“Just hurry,” he responded.
We rushed through the streets, and soon we darted around the palace. My fear rose, knowing there was no way Horemheb would ever take me to the palace unless absolutely necessary. I grabbed his arm and clung onto it. He looked down at me with concern in his eyes, but didn’t force me to step back and maintain the proper decorum. That made me worry even more.
He carefully led me through the palace, and the closer we drew to where I knew Tut’s chambers were, the more worried I became. I couldn’t help the tears that ran down my cheeks. Then, when I saw his door, I stopped abruptly, unable to go on. Horemheb pulled up beside me and tugged on my arm.
“Naomi.”
“I can’t,” I whispered. “He’s dead, isn’t he?”
“No,” Horemheb said, but his frown told me something was wrong. He stepped toward me and touched my face. “Close your eyes and trust me like you always have.”
He touched his thumbs to my eyelids and encouraged them to close. He then brushed away my tears and softly kissed me. I relaxed against him, allowing myself to trust him. He felt me yield to him, so he turned and led me.
I heard a door open, then Ankhe’s soft voice filled my ears. She didn’t sound distressed, so I relaxed even more. Then I heard Tut say softly, “Mama.”
My eyes shot open. He lay in bed with Ankhe curled up beside him. He shuffled to sit up, then swung his legs off the bed, reaching for a cane.
“Tut, you should rest,” Ankhe said gently, grabbing his arm.
“I want my mother,” he said, trying to stand.
I rushed over and knelt in front of him. “Oh, Tut.”
He smiled at me, and relaxed back onto his bed. I looked down at his leg and saw bandages from his hip down. As he lifted it back onto the bed, he winced and grunted.
“What happened?” I asked breathlessly.
He laughed halfheartedly. “Your fondest wish came true. I can no longer race my chariot.”
“Tut.” I scowled.
He looked into my eyes before patting the bed beside him. “Don’t kneel before me.”
I climbed up and sat beside him. He wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my cheek. “I’m sorry for treating you the way I did.”
“I know you are,” I answered, resting my head on his shoulder.
“It was an accident,” he muttered, patting his leg. “I was racing, and the man I was against tried to force me off the road into a nest of crocodiles. But I reacted quickly and pulled my chariot around hard. Unfortunately, the two chariots collided and became entangled. He was thrown in the river, and I jumped out just before the four horses pulled the chariots into the water. There was blood everywhere as the crocodiles took hold of the man and the horses and ripped them to shreds. I knew I was in danger, so despite my own leg being broken, I stumbled away as fast as I could.” He looked down at his leg. “It was awful, the worst pain I have ever felt. The bone was sticking out―”
Ankhe made a strangled sound. “You don’t have to describe it to her, Tut. It was awful enough as it was. As your mother, she does not want to know the horrible details.”
He looked down into my eyes. “I have been fighting an infection. It has been terribly painful.” He pulled at the bandage. “They have been pouring honey onto it, and drain it every few hours. But they don’t think I’ll be able to walk without a cane ever again.”
“I’m sorry, but at least you are alive.”
He smiled. “Yes, being crocodile food would have been unpleasant.” He shuffled into his bed and pulled me down with him. “Stay with me tonight, Mama.”
“Tut, the children―”
“Will be fine.”
I glanced across at Ankhe and saw a tear run down her cheek. Something was wrong that they weren’t telling me. Horemheb sank onto a stool and held his face. He wouldn’t have brought me to the palace in the middle of the night just to see a broken leg. I turned back to look at Tut and saw his eyes close, then he fell asleep quickly.
Then Ankhe spoke to me in a soft voice. “The infection is severe.”
“What? How bad?”
Tears streamed down her face. “He’s going to die.”
I shot up and turned to Horemheb. “He’s…”
Horemheb nodded. “You were lucky, he’s usually delirious.”
“Doesn’t he know?” I gasped.
“He’s not lucid enough to understand,” Ankhe’s tears overcame her.
Horemheb took over. “The physician expects him to die at any moment.”
