“Have you managed to learn anything from Dedi?” Nakhtpaaten asked insistently, “anything that could help?”
Neti gave him a reproachful look while the queen drank the tea; the queen was grunting in pain, but still finished drinking the warm liquid and mumbled a tired thank you.
Once the queen had finished her drink, Neti moved toward the door and gestured for Nakhtpaaten to follow her.
“Dedi said he has no knowledge of any plant that could cause this.”
The aged healer’s shoulders drooped and a disheartened sigh escaped his lips before he spoke. “Then it is as I feared, the scroll has been accessed for this.”
“What scroll?” Neti quickly demanded.
“You have not spoken with Neferronpet?”
“No, not since last night. Why?”
The healer looked about the room for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, before replying, “A while ago, Homer was updating the poisons scroll. At the time, I thought nothing of it when he came to me, but now I’m not so certain.”
Neti felt her heart start to race as she asked, “What does Neferronpet have to do with it?”
“Last night I told him about it and said that he should look into it, but he seemed more concerned about you and Shabaka’s interaction.”
Neti thought things through for a moment, uncertain as to how she felt about the healer’s words, about what they implied. She was not entirely certain what she wanted from Neferronpet, or whether she wanted anything from him at all. Her anguish over Shabaka’s betrayal was still too raw, but also too intense to simply cast aside, though she wished she could.
“…he said I should tell you; it might have something to do with this.” Nakhtpaaten’s words drew her from her reflection, drawing her attention back to the elderly healer and what he was telling her. “But I thought he might have told you, since his attraction to you—”
“Wait! There’s a scroll containing the ingredients for poisons?” Neti suddenly and insistently interrupted him.
“Yes.” Nakhtpaaten nodded. “It also explains exactly how to make them. Very detailed. It contains every poison we know.”
Neti drew in a halting breath, trying to calm her pounding heart, as urgency shot through her body. “Where is this scroll now?”
“I do not know. Homer took it with him when we were done.”
Neti looked about her. “I need to speak to Shabaka,” she said, and then turned to move from the room.
“He should be with the pharaoh,” Nakhtpaaten called after her.
Neti moved along the multitude of corridors as fast as she could. She rechecked her path, still unfamiliar with the palace, and breathed a sigh of relief when she came upon Moses.
“Moses, have you seen Shabaka?” she asked urgently.
“He is in the training courtyard with the others. Come, I will take you,” Moses said, making an about-face to lead the way.
Neti followed him along another series of corridors she had not passed through before. She glanced at the inscribed walls, wishing she had a moment to stop and read the tales inscribed on them.
On finally exiting the palace, they stepped out into a large yard, and Neti halted in her tracks to look upon it. A large portion of the palace’s guards was training, their bodies stripped of all non-essential clothing. Their sweat-slicked skins glistened in the midmorning sun as they moved, their muscles rippling beneath their warmly tanned skins. Their movements appeared dancelike, carefully choreographed to appear almost effortless, as they battled with sticks.
Neti was rendered speechless by the speed and skill they displayed and could understand why they were tasked with protecting the pharaoh and the palace, for she was certain that there was not one guard in Thebes with even half their skill.
Her eyes sought out the dark figure, having realized that with the removal of his sling he would most likely also be back in training, and she ached to see him move as the others. Her heart raced in anticipation, her throat suddenly dry, her hands clammy…
Yet her heart, and her expectations, fell to the ground when she finally found him. She knew he would be impressive, which he was, but, unlike the others, he was not engaged in mock battle.
His rapt attention was held instead by two young, dark-skinned boys of differing ages who were clumsily learning the skills of stick fighting under his supervision.
A tightening sensation settled around her heart, and a burning sensation started at the back of her throat as she swallowed. She wanted to step back from there, to reject what she saw, for it was simply too much. Breathing became difficult, more like stilted gasps, on realizing why he had not asked for more than her skills and input. He already had a family, with sons of his own.
Moses’ hand landed on her arm. “Wait here, I’ll go call him.”
Neti nodded dazedly in response, her body seeming almost too heavy to move, though her heart insisted that she turn from there, that she place as much distance between them as she possibly could until she had processed what she had seen and knew how best to deal with it. Her head, however, insisted that they had a mystery to solve and that she should not allow his personal life to interfere with the matter.
Moses approached him, and she watched as the young slave engaged him in conversation. She saw his gaze turn toward her and a smile grace his lips as he lifted his hand in greeting. Her heart hammered in her chest. It was so easy to believe that that smile was more than a mere greeting. Shabaka turned his attention back to Moses, saying something to the slave before making his way over to her.
That same warm smile remained on his lips as he approached her. “Morning Neti,” he said moments before coming to a halt before her.
Her throat felt scratchy while she tried uncertainly to find her voice. Her instinct to move away from there became overwhelming. It was only the calmness in his eyes and demeanor that held her there.
“Moses said you’re looking for me,” he spoke calmly, his brow marring. She knew it was because of her odd behavior.
