by Rivka Spicer
“What is this place?” Murmured Kim as they pulled up outside the door to unload in a wide sweeping driveway and Nkara frowned as she tried to think of the best way to put it.
“I guess you might call it a school for the gifted.” She said eventually, slamming the boot of the car shut and Jen couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You mean like Hogwarts?” She asked and Nkara burst out laughing.
“Something like that…” They all turned as the front door swung open on well-oiled hinges and Mara appeared in the morning sunlight with a broad smile on her homely features.
“Welcome!” She came down the steps and gave them all a motherly hug and Jen had to admit she was already feeling relaxed after the graft at work. “Just leave your bags here.” Mara announced. “I’ll have someone bring them up. Let me show you your rooms and then we can have some lunch and talk.” Without waiting for a response she led them up the steps into a large foyer with tiled floors and wood-panelled walls. It was beautifully done with cream trimmings and Jen and Kim looked around admiringly as they followed the others. Nkara had obviously been here many times before so she didn’t look around in awe. They passed rooms full of people, old and young but all women, all studying herbs or crystals, listening to lectures and some even doing what looked like exercises. Mara led them up a wide staircase with mahogany banisters that had been polished to a glistening sheen by generations of loving hands, around a balcony surrounding the main hall of the building and across a landing lined with doors on each side. Jen suddenly noticed with a start that each of the doors had an image carved beautifully into it beneath a name.
“What are all the carvings for?” She asked, and Nkara smiled.
“They’re all goddesses.” She explained, pointing to the next one they passed. “Artemis, the Huntress.” The image showed a woman on a horse, turned sideways as she fired an arrow. Nkara pointed to the next one, opposite Artemis. “Maat, Egyptian goddess of law and justice.” The image was of a woman holding scales before her. As they passed along the hallway, Nkara explained all of the goddesses to Jen and Kim, who honestly had no idea there were so many.
Finally they stopped before a door where a woman stood on a hilltop surrounded by a huge moon, carved hair flowing in the breeze.
”This is your room Kim.” Mara announced, handing her a key with a small wooden key ring that had the name Selene written on it.
“Who is Selene?” She asked, and Mara smiled.
“One of my favourite goddesses.” She explained. “Selene is the Greek goddess of the moon.”
“Oh.” Kim accepted the key.
“Freshen up and I’ll come fetch you in a little while.” Mara instructed, leading Jen further down the hall. They stopped outside a room with the image of a sleeping woman, her form seemingly shrouded in mist. She was achingly beautiful and the image seemed to tug at Jen’s heart for some reason.
“Who is that?” She asked quietly, barely above a whisper, and Mara smiled fondly.
“Arianrhod – Welsh goddess of dreams.” Jen smiled herself, it seemed somewhat apt. She received her key and went in, surprised to see what lay beyond the door. Someone had spent a lot of time, money and love decorating this room. There was a huge wooden carved four-poster bed by the far wall with diaphanous cream drapes floating softly down to the floor. On each side of the bed was an enormous bay window, filling the room with sunlight and making it feel so light and airy Jen had to take a deep breath to feel like she belonged. Doors on each side of the room led to a walk-in cupboard and a small en-suite bathroom. There weren’t any pictures on the cream walls, but small carved wooden stands that matched the bed held bunches of fresh flowers that filled the room with a sweet scent. Jen noticed that one of the windowsills held a vase of sweet peas and tears instantly welled in her eyes. They had been her grandmother’s favourite flowers when she was alive and even now four years after her death their smell still reminded Jen of her. Crossing the wide expanse of carpet, Jen went to the window to look at the view and was surprised all over again by the sheer scale of the place. The building, as far as she could see, was surrounded by an estate with a river at the furthest edge of her vision. Below her to the left she could see a small flock of sheep roaming the grass and on the other side in what looked like walled kitchen gardens several people were working diligently in the sunshine.
She was so busy watching them she didn’t hear the knocking on her door at first and jumped when Nkara stuck her head through.
