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

by Katie Hamstead

  Once she disappeared through the curtain, I rushed over to listen.

  “Hello,” he said softly.

  “Hello,” she answered, in a shy voice.

  “You are very beautiful.”

  She giggled.

  “Do you have a name?”

  “My name is Rachel, daughter of Malachi.”

  “Rachel is a very pretty name. It suits you.”

  She giggled again.

  I pulled the curtain open a crack to peek in on them. He leaned on the windowsill, holding the curtain back, while she stood beside it grinning and blushing.

  “My name is Adam,” he told her.

  “Hello, Adam.”

  “Can I come see you again tomorrow?” he asked. “I really want to get to know you better.”

  “My uncles won’t let any suitors approach the house.”

  “But I did.” He grinned at her and leaned closer. “I can do this again, if you’d like?”

  “I would like that.”

  His grin widened as he leaned closer again. “I’ll be back tomorrow then.”

  A loud yell arose from the street, followed by Samuel and Tobiah’s laughter. Adam flinched, but didn’t move as he gazed at Rachel.

  She glanced around nervously. “You should go. If you were to get caught, they would watch out for you tomorrow.”

  “Very well. But will you give me a kiss goodbye?”

  That was pushing his limits. I stepped back and called, “Rachel?”

  She gasped. “I have to go.”

  “Just one kiss?” he asked pleadingly.

  I grabbed the blanket over the door and as I pulled it back, he ducked behind the wall. “Rachel, what are you doing in here?”

  “I was just checking the blankets,” she answered as she tapped the bed.

  “I need you to finish mending Zakkai’s pants. He can’t work naked.”

  She giggled. “That would be a sight!”

  She dashed out of the room.

  Each day, Adam returned in a similar manner, and Rachel tried to discreetly slip away to talk to him. It made me smile to hear her talking softly to him, and have him tell her she was beautiful. But every time he’d ask for a kiss, I’d call for her.

  This went on for several months, as Tobiah found out Adam was not quite old enough to marry. I knew he was Rachel’s choice, and I caught her stealing glances at him when they passed each other in the streets and marketplace. Zakkai didn’t like it one bit, and when he discovered what he was doing at the window, he guarded it to keep him away.

  Finally, a few months before Rachel’s thirteenth birthday, we received a knock on the door. I opened it and found Adam standing with his father.

  “My son wishes to speak with you,” the man said and pushed his son forward.

  Zakkai shoved passed me and glared at him. “He can go away.”

  I grabbed Zakkai’s arm and pulled him back, then spoke to Adam. “Please, come in.”

  Adam glanced at his father, who raised an eyebrow and stepped back to signal this was up to him. He took a deep breath and stepped into our home. I had sent Rachel to the well, so I had time to speak with him. I called Saul out and told him to go bring his uncles, Tobiah and Samuel. Once he had gone, I placed some dates on the table and asked Adam to sit.

  He obeyed, while watching Zakkai closely. The two were close in age, but Zakkai was enormous, like his father. He stood a whole head taller, and much broader across the shoulders. Yes, my burly fifteen-year-old did look quite frightening as he slowly sank into a chair opposite him and folded his arms.

  “So,” I said as I placed a cup in front of him. “I have seen you around, but we haven’t been introduced.”

  He looked up at me and smiled. “I am Adam, son of Yehosef, from the tribe of Judah.”

  Zakkai scoffed. I slapped him with the back of my hand.

  “And how old are you, Adam?”

  “I am sixteen. I will be seventeen in a few months.”

  “Come back when you are at least eighteen,” Zakkai snarled.

  I slapped him again.

  Adam remained undeterred. “I know you are not ignorant of my intentions here today, so I am hoping to get to know you better so you may feel secure allowing me the chance to marry your daughter and sister.”

  “It’s not going to happen.” Zakkai leaned back, puffing his chest out.

  I grabbed Zakkai by the mouth and spoke to Adam. “You speak well for someone your age.”

