Am Heh barely looked up when he heard the knock, continuing to read over the scroll with even less interest. It was the pause before entry that caused him to lower the papyrus, his dark eyes observing the meek entrance of the young man. The face was not one he recognised but, unlike the others, the aura emanating from the mortal was calmer, perhaps nerves.
He gestured to the table nearby, half judging each movement the new slave made.
"Put it there," he instructed placidly, unable to look back to the papers he was reading, the mortal having piqued his curiosity. "And wait for a moment, there may be other things I need you to do..."
Ishaq opened his mouth to reply, snapping it shut quickly as he remembered his instructions. He gave an awkward bow instead, faltering under the weight of the jug again before making his way over and relieving himself of the burden. Automatically he rolled his shoulders, cramped from tension before carefully pouring the contents shakily into the glass.
Am Heh looked away, a more charitable gesture to save the new slave from making a fool of himself. He well remembered the 'amusing' tale of Thoth's new slave who dropped and spilled more than he balanced.
Thoth might not mind tidying up but he did.
"You are new here, aren't you?" He asked apathetically as he glanced over. "I don't recall seeing you anyway."
He would certainly remember the aura, more gentle than any of the others. His other slaves and upper servants had a brashness to them, even when they had first begun. Whilst they accepted their duty to be there they made it clear for some time that it had not been of their choosing.
Thankfully, the older staff quelled them, they still had their life albeit in a different manner.
"You don't need to be so nervous. I don't allow ill fate to befall those here." The words came unbidden and he cursed himself as soon as they left him and swiftly, he covered himself, adding more coolly. "Unless I order it myself or you are foolhardy. Then you will have something to dread."
"My name is Ishaq, it is a pleasure to serve a God," Ishaq responded quietly, unsure whether replying had been what the deity wanted. When no rebuttal came, he continued. "I was offered to Renenūtet but she had enough servants of her own."
He gave a soft smile as he spoke, calming him only slightly, when in reality he was terrified, his knuckles white on the handle of the jug.
"Ishaq..."
Am Heh nodded, consigning the name to the never-ending list. Fortunately, he had been blessed, or cursed, with a decent memory. He watched idly, feigning interest in the papyrus map he had been studying ad pondering why he'd said anything. Normally he allowed slaves to fall on their own swords and then coldly suggest what they should have done.
He dismissed the idea as anything more than that Ishaq was clearly younger and far more innocent to either world than the others who got sent there. Until now, all he would have known was the care and protection of his parents and his birth home, working alongside those who he knew and ignorant to the slavery and pain that drained the spirit like a leech.
Tracing a finger over the paper the area lit up, vanishing from sight. What that meant would be unknown to mortals and perhaps it was best to leave it like that. Certain areas had piqued the displeasure of many Gods but Am Heh was more overt in showing it. Humans would never learn the woes of heresy if nothing happened to them.
The way the God whispered his name sent shivers down Ishaq's spine in a similar manner as when his teachers had repeated excuses he had given. Putting them into memory to be used against him later, and Lords knew they did. But they were mere mortals. His new master held powers that would destroy even to soul, sending them to black oblivion.
"How are you with hounds?"
Ishaq jolted as he gathered himself from his thoughts, forgetting his instructions of keeping his eyes on the floor and meeting the brilliant orbs that surveyed him.
"Dogs?" He swallowed, his voice sounding like a frog was caught in his throat. "Well, I cannot say I've had much experience, great one. I've always been a little fearful of them after I was chased as a toddler."
The dog had been playful rather than aggressive, not much more than a puppy himself. The baker had found him and decided he would be ideal to guard his precious grains after a spate of theft. It hadn't even been a large dog, but to a three-year-old it had seemed like a behemoth.
"I don't have cats like some of the others," Am Heh said, seemingly disregarding the subtle objection. "I have hunting dogs. Treat them with respect and there's little to worry about, unless you look like an antelope. You might have a grace about you but there's a marked difference in appearance." He leaned back. "Your duty would simply be feeding and grooming them, the latter they don't need a lot of."
Ishaq shifted and looked at his feet. "I am certain I can do that, great one. What..." He clapped his hand over his mouth before the question left him, feeling a heat burning his cheeks.
"Since you are new and you realised your error, I will overlook that small transgression," Am Heh looked fixedly at him. "As for whatever question you have, I am sure you will find whatever answers you seek along the way."
Before Ishaq could thank him, the door was knocked, echoing in the room.
The God looked over, beckoning for the waiting male to enter. A tall, lanky creature, eyes so dark they could be seen as black. Scars littered his exposed flesh, remnants of this life and the one he had come from.
Zuberi had been the son of a warrior, used to the reverence and awe given rather than giving it himself. However, after the defeat of his tribe, he had been the perfect offering to give for good fortune. Unlike Ishaq he had made his resentment known with several curses and injuries inflicted. The Goddess had not been entirely pleased by that attitude and even less at the bloody mess he looked.
She had also mentioned the darkness that lay in the heart, that the tribe worshipped another somehow.
Am Heh had taken that into account but had so far seen and heard nothing more than gossip or the normal irritations.
"I just wanted to inform you that the dogs are running low on meat. Should I send one out...master?" The voice was pinched, forced and lacking the desire to please.
"Send Bahadur. He gets it done within minutes and also doesn't end up injured."
Zuberi gave a stiff bow before looking curiously at Ishaq who has been hoping his silence would mean he remained unperceived. "Since I have little else to do, I could also show your new arrival about?" He offered after a small pause. Anything to gain any sort of freedom. "It may help..?"
Am Heh arched an eyebrow, a crooked smirk fleetingly appearing. "I've never believed in miracles but it seems I witness one now. You normally do your best not to do anything at all." He twiddled his fingers. "Go ahead, but bear in mind if anything goes wrong it will be you who I blame." He fleetingly looked at Ishaq. "I will summon you later."
Zuberi smiled tautly and indicated for the young man to follow, closing the door as quietly as he could.
"I don't need much guidance, thank you," Ishaq said with as much politeness as he could muster. "I was given quite a lot by the chief servant in the kitchens."
"I suppose you were," Zuberi glared at him. "I only said it to get away more quickly. What's your name anyway?"
"Ishaq," Ishaq stiffened. The man gave off a tainted aura that made him wary. "Your own?"
"Zuberi," Zuberi answered curtly, glancing back towards the door to make sure it was closed before smiling forcibly. "He seems to like you." There was an icy coating to his words. "I've not known him act that genially toward a new servant before, he's often quite critical...mind you," he shrugged "maybe you just did things right, a lot make silly errors that grate on everyone's nerves."
They were understandable. This was a strange place and one that took some time to adjust to. Especially with the knowledge they were being truly watched by Gods. Even one servant, a former slave girl of the Pharaoh, said it was more nerve-wracking. The King might be closer to the Gods but he was still but a mortal.
He sighed. Trying to swallow his resentment. He was a bitter man, aiming far above his station and angry when he did not succeed. Trying harder did not occur to him, coming from a family where achievement was a right, at least until business fell and he ended up here in hopes of reviving it.
"Anyway, I will be good enough to say that my offer does stand if you have no other option. And word of warning," he chuckled, one of actual amusement. "Never annoy the cook, trust me, she isn't an enemy you want to have! Not unless you like finding unsavoury tastes in your food. She knows all the bitter and unpleasant herbs and seeds to use if she's upset. Never anything dangerous but the taste lasts..."
He wrinkled his nose at the memory. It took over a day to get rid of it.
"He said something about taking care of his hounds," Ishaq dared. "I haven't seen them as yet, are they as fearsome as those depicted in art?"
Zuberi held back a smirk at the wide eyes gazing in hope of reassurance. He too had seen the images of the jackals kept by Set and of other fantastic beasts held by the Gods only. The temptation to exaggerate that fear, to create strife and more unhappiness to the lesser man was overwhelming.
Yet it would surely only bounce back at him. Reluctantly he shook his head.
"In appearance some of them are, at least those who go and retrieve the meat they consume but to their handlers even they aren't anything to worry about. The others are standard hunting dogs that you will have seen your King and other hunters keep."
"That is a relief," Ishaq visibly relaxed, the pinched visage settling into one of complacency. "Those, I can handle and admire as well."
"You're honoured," Zuberi turned before Ishaq could ask why. "The dogs don't spill blood around here."
Only the bull.
