Title: Absolution
Author: Meresankh
Summary: A girl in Thebes, doing what she must to survive, finding more she ever hoped for, and more than she ever dreaded for.
Notes: This story is adult. If graphic details of people having sex isn't your cup of tea, stay clear.
I'm all for historical accuracy, but I did not check every detail. The name Zahra was found on the internet along with it's meaning, I haven't checked the spelling, the meaning, or even the origin. This story was quickly conceived and ever more quickly written, so all mistakes are all mine.
When she woke in the morning, the sun had climbed high onto the sky. Today was a new day, and today she should cross the river and again seek the help she desperately needed. Zahra recounted the day she had learned of this city, the home of the Pharaoh of Kemet himself. The next day she had gathered all her savings and belongings and put herself on a trade ship, hopeful she would reach her destination in time. She had nothing to lose.
Quickly she dressed and made her way outside, to the streets of Thebes. This was not the busiest area of the town, there were merchants here and there, selling food, but the more popular stands were along the main street, selling everything from jewellery to fine linen. She made her way through the busier streets, avoiding beggars, staying clear of the traders and their smelling donkeys.
The Nile shone emerald in the light of Ra, the sun beams reflecting of the water ripples. Zahra knew a ferryman who let her across even when she had no money - she plied her trade instead. Sometimes he followed her to the tavern and demanded a proper pay for half her usual price. She had granted him that, for if she crossed him she would have no other choice but to swim across the river. With the crocodiles that frequently patrolled the river, it seemed a very inconvenient option.
The man was there, gossiping with a fellow ferryman, waving his arms as he illustrated whatever point he was trying to make. When Zahra neared, the ferryman gave the other a knowing smile and ushered her to the shade of a secluded palm tree. There she kneeled on the ground before him and took him into her mouth, paying him for today's service. Soon the man grunted, Zahra wiped her mouth as she got up and he ushered her into the boat that would take her across.
The temple complex in the town center was the largest building Zahra had ever seen; the main temple of Osiris rose taller than the highest palm trees, the royal palace next to it shone with more gold she had ever seen. Gold-painted priests and tattoo-faced Medjai were everywhere, among with nobles dressed in pristine linen dresses and loincloths, gold hanging around their necks to show their status in the society. Zahra kept her head down and continued walking towards the temple's main entrance.
The courtyard of the temple was a huge plaza, surrounded by pylons and walls on all four sides. A colossal statue of the Pharaoh was sitting on the right side, at it's feet pilgrims bowed and prayed for whatever answers they sought for.
Zahra didn't stop to worship with them. She needed something more powerful than the son of a god.
The inner temple was closed off with a massive pair ebony doors. Once again, she stood before them and draw a deep breath, then stepped up and struck the bronze ram's head knocker on the door.
A gold-painted priest on guard duty opened a small hatch on the door to peer through and look at whoever was trying to get access to the most sacred. When he recognised the girl, his eyes narrowed with anger. "You!"
"I'm sorry, I must speak with--"
The door suddenly opened to let the golden priest through. Instead of allowing her to enter he was standing in her way and shoving her out, towards the streets. "I know who you are and I know who you're here to see. He will not see you."
Zahra didn't want to back down so easily. "Please, I need his help. I need to ask him--"
"He will spare no time for the likes of you. Now be gone before I call the Medjai. They should flail you just for knocking on these sacred doors, you worthless whore!" With that, he struck a hand across her face, sending her falling onto the ground. Before she could get herself up, the priest grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out onto the street. With a strong shove she hit the dirt once more and winced in pain.
"Do not come here again!" the priest said and stalked angrily back into the temple, the massive double oak doors slammed shut behind him.
Five times she had come here, five times had she been sent away. This was the first time someone had actually thrown her out.
It seemed they were running out of patience.
Zahra sighed in disappointment. Getting to the answers she sought or even an audience from the only person who could help her seemed impossible now. If she came here again, she would surely be killed for her trouble, either by the Medjai or the priests themselves. What the priest had said ran over and over in her head. They should flail you just for knocking on these sacred doors, you worthless whore!
Giving up all further plans of ever returning, she picked herself up and headed back home.
The ferryman was there as usual, ready to return her back to her side of the river. As the boat swam across, she looked back at the walls of the temple complex, her hope fleeing further and further. Her only life now would go on as it was now; working her nights to pay for her home for the day, using whatever she could spare to feed herself. New clothes, jewellery and other delicacies now were a dream unattainable. She would live out the rest of her life invisible.
On her way to her tavern, she noticed a pair of men drinking barley beer, eating fish and bread in a dark alley she had to pass. One of them she recognized as a customer of another girl, a red-headed Greek girl who had left the town a few days earlier to search for a 'better life', whatever that was.
Well, if she had to work for her living, she may as well start early that day.
"Greetings, my friends," she said, bowing her head as she would have done for nobles, although the men were hardly any higher caste than she was. "Are you in the mood of... entertainment?"
A lust lit up in the other man's eyes immediately. He stood up and looked her over, appreciative of what he saw. "Always, little girl. How much will it cost me?"
"Two deben, my lord," keeping her head bowed.
"For us both," the man said, cupping her breast through her dress.
"For each, my lord."
"I wasn't asking," the man said menacingly, coming to stand behind her and rubbing his erection against her buttocks. "Two deben, for us both."
His hands grabbed her wrists and held them immobile behind her back as he continued to rub himself against her.
It's impossible to shut a floodgate once it's opened, she reminded herself. She had offered her body, and the man had taken her offer. It would be dangerous to argue the matter further. But two deben for two was unacceptable.
"My lord, I am but a poor girl, and I cannot accept that price. However, I shall service you both for two deben and a small sip of beer and a little fish, if you should be that merciful," she said quietly and watched as the other man was already undoing his loincloth.
"That's fine by me, little girl. Now bend over and let me enter."
She did as she was told, bending over a pile of empty fish crates. He positioned himself over her entrance and pushed himself inside, starting a fast rhythm, pounding into her roughly.
By them the other man was stroking himself and looking out for any bypassers, "Hurry up! Let me have a go!"
Soon the man behind her gave a satisfied grunt and with one more rough push he was gone, shortly replaced by the other man. He repeated the act, taking hold of her breasts and squeezing them almost painfully. Zahra bit her lip and said nothing.
Before long the other man found his release as well and fell onto her back to catch his breath. He got up and retied his loincloth, leaving Zahra to pull her dress back down.
The promised two deben were given her along with a small sip of beer and little fish. Her reward was almost worth three deben in total. Not what she had wanted, but she was satisfied with what little she had got.
When she got back to the tavern, her landlord Kamenwati was standing in the doorway, arms across his chest, looking at the street with casual interest. "Well, my lovely Zahra, I believe your rent is due today."
"As it was yesterday, lord, as well as the day before and for the past three weeks," she replied. "Have I ever missed a payment?"
"There is always a first time for everything," he replied. As she tried to go past him, he grabbed her be the arm and whispered into her ear, "You should not worry over your rent, lovely girl. You can always feel free to come to me."
"I shall remember that, but I do not think it'll come to that. I'll pay in time, as I always had."
Kamenwati released her arm and let her enter, looking after her as she climbed up the stairs to go upstairs.
"We shall see about that," he said to no one in particular. He knew well how close she came every night to scramble together enough money. The more difficult it got, the more likely was she to give her services to him one night.