“What is your name? I know you.”
“Biel, the son of Jeru.”
“Yes, Biel. We are going home to Zerzura.” I clasped his hands in mine and looked directly into his eyes. “Very soon. You rest now, Biel, and get your strength back. Find a healer to tend to that wound. We will need your help, and you must be whole and well.”
He didn’t argue but asked, “What of Alexio? Will he not return with us? I could track him, mekhma. He taught me how. I am sure I could find him.”
I gulped at hearing my husband’s name, for in my heart he was that still. In an angry moment I had cast him out, sending him on a fool’s errand. How would Alexio retrieve my sister from the Kiffians by himself? I had behaved like a jealous shrew and had likely sent him to his death. I wished that I myself could climb upon a horse and pound the hooves to seek him out, but my place was here. My desire for him was strong, and my heart was breaking, but there was nothing I could do. Sending this boy into the desert would achieve little except kill another innocent. Despite his lion’s heart, Biel hap Jeru was in no shape to travel the four corners of the desert. I could not have his death on my conscience. However, perhaps I could ask Ramose to send a squadron of men to find him. That would certainly not be inappropriate, as he was sent to serve me. I did not look forward to asking Ramose for anything beyond his required duties, but for Alexio I would face the giants myself.
“Alexio has gone to find my sister. He will return to us soon, I am sure of it. Rest, Biel, and regain your strength.” He did not look happy with my answer. “I have not forgotten Alexio. We will bring him back.”
His empty eyes brightened for a moment, and he squeezed my hands and stepped out of my way. Others flooded in, needing my assurances, handshakes and hugs. Ayn remained by my side but did not dissuade them. Finally, I gave her a look that said, “Help me.” Without a word, she stepped between my people and me and grasped me by my elbow.
“Come now, mekhma. Semkah awaits.” With each touch of their hands, I felt a weightiness and solemnity that I had never experienced before. By the time I had pushed my way into my father’s abode, I was emotionally drained and desperate to see his face.
“Greetings, mekhma. Your father is resting now,” a tiny young woman said as she stirred a mixture in a bowl.
“Who are you?”
“Leela. Orba asked me to look after the king. As I said, he is resting now. Although I don’t see how with all this noise. I have given him a sleeping potion and must apply this poultice to his stump.”
I didn’t know what to think of Leela, but before I could argue with my father’s caregiver, I heard the voice I had so longed for.
“Nefret. Thank the gods. Come. Please, Leela, step out of the way.” He was trying to sit up without the use of his right arm. It was a disheartening sight, but I did not try to help him. He would not welcome my assistance or sympathy. When he pulled himself up, his appearance shocked me. He had looked weak and near death’s door before I left, but now his skin had taken on an ugly yellow tone, his eyes were red and his frame was gaunt. I masked my surprise and answered him with as much confidence as I could muster.
“Yes, Father. I am back, and Egypt is with us.”
“Leave us,” he said to the other women.
Without argument they left, although Leela did not hide her disapproval. “I need to apply this poultice while the medicine still has its effectiveness.”
“Out,” he growled. Once we were alone he reached his hand out to me, and I squeezed it. “I think she is going to poison me with her concoctions,” he said sourly.
“I think she is trying to help you, and for that I am thankful. Are you feeling well?” I didn’t know how to ask what I wanted to know. Are you going to leave me too? I could not bear it if after all this I lost him too. Without him, I would have no family left. My treasure, Paimu, was dead. Pah had been stolen from us, and now…
“No tears for me, Nefret. We have no time for that. Tell me everything that has happened. Do not leave anything out. Not even the smallest details.”
“I hardly know where to begin. Queen Tiye rules in Egypt. I never laid eyes on Pharaoh or entered the main palace. There is nothing done that she does not know about.”
“There have been rumors of this for a long time.” With a worried look he added, “Were you presented to any other members of the court? What about the son—the heir?”
