“I know you’re protected by the Crocodile God himself,” he said, “But I thought my heart would stop when I saw you jump into the Nile today.”
“You’re not protected and you came in after me,” she said, covering her mouth as she yawned. The whole ordeal had taken a great deal out of her, particularly the tense minutes holding the crocodiles against their will to assist other people. She refused to think about the next steps she must take to sort out whether it was Nidiamhet or Baufratet wielding the black magic. She’d probably used her power over the crocodiles to save the sorceress, for the time being. All of that could wait until tomorrow.
“As if I’d stand by and watch the woman I love drown or be killed. In some ways you don’t know me at all,” he said, reaching out to pick up the sea shell-decorated comb on the side table. Using smooth, slow strokes he removed the snarls and tangles in her hair.
“Do you still love me?” Immediately wishing she could recall the forlorn question, she hated the plaintive tone in her own voice. I sound like my younger self, the outcast, crippled child, begging for crumbs of my mother’s affection. I swore I’d never do that again.
Dropping the comb, he tightened his arms around her, holding her close to his heart. “I never stopped loving you, not even the night you first rejected me. I was angry, yes. Was I an idiot for leaving Ibis Nome in such a state? Absolutely. But have no doubt my love stayed true.”
She retrieved the comb, stroking her finger along the edge of the teeth. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize.” He kissