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It was early enough that only the the soft pre-dawn light guided the young worshipper's steps to the temple of Hathor. It was not necessarily the hour she would have chosen, but permission to go give her prayers was not excuse from any of her duties, and the consequences of delaying their departure from Thebes was not to be contemplated. Though she thought of herself as a woman, in truth she had not yet shed the last trailing edges of childhood. She had a woman's curves, and a woman's sensuous smile rather than a girl's flirtatious one, but something about her figure hinted that she might still grow a few inches in the next handful of years. Gold and lapis beads were still braided into her hair, and hena still stained her hands and feet, but her cosmetics were back to simple kohl and ochre, as much as to protect eyes and lips from the desert sun as to enhance her natural beauty, and the heavy malachite eye shadow, fine kalisais, and liberal draping of gold she had worn yesterday for the procession were gone. She looked her age, in short.
The wealth in her hair gave her customary nudity a different flavour; she did not look like a slave, today, or a woman too poor to afford a dress, but instead like a woman deliberately flaunting her body. Tahena was aware of it, just as she was aware of her beauty, and she was entirely comfortable with the looks she was being given. She enjoyed it, in fact, and the sway of her hips and the lift of her chin told all the men she passed, You can look, but don't touch. You are not worthy. After all, they weren't. Even as recently as half a year ago, she'd bitten her tongue and cringed as a man held her down, and simply prayed silently that he'd finish quickly enough that she would not be late returning to her master. Now? She had only to inform them of who she served, and no man would dare touch her.
Actually, Antef hadn't been that bad. She could have done a better job avoiding him if she'd wanted to.
Her lips curled up further as she stepped up to the imposing statue of Hathor and sank silently to kneel at the goddess's feet. Somehow, the gesture was too graceful to be entirely humble, though there was nothing at all ironic or mocking about it. This was a woman who was as at ease looking up at the world through dark lashes from her knees as she was wearing nothing but her own skin.
Her fingers went quickly to the end of one braid, freeing a single lapis bead to set in the offering bowl. It was, technically, theft, but it wasn't like anyone was ever going to count the damn things, and she couldn't exactly come and pray and leave nothing. After a moment she sighed and looked up at the goddess's face, she couldn't actually come up with words for a proper prayer. I'd ask for advice but I doubt any of your lovers are as entirely unmanageable as mine, was not the correct thought for the pharaoh's concubine to be voicing in a public temple, quite aside from the likelihood of offending the goddess herself.
"Hathor, Queen and Mother of all..." she bent her head again, and the beads in her hair clicked together quietly. The skin between her shoulderblades twitched, expecting a reprimand, and she smiled behind the curtain of her hair. "Thank you for your gifts of beauty and pleasure," she prayed instead. "I pray you help this poor servant to use them to their fullest..." That sounded diplomatic enough.
Oh, and of course, she needed to give the prayer she had told her master she would when she had asked permission to come. It would do her no good to lie to the gods' most favoured, whether or not he had ways of telling, and she wasn't going to assume he didn't. It was not given to one of her station to know what magics the gods granted to the pharaoh.
"O goddess, I thank you that you have granted to me to be born into the service of the man most worthy of the gifts you have given him through me." A bit convoluted, but she was sure the goddess would understand what she meant. "Let nothing but your magics fill his mind when he looks at me..." Ooh, that sounded a bit too much, especially right after the last bit. She'd been trying for a polite way of saying get him to stop loosing his temper at me for stupid reasons but hearing the words aloud she wished she'd picked other ones. It was a reasonably accurate voicing of what she wanted, but there must have been a better way of saying it. Oh well. "Grant me the pleasure of being the fulfillment of all his desires-" Please let it be pleasurable every time. Even most of the time would be wonderful. At least some of the time would still be nice. "- except for children," she added hastily. "Let that fall to his wife as is right and proper." Please don't let me get pregnant. "Grant O goddess to her Evening Radiance the Queen of Egypt a full measure of your great gift of fertility, and grant her ease in carrying and in bearing." That sounded proper and appropriate, even if she'd stumbled over the entire rest of her prayer.
Was there anything else she needed to say? She couldn't think of anything. Tahena rose to her feet as smoothly as she'd sunk to her knees, and looked around to find one of the priestesses. The other reason to come here was for their famed herbalists. Their were plenty of perfectly competent apothecaries in Cairo, of course, but none of them could provide tinctures empowered by Hathor's own blessings. The concoctions she could buy here simply worked better.
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It was early enough that only the the soft pre-dawn light guided the young worshipper's steps to the temple of Hathor. It was not necessarily the hour she would have chosen, but permission to go give her prayers was not excuse from any of her duties, and the consequences of delaying their departure from Thebes was not to be contemplated. Though she thought of herself as a woman, in truth she had not yet shed the last trailing edges of childhood. She had a woman's curves, and a woman's sensuous smile rather than a girl's flirtatious one, but something about her figure hinted that she might still grow a few inches in the next handful of years. Gold and lapis beads were still braided into her hair, and hena still stained her hands and feet, but her cosmetics were back to simple kohl and ochre, as much as to protect eyes and lips from the desert sun as to enhance her natural beauty, and the heavy malachite eye shadow, fine kalisais, and liberal draping of gold she had worn yesterday for the procession were gone. She looked her age, in short.
The wealth in her hair gave her customary nudity a different flavour; she did not look like a slave, today, or a woman too poor to afford a dress, but instead like a woman deliberately flaunting her body. Tahena was aware of it, just as she was aware of her beauty, and she was entirely comfortable with the looks she was being given. She enjoyed it, in fact, and the sway of her hips and the lift of her chin told all the men she passed, You can look, but don't touch. You are not worthy. After all, they weren't. Even as recently as half a year ago, she'd bitten her tongue and cringed as a man held her down, and simply prayed silently that he'd finish quickly enough that she would not be late returning to her master. Now? She had only to inform them of who she served, and no man would dare touch her.
Actually, Antef hadn't been that bad. She could have done a better job avoiding him if she'd wanted to.
Her lips curled up further as she stepped up to the imposing statue of Hathor and sank silently to kneel at the goddess's feet. Somehow, the gesture was too graceful to be entirely humble, though there was nothing at all ironic or mocking about it. This was a woman who was as at ease looking up at the world through dark lashes from her knees as she was wearing nothing but her own skin.
Her fingers went quickly to the end of one braid, freeing a single lapis bead to set in the offering bowl. It was, technically, theft, but it wasn't like anyone was ever going to count the damn things, and she couldn't exactly come and pray and leave nothing. After a moment she sighed and looked up at the goddess's face, she couldn't actually come up with words for a proper prayer. I'd ask for advice but I doubt any of your lovers are as entirely unmanageable as mine, was not the correct thought for the pharaoh's concubine to be voicing in a public temple, quite aside from the likelihood of offending the goddess herself.
"Hathor, Queen and Mother of all..." she bent her head again, and the beads in her hair clicked together quietly. The skin between her shoulderblades twitched, expecting a reprimand, and she smiled behind the curtain of her hair. "Thank you for your gifts of beauty and pleasure," she prayed instead. "I pray you help this poor servant to use them to their fullest..." That sounded diplomatic enough.
