Battle of Egypt

Chapter 7 Makara

I felt my eyelids flutter open after fighting the darkness around me. I was in a tent. Light creeping through the flaps. Where am I? What had happened? I remembered pleading for Ka to stay alive. Asking the gods for help. And then a man, a black robed man appeared. Was it the gods who had sent him to me? To us?

"My lady, you are awake. Praise Anubis," Akhil said. He sat next to me, his staff leaning against the tent wall. His head was bald, but the creases in his eyes spoke of old age. He must have been a young man when the gods ruled over Egypt.

"Where am I? Where is Ka? What happened," I demanded hoarsely. I looked around, but it appeared that we were alone together. I did not want to be alone with him. Could I trust him? I did not know who I could trust anymore. There were so many who wished for me to be dead. All of Egypt has suffered at my hands.

"He is resting comfortably my lady. My best priests are looking after him. We were able to save him from the serpent's poison and heal his wounds," he said smiling. As if he knew a secret that I did not. "And besides, it is you who I wish to speak to. For you have a great destiny," he added. I sat up, looking down it appeared they had changed me. They had dressed me in a staunch black dress, with a golden sashed wrapped around my waist. My hair tumbling past my shoulders in curls. Small golden beads braided into them. Who had dressed me?

"You dressed me," I asked in shock that they would touch an unconscious woman. He held up his hands. His eyes holdinh a hint of humor.

"It was not I, my lady. We do have priestesses. They bathed and changed you. As if we would allow such a lady as yourself to be dressed in rags," he said offering me a cup of melon juice. I took the cup and observed it and its content. Worried that there was some kind of poison in it.

"Myself and my followers have no intention of harming you, my lady. You have my word," he said sternly. I took a cautious sip. Realizing that it was not poisoned I finished the cup in an instant. Not realizing how thirsty I was. I handed the cup to him and he placed it on the ground beside him. 

"Why have you brought us here, are you not scavengers. Stealing from the dead and striping their bones," I asked. Akhil rolled his eyes. I looked away guilty at saying such things. But I had heard so many rumors in Hierakonpolis. Sutekh would not allow the priests of Anubis into the city. Even to administer the rituals of the dead.

"That is the term that Sutekh uses. We are followers of Anubis. We prepare the dead for burial, we make sure that their kas can pass into the afterlife. So their hearts can be judged. Many of them were killed by Sutekh and his warriors. Sutekh is an evil man, seeking to unite Egypt under his tyranny and cruelty," he said. I felt relief flood through me. He hated Sutekh as much as I did. But could I still trust him and his followers as allies.

"Still does not explain why you have brought me here to your camp. Sutekh has sent his men after me. Surely they will find us if we stay too long," I said. "He will surely find me, and if he finds me here. He will kill you all just for sport," I added. 

"I have brought you and the great prince here to rest. Rest before you make your way to Memphis. I found you by the road. The great prince dying beside you. The great Anubis wishes for you both to live," he said simply. I found it odd that the god of death wanted us to live. I remember vaguely him speaking about wanting Ka to live.

"Why do the gods care so much for someone like me. A commoner such as myself. And why does the god of death want life," I asked. 

"Because gods watch over those they have blessed. Anubis wishes that you live, I do not question my great god. I only follow his commands and do his bidding," he replied. I laughed bitterly and rolled my eyes. The gods did not bless me, they had forsaken me. Even the goddess who was suppose to have blessed me with the sight did not answer my prayers. When I pleaded with her to rescue me from Sutekh and the torture he inflicted.