“And Saleem and Oringo accept this?” he asked, suddenly mystified. “They hate each other. But they would share their woman?”
“It was difficult for them at first,” I said. “But they have come a long way toward reconciling. But, again, the brotherhood they are building is between them. The love I share for each of them is beautiful and unique. We all love each other in our own ways. And they accept my love for you too.”
“They…already know that you want me to be part of this…harem you have built?” he asked.
“They know I love you,” I said. “They don’t want or need to know more than that.”
“What about Ramses?” he asked. “Is he part of this?”
“No,” I said. “That is how I know that what I feel for the three of you is special. Is true love. I don’t love Ramses. I only ever planned to marry Ramses out of duty.”
“Is that still your plan?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said sadly. “I know that I can’t marry any of the lion kings. That has not changed. But will I marry Ramses? I don’t know. Ramses appeared to me in the form of a black cobra. He told me that Keket was his queen.”
“Is he complicit in her treachery?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I hope not. I don’t believe he would betray me. But if Keket is his lawful wife…I do not know what that will mean after she is dead or in chains. All I can do is take everything one step at a time. After Keket is dead, I will figure out what to do about Ramses and all of you. I can only hope that some sort of arrangement can be reached because I cannot imagine living my life without any of you in it.”
Zakai ran his hands over his head and exhaled again. “This is…a lot, Sanura. I never imagined you would even be able to form an alliance between Saleem and Oringo, much less fall in love with them. I thought…I thought you were mine.”
“And I still am,” I said. “If you will have me.”
He cleared his throat and walked to the flap of the tent. “I don’t know,” he said. “I need time to think.”
“I will be waiting for you,” I said.
With that he nodded and left the room.
I sat on the reed mat bed and was surprised when I did not cry. Given the situation, I think the conversation went as well as I could have dreamed. I only hoped that he would forgive me and learn to love me again as I still loved him.
7
The drums beat rhythmically as I walked down the long aisle of people from outside Anwe village to the center of the village where I knew Zakai was waiting for me. The people around us were dancing and cheering. Their faces were painted in bright colors and they wore their finest clothes. They threw flower petals at me, along with leaves and seeds. Oringo and Saleem followed behind me, side by side, and they were followed by the generals and high ranking officers of the army we had built.
As we neared the end of the aisle, the shaman was shaking, chanting in his native language. He dipped his hand in red paint and smeared it across my face. He then sprinkled some sort of herbs over the top of my head. He beat his walking stick against the ground and the crowd went silent. The shaman raised his hand and spoke to the gathered people. I didn’t know his exact words, but I knew that he was talking about how important it was for Anwe and Egypt to be united to fight the evil that had infected the world.
The flap to Zakai’s hut was opened and Tabia stepped out, sprinkling something that looked like flour on the ground leading to the makeshift dais and throne that had been set up in the city center. My heart was beating rapidly in my chest. I had not spoken to Zakai since the night before, since I had told him that I still loved him—but that I was also in love with two other men. The shaman had come to me in the morning and told me that there would be a ceremony to cement our alliance. But since Zakai himself had not told me so, a part of me doubted that he would show. That even if he had told the shaman that the alliance was still intact, that he would change his mind. I was sure he was hurt, confused, even though my words had meant to reassure him that nothing between us had changed. I wished I could talk to him, hold him. Help him understand. But Zakai needed time to think. I couldn’t rush him into loving and accepting me.
Finally, Zakai stepped out of the hut, and I breathed a sigh of relief. He was naked from the waist up, but he had been painted in white tribal markings that contrasted brightly against his dark skin. He raised a fist to his people, and they responded with a single, unified cheer and then went silent again. He looked in my direction, but his gaze did not meet my eyes, and my heart sank. To everyone else, it probably appeared as though he had looked at me, but I knew differently. What did this subtle slight mean? We were supposed to be entering into an alliance, but if Zakai couldn’t even look at me, what worth were his words?
Zakai stood before his throne and Tabia motioned me forward. I stepped up, with Oringo, Saleem, and the others standing back. Zakai addressed his people in my language, and the shaman translated.
“Today, I, as king of the Anwe and heir of the Lion Queen, announce that we are hereby aligned with Sanura, the true queen of Egypt, in her pursuit of the throne and for time indefinite,” he said. “May Anwe and Egypt remain friends forever after.”
The people cheered. Zakai stepped closer to me and kneeled. He held out his hand and I removed my khopesh from my belt and handed it to him. He sliced it across his palm and then made a fist, letting the blood drip before me.
“Do you accept my blood in your honor, Queen Sanura?” he asked, his eyes downcast at my feet.
I wanted to accept him. I had to. I needed all three of my lion kings. But if he could not look at me, how could I expect him to stand beside me? Fight for me? Die for me?
“No,” I said, but in a low voice that only he could hear. This caused him to finally raise his head and look up at me.
“What?” he asked in shock. “What do you mean no?”
“I want this alliance more than anything,” I said. “It is what I have spent so long fighting for. And I need you to help me retake Egypt.”
“But…?” he prodded.
