Adventures of Alexis Davenport Series

by West, Shay

  Alex shrugged. “You know more about this than I do. So there’s no way for you to get into the palace? What if you’re my guest?”

  Sean waved his hands and laughed. “That’s not possible. Royalty doesn’t just invite commoners into the palace for dinner and drinks. In fact, we’ve been talking too long already.”

  “But it would be so much more helpful if I could show you the man I have to stop. Maybe together we can keep him from harming Tut, if that’s his target, and maybe I wouldn’t die again.”

  “I wish I could help. But there’s no way for me to gain entry to the palace.”

  “What about sneaking in?”

  “If I got caught, I would be put to death.”

  Alex rolled her eyes in frustration. Although she couldn’t really blame him, she wanted him to help her. She was afraid to face the evil man again. The last time, he had broken her finger and shoved a pillow over her face, suffocating her. Well, not me exactly, but Agy’s body. And while she had found her way out of the void and back to her own body, she wasn’t certain she could do it again. What if I get lost in the void this time?

  “I think we should end this conversation. We’ve been talking too long.” Sean stood and bowed to Alex. He grabbed a piece of parchment from a cubby hole under the cart. “You drive a hard bargain, your Majesty. I shall send the bill to the palace.”

  Alex clenched her teeth together so hard she feared they would shatter. She had so many more questions to ask. But she played along, unwilling to put Sean’s life in danger. She snapped her fingers and her servants ran to the cart. She pointed to a half dozen bolts of fabric, ordering them to carry them back to the litter. Alex hid a smile when she saw Sean’s eyes bulge in their sockets. She had taken the most expensive fabric, and left his cart nearly empty. He scribbled on the parchment but Alex didn’t pay it any mind. Surely King Tut has enough money to pay for the man’s entire stock.

  Her guards took up position around her as they made their way back to the litter. The people in the streets swarmed Sean’s cart. Alex was glad her presence had helped the man make decent money this day.

  The heat of the day was overwhelming. Her head pounded and sweat poured from every pore of her skin. I’m gonna need another bath. The stench of sweaty bodies and animals made her stomach queasy.

  The litter ride back to the palace seemed to take forever. Alex fanned herself, trying to generate even the slightest breeze. The litter was cramped, every space occupied with her purchases, which added to the heat and her feeling of claustrophobia.

  The interior of the palace was blessedly cool. Alex walked quickly back to her quarters, ignoring the bowing slaves. She fought the urge to begin undressing while she walked. She felt as though she was suffocating under the weight of the wig and the cloth of the dress.

  Alex ordered a lukewarm bath drawn. She sighed in ecstasy when she slipped out of her clothing and flung the wig to the floor. The sheer joy of feeling the sweat beginning to dry was well worth walking around her quarters in the nude. Besides, I’m so high up it’s not like anyone can see me through the window anyway.

  As soon as the water was ready she walked down into the sunken pool. I wish I had a bath like this back home! The pool was edged with tiles of every hue imaginable: purple, turquoise, amber, ochre. Alex fought a giggle as her servants rushed to toss blue and white lotus flowers into the water. The water was the perfect temperature; cool enough to leech the heat out of her body, and warm enough to get her thoroughly clean. Alex’s servants followed her into the pool and scrubbed her from head to toe. When they were finished, she lounged in the water for awhile, letting her mind work over what Sean had told her.

  Much of what he said was confirmation of things she’d already figured out. And yet some of the other things he told her sounded unbelievable. Except I found my way back to my body while in the void. If it wasn’t for this fact, she would have been tempted to blow off what he’d read in his Master’s journals.

  Thoughts of his Master sent waves of resentment flowing through Alex. It’s not fair! She was jealous of Sean having someone to train him in the use of his gift. All I have is Jenn and she’s not even speaking to me right now.

  “It is time to dress for dinner, Majesty.” Sekhet stood with a towel in hand, her posture indicating her desire that Alex exit the pool immediately.

  Part of her wanted to rebel and stay in the comfort of the water. I’m the Queen, aren’t I? What good is it to be Queen if you can’t do whatever you want? Reality set in and Alex slowly stood and climbed the steps to meet Sekhet. She knew the reality came from Ankhesenamun. Being a member of the royal family often meant that one had even less freedom than common folk.

