“King Tishratta, I am surprised to see you here. As you know, Queen Tadukhipa is touring the Nile with my husband and having a memorable time, from what I am told. Did you know she sent me a lovely gift today? Can you guess what it is?”
He did not answer at first, but as the court began to whisper I supposed he felt compelled to do so. “I am not good at guessing games, Queen Nefertiti. Speak what is on your mind.”
Looking down at him with a smile I said, “A lovely brooch. In the shape of the sun but with the crown atop it. Can you interpret it for me? Why would she give me such a gift? As lovely as it is, I cannot wear it, not unless I want to offend my husband. For surely the crowned sun is the symbol of the Hittite empire. Was she suggesting that you take me to wife, King Tishratta?” The crowd whispered and pointed at the king and his retinue. They were as surprised as he was to hear my words. “No. That must be wrong because I am the wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh, a great and generous king who has chosen both Tadukhipa and me as wife. I have abandoned my people and claimed Egypt as my own. Hasn’t my sister-wife done the same?”
“She has. What are you accusing her of, Queen Nefertiti?” I could see his jaw clench and his fist curl.
Without moving my head I glanced at Harwa, whose eyes reminded me to tread lightly.
“Merely bad judgment. I have no specific accusation against her. I am merely asking about the nature of her curious gift. I do not understand it. I am sure sweet Tadukhipa had some kind gesture in mind, but since I cannot fathom it, I have decided to accept her gift anyway. My steward Harwa has delivered the brooch into my jeweler’s hands. He will make sure it is fit for a queen of Egypt. Please stay for my banquet this evening so you can see the gift she gave me. Thank you for attending me today.” I rose from the dais, leaving him standing stupidly before the throne. I walked out of the court, smiling generously at my people, stopping to accept their bows of devotion and blessings.
Once we left the long court processional, with the Hittites staring open-mouthed at our backs, Harwa found me and whispered, “My queen, what will Pharaoh say about this? I am sure he will hear about it. You have only given them reason to hate you more.”
“Do you think it will come back to bite me?”
Harwa sighed but smiled. “Of course it will, but we’ll be ready for them. It sounds to me like tonight’s banquet will be interesting indeed. Hittites, Grecians and Meshwesh together?”
“Why not? We are Egypt—the most civilized nation in the world. And if any of our guests have a problem with one another, then it is their problem to have. Make sure the gift is ready for me to wear by tonight, Harwa.”
“It shall be done, my queen.”
“Tell Menmet to come to me.”
I walked back up the staircase with my minor servants a safe distance behind me. I did not invite them to talk with me, though I knew that for many it would have been the dream of a lifetime. I was not feeling so generous at the moment. I had to think. If Queen Tiye had been there, what would she have said? Would she have even received them? She would have scolded me for letting my feelings get the better of me, but I think she would have agreed with my decision. Since Tadukhipa was openly challenging me for the title of Great Wife, I must return the favor. I pushed the door open to my chambers and was surprised to see a young girl waiting for me. She was on her knees, folding scarves. She wore a worn purple gown and a robe of blue. I could see right away that she was Meshwesh.
“Who are you? How did you get in here?”
“I am Sunami. I am sent here by your uncle Horemheb, the man we call Omel. I am to be in your court, Mekhma Nefret. Oh, excuse me, Queen Nefertiti!” Hearing a voice from home delighted my soul, especially at this moment when my hands and confidence were shaking.
“Welcome then, Sunami. Stand. Let me look at you.” She stood and raised her face slowly. As she did, I could see she was beautiful. She had an angular face, large luminous eyes the color of mist and short dark bangs with long black hair. Ah, she had been one of Farrah’s acolytes. Only those women left their tresses to grow to such lengths. “You look familiar to me. Have we met?” I saw something flash in those expressive eyes, but I did not know her well enough to decipher it. Fear, perhaps? Fear that I would reject her? “You do not have to be afraid of me. I do not eat children or young women, Sunami.”
