Egyptian Timewave

Chapter 25

Anippe appears startled when Abayomi stumbles back into the room, her eyes barely even tracking the hawk's movements as it flies off of Abayomi's shoulder. "Abayomi? Are you well?"

Abayomi blinks. "Hmm?"

For some reason, that only seems to concern the princess further. She pats the surface of the chair she had been standing beside. "Abayomi, come sit down."

Abayomi tries to wave her off. "I'm fine."

"For my sake, sit down."

With a sigh, Abayomi lets the other girl push her into the chair and press a cup of something into her hands. She sips at it, not registering the taste. She drains it, and Anippe takes it from her, returning with a full cup. Abayomi raises it to her lips, then lowers it, frowning.

"Is this beer?"

"It's heqet."

"That's beer, Anippe."

"Then yes, it is beer."

Abayomi's frown deepens. "I shouldn't be drinking this. I'm too young and it's forbidden by my religion."

Anippe sighs. "You can deal with that when you get back home. I'm sure you don't want to die from dehydration and this is the only drink we have, unless you're planning to sneak some wine from a banquet."

Abayomi snorts. "That wouldn't be any better, it's still alcoholic."

Still, if this is all that's available, she might as well drink, instead of dying from dehydration. It's not like Allah won't forgive her for taking care of her health first, in any case. Abayomi takes another sip of the drink, lowering the cup when Anippe shifts from where she's perched on a chest.

"Anippe? Is something bothering you? You look uncomfortable. Do you need the chair back? I can move."

With a slight smile, Anippe waves away her concerns. "No, you're fine where you are." She pauses, chewing on her lip. "What happened while you were gone? You were acting quite concerningly when you got back. Dazed, in fact."

"Well, the hawk wanted me to eavesdrop on some priests, which if I recall correctly could have quite easily gotten me killed."

"Oh dear. That is concerning."

Abayomi glares at her. You think? "Yeah, thanks. I would prefer not being executed, if at all possible."

Anippe sighs, standing to bring over the remainder of her breakfast tray. Abayomi plucks a date off of it. "I apologize, but Amun-Ra's messenger clearly wanted you to overhear that conversation, and He didn't let anything happen to you, did He? Now, what did you hear?"

"Well, i don't really know what anything meant, but they were talking about Aten. Something was going on with him."

Anippe leans forward. "What do you mean?"

"They said his messages were dark and murky."

"Did they saw what was causing it?"

Abayomi thinks for a moment, frowning. "They speculated. One of the priests thought it might be Set, but the other said it wasn't quite like him. He thought it was someone else. A . . . snake?"

Anippe blinks rapidly, startled. "I'm sorry, did you say a snake?"

"Yes."

"A snake."

Abayomi nods. "Yes, that's what I said. Who is the snake?"

"We don't speak the name."

A huff. "Why?"

"It's dangerous, you don't want to attract the Snake's attention."

"Why? Who are they?"

With a grimace, Anippe retrieves something from the other room and returns. When she comes back, she is carrying her kohl in her hands. With it, she sketches something out in hieroglyphics. Abayomi squints at it.

"Apep. The snake is Apophis?"

Anippe makes a choking sound, staring at Abayomi with wide eyes, shocked and scared.

"Why would you say it? Are you trying to bring something horrible down upon us? Are you? Never say that name! Never."

'It's just a name though."

Anippe glares at her, still shaking slightly. "I don't care if you think it's just a name or not. You want me to respect your God? Respect mine back, and do not say that name. You want to refer to it, say the Snake. Nothing more." Abayomi nods shakily, cowed by Anippe's fervor.

"Alright. I won't say it."

"Good. Now, was there anything else?"

"They said that . . . that the snake's influence was light, not very strong yet, and that they would bring it to the prince's attention."

"I'm assuming that you are referring to my uncle Amenhotep, as my uncle Thutmose died a little over a year ago and so if the priests are going to speak to him and ask for his help from the afterlife, it will require a great deal more work than simply going to see my uncle."

"I- yes, they were probably speaking of-" A moment of hesitation, as she almost says Akhenaten. "-Amenhotep."

Anippe nods. "As I thought. I must inform Kahotep of this, as it speaks of a potentially dire situation. Come with me?"

"Of course, we can always check on his progress with the scroll and such while we're there."
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I respectfully request that if you refer to the Snake in the comments you do not say the name.

What did you think of this chapter? Will Kahotep have made any progress? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out