Egyptian Timewave

Chapter 23

The hawk is swooping down towards Abayomi before she's even left the darkness or the corridor for the brightening light of the garden courtyard. Wind flaps in her face as it wheels around her, turning back to land on her shoulder. She twists her head to raise an eyebrow at it.

"Was that really necessary?" The hawk just screeches at her, and Abayomi sighs. "Fine. Where are we going?"

One wing stretches out to point across the courtyard. Abayomi's eyebrow raises higher. That is absolutely not normal hawk behavior. Hawks don't point at things. Still, she walks in the pointed direction. Around her, there are the sounds of small birds stirring to life, chirping to one another over the sounds of flowing water and grasses moving in the wind.

When she reaches the other end of the courtyard, the hawk points her to the left, down a corridor where the torches have burnt low. They'll probably be replaced soon, but they haven't been yet. The farther she goes down the winding corridors, her only protection against being lost the hawk pointing her which way to go, the darker the sconces burn.

Abayomi shivers. Without a guide, she doesn't think she would be able to find her way back, she's not familiar enough with this place. Actually, a hawk isn't a very good guide in the first place. There's still a high chance she'll get lost anyway. Abayomi peers at the bird, smugly perched on her shoulder.

"You're not going to abandon me to get lost here, are you?" Its talons tighten on her shoulder, curling deeper into her skin. Abayomi bites back a hiss of pain. "Okay, no questioning you. Got it."

The next time they turn the corner, Abayomi can hear the faint murmur of voices in the direction of light, where the torches have already been refreshed. She goes to turn the other way, already expecting the hawk to send her that way. But when it nips her cheek and calls out in a low tone, she takes a step back.

Okay, not that way. We're going back towards the light then. Abayomi walks towards the voices, jerking back when their owners come into view. The hawk's wings flare out, a few feathers brushing Abayomi's cheek as it tries to regain its balance. It nips her again, a little lighter this time. Not hard enough to draw blood.

She winces. "Sorry, I didn't mean to. I was just startled."

Abayomi shifts closer, close enough that she can hear them but is fairly out of sight. The two men standing there and talking are priests, and neither of them are Kahotep. Everyone else here thinks she's a servant, and if she is caught listening to the private conversation of the priests this would end in her death.

She's only a servant girl after all, she has no right to the secrets of those who commune with the gods no matter who she's a handmaiden for. Being favoured by the princess doesn't do much against an accusation of treason. But she's also not truly a servant, and according to Anippe, she was brought here to listen to this very conversation by a messenger of Amun-Ra. He's not Abayomi's god, but he is one of the gods of the people here and that has weight.

Abayomi frowns down at the bird and hisses to it, "This had better not get me killed."

It doesn't respond, shifting slightly on her shoulder instead. Abayomi sighs and shifts closer, settling down into a low crouch. Her knees will be screaming at her later, but this way if she gets caught, she'll have a chance to get away. More so than if she was sitting down in any case.

One of the priests makes a sharp sound, drawing her attention back to him. He gestures at the other. "Are you actually going to tell me what you dragged me into this random corner of the palace for or are we going to keep making small talk?"

Abayomi blinks. She would have expected them to have already started with their important discussion, not to have been wasting time until now. She squints at the hawk. This was planned on the hawk's part. It wanted her to get here right when things started happening. Well, at least if all this is planned the likelihood of it ending in her death should be lower? Still, she tunes in to the conversation once more.

"-would like me to get to the point, then very well. I fear something is happening with Aten, something out of the ordinary."

The first priest's eyes widen in shock. "What do you mean by that? What could possibly be happening to Aten?"

"His messages are murkier, darker. The signs indicate that something is wrong with Him."

"Are you sure it's Him and not influence from another god? Perhaps Set?"

"No, not Set. His influences are fairly benign, if chaos-causing. This reeks of-" His voice lowers. "-the Snake." He makes a slashing motion with his hand, as if he was cutting something in half.

Priest One hisses. "No. It can't be. That's impossible."

"I pray you are right, but the signs indicate otherwise."

"How far has the influence spread?"

Priest Two sighs, "There have only been whispers as of yet, nothing concrete. It may end up to only be a sign of the Pharoah's reign reaching an end, may his reign be long, but I fear the darker possibilities."

"Can anything be done?"

"We can pray to the Gods, we can search for signs of corruption within the Pharoah's court."

One nods sharply. "I can ask the prince to put the guards to the task. He is respectful to our temple and should listen."

"Very well. Speak nothing of this to anyone else. We don't need any chaos to spread, that could risk a further spread of the Snake's influence." He slashes again and turns on his heel, walking towards Abayomi.

She inhales sharply, moving to stand, but the hawk's talons dig deep into her shoulder, possibly even cutting through the dress into her skin. Instead of standing, she presses back into the wall and hopes the shadows will hide her. The priest passes by her without a glance and Abayomi exhales in relief, peeking around the corner to see that the other priest has already slipped out of sight.

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Well that was dangerous. What do you think that all meant? Why did the hawk want Abayomi to overhear it? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out