  But it’s still nice to be able to shop for whatever I want. That thought brought her back to the shopping spree with her mom. Never in her life had she seen her mom spend so much money. They had never had nice things when she was young. Their furniture had been hand-me-downs and yard sale junk. Gary had refused to ever buy anything new. Some of the stuff they owned had been handmade, welded and bolted together and looking like something better suited for a machine shop than a home.

  She wanted this trip through time to hurry so she could get back to fixing up her bathroom. Maybe by the time I get back, the hot delivery guys’ll be done with my bedroom furniture.

  Sekhet and the other servants rubbed her skin with oil until she glowed in the light of the torches. The treatment, plus her day spent in the hot sun, made her sleepy. Sekhet positioned a wig adorned with beads and jewels on her head. This wig felt like a lead weight compared to the one she wore earlier that day. I hope dinner goes fast. Her dress was made of transparent green fabric. Alex tried not to blush as the servants pulled the dress over her shoulders. Sekhet chose a necklace of brilliant jade, and bracelets to match. With deft fingers, Sekhet applied dark kohl to Alex’s eyelids and lashes, the black powdery substance making her eyes appear larger and more luminous.

  Alex waited in her rooms until she was called for. It was expected for the Great Royal Wife to make a grand entrance. When the summons came, she stood slowly, her back perfectly straight, her shoulders back, every inch a Pharaoh’s Queen. Ankhetsenamun’s memories provided her the knowledge to find the main dining hall. Three servants trailed her and would serve her during the evening meal. They knew what dishes and beverages she preferred and would make sure everything was prepared to her liking.

  All eyes were on Alex as she made her way down to the dais. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw her lord husband sitting in his accustomed seat. The one to his left was empty, waiting for her to arrive. Tut looked bored and rather put out at her tardiness.

  Alex smiled serenely, taking her time walking to her chair. As she did, she studied Tut. He looked to be no older than eighteen, though he sat straight and proud, every inch a Pharaoh. His servants either sat next to his chair or stood behind it, ready to do his bidding at the slightest twitch of his fingers. Alex paid special attention to the servants, her senses alert for the evil man that may be hiding out in one of their bodies, a parasite from the future.

  She felt nothing from anyone in the room. Disappointed, she took her seat and nodded, indicating that the feast could begin.

  Alex gazed at the people seated at the long tables. It was obvious that only the elite were here at this party. Several scantily clad girls swayed their hips and arms seductively, the metal medallions on their belts and shawls jingling along with the men playing tambourines and some unfamiliar wind instruments. It didn’t take long for the people to begin talking over the sound of the music, which caused the musicians to play louder.

  Geez, how can anyone hear themselves think?

  Servants brought the first course and laid it before the Pharaoh and his Queen, as was custom. Tut could either choose the choicest portion for himself or his Queen, or bestow the honor on one of his subjects. Since this was the first course of the evening, he indicated that his Queen should get the best portion.

 
Alex nodded in acceptance and waited for her personal servants to dish up the food. She stared at it for a few seconds, trying to figure out what it was. It was soup, with what looked like green onions and some sort of meat. Rather than dwell on what the meat could possibly be, she took a spoonful and swallowed. It was very salty but not completely repugnant.

  Before she could even finish the small bowl of soup, the servants were bringing out the second course, which appeared to be some sort of salad, with greens she didn’t recognize, topped with nuts and goat cheese.

  Just as she was about to take her first bite, she froze. Her skin prickled and her hair stood on end. Her mouth was open, the fork stuffed with salad bare centimeters from her open mouth.

  Get a grip, Alex! She hurriedly stuffed the fork into her mouth and chewed, attempting to swallow, even though her mouth was dry as the Sahara desert. Don’t give anything away! Alex managed to get the bite down without choking. She smiled and turned her attention to the newcomer who had just walked into the dining hall.

