In The Walls Of the Great House Of Egypt
The time set for us to mingle seemed to fly by, but at the same time, the end of it didn't come soon enough.
I contributed as little as I was able to the conversation between Maahad and Mana. I saw Seth and Kisara moving from cluster of people to cluster of people, Seth to warn them not to cross him and Kisara to chide him for threatening them, and wondered if I should call them over, but I didn't want any more attention on me. Besides, Kisara seemed to make Mana upset for some reason, and I didn't want to face her anger again.
Finally, the Pharaoh stood.
"Now that I have given you time to forge friendships among yourselves, the time has come for all of you to separate and prepare for tonight. For tonight, we shall have a great feast to honor the commencement of these games, and the presence of all these young, promising faces among us!"
Hushed whispers raced across the crowd.
"A feast? In the Pharaoh's own hall?" Maahad asked.
"In honor of us?" Mana added.
"The Pharaoh seems pleased with how many contestants there are," I observed. "The winners are invited into the Sacred Court, right? Perhaps he wants to treat us all as royalty now, to show us what the winners will receive as motivation for us."
"So it's a bribe?" Seth asked, roughly inserting himself into the conversation.
"Or he could just be happy," Kisara pointed out, somewhat dryly. "You did say he seemed glad to see so many people showed up. This is the first contest of its kind. Maybe he was worried no one would want to participate."
"Who wouldn't want to?" Seth asked in disbelief. "It's a chance to show your skill before the Pharaoh himself! To be accepted as royalty if you win! Imagine the glory!"
"I certainly didn't come for the glory," Kisara said, causing Seth to sweat in embarrassment. "I came because I hoped placing high would help my village, and to keep a certain someone from bragging his way into trouble."
Seth reddened again before turning to his friend. "We should part ways, Kisara, in order to prepare for the feast," he said as a change of subject.
"I suppose," the white-haired girl replied flatly. "Are we supposed to go somewhere specific in order to get ready?"
"I assume we will have rooms," Maahad replied, somewhat anxiously. "We will be staying here at the palace until the end of the contest."
Seth looked surprised and excited, before schooling his expression. "We'll be living in the Pharaoh's castle?"
"Until the games are over," Kisara clarified flatly.
I sighed inaudibly, wondering how Seth had come this far without knowing that. Mana appeared to share similar thoughts, judging from her face. Seth glared in annoyance back.
Mana then grinned. "I'm sooo looking forward to seeing our rooms! It's amazing, isn't it?" she asked.
"It is," Maahad replied. "Simply because of our magical ability, we, for a given time, shall live alongside nobility in the Great House itself."
"Well, as much as I'd enjoy staying, the Pharaoh has dismissed us, and I want to find my chambers and have some time to study and prepare myself before the feast begins," Seth cut in, his face still looking angry and embarrassed.
"Killjoy," Mana said mopily. "Kisara, are you going to come with us to find our rooms?"
"I'd like to, but someone needs to keep an eye on him to ensure he doesn't make an enemy of everyone here before the contests even begin," Kisara said with a bow. "See you at the feast!" She hurried off after Seth.
"How those two are friends is beyond me," Mana said. "Seth's such a jerk, but Kisara's so nice!"
"All the same, I wouldn't underestimate her. I have to wonder what her ka is, to have an aura so powerful."
Mana looked teasingly at Maahad. "Are you scared of her?"
"No, no. Only wary, as I should be. I envy whoever wins her over as an ally."
"She seems to already have forged an alliance with Seth," I observed. "Although whether they will gain any more allies remains to be seen."
Maahad again laughed, even though it was only an observation. "Seth does not resemble a team player by any stretch of the imagination. However, given how close he is to Kisara, we must prepare for the eventuality they team up later."
"Speaking of alliances," I said. "Are you planning to forge any?"
"I was under the assumption you worked best by yourself. But I may. I admit that, while I know much about magic, I don't know much in the way of practical combat. I would be looking for someone with particularly strong combat ability, to engage in melee combat while I and my ka provided assistance from further back."
