Asenath (7 page)

He bade me rise.

He took a goblet from the altar. Inside it, a dark red liquid shimmered.

"This is wine, which has been dedicated to Atum-Re," he said. "We will each drink from it to seal our union as a family."

He raised the goblet to the idol. "Before Atum-Re, we bind ourselves to you forever, Asenath. We pledge to raise, protect and love you. We honour you, beloved daughter."

He sipped from the goblet and handed it to his wife. She drank from it as well, then passed it to me.

The wine was bitter and warm. It nearly scalded my throat. I coughed slightly.

Pentephres took the goblet from me. He placed it back upon the altar, lit some incense in a bronze burner and raised his arms again. "O Exalted One, your Chief Prophet and Chief Concubine thank you for the great gift of Asenath. We thank your divine mother for protecting her. We thank the

Seven Hathors for the favourable judgement bestowed upon Asenath at her birth. You are truly great, O Shining One."

He droned out a long hymn of praise and thanksgiving. Afterward, he turned to me and Satsepdu. "Let us bow before Atum-Re."

The three of us prostrated on the cold marble floor. Pentephres bade us rise.

I got up to see the priestly couple smiling at me.

"Lady Asenath, you are now our honoured daughter," the high priest said.

My new parents approached and embraced me.

I returned their hugs. They held me tight.

"Welcome to our family, Asenath," Satsepdu whispered.

Pentephres approached the altar once more and closed the shrine.

"The ceremony is now finished," he said. "We must return to the anteroom walking backward. We cannot turn our faces from the god."

We backed up slowly. As we did, my new father dusted away our footprints.

We returned to the Hall of Atum-Re. The priests and priestesses who had been at the entrance earlier met us. Standing in a row, their white robes glowing against the darkness, they looked like majestic marble pillars.

They began chanting. A hidden flute played solemn notes.

"O Lord Pentephres, he who has visions of the Sun. O Lady Satsepdu, Chief Concubine of the Sun. O Lady Asenath, Chief Daughter of the Sun. May Atum-Re, the Shining One, bless you on this day and days to come."

They prostrated before us.

"Arise," Lord Pentephres said.

They rose and shuffled to the side, creating an aisle. My new family and I walked the length of it. The priests trailed behind us, resuming their chanting.

We made our way back through the dim corridors, past the forest of columns and out of the heavy darkness. I blinked at the sudden flash of daylight.

I saw the entire temple staff had gathered together in the courtyard—clergy, servants and labourers. They fell to their knees and greeted us.

"Life, health and prosperity to you, Great Seer and priestly family of Heliopolis."

My new father bade them rise. They dispersed to reveal long tables laden with food.

I smiled with pleasure. This was a nice way to culminate everything.

As I reached the bottom of the steps, someone tapped me from behind. I turned around.

"Menah? Look at you!"

My best friend had also undergone a startling transformation. He looked like a young prince. His eyes were cunningly painted as mine were. He donned an elegant pleated kilt.

He bowed. "I am Khasekhemui now, my lady. I must say, you look quite lovely."

I lowered my voice. "Menah, please don't bow to me. You may still call me Kiya if you wish."

"I prefer Asenath, my lady. And again, it is Khasekhemui. No longer Menah."

"Khasekh. Well, all right. Did Pentephres give you that name as well?"

"No. I chose it myself. I heard about your renaming and thought I might do it as well. After all, new name, new life."

"So I heard you'll be leaving the temple," I said. "Where are you going?"

"The School of Life in Thebes. I am going to become a scholar of magic arts. Pentephres sent a recommendation for me." He smiled proudly.

I gasped. The School of Life was the most prestigious academic institution in Egypt. The students there engaged in disciplines of their choice and graduated with a career at their feet.

"Congratulations. I'm so proud of you." I hugged him. "But I wish you weren't leaving. Will you return after your studies?"

"I don't know. I might find work at the Great House."

My face fell.

"But you will be going there a lot too," he said. "Doesn't Pentephres often meet with Pharaoh?"

"I think so."

"Come on, Asenath, cheer up. It will be good. I promise I will write you every day."

