Chapter Thirty Six: Farewell
“Tomorrow? That is impossible!” wailed Laylos. “I have just got comfortable here.”
“I am sure you will be even more comfortable there,” said Huy and grinned at her. “I have been promoted to commander so we will have a specially large tent.”
“A tent? You mean I will have to live like those rascally nomads. I have never heard of such a thing!”
“A soldier’s wife has a hard life, but it has its compensations.” He winked at her and Laylos coloured.
“Oh, very well. But I insist we move into a proper home as soon as one is built.”
“Of course, my little dove,” he said. Kiya smiled inwardly at the ease with which Huy handled her strong-minded aunt. Huy turned his attention to her. “We must get you back to your parents, my girl. Scrub that muck off your face and find something to cover that indecent shift.”
While Kiya washed her face, Laylos produced an apron. “Put that on,” she said, “and nobody will look twice at you.” Kiya put on the apron, which was large enough to wrap around her, concealing all but the hem of the shift. “Wait while I get my bag,” said Laylos. “If we have to say goodbye to your mother I want her set up for the future.”
“She is going to miss you,” sighed Kiya.
“I am going to miss her,” said Laylos. “But most of all I am going to miss you, my dearest niece.” She put her arms around Kiya and held her close. “All those scrapes you get into. There has not been a dull moment since you knocked on my door.”
“I love you Laylos,” said Kiya and she felt tears roll down her cheeks.
The town was in turmoil as they hurried through the streets. Groups of protesters were running riot. Kiya was horrified as she passed the market and saw stalls being overturned and produce trampled on.
“Help us, soldier!” cried a stall holder but Huy ignored him and hurried past.
“I advise you to stay at home, Kiya,” he said as they skirted around two men fighting in the road. “There is already trouble in Thebes and worse is to come. I will not be around to save you next time.”
“Yes, Huy,” agreed Kiya.
At last they reached the countryside. As the sounds of the city faded away, Kiya felt at peace among the flooded fields and wide blue sky. This was where her torn heart might recover.
Ramala greeted them at the door of the farmhouse, her brow crinkled in concern. “What has happened? Why are you coming home, Kiya?”
“The temple has been closed,” said Huy.
“My poor child, I am so sorry.” She embraced Kiya. “So the rumours were true, after all. Oh dear, what a disappointment.”
“Do not be sad, Mama,” said Kiya. “It is quite a relief. Some of the duties were difficult.”
"Difficult? I am sure you managed them well, my darling."
“Go and get changed, child,” said Laylos. “I will need that apron back.”
Kiya searched in the clothes chest and brought out a shift. “Where is father?” she asked.
“In the barn, seeing to the animals,” said Ramala.
“I will go and tell him that we are here,” said Huy.
Kiya took the shift into the yard and undressed. She washed in the trough. After the warm, perfumed water of the temple, the cold was a shock, but when she towelled herself down she felt refreshed. She put on her old shift and put the temple shift into the washing pile. She felt a pang of regret as she felt its supple smoothness and doubted if she would ever wear such finery again. Then she picked up her aunt’s apron and went back into the house.
Laylos and Ramala were on the seating ledge, their heads close, deep in conversation. Laylos looked up. “Hello Kiya, I have been telling your mother why you were chosen to be High Priestess.”
“How could you, Kiya,” wailed her mother. “Of all the unsuitable suitors, why did you fall in love with Anubis? I never even dreamt that such a monster could really exist!”
“She is not to blame, sister,” said Laylos. “Young girls are easy prey for older men. I admit that Anubis is not exactly a man, but he is certainly old!” There was a twinkle in her eye as she said this and Kiya felt the atmosphere lighten.
“Oh, well,” sighed her mother. “What’s done is in the past - it is a comfort that it’s all over. But to think that you rejected Dennu in favour of that creature.”
“God, Mama,” Kiya corrected her. “The temples may be destroyed but the gods still exist.”
They were interrupted by a flurry of activity as the two men entered the house, bringing the scent of the stable with them.
“Huy says we can keep Enno!” declared Teos, his eyes shining with pleasure.
Ramala leapt to her feet. “What a generous gift,” she cried and embraced Huy.
“You must thank Laylos,” said Huy. “For the animal is hers. But we have no further need of him and nowhere to stable him in Akhetaten.”
“Akhetaten?” asked Ramala.
“Yes, Huy and I have come to say goodbye,” said Laylos. “We will be leaving with the wagon train tomorrow morning.”
Ramala’s jaw dropped. “No, don’t go! What will I do without you?”
Kiya’s aunt replied brusquely. “Do not talk nonsense, Ramala, you will do very well. You are no longer ill and can pull your weight around here. It’s time you started a little business. Poor Teos will be unable to work this farm forever.” Laylos opened her bag and pulled out some sheets of papyrus. “These are the recipes for my most popular remedies. Kiya will show you how to make them.” She looked at Kiya. “Let’s hope you were paying attention while you were helping me, and not in a love-sick dream.”
Ramala took a sheet of papyrus and stared at it.
“That symbol there is the spell,” said Laylos, pointing to it. “Every pot of medicine must be accompanied by the correct hieroglyph or it will fail to work. What is this one for, Kiya?”
Kiya stared at the sheet. “Face cream,” she said. “And that one is an ointment for piles, and that one for cough medicine.”
Laylos nodded her satisfaction. “You have learnt well, child.”
“Thank you, Laylos.” Ramala was radiant with gratitude. “Father made a good living as a medicine man.”
“So do I,” said Laylos. “and so will you. But you must keep the secrets in the family.”
Kiya watched her mother take the spells and place them in the chest. Secrets, she thought, how she wished she could share hers with the family, but she must bear the burden of the bones alone.
Ramala returned to Laylos and opened her arms. “You have helped me in so many ways. What a wonderful sister you are.” The two women embraced. “Tell me, why are you leaving? Where is Akhetaten?”
“It is a new city being built to the North,” explained Laylos. “The whole army is being transferred there to help in its construction.”
“We could be in for difficult times,” said Huy. “Store as much food as you can, my friends, and keep your heads low.” He reached out to Laylos. “We must get going, my lovely.”
Laylos took his hands and allowed him to pull her to her feet. “Many thanks you two, for all your hospitality.”
“It has been a pleasure,” said Ramala. “A real pleasure.”
“You must come and visit us in Akhetaten,” said Huy.
“We will try,” said Teos, but with little conviction. Kiya knew that her father had never travelled beyond Thebes in his life. She folded the apron and gave it to Laylos.
“Thank you for all you have done,” she said. “Nobody could wish for a better aunt.”
“And no aunt could wish for a more delightful niece,” said Laylos and gave her a hug.
After many embraces, Kiya stood between her parents and watched Laylos and Huy walk away. Ramala slipped an arm around her waist. “With my beauty and Laylos’s strength of character, you have the best of both worlds, my darling.”
Kiya smiled at her mother. What a compliment. She only wished she could be as happy as either of the
m.