KIYA: Rise of a New Dynasty (Kiya Trilogy Book 3)

by Katie Hamstead

  “Little Rachel is quite the favorite.” Tobiah chuckled.

  “She’s just like someone else was!” Bilhan laughed as we all came together. “Remember, Naomi?”

  “I try not to,” I teased, avoiding eye contact with Uriyah.

  As we danced, I watched Rachel out of the corner of my eye. She was truly very lovely, and the young man seemed stunned that she had chosen him to dance with her.

  After the dancing finished and the mingling began, I noticed the young man and his group of friends hovering around Rachel. She was flattered, batting her eyes and giggling as she clung to her female cousins while the group tailed them. Zakkai seemed suddenly protective of his sister, so grabbed Rena’s son who was the same age as him, and they attached themselves to the girls.

  One boy in particular caught my attention. He seemed far more interested than the rest, and even managed to irritate Zakkai with his advances. But Rachel seemed to enjoy his attention, and despite her brother trying to keep him away, she drew him in and encouraged him.

  Samuel suddenly caught my arm. “That takes me back.”

  I glanced up at him. “You never protected me like that.”

  “Naomi, it wasn’t that long ago. You can’t seriously tell me you’ve forgotten.”

  “No one else has forgotten.” Dana smiled from the other side of him. “Rachel is you all over again. It’s quite amusing to watch.”

  “And poor Zakkai.” Samuel smiled shaking his head. “He feels the need to protect her but has no idea how. I should go and give him some advice.”

  “What kind of advice?” I giggled.

  “That the women in our family are far too headstrong and independent to even try.”

  I laughed outright. “Samuel, don’t be like that. I always listened to what you had to say.”

  “No, you didn’t.” He grinned. “You never did what I told you to do.”

  “I may not have ever acted upon your advice, but I always listened.”

  He smirked. “You’re lucky I’m a kind and loving brother.”

  We continued watching Rachel and Zakkai as they struggled with their conflicting interests in the group of boys hanging around them. I watched with great interest as I remembered back to when I was a girl just coming of age, and how Samuel always hung around me agitated, and I knew then why. I knew I should probably intervene, like our father always did, but it was so fascinating to watch how life repeated itself.

  An arm suddenly wrapped around my waist. I turned surprised, wondering who would presume to be so forward with me. Horemheb pressed against me, dressed as a Hebrew, he even wore a hood to help remain discreet

  “Get your family out of here as quickly as possible,” he said in a hushed voice.

  “Why?” I whispered, my panic rising as I glanced around for my three youngest boys.

  “Ay has banned your god, remember? He knows of this festival and is bringing soldiers to kill whomever he finds participating.”

  I turned to Samuel but he had already rushed away to Rena and Bilhan. I grabbed Dana’s hand and spoke to her and Horemheb. “Help me find my children.”

  He nodded, while Dana herded the group of her children along with several cousins out of the square toward her home. I saw Ezra with them, so I scanned for Aaron and Saul while I rushed to Zakkai and Rachel. I grabbed Rachel’s arm and turned to the boys following her.

  “Go to your families and tell them to go home. There are Egyptian soldiers coming for us.”

  The boys looked terrified and rushed away without hesitation. Zakkai grabbed my robe. “Mama, where are the boys?”

  “Ezra’s gone to Uncle Samuel’s house. You must take Rachel and your cousins here and join them.”

  He nodded and the handful of cousins dashed away together. I looked around and saw Rena and Bilhan hurrying away with several more children, including―to my relief―Saul. I hurried through the crowd and found Itani and Nathaniel next and sent them home, and soon I found Hepsati and Joshua who had their children and Aaron with them. Relieved to know my children were all accounted for, I watched them hurry out of the square. I scanned the square and saw Samuel with Adina and Uriyah leaving with the last of the cousins.

  Horemheb then stood in front of me again. “Come quickly, I can hear them coming.”

  “I don’t hear anything,” I replied as I glanced around. “And not all the family has been notified.”

