"Zahra! You're home! How was the supply…um." Shu stopped mid-sentence. His initial joy of seeing me overshadowed by panic as User Ramses entered our home right behind me. Suddenly sadness crept over the fear on my brother's face. I wonder if deep in his heart, he remembers the kind guard that would come home with candied nuts and tuck us into bed. I wonder if that memory presides over the pompous guards in the street that push us aside or cut of the hands of his friends.
"Shu, we are going to be moving into a new house! Isn't that exciting?" I smile widely, forcing some excitement in my own voice. I didn't want him to worry. He doesn't need to know we may be walking into a hornet's nest. The panic on his face was replaced with suspicion, but he went to the book case and started pulling his books off the shelf and wrapping them in the blanket.
"You don't need those, Shu. I can get you new ones. Nicer, whole books." I say, true happiness creeping into my voice. I really can give that to him. Whatever he wants, a full stomach, all the books he can read. Shu was still eyeing General Ramses warily.
"Shu, isn't it? How old are you?" General Ramses bent down to my brother's level with a playful smile on his face. I was surprised that his smile looked genuine. Not a cross between a grimace and a look of pity that people of his status often give us.
"I'm almost seven." Shu said proudly, the guarded look diminishing but not quite leaving his features.
"Seven? Small for your age, aren't you?" General Ramses got that look on his face again, the same one he wore while considering how to hire me. That calculating gaze. Suddenly I was worried that he would deem Shu too small to take in.
"Hunger tends to do that to growing boys. Besides, Shu is a smart boy. He reads very well." I say quickly. This was a delicate time. General Ramses had yet to claim Shu publicly. Nothing is stopping him from killing us both here. Nothing except my lie that a friend would send out the blackmail if I were to disappear.
"I meant nothing of it. Merely that he is a late bloomer. He's a fighter, though." General Ramses laughed, causing Shu to stand a bit taller. He really was a fighter.
"Come on, Shu. We don't need anything from here. Come on, Shu." I say, we really don't need anything here. There is nothing of value. Mother used to have family jewelry; my father had expensive gold gilded swords. All of it was sold. There is no need for sentimental things. I don't want us to die over and old necklace. Never the less, Shu grabbed something I didn't see, wrapped it in the old tattered blanket and strapped it to his back.
"Okay. I'm ready." He grinned up at me, but I could see the apprehension in his eyes. Living on the streets has made him weary of government officials. I can't blame him. I am surprised he even agreed to follow my command without a single protest. He may not trust General Ramses, but his actions prove he trusted me unconditionally. I hoped with all my heart that I am not betraying that trust.
"Well then. Let's go. We have to go around the town square. There is a riot starting there in a few hours." I say as everyone leaves what was once my home. Well, it never really was home. I don't think I'll miss it much; there are too many ugly memories in such an empty room. And yet, as I run my hand along the rough doorframe, I felt a pang in my heart. This place was a lot like me, in a way. Rough, ugly, empty. This house has seen horrors. And yet over these years it has held up. Protected us from the elements. Shielded us from some of the viciousness of the outside world. No time for such nonsense. I walked out and pulled the door shut behind me with a resolute slam.
Walking down the road, it seemed Shu and General Ramses seemed to get along fine. General Ramses was unexpectedly very good with children. I wonder if he had any of his own. It would be nice if Shu had someone to play with. Though he looked like he was having enough fun sitting high on General Ramses' shoulders. People were already staring at them, trying to figure out who the young boy on a decorated general was. Good. The more publicity the better. Let the world know Shu has this connection.
"There's where you'll be living, the walled house along the Nile." General Ramses pointed out to Shu, whose eyes got wide with excitement, but the look faltered a bit. He looked at General Ramses, and then gave me a look I couldn't quite read. It slipped off his face quickly as General Ramses swung him down and urged him ahead of us to explore.