Oh, and of course, she needed to give the prayer she had told her master she would when she had asked permission to come. It would do her no good to lie to the gods' most favoured, whether or not he had ways of telling, and she wasn't going to assume he didn't. It was not given to one of her station to know what magics the gods granted to the pharaoh.
"O goddess, I thank you that you have granted to me to be born into the service of the man most worthy of the gifts you have given him through me." A bit convoluted, but she was sure the goddess would understand what she meant. "Let nothing but your magics fill his mind when he looks at me..." Ooh, that sounded a bit too much, especially right after the last bit. She'd been trying for a polite way of saying get him to stop loosing his temper at me for stupid reasons but hearing the words aloud she wished she'd picked other ones. It was a reasonably accurate voicing of what she wanted, but there must have been a better way of saying it. Oh well. "Grant me the pleasure of being the fulfillment of all his desires-" Please let it be pleasurable every time. Even most of the time would be wonderful. At least some of the time would still be nice. "- except for children," she added hastily. "Let that fall to his wife as is right and proper." Please don't let me get pregnant. "Grant O goddess to her Evening Radiance the Queen of Egypt a full measure of your great gift of fertility, and grant her ease in carrying and in bearing." That sounded proper and appropriate, even if she'd stumbled over the entire rest of her prayer.
Was there anything else she needed to say? She couldn't think of anything. Tahena rose to her feet as smoothly as she'd sunk to her knees, and looked around to find one of the priestesses. The other reason to come here was for their famed herbalists. Their were plenty of perfectly competent apothecaries in Cairo, of course, but none of them could provide tinctures empowered by Hathor's own blessings. The concoctions she could buy here simply worked better.
It was early enough that only the the soft pre-dawn light guided the young worshipper's steps to the temple of Hathor. It was not necessarily the hour she would have chosen, but permission to go give her prayers was not excuse from any of her duties, and the consequences of delaying their departure from Thebes was not to be contemplated. Though she thought of herself as a woman, in truth she had not yet shed the last trailing edges of childhood. She had a woman's curves, and a woman's sensuous smile rather than a girl's flirtatious one, but something about her figure hinted that she might still grow a few inches in the next handful of years. Gold and lapis beads were still braided into her hair, and hena still stained her hands and feet, but her cosmetics were back to simple kohl and ochre, as much as to protect eyes and lips from the desert sun as to enhance her natural beauty, and the heavy malachite eye shadow, fine kalisais, and liberal draping of gold she had worn yesterday for the procession were gone. She looked her age, in short.
The wealth in her hair gave her customary nudity a different flavour; she did not look like a slave, today, or a woman too poor to afford a dress, but instead like a woman deliberately flaunting her body. Tahena was aware of it, just as she was aware of her beauty, and she was entirely comfortable with the looks she was being given. She enjoyed it, in fact, and the sway of her hips and the lift of her chin told all the men she passed, You can look, but don't touch. You are not worthy. After all, they weren't. Even as recently as half a year ago, she'd bitten her tongue and cringed as a man held her down, and simply prayed silently that he'd finish quickly enough that she would not be late returning to her master. Now? She had only to inform them of who she served, and no man would dare touch her.
Actually, Antef hadn't been that bad. She could have done a better job avoiding him if she'd wanted to.
Her lips curled up further as she stepped up to the imposing statue of Hathor and sank silently to kneel at the goddess's feet. Somehow, the gesture was too graceful to be entirely humble, though there was nothing at all ironic or mocking about it. This was a woman who was as at ease looking up at the world through dark lashes from her knees as she was wearing nothing but her own skin.
Her fingers went quickly to the end of one braid, freeing a single lapis bead to set in the offering bowl. It was, technically, theft, but it wasn't like anyone was ever going to count the damn things, and she couldn't exactly come and pray and leave nothing. After a moment she sighed and looked up at the goddess's face, she couldn't actually come up with words for a proper prayer. I'd ask for advice but I doubt any of your lovers are as entirely unmanageable as mine, was not the correct thought for the pharaoh's concubine to be voicing in a public temple, quite aside from the likelihood of offending the goddess herself.
"Hathor, Queen and Mother of all..." she bent her head again, and the beads in her hair clicked together quietly. The skin between her shoulderblades twitched, expecting a reprimand, and she smiled behind the curtain of her hair. "Thank you for your gifts of beauty and pleasure," she prayed instead. "I pray you help this poor servant to use them to their fullest..." That sounded diplomatic enough.
Oh, and of course, she needed to give the prayer she had told her master she would when she had asked permission to come. It would do her no good to lie to the gods' most favoured, whether or not he had ways of telling, and she wasn't going to assume he didn't. It was not given to one of her station to know what magics the gods granted to the pharaoh.
"O goddess, I thank you that you have granted to me to be born into the service of the man most worthy of the gifts you have given him through me." A bit convoluted, but she was sure the goddess would understand what she meant. "Let nothing but your magics fill his mind when he looks at me..." Ooh, that sounded a bit too much, especially right after the last bit. She'd been trying for a polite way of saying get him to stop loosing his temper at me for stupid reasons but hearing the words aloud she wished she'd picked other ones. It was a reasonably accurate voicing of what she wanted, but there must have been a better way of saying it. Oh well. "Grant me the pleasure of being the fulfillment of all his desires-" Please let it be pleasurable every time. Even most of the time would be wonderful. At least some of the time would still be nice. "- except for children," she added hastily. "Let that fall to his wife as is right and proper." Please don't let me get pregnant. "Grant O goddess to her Evening Radiance the Queen of Egypt a full measure of your great gift of fertility, and grant her ease in carrying and in bearing." That sounded proper and appropriate, even if she'd stumbled over the entire rest of her prayer.
Was there anything else she needed to say? She couldn't think of anything. Tahena rose to her feet as smoothly as she'd sunk to her knees, and looked around to find one of the priestesses. The other reason to come here was for their famed herbalists. Their were plenty of perfectly competent apothecaries in Cairo, of course, but none of them could provide tinctures empowered by Hathor's own blessings. The concoctions she could buy here simply worked better.
Nafretiri, who had heard a little of the prayer, though she tried not to disturb the worshipers as a rule as she went about her morning duties. could relate somehow to the girl's wishes. Though Nafretiri was not a temple prostitute, she at least longed to be loved, despite the physical and mental pain her past experiences had caused her. Even she knew that her fear of the physical side of a relationship was not good, and especially because she was supposed to be a priestess of the goddess of love and sex. Though Nafretiri herself would probably not go so far as to ask the goddess for the magicks to fill her... she thought it seemed conceited, as if one person deserved it more than all the others who surely would like to make such a request. Still, she had to allow herself a little smile, though the girl might possibly think it was at her expense. She, at least, seemed to know what she wanted. Would that Nafretiri would be so bold in asking for her desires!
Then again, the girl looked to be royalty, or at least someone connected to them. Didn't such people seem to get everything they wanted, anyway?
She sighed. Her situation was proof that they usually did- whether because they asked for it or took it by force, they didn't seem to care. Her heart broke for the girl, somehow, though... she seemed to need reassurance of some sort, even if it was just that someone heard her prayers. While the goddess could answer the prayers she chose to, for that was her right, Nafretiri could understand somehow the need to feel as if one was being heard. Still, she had to snort a little at the last part of the prayer.