  “What are you talking about? I saw all your children leave as well as your siblings and their swarms―”

  “But Tobiah and Jared―”

  He moaned. “His brothers? Naomi, they are strong men they can―”

  The soldiers burst into the square, their swords blazing. Blood spilled right away, and people scattered and screamed.

  Horemheb tugged at my arm. “Hurry, Naomi!”

  We ran for the streets but the soldiers cut us off. Horemheb redirected us to a different exit, but the soldiers had surrounded the square to kill my people systematically. Horemheb pulled me behind him and unsheathed his sword.

  “I’ll keep you safe, Naomi.”

  I grabbed at his robe as I glanced around at the bloodshed. They were indiscriminate with the carnage; men, women, children, none were shown any mercy. Then I saw Tobiah and Jared rushing toward me with their wives and most of their children. Tobiah noticed whom I was with and was noticeably stunned. “Commander?”

  Horemheb glanced at him. “Ah, good! Some strong fighters. Let’s get these women out of here.”

  He yanked my knife from my pocket and tossed it to Tobiah, then he tossed his dagger to Jared. He motioned them in closer to him and gave them directions.

  They glanced around, and Tobiah said to us, “Stay close, we will get you out of here.”

  I took Miriam’s hand and lifted one of the younger children onto my hip. Then the three men charged a weak point in the line leading out to a street.

  We hurried up behind them, keeping a safe distance, and it only took a moment for them to punch a hole in the line. Jared’s wife and children rushed through first, and we sent the rest of the children after them as the men held the hole open.

  I was the last to run through, and as I passed, Jared yelled out in pain. I glanced around to see him knocked to the ground, blood pouring from his torso. I froze, seeing Malachi instead and felt my blood boil. I roughly handed the child on my hip to Miriam and hurried back to Jared. I plucked the dagger from his hand and stabbed the man who was about to finish him off in the thigh. His leg gave out, giving me enough time to pull Jared free. But as he stumbled into his wife Batya’s arms, he gave her a quick kiss and fell dead on the ground.

  “Naomi, run!” Horemheb yelled.

  My mind switched back on and I ran after the women, but someone grasped my ankle. I fell to the ground and grunted in pain. As I flipped back over, a sword came bearing down on me. I rolled out of the way, but another soldier grabbed me by the hair and pulled to my feet. I swung the knife and missed my attacker, but then he fell dead, stabbed from behind.

  Horemheb pushed him aside and grabbed my wrist. Tobiah appeared behind him and the three of us fled from the soldiers advancing upon us. We found ourselves caught in the middle the square with the remaining survivors. I clasped tightly to Horemheb’s hand, frightened for my life and at the thought that the soldiers had just murdered so many innocent people.

  “Horemheb,” I said quietly, my voice tense. “What are we going to do?”

  He looked down at me with concern in his eyes.

  “Naomi…” Then his expression changed. It hardened and he grabbed Tobiah’s robe. “Don’t let her do anything rash.”

  Tobiah grabbed my arm. “She won’t even move.”

  Horemheb stepped back and pulled off his hood and robe. “Naomi, I will get you out of this.”

  “Horemheb, what―?” I went to rush after him, but Tobiah held me back.

  Horemheb advanced on the soldiers, who hesitated and pulled back from him, confused.

 
“Ay, show yourself!” he bellowed.

  From behind us, we heard a disturbance, then, “Who dares call me by name?”

  Horemheb swung around and raised his bloodied sword. “I do, Pharaoh.”

  Ay appeared from among the crowd. I felt strangely gratified to see him looking off-color.

  “Commander? You were always a sympathizer with these people, but I didn’t think you would join their religion.”

  “I have not joined their faith!” Horemheb said with a snarl. “I came to preserve my investments. I took many slaves and I have prospered from their hard work.”

  Ay scoffed as he walked toward Horemheb. “Liar. I should have you killed for such treason.”

  The soldiers turned their weapons to face Horemheb. I gasped as I watched, and prayed for Horemheb’s cunning mind to preserve him.

  “I am no liar, my lord,” Horemheb responded with a bow. “My profits have been up thirteen percent since taking on the slaves.”