“We have never met, Mekhma, I mean, Queen Nefertiti, but I have seen you many times at Timia and at Zerzura.”
“Ziza! That is who you favor! Is everything alright with the girl?”
“Oh yes, Ziza is my little cousin. All is well. She is growing and sends her love to you.”
I clapped my hands in delight and hugged her as if she were an old friend. About that time, Menmet bounced into the room ready to serve me. “Never mind, Menmet. Meet Sunami, my new maidservant. You must show her how to dress. Perhaps we can save her hair and not cut it, but I am not sure it can be avoided, Sunami.”
“I will be happy to cut my hair to serve you, Queen Nefertiti.”
“We will worry about that later. Right now I need your help choosing clothing for tonight. Menmet is always wanting to show my body with these sheer robes, but as you can see, I have a big belly now. I cannot walk around with my breasts exposed.” Menmet pouted at my teasing words.
“No indeed. You are Queen of Egypt. You cannot do such things. Let Sunami help you, sweet queen.”
Menmet whispered in my ear, “There is a man who says he must meet with you privately.” Even more quietly she said, “It is Alexio, lady queen.”
I drew back as if she had bitten me. “What?” She did not speak again but nodded her affirmation.
“Very well. Sunami, you stay here and find something blue for me to wear. The Grecians were wearing blue. I think it is important to show where my allegiance lies, at least today. I will return soon.”
She smiled, but there was no warmth in it. In fact, my skin felt clammy at the sight of it. I waved my hand dismissively and left her standing in my rooms alone.
I followed Menmet down to my private gardens and could see Alexio pacing there. “Please, Menmet. Stay with me. He and I cannot be alone together. Also, help me take off my robe. This heat is unbearable.”
“Should I ask why?”
“You should not.” I knew she loved me. How could I think of replacing her? Tiye had been wrong about her. Stop thinking about this right now, Nefret. You have bigger things to think about. There was danger afoot throughout my palace.
I walked out into the sunlight and stood patiently, waiting for Alexio to notice me. I learned this trick from Queen Tiye who loved to surprise people. She moved like Lady Silence herself. And, she bragged once, she learned a great deal just by standing like a statue.
“Oh, Nefret. You came.”
“This is Queen Nefertiti, sir. Please call her by her proper name, as it is illegal to do otherwise.”
“Forgive me, madam. May we speak in private, Queen Nefertiti? I have a boon to ask of you.”
“You can speak freely in front of Menmet. She is my most trusted adviser.”
“Sit, lady. I will attend you. Do you want water or wine?”
“Water, please, Menmet.”
We waited as she poured us a drink. I sat at the table and invited Alexio to sit with me. He took a drink and looked around him nervously. “It is I, Alexio. Your friend and countryman. Please do not feel afraid here.”
He looked at me, and I felt the familiar tug at my heart. He continued, “It’s just that there are things I would say to you that I…”
“Speak your mind, Alexio hap Omel.” I said the words pleasantly but rubbed my stomach protectively. He swallowed and got the message. I no longer belonged to him. I was Pharaoh’s wife.
“I came to plead for the release of my wife, Pah hap Semkah, your sister. I know you do not believe me, or maybe you will understand this now, now that you are so happy with your Pharaoh. I love her. I think I always did. I do not know why it took me so long to realize that, but
she needs me and I need her, Nefret. I mean, please, Queen Nefertiti, let her go. I do not know why she is being held in the temple, but you of all people should know that Pah is not well. Please set her free and send her home where she will be cared for by people who know and love her.” He spoke so passionately and suddenly that it surprised me. He added in a low voice, “If you ever loved me or cared for me, please, send her back to me.” I could see the tears in his eyes, and it was a strange thing to see. I wanted to slap him. Scream at him. Beg him to at least want me, but I did none of those things. I did not love him, not like I loved Amenhotep. Why was I so resistant to his request?