"I don't mean to be rude, but I prayed that prayer once- the one about letting the bearing of children fall to the man's wife. I love my daughter with all my being, but she is proof that such prayers often don't work," she said with a sympathetic smile despite her words that might have seemed almost flippant. Hathor had both helped her and not helped her when she had blessed Nafretiri with Aneksi. It healed her spirit somehow, at least a tiny little bit, to know that she wasn't alone, and wouldn't be ever again, but must she have had to have a reminder of the pain she had suffered?
Speaking of Aneksi, the little girl, carried in by an acolyte of Hathor, seemed overly eager to greet the sun today. She squealed at the sight of the pretty lapis lazuli beads in the hair of the girl who had prayed. Nafretiri chuckled. Was her daughter becoming like Nafretiri's mother already- intrigued by jewels of all sorts?
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Nafretiri, who had heard a little of the prayer, though she tried not to disturb the worshipers as a rule as she went about her morning duties. could relate somehow to the girl's wishes. Though Nafretiri was not a temple prostitute, she at least longed to be loved, despite the physical and mental pain her past experiences had caused her. Even she knew that her fear of the physical side of a relationship was not good, and especially because she was supposed to be a priestess of the goddess of love and sex. Though Nafretiri herself would probably not go so far as to ask the goddess for the magicks to fill her... she thought it seemed conceited, as if one person deserved it more than all the others who surely would like to make such a request. Still, she had to allow herself a little smile, though the girl might possibly think it was at her expense. She, at least, seemed to know what she wanted. Would that Nafretiri would be so bold in asking for her desires!
Then again, the girl looked to be royalty, or at least someone connected to them. Didn't such people seem to get everything they wanted, anyway?
She sighed. Her situation was proof that they usually did- whether because they asked for it or took it by force, they didn't seem to care. Her heart broke for the girl, somehow, though... she seemed to need reassurance of some sort, even if it was just that someone heard her prayers. While the goddess could answer the prayers she chose to, for that was her right, Nafretiri could understand somehow the need to feel as if one was being heard. Still, she had to snort a little at the last part of the prayer.
"I don't mean to be rude, but I prayed that prayer once- the one about letting the bearing of children fall to the man's wife. I love my daughter with all my being, but she is proof that such prayers often don't work," she said with a sympathetic smile despite her words that might have seemed almost flippant. Hathor had both helped her and not helped her when she had blessed Nafretiri with Aneksi. It healed her spirit somehow, at least a tiny little bit, to know that she wasn't alone, and wouldn't be ever again, but must she have had to have a reminder of the pain she had suffered?
Speaking of Aneksi, the little girl, carried in by an acolyte of Hathor, seemed overly eager to greet the sun today. She squealed at the sight of the pretty lapis lazuli beads in the hair of the girl who had prayed. Nafretiri chuckled. Was her daughter becoming like Nafretiri's mother already- intrigued by jewels of all sorts?
Nafretiri, who had heard a little of the prayer, though she tried not to disturb the worshipers as a rule as she went about her morning duties. could relate somehow to the girl's wishes. Though Nafretiri was not a temple prostitute, she at least longed to be loved, despite the physical and mental pain her past experiences had caused her. Even she knew that her fear of the physical side of a relationship was not good, and especially because she was supposed to be a priestess of the goddess of love and sex. Though Nafretiri herself would probably not go so far as to ask the goddess for the magicks to fill her... she thought it seemed conceited, as if one person deserved it more than all the others who surely would like to make such a request. Still, she had to allow herself a little smile, though the girl might possibly think it was at her expense. She, at least, seemed to know what she wanted. Would that Nafretiri would be so bold in asking for her desires!
Then again, the girl looked to be royalty, or at least someone connected to them. Didn't such people seem to get everything they wanted, anyway?
She sighed. Her situation was proof that they usually did- whether because they asked for it or took it by force, they didn't seem to care. Her heart broke for the girl, somehow, though... she seemed to need reassurance of some sort, even if it was just that someone heard her prayers. While the goddess could answer the prayers she chose to, for that was her right, Nafretiri could understand somehow the need to feel as if one was being heard. Still, she had to snort a little at the last part of the prayer.
"I don't mean to be rude, but I prayed that prayer once- the one about letting the bearing of children fall to the man's wife. I love my daughter with all my being, but she is proof that such prayers often don't work," she said with a sympathetic smile despite her words that might have seemed almost flippant. Hathor had both helped her and not helped her when she had blessed Nafretiri with Aneksi. It healed her spirit somehow, at least a tiny little bit, to know that she wasn't alone, and wouldn't be ever again, but must she have had to have a reminder of the pain she had suffered?
Speaking of Aneksi, the little girl, carried in by an acolyte of Hathor, seemed overly eager to greet the sun today. She squealed at the sight of the pretty lapis lazuli beads in the hair of the girl who had prayed. Nafretiri chuckled. Was her daughter becoming like Nafretiri's mother already- intrigued by jewels of all sorts?
The slave-girl considered the priestess's words with a hint of a smile, which almost turned impish as she replied, "Of course not, which is why I pay for contraceptives properly prepared by the priestesses." She dipped her head respectfully, hoping the other woman didn't mind that she'd nearly laughed at the sales pitch. It was certainly a new one. "Some of the tea that helps ease cramps, as well."
Of course, contraceptives could fail too... or Tahena herself would not be here. Whether her mother had made some mistake in counting days, or it had been prepared sloppily, or Hathor herself had decided to present a gift to the pharaoh-to-be made no difference now.
She smiled warmly at the child an the other woman's arms. "Hello, little one. Aren't you adorable." Lucky, too, to be loved despite being unasked for.
"How old is she?"
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The slave-girl considered the priestess's words with a hint of a smile, which almost turned impish as she replied, "Of course not, which is why I pay for contraceptives properly prepared by the priestesses." She dipped her head respectfully, hoping the other woman didn't mind that she'd nearly laughed at the sales pitch. It was certainly a new one. "Some of the tea that helps ease cramps, as well."
Of course, contraceptives could fail too... or Tahena herself would not be here. Whether her mother had made some mistake in counting days, or it had been prepared sloppily, or Hathor herself had decided to present a gift to the pharaoh-to-be made no difference now.
She smiled warmly at the child an the other woman's arms. "Hello, little one. Aren't you adorable." Lucky, too, to be loved despite being unasked for.
"How old is she?"
The slave-girl considered the priestess's words with a hint of a smile, which almost turned impish as she replied, "Of course not, which is why I pay for contraceptives properly prepared by the priestesses." She dipped her head respectfully, hoping the other woman didn't mind that she'd nearly laughed at the sales pitch. It was certainly a new one. "Some of the tea that helps ease cramps, as well."
Of course, contraceptives could fail too... or Tahena herself would not be here. Whether her mother had made some mistake in counting days, or it had been prepared sloppily, or Hathor herself had decided to present a gift to the pharaoh-to-be made no difference now.
She smiled warmly at the child an the other woman's arms. "Hello, little one. Aren't you adorable." Lucky, too, to be loved despite being unasked for.
"How old is she?"
