Secrets of the Chosen by Laura Greenwood

Author:Laura Greenwood [Greenwood, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Drowlgon Press

Ten

I stare at the body of Nik's distant Aunt Satiah, trying to work out what the best way to wrap her is. I only have a limited experience when it comes to actually performing it, and most of it is in an assistance capacity. Which doesn't help us now.

"We have to do it," I say quietly. "Do we know what she wanted?"

Nik nods and holds out the clipboard for me. I lift up the top sheet of notes and study the diagram on the second, letting out a small groan. "One of the most complicated styles."

"Mmhmm. She probably thought Father was the one who was going to do this and planned with that in mind."

"Or it's nothing to do with her and this is what your family themselves want," I point out. I've seen it multiple times. People disregard the wishes of their relatives because they think they know better all the time. Normally, they don't. And I don't think Anubis minds which style of wrapping a person has when they arrive in the afterlife, all that matters is that they've been treated with respect and dignity.

Then again, the quality of amulets matters, so maybe I'm wrong.

"Maybe it's their way of testing Father," Nik mutters.

"I doubt it, if that was the case then surely they'd have contacted the temple and told them there was a mistake when they realised it was going to be you doing the wrapping." From what I saw from his family the other evening, I'd say that they hold a lot of affection for Nik.

"Hmm."

"Where do we even begin?" I ask Nik. "Have you ever helped someone with this?"

He shakes his head.

"Right." I stare at the body. "Well we know we need to wrap each of her fingers and toes separately, so let's start with that. It looks like they've already applied the first layer of resin for us too." I wish the priests who were doing this kind of thing actually told us what they did so we could act accordingly, but it seems as if we're being tested by them leaving the body in various states and we have to guess what happens next.

We're lucky we're observant and have paid enough attention in our lessons to be able to make sense of it all.

I don't wait for Nik to respond and pick up one of the long linen strips that we prepared for ourselves over the past few days.

Carefully, I start winding it around the woman's thumb, making sure it's tight enough that it maintains the shape, but not too tight that it'll cause damage to the bones beneath. I've heard horror stories of that happening and don't want to be the reason Satiah arrives in the afterlife unable to use her thumb.

Nik watches me for a moment, but ultimately decides what I'm doing must be right as he starts the same process on the opposite side of the body. We work in silence, both of us focused on the important task at hand.

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