The Kingdom of Nefertiti (The Desert Queen Book 3) Read online

  I ate timidly at first, and then as I saw no one watched me or stared, I ate to my heart’s content. This was the first meal Amenhotep and I had enjoyed outside our rooms in weeks. Now those days seemed like a dream. Tomorrow our honeymoon would officially end and we would begin our life together in earnest. I suspected that I would see him less, but as long as we had some time together I would be content. As he had many matters to attend to, I did as well. I could turn my attention once again to my people. I needed an ally beyond my servants, but the idea of forgiving Omel filled me with revulsion. I worried over the fate of the Meshwesh. How did they fare in their new city? How was my father? Would he marry again? In my last message from Orba, I had heard that he might. I had not disapproved. A king needed a good wife, and I had no doubt that Leela loved my father. I wondered about Pah and Alexio but did not dare put any questions concerning them in writing. Surely if something were amiss, I would know it. And what could I do if there were problems?

  I smiled at Amenhotep, who was sharing a joke with another of his closest confidantes, Saho the Prophet. Although Saho did not speak to me, even in greeting, at least he was not Ramose.

  Menmet poured me another glass of wine and pointed to the new dancers who had arrived in the hall. These were the gifts sent to us from Tadukhipa. They wore splendid purple ribbons that covered their lithe bodies perfectly. They swayed and wound about the room, and their skin glistened as they paced through their synchronous movements. With upraised palms they surprised us by adding subtle movements that were reminiscent of our Aten worship. I could see by his delighted smile that Amenhotep did not miss the intricate movements either. As the twelve dancers traveled the wide circle they came together in perfect timing, clapping their hands to accentuate the effect of their synchronized steps. The girls appeared remarkably alike; in fact, it was easy to believe they were related. As Menmet noted earlier, they had unusual yellow skin, probably made more unusual with paint, round bottoms and tiny feet. Unlike the servants who brought us food and drink, the dancers met our eyes boldly and constantly wore smiles. I could see one in particular cast a lustful eye on Amenhotep as she waved her fingers in rhythm. He did not bother to hide his appreciation.

  How amusing! He all but accuses me of unfaithfulness but does not mind staring at Tadukhipa’s dancers. Farrah was right! Men’s hearts are attached to their male parts and are easily handled—and stolen.

  I took another sip of my wine. I could hardly believe it, but Karebi returned to the festivities. His smooth brown skin was marred by an ugly black bruise that encircled his eye. He appeared a humbled man. At least he was wise enough not to look at me or speak to anyone. He merely ate his food and sat staring at his plate. His wife did not return. Ashamed of her husband, no doubt. Well, at least he was alive. I knew it was not wise, but I felt some sympathy for the little man who reminded me of Orba. However, Karebi was not as wise as Orba. When the song ended, Karebi rose and the dining hall hushed. He walked to the foot of the table again, but I pretended I did not see him. Menmet and I were admiring the golden fish that swam in a large blue glass bowl on the table. It was a beautiful gift from one of Pharaoh’s courtiers.

  “Watch this, Menmet. Give me some bread.” I was tired, and the wine was making me lightheaded. I giggled with Menmet as we dropped the bread in the water and watched the greedy little fish come eat it and stare at us hoping for more. She smiled and looked at me with surprise. “How wonderful! Look how hungry he is! You have hidden talents, my Queen. How did you learn this trick?”

  “By accident. I was sitting under the palm tree with…with a friend, and we happened to toss our bread in the water. The fish came to the top and begged for more. After that, we could not make them go away. They love chula bread—and honey bread too, it seems.”

  “How smart you are!”

  Karebi cleared his throat, and I turned my attention to him. My husband watched me as I acknowledged the wary courtier. “Karebi.” I did not know what to say; I hardly knew what his original offense had been.

  “My Queen, I beg your forgiveness for my inappropriate words.”

  He had not offended me. I had thought him only a silly man, but I would not go against my husband. I glanced at him, but Amenhotep offered me no guidance in this matter, and I did not seek his counsel. “You are forgiven, Karebi. Please enjoy your meal and send my regards to your wife.”

