I collected Bongani who looked tired and worked hard. His hands were wrinkled from water use and he smelled like food. It made my stomach ache with hunger as I looked him up and down. I could see his cheeks color as I took his hand.
“Your husband did well today. I am impressed at his ability to listen and follow orders. Didn’t question me once, which is great. Now, go ahead and come back early in the morning. I’ve packed some leftover food that will spoil overnight so feel free to eat it for dinner.” I studied his face closer now that he had admitted that Bongani was truly as useful as I knew him to be.
I hesitated as the words were still strange to me, “Thank you.” One of his daughters handed me the food and I took it with as much grace as I could. I was starving but there was so much to do still. I had learned some things today but had so many questions for Neferit. I hoped desperately that she would truly come and speak to us tonight and not blow us off.
Holding onto Bongani we walked in silence. It was companionable, nice. It reminded me of words that did not need to be said as my feelings for him grew some more. Any feelings that made me feel conflicted I pushed away so that I would not need to worry about it. My ability to change would have to start with how I dealt with Bongani. It would always be my lesser, that was his rightful place and we both knew that.
We entered our home and I went about lighting some candles as it was too dark outside for our place to have much to see by. I set the food on our small table and tapped the ground next to my chair and let Bongani take his place. I looked into his eyes as we stared at one another. “You did good work today male.” I placed my hand between his ears and stroked them down the side of his face before cupping his chin. “Do you want a reward today?”
“Yes p-p-please. I’d l-l-like to bury my f-f-face between your l-l-legs.” I could see his nose flare open as he took deep sniffs. “The c-c-clothes make your smell st-st-stronger.”
I looked in his eyes and nodded, “We might have a guest so you will have to wait. I’ll sit on that face of yours before bed though. Make sure the only thing you can smell is me invading your nose.” My thumb traced over his lips as he quivered and I could feel his hands reach and touch my leg gently. The smell of his arousal started to fill the room so I broke away the contact.
Opening the food I looked at what we had been offered. Some sort of gamey meat, heavily spiced in a way that was wholly unfamiliar. The scent of it hitting my nose was like a kick almost with how strong it was. A flat, soft and round item sat below it. “Do you know what this is?”
“Saboob,” Bongani leaned his cheek against my knees as he closed his eyes. “Y-y-you tear it. P-p-put the meat and eat together.”
I pulled, the way it tore was fascinating as the food revealed itself. It was airy, spongy. With my hands I piled the piece with meat and placed it into my mouth. The strong kick of flavor made my eyes go wide. I made a moan, it was deep and throaty as I chewed. With a swallow it slid down together. The saboob made things feel different in my mouth. Mellowed out the flavors of the meat that otherwise would have been too strong to enjoy.
“This is very good.” I took another bite and could feel my mouth flood with saliva. Soon enough I was halfway through the pile of food before I paused. My first piece of bread was almost completely gone so I made a small bite for Bongani. “Open up,” I held his face as he opened his mouth for me. His blunter teeth gleaming before my eyes as I took him in. I slid the morsel into his mouth and let his lips close around my fingertips. I slid them free so he could chew. After he swallowed he looked deep in my eyes and licked at my fingers. I could feel anticipation growing in my loins as I hand fed him a few more bites before stopping.
The light from outside was completely gone and I almost gave up when there was knocking at my door. I tried to scent the air and find out who was here but I could smell nothing but the strong food that was given to us. “Get the door male.”
I watched Bongani walk towards the door and I could feel my heart increase its pace. I hoped it was Neferit and she would help me learn more. I grabbed my slate and put it down on my table just in case.
As the door opened a fully shrouded woman stepped in. I recognized the eyes and sighed in relief. It was Neferit. She looked at Bongani with curiosity as she paced into the center of the room. Bongani closed the door and stayed back away from the guest.
I had to break the silence, “Thank you for coming.”
She looked at me before gliding over to the chair opposite of me and settled herself down. She was still covered head to toe in the loose fitting garments. “I said I would. I just don’t know if I should. I did not expect how exposed you held yourself while you walked around town. I knew we talked about your past but it was so shocking.”
I tilted my head as my ears flicked once more, “You’ve seen me naked. What’s the difference between then and when we were in town?”
“Women just don’t walk around like that. Only the newest members of the city are that… primal in attitude.” Her eyes flicked towards the food and back to me.
“Have you eaten?”
“I did, but I still find myself hungry.” She reached up for her veil before her eyes flicked back to Bongani and me. “Are you two married? Is he your husband?”
