The Falcon Rises (The Desert Queen Book 2) Page 12

  Kiya’s party was small. I saw Queen Tiye’s daughter Sitamen lurking in the inner room, but she did not come out to greet me or speak to me. I carried the shallow bowl around the room dutifully and offered the selection of fruits to the women who attended Kiya’s party. None accepted my offerings; in fact, none of them spoke to me. When I passed through the room with the bowl I dawdled around. Unsure what to do, I stood holding the bowl of fruit waiting for further instructions. Why in the world had she called me all the way here to serve her guests?

  I had never been treated as a servant before, but she was a queen of Egypt. I looked at the steward, who pretended not to see me. I walked around the room again with the bowl, trying to stay out of the way. I had just decided to leave the unhappy company when Kiya made a strange sniffling sound.

  “Well,” Kiya said, sniffing the air as if she detected something foul, “what is this terrific smell? Camel dung? Is that the new scent from the exotic desert?”

  Her game partner, Meritamon, shook the amber dice and studied the board before moving a marble game piece. Absently she answered, “Too earthy for me. What about you, Inhapi?”

  The third woman did not speak but pretended to gag as she held her fingers over her nose and shook her head. The trio broke out into giggles. Anger whipped up within me like a desert wind. I let the silver bowl full of citrus fruits crash to the ground. It made a terrible clatter, and bright oranges bounced across the courtyard. Kiya sprang to her feet. “You pick that up, stupid!”

  I stared at her with all the hatred I could muster. It was time to end this. I’d had enough of her snide comments. Very easily I could beat her to death with the bowl that lay at my feet.

  “Never,” I whispered ferociously. “I am not your slave!”

  “Then I shall have you whipped like the goat that you are! How dare you defy me—I am the wife of Amenhotep! Pick up that tray, now!”

  Before she could speak another word, Huya stepped out of the shadows from his hiding place along the outer wall. He was always lurking about. I had not noticed him before. He said nothing but merely stared at us. Do not do what you are thinking, his eyes warned me. I do not know what warning Kiya saw in his stare, but it held her anger at bay—at least for the moment.

  The reality of my situation struck me as soundly as I imagined striking Kiya.

  I was never leaving Egypt.

  I had achieved the dream of all mekhmas. I had led the Meshwesh back to Zerzura, but there my story ended. With my sister now ruling in my stead and Alexio at her side, there was nothing left for me to return to. I knew the truth of the matter—my star had fallen, my destiny had changed. I would never see Zerzura or any of my tribe again.

  Yet despite it all, I lived. I remembered Queen Tiye’s words to me before she left for Thebes, “You can live as a prisoner, or you can become a true Queen. Those are your choices. There is nothing else.”

  I would not live as a prisoner, nor would I be Kiya’s fool. I made my decision.

  I took a deep breath and picked up the tray from the floor. As I picked up each piece of fruit I made a resolution. I would condition my mind—I would never think of Alexio, Pah or my father or any of the other Meshwesh again. I would not cry over them or burn incense to any foreign gods for direction and favor.

  I knew what I wanted—what I must do.

  I would become queen of all Egypt. I would truly become Nefertiti.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sisters—Nefret

  Another week passed without a summons from Queen Tiye. Although I could feel the positioning of characters around the court, I had no way of determining the politics behind the various moves. Perhaps if I had taken more time to cultivate a relationship with my uncle, I might have consulted him or at least asked him for advice. But as he was not eager to be forthcoming with information, I was less eager to ask him for it.

  One afternoon Ayn and I accepted an invitation to hear the musicians play at the Peacock Courtyard. It was so named for the abundance of peacock paintings on the floor and walls and for the wild birds that roamed there. I enjoyed staring at these bold blue animals. They were not friendly but were lovely to look upon. Sometimes they shed their feathers, and I had taken to collecting them for decorations in my stark rooms.

