“I told him the same and said I did not know one with such a name as it degrades instead of lifts up, but the name hurt my heart to hear it. Then, I gave his prediction which told him his excursion was doomed. I told him to go home as soon as he could because something was coming like a storm and I did not know if it was Sutek or Sebiumeker. I really did see fires and the same battle that returned in my dream not moments ago. He thought I was lying, just to get him to go away and told me he would come back for me to make a better prediction after I had made some offerings. My heart told me I should not see them, not yet. That is why I came two weeks early. But the other man is coming here now. I think the woman from our land young Maatkare mentioned may be the very one who danced with you the year before.” Akaru handed the empty cup back to his grandson and stood up with the younger man’s help.
“Then I will come with you,” Aped said.
“No. Do not. In fact, I would have only Xania because she is older and a few guards to bear us and tend us.”
“Was there more? Did your dream explain anything?” Aped asked, upset.
“Eh. I’ve said too much again. Best say the rest than tell lies.” Akaru sighed and continued.
“I have to go to my observatory and retake the calculations. Perhaps I was wrong about the dates over the years,” he yawned, the tea having begun to calm him. “I saw myself step out into a place and then the sky came open and a column of light came to the ground like a golden ladder. All around me were lions and a voice that asked me to come up, to escape them, but I cried out they would never hurt me and that I could not, because I was a son of Earth now. That was how you found me.”
He moved toward the room where his wives were waiting for him. “So, in the bright of morning I will go and wait for the one who comes like Montu. I will see if my calculations are correct and then I will come back to you. Stay here. Guard your own.” He turned his back saying, “remember the storm is coming… that is prophecy. Soon, I’m afraid, we will all know what it means.”
CHAPTER 12: JOURNEY UP THE RIVER
“Look at that. I told you.” Djerah pointed at the water beading on the cracked pitch in the floor of the boat as soon as both he and Marai set it in the water, loaded their supplies, placed the oars and seated themselves.
“Mm,” Marai grumbled, then thought to himself and to his Child Stone, could have let us get a little further up the river before sinking us. He continued aloud, “So let’s row. If we’re moving quickly enough, the water can’t come in that little crack. We’ll stay close enough to the shore so if we start taking on too much water we can put in and fix it.”
Marai knew Djerah would have to man the rudder constantly that close to shore or they would get stuck on shoals. “You do the rudder and push us out. I’ll row.”
“But the water…” The young man pointed at a little rivulet starting to drip from the crack.
“Go,” Marai pointed forcefully to the stern of the small wood boat that was smaller than half the size of Wserkaf’s boat. Djerah took one timid step to the rear and positioned the long oar in the bronze rudder guide. Marai sat with both oars in his hands and gave the signal to push out. As the boat moved out, he took a deep breath, centered his thoughts and whispered once, “go. Even strokes. Learn the motion. Feel it through me.”
Then, in a voice Djerah could hear, he said, “go. Fast. Now.” He began to pull. At first his pace was even and swift, but not unusual for a strong and agile man. Gradually, Marai felt himself sink into his thoughts and the drifting feeling of power come over him in a surge of new strength. He shut his eyes and laughed a little as his speed increased. His Child Stone and the seven in the bag on his sash gave him the needed boost. Soon, he pumped a little faster.
When he focused on a V of geese flying overhead, he sent up the thought.
See that speed! The wings. Make the oars extend like the wings of birds. Almost instantly, Marai felt the surge of power flash through his arms like black lightning again. It had been so long since he had felt that strength that he almost paused to admire it. Sweep back, forward, sweep back… he felt his arms beginning to merge with the shape of the upper oars.
His eyes closed and his thoughts soared through time and space to a dark night and rested on the sight of a young woman frantically urging the rowing of a raft.
Naibe.