“Yes,” she managed to croak out, “it’s about the queen.” She saw the smile drop from his face and wondered at it. His body noticeably stiffened as she continued. “I was in the gardens this morning, and the woman in charge of the herbs said something that caught my attention—”
“What did she say?” Shabaka cut in.
“It’s not so much what she said, but what is happening,” Neti replied.
“I don’t follow,” Shabaka returned, the frown marring his forehead deepening.
“Well,” Neti started, gathering her thoughts, dropping her voice so that the others around them could not hear what they were discussing, “ever since we arrived at the palace, the nursemaid has been missing.”
“Yes, I realize that,” Shabaka replied mutedly.
“Well, this morning, I learned that she has for some time ensured that the princess is given a special tea…”
“The princess is also being poisoned!” Shabaka exclaimed, causing everyone in the immediate area to look at them.
“No, relax,” Neti replied firmly. “Just listen.”
Shabaka nodded in response and noticed how some of the others continued to look at them, with the others returning to their routines.
“The tea she is being given prevents her from…” Neti swallowed with difficulty, clearing her throat, “…it involves women’s concerns.”
“But the princess is still too young to have such problems,” Shabaka replied, shaking his head in disbelief.
Neti took a deep breath, knowing he would not understand, and then spelled it out for him. “It prevents her from being with child.”
“What?” Shabaka returned in shock, and again everyone looked at him. “Why would a woman ever—” He managed to cut himself short, shaking his head before continuing. “Why would she need to? She does not earn her living pleasuring men.”
Neti noticed how he swallowed after the last words and took a deep breath. It was difficult to discuss such matters with
him, for it made her even more aware of her attraction toward him and his unavailability. “The princess is taken by Homer,” she said, and swallowed again as she continued. “I suspect that they…” She could not get the words out, and she saw him nod in understanding before she continued. “And that is why she is drinking the tea, to prevent any dishonor.”
“And how does this affect what is happening to the queen?” Shabaka asked.
“A while back, Homer was working on a scroll regarding poisons—”
“How do you know this?”
“Nakhtpaaten told me, he helped him with it—”
“Then he should have—” Shabaka interrupted her, only to be cut short by Neti, who irritably seethed, “Would you just listen?”
Shabaka fell silent and inclined his head.
“He told Neferronpet about the scroll.” Neti stared at Shabaka and noticed how his shoulders straightened at the mention of the new vizier. “I have not yet confirmed it with Neferronpet or asked about the scroll’s whereabouts, but Nakhtpaaten said that the scroll contains all the ingredients used to make all known poisons.”
“All of them?”
“That’s what he told me.”
“We have to find it.”
“No, we need to find the nursemaid first. I think she has it.”
“You think she’s behind the queen’s poisoning? But she’s been absent since we arrived.”
“I don’t think she’s missing. She knows the inner workings of the palace, had access to the herbs, and can move unrestricted between those outside the palace and the queen. Her disappearance is too neat, and no one would suspect her if she were not here.”
“What do you suggest we do?”
“We search the palace for her. Everywhere. No one should be permitted to leave. I’m certain we will find her here; the palace is vast and it is easy to remain hidden if one knows it well enough.”
“I will see what I can arrange with the pharaoh.”
“Don’t tell anyone, or she might hear of it and escape.”
6
THAT EVENING, after dinner, Neti retired to the harem’s private garden. The pharaoh had earlier that day ordered a full search of the palace, with everyone within its walls having to report to the main courtyard, after which the palace had been systematically searched, with only the queen and Nakhtpaaten permitted to remain in the queen’s chambers.
Hours had been spent on the search, and it had been well into the afternoon before everyone was permitted to return to their chores. Neti had remained in the background, having also been in the company of nervous people for most of her life, and searched the vast group of people assembled, surprised at how many people it took to manage the palace. However, none appeared out of sorts. She had watched their interactions, trying to determine whether anyone was overly nervous or agitated during the search; but it had all been for naught, for the nursemaid had remained at-large, with no one having seen either hide or hair of her.
Neti released a heavy sigh, closing her eyes as she fought against the heavy sensation that threatened to overcome her. Even with Shabaka’s assurances that it had been a fitting exercise and that they would begin to search the city in the morning, she could not shake off the sense of disquiet that had overcome her.
She missed Thebes, and though the new city held so many wonders, she longed to be back home, to feel the warm wind that blows over the city from the desert. She missed Suten-Anu’s calm guidance, which had always given her faith in her decisions. At times, she even missed the hostility she had grown up with, for it was familiar, it meant that people at least acknowledged her presence. But most of all she sought the ignorance she had had when they were in Thebes, her belief that someone like Shabaka could be attracted to her, could possibly want with her what she yearned for with him… However, with current developments, she knew it would be some time before she returned home, the Pharaoh having insisted that she remain until the guilty were found.
She drew in a deep breath and looked about the gardens. There was some exotic scent in the air, but she had no idea where it was coming from. It was sweet like jasmine, but not quite the same, and jasmine was not even in bloom. Crickets chirped in the distance while a cool breeze fanned over the garden, causing gooseflesh to rise on her skin.
