I knew my brother, Djet, was up to something.
Though he was older, his dubious legitimacy to the crown meant he was second in line after me, as my mother had been our father's wife, while his had only been an informal fling with a courtier. The frustration and jealousy made him behave oddly at times, but never inappropriately.
So when he had the old man lead the camel carrying a large blood red box into the throne room I was curious to see what nonsense he'd procured now.
"Father, little brother," he proclaimed, nodding to my Father and I, sitting side by side on the plinth and overseeing the crowds gathered around in their celebratory finery.
"Prince Rahotep, today is your twenty-fifth name day. I know there has been much misery in your life of late, but I hope with this gift the flame of life will rekindle itself in your heart."
With these words, he bowed out of the way and the little old man stepped forward, bent almost double from age.
He threw back his cloak and stamped a long staff on the floor, and spread his other arm to the crowd.
They all fell silent, curious like I as to what magics he would perform.
"Far in the north of Egypt, across the great sea, where the sun hides its face, there are a race of people whose life blood runs so hot their skin whitens from the heat like metal in a furnace, and whose hair resembles the flame which burns within. Today I present to you one such female from this bizarre race."
He stamped his staff once again, and with a pop and a puff of smoke to startle people watching, the sides of the box on the back of the camel fell away one by one.
Sure enough on the beast's back was a girl, no more than eighteen summers of age, whose skin was like milk and whose hair looked as though she had been touched by blood. She also looked furious. Her wrists were tied together in front of her waist, tethered by a rope to the pummel of the saddle she sat on.
The clothing she wore had obviously been chosen to show off her colouring and skin to the optimum level, as it was just thin muslin cascading loosely across the front of her torso and trailing from a thin gold waistband in two parts from her front and back. Her shoulders, back and both legs were totally bare, bordering on indecent.
She looked around her for a moment, kicking at the old man as he approached the tether attaching her to the saddle. He dodged her leg with surprising grace, unhooking the lead quickly, and handing it to Djet who stood nearby.
"Here, brother. As Prince Regent you require a bed slave like no other, so I give to you this firebrand girl from the far North as a gift in fealty to your name."
As he finished speaking he bowed, and the girl acted. She yanked the rope binding her wrists hard, pulling it easily from Djet's grasp. The palace guards acted quickly, recapturing the rope and pulling hard, forcing her to fall forward off the camel and into an ornamental fountain just in front of her. She floundered for a moment in the shallow water before rising up and shouting angrily in a barbaric tongue I recognised as a language from the nomadic tribes in the north.
I was on the edge of my seat, immediately aware of how her once translucent clothing was now entirely clear. The guards kept advancing on her with weapons drawn.
"Stay your weapons." The guards looked from one another and then to me. The one holding her tether held it up in a clenched fist for me.
I looked to my father for his nod of permission before stepping off the dais. I took the tether hesitantly from the guard. I could see my brother nervously shift his weight from foot to foot, and knew that these events weren't what he intended from the performance.
Making my way toward the girl, still in the fountain, I pulled the rope taut so she couldn't yank it from my grip again. I saw a muscle tick in her jaw.
Up close I could see tiny dots lining the bridge of her nose, spanning across her cheeks and dappled across her fine collarbones. As I approached she retracted into herself slightly, as if to shield herself from me.
"Brother Djet, you have done me an honour in bringing me this fire, though you of all people should know not to turn your back on a flame that burns this fiercely. She will make a fine bed servant." Her eyes watched me carefully, but I got the impression she didn't understand my words, or that I wasn't talking to her directly. "Take her to my chambers, and make sure she's in dry clothes. I will see to her after the festivities."
The audience clapped as the girl was led, with a robe slung loosely around her shoulders for decency, from the throne room and up toward my chambers. I watched as she went, and she turned in her stumbling to catch my eye again. I was certain she had no idea what was going on in that moment.
Djet's heavy hand startled me from my study of her retreating form. The music hand started up and the performing troupe began their entertainment. Djet handed me my first goblet of fine wine for the evening and together we toasted the long life of our father.
----
It was almost dawn before I stumbled into the bedchamber, having totally forgotten the creature that awaited me there.
The oil lamps burned low in the recesses as I removed my ceremonial robes, preparing to get into bed in the nude. I almost missed her were it not for the chattering of her teeth, still tethered to the base of the bed.