Nafretiri couldn't resist a smile back, glad the woman hadn't seemed to be offended at her comment. It was one thing for Nafretiri to make comments like that as a way to vent at the unfairness of her situation, and to warn others. It was quite another matter when they appeared offended, because then she often wished she'd kept her mouth shut.
"I see. Will there be anything else? Truthfully, these potions we make are rumored to work, but I've never actually had anyone come back and say for sure if they do or don't." It surprised her a little, considering she'd been in Egypt almost three years now.
As she was holding her daughter now, Nafretiri motioned to the acolyte to get a basket and start filling it with whatever the woman requested.
"She turned two in Tammuz. Her name is Aneksi." She chuckled as the little girl reached her hands toward the woman's hair. "I think she likes your beads! Just like her grandmother, she is...." Nafretiri let her voice trail off, hoping she was successful in hiding both sadness and bitterness. If Lael had lived, yes, she'd be a grandmother, but then again, she hadn't even liked and bonded closely with her own daughter. And her father, whom Nafretiri felt sure would love the little girl, might never see her regardless, though she certainly hoped he would.
Irony. More often than not, it seemed to hurt. But still, the fact that someone had acknowledged both herself and her child warmed Nafretiri's heart.
"Thank you. Oh, excuse me! My name is Nafretiri." She found that sometimes if she told people her name- though those she told were few enough- the ones who seemed to be most in need of the goddess' help trusted somebody more.
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Nafretiri couldn't resist a smile back, glad the woman hadn't seemed to be offended at her comment. It was one thing for Nafretiri to make comments like that as a way to vent at the unfairness of her situation, and to warn others. It was quite another matter when they appeared offended, because then she often wished she'd kept her mouth shut.
"I see. Will there be anything else? Truthfully, these potions we make are rumored to work, but I've never actually had anyone come back and say for sure if they do or don't." It surprised her a little, considering she'd been in Egypt almost three years now.
As she was holding her daughter now, Nafretiri motioned to the acolyte to get a basket and start filling it with whatever the woman requested.
"She turned two in Tammuz. Her name is Aneksi." She chuckled as the little girl reached her hands toward the woman's hair. "I think she likes your beads! Just like her grandmother, she is...." Nafretiri let her voice trail off, hoping she was successful in hiding both sadness and bitterness. If Lael had lived, yes, she'd be a grandmother, but then again, she hadn't even liked and bonded closely with her own daughter. And her father, whom Nafretiri felt sure would love the little girl, might never see her regardless, though she certainly hoped he would.
Irony. More often than not, it seemed to hurt. But still, the fact that someone had acknowledged both herself and her child warmed Nafretiri's heart.
"Thank you. Oh, excuse me! My name is Nafretiri." She found that sometimes if she told people her name- though those she told were few enough- the ones who seemed to be most in need of the goddess' help trusted somebody more.
Nafretiri couldn't resist a smile back, glad the woman hadn't seemed to be offended at her comment. It was one thing for Nafretiri to make comments like that as a way to vent at the unfairness of her situation, and to warn others. It was quite another matter when they appeared offended, because then she often wished she'd kept her mouth shut.
"I see. Will there be anything else? Truthfully, these potions we make are rumored to work, but I've never actually had anyone come back and say for sure if they do or don't." It surprised her a little, considering she'd been in Egypt almost three years now.
As she was holding her daughter now, Nafretiri motioned to the acolyte to get a basket and start filling it with whatever the woman requested.
"She turned two in Tammuz. Her name is Aneksi." She chuckled as the little girl reached her hands toward the woman's hair. "I think she likes your beads! Just like her grandmother, she is...." Nafretiri let her voice trail off, hoping she was successful in hiding both sadness and bitterness. If Lael had lived, yes, she'd be a grandmother, but then again, she hadn't even liked and bonded closely with her own daughter. And her father, whom Nafretiri felt sure would love the little girl, might never see her regardless, though she certainly hoped he would.
Irony. More often than not, it seemed to hurt. But still, the fact that someone had acknowledged both herself and her child warmed Nafretiri's heart.
"Thank you. Oh, excuse me! My name is Nafretiri." She found that sometimes if she told people her name- though those she told were few enough- the ones who seemed to be most in need of the goddess' help trusted somebody more.
"Well, I've only been using them for about a year now, but my mother went..." Hmm. Assume she started at fifteen, that made for easy math at least. "Probably fifteen years before having me? I don't know anyone who's avoided pregnancy that long without using either potions or condoms, except for women who can't." Pity there was no way to test whether a woman was barren except trying and seeing how it went. A few rich women would be upset about finding themselves unmarriageable, no doubt, but at least an equal number of slaves and sex workers would have one less source of anxiety in their lives.
She chuckled soundlessly at the child and reached out to touch the tiny grasping hands. "I like them too," she informed Aneksi, and shook her head just enough for the beads to click together in a wave, tap-tap-tap-tap. Being around a happy child was surprisingly pleasant, enough to make the slave relax enough to manage even that bit of fun, but she didn't feel the in the slightest that she would ever want one of her own, and not just because she was aware that children did not stay happy.
"I'm Tahena," she added in exchange at the other woman's introduction. Nimble fingers deftly removed a couple of gold beads from her hair to pay for her supplies.
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"Well, I've only been using them for about a year now, but my mother went..." Hmm. Assume she started at fifteen, that made for easy math at least. "Probably fifteen years before having me? I don't know anyone who's avoided pregnancy that long without using either potions or condoms, except for women who can't." Pity there was no way to test whether a woman was barren except trying and seeing how it went. A few rich women would be upset about finding themselves unmarriageable, no doubt, but at least an equal number of slaves and sex workers would have one less source of anxiety in their lives.
She chuckled soundlessly at the child and reached out to touch the tiny grasping hands. "I like them too," she informed Aneksi, and shook her head just enough for the beads to click together in a wave, tap-tap-tap-tap. Being around a happy child was surprisingly pleasant, enough to make the slave relax enough to manage even that bit of fun, but she didn't feel the in the slightest that she would ever want one of her own, and not just because she was aware that children did not stay happy.
"I'm Tahena," she added in exchange at the other woman's introduction. Nimble fingers deftly removed a couple of gold beads from her hair to pay for her supplies.
"Well, I've only been using them for about a year now, but my mother went..." Hmm. Assume she started at fifteen, that made for easy math at least. "Probably fifteen years before having me? I don't know anyone who's avoided pregnancy that long without using either potions or condoms, except for women who can't." Pity there was no way to test whether a woman was barren except trying and seeing how it went. A few rich women would be upset about finding themselves unmarriageable, no doubt, but at least an equal number of slaves and sex workers would have one less source of anxiety in their lives.
She chuckled soundlessly at the child and reached out to touch the tiny grasping hands. "I like them too," she informed Aneksi, and shook her head just enough for the beads to click together in a wave, tap-tap-tap-tap. Being around a happy child was surprisingly pleasant, enough to make the slave relax enough to manage even that bit of fun, but she didn't feel the in the slightest that she would ever want one of her own, and not just because she was aware that children did not stay happy.
"I'm Tahena," she added in exchange at the other woman's introduction. Nimble fingers deftly removed a couple of gold beads from her hair to pay for her supplies.