He saw the raft come apart and Naibe not come up for a long time. He sensed the bitterness of the prince who held them, then heard Ari and Deka crying out for him to save her. You will get her, he sent a thought so strong that the man’s head snapped around to look for the demon assailing him. He got another raft to get her. Faster. Go faster or die with her. Suddenly, the prince paddled out as if legends were already saying “at heart bursting speed.” Marai sighed, but knew Naibe was safe. This had happened some time earlier, on a night near the time he woke.
Faster, his speed increased in a lurch.
“Hey. What are you…?”
Marai heard Djerah shout, roused himself slightly, and turned to look. The young man was moving the boat into the deeper water, a half-crazed look on his face.
“Out here I won’t have to steer as hard. I can’t keep up with you. You’ll make the helm snap… How are you doing…?”
“Then just stop steering for now and come up and look to see if we’re still taking water.” Marai resumed his pace.
Djerah pulled the helm oar out of the water and crawled forward to look.
“What?” he cried, “it’s dry. It’s like the pitch has melted and reformed. D’you cast a spell on this boat?” He checked the weak seams and moved forward, but when he saw Marai’s face starting to glow. The man’s Childstone emerged and Djerah froze. “What’s that on your forehead? I saw it before, at home…”
“Long story…” Marai called back, still rowing hard. “It’s like the stones I showed you but one is inside my head. Helps me do a lot of things. Now if you are happy we’re not going to sink I need you to steer. Let’s stay in the middle like this and I’ll see if I can get it to go even faster.”
“We’re about to pass Sokor, I think. You keep this up, we’ll be there in under a moon’s quarter.”
Marai nodded and went back to rowing. He knew that the only reason Djerah didn’t fall off the back of the boat while he steered was because he had the Yah stone tucked into his own leather purse. He sensed the harmony of the Child Stones, as they spoke excitedly to each other.
Why did I just now see when Naibe almost drowned trying to escape this man? he asked as he continued moving the oars. On another level, he imagined the oars had grown longer and had transformed into fins of a great fish pulling the boat forward at four times racing speed. When they flashed above the water they appeared to be normal oars in the hands of a strong and skilled rower.
Out on the river, so many of the things that had been kept from him flooded his thoughts. He saw Ariennu’s degradation and wondered how she allowed a mere man to rule her like the prince did, even in sport. He felt the link the prince was forging between them and recognized it as the same manipulative spell Great Hordjedtef had woven over him that got him to abandon any of his doubts.
He’s not bad looking… strong and skilled, like Djerah said, raised to be cruel in the tradition of the elder kings. Something about him though… he went back to rowing, wondering if a sail of some sort kind might help.
By night, they were far to the south. Marai and Djerah pulled the boat into a small port and traded turquoise beads for a place to beach it out of the water and turn it so they could prop it up on short oars and shelter in it.
As they sat and ate, Djerah began to ask questions.
“You’re going to tell me about these spells you cast? About the stone in your forehead that makes you have the powers of a god?”
“No. Not tonight.” was Marai’s quick answer, but when Djerah’s face filled with a disgusted expression he sighed and said, “I’ll tell you they empower dreaming. You learn to dream while you’re
awake. I simply wanted to go faster, so the man brought me the boat. I didn’t want it to sink, and I wanted to stay strong all day, so that happened. Now… I want to sleep.”
“It was…” he started to say unbelievable, but it came out in a thought. “I just don’t think I will sleep again. I touch it and it buzzes.”
Marai sensed the music of the small crescent shaped stone as Djerah pulled it out of his purse and held it in his hand. He looked and saw the glimmer, then heard the voice in his own head.
So sad his plight
So twisted his future
We hold secrets
As Ariennu Wise MaMa holds them from you.
Advise him.
Teach him to embrace calm
He rocks on the brink.
Marai stared at Djerah, wondering if he had heard the message or if it was just a report of what the Stone child had learned about the young man. Djerah’s lack of expression change told the sojourner that the young man had been so enchanted by the glimmering, he hadn’t heard them. The message had been private.
Should I collect you, so he cannot see? I thought to ease him into this, he asked.
You should not close his eyes.
