“Oh gods! Inhapi!” I stood over her as her mouth moved like a fish needing water, just as mine had a moment ago. I watched in horror as the woman stopped breathing and her blood seeped out on to the floor. Now I had to go. I could not wait for Nefret. There was no time to pack or plan. I grabbed Nefret’s cloak and the blue scarab that Ramose had given me some time ago. I looked back sorrowfully at what I had done. It had been an accident, but who would believe that? The general’s lover—a foreigner—killed his wife.
Death would be coming for me, with all of Egypt.
Oh, Ramose! How could you do this to me? How could you betray me? Now you will hate me, and we will forever be separated. If not for our child I would have thrown myself off the balcony, but I could not. I had to live. If only for him.
Chapter Fifteen
The Aten—Nefret
When the litter stopped at the dock, I could scarcely believe my eyes as I peeked out from behind the sheer curtain. I had heard of boats and had seen men fish from small flat ones at the Biyat Oasis once, but this was altogether different. This boat was larger than any I could have imagined, and already the sounds of celebration had begun even though Amenhotep and I had only just arrived. A billowing white canvas was staked into the ground, and we were invited to embark under it. Unsure how to behave, I followed Amenhotep’s example. I kept the smile from my lips and trained my face to remain unaffected by it all. It was a difficult task.
As soon as I stepped on board my stomach lurched, but I hoped the unsettled feeling would subside soon. If I could survive juniper wine, I could survive anything.
The boat seemed more like a floating palace than anything else. The flat, wide bottom must have helped keep the thing afloat, and for the first few minutes I had a secret fear that we would all sink. More billowing fabric hung from the sides, protecting the occupants from the bright Egyptian sun. It floated and popped in the breeze that blew in from the river. The cedar floors were sturdy, and I could see carpeted floors just inside the doorway. Stepping inside after my attendant, I marveled at the blue walls bursting with images of crocodiles, birds and a myriad of other fascinating animals that were unknown to me. We walked through the open room and through another door. Inside was a bedroom with sumptuous carpets, flickering gold decorations and the faint smoke of incense. I swallowed nervously and looked about the room.
It appeared I would share my chambers with Amenhotep, but that did not surprise me. I was to be his queen now.
“Your bed is made, lady. Food is here too. Would you like me to pour you a bath?”
“Maybe later. What is your name?”
“Menmet, lady.” She cast her eyes down, but I could see a small smile on her face. Menmet had an interesting accent, one I had never heard before. She was small, not as petite as Queen Tiye but much shorter than I. And she wore very few clothes. Her gown was sheer, so sheer that I could see her dark nipples through the fabric. Egypt was a strange place. I hoped I would not be expected to walk around so. I blushed and turned my attention to my surroundings.
I walked to an open window and watched the crowd that had gathered at the dock. A few well-wishers had followed us, but now there were many, including a large number of priests. I knew these were the priests of Amun because they wore leopard skins. No others, besides Pharaoh, could wear those. They stared at us, whispering amongst themselves.
“Menmet. What are they doing here?” I might as well ask someone who might know the reason for this gathering. I counted two dozen priests now, and the numbers were growing.
“Lady, those are the priests of Amun. They come to protest this journey.”
I was shocked. “Why? Because of me?”
“Oh no, lady,” Menmet’s narrow eyes widened that I would ask such a thing. “Not because of you, Beautiful One.” She whispered, “The priests of Amun do not like the Aten, and they think the Pharaoh is wrong for taking this journey to honor the god. They say to us that there is no real god but Amun, and the priests of the Aten say the opposite.” She stared back at them and stuck out her tongue.
“What about you, Menmet? Whom do you worship?”
She sighed as if it were the most difficult question in the world. “Whoever I am with, I worship their god. It is much more peaceful that way. How do I know who is right? I leave those things to the priests.”
“Oh, do not say that, Menmet. You can worship whomever you like. Do not let someone else dictate to you who to worship. I do not think Pharaoh would wish that.”
