The Singer

By Robin Ballard

Two years have passed since Ahmose began his scribal studies in the temple of Amun in Thebes. He is now Sage Ani’s assistant, and together they travel to Pharaoh’s tomb and oversee the correction of a powerful but dangerous text. Despite Ahmose’s best intentions, the all-important promise he once made remains unfulfilled. He knows that has to act, but before he can complete the task once given to the archivist, the past returns with a vengeance. With a new conspirator on his side, it seems that the archivist’s enemy will indeed achieve his heart’s desire. In this last book in the trilogy of The Lost Spells of Egypt the destinies of Kai, Baal and beautiful Astarte converge in one gripping, and wholly satisfying finale.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robin Ballard
• Release date: Mar 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310217319

Robin Ballard

Robin Ballard was born in Los Angeles, California. A graduate of The Cooper Union School of Art, she currently lives in Switzerland. She has written and illustrated many books for children including "Zeig mir ein Tier", her first picture book in German. After an inspiring trip to Egypt, she wrote "The Archivist", a young-adult novel set in ancient times. "The Sage" followed as did "The Singer", the final book in her Lost Spells of Egypt series.

Book preview

The Lost Spells of Egypt

Book Three

The Singer

by Robin Ballard

Copyright 2014 Robin Ballard

Smashwords Edition

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For Sebastian

Special thanks to the Egyptologists at the British Museum.

Other novels by Robin Ballard

The Archivist, Book One

The Sage, Book Two

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 : Baal, Son of Sheshy

Chapter 2 : A Promotion

Chapter 3 : Heart Trouble

Chapter 4 : Warriors and Horses

Chapter 5 : The Place of Truth

Chapter 6 : Two Cousins and a Ba

Chapter 7 : A Blind Harpist

Chapter 8 : The Splendid One

Chapter 9 : A Promise Not Forgotten

Chapter 10: Elephantine Island

Chapter 11: Thebans and Hunches

Chapter 12: The Coffin Chamber

Chapter 13: Hieroglyphs

Chapter 14: A Falcon Flies to Heaven

Chapter 15: The Clean Place

Chapter 16: The Mistress of the Peak

Chapter 17: The Royal Archives

Chapter 18: Desire

Chapter 19: A Crime and Monkeyshines

Chapter 20: Love Potion

Chapter 21: A Message at the Gate

Chapter 22: Mout’s House

Chapter 23: Heboni

Chapter 24: What the Ba Leaves Behind

Chapter 25: A Funeral

Chapter 26: The Heir Apparent

Bibliography

Hear me, O Ra, Falcon of the Twin Horizons, father of the gods!

Hear me, you seven Hathors who weave fate with scarlet thread!

O Hear, all you gods of heaven and earth!

Grant

That this girl, true child of her mother, pursue me with undying passion,

Follow close on my heels like a cow seeking pasture,

Like a nursemaid minding her charge,

Like a guardian after his herd!

For if you will not cause her to love me,

I must surely abandon the day

Consumed to dust in the fire of my burning.

— Spell for Causing the Beloved to Follow After

Chapter 1 : Baal, Son of Sheshy

Standing at the ship’s prow, the passengers beheld Thebes. Ahmose’s heart soared as he saw the golden points of the obelisks glinting in the sun just beyond the fortified walls of Amun’s House. He had been dreaming of this very moment for months, yet in more ways than one, he had not believed that he would actually live to see the day of his return. Ahmose had become familiar with the notion of his own mortality. Only months ago, he had been conscripted into Pharaoh’s army and marched across the hostile lands of the Canaanites. How many had he seen slaughtered on the barren earth of the Red Lands? The men’s cries had invaded his thoughts, and the vision of the enemy’s chariots riding toward them on the plains had driven Ahmose to the brink of madness. When the battle was finished he thought his brother, Senu, had been killed.

Ahmose blinked. His throat felt tight with emotion. Senu was safe now. Their sister, mother and Great-Aunt Ini were caring for him in the mud-brick house surrounded by the fields their father tended — and it was all thanks to Thoth’s medicine. It had helped save more than his brother: Teacher Ani had benefited, too. The affliction that Ani had suffered from had now fully retreated. Without pain or discomfort, he was now able to wear Pharaoh’s heart scarab in a cloth belt about his middle. He had Pharaoh’s task to complete and Ahmose knew that he had no intention of retiring in exile to the savage lands of the Kush. Unlike the others aboard, Ani did not look to eastern Thebes and the glorious monuments to be admired there; instead, he looked to the dry hills in the west, to where the dead dwelled in their houses of eternity and Pharaoh’s tomb lay.

On the prow, just beyond Ahmose and Ani, Kai stood with his mother and Astarte. Astarte studied every detail of their surroundings as Thebes unfolded before her. A slight crease had formed between the finely plucked arches on her brow. She was worried about Baal, her little brother. The last time she had seen him he had been a small boy who had been given to Pharaoh as a peace offering. Astarte had run away from her father’s palace in Canaan and was determined to find him. Ahmose admired Astarte for her bravery. He knew that she wanted to be reunited with Baal, but he could not help wondering if there had not been another reason for her departure.