  He nodded. “I know of your story, Naomi, daughter of Jorem. So I have studied and worked hard, when I could, to be worthy to marry your daughter.”

  Zakkai pulled my hands off his mouth. “He’s a scoundrel. He’s trying to manipulate us.”

  Adam leaned back, looking quite alarmed. “No, I…”

  I flicked Zakkai’s ear. “Would you leave him alone? You’re as bad as Tut was with Joshua.”

  Zakkai grumbled something under his breath and scowled.

  I sat beside Adam. “Well, Adam, since you already know my story there isn’t much else to get to know.”

  He turned to me and shook his head. “That’s not true. Stories and rumors can only tell you so much about a person―”

  Zakkai made gagging noises. “Mama―”

  Samuel entered and glanced around at each of us with a smile.

  “Ah! I was beginning to wonder when this was going to happen.”

  He came and sat next to Zakkai and leaned over the table, staring fixedly at Adam but not saying a word.

  Finally, Tobiah arrived, looking more intimidating than ever. I couldn’t help lifting my hand to cover my smirk. They each did their best to make him feel as awkward as possible, which was exactly what Malachi would have done.

  Tobiah rested his hands on the table and leaned over. He stared at Adam, who did all he could to stay composed.

  “Well, boy, get on with it.”

  Adam cleared his throat and stood. “I wish to take Rachel, daughter of Malachi, to be my wife.”

  Zakkai made a revolted snort.

  Samuel leaned forward and pressed his hands together. “You know we expect a high price for her. She has a good bloodline, and is a hard worker at her mother’s side who, as you know, is a widow.”

  Adam looked down at me. “I know she is, and I admire how brave she has been these past few years to keep her farm and family running.”

  “Stop trying to flatter my mother!” Zakkai shot to his feet. “If my father were here he would see right through you and use his foot on your―”

  Samuel grabbed Zakkai’s mouth. “Don’t be rude, boy.”

  Tobiah towered over Adam and folded his arms, making him look stronger and larger. “So, boy, what do you have to offer for my brother’s only daughter?”

  “Well…” He fished around in his robes. “I have some gold.” He dumped a few handfuls on the table. “And I can owe the rest.”

  Tobiah and Samuel looked down at the gold and frowned.

  “He is new at this,” Samuel said under his breath.

  “How very forgiving of you,” Tobiah responded. He looked at Adam. “Doesn’t your father want to help you?”

  He shook his head. “He said this is up to me.”

  “I admire you for your tenacity, then.”

  Samuel scowled as he stood. “Excuse me for one moment.”

  He walked out of the house, and a few seconds later, I heard him arguing with Adam’s father. Adam’s gaze fell and he flushed.

  We couldn’t hear what they were saying at first, until his father spat, “You can’t honestly tell me the girl is his!”

  Tobiah’s head shot up, and he rushed out as well. The argument seemed to heat up.

  Adam sank down beside me. “I’m not going to marry her, am I?”

  I touched his shoulder. “I want you to.”

  He smiled at me. “Thank you, but my father… If he offends your brother, the leader of the tribe of Ephraim, that’s the end for me, and I’ve seen what your bro
ther-in-law does when he finds us unworthy.” He shuddered. “Maybe I’ll cut my losses and leave for now, so I can try and save up some more money.”

  The door burst open with a bang and Samuel pointed at me. “Naomi! Come here.”

  I hurried over to him. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and whispered in my ear, “The boy’s father questions your virtue and the paternity of Rachel.”

  “What?” I gasped. “She is without a question Malachi’s. Who is he saying…?” I knew right away by the look in Samuel’s eye. “Horemheb.”

  He nodded. “He was among those who stoned you before you married Malachi and while you were seen as the cast- out queen. He has tried to discourage his son from pursuing Rachel, but the boy is determined he’s in love.”

  “How do you think we should handle this?”

  He grinned. “Show him the queen.”

  “Excuse me?” I leaned back, baffled.

  “Like you showed Laban at your wedding feast. You can be very commanding when you want to be.”