"I'll claim him as a cousin. My uncle passed a while ago and he had plenty of kids that seemed to pop out of nowhere. I'll just say I adopted Shu." General Ramses suddenly leaned down and whispered in my ear. He did it so quickly and casually I fought not to jump in surprise. But the news took a weight off my heart. A first cousin, that was a closer link then I dared to hope for.
"Then I assume you already have a task for me?" I asked him. I assumed I would start right away, earn my keep, so to say.
"You rush things too much. Take some time to enjoy a little bit." He shrugged. I gave him an arched look. People don't just give free rides like this. Naturally I was suspicious.
"Zahra! You'll never believe how big the garden looks!" Shu interrupted me before I could voice my concern.
"Don't worry, buddy, Miss Zahra here knows exactly how the mansion looks." General Ramses laughed well naturedly. I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped my lips. If life could be like this every day, all smiles and laughter, then perhaps this isn't such a bad deal after all.
I blinked; wide eyed as yet another platter was set onto the long table. Food, so much food. Duck, beef, apples; food I couldn't even identify. It all kept pouring out. It was like it was endless. My mouth watered and my stomach grumbled loudly as the aromas mixed and wafted under my nose.
"Well? Go ahead and eat." General Ramses said with a bemused expression on his face.
"You mean, I can choose anything?" Shu asked, awed by the sheer amount. I licked my own lips, it was taking every bit of my willpower not to snag the nearest morsel and stuff it in my mouth. I take a glance over at Shu whose eyes were as wide as the serving platters that were being brought out one after another.
"Anything you'd like, dear boy. And as much as you'd like as well!" General Ramses laughed heartily. I don't know what manners were used for such an occasion. I dug through my mind for any manners that may have been left over from those blurry days so long ago when my family used to sit together for meals. But it seems those memories have been buried too deep, or perhaps the aroma of the food is clouding my mind. Whatever it was, I lost all my self-control and snagged the first thing I could get my hands on. Shu followed my lead. I stared down at my plate. Two slices of bread, a hunk of some sort of meat, a bunch of grapes. I broke the bread in half. It was soft, warm. Not that gritty stuff I would make out of cheap grains. I took a bite. It was sweet. There must have been honey in it. I haven't tasted honey in years. It was an extravagance we could never afford. Shu seems to have taken a liking to the sweet bread. He was already on his third slice. Something was suddenly pushed next to my plate. A bowl of thick soup.
"Try dipping it in this. It tastes much better than plain bread." General Ramses grinned, I wanted to swipe the amusement off his face, but he was right. The soup was amazing. It was so thick I had to scoop it onto the bread. The slight sweetness of the bread complimented the savory soup perfectly.
Shu was making his way through a piece of meat. Good, the boy really does need the meat. Maybe he can put some more weight on.
Even as I was eating, more and more food was coming out. Much more food needed for just the three of us. I wonder what they do with the leftover food? Throw it out? This kind of meal would have fed Shu and me for weeks. The thought of it being wasted sent a pang of anger through my chest. So easily people waste things without even realizing it.
I ignored the feeling. Now is not the time for it. Right now, I just want to eat. Right now everything is fine. Shu has a future. We both have full stomachs and a warm place to sleep. Now is the time to be thankful. Now is the time to enjoy, because who knows how long it will really last.
A goblet of wine was placed in front of me. I have never had wine, it always seemed like a pointless indulgence. Expensive. Dangerous too. I have seen many lose themselves in wine. Drink until they forget. Forgetting everything, until they forget to move forward. So they stay in that moment until their breath stops.
I picked up the goblet and sniffed it. It had a sweet smell. But there was a slight sour undertone. I took an experimental sip and chocked. It was bitter; bitter and sour. Absolutely vile. I had just put the goblet down when another appeared in front of me. I saw General Ramses with an amused smile on his face. My cheeks heated up and I reached for the second goblet, this one simply filled with water. Clean, pure water. Not a speck of dirt floating in it.
I ate until I was completely and almost painfully full. When was the last time I was full? I don't remember. I think this is the first time my stomach aches because there is too much food. It is a good ache to have.
