Chapter One hundred and thirty five: Goodbye
When Kiya woke she found herself in Dennu’s bed. The room was damaged and she could see a radiant blue sky where part of the ceiling had fallen in. She was being held in Laylos’s arms. A beaker was at her mouth and her aunt was urging her to drink. Kiya obediently swallowed the bitter-tasting medicine.
“Well done, my darling,” said Laylos.
“Is she awake?” asked Huy. He was standing beside Laylos and looking at Kiya with an expression of concern.
“I think so,” said Laylos.
“What happened to your water monster, Huy?” said Kiya in a voice that was little more than a whisper. “I am so glad to see you survived.”
Huy smiled at her and said. “Nature achieved what we failed to do, for when the earthquake struck, a chasm opened up across the Nile. The river poured into the earth’s depths in such a torrent that the monster was dragged down with it. The crack in the earth closed again and the Nile flowed peacefully once more. It was a miracle.”
“And the heads?” asked Kiya.
“They died when the body they came from was destroyed. The world is well rid of such a beast.”
Kiya looked around. “Where is Dennu?” she asked.
“He has been summoned by the King,” said Laylos. “But we have many waiting outside who wish to see you. Do you feel strong enough?”
Kiya tried to sit more upright in the bed, but her legs failed to respond. Indeed, she could not feel them at all, it was as if they had died, while the rest of her body still lived.
“What is wrong with me, Laylos?” she said.
“Are you strong enough for the truth, my darling?”
Kiya saw tears in her aunt’s eyes and she knew that the truth was terrible. “I think so,” she faltered.
“The knife with which Bes stabbed you was smeared with poison. There is no antidote, although I hope I have managed to delay its action with my medicine.”
Kiya felt panic claw at her mind. “What will happen to me?” she asked.
Huy turned away as if to hide his emotion but Laylos answered bravely. “It is a muscle relaxant and will work its way up your body until your heart stops beating and you can no longer breathe.”
“I am too young to die!” Kiya felt tears of self pity well up into her eyes.
“Have courage, Kiya,” said her aunt. “To die bravely is as important as to live bravely. Many friends are waiting to say goodbye. To see your fortitude will be a comfort to them.”
“Do they know I am dying?” said Kiya.
“Yes,” said her aunt and she brushed away Kiya’s tears with a cool, damp piece of linen. “But they do not know that you know. Have pity on them and allow them to say their farewells with dignity.”
“Don’t let them in yet. I am not ready,” cried Kiya. “Will it be painful to die such a death?” She tried to reach out to hold her aunt’s hand but her arm felt like stone and barely moved.
Laylos took her hand. “I do not think so, but it is important that you remain calm and do not panic. I have belladonna ready for when the end comes.”
“How can I bear to leave you, Laylos? It breaks my heart to be parted from those I love.” Kiya was finding it difficult to speak as the poison affected her throat.
Laylos frowned. “We have little time left, Kiya. Please allow your friends to pay their respects.”
“Very well,” whispered Kiya and she allowed Laylos to plump up the cushions behind her back so she was sitting more upright.
Huy went to the door and ushered Sabu and Ogjeno into the room. Battle had forged a friendship between the two young men. Ogjeno looked magnificent a leopard-skin tunic and feathered headdress. Sabu, although dressed more modestly in dark robes, also looked a warrior with huge curved scimitar in his belt. They walked across the room, full of youth and vigour and yet apprehensive in the presence of death.
Kiya managed to smile at them, although her lips felt numb.
“Ogjeno came with his warriors. His archers saved my people from destruction,” said Sabu.
“It was Sabu’s idea to use the obelisk as a weapon and save us all from the giant with the evil eye,” said Ogjeno. The two men smiled at each other and looked at Kiya as if for praise.
“You were both wonderful,” she said, but her lips failed to work properly and the words were blurred.
Sabu sank to his knees beside her. “I owe you everything, my Lady,” he said. “When you are well you will be honoured by my tribe and shown all the wonders of the desert and its hidden oases.”
