Exodus: Gods and Queens

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The high priestess stood a good head over most present in Pharaoh Ramesses’ throne room. Wrapped around her slender figure was a close-fitting white sheath dress with delicate gold trimmings lining its edge. Deep brown eyes gleamed with confidence as they took in her surroundings, and as she moved, it appeared as though her hidden feet glided over the polished marble floor. In her right palm was a canopic jar holding burning coals, and with her left hand she gripped a thin gold-overlaid staff.

Many looked upon her as the oracle through which the gods communicated with mortals. But an obstinate few swore she was a glorified whore of Apophis—a woman completely eaten by evil.

Her name was Rai and the people’s opinion, negative or positive, only served as feathers to her wings. As she walked on, she basked in the look of awe, admiration and disdain on their faces—well, all except the Pharaoh. He was seated on his throne, posture rigid and lines of impatience marring his brow. She could guess why he appeared so upset. Moses must have threatened again.

Rai had received news of the plagues upon her return from her year-long meditative retreat at the sacred caves of Ma’at, South of the Egyptian borders. When she journeyed through the once vibrant streets of Memphis in her canopied litter, the level of destruction and decay that marred the land shocked her to silence.

The air was thick with the smothering stench of rotting flesh. The farmlands were a spread of ruined crops save for a few healthy sprouts, not a single cow dotted the grazing fields and the Nile reeked of the dead. She also noticed nearly everyone she had encountered had unsightly scabs on the exposed parts of their bodies, including the Pharaoh. She was thankful the flesh-eating plague had not occurred when she was around; she could not stomach the thought of her flawless face getting scarred in any way.

When Rai finally stopped before the Pharaoh and his officials, she muttered a prayer to Ra, imploring the chief god of Egypt to bless her with a solution, because if he did not…

It took little to envision her dismembered body discarded upon heaps of decomposing corpses. Yes, the Pharaoh had heaps of those in the outskirts of Tanis where vultures abound and the earth was dead. Rai shrunk from the troubling thought and focused on the task at hand.

There was a light murmur about the throne room as she placed the burning jar on the floor, her hand returning unhurt. She mumbled thanks to Ra then straightened.

“You summoned me, o great Pharaoh.” Rai offered a graceful bow.

Pharaoh Ramesses II signalled for all present to vacate except his son and two scribes. Ah, he was furious. The way he rigidly sat upon his throne, and those small kohl-lined eyes bloodshot and twitching.

“Forty-two,” Pharaoh Ramesses spat as he gripped the armrest of his throne with a bejewelled hand.

Rai was careful to maintain a blank expression. “Forty-two what, o wise Pharaoh?”

“Forty-two magicians and sorcerers—the very best in all of Egypt. Do you know what I did to them?”

Rai sucked in a long breath and slowly exhaled through her parted lips. She must maintain a calm—

“Answer me!” Pharaoh roared as he banged a fist.

Rai flinched. “I do not know, my king,” she said quickly. “I have been absent for the past year.”

“Well, since you’ve been away, allow me to inform you.” He relaxed into his throne and fixed her with a virulent glare. “I hung them all—every single one of them. And I included their families; even their little ones were not spared. Do you understand what is at stake if you fail?”

Heart hammering within the cage of her chest, Rai nodded.

“Use your voice. I need a clear affirmation.”

“Yes, most revered Pharaoh.” Though trembling within, Rai projected the confident appearance of one certain of the gods’ support..

“Good.” Pharaoh Ramesses nodded, his scowl switching to a bright false smile. “Now that we understand each other, let me tell you Moses’ latest threat.”

When the Pharaoh spoke, fear’s cold grip squeezed Rai’s gut. She was not expecting this at all. The possibility that she might be unable to undo what Moses proclaimed plunged her into a sea of terror, the kind she had never experienced in all her years as a high priestess.

Gulping, Rai resisted the urge to wrap her slim fingers around her slender neck… her gorgeous slender neck that may be slit from a single order of an enraged Pharaoh.

Rai was aware she suffered from unnatural self-love. Most times, powerless to stop herself, she would sit before her bronze mirror for a great length of time observing her features, rubbing ointments on blemishes, adjusting her long black hair a thousand and one times and praying away the tiniest spot.

Now, the foreboding she felt concerning her current situation made her bones tremble, and the foundations of the spiritual calm she had obtained at the caves cracked. She nodded as the Pharaoh continued to rail about Moses and his god.

“You must speak to the gods for me; perhaps they are tired of hearing my voice. That man’s threat must never come to pass. Tell the gods to bring disgrace on Moses!” The Pharaoh spat at the mention of Moses’ name. A servant appeared almost immediately, wiped the spittle off the floor and disappeared into whatever invisible place he emerged from.

“I am sick to death of these slaves and their whining to go worship a nameless god in the wilderness. What fool would agree to such a request? They must think me an idiot. I would rather rid the world of them than let them go. I WILL KILL THEM ALL THAN LET THEM GO.” The Pharaoh’s hand balled into a trembling fist, his brow squeezing with a heavy frown as his eyes turned vacant.

“Do you know Moses grew up in this palace? The nerve to raise a slave as a prince. They told me he was my uncle, but a part of me suspected he wasn’t Egyptian… I don’t believe this claim of his. Going to worship their god in the wilderness? Nonsense!” That lost expression never left the Pharaoh’s face. “There has to be something else. I’m not a fool. Do I look like a fool?”

Rai bunched her brow. Was she to answer the question? She noticed the scribes looked equally confused. Maybe they feared for their master’s sanity.

His son, the crown prince, answered his father. “No, Father. You are the wisest, the bravest; you are the shining star of Egypt.”

Rai stifled a snort as she regarded the prince. Twenty-six years and his father’s first and favourite son, he was naturally selected as the heir to the throne, but she could not explain why he had never struck her as the next Pharaoh. Perhaps it was his appearance. All his features were elongated and scrawny, from his narrow head down to his ridiculously long feet. He reminded her of a Nile monitor lizard.

Unease crawled over Rai’s skin when the prince turned his small eyes in her direction. A smarmy smile spread across his thin lips as he leered at her, violating her body with a slow lingering gaze.

“So, do you understand my father’s request?” He possessed a thin high voice, hardly fitting for an authoritative ruler.

“I understand.” Rai gave a small bow. “I will speak to the gods and hear what they say. If—”

“Do not just speak to the gods!” The Pharaoh bellowed. Rai stiffened, stopping herself from jumping at the intimidating sound. She noticed the prince still had the sardonic smile on his odd face. How she itched to curse him with infirmity, he’d see if he would have the teeth to smile at her then.

“They must give you a satisfactory reply. Are you listening?” the Pharaoh shouted as he pointed a finger at his ear.

Rai struggled to settle her breathing but her fear would not allow it. “Yes, my King. I will speak to the gods and pray for a satisfactory solution.” She hoped her voice did not sound as shaky as she felt inside.

The Pharaoh’s voice was cold and heavy with threat when he spoke his final words. “Better pray hard, priestess. Because I swear to you, if your solution fails, that beautiful head of yours will be separated from your body at the break of dawn. Leave.”

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