The Sky Kingdom

“There, all done” I sigh as I attach the starlight filled clasp to the cloak that I had made. Smiling to myself in satisfaction I put the cloak on and stand in front of the floor length mirror. ‘Perhaps I’ll wear it to the Beautiful Feast of the Valley, although I think the clasp is a little to ostentatious’. Rat-a-tat-tat! I freeze, then spin around to face the carved double doors to my room, a mixture of excitement and nerves prancing through me. “Come in” I call, tossing the cloak onto my bed. The doors open and in steps a messenger and Medjay. The messenger clears his throat and announces, “my Lady, Horus, who united the two countries, the lord of the diadem of the vulture and the snake, of abiding splendour, the golden Horus, souls of the gods, the King of Upper Egypt and the King of Lower Egypt: Re’ of splendid life, ‘the son of Re’: Akom, wishes to see you in the throne room”.

“Well couldn’t you have said so without the cosmetics?” I ask sharply. I love my father deeply, despite his views on colonialism, but all the blather about his power and divine right to rule is, in my opinion, a complete waste of time and energy. “Sorry my Lady” the messenger apologizes with a bow of his head.

“Did my father say what he wanted?” I say in a softer tone.

“Yes my Lady. He said something about having come to a conclusion about an important decision for your future”.

‘Oh Isis this is it’ I squeal to myself. This is the day that my parents decide whether I shall be married to the most desirable man in all of the Sky Kingdom. With my heart fluttering like the wings of a bird I rush to my dresser and set about applying makeup. I must look beautiful for my husband to be, if he is to be my husband of course but it’s highly likely that Father and General Apophis….

“Medjay, I don’t suppose that you are aware of the discussion between my Father and General Apophis regarding my marriage are you?”

“Yes my Lady” he answers, straightening his back as he does so.

“Oh, and what have you heard?”

The Medjay shifts, looking uncomfortable, “well my Lady, you’re betrothal is the talk of the Kingdom, or so I’ve heard, not that I’ve been listening out for that sort of talk my…”

“I meant have you heard if General Apophis has agreed to marrying his son to me?” I hiss.

“No my Lady”. Damn.

“Alright, tell my Father that I will be with him in a few moments” . I sit on my bed and remove my sandals. “Um, my Lady.” I turn around to face the Medjay, who squirms uncomfortably. “Yes Medjay”?

“Your Father ordered me to escort you to the throne room” he blurts out, as if trying to get something nasty out of his mouth as quickly as possible. I throw back my head and laugh. As if I have anything to fear in my own home. I know well that many would kill me if they had the opportunity, but thanks to the Medjay and my father’s spies it is impossible for anyone with ill will towards the Pharaoh and his household to get near us. “Medjay, I have no need to be coddled. The palace is well guarded and as the Pharaoh’s daughter I can look after myself. Now out of my room please”. The Medjay’s face falls as I stride past him and the messenger who quickly scurries down the corridor and out of my sight. I close and lock the doors to my room then begin to follow the messenger through a series of sand coloured corridors covered in intricate paintings. “Um, my Lady”?

“What?!” I snarl, spinning around to face the Medjay.

“Your father said….”

“My father is overprotective. I don’t need a Medjay continuously following me”.

“But…”

“Urgh, listen. Despite what my father thinks my life is no less important than the lives of the Sky Kingdom’s ordinary citizens, and when I am Queen, yes Medjay, when, I, am, Queen I will make sure that the Medjay’s foremost concern is the safety and wellbeing of those ordinary citizens. A Kingdom may stand without royalty but it cannot stand without commoners, despite what my father may think. If you agree then leave me alone, if you don’t then I suggest you pack up your things and resign from your post while you can”. The Medjay pales and I’m almost inclined to feel sorry for him, but he bows and walks away. Relieved I turn and continue walking down the passageway nodding at passing palace workers and nobles. I don’t like having to use my royal authority. I don’t think it’s fair. Why should the ordinary citizens of my Kingdom be powerless whereas my mother and father only have to speak one word to turn the whole Kingdom on its head without so much as a by your leave. That’s not right. When I become Queen I intend to change that by giving more power to the common people, but first, I have to sort out my marriage. Oh I hope I will be married to Iumeri!