"That is probably true," Nafretiri admitted. "Not that I'd be the best judge, probably. I never had any need for such things. I did not become a woman until shortly before I conceived. Perhaps I would have used such things if I had enjoyed the experience, but sadly, not all of us get the chance to- to choose whether we have an experience, and whether or not it is pleasant." Perhaps that was in part why she had not used any of her own potions to make sure they worked. She simply made the ones she knew as she had been taught. then, if she invented her own, gave them to someone who seemed interested in trying a new thing. All in all. it served her well, but she had to admit she was curious enough about the potions to want to try them, even if she probably never would out of fear that the experience would be painful again.
Aneksi giggled when Tahena made the beads click and tried to take the beads Tahena took out of her hair, but some of them appeared quite small and it would have been terrible for Nafretiri if the little girl put any of them in her mouth and potentially choked.
"No, Aneksi. They are pretty, but tiny and not sweets."
The little girl looked upset for a minute when her mother said this, and Nafretiri sighed. "Sometimes I wish she saw more children, poor thing. It is nice to meet you, Tahena. From where do you come?"
As many beads as the girl had in her hair, she must be from a rich house, and maybe even worked in the palace. She had heard a bit of the prayer that mentioned the Queen, but she supposed many worshipers prayed for the royal family, for they were the ones the gods had granted the power to rule Egypt, and everything they might do affected the country.
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"That is probably true," Nafretiri admitted. "Not that I'd be the best judge, probably. I never had any need for such things. I did not become a woman until shortly before I conceived. Perhaps I would have used such things if I had enjoyed the experience, but sadly, not all of us get the chance to- to choose whether we have an experience, and whether or not it is pleasant." Perhaps that was in part why she had not used any of her own potions to make sure they worked. She simply made the ones she knew as she had been taught. then, if she invented her own, gave them to someone who seemed interested in trying a new thing. All in all. it served her well, but she had to admit she was curious enough about the potions to want to try them, even if she probably never would out of fear that the experience would be painful again.
Aneksi giggled when Tahena made the beads click and tried to take the beads Tahena took out of her hair, but some of them appeared quite small and it would have been terrible for Nafretiri if the little girl put any of them in her mouth and potentially choked.
"No, Aneksi. They are pretty, but tiny and not sweets."
The little girl looked upset for a minute when her mother said this, and Nafretiri sighed. "Sometimes I wish she saw more children, poor thing. It is nice to meet you, Tahena. From where do you come?"
As many beads as the girl had in her hair, she must be from a rich house, and maybe even worked in the palace. She had heard a bit of the prayer that mentioned the Queen, but she supposed many worshipers prayed for the royal family, for they were the ones the gods had granted the power to rule Egypt, and everything they might do affected the country.
"That is probably true," Nafretiri admitted. "Not that I'd be the best judge, probably. I never had any need for such things. I did not become a woman until shortly before I conceived. Perhaps I would have used such things if I had enjoyed the experience, but sadly, not all of us get the chance to- to choose whether we have an experience, and whether or not it is pleasant." Perhaps that was in part why she had not used any of her own potions to make sure they worked. She simply made the ones she knew as she had been taught. then, if she invented her own, gave them to someone who seemed interested in trying a new thing. All in all. it served her well, but she had to admit she was curious enough about the potions to want to try them, even if she probably never would out of fear that the experience would be painful again.
Aneksi giggled when Tahena made the beads click and tried to take the beads Tahena took out of her hair, but some of them appeared quite small and it would have been terrible for Nafretiri if the little girl put any of them in her mouth and potentially choked.
"No, Aneksi. They are pretty, but tiny and not sweets."
The little girl looked upset for a minute when her mother said this, and Nafretiri sighed. "Sometimes I wish she saw more children, poor thing. It is nice to meet you, Tahena. From where do you come?"
As many beads as the girl had in her hair, she must be from a rich house, and maybe even worked in the palace. She had heard a bit of the prayer that mentioned the Queen, but she supposed many worshipers prayed for the royal family, for they were the ones the gods had granted the power to rule Egypt, and everything they might do affected the country.
"Does any woman get such a choice?" Tahena mused rhetorically, then shook her head with a hint of an amused smile, dismissing her momentary pessimism. Of course women could seek out sex - that was obvious. But the slave knew of no woman, low status or high, who she could say with certainty had not had at least one bad experience not of her own choosing. You just moved on with life - which Nafretiri had obviously done, so Tahena did not see the need to tell her so.
"Wad El Take originally, but Cairo, now," she answered the question of where she had come from. "I am surprised there are not more young ones running about here, now that you mention it," she agreed. "In a few years, though, I am sure she could make friends with the children who go to the temple of Thoth to be educated?"
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"Does any woman get such a choice?" Tahena mused rhetorically, then shook her head with a hint of an amused smile, dismissing her momentary pessimism. Of course women could seek out sex - that was obvious. But the slave knew of no woman, low status or high, who she could say with certainty had not had at least one bad experience not of her own choosing. You just moved on with life - which Nafretiri had obviously done, so Tahena did not see the need to tell her so.
"Wad El Take originally, but Cairo, now," she answered the question of where she had come from. "I am surprised there are not more young ones running about here, now that you mention it," she agreed. "In a few years, though, I am sure she could make friends with the children who go to the temple of Thoth to be educated?"
"Does any woman get such a choice?" Tahena mused rhetorically, then shook her head with a hint of an amused smile, dismissing her momentary pessimism. Of course women could seek out sex - that was obvious. But the slave knew of no woman, low status or high, who she could say with certainty had not had at least one bad experience not of her own choosing. You just moved on with life - which Nafretiri had obviously done, so Tahena did not see the need to tell her so.
"Wad El Take originally, but Cairo, now," she answered the question of where she had come from. "I am surprised there are not more young ones running about here, now that you mention it," she agreed. "In a few years, though, I am sure she could make friends with the children who go to the temple of Thoth to be educated?"
" Yes, in a few years, I suppose she will have friends." Nafretiri smiled. "It's just hard now, thinking that she might be lonely." There is little need to tell you that sometimes I am especially lonely myself, she didn't add. "I believe the choices come, yes, but only if someone is lucky enough to be blessed by Hathor herself- that is- to find a relationship with someone who cares about their welfare. I am well aware that that does not happen for everyone." There seemed to be little need to ask whether or not such a relationship had happened for Tahena, with how pointedly that question had seemed to be asked. She smiled softly in empathy. "It often seems that those most in need of such a relationship are the ones who are the least sure that such a think can exist," she admitted sadly.
She had learned- mostly- not to ask anyone if love existed anymore, but what if what she really wanted to know was something entirely different that she wasn't quite sure how to find the words to ask?
"I suppose I said that because... if you don't...enjoy yourself..." whatever that term meant, Nafretiri had no idea, but she wasn't sure how else to put it. "...Then are there still advantages to being a woman at all? I have found none." And yet she could not change how she had been made. "Why come back again and again for such things if you don't enjoy the experience that makes you have to use them?" There must be something Nafretiri was missing here. "If not pleasure, what is left for us?" She knew there had to be something, but that too was indefinable for her as of this moment. She had not understood when she was younger and not yet a woman why some men looked at her the way they had even then. Now that she did, she was still confused as to why she should find their attention beneficial to her in any way. But if anyone would know, it would seemingly be a girl like Tahena.
