THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 78

"This house looks strange. Where could that Abasi be ?" Asenath asked herself as she walked towards the direction of Abasi's office as she had been shown.
She saw a room and walked into it. There were numerous scrolls all arranged in the long and high shelves. On the walls were various depictions of gods and goddesses.
The furniture in the room had been crafted exquisitely. The bright sun rays illuminated everything in the room. Abasi was a wealthy man for sure.
When she turned, she knocked over some scrolls and they fell to the ground. She quickly bent to collect and return them on the table they were on. Two of then had rolled beneath the statue near the wall. Kneeling, she stretched her arm to retrieve them but something shiny caught her attention.
She pulled open the small ankh shaped latch and there was a little box covered in gold, silver and rubies. It was decorated with lotus flowers. Upon opening the box, there was nothing but udjet eye designs.
"What are you doing ?" she heard Abasi's voice and was startled hitting her head against the arms of the statue.
"I am sorry lord Abasi. I... I," she stammered." Here, I knocked over these scrolls and was getting these two that rolled over here."
"Then put them back" he said as he sat down.
She bent down, picked them and placed them before him on the table."I apologize once more."
"What brings you here ? I was told of your arrival yesterday but I was busy."
"Yes. Here is a scroll you left," she said as she took it out if her bag."Father said that I should give this oil to you as well."
" Aaah, I see," he said as he looked at the oil and smelled it." Smells good as well. Thank you. Pass my word of appreciation to him and tell him that I shall meet him next moon."
" I will."
"Good girl. Remember not to stick your fingers in places they don't belong,"he said and gave a crooked smile.
" I apologize for that again. I shall leave now."
With that, she left immediately for the palace.

" You're finally awake,"Thutmose said as he helped her sit up." Did you sleep well ?"
" I've never slept so well," she smiled." Thank you for being there for me."
" There's no need to thank me,"he said as he took her hand in his." You are my wife and it is my duty to make sure that you are well. What made you blow up like that ? Why did you keep saying that she was not letting you go and that you need to leave ?"
" I said that ?" she asked as she looked at him.
" You did. Repeatedly. Is there something I should know ?"
" No. There's nothing."
" Rashida, we have been getting along lately and I don't want us to jeopardize what we now have because we keep things from one another."
" I am not hiding anything."
" I just don't get why you have changed. There is something that's not right. Tell me what it is and don't lie to me. We have grown up together and I know you. Have you done anything wrong ?"
" I swear to the gods that I am not hiding anything from you," she said as she moved closer to him."
" Alright. I'll take your word for it."
" All I want is for you to believe me and for you to stand with me."
" You want that ?"
" Mmmh," she said as she nodded.
" I love how well we are now. We are not arguing like we used to when we first got married."
" That was before and this is now. I have come so see you as a husband, a partner and a friend not a bother."
" Rashida, I love you. Do you love me ?"
She looked at him and hugged him. He wrapped his hands around her and closed his eyes.
"I shall wait for you to feel the same way," he whispered to her and she nodded.

"Are you sure ?"
" Yes I am certain Astrid,"Asenath said as she sat opposite Astrid and Seti." I saw it with my own eyes."
" How dare he ! I have always found his character strange and now this ?"
"I knew that he probably had a hand in it after I saw the three designs."
"But did he suspect you ?"
"He didn't."
"All we need to do is test and see if he knows it and if it means anything to him,"this from Astrid.
" But I don't think he would have those men attack you. He has no personal grudge with you,"Asenath said.
" He doesn't but Meritaten does,"Seti began." He frequents the palace to see her and it would not surprise me if she borrowed his men to do this. This amulet could be a secret code between his men just like the royal spies have."
" He sent his men but little would he guess that they would die by Smenkhhare's hand and even leave this,"Asenath said as she played with the amulet in her hand.
" My suspicions were right all along. Meritaten did it but why would she do this to me ? Why harm an innocent child ?" Astrid said as tears welled in her eyes.
" Because she is a bitter and heartless woman. Do not worry Astrid. This time, nothing will happen. You have Seti with you."
He placed his hand on her lap earning a smile from his dear wife. She placed her hand on his and spoke.
" This time we'll give them all a show they'll never forget."