I come to a halt before my thoughts can completely run away with me and discover that I’m standing outside the throne room fiddling with my bracelets. From the corner of my eye I can see two Medjay guarding the entrance to the throne room staring at me. ‘Ah’ I cringe. I let go of my bracelets and straighten my shoulders, trying to exude an aura of perfect composure and ignore my racing heart. “The Pharaoh has requested my immediate presence” I tell them, trying to keep my voice steady. The Medjay glance at each other then push open the painted doors to reveal the throne room. I stride inside, my bare feet slapping against the polished floor as I eye the two most important people in the room. My father and Iumeri. As they get closer they break off their conversation with General Apophis and turn to face me.

“My moon” Iumeri sighs as we hurry towards each other. “Oh I have so been looking forward to this day”. I resist the urge to squeak in excitement, slipping my hands into Iumeri’s large ones

“So you have come to an agreement then?” I ask our fathers. The two men look at each other, amusement glittering in their dark eyes. “Yes we have my child. We have decided that Iumeri would make a fine addition to the family of the descendants of Horus who…”

“And in return, not only shall I and all that come after my son have the status of royalty but we shall also be granted a festival day in our honour” General Apophis interrupts.

“What?” I burst out. This is unbelievable.

“Oh Father” Iumeri whines in embarrassment

“How dare you suggest such a thing!” I exclaim, very nearly seeing red.

“Enough!” my father barks, holding out his hands. “General Apophis is not just a fine friend but a loyal warrior and an excellent councillor. If any mortal deserves a day in their celebration it should be him.”

“But Father, you are breaking eons of tradition. That cannot be right. The gods will not allow it and neither will the rest of the council. Or do you plan to host celebrations in their honour as well?” I ask acerbically. “Of course not, of course not. But, I have consulted the goddess Werethekau and she believes that it is only right that I honour the man who has protected me for so long”.

“Well, then, I apologize General Apophis”.

“And I accept the apology Princess Henuttaneb”, the general smiles magnanimously. “Now your father and I have the harvesting season to discuss, so with the Pharaoh’s permission” my father nods “leave us, the both of you.”

“As you wish General”. You patronising beetle, I add silently, trying to ignore the icy hole of anxiety that the mention of harvesting always creates. I’m going to be married to the love of my life! Why should I spoil our joy with grim thoughts of the harvesting? “Are you alright my moon?” Iumeri asks as we leave the hall. “Yes, I’m ecstatic! I can barely believe my father’s agreed to our marriage”. Iumeri chuckles, the sound dancing out of his mouth and wending its way into my still fluttering heart. Oh I wish never to be parted from him again. “Why? Did you think that your father did not believe me to be a worthy husband and prince consort? How silly of you. But I shall do my utmost to prove to your father that I am worthy of his trust and your affection”.

“And what about my trust Iumeri? I am my father’s daughter and trust is as important to me as it is to him” I state rather coldly. Has Iumeri really forgotten that? How could he, especially when we have loved each other for so long. Iumeri looks flustered. Good. “I am sorry my moon, I did not mean to upset you. What I meant was……I know that with your affection comes trust but that is not true for your father. To win your affection I must have, amongst many qualities and skills, your trust. Your father’s affection is easy to win but just because he is fond of someone, it does not mean that he trusts them any more than he would trust an outspoken enemy. Do you understand what I am trying to say”?

“Yes and,” I glance at the sun blazing bright in the clear blue sky. It is nearly mid-day, time to meet Tariq, “I am afraid I must go, duty calls”.

“As it summons us all. I’ll be glad when we have children, far less work for us to do. Until this evening then my moon” Iumeri smiles bending down to kiss me chastely upon the mouth. I smile as he pulls away, my mind on the prospect of children, of having a family with the love of my life, watching our children grow up into wonderful Princes and Princesses…

“Are you alright my Lady”?

“What? Oh”. I’ve become lost in my thoughts again I realise as I stare at the two Medjay in front of me. “Um”, I glance around checking where I am. I’m outside the palace gardens, good. “I’m fine Medjay, thank you for asking. I just um, got a bit lost in ruminations” I smile, hoping that they Medjay will take it as a sign that it is alright for them to go back to their post. The Medjay exchange knowing looks before bowing and retreating to their posts. Cursing inwardly I duck my head to hide the fire blazing in my cheeks and scurry into the imprisoned riot of colour.

