Neff hesitated. She couldn’t ask him to be her friend, but she could ask for information. “If I have questions about life here at the temple, would you answer them?”
“Why wouldn’t you ask the master such questions?”
Neff decided to be honest. “Because the master frightens me. And you don’t.”
Prince Kenna’s eyebrows shot up, and he chuckled. “I cannot argue with that logic. As you wish. You may assist me by accompanying me back to my chamber and carrying the wrappings. But we should hurry.”
Neff squeezed the wrappings, elated, and began walking next to him again. He gave her a sidelong glance. “Why do I get the feeling you already have a question?”
“‘The word is the deed,’” she said, recalling the phrase she’d already heard more than once. “What does it mean?”
“Ah, yes,” he said. “That is the central tenet of Khetaran magic. It refers to the idea that words alone have great power—when we speak something into the world, in many ways we make those words true. It is at the heart of every curse, every blessing, every prayer. What we say makes the world.”
Again, this reminded her of something her father had told her.You have to believe in the product.Maybe her father knew more about magic than she realized.
“Heka is created by the combination of objects, words, and actions,” the prince went on. “How one combines them to create a specific effect is known only to those granted access to the secret knowledge housed in this temple. The papyri here contain something like cooking recipes—take this item, move this way, say these words, and aha! The gods approve your request. If you know how to do it, it is as simple as breathing. If you don’t, it’s like someone asking you to turn day into night.”
He thought for a moment and added, “Although I suppose you can make an exception for royalty. It is said that unlike priests, who must study papyri to do magic, those of royal blood are born with Heka within them.” He snorted. “Although as yet, I have no access to such powers.”
Neff was fascinated and wished she had time to hear more. “How do you know so much about magic if you’re not a Heka priest?”
“When I first came to the priesthood, I wasn’t sure where I wanted to focus my studies. So I learned all of them.”
“All?!” Neff exclaimed.
“Of course. How was I to make an informed decision if I didn’t have all the facts?”
Neff had no answer to that.
“You are a curious girl in many ways, Nefermaat,” Prince Kenna mused, stopping at a portal which must have led to hiswork area. “As I mentioned before, it isn’t every day that someone such as yourself would be attached to Master Montuhotep, to be taught in the ways of the Hour priest. Something quite extraordinary would have to happen to bring you to him.” The unasked question hung in the air between them.
“I had… a vision,” Neff offered.
The prince’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Of what?”
There was a pause. In the silence, images of blood and violence flashed through Neff’s mind.
Again, the prince seemed to read her expressions as if they were one of his papyri. “I’m asking too much. You’re tired. You’ve had a long day.”
The longest, Neff thought.
“Perhaps you can tell me about it tomorrow. I’m certain to have some mundane tasks for you to complete, once the master has finished with you.”
“I would like that,” Neff said, relieved.
The prince bobbed his head. “Good.” He held out his hands.
It took a second before Neff understood. As soon as she placed the roll of wrappings into his hands, the prince turned on his heels and disappeared through the portal.
Neff was elated, her earlier anguish temporarily forgotten. She had done the first important thing! She’d found someone in the temple who she could look to for help. For guidance. Someone that someday, she might be able to trust. And not just anyone—a prince!
The master’s booming voice thundered down the corridor. “Nefermaat! Where are you? It’s festival day, girl! I don’t have time for this!”
Neff stopped, the urge to run threatening to overcome her once more.
No. You were brought here for a reason. You promised the highpriestess you would stay on the path. And now you’ve promised a prince of Khetara that you’d be his assistant.
Her father’s last words to her echoed through her mind.Can’t keep the goddess waiting.
