Heroo 3

Seth had brought Atemu to the upper gate of the sanctuary. He was a high priest, but not in this temple and he was forbidden to enter the holy hall in which the sanctuary of this temple was built. Only the high priest and very few high priests who lived exclusively in Hierakonpolis were allowed into the sanctuary, apart from princes who received special training and of course the pharaoh.
Atemu looked around, he was alone with Seth and the temple servant: "Are everyone gone?"
"Yes, my Pharaoh!", The temple diner bowed. A mug, a jug, an empty bowl and a small bowl of baking soda stood on the tray that the servant was carrying in his hands.
"You are the high priest of all gods, at least you will soon be and you are allowed to bring your requests and wishes to the gods without anyone hearing it!", Seth explained and poured the baking soda into the cup and then poured it with water on."Which god is here again at home?", Atemu thought half aloud.
Seth hadn't heard him because he waved the mug so that the soda could dissolve: "Here, my prince!". He passed the cup on.
"Thank you ..." Atemu twisted his mouth, he knew what to do with it. He put the mug on and poured some of the soda-impregnated water down his throat, swirled it in his mouth, and then spat it into the bowl. He repeated this until the cup was empty. An unpleasant salty aftertaste lingered on his tongue, but this mouth cleaning was part of it. It was supposed to ensure that the words he said to the gods or on behalf of this one god were also pure. Without a word, Atemu went through the first gate and a little later the doors of the second gate closed behind him.
The sanctuary was a bit underground in a dark room, which was lit by large fire basins that stood between the porticoes on the walls.The sides were sanded smooth and gleamed black and reddish in the firelight. The murals looked alive when the light from the flames danced in front of them.
Atemu knew the scenes well that were depicted there and luckily he found out which god he brought the offerings that were already waiting on a table further ahead.
The first picture had shown him Isis, who sat down as a bird on the Sag of Osiris. The next the birth of their son. Each of the wall paintings showed an image that was related to Horus. The right god, because after all Horus was the protector of the pharaohs.
Almost at the end of the hall stood three rows of benches, with high backs, in front of them, hidden under a curtain, the god himself.
Atemu stepped forward, past the offerings and kneeled on a large pillow that was one meter in front of the veiled statue of the gods. He took a deep breath and grabbed the incense pellets that were on the left in the bowl and put them into the large, shallow fire pit in front of him.He carefully lit the incense, which caused a thin column of smoke to rise. It didn't take long and the room filled with the scent. Atemu began quietly with his prayer to the god, even if he could not see him.
"Hm ..." a voice smacked behind him.
"What?", Atemu started in shock and looked around, startled. He was alone, where did that come from? Nothing moved and it remained quiet. "I'm hallucinating ..." he whispered to himself and turned back to his prayer, which his father had taught him.
The fire crackled as he observed a minute's silence.
Atemu suddenly got up and looked around. He had clearly heard the breath of a second person, softly but he was there. Since he didn't believe that the statue would suddenly come to life under the fabric, he preferred to look for a human. Only who could it be? A friend of his or a high priest? Why should they sneak in here? However, the prince did not have to search long.A girl was sleeping on the middle bench.
Atemu raised an eyebrow: "That it doesn't fall down? ..." The bench wasn't really wide, but it was obviously enough.
He frowned when he realized who that was - Isahra ... Only with a brief hesitation he grabbed her shoulder to wake her: "Hey, wake up!"
"Hm ...", she managed to turn around on the bench and growled. "Let me sleep, Shada ... I plowed through this stupid prince ... Pharaoh ... last night ..."
"Thank you!", Atemu said deliberately. She insulted him: "But I'm not Shada ..."
Isahra widened her eyes and got to her feet. She stared at him, swallowing. "Oops ..." something that resembled an embarrassing grin ran across her features.
"Morning!", Atemu smiled at her: "Stupid?"
"Yes ... so no ... Um. I'm sorry, that was not what you meant", she hung her head and ran her hair through: "I haven't closed an eye for more than 30 hours.I would never offend you, I don't know you. "
"I didn't take it seriously," he sat down next to her without asking and looked at her attentively: "You took care of me when I was brought here after the attack." It was not a question, but a statement. Inwardly, Atemu hoped she wouldn't contradict him.
