"I'd like more than a little wine," he jeered.
"I will arrange for one of the harem girls to see to your needs," I said through gritted teeth. I hated the fact that the girls would be made to do such a thing, but in a cruel and twisted way, they were used to it. They served the gods and half-gods here at the compound on a daily basis. It was just a part of their life, just like serving was part of mine.
"I don't want some harem girl. I want to say I lay with a goddess." He grinned widely.
"I'm not a goddess, but I'm sure there's a few around who might be interested if you charm them." I leaned in and topped up his wine. Even if that wasn't what he wanted, I wouldn't be seen as not doing my job.
His arm lashed out, and fingers clamped around my wrist. "I want you."
"I'm not for having, my lord." I tugged my wrist down, trying to free myself from him. His grip was too tight for that, and a brief flash of panic went through me. There was nothing I could do about it if he decided to force himself on me. I was a slave. I had no rights here.
"That's for me to decide..."
"Rhodopis, is everything alright?"
I looked up, surprised to find Amun standing next to me.
"My lord." I dipped my head. And this time, it wasn't just because I felt like I needed to. Amun was one of the few gods who lived in Seth's compound that I actually respected. Personally, I wasn't sure why the god of Thebes spent his time here. He didn't have the same ruthless streak that some of the other gods had.
"Are you being bothered?"
I glanced at the visiting priest, unsure what to say about that. I didn't want to insult our guests, especially not when I would be blamed for it. And yet, I was being bothered.
Amun nodded, clearly understanding what was going on. "I have need of you. I heard you were organising tomorrow's entertainments?"
"Yes," I whispered. It wasn't even a lie.
"Then we have a problem that you need to see to. I'd bring your maid too." He nodded towards Sophia.
A rush of loyalty spread through me. He was doing what he could to protect us. And I appreciated that. "I'll come at once, my lord." I placed the pitcher of wine on the table and gestured for Sophia to come to join me.
The girl hurried over. Good. She was learning then. That was a good sign. I didn't want her to end up in danger from the priests. Just because they didn't serve Seth; it didn't mean they were decent men.
We followed Amun through the halls of the temple, keeping close behind him in case someone saw us and started asking what we were doing.
"Thank you, my lord," I whispered.
"You're welcome," he responded, not even turning around. "But tell no one what I did. I'll keep trying to get the rest of the serving girls out of trouble."
"I'm grateful..." I trailed off, not adding the question I wanted to ask.
He turned to me, the answer brimming in his eyes. "If I don't have to be a bad person, then I won't be. But I'd prefer it if you don't mention this to anyone."
"I won't."
"Good. Now, there really is an issue. Three of the girls in the dancing troupe for tomorrow appear to be drunk."
I groaned. They must have stolen one of the wine pitchers from the feast. I didn't even blame them for it. Wine was one of the luxuries that we didn't get very often.
"I'll go see to them. Thank you for telling me, my lord."
"Any time. I must be getting back to the feast."
I nodded, but he was already walking away.
"What was all that about?" Sophia asked.
"I don't even know," I responded. "Amun is an enigma. When he first arrived, I thought he might be a spy."
"You did?" She frowned. "What made you think that?"
"He doesn't seem to fit in here. Almost like he doesn't have the same morals as the other gods who spend their time with Seth. I still don't quite understand it." I shrugged. "But who am I to know the will of the gods?"
She chuckled. "I still don't believe in them."
"Even when you can see them walking and talking around the room?" I gestured for the two of us to continue walking. We needed to find the dancing girls and see what kind of state they were in. If I needed to find replacements, then I was going to have to act soon before any of the others got caught up in drinking or in other activities. The last thing I wanted was to end up having to dance myself.
"If they're walking and talking among us, then they're hardly gods."
"What do they have to do to convince you otherwise? I asked.
"Nothing. If I don't believe, then they can't harm me."
I supposed that was one way of looking at it. Just not the way I was used to. Maybe it was just the difference in when we'd grown up. Gods had been the norm when I was a child. But for her...
"Let's go see these dancers," I prompted, not wanting to get any deeper into a philosophical conversation that would challenge the way I saw the world. Besides, I knew the gods were walking among us. I'd just talked to one of them. They might not be the all-knowing, all-powerful people that most mortals imagined, but they were certainly real, and they were undoubtedly powerful.
We reached the door into the slave quarters and slipped through. My eyes caught on a figure watching me just as I was about to shut it behind me.
Gold eyes pierced through me, seeing more of me than anyone ever had.
I slammed the door shut. I didn't have time to worry about the man. I
