Lower Egypt 1665 BC
Even in the cool shade of the inner courtyard-far from the harsh desert winds Ashait could feel the heat pressing down on her. It wasn't that the home of her mother's second husband was poorly built-to the contrary Ipy had allowed Nebit free hand in its construction. Her mother's inherent grace was visible in every lotus column and wall painting right down to the smallest of stools. Ashait simply didn't feel she belonged amongst such splendour no matter how Ipy indulged her whims to make her feel more at home.
Unfortunately it wasn't her home. Nor was the sprawling temple where Ashait had long given herself to the worship of Amun as one of his sacred virgins. Even her own skin felt foreign to Ashait and visiting her family for the festival of Isis only served to drill that fact into her mind.
Caught within the cool marble walls a sense of confinement crashed down around Ashait's ka draining her of any happiness life presented. Not that her life had been very happy to that point. Her father had been a loyal supporter of the exiled Pharaoh Sekenenre Tao and was quietly assassinated months before Ashait's birth. Never one to be kept down by politics or anything else her mother Nebit had re-married the powerful Ipy to shield herself and newborn child from the wrath of the Hyksos Pharaoh Apepi.
Ipy's wealth and influence had shielded Nebit and Ashait for nearly fifteen years, providing Ashait with a half brother Shenti two years her junior who she adored. Where Ashait tended to be serious and brooding, Shenti was fun loving and light hearted. In fact the siblings only similarity was their mother's stunning green eyes. But then Ashait had been given in service to Amun to prevent Apepi from taking her a hostage for her family's loyalty when Tao's sons rose against him. If they were being honest-it had been to keep her from the Pharaoh's own hands than any other-he had a taste for young Egyptian girls and green eyes were a rarity indeed.
However now, no man outside her family could touch her on penalty of death. No man was above the laws of the Gods.
Sighing Ashait pulled herself away from thinking about her separation from her beloved brother-he had been gone for nearly a full year and his absence increased the discontent in her heart. Shenti had waited barely a month after the shaving of his boy's side lock before leaving to join Pharaoh Kahmose's war against the Hyksos invaders. Long enough to marry and leave his bride in his parent's hands. Each day since then Ashait wondered if today would be the day they brought word that her bright, shining little brother had gone to meet Osiris. It was her worst fear.
She didn't care how many times her mother or step-father told her it was every loyal Egyptian's duty to fight against the tyranny and oppression of the Hyksos. Hadn't loosing her father been enough? Did Ashait have to give up Shenti to the Gods as well? She had already yielded herself and any chance at marriage to serve Amun-did the great God demand everything from her? She shook her head-sometimes the Gods could ask too much of a single person.
"Ashait? Are you even listening to me?" the girl lifted her head quickly at the sound of hurt in Mié's voice and Ashait mentally kicked herself for not listening to her brother's young wife-she was her only friend.
"I'm sorry Mié," she offered a small smile to the younger girl as an apology-it had been a happy day when the girl had arrived to fulfill the contract between their families-their youngest children had found love within the arranged marriage, "What was it you were saying?"
Shaking her long dark hair Mié levelled her best 'Maybe-I-won't-tell-you' look at Ashait coxing a rare smile to the girl's hennaed lips, "It is most fortuitous that you arrived today…we had word that Shenti would come home soon. His regiment will pass by and because of his loyalty to the Pharaoh they will stop here to rest on their way to the delta."
"Why didn't you just say so?" she couldn't believe her ears and sent a quick prayer of thanksgiving to Mut and Isis for watching over him, "Instead of telling me some dry story about the kohl your body servant used on you at dinner last night."
Normally, the sharpness of her tongue would send the other Priestesses far away from Ashait but no matter how cold she was nothing dampened the spirits of her sister in law. Instead Mié stuck out her tongue and continued on, "I was getting to that…but I was wondering if that would be appropriate for meeting Pharaoh…I want to make Shenti proud to call me his wife…"
"Mié," Ashait broke in a wry smile lifting her dark coloured lips, "You could wear the coarsest cloth made, your hair in tangles and my brother would still worship you as Hathor come to earth."
The other girl looked ready to respond the rapid steps of Nebit's long stride filled their ears followed shortly by Mother herself. It made Ashait wonder sometimes how when faced with so much hardship and pain her mother retained her cool, almost inhuman beauty. Time never seemed to affect Nebit the way it did other women. "They've arrived…to the baths with both of you…tonight we dine with Pharaoh."
Unlike his fellows Rami had never felt the intensity of the desert's heat, he was a fisherman's son born on the banks of the Nile used to toil long before joining the rebellion of the true Pharaoh Kahmose. He had started as a spy-bringing information to the ears of the army but eventually he desired to do more. So when his childhood friends died around him Rami continued on earning acclaim from his superiors. It had been a long three years but he had risen from his humble beginnings and had received the Flies of Courage and lands from his Pharaoh based on his skill and charm.