“No, Father. I met no one else. Only the queen’s steward, Huya. I attended no formal affairs and did not leave the queen’s chamber except for bathing and dining. They do much of both, but I was kept mostly to myself unless the queen chose to visit me.”
“Tell me about her, daughter.”
“I really know nothing at all. She is a small woman but has a great presence. She reminds me of Farrah in that regard. She trusts no one and does not much talk to others except for her steward.”
“What did she ask you about? Did she ask about your sister?”
“No, Father. She asked about our people, our festivals, our trade. She was curious to know our stories and songs. I told her many during my stay.”
“Curious. Whatever her reasons, it seems you are now the queen’s new favorite. You tell your stories too well, Nefret.” I didn’t know what to say to that, so I said nothing. All I had wanted to do was survive and receive the help we needed. He squeezed my hand and said kindly, “I do not blame you. I will miss you when you leave me, Nefret.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. He knew. He must have known all along that I would have to leave him. I would never have imagined that my journey to Egypt would end in such a way. I bent down, kissed his forehead and wiped the tears from his eyes. “Who knows, Father? Perhaps the queen will allow you to come visit me. Maybe she will change her mind. Who knows what the future holds?”
He reached up with his good arm and pulled me close to him. My hair fell around us like a curtain, and we shed tears together. Finally he pulled my forehead to his and whispered, “You will always be mekhma, and you will always be my daughter.”
“Semkah!” my uncle called from outside the tent.
“Help me up.”
I did as he asked and pulled him to his feet. He wobbled, probably from the effects of the potion Leela had administered. “You must sit, or you will fall down,” I said. “Here, sit on the edge of the table.”
Father eased himself down on the table, and I quickly threw a cloak over his right shoulder to conceal his wounded arm. He pulled it around him and said, “Come.”
“Greetings, brother. It is good to see you well.” Dressed in his battle gear, Omel looked quite the king. He wore a leather breastplate with the tribe’s sigil carved into the chest. At his arms were Corinthian leather greaves, but the rest of his garments were in the Egyptian style.
“I am hardly well. Nefret was just sharing her report with me. Please continue. You were telling me their terms.”
“Yes, I am curious to know that as well. What did we exchange for their help? The gold mines of Abu Simbel? Queen Tiye would be a fool to take less.”
Hesitantly, I shook my head.
“The turquoise mines, then? What is it? As you’ve said many times, brother, Egyptians do not offer their help for nothing.”
“The Great Wife, for that is what she is called in Thebes, graciously sent a legion of soldiers, food for our journey and supplies in exchange for my promise.”
My father and uncle waited to hear the words. “Promise of what?” Omel asked warily.
“After the conquest of Zerzura, I am to return to Thebes.”
“What made you agree to this? Do you know what this means, Nefret? For what purpose? Are you a prisoner? This is an outrage! Call the kings together now, Semkah.”
“The deal is done, Uncle. It cannot be undone. General Ramose is here now with orders directly from the queen’s own steward. Do you think this is what I want? No, of course not, but as the Egyptians say, it is now written in stone.”
“What is Que
en Tiye thinking?”
“I do not know the queen’s mind, for she keeps her own counsel, but this was the only deal she would make. She would take nothing else. I am to return to Thebes after the conquest, and she says that I can never return home again.”
“This can only mean one thing. She intends to give you to her son,” Omel said with a sardonic grin.
“What?” I couldn’t help but blurt out. “Give like a concubine?”
“Maybe. If you please him, perhaps as a wife. But those kinds of arrangements are usually made more diplomatically with royal daughters who have large dowries. I see no advantage to her in raising you to that exalted position. However, it is possible, for it is Pharaoh who has the last word in those things.”
“Uncle? Did you know about this?”
“How could I? This was your idea, mekhma.”
Memories of consummating my union with Alexio under the full moon filled my mind. How could I be given to another when I belonged to him? And I had sent him away! What would I do?
