Kiya Shorts Anthology - Volume One: Kiya Shorts, #1

By Hazel Longuet

How did a foreign slave girl rise through the ranks of the perilous Egyptian court of Amenhotep III to take the position of High Seer of Egypt?

 

Taken from her family when the gods of Egypt chose her to guide the hot headed Pharaoh, Kiya's life is transformed as she walks a daily tightrope between the needs of the Pharaoh and the secret plot of the gods.

 

With a sprinkling of murder, a sticky fingered baboon, and the need to embed her position at court, it's a good thing Kiya is the most powerful oracle the world has ever seen.

 

Predict - Can a young foreign slave girl really secure one of Egypt's highest posts?

 

Behold - With no body can Kiya prove there's been a murder most foul?

 

A Theft - No one wants to risk the wrath of Queen Tiye but with a crazed queen on the rampage, and a court in chaos, can Kiya solve the mystery before the Queen's anger turns toward her?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Novel Experience
• Release date: Sep 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215537473

Book preview

Predict

A VISITATION

The room was dark. Anguished moans rose from the cot where the high seer of Egypt, Kiya, was tossing and turning restlessly. She shot bolt upright with a stark cry and stared wordlessly at the entity only she could see.

It is time, my daughter, for you to prepare for your successor. The need, whilst not pressing, is great. There are none in the entire dominion as naturally talented as you, so her education and guidance under your auspices will take a while.

Kiya grabbed the shawl from the bottom of her cot and wrapped it around her shoulders. She scrambled from the bed and bowed low, with her hand resting gently across her chest.

I’m honoured by your presence, my Lord God Khepri. I understand, I do. But I’d hoped to be longer for this world, being but five and twenty summers old.

The scarab-headed god nodded sagely. The mortal life humans enjoy on Earth is but a tiny fraction of the soul’s journey—and by far the least significant part. Believe me, the gods are aware that your existence has not played out as you may have wished. But be assured, Kiya, your destiny is remarkable. Sadly, that future must remain veiled for now. Khepri raised his hand to her cheek. Tomorrow, take this message to the pharaoh and his high priest and begin the search. Beware, my daughter, to wrap the news in secrecy, for neither should know of your predicted demise. Instead, present it as a desire for preparedness and ensure you promote the benefit to Egypt from having a clear succession plan.

Kiya studied the god, her expression sad but determined. As always, My Lord God, it’s a pleasure to serve you.

Khepri laughed. Somehow, I doubt this is a task you’ll derive tremendous pleasure from, my dear girl. However, I am sure you will undertake it with the same earnest regard you apply to everything. You are beloved, Kiya, truly. Know you walk in the embrace of the gods.

The god leaned forward and cupped Kiya’s face in his hands. She felt ripples of energy surging through her as he studied her. She found it disconcerting to look so closely upon him. Although she was rather fond of the scarab beetles around the temple complex, seeing one the size of a head attached to a human body and studying her with fully sentient regard was unsettling.

Khepri’s faint blue glow brightened as he stepped away from her. You’re not to mention a whisper of this visit to anyone, ever. Is that clear?

Kiya nodded.

Farewell for now, my child.

The blue light burst into a whirling sphere, which consumed Khepri. Then it shrank down to the size of a walnut and released a vibrant, semi-translucent scarab beetle of the same colour. It flew around Kiya’s head, its delicate wings brushing her cheek, then out the open window.

Kiya flopped down onto her cot and stared into the darkness. Her brain struggled to process Khepri’s words. A solitary tear ran down her face.

It seemed mere moments since her own journey began—when a luckless slave attracted the attention of the pharaoh and became Egypt’s greatest high seer.

THE ORIGIN – NINE SUMMERS BEFORE

K iya, my sweet girl, rouse yourself, or you’ll be late again. Hurry and you’ll have time to break your fast before you leave.

Kiya groaned and opened one eye to see her mother standing over her.

Idle hands are for the wicked. Come on, sweetling. Up you get.

I’m tired, Mama. Just a few more minutes, Kiya begged. She covered her eyes with her arm.

Her mother laughed—a sound so joyous that Kiya couldn’t help grinning.

You, my girl, don’t understand the meaning of tired. Try having eight children and a good-for-nothing husband to look after, whilst also keeping the master happy. Only then can you talk to me about being tired. Now up with you, unless you want a pail of freezing water thrown over your head.

Kiya knew her mother’s threats were never idle, so she quickly pulled back the covers and rose from the cot. Her days were predictable and monotonous, with few moments of joy. The couple of hours at dawn and dusk that she could share with her family were precious, so no matter how weary she was, she wouldn’t miss breaking the fast with them.