“How can we make pledges to each other if we cannot even speak to each other?” I asked. “I have not seen you all day. You cannot even look at me. How can we go forth in this war side by side if there is no communication? No trust? No love?”
“I never said I don’t love you,” Zakai said harshly. “I love you just as much today as when you left me months ago.”
“But…?” I pushed him.
“But I don’t know if I can love you…and them…” he said, and his eyes flitted behind me. I knew he was speaking of Saleem and Oringo.
“You don’t have to love them,” I tried to explain, but this was a conversation that needed to happen in private, not a public ceremony. “You only need to respect the love I have for them.”
He exhaled, and I could tell he was warring with himself. If he truly loved me, I knew he did not want to let me go, but this arrangement was not something he was sure he could accept.
“Your Majesties?” the shaman said, stepping forward. “Is there a problem?”
“I don’t know,” I said, looking down at Zakai. “Is there?”
“Queen Sanura,” he said. “I pledge my life, my tribe, my future to you. I will fight for you, die for you, and do whatever it takes to give you the throne of Egypt. I might not be able to take you to my bed. But never doubt my love for you.”
I took his hand in both of mine and felt the blood seep through my fingers. “I accept,” I said loud and clear enough for all the people to hear. They erupted into cheers. Zakai then stood and Tabia stepped forward, rubbing some ointment onto his hand and wrapping it in a cloth. The shaman brought me a bowl of water so I could rinse my hands clean as well. Zakai and I then stood side by side, clasped hands, and bowed before the people.
“Now, we feast!” Zakai said.
The music started up again and the people began to dance. Large bonfires were lit and whole wild boars were spitted
over them. The women brought out large baskets of fresh bread and men carried out casks of wine and ale. Considering how concerned the Anwe had been about starving after the loss of their livestock, I was afraid they were further depleting their limited stores by being good hosts to the mass of people who had congregated here.
“Can your people spare so much food?” I asked Zakai.
“How could we not spare it?” he asked, fiddling with his bandage. “These are our new allies. We must treat them as honored guests. If we did not, they might doubt our commitment to them. We cannot have them questioning our appreciation of them on the battlefield.”
I nodded. Zakai saw the feast as an investment. One that could not be spared. Still, I was unsettled. Saleem and Oringo accepted cups of ale and joined in the celebrations, even dancing with some of the lovely women who asked them. I was not jealous. I knew my men were devoted to me. But the fact that Zakai was still not fully comfortable with me prevented me from enjoying the festivities.
Of course, I still had many other things to worry about as well. I had my alliance and an army. I should have felt hopeful, but there was still much to do. Many trials to face. It would take many weeks to reach Egypt. Then we would have to face the full might of the Egyptian army. Even though it was only a fraction of what it was when my father was pharaoh, it was certainly still formidable—especially if Chike was still general.
I shook my head, trying to clear the gloomy thoughts. I did not need to worry so much, or carry the burden alone. Oringo was my general now. He would be leading the fight. I had thousands of people at my back who not only fought for me, but believed in me.
I also had one other thing.
I stepped through the throng of people, who were growing more animated and excited as the night wore on. I took a flagon of ale and a jar of pomegranate juice and exited the camp, walking out into the grassland to find a place to be alone, which was no small feat considering the number of people who were now gathered here. I had to walk quite a distance until the noise fell to a low din and I could hear my own voice. I was a little worried about the wild animals who could be hiding, watching me in the growing dark, but as when we exited the camp at night for the mass funeral, I had to remind myself that the animals would stay well away from so many humans.
I then mixed the pomegranate juice with the ale to stain it red as blood. I put my hand into the red liquid and spread it on my chest.
“My heart is your heart,” I said aloud. “May all you desire come to fruition through me.”
I then turned up the jug and poured out the ale and juice to the earth to symbolize the spilling of blood.
“Life-giver, flame-gifter,” I said. “Sekhmet, goddess of lions and men. Goddess of war, goddess of protection. Light of the faithful, darkness to the wicked. May I be blessed with the fleetness of your paws, the might of your jaw, the savagery of your claws. Let me be your voice, your strength, your sword. And should I not find favor with you, grant me an honorable death.”
The last drop of the offering was poured out, and I felt a hot breeze blow over my shoulders. I looked out into the darkness and saw a figure moving toward me. I started, dropping the vase, which shattered at my feet. I drew my khopesh and held it before me. But as the creature came toward me, the less my eyes could make sense of what I was seeing.
It was a lioness, but she was not formed of tawny flesh. It was as though she was made of stars, shining blue as the pale moonlight. She moved to me as though she was running, but slowly, every motion clearly visible in the strong sinews of her limbs. As she got closer, she grew larger. Her great maw opened as if to devour me whole. I crossed my arms before me as she lunged, but she did not eat me nor crash into me. She passed through me like a shadow and I gasped as I was filled with her strength. I might have doubted my abilities, but she did not. As she left my body, I turned to get one last glimpse of her, but she was gone.
Standing there on the open grassland was Zakai.
I looked at him in confusion. “Did you see that?” I asked.