  With a sad expression, Karebi backed away from the table and slowly exited the building. Not many people paid much attention to him now. After seeing Pharaoh’s wrath break out against him so savagely, I doubted if anyone wanted to offer their friendship to the foolish little man.

  Suddenly Amenhotep rose from the table. “Good night to all of you. In the morning Queen Nefertiti and I will rise to greet the Aten. You are all welcome to join us.”

  The courtiers applauded loudly and cheered. They seemed excited and even honored to be invited to worship the Aten with Pharaoh Amenhotep and his new wife. I rose and placed my hand on top of his. I smiled up at him, but his look was serious and reserved. My heart fell in my chest. I had done nothing to cause him to doubt me. Then it occurred to me that it must be very difficult to be the Pharaoh, to wonder all the time who loved him and who was merely using him. I would never be that—I would never do that! No matter what! Amenhotep was an honorable man who wanted to bring his people into a new age, an age of enlightenment and religious freedom for Egypt.

  He frequently said, “The people should be free to worship whom they choose! How can we dictate a man’s conscience?” He was so passionate about this it frightened me at times.

  He knew the oppression the House of Amun laid on the people. There were times in the past when they demanded up to half of the income of the worshipers. Even Pharaoh was not immune from this taxation—for what else could you call it? I felt honored that he chose me to be his Queen and partner in this great quest. Who was I that fate would snatch me up from my obscure tribe in the Red Lands and bring me here to be a Queen of Egypt?

  As our courtiers applauded, Amenhotep and I walked out of the banquet hall. I thought my husband would invite me into his chambers, but he stopped outside the massive golden door.

  “Will we not be together tonight?”

  “No, I cannot. There are pressing matters that I cannot avoid any longer.” He must have noticed my worried expression, for he touched my cheek with his hand and said, “All is well, Nefertiti.”

  “Very well.” I blushed, embarrassed at his refusal. Would the yellow-skinned dancer be visiting my husband’s room later? What was I doing? I could not become a jealous shrew! Amenhotep loved me—that I was sure of! I added, “My door is always open to you, my love. If I am asleep, wake me, but come to me if you can.” Amenhotep softened his expression and held me against his warm body. I could not help myself and kissed him quickly but did not prevent his departure. With a return kiss on my forehead he left me, and I watched him walk away.

  Menmet scampered beside me. “Do not be sad, my Queen. It is good to be apart, for when you come together again there will be much passion. Much passion to be shared and soon many, many babies. Pharaoh will want to have many, many children. Many sons and many daughters.”

  I laughed and said, “Please, Menmet. I have not had the first child yet, much less many sons or many daughters.”

  “Don’t you want many sons and many daughters?”

  “I want as many daughters and sons as the Shining Man will give me, but not all at once. I would like to spend some time getting to know my husband first.”

  “What is to know, my Queen? He is handsome and virile, and he loves you. How jealous he is of you!” She picked up the clothing I let fall to the ground and helped me remove the wig and the thick, heavy jewelry. Handing them to another servant, she began to brush out my long red hair with her clever fingers and helped me remove my makeup with scented cream.

  I watched her as she worked on her tasks. She looked nothing like her father, Heby. I had a chance to see t
he man up close when he visited her a few days ago. She had not asked me to greet him, and I must admit I was relieved. The more I heard about him and the other priests, the less I liked him. They did not approve of me, I knew this much, just as they had not approved of Queen Tiye’s marriage to my Amenhotep’s father. Heby had left Menmet in tears, but she had refused to confide in me or reveal the reason for her misery. I could have commanded her, but I would not. Menmet was more of a friend than a servant. How much of a friend would I be to compel her to share her heart with me?

