Infinite Sacrifice Read Online Free Page B

Nebu’s
favor,
    Secured me in line for
wife.
    The second, I prayed to
pass.
    He helped me in my quest.
    Now that I am honored,
    Hathor, fulfill the
rest.”
     
    She whispers the last line a few
times sharply, and I try to disappear into the dark corner beside
the doorway as I hear her rush out. I hold my breath as she whips
past me, too concerned with escape to look around. I hurry into the
chamber to see a thin scroll ignited in one of my altar fire pits.
Using the fire tender, I quickly sweep it from the fire onto the
floor and blow it out. Once the embers dancing on the edges darken,
I open up the charred paper to see my name intertwined with hers,
bound with crimson blood—a conjured love spell. Bastet is more
powerful than I gave her credit for, and I find her all the more
seductive for it.
    That night, as I arrive for the
evening purification, Bastet stands at the edge of the glimmering
cleansing pool bare, her skin glistening with oil. I try to take in
her beauty, but the stolists disrupt my view, tying her dress
around her waist. I stand beside her while she’s painted with kohl.
Disrobing in front of her, I notice she doesn’t turn
away.
    Fully immersed in the pool, I bring
only my eyes out of the water, and I see she’s still watching me. I
disappear beneath the surface once again, and my heart sinks when I
reemerge as she’s walking away. Right before she rounds the corner,
she extends her arm out, curling her finger for me to follow.
Rising from the pool and ripping the loincloth from the stolist’s
extended hands, I hurry to catch her, slipping as I secure the
linen around my waist. She’s waiting, leaning back in the shadows,
shimmering. I grab her in the corridor outside the dream chamber,
pin her to the wall, and kiss her.
    She pulls her lips away after too
short a moment but stays within my embrace.
    “You must tell Nebu you need to
come for dream incubation. I will make sure we are alone by having
my slave watch the door. We will have no interruption. No one will
ever know of our bliss.”
    “There are consequences that can
come from such bliss, consequences that the Royal Daughter is not
allowed.”
    I look into her darkened eyes.
“There are trusted potions for such things.”
    She hesitates as I kiss down her
neck. “But will we never get into the afterlife if we continue
further?”
    “Don’t we priests feast from the
gods’ morning offerings after they have taken their spiritual fill?
How is this not different?”
    She kisses me back in passionate
agreement and hurries back to Nebu. I turn to go into the
incubation room, and Khons, the house scribe, is standing there
leaning on the altar where his son left him. His failing body, so
riddled with stiffness, renders him utterly dependent on his son’s
assistance.
    “Khons, you got here so fast.” I
check to see the distance between where he’s standing and where I
exchanged with Bastet.
    He laughs. “I do not think I get
anywhere fast anymore.”
    I’m relieved at how jovial he is,
assured he hadn’t overheard. In his advanced years, he must be
somewhat deaf by now.
    “That may be so, but your wisdom is
priceless to the House of Life. What new fascinating topic are you
writing about today?”
    “Oh, you would not believe the
magic that surrounds us, Sokaris! Each day I wake up in pain and
wonder why I want to trudge through another day, and by every
night, I am mystified and charged by all the charms that encircle
us.” He swirls his hands above his head to illustrate before
continuing. “Today I met with a man from Thebes who swears he is a
master of rain charms. He showed me the very documents from the
King’s Library of Periods of Drought. He performed his
enchantments, and sure enough, it rained! Amazing, what an amazing
world.”
    His sagging brown eyes glisten with
excitement.
    I smile. “What answers do you seek
tonight?”
    “I suddenly need some clarification
on a topic I am trying to understand better.” He