Heart of the Lotus Read online

  Children of Stone

  Heart of the Lotus

  By: Mary R. Woldering

  Copyright © 2018 Mary R. Woldering

  All rights reserved

  ISBN: 198524070X

  ISBN 13: 978-1985240704

  To my parents and my family; Jackie and Ruth,

  Who nurtured my creative soul.

  To my son Thom,

  For being my editor and formatter for this volume.

  To Annette Taylor,

  First with me on my journey, without whom this story would never have been told

  And

  To the memory of John “Ganelon” Michael Harper-1957-July 2017

  Always a fan and friend.

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for joining me for Marai’s continuing journeys in Old Kingdom Egypt. If this is your first time finding this series, I’m glad you joined us.

  In the series so far, Marai bin Ahu and his companions, all gifted with abilities granted by the Children of Stone, had reunited in the lands of Ta-Seti. Their family had grown by one, with the addition of the young stonecutter, Djerah, but lost Deka to Prince Maatkare. Meanwhile, as King Shepseskaf prepares to ascend the golden throne, those who influenced the recently passed king scramble to maintain or even to increase their power and influence. Among them, the elder Prince Hordjedtef, Great One of Five. Behind all this, a name is being whispered – “Ta-Te”; someone close to one of Marai’s companions and yet so much more involved in their tale, and the story of all of Kemet, than any of them knew.

  In this work of historical fantasy, I have used many proper names for places and peoples in this story which are believed to have been used historically. I’ve included a glossary with this novel to explain the terminology used throughout the book, and a map to show the locations. I sincerely hope that you enjoy this story, and that the extra material provided allows you to better understand the historical setting in which this novel takes place.

  Enjoy!

  Contents

  Part One: Secrets and Myths

  Chapter 1: The Box

  Chapter 2: The Shock of it All

  Chapter 3: Walking the Petals

  Chapter 4: Destiny under the Canopy

  Chapter 5: The Goddess Doll

  Chapter 6: A Chance Encounter - Memories

  Chapter 7: Revelations

  Chapter 8: The Dogs of War

  Chapter 9: The Notes

  Part 2: Per-A-At

  Chapter 10: Plans in the Night

  Chapter 11: A Crystalline Warning

  Chapter 12: Left in the Dark

  Chapter 13: Secret Journey

  Chapter 14: Sacred Discovery

  Chapter 15: The Eye of Ra

  Part 3: Revelations

  Chapter 16: It Begins Again

  Chapter 17: The Hostage

  Chapter 18: Truths Obscured and Revealed

  Chapter 19: School of the Neter Stones

  Chapter 20: A Truth Unwanted

  Chapter 21: The Rogue

  Chapter 22: Learning to Fly

  Chapter 23: Remembering

  Part 4: End of an Era

  Chapter 24: Dream and Reality

  Chapter 25: One Last Meeting – For Old Times Sake

  Chapter 26: “Dance of Death – Inception”

  Chapter 27: In a Dream You Saved Me

  Chapter 28: Things Unplanned

  Chapter 29: Where we Stand

  Chapter 30: Under the Sesen

  Epilogue: On the Scales

  Map

  Glossary

  Part One: Secrets and Myths

  Chapter 1: The Box

  Marai lay on his back drifting in and out of dreams. From time to time he noticed the softness of curling hair in his fingers. He toyed with it and studied it long enough to know:

  Ari. Sweet woman she is. My savior. Can I convince her of how much she is worth to me? Maybe. He laughed in a dream, thinking of her in the market in the old Poor’s neighborhood. We sold candy and spice for about a year for Etum Addi; brought him up from nothing, didn’t we woman? You were always there, caring for me, reaching out to Deka, helping my Naibe. You’re my jewel. Hope you know that now, he sighed, then felt her stir as she nestled on his chest. They lay together in the dark of the Akaru’s crypt.