The palace gardens, this one in particular, are my favourite places to go whenever I want to relax and surround myself with Osiris’ blessings, but they are also the places where I can finally be myself. They are the places where I meet Tariq, my closest friend and slave to the Kingdom. Gods I hate slaves! No I don’t. I just hate the concept of them. Tariq used to be royalty before General Apophis and his war dogs tore his family and home world apart. Now he is trapped working day and night in the royal kitchens for nothing but a few meagre scraps of food a day. It’s not fair! Gods I’ve got so much work to do. So many reforms to plan and downfalls to plot, that is if Iumeri, no of course he will let me rules as I wish. After all, out of the two of us, I am the one with any training in the matter, he is just a soldier, a brilliant one and highly commended but a soldier all the same. Speaking of which, I want Tariq to have a place on my council. He is one of the few people I trust and, he has made me a better person. He makes me want to be better, to make the Sky Kingdom better. I need him.

I shudder a little as that epiphany swoops through me. I’ve known since the moment that Tariq made me begin to question the moralities behind the harvesting season that I needed to change my thinking, to question the ideology and doctrines that I and other Sky People have sucked up like a sponge all our lives. But to do that, I needed not just forbidden information on harvested worlds and people, I also needed a guide, someone to help me avoid the pits and craters that inevitably come with any road towards peace and equality. The funny thing is though as time went by, as we began to trust each other, we became friends, closer then I would have ever thought possible, even for people who were not separated by the walls between classes.

Too impatient to sit still for much longer I stand up and begin to meander around the garden, running my hands through beds of ticklish grass and baby soft petals, my brain gently buzzing through a hundred future what ifs, scenarios and plans. “Oh to be one of the common people, just for a day. What a luxury it must be to not have a vast burden resting on your shoulders. No one to tell you what to do, how to behave, who you ought to marry. I love Iumeri, I really do, and I am glad that we will soon be married but…urgh, there’s something, maybe I am simply being paranoid but.” I frown as a seed of doubt wriggles its way into the forefront of my mind. Iumeri is a member of the elite, through and through. He’s never had a chance to question the information that he’s been fed, but he’s an adult and adults should be able to question what they have been told. “Perhaps I shall take him on an excursion to the poorer parts of the kingdom where former slaves and servants live”. ‘But would that be enough’, I muse, ‘would seeing the poverty and destitution that the Sky Kingdom’s least fortunate citizens are forced to live with change Iumeri’s mind about harvesting?’

“No idea. But will be worth a try. Anyway where in the name of Isis is Tariq? He should be here by now”. I slowly turn around, scanning the garden and the surrounding corridor for any sign of a grinning boy. Nothing. “He must still be down in the kitchens. Well then I must go and rescue him from his duties for a while”. Smiling playfully I turn and saunter out of the garden and through the palace until I reach the doors to the kitchens. I knock once, then enter, the heat and smells pouring from the fireplaces set all around the room assaulting my senses, temporarily distracting me from my quest.

“Your Majesty!” an awed voice gasps. I turn away from sniffing curiously at the nearest pot to see the head cook gaping at me while all the others in the room as far as I could see had thrown themselves to the floor. “Cook. Where the serving boy is named Tariq? I wish to speak with him on a matter of urgency” I state, making my voice as cold as possible.

“Oh what has that son of Apep done now! Well, has anybody seen him?” the cook barks, flinging his hands into the air as he spins around to stare at the kitchen workers behind him, all of whom suddenly look rather nervous. “Um, I haven’t seen him since yesterday evening, none of us have” a small voice pipes up from behind a pile of dishes.

Terror slithers up my spine. “You mean he never came to bed?”

“And no one bothered to tell me!” the cook rages.

“Never mind that. I’m going to find him”. I wheel around, and storm out of the kitchens, racing towards my father’s study. As soon as I reach the study doors I burst in without bothering to knock, ignoring the startled yelps of the Medjay behind me. My father looks up from the document he is examining on his desk, one hand already resting on the hilt of his sword. “My sweet, what is wrong?” he asks, coming around to embrace me. I pull back, trying to compose myself. I must remain tranquil or I will achieve nothing. “Father, I have been told that one of the kitchen slaves his gone missing. He hasn’t been seen since yesterday evening and his friends have become rather concerned for his fate” I state smoothly, grateful for once, for my ability to lie.

