name in elegantly carved hieroglyphs.
We crossed a vestibule into the receiving area of the house. Gossamer draperies of silver and white hung from the high ceiling. The walls were covered with colourful murals depicting scenes from Pentephres and Satsepdu's life. The furniture's legs were shaped like lions' paws.
I could hardly believe that these palatial surroundings were now the place I would call home.
I was still gawking, trying to take everything in, when Pentephres took my arm.
"There is still more to see," he said.
Our footsteps echoed as we made our way through the cavernous estate. My new parents showed me the dining hall, the library and the secondary loggia which was used for informal meetings. They took me down the corridors which led to our private quarters.
"We look forward to you seeing your room, Asenath," Satsepdu said. "We hope you will like it."
We stopped before polished cedar doors. On instinct, I went over to open them.
Pentephres held up his hand. "Don't. You are not a servant anymore."
I blinked as a servant girl appeared. This could not be feasible. Surely, any moment now, I would learn my adoption had been a mistake.
The girl unbolted the doors and pushed them open.
"Welcome to your room," Pentephres said.
My mouth dropped.
The room was twice the size of the temple servants' communal room. It was certainly much bigger than my family's hut.
There was a dominantly blue motif—turquoise, lapis lazuli, sky blue, green-blue, among others. I found it so relaxing that I decided blue would be my favourite colour from now on.
Silken curtains billowed at the far end. Cedar furniture was arranged neatly around the room. Rugs and plump cushions spilled across the floor.
Satsepdu said that beyond the curtains was the balcony. "On a nice day, you can relax with a drink out there."
I saw a vase that looked like a fish with its mouth wide open. It looked so unusual, I laughed.
Satsepdu smiled. "I thought it would be a fun addition."
An enormous bed the shape of a hippo stood at the centre of the room. Around it was a blue gossamer canopy which had been drawn back. Pentephres gestured to it. "Try it and see how you like it."
Suddenly feeling a childlike excitement, I ran over and flung myself onto it. I sank deep into the downy mattress and silken sheets. A giggle escaped my lips.
"How do you like it?" Satsepdu asked.
"My lord and lady―"
"You may address us as Father and Mother now, Asenath," the high priest interrupted gently. "I know it may take a while to get used to. But we really would prefer that."
I climbed out of the bed. "Thank you so very much."
Pentephres motioned to the couches. "Come. We have a few things to discuss."
We took our seats.
"Now Asenath," he said, "as a noblewoman and the Chief Daughter of Atum-Re, you will be representing the Heliopolitan priesthood to all of Egypt as well as Pharaoh himself. Tomorrow, we will be introducing you to your tutors. They will be giving you lessons in academia and etiquette. I will be instructing you on the temple and the gods. Your lessons begin next week."
I nodded calmly, even though I felt a twinge of nervousness.
Pentephres added, "But do not worry, little one. We will not rush you. In fact, your first week will be a relaxed one. We want your adjustment to be as easy as possible."
Satsepdu said, "Tomorrow, I can show you the other places in the house that you have not seen yet. I think you will like the garden. It is very beautiful in the daytime. You can also browse in the library if you wish."
I smiled. It sounded very promising. "That would be nice. Thank you."
There was a knock on the door.
"Enter," Pentephres said.
The door creaked open. A pair of large eyes peeped out.
Pentephres gestured impatiently.
A young Nubian girl slipped into the room. She was so slender, she looked like she could easily be blown away by the wind.
"This is Nafre," Pentephres said. "She will be your handmaid."
Nafre dropped to her knees.
We crossed a vestibule into the receiving area of the house. Gossamer draperies of silver and white hung from the high ceiling. The walls were covered with colourful murals depicting scenes from Pentephres and Satsepdu's life. The furniture's legs were shaped like lions' paws.
I could hardly believe that these palatial surroundings were now the place I would call home.
I was still gawking, trying to take everything in, when Pentephres took my arm.
"There is still more to see," he said.
Our footsteps echoed as we made our way through the cavernous estate. My new parents showed me the dining hall, the library and the secondary loggia which was used for informal meetings. They took me down the corridors which led to our private quarters.
"We look forward to you seeing your room, Asenath," Satsepdu said. "We hope you will like it."
We stopped before polished cedar doors. On instinct, I went over to open them.
Pentephres held up his hand. "Don't. You are not a servant anymore."
I blinked as a servant girl appeared. This could not be feasible. Surely, any moment now, I would learn my adoption had been a mistake.
The girl unbolted the doors and pushed them open.
"Welcome to your room," Pentephres said.
My mouth dropped.
The room was twice the size of the temple servants' communal room. It was certainly much bigger than my family's hut.
There was a dominantly blue motif—turquoise, lapis lazuli, sky blue, green-blue, among others. I found it so relaxing that I decided blue would be my favourite colour from now on.
Silken curtains billowed at the far end. Cedar furniture was arranged neatly around the room. Rugs and plump cushions spilled across the floor.
Satsepdu said that beyond the curtains was the balcony. "On a nice day, you can relax with a drink out there."
I saw a vase that looked like a fish with its mouth wide open. It looked so unusual, I laughed.
Satsepdu smiled. "I thought it would be a fun addition."
An enormous bed the shape of a hippo stood at the centre of the room. Around it was a blue gossamer canopy which had been drawn back. Pentephres gestured to it. "Try it and see how you like it."
Suddenly feeling a childlike excitement, I ran over and flung myself onto it. I sank deep into the downy mattress and silken sheets. A giggle escaped my lips.
"How do you like it?" Satsepdu asked.
"My lord and lady―"
"You may address us as Father and Mother now, Asenath," the high priest interrupted gently. "I know it may take a while to get used to. But we really would prefer that."
I climbed out of the bed. "Thank you so very much."
Pentephres motioned to the couches. "Come. We have a few things to discuss."
We took our seats.
"Now Asenath," he said, "as a noblewoman and the Chief Daughter of Atum-Re, you will be representing the Heliopolitan priesthood to all of Egypt as well as Pharaoh himself. Tomorrow, we will be introducing you to your tutors. They will be giving you lessons in academia and etiquette. I will be instructing you on the temple and the gods. Your lessons begin next week."
I nodded calmly, even though I felt a twinge of nervousness.
Pentephres added, "But do not worry, little one. We will not rush you. In fact, your first week will be a relaxed one. We want your adjustment to be as easy as possible."
Satsepdu said, "Tomorrow, I can show you the other places in the house that you have not seen yet. I think you will like the garden. It is very beautiful in the daytime. You can also browse in the library if you wish."
I smiled. It sounded very promising. "That would be nice. Thank you."
There was a knock on the door.
"Enter," Pentephres said.
The door creaked open. A pair of large eyes peeped out.
Pentephres gestured impatiently.
A young Nubian girl slipped into the room. She was so slender, she looked like she could easily be blown away by the wind.
"This is Nafre," Pentephres said. "She will be your handmaid."
Nafre dropped to her knees.
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