  As I bathed, Menmet filled me in on the palace gossip. Aperel, the handsome Master of Horses, finally took a new wife. In her cheerful manner, she explained how many in Thebes thought he loved only his horses. But he had surprised everyone with his marriage to a young girl from the east. It was said she had blue eyes, the color of the sky. I pretended to listen as I bathed and as she dressed me. When I finally climbed into bed I was exhausted. I thought I would stay up and listen to the musicians who played for me in the courtyard below, but I did not. Their seductive soft tunes put me to sleep quickly, and I entered the dream world where I found the Shining Man waiting. I ran toward him with my arms extended, and then suddenly…

  I was standing at the Blue Altar again where Amenhotep and I married. Perched above us atop the altar was the Shining Man. The wedding went just as I remembered, but in my dream I could see silver cords—no, silver snakes—wrapping around the two of us as we held hands. Suddenly, the three of us were no longer at the Blue Altar but standing in a high place on a cliff that overlooked a large body of water. It was greater than any pool of water or even the sea. Amenhotep and I knelt before the Shining Man, and he placed shining crowns upon our heads. The crowns were illuminated—they shone like stars. These were crowns unlike any I had ever seen before. Suddenly, the gods of Egypt stood at the edges of the water. I could see Isis, Amun, Set, Hathor and a host of others. As we rose to stand with our crowns atop our heads, they fell on their faces before us. I gasped at the sight. The Shining Man said some words that warmed my heart, but when I woke up, I immediately forgot them.

  And when I did wake, Amenhotep was there, smiling down at me in the dark.

  “Who were you dreaming of, my love?”

  Hearing his voice thrilled me to no end. “The Shining Man, husband. I saw him in all his glory. He gave us crowns and said words of power over us.”

  “Tell me the words. What were the words of power?” He lay beside me, moving the wild strands of hair from my face.

  I hesitated. “I do not know. I can’t remember, but I shall try harder next time.”

  “It is no matter. I am here now. I am not a dream.” He slid into the silky sheets with me, and my wandering hands let me know that he had already shed his clothing. “Let us make an offering to the Shining Man and see if we can both have a dream,” he said before he kissed me.

  “I am in a dream now, surely. Kiss me, Amenhotep. Kiss me, my love.”

  We made love and then settled down to sleep. I did indeed dream about the Shining Man again, but when Amenhotep asked me the next day I lied to him.

  I could not tell him what I saw. It would break his heart.

  It surely broke mine.

  Chapter Three

  Nefertiti—Life of Trials

  The priests of Amun, adorned with leopard skin capes, filled the court with the strong scent of their incense. If they thought that their surprise assemblage or their numbers would deter my husband from his not-so-secret plans to uproot their oppression, then they highly underestimated him. Amenhotep was not a man to be swayed by popular opinion. I was neither invited nor forbidden to sit with my husband for this meeting, which I had learned in the past few months of my queenship meant I could come or go at my pleasure.

  Today, I chose to stand unseen behind the thick blue curtains that hung behind my husband’s throne. He knew I was there and never betrayed my secret attendance. I was curious to hear how he ruled his kingdom. Perhaps one day I would have to do the same. It was better to learn the ways of court from one who understood its deep workings, someone who knew the traditions and expectations of the people who came before him. Menmet stood anxiously beside me and giggled as she peeked through the tiny hole in the veil. Fortunately, the processional was so loud nobody could hear her. Not yet, anyway.

  “I will send you away. Now quiet, Menmet!” I threatened her in a whisper.

  “As you say, my Queen.”

  I dropped my voice now as the room began to settle. “Shush…and don’t say another word, not even, ‘as you say, my Queen.’” She frowned at me. For the fifth time today I missed Ayn. At least with the warrior I did not have to worry about her speaking out of turn.

  Ayn, where did you disappear to?

  I had sent numerous couriers to Zerzura to ask about her, but nobody knew where she was hiding. I wondered if perhaps Ramose had murdered my friend himself, hidden her body and only pretended not to know her whereabouts. It would be an easy thing to do. Surely her child had been born by now! I had no news to pass on to the general or to the officials who demanded her arrest and conviction. I wondered how long they would tolerate my evasion.

  Peeking through the veil, I could see the face of the rugged-looking general in the audience. Many Egyptian women dreamed of a marriage with such a man, but they did not know him as I did. He was cold, callous—more beast than man. He stood to the left of the throne and watched the proceedings with a clenched jaw. I studied him, remembering the bruises he left on my arms when he thought to take me at Zerzura.