“And why are you so concerned” my father says callously. I reel back from his icy tone, feeling like a grain of sand caught up in a storm. “Because he is a person, a citizen of the Sky Kingdom!” My father smiles, looking at me as if I am nothing more than a mere child. “I think you mean a slave to the Sky Kingdom. And a slave can easily be replaced. Now off you go my beloved, I have work to do”.

‘Work to do! Work to do! A boy has gone missing and you have work to do! How dare he say such a thing’ I snarl to myself.

“So you didn’t sell him then?” I ask my father as calmly as I can.

“No. Not that I was ever planning too, unless he were to be used as some kind of trophy, a symbol of the Sky Kingdoms triumph over other worlds”. I leave the room before my father can say anymore, bile crawling up my throat. How could my father say such things? I thought he was a good man. Flawed yes, but good, despite the harvesting. I thought he cared about people, even if they were slaves. It appears I was wrong.

‘I have to find Tariq. I don’t care what it takes. I will not abandon my friend to whatever his captors have in store for him’.

“But how am I going to find him? I cannot simply track his movements and there is no one I can ask to help me. Unless, oh”! I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest as excitement rushes through me. I know how to find Tariq, or more specifically I know who can guide me to him. The rogue All Seer. Until my grandfather’s time for every new Pharaoh there was a person with the ability to see into every crack and cranny of the Universe, to view every living thing, great and small and to create passageways going anywhere they liked. Those people were always called All Seer’s and were often forcibly bound to the Pharaoh upon their ascension to the throne. But then my grandfather’s All Seer came along and changed everything. Though she was bound to him, forced to bow to his will and his will alone, somehow she managed to break the bond between them and flee the Sky Kingdom, leaving a trail of innocent blood behind her. At least that is how my tutor told the story. I have heard differently. I have heard that the trail of blood she left behind wasn’t innocent at all, that the only people hurt during her escape were her former captors, the Medjay, who tore her away from her family as a child and tried to prevent her escape as an adult. But I have also heard that when All Seer’s are bound to their Pharaoh they have their emotions supressed in order to minimize their ability to defy the Pharaoh and when the rogue All Seer managed to break the bond between herself and my grandfather the onslaught of new and sudden emotions that bombarded her drove her to the brink of madness. Perhaps that it true, although perhaps it is not, either way I know that she is still alive and hiding in a cave, deep in the outlying jungle.

Grinning to myself as something resembling the vague outline of a plan begins to shape itself in my mind I dart down the corridor and burst into my room. I have to pack, not much, just enough for a few days but, I pause, my hands fluttering over the clothes in my wardrobe. They are too elegant, too bourgeoise and new. If I am going to sneak out and around the Sky Kingdom without being recognised by anyone who would care that the Royal Princess is out of the palace I will need to wear my peasant clothes. I bend down and pull out a moderately sized wooden chest and open it revealing several linen garments bought in the lower end of the kingdom market where only the peasants buy and barter.

I fling all but one outfit into a bag and look around my room, wondering if there is anything else I will need for the journey. “Healing supplies”. I stride over to a cupboard set in the wall beside my bed. I will need to pause and make some potions at some point, before or after I find Tariq, but I need to have the basics. I open the cupboard door and begin to pull everything out and onto my bed, critically examining each and every item as I grab a-hold of it. Knock, knock, knock! I jump, my thoughts scattering like sand grains caught in a storm. “Um…” I squeak, my neck burning with embarrassment. ‘Oh pull yourself together! You are the Royal princess, heir to the Sky Kingdom’s throne. Act like it!’ a voice that sounds oddly like my mother snaps. I give myself a shake and clear my throat. “Who knocks? Declare yourself!” I demand, hastily tossing the evidence of the beginnings of a find and rescue under my bed. “It is Iumeri my moon. Is everything alright”?

‘Do I tell him, or do I lie, again? I don’t like lying and I love him. I can trust him. He will help me, I am sure of it. He may be a member of the bourgeoise, trained from a young age to obey his father and the ruler of the Sky Kingdom, to believe that slaves are nothing more than material goods but underneath it all he is a good man and he loves me, that, at least should make him help me’.