At the captain’s command, his crew readied the ropes. A sailor pushed his way forward to the prow and called for the smaller boats below to make way.

Ahmose, gather our baskets, Ani said. We will be docking at the southern harbor soon.

I have them ready, sir. To his dismay, Ahmose saw Heboni, the cat, jump into one of Ani’s baskets.

Please tell me she is not in the basket containing the sacred scroll destined for the walls of Pharaoh’s tomb, stuttered Ani.

No, sir, I have it here, Ahmose said.

Ani ambled over to Heboni, who had made herself quite comfortable on his spare tunic and kilt. You gave me a fright, he said, looking down at the cat’s contented face.

Are you sure you don’t mind taking care of Heboni until I can bring her home? asked Ahmose, feeling responsible for her bad behavior. She was his mother’s cat, and she had managed to follow them from the farm to the harbor and board the ship unnoticed.

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed at the temple school. Besides, I do not think I have much of a choice, Ani said, leaning down to pet Heboni. It has been many years since I lived with a cat. My mother was fond of them, and when I was a boy we kept many at our home. When your grandfather, Osirankh, came to visit me once he said our house reminded him of the temple of Mout. That is why, as a boy, he gave me the nickname Asheru.

"But what does Asheru mean exactly?" asked Ahmose.

It is the name of the sacred lake located in the goddess Mout’s House. There are many cats, perhaps even hundreds, who are maintained in the gardens within her temple precincts. Just as the god Amun is often portrayed as a goose, Mout is portrayed in a feline form. I will bring you to the temple of Mout one day.

As the ship neared the entrance to the harbor, Nixmat, Astarte’s horse, whinnied and strained at his ties. The crew climbed about, preparing to dock, and Astarte went to her horse’s side to calm him. The ropes were cast and the ship was carefully pulled into a slip by those on land.

Kai’s mother scanned the crowd along the docks and was pleased to see that several of her servants awaited their arrival. She had sent word earlier so they could make arrangements for Astarte’s horse, and transport their luggage home. Soon a ramp was set in place and a scribe came aboard to take an accounting of the ship’s cargo. His eyes widened at the sight of Nixmat.

Where did this come from? It’s not on my list, he said, jabbing his finger on a wooden tablet.

Nothing to concern yourself with, said the captain, receiving payment for their passage from Kai’s mother.

Dear Captain, please ask Astarte to lead her horse onto the docks and to entrust his care to those two men, said Kai’s mother, pointing to her servants. They’ll lead him safely to the stables. Once she’s done this, tell her that we’re headed for the temple school where she’ll be reunited with her brother.

As you wish, said the captain, who spoke a smattering of Canaanite.

Astarte bit her lip and did as she was asked. Ahmose could tell she did not like the idea of being separated from her horse, and Nixmat was not pleased either. Once on the docks, he stamped his hooves and thrust his head high, whinnying loudly. People who had stopped to admire him stepped back to make room. Kai joined Astarte, wanting to comfort her, but she turned on him and poked him in the chest while she spoke.

Ouch — stop that! What’s she saying? Kai asked the captain, who looked down from the ship’s deck.

I’m not sure — something about butchering a donkey if something happens to her horse.

The walk from the harbor to Amun’s House was pleasant enough. Ahmose was glad to stretch his legs since they had been traveling by boat for days. Soon after entering Amun’s House, they arrived at the temple school.

Greetings, said Ani to Taharqa, the old gatekeeper.

Greetings, sir, and to the two lovely ladies who accompany you, Taharqa responded, bowing his gray head to Kai’s mother and Astarte. To Ahmose and Kai he said nothing. The old gatekeeper did not like to fraternize with the boys of the temple school, although Ahmose remembered a time when Taharqa had been friendly with him. Perhaps Taharqa had only wanted to make a good impression on Ahmose’s great-aunt, Ini. He was sure now that even the mention of Ini’s name would make the old gatekeeper’s spear tremble.

I will be saying goodbye here, said Ani to Kai’s mother. Thank you for taking such good care of us in Memphis, and for returning us safely to Thebes. I am indebted to you. Ahmose, tell Guardian Hemwer that I shall return later to speak with him. I would first like to check in at my office and see if there are any urgent matters for me to attend to.

Yes, sir, said Ahmose. He watched Ani and Heboni disappear in the traffic along the street.

