as Racmera did, not to think.

"Joseph," Potiphar said as he noticed the intensity in Joseph's eyes. On paper, the bill of sale that proved that Joseph was his, he had been named Kontar. At the time Potiphar used that name because he couldn't think of any other, only now was he beginning to see how true the name was and how well the name fit the slave that had quickly be come a son to him. The name,'only son' fit well.

"I shall tend to the horses, Malik." Joseph said walking towards the stable, the golden cub trailing after him.

"Is that the one, Rachmera?" Joseph heard Potipharah ask.

"It is, My lord."