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" Yes, in a few years, I suppose she will have friends." Nafretiri smiled. "It's just hard now, thinking that she might be lonely." There is little need to tell you that sometimes I am especially lonely myself, she didn't add. "I believe the choices come, yes, but only if someone is lucky enough to be blessed by Hathor herself- that is- to find a relationship with someone who cares about their welfare. I am well aware that that does not happen for everyone." There seemed to be little need to ask whether or not such a relationship had happened for Tahena, with how pointedly that question had seemed to be asked. She smiled softly in empathy. "It often seems that those most in need of such a relationship are the ones who are the least sure that such a think can exist," she admitted sadly.
She had learned- mostly- not to ask anyone if love existed anymore, but what if what she really wanted to know was something entirely different that she wasn't quite sure how to find the words to ask?
"I suppose I said that because... if you don't...enjoy yourself..." whatever that term meant, Nafretiri had no idea, but she wasn't sure how else to put it. "...Then are there still advantages to being a woman at all? I have found none." And yet she could not change how she had been made. "Why come back again and again for such things if you don't enjoy the experience that makes you have to use them?" There must be something Nafretiri was missing here. "If not pleasure, what is left for us?" She knew there had to be something, but that too was indefinable for her as of this moment. She had not understood when she was younger and not yet a woman why some men looked at her the way they had even then. Now that she did, she was still confused as to why she should find their attention beneficial to her in any way. But if anyone would know, it would seemingly be a girl like Tahena.
" Yes, in a few years, I suppose she will have friends." Nafretiri smiled. "It's just hard now, thinking that she might be lonely." There is little need to tell you that sometimes I am especially lonely myself, she didn't add. "I believe the choices come, yes, but only if someone is lucky enough to be blessed by Hathor herself- that is- to find a relationship with someone who cares about their welfare. I am well aware that that does not happen for everyone." There seemed to be little need to ask whether or not such a relationship had happened for Tahena, with how pointedly that question had seemed to be asked. She smiled softly in empathy. "It often seems that those most in need of such a relationship are the ones who are the least sure that such a think can exist," she admitted sadly.
She had learned- mostly- not to ask anyone if love existed anymore, but what if what she really wanted to know was something entirely different that she wasn't quite sure how to find the words to ask?
"I suppose I said that because... if you don't...enjoy yourself..." whatever that term meant, Nafretiri had no idea, but she wasn't sure how else to put it. "...Then are there still advantages to being a woman at all? I have found none." And yet she could not change how she had been made. "Why come back again and again for such things if you don't enjoy the experience that makes you have to use them?" There must be something Nafretiri was missing here. "If not pleasure, what is left for us?" She knew there had to be something, but that too was indefinable for her as of this moment. She had not understood when she was younger and not yet a woman why some men looked at her the way they had even then. Now that she did, she was still confused as to why she should find their attention beneficial to her in any way. But if anyone would know, it would seemingly be a girl like Tahena.
Tahena gave the priestess a curious look. That was not a common attitude for a priestess of Hathor. Unlike those from some other cultures, she didn't think it blasphemous for a priestess to dislike the things the goddess granted, just unexpected - it did not take love or devotion to serve a god, to do the rites and keep the temple clean and take custody of the offerings, any more than to serve a mortal master, and to the Egyptian, neither the gods nor the tasks they demanded of their servants were any more a matter of 'faith' than the demands of men.
'Well, it's better than being beaten to death' was a true answer, but not the one this woman was looking for. "I suppose for some women sex is just like changing diapers," she suggested thoughtfully. "Just another task that needs doing in order to raise a family and of no use otherwise, but that seems a boring way of looking things." She shrugged. "Sometimes it is pleasant, and sometimes it is not, but not everything of value is pleasant all the time," she pointed out reasonably. What value was there in being a woman? To Tahena, it was so obvious, so innate, that she found herself struggling to put it into words. "Men are ruled by passion and pleasure," she said finally. "But I think women are better able to look ahead rather than only being concerned with the moment. It seems to me one of the things that make us more suited to raising children," despite the fact she had no interest in such things herself, she did not question such conventional wisdom when applied to people in general, "but it is better at other times, too." Tahena's lips quirked up into a tiny smile. "For myself, I do enjoy the challenge of keeping him happy. I should hate to be set aside and left to grow old alone and bitter, that is certain."
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Tahena gave the priestess a curious look. That was not a common attitude for a priestess of Hathor. Unlike those from some other cultures, she didn't think it blasphemous for a priestess to dislike the things the goddess granted, just unexpected - it did not take love or devotion to serve a god, to do the rites and keep the temple clean and take custody of the offerings, any more than to serve a mortal master, and to the Egyptian, neither the gods nor the tasks they demanded of their servants were any more a matter of 'faith' than the demands of men.
'Well, it's better than being beaten to death' was a true answer, but not the one this woman was looking for. "I suppose for some women sex is just like changing diapers," she suggested thoughtfully. "Just another task that needs doing in order to raise a family and of no use otherwise, but that seems a boring way of looking things." She shrugged. "Sometimes it is pleasant, and sometimes it is not, but not everything of value is pleasant all the time," she pointed out reasonably. What value was there in being a woman? To Tahena, it was so obvious, so innate, that she found herself struggling to put it into words. "Men are ruled by passion and pleasure," she said finally. "But I think women are better able to look ahead rather than only being concerned with the moment. It seems to me one of the things that make us more suited to raising children," despite the fact she had no interest in such things herself, she did not question such conventional wisdom when applied to people in general, "but it is better at other times, too." Tahena's lips quirked up into a tiny smile. "For myself, I do enjoy the challenge of keeping him happy. I should hate to be set aside and left to grow old alone and bitter, that is certain."
Tahena gave the priestess a curious look. That was not a common attitude for a priestess of Hathor. Unlike those from some other cultures, she didn't think it blasphemous for a priestess to dislike the things the goddess granted, just unexpected - it did not take love or devotion to serve a god, to do the rites and keep the temple clean and take custody of the offerings, any more than to serve a mortal master, and to the Egyptian, neither the gods nor the tasks they demanded of their servants were any more a matter of 'faith' than the demands of men.
'Well, it's better than being beaten to death' was a true answer, but not the one this woman was looking for. "I suppose for some women sex is just like changing diapers," she suggested thoughtfully. "Just another task that needs doing in order to raise a family and of no use otherwise, but that seems a boring way of looking things." She shrugged. "Sometimes it is pleasant, and sometimes it is not, but not everything of value is pleasant all the time," she pointed out reasonably. What value was there in being a woman? To Tahena, it was so obvious, so innate, that she found herself struggling to put it into words. "Men are ruled by passion and pleasure," she said finally. "But I think women are better able to look ahead rather than only being concerned with the moment. It seems to me one of the things that make us more suited to raising children," despite the fact she had no interest in such things herself, she did not question such conventional wisdom when applied to people in general, "but it is better at other times, too." Tahena's lips quirked up into a tiny smile. "For myself, I do enjoy the challenge of keeping him happy. I should hate to be set aside and left to grow old alone and bitter, that is certain."
