Read Online Reflections in the Nile by Suzanne Frank - Free Book Online
Authors: Suzanne Frank
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leaned forward, forearms resting on his knees. “I believe you are aware of the appearance of Lady RaEmhetepet?”
Cheftu colored slightly but answered, “I am.”
“Then you are aware her eyes are, or
were,
of the darkest brown.”
“Aye.”
“Well, they no longer are. They are as green as malachite from Canaan.”
“I see.”
Pharaoh turned to him. “You may not see now, favorite, but you will. We need you to go to the priestess. To examine her and see what you can find. It is simple enough; whether her needs are solely physical or if she also needs to have
khefts
cast from her, you can heal her.”
“Demons? My Majesty …”
“I know it will be awkward, given your past associations, but since she is once again betrothed, it will be a simple fact-finding mission. Makab is also here, visiting.”
Cheftu bowed his head in acquiescence. He had no choice. This was one of the joys of being the king's favorite seer. However, it would be good to see Makab. It had been many Inundations. He assumed he was dismissed and began to back to the door. No one turned their back on Pharaoh, living forever!
“Cheftu!” Hat called.
“My Majesty?”
“Do the signs declare anything unusual, my seer?”
Cheftu thought for a moment. “Ancient prophecy is about to be fulfilled in the destiny of Kallistae, in the Great Green.”
“The Keftiu? The same who trade here in Waset and Avaris? What prophecy concerns them?”
“The Aztlan empire has been nearly destroyed twice since Chaos, My Majesty. This time the destruction will be complete. I fear its repercussions not only in the Great Green, but even to Egypt. Perhaps these are the unusual portents you speak of?”
Hatshepsut stared at him for a moment, then her gaze darted to Hapuseneb. “No miraculous births?”
“Births, My Majesty?” Cheftu looked at her in slight confusion. “None that are foretold.” His gaze dropped to Hat's concealed waist and then to the floor. She laughed delightedly.
“Have you never erred since I made you Proclaimer of the Future?”
“By the grace of the gods, I have been correct, My Majesty.”
A secret and triumphant smile played around the edges of Hat's wide mouth. “That is well, favorite. I grant the god's discernment and wisdom in your quest.”
Well and truly dismissed, Cheftu crossed his chest in obeisance and left. Once outside he drew his cloak of office around him as a shield against the cool night air. He leapt into his chariot and took the reins, starting up the wide sycamore-shaded avenue to his house, swearing fluently, all thoughts of the priestess gone.
C HLOE WAS AWAKENED AND TAKEN TO HER BATH , where after being soaked, exfoliated, shaved, and massaged she was wrapped in a long white sheath and seated before a makeup table. When they approached her with sandals, Chloe realized she was wearing a dress, not a robe.
What about underwear?
Realizing all the slaves were watching her with more than a little fear, Chloe tried unobtrusively to look at her body in the sheath. The linen was so fine, one could see right through it. She blushed. No wonder they shaved so carefully.
She looked down at the delicate sandals presented to her—and gulped. Size nine was not huge in her day and time—she knew quite a few women with size ten and above—but the way everyone was staring at her long narrow feet, she guessed they were the size of a soldier's today. A male soldier's.
With a weak smile she shoved in her long toes, grasping the thong. Her feet pushed into the upper curve, squished out the sides, and hung out the back. She'd be lucky if she could walk without falling.
She waddled over to the trunk where Basha had pulled out her clothes and opened it. There was nothing except more flimsy, see-through, white wrap dresses. She looked at Basha; you could see every line of her young body through her one-strap dress. And hit, her slave girl, wore only a short shift with beads around her hips.
Apparently, in this
Cheftu colored slightly but answered, “I am.”
“Then you are aware her eyes are, or
were,
of the darkest brown.”
“Aye.”
“Well, they no longer are. They are as green as malachite from Canaan.”
“I see.”
Pharaoh turned to him. “You may not see now, favorite, but you will. We need you to go to the priestess. To examine her and see what you can find. It is simple enough; whether her needs are solely physical or if she also needs to have
khefts
cast from her, you can heal her.”
“Demons? My Majesty …”
“I know it will be awkward, given your past associations, but since she is once again betrothed, it will be a simple fact-finding mission. Makab is also here, visiting.”
Cheftu bowed his head in acquiescence. He had no choice. This was one of the joys of being the king's favorite seer. However, it would be good to see Makab. It had been many Inundations. He assumed he was dismissed and began to back to the door. No one turned their back on Pharaoh, living forever!
“Cheftu!” Hat called.
“My Majesty?”
“Do the signs declare anything unusual, my seer?”
Cheftu thought for a moment. “Ancient prophecy is about to be fulfilled in the destiny of Kallistae, in the Great Green.”
“The Keftiu? The same who trade here in Waset and Avaris? What prophecy concerns them?”
“The Aztlan empire has been nearly destroyed twice since Chaos, My Majesty. This time the destruction will be complete. I fear its repercussions not only in the Great Green, but even to Egypt. Perhaps these are the unusual portents you speak of?”
Hatshepsut stared at him for a moment, then her gaze darted to Hapuseneb. “No miraculous births?”
“Births, My Majesty?” Cheftu looked at her in slight confusion. “None that are foretold.” His gaze dropped to Hat's concealed waist and then to the floor. She laughed delightedly.
“Have you never erred since I made you Proclaimer of the Future?”
“By the grace of the gods, I have been correct, My Majesty.”
A secret and triumphant smile played around the edges of Hat's wide mouth. “That is well, favorite. I grant the god's discernment and wisdom in your quest.”
Well and truly dismissed, Cheftu crossed his chest in obeisance and left. Once outside he drew his cloak of office around him as a shield against the cool night air. He leapt into his chariot and took the reins, starting up the wide sycamore-shaded avenue to his house, swearing fluently, all thoughts of the priestess gone.
C HLOE WAS AWAKENED AND TAKEN TO HER BATH , where after being soaked, exfoliated, shaved, and massaged she was wrapped in a long white sheath and seated before a makeup table. When they approached her with sandals, Chloe realized she was wearing a dress, not a robe.
What about underwear?
Realizing all the slaves were watching her with more than a little fear, Chloe tried unobtrusively to look at her body in the sheath. The linen was so fine, one could see right through it. She blushed. No wonder they shaved so carefully.
She looked down at the delicate sandals presented to her—and gulped. Size nine was not huge in her day and time—she knew quite a few women with size ten and above—but the way everyone was staring at her long narrow feet, she guessed they were the size of a soldier's today. A male soldier's.
With a weak smile she shoved in her long toes, grasping the thong. Her feet pushed into the upper curve, squished out the sides, and hung out the back. She'd be lucky if she could walk without falling.
She waddled over to the trunk where Basha had pulled out her clothes and opened it. There was nothing except more flimsy, see-through, white wrap dresses. She looked at Basha; you could see every line of her young body through her one-strap dress. And hit, her slave girl, wore only a short shift with beads around her hips.
Apparently, in this
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