“Master, please! Enough!” he cries.
The magic comes to an abrupt halt with a slam to his chest. Nehi doubles over and falls to his hands and knees. The image of the snake devouring all of the ancient gods burns in his memory. He knows this snake is Aten, the One God. But, he is someone else, also.
Rahotep’s chanting continues as the high priest walks across the dark room. The sunlight is gone completely now, and only a single burning torch at the entrance of the room provides any light. It shines behind the high priest, and his silhouette looms over Nehi as he lifts his eyes up to meet his master’s. He has seen the two-faced god, and knows who the high priest truly serves.
Rahotep puts a hand on Nehi’s head and pulls a bit of the magic out of him. His first enchantment follows quickly.
“Forget.”
Nehi awakens to see the sun has already risen. His groans fill his small chamber as he sits up on his bedding and tries to recall the previous evening. He was filled last night. He remembers that much. But as for the details of what exactly transpired, they elude him again as they do every time the high priest fills him with magic. He knows there is something important that he should remember, but every time he tries to hold on to memory, it slithers back into the recesses of his mind.
He shakes his head. Maybe if he concentrated on something else it would come back to him.
The girl. He needs to check on her. That should keep him occupied for awhile.
“You’ve been very busy!” he says when he opens the door to her cell and finds her surrounded by baskets, shoes, fans and decorations made from the river reeds they cut the day before.
“Yes, well...they’re not done yet. They need to dry in the sun. Is there any way that we can take them outside? They’ll have to sit in direct sunlight for a bit, and then be moved to the shade so they don’t dry out too quickly. I’ll have to monitor them,” Aniya says as she begins to pile the items together.
“I think that might be possible. Here, let me help you.” Nehi reaches down for a pair of artfully woven shoes and crashes to the floor.
Aniya rushes to his side and helps him lean against the wall. “Nehi, what’s wrong?” she asks, noticing the dark circles under his eyes and the skin pulled taut over sharp cheekbones. “You look like you haven’t slept in a week.”
“It’s nothing.”
“This is not nothing. Tell me what’s happened to you.”
“It’s just part of my duties as the high priest’s apprentice. Please, don’t worry about it,” Nehi answers and tries to stand.
“No. You need to sit and rest,” Aniya says, pushing him back down to the floor. A spark of magic flows through her fingers and she yanks them away from Nehi’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. Can I give it back to you somehow?”
“No,” Nehi says with a tired sigh, “That’s not possible.”
Aniya studies her fingers and then points her hand down at him. She says no words. There is no chanting as Rahotep would need to use to manipulate the magic, but Nehi doesn’t need to hear anything. He can feel the magic entering back into him. His breath catches in his throat. Instead of a burning wave of pain, the sensation is cool and refreshing. When Aniya is done, he feels better than when he entered the room.
Nehi’s voice shakes as he says, “That...that shouldn’t happen. It shouldn’t be possible for you to do that without the help of Aten, the One God. How did you do that?”
“I don’t know. I just thought I should return it. It felt like I was just handing something back to you. I really didn’t think too much about it.”
“Can you try something for me?” he asks.
“Yes?”
“See if you have any magic left to turn one of your weavings into gold.”
Aniya picks up a pair of woven sandals and whispers to them. They remain the bright green of young river reed.
“You truly did return the magic. That’s unbelievable. I didn’t think anything like that was possible. Quick, let’s try that again.”
Nehi holds his hand out to Aniya. She reaches out to touch her fingers against his but before they can touch, a spark of magic jumps from him to her. Both of their eyes widen with unspoken surprise.
“How…” Nehi starts, but his words cut short as he watches Aniya put the slippers down on the floor. This time her lips don’t even move as she whispers the words in her mind. The sandals shine in the dim light of the room. Gold.
SIX
“This can’t be,” Nehi says in disbelief as he plucks the sandals up from the floor to inspect them. Every inch is pure gold.
“What’s wrong? Isn’t this how magic works?” Aniya looks down at her hands as if searching for the magic flowing from her fingers. “I can hardly tell that I’m doing anything. It all feels so natural,” she says as a woven fan sitting next to Nehi’s feet turns to gold with just a glance from her.
Nehi’s feet pull away from the golden fan. “There must be physical contact for magic to transfer from one place to another, but you’re using magic with only your mind. I don’t understand how this can be. Not even Rahotep can do that.”
“Really?” Aniya asks. She slides down next to Nehi and clutches her hands around her knees, pulling them close. “I could use this magic to escape,” she whispers.
“Yes, but what then?” Nehi says. She’s sitting so close to him, it’s almost uncomfortable, yet his fingers itch to touch her. “Rahotep knows where to find you. What will he do with you and your family when he does?”
“Well, at least I could use it to turn more straw into gold. Surely that would repay my father’s debts.”
“No, you can’t. Please don’t turn anything else into gold. Believe me, it’s for your own good.”
Aniya’s head snaps up. “Why? I don’t understand.”