"That's smart! It's cool you've figured that out already, Maahad!" Mana piped up.
"I knew that my combat prowess paled in comparison to my magic before I came here. I trained as hard as I could, but until the turn of the new moon wasn't as much time as I would have liked."
"Humble of you to admit your weaknesses to us," I said mildly. Also foolish. My magic was unpracticed, but my combat skills were beyond compare. If that were the sole deciding factor, I would beat Maahad handily in the ring.
But I knew it wasn't. I knew I needed to practice my magic before the contests officially began.
"So, where are our rooms?" Mana asked, as an abrupt change of subject.
"I believe there are maidservants showing us to our quarters," Maahad observed, pointing to young women flocking all over the throne room, calling contestants over to them and leading them down the halls.
"Do we simply ask one?" I asked.
"I suppose," Maahad replied. He walked over, waving his hand to get the attention of an older maidservant. He dipped his head and smiled at me as he followed the maid to his room.
"That was easy," Mana said, raising an eyebrow. "Better go find my room, too! Bye, Kay!" She waved, before running off to catch the attention of another maid.
I felt my face heat up again. Forcing all thoughts of her smile out of my mind, I turned and began looking for someone to ask about my room.
"Young master?" a voice asked.
I looked behind me to find a maidservant looking at me. She was older, about the same age as my mother, and while her hair was streaked with gray, her eyes were bright and alive.
"... Are you talking about me?" I asked uncertainly.
"Yes," she replied, laughing lightly. "Not used to being waited on, are you?"
I shook my head, and the woman smiled warmly at me. She looked around furtively. "Forgive me for asking, but how old are you?"
"I entered my fifteenth year two turns of the moon ago," I answered truthfully.
"Fifteen?" She coughed. "I apologize, you look younger than that. My mistake. Now, are you looking for your room?"
"I am," I replied, confused by the strange look in her eye.
"Right. Follow me," she said with a bow.
As the maidservant led me into the torchlit halls of the castle, I thought about how friendly she was.
I had always known I was small. In fact, I used it to my advantage, and no one really cared that I looked far younger than I actually was.
Why did this maidservant, who only knew me as a contestant in the magic contest, show such concern for how young I looked?
Looking at her, I thought of Mother. This woman, judging from her apparent age, would have worked at the palace at the same time as her. Did she know about Aknamkanon's atrocity? What injustices had she witnessed?
A more relevant question occurred to me: what if she noticed my resemblance to Mother?
The idea made me nervous, and I couldn't help but remove my knife from my hip and begin fidgeting with it.
The maid tensed a little at the sound of my knife moving out of its sheath. "Young master?" When she saw me fidgeting with it instead of moving to attack her, she visibly relaxed. "If I may, what are you doing?"
"Oh. I was just… deep in thought, I guess," I replied, wondering why everyone reacted so strongly to my weapon. Everyone had to have one, surely, for the combat portion of the games, and in the village, only an idiot went anywhere without at least one blade on their person.
"That's a beautiful blade. Abasi's handiwork?"
"Yes, How did you know?"
"There is no mistaking that sly old lion's handiwork. As the daughter of a blacksmith myself, I learned to recognize different styles of blade early." The woman smiled at me. "If I may ask, where did you get it?"
"My mother purchased it for me. It hasn't failed me yet."
"And I'm sure it won't." The maidservant turned and continued guiding me down the halls. I was glad I had her as a guide, because I would have quickly gotten lost in the maze of corridors.
The maidservant chuckled lightly.
"What is it?" I asked, confused.
"Sorry, young master. If you don't mind me saying so, you look like a little owlet peering out of a hole, looking around wide-eyed at everything like that. First time at the palace, then?"
"I've never even set foot in the Great City," I replied.
"I see. So where are you from?"
"A small village to the west. We didn't live in the village itself, though. Mother liked us to keep to ourselves."
"Ah. So how did you hear of the contest?"
"A messenger told me about it. Khnurn was his name."
"Khnurn? Ah, yes, you must be the one everyone is talking about."