My uncle continued, “I would say the Snakes of Destiny have been at work here. I had no hand in this. Would you be surprised to know that Queen Tiye herself was a commoner and had no royal lineage when she came to the throne? Amenhotep did not listen to the priests who had another in mind. He would have no one but the dark queen. They sometimes call her that because of her skin and maybe because of her dark moods. She is a dangerous woman if you cross her. I know for a certainty that Queen Tiye has put whole families to the sword, all in the interest of protecting her lineage. Perhaps she has a softness for desert folk. I would never speak this to another soul, but the Great Wife is rumored to be from the Algat tribe.”
“Is this true?” My father sounded amazed by this revelation.
“Yes, but do not repeat that to a living soul—especially an Egyptian, and especially her general. By the way, Ramose has requested to be presented to you, Semkah. Shall I send for him?”
Ignoring his question for the time being, Semkah looked at me and asked, “What of this man? You have spent time in his presence. Is he trustworthy? Has he revealed the route to Zerzura to you?”
“I never learned to read maps, Father, nor was I shown one. But from what I understand, the city lies to the north, very near the sea. It is between Barrani and Matru.”
“Do you trust him?”
“He is loyal to the queen. He will do as she has ordered him.”
“Very well. It is late, and I am sure the general is tired from his journey. Brother, please send my thanks to the general and tell him the mekhma and the kings of the Meshwesh will meet with him in the morning. We have much to talk about.”
Omel made the sign of respect and walked out of the tent. I could not help but notice the smirk on his face.
What will happen to the Meshwesh when I am gone?
Almost as if he could hear my thoughts, Father said, “That is enough worry for one day. Go rest, but come early in the morning. We will break our fast together, and I will summon Orba as well to see what can be done about all this.” With a wince he said, “Tell Leela to return to me.”
“You don’t want me to stay? I can take care of you, Father.”
He frowned disapprovingly. “You are the mekhma. I have everything I need.”
I didn’t argue and remind him that I was also his daughter. This was a matter of pride. I made the sign of respect before leaving.
“When you return in the morning, bring Ayn. Keep her close. She will protect you.”
“I will, Father. Good rest.” I slipped out into the darkness. Ayn sprang to her feet and walked beside me. I suddenly felt tired, more tired than I had felt in a long time. Even though the tent would not have all the comforts I had grown accustomed to, I would at least be among my people.
“Just this way.”
Most of the excited welcomers had gone to their own tents and caves to prepare for rest, but many would sleep with one eye open. They would probably not see the Egyptians as allies, so I would have to be the example to keep the peace. I had no doubt that even now my uncle was thinking about how to use this situation to his advantage.
“Are you hungry, mekhma?”
“Not really, but I am thirsty.”
“You rest now. I’ll go find something for you to drink.”
“Please, no wine. I had enough in Thebes. Water will do nicely.” Ayn left me to take care of her task while I undressed. Someone had been kind enough to unpack my bag, and I found my robe and the few other items I managed to salvage from Timia stashed in the tent. I had little else in the way of clothing, but thankfully some thoughtful person had left me a nice soft tunic for sleeping. I tossed off my cloak and slipped out of my sandals and tunic. I noticed the small shrine that had been erected to my sister. Pah’s cedar box had been emptied and each item placed around the stub of a yellow candle. I felt a lump rise in my throat. Sister! My mouth felt dry, and my feet and hands felt dirty, but I was so tired that I lay down and fell fast asleep.
The next thing I remembered was seeing a spiral appear before me. It reminded me of the whirlpool at Biyat, the one that Pah and I used to toss dried leaves into and then watch them sink away from sight. I watched the spiral with fascination as a bright blue light began to emanate from the center. Although the color resembled hot flame, I felt neither heat nor any other sensation from the spiral. I reached toward it, tempted to poke my finger at the very edge just to see for myself what this thing was before me. I became aware of whispers in the air around me. The closer my hand came to the spiral, the louder the whispering became. It was as if there were a crowd of people excitedly watching my every move. Without moving my head, I glanced to the left and to the right, but I saw no one and nothing.