“I have not arrested her. I did not bring her here. In fact, Pah cannot remember who brought her, nor can she tell us why. But you may visit her. There is an investigation into this matter, but I do not know who arranged this. And I cannot fathom why someone would have sent her to the Green Temple. However, it is more complicated now. She is a proven seer, and her skills have made her a valuable asset to the priestesses there. And, of course, to Isis. I have a suspicion that they might release Pah at a price. They will lose money if she leaves. And more than anything, these temple priests and priestesses here value money. It is something my husband and I hope to change during our reign.”
He looked at me with a questioning expression. “So you are happy? You want to be with—I mean, in Thebes?”
Without thinking I leaned forward and took his hand in mine. I whispered to him, uncaring who saw me, “Fate led me away, and I cannot resist my destiny. I am sorry, Alexio.”
“I hated you when you left.”
“I know.”
“Those were lies, Nefr—Nefertiti. And you believed them. You should have believed me. You should have let me stay by your side.”
“And if I had? How could I have ever released you? But now I know you love Pah. That is good.”
He had something else to say, but he did not say it and I did not prompt him to speak his mind. Some things did not need to be and should not be said.
“Go to the temple tomorrow, Alexio. I will arrange for you to visit your wife. There is a small area where sometimes priestesses are afforded visits from family members, but do not tell them you are her husband. I am sure they would not welcome you if they knew. The priestesses of Isis are all unmarried. Talk to her. Find out what you can. Did she take an oath? If she did, it will be more difficult to remove her from the temple, but I would not say it is impossible. I will pay for her release since she did not willingly enter the temple herself. Help her remember, Alexio. Send Horemheb to me tomorrow, and we will meet with Nakmaa, the High Priestess at the Isis temple. Horemheb has charm with women, and she seems like one who enjoys being charmed.”
Alexio wiped sudden tears from his eyes. “And you don’t hate me?”
“How could I? I should be asking you that question.”
“I wish you a house full of children, my friend,” he said, gesturing toward my belly.
“And you, Alexio.” As we rose from the table, he was all smiles. He hugged me impetuously, and I did not stop him even though Menmet frowned disapprovingly. Soon he was gone, and I watched him leave knowing that would likely be the last time I saw him. I sighed, but it was not a regretful sigh. More an appreciation that a part of my life was officially over. No more days swimming aimlessly in the pool at Timia. No more climbing trees with my treasures or eating grapes from Alexio’s hand. Everything was different, and it always would be.
I heard the bells chime, sounding the time throughout the palace. “Oh no! I need to bathe and dress. Let’s go, Menmet.”
She took my hand, and we ran up the stairs together. I felt free. Freer than I had in a long time. Laughing at myself trying to race with my ball of a belly, I swung open the doors and froze in my tracks. Hanging from the golden rail that led to the top level of my apartment was a body. The body of Sunami! She was obviously dead, having been stabbed multiple times. I felt nausea rise in my belly, and I heard a strange sound. It was a woman’s voice, extremely loud, and the enunciations were all wrong.
“Please, mekhma. I only help.” In my surprise I had not noticed the second body on the floor. It was Mina! Farrah’s acolyte!
“Murderer!” Menmet screamed at her.
“No! Stop, Menmet!” Before I could get a hold of her, the guards were in the rooms. They immediately cut down the body and tried to assess the danger. “No, leave the woman alone. There is no danger here. Please. Just give me a minute.” I sat on the floor next to Mina. I could see that she too had slash marks along her arms and chest, and some were very vicious and deep. “What happened, my friend? Who did this to you?”
“I help,” she yelled.
“Mina, speak softly now. You do not have to yell. Save your air.”
“Astora!” she yelled again, and then I saw her jaw go slack and her eyes roll up to something I could not see.
“Astora? Mina! Come back to me! Where is Astora?”
Menmet screamed in surprise as she knelt by the body of my new servant. “Queen Nefertiti! This is not Sunami! Who is this?”
“What do you mean? She is in Sunami’s clothing. Who else could it be?”
