The Tale of Nefret Read online

  Two men carried a rattan basket of birds to the sandbags. We nocked our arrows and raised our bows to the sky waiting for the birds’ release. Aitnu watched us and gave the signal to the men, who then released the birds. I shot first, and the arrow narrowly missed a darting wren. Darkness encroached on the tournament, so I quickly lined up another shot as Pah took hers. With precision her arrow whizzed through the air and struck a less fortunate wren, which immediately tumbled to the ground. Today’s contest had finally ended with Pah as the victor.

  The tribe applauded and cheered for Pah, and her sadness quickly disappeared. I stepped out of the way as the people clamored around her. Some were polite enough to congratulate me as well, but it was Pah’s performance that most impressed them. I left the crowd behind hoping to find some food and somewhere to think about what had happened and what would come next.

  “Nefret! Wait,” Father called to me. Tired and sweaty, I did as he asked.

  “You did well. You should be proud of your performance—I am.” He put his hand on my shoulder and looked me right in the eyes.

  “Thank you, Father,” I murmured. He hugged me, which was a strange experience. Savoring the moment, I closed my eyes and clutched my quiver and bow. When I opened my eyes, I saw Pah staring at me from the center of the cheering crowd, her green eyes flashing angrily. Before I could say her name she stormed away, a retinue of young men and women clustered around her. I sighed and our father grasped my arms gently.

  “We will talk tomorrow. I must go find your sister now. Rest well, for tomorrow’s trial will require all your skill and strength. That is all I can tell you.”

  “Thank you, Father. I will.” We parted ways, and I walked back to my tent with Paimu dashing to my side.

  “Princess, you almost won. I cheered for you! But it is no matter, for you won the other challenges. Just one more now!”

  I smiled down at her. “Yes, just one more.” She hugged my leg and raced away. “Where are you off to now?” I called after her.

  “I am going to get my things.”

  “Why? Where are you going?”

  “With you! I am moving in to your tent now.”

  I laughed. “Of course you are. Go get your things.” Her beautiful smile spread across her face, showing her missing front tooth and otherwise perfectly white teeth.

  This could be my last night with my tribe. I should spend it with someone who loves me.

  Chapter Six

  Treasures of the Tribe—Nefret

  The Council dispatched a guard to stand at the door of my tent. My guard, a young man named Essa, surprised me by calling me outside. With a confident, over-friendly smile, he let me know that he had been sent for my security. I could not discern if there was some unknown threat that warranted such an action or if he was meant to keep me from running away, but I didn’t ask him any questions.

  Awareness crept over me. Now I clearly knew that I wanted to be mekhma, to serve my people, to protect Paimu, to lead us all back to Zerzura and take back what was ours. I did not discern the exact moment that this occurred, but my heart had indeed changed.

  Singing to myself, I removed my tunic and washed my body with the scented water Farrah had so graciously provided for me. It had been a kind gesture, and I half wondered if Pah was being treated so royally. I had a lavish buffet of the tribe’s best food on my cedar table, and my pitcher was full of sweet pomegranate wine—a truly thoughtful gift. The servant who had brought them was not a man I recognized, but I accepted them graciously. I was dressing for bed and thinking of pouring some wine when a scream outside my tent startled me out of my song. I ran to the sound, the voice of a young girl—Paimu! Essa had restrained her, holding her by her skinny arms and laughing at her as she struggled against him. I wanted to slap him in his pretty face.

  “Let me go! Let me go! Nefret!”

  “Stop that! Essa—what do you think you are doing? Turn her loose!”

  Essa laughed, and his shoulder-length dark hair half hid his perfect nose and wide, dark eyes. “If I do, she may bite me, anni- mekhma.”

  “Nonsense. Let her go now. I command it.”

  He released her and lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender. Paimu kicked his shin, and he laughed again as he hobbled away from her. “She can’t be here, anni- mekhma! The Council has given strict orders that both you and your sister are not to be disturbed or have any visitors. You should rest because tomorrow’s trial will be grueling.”

  Paimu pushed past him and into my tent. He reached for her, but I stepped in his way, unaware that my bare shoulder was showing. He stared at it as if he had never seen a bare shoulder before. Maybe he hadn’t. Suddenly, I blushed and covered my shoulder with the loose robe.

  “Paimu is my guest. I have taken care of her all her life. I am not going to abandon her tonight just because the Council wants to keep me away from everyone. She has no one but me.”

  “I only want to be obedient to the Council—and to serve you, Nefret.” He stepped toward me. He towered over me by at least a foot and a half. Essa had a fine, strong body, as far as I could tell, and I could see his face had softened as he looked into mine. No woman could deny that Essa was the most beautiful man in the Meshwesh or any other Red Lands clan—even Alexio paled in comparison to him for physical beauty. In a whisper he said, “What if I could arrange for us to be alone later? Would that interest you? You are a beautiful woman, Nefret, and I find you…” He lifted a strand of hair from my face and touched my cheek briefly. “I watched you every day and hoped you would see me. Am I not appealing to you?”

  “I think the heat has gone to your brain, Essa.” I stepped away from his friendly hands and seductive eyes. “Go take a few draughts of water to clear your head.” I stepped backward and nearly tripped. It was dangerous being too close to him, under the stars, with my skin perfumed with exotic scents.

  Suddenly the truth occurred to me. This was a test! A test set by Farrah! She seeks to prove my virtue!

  I smiled and stepped back again. “I am going inside my tent now with Paimu. If the Old One wants to speak to me, I will be here. Please do not come in unless I ask you to. Thank you, Essa.”

  I walked inside and found Paimu still whimpering about her arm. She reached for the wine, but I forbade her to drink it. What if it had a love potion in it? I took the pitcher outside and poured it in the sand right in front of Essa. I wanted him to know that I knew what he was up to. The Council would test me, would they? Well, let them! I would not fail this particular test. I shook out the last drops of the wine and stared at the mess it left behind. It looked like blood poured out on the sand.

  “What are you doing?” Essa demanded. His seductive attitude had vanished like smoke in the wind.

  Farrah, whose tent was only a few feet away from me, walked outside, her scarf covering her head. It was common knowledge that she spent her evenings wandering the desert looking for signs and portents. I supposed she was headed out for just such a walk now. She stared at the red sand and then at me. Essa walked away, embarrassed, but Farrah smiled as if to say, “Ah, you passed the test.” With a nod and a quick scan of the heavens, the old woman walked down the path and out of the camp. If I followed her, what I would see?

  I snickered thinking of how Pah might have done with her test, if she’d had a similar one. I wondered who they would send to tempt her. Oh no! Alexio! Please, my ancestors, do not let it be Alexio! He is not for her!

  I walked back inside and found that Paimu had made her bed right beside mine. I recognized the familiar sapphire silk blanket I had given her, some of my old tunics from when I was a child and the soft white leather sandals a friend of mine had made for Paimu. Reaching for my hairbrush, I cajoled her into letting me brush her hair. She complied and even allowed me to make a small braid and cinch it with a piece of white leather. She looked one hundred percent better, and I told her so. Handing her the dull mirror, she gave herself a gap-toothed smile.

  “Eat, Paimu, and t
hen we will go to bed. Have you washed your hands and feet?”

  “No, but I am not dirty.”

  I popped her bottom playfully. “Let us see them. Oh my.” I pretended to be shocked. “Those are so dirty, we could plant flowers with them. Let’s wash the sand away, if you don’t mind.”

  She giggled and allowed me to help her. She could do it all herself, but what if this was indeed the last time that I would be able to do such a thing? How was I ever going to leave her? My own heart? I loved Paimu—she was the little sister I never had. Perhaps that was why Pah hated her so much. Who knew?

  Pah is lost to you, Nefret.