  CHAPTER 7

  ALEX KNEW THE MAN was Grand Vizier Ay. Well, Ankhesenamun knew the man; Alex merely accessed her memories. She was surprised at how much more easily she was able to remember things than the other girls she had visited. I need to ask Sean about this. Maybe there’s a way I can access her memories on purpose rather than having things just pop up.

  Grand Vizier Ay stopped at every third guest, leaning down to speak privately to them, or shake a hand. Alex tried to watch the man while looking like she wasn’t watching him. She barely noticed anything of the next course that was set before her. She ate it, smiled, and praised the cooks, but she didn’t really taste anything. The sinister intent rolling off Ay made her feel sick to her stomach.

  “My apologies for being tardy, your Majesty.” Ay stopped in front of Tut and bowed deeply. “My duties kept me occupied.”

  “You have not missed much. Please, take a seat here.” Tut snapped his fingers and an older male servant brought a chair and placed it on the dais to Tut’s right. Alex took the opportunity to study Ay. The man was a bit on the pudgy side, and wore his clothing such that one side of his pasty white chest was exposed. He was short, standing barely as tall as Tut. Alex topped both of them by a few inches at least.

  Alex was relieved that the man didn’t seem to notice her at all. He made the proper courtesies as was expected but didn’t seem to notice Alex’s revulsion. He smells like rancid meat! She knew it was only the feeling of malevolence but it sickened her nonetheless.

  She paused with a bite of dark wheat bread mere inches from her lips when she spotted a handsome man entering the great hall. Only his lower body was wrapped in white cloth, leaving his chest bare. Gold arm bands encircled his massive biceps. He glanced at Alex and quickly looked away, but not before she saw the longing in his dark brown eyes.

  Her pulse quickened as he made his way to the dais to present himself before the King Tut.

  “Ah, Chigaru, I am so glad you could make it,” said the boy king.

  “I beg forgiveness. The work at the temple needed my supervision,” Chigaru said as he straightened from his deep bow.

  Chigaru. As the man bent to make his pleasantries to her, Alex schooled her face to blandness, as though she barely noticed this man before her. She was scared to look at him, certain everyone in the room would be able to see right through her. The feeling of closeness was the same was it was when she met Conor, Chandler, and Carlos on her other trips through time. Why do I feel like I have known this man my whole life? Chigaru made his way back one of the tables and Alex relaxed.

  The servants continued to bring more courses: freshly baked bread stuffed with dates, roasted duck and goose served with cream sauce, mutton cooked with a glaze of honey, fig pudding, and more beer than Alex had seen in her whole life. Her father had liked to drink beer and had even let her taste some once. But it was like water compared to the beverage the Egyptians made.

  By the time the final course arrived, Alex felt a little tipsy and very lethargic. I can’t fit one more bite in my stomach or I’ll burst! She stopped sipping at the beer and settled for water. The temperature in the room was growing unbearable. Alex felt dizzy and exhausted. Watching the dancers and acrobats perform was making her head spin.

  How long is this dinner gonna last anyway? All she wanted to do was waddle back up to her rooms, crawl into bed, and digest the enormous amount of food she had just eaten. The guests didn’t look like they were ready to leave any time soon. Alex kept a smile plastered on her face and made small talk with her husband.

  Husband.

  It seemed so weird to be married. She studied Tut, noticing that even though he was barely a teenager, he held himself with kingly grace and poise. He seemed ready to party into the wee hours. His brown eyes were kind and he seemed to feel awkward in her presence. He may be a Pharaoh, but he’s still just a kid.

  Finally, the guests began standing and taking their leave, thanking Tut for a lovely evening, complimenting him on a fine meal. Her admiration for Tut grew with each passing hour. He paid each guest the same attention, never showing the exhaustion he must be feeling.

  The guests also paid their respects to Alex. She pulled from Ankhesenamun’s royal heritage and memories, greeting each guest as befitted their station, calling them by name, wishing them a safe journey home.

  Soon, only Tut, Alex, and Ay remained, along with the servants scrambling to clear the dishes from the tables. Alex wasn’t sure what to do next, but she wasn’t going to leave Tut alone with Ay.

  “I have some matters to discuss, Majesty, about the building of the Temple of Amun,” Ay said, looking pointedly at Alex.

