“And you my good friend, have you ever fallen under her spell?”
Peti hesitated a moment, troubled by my question. “All right, all right!” He released a laugh. “I confess, her beauty did take the better of me, and yes I attempted to win her heart. But that was a long time ago.”
I felt partial relief. Obviously nothing serious had developed between them.
“Itef, tell me of your great journey.” I could not understand why he felt the need to deviate from Tawri and I stared at him. Peti looked back in a way my uncle did when I protested against his will.
“She walks with her guardian, Pawah. He protects her from the young Thebans who carry indecent desires in their hearts, like you Itef.”
I took offence at his callous remark but I remained silent for the sake of knowing more. He carried on. “The truth is, my friend, she has been watched like a hawk ever since Nakht son of Amunemhat laid eyes upon her. He is considered a great one of Kemet for he has joined a campaign with the king’s army.”
Amunemhat was a wealthy and influential bureaucrat in Thebes. His son Nakht had joined Ahmose’s legion to study the art of war. Like the naval officer Ahmose son of Ibana, Nakht was attempting to impress his majesty to secure a future for himself as a high-ranking military official. His timing could not have been better. The Theban army was faced with an internal uprising. A rebel named Tetian was gathering malcontents to himself. King Ahmose, ruler of the two lands led the Theban army on a merciless crusade to crush Tetian and his heinous rebels.
No one was a challenge against a powerful bureaucrat’s son, especially a young commoner like me. That however did not intimidate me, nor did it dissuade me. I had foreseen my future with Tawri. The gods had revealed my destiny through visions I had seen. No other mortal could possibly understand it.
“Before I left, she whispered words of passion into my ear,” I countered.
“We were children, Itef.” Peti smiled thinly. “She has changed much.”
“It matters not!”
“Itef, you cannot compete against such a man as Nakht… no one can. All you can achieve is humiliation, nothing more ... and you will be laughed at.”
There was silence. We stared at each other like jackals, Peti impassive and I sullenly. “Fine, do as you please! But do not say that I did not warn you!” His serious expression suddenly broke into laughter. “Come, let us be amused at the forum.” As long as I knew him, Peti always managed to break tension with his infantile behaviour. I could not reserve anger towards him - on the contrary, I admired his harsh yet considerate intentions even though it had little effect on me.
“Yes,” I agreed, “let us go then!”
CHAPTER 3
ISIS HATH LAID BLESSING UPON ME
Ra gave his final blessing to the sterile desert landscape. Far beyond the western banks the great sun god set under a blood red horizon. Soon the shadows of the great mountains disappeared into gradual darkness. Thebes, however came to life by the illuminated afterglow of hundreds of fire-lit torches braced on each wall and pillar. Even the great temples never disappeared into the gloom of the night. Flickering ruddy light danced rituals. The immortal images of the gods came alive as the varying shadows on their faces issued a warning not to enter into sacred grounds. Most of the Thebans had retired for the evening, but the younger generation still remained. Many flocked around the forum, as it was a usual meeting place for friends and lovers to unite. During the light of day it was a bustling market place where farmers and peasants gathered their livestock and produce to barter one for the other while the nobles sent their servants to collect fresh goods. When Ra set, the market grounds evolved into a congregating center for the young. I observed the torches cradled in their brackets on tall pillars. The flames threw a wavering light on all human features, changing facial expressions vividly. The surrounding terraces on the other hand were blanketed by the fall of darkness. Long had I waited for this moment, being present in the Theban nightlife. Many times I wondered what it would be like … and there I was enjoying myself with an unacquainted company of locals and my good friend Peti. The forum resonated with our laughter as we amused each other with brief stories of life’s mishaps. I glanced towards the west bank, my sight catching the glimpse of growing silhouettes. For a moment it was an eerie spectacle as if the spirit world was emerging from the landscape. In fact it was the great Moon God Iah, like a son of Ra. Gloriously he rose with ease from the horizon behind us. Instantly the murky blackness of the night was spilled over with a blanket of dull light. My admiration was soon cut short by a hard pat on the back.
“Tell us Itef, what fortunes does your heart desire?” Peti mocked.
I quickly looked around the circle of young men - some were peasants and some workers at the king’s quarries, all commoners. The boys were eagerly waiting for my mouth to utter words of wisdom or perhaps something witty. I was quite and only reserved my desires to those close to me.
“Fortunes?” I replied. “My heart is quite mysterious. It speaks little of fortunes and splendour.” I spoke swiftly and turned the question back to Peti. “And you my good friend, what does your heart desire?”
Peti craned his neck into the air. “I am to become a Medjai!”
We all broke out in laughter, mocking his futile ambition. Everyone was aware that such an honourable position was not given to commoners. Surely he was aware of it.
Peti threw his eyes at each and every one of us. “It is true … my heart is firm!” He wore a hurt expression.
I placed a hand on his shoulder, still partially amused. “You mock me, Itef?” He shrugged it off. Peti looked extremely vexed and instantly I managed to wipe the humour off my face. I felt bothered by my inconsiderate behaviour and did not know what to say or do. I had disrespected a good friend.
“Forgive me,” I murmured. Just then a simultaneous burst of laughter erupted. I glanced at the amused party, confused.
“Itef, my good friend,” his mouth wide open with hilarity, “you are effortlessly fooled. You should know that I do not offend so easy!”
His caustic mockery annoyed me. I pretended to ignore him by attracting my attention elsewhere. As I gazed around my eyes suddenly froze - my breath grew weak, my heart pounded heavily … breathing became difficult. I felt a familiar swelling sensation in the pit of my stomach, legs growing limp. My eyes were fixated on three young female figures, giggling to each other as they looked at me. One of them gave me an adoring smile. She looked so familiar, so beautiful. I wanted to run to her, to see if she was the one whom I hoped for but my body stood motionless, paralysed. The circle of entertainers slowly stood aside as she walked towards me like a goddess. No one uttered a sound, only the force of gasping air my lungs could be heard. She stood before me with a gentle smile, her tantalising deep brown eyes looking curious. Never had I seen such beauty. Her delicate features outlined a mesmerising complexion and her long ebony hair draped like silk over her slender frame.
“You are Itef, are you not?” Her voice pure like the mid summer breeze.
“Yes.” I nodded quickly. She lowered her head and looked into my eyes, disarming me.
“I am Tawri, you do not recognise me?” Her tone saddened. I could not utter a word even though I tried to for my heart befell into intoxication. Her lips turned down, her eyes looked away. She turned towards her friends.
“Have thou gone mad?” An inner voice yelled at me. “Thou hath dreamt of this moment for so long and now here thou are standing before her, letting her walk away from thy life?” I had never experienced such a phenomenon before. Its stern demand was not something I was about to ignore. I was