"Well it has been a long day. I am sure you are both tired. I will have someone escort you to your rooms for the night." General Ramses stands and waves his hand. In moments there is a maid by my side as well as Shu's, ushering us out the door.
I gnawed on my lip at the thought of separating from Shu, but the General has been addressing Shu as cousin all day, I had to hope that the ears around the palace would keep him to his word. And hopefully spread the word.
The maid that was escorting me was named Ebony. She looked older than me but not by much. She was tall, not as filled out as some of the other women, but she was willowy. She had long black hair she tied in a loose ponytail behind her that fell just below her shoulders and hazel eyes that she kept trained on the ground. She walked with her head pulled into her shoulders as if she were afraid of being struck and her hands seemed to be constantly in motion, twisting and untwisting the fabric of her dress.
She doesn't speak at all. Perhaps I should rephrase that, she can't speak. That's what the maid who led Shu away tells me, at least. Part of me wonders why, perhaps she's never been able to. Perhaps she figures it doesn't matter since no one would listen anyway. But the pain in her eyes tells a different story. Someone with eyes that sad, that broken. She has seen things in this world that have stolen away her voice.
Perhaps that is just as well. I don't talk much either. We all have our stories, if she is like me, then talking about them is just like reliving them. Something I am not so eager to do. All we can do is move forward.
I shoo Ebony out of the bathing chamber, telling her I could bathe myself. I refuse to turn into one of those girls who can't take care of themselves.
I walk into the room to see a tub the size of our old house. A light steam was rising from it. This would be the first time I would bathe in warm water like this. Even when father was alive, we never had money for such a thing. And warming water was such a chore. After father died, we would bathe in the Nile if we felt too grungy. But that was only on warm days when the sun could dry us.
I undressed and slowly lowered myself in the water. Even the water smelled sweet. Like roses. After only a few minutes, I decided that I prefer bathing in cold water. The warm water was making me drowsy and it felt like I was being made into a stew.
I scrubbed at my skin vigorously until it was sore. Layers upon layers of dirt and grime came off, turning the clear water murky with dirt. There were bottles of sweet smelling oils I assume were soap. I picked one that smelled like iris blossoms and rubbed it into my skin. It made me feel slippery, but the scent was pleasingly faint.
I walked out and noticed Ebony had left new, clean clothes for me. A simple white tunic that fell to my knees.
I sighed happily at the thought of clean clothes. It had been awhile since I have had anything truly clean. No matter how much I would scrub my old clothes, they were never truly white. More of a dingy grey.
On my way out, I passed a large mirror mounted on the wall. I stopped and stared at it. We didn't have mirrors in the old house. There was no point. I knew I was a mess, caked in dirt, my hair in heavy knots, my clothes threadbare. It didn't matter how I looked. But now, I stared at myself. Cleaning up didn't change me too much. I was still too skinny; curve-less. I still had dark bags under my dull eyes. My mouth too small and my eyes too wide. My short hair hung limply a few inches over my chin.
It's funny. When I was young, father used to give me jewelry on special occasions. Birthdays, holidays. I used to love dressing up in colorful frocks, drape jewels around my neck, golden bracelets on my wrists. I would add a skip in my step to hear the golden earrings jingle in my ear. I used to beg my mother to color my lips red like hers for a while. I would preen when someone called me 'pretty'. How easy it was to get caught in such a world. Only after he died did I realize how worthless such things are. It took hunger to make me realize that.
I realized quickly what really was of value. I would rather trade a sapphire necklace for a few weeks' worth of grains. A gold ring for a blanket. Trade in a silk dress for a heavy, warm, cotton tunic. And I wasn't sad to see a single thing go. They were worthless to me. Nothing but cold metal.
I turn away from the mirror. I have indulged myself enough.