"Why?" At her askance look, I added, "Why are they talking about me?"
"Khnurn wasted no time in telling people at the palace about a desert boy he found, whose ka and magical aura were among the most powerful he had ever sensed. He is a stern man, but his judgment is sound. If he sensed something special in you, of course people would talk about it. Picking favorites is not typical of him."
"Khnurn favors me to win?" I asked.
"At least do well," the woman replied. She laughed after a moment. "Sorry. All this talk and I never introduced myself. I am Berenike," she said.
At my silence, she looked at me, askance. "And you are?"
"Kay. My name is Kay."
"Kay. Well, Kay, I wish you luck in the games, as little as that means coming from a lowly maid. There are many people rallying for you, you know."
She paused, looking at me again, something unreadable in her face.
"I'm sorry, owlet, but you keep reminding me of someone. It keeps nagging at me."
"I'm told I have one of those faces," I replied. "But my mother did work here for a time, before I was born." I tensed, afraid I had said too much, but her gaze merely softened.
"Oh, sorry, owlet. I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm afraid I've developed a nosy streak in my old age." She stopped in front of a finely carved door.
"This chamber will be yours for the duration of your stay. Some servants will be there in a bit to help you get ready for the feast."
"Ready?" I asked.
"Yes, owlet," the woman said with a smile. "Unless you want to go before the Pharaoh covered in dust and blood from your journey."
I rapidly shook my head. While inwardly I didn't feel it mattered, I didn't want to stick out.
The maidservant laughed warmly. "I shall leave you to be settled," she said, opening the door to my new room. To herself she whispered, "Gods have mercy, they're only children."
I watched her disappear down the hall, before turning and confronting my new room.
It was massive, beautifully furnished in gold and finely carved stone. A looking glass, the first I had ever seen in my life, stood in one corner. A bowl of kohl face paint and jars of perfume were set on a beautifully carved wooden table. A curtain took up half of one wall, blowing gently in the wind. A bed made with linen sheets took up a portion of floor space, but not much. The room was easily large enough for our little hut to fit in.
A finely made tunic trimmed in indigo and a matching hooded cloak waited for me, spread across the bed. I sat down on the other side of it. What on earth would I do with such a large room? With such beautiful furnishings? Such fine clothes? I had never set my eyes on anything as luxurious in my life, and it made me nervous.
The bed was big enough to swallow me up, the room had more space than I knew what to do with, people knelt and called me young master now, that massive curtain (which concealed a large balcony) was no defense against an attack…
I simply felt lost here.
I'm doing this for you, Mother, I thought to myself.
"Is this a bad time?" a voice asked. A slightly younger maid than Berenike poked her head in, followed by another, this one a mere girl my age.
"No. It's a lot to take in, is all."
The maid nodded. "The Pharaoh is being very generous." Looking at the tunic, she added, "I see you've found your new clothes?"
I nodded.
"Good. Go ahead and put them on."
The idea of being seen nude did not bother me, however, I refused to look at them as I changed out of my dirty, travel-worn tunic and into the finely woven one provided. The new cloth felt strange on my skin. Turning around, I saw the two maids waiting patiently. One gestured to me to sit, and they carefully applied perfume to my skin and, undoing my ponytail, brushed my hair.
I felt uncomfortable having these strangers fuss over my appearance when I had always taken care of it myself. The oddness of having Mother brush my hair was nothing in comparison to this, but I wasn't sure how to wave them off and assure them I could do it. I doubted they would believe me.
I was clad in sandals and my hair combed into a smooth black waterfall down my back. I was given gold armbands and earrings to wear. Last of all, the maids applied makeup to my face, carefully outlining my eyes with black kohl, brushing my cheekbones with face paint, and coloring my lips. My fingers twitched by the hilt of my dagger the whole time, as they always did when I was nervous.
"Ah, perfect," the first maid said, pulling away at last.
"Oh, yes, Dina," the second agreed. "The mysterious boy of the desert, now honored as a noble!" she giggled.