Isahra tilted her head to one side and her hair was in front of her face: "Yes, because of the excitement Shada just ordered me off. Nobody told me who to look after. Why should I ...", her shoulders shrugged a little: "... it's never my business that happens around me. High Priestess Isis only came because I had other work to do. She was worried and because Akunadin wouldn't have liked to see it anyway ..."
"My uncle?", Atemu interrupted her confused: "I heard that your pus have not covered themselves with fame, but if Shada trusts you, you will be a good person ..."
"You are here because of the many high daughters," she suddenly interrupted him."Um .. but yes ..."
"I've already talked to a few, it is best to be careful when it comes to the Princess of Libya. She is very mendacious and only keen on the throne", Isahra smiled at him and stupidly eyed him very conspicuously: "Isn't that difficult? To become Pharaoh now? "
Atemu caught her gaze, which contained a mixture of pity, admiration, and sympathy. He hadn't been wrong, light brown eyes that shimmered like gold in the firelight.
"Yes, but I have no choice," he replied after a while, averting his eyes. Inwardly he gasped because he had the feeling that she had looked to the bottom of his soul through his eyes, but that couldn't be. She was a novice, not even a priestess and much too young to be able to do that. He had to distract himself and looked at the statue of Horus and something occurred to him, or rather he noticed.
"What are you doing here anyway? Nobody except the high priests who live here in the temple are allowed in here.Besides, weren't you still at work earlier? "
"Oh ... yes ...", Isahra turned bright red: "Well ... well, how should I say ... There were so many cleaning that I was superfluous and before Shada or someone else could apply something to me again, I slipped away The only problem was that they would have found me everywhere and that's why I snuck in here. Are you telling me? "She glanced at him uncertainly.
"No!", Atemu said: "I don't know why, after you have looked after me so lovingly, even though you lack a lot of sleep." Even as he spoke he was startled. His hand rose and he pulled a leaf from her hair that had stuck there. It was clearly one of the leaves that grew on the bushes on the bank and was fresh: "You ..."
She grinned cheekily and embarrassed: "Nice sheet."
"It was you. You were watching me", he suppressed a laugh: "Why?"
Isahra took the paper from him and turned it in his hands: "What did you think?You are a young man, well built, and the Crown Prince. I was curious and saw you on the way here. I am not allowed to address you just like that and I get into problems if someone finds out that I am doing it now. Shada was only allowed to accept me as a student because he promised that he would never take me to the residence. "Her voice was low and it took a lot of concentration for Atemu to listen to her.
Involuntarily, he pulled her hair back over her shoulder to see her face. She was really damn pretty: "That sounds like someone was trying to keep you away from me."
Instead of answering, she just looked him in the eye and nodded very slightly: "I have to go."
"Wait", Atemu grabbed her wrist: "What are you afraid of?"
"My mother was a temple dancer and also a singer, but also a joy girl. But that wasn't all ... Theft, grave robbery and fraud were anything but alien to her. I think they are afraid that I am the same.It's supposed to protect you because my mother played along badly to your father. You are the son of the late Pharaoh. I am the daughter of a criminal. It matters who our parents were and we only have the chance to overcome it ourselves. If you want to know exactly, then you have to ask whoever wanted it that way. Vizier Akunadin. "Isahra stood in front of him, but couldn't get past him because he blocked her exit. The other side of the bench was against the wall, so she had to pass him:" What do you care about that anyway? You don't know me and you will never see me again after your stay here. "
Atemu took half a step back. What she said was true, there was no need for him to care or notice her. He was sure he'd never seen her before today, but there was something that told him not to just let her disappear into a temple again. He was just about to open his mouth when a voice rose in front of the door: "Uncle Akunadin."The door opened, too, but another man was standing next to Akunadin. Dartz.
"My Pharaoh, the time is up and ... YOU ?!", Akunadin drew in a sharp breath when he saw that Isahra was standing next to Atemu. Without waiting for an explanation he reached out and gave her a resounding slap in the face: "What did I tell you, you little bastard ?!"
Atemu opened his eyes: "What is that supposed to mean?"
Isahra rubbed her cheek, but then walked past Atemu and Akunadin. At Dartz she stopped, glanced at him and whispered: "Get out of here."
Dartz looked after her: "Who is that?"
"Nobody!", Akunadin hissed and