Am-Heh kept to his word and, as the sun started to sink into its wearing bed, he entered the stone courtyard that housed the dogs overnight.The cobblestones were delightfully chill against his bare feet and the high walls gave shelter from both heat and wind should it ever blight the realm.A slim mist rose up from behind, the mighty structure built to hide the lakes that were beyond them. Hidden from view, they were not erased from the ear or other senses. The dull scent of brimstone flowed like a dying river about them and the hiss as the flames fought each other was often heard.The dogs were a fine sight.Elegant and athletic, their large upright ears heard every minute sound about them. They romped playfully, delighting in each other's company and few rounded stones that had been placed for their amusement.Eight pairs of amber eyes turned on Ishaq as he slipped through the gate, looking him up and down
As Isaac continued to dream, the world below continued to move. The shadow of Am Heh's anger was spreading further, his crow had given him a wide range of ideas and options.The ground shook, shattering any windows that still remained and cracks splintered weaker buildings, opening the earth beneath them. The lower storeys subsided, sinking dangerously and leaving the structures weak; impelling people to face the outside.The cemetery earth opened, and the scent of death and decay flowed freely. The groan of the tombs as they were forced apart resembling the cries and moans of those beneath them. It would be easy for any nearby to think that, as the newly deceased were exposed to the world, jaws slack and gaping in silent screams.A bolt of crimson lightening tore the sky, shredding the clouds and scattering fiery pebbles down below.Cowering in the shade of the skip a hapless vagrant moved as the co
The deluge had receded. The drains bloated with the copious liquid they had swallowed. Puddles lingered, the lasting remains that they couldn't digest.Kyle stayed some way behind Babi as they ascended out on the streets, feeling strangely self-conscious at the possibility of being seen with the dwarfish, misshapen brute.His own fair-weather friends had always pulled the eyes with their numerous tattoos and piercings, not the mention the coarse vocabulary they weren't afraid of using. But he had always blended well, it was a way of life and none of them were strange enough to belong to a sideshow, whatever his grandmother might have said.The humiliation of being put down was still strong also, slowing his step as he seethed.Babi didn't notice. His slaves always remained behind him on at his feet, the latter he made some allowances for considering his diminutive size. To tell someone they were not to be higher w
"Where are you going?"Marie sighed and hurried down the corridor as Mr Montford strode down. The tiles were cracked and the lights hanging dangerously from weak wires but he wasn't fazed."You wanted to move, didn't you?" He said bluntly, focused on avoiding the pits and on the concaved door at the end. "Well, I decided you were right and I shall take a few matters into my own hands. The papyrus might not have given much away but it has enough imagery for me to form some conclusions.""What conclusions?" Ash huffed. For a man who was so much older and whose injuries should have rendered him incapable of moving, he had an amazing endurance."Hieroglyphics can be interpreted many was," Mr Montford answered with a smile. "Sometimes just one picture can give you a lot of information. A picture does speak a thousand words after all. And why risk remaining like sitting ducks when we can perhaps help our d
Isaac tossed uncomfortably in the depth of his sleep. It was heavy, as though he was being pushed into the bed by some unseen force, pressing his heart to release the emotions of the life he was dreaming of.The memories too were weighty, painful when he finally awoke.That seemed to be some way away as he continued to see the ancient world play out before him, looking out from a body he knew but was not in control of. Not anyone, he was simply an observer, watching a replay and unable to change what had already passed.The dogs' coats shimmered as he combed them, rewarded by happy wags of their crinkled tails and the occasional excitable lick of their satin tongues.Ishaq chuckled, batting them away as he tried to brush their ears, feeling they were trying their best to distract him from his duty rather than show any thanks."I might prefer this to biting," he laughed, pushing the hounds head back gently a
If Ishaq was curious about his master's seemingly lenient nature towards him then Am-Heh was more so. The God who was feared by nearly all of Egypt, not to mention some of the other deities also. Ruthless and hard hearted when it came to ridding the living world of those who displeased him and condemning those in need of long-lasting punishment in the afterlife, it was almost obscene that he would show compassion towards a lowly human.He had little time to think of it though, his irritation over the next evening's proceeding grating his nerves and the news of a temple whose priests had insulted his existence.This was not the first time they had offended his ears and he had frankly informed Atum that this was the final slur. The creator knew there was little point in arguing. He could only hope his anger didn't spread like a dark cloud over the entirety of Egypt.Devotions to the Gods varied from temple to temple. His own following w
A sultry heat permeated the air in the room. The evening breeze was sparse but encouraged by the open doors. Not one remained closed, the warmth made more obvious by the gold surroundings that glowed like another burning sun.In the shady corner two musicians played the lyre and the shepherd's pipe, providing a lively tune for the scantily clad dancer who weaved herself skilfully into erotic and sensual positions. The heady scent of incense surrounded her. With the rhythm of her menit-necklace and the sistra it was an evocative display.The musicians also watched her, as if hypnotised or playing their music to suit her moves. They had no concept of musical notation. The tunes were passed down from one generation to the next and adapted along the way.The older servants, a motley looking crew of varying ages and appearance, watched her leeringly or with a half appreciation of the movement, focusing on the sweet, red wine
The crow flew brazenly over the decrepit scenery, occasionally offering a mocking cry if it spotted movement. A piece of paper, a feral cat, nothing more.The wing of the Falcon brings to the king, the wing if the crow brings him to the cemetery.Through its eyes, Am-Heh was watching the shambling forms of his resurrected servants, unimpressed at their progress and already considering replacing them with some of the living. A taxing project but one that would yield far more stable results.Their pace was unsteady and their limbs weak. Decay set in so easily in the damper ground, even with the protection of the wooden surround. In the sands of Egypt, the body became like leather, hardier.Quietly he surveyed the ground, still allowing the overhead images to remain in mind, quite a skill and one that could be highly disorienting the first few times.The rain and lack of care had made so