She shyly pretended to examine her feet but said nothing.
“What is it?”
“You can say this, lady. You are the daughter of Isis. I am the daughter of Heb and Shupset.” Her tone was not disrespectful; it was matter-of-fact. She believed every word. I knew I was no such thing, except to please Queen Tiye.
“Nefertiti!” Amenhotep came into my chambers and surveyed the arrangements. “Do you like your room?”
“Yes, Majesty. I do.”
“Good. Very good.” He stood with his hands on his hips, his smile brimming with confidence. “Rest now, and I will come to you before sunset. Together we will watch the Aten leave the sky.”
I bowed my head in agreement, and he left. I had guessed wrong. He did not plan to share my room. This boat was very big indeed to house us all. “I am not sleepy, Menmet. Let us arrange the things.” I could feel the boat move and said, “Ooh…” I sat down quickly.
“Poor lady. Have you never ridden on a boat before?”
“No, I am afraid not.”
“It will pass soon. Let me get you some wine.”
I made a face and asked, “It is not juniper wine, is it?”
She crinkled her nose, and for a moment she reminded me of Paimu. “I would never serve you that, lady. No, this is good wine from a land far to the north. They call it…what is it? I cannot remember, but I will be right back.”
I sat in the chair and clutched the sides as I waited for Menmet to return. I drank what she brought me, and she was right. There was nothing as sweet and delicious as this northern wine. After Menmet led the other women in arranging the room, they lay down in various places. I lay on my cool bed, the wine helping me to sleep soundly. I woke with Menmet talking in a low voice.
“Lady, Pharaoh has come. Rise now, lady.”
I climbed out of the bed, sipped some water and exited the chambers under the watchful eyes of my twelve ladies. Amenhotep waited for me along with another man I had never met before. I did not get an introduction before the man departed, and together Amenhotep and I walked to the edge of the boat. The sun was very near the water. It seemed as if it would disappear completely in just a moment. We dared not turn away or we would miss its departure. I did not know if this was the Shining Man, but Amenhotep seemed convinced that what I saw was what he saw. I prayed silently that the Shining Man would visit me again, although I did not pray to anyone directly or in particular.
“Now, Nefertiti. I will show you how to worship the Aten. These are sacred moves that only the initiated can offer the god. Are you ready to learn?” I remembered the greeting of Isis—the one Queen Tiye demanded I learn. I hoped this one was as simple. I nodded and he said, “Watch me.”
Amenhotep stretched out his arms and raised them above his shoulders, creating an arc with his hands. Then he pushed his hands outward and bowed low toward the sun. He said, “Aten, Giver of Life, your light shines upon us all.” Repeating the gestures, he invited me to follow him. We practiced, and I picked it up easily. Or so I thought.
“Almost. Turn your hands like this.” Amenhotep stepped behind me and gently closed his hands around my wrists. “Up, then turn them like this.” I followed his movements, out, up, and then I leaned forward, pushing my hands in front of me. His nearness felt comforting and not awkward at all.
“Let us say goodbye to the Aten now.” Standing a few feet behind him and off to his right, I mimicked his steps, which he had not shown me previously. They were not difficult to master
. We did this three times and then watched the Aten disappear. “Let us do this every day together, as long as the Aten rises and sets.”
I smiled up at my future husband. I hoped he would always be as kind to me as he was this day.
“Tomorrow we will go to the Grand Temple and I will show you the monuments of my father.”
“Very well,” I said pleasantly as I watched the last of the light disappear. “I look forward to that.”
“Shall we go dine?” That sounded like a wonderful idea and I told him so. My stomach sickness was long gone, and I could not wait to break my fast.
Like most meals, music played, happy people chatted and everyone hung on Pharaoh’s every word. For this meal, he did not say much but we did bump hands once as we both reached for a slice of fruit. He kindly offered it to me and then sliced himself another one. I studied him as discreetly as I could. He was tall, taller than me, thankfully. His father must have been a tall man. Queen Tiye was remarkably petite. He had full lips, not feminine but well-sculpted. Amenhotep had large hands, but they were not clumsy or awkward. He was not the most handsome man I had ever seen, but he had a confidence and an inner joy that made him more attractive and interesting than most men I had known. Although I had to admit that I had little experience with men, except for Alexio.