Nehi takes a big breath. It’s time to tell her the truth. She deserves to know the plans the high priest has for her. “If Rahotep finds out what you can do, he’ll never let go of you no matter how many things you turn to gold. Or…” Nehi looks away. He can’t stand to see the disappointment in her eyes. “He’ll do something even worse.”
“What could be worse than keeping me prisoner indefinitely?”
“Believe me, there are worse things he could do with you.”
“Okay then. I can’t escape, and I can’t turn anything to gold without something terrible happening to me.” She sighs and leans her head back against the wall. “Will Rahotep ever let me go if he doesn’t know about the magic? Even if I do repay my father’s debt?”
Nehi pauses for a moment. Should he tell her what will happen if the high priest finds out she can do magic? He decides to keep that to himself for now. No need to unduly frighten her, not if he can keep it from happening. “No. He has other plans for you.”
“Other plans? What do you mean? I thought I was here to work off my father’s debt.”
“Rahotep knows he can make more off of you than just that. He plans to sell you when the next slave caravan comes through.”
“Sell me?” she yells, her voice echoing off the walls of the cell.
Nehi shushes her, and glances at the door. “Yes.”
“To who?”
“The highest bidder.”
“Did you know about this when I first came here?”
Nehi looks down, a piece of straw capturing his attention.
“Why didn’t you tell me before now?” she asks, her voice low.
The straw bends and then breaks in his hand. “I don’t know. I should have. I just...I didn’t know you. And it’s not the first time that Rahotep has done this. And to tell you the truth, I didn’t think we would…” his voice trails off.
“We would what?” Red, angry splotches rise up her neck and cover her cheeks.
“Become friends.”
“Some friend you are. I don’t need friends who keep secrets from me.”
He looks back at her pale face. Uns
hed tears pool in her dark eyes like ink. He doesn’t blame her for being upset with him. He hasn’t been completely forthright. If the situation was reversed, he might feel much the same way. “Aniya, I’m sorry. I didn’t...Look, I’m not going to let it happen. I’ll come up with a plan, something. I’ll help you.”
“Do you promise?” she asks.
“Yes, I promise,” he answers. “I just need some time to think of a plan.”
Aniya places a hand on his arm. Electricity that has nothing to do with magic runs through him. “Please, Nehi,” she begs, “My family is counting on me to return. I can’t leave them.”
“I won’t let that happen,” he says, believing his own promises. He takes the fan from her hand and holds it together with the golden sandals. “I’ll find a place to hide these. I won’t let Rahotep know what you’re capable of, and somehow we’ll get you out of here.”
Aniya’s eyes darken. He knows she doesn’t trust him. Not anymore.
The fan is easy enough to hide under his belt, but the sandals - there is nowhere to hide them until he is able to get to his room. Nehi does the best he can, holding them next to his side, trying to both hide them and look as natural as possible as he makes his way through the halls of the palace. Just a few more steps and he’ll be in the servants’ wing.
He turns a corner and collides head on with a young boy. Though Nehi keeps his footing, the boy falls, dropping a basket of clothing on the floor. Nehi recognizes him. Rahotep sent this youngster to fetch him the night Aniya first arrived at the palace. Although the boy is not one of the high priest’s initiates, Rahotep uses him often to do small errands.
“So sorry.” Nehi extends a hand out to the boy and helps him retrieve the basket.
The boy gives him an understanding smile and accepts the apology. “What’s that?” He points to the sandals in Nehi’s hand. “I’ve never seen sandals of gold before. Are they real?” His fingers reach out to touch them but Nehi conceals them behind his back.
“These are nothing. However,” Nehi pulls the small, golden fan from his belt and holds it out to the small boy, “this can be yours if you’ll help keep them a secret.”
The boy snatches the fan and examines it briefly before shoving it beneath his own belt. “Keep what a secret?” he says, lifts the basket from the floor and walks away.
Nehi shakes his head and grins as the boy disappears around the corner. He glances right and left. Few servants are walking through this part of the palace, and those that are don’t seem to be interested in him. It seems the way is clear. He takes the fastest, most direct route to his own chambers and is nearly there when he hears a familiar, deep voice ring through the hall.
“What do you have there, boy?”
Nehi comes to a stop. It would do no good to run or try to hide. There is nowhere he could hide from Rahotep.
“Just a pair of sandals, master.”
“Ah, the weaver girl. Show me.”
Nehi sighs in defeat. He could not defy his master even if he wanted to. His hands raise even before his brain has the chance to send the signal of compliance through his body. Nehi tries to struggle against the force that makes him obey, but he knows from years of experience that there is no disobeying the direct orders of the high priest.
“Did the slave girl make these?” Rahotep questions. “Tell me.”
The high priest’s magic loosens Nehi’s tongue. “Yes, master.”
“I thought you said she didn’t have any ability for magic.”
“It seems that I was wrong.”
Rahotep takes the sandals into his hands and rubs his fingers over the tightly woven gold. “Did she siphon the magic from you?”
“Yes, master.”