I touched Tut’s face. “It’s impossible! Not my boy.”
His eyes came open at my touch and he looked slightly alarmed. “Mama?”
“Tut, how do you feel?”
“I’m fantastic! Papa and I helped a sheep deliver her lamb today. It was slimy and bloody, but Papa said that’s normal. Will that happen when you give birth?”
That day was from years earlier. He had asked me that exact question while I was pregnant with Zakkai. I could hardly believe he remembered it.
“It’s not quite the same but it will be similar,” I replied, repeating my answer I had given him then and stroking his head.
“It better be a brother; sisters are so annoying.”
I couldn’t help chuckling. Suddenly he gazed over my shoulder confused. “Mama, who is that man with Papa?”
Ankhe sat up and followed his gaze, looking confused, and I turned to see no one at all. I looked at her quickly. She frowned and shrugged. A chill ran down my spine as I remembered my father staring off and calling my mother’s name just before he died. “Tut, who do you see?”
“Papa; he’s holding your shoulder.”
I rested my hand on my shoulder and caught my breath.
“And the other man says he’s my father, but that’s impossible because my father is dead.”
Ankhe gasped and gazed around. “Father! Father, talk to me.”
But I was becoming frightened. They were there for Tut. I gazed around. “Don’t you take him, Akhenaten!”
Horemheb jumped and looked alarmed. His gaze met mine with concern, before he dashed out of the room.
“Mama, he says not to worry. You have done a good job and now he will take his turn,” Tut said, tilting his head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I grabbed Tut by the shoulders. “Don’t go with him, Tut. You stay here with me.”
“He says it’s not anyone’s choice, that we all trusted the wrong man.”
“Who? Horemheb?” I asked.
“No.” His gaze dropped and he looked into my eyes. “Horemheb will save you. He was supposed to save us all.”
“Tut! Tut, you keep fighting. You stay here with me.”
His eyes lifted again and he smiled. “He just kissed your head. He said he always liked your Hebrew hair.”
I gasped, having never told anyone that. His words gave me chills.
“He’s telling me you have to go now.”
“Me?” I gaped confused.
“Papa says you’re in danger.”
“Malachi?” I swung to look around, hoping in vain to see him, but instead Horemheb burst into the room.
He rushed at me and grabbed my arm. “Naomi, I’ve got to get you out of here.”
Two male voices headed our way, one being Ay’s. I jumped to my feet and let Horemheb drag me to the door, but he froze and pushed me backward.
“They’re too close, they will see you. I’ve put you in danger!”
His eyes darted to the window and he pushed me toward it.
“Hide out there, like Tut did.”
We ran to the window. The roof for the next level protruded below it. I stepped out and ducked down, pressing against the wall. Ankhe’s head appeared and she handed me a cushion and blanket before I heard the voices enter the room.
“Commander, get out,” Ay ordered.
“It is my charge to care for the king.”
“And you have failed at it.”
�
��Grandfather,” Ankhe interrupted. “I asked for him to be here. He is loyal to my husband and loves him like a son.”
“That’s because he wishes he was his son.”
“Father, this is such a tedious subject,” the second man’s voice said, and I knew it must be Nahktmin. “Let us see the king.”
I heard them moving around, then Tut said, “Mama? Where did you go?”
“I told you he’s delusional,” Ankhe said softly.
Horemheb appeared at the window and looked down at me. He frowned and said, “The boy is soon to leave this world.”
“Horemheb!” Tut said in a booming voice. “Come to me.”
Horemheb disappeared from above me and a moment later he said, “What is it, my king?”
“Tell my mother that I love her. She saved my life so many times, and now I can see I am to die, I feel as if her sacrifices were wasted.”
My heart lurched, and I bit my lip to hold back a sob.
“I will tell her,” Horemheb said gently.
“And you, you should fight for her. I know that after all this time you still love her, even though you haven’t been able to have her.”
“Tut,” Ankhe said, and I heard her rush over to him.
