Chapter 29

Urmah pulled his lover into his arms and then lowered their body into the lukewarm water. She giggled when it sloshed around the basin and fell to the ground.

He smiled and hugged her back to his chest and nestled her body closer to him. He refused when Mandisa has offered to help her to bathe. He wanted to do that, to take care of her needs, even the simplest ones.

She sighed and lowered her head to rest on his shoulder; he rested his chin on her head, thinking of everything that had happened to him so far, and became confused. He always thought that he was cursed, and the fates hated him.

That was the reason why his life was full of agony and despair since he was a little kid, as far as he can remember. He felt abandoned and hated even though his mother and grandfather did their best to kill those feelings and thoughts, but they were engraved into his soul since he learned to stand on two legs.

His father took it upon himself to do that. He planted that seed and nourished it until Urmah grew and continued to do so on his own now. He thought that this would be his life till the day he dies, but meeting Tiye changed everything.

Even though he didn’t notice at the beginning, he became attached to her. She has become something and someone important to him. Because of her, he began to think maybe he was wrong and maybe his father didn’t kill all of him.

There was a small part inside, still alive and rebelling against everything he went through all of these years, and that part came to life when he looked into her dark eyes for the first time.

Those angry and cold eyes that pierced his heart deeply and wake some feelings he never thought he will feel ever again, LOVE. He still felt the emotion towards his mother, grandfather, and Adadanu. But despite that, it was a hollow feeling that made nothing to him.

It was like anger and hatred. But what he is feeling now towards Tiye and Sekhmet is something else completely. He felt whole and at peace. He felt with her beside him he could forget his past, he could have a new life full of happiness. He sighed when she started to brush his arms to clean them.

“Where is my lion?” She asked him while using the wet cloth to clean his forearm softly.

“I’m here with you, my goddess. Where else would I be when I have my world between my hands?” She shivered when his hot breath ruffled her hair.

“No, you are lost in thought. Tell me, what is it?” He kissed her shoulder tenderly before answering.

“I was thinking, how some cursed bastard like me be so fortunate to hold something as precious as you? I once thought that I was cursed by the fates, but now I think… no, I know they most love me to reward me with this moment.”

He kissed her cheek and breathed her scent deep inside him. She didn’t say anything else, and he too fell silent because like her, his emotions clogged his throat. He couldn’t even breathe.

After that, they finished their bathe, and he dried her with a tenderness that surprised him. He looked around, trying to spot anything to dress her in, but he couldn’t. so he went to Tiye’s chest and searched for a gown but again nothing.

All he found was one is of those weird coverings she liked to wear. When he turned around to tell his goddess; he found her properly dressed and her golden hair brushed softly and draped over her naked shoulder.

She looked magnificent and took his breath away. How could someone be that beautiful? But again, Tiye was always gorgeous without even trying.

“So, are you going to keep gawking at me or are you going to get dressed because your warriors want to see you?”

Her face was glowing with happiness and he loved it. This was the first time he saw Tiye smile so bright. He rummaged through his chest and found a simple kilt and wore it quickly. And brushed his wet hair and let it air dry. Now wasn’t the time to braid it.

The goddess nodded at him before walking to the tent’s flaps and going out; the lion was there gnawing on a big bone. He had forgotten all about him and forgot to tell Ada to feed him. So that was a good thing.

The beast wasn’t there, crazed with hunger. When the beast spotted them, he stood and went to the goddess and licked her hand like a little good trained puppy who was seeking the approval of his master. He smirked when he saw her ruffle his mane, then pinch his ear.

“Oh, don’t try to deceive me beast, you are wicked.”

She chuckled before continuing to move towards his warriors who have gathered in the middle of the camp. They stood to attention when they saw him coming behind her, and when they approached; they fisted their hands and thumped their hearts to salute him.

He stood a step behind Sekhmet, winding his legs, his hands clasped behind him.

She observed them intently, assessing his men with critical eyes. He stood on a foot then the other nervously. He was proud of his men, but he didn’t know what Sekhmet would think of them. She circled them, her light silk dress whispering around her curvy body like water.

The golden anklet and bangles made musical sounds with every move. The glowing golden tattoo that started from her wrist and stretched to her arms, then around her head, pulsed as if it was alive. And when she caressed it, it shined, responding to her touch.

She reached for him and stood, her eyes seeking his. “Aren’t you going to address your men, my lion? I make them nervous. I feel their restlessness and agitation.”

He stretched his left hand and pulled her to his arms, but she evaded his seeking hands and looked behind his men again. She smirked and cocked her hip to the right. Behind the few trees that surrounded their camp, a shadow approached, making the earth rattle.

He braced himself for the sudden change, his hand wiggling on the hilt of his sword, but at the end, there was no need to that, when he saw what was coming their way. This time he wasn’t that shaken like before. The goddess great beast slithered easily towards them.