He is learning much.
Ask him to dream
Prepare him.
“It protected me when you were getting the boat last night, just like you said it would. I should have been easy prey for a thief,” the young man half mumbled.
“It knows you now,” Marai finished his simple meal and doused the cookfire they had built in front of the overturned boat. He yawned, but decided to show the young man one more thing. “I learned this one from my Lady Ari,” he chuckled, thinking about her laughter and naughty image, the way she teased him and would hold her breasts up high in both hands. Look at these. See how the nips are berries fat for your mouth… and her tongue would flick out at him, beckoning him. He missed her.
“Ariennu, the Kina-Keft halfling with hair kissed by a blood moon,” Djerah sighed, suddenly drowsy.
Marai knew the Child Stone in the young man’s hand purred on a frequency that induced calm. He drew an imaginary square in front of them and watched the rainbow shimmer cloud it.
“See that?” he asked. “If any man or beast comes upon us while we sleep they won’t see or even smell a thing.” He looked and saw that Djerah had put away the stone was lying back. In moments he was asleep. Oh well, you who thought you’d never sleep again. Enjoy. For a moment, as he settled, Marai saw a vision of Djerah’s apartment in Little Kina-Ahna. The door was open and a tall, muscular man emerged from it. He wore a white status cap. Light weaponry was strapped over his shoulder.
Peacekeeper, Marai thought at once how lucky he was that the man had stayed away while he had slept in the upper room. That’s the one she’s betraying him with. Goddess mine, I hope he doesn’t dream of this tonight. I don’t want him knowing this until he’s stronger and maybe has even seen a better woman in the distance. He remembered the message of a moment ago and understood.
So sad his plight
So twisted his future
We hold secrets
I know, but how long until he can see it himself? Will I or anyone else be able to calm him then? Marai thought but realized the young man knew inwardly everything he needed to know. He couldn’t let it overtake him. A day would come, the big man knew, when Djerah would allow himself to see everything clearly. That day he would no longer be able to dismiss his nagging doubts. For now, and for many selfish reasons, Marai hoped it wouldn’t be soon.
“Uh… Marai…” Djerah woke the big man just as the sun rose. “You need to look at this,” he said.
Marai’s eyes popped open in a flash and he sat up, but immediately knew what had happened. The boat had changed. It was longer and of a much sturdier construction. The wood was new and not starting to rot at the roping holes. It was built for speed and even had a bracket for a mast. A mast had mysteriously arrived. It lay nearby with a yardarm and the fabric for a sail wrapped around it, all lashed tight and with good rope.
“You traded it out while I slept, didn’t you? Or did you cast another spell?”
“I was talking about dreams, and you had your hand on a stone too. Are you sure you didn’t ‘cast a spell’?” Marai playfully accused the young man, still wondering why they Children were helping him now when they had done so very little for him or for the women in his life in their time of much greater need. He stopped short of asking them this time and reflected. I know, the sesen flower and the choices. Tell me too much or help me too often and it decreases the power of my decisions. Why now though? he mused.
A storm is coming.
The sky opens
All must be in place
At the appointed time
In readiness.
Storm. Naibe’s storm. The goddess knew, he remembered the tiny and short-lived haboob, a dust djin that sought their caravan when they traveled to Ineb Hedj so long ago. She had run off and had to be rescued. That set her night terrors in motion, but gave birth to the beautiful and enchanted night when they fell into each other’s arms. If she hadn’t been afraid, perhaps that moment would not have happened. And then, perhaps if I hadn’t allowed myself to be put down by Hordjedtef, would Wserkaf have become a friend? Would I be interested in going to Ta-Seti if the women I love had never been taken from me? Mtoto Metauthetep Akaru Sef. I’m to seek him as a man who walks between worlds in Qustul, Wse said… Goddess, would the king have even died if he had not learned of Great One’s treachery? And Djerah… they are right. It is connected. It all is.