"I am glad you came to assist me," I admitted. "I wasn't sure where to begin. Although I must wonder, has everyone in this castle heard of me?"
The two girls broke into laughter. The second grinned at me. "Blunt, aren't you? Yes, I'm afraid. Master Khnurn is a hard man; I daresay you're the first to actually impress him in his life!" Leaning closer to me, something that made me feel a shiver of discomfort, she added, "He's rooting for you to be one of the chosen apprentices."
"I was informed that."
The second girl smiled behind her hand. "How bold. To be truthful, I didn't think you were the one. You're so much plainer than I expected."
"Nailah!" the maid called Dina scolded.
"Well, it is true. Although…" Nailah smiled at me playfully. "You are far kinder than that other man we helped earlier."
"Finally, something we can agree on, sister," Dina said flatly. "Rudest child I've ever had the misfortune of knowing! Ordered us around like he was a royal of the court already! I can't say how that witch-girl with the white hair puts up with him!"
"Seth?" I asked, my mind jumping to the brown-haired boy.
"Yes, that was his name. You have met him?"
"At the gates, when we were allowed to mingle. He seems very proud."
"Proud is too mild a word for him, child," Dina muttered.
"But he was not at all unpleasant to look at," Nailah added, a glazed look in her eyes and a smile creeping across her face. "Such a shame it seems he's taken." To me, she added, "But I like you better. You're not as stunning but far kinder."
"Alright, Nailah - out," Dina said sharply, waving her hand in dismissal.
The younger maid pouted. "I was just talking, Dina."
"Isis have mercy, what am I going to do with you?" Dina replied, before shooing her out.
"Here," Dina said. "The Pharaoh issued this to you. I know you have a blade but, please take it." She held out a sheath larger than that of my knife, which I reluctantly took. Unsheathing the blade, I found it was a khopesh, such as was carried by soldiers and nobles. The hooked blade was shining silver, the hilt gold inlaid with obsidian, amethyst, and, most precious of all, lapis.
"I'll be sure to tell the Pharaoh you're so impressed with it," Dina said dryly.
"Thank you," I replied. I was certain I would rather use my knife. I was loath to accept a gift from the Pharaoh. But I knew how to use a sword, and the weapon's reach would be helpful in situations my knife could not aid me. "I mean, tell him that I thank him. For the sword."
Dina, for the first time, cracked a smile. "Not much of an orator, are you?" She stood up. "Another servant will be by to tell you when the feast begins. Good luck."
She left with the click of the door shutting, and I carefully looked down at myself. Girding my knife at my side as it had been before, I thought for a moment, staring at the shining blade of the khopesh, before I sheathed it and bound it to my other hip, where I could easily reach it, if I needed to. Next was my pouch which contained the poisonous seeds and the amethyst stone. I would need the latter for the feast tonight. I could not afford to sleep the night away drunk with wine. I buried the seeds deep within my bag. I didn't want any hapless maid to discover them.
Then I carefully tucked the amethyst stone around my neck and shouldered my bow. Running my fingers through my hair, I hurriedly pulled it up using the tie the maids had pulled out. I was used to it that way. As I turned, intending to scout a bit before the feast began, a movement in the mirror caught my eye.
Slowly, I turned to face the glass.
The face looking at me was not my own. A stranger stood in my place. Shocked, I shouted and jumped back, fumbling for my knife. It took longer than usual for me to pull it out of its sheath and point it at the image in front of me.
That was when a knock on the door startled me.
"Yes?" I asked.
"Are you decent?" asked the curt reply. I recognized Seth's voice.
"Yes," I replied.
My door swung open to reveal Seth, who was also dressed in opulent clothes. His was a tunic of blue cloth edged in golden thread and gold armbands on each arm. A collar of turquoise and gold rested on his shoulders.
"So how are you liking the royal treatment, desert boy?" he asked with a smirk.
"I am… not sure what to think of it. They're treating us like members of the court, even though the contest has barely begun. I am used to fending for myself. These people hailing me as master is… disconcerting to me."
