Taor was not afraid of change and did not intend to oppose them like those about whom the warning notes were made. Firstly, he would never and in no way oppose the decree of the pharaoh, because, in fact, the ruler sitting on the throne is the only god for his people, only he has the right to give orders, say what is right and what is not, the lot of subjects is to obey him. It is not for nothing that the ruler of Egypt is revered as the representative of the gods on earth. Secondly, the young man was not particularly religious. The gods in various temples, no matter how many there were, existed for him as something self-evident, but inanimate. People worshiped them, brought gifts to the priests, performed rituals, but all this was more like a background surrounding the true power, not divine, but royal. The more Taor was amazed when he saw in the palace a living creature, similar to the deity that believers can only describe in words. There werent even such statues. Deity incarnate. Taor did not know with whom or with what to compare him.
«Have you ever been in love?»
The priests question surprised him.
«I dont remember that,» Taor admitted honestly.
«Then its strange how a young man like you, whos not curious about anything but martial arts, can act so generously.
Taor stared at him blankly.
«On the day when you were honored as a winner, you gave the impression of a lover who is ready to give up all awards for the sake of one specific object or at least his attention», the priest wisely explained.
«Nothing like that,» Taor turned sharply over his shoulder. Again he heard wings flapping somewhere.
«Explain this to me: you return with victory and spoils of war, you can ask for wealth, for your own advancement to the very top, even for the hand of the princess, if you wish, but in the moment of your glory, you tried to trample yourself, asked for which you could only be punished for the benefit for others, for your own enemies, to be honest».
«So what?» Taor was sincerely surprised. Why return again and again to the events of days gone by? They didnt bother him anymore. He got his request granted.
«A normal person could understand you if, say, you were so delighted with all the women who were taken away to the full that you decided to take them to your harem without sharing with anyone».
«I dont have my own harem».
«And you dont even want to have it?»
«So far I have managed».
«Why not?»
«I believe that abstinence strengthens the will. Physical passions make people weak. The worst of all warriors are those who seek the attention of whores at night».
«But now its not a war, you could relax».
«I prefer to keep in shape».
«Youre the only one here,» said Merira pointedly. «All other people I know behave differently. Many people like both girls and boys. Youre pretty handsome. The royal daughters were staring at you. Do you want to know in what words they praised you?»
«No», Taor wanted to ask more about the golden creature, which he saw first in the throne room, and then at the eerie night festival, but is it reasonable to start this topic again if he has not already been answered. «And Akhenaten does not have another adult daughter, whom I have not yet been introduced?»
«Well, if we talk about children lost in a harem, then there are dozens, even hundreds without the grace of Pharaoh, they are nothing».
«So maybe he decided suddenly to elevate one of them? Or did he have another royal wife, no older than his daughters?»
«What made you think like that?»
«I» Taor for some reason did not want to confess directly. «Suddenly the choice of a new god must be strengthened by the choice of a new wife, even more radiant than everyone that came before her. Match the sun god».
«This is a clever thought,» Merira paid tribute. «But Im afraid that the Pharaoh is not interested in women at all: neither the queen, nor the girls from the harem, nor mere mortals».
«So what is he interested in me because someone called my face attractive?»
«Believe me, if Akhenaten were suddenly interested in young men, it would certainly be you,» something in the priests honey-flowing voice suggested that it was not empty praise. «You see, you are a little like a certain guest who once visited here a long time ago and disappeared forever. But our ruler cannot forget him to this day. Although the resemblance is very distant, you probably remind him of that friend».
«So, therefore, my request was immediately executed, and I myself remained a guest here. In memory of someone I dont know».
«Not really,» Merira carefully took him by the elbow and pointed in the direction of the exit. «We shouldnt stay here long. Besides, you have become too pale, you need fresh air».
Taor felt it himself, his throat squeezed like a stranglehold, as if someones thin fingers were choking him. This is all from the stale air, he thought to himself, but the feeling of someones presence near him was truly oppressive. As he left, the young man carefully looked around. The symbols of the old gods were all not scraped off the walls and columns, their clay figures were not removed, and the sculpture with wings in the distance did not depict any of the gods known to him at all. So who was it then? Taor rushed there to look, but the priests hand held him with unexpected strength. At the first moment, the young man was taken aback, he did not even suspect that the old man still had so much strength.
«Who is it?» He breathed into the void.
«Never mind!»
«I dont know the name of this god».
«This is just a fantasy of an insane sculptor who died long ago. And not God, and not Pharaoh, and not anyone from the royal house. Just an idol».
«I would like to take a closer look».
«Not worth it! Hes not here for long. And my advice to you, if you see him elsewhere in the palace, at any new place, just walk by, do not look closely at him, do not linger around».
«I liked him».
«Not for you alone».
Merira, as promised, took him out into the fresh air, using some other entrance than the one through which they had come. From this, the royal palace suddenly began to resemble a labyrinth to Taor. There were so many entrances and exits, connected by a complex of passages and galleries that invariably led to new gardens or huge halls. The pond was the center of every garden, in which the blue lotuses, formerly a sacred plant, bloomed. Is it still sacred now that the gods have disappeared? Freshness emanated from the flowers and water, but the weight of the invisible stranglehold around his neck did not wane.
«A drowned woman was recently found in this pond. They say that the freshness of death comes from water».
Why did the priest tell him this? Taor did not understand, but the pond really gave the impression of a very cold place, in a garden where unbearable heat reigned. The walls of the arches nearby were hot, and the pond looked like liquid ice.
Apple and peach trees grew all around. Taor suddenly noticed a ripe red fruit being plucked from a branch by a golden claw. Drowsiness and fatigue immediately disappeared. He looked at the lush treetops here and there, but no longer noticed any movement.
The garden seemed to be teeming with snakes, although they were not visible. Although a slithering body glowed in the grass, it was bright gold. Are snakes gold? Real snakes, not those that were dreamed of. Taor watched the bright golden beam.
«Do you have friends here at court?» suddenly asked him Merira.