Heroo 4

Atemu had walked through the garden for a while and asked several temple servants and priests until he finally found them. He had been told that Akunadin had punished the would-be priestess by weeding the roses. A relatively mild punishment, considering that she had been in the sanctuary without permission and then acted against the order of the vizier. It was still very hot, and it wasn't going to cool too much, that certainly wouldn't make it easier to weed roses.
Isahra knelt in front of the thickest rose bush that Atemu had ever seen. Beside her stood two baskets, one with weeds, the other with white roses and one red. Her hands had disappeared under one of the bushes and her clothes were full of earth.
"Here you are," Atemu said smiling at her.
Isahra looked at him puzzled: "What are you doing here? I thought you were at your party.""I was!", He went down on his knees and lifted her face: "Who the fuck are you?"
"Nobody!" Was her answer before tackling the weeds again.
"I don't believe you!", Atemu sighed and he saw the scratches on her arms and legs: "What happened? Where did you ..."
"Atemu, leave it, I'm not someone you have to care about!", She interrupted him and screwed up her eyes.
"But you take a lot out of that!", Atemu stated: "You know who I am, but still you didn't even say Prince, Pharaoh, you or you. You say you to me. Somehow I don't believe that it's only you because of your innate cheek. "
Isahra winced so violently at his words that she clumsily pricked her thorns: “Shit!” She looked at the finger from which the blood was oozing.
Atemu took her hand and her bleeding finger in her mouth. The blood tasted no different from his and he didn't know why he reacted that way either, but it felt right.She stared at him bright red, could neither move nor say anything.
"Now tell me, it drives me crazy not to know."
"It's your eyes ...", Isahra mumbled: "They ... instill trust in me, that's why my words lack respect. And the other thing ... It's up to my mother, who she was, I already told you. I can't tell you more. "
"My eyes?", Atemu repeated and had to grin inside, the same as with him.
"Yes, I have never seen such friendly and strong eyes", Isahra replied and withdrew her hands: "Shada has told me that I have to leave here, but not where. But you will not find out. Akunadin hates me like a plague that can destroy everything and my only protection is no longer there. "
"But I don't understand ... What got you ..."
Isahra covered his mouth, then kissed her fingers that were on his lips: "Forget me. Akunadin won't give you the answer because he's afraid of your reaction, rightly if I'm honest.We'll never meet again when the day is over. Akunadin will see to it, believe me. Atemu, you have to choose a woman today who will be queen next to you. Just do me a favor, take one who loves Egypt as much as you do. The roses ... Shada meant that everyone gets a white and the chosen one the red. "
Atemu wanted to hold her, but Isahra had already got up: "Isa ... do you love Kemet?"
"Sure!", Then she disappeared behind a bush.
Shada stood at a pillar and looked at him: "You should never have fallen in love with her."
"I don't have that!", Atemu contradicted him and picked up the rose basket.
"Yes!", The high priest sighed resignedly: "Isahra's mother ... Well Vizier Akunadin loved this woman and she scorned him. For him, Isahra is the proof that this woman had another husband. In addition, her mother was what you already know I beg you, High Priest Akunadin will not tolerate her near him.You also have no right to Isa. "
"Do you love her yourself?" A light went on at Atemu.
"Um ...", Shada swallowed and scratched his bald head, embarrassed.
"I don't have the feeling that she is reciprocating your feelings, Shada," Atemu stated soberly.
"No, she doesn't either, I already told her, but she refused. The way she just talked to you makes me feel jealous," admitted Shada and looked down: "Forgive me for that I said that. "
"I can't forbid you, but I have a request!" Atemu stepped up to him.