“Are you okay?” Nkara asked softly and Jen nodded, smiling.
“I was just enjoying the view. Are we having lunch now?” Nkara nodded, and Jen followed her back down the stairs, gathering Kim on the way. Classes had obviously broken up for lunch and the halls were filled with happily chattering people. After a few moments Jen noticed the weirdest thing – there wasn’t a person in the place that wasn’t smiling. Every mouth she saw had a grin on it. They all glowed with contentment and it was quite disconcerting after living in the city where no-one looked at anyone else in the street, to have strangers smiling warmly at her as she passed. Nkara greeted several by name and Jen began to wonder how much time her friend spent here. She’d never even realised this place existed and yet it was obviously a large part of Nkara’s life. It made her feel peculiarly guilty in a strange way she couldn’t fathom that she didn’t know so much about Nkara and she made a mental note to find out more as they entered a huge dining hall.
Nkara led them right up past the tables designated for students to the top table where Mara was seated with several older women. Three spaces had been left, two on one side of the table and one facing, so they could talk across to each other during the meal. Mara quickly introduced them to the other teachers as they sat and the next thing they knew steaming plates of food were being placed before them. Jen closed her eyes and breathed in the warm scent of lemons from the warm potato and avocado salad mixed with the smell of roasted hazelnuts from what looked like some sort of nut roast. Nkara winced as she noticed Kim’s look of curiosity.
“I forgot to say that the food here is all vegetarian.” She apologised. Kim shrugged bravely.
“I’m sure I’ll survive.” She told them and Jen burst out laughing.
“We’ll take you out for a steak on Saturday for your birthday.” She whispered and Kim sighed with relief.
“Thank god for that!” They began tucking in and to be honest the food was beautiful. Jen didn’t mind eating vegetarian at all and this was better than anything her own housekeeper had produced in a long time.
They ate and talked for almost an hour, carefully avoiding all mention of the reason they were there as Mara wanted them to have a while to breathe before diving in at the deep end. It couldn’t wait forever though and as people began standing up Mara gestured for Jen and Kim to stay close.
“Where is Nkara going?” Jen asked as Nkara headed off in a different direction and Mara sighed.
“She’s teaching my class this afternoon. She’s a gifted healer. I know you wanted her to be there for you, but I don’t think she’s ready to see you in that state.” She squeezed Jen’s shoulder reassuringly. “This isn’t going to be easy for you Jennifer. You can back out at any time and no-one will hold it against you. I hope you know that.” Jen shrugged, figuring it couldn’t be as bad as all that and followed Mara into a small room with a long couch and a couple of seats facing a window. Kim trailed in behind feeling a bit like a spare part, but Mara made her take a seat and handed her a pad and paper in case she wanted to take notes for later research. Jen was laid out on the couch and had to suppress a small burst of laughter at the thought she must have looked like she was in therapy.
“Do you have any questions before we start?” Mara asked gently, taking a seat herself. “I know you’re a bit cynical about this whole topic so don’t be afraid to try and pick holes. That goes for you too Kim.” Jen shook her head.
“I have a couple.” She confessed. “I’d rather wait until afterwards
though.”
“Fair enough.” Mara looked at Kim, who also shrugged, so she reached behind her to press record on a voice recorder and moved closer to where she could reach Jen without stretching. “Right, well I don’t believe in hypnosis.” She explained. “I think the power of suggestion is too strong to make it a reliable source of the facts. The memories are all there inside your head so what I’m going to do is put you in a state of deep relaxation where you will be able to calmly summon them up from the past. Is that okay?” Jen nodded again, feeling like a bit of an idiot. “I think the easiest way to do this is to go right back and start at your earliest memories from civilised eras. There will be prehistoric memories but they may not be as clear as the more recent ones.” As she spoke she took Jen’s hand and began massaging it gently, rotating the wrist and finger joints, pressing in the soft tissues. Jen was enjoying the sensation so much she couldn’t have pointed out when Mara’s voice became quiet and soothing, and before long she felt like she was drifting somewhere between sleep and awake in a cocoon of comfort with her eyes closed.
