Cursed Times - Only Yesterday! Sequel to Wattys 2015 winner!

Chapter 19: Seisi - In Vino Gravitas Part 2

Metjen focussed his sparkly glare on him. 'Stop thinking rubbish! And if anybody calls me Your Wisdom I will shoot you personally. As soon as I'm feeling a bit better.'

'This reminds me that I'm supposed to be a healer,' Trueth said. 'You still have not answered my question as to why you are here. I'm pleased you are though I think you should be in bed.'

'I had to escape. I've overdosed on temples, priests, gods and things, and I needed to be among normal people. I mind-called mum and dad, then asked one of the temple guards to drive me here in his chariot. Guy was totally chuffed. That was real fun, finally something with wheels that runs faster than a bloody snail. Not that I've seen many snails here, it's a bit on the dry side.'

Seisi pulled his pouch from under his belt, counted out some copper deben and left them on the table. It was far more than they owed but better to be remembered as overly generous than be considered a miser. He would most likely regret this gesture the next time he came. And he would no  longer be anonymous either.

'You are here with the tub?' Metjen asked as they brushed past the vine-leaves crawling all over the entrance of the tavern and collided heads on with the sights and sounds of the market square. Facing them were rows of stalls and tables sagging under gourds, cucumbers and a riot of fruits. Vendors on the left were noisily announcing the quality of their fabrics and household items while the tradesmen on the right promoted their spices. At the back, the owners of the meat and fish stalls added to the clamour, attracting not only customers but also hordes of stray dogs and cats as well as clouds of flies.

It was not so much the abundance of goods around them which hampered their progress but the exalted company in their midst. Having an exhausted high priest in tow, exposed them to the mercy of the merchants who had shrewdly assessed the quality of their linen clothes and swooped, brandishing their goods and praising the quality of assorted coconuts, whitebait or clay pots in shrill tones. Seisi was pleased to note that none of the crockeries equaled his father's fine products, at least not in appearance.

The twins raced ahead to get the barge ready for departure. Metjen could not escape. Instead he dragged his feet and would have stumbled, had Seisi not supported him.

'You wouldn't get me inside a chariot, that's for sure.' Trueth went to Metjen's other side and with Seisi's help managed to keep the new first prophet of Ra shuffling his way past through the tunnel of hands waggling bags with cumin, sea salt and saffron.

'You would spook the horses,' Metjen said.

Seisi found it hard to suppress the laughter that was bubbling up inside him. 'I'm—I am pleased to note that you are on the road to recovery.'

Their progress was attracting more unwanted attention; street urchins kept dashing across their path like so many horseflies, dragging at their clothes, begging for gifts.

'Watch out,' Trueth said just in time to circumnavigate the awkward trio around a pile of ass droppings in the middle of the road.

'I feel like a complete idiot, bumbling about like that,' Metjen complained. 'And no, good people, the last things I need now are linen diapers, so stop flapping them in my face.'

'That's because you are a complete idiot!' Trueth snapped, pushing aside the proffered copper pan. 'You shouldn't be here, you could have dropped us a note, spared us all a lot of headaches and recovered nicely in your cushy temple.'

Metjen remained quiet, nothing moved the muscles of his limp face. Only the rising temperature in the arm around Seisi's shoulder indicated his response.

'Urgh, stop going all toasty on me. ' Trueth dropped Metjen's arm from her shoulders and fanned her face. A hand came out of nowhere and pushed an object in her face.

'Fine fan, my lady! Feathers from Punt! For you, my lady, only half a gold deben!'

He had to get both Trueth and Metjen out of here before accidents happened. At least Metjen, despite suffering the aftereffects of the universe, seemed none the worse for wear. Apart from being tired, he appeared healthy and was in fact even more tanned than usual. Seisi knew this to be part of the ceremony. To recover, the new high priest would have had to bathe in the rays of Ra for days.

Sunlight first beckoned, then glared into their faces as they escaped the narrow alley leading from the market into the wide road that ran along the Nile, an army of dogs and cats dashing ahead of them. From the promenade it was but a short trip to the waiting ship. The quayside greeted them with a whiff of stagnant water, overripe fruit and the stink of far too many sweaty bodies still pressing their case from far too close. The pilot and a couple of sailors thumped down the gangway, repelled potential boarders of the two and four-footed variety and helped Metjen onto the ship.

Seisi grabbed Trueth's arm. 'You will need to leave some gifts, it is expected.'

Trueth sighed and signalled the servants watching them from above. 'I know. I have prepared these bags with sweets. I have spelled them a bit; they now contain vitamins and minerals.'

The urchins would prefer their minerals in the form of coins, but having them couched in honey was the next best option, Seisi thought as they climbed aboard. Lovingly, Seisi took in the slender form of Trueth, moving ahead of him. How he envied the urchins. And how he wished,he could share more than honey with his woman. But duty, as always, came first. Also, he would have to find a way of convincing her his intentions were as honest as they were serious.

Seisi sighed just as he boarded the ship.

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This chapter is dedicated to my reader, ladybooklover52.

Image is taken from DeviantArt copyright Til-Til. This chapter is a bit short but having it all in one would have been too long. As a compensation you will get Part 1 of the next chapter: 'At the crossroads' on Friday. We are now moving ahead towards a major plot-shift!