She filled the washbowl from the pitcher, then hurriedly pulled her sleeping gown over her head, tugging it free of her wild, strawberry blonde hair roughly. The water was icy, giving her a moment’s reprise from the furnace-like temperature of Egypt. Born in Italy, she was used to warmth, but nothing had prepared her for the heat of the dominion when they first arrived on its shores. Scrubbing, cleaning, and carrying in these temperatures with her pale complexion was particularly trying.

Kiya sighed. Her coarse, woollen tunic scratched her skin as she tugged it on. She missed the fine fabrics they’d worn before her family’s enslavement. They hadn’t been rich, but with the earnings from her mother’s and grandmother’s predictions, they’d led a comfortable life. Still, there was no point pondering their fate. It was simply their reality, and Kiya knew that fighting it just made the pain worse.

Rubbing her eyes, she wandered from their sleep chamber and into the hut’s main room. She found all her siblings squabbling and teasing each other. Her mother slapped the hands that tried to hog more than their fair share of the morning’s meal, and the younger children laughed and provoked her more. Kiya jumped to her mother’s side to help tamper down her overly excitable siblings. As the eldest child, Kiya regularly supported her mother in managing the unruly bunch.

Their mother gasped suddenly and clutched the edge of the table for support. Huge tears welled, rolling silently down her cheeks.

Mama, what is it? What have you seen? Kiya asked, used to her mother’s visions.

No, it cannot be. May the gods have mercy on us. Pray it’s not true. Pray it’s not true! her mother cried, falling to her knees. Not my babies. Please. Not my babies.

For maybe the first time, the entire family was silent, mouths agape as their normally stoic mother dissolved in front of them.

Calm yourself, woman. You’re frightening the children, Kiya’s father said, more sternly than she’d ever heard him talk to her mother. Kiya, take over feeding the little ones. Aquila, follow me. NOW.

Kiya jumped to her father’s bidding as he manhandled her mother from the room. She scurried around the table, filling the children’s bowls and trying to avoid their anxious looks. The silence was eerie after the earlier frivolity. She could hear the murmurs of her parents’ conversation, but the words were indiscernible.

What do you think she saw, Kiya? Piera, the next eldest of the girls, asked.

Kiya looked around at the seven pairs of cornflower-blue eyes, all studying her intently.

I know not and to say otherwise would be simply to surmise. I suggest we content ourselves with our meal, so we don’t add to our parents’ burden. Come now, everyone. Eat. Let’s not allow the gods’ blessings upon our table to go to waste. Mama has toiled over a stove to provide for us. We can show our appreciation by eating heartily.

But Kiya… Vitus said.

Enough. Eat!

DESTINY’S GRIP

All the children were packed off to their master’s villa to start their chores, and Kiya had cleaned away the bowls and cutlery by the time her parents emerged. Their bloodshot eyes bore witness to the tears they’d shared. She pretended not to notice and continued to clean the already spotless table.

Come, my child. Put the cloth down before you wear a hole in the wood, her mother said, taking the cotton rag from her hands. ’Tis time to talk. I must prepare you.

A dark weight of foreboding filled the room. Kiya wanted to enjoy her ignorance just a little longer before facing the truth.

Mama, you need not share your woes now. They will keep for later. I mean, I’ll be late to the master if I tarry further.

Aquila knelt at Kiya’s feet and lifted her daughter’s chin. My sweetling, I wish I could always protect you from this revelation, but learn it you must. Time is short, and we need to prepare.

Aquila looked to her husband. He nodded, although the anguish on his face was clear.

Our master has become indebted. Today, the pharaoh is sending a party to capture his assets, of which we are included. A lone tear ambled down Aquila’s cheek. Our family will be divided and go… I know not where. Before this happens, the three of us must make bundles for each of the children with clothing, food enough to sustain them, and a reminder of our beloved family. No child of mine will go out into the world without means to support themselves.

Kiya stared at her mother mutely, unable to process the awful tragedy. The silence amplified as the three wrapped each other in the comfort of their embrace.

I wish I could have sweetened the message, but time is not our friend. Know, my firstborn, that you are loved to the utmost capacity of our hearts. Looking into your eyes, when you were first put into my arms, is a memory I’ll cherish until my dying breath. It will warm the long days we must endure apart until we are reunited in the afterlife. Ensure you live a good and pure life, so we may all reunite for eternity.

The tears Kiya had been struggling to hold back broke through her defences and flooded her cheeks.

Come now, daughter of mine. Find strength in your soul and gird yourself. You’ve had sixteen summers within the family; you are prepared for life. We must thank the gods for that small mercy, her father said, pulling her into his firm embrace. I know in my heart that you will flourish, for you are your mother’s child in all the important ways. He used his fingers to tip her chin up and wiped away her tears. To prepare is to thrive, so let us prepare.

When the pharaoh’s guards arrived at the master’s house, the sun shone directly overhead. Every member of Kiya’s family had a cloth bundle