Entering the school’s gate, Ahmose stopped for a moment in front of the massive gray granite slab incised with the figure of Thoth, the god of wisdom. Thoth had named all things in the world and had invented the written word. He was the patron of the scribes. Ahmose recited a brief prayer before the god’s effigy and then entered the courtyard where the students of the temple school played in the shade of its trees. It was just as Ahmose had pictured it as he had walked along the barren plains of the Red Lands, leading his donkey convoy piled with the spoils of war. Ahmose had kept himself busy on the march by reciting passages he had learned while sitting before Hemwer in the pillared hall. He had relived the games that he had played with his classmates, Setau and Paheri. He had even thought of Montu, once or twice, lurking behind the trees, waiting to punch him in the stomach. The only difference was that in Ahmose’s fantasy, he had always managed to outmaneuver The Hippo’s fists. Luck was on Ahmose’s side, as Montu was nowhere to be seen, but someone else called his name from across the courtyard. It was Ahmose and Kai’s little roommate, Baal. He ran from the kitchen house and dodged past the other boys to get to them.

Bad Ahmose! their little roommate yelled. Bad Kai! He ran right up to Ahmose and whispered breathlessly in his ear: Where’s — my treasure — you robber!

I’m not a robber, said Ahmose, patting his amulet. I have your treasure right here.

And you! he said, glaring at Kai. Leaving me all alone — you can’t blame me if I had to find a new roommate.

A new roommate?

Shhhh! Baal hushed, realizing that he was attracting attention.

Baal had grown taller in their absence. Ahmose figured that he must be almost nine now. The reddish-brown hair of his side lock was darker and his front teeth had all grown in.

Siamun-Baal, said Kai’s mother with Astarte at her side, please show us to Guardian Hemwer.

Baal expression changed from anger to compliance. He liked Kai’s mother. She was always nice to him.

Yes, ma’am. He’s inside, he said, blushing to the tips of his ears.

Baal led the way. They climbed the sandstone stairs of the Upper House and found Hemwer sitting in the pose of a scribe in the pillared hall. His dark almond-shaped eyes were focused on a piece of limestone written in hieratic script. He was reviewing tomorrow’s lesson with Moses, an older boy who used to be a student at the school. Moses had also been Ani’s assistant once, and in Ani’s absence he had been asked to return to the school to teach.

Welcome back! said Hemwer, seeing them there. He rose and clasped Ahmose’s shoulders. Welcome back, Ahmose. I am happy to see that you have returned safely. And how is Teacher Ani?

He’ll come visit you later, Ahmose said.

Moses excused himself and Hemwer asked Kai’s mother if she would like a refreshment after her long journey.

That’s kind, but no, thank you, she answered. There’s something urgent that we must discuss. There’s a reason for Ahmose and Kai’s delay.

Hemwer raised a shaven eyebrow. I am listening, he said.

They’ve only just returned from the Red Lands a few weeks ago. As surprising as it may seem, they had been recruited into Pharaoh’s army.

Recruited! interrupted Kai. We were abducted!

While they were away they met a girl, and Kai’s mother gestured to Astarte. She’s apparently run away from home. She’s from Canaan.

Canaan? Hemwer’s voice deepened.

Yes, said Ahmose, and if it hadn’t been for your brother, Pawer, I don’t think we would’ve made it back alive.

Pawer! But — Ahmose — I thought you were visiting Teacher Ani’s ailing sister! How can this be?

It’s a complicated story but first let me explain something to Baal, said Ahmose and he turned to his little roommate. I didn’t steal your treasure. You gave me your seal so I could find out what it said. Unfortunately, I had to leave with Ani before I could give it back to you.

Ahmose removed the amulet of the djed pillar from under his tunic and twisted the top open. Ahmose slipped the orange cylinder-shaped seal into the palm of his roommate’s grubby little hand.

Before I left, I told you what it said. Do you remember? asked Ahmose.

Baal looked down at the triangular carvings along the bead and said: Baal, son of Smeshy.

"Sheshy!" corrected Astarte, who had been watching Baal closely since Kai’s mother had pointed him out in the courtyard.

Who’s she? asked Baal.

Astarte is your sister, said Kai.

Baal looked at her in wonder. Astarte wore a linen dress and sash, as was the fashion for Egyptian girls. Her long auburn hair was braided and set with beads and her green eyes were lined with kohl. Baal took in her perfume and thought her lovely.

My sister? he murmured.

Kneeling down before him, Astarte untied a plain leather band she wore around her wrist. She took Baal’s seal and strung it on the band. Baal was speechless as he watched her tie it around his wrist. She brought her hand up to his face, and while she stroked his cheek, she spoke to him in Canaanite.

My sister! said Baal over her words. I didn’t know I had a sister! Are you sure she’s my sister? I don’t understand a word she’s saying. Where did she come from? Why didn’t you tell me about her before?

We didn’t know you had a sister either, until your father’s soldiers took us prisoner, said Kai.

I have a father, too? And he has soldiers? And he took you prisoner for stealing my treasure? Bad Ahmose!

I didn’t steal your treasure!

Guardian Hemwer, said Baal, not taking his eyes from Astarte. Do you understand what she’s saying?

I am afraid not, answered Hemwer. She knows no Egyptian at all?

Ahmose and Kai shook their heads.

She tells many a tale with her dagger, though, said Kai.

Blessed Mout! exclaimed Kai’s mother. "Don’t be ridiculous,