  Ay stepped in front of him and glared into his eyes. “You foul Hebrew lover―”

  “And my cook is one of them,” he continued. “I know how much you enjoy her food. I didn’t think you would want to lose that luxury.”

  Ay leaned back slightly, then sneered. “And you would hate to lose that benefit, wouldn’t you?”

  Tobiah’s hand tightened on my arm and his gaze shot down to me. “Has he, with you?”

  “No!” I glared at him. “He just makes Ay think he does.”

  “Naomi!”

  “Hush! It was that or death.”

  Tobiah scowled, but stopped arguing with me.

  “Think of how well your monuments have been progressing,” Horemheb continued. “Never have any building projects moved along so quickly. To destroy these people would slow everything down to a near standstill. That would look bad for your enemies. They would think an uprising had occurred and―”

  “Enough!” Ay’s voice boomed across the square. He glared at Horemheb and pointed at his chest angrily. “You have some very valid points, Commander, so I will cease my disciplinary action on these people for their blatant disregard for the gods, but you are on dangerous ground. I am watching you, Horemheb. I don’t trust you when it comes to Hebrews. That poor excuse for a queen made you soft toward them. If I find you fraternizing with them in a way I deem treacherous, I will have your head.”

  Horemheb bowed. “That is completely understandable, my lord.”

  Ay shoved his shoulder roughly. “Get these soldiers out of this wretched corner of the city. I am afraid I may catch a disease if I stay here much longer.”

  Horemheb ordered the soldiers to move out. Ay’s royal guard surrounded him and escorted him away.

  Tobiah held me tightly as we watched the square empty, then we looked over to Horemheb. The people around us rushed forward to offer him their gratitude, but he pushed past them and grabbed my arm. “Are you hurt?”

  “Not anything worth mentioning.”

  He grabbed my chin and looked me over. “I don’t see any blood.”

  “No, I don’t think―”

  He shoved me back against Tobiah.

  “Take her away. Make sure her family is safe. I have some damage control I need to take care of.” He turned to walk away.

  “Horemheb!” I called, but he didn’t even slow his pace. “Horemheb, thank you. You saved my family.”

  He glanced back, but disappeared from the square without saying a word.

  Tobiah took my arm and led me away. We first went to where Jared had fallen and now lay abandoned in the street.

  Tobiah sighed sadly. “I was not supposed to be the last one left. They were all younger than me. I should have protected them.” He knelt beside Jared and straightened him up. “Goodbye, brother. I hope you find peace with our brothers and parents.”

  I touched his shoulder as he slowly stood. “I will have Samuel and the men of my family assist you with moving the body.”

  He shook his head. “I cannot leave him here, not like this.”

  “But he is such a large man. Surely you cannot…” But as I watched, he lifted Jared up in his arms to carry him. He struggled the whole way to where we purified and prepared bodies for burial, then he set him down on a table.

  Tobiah stroked his head and sighed.

  “I will take you home now, Naomi.” He looked down at me sadly and offered me his hand. “I’ll bring your brother here tomorrow with Jared’s wife, but for now, we need to see how much blood has been shed among the families.”

  We walked slowly back to the farm. I had no idea what to say to him, I was in shock myself, so we walked a fair distance without saying a word. Then his voice cut through the silence, making me jump.

  “I don’t understand your fondness for the Commander. He was very unkind to you.”

  I shook my head. “No, he saved me out there.”

  “But the way he spoke to you! Malachi would have never dreamed of speaking to you in that way.”

  I smiled. “He would never have needed to.”

  Tobiah shook his head. “Naomi, I cannot understand your attachment to him. He’s a cruel and ruthless man.”

  I nodded. “That he is, yes.”

  I looked up at Tobiah, who stared at me, waiting for some kind of explanation. I clenched my hands together. “He has only ever protected me. Never once have I felt he would turn on me and harm me in anyway. Even when he was furious after finding out I was alive and had married Malachi, I still knew he wouldn’t do anything to me. He even saved Malachi from being executed because he couldn’t see me in pain.”