“Come in Iumeri”.. The doors open and Iumeri strides in, his deep set eyes darting about as he strides towards me. “What is the matter?” he queries , finally fixing his eyes on me. I do not answer, my throat suddenly blocked by my pounding heart. “My moon”? He steps towards me looking as uncertain as I feel. ‘Courage Henuttaneb. This is for Tariq. You must do this’, I tell myself.

“One of my friends has gone missing. I intend to find him and bring him back”.

“What…well how do you know that he has not simply gone travelling and forgotten to tell you?” Iumeri asks, a smile beginning to grow on his face. I am filled with the sudden urge to smack him. “Because, he is a slave”.

“A slave! Your friends with a….never mind, why haven’t you informed your father”?

“Because he doesn’t care. Do you?” I snap.

‘Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes. I am not sure I could cope if you said no’ I silently confess as Iumeri looks at me with something like a mixture of love and worry in his eyes. “Yes. Yes of course I care. Your cares”, he glides over to me and takes my hands into his, “are my cares. But…” he turns his head away from me, conflict spasming his features into something ugly. “There is something that you must know”. He lets go of my hands and walks to my settee, sitting down on it with an unusually inelegant thump. “All right. What is it?” I ask, my patience wearing thin. I have only so much time before Tariq will be forever out of my reach. “You’re not going to like it, so I think you’d better come and sit down” Iumeri says patting the space next to him. With dread beginning to freeze my insides once more I stride over to the sofa and sit down next to him.

“Have you ever heard of the Light Reapers”? Iumeri begins, fiddling with a loose thread on his clothes. “No. Who are they”?

Iumeri lets out a bitter chuckle and takes my hand. “Not who, what. My father says they are the most horrifying creatures he has ever encountered and I’m inclined to agree with him. I’ve never met them, but I have heard the stories. They are creatures who live in the darkest corners of the Universe, where no light can penetrate for light is a thing that they fear and hate with all the passion that whatever created them has allowed them to have. But recently, at least, according to the reports that our fathers have been receiving, recently the Light Reapers have been leaving their homes and venturing out into the stars”.

“What for”?

Iumeri’s mouth turns upwards into a bitter smirk. “Do you really want to know”?

“Yes”!

“Alright then. They have been taking children, and stealing the light from their hearts”. Time seems to still as Iumeri’s horrifying words enter my brain. Stealing the light from children’s hearts! The thought alone makes me want to throw up. Such an act, such a dreadful, abominable act is outlawed in every quadrant of the Universe, punishable only by the most slow and painful means, for to take a child’s light is to take everything good about their species, leaving that poor child with nothing but every quality that is feared by all: misery, paranoia, cowardice, selfishness and above all the desire for death. If the Light Reapers have done this to Tariq….I shudder, tears beginning to bloom. “How did they manage to take Tariq? How did they manage to take anyone”? I gasp, my head spinning slightly, when did my chambers get so airless? “I don’t know. Some worlds have devised methods of keeping the Light Reapers out or keeping track of the children but they are specific to the resources that are available” Iumeri says quietly.

“And they will not share” I glumly realise. My parents are many things but skilled diplomats are not one of them. I stand up and start to pace around my chambers like a caged animal, taking deep breaths to try and alleviate the growing tidal wave of dizziness. ‘How could my parents allow their pride to overrule their duties as protectors of the Sky Kingdom and its people’?

“I need to go and find Tariq, I do not care what it takes I just…once I have found him and brought him back he can tell his story. He is well liked and respected, people will listen to him. Once they know about the Light Reapers and my parents’ refusal to combat them….”

‘What am I saying? I can’t kickstart a revolution, I can’t allow a revolution to happen. Iumeri, my friends, my siblings, my aunties, they will all be killed or thrown in jail to rot’.

‘Oh for Shamsun’s sake! It’ll be a revolution, not a senseless riot. Your father and General Apophis might get executed and to tell the truth they deserve it but if you do this right no one else will get hurt’ a voice that sounds oddly like Tariq berates.

“Alright then” I sigh, resigning myself to agreeing with the little voice in my head for the time being. I stop my pacing, stride over to the bed and pull out my bag. “Oh Ra, you’re…” I turn and stare at Iumeri who has risen off the settee his mouth agape in a perfect impression of a dead fish. “You weren’t joking” he laughs, “you’re actually going after a slave”.

