Kingdom of Dust and Boils

I lived in the palace of the pharaoh's son. I kept his secrets upon my skin.

The first one was branded to my forearm when we were but boys, when I was first gifted to the young prince as his confidante. His aabt. The keeper of his secrets.

In the candlelit chambers of the temple, with tears cutting rivers through the dust on my cheeks, the hekau told him my secret name, binding me to his will. As they cast the spell, I blocked out the words, fixating instead at a spot near my feet, a darkened...