“What do you remember?” She heard Mara asking and in her mind’s eye she flew back to a time when the sky was endlessly blue and the sun beat down on her in a dusty, relentless heat.
“I remember the heat.” She replied softly. “I remember a lot of women, all sitting round in a room like paradise.” In her head she could hear the soft tinkling of water in the dozens of small pools scattered around the floor while all around her palm fronds and gauzy fabrics swayed gently in a light breeze that was heavy with the fragrance of flowers. Everywhere the sun glinted from tiny mother of pearl tiles that had been scattered in with the pale stones lining the floors and walls.
“What are they wearing?” Mara pressed gently and Jen’s brow wrinkled.
“Not a lot.” She replied drily. “Flimsy fabrics in bright colours, with lots of jewels and veils.” Her voice suddenly grew distant. “This is home. It’s where I grew up. Egypt.” Just the name brought a shiver of longing to her being and she felt a lump in her throat, remembering the beauty of it.
“Why do you remember this particular day?” Mara asked and Jen sighed.
“Mother was trying to hide me again.” She frowned. “I was fifteen years old and every time the great man came I had to hide. I remember mother pushing me through the screens into the sleeping quarters as soon as his approach was announced. I remember…”
As the afternoon unfolded, Jen told them a story that was at times so fantastical they would not have believed her had it not been for the tears rolling down her face.
She remembered hiding in the sleeping quarters until, that afternoon, she had finally snapped and given in to her curiosity, peeking out around the screens as the great man, her father the pharaoh, entered to choose a wife for his company that night. To her horror he had spotted her hiding behind the screens and beckoned her out. She didn’t understand why her mother had not looked at her with anger, but with fear as she had emerged from her hiding place and still did not understand when the pharaoh smiled down at her with startling intensity.
“Who is this bright flower?” He had asked in his deep authoritative voice, and her mother stepped forward.
“This is your daughter – Bint’Anath, your greatness.” She humbled herself on the floor but not before Jen had seen a tear on her cheek.
“That’s a pretty name.” The Pharaoh said, tilting Jen’s head so he could see her face more clearly. “Come Bint’Anath, you have been hidden from me for too long. Let us walk together this evening.” He had taken her hand and they had walked down through the royal palace to the banks of the Nile, where the sun was setting in a riot of colour and the sweet scent of jasmine blanketed the air.
“Tell me daughter, how old are you?” He had asked as they strolled, the balmy evening breeze cooling Bint’Anath’s skin.
“I am fifteen, great one.” She had told him and she remembered clearly that he had flushed with anger at the knowledge, although it wasn’t until much later that she understood why.
They had walked for almost an hour that evening, up and down the banks of the Nile, discussing unimportant topics such as the recent weather and the impending arrival of some of Bint’Anath’s siblings before the Pharaoh had decided it was time for dinner and they had returned to the palace. He seated her on fine silk cushions made of fabric shot through with golden thread and she was served with food the likes of which she had never seen before in the women’s quarters.
As she ate, her attention wandered and she found herself looking at possibly the most handsome man she had ever seen standing by the door at the far end of the Pharaohs chambers. He returned her gaze boldly for a few moments before returning to stand at attention and Bint’Anath had known right there and then that she had to know that man more deeply. He intrigued her. She had grown up in the women’s quarters where men were not allowed and once her brothers had reached a certain age they were whisked away to begin training for her father’s war campaigns. She had never before had a chance to examine a fully grown specimen of a man so thoroughly and she found the differences in their physique fascinating in a way that made her belly quiver for reasons she didn’t understand. The eunuchs that guarded her home seemed feminine in comparison to this silent, brooding man at the door.
The Pharaoh had entertained her until late into the night and she was drifting asleep on the cushions when he realised that his bright flower was wilting with weariness so he gestured to the guard to return her to the women’s quarters.