"Okay, I was just asking if you liked the new room and outfit, jackal cub, not your life story," Seth replied flatly. He threw himself down on my bed, put his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes. "Frankly, I could get used to this. Being treated like royalty already is just further incentive to win."
"Are you still convinced the Pharaoh is bribing us?"
Seth opened one eye in annoyance. "I don't know. Are you?"
"The Pharaoh is the Morning and the Evening Star. I'm certainly not going to have a perfect understanding of his ways."
"But you're thinking about it. Good. I'm glad at least someone else thinks this is off, even if it is some feral prodigy from nowhere."
"Haven't you brought your concerns up with your companion?" I asked, sitting down on the end of the bed, below Seth's feet.
"Huh?"
"The white-haired girl you were with at the gathering. Kisara?"
"You saw her. She's not as convinced as I am that the Pharaoh could have an ulterior motive. In fact, she thinks it's ridiculous that I think so."
"She seems naive not to at least consider it," I replied.
Seth growled under his breath and gave me a sharp kick with his sandal. "Kisara is not naive. She knows better than anyone how cruel people can be. But she prefers to see the good in everyone. I can't say how wise it is, but it's admirable in its own way."
He hmphed. "I shouldn't be philosophizing with my rival," he said, abruptly getting up from the bed. He stalked over to the door. Smirking at me, he added, "Enjoy priesthood while you have it, Kay of the western desert."
He shut the door behind me, leaving me confused.
I shot a glance at the mirror, wondering if the demon in the glass was still there. Resolving to ignore it if it was, I stood up and left my room. I felt uncomfortable there, and I still wanted to look around the palace and plan. I needed to know every turn of the halls if my goal was to become reality.
Shutting my door, I slipped down the hallway, trying to remember the way I had come. I didn't want to go back that way. I didn't want to be anywhere in the throne room, especially since I had no reason to be roaming about.
Confident I had found it, I turned and walked in the other direction.
So this hall seems to lead to the servants' quarters, that's a doorway out, those rooms have balconies, there are guards posted there, there, and there, and the throne room is here.
After a long time of hunting around, I had gotten a rough idea of the layout of this side of the castle.
Now, if only I could find the Pharaoh's bedchamber. If I killed him while he slept, it would be easier to slip away without being caught. Suspect would fall upon the first watchman.
But it would also put the castle on high alert, and I needed to bide my time and really get to know the area of the castle and the Great City surrounding it.
Poking around, looking for the Pharaoh's rooms would only further incriminate me. I had to play innocent for now, and that meant staying well away from the Pharaoh's chambers, and that of the other nobles.
As much as it delayed my goal, that was the best way I could chart out at the moment. I looked around where I was, taking note of any landmarks.
In front of me was a massive, golden door, tightly bolted shut at the moment. The grand door bothered me for some reason, but I pushed it away. It clearly hadn't been opened in a long time, judging from the dust on the knob and the rust on the chains bolting it shut. Not my problem.
I nodded. I was confident I had a plan.
It'll take time, Mother. But I will avenge you. I promise.
I smiled at the thought. Then, my heart stopped as I heard something.
Freezing and laying a hand on my knife, I listened intently. The noise sounded almost like… crying.
The noise was faint and echoed vaguely, as if far in the distance, but at the same time sounded so close the source may have been right next to me.
"Who's there?" I whispered.
The crying went on, as if I hadn't spoken.
The hall was suddenly chilled by a blast of wind, as if I had been thrown into a cold river. I shivered, my grip shaking on my knife.
"Who are you!?" I challenged.
A soft hiccup, and then the sensation of eyes on me.
Who are you, who are you, who are you? The room seemed to mock me by throwing my words back at me.
Tightening my grip on my knife's handle, feeling sweat pool beneath my fingers, I advanced further into the hallway.
The cold seemed strongest by this strange doorway that had been locked up.
What are you hiding? I silently challenged the door.