  Ayn and I took a seat on one of the empty benches and listened to the tambourines and lutes play fine tunes. The music was different from that of the Meshwesh. It was more melodic, more organized. One man stood before the gathering of seven musicians and raised his hands as if he were magically summoning the notes from the instruments. It was an amazing sight. To my surprise, Queen Tadukhipa joined the gathering and took a seat beside me on a nearby bench. We clapped politely between songs, and during one interim she whispered to me, “They play beautifully, do they not?”

  “Yes, they do.” This was a complete turnaround from the woman who had mocked me just a few days before. Once the music had ended and the musicians were leaving the court, Kiya turned to me with a sad smile. “Nefertiti. Sister. Please forgive my behavior the other day. Since the death of my husband it has been very difficult to be kind to anyone. You did not deserve such ill treatment.”

  “I do forgive you.” I said the words as I was expected to, but my heart warned me that something was amiss. A shadow passed behind me, and I shivered. Sitamen had entered the courtyard. Upon seeing me, she gave a sound of disgust. Without a word, the girl exited as quickly as she had entered. Kiya laughed and called after her, but she did not answer.

  Kiya said, “You must understand Sitamen’s position. The poor girl wants to please her mother. To learn that the Queen has a new daughter…well, that was quite a shock to her.”

  “I deeply regret causing Sitamen any heartache, as she is the Queen’s true daughter.”

  “Perhaps you two can be sisters,” she said in a whisper.

  “I have a sister,” I answered defensively. Ayn poked me in the side, and I immediately regretted giving Kiya any information about myself.

  “Yes, I heard. Pah-shep-sut, that is your sister’s name?”

  “No, just Pah.”

  “My mistake. I want to show my sincere apologies for my behavior by holding a banquet in your honor and perhaps introduce you, if I may, to my circle of friends. It has been my belief that it is always good to have more friends than enemies. I know a great many people would like to get to know you better. Would you be my guest this evening?”

  “Unless the Great Wife needs me, yes, I will be your guest. Thank you, Queen Tadukhipa.” In a rush, she rose from the bench and smoothed her gown. With a perfectly lovely smile she looked down upon me and gave me a courteous nod.

  “Very well, my steward will come to collect you at dusk. Of course, you should come alone. There will be plenty of people willing to serve you, Nefertiti.”

  She left me staring after her, and Ayn poked me in the side. “Do not trust her, Nefret.”

  “Ayn!” I whispered to her viciously. “Be careful what you call me. You know the law here. My name is Nefertiti.”

  She stared at me suspiciously. “Have you forgotten who you are, mekhma? Who you truly are?”

  Frustrated, I snapped, “What can I do but survive, Ayn? What can either of us do?”

  “So you have given up, then?”

  “What are you talking about? There is no rescue party. I am never going home, and as long as you serve me, neither are you.” I hated the sad look that crossed her face, and I immediately apologized. “You must regret accompanying me. Egypt has not been a happy place for either of us, but at least you have your Egyptian.”

  She seemed offended by my comment, although I had meant nothing by it. “What does that mean, Nefret?”

  “I told you to call me Nefertiti.”

  “I will call you whatever I like.” Her hand rubbed her belly protectively. She did that more often lately as her belly had begun to swell. I secretly wondered what the protocol would be when the steward discovered that Ayn was pregnant. I had seen
a few women swollen with child during my stay at the Queen’s palace, but it was not an everyday occasion. Would they send her away? I prayed not, but I could not imagine that I would be allowed to keep a baby in my chambers. We had never spoken of it, but perhaps we needed to.

  “Ayn, please. I did not mean to upset you.” I reached toward her, and she squeezed my hand.

  “Forgive me. I do not know why I feel so… so… so much of everything right now.”

  “Come walk with me,” I whispered as we strolled along one of the private walkways in the Peacock Courtyard. I shooed one of the territorial birds away. I slid my arm through hers and leaned my head on her shoulder for a moment. “What does Ramose say?”

  “I know he is pleased to have a child. I do not see him as often as I once did, but as you know he is not a man to share his thoughts with me or with any woman. Sometimes I think he loves me, and other times I do not. I do not know what I will do, Nefret—I mean, Nefertiti.”

