Chapter 4:Count Your Blessings: Part 1
Dreams are often a funny thing, so are memories. I used to be so sure that my fear of water and thunderstorms were just nothing more than simple fears, ones that were common and all of these Nightmares I've had of traveling down a river with loud noises and the calming lullaby echoing in my soul were nothing, but a dream, one I expected to outgrow. But I didn't.
When I turned 12 years old, our mother, Queen Tuya revealed to me and my brothers that me and Moses had been sent down the river, to be guided by the Gods to the Royal Palace. It was then that I figured out that my Nightmares of the river and a woman singing a lullaby to ease our journey on said river were my memories from when I was a baby.
I breathed in deeply, enjoying the gentle hymns of prayers the Priests uttered to the Gods. I didn't have to say anything as I sat on my knees with my head bowed, my brothers beside me, and our parents in front of us. It was a monthly ritual that the Pharaoh does. We go to the House of Ra to offer prayer and tribute to our benevolent deities. This was honestly what I loved most about the temple and the priests. Prayers and just the company of others praying and the company of the Gods.
As I sat here, praying with my heart, I saw Hotep and Huy nearby. Both were kneeling before the statue of Horus. A bowl of red wine and a loaf of bread was being offered to the falcon God. I soon felt the usual pins and needles pain shooting up my legs so I stood up, using the shoulders of my brothers as leverage. The leather pouch strung across my shoulders hit my hips as I did so.
My legs felt a bit weak, but I managed to keep my balance as I started walking away. My father's voice called my name after I took a few steps.
"Maya?" The Pharaoh said in his deep voice.
I looked back at him, seeing him sitting straight while on his knees. "Papa?" I said.
His eyes had that knowing gleam but he asked anyway. "Where are you going?" he asked. I could see Hotep and Huy staring at us, glaring at me with a smug smile.
"I am going to pay tribute to my Guardian Spirit, the beautiful Goddess, Bastet. If it pleases my lord Pharaoh?" I answered, bowing my head in respect.
Pharaoh Seti dipped his chin in acceptance, "You may, Sweet Mew. Remember the Goddess who blessed you the day you came into our lives."
"Thank you, Papa and I will never forget." I whispered and I gave another bow before walking off. I heard Moses asking our parents for the same permission and my twin soon joined me.
We walked through the House of Ra, walking past various statues and people praying at their feet. It wasn't long before we came to one of the chambers with many statues of cats sitting and laying on their bellies. Each cat wore intricate collars and necklaces on their necks, a few of them wore armbands on their paws. All the gazes of the feline statues starred in one direction, their eyes looking at a large statue of a woman.
The statue was painted gold and whoever made this statue had made her with care. Her long flowing gown barely touched the floor, showing the various anklets adorning her feet. And when you looked at her face, her face was that of a cat, long black hair reaching just past her shoulder blades, held back by a circlet set upon her head. Her blue eyes stared back at me and that stare always made me shiver with awe.
Moses touched my shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Ready?"
I nodded, allowing Moses to steer me a bit closer. The two of us knelt at the feet of Bastet, the Cat Goddess, and set about preparing our tribute to her. Moses grabbed some of the match and Flint, striking the two together to light the sticks of incense. Soon the chamber of Bastet was smelling like lavender and Jasmine. Drawing the bowl for offerings closer, I shrugged off the leather pouch and carefully uncapped it. Cream, made and prepared by some of the nearby cattle owners and shepherds, streamed out of the pouch, much like a waterfall. The bowl filled up quickly and Moses knelt beside me, head bowed as I uttered a Prayer of thanks to Bastet.
Because I had blue eyes like the said Goddess and was mewling like a kitten when our stepmother found us, the Pharaoh and the Queen would say that Bastet had blessed me and watched over me. I don't know if it was true or not, but I've always felt a connection to the Goddess. Just being around her statue or hearing her name was enough to bring me comfort.