His mother had always told him he could charm his way out of any trouble. Rami was comfortable with her prophesy-his mother was well known as a far seeing woman. Still he doubted that she had seen her only son one day becoming one of the nobility-that would have seemed too much like a dream. But here he was today riding in a chariot with one of Pharaoh's right hands, the young son of the powerful Governor Ipy; Shenti.
Rami was a long way from the muddy banks of the river now. He had offered to ride ahead with the young Princeling to ensure the home was ready for Pharaoh's presence. And to keep the young man company on the long trip. During his time with the army Shenti had become well liked for his happy go lucky personality and Rami felt it would be a relief to get away from camp for a few extra days.
Tired as he was Rami couldn't help but smile as his companion described the welcome they would receive at his family's home-the boy was nearly hopping with excitement, "Mother will have had the cooks working day and night…and there will be soft couches for all of us…and baths…and…"
"Will there be wine and pretty girls?" Rami quirked one eyebrow upwards.
Shenti seemed almost offended that the question had been asked, "Of course! Unfortunately for you the prettiest will be my wife."
Laughter bubbled from Rami's throat, thick and warm as Shenti's green eyes widened, "Too bad…but you've been away so long maybe I'll be lucky and she'll mistake me for you."
A small strangled sound escaped Shenti's lips causing Rami to laugh even harder-standing as close as they were Rami could feel tension threading its way through all of the other man's limbs, "I'm kidding. I doubt she could ever forget you…but you can't fault a man for dreaming if you've taken the loveliest bloom in the garden for yourself."
"As if you ever have a shortage of women for your couch," the boy laughed as well all trace of anxiety gone from his body, "The great lover Rami strikes again…perhaps my mother will have to lock away all the serving girls."
"You call that hospitality?" Rami joked clutching his heart in mock pain, "Even a poor fisherman such as myself…"
"Will you stop that?" Shenti shook his head and held the reins tighter lest the antics spook the horses, "We're almost there."
The rest of the trip was silent but for rattling of the harness and the jolt of the wheels. Rami sucked in a breath as he caught sight of the magnificent columns and shaded arches that were the façade of the small governor's palace. The lines were simple and elegant making the home seem even more impressive, the white marble glowed in the late afternoon light. Shenti hadn't been joking when he said his childhood home was fit for the Gods.
After judging the architecture Rami's eye caught on the three forms waiting patiently on the steps; the short, straight backed, dark haired Ipy, his haughty and beautiful wife Nebit and a girl who fit Shenti's description of his wife. Short and slender as a boy her long hair swinging down her back, contrasting with the yellow linen dress she wore. Even in Rami's experienced eyes the girl was quite pretty.
The chariot halted at the bottom of the steps and Shenti flung himself from it while the girl hurtled towards him. They met in the middle hugging each other fiercely, whispering greetings of a personal nature. Eventually, Ipy himself cleared his throat; "Welcome home my son. The Gods have smiled on us all to see you whole again."
"It wasn't the Gods father," Shenti smiled and looped one arm around his wife, "It was Pharaoh's wisdom to pair me with an older, more experienced soldier if it wasn't for that I might not have seen you again in this world. May I introduce my friend Rami…"
At this point attention swung his way and Rami smiled at his hosts, nodding as Shenti spoke, "My father Ipy, Mother Nebit…and this beautiful creature beside me is my wife Mié."
As was polite the elder pair nodded while Mié smiled blindingly, "It's so nice to finally meet you…Shenti has told me so much about you…Oh!" she nearly hopped with excitement drawing her husband into the action, "We forgot to tell you. Ashait has come home from the temple for the feast of Isis."
Until that point Rami wouldn't have thought Shenti's smile could widen any further-it was good to see he was wrong. "Where is she now?"
"She is in the temple giving offering," Nebit stepped forward her eyes softening with her son's smile; "She will join us all for dinner tonight. Mié, why don't you take these tired soldiers to the baths to wash before the meal? You must be tired from your time on the road."
"Thank you my lady," Rami smiled and bowed to the lady of the house-he really was looking forward to a bath.
Before more words could be exchanged Shenti and Mié were dragging Rami along the corridors towards the bath house chattering excitedly. As a force of habit the older man tuned out most of their talk to give the young couple privacy. Soon they forgot about him-the joy of their reunion drowning out everything else. Rami followed as best he could but found himself colliding with a soft object coming from a second hallway.
"Sorry." He offered his hand to the girl he had just knocked to the ground only to find himself transfixed by the most stunning pair of green eyes he had ever seen.
The girl looked up at him in shock, her dark lips curving sensuously, those emerald eyes piercing him to the core. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Ignoring his hand she lifted herself up; Rami fought his disappointment that he couldn't touch the skin that looked so silky from where he stood.
"Just watch where you're going next time." Without another word she turned and continued walking back towards the front of the house.
Rami spun slowly eager to watch the sway of her softly curved hips beneath her sheer dress. Horror drained all the blood from his face as he realized why she refused his aid-she wore the ornaments of the forbidden women. This beauty was one of Amun's brides.
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So goes the first part of my little ditty…can you guess who is who in this? Do I need to tell you?
Krac