“I don’t know what either of those things are. But he is my male, sworn only to me and who I deem worthy of our time.” I pushed my food across the table in order to offer it to her.
She blinked slowly as she undid her veil and revealed her face. Her face was darker in color than before. She looked somewhat colder than before. “It is when a man and woman swear themselves to each other and only each other. It is improper for a woman to be seen by anyone but her or a friend’s husband in our lands.”
I looked at Bongani with my eyes full of worry. “So everyone that looks at me sees someone that is breaking the rules?”
“I think you are different. The fighters are supposed to stand out. The woman that bested you has the same reputation but isn’t dressed outside the pits as… scandalously as you do.” Neferit started pecking at her food slowly with her fingers as she watched me.
Taking a deep breath I looked at her, “I feel like I’m surrounded by a world I never should have known.”
Neferit smiled at me with some small amount of pity that I didn’t appreciate. “You can save some face by holding a marriage with your male. The more public you make it the better. And then you’ll have to carry around the symbol of a taken woman. That would probably be better in the long run. But you have a lot of questions if your tablet is any indication. Congratulations on being able to write so quickly.”
My mind was already racing while I was looking at her. This was so much information already. With a deep breath I pulled up the list and handed it to her. “These are all the things I figured out I would need to learn today. Or as soon as I can. I know it is a lot and I can’t offer much in return but please let me know what I can do in repayment.”
Her eyes widened as she read the list. Some of them making her shocked by the look on her face. She swallowed thickly, “What do you mean a place of pleasure?”
“I… I’m ascended. Chosen by Hathor the goddess of pleasure and love. Part of my abilities bring pleasure to other people. As a way to make money I could do a good job in a place dedicated to it.” It was a plain and simple thought.
“You… you could work in the whore house. But… you might not be seen as popular given your condition,” Her cheeks darkened considerably as she spoke. Her eyes flicking away from me with shame on her face.
“What condition?” I felt somewhat offended that I would not be seen as desirable as I should be.
“You… you have both parts. Men wouldn’t want to lay with a woman with a… member. And women don’t often seek those establishments as a place to go to. It is seen as a black mark on society.”
Outrage filled me as I looked at Neferit. It was perfectly natural for me to be this way and to be seen as undesirable because it was a blow to my pride in a way I would not have ever expected.
“Women are supposed to be seamstresses, jewelers, house maids, private cooks, and wives. These are the things most women should be doing. And I have a feeling you can do none of those things.” She looked away from me, “You hardly are a woman in this city.”
I looked at the table, shocked at what I was being told. This place, it was so repressed, so shockingly locked up behind rules that made no sense to me. How did they have enough children to keep the city going? What about keeping bloodlines strong?
“Your next question,” She took a deep breath as she looked at me, “Sex is something that is never talked about. You hide it from everyone around yourself. You don’t even talk to your husband about such things. Even telling you about this is a taboo I wouldn’t break otherwise.”
I had to stand up, I couldn’t just sit and take all this information without pacing around the place. It was too different. How could I ever find myself fitting into such a place and continue to grow stronger. My hands fisted in my hair as I looked around the hut. “This place, it is mad to hide something that makes the world a better place.” Maybe we don’t belong here.
“You can learn a lot more about us, and the other places around the city at the church of Thoth. It would be better for you to give up your way of life before all this and find a new way to go through things. Otherwise you’re just going to find yourself in a great amount of trouble.” She reached out a hand to grip my own. Trying to reassure me. I did not take it.
“Enough of all this,” I growled and looked at her with exasperation in my spine. “What about money, where can I store it safely and how do I track what I owe?”
“You will have to make yourself a ledger. A book that tracks what you owe and to who. What you make, and how you make it. If you have a ledger you’ll be subjected to taxes as well. We all have to pay taxes if you’re part of the working class. Which you will be.” Her eyes were softer as she addressed me and I bit at one of my nails.
Slowly I nodded, “So, I have to be able to afford a ledger, and fill it out myself. Does Tala have to tell me what I owe him?”
“Yes, if you ask he has to tell you what you owe him. You can ask for proof for your own records. A priest can uphold the letter of the law if he won’t listen to you directly. But that’ll cost a small fee.” She crossed her hands as she stared at me unerringly.
With a deep sigh I stood there and stared at the wall. All of it was going to be a drain on my mind and soul. All of this had to be so complicated when I had a simple life just a short time ago. I looked at Neferit, “How about you? What do I owe you for all this knowledge?”
She swallowed thickly and gave a shy smile. “I can think of something.”
