Isis and Nefertiti lay together in bed, holding hands, their heads resting against one another, under the tapestry of stars.
"My grandmother used to say," Nefitiri began wistfully, "that the stars were woven by the goddess Neith, and in that silver river of light and shadow there lies a mirror which shows us our destiny, and the destiny of the whole world. I would lie under the stars with her as a little girl, in Sau, before we moved to Waset."
Isis leaned in to her, inhaling the scent of jasmine that lingered around Nefitiri. She twirled the colourful beads of her wig as she listened.
"Iusaaset was her name, like the goddess of the acacia, the tree of life. She would tell me stories passed down to her from her grandmother, stories they don't teach you in the scriptorium or the temple, stories about the days before the first dynasty when the goddesses were the elder gods who reigned on high. Her stories are the reason I became a priestess."
"Which stories did she tell you? Stories about Netjer Isis?"
"No." Nefertiri smiled at her friend, her eyes twinkling. "Stories of the grandmothers of the gods, from before Isis was even born."
"Before Isis?" Isis cried in shock.
"Even Isis was born from another," Nefertiri fixed her gaze on her, sitting up again. "she was born to Geb and Nut, child of the earth and the night sky. And they were born to Shu and Tefnut. And before them--"
"Was Ra." Isis interrupted, sitting up as well and folding her arms. "Or Atum in Iunu, or Amun in Waset, or Ptah in Mennefer. I do know the histories."
"Yes. In Iunu, the city of the Pillars, which is one of the oldest cities in Ta Meri, Iusaaset is wife of Atum, but my grandmother said she was watered down by our historians. And that's what I'm trying to tell you. It's what she taught me. That before the Two Lands were united, the Lady of Heaven was worshipped as the Great One. In Sau, in Iunu, in Nekhen, in Mennefer - all over Egypt. She had different names, but she was one. The Lady of Heaven, the one whose names are many, whose face us unknown, whose veil has never been lifted. That's why when the gods cannot decide who shall rule, Horus or Set, it is Neith - their elder, grandmother of them all, who decides. She has the final say."
"I don't remember that bit." Isis admitted.
"It is written." Nefi assured her. "Go read the temple walls. I think the priests like leaving it out when they're giving their speeches. But it is written. In Iunet, Ta Senet, and in Sau you can see it written on the columns of the temple of Neith."
"What does it say?"
"It says:
I am all that is, and has been, and shall be. I am she who brought forth the sun. I weave the world upon my loom. I am the Great Flood. The sun dies into me at night and is born from my waters in the morning. I am the Goddess of Death, I am the Goddess of Birth. I am the Womb, and all is within me. Your life is given to me, and I have given you life. I am the destroyer and the creator. All things, all forms, all gods, all mortals, and all that has been named dwells within my darkness, and I have given them light.
"
Isis was thunderstruck. She was fascinated. She was inspired. It was as though Nefertiri had held up a mirror that showed Isis her own soul and all it's parts, and though she had never seen it before she recognised it. Of course she recognised it. Because they were her own words. Her own thoughts. Her own soul. But it was as though she was seeing them for the first time. Understanding washed over her, and yet she was confused. She was full of questions.
