Page 9 of The Offering of Four

Mendas was watching him in the mirror. “I know this isn’t what you would have chosen for yourself,” he said quietly. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you make a home here.”

“I’m fortunate that Great Aghilas sent me to someone I find so pleasing,” Amenzu said.

Mendas’s eyes creased at the corners with his smile. “With sweet words like that, you have nothing to fear from any courtier.” He picked up his brush. “You should get dressed. Jidji will be here soon to collect us.”

Amenzu had bathed already, and there was nothing further to be done about his hair. He put on his new robe, made of the finest woven cotton, light as mist and dyed blue as the sky on a hot afternoon. To each shoulder he attached a silver pin, joined at the bottom by a draping chain. He had never owned jewelry so fine. He would grow spoiled like this, pampered by Mendas’s gifts and the rich food of the palace, a far cry from his simple life as a priest.

He was a priest no longer. By sunset tonight, he would be Prince Amenzu, consort to the crown prince of Nirawi.

Mendas rose from the dressing table. His robe of red cloth hung to his feet in loose pleats. The kohl made his eyes look large and dark, limitless as the night sky. “Are you ready?”

Amenzu went to him. He wasn’t ready, but there was no preparing for this thing he was about to do, this strange and possibly wonderful undertaking. He put his hands on Mendas’s shoulders and leaned down to kiss him.

A knock sounded at the door. Mendas kissed him quickly, and again, and then drew back and said, “That will be Jidji, I imagine.”

“I’m ready,” Amenzu said.

The door opened. They walked out toward their marriage.

the end