Kiya and the God of Chaos

by Philippa Bower

  Chapter Seventy: Kiya to the Rescue

  That night Kiya dreamed she saw Massui swoop down from a cliff top and change into a bird, which flew with lazy wing beats until it disappeared into the haze. She woke determined to warn the priest of his fate.

  It was sunrise. There was no sign of Hay and Laylos when she emerged from her bedroom. She wondered if she should wait for them, but decided it might be easier to find Massui on her own. When she descended to the terrace she looked around and saw many balconies. Which one belonged to the Queen’s apartment?

  She was standing undecided when she heard footsteps. A guard was approaching. She tensed, then relaxed when she recognised Duripi.

  He bowed. “I have been waiting, hoping to see you, Kiya. Vitane is worried about you.”

  “Tell her I am fine. My friend is going to be King and we are now guests at the palace.”

  “That is good news indeed.” He smiled. “I am very glad for you. You deserve such a fortunate outcome.”

  “Thank you,” said Kiya. “What will happen to Vitane?”

  “She cannot be sacrificed again because the gods allowed her to survive. She cannot be returned home because her father broke the treaty for which she is hostage. She cannot be executed because only criminals are put to death. I see no alternative but lifelong confinement and for such as Vitane it would be a cruel destiny.”

  “Let us pray that the Queen will think of something more appropriate,” said Kiya. “Give Vitane my love. Tell her that I hope to see her again some day.”

  “I will.” Duripi bowed and was about to leave when Kiya stopped him.

  “Which is the Queen’s balcony?”

  Duripi pointed to a row of balconies at the side of the court that faced the rising sun. “Those belong to the Queen,” he said. “But I must warn you that they are out of bounds.”

  “I was just curious,” said Kiya.

  He gave her a suspicious look but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Avoid trouble, Kiya. The gods have smiled on you so far.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” said Kiya with what she hoped was an innocent smile. She waited until Duripi had left and then she turned to study the balconies. One was more magnificent than the others and had a climbing vine twisted around one of its supporting pillars. Kiya decided that this would be her route to Massui.

  She hurried to the pillar, hitched up her shift and started to climb. The vine was less robust than she had hoped and slipped downwards instead of supporting her weight. The ascent was difficult - the pillar’s decorative carving was shallow and gave little support to her feet or purchase for her hands. She managed to reach the overhang of the balcony and realised that she could go no further. Kiya clung on and was wondering what to do next, when she heard the sound of footsteps above her. She peered up and saw Massui standing against the balustrade, staring out at the brightening sky. He was wearing a silken robe of a material that was strange to Kiya, it was half open, revealing that beneath it he was naked. Dreamily he scratched his stomach and gazed into the distance.

  “Psst!” said Kiya.

  The vine slipped and she descended several inches. She looked up again to see Massui’s astonished face staring down at her.

  “Kiya? What are you doing here!”

  “I have come to rescue you,” she said.

  He laughed, a deep joyous sound that must have alerted the Queen, for she emerged from the room behind and stood by his side. She wore a silk robe similar to his and her loose hair was glossy and dark, like that of a young woman. Massui slid an arm around her waist.

  “Who are you talking to?” she asked.

  “I’m talking to Kiya. She has come to rescue me.”

  “Really?” she stared down at Kiya, her expression inscrutable. Then she kissed Massui’s cheek and ran her hand across his chest beneath his robe. “Do you want to be rescued, dear one?”

  “Even the mighty Kiya could not tear me from your side, my beloved,” he said.

  The Queen turned to re-enter the apartment. She looked back over her shoulder with a flirtatious smile and said, “Do not be long.”

  “I’ll be with you in a moment,” said Massui.

  “Quick!” said Kiya. “You must flee. You will be sacrificed next time there is a poor harvest.”

  “I know,” said Massui.

  “You know?” Kiya gaped at him. “And you still want to be King?”