“I don’t cast spells. You do. I saw that protection you put up that looked like a sheet of oil on the water,” The young man moved around the boat, inspecting every part of it to make sure it was no illusion and wouldn’t return to the half-sinking old bundle of slats they had magically driven thus far.
“Maybe we both did it. We were wanting a faster boat with a sail, after all.”
“Well I want a pile of gold big enough to fill the upper room where you used to live. Will they do that for me if I dream about it?”
Marai shook his head, because he knew the answer. The plan was for Djerah to be with him as descendent and student. A room full of gold and a cheating wife wasn’t the best thing to come home to, just as Hordjedtef wanting to be immortal so he could rule Kemet forever was likely a bad idea. Some wishes were just wrongheaded and only granted in the short run to teach a lesson.
“Well, let’s get this thing to the water and fix the sail before whoever lives in this sepat thinks we stole it. Dream of the gold if you want to once we’re underway.” Marai put the last of his things into the basket and flipped the heavy boat to pack it.
CHAPTER 13: QUSTUL AMANI
Marai regarded the gracefully curving, massive brick walls surrounding the town. Some fisher folk were out in the reeds with nets and spears when he and Djerah scanned the edge for crocodiles or anything smaller, but vicious, then pulled their very ordinary-looking boat ashore.
“Where’s this?” Marai called, but it took more tries to find the right dialect.
“Qustul Amani is here,” someone called out, but cautioned, “nobody here. All gone into New City til after the dry wind.”
“Looking for Prince Metauthetep, the Akaru…” he called back.
“Don’t think he’s here… gone up to Buhen,” came the next answer. At that point someone paddled over to the caller and spoke to him. He corrected himself, “maybe here! Maybe two days here. No more.”
Qustul Amani? Peaceful refuge? Marai thought. Peace through no one being here, he noticed the gates were made of finely carved imported cedar wood just like the gates in the walls around the palaces in Ineb Hedj. Painted rampant and fierce lion motifs adorned the walls. Walls go around the whole place, too, not just the palace unless it’s bigger than the one for the king. Armed watchtowers, too. He paused and listened. It’s too quiet here to be such a fortress.
“Marai…” Djerah began
, “I don’t think this is the right place. I don’t remember this place from when I came with the army. Maybe we’re supposed to go up the channel to the other one.”
As the two men approached the wall and gate, Marai eyed the tense guards walking the wall and manning the towers. They were more than ready to descend on them if they looked threatening. No one hailed them or asked what business they had. They just kept walking the top of the wall and looking down at them in silence.
“No. This one feels right,” Marai smiled. Something in his heart wanted to skip a little.
Old friend
Welcome
Return of the lion
“Should we go back and get weapons? All I have on me is my gutting knife. I didn’t…” Djerah worried.
“No. Unless we feel this guarding is about us, just come with me to the gate and watch what I do. I just have a really good feeling about this place for a change… like I’m home,” the big man whispered. Putting his hands up to his mouth, he shouted up to one of the guards in the language of Kemet.
“Looking for a man Mtoto Akaru Sef, Prince Metauthetep. Is this where I find him?”
For long moments the guard walking the top of the wall ignored him. Marai tried his own tongue. The guard paused, confused. Another guard walked toward the first one and drew his bow.
“I told you…” Djerah protested, his hand finding the grip of the knife if his belt.
“Stop that,” Marai snapped, waving his hand at the young man. “They just don’t know highland Kina, and neither do you.” He went back to speaking Kemet and slowly shifted into the use of a few Ta-Seti phrases he had sensed from Deka.
“Good evening! May you be blessed,” he tried.
The guards, joined by a third man, stared down. By this time, two men had taken aim with their bows.
“Looking for Mtoto Akaru Sef…”
“If he is inside, stranger, which I do not say he is, who comes to see him?” one of the men finally called down to him.
“I don’t think he has my name, but he does know I’m coming. You can say its Marai bin Ahu and his kinsman Djerah bin Esai,” Marai called back.
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