Battle of Egypt

Chapter 9 Makara

My eyelids fluttered open. The early morning light filling the small tent. I rolled over and saw Ka sitting at the foot of my cot. He had a small smile on his face.

"How did I get here," I asked looking around. I saw his face redden, was he blushing? I smiled at him. Feeling my own cheeks go red. 

"You fell asleep in my arms last night. After we had danced at the freast," he replied. I tried to remember last night. I remembered the dancing and pulling Ka to dance with me. I had felt so free. Like everything that had happened had disappeared. And there was only just the two of us.

"Thank you Ka," I murmured sitting up and putting my head on his shoulder. He laid his own head on top of mine. We sat there in silence. It was then I noticed the blanket on the ground. 

"Did you sleep here last night," I asked in shock, pulling away to look up at him. He leaned in closer, our faces inches apart.

"I did not want you to be alone last night. I did not want to leave you," he replied. I felt my heart leap in my chest. Did he feel the same way as I did? He kissed my forehead and bumped his forehead against mine. 

"Why," I asked breathless. Did I want the answer? He smiled, his breath fanning my cheeks. Everything that Akhil had told me yesterday about how Ka's fate and my fate were intertwined with one another. That we had a destiny of starting a dynasty. But he feel what I felt?

"You should know why," he said. My heart began to thud in my chest. He leaned in closer and gently brushed his lips against mine. It felt as if my whole world was put into place. As if I was waiting for his kiss my entire life.  I wrapped my arms around his neck pulling him closer. He pulled away and smiled. 

"I would love nothing more than to kiss you all day. But we must leave. We have to return to Memphis," he said. I giggled and looked down. I was still wearing the dress from last night. 

"The priestesses came in earlier. Laid out some clothes for you to wear for traveling," he said. I nodded pushing the blanket I was under.

"I will meet you outside," I replied. He nodded and left the tent. I looked over and saw the clothes on the small stool. I gently took the dress off and laid it on the cot. I dressed in a simple linen dress with a black sash. I wrapped a robe of black around my shoulders. I braided my hair down my back, and pulled the hood over my head. I left the tent. Amun Ra's great rays were beginning to peak over the cliffs. Casting shadows on the camp. Ka was preparing two horses. I felt a twinge of disappointment. I wanted to feel his chest, and his heartbeat as we rode. I had grown accustom to it when we shared a horse.

"Ka was taken by you last night," Akhil said, walking over to me. I turned and smiled. He was dressed in the same black robes, and held the same black staff. Though now his eyes were lined with kohl. What I would not give to have some kohl for myself.

"Was he? I did not notice. I was having too much fun last night," I replied honestly. He laughed and offered me his arm. We both walked over to Ka. 

"Akhil, thank you for your kindness. Please consider taking your fellow priests and priestesses to the temple of Anubis in Memphis. To protect you all from Sutekh," he said.

"We have heard rumors, great prince," he said. I looked at Ka. What rumors? What had Akhil heard? Was there something that they were not telling me?

"You will be unguarded here, and out in the open. Sutekh will slaughter you if you stay here. He loathes the followers of Anubis and you know this," Ka replied. I looked at both of them. 

"We have our ways great prince. Your quest is to protect the great seer here. My quest is to protect the temples hidden in these cliffs. Only we know the way. And we will hide there. Be sure we will meet again," Akhil said.