Bint’Anath had come instantly awake at his proximity, but before she could leave the pharaoh touched her arm briefly, a great honour, and she prostrated herself on the floor in gratitude.
“I wish to see you in the afternoon.” He told her and Bint’Anath had had no choice but to acquiesce.
“Of course Great One.” In silence she had backed out of the room with the guard, ready to make the long walk back to the harem.
As they strolled along the column-lined path back to the women’s quarter, the guard turned suddenly to Bint’Anath, his eyes clouded with concern.
“Princess, it is not my place to say this but I beg of you be careful.” Despite his tone, Bint’Anath smiled.
“Why careful, my muscled friend?” He sighed.
“It is forbidden to speak of it, but there are others that have walked this path before you.” He told her enigmatically and Bint’Anath frowned.
“What is that supposed to mean?” She demanded. “And what’s your name anyway?” He half-smiled at her in the darkness.
“I am Ankhmet, princess, a humble palace guard.” They walked in silence for a few moments before it became obvious that he wasn’t going to answer the rest of her question and Bint’Anath humphed in irritation. Ankhmet burst out laughing.
“Princess, one as beautiful as you should not make such unseemly noises.” He said boldly and Bint’Anath swung round to face him.
“Am I beautiful?” On any other lips Ankhmet knew it would have sounded vain, but from her sweet mouth it sounded vulnerable and he reached out to caress her soft cheek, brushing a lock of glossy black hair away from her eyes.
“More beautiful than a mortal could describe princess.” He replied softly, unable to draw his hand away. Bint’Anath stared up at him, feeling something stir within her that she had never felt before.
“What is happening to me Ankhmet?” She whispered. “I feel…” She frowned, looking for the word. “I feel light somehow.” Ankhmet smiled sadly back at her and drawing her hand up in his he placed it to his chest. She could feel his heart beating wildly beneath the solid planes of his chest.
“Do you believe in love, princess?” He asked just as softly. “I believe in destiny.”
The following afternoon when Bint’Anath was summoned to her father’s chambers, she walked as slowly as possible all the way there, trying to make sense of the confusion reigning within her at the previous night’s events. She didn’t understand the feelings
she had for Ankhmet, but they were certainly powerful. Her whole being ached to see him once more. It was like a physical pain that she couldn’t shake off.
To her disappointment, there was no Ankhmet in the pharaoh’s chambers, just the great man himself and when she entered he smiled broadly.
“Daughter.” He greeted warmly. “Come, walk with me.”
They spent the afternoon walking along the banks of the Nile, watching the sun beat down on the worshippers at the great temples and the workers on the West bank, carting building materials into the City of the Dead. Bint’Anath wondered if she too would be buried there one day, interred in the Valley of the Queens with her sisters and their mothers. The concept of death had never really occurred to her before and she shivered slightly in the breeze, turning away from the slaves and giving her full attention to her father once more.
The Pharaoh told Bint’Anath stories of his great victories in the war campaigns he had made during his reign. He amazed her with the way he had forged peace with the Hittites and told her of the brave warriors that had fought with him. They walked for hours, Bint’Anath barely saying a word, before the Pharaoh decided he was hungry and ordered a chariot for them to return to the palace.
Over dinner, he called for musicians to entertain him and smiled across at Bint’Anath.
“Dance for me, daughter.”
“Of course, Great One.” Bint’Anath rose and began to dance, swaying to the music the way her mother had taught her, clapping her hands and stamping her feet with a flick of her hips to accentuate the beat. She knew the Pharaoh had been drinking heavily but the look on his face as he watched her in the flickering torch-light made her uneasy. It was a dark look that she didn’t understand, with a smile that twisted his lips.
She danced until her feet ached before he waved the musicians away with a careless hand.
“Daughter you have danced well.” The Great man announced, rising to his feet and coming towards her. “I will make of you a wife.” Bint’Anath was horrified.