  “You can go home, Ayn. Home to Zerzura. I release you from your vow to me. Go home and raise your child in peace in our city.”

  “Where he will be hated because of his father? I would rather stay here, if that is possible. I do not know how much longer I can hide the child, though. Memre watches me like a hawk.”

  “Memre watches us both like a hawk. In fact, she looks like one.” At that we both had a good laugh.

  “Yes, indeed.” Ayn smiled at me, and we walked some more in silence. “What has become of us, mekhma? Did you ever imagine you would be here? I never did.”

  “No, I cannot say that I ever imagined this. I wish I could hear something from home. Some word about what is happening. Horemheb is punishing me, I think. He refuses to tell me anything, and yet I know he knows exactly what is going on.”

  “Did you know that he seduced your sister?”

  I froze on the path and released her arm. “What? Omel and Pah? Why would she let him touch her? He is a repulsive snake—not to mention our uncle.”

  “He filled her head with promises. He promised to make her mekhma, and he was not alone in his choice.”

  I gulped. “Father?”

  “Oh no. Your father was not involved in any of that. He was willing to let the Council choose, but he had no idea Omel was involved in the process. Omel even convinced Farrah that you were too weak to lead. I think she never trusted him.”

  “Yet she went along with the decision to make Pah the mekhma.”

  “Yes, but that was mostly because Pah had the sight. She could see in the fire and the water. Above all things, except for returning to Zerzura, Farrah wanted to see into that realm again.”

  “Why have you never told me this?” The sun blazed above us, and Ayn was visibly sweating. I saw my friend the gardener working in a corner and nodded to him as we passed. I hoped he would be around later so we could talk more. I took Ayn by the arm again and led her into the coolness of the palace toward our chambers.

  “Why would I have told you? They were wrong. You were—no you are the mekhma by right. If not for the Kiffians, I think you would still be at home.”

  I considered her words for a moment and said, “No. Without the Egyptians we would never have found our home again. To think they knew the way and we did not! Fate is a cruel mistress.”

  Later that evening, Kiya’s steward came to retrieve me. I had no idea what to wear for the evening meal, but at Memre’s suggestion, I wore a plain white gown with a jade green necklace. I think Ayn was relieved to be freed from the prospect of an evening with Kiya. I wished I had been in her position, but if I was going to manage to survive in this court I needed to find an ally or two. At the very least I needed to know what my enemy was thinking. And Kiya was my enemy. I had no illusions about that.

  I followed the pudgy man down the lighted hallways until I stood once again outside Queen Tadukhipa’s chambers.

  “Here she is. Our guest of honor. Welcome, Nefertiti.” The queen clapped her hands politely and urged her dinner guests to do so as well. There were many more people than I had expected, but I smiled politely and thanked her for her invitation. In a great show of friendliness she kissed my cheeks and complimented me on my dress. She herself was dressed in a pink gown embellished along the hem with gold coins that tinkled as she moved. Her feet were bare, but she wore anklets and her arms were full of gold bracelets. Upon her head was a slender circlet in the appearance of a rising snake. As always, she wore a long black wig. The queen led me to a seat at her table, and I sat beside her. “Sitamen, our guest has arrived. Please, come and greet her.”

  The smallish woman approached me with her eyes downcast and her hands clasped before her. For some reason the motion reminded me of Pah. “Nefertiti, I am Sitamen. I’m very happy to meet you. Would you like some wine?” The crowd applauded at the kind words and gesture. Kiya thrust an empty cup into my hand, and Sitamen poured the wine with a demure smile.

  “Everyone, please raise your glasses in honor of our new sister, Nefertiti. Let us welcome her to Thebes. Please introduce yourselves.” The gathering obediently lifted their glasses to me. One by one they visited my seat and told me their names, and I quickly gave up trying to remember them all. I sipped the wine until it was gone and placed the empty golden cup before me on the table. After the formalities were complete, musicians began to play immediately, and I recognized the tunes from the concert earlier.

  Sitamen sat beside me on a pink cushion. “Here come the dancers!” She clapped her hands ecstatically. “How I love these new dancers. Wherever did you find such talent, Tadukhipa?”

  “My steward, of course. He has a keen eye for talent.” Kiya raised her glass again and prompted me to do the same. Still trying to navigate these strange social events, I felt compelled to comply. I picked up the now full cup and took another sip. Yes, I could taste the herbs in this wine—some type of spices. It would be easy to lose yourself in these cups.

  “Tell me, sister,” Sitamen whispered in my ear, “do you dance? What do Meshwesh dances look like? Are they anything as fine as these?” With her knees pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them, she studied me as she plucked some grapes from a bowl.

  “We dance on special occasions, like at weddings.”

  “Oh, are you naked when you dance?”

  I could not hide my shock at her question and laughed nervously. “No, we do not dance naked. I never have.”

  “That is a shame. I hear it is remarkably freeing. My mother—I mean, our mother—often tells me about her experiences with the Amazon women. She says they dance naked around a big fire before they go to war.”

  “That must be very difficult during the heat of the summer.”

  “Are you mocking me?” Sitamen’s voice rose as her heavy-browed eyes narrowed.

  “No, I am not. I am sorry you would think so.”

  She pursed her lips and said, “Who are you, Nefertiti? Really?”

  “I am as you see me. There is no mystery here.” Sitamen took another sip of her wine and raised her glass to me. As it seemed to be the custom, I took another sip myself but silently pledged to drink no more. I had abstained from eating anything before I arrived, as I had believed there would be food served at this banquet. And already my head felt light.

  “If that is the case, then I want to hear all about you. Tell me about your sister, your true sister. Was she very much like you? And if so, why did my mother claim you and not her? If I am to believe that you are truly the daughter of Isis, would not your sister also be?”

  I blinked at her. My head felt as if it were in a fog. How could a few sips of wine make me feel so woozy? “Why ask me these questions? Why not ask your mother?”

  Someone at the other end of the table called to Sitamen, and with a final indignant look she left my company to visit her friend.

  Kiya said, “She is very bitter, but she is also a sweet girl. Give her time to acclimate herself to the idea of having a sister.”

  “She already has two
sisters, from what I understand.”

  “Yes, but they are very young and do not share her interests.” She sipped her wine again and poured more in my cup, but I did not pick mine up this time. When a platter of bread arrived, I snatched a piece of it off and wolfed it down without a care for what I looked like. She laughed, and the sound was pretty but empty. “I had no idea you were so hungry. Here, have some of these.” She passed me a bowl of dates, but my stomach was not cooperating with me. I felt sick. I rose to my feet quickly, which caused me to feel faint. My stomach did somersaults, and I had a growing suspicion that someone might have poisoned me. At the very least, my stomach was rebelling against the flavor of this Egyptian wine.

  “Excuse me,” I muttered as I walked out of the dining room and onto the balcony. Perhaps some air would do me good. I stood clinging to the side, hoping the world would stop spinning around me.

  As I held onto the balcony railing and waited for the reeling to stop, I saw a man walking up the steps. He was simply dressed in a white skirt and a neatly folded headdress. His hands were behind his back as if he were in deep conversation with himself. His body shone with oils, and around his neck rested a wide gold necklace. As he walked toward me I recognized him. This was my friend the gardener. He did not see me at first until I hissed to get his attention. I did not want him to get into trouble. Men were not supposed to be here, especially after dark, unless they were eunuchs. Although I had no firsthand knowledge of my friend’s status, I assumed he was not.

  “You cannot be here. Queen Tadukhipa is just inside. Go now.”

  He paused and laughed as he stood on the top step. “What?”

  “You cannot be here. There are no men here, especially gardeners. Now go away before someone sees you.”

  He laughed again. The curtain separating the dining room and the balcony opened, and the queen stepped out with the evil gold cup in her hand.