I rode my llama through the cold desert night, with the moon at my back and the stars all around me. Shaena, my llama, was starting to grow weak, for we had not seen water in days. I knew it was risky to try magic at this kind of location, for if I failed I would surely perish. But if I did not, my llama would die and the llama-fearing nomads who wished to eat my sparse flesh would catch up. I reasoned that the benefits outweighed the risks, so I tried the spell that would conjure up life-saving water.
I drew the sigils into the sand that would summon the Egyptian water goddess Anuket.
“aedgvzcj yivcdx”The symbols surrounded the ankh I had drawn in a circular pattern, and the wind had started to pick up. I had never used this spell before, but my sister Banu had taught it to me just prior to my leaving the temple. She had warned me about the cannibalistic nomads, but did I listen…no.
Of course Banu had always been the better one at spells, and it was no surprise when it was not Anuket who appeared but Nut, goddess of the sky.
“Eboniiiiiiiiiiiii………..why have you summoned meeeeeeeeee??? Do you wish to return to your sister, Banuuuuuuuuuuuu??”
“I would be honored if you would return me to my sister, O mighty goddess….”
“Then go nowww, Eboniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii……………..” The next thing I knew, I was back at the temple, where Banu was attempting to eat a rat. Did I mention she was a priestess of Bastet? The cat goddess Bastet?
“Banu! Guess who’s home?”
“EBONI!!!!!! YOU’RE BACK!!!!!! AND YOU’RE NOT DEAD!!” She ran up and gave me a hug. At first glance, you wouldn’t be able to tell we were twins. She had long hair the color of papyrus, and I had short kohl-colored hair. But our eyes were the same Nile-blue, and our skin was the same unusual pale white. But she was the crazy one.
“My, aren’t you a keen observer of detail? No, I’m not dead. And neither is Shaena.”
“…Then, where is she?” Banu looked confused.
“She’s right….not there.” Shaena musn’t have been transported!
“Great. You lost our llama. Way to go, Eboni.” Banu had a fondness for the llama that almost rivaled that of Abayomi, her cat. His name means literally, “he who brings joy”. Speaking of….
“Why don’t we get Abayomi to find her? He’s a spirit cat. He can do anything.”
“How did you lose her in the first place? She’s a llama for Bast’s sake.”
“Uh…Nut transported me here, but must’ve kept Shaena.”
“Well, then there’s nothing we can do. She’s a gift now.” Banu knew everything about the gods, so I can’t really question her. “All we can do is get another llama. But that will have to wait, I have to finish my ceremonial rat.”
“Do you really have to eat that?” I was kind of disgusted.
“Yes, I do. I have to get closer to the goddess for the full-moon ceremony tomorrow. So don’t interrupt me.”
“Fine. I’ll look through the market tomorrow morning, I guess.”