Magic of the Nile Read Free Page A

Horus. I’ve been told the building hasn’t been here as long as the original temple of Sobek. From what I could see of the ruins earlier, your temple must have been established hundreds of years ago? Well, the town’s name itself says as much.”
    She nodded. “We believe Sobek’s temple has been in this spot on the Nile since the time of the first pharaohs, even before the pyramids were built. The temple of Horus was erected a mere thirty or forty years ago.” Tyema felt safer, more at ease, sticking to a factual discussion of landmarks and local history. She was well versed in both. “Our new temple to Sobek was built by your uncle fifteen years ago.”
    Sahure didn’t offer any more outrageous compliments during dinner. She couldn’t decide whether to be glad or sorry. Flirting was a dangerous, intoxicating novelty to her, no matter how practiced his tongue might be, so on the whole she was probably better off not trying to match him honeyed word for word.
      After they’d finished eating, he escorted her to the square to watch a performance of the old scribes’ tale “The Shipwrecked Sailor”, put on by a traveling company. Tyema laughed and applauded along with everyone else. She couldn’t remember an evening where she’d just had fun, or felt so at ease.
    “I’ve been shipwrecked and let me tell you, it isn’t nearly as entertaining as these players make it appear,” he said in her ear as they left the play. “Of course the island I washed up on had no fifty foot talking snakes, no enchanted dancing girls, nothing but scrub palms and sand.” Reaching out, he snagged a red flower from the stall they were passing, dropping a small coin in the vendor’s palm. “Stand still,” he ordered. Tucking the flower behind Tyema’s ear, he kissed her cheek before taking her hand again. “Now what, my lovely lady? Shall we go inspect the temple of Horus, compare it to yours?”
    Flustered, wondering if anyone she knew had seen his bold gesture, she put a hand to the flower, pulling it from her hair. “I think I’d better be going.” She sniffed the bruised petals.
    “But it’s early yet—surely the festivities will go until dawn.” He waved his hand at the crowd around them. “I see no signs of flagging energy or loss of enthusiasm. The beer still flows in rivers.”
    “I have duties, rituals to conduct at midmorning.” Truth, as far as it went, she did have to sing while the effigy of Sobek was offered food and drink, before the lesser priestesses draped the statue in fine linen robes and golden jewelry set with turquoise and other gems.
    Sahure made an opening through the throng and led her to a less crowded part of the main street. “If you insist on cutting the night short, we’ll go to the inn, have my horses put to the chariot and I’ll drive you back.”
    “No need for me to cause you the trouble. I’ve family in town.” Tyema pointed vaguely to the east. “I’ll stay with them and walk to the temple at dawn.”
    “Now that I cannot allow,” he said, gazing into her eyes, a frown on his face. “It’s quite a distance and you’ll doubtless have a full day of work.”
    Twirling the flower in her fingers, she chuckled at the idea of requiring so much cosseting. “I walk back and forth to town all the time.” Well I would if I ever left the temple grounds. “I’m not one of your delicate Theban girls. Out here in the country we walk everywhere.”
    He escorted her to her family’s home, where her oldest sister and her husband, the captain of the guard, now dwelt. He didn’t try to kiss her again, saying good night before she slipped through the gate. Tyema wasn’t sure whether she felt relieved or regretful. She waited in the deserted courtyard for a good ten minutes, before re-entering the street. Glancing over her shoulder at the house, she shuddered and pulled her shawl more closely around her shoulders. I swore not to ever spend another night under their roof and I’m