hair, up to her waist or so?"
"No", Mahado shook his head: "Not that I know of. Most of them have their hair short because they like to wear wigs. Why do you want to know?"
"Just like that ..." Atemu waved him off.

"Isahra, you have to hold on. The hall has to be clean!", Shada said to her
young novice who was to have her priestly ordination in a few days.She was sixteen and had long jet black hair. She was subordinate to Shada when he was here in Hierakonpolis and was also his student, his best, unfortunately sometimes very cheeky and stubborn.
"I see!", She nodded and stretched.
"Shada!", Came the voice of Mahado, who came with Mana and Atemu from the temple into the garden in which the fountain stood.
"I'm coming!", Shada waved to them and turned again to his pupil: "And finally get yourself proper priestly clothes! You look like a joy girl."
"Hm ..." Isahra grimaced and turned to the fountain to draw water to clean: "I feel better that way."
"So ...", Shada groaned and waved her hand. He probably never managed to convince her that a hip scarf and a cropped, sleeveless shirt was nothing for a novice and, first of all, nothing for a priestess. He went to Mahado: "My Pharaoh, I'm happy to see you on your feet again!"
"Thank you, my friend.Who is this? ", Atemu looked past him and after the black-haired woman who, without turning around, was walking towards the western part of the temple with the bucket of water. She hadn't even said hello or made a move to bow.
"Um? My student ...", Shada held her head: "Her name is Isahra. She is good at her craft, but unfortunately she lacks manners and respect. She does what she wants, but always keeps to what is allowed . If you see that she overlooked you, I would bet that it was on purpose. "He glanced back over his shoulder:" You don't have to be interested. It's best to avoid her as much as possible. "
"Why is that?", Mana thoughtfully put her finger to her lips and took a deep breath.
Atemu turned to Mahado as he nodded in agreement: "Explain it to me, she is only a budding priest, or did I get it wrong?"
"Alright, just ..." Mahado gritted his teeth, an uncomfortable team.He knew, Shada had told him and still accepted her as an apprentice. It had taken Akunadin a long time to agree, but in the end he gave in. They didn't know why, and they wouldn't find out either, the old high priest was too stubborn for that.
"It's not directly about her, but about her parents", Shada began hesitantly: "Well ... your mother never behaved very civilly and her father ... well, we don't know exactly who he is or was, only that he apparently was still executed by your father. "
"Oh!", Mana raised an eyebrow: "Is your mother still alive?"
"No ...", Mahado shook his head: "But it is not that important. The grace of the priests here in the temple kept them alive and when Shada discovered her talents he accepted her as a student. My prince, even if she was a priestess because of her parents she is no company for you. "
Atemu nodded barely noticeably: "I understand your worries, but if Shada teaches her, she can't be a bad person.Besides, I don't understand why you're telling me that. "
"Because you asked for her," Shada explained.
"Anyway, we should get out of the sun. You should have a bite to eat before Seth fetches you to wash, the time is tight today," smiled Mahado, who had also been introduced to today's schedule by Akunadin and Shimon. But because of the incident on the Nile, it looked like they would have to consider deleting a point.
"I'm not hungry", Atemu waved: "It's enough tonight if I should have a look at the young women."
"No!", Mana grabbed his hand: "You have already survived an attack today, you have to strengthen yourself! You still have exhausting hours before you can go again, and yesterday's porridge is so delicious here. And the dates they have here are so cute. "
"Have you left any dates?" Mahado asked sharply. He could only vividly imagine that Mana had bought the date bags that had just been bought for this evening's reception."What do you mean then?", Mana looked at her teacher: "I'm not hungry!"
"Then the cook didn't curse you when he spoke of a cheeky brown-haired girl who came from the residence in Thebes?", Mahado shook his head: "You should sit in the corner with a magic book and study. You are only here because you insisted. My prince, we should be on our way. "
Mana stamped her foot: "But ..."
"Yes, see you later Mana!", Atemu waved briefly to her, then he followed Mahado and Shada into the northern part of the temple.
