The Amarnan Kings, Book 6: Scarab - Descendant by Overton Max

Author:Overton, Max [Overton, Max]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Writers Exchange E-Publishing
Published: 2013-03-22T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

Chapter Twenty-Four

The young woman stood on the balcony of the Nomarch's residence in Behdet, leaning on the stone balustrade and staring out over the night-time city and beyond to where the Great River--Iteru--shimmered in the light of a waxing moon. The night air was cool, and the woman folded her arms across her bare chest, the gold of her arm-bands cold against her breasts, and shivered.

Why am I here? What am I waiting for ?

Few lights were visible in the darkened city at this late hour. The cooking fires had long been banked or extinguished and only the rich could afford to keep oil lamps burning through the night. She could make out a fitful glow from the great temple of Heru and from lesser shrines of any of a hundred gods scattered through the darkened streets. Lights burned in the guard posts and in the residence behind her, but they burned dimly, as dimly as moon-washed stars in the body of the goddess Nut and did not blind her. A cry reached her ears and she looked north, pinpointing the wail of an infant in distress. A lamp flickered, butter-yellow, and she imagined the mother, sleepless as she ministered to her child while her husband slept.

A night bird called--an owl perhaps--hunting on silent wings, its keen eyes searching out its prey--a sleeping sparrow in the fronds of the palms or a foraging mouse in the grain warehouses by the river. From the river came a splash and gurgle as some denizen of the waters--fish or crocodile most likely--pursued its own cold purpose.

Why am I here? What has summoned me ?

Wood smoke drifted across the balcony, faint and sour, mixing with the subtle undercurrents of massed humanity--the stink of ordure, rank sweat from man and beast, spices, cooked food--from the sleeping city below, and perfumes--rose and lotus--from the Nomarch's wife's bedroom. Incense from the temples beat at her brain and conjured up visions of priests chanting hymns of praise and the silent dark statues of the gods in their sanctuaries.

Why am I here? Who called me to this place ?

The woman raised her hands to her face, touching old scars and her fingers brushed her right eye, feeling the hardness under the lid. She opened the eye and felt smooth stone beneath, her mind sensing the cool green-tinged darkness wherein lay the presence of the gods--the Nine of Iunu.

I am here. What do you want of me ?

Something flicked past her, arrow-swift in the night sky, piercing the dark body of Nut. A streak of light coursed from the southeast, plunging down across the city, silent as it disappeared into the blackness that lay beyond the walls.

What lies there? The temple of Auset ?

Certainty filled her. What she sought was in the temple of Auset. The sign could not be clearer. The goddess had spoken despite her not having the golden scarab in her possession. The young woman felt her heart break anew at the remembered loss and she cried out.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.