Suddenly, I felt a tight grip close around my wrist. The torches in this hallway immediately by the door went out. The grip was so cold it burned like fire, as if an iron poker was being pressed to my skin. I screamed and tried to pull away, but the grip held fast. I yanked harder, trying to reach the end of the hallway. By some instinct, I knew this presence would leave me if I got there.
"No, let me go!" I protested as the unseen presence tried to drag me to the bolted door.
Only a wailing cry answered, then the sound of weeping.
"No! I won't go with you!" I replied, yanking harder and harder - I was almost there! "I… said… NO!"
The hand released me in an instant, and I found myself tumbling backward at the other end of the hallway. The torches had reignited, and the hall became warm again.
Looking at the bewitched hall one last time, I shook my head and loosened my grip on my knife, which was slick in my hands. I had been trained to prepare for anything and to fear nothing, but that encounter had legitimately shaken me. Mother would be disappointed.
I slowly backed away, my hand still holding my knife.
"This is an odd place to practice bladework, isn't it?"
I whirled around at the voice, ripping my knife out of its sheath and pointing it at the throat of its source. My eyes widened when I saw who was standing there: Pharaoh Aknamkanon himself.
The Pharaoh eyed me mildly, his expression surprised - but not alarmed - to suddenly have a knife at his throat.
After a too-long pause, I unfroze and hurriedly sheathed my knife, then, for good measure, dropped to my knee in a bow.
"Lord Pharaoh," I greeted.
"Now, now, on your feet with you. I'm sure you met no harm. It was my fault for giving you a scare like that."
I slowly stood up, not sure what to say, my thoughts pinwheeling.
Aknamkanon smiled, his eyes glittering with good humor. "Surely I didn't scare you enough to render you mute, did I, young man?"
"I- no, Lord Pharaoh," I replied. I was still breathing hard from my escape in the hallway.
Aknamkanon's brow furrowed in concern. "Gods bless, you're pale as a ghost. Are you alright?"
"Something - I thought I saw - in the hall - the torches went out - someone grabbed me-" I began breathlessly, wondering why I was saying anything to the Pharaoh. I had been trying to avoid him, to ensure I didn't lose control of my fury at him for what I knew he had done.
Aknamkanon frowned. "Yes… the palace workers have told me about a string of instances such as what you are describing. I and the members of the court have been through to see what is the source of the trouble, but we can find nothing." He turned back to me.
"What is your name, young one? You are one of the trainees brought in for the contest, right?"
"I am," I replied quickly. "My name is Kay."
"Kay," Aknamkanon said experimentally. "An unusual name."
'It was the one I was given," I replied, trying to keep my voice even. How dare this Pharaoh laugh and try to joke with me! How dare he pretend to show me pity!
Aknamkanon's eyes narrowed, and I froze, preparing to be punished for talking back.
But he only smiled, his sky-blue eyes twinkling merrily.
"You are a bold one, to address me like that, Kay," he said. "Well then, will you require help in finding your chambers again?"
I looked at him in surprise. He wasn't even going to ask what I had been doing stalking the palace halls fully armed and unsupervised? Then I recovered myself. Arrogant or a fool, whatever he was, I wasn't going to call attention to it.
"No, Lord Pharaoh," I replied.
"Then I shall leave you to it. However, I will be posting extra guards to turn away any contestants that come near this hall. Judging from your experience, I must say that it is unsafe for them to be around, particularly those whose magic will not protect them."
"Yes, Lord Pharaoh," I replied, bowing curtly and turning away.
"Wait," he said.
I turned.
"Yes, Lord Pharaoh?"
"Oh, sorry. It was nothing. Just the fancy of an old man playing tricks on him, is all," Aknamkanon replied.
I looked at him, puzzled, but decided to leave it at that. The feast would be soon and I still wanted to scout a bit more, and perhaps practice the few spells I knew beforehand.
"Oh, and one more thing, Kay,' Aknamkanon said.
I stopped, confused and a bit annoyed.
"If you want to find a place to practice with your bladework, you had best go to the courtyard next time. Alright?"
"Yes, Lord Pharaoh," I replied, deciding not to push my luck. I hurried away, confused by what I had just seen and heard.