kingdom of nubia
2  B C

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     KANDAKE AMANISHAKET WAS A FEARSOME RULER. Many believed her to be blessed by the war goddess, Menhit. She was ruthless and cunning on the battlefield earning her the mantle throughout Northern and Eastern Africa of "The Warrior Queen." Many widows wept in solitude because of the mercy she withheld.

     However, regardless of her savagery in war, she still cared deeply for her people which is what made her the beloved monarch that she was.

     "Leave me, Asmina."

     The woman stopped tending to the queen and bowed her head, leaving her alone.

     Amanishaket rose from the delicate chaise and strode from the ornately decorated room. The golden halls of her palace echoed with the sound of her sandals hitting the stone floors.

     The halls led her into a plain altar room.

     The distressed queen lit the torches and incense along the path leading to the pedestal. The room filled with the aroma of myrrh. Her knees hit the cold, marble floor as prayers hummed in her head. Hours had passed. Her body ached and her knees screamed. But she was determined to speak with the gods.

     She didn't do this often. In fact, she had only done it once in her lifetime. She didn't kid herself. Amanishaket was a woman who knew she was just a woman. People believed it was her ferocity and heavenly gifts that differentiated her from the rest, but it was her humility. She was not afraid to seek the gods' aid and never thought herself above them. Something the men of her time had yet to learn.

     Finally, she felt it. Her eyes shot open. A divine presence trickled into the atmosphere. Surging emotions overwhelmed her senses. It weighed her down to Earth.

     "Amanishaket." She whipped around. There was nothing there, but she felt the voice penetrating her mind.

     "My Goddess."

     "Stand, child," the goddess commanded. Amanishaket stood shakily. "You called upon me?"

     She nodded, "Yes. The priestess has given me some jarring news. She has informed me that centuries from now, my people will be stolen from this land and put in chains. Beaten and whipped for the blood that runs through them."

     "What am I to do about this?"

     "I came to ask for your protection over my line of descendants until you find one worthy of saving our people from this evil."

     "You know the price of my blessings firsthand, child."

     Amanishaket lowered her head. "Yes, I know. I understand."

     "And you know that this blessing will have a new set of consequences. Think on this, child. Are you certain you wish to subject you and your family to this pain? This cannot be undone if you change your mind."

     "I have thought about it, my Goddess. It is a sacrifice I am willing to make."

     "Very well." Amanishaket removed her blade from its sheath. With a swift flick of her wrist, she slit her finger. Carefully, she let a single drop slip into the wooden bowl of water resting on the altar. As if it were kerosene, the blood ignited a blazing fire on the surface of the water.

     "So long as she has a drop of your blood running through her veins, she shall receive my protection and pay my price.  Em hotep."

     "Thank you, my Goddess," she whispered to an empty room. She turned and walked toward the doorway. Her body was exhausted. She spared one more glance at the altar before the torches went out in a wisp of wind and everything was shrouded in blackness.