I surveyed my surroundings. I was in a room—a spacious room with no walls, no doors and no floor or ceiling. It was very dark except for the spiral that spun in front of me. The air crackled, and I felt the hair on my arms rise just as if a thundering storm approached on the horizon. I put my hand toward the moving circle again, and this time I touched it. Nothing happened. I pulled back my hand and examined my finger. I had not been burned or scarred at all. I touched it again, tracing the edge of the spiral, and with some delight watched the light bend underneath it. The more I touched the spiral, the faster it spun. Soon I used my palm to spin the spiral until it was moving so fast that it was only a bright blue blur.
I became aware that someone was standing beside me. I did not feel threatened or afraid, so I spoke to the man. “What is this?”
“Look closer.”
I did as the man instructed me. Leaning my head forward a little, I peered hard at the spiral, but the speed at which it turned made it difficult to see anything. As if he heard my thoughts, the man reached out and slowed the spiral to its original speed. In the center I could see figures—people I knew! There was Farrah and Paimu. Then I could see many of the Meshwesh who died in the Kiffian raid on our camp. I gasped at the sight. It was as if I were watching the memories of my past in very great detail, not at all like a dream. The man touched the spiral again, and the picture changed. I no longer saw people I knew but people I would know. I saw children, children with my eyes and dark hair. I saw a man’s hands. He placed them on the heads of my children and spoke a blessing over them. I could see a boy’s face. He had the look of my father but with eyes like mine.
Smenkhkare! I whispered. How I knew his name I did not know, but my heart reached for him. It claimed him as my own.
The man touched the spiral again, and the movement turned the spiral in the other direction. I saw my face now. I was standing at the top of a stony mountain. I appeared as an old woman with deep lines on my face and white hair. Below me in a valley I could see and hear sheep, many, many sheep. I saw my people, but they weren’t my people. In some ways they appeared as Meshwesh, but they were taller and stronger looking. I heard someone shout my name, but it wasn’t my name.
I turned to ask the man what this all meant, and
for the first time I could clearly see—this was the Shining Man! His face was shrouded in light, but I felt that he was smiling at me.
“What does it mean? Who were those people?” I felt a wave of love, but he did not answer me right away. “Who was the boy?” Smenkhkare!
“You will meet him one day, if you choose to follow that path.”
My heart pulled toward the boy in a way that I had never experienced before except with my treasure, my Paimu. I loved him purely and completely, yet I did not know him. But I did know I was willing to die for him.
“I must see him. This I know.”
He smiled again, and this time the light moved so I could see his features. He had a long, straight nose and dazzling eyes made of every color imaginable. A light shone from his skin, yet he was not frightening.
“Then the path is chosen. Walk in it.” He placed his hand on my head just as I had seen the man bless his children in the spiral, and I was filled with warmth.
I fell into a deep, restful sleep.
Chapter Five
An Immortal Name—Ramose
Another day in this stinking camp and I would go mad. These tribe-folk and their incessant drum-banging and off-key singing gave me daily headaches, and my impatience with my current situation was growing. The preparations took days longer than I had originally expected. The Desert Queen insisted that the entire clan make the journey with us as we progressed to the north. Obviously the girl had no idea how to lead an army or a campaign. But contrary to what she might think, her opinion had been of little importance to me. I had my orders.
In the end, I ignored her command and messaged Nebamun of the Third Legion. He would advance on Zerzura, remove the inhabitants and send an immediate report on his progress. Much of the battle would be over by the time we arrived at Zerzura, but I gave him explicit instructions to leave some of the Kiffians alive for appearances’ sake. These Meshwesh “kings,” as they fancied themselves, would not be denied their glory no matter how false that victory was. And who was I to say otherwise? Only the general of the Egyptian army. I snorted as I rubbed the leather of my greaves with cedar oil.
The Falcon Rises (The Desert Queen Book 2) Page 4