Once my prayer ended, I lifted my head and glanced up at the statue. Moses chuckled to himself from beside me, his head still bowed, a smile graced his lips.
"What's so funny? I asked, suppressing a smile of my own. When I looked at my brother, I saw him lift his head.
"I was just thinking of how peaceful it is without Hotep and Huy sucking up to their father every minute." A coy smile spread over Moses' face, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief. I couldn't help giggling, holding my hand over my mouth.
"M-Moses, don't say that!"
"But it's true. Those two are always chattering, never being quiet." Moses continued, he moved his fingers as if to form a mouth and moved them as he imitated Huy's hissing voice, "It is not your fault your children practice the art of blasphemy."
My giggles got louder as Moses continued, making various movements, poking fun at our two least favorite people. Moses always poked fun at them. He was always playful and mischievous, pulling pranks on Hotep and Huy, and getting me and Ramses in on it. As revenge when we're caught and being scolded by father, the two priests would use every chance during the scolding to make sly remarks aimed at us.
"Think that's funny, do you?" A voice dripping with venom hissed the words from behind us. Moses quickly pulled me behind him as we stood up and faced the two conniving priests. If anyone looked more menacing then father right now, it would be Hotep and Huy. The two of them glared at us.
"Well, of course. You two are nothing more than court jesters to my father." Moses glared back at them with narrowed eyes.
I just grabbed onto my brother's arm, almost scared he might do something foolish if the two men standing before us provoked him enough.
"Brother, no." I murmured.
Moses just ignored my quiet warning as Hotep and Huy took a step closer. His arm was held out in front of me as if to shield me. I never knew why Moses and the two men were always at odds with each other. But if angered enough, Hotep and Huy could be deadly. They know their way around the higher powers, or so they claim. Magic tricks and sneaking around is what they do, but they can also slip a drop of poison into your goblet if they don't like you.
"You two should count your blessings that you weren't slaughtered with the rest of those slave babies." Hotep growled. His partner smirked from behind him.
"And let's not forget drowning in the river or being eaten by the crocodiles." Guy smiled with a malicious kind of glee that almost made me gasp. Moses's body grew tense with anger as the priests both sneered at us.
"You should show us the proper respect, we are the Princess and Prince of Egypt." It surprised me to see how angry Moses was getting. I could feel his hand flexing, the fingers curling against his palms.
"Respect?" Hotep scoffed, his eyes going wide. He then looked at Huy, lips slowly curling into a sneer. "Did you hear what these [I]slaves[/I] said, Huy?"
The thinner of the two just laughed, holding onto Hotep as he did so. "They think they're royalty?"
Moses's hand twitched, but I slipped his hand into mine, squeezing it gently.
"Brother, just ignore them and let's just go." But he wasn't listening. The anger taking a hold of his heart was making it hard for him to keep his composure.
"You two are nothing more than pet slaves to the real Prince of Egypt, strays that the Queen saved from drowning and took pity on."
I tugged Moses's arm, trying to budge him. If the Pharaoh caught us arguing with the High Priests, it wouldn't be pretty. "Moses, let's just go. Please?" I begged him, my hold on his arm tightening a bit as I pulled on him once more.
After moments of glaring and heavy tension, Moses finally budged and allowed me to lead him away. I heard the Priests snickering and muttering something as we passed them.
"Enjoy your time with Prince Ramses while you can, [I]Princess[/I]. You wouldn't want anyone to find out about your premarital affairs with him."
My heart leapt into my throat at the priest's words. Fear settling into the pit of my stomach. "How did you-?"
Hotep sneered more, stepping closer to us. Moses pulled me behind him once more. But it failed to stop Guy from coming up behind us and grabbing me by the neck.
"We have spies everywhere, dear Princess, we know and see all." Huy hissed in my ear, him being uncomfortably close. He squeezed hard on my neck, the pain made me yelp. Moses just scowled and before I could stop him, he shoved the priests away, the two spiritual servants of the Gods falling over.
"Leave my sister alone!"