The guards had removed the body and laid it on the floor. I pushed back the long hair and could plainly see that it was much shorter now. The face became clearer, and the last of the illusion faded. There was the face of Astora, the wife of Horemheb. She had fresh tattoos on her face, and her eyes were dead. Wondering who else was dead here, I ran up the last flight of stairs and looked around my bedchambers. There were no other bodies, but all my gowns had been slashed to pieces with the same knife that appeared to have been used on Astora. Who had done this? Astora/Sunami? Or maybe Mina? I could not fathom it. I sat on the bed and cried as my servants began cleaning my chambers.
Oh, Amenhotep! Come home soon! Death is all around me!
Chapter Eleven
Pah—Twisting Snakes
Never do I dream. Except last night. Then she came to me—like an angry tiger, growling with snarling teeth and reaching, evil claws. She wanted to take from me what I took from her. She said nothing, just slashed at me. I felt the cuts, one after the other. I felt the blood pouring from my wounds. I fell to my knees, unable to fend off her cruel slices. I raised my outstretched hand to protect my face. I waited for the death strike, perhaps at my throat, but it did not come. The awful tearing, the painful slices ceased.
Crying and begging for my miserable life, I slowly lifted my head.
The tiger with Paimu’s face had disappeared. Now it was the girl, her hair disheveled and dirty with desert sand, her tunic stained with dark blood and her eyes…black and lifeless. They peered into my soul.
Her mouth did not move, but her words filled my mind.
Murderess. Murderess. Do you think you can hide from me, murderess? A life for a life.
Her words were like a sword stabbing into my heart.
Suddenly my mind was flooded with memories, unhappy memories of Paimu’s hopeful face and my cruel last words to her. I could see and know how she felt. And even more than that, I felt her need for love, her awareness of her abandonment by the Algat. The utter rejection and hopelessness. And all that time I had the power to love, help and comfort her.
But I had not done that. My sister had. I saw Nefret smiling down at her brown face and felt Paimu’s joyful heart. The future became hopeful again. I then saw flashes of Paimu’s memories—climbing the palm trees, plunging into the cool waters of the pool at Timia, playing with the baby goats, laughing with Alexio, stealing chula bread with Ziza. In the memories she shared I could see Paimu’s gap-toothed smile and feel the warmth within her. She who had been cast off had found love.
Then another memory.
I saw my own face in the darkness, rich robes around me, a queen’s necklace hanging from my neck. Then the blade, and then the pain. I gasped at what I saw, yet I knew it was all true. I was the one who had done it.
I fell on my face and
wept. The girl did not move. She did not offer comfort, nor did I expect it.
“What do you want? I cannot change what I have done. What do you want, Paimu? I am sorry I did this to you. I am sorry.”
She moved closer. Still crying, I sat up on my knees and turned my face toward her. When I had the courage to open my eyes, I could see she was as she used to be. Her eyes were no longer black, her clothing was fresh and her hair was brushed and clean. “What do you want?” I asked again. “I deserve to die. Take my life, Paimu. I surrender it to you.” I meant what I said, but she did not accept my offer.
Then the dream changed. Paimu was not alone now. Farrah stood beside her, and together the three of us stood outside my tent at Timia. Farrah’s hair fluttered up occasionally, lifted by a mysterious wind that blew around us. She did not rage at me, not as I had seen her do before on the other side of the temple walls, with eyes of hatred.
“Why have you come? To kill me?” I asked her. I was no longer kneeling but standing and wearing the robes of the mekhma. The cuts had disappeared from my flesh, although I could still feel the pain of them. Terror flooded me, and I wavered on my feet. A nearby fire lit up the darkness, and just beyond it I could hear voices. Voices of many shadowy beings that watched my every move. There was nowhere to run. Nothing I could do.
“The price must be paid, Pah. The girl deserves justice.”
“Are you asking me to take my own life? Is that what she wants?”
Farrah’s expression was dark, unhappy, and she shook her head slowly.
“What is it, then? Tell me!”
The Kingdom of Nefertiti (The Desert Queen Book 3) Page 12