I blink at him, completely non-plussed.“Of course. He is my friend”. How could Iumeri think I was joking about something as serious as this? “But I….I told you about the Light Reapers” Iumeri half stammers, his eyes round with shock. “Yes, and? If I do not go and find Tariq and bring him home then things will remain as they are and nothing will be done to protect this world from the Light Reapers”.

“No”. Iumeri storms towards me and grabs me by the wrists, forcing me to drop the bandages in my hand. “Ah! Iumeri. Get off your hurting me” I yelp, trying to break free from his strong grip which only tightens further as he continues to rage. “No! I’m not letting go until you stop this nonsense and listen”!

‘This is not Iumeri. This is not the man I love. How can it be? I thought he cared about other people. I thought that he became a soldier so that he could help people less fortunate than himself. Was that all a lie? Oh deities above help me see the truth!’.

“I told you about the Light Reapers because I thought this was all some silly joke. This….going after a slave….is preposterous and against the law”

“Then the law is wrong! Now let go of me. Med…” I let out a muffled screech as Iumeri covers my mouth with one of his hands. “Stop struggling and see reason my moon! I don’t like having to hurt you”. That does it. I despise violence but between the ferocity of his grip and the heartlessness of his words I am driven to it. I stomp down on his left foot as hard as I can and he cries out, moving back just enough to allow me to headbutt him. “Medjay!” Iumeri bellows, clutching his head as I frantically start filling my bag with my medicinal supplies. “Medjay”! Bag filled I dart over to the balcony and look down to the quiet street below. It is a long way down but there is a tree only a foot away from the left hand side of the balcony. I dash towards it as the Medjay burst into my room with a crash and scramble onto the balcony ledge. If I don’t jump far or hard enough….I look down and gulp, the plaza below seems a long way down. I bend my knees, say a quick prayer to Horus, and jump.

“Argh”! I let out a strangled screech as someone grabs the scruff of my neck, nearly choking me in the process. “What in Ra’s name do you think you’re doing?” a gruff voice snarls as strong hands pull me over the balcony. “Let me go!” I protest, struggling furiously as the Medjay haul me into my chambers, as if I am nothing more than a common criminal. “Set her down” Iumeri commands, his eyes glittering dangerously. “But…” the Medjay with a grip tighter than any hand cuff splutters. Iumeri smiles, clearly enjoying himself. “Set her down and hold her otherwise your career will be at an end Medjay” he says softly, fingering the dagger on his belt.

‘Oh Kauket he means to maim them. How could I have fallen for a man like that?’ I silently cry as tears begin to pour down my face. “Oh my moon, no don’t cry, please don’t cry” Iumeri begs getting down to my level and stroking my cheeks. “Why are you doing this Iumeri?” I whisper, unable to help myself from leaning into his warm touch, “don’t you love me”?

“Yes of course I do my moon, that is why I am doing this. You can’t be allowed to go running off after some slave, anything could happen to you”.

“If I find Tariq, if I bring him home, whatever happens to me will be worth it. He is my friend!” I object, trying to stay afloat in the sea of emotions that threaten to drown me. Iumeri stares at me, something hard and ugly glowing in his eyes as he steps away from me. “So, “your loyalty to you’re friend is greater than you’re loyalty to your people, is it”?

“No! He is one of my people. His status does not, and should not matter, he is one of my people and I will fight for him and protect him as I would for any citizen of the Sky Kingdom!” the beginnings of fury beginning to whirl like a sandstorm in my heart. “Citizen!” Iumeri laughs, “that boy was a slave, a thing from Mardina to be bought and sold at the whim of the Pharaoh”.

“Not any more if I have anything to say about it” I growl back, my words as sharp and hard as I can make them. Iumeri snorts and shakes his head. “Well of course not, he’ll be dead soon enough. If the Light Reaper’s don’t kill him then somebody else will”.

“Again, not if I have anything to say about it” I state grimly. Iumeri reels as if I have hit him as hard as I can and a mirthful smile slithers onto my face. The deities have intervened at last. Perhaps they will even make the Medjay release me, although….

“Traitor!” Iumeri bellows. Something hurls towards my head and a spurt of pain shoots through my skull. Blackness takes over.

Published 20th March 2018