  I could hear Alexio’s voice ringing in my ear. Alexio! I would have to see him, somehow. Essa had stormed off, but knowing Farrah she would have him back here in a few minutes, if nothing else to save face and demand that he actually “protect” me from whatever dangers she imagined I faced.

  After her bird bath, Paimu talked animatedly about the contest and how she could climb a tree now without any help. “When all this is over, you can show me again.” She nibbled on the chula bread, dipping it in olive oil and pepper sauce before gobbling it up. Once she finished off the chula, she devoured the olives and the dates. I thought she would be sick if she didn’t slow down and told her as much. “Oh, I never get sick. Never. One time I ate an entire pat of goat cheese without anyone to help me. I did not get sick at all.”

  “Don’t you miss staying with Ziza?”

  “Ziza has her sister, and I have you.”

  “Yes, but it’s only one night, little one. I don’t know what tomorrow may bring. If anything were to happen to me, return to Ziza’s family. Her mother loves you.”

  At long last, Paimu stopped eating. Her wide eyes were full of tears. “You cannot go! Please do not leave me. I will have no one if I do not have you.” Her smile disappeared, and her face contorted into a sob.

  “Paimu, you must be brave. I have to make myself be brave, believe me, but I am trying. You try too. Be my sister, be my brave sister. No matter what the gods have ordained for us, we will meet it bravely and with kindness to others.” I held my arms out to her, and she cried on my shoulder. I scooped her up and carried her to the bed. We lay down together and I held her while she cried herself to sleep.

  Silent tears slid down my face too. Some tears were for Pah, my first friend and twin sister. I cried for the sweet girl I knew, the one that was hidden under layers of bitterness and imagined offense. I cried for our childhood that had been far too brief, and then I cried because one of us would leave and we would never see each other again. Then my tears were for Paimu. Eventually the tears subsided and I covered Paimu with the thick quilt, and soon I was sleepy too. I hadn’t meant to cry; now I felt empty, tired. As I closed my eyes, within seconds I traveled to the dream world…

  My heart pounded and my bare feet stomped on the cool stones as I ran through a narrow entrance inside a series of stone walls. Someone ran behind me, but I dared not look back. Up ahead I saw a flicker of flame; the light pierced the darkness and beckoned me to safety. My image and that of my husband mocked me from the painted walls that surrounded me. My long hair streamed behind me, and I felt naked in the thin white gown I wore. Gold cuffs were at my wrists and a heavy necklace thumped on my chest as I bolted toward the light. The sound of sliding stone came from behind me, and a thunderous shake followed. Trapped! I am trapped! I spun about to see a small child, a boy with red hair and dark eyes, reaching for me. I grabbed his hand and we continued to run with all our might to the light ahead of us.

  Almost there…Run, Smenkhkare!

  We turned the corner. The light was just a few feet away and moving…

  I awoke with a start, immediately aware that someone else was in the tent with Paimu and me. She slept peacefully beside me, unaware of my terror and overwhelming anxiety. I peered into the darkness, wondering if perhaps an assassin had come to take my life. It had been several years since our camp had been raided by cutthroats, but it had happened many times in the past. I slid my hand under my pillow and felt for the small blade I kept there. In a panic, I remembered that I had taken no such preparations in my new tent. I sat up slowly, peering into the black.

  A flicker of light appeared in the corner of the room. It bounced and expanded until it was the size of a man’s fist. My breath caught in my chest as I froze, mesmerized by the sight. The light flickered again and expanded to the size of my shield, which lay on the other side of the tent along with my arrows and bow. Suddenly, the light blast brightly, so much so that I had to shield my eyes with my hands.

  Fear washed over me and I fell to the ground on my face, unable to look at the increasing light. I remained in that position for an unknown length of time.

  I heard a warm voice say, “Do not be afraid.” At his words, the uncontrollable fear lifted, and I cautiously raised my eyes. A man wrapped in white fire hovered in the corner of my tent, his face obscured by the radiance. The light pulsed once and then dimmed, but his face remained hidden in the moving light.

  “My lord, who are you? Why are you here?”

