While they discussed plans for new buildings and statues, Fadil would look at her and speak to her husband. He would talk to her, somehow, and she would listen. Sometimes she was able to talk to him, when he was face to face with her. She was never to figure out how his voice reached inside her head. He was truly magnificent.
Late one evening she could stand it no longer. Making sure Aswad was asleep, she crept into the night and set off to Fadil's home.
He opened the door when she reached it, as if expecting her. He took her straight into his arms. She stayed the night.
The next morning she made the excuse of having taken an early morning walk. Aside from the arriving in the morning, this was repeated over several months.
Kanika was undeniably hooked on Fadil.
*****
London
As a last resort, Evelyn went to the Bembridge scholars. She was met with blank stares and upturned noses.
They refused to even look into it, considering the amazingly large amount of proof she didn't have that the goddess Kanika had even existed. She couldn't very well say, "Well, it's true because I've been dreaming about it."
She got home from the failed attempt to find Rick sitting on the couch. He didn't look happy.
"What's wrong?" she asked, sitting next to him.
"Am I going to ahve to drag you away?" he replied.
Evelyn was confused.
"Our vacation!" he stated, trying hard not to shake her.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Evelyn said. "Where should we go?"
"How about anywhere that isn't Egypt?" Rick suggested.
Evelyn rolled her eyes. "I can't promise that."
Rick sighed.
*****
In her prison chamber, Kanika cried softly. She had hoped to hear something from Fadil. It had been two days since she had her baby. Two days she had been locked away. She couldn't take any more silence.
The guard came back to her room. "Visitor," he mumbled, leaving.
Kanika's heart leapt. "Fadil!"
"I came as soon as I could," he said. "I won't have much time before they find out who I am. Just know that your daughter is safe. Her name is Mandisa."
The guard was coming back around.
"I have to go," Fadil said.
They kissed briefly but passionately before he disappeared out the door. He would never return.
"Tauret, please be kind," Kanika prayed.
*****
Ancient Egypt
Anck-su-Namun was lucky. On this day, she didn't have to see the Pharoah at all. Nefertiri was nowhere to be seen as well. They had no lessons today, so her entire day was her own.
In the morning, she just sat in her room, looking out the window and daydreaming. She hadn't been able to do that in a long time. She watched the people bustle about in the courtyard.
After the noon meal, she decided to join them. Anck-su-Namun wandered the courtyard, taking it all in. Then she extended her walk to the temples.
She walked into the temple of Osiris in the middle of a ritual or some sort of thing, being conducted by Imhotep. She blushed in embarrassment. No one had told her the days events.
She glared at Bomani, who was again guarding her.
"I'm sorry, my lady," he apologized. "I thought you knew."
From then on, she was careful to peek in first. At the temple of Isis, she got another surprise.
Kneeling before a statue was Nefertiri. Her eyes were closed and her lips moved in silent prayer. Anck-su-Namun wondered where her Med-Jai was, and realized she had probably snuck out of the palace.
Nefertiri began to speak. "Goddess Tauret, I pray to you this day that you grant my mother salvation and free her from the curse you laid upon her. She has paid for her crime, please keep her no longer."
Anck-su-Namun finally noticed something that had been nagging at her brain since she came to this scene. Nefertiri was kneeling in front of the haunting statue.