Though she had always enjoyed her solitude, for the first time in her life she felt utterly alone. She doubted her decisions, her interpretation of events, and her and Shabaka’s ability to find those responsible. Although Neferronpet had provided a welcome distraction, even thoughts of him could not lift her spirits. She refrained from allowing her thoughts to drift to Shabaka, for it would only sadden her further.
The missing nursemaid had only fueled Shabaka’s resolve, and he had sent out guards to find her family and bring them to the palace after the search had turned up nothing.
She allowed her thoughts to return to the pharaoh’s request. Yet it was not the request so much that puzzled her, not as much as Ramesses’ implication that Shabaka would be returning to Thebes with her once they were done.
A nearby giggle drew her from her thoughts and set her heart racing.
“Ri-Hanna, wait up!” a young male voice called.
Neti could feel a frown marring her forehead, for it was unheard of for any male other than one of the house to enter the harem garden.
Movement off to the side drew her attention as Ri-Hanna playfully moved about, giggling almost as though she had had too much wine.
Neti’s heart raced in her chest. She did not want to intrude on their privacy, but moving would draw their attention to her, something she did not want either. So she remained where she was, hoping she would not have to bear witness to their affections.
“Come on, catch up, Homer,” Ri-Hanna called playfully to the man.
Neti could see Homer moving in what appeared to be painful strides. Something in the way he walked alerted her to the fact that she was likely to witness their affections. She had heard that it could be painful for men to walk before breeding but had never before seen such an occurrence. It intrigued her as much as it scared her. She had yet to become intimate with a man, having at one stage entertained the idea that Shabaka would become her lover.
Homer grunted in frustration, causing the muscles in Neti’s lower abdomen to contract. This was a sensation she had often experienced before, whenever Shabaka grunted in frustration.
“Is it too difficult for you to walk?” Ri-Hanna taunted Homer, giggling happily. “If you want me you have to catch me.”
“You know it is not fair,” Homer almost wailed in frustration, coming to a halt.
Ri-Hanna must have taken pity on him, for she moved toward him. “It may not be fair, but I like that you desire me so much.”
Homer wrapped his arms around the princess, pulling her toward him, his hips pushing firmly against hers. Neti tried to drop her gaze, to look away, but found she could not.
Homer closed the distance between them, kissing the princess lightly on the lips before saying huskily, “I saw the tea. It will be your last time. I want you to stop drinking it.”
“And what if I have no intention of stopping?”
“Ri-Hanna, I’m serious, I do not want you drinking it, it is bad for you.”
“Ha!” The princess scoffed, pushing against the scribe’s shoulders. “You are just like him. You only want me so you can father a god.”
“No! Never. I love you,” Homer insisted.
“Then you should allow me to make the decision of whether I want to be with child.”
“I just thought you would want that now that there’s no longer a reason for us to sneak around. I could ask your father. I hold a respectable position.”
“My father would send you away if he knew,” Ri-Hanna returned dismissively.
“You could come with me.”
A piercing scream filled the evening sky, causing Neti to jolt in response. She looked at the two lovers, noting how they glanced about them before q
uickly moving toward Ri-Hanna’s chambers.
Neti’s heart was racing in her chest as she made for her chamber. She had hardly entered her chamber when a loud, urgent pounding sounded at her door.
She opened the door to find one of the palace guards agitatedly indicating for her to follow him. “You had best come see,” he said, already moving away from her.
The sound of hurried footsteps filled the passage, and Neti stepped out of the way to allow numerous guards to pass.
Neti walked along the corridor and immediately identified the coppery scent that filled the air. She swallowed at the lump forming in her throat, her feet dragging, already knowing what she would find.
A lot of blood needed to be spilt before one could smell it so easily. She steeled herself against what would meet her, already expecting the worst. The farther they moved along the passage, the more her concern grew. She came to a jarring halt just after rounding a corner, and her heart dropped to the floor when she recognized the person on the ground. Without thinking, she moved closer to Nakhtpaaten and knelt beside him to assess his injuries. She swallowed repeatedly against the bile that rose in her throat as her fears were confirmed.
She turned toward the guard. “Go to the queen, ensure that she is safe!”
The young guard visibly paled at her words and then turned from her, running toward the queen’s chambers.
Neti returned her attention to the healer and drew in a deep breath before reaching into his thwarb, seeking the slivers she knew he kept there, but she found nothing. Her heart started pounding faster when guards arrived at the scene along with Moses.
Moses took one look at the scene and turned to collect Shabaka.
Neti looked up from the healer as Ramesses arrived, demanding, almost in disbelief, “By the gods, what happened here?”
“He was stabbed, four times from what I can tell,” Neti replied, noting the sudden agitation that came over the pharaoh, and added, “I sent the guard who called me to check on the queen.”
Ramesses visibly calmed and continued to the queen’s rooms.
Princess of Egypt - A Mystery in Ancient Egypt Page 5