  Marai stroked her hair and snickered at the memory of her rising before the sun; the way she used to dress quietly and find the water jar without making a sound. She always called on her skill of not waking the others from a time when she had been a thief. You didn’t know how many mornings I lay in our upper room pretending to sleep until you came from the well and Deka and Naibe had risen for the day. You didn’t ever want me to know how hard you worked keeping us all moving in the same direction. You tried to keep that secret, but I knew. The image of her teasing him and the others formed in his thoughts. He saw her strutting nonchalantly amid the aisles formed by the myriad of stalls and blanket-marked areas in the market, turning and winking.

  Tonight, she had been tired, alone, and admittedly jealous of Naibe.

  Naibe carries the child I always wanted and once lost. But now it’s you who feel lost. You ran, not to get away but to force me to come find you like this. I know that game.

  He had caught up with her, consoled her, and together they had gone into the empty chamber Akaru Metauhetep had prepared for his own eventual use.

  As he lay quietly with her on his chest, resting after love, he knew they were not alone. For a moment, he thought Deka’s spirit sought him as it went on its own dream-journey. He nodded into the air and sent a thought.

  Free yourself, Deka. His thoughts urged her once again. You know you want to be with us. You know staying with your prince hurts your heart as much as it gladdens it. I don’t shame or blame you for what’s happened.

  Something wasn’t right. The reflective feel of the spirit who had entered the crypt was Deka, but then again it wasn’t. Marai stirred, but as he did he felt the soothing pull of weariness sweep over him one more time.

  In this dream, he had returned to sleep in the pulsing warmth of the crystalline womb that lay buried in the sand of the wilderness where the Children of Stone’s vessel lay. Deka, Naibe, and Ariennu had slept nestled around him when he invited them to become hosts. They had been bound together in what he had believed was an inseparable family.

  Why can’t they see that? he asked himself. Why can’t they understand?

  The entity moved extensions of itself that might have been its hands, outlining the shape of an orb.

  Human. As man, it self-whispered as the dark blue star-filled shape with an emerald bracelet at its wrist became clear, then took on the appearance of ruddy skin and solidified.

  Good.

  Remember that bond, man of the sand.

  Know at last why you were chosen.

  You have asked to know the answer many times

  Thinking priests would unlock the secrets in your heart,

  Merely because they told you this at the start of your journey.

  Innocent flesh.

  Innocent thoughts.

  Spirit that remained uncorrupted despite all challenges and temptations.

  Engendered of mortals then raised up

  As I have created many,

  But know you alone might free me of my eternal task.

  First, however…

  The entity’s ruddy hand swept over the crystalline orb, searching.

  In a dream, Marai paraded on a high wall between a red sky and redder earth. He had ruddy skin and was clad as a mighty warrior in ocean-blue metal armor. He wasn’t the same “half-giant” of his childhood taunts, but a giant the height of many men. His breath was like the wind. It stirred the earth into mountainous
clouds of dust that swept the land to the corners of all that could be seen. Far below him his faithful troops massed, tiny as millions of black and red ants. When he raised his hands above his blazing hair, bundles of black, white, and green lightning formed at the small of his armored back.

  The crackling power of light from nothingness rose, traveled the length of his arms and launched into the heavens. Crowds below him erupted into jubilant worship at the display; crying out his name.

  “Ma-Rai, Ma-Rai, Ma-Rai!” they beat their tiny shields with their swords and pounded the heels of their spears into the earth beneath their feet.” Their words changed: “Ma-Rah!” then “Ta-Ray!”, and finally “Ta-Te”.

  Marai jumped as if his soul had fallen into his body from an unimaginable height. He was bathed in sweat.

  Ariennu lay smiling and laughing, dozing slightly. She woke to snuggle, kiss, and whisper to the man beneath her:

  “Oh, you beautiful man, I love you so much!” She knew she would have a fierce cramp in her neck in the morning. Of course, he’ll just lay those healing hands on me… again. She snickered inwardly, hoping her thoughts didn’t wake him.

  She rolled partway on her back, shifted uncomfortably, and in a moment crawled back up to drape herself over Marai’s sleeping body.