“Ankhesenpaaten, your father says he is proud of you.”
She began to cry. “I love you, Tut.”
He chuckled. “I love you.” Then his breathing seemed to tighten.
“Mama!” he called out. “Mama, I’m afraid…” but he was unable to say more as he passed on.
I pulled up my knees and pressed my face into the pillow to smother my crying.
“Is that it?” Nahktmin asked with a snarl. “He’s actually dead?”
“Seems like,” Ay replied, in a normal tone. “Ankhe, dear, come with me.”
I heard her crying, but she didn’t respond.
“Ankhe!” Ay said “Obey me, you treacherous girl.”
“I am staying with my husband,” she answered between sobs.
“He is dead. Your loyalty is spent.”
“Get out!” she yelled. “I am still the Great Royal Queen. I still have authority over you. So you will do as I say and get out!”
“I will only leave when the Commander does. I do not trust him with you. He may try to steal you for himself to make claim on the crown.”
She laughed manically. “You foolish, ignorant man.”
“My queen,” Horemheb cut in. “I will leave. It will give you some privacy to say goodbye.”
Someone approached the window. I looked up to see the young Nahktmin gazing out. I held my breath and pushed harder against the wall, hoping he wouldn’t see me. I had never seen him up close, and I found him to be far from what I expected. His brown skin was darker than most Egyptians, but not as dark as the Nubians. He had strong arms, but was not as broad in the shoulders as Tut, and would probably stand eye to nose with Tut.
“Finally, we can deal with the Hebrew issue,” he said under his breath.
“Son, we have been ordered to leave,” Ay said.
Nahktmin snorted, but disappeared from above me. The three men left, shutting the door behind them. A moment later Ankhe stood at the window. “Naomi, hurry, we must get you out of here.”
She offered me her hand and helped me back in.
She rushed to the door while I paused and stared at my son. He lay limp and motionless, which made me sick to my stomach. I moved toward him, but Ankhe caught my arm.
“Horemheb will meet you by the wives’ corridor. Do you know how to get there?”
“No,” I answered.
She gave me quick directions before she rushed to peek out the door again. “Don’t let them catch you. It’s hard enough losing Tut tonight without losing you, too.”
She pulled the door open for me. “Now hurry. I doubt my grandfather and uncle will stay away for long. They will want Tut in his tomb as quickly as possible.”
She encouraged me to go out the door quickly; then I ran down the corridor.
I cautiously made my way through the palace, noticing the morning would soon be upon us as a dim light poured through the windows. I made it to the end of the wives’ corridor and glanced around for Horemheb, but couldn’t see him anywhere. If he didn’t show up soon, I would be caught as people began to arise for the day.
Suddenly, a hand grasped my arm and pulled me through a concealed door. Horemheb held a torch up in the pitch-black hallway to see my face.
“That was too close.” He pushed me up against the wall and kissed me.
But I didn’t want it. Not then, not after my son had just died. I pushed him off roughly. “How dare you!”
But he grabbed me and kissed me again before he pulled back slightly and said, “I had to. I was so afraid for you, and now everything is about to change and you could be in even more danger. Naomi, come with me to my residence in Herakleopolis. You will be safe there from the things that are to come.”
“I can’t leave!” I hissed. “My family is all here, my husband is buried here, Tut…” I paused, feeling a sudden wave of grief come over me.
He touched my face. “Naomi, no Hebrew will be safe if Ay and Nahktmin have anything to do with it.”
“Then don’t let them!” I pointed at his chest. “You are the regent. You were named to inherit the throne.”
“Years ago.” He frowned. “I’m not sure if it will honored.”
“What?”
“I have no blood connection.”
“Then get one! Marry Ankhesenamun―”
He covered my mouth angrily. “Naomi, I don’t want it. I’ll protect it, watch over it, and even die for it, but I do not want that crown. But there is one thing that I do want, one thing I have always wanted, and you know exactly what that is. If you don’t want to go to Herakleopolis, then we will go to your promised land, to Canaan, and we will take whomever you want. It would be good to have Hebrews leave this place. Then we will be free to do whatever we want, we can marry. There will be nothing left to keep us apart.”