  It was obvious Ay wanted to speak to Tut privately. She wracked her brain trying to think of a way to keep an eye on Tut while not drawing the evil man’s suspicions.

  Suddenly, Alex felt an overwhelming sense of goodness. Sean! She glanced around the large dining hall as she stood, sighing in relief when she spotted him dressed as one of the servants. He winked and gave a barely perceptible nod.

  “I take my leave, Lord husband, Vizier Ay.” Alex bowed to both men and moved sedately from the room, acting as if nothing were amiss. She didn’t look at Sean as she passed. Alex prayed that she hadn’t misunderstood his nod. It’s out of my hands now.

  Her personal servants followed her back to her rooms and helped her undress. They rubbed her down with oils again. Alex was beginning to tire of all the massaging and oiling. It’s sure good for my skin though.

  After her bronze skin was shiny and supple, she put on a gauze nightshift and went to sit on the balcony. The moon was full, bathing the city of Thebes in ethereal light. The Nile, like a pale blue snake, ghosted past the city. People still moved about, even at the late hour. It was too hot to do much during the day, so many activities were saved for after dark. Torches lit the way, held aloft in wooden stakes. The sound of raucous laughter drifted up to Alex’s ears.

  As she sat overlooking the city, she tried to keep her mind off what might be happening at that very moment between Tut and Ay. Can Sean be there the whole time without drawing suspicion? What if he’s a second too slow? Maybe I shouldn’t have left. She tried to tell herself that Sean was a Protector too, and that he knew what he was doing. But he’s never dealt with the evil man before. Alex rocked back and forth, trying to calm her body and her mind, but she was so worried, she thought she would explode.

  Alex knew there was no way she could find out anything unless she went in search of answers herself. Or just wait till tomorrow and see if Tut is still alive.

  She frowned. According to history, Tut died at age eighteen. He’s close to that now, if not eighteen already. It was hard to judge his exact age. Tut has always been frail, and small for his age. Alex also knew of a popular theory that Ay had been the one to kill Tut so that he could gain the throne. Ay ruled after Tut’s death for four years before being succeeded by Horemheb, the current commander of Tut’s army.

&n
bsp; If Ay is supposed to kill Tut, then maybe the evil man is here to keep Tut alive? Alex hated this dilemma. If I do the right thing, I have to allow someone to die like they are supposed to. It was so much easier preventing someone being killed too soon, easier to deal with emotionally.

  Alex’s heart raced as the full scope of the situation hit her. How am I supposed to force the guy to kill Tut? It seemed an impossible task. She stood and began pacing, too anxious to sit still.

  Get a grip, Alex!

  She took a calming breath, and sat back down trying to force her body to stillness. The night dragged on and Alex’s eyes grew heavy despite the turmoil of her thoughts and emotions. She yawned and shuffled back inside the suite of rooms and made her way to her enormous bed.

  Alex paused, a new worry gnawing at her. Ankhesenamun was married to Tutankhamen. What if he sleeps here too? She wanted to grab a bag, throw some clothes inside, and run as fast as she could from the palace. The thought of lying next to a boy was worse than the thought of facing the evil man. She would rather face the void than her lord husband.

  He has his own chambers. This thought broke into her gibbering ranting, calming her a little. He only comes here once every few months.

  It was strange to have Ankhesenamun’s memories flit across her brain. Wish I could access them whenever I wanted. She calmed down when she realized that Tut wasn’t going to be sleeping in the same bed. Her cheeks flushed when she realized what the pair did on his infrequent visits. A King must have an heir.

  The breeze blowing through the open balcony had cooled the room considerably. Alex melted into the soft bed, exhaustion forcing her eyes to close. She yawned once, then fell into a deep sleep.

  CHAPTER 8

  ALEX WOKE with a start, fear clawing its way through her body. Not again! She tried to scream, but the hand clamped down over her mouth muffled the sound. Her eyes darted back and forth, looking for anything she could use to defend herself. Terror threatened to overwhelm her. She threw her body to the side, trying to throw her attacker to the ground, or at least move him even a fraction of an inch.