Chapter Seventy Seven: In the Harem
Kiya opened the door to reveal a large courtyard full of flowers and flowering vines. Birds in cages sang sweetly and fish swam in a raised pool. She stepped forwards and looked around - the place appeared to be deserted. A sound behind her made her turn and she saw two men deposit her chest of clothes in the courtyard. Without a word and with lowered eyes they disappeared back into the passage and shut the door.
A middle-aged woman emerged from one of the surrounding buildings and bowed low.
“Princess Vitane?” she asked.
“Yes,” said Kiya.
“Ah, good, you speak Egyptian,” said the woman. “I am Bunefer, the administrator of the harem. Welcome to our world. I hope you will be very happy here.”
“Thank you,” said Kiya.
“You must be tired after your journey. Let me show you to your apartment.” Bunefer indicated one of the buildings and walked ahead of Kiya to open the door for her. “Please make yourself at home.”
Kiya entered and saw a spacious room with a bed at one end. There was a sunken bath, which was full of steaming water. Two young servant girls, wearing nothing but loin cloths, stood beside the bath.
“We thought you would enjoy being bathed after being on the road for so long,” said Bunefer.
Kiya would rather wash herself but was happy at the thought of being clean at last. She put the pot down carefully beside her bed and allowed Bunefer to help her undress.
“What an unusual outfit,” Bunefer said.
“It is my bridal gown,” said Kiya.
“You will not need that here, my dear,” said Bunefer. “New brides are presented to the King naked.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it is a long tradition. A bride once had a knife hidden in her clothes.”
Kiya was silent. Until now, she had barely considered the implications of joining Ikhnaton’s harem - her concerns had centred on returning the ka to Osiris. Now she realised that infiltrating the palace in the guise of a bride may have been a mistake. As she lowered herself into the waters of the bath, she wondered if she would have time to fulfil her mission before having to do her bridal duty.
Kiya lay relaxing in the warmth while the two girls knelt beside the bath and rubbed her with soapy cloths. As one reached between her legs Kiya grabbed the cloth. “I will do that,” she said.
“There is no room for modesty in a harem,” said Bunefer. “Your body belongs to the King and our job is to look after that body, to keep it clean and beautiful so it is always ready for the King’s pleasure.”
Kiya relented and allowed the girls to cleanse her all over and then to wash her hair. She was conscious of her swelling belly and hoped Bunefer would not notice the first signs of her pregnancy. Fortunately the administrator of the harem was rummaging in Vitane’s trunk inspecting garment after garment. She chose a silk robe and brought it over while the girls towelled Kiya dry.
“What wonderful material,” Bunefer said. “It surpasses the finest of woven linens. I believe your Queen has sent a bale of it for use in the harem. It is a very welcome gift.”
Kiya put on the robe and then sat on the edge of the bed while the girls combed her hair and braided it into tiny plaits.
“I hear that Crete is a very beautiful place and its wealth surpasses that of Egypt,” said Bunefer.”
“Oh, yes,” said Kiya.
“And there is a sleeping dragon under the island. They say that its head lies under a neighbouring island and, when it breathes, fire and smoke rise into the air.”
“Really?” Kiya had never heard of such a thing.
“You sound surprised,” said Bunefer. “Surely you knew.”
Kiya hastily gathered her wits. “I was just surprised that the news had reached so far.”
Bunefer looked pleased. “In this harem live girls from many lands. There is little that we do not know. I look forward to you telling us much more about your homeland. I have been told that when the dragon stirs Crete is shaken and when he wakes the island will be destroyed.”
“Oh, no!” Kiya looked at Bunefer in dismay at the thought of yet another danger facing Massui.
“I am sorry Princess. It must be distressing to be reminded of the fate awaiting your country.” Bunefer checked the progress of the girls who were doing Kiya’s hair. “Good, the plaits are nice and even, now loop them up and I will fetch the Princess her wine.”
Kiya watched Bunefer leave the apartment and feared that it would not be long before she suspected that her newest recruit was an imposter. She sat in silence while the girls pinned the plaits to the back of her head with swift efficiency. They were finished by the time Bunefer re-appeared with a tray.
“Please, take refreshment, Princess Vitane. You will need to keep your strength up for the ceremony.”
Kiya looked at the tray, which held a goblet of wine, a plate of little cakes and some grapes. She selected one of the cakes and bit into it. It was deliciously sweet and slightly crisp around the edges.
“What ceremony?” she asked.
“The Deflowering Ceremony,” said Bunefer.
“What? My deflowering? Surely it cannot be tonight?” Kiya looked at Bunefer aghast.
“The ladies of the harem have not yet arrived from Thebes so there is no problem with scheduling,” said Bunefer. “You are a fortunate girl, Princess Vitane. The King is free to see you on your first night.”
“We will have to put it off, I am not ready,” said Kiya. She dropped the half-eaten cake and grabbed the goblet of wine.
Bunefer smiled at her sympathetically as she gulped down the wine. “It is natural for a virgin to feel apprehension on her wedding night. Drink some more wine, my dear.”
Kiya drank some more of the strong, sweet wine. It had a strange after taste and she wondered if it had been spiced with herbs. “I don’t feel well,” she said. “It is best to wait until tomorrow when I am better.”
Bunefer laid a hand upon her forehead. “You have no fever,” she said. “You are probably just tired. It is a long journey from Crete.”
“Yes, I am too tired to respond properly to the King’s love making,” said Kiya.
Bunefer looked at her in surprise. “No response is necessary,” she said. “You just lie quietly while he takes his pleasure.”
“Oh,” Kiya lowered her face to the goblet and took another drink. The wine was having an effect. She felt relaxed.
Bunefer swiftly stepped forwards and took the half-empty goblet from her hands. For a moment Kiya wondered why and then she slowly collapsed onto the bed.
“It is time for the oiling,” said Bunefer.
Kiya lay quietly while Bunefer removed her robe then unfolded a sheet and laid it on the bed beside her. She felt the two girls roll her gently onto the sheet so she lay on her stomach. Warm hands rubbed scented oil into her skin and the smell of peppermint filled the room, a sexual stimulant thought Kiya hazily. When her back and legs were covered in oil, Kiya felt herself being rolled over, exposing her breasts and stomach to the oiling. In her relaxed state she was unembarrassed by the intimate massage.
“The eunuch, Rahotep, will take you to the King. I will be waiting for your return.” Bunefer raised her head and called out “Rahotep!”
A huge man, dressed in a tiny loin cloth entered the room. He rolled Kiya’s naked body tightly in the sheet and lifted her as if she weighed no more than Thoth’s feather. Kiya lay in his arms and felt as helpless as a baby as she was transported to her unwelcome rendezvous.