  “I am known by many names, but none that you would know.” The light decreased in brilliance, but I still could not see his face. “I would make myself known to you.”

  “I do not understand.”

  “Peace, daughter of the Red Lands. You will understand. It is I who leads you. Even now I lead, but will you follow? Even when you cannot see the way? Will you trust me even when you cannot see me? When all others turn against you?”

  “Yes, lord. I will.”

  I had no idea what I had promised this Shining Man, but I knew I must obey. His light swirled about me, filling me with joy like I had never experienced. For one brief moment, love surrounded me and my soul leaped. No words passed between us, but knowledge flowed into me. Knowledge I promptly forgot.

  He knew all about me, and somehow I realized that I knew him. He accepted me, welcomed me, called me to him. I caught my breath—how wonderful to be known by such a one! Then in a blast of light the Shining Man vanished, taking all his delightful, unearthly love with him.

  With a heart full of peace, I fell into a deep slumber.

  Chapter Seven

  The Accusation—Nefret

  I awoke to the sound of shouting. Paimu was gone, probably off to see her friends Ziza and Amon. I rubbed my eyes. Feeling tired from my night’s encounter, I had no time to consider all that had happened. The Council would expect me to appear in my father’s tent ready to perform the last trial, but from the sounds of stirring in the camp I needed to move quickly.

  “Pah! Pah! Pah!”

  I walked to the tent flap and watched as people streamed by me. Forgetting my knotted hair and crumpled clothing, I followed them, curious to see what was happening.

  “Powerful with a spear—of great courage and strength! Pah should be our mekhma! Who is with me?”

  One of my sister’s friends, Ayn, stood beside Pah, holding her hand in the air; it was the sign of victory. Some of the crowd cheered and applauded; others murmured and pointed at the show Ayn was making. One of the children noticed me and shouted my name. This silenced the crowd, and their attention turned to me.

  “This is her sister. Isn’t she anni-mekhma too? Have the trials ended?” they asked one another. Ayn ignored both their questions and my presence. Paimu found me and clung to my leg fearfully. Ayn walked in a circle, holding Pah’s hand high with one hand and one of Pah’s spears with the other. She continued with her rant.

  “Can anyone compare to Pah? Offer your pledge now and greet our new mekhma!”

  “What is this?” Farrah entered the circle and challenged Ayn. “What are you doing?”

  The tall young woman dropped Pah’s arm and raised a defiant chin to Farrah.

  “I am showing my support for Pah—the true choice for mekhma!” A few of the young women cheered at the acclamation until they fell under Farrah’s watchful eye. The only sound heard then was the s
ound of banners flapping in the breeze and the distant sound of a goatherd’s lute.

  “Foolish girl! Do you think you can sway the Council or the people with this unseemly show? What is the meaning of this?”

  Ayn did not back down, although I noticed that Pah had wisely cast her eyes to the ground, avoiding Farrah’s piercing gaze. “I meant no disrespect, Old One, to you or the Council. However, is there a rule that says I cannot recommend my friend? That I cannot testify to her commitment and integrity?”

  “What are you suggesting, Ayn?” Alexio stepped out of the crowd and stood beside me.

  Farrah waved at him, warning him to be silent. “Speak plainly now, girl,” she said to Ayn.

  Ayn raised her head higher and returned Farrah’s bitter stare. “Very well. Isn’t it true that an anni-mekhma must be prepared to yield her soul, mind and body for the good of the clan?” Here she paused. “And that her maidenhood must be intact?”

  “You know that it is true. What is your point?”

  I stiffened—a feeling of dread rose up from within me.

  “How can you be sure that Nefret has not yielded her body? I know Pah has always acted virtuously, but how can we vouch for someone whose heart has so obviously been given?”

  My face reddened as the whispers circulated around me. “That is a lie!” I yelled. “I have yielded nothing!” Even as I said the words, I knew in my heart that it was not entirely true. I had not given my body to Alexio, nor had he asked me to, but my heart…that was another story.