“And I will show you the Savannah and the multitude of animals that roam across its wide grasslands,” said Ogjeno.
Kiya smiled at each of them in turn and saw tears in their eyes.
“It is time to say goodbye,” said Huy. First Sabu, then Ogjeno raised her unresponsive hand to their lips and kissed it. Kiya watched them walk slowly from the room.
Ana came next. She sat on the bed next to Kiya. “I hear you have been wounded by treachery instead of in battle,” she said. “Nevertheless you are a heroine and I honour you.”
Kiya tried to smile but her lips scarcely moved. Ana frowned as she realised how quickly the poison was working and, for the first time, Kiya saw emotion in her face. “You above all woman I would have chosen to rule Crete at my side,” she said. “I have vowed never to let a man break my heart, but my heart has been touched.” She laid a cool hand on Kiya’s forehead and then abruptly rose to her feet and left the room.
Kiya was finding it difficult to breath and her heart was starting to judder, she could feel the unnatural rhythm and it frightened her. She looked at Laylos, who was immediately aware of the panic in her eyes.
“Drink this,” she said and held a beaker to Kiya’s lips. Kiya recognised the unpleasant taste of belladonna and drank with difficulty through a paralysed mouth.
The drug calmed her and she relaxed against the pillow with her eyes closed. She tried to make her chest rise and fall but every breath became increasingly difficult. She heard Huy say. “Lord Dennu is waiting outside, should we let him in?”
“I think he is too late,” said Laylos.
Kiya heard footsteps and then Dennu’s voice said. “How is she?”
“Do you not know?” said Laylos. “Kiya is dying.”
“I know but I cannot believe it, she looks so beautiful lying there. I will pay to have her body embalmed before I leave so her ka can live forever.”
“You are leaving?” said Huy.
“Yes, indeed. King Ikhnaton has seen the destruction of the holy city as a sign from the Aten that Egypt is not ready for the new religion. He is leading an exodus to find a new country that has been promised to him by the one true god.”
“It is an impossible mission,” said Laylos.
“With the power of the Aten anything is possible,” said Dennu. “Why not come with us, Huy? It will be a great adventure.”
“No thank you,” said Huy. “I have a wife and will soon have a child. A journey into the wilderness would not be suitable for a woman.”
“Kiya would have enjoyed it,” said Dennu. “I have never known such a woman of courage. It was foolish of me to think she would be happy in harem. I truly loved her, Laylos.” His voice choked as if he was trying to hold back tears.
“Not enough to give up your ambitions,” said Laylos tartly.
“We all have our destiny to follow,” said Dennu. Kiya felt his lips against her cheek and then his footsteps left the room.
Kiya lay in bed and felt the blessing of Neter bathe her in the warmth of his love and gratitude.
As she opened her soul to the unknowable god, one of the great wonders of creation was revealed to her. She imagined that she was floating in a void and beneath her she could see many worlds, each with a valley of the Nile, like a long, green oasis in the surrounding desert.
In one world the gods of Egypt were but figments of man’s imagination and Kiya lived an untroubled life beside t
he Nile, as a dancer then a farmer’s wife with many happy children and grandchildren.
In another world she accompanied Dennu through the wilderness to find the new land promised by the Aten. In another she ruled with Ana in Crete, in another she became immortal and spent eternity with Anubis.
Which is my world? wondered Kiya. As if in answer came the realisation that they all were. There were many worlds and many Kiyas and every one lived a different life in a parallel reality. Kiya’s mind whirled as she tried to understand the strangeness that Neter had shown her.
In this reality she was dying, killed by treachery when the battle had ended. In this world she had to leave those she loved before her life had been lived.
It broke her heart to say goodbye but she knew that on other worlds she was with them still.
Kiya felt her heart stop beating. As she drew in her last breath, the scent of honey filled her nostrils and she knew that Anubis had come to see her. He was her first love and she was glad he was there at the end. As darkness overwhelmed her, her last thoughts were of him