  I glanced back at Adam who seemed to be scanning the room for an escape. “Make sure he doesn’t leave.”

  I then marched over to Adam’s father. I stood in front of him, glaring up at him with my hands on my hips. Then, very calmly, I said, “You question my virtue?”

  “Yes.” He lifted his chin defiantly.

  “Have you seen my children? They all bear a striking resemblance to their father. I will not have you slander their good names by your lies. I was faithful and loyal to both of my husbands, especially Malachi. That young girl whom you doubt was the light of his life. She grieved for her father when he passed, and if she were to know that you…”

  My voice caught as I struggled to stay composed.

  “If you want to deny your son a wonderful, loving, young girl, then that’s your prerogative, but I will not stand by and have you slander her because you have some ill-informed judgments against me.”

  He glared at me in disgust. “Give me my son.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Rachel approaching. She watched us closely, and I knew if she saw him walk away with Adam, she would be sorely disappointed.

  I rushed back inside. I snatched up the gold on the table and met Adam’s eyes. “How much do you want to owe me?”

  His face lit up. “I’m not sure what the acceptable amount would be, but I can move here and live on the farm. I would assist with anything you ask of me and pay you what I can until you think it’s enough.”

  I offered him my hand. “That sounds agreeable to me.”

  The three men had rushed to the door and heard the exchange.

  “Adam!” his father snarled. “We are leaving. Don’t you dare make a deal with that harlot.”

  Adam glared at his father before grasping my hand. “Then it’s a deal.”

  “You are no longer my son, you defiant boy!” He marched away.

  Adam slumped. “I guess I have even less to offer now.”

  I rested my hand on his shoulder. “You can live with Itani until you have built a house.”

  Rachel then entered, her eyes lit up. “What’s going on?”

  Adam looked to her and it seemed as if all that had happened just melted away. He really was smitten by her.

  Samuel took her hand and said to me, “Naomi, can you…?”

  He didn’t need to finish his sentence. I rushed out to get the wine. When I returned, Samuel pulled out the cup my father had used for each of his children.

  Rachel’s eyes lit up and she grinned.

  I poured wine into the cup as Samuel spoke. “Rachel, Adam of Judah wishes to take you as his wife. We have found his offering for you acceptable and wish for you to make your choice.”

  He handed the cup to Adam, who sipped from it, then handed it back to Samuel. As he turned to offer it to her, she snatched it from him and sipped. Adam rushed toward her, but Tobiah and Samuel stepped between them.

  Samuel looked down at him. “You mustn’t touch her until the time of betrothal passes.”

  He nodded. He then watched as I stepped over and veiled her.

  “Nor can you look upon her.”

  He nodded again and met Samuel’s eyes. “It will be worth it.”

  Rachel sat beside me and pulled off her veil. “This thing is so hot.”

  I giggled as I kneaded the bread for Horemheb’s meal. “You wanted to get married.”

  “Yes, but couldn’t I just skip this part?”

  I laughed.

  Horemheb entered the house with his weekly guests, including Ay. The two had been at odds since the festival more than six months earlier, but Horemheb kept managing to entice him back with the prospect of eating my food. He apparently craved it between visits; if only he knew it was what made him weak and sickly.

  I hurried to put together what I had prepared earlier, and slipped the poison into his drink while Rachel wasn’t paying me any heed.

  “Stay here,” I ordered, not that she would leave anyway. She still feared Horemheb, but she was far more terrified of Ay.

  I hurried to where the men sat around the table and began setting down the food. A very young man whom I had never seen before looked up at me. “So this is the infamous cook.”

  “Yes, Ramses,” Horemheb answered. “Her lamb is a gift from the gods.”

  “So I’ve heard.” He watched my face as his hand hung over the tray. Finally, he grabbed a piece of dried beef, and I handed him his wine.

  “Thank you, my queen,” he muttered, and as I turned to leave, he grabbed my behind.

  “Is that really necessary, Ramses?” Ay grunted. “They don’t need encouragement.” He shuddered and pointed at Horemheb. “I don’t know how you men can tolerate touching them.”