"What ?!", Akunadin stared at his nephew: "You are not serious, what did you think? You can't push all of these women in the head," he hissed only half aloud, but his face was purple and a vein twitched in his neck.
Atemu had dared to distribute only white roses to the guests. He had had a short conversation with each candidate, but in the end he was only able to spare a white rose for the respective girl.This behavior had caused quite a stir, of course, but Mana found it kind of funny. After all, these higher daughters had expected to at least be accepted into the harem and that one of them would become Great Royal Wives, but now it looked as if they would all be sent back home.
"My prince ...", Mahado looked at Atemu questioningly: "Please explain it to us and your guests."
Atemu raised his hand and everything went quiet: "I'm sorry, but unfortunately I have to say that none of you meet the most important requirements to become queen. I talked to all of you, but the first thing you guys gave me said what you have and what riches you bring with you. Riches and fun are more important to all of you than the welfare of my people. I wanted to know what you bring with you and whether you respect the country Modesty is a foreign word to all of you and I gladly forego your dowry and thus the poison that you have splashed among each other.But I believe that your hearts are blinded by the gold that you have. "
Akunadin opened his eyes and tried to silence Atemu with gestures. He waved his hands desperately and ran the edge of his hand past his neck.
Seth, Mahado, Isis, Karim and Mana stood together and also did not understand what had happened to Atemu. He provoked a war with many countries, but he was not wrong.
All these major daughters were so in love with themselves that they looked disparagingly at servants, priests, and others lower than the rank of high priest. Only a small part did not try to profile themselves in such a way that it degenerated into an open competition.
Atemu now knew why there was seldom a bridal show, but simply decided who should be married to whom. Certainly, this order could only be put into practice with the consent of those affected. A father would never marry his daughter if she did not love the man the father had chosen.And the men themselves decided who they wanted to propose to.
Well, none of them were ugly or would look bad on the throne of the First Royal Wife, but not even politics could move him to take one of these spoiled and complacent women as his wife.
"Are you crazy?" Akunadin hissed at his nephew after struggling through the confused and angry girls and women.
Atemu tilted his head to one side: "No, I'm not. But I have other plans, that's all. These women are only here because they want a crown on their heads. Power and wealth, but not even the most beautiful face it is worth it to me to take this risk. "
"Atemu ...", the vizier looked around for help, but no help was to be expected from the high priests. They all tried to calm the guests down or to give explanations, because Atemu had already indicated it to them, but had not said what exactly he was going to do.They were not angry with him or did not understand, because they too had got the same impression as their prince when they wanted to talk to the ladies.
"I've made up my mind", Atemu fixed him: "Tell me why you are keeping Isahra away from me."
Akunadin backed away: "Your parents, that must be enough for you."
"Still, she should work for me through Egypt, right? I don't believe you are condemning her because of her parents. I learned that you wanted her mother yourself, but that can't be all. Who is she really?"
"My prince!", Shada nodded to him, he had just come: "You can only hope."
"Thanks!", Atemu understood what Shada wanted to say to him. He had given it to an assignment and that was the result for better or for worse. Now his eyes bored into those of his uncle: "And?"
Akunadin bit his lower lip. He didn't like the look in his nephew's eyes. It would hardly make any difference, not now that he had met this girl.He still had to try: "She is not someone you should be interested in."
Atemu raised an eyebrow. "Whatever you mean," he said firmly.

He stood at the window and watched the sun, which had just touched the horizon and the sky began to turn gold, red, orange and purple. A calm had settled over Hierakonpolis that promised something. Be it good or not ... He didn't know, but it was in the air that danced over his skin. Only the apron around his waist covered him, but it wasn't cold, his muscles were much too tense because he could only wait.
The many women and girls had gone to their rooms or even left after he had spurned them. He probably had to write all of the apologies to explain why he didn't want each one. But that wasn't due until the ceremony was over tomorrow. He would hardly be able to present a queen to the people. It had been a cheek to ask or force him to do so at such short notice.Atemu sipped the cold beer and sighed, no, it wasn't too short, he had just looked into the wrong eyes and if he overlooked Akunadin's head with this decision, it was regrettable. He was really sorry, but Shada was right ... Atemu fell in love with two eyes and a voice at first sight. However, since he didn't want to force anyone, he only hoped that she would come again after leaving him so easily.
"You wanted to see me. But please be brief, will you? I must have left the temple by sunset," said a quiet voice. Calm, gentle and also reserved.
It is there ... it flashed through his head. Atemu closed his eyes and set the mug down on the ledge, then turned around. There she stood, the shadow of the wall, with wet hair and her clothes that really didn't want to go with a priest's apprentice.
"You don't have to", managed