Now she wore a soft brown muslin outfit, very similar to the other one from earlier. The chambers got very cold at night, but the furs which were mere feet away from her that I slept in would've kept her warm had anyone thought to throw them across her. Angrily I untied the rope, though I didn't remove the binding around her wrists just in case.
She was stiff from sitting for so long, and cold to the touch, but she still fought me as I pulled her toward the bed. In my still drunken state I was too tired to temper my irritation, not caring that she wouldn't understand me as I spoke to her.
"Stop it. You need to warm up now, and I'm in no mood for your nonsense. I don't intend to have anything to do with you this evening, I don't think I could with the amount of wine I've consumed even if I was inclined. Now come on, I know you'll be more comfortable in the bed anyway." I gave one last encouraging tug of her wrist binding and she tilted her head to me, perhaps hearing the tone of my voice. She looked longingly at the soft bed again and back to me, and stiffly took a step toward it.
She slipped into the furs with a sigh that woke a burning in my stomach which I quickly squashed. My feet hurt and everything on my ached. I was far too old to be drinking all night long like this, but Djet had insisted, bringing out delicacy and bizarre entertainment performance one after another. I hadn't been able to peel myself away. Everyone was thrilled with how the evening had gone. After how this past year had been in my private life, it had been exactly what I needed to unwind. I almost forgot my worries for a moment during the evening.
Now I had a firebrand in my bed, ready to be warmed. I slipped in behind her, and immediately she tensed. Too tired to reassure her, I just tucked one of the blankets entirely around her form, blocking her from my body, yet still able to feel the warmth I knew was emanating from me.
Without thinking I pulled her back to my front, and buried my face into her hair, breathing deep. It was a long time since I'd laid like this with a woman, and yet I was asleep in moments.
----
The morning light felt like a brand across my eyes as I woke. I groaned and turned my face away, and was startled to full, regretful, wakefulness by the bed next to me suddenly shifting as someone moved away.
I blinked open my eyes, for a moment thinking a sand fox had gotten into my bedchambers, before I realised it was human shaped.
She stood by the bed breathing heavily. I let my head fall back on to the pillows surrounding me, aware that if she wanted to attack me at this moment she would have the perfect opportunity. Though the piercing pain behind my eyes rather made me feel like she'd be doing me a favour if she was to attempt my life.
I could hear her moving around the room, before the furs shifted again and she was by my side once more. I cracked open an eyelid to see whether my demise was inevitable, but my vision was obscured by a cloth dripping with cool water approaching my face.
Gently she wiped down my brow and over my eyes, across my neck and over my exposed chest. The pleasure was so great I let out an undignified moan at the cooling water on my skin. She laid the cloth over my eyes, blocking out the sunlight and allowing me to rest a bit longer.
I felt her lie down again beside me, not so close as before but enough so I knew she was there. I burrowed my hand through the furs to find hers.
"Thank you." I squeezed her hands, and my fingertips brushed something. I swore as I remembered the binding on her wrists. She'd slept the entire night with them still on.
Her hands were going to be so sore. I struggled to untie the rope and she muttered something I assumed was thanks in her own language.
The room was still, and I could feel the day warming up as the sun rose in the sky.
Sounds of the palace stirring and getting on with their duties began filtering through the open windows. Eventually I knew I'd have to get up and likewise fulfil my own duties.
When I finally was able to brave sitting up, I spent more time than I'd like sat on the side of the bed with my head in my hands. I knew I looked a state, my wild dark hair cascading around my shoulders and my regal facial paint was probably smeared over my cheeks. Still the pain caused by too much wine was in my head.
Once I made it to my feet I called one of the servants to bring me fresh water and clothing. The little red haired gift from my brother still sat in the bed, covering herself and observing my clothing rituals.
I wasn't quite sure what to do with her, but she was a fine gift, if a little unpredictable. I didn't like the idea of keeping her as a chamber slave, but I wouldn't be able to place her elsewhere in my staff without causing offence to my brother. For now, she'd have to stay cooped up in my rooms. Hopefully she didn't get bored easily.
Before I left for the day I ordered fresh water, food and clothing for her, as well as some small entertainment in the form of picture scrolls, plain papyrus and coloured inks and some sewing supplies. I had no idea what she'd do to entertain herself, but I thought to give her options. I hoped she knew to stay in the chambers and not venture outside.
The guards might have to restrain her if she did.
----
I was late back that evening. The oil lamps burned high, lighting my way.