  I set his cup in front of him and placed the dish on the table. I glanced across at Horemheb as Ay began to sip.

  “I don’t know, my lord,” Horemheb answered, his eyes never leaving me. “We all have our vices.”

  I turned to leave as Ay said, “So, Commander, I have heard rumors that you have been trying to court my daughter.”

  “That is true, but she has not been terribly receptive,” he answered.

  “So you have finally let go of that wretched Kiya and are trying to move onto greener pastures.”

  “Kiya has been dead for a long time now,” he answered.

  I turned and looked at him as I slowly pulled the door shut, wondering how he would respond.

  “She would want me to marry and have a son―”

  “So you are still obsessed with her.” Ay scoffed. “She was vile, Horemheb. The time you were forced to spend with her did something to your mind. She must have used some kind of slave trickery to ensnare you.”

  He huffed. “Maybe, my lord. But, she is gone now and I have found a more appropriate match to pursue.”

  “Yes, indeed.” By the tone of Ay’s voice, he did not approve.

  I walked away, trying to focus on how weak Ay looked, rather than Horemheb’s pursuit of Mutnodjmet. I wondered if it was almost time for the final phase of the plan. I didn’t have to wait long to find out. A few hours later, after the men had all gone, Horemheb came in to see me. Rachel hurried to veil herself as he sent her away.

  He stood with his hands on his hips, wearing a stern expression. I walked closer to him so I could speak softly. “Horemheb, how is our plan progressing?”

  He avoided eye contact. “Which one? Getting me a wife or killing Ay?”

  I stepped back from him, sensing his bitterness. “The Ay issue.”

  He took a deep breath and dropped his arms. “Well. I would like to discuss with you how we should deal the final blow. I don’t want to do it here in my home, so I was thinking during a feast at the palace.”

  “No, I want to be there,” I said, grabbing his wrist. “I want him to know Kiya brought him down in the end. I want him to know he didn’t get away with murdering my son and forcing my people to suffer and die.”

  He turned
his hand and grasped mine. “I don’t think that would be the best idea. The palace is not a safe place for you. I may be able to get you in, but getting you that close to him would be dangerous.”

  I stared up at him, trying to think. I thought about Mutnodjmet instead, and wondered how she could refuse him, but that thought led me to another, Ay needed an heir. That was why Horemheb had to marry Mutnodjmet. Ay’s wives were no longer bearing children and I knew since his health had been failing him, he was beginning to grow desperate. Hebrew women were renowned for bearing children with ease, maybe… “Use me as bait.”

  He pulled away from me. “What? No!”

  “Yes. He’s desperate for an heir, offer him a fertile woman.”

  “You’re not fertile.” He frowned.

  “I know that, and you know that, but he doesn’t. To him I am a woman who has seven strong, healthy children, five of whom were sons. That’s good odds.”

  Horemheb pulled back from me, disgusted. “You want to lie with him?”

  I cringed at the prospect. “Heavens no! You will kill him before it gets that far.”

  He paused as he thought my proposal through. “So I will take you in as an offering of some kind, and while he’s distracted by you, I will sneak up and finish him off.”

  “That sounds perfect.”

  He scowled. “I wouldn’t go that far. We need to figure out details. Why would I take you? How will we make sure he’s alone? How will we avoid a struggle which could leave telltale signs of foul play?”

  I turned away from him to the table and ran my hand over its edge. “That’s your area of expertise, Horemheb. You are the cunning one.”

  He rushed over and slammed his fist on the table. “Naomi!”

  I jumped back, startled by the fire in his eyes. He leaned over the table toward me. His lips parted as his Adam’s apple moved up and down. He wanted to say something, but he fought it back. His fists clenched and without thinking, I reached down and grasped them.

  “You are meant for this, to be Pharaoh. There is no one greater than you, no one more powerful, or clever, or intelligent. You know how to run a country for its people, for the greater good. You may be a hardened military man, but I can see past that. You can revive this kingdom to its former glory.”