Kiya and the God of Chaos

by Philippa Bower

  Chapter One Hundred and Ten: Confrontation

  The palace children ran after the soldiers, their shrill voices distressed.

  “Where are you taking him?”

  “What has he done wrong?”

  One child did not join the others but stood staring at the departing throng. Kiya suspected that he might be Bes. Her anger at the loss of Meri found a target and she leapt upon the child. This time the dwarf did not escape. She managed to clutch an arm and the child struggled and screamed in her grip. For a moment Kiya wondered if she might have made a mistake but the smell of aniseed reassured her that she was correct. Hathor stared in astonishment until the child changed into hideous form of the god Bes.

  “You little rat,” said Hathor. “What are you doing in the palace? Spying for your master, no doubt.”

  “Yes,” spat Bes. “Seth knows about the child and now he will know that you have brought him here.”

  “How dare you!” said Kiya and gave the god a shake.

  “Ouch,” Bes screamed. “As for you, devil woman, hated by your father. He will destroy you all when he finds out.” With his free hand he drew a knife from his belt and swiped at Kiya. She flung him away from her and he fell heavily upon the ground. “If you touch me again I will kill you,” he snarled. He gave Kiya a look of pure loathing, then limped a few steps and disappeared.

  “You took a terrible risk,” said Hathor. “The knife he carries is coated with a paralysing poison. Few people would dare lay a hand on Bes.”

  Kiya looked at Hathor in consternation. “It is fortunate that I am leaving the palace! Hopefully he will not find me again. Is that why he is here, to kill me?”

  “To report back on the effects of the famine, more likely,” said Hathor. “It is Seth’s intention to let Egypt starve.”

  “I go to Nubia to find him. Perhaps I can persuade him to have mercy.”

  “Who has asked you to undertake such a mission?”

  “Sobek. He met me by the river.”

  Hathor looked worried. “It will be too dangerous. I was tempted to come to you about this matter but Anubis begged me not to. He still has feelings for you and could not bear you to be hurt.”

  “Really?” Kiya was flattered. “Tell him that I will take care. I don’t believe my father wants me dead.”

  “There is more than Seth to worry about. Strange demigods inhabit the lands between the cataracts and there are monsters in the Molloch mine.”

  “Please don’t frighten me, Hathor. If I thought I was needed in this world I would not go. But Meri does not think of me as a mother and Dennu no longer loves me. What reason have I to remain here?”

  Tears of self pity filled her eyes and it was through a watery haze that she saw a Cretan soldier come around the corner of the palace and beckon to her.

  “I must go.” Kiya cried and dashed the tears from her eyes. Hathor blinked at the rapid change of mood. “Good bye Hathor, dear.” Kiya flung her arms around the goddess’s neck and kissed her.

  “Good luck,” said Hathor.

  Kiya gripped her spear and, as she ran across the lawn towards the soldier, she shouted over her shoulder. “I will try to rescue Meri before I leave.”

  Ana was waiting by the gate of the palace. She was in a war chariot and held the reins of two horses. She looked magnificent in a short tunic, wearing a metal breastplate and with a plumed helmet on her head.

  “Come up beside me, Kiya,” she said.

  The two spearmen who stood on either side of Ana moved back to allow Kiya room to mount the chariot and take a place at the front.

  “Can you steer this thing?” asked Kiya nervously. She remembered the last time she was in a Cretan chariot. Huy had been unable to control the single horse and they had ended up in a pit.

  “Of course,” laughed Ana. “I have been driving chariots since I was a child.” She looked back to ensure that the line of chariots behind them was ready to proceed then she gestured to the guards to open the gates.

  There was excitement in the street as the chariots emerged. Some people ran to clear a way for them, others rushed to get a better view. Kiya clung to the bar at the front of the chariot and tried not to bump into Ana as they made their jolting way through the crowd.

  “Can we stop at the temple, please?” Kiya asked. “There is something I must do.”

  “Very well,” said Ana, “since it is on our way. But be quick. These people are delaying us enough and our ship is ready and waiting.”

  Ana stopped the chariot at the entrance to the temple. The horses pawed the ground and shifted uneasily at the sight of the row of soldiers that stood before them. At the front of the soldiers stood Dennu. He wore the uniform of a warrior priest with leather cross straps buckled over his chest and a sword at his side. He frowned when he saw Kiya.

  “Let my child go!” said Kiya.

  “Never!” he said and he drew the sword from its sheath. “He is under the King’s protection.”

  “Kidnapper! I demand you release him!” Grief and anger overwhelmed her and she drew back the arm that held her spear.

  Dennu hefted his sword and stared at her. His expression showed neither love nor fear but an absolute resolve. The shifting horses made it difficult for Kiya to maintain her aim and for a few seconds the air between them crackled with tension.

  “Enough!” cried Ana and wheeled the horses around.

  Kiya clung to the bar as the chariot careened away. Her heart was pounding so strongly that she felt it might burst through her chest. She wanted to look back, but had to concentrate on keeping her footing. It was not until the chariots were out of the centre of Akhetaten and heading towards the harbour that Ana asked “What was that all about? I thought you were going to divorce the man, not kill him.”

  “He stole my child.”

  “Why?”

  “Meri can work miracles. He can cure the sick and multiply food so one sweet becomes many. Dennu wanted such magic for himself.”

  “How did you imagine you could recapture the child? Even if you killed Dennu, there were a dozen soldiers to fight your way through and many already had spears aimed at you.”

  Kiya realised her recklessness with remorse. “I am sorry Ana. I put you in danger and I did not mean to.”

  “I am disappointed that you allowed your emotions to blind you to the facts of the situation,” said Ana. “Love makes a woman foolish. By holding Meri in the temple, Dennu can save the lives of thousands. The grain store can be replenished by your miracle worker so it will not run out and the people will be saved from starvation.”

  “Meri is just a child!” cried Kiya.

  “Much more than a child, if what you told me is correct. Many men will want him but he can be safely guarded in the temple. Dennu is an honourable man and I am sure your child will be well cared for.”

  Kiya was silent. Ana might be right but that did not bring her comfort. She still seethed against Dennu and his high-handed treatment of her.

  Ahead of them she saw the hooked prow of the Cretan ship. Soon they would be on their way and all this would be behind her. Kiya’s hopes for a happy life with Meri and Dennu had been shattered. A new future beckoned and one that was fraught with difficulties.