I blushed at the thought of him. No! I swore I would not think of him. I suddenly worried that I would be forced to undergo another excruciatingly embarrassing examination. Surely not. I had heard that Egyptians did not care about those kinds of things, but the rules were often different for kings—and queens.
Leaning toward me, Amenhotep whispered in my ear, “I would very much like to kiss you right now. You are truly a beautiful woman, Nefertiti.”
I wished I had worn my hair down or worn a wig because I could feel my ears warming as I blushed. I said nothing but smiled into the wine. Menmet was beside me suddenly, asking me if I needed more wine or food. I nodded and listened to the music. Most of the songs were happy tunes, often without deep meaning, but this one was different. This was about a man who waited on the shore of the river for his true love, who had sailed away on a boat. He pined for her to return, hating himself for some mistake he made. I could not help but feel sorry for him.
Sail back to me, glorious face
Return to me, my own heart
For you have taken mine with you
Without warning I thought of Alexio and how I had sent him away. How I would regret that forever! What if I had taken him with me that day, as I had intended, instead of Ayn? It was too late now, too late to go back and change things. He had taken my heart when he left—just as the song said—and I had sent him away.
I felt my lashes dampen. Amenhotep leaned close to me again, and the smell of his cedar cologne was comforting. “No more of that. Play something lively,” he said to the musicians. “This is a celebration, Nefertiti. Why are you crying?”
“Forgive me, Majesty. The song reminded me of home.”
“Someone you miss from home?” he asked warily. I knew better than to confess to him my heart.
“No, Majesty. The song told a story, and we are a people who loves storytelling. It may surprise you to know that I myself was a storyteller.” I attempted a weak smile.
He sat up and turned to his small court. “Would you like your future queen to tell you a story?”
I should never have told him that. Now what?
As the people began to exclaim excitedly, “Yes, tell us a story!” I began to ponder what to say. Thankfully inspiration came quickly. I slid out of the chair and stood in the storyteller’s position.
“Menmet, you shall help me.”
“Yes, my lady,” she said obediently as she took her place at my feet.
“Hear now the story of Acma, the King Who Captured the Stars.”
Still smiling, Amenhotep leaned back in his chair and clapped politely, as did all who attended. I took a deep breath and began my story.
“Acma was the oldest of five brothers. His father was a good king but indecisive and sometimes weak with his counselors. As the father got older, he thought more and more about who he should choose to lead his kingdom after his departure into the next world. Naturally, his first thought was for his oldest son, Acma. Acma was tall and brave and a natural leader. Once he had killed a lion with his bare hands—a feat that greatly impressed the entire tribe. Other voices, members of the king’s council, encouraged the king to consider one of his other sons. For you see, Acma had very few friends amongst the council. He was not like his father. He was not swayed by popular opinion, but he was a principled man. So in that way, he was a better man than his father. Acma was so brave and so strong that many were jealous of him. These evil counselors wanted nothing more than to see Acma lose his right to rule.
“The king’s heart was torn. He believed Acma truly deserved to inherit his throne, but he felt he had to listen to his counselors. So the king concocted a competition. He would task his sons with a difficult challenge—bring a lost magical item back to the king and demonstrate how it worked. Whoever brought back the most wonderful and unusual item would immediately be made king. When the queen heard about this challenge, she pleaded with her husband, but the king was immovable on this point.
“The following day, the king called his sons to the court and issued the challenge. ‘My sons, my days on this earth are limited. I hear the voices of the other world clearly, and my time here will soon end. One of you will be the next king. But as you all are so honorable, so brave, it is hard for me to decide.’