Ebony is waiting outside for me. She silently leads me through the winding hallways to a room I assume is to be mine. She opens the door and lowers her head, waiting for me to enter. Her lowering her head to me made me cringe a bit. It didn't feel right. I was younger. In status I was below her. And yet she bows. Because I am the General's guest. It just didn't feel right.
"Rise. You never need to lower yourself to me." I say simply. She startles at that and lifts her head to give me a searching look. Finally she nods and smiles. It was a small smile; barely even there.
She is very pretty when she smiles, even if her eyes are still sad.
Ebony gestures at a bell on the desk before she leaves. I assume I am supposed to ring it if I need anything. I can't imagine needing anything so important that I would drag the poor woman out of her slumber, so I push it aside.
I slowly spun around the room; it was better than I imagined. Windows covered by white curtains, a sizeable trunk at the foot of the bed for the belongings I will begin to accumulate, a sweet smell; lotus perhaps? I could see the garden from my window. Deep blue carpet and a plush bed. A small desk and an empty bookshelf.
I walked over and ran my fingers over the bed sheets. For the life of me I could not determine the fabric. Not as weak and soft as silk, but not rough like raw cotton. The bed was so perfectly made it was almost a shame to ruin it by mussing up the sheets.
I burrowed into the layers upon layers of blankets and rested my head on the down pillows. It felt like I was enveloped in a soft embrace.
Ah. This must be what heaven would be like. I thought to myself contently. Yes, this is heaven. Shu and I could live here forever. All I have to do is the General's dirty work.
I jolted at that last thought. That's right. All of this comes at a price, and at this point, I am not sure what that price is. I almost got swept up in sweet smelling soaps and silken sheets; I almost lost sight of the situation. I can't let my guard down. Just because this place is like a palace, there are dangers behind the corners.
I was suddenly ashamed of myself. I was bought so easily, with a good meal and a warm bed. This thought rolled around and around as I tossed and turned in the lavish bed. Finally I rolled onto the ground and curled into a ball on the carpet.
That's better. This is how the world is. Hard, cold, and unforgivable. That is how my world is. I can't get caught up in this extravagant lifestyle.
Finally calmed, I began to lose myself to the abyss of sleep.
It was dark out. Hours before the sun would rise when the slightest noise roused me. Someone was walking through the halls, their bare feet making almost no noise except a slight slap in the clean tiles.
Who could be walking about this late? And with the effort of taking off their shoes, I would bet they are trying not to get caught. Too bad they walk heel- toe. They should walk on the balls of their feet. Then there wouldn't be a slapping sound.
I considered going back to sleep, that i was just being overly cautious. But the I couldn't force myself to ignore it. When the footsteps got closer to my door, I made my decision and rolled onto my feet.
It's a good thing the desk is right next to the door. It will give me the higher ground I want. Quietly, I walked to the bed and shoved the pillows under the sheets to form what I would hope looked like a human shape. I then climbed on to the table, and grabbed the decorated rope used to tie the curtains up and waited. The footsteps had stopped in front of my room. I crouched, muscles taut, ready to jump.
The door cracked open, just a bit, before it was pushed open all the way. A dark figure peeked into the room and locked onto the shape on the bed. The figure made its way in, and the moment he took two steps in, I jumped.
It was a man, that was obvious. He was much larger than me. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled the cord around his neck.
"Who are you and what to you want?" I hissed in his ear. I loosened the cord to let him speak, which was my mistake. The moment the cord released, he reached over his head and grabbed the back of my tunic; throwing me harshly, and luckily, onto the bed where I bounced once and rolled onto my feet.
"For Gods' sake woman!" A familiar voice exclaimed hoarsely. I just tried to strangle General Ramses. Well, this is a marvelous first day.
"For Gods' sake yourself! Walking into someone's room without so much as a knock." I shot back, getting up to light a candle.
"That doesn't warrant a strangling." He muttered, and then seemed to think about it. "Though I suppose it is good that you are quick on your feet." He amended, rubbing at his neck. Lucky for him i hadn't pulled hard enough or held on long enough for a mark to form.