I managed a small smile. "How about the twins? Where are they going?"

"They will be in Thebes as well―and in the Great House itself."

My eyes widened. "You're joking."

"Not at all. You know how they are good in the kitchen and taking care of things? Nyla will be in the Palace kitchens. Lyla meanwhile will be handmaiden to a royal lady. Lady Ahmose or something."

I felt a crushing disappointment at losing all my friends.

Khasekh, however, did not seem to notice. "I can't wait for Thebes, Asenath. It will be so exciting. Imagine, your best friend at the centre of the world. And in the School of Life at that."

Listening to this depressed me further. I sought some relief.

"I shall congratulate the twins," I said. "If you will excuse me."

They were quietly eating in a corner, keeping to themselves like always. They exchanged no words, but their faces were beaming.

"I hear you'll be working at the Great House," I said. "Congratulations. That is quite an honour."

"Thank you, Lady Asenath," they said together.

I blushed. "Please, don't address me so. I am still the same person. You can still call me Kiya if you like."

"Yes, Kiya."

"Are you looking forward to your new roles?"

"Yes."

"Do write me, will you?"

"Yes, Kiya."

I paused. Even though I knew they would not be inclined to conversation, I wanted to talk with them a bit more. I wanted to make the most of it while they were still here.

"Lady Asenath," someone said.

The grouchy old kitchen woman and her daughter Itet approached. They both bowed.

"Life, health and prosperity to you, my lady," Itet said. "My mother and I wish you the god's blessings in your new life."

I stared at them, baffled. "Thank you," I said after a while.

They bowed once more and left.

"You never would have imagined, would you?" Khasekh said, coming up to us.

I laughed. "Not in a million years."

The celebration lasted nearly the entire day. At the end, Khasekh said, "I'll miss you, Asenath. I hope we'll see each other again someday."

"I hope so, Menah. I mean, Khasekh."

That was about the thousandth time that day I had made that mistake. He, on the other hand, had not called me Kiya since.

My beloved best friend and I embraced. I fought back tears as I watched him being led away by a group of priests.

In the female servants' room for the last time, the twins and I gathered our belongings. We would not be bringing much. We did not have much.

My simple dresses would be left behind as I would now be wearing shimmering noblewomen's gowns.

The twins left ahead of me. I embraced them before they went. This time, I allowed a few tears fall.

"Good luck," I said.

"You too, Kiya."

After they disappeared, I dried my eyes. I sat on my mat, trying to gather my thoughts, reconcile myself with the events of the day. But it was impossible. So many astonishing things had happened in such a short amount of time. I could barely keep up.

I clasped the lapis lazuli lotus. I rose and approached the mirror, as if I would find some answers there.

However, all I saw was a stranger.

I did not know this elegant noblewoman. Without doubt, she was not Kiya, the little village girl who played and frolicked in the village by the Nile.

This elegant noblewoman had laid her to rest, underneath a layer of fine linen, precious stone, kohl streaks and fiery green malachite.

This elegant noblewoman was someone I had yet to get to know. If I could even know her at all.

This elegant noblewoman was Lady Asenath, the daughter of the high priest of Heliopolis.

CHAPTER SIX

Pentephres and Satsepdu's sprawling villa was but a stone's throw away from the temple. Because it was so near, I expected to walk.

Instead, I rode a litter. Even more astonishingly, I had my own litter.

It was a short but cosy ride. The carriage was spacious. I reclined upon silken pillows and cushions.

I stared out at the streets through the gauzy curtains. I felt I was seeing the world with new eyes, the kohl-lengthened eyes of that elegant noblewoman in the mirror.

We arrived before towering gates embossed with an image of a great golden hawk, Re-Horakhty. Shouts from the watchtowers announced our arrival. The gates swung open.

My litter was carried inside. It was lowered before a flight of wide marble steps. As I disembarked, I smelled the sweet scent of lotus blossoms. The wind must have carried them over from the garden.

A group of servants scrambled up to me. They dropped to their knees.

"Welcome Lady Asenath," they chorused.

I stared at them blankly. Pentephres and Satsepdu appeared beside me.