  I looked up at Tobiah and smiled gently. “He seems cold and unfeeling to most people, but the truth is, he is extremely passionate. He fights with all his strength for the things he believes in, and would die for the people he loves.”

  “I thought he hated everyone,” Tobiah said in a low voice.

  I chuckled. “Almost everyone. He would have taken Tut’s place if he could.”

  “And you, he fights for you.”

  I blushed. “I don’t understand why. He has been the greatest ally of my life. From the very beginning, before I even arrived in Amarna, he was on my side. It has kept me alive over the years.”

  We fell silent for a few moments before Tobiah sighed. “So this is what Malachi meant by letting you decide who you wanted to marry when you were ready.”

  I glanced at him, surprised. “What do you mean?”

  “He knew you would eventually go to Horemheb―”

  “I haven’t… No, Tobiah, you have the wrong idea. I can’t marry him. He is courting Princess Mutnodjmet so he can have a blood claim on the crown and hopefully have a child through her.”

  He chuckled. “And I bet that was your idea as well, wasn’t it?”

  “Of course.” I scowled. “It’s a beneficial union―”

  “Naomi, when will you stop sacrificing yourself for everyone else?” Tobiah stopped and turned to me. “Malachi constantly needed to protect you from yourself because you kept putting your life on the line for others. For your sisters, your children, especially Tut, and even for him. Marrying him was the only thing you ever did for your own happiness, but now you are still fighting for his life even though he is gone. He would not be happy to find you still grieving for him and holding onto a lost cause.”

  My face fell. “He came to me in a dream.”

  Tobiah squeezed my shoulders. “What did he say?”

  My tears began to spill out. “He told me to stop fighting and let Horemheb take care of me and the children. But how can I? We are his family. I swore I’d be loyal to him to the end. I just love him so much.”

  Tobiah pulled my head against his chest as he let me cry. “I know you do, Naomi. But letting someone love you and take care of you and his children is not a betrayal.”

  He let me cry for a few more minutes, until I gained control of myself again. He then said gently, “Naomi, ask yourself this; do you love Horemheb?”

  �
�Tobiah, you know Malachi―”

  “I’m not asking if you love Malachi, because that love I know still burns within you and nothing will ever take that away. I’m asking if you love Horemheb.”

  I paused, carefully thinking through my feelings. “Yes, I do.”

  He lifted my chin so I looked into his eyes. “Then, when the time is right, don’t run away. Let him take you as a wife because he will cherish you as my brother would want. So, I want you to know this; I will accept and support it, and will make sure everyone else in the family does also.”

  He gently kissed my forehead, then guided me back into a walk.

  “Tobiah, it’s nice to have you around,” I said, sighing. “You knew Malachi better than anyone, and having you to guide me with what he would have wanted eases my burdens.”

  He smiled proudly. “I do what I can.”

  “I do have a request for you.”

  “What is that?”

  “Rachel has come of age…”

  He laughed. “Gladly.”

  he word spread about Rachel being of marriageable age. I found my house suddenly on the route home from the daily labor for the young men. Samuel and Tobiah would rush to my home with Zakkai to beat back the daily onslaught of wooers for her.

  Samuel found the whole thing hysterically funny and told me it was justice for when I was her age.

  Zakkai was annoyed at most of them, and chased the more timid ones off with a stick. He didn’t think his younger sister should marry until she was twenty-five.

  Tobiah took the job more seriously. He noted the repeat visitors and checked their family backgrounds. If he found them to be unworthy of his niece, they found him waiting by the road for them holding a shepherd’s crook.

  The persistent young man from the festival was one of these repeat visitors. He was very clever about his visits, though. He wanted to actually see her and speak with her, so he hung back from the initial groups that approached, and while her brother and uncles were distracted, he slipped around to the back of the house.

  The first time he did it, I heard a clicking sound as a stone flew through the window. I glanced up from cooking, and saw Rachel look toward the bedroom out of the corner of her eye. I pretended I hadn’t noticed, and she softly excused herself to investigate.