  “The Queen has told me everything,” said Massui.

  “Then you know that you will be forced to jump over a cliff?”

  Massui shook his head. “Force does not come into it. A King must sacrifice himself willingly and that is what I will do.”

  “I don’t want you to die,” said Kiya. She had become fond of Massui and she felt tears of frustration at being unable to save him.

  “Bless you, Kiya. You are a good girl and I have been thinking about what you asked of me. You wanted to know if Seth ever gave a hint about where the ka of Osiris is hidden. There is a little song he sang, it seemed to amuse him. I only heard it briefly but it went something like this:

  She seeks him near, she seeks him far,

  She searches for her husband’s ka.

  One in a million it will be,

  Underneath her favourite tree.”

  “Thank you,” said Kiya. The vine slipped another few inches and she stretched out a hand to him. “Can you help me up onto the balcony?”

  “No!” said Massui and turned and went back into the apartment. The vine slipped again and Kiya slid down the pillar in a shower of leaves and broken tendrils.

  “Ouch!” she hobbled back to the apartment rubbing her bruises.

  Huy and Laylos were having breakfast. They looked up as she entered and Huy’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Where have you been?” he asked.

  “We thought you were having a lie-in,” said Laylos.

  “I have been to rescue Massui,” said Kiya. “But he did not want to come.”

  Huy laughed. “Poor man. It must have been his worst nightmare, seeing you turn up again. Of course he did not want to come. What man would want to leave such a happy situation?”

  “He did not even mind that he would be sacrificed,” said Kiya.

  “Knowing Massui, he is already plotting a way of avoiding such a fate,” said Huy.

  There was a knock on the door and it opened revealing a court official. “The Queen has commanded an audience with you in her chambers.” Kiya’s heart sank. Was the Queen angry that her balcony had been invaded? It was with a sense of trepidation that she followed the official down airy corridors to the throne room.

  “Why does he have to walk so fast!” muttered Laylos as she hurried along beside her.

  The three of them bowed to the Queen, who sat on a throne at the far end of the room with Massui by her side on a lower throne. He had a smile on his face so broad that it was almost a grin. Both were still wearing the silken robes they had worn on the balcony.

  “Massui tells me you are on a mission,” said the Queen. “We feel that you should continue without delay.”

  “Must we miss the feast?” protested Huy.

  “I will be sending tribute to your new King to help cement our friendship.” said the Queen, ignoring his interruption. “I hope you will carry favourable reports of Crete. As an example of our good faith I would like you to accept these gifts.” She picked up a sword from the table next to her and gave it to Huy. She then gave a knife to Laylos and a spear to Kiya. “We hope that such weapons will help your mission.”

  Kiya gazed at the spear in wonder – it was made of star metal. “This is a magnificent gift, your Majesty,” she said.

  “Such a sword would pierce even the hide of a hippopotamus,” said Huy.

  “I regret that we have nothing to give you in return, your Majesty,” said Laylos.

  The Queen’s hand went to Dennu’s armlet, which she wore on her arm. “You have given me much,” she said, “and I am grateful. Goodbye.”
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br />   “Goodbye, your Majesty.” Out of the corner of her eye Kiya could see Laylos and Huy bow as she did. She glanced at Massui, expecting him to bid them farewell, but he ignored her and looked only at the Queen.

  “Come with me, please.” The official led them out of the room, downstairs, across the terrace, down other stairs and along dimly-lit corridors. He walked at a swift pace, never looking back and not uttering a word. They reached the entrance to the palace, where a chariot and driver were waiting.

  “Your ship is ready to depart,” said the official. “Its captain bears orders for you to be provided with transportation when you reach Egypt.”

  “The queen is very kind,” said Kiya.

  “Her majesty wishes to please her new husband.” There was a coldness about him that Kiya disliked. Without bidding him goodbye, she got up onto the chariot. The others joined her and they were soon heading down the smooth, straight road to the harbour.