“And she was able to turn them completely to gold...interesting.” He thrusts the sandals back at Nehi, and Nehi clutches them to his chest. “If this girl has this much ability, let’s see how much magic she can hold. Tonight at sundown, bring her to me.”
Nehi tries to fight against the words, but they come anyway. “Yes, master.”
“With this much magic, who knows what might be possible?” Rahotep says to himself as he walks away.
Nehi’s eyes drop to the golden sandals that have sealed Aniya’s fate.
“Back again, are you?” the guard asks as Nehi arrives outside Aniya’s cell door.
“I’ve brought lunch for the girl. Sad, isn’t it? They feed her better than they feed us.”
“Really?” the guard asks, his interest now piqued.
“Yes. Take a look,” Nehi says, holding up a plate of food for the guard’s inspection. “Honeyed date and walnut cake for a prisoner? Don’t get me wrong, the girl is nice. But cake?”
“That doesn’t seem fair,” the guard says, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I agree,” Nehi says. He leans in close to the guard and whispers, “Say, you’ve been working really hard, and have been very accommodating. If you want, you can have this slice, and I’ll go back later and get another for me, too.”
“What about the girl?” the guard asks, casting a glance at the door.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure she really deserves cake. She is a prisoner after all. Go ahead, I won’t tell anyone,” Nehi shrugs.
“Sounds good to me,” the guard says, grabbing the cake and shoving it whole into his mouth. “Thanks,” he says as crumbs drip off his chin.
“No problem,” Nehi says with a conspiratorial wink.
The guard opens the door with a sly grin and winks back at him. Nehi enters the prison cell and closes the door behind him.
“Thanks for the lunch,” Aniya says as he hands the plate to her, “but did you come up with a plan for getting me out of here yet?”
“Yeah, I did,” he answers as he sits down beside her on the floor.
“Great, what is it?” she asks as she plucks at a piece of bread.
“Run.”
“What?” she says, the food hanging forgotten in midair.
“You have to run away.”
“Wait a minute. You told me that wouldn’t work. If I run, Rahotep is going to come after me and my whole family.”
“Yes, he will,” Nehi agrees. “So all of your family will have to leave the city.”
“I can’t just uproot my entire family at a moment’s notice and leave.”
“You will if you want to live,” he answers, his voice flat.
“What are you talking about?”
“Rahotep saw the straw sandals you turned into gold. I tried to keep them from him, but he has methods of persuasion that...Anyway, he knows about your ability with magic. He won’t be selling you into slavery after all.”
“Well, isn’t that a good thing?” she asks.
“No, what he has planned for you is much, much worse.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He knows you can hold magic. Sometimes he finds people like you, and when he does, he fills them with so much magic that they burn alive. No one is meant to be a conduit for that much magic. The human body can’t take it. It burns up. I’ve seen it before.
“You’re different, though. He knows you can manipulate magic as well - better than he can. He wants to see how much magic he can pour into you before he drains it away for his own use. He will kill you. You have to leave right away.”
“How? I’m stuck in this dungeon. How am I going to escape?”
“With magic,” Nehi says, holding his hands out to her.
“Can I?” she asks, reaching for him. Nehi nods. She holds her hands above his and smiles as the magic flows into her. “Okay,” she says after a moment. “I hope that’s enough.”
“Take it all,” he tells her.
“Are you sure?”
Nehi nods. “I’d rather you have it than Rahotep. He’s already taken as much as he can use for awhile. It tires him out to use the magic. He has to space it out over several days, weeks sometim
es. It doesn’t seem to bother you, though, so take it all.”
“Nehi, I…” she leans in close and Nehi grabs her hands in his. The magic streams out of him leaving a cool tingling in his hands where his skin meets hers.
“Thank you,” she says when he pulls his hands away.
“Don’t thank me until we get you out of here,” he says and stands next to the door. “Let’s see if it’s time,” he says, holding a hand down to help her up. Aniya gives him a quizzical look. Nehi raps his knuckles against the door. There is only quiet.
He knocks again. “I’m ready to come out now. Guard?”
No answer.
Nehi nods to Aniya. “It’s time to use some of that magic,” he says and stands aside.
Aniya smiles and places a hand against the door. The tumblers lift and the lock turns on the other side of the wall. The door hangs open and invites them to freedom.
“What happened to him?” she asks as she walks into the hallway and spots the guard lying on the floor.
“Sweets don’t agree with him, I guess,” Nehi answers with a sly grin.
He grabs her hand and leads her through the dark halls of the dungeon out into the dazzling daylight of the upper halls. Aniya’s hand grips his tightly as he pauses at every corner, looking for anyone who might spot them and give them away. The few servants that see them are too busy with their own duties and simply give Nehi and Aniya a polite nod as they pass.
Nehi pushes aside a curtained door and walks inside a small room. Aniya follows. Bedding mats sit on the floor. Other than that, the furnishings are sparse and the room is austere except for a beautiful woven dress lying on top of the bedding.
Spell Bound (A Fairy Retelling #3) Page 4