"Is there a particular reason you needed to see me, General?" I asked, the adrenaline running down and drowsiness taking its place.
"Actually, yes. Sit." He said, as if he just remembered the reason he arrived.
"Zahra, how do you feel about our illustrious pharaoh?" The General began. He stared at me, waiting for an answer.
"I refuse to answer a loaded question." I sighed heavily. It was a loaded question. If I answered that I disliked the Pharaoh, then I could be dragged into treason along with General Ramses if things got rough. But on the other hand, it is obvious that General Ramses disagreed with the current ruler. So saying I sided with the Pharaoh would leave me right back on the street or dead.
"Just answer truthfully. Do you agree with how Pharaoh Tutankhamen rules Egypt?" General Ramses reiterated, staring at me. Obviously he wasn't going to get to the point unless I answered. I sighed. I supposed it couldn't make my situation much more precarious if I told him.
"You ask the wrong question. I have no idea how Pharaoh Tutankhamen rules Egypt. What you should have asked was how I felt on how Vizier Ay and General Horemheb are ruling Egypt." I shrug back.
"And why do you say that?" He pushed. I don't know what he wants from this line of questioning, but I may as well indulge him.
"I find it obvious. The Pharaoh Tutankhamen was put in power at an incredibly young age. Around Shu's age, I believe. A child cannot possibly be behind some of the decisions that have been made in the last seven years. They are too strategic, too pointed. And after someone has been directed like that for so long, they will not take back power. The fact that he lives is proof of that. He has survived this long because he is a puppet. Who else could control him except for Vizier Ay and General Horemheb?" I say, I pull a chair up and the General mirrored me. He considered my words, nodding along as I spoke. It was odd to be listened to like this. I never spoke like this to Shu. The boy may unknowingly let it slip that I thought poorly of the Pharaoh. I don't know if it would matter much. What is a single woman's opinion on politics? But General Ramses seemed to absorb and consider every word I said.
"A good theory. Probably right, too. But what about his wife? Queen Akhenaten? And the Tawananna Nefertiti? Do you think they could be added to the list of those who could be manipulating the young Pharaoh?" General Ramses pointed out after a while. I pondered the idea.
"I don't know. But Pharaoh Tutankhamen has made it plain his distaste of foreigners. His reestablishment of the old worship of Amun proves he is a traditional man. I can only conclude he may dislike his stepmother, as she is a princess that hailed from Mittani. I don't know if that dislike would pass on to Queen Akhenaten who is half Mittani, but she was also his only sister. If he believed in traditional values that she may have been his only choice. So I believe perhaps the Queen may have a say in his decisions, but not the Tawananna." I finally said after some thought.
"Interesting. Now, down to business. I may not believe that Queen Akhenaten controls the Pharaoh, but that is because I have met her. Incredibly daft, that one, but I do agree that Vizier Ay and General Horemheb have a hand in his decisions. But I want to be sure. That is where you come in." He smiled at me, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"You want information on Vizier Ay and General Horemheb? Hm. General Horemheb should be no trouble, but I time to get into the Vizier's mansion. That place is a fortress." I mumbled to myself.
"I want to know who is the one pulling the strings. It can't be both of them." The General leaned back in his chair. He looked too at ease. As if we were discussing dinner, not digging dirt on our ruler. I can't help but wonder if it was all just an act. How can someone be so utterly carefree?
"Give me four weeks, and the information will be yours. Now get out so I can sleep." I yawned. He shot me a quick smile before getting up and leaving as quietly as he came. "And next time knock." I hissed as the door closed behind him.
I wiped the sleepy look off my face. Now was not the time to sleep anyhow. I grabbed clay tablets and began to plan.
Well, there you have it! Chapter three! What cha' guys think so far?
Some of you have commented on the timeline i chose, I will probably have a two year time skip a bit later on so this doesn't drag too long.
See ya next Chapter!
~EternallySnowy