Flail of the Pharoah (28 page)

All pain forgotten in the tingling afterglow, the women relaxed in the embrace of their men until there was a gentle mutual stirring. Each sensed that the inauguration ceremony of the Fellowship of the Flail, which had been such a resounding success, was now over. Arms and legs were slowly untangled, last kisses were bestowed, and linen wraps were taken from a nearby chest to protect their bodies from the air, as if they had been reborn and were as tender as babes, exposed for the first time to the elements.

‘My dear friends, the gods will surely be pleased with our work this night,’ smiled King Seti, and at that moment they noticed the moon was shining at a new angle through the slit window to fall straight upon the altar stone where the act of triple coition had occurred.

‘It is a sign from Lady Isis!’ Tut-Tut declared, his voice hushed in wonder. ‘She is telling us that the gods are indeed pleased by the new rituals we have devised in their honour.’

As they left the temple, the two royal couples were filled with a new sense of their destiny and power. The king and prince knew they were more virile than before, while the queen and princess felt more womanly. They had each fulfilled their role to perfection and the land of Egypt would prosper.

Charmian was especially pleased. For the first time since her forced arrival in Egypt she felt accepted, one of the family. She kept glancing at the prince, unable to believe that such a handsome and noble young man was to be her husband in two years’ time, and that they would one day ascend to the Throne of Upper and Lower Egypt together.

Meanwhile, they had been given new quarters in a remote wing of the palace. Because Charmian had already been taken carnally by her husband-to-be in the Flail ritual, the Pharaoh agreed to allow them to live privately as man and wife. The queen promised to give Charmian a potion that would prevent her conceiving too soon, so that appearances might be kept up and the populace would believe her still a virgin when it came to the royal wedding.

Now, Charmian and Neshi were heading for their own secret rooms. They took their leave of the king and queen, who were very obviously going to the royal bedchamber, and giggled as they made their way down the corridor to their private wing.

‘I think your mother and father will be continuing the “ceremony” in their own way,’ Charmian said. ‘Perhaps it did not last quite long enough for them, even if it did satisfy the gods.’

‘And what of us?’ Neshi smiled, pinching her bottom and making her yelp, as it was still sore. ‘Shall we prolong the ritual too?’

‘Perhaps,’ she said, giving him a coy smile.

‘Certainly! You will do as I say, young lady, and if I wish to take you from every angle ten times before breakfast you will not only allow me to, but you will thank me for it afterwards.’

Charmian gave a mock bow and he slapped her buttocks again, making her hop and skip down the corridor until they reached the entrance to their new apartment. Her heart was filled with joy. For the first time since leaving the land of her birth, she felt she had come home!