  Of all the silly ideas! An empty burial box? And after his being trapped in one for months? Madness. Wondrous, wondrous madness. Are there any dead people we woke this evening with our cries of pleasure? Must be! Has my hair turned stone white? Probably! She grinned, then pushed up to gaze down at him tenderly.

  “No. It’s still dark.”

  She caught his soft silver-lit eyes sliding open. He looked up at her dimly lit face, seemed to laugh at her silent humor, and then touched her shoulder. It instantly warmed and the pain left it. Something else troubled him. He’d wakened with such a start she’d almost been thrown into the side of the stone box.

  “You have a dream?” she asked and then knew she was being ignored. Not want to talk?

  “Here,” he turned on his side with her and wrapped his arms around her for just a moment.

  “See? It’s too tight for me to sleep here.” Ari wriggled, caught her hip, re-adjusted, then with an almost shy expression when he kissed the tip of her nose she added: “And what if I say…” She thought of staying longer, reluctant to call the evening finished. She knew they should sneak back to their cooling mats and sleep before the quiet of the night dissolved into birds calling and baboons greeting the rising sun.

  “Bath,” she sat up. “You’re coming with me to that bath the old Akaru has. It’ll be dark and we’ll be alone. Everyone will be asleep. I’ll bathe you and you bathe me and then maybe some other parts of you…”

  “Think so? Really?” Marai laughed and tweaked one of her nipples, then took it in his lips. “Not enough for you, yet? Was there a contest I didn’t know about?” he teased, shifting so he could maneuver them both out of the box in the burial pit.

  Although she felt giddy with joy and afterglow, Ari became aware of a feeling that chilled her to the core of her heart. A random dark image invaded her pleasure.

  Tomb, she thought. Not like the one you were in when the priests locked you away for dead. This time, instead of it being lost in some below-the-river-line pit it was: A place of honor; cared for with offerings like the dog place in Sokor, but lamp-lit, not dark. Eight. Two rows of four, each with… she paused. Different. Don’t want to think about who is in them. Someone is... eight gods… eight stones. Why would I see that? Was that your dream? No. Don’t think up an answer either, Ari smacked his arm to distract herself, then laughed and lifted her wet hair from the back of her neck.

  “No. And I don’t need to die tonight either, but it’s tempting,” she remarked. “You know,” she shook her head, still trying to rid herself of the images of the burial boxes she had just seen by substituting the images of another dream. “Every time I bathed at those palaces in Ineb Hedj, I dreamed of us playing in a bath. Even when I told myself it could never happen with you being dead,” her arms circled his neck. “Now I make my dream turn real this early day.”

  Ari watched while Marai emerged from the pit’s entry tube. She raised her hands so he could reach down and help her out. She paused by the opening and reveled in the less-stale air circling through the rear temple chamber in Akaru’s sanctuary. They had both been sweating like draft oxen in the box, but it hadn’t mattered at the time. She rubbed her arms in excitement but said nothing, still wrapped in a wonderful dream despite the intrusion of the bizarre temple vision. If I speak now, maybe what’s real will come back. Maybe I don’t want it to.

  She gave a small thought to the fact that she and Marai never spoke aloud too much. Silent watchfulness, like a shepherd, was his way. As a thief and raider, silence, however difficult for her, had been important. In her new life as a host and as Marai’s lover, she found the stream of blissful thoughts he sent enough. The lamps at the gate burned brightly enough. No one moved about. The guards were dozing.

  I can see they don’t have very much trouble from raiders for them to drift off like that. She remembered her own ‘old times’ when she and her men knew late nights or early mornings were the best times to overpower tired gate guards.

  And everyone inside is asleep, I’ll bet. Still… Ari thought. Marai, bend down and let me cover us. She swung her arm over Marai’s shoulders, pulled his head down to hers, and whispered into the air:

  Hidden from light,

  Hidden in plain sight,

  I am the thief of your heart,

  Shadow is all they see.

  Aww, that’s cute. When did you learn…? Marai started, but Ari hushed him then hastened him through a place where the guarded gate was open just a crack.