"Indeed. I don't wish to grow old alone myself, though it can be hard not to become bitter when the only experience you've had has so far been unpleasant." Or at least, she found it difficult not to become bitter at times. Lukos had suggested that she lean into the bitterness, and it had helped to a degree to toughen her up when life continued to be lonely and difficult. But on the other hand, becoming too bitter made her job difficult if not impossible. so she'd had to work to temper the bitterness with what little hope she felt she might still have.
" And when I don't want the next experience to be unpleasant, but am unsure how to judge who might be best to show me pleasure- not to mention frightened to try... well, there, I hope you see why I am asking." She left that thought there for now.
"I try to view my daughter as a blessing instead of something unplanned and frightening at first- but you are right that women are often better at looking ahead. With all of these things being the case, how do you keep yourself so...cheerful as you seem to be... when it is not pleasant? Though I suppose there is some value in the challenge- and maybe that's part of my problem. I am safe here, but not happy or challenged. At least, not challenged by things I know I might possibly have the power to overcome." There was a difference, of that Nafretiri was sure. One type of challenge made some people inspired and creative, while the other type made some people afraid.
But surely, it must also be terrifying to a degree- to think what would happen if you didn't meet a challenge in a way that the man found pleasing to him. And...surely, not everyone desires the same..." Nafretiri couldn't think of the word. "Some acts give them more enjoyment than others, yes?"
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"Indeed. I don't wish to grow old alone myself, though it can be hard not to become bitter when the only experience you've had has so far been unpleasant." Or at least, she found it difficult not to become bitter at times. Lukos had suggested that she lean into the bitterness, and it had helped to a degree to toughen her up when life continued to be lonely and difficult. But on the other hand, becoming too bitter made her job difficult if not impossible. so she'd had to work to temper the bitterness with what little hope she felt she might still have.
" And when I don't want the next experience to be unpleasant, but am unsure how to judge who might be best to show me pleasure- not to mention frightened to try... well, there, I hope you see why I am asking." She left that thought there for now.
"I try to view my daughter as a blessing instead of something unplanned and frightening at first- but you are right that women are often better at looking ahead. With all of these things being the case, how do you keep yourself so...cheerful as you seem to be... when it is not pleasant? Though I suppose there is some value in the challenge- and maybe that's part of my problem. I am safe here, but not happy or challenged. At least, not challenged by things I know I might possibly have the power to overcome." There was a difference, of that Nafretiri was sure. One type of challenge made some people inspired and creative, while the other type made some people afraid.
But surely, it must also be terrifying to a degree- to think what would happen if you didn't meet a challenge in a way that the man found pleasing to him. And...surely, not everyone desires the same..." Nafretiri couldn't think of the word. "Some acts give them more enjoyment than others, yes?"
"Indeed. I don't wish to grow old alone myself, though it can be hard not to become bitter when the only experience you've had has so far been unpleasant." Or at least, she found it difficult not to become bitter at times. Lukos had suggested that she lean into the bitterness, and it had helped to a degree to toughen her up when life continued to be lonely and difficult. But on the other hand, becoming too bitter made her job difficult if not impossible. so she'd had to work to temper the bitterness with what little hope she felt she might still have.
" And when I don't want the next experience to be unpleasant, but am unsure how to judge who might be best to show me pleasure- not to mention frightened to try... well, there, I hope you see why I am asking." She left that thought there for now.
"I try to view my daughter as a blessing instead of something unplanned and frightening at first- but you are right that women are often better at looking ahead. With all of these things being the case, how do you keep yourself so...cheerful as you seem to be... when it is not pleasant? Though I suppose there is some value in the challenge- and maybe that's part of my problem. I am safe here, but not happy or challenged. At least, not challenged by things I know I might possibly have the power to overcome." There was a difference, of that Nafretiri was sure. One type of challenge made some people inspired and creative, while the other type made some people afraid.
But surely, it must also be terrifying to a degree- to think what would happen if you didn't meet a challenge in a way that the man found pleasing to him. And...surely, not everyone desires the same..." Nafretiri couldn't think of the word. "Some acts give them more enjoyment than others, yes?"
Tahena considered the other woman's conundrum. "I don't know," she admitted, to the question of how to judge a man. "I have never had a choice. Perhaps ask your sisters who they have enjoyed being with? Or perhaps a devout man who would not wish to be unpleasant to a priestess for fear of angering the goddess." Nafretiri had that much going for her, at least.
The priestess got a wry smile at the question of how she stayed cheerful, but Tahena nodded as she continued talking. "No-one is good at anything the first time they try," she offered. "A sensible man should understand that, I should think." Even her own master, impatient and exacting and easily angered as he was, had had the patience to instruct her. Well, 'patience' might be a stretch, but he at least acknowledged the necessity of telling her what he wanted at least once before he could expect her to provide it. "I don't really know how different one man's preferences are from another," she admitted. She had more experience than she would ever admit to, but even that wasn't enough to really answer the question. "Perhaps a professional could answer that, though?"
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Tahena considered the other woman's conundrum. "I don't know," she admitted, to the question of how to judge a man. "I have never had a choice. Perhaps ask your sisters who they have enjoyed being with? Or perhaps a devout man who would not wish to be unpleasant to a priestess for fear of angering the goddess." Nafretiri had that much going for her, at least.
The priestess got a wry smile at the question of how she stayed cheerful, but Tahena nodded as she continued talking. "No-one is good at anything the first time they try," she offered. "A sensible man should understand that, I should think." Even her own master, impatient and exacting and easily angered as he was, had had the patience to instruct her. Well, 'patience' might be a stretch, but he at least acknowledged the necessity of telling her what he wanted at least once before he could expect her to provide it. "I don't really know how different one man's preferences are from another," she admitted. She had more experience than she would ever admit to, but even that wasn't enough to really answer the question. "Perhaps a professional could answer that, though?"
Tahena considered the other woman's conundrum. "I don't know," she admitted, to the question of how to judge a man. "I have never had a choice. Perhaps ask your sisters who they have enjoyed being with? Or perhaps a devout man who would not wish to be unpleasant to a priestess for fear of angering the goddess." Nafretiri had that much going for her, at least.
The priestess got a wry smile at the question of how she stayed cheerful, but Tahena nodded as she continued talking. "No-one is good at anything the first time they try," she offered. "A sensible man should understand that, I should think." Even her own master, impatient and exacting and easily angered as he was, had had the patience to instruct her. Well, 'patience' might be a stretch, but he at least acknowledged the necessity of telling her what he wanted at least once before he could expect her to provide it. "I don't really know how different one man's preferences are from another," she admitted. She had more experience than she would ever admit to, but even that wasn't enough to really answer the question. "Perhaps a professional could answer that, though?"
Nafretiri agreed with Tahena's suggestions, especially about finding a man who might be afraid to anger the goddess if he hurt her in any way. However, she was equally curious about the young woman before her. "Don't you at least wish to experience pleasure- regardless of whether or not it would actually happen?" she asked, almost incredulous. "I am aware that some women don't get the chance to experience pleasure, and that that fact must sometimes be accepted. It doesn't keep me from wanting pleasure, though. Desire can be a strange animal, can't it?" She made a little fun of herself with a chuckle, but the image of a basenji on a leash stayed with her. How even the strongest of their owners kept from being pulled every which way by the animals, who seemed to like to follow their noses, was a mystery.
