Only The Beginning
By
Christine Hall
Title: Only the Beginning
Author: Christina Hall, aka Trillium
Rating: R for violence, sexual situations, and the usual bad attitudes
Special thanks to Kao Vang for editing and many good suggestions
Disclaimer: The Mummy and the characters therein are the property of
Universal Studios.
No infringement intended. I am making no money off of
this.
Chapter 5
For the next week, the only thing that kept Anak-sun-amun's life
bearable was the memory of that kiss and the desire to repeat the
experience. When she went about the palace she could not help but imagine
him walking with her, and when she lay down to sleep she pictured him beside
her, his strong arms around her, his beautiful voice whispering "My
treasure," in her ear. She could scarcely believe he had actually called
her that, but she had heard him quite clearly as she was leaving. The
memory inevitably made a smile come to her face, sometimes at inappropriate
times, but it was utterly impossible to get him off her mind. She formed
and rejected a dozen plans for seeing him more often, ranging from elaborate
disguises to bribing a palace guard to feigning illness so she would be sent
to the temple physicians. All of the plans had serious flaws, but she kept
thinking, for she could not bring herself to believe that it was impossible.
Her chance came on a stiflingly hot day, when there was no breeze
and the air shimmered like brass in the distance, cloaking the buildings and
monuments in rippling waves. For some time, Pharaoh had been planning a
trip of inspection to several other nearby cities, and in spite of the heat,
which showed no sign of letting up, he insisted on leaving that very day.
He did, however, decide to cut down the size of the party that would be
going.
So Anak-sun-amun was informed that morning that she would be staying
behind.
She was there, of course, to see the group off, along with numerous
other courtiers, servants, and hangers-on. A smile kept tugging at the
corner of her mouth, causing her to worry if anyone would notice. No one
said anything, but that did not mean they had not seen.
Everyone was standing around the main palace entrance, talking and
trying to seem useful and important, as the chariots and wagons were loaded
with all the necessary supplies for the trip. There was much rushing about
and orders being flung, and the Med-jai stalked among the others, making
sure that all was as it should be. Soon, a group of priests became visible,
exiting the Temple of Osiris across the great square and making their way
toward the palace.
Anak-sun-amun was ecstatic to see that Imhotep was among them. Even
at a great distance he was unmistakable. Her hidden smile threatened to
burst out into the open, so much that she had to turn her head and pretend
to be very interested in the activities of one of the drivers as he
inspected a horse's hooves.
Eventually the priests joined the main group, glad to be in the
shade again, for the sun in the middle of the square was oppressive.
Imhotep went immediately to the Pharaoh and they conversed, while the other
priests spread out a bit, greeting people they knew, but staying nearby
unless their superior should require assistance.
After interminable fussing and socializing, the travelers finally
got into their chariots or their wagons. Imhotep and the other priests
spoke a blessing, wishing the Pharaoh well on his journey, and the drivers
encouraged the horses out. They made their way across the square, past the
ever-burning fire, and wound down one of the main streets, on their way out
of the city.
They would not return for many days, and the journey was likely to
be slowed even further if this heat wave continued. It would be hard on the
horses. Indeed, the captain of the chariots had tried to talk Pharaoh out
of going till it cooled off some, but Seti had brushed that idea off and
demoted the captain for his trouble. The Pharaoh was a stubborn man, and he
did not take well to being contradicted.
The crowd on the steps was beginning to break up, as people went
inside or off to other duties. Anak-sun-amun tried to catch Imhotep's eye,
but he was deep in conversation with some courtier or other. She sighed and
looked around for someone she could talk to, or another excuse to hang
around on the steps. She spotted Sedet on the opposite side of the
entrance, sitting on a bench and not looking too healthy in the heat. She
was about halfway to her when a voice spoke from behind her and to her
right.
"Good day, my lady," Imhotep! She would know that voice anywhere.
She turned, and her heart almost leaped into her mouth at the sight of him,
but she managed to give an impersonal yet respectful bow.
"Good day, High Priest," she answered.
"So you are not accompanying His Majesty after all?" The sight of
his beautiful lips moving as he spoke was nearly driving Anak-sun-amun mad.
"I would rather stay here. It is not the best time for a journey."
Imhotep raised his eyebrows. "It is not wise to disagree with
Pharaoh. Look at what happened to the captain of the chariots." A flash of
bitterness crossed his features, and Anak-sun-amun realized that he was
thinking of his murdered colleague. She kept her tone light and easygoing.
"I may have done a few things in my life that were not wise, but I
am the better for it." she countered. She was flirting and she knew it, but
it was rather amusing to do this out in the open, under the guise of a
socially correct conversation.
"The better? How so?" he asked sternly, affecting disapproval.
"In that I learned things I would not know otherwise. Look at
Pharaoh's son Rameses, whom he put in charge while he is gone. He is young,
and may do something unwise, but he will only learn from it."
"Pharaoh does not fully trust him yet," Imhotep's tone told her he
was about to impart some significant information.
"Really?" Anak-sun-amun asked with great interest.
"He has asked me to make myself available to advise him. I may be
at the palace fairly often for a while."
This was welcome news indeed, but Anak-sun-amun managed to keep her
face expressionless. "That is good to know. It reassures me, High Priest."
Imhotep smiled kindly. "You need not worry about anything, my lady.
With all due respect, your beauty has ensured you a high place in this
court."
Anak-sun-amun looked at the ground in a great show of modesty. "I
am well aware that my beauty is my treasure," She emphasized those last two
words and looked up at Imhotep, seeing the glint of recognition in his eyes.
At the same time she noticed Sedet waving to her, trying to get her
attention from the bench at the other side of the courtyard. "I must go.
Be well, High Priest." She made another bow and went to go see what Sedet
wanted, but her mind was not on the older woman. It was on someone much
more...interesting, to say the least.
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