“See what?” he asked.
“Sekhmet,” I said, looking around him to see if she had run to the village, but I saw nothing. “She…she was here. In the form of a lion. A lion made of stars.”
“A lion made of stars?” he asked, clearly not believing me.
“Yes!” I said. “I poured out an offering to her, and then she was running toward me. She opened her mouth as though to devour me, but instead, I was filled with…such awe.”
“Awe?” he asked.
“She is with us, Zakai,” I said, rushing to him and taking his hands in mine. “We will succeed. I know it!”
He gave me a wan smile and cupped my face in his hand. “I am sure we will.”
It felt so good for him to touch me once again. I placed my hand on his and nuzzled his palm. Then I kissed the inside of his wrist. His forearm.
He cleared his throat and pulled his hand from me. My body ached for the lack of him instantly.
“I…I just came to check on you,” he said. “Everyone is missing you at the celebration.”
I wiped away tears that I did not want to release. “I just needed a moment alone,” I said. “To pray.”
“Of course,” he said. He paused and we stood silently for a moment. Then he turned to go back to the village.
“Zakai,” I said, and he stopped. I hadn’t expected him to stop, so I had no idea what profound words I needed to force out of my mouth to get him to stay. I had already told him everything. I loved him. I needed him. I couldn’t live without him. What more did he want from me?
“Sanura…” he started to say, and my heart swelled. Any words from him would be better than the silent canyon that currently divided us.
“Yes?” I asked.
He stepped closer to me. He gripped me by the arms, looking down into my eyes. I leaned forward slightly, just enough to entice him, but not so much as to scare him away.
“Sanura…” he said again, this time as soft as a whisper. He leaned in, and my lips parted in anticipation.
“Zakai…” I exhaled.
Mocking laughter broke through the night air. At first, I thought Keket had returned. But then I realized that the laughter did not sound like her at all. The laughter came again, but from somewhere else. Then another voice joined in. And another.
“Sanura!” Zakai yelled, pulling me behind him.
Out in the savannah, where before I only saw a few blinking eyes, now there were hundreds. Tiny dots of stars bouncing through the tall grass, and moving closer.
“Hyenas!” Zakai exclaimed.
“They wouldn’t attack the village, would they?” I asked him.
“I wouldn’t wait around to find out,” he said as he grabbed my arm and pulled me into a run with the echo of manic laughter ringing in our ears.
8
“What is happening?” I asked when we reached the village. “Hyenas shouldn’t act that way, should they?”
“No,” he said, looking for Oringo and the generals. “They are brave and stupid, but they would not come so close to so many people. And hyena packs are not usually so big.”
I stood at the edge of the village and unhooked my khopesh from my belt. The wild beasts came close enough that they were illuminated by the firelight. Hundreds of them, their fur bristling upon their backs, their heads bouncing as they laughed, gathered around the village, surrounding us. Slowly, the people heard the laughter and turned to see what was happening. The sounds of celebration turned to sounds of fear as people fled to their huts, their children in tow. As before when Anwe village was attacked, those who wished to fight armed themselves and prepared for battle. The soldiers left the village for the military camp to find their weapons, those who were sober enough to walk, anyway. Many of the people had eaten and drunk to excess.
Zakai returned to my side, with Oringo and Saleem in tow.
“Why aren’t they attacking?” Saleem asked.
I shook my head. “I
have no idea. Maybe they miscalculated our size and will fall back.”
“I don’t think so,” Oringo said. “Look at their eyes.”
I had only noticed the little white reflections bobbing in the darkness. But now that the hyenas were closer, I could get a better look at them. Their eyes were completely black. They were also ravenous, foaming at the mouth, chomping their fangs. They were hungry and had no other thought than to eat whatever was in their path. They were possessed and would do whatever their mistress commanded.
“They must be waiting for Keket to order them to attack,” I said. “But what is she waiting for?”
One of the hyenas stepped forward. “For you,” the creature said and then laughed.
“Keket,” I said through gritted teeth. “Sending wild dogs to do your dirty work?”
“I am where I have always been,” the beast said. “In the palace, waiting for your return. It is you who have been hiding like a coward.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I am coming for you. Sooner than you think.”
“It matters not,” she said. “The throne is mine. The city is mine. Your brother is mine.”
At the mention of my brother, my face flushed hot with rage and I stepped forward, ready to dispatch the creature’s head from its body.
“You will regret the day you ever made an enemy of me,” I said.
“I don’t think so,” the creature replied. “You’ll never reach the city alive.”
At that, the creature let out a succession of quick yips. The other hyenas barked in return, then they all lunged across the grassland to the village, their fangs bared, their mouths dripping with saliva.
“Hold the line!” Oringo yelled. “The village must be protected!”
I glanced right and left and saw that the soldiers had formed a protective barrier three men thick around the village. Archers, lancers, and swordsmen with shields were ready for the attack. They must have been organizing while Keket and I exchanged words. Later, I would have to pretend that the delay had been intentional on my part to give the army time to prepare.
The Queen of Egypt Page 6