"Asenath," Lady Satsepdu said quietly. "Bid them to rise."

"A-arise."

The words sounded like they were coming out of someone else's lips.

The servants dispersed throughout the courtyard. Pentephres and Satsepdu led me up the stairs. Above the doorway was a grand lintel that bore Pentephres' name in elegantly carved hieroglyphs.

We crossed a vestibule into the receiving area of the house. Gossamer draperies of silver and white hung from the high ceiling. The walls were covered with colourful murals depicting scenes from Pentephres and Satsepdu's life. The furniture's legs were shaped like lions' paws.

I could hardly believe that these palatial surroundings were now the place I would call home.

I was still gawking, trying to take everything in, when Pentephres took my arm.

"There is still more to see," he said.

Our footsteps echoed as we made our way through the cavernous estate. My new parents showed me the dining hall, the library and the secondary loggia which was used for informal meetings. They took me down the corridors which led to our private quarters.

"We look forward to you seeing your room, Asenath," Satsepdu said. "We hope you will like it."

We stopped before polished cedar doors. On instinct, I went over to open them.

Pentephres held up his hand. "Don't. You are not a servant anymore."

I blinked as a servant girl appeared. This could not be feasible. Surely, any moment now, I would learn my adoption had been a mistake.

The girl unbolted the doors and pushed them open.

"Welcome to your room," Pentephres said.

My mouth dropped.

The room was twice the size of the temple servants' communal room. It was certainly much bigger than my family's hut.

There was a dominantly blue motif—turquoise, lapis lazuli, sky blue, green-blue, among others. I found it so relaxing that I decided blue would be my favourite colour from now on.

Silken curtains billowed at the far end. Cedar furniture was arranged neatly around the room. Rugs and plump cushions spilled across the floor.

Satsepdu said that beyond the curtains was the balcony. "On a nice day, you can relax with a drink out there."

I saw a vase that looked like a fish with its mouth wide open. It looked so unusual, I laughed.

Satsepdu smiled. "I thought it would be a fun addition."

An enormous bed the shape of a hippo stood at the centre of the room. Around it was a blue gossamer canopy which had been drawn back. Pentephres gestured to it. "Try it and see how you like it."

Suddenly feeling a childlike excitement, I ran over and flung myself onto it. I sank deep into the downy mattress and silken sheets. A giggle escaped my lips.

"How do you like it?" Satsepdu asked.

"My lord and lady―"

"You may address us as Father and Mother now, Asenath," the high priest interrupted gently. "I know it may take a while to get used to. But we really would prefer that."

I climbed out of the bed. "Thank you so very much."

Pentephres motioned to the couches. "Come. We have a few things to discuss."

We took our seats.

"Now Asenath," he said, "as a noblewoman and the Chief Daughter of Atum-Re, you will be representing the Heliopolitan priesthood to all of Egypt as well as Pharaoh himself. Tomorrow, we will be introducing you to your tutors. They will be giving you lessons in academia and etiquette. I will be instructing you on the temple and the gods. Your lessons begin next week."

I nodded calmly, even though I felt a twinge of nervousness.

Pentephres added, "But do not worry, little one. We will not rush you. In fact, your first week will be a relaxed one. We want your adjustment to be as easy as possible."

Satsepdu said, "Tomorrow, I can show you the other places in the house that you have not seen yet. I think you will like the garden. It is very beautiful in the daytime. You can also browse in the library if you wish."

I smiled. It sounded very promising. "That would be nice. Thank you."

There was a knock on the door.

"Enter," Pentephres said.

The door creaked open. A pair of large eyes peeped out.

Pentephres gestured impatiently.

A young Nubian girl slipped into the room. She was so slender, she looked like she could easily be blown away by the wind.

"This is Nafre," Pentephres said. "She will be your handmaid."

Nafre dropped to her knees. "Life, health and prosperity, my lady."

Satsepdu nudged me as Nafre remained crouched on the floor.

I remembered. "Arise."

Once more, the peculiarity of the day's events nipped at me. For a long time, I had been serving others. Now I had my own handmaid. However, I preferred to think of her as a helper and a companion.