16.03.2015

Horus

Perfectly polished stone. A rainbow of colors reflected from elaborate columns. The smell of flowers mixing with the sweet scents in my lover's hair.

Hathor had convinced me to take a break. And for the better, I hadn't realized how much I'd needed it.

It would've been just a quick dip in the garden's pool. Yet Hathor had very conveniently fallen asleep while we were laying in the water, head gently resting on my chest. Hours had gone by and work was probably piling on, but I didn't have the heart to wake her up. And she knew. Knew her hand on my heart, her breath on my skin, was all I needed to be alright.

I'd started to drift off myself, lulled by the peace Hathor always brought in my life. That was, until I noticed the quickening of her breath, the fluttering of her lashes brushing my skin. I opened my eyes to meet her still sleepy gaze. Smiled as she kissed me good-morning.

Hathor got up to the edge of the pool to lay her head on my shoulder. I pulled her closer as she kissed my neck, water splashing around us.

"This is better than work, isn't it?" Hathor laughed.

"Hm." I took my time to answer, enjoying the sensation of her skin on mine. "Life can't be only pleasure, my love."

As if on cue, a guard appeared at the entrance of the garden.

"Pharaoh, my apologies for interrupting your peace, but Lady Nekhbet is requesting an audience with you."

Hathor groaned and leaned her head on the stone. She closed her eyes as the sunlight, coming through the arch of trees above us, hit her face.

"You just had to jinx it, didn't you." She murmured.

My queen should never wear a frown. I got halfway out of the pool, propping myself on one elbow. Then traced the worried lines on her forehead, over the bridge of her nose, down her cheek, following her jawline all the way to her lips. Stopped at her smile.

"Just one meeting and you'll have all of my attention." I whispered. "I won't even leave the garden, I promise. Go take care of your favorite flowers, whom I sometimes feel you love more than me."

My goddess' laugh ringed through the garden, rippled through the water, stilled the trees, beckoned even the wind to listen.

"Impossible," she whispered back, her breath warm on my fingers. "You've conquered my entire heart."

Protector of Upper Egypt, Lady of the Great House, our beloved vulture goddess, who helped my mother and aunt raise me, who watched over me so that I ended up remembering her as Aunty Nekhbet. Why did she had to give me a headache, too?

Like I promised Hathor, I invited Nekhbet into the Royal Gardens instead of going to my office. It really was a beautiful place – the gardens, not the office. When we first returned in December, the effects of time and neglect were evident all through the Royal Complex. The Gardens were no exception.

Human plants can grow in Duat, but away from their natural habitat they need a lot of magic to thrive. With the gods gone, everything had dried and rotted.

In the past month Hathor had made it her personal goal to revive the Gardens' beauty.

The Royal Gardens were actually 12 small gardens, open to the public, circling our private one.

Oh, Hathor! Her gentle touch was written all over the place! Even when we were apart, in the garden that had become hers, I could feel her love calming me.

Which was welcomed – you need to be as calm as possible when talking to Nekhbet.

Lady Nekhbet was very clearly in a foul mood. She came as a woman and maybe some could have mistaken her for human, was it not for the vulture-like arms and legs. Her talons were freshly sharpened, too. You had to give it to Aunty Nekhbet, she never let herself go.

The vulture goddess marched towards me, leaving the two guards, who were accompanying her, at the garden's entrance.

I tried my best to smile. "Lady Nekhbet! What a nice sur-"

"Spare the pleasantries, boy. I was going to bring the matter to your mother, but she seems to have lost her mind, too."

I clenched my fist so I couldn't accidently summon my khopesh. Nekhbet loved playing power games and anger meant you've lost her little war.

"I must remind you, Lady Nekhbet, that you are addressing your Pharaoh."

Nehbet smiled, baring her sharp teeth.

"If you care to keep that title, you'll listen to what I have to say."

When I was young, her smile used to terrify me. It did, however, prove to be great mental practice for the first time I faced the sha. Yes, the vulture goddess had always tried to help me, in her own way. And if her upset was so major that she's talked with Mother… She'd talked with Mother. Huh, Isis hadn't mentioned.

Nekhbet laughed. "I have your attention now, don't I, boy?"

Lesson one on facing Nekhbet: straighten your spine, look her in the eyes. Know in your bones that you are in full control of the situation.

I crossed my arms. "Do go on, Protector of Upper Egypt. But make it quick. I have other responsibilities to attend to."

Like finding Hathor among the trees. Talking to Hathor. Kissing Hathor. Holding Hathor. Erasing this entire interaction from my mind so I have more space for Hathor.

"Very well, Pharaoh. I request you withdraw all support from your host."

Lesson number two on facing Nehbet: Whatever you do, don't let your emotions show.

I laughed. "Withdraw my support? Why should I do that?"

"Simple – the younglings' plan is ridiculous. They are playing with powers they don't understand nor have the strength the wield. On the slim chance that they not only survive, but succeed, they shall put on our throne a weak ruler. Ma'at shall be shaken." She was right, of course. Where the vulture went wrong was her next sentence. "Therefore, the Kane family must be stopped or taken out."

Lesson three: Never, ever, lose your temper. Even if it gets personal. Even if you can feel the fires of rage creeping up to the surface. Don't show weakness.

"Taken out?"

Nekhbet shrugged. "For their own good."

Lesson four: Still, the vulture is very good at her games, a skillset built through eons of patience, practice and observation.

The khopesh was at her throat so quickly, it took me a moment to realize what I'd done.

Lesson five: If you fail, you better be really good at it.

Game over.

"Leave the kids alone." I snarled.

"You weren't there, but I was, child." Nekhbet whispered. She didn't look at the weapon threatening her, but her body tensed. Looking back, maybe it wasn't because of me. In her eyes was the glint of something I wished I never knew of. "I was one of those unfortunate enough to see what was left of Ra in the end. The sight was enough to finally push Set over the edge, turn your uncle into the monster we know."

Nekhbet took advantage of my shock and stepped back. "I was there for your mother once, I looked over you while she was looking for your father, watched you grow into the Pharaoh we need. Discourage the kids, Horus. Or I'll do it."