“This statement disturbed the youngest son, Axymaha, who said, ‘Father! Acma should be our king. Of that there is no question. Why must there be this challenge?’
“Before the father could answer, the other sons mocked the youngest boy, declaring him a coward and unwilling to take up the challenge. The following day the brothers left to pursue their quest. The middle three sons rode in three different directions, hoping to find the elusive item that their father tasked them with. But Acma had another idea. He was not going to pursue some ancient relic in a faraway land. He knew who he must turn to for help.
“He went to Axymaha and said, ‘Come, let us weave a net.’ They gathered the supplies and began to weave the net.
“The counselors were amazed at this. They visited the two sons and mocked them. ‘What is this? Are you going fishing? You misunderstood the challenge, Acma. This is why you will never be king. You are too stupid to rule.’
“Their words angered Axymaha, who was eager to defend his brother’s honor, but Acma told him to keep his peace and continue weaving. Soon the counselors wearied of their fun and left to report to the father what his bravest son was doing. Hearing that Axymaha and Acma were disobeying his challenge, the king summoned them to question them. Surely Acma would not do such a thing! Acma obeyed his father, and he and Axymaha returned to the court, bringing the net with them.
“Just as they returned, the other sons did too. One son brought the king a gold-lined cloak that when worn would make the king young again for as long as he wore it. The king tried it on, and indeed he did appear younger. But soon the cloak grew too heavy to wear and he removed it.” I waved at Menmet, and she pretended to put on a cloak. The crowd laughed at her antics. She was quite a good actress.
“The second son gave the king a vial of blue liquid. When the king drank the blue drink, he could see clearly into the Otherworld.” Menmet pretended to drink an invisible drink, and her eyes grew large as she “saw” into the Otherworld. “Seeing the kings who had gone before him seated at a feasting table made him long to go there. The liquid’s power soon faded, and the king could no longer see that wonderful place.
“Another son gave the king a beautiful necklace made of gold, silver and pendants of red stones.” Menmet pretended to tie on a necklace and touched the stones with her hand. “The stones glowed when a lie was spoken in their presence. To test the truth of this, the king asked everyone to speak
to him, one at a time. While his sons were found to be honest with their words, the counselors were not. Once the stones began to glow, the angry old king ordered the liars executed. As they were hauled away, begging shamefully for their lives, the king called Acma and his youngest son forward.
“‘You see the things your brothers have brought me. What can this net do? Haven’t you made it with your own hands? What magic can be in that?’”
I paused in the story here. In the Meshwesh version, Acma gives the answer, “Magic is within us,” but for my future husband I decided to change that phrase.
“‘Father, with every twist and loop of this rope, we prayed to the Aten,’ Acma said.” I heard the gathering whisper, but with one look from Pharaoh they became silent again. I continued, “‘We pleaded with him to grant us our wish, and he has done so. Watch now, Father!’ Together, Axymaha and Acma cast the net high into the sky.” Menmet did the same, and I helped her give the illusion that we were the sons casting the net. The crowd laughed again. “So high was the toss and so magical was the net that they captured many bright stars with it. Then they carefully pulled the stars down to earth and held the net in place as their father watched in amazement.
“‘This is truly wonderful, Acma! You and Axymaha have captured the stars! But why, my son? What magic is in this?’
“‘You may walk upon them, Father, and they will carry you safely to the Otherworld. You see? The Aten has granted us our request.’
“‘Yes, I see!’ Very excited about traveling to the Otherworld now, the old king kissed his wife and hugged his sons. He stepped on the stars and stood with his hands on his hips. He said a few words of thanks to Acma and Axymaha and declared Acma king. On his command, the two sons released the net and the stars returned to the sky, taking the old king with them. From that day forward, Acma ruled as king, and his brother Axymaha served in an honorable place all his life. The net was burned as an offering to the Aten as it rose the following day. And from that day forward, everyone in Acma’s kingdom worshiped the Aten, for it was he who so graciously gave them a true king.”
The Falcon Rises (The Desert Queen Book 2) Page 14