"Wonder what surprises are in store for us today?" Redsenet spoke to herself, as she lay in her bed, face up. She turned her head towards the dresser and saw a wash basin on it. "What's this? I don't remember this being here when I went to bed." She rushed over to inspect. When she got there she saw that it was filled with water and in the water were petals. She picked up a couple of petals and felt them between her fingers and smelled them. "They're rose petals." She saw the sponge on a dish beside the basin. "Aw, it will be nice to be able to clean myself up." After she was done sponge bathing herself she dressed herself. When she stepped through the doorway, she was surprised to find that she wasn't greeted by any guards. She met up with Henutsen down the hall.
"Someone is smelling nice today." With a mischievous smile on her face.
"Did you not have a wash basin in your room? Good morning Sutaijha." Sutaijha had just joined them.
"Yes, but it was filled with just plain water. Smells like roses. I think someone likes you."
"Shut up. No comments from you either Sutaijha." Redsenet spoke with annoyance in her voice. But in the back of her mind she felt special.
"Wasn't going to say a word." Then both Sutaijha and Henutsen giggled together.
The three entered the dinning room and saw that Chombyses, Ekrem and Farshad were already at the dinning table. All three were eating their morning meal. They were still trying to adjust to Chombyses's face without his beard.
"Good morning ladies. Such a beautiful site to behold in the morning. Come sit and join us for your morning meal." Chombyses was smiling as he spoke.
Sutaijha sat beside Ekrem, they kissed each other on the lips. Henutsen sat beside Sutaijha and Redsenet sat 3 seats down from Farshad. "Why do you sit all the way over there? I have a seat for you right here, beside me. Do you not trust me?" Chombyses patted the chair that was between him and Farshad. Redsenet decided that it might be in her and her sister's best interest that she appease Chombyses so she moved to the chair on the other side of Farshad.
"You smell as beautiful as you look, Redsenet."
"Thank you for the wash basin. Was very nice of you."
"So ladies, I guess it's my turn to honour my side of the bargain. Have you decided were you want to go from here?"
"Yes." Blurted out Redsenet.
Sutaijha looked uncomfortable in her seat. "I would like to stay. Since I am going to be wife to Ekrem, it only makes sense." She looked into Ekrem's eyes, and they squeezed each others hand.
"Looks like it will be just the two of you then leaving. So were have you decided to go to?"
"The same place that our brother and Ankhu went." Spoke up Henutsen. Redsenet was surprised with how her baby sister answered.
"Okay. I will check into when the next ship going there will be leaving." Chombyses lied, he had no intention of allowing them to leave his place, at least not for awhile.
"Thank you." Both Redsenet and Henutsen said at the same time. The three sisters proceeded to eat.
"Magistrate." A servant spoke, breaking the silence. "There's someone here to see you. He's in the Great Hall."
"Thank you. I will be there shortly. Servant get me my treasurer for me. You ladies have my permission to go to the market, with guards of course. I will give you some money to spend there. It's the least I can do for what you three have done for my son."
The three jumped in their seats with joy. Henutsen ran over to Chombyses and gave him a hug and thanked him. This action from Henutsen surprised him, but he was a little disappointed that Redsenet didn't hug him. "One day she will." He thought to himself. He sat up. "Well ladies, duty calls. Hope to see you later and enjoy your time at the market. And you my son, I want you to get ready for your tutor. He'll be here his usual time." With that he walked towards the Great Hall.
"I already know what I want to purchase at the market." Stated Sutaijha as she winked at Ekrem. She had something planned for the night with Ekrem. Ekrem smiled boldly, he was looking forward to tonight.
Tears ran down Henutsen's cheeks.
"What's wrong Henutsen?" Inquired Redsenet with compassion.
"Nothing. Just memories of what it was like with Maatkare. I'll be okay." Sutaijha reached over and hugged her and wiped her tears away.
"Were is your husband, Henutsen?" Farshad asked innocently.
"We don't know yet, Farshad. But we will find out soon."
Ekrem recognized the name. He wondered if it was the same Maatkare that was Chombyses's envoy. But he thought it wouldn't be a good idea to bring that fact up just yet, until he found out for sure if they were the same person or not.
They were still eating their morning meal when a man wearing rich apparel entered the room and walked towards the table. In his left hand he carried three small sachets. "I am the personal treasured of the Magistrate Chombyses. Magistrate Chombyses has ordered me to give each of you money, to be used to make some purchases at the market." After he completed speaking he dropped a sachet in front of each of the three sisters. Turned and left the same way he came.
The sisters emptied the contents of the sachets into their hands. They couldn't believe that Chombyses would actually give them money to spend for themselves. They put the money back into the sachets and tied them to their belts.
As Ekrem entered the Great Hall, Maatkare had just left. So Ekrem didn't see him. "Who was here? What news did they bring?"
"I'm glad you decided no to go with the women to the market. It was Maatkare. He has informed me that King Alexander and his army will be upon us in two to three days from now. We must start preparing the safety place. Get my general for me Ekrem."
"As you wish Magistrate Chombyses." Ekrem bowed and left the room, he thought to himself. "I wish I had arrived here sooner, I could have asked him if he was the husband of Henutsen."
[This message has been edited by Rosenetka (edited 08-19-2000).]