Similar to the dogs, in spite of her fear, the urging of her desire had led her down many paths, at least in her thoughts. It was almost a relief to know that no one might be an expert the first time they tried something, irrespective of the fact that in her case, a Hathor priestess might in fact be expected to be an expert in things of a sexual nature.
"So find a man who would be afraid to dishonor a priestess of the goddess of love and sex and ask him his preferences?" She couldn't help attempting a smile. "Perhaps among the worshipers, though they often seem to be of the female variety. It is a good idea, though," she admitted.
Nafretiri seemed to get the idea that perhaps Tahena knew a little more of mens' preferences than she let on, particularly because she, too, had admitted to not having a choice in the matter of pleasure. But she did not press her, though she did wonder if the subject of the girl's prayer- namely the pharaoh- had anything to do with it.
If so...then poor Queen Hatshepsut, to be married to such a monster.
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Nafretiri agreed with Tahena's suggestions, especially about finding a man who might be afraid to anger the goddess if he hurt her in any way. However, she was equally curious about the young woman before her. "Don't you at least wish to experience pleasure- regardless of whether or not it would actually happen?" she asked, almost incredulous. "I am aware that some women don't get the chance to experience pleasure, and that that fact must sometimes be accepted. It doesn't keep me from wanting pleasure, though. Desire can be a strange animal, can't it?" She made a little fun of herself with a chuckle, but the image of a basenji on a leash stayed with her. How even the strongest of their owners kept from being pulled every which way by the animals, who seemed to like to follow their noses, was a mystery.
Similar to the dogs, in spite of her fear, the urging of her desire had led her down many paths, at least in her thoughts. It was almost a relief to know that no one might be an expert the first time they tried something, irrespective of the fact that in her case, a Hathor priestess might in fact be expected to be an expert in things of a sexual nature.
"So find a man who would be afraid to dishonor a priestess of the goddess of love and sex and ask him his preferences?" She couldn't help attempting a smile. "Perhaps among the worshipers, though they often seem to be of the female variety. It is a good idea, though," she admitted.
Nafretiri seemed to get the idea that perhaps Tahena knew a little more of mens' preferences than she let on, particularly because she, too, had admitted to not having a choice in the matter of pleasure. But she did not press her, though she did wonder if the subject of the girl's prayer- namely the pharaoh- had anything to do with it.
If so...then poor Queen Hatshepsut, to be married to such a monster.
Nafretiri agreed with Tahena's suggestions, especially about finding a man who might be afraid to anger the goddess if he hurt her in any way. However, she was equally curious about the young woman before her. "Don't you at least wish to experience pleasure- regardless of whether or not it would actually happen?" she asked, almost incredulous. "I am aware that some women don't get the chance to experience pleasure, and that that fact must sometimes be accepted. It doesn't keep me from wanting pleasure, though. Desire can be a strange animal, can't it?" She made a little fun of herself with a chuckle, but the image of a basenji on a leash stayed with her. How even the strongest of their owners kept from being pulled every which way by the animals, who seemed to like to follow their noses, was a mystery.
Similar to the dogs, in spite of her fear, the urging of her desire had led her down many paths, at least in her thoughts. It was almost a relief to know that no one might be an expert the first time they tried something, irrespective of the fact that in her case, a Hathor priestess might in fact be expected to be an expert in things of a sexual nature.
"So find a man who would be afraid to dishonor a priestess of the goddess of love and sex and ask him his preferences?" She couldn't help attempting a smile. "Perhaps among the worshipers, though they often seem to be of the female variety. It is a good idea, though," she admitted.
Nafretiri seemed to get the idea that perhaps Tahena knew a little more of mens' preferences than she let on, particularly because she, too, had admitted to not having a choice in the matter of pleasure. But she did not press her, though she did wonder if the subject of the girl's prayer- namely the pharaoh- had anything to do with it.
If so...then poor Queen Hatshepsut, to be married to such a monster.
Tahena gave the priestess a slightly curious look. What had she said that gave that impression? Ah, probably just that she hadn't included the pursuit of pleasure as one of her motivations? "I've had pleasure, plenty of times," she corrected her with a smile. "I thought you were asking specifically about those times without. And yes, desire is rarely put out by failure."
She nodded at her summation of her advice. She thought of adding something about finding pleasure on her own before getting a man involved, but she wasn't sure how to say it without either being crude or risking being misunderstood. Giving sex advice to another woman was not something Tahena had expected life to ask of her. She thought she probably hadn't buggered it up too badly, though.
"I'm sorry, I must get going. I will get in far too much trouble if I'm the cause of any delays setting off back downriver today." She gave the priestess a warm smile. "I hope you find what you are looking for." Turning the same smile on the child, she added, "And a happy and luck-filled life for your daughter. Thank you for the potions."
Hurrying enough to show that she was indeed serious about not wanting to get into trouble, though she hadn't gotten distracted long enough she felt the need to run, the slave-girl headed out of the temple and quickly retraced her steps back to her master's barge.
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Tahena gave the priestess a slightly curious look. What had she said that gave that impression? Ah, probably just that she hadn't included the pursuit of pleasure as one of her motivations? "I've had pleasure, plenty of times," she corrected her with a smile. "I thought you were asking specifically about those times without. And yes, desire is rarely put out by failure."
She nodded at her summation of her advice. She thought of adding something about finding pleasure on her own before getting a man involved, but she wasn't sure how to say it without either being crude or risking being misunderstood. Giving sex advice to another woman was not something Tahena had expected life to ask of her. She thought she probably hadn't buggered it up too badly, though.
"I'm sorry, I must get going. I will get in far too much trouble if I'm the cause of any delays setting off back downriver today." She gave the priestess a warm smile. "I hope you find what you are looking for." Turning the same smile on the child, she added, "And a happy and luck-filled life for your daughter. Thank you for the potions."
Hurrying enough to show that she was indeed serious about not wanting to get into trouble, though she hadn't gotten distracted long enough she felt the need to run, the slave-girl headed out of the temple and quickly retraced her steps back to her master's barge.
Tahena gave the priestess a slightly curious look. What had she said that gave that impression? Ah, probably just that she hadn't included the pursuit of pleasure as one of her motivations? "I've had pleasure, plenty of times," she corrected her with a smile. "I thought you were asking specifically about those times without. And yes, desire is rarely put out by failure."
She nodded at her summation of her advice. She thought of adding something about finding pleasure on her own before getting a man involved, but she wasn't sure how to say it without either being crude or risking being misunderstood. Giving sex advice to another woman was not something Tahena had expected life to ask of her. She thought she probably hadn't buggered it up too badly, though.
"I'm sorry, I must get going. I will get in far too much trouble if I'm the cause of any delays setting off back downriver today." She gave the priestess a warm smile. "I hope you find what you are looking for." Turning the same smile on the child, she added, "And a happy and luck-filled life for your daughter. Thank you for the potions."
Hurrying enough to show that she was indeed serious about not wanting to get into trouble, though she hadn't gotten distracted long enough she felt the need to run, the slave-girl headed out of the temple and quickly retraced her steps back to her master's barge.