Already on the way through the long ways inside the temple, Atemu saw again and again the young girls who had apparently only come for him. Most of them were Egyptian women, the daughters of the district lords or high officials who lived further away from the residence. The other, smaller part was foreign. Her face was cut differently, her skin tones lighter or darker than it was normal in Kemet.A handful even had light brown to blonde hair and eyes that were blue or green. They were slim, well dressed and made up throughout. They giggled and talked. When they saw him, however, they fell to their knees.
Atemu held his head, he had counted more than thirty young girls and women so far who certainly did not belong in the temple. With an uncomfortable feeling he watched the looks that bored into his back and tried to see what was under his clothes. He just hoped that it wouldn't be more.
"My Pharaoh!", Mahado stopped and turned to him: "What do you have?"
"Nothing ... Why are these women here?", Atemu gave one of the girls a hard look, because she had obviously been gossiping about something.
She immediately flinched, bowed her head in embarrassment, and then pulled her companion a little further away into the green of the park.
The way in the northern part of the temple had led Atemu with his two high priests from the dusty inner courtyard into one of the parks in which palm trees, thick bushes, wide green meadows, as well as moss and flowers were planted.The paths had been made of small stones and sand and led through the shadows of the palm trees. An artificially created stream meandered to the right of the path and immediately irrigated the area.
Atemu knew that this part of Hierakonpolis was used by the priests to relax and that the guests were allowed to stay up to a large limestone gate. The actual garden for the guests was the eastern one, which was still being prepared at the moment because of the festival that was supposed to take place in the evening. It was many times larger and had several small lakes in which the priests and high priests could refresh themselves or do sports. It was a beautiful place and there were similar ones. Heliopolis or other great known temples.
"They wanted to get in the air and since they knew you were coming through here, they wanted to see you", Shada explained and went through the gate.
"You will have enough time after the ceremony for the gods to talk to them," Mahado assured him and looked around for Seth.He had to go back to meet Akunadin who had meanwhile arrived and Shada wanted to check on his student and give her instructions.
Who says I want this? Atemu thought to himself, but smiled a little and nodded: "How many have been invited and what did my father write in your invitations?"
"My father said that it should be about fifty, but only forty accepted because the others didn't have daughters of the right age," interfered Seth, who had been waiting in the shade of a palm tree: "I don't know what was in it, but all hope in your favor, cousin. "
"What if I send her home again?" Atemu wanted to know.
"They will be offended and go back to their fathers. But as long as you choose one of them, there will be no war. Actually, they could stay and be introduced into your harem right away," thought Shada.
Atemu felt a chill down his spine. He had completely forgotten that, many marriages came about for political reasons.The kings of the neighboring countries sent their daughters to the Pharaoh's household to live there and to secure peace. Nobody asked whether he wanted that, but it was tradition, but the blow was still to come.
"Oh, you just take one and if you fall in love you can take a second or third wife. It's a shame that you have no sisters, then you could save yourself that", Seth patted him on the shoulder: "Come on, go we to the holy lake. "

The Holy Lake was a long oval basin carved into the ground. Over the years, aquatic plants had accumulated on two opposite banks that had been regularly cut. On the other two sides, steps were attached to make it easier to get in and out of the lake. The depth was less than a meter. Often the priests just stood in the lake and doused themselves with the water, which they scooped up with large bowls."Karim!", Seth saw the man in the water who had tied his hair and was cleaning himself with the water.
"Hm?", Karim twisted around and bowed even before he came out of the water: "My Pharaoh, I am pleased to see you doing well."
"What are you doing here?", Seth asked: "Didn't you want to greet the guests with Isis?"
"I felt uncomfortable among the many women and wanted to go briefly to the temple to unveil the staue of God," he explained: "Are you really all right again, my Pharaoh?"
Atemu nodded: "Yes, I thank you for your help too, my friend. I would probably be dead if you hadn't come. Has the temple been cleaned that far?" He wanted to change the subject. It got on his nerves that everyone asked how he was feeling.
"Oh yes, I will convince myself one last time and then you can calmly ask for the blessings of the gods. The statues of the gods are finely dressed and have been cleaned with great care.The offerings have already arrived. I am very sure that our gods will be satisfied with you and give their blessings, "assured Karim.
"Then do that!", Seth said