I held my breath as I gazed up into his eyes. He made it sound so simple, so enticing, but he had always been good at winning me over. To run away with him would be liberating and seemed exciting and romantic. To leave this wretched place, to flee to Canaan where my people were promised freedom, and a land flowing with milk and honey, and finally escape the intrigues of the horrid royal family, seemed wondrous.
However, I had to think of my children. Such a journey would be hard on the smaller boys, and even Rachel. Hepsati would want to go, too, but Joshua would struggle the whole way―if he survived it―plus, they had small children of their own. Then, of course, there were my sisters and Samuel and their families, and Itani. I didn’t even know where Itani was, and the last I’d heard, she had just given birth to her second child.
Then again, he was right about Ay and Nahktmin. I had heard Nahktmin mutter only moments earlier about resolving the ‘Hebrew issue’. We would be in danger no matter what, but if Horemheb were to stay and claim the crown, then he could protect us.
“We can’t run,” I said quietly. “There’s too much danger involved. You must take the crown.”
“Aren’t you listening to me?” he responded with a snarl. “I don’t want it.”
“I am listening, but I know logically that to run is madness. My children would suffer, my family who would insist on coming as well would suffer, and maybe even die. I cannot leave this place, Horemheb.”
He sighed and stroked my face. “Then at least marry me so I can protect you and your children.”
I grabbed his hand, gazing up into his eyes. My heart pounded as I realized after all that time I still loved him. But I couldn’t marry him. He needed a royal wife, a princess, and a woman who could have children. I was none of those. I turned my face and kissed his hand, feeling torn, confused.
He bent down and kissed my neck whispering, “Marry me, Naomi. I’ve always loved you.”
I wept for him and pushed him away. �
��I can’t. You need someone who can fulfill your needs, who can improve your station.”
“No, I don’t,” he muttered, running his fingers through my hair.
I could barely resist him, but I fought to remain in control. I pushed him off and said firmly, “Yes, you do. I am not worthy to be your wife. And Tut, my son…he just died. I can’t do this. Now take me home at once.”
He pushed me back against the wall and leaned close to me, our lips so close I felt his breath. Our gaze met and he said, “If I find a wife who can fulfill those requirements, then will you marry me?”
I touched his cheek, closing my eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t want to make promises right now. I’m not thinking clearly. Too much has happened.”
But then, I couldn’t help kissing him. He pushed my hair back and kissed me with all his love. It was passionate, intense, and filled with years of pent-up emotion. I enjoyed it, even as my tears of grief fell. His hand came up and grabbed my breast, causing me to panic, as images of Malachi and our time together filled my mind. I pushed him off.
“Take me home.”
He gazed at me for a moment before he nodded. “As you wish.”
hen we arrived back at the house, the children knew something was terribly wrong. Zakkai ran and brought Hepsati, so we could tell them all together. Hepsati took the news the hardest, and sobbed loudly. It surprised me to find her reaction more intense for Tut than it had been for Malachi, but I understood why when she said, “It’s so sudden. What happened? My poor brother.”
Horemheb stayed with me to help explain everything. I felt grateful. Tut’s death tore me apart, and I struggled to form full sentences.
Once I had finished telling the family, Horemheb went out to check the farm was running efficiently, before bidding us farewell to return to the palace and make arrangements for Tut’s burial.
The day was very quiet after that. The children remained calm, and Hepsati, Rachel, and I spent most of it curled up together on my bed.
“Mama,” Hepsati said as she rested her head on my chest. “I’m so sad. So many people have died over these last couple of years, and now Papa and Tut only a few months apart. Will we ever be free of tragedy?”
I stroked her soft, dark hair. “This is life, my dear. None of these deaths have come about by malicious intent, so we at least have that.”
KIYA: Rise of a New Dynasty (Kiya Trilogy Book 3) Page 14