She chose to come through the middle, where his men were standing. They parted for her on shaky legs as if they were afraid to disturb her slow, untroubled pace. Sekhmet met her midway.

Her hands were stretched as if she was greeting a close friend. The serpent hurried the few feet and lowered her head to great her owner. She caressed her head into her palm.

“Oh my Bomani, I missed you too.” She said fondly while her small hands rubbed the soft scales of the cobra’s head. She scratched under her exposed fangs.

“But you have been mischievous, didn’t you? I knew it had been a while, but please don’t terrorize the poor mortals with your games, my seshen. you were protecting them. Why doing that now?” He knew she was chiding her beast but still her voice was playful.

It was obvious that they shared a strong bond. The serpent huffed and he gawked. She actually huffed at the chastising of the goddess who in return laughed at her beast's antics

“No more of that my naja, now go and hunt your dinner but again don’t stray far I still need you to protect this place.”

The serpent wiggled her head and left through the same path she has made among his men, who were watching the scene in front of them with wide big eyes, still skeptical of the beast's reactions. The goddess joined him and answered his unspoken question.

“You are not wrong. She is a sentient being. She understands and feels the same as you, so if I were I won’t try to challenge her.” She laughed at his dumbfounded reaction.

He grumbled, but pulled her into his body. His men began to murmur among them, so he faced them, this time with stern expressions.

“What did I hear about you being restless? What didn’t you understand? As I have been informed, Adadanu told you everything about the day before events and Mandisa helped too.” He glared at them. He knew they needed to be put at ease, but now wasn’t the time to break apart.

Their enemies were lurking in the shadows even though they didn’t have the guts to attack them now, but still they were there, waiting for the right moment. The men fidgeted and eyed each other as if daring anyone to speak his mind, but none had the courage to do so.

“Look, all you need to know is that there is nothing here will harm any of you. On the contrary, you are blessed to be in the presence of a great goddess, and that serpent is here for your protection. Now leave and go back to what you have been doing. We will leave for Sumer soon.”

His men scattered and Mandisa, who was standing silently not far from them, approached.

She kneeled respectfully to Sekhmet, who smiled at her. “Stand up little warrior, let me see you.” The female stood, her eyes averted to the ground, her pose stiff. The goddess stood in front of her and took off her face wrap.

“Look at me Mandisa. Let me see you, the real you.” The female swallowed audibly and did as she was ordered, looking the goddess in the eye.

“So much sorrow, and so much struggle. Why do you try to hide your identity from everyone, even yourself? You are a gorgeous female if you let people see you and I mean really see you, they will be fascinated by your grace?” The goddess rubbed the female hand, still looking her in the eye.

Mandisa looked down again and her voice came out small and uncertain. “Who would love something like me? I’m an abomination.” The goddess frowned.

“You are breaking my heart, dear friend of mine. Do you regret it? I can turn the time back and take it all if you want?” The female flinched.

“Never if I went back in time. I will let them do it all over again. I will serve you till my last breath, my lady.” Sekhmet kissed the female’s cheek, and then smiled at her. “Then give him a chance he might surprise you.” With reddening face, the female stuttered.

“My… my lady, your people who you have saved are begging to pay their respect. Would you allow it?”

“Yes, please let them come.” Urmah came to her side and asked her in a hushed voice,

“What was that about? I didn’t understand.” The goddess winked. “Female matters, nothing you need to know.” He crossed his arms over his chest, annoyed, but didn’t retort. He stood there watching her interact with her subjects. He didn’t know who did they think they were in the presence of, the goddess or the future queen?

But yet again it doesn’t matter because in the end Egyptians worshipped their rulers as gods, something he was skeptical about, but now he knew better. He ordered their food to be brought to the lake. He wanted to spend the day peacefully with his lover, alone, away from everyone.

Sekhmet ran to the shore giddy as a little child who, for the first time, seeing this much of water. She threw her sandals away her in hast and jumped, splashing water everywhere.

He smiled at her antics and stood under the shade of a big old tree, but he got worried when she suddenly stopped and just stood there, the water barely touching her knees.

“What is the matter, my love? Are you afraid of water? Is this your first time?” She turned her head to him, her body still locked in place, a sad smile on her face.

“I’m familiar with water, Urmah. This is my second time, actually. The first was when I…..” She didn’t finish what she was about to say, but turned her head again and walked deeper into the clear water.

He took two steps towards her, but stopped when he felt the air around them stir. He ducked his hand, drawing his sword, then pushed his body forward and jumped right in front of a big, dark male. His blade at his neck.

“Who the fuck are you and what are you doing here?” He asked him aggressively, his hand clutching his sword, ready to slit his throat. The male didn’t move or even blink.

He stood there, his eyes fixed on his goddess, making him growl and push his sword deeper, not cutting the flesh barely. And when he was about to repeat his question again Sekhmet talked

“What do you want Anubis?” The male kneeled on one knee, his head slightly bowed. “My lady, you have been summoned.”