  The two guards resting on either side stirred, looked around and deciding it was just the wind rustling the gate a little wider, settled back into their less-than-watchful repose.

  I’ll tell you once we’re in the water, Ari motioned him past the empty pallets, but noticed Akaru in his evening trance in the middle of his plaza. A slight glow emanated from the ground around Akaru, but Ari was too focused on Marai for it to pique her curiosity.

  Thinking no more about explaining her incantation to Marai, she slipped into the day-warmed water of the sheltered pool.

  Ohhhh this is so good. This is Paradise. Coming? she floated backward in the dark, let the illusion of invisibility fall, and beckoned, glad she hadn’t put her kalasaris on before speaking the vanishing utterance. While she waited in the water, Marai pulled off his sandals and unfastened his hastily redressed shenti.

  “Shhh,” her fingers gestured. “Come here,” she waited for him to slip through the wet warmth and move toward her.

  He leaned to one the side of the small square pit pool, head cocked, looking at her. She wanted to laugh aloud at the whimsical expression on his face and thrill to the fluttery feeling in her soul that being with him tonight had given her, but his hand seized the back of her neck and ducked her under the water.

  Oh, you don’t want to… she started, but let him pull her forward so she could kiss and lap at every part of his body underwater and then, with bursting lungs come up for air. Her laughter wanted to split the silence.

  Marai kissed her eyes and the stone in her brow gently, then cupped water up over her head. Ari couldn’t stop sighing in pleasure when he and cradled her against his chest and leaned back with her against the slippery, mossy sides.

  Then, she thought she sensed Akaru standing in the doorway.

  Is that the Akaru over there? She motioned to Marai, but when they both focused their gaze in the direction she pointed at the entry to the sleeping area, they saw no one.

  Dream walking, I guess. Marai nodded as she lay her head on his chest, as comforted as…

  Hmm, she thought. Like a father maybe. How would I know about that, though?

  Never knew my real father, the sailor from Keftiu, if my mother even knew. My color i
s lighter than most in Tyre. Bastard that raped me was the closest to one before he got me in his eye. Maybe he was like a father. He taught me what my body was for. So, I just got some skill in my clench but didn’t know about love. Hah. I never needed food or clothes, never wanted for jewelry or purple cloth. You though…

  She remembered how shocked she had been when she and Marai had first been together in the sweaty, dark upper room in Ineb Hedj. He had loved her gently. He had nurtured and held her until her soul was so full of him that she had sobbed helplessly.

  In sex, she always had the upper hand with any situation, even if it started badly.

  Love was the thing that stirred a deeper, incomprehensible hunger in her.

  Makes me think… she started.

  What? He asked her, hands tracing her breasts and lips kissing along the line of the back of her neck.

  Oh, I can’t think when you do that, her thoughts sighed, but she tried again. If we ever go to the place in the sand where the Children’s pods are, I’m going in again for a re-do. I think you need to have a daughter. I want to give birth to one.

  Marai chuckled, then stopped himself just short of a guffaw and a noise that would wake any sleepers.

  You, Ariennu, are mad, and I love you.

  She flipped to face him, studied the passion in his eyes and then wrapped her legs around him.

  Chapter 2: The Shock of it All

  “I thought of Asar bin Marai.” Naibe whispered a quiet answer to Djerah’s question about what she would like to name her child. I’ll act a little fragile, but not weak, she decided. It’ll help the wounds in his soul. He likes to care for a woman with child, she let him guide her out beyond the gates.

  It is a little cooler tonight, Naibe snugged gently against the young man. When she looked up at the sliver of a newer moon, she remembered the way, almost two years ago, she led Marai into her world of love, passion, and healing beside the well at the way station. So much has happened since that time. She sighed in pleasure because Djerah’s arm felt so warm and reassuring around her, and what a wonderful protector you are, too! Are all men in Marai’s family born into caring like this? No, not just them. Wseriri too! All good men, I suppose, when my life has been mostly full of wicked ones. Maatkare… she shrugged and put thoughts of him out of her heart.