  Oh yes, Ramose. My mortal enemy.

  My husband’s voice rang out in the court, “My brother priests of Amun and Re, I greet you as a brother, for have I not worshiped in the temples alongside each of you? Is this why you have come to me today? Are you here unbidden to upbraid me for my worship of the Aten? Surely you can see that Amun has nothing to fear from the Aten or from me.”

  “No, Pharaoh. You are as a god to us. You may do what pleases you; however, the people have stopped worshiping Amun. Our storehouses are empty, and the priests are starving.”

  Starving? Not a man appeared as if he had missed a meal. Even the youngest priests were rich men, or so I had heard, and enjoyed every lavish benefit accorded to them.

  “A god, you say?” Amenhotep boomed. I knew he did not appreciate the comparison. Unlike his father, he did not think himself a god and in fact considered the thought blasphemous. “Where is your leader today? Maya, step forward.”

  “Here I am, Pharaoh.”

  “Tell me more about this problem that has driven so many leopard coats into my court today. It must be a serious matter to see so many faces assembled here before their Pharaoh.”

  I tried to count them all but gave up. There must have been several hundred all crowded into the court with stern expressions. It would not matter. They could assemble a thousand dissenters—it would not sway Pharaoh. Amenhotep’s guard shuffled anxiously at the tone of his speech. Obviously none of these men had witnessed Karebi’s thrashing or heard the rumor that Karebi’s wife had disappeared into the workhouses. I shivered at the idea that my husband had ordered such a punishment. I had heard of these workhouses but knew little about them except that they were not places to visit or to ask about.

  Some of the priests could see that Pharaoh was not pleased with their unannounced visit to his court. Maya quickly continued with his calm reasoning, “Oh Majestic One, I mean no disrespect. We come to you because only you can help us. The people are not bringing offerings to the temples—they are tempting the wrath of Amun!” I could hear the onlookers, the courtiers who regularly attended Amenhotep, whisper fearfully. The priest’s words gripped their hearts with fear. Feeling empowered, I supposed, Maya continued on, “Just today we received less than half the normal weight in gold and food. And the people…they see their Pharaoh worshiping before the Aten—he no longer visits the temples. The people do as they see the Lord of the Two Lands do. Whatever your intention, it i
s clear that the support for the Aten has been to the detriment of those who serve Amun. Please tell the people to return to the temples! It is not wise to anger Amun in this way, Majesty.”

  Amenhotep stood, jumping up quickly as he had the night Karebi offended him. He paced the dais like a lion, a proud lion about to be sheared before his pride. Finally, he stopped and faced the crowd of men with their painted faces and their arms glittering with gold bracelets. “Who am I to tell Egyptians whom to worship? Some worship this one, some that one; it has always been this way. You want me to command the consciences of free men and women? In Egypt, even the slaves worship whomever they like. If your god has fallen out of favor, perhaps you should ask him why instead of coming to me to command the worshippers’ obedience.”

  Maya stood blinking in surprise. “You are Pharaoh! We cannot command them, but you can. Is it not the place of kings to keep order in the kingdom? To instruct the people? We fear your silence in this matter will be misinterpreted as liberty to abandon our gods. Pharaoh must speak and remind the people of their duty to Amun!”

  “You dare?” His voice rose sharply. “I well know my duty, Maya, as my father did before me. Blood has already flowed on behalf of Amun. Is he not yet satisfied?” The gathered men did not answer. That was wise. I held my breath as I watched. Menmet took my hand; I felt her shaking beside me. Poor girl. Yes, I could see Heby in the crowd. How shameful to have such a father!

  “What do you mean, my lord?”

  “You know very well what I mean, Maya.” I was sure the blood he spoke of belonged to his brother. It was an unspoken truth that the priests of Amun had no love for the sons of Tiye. I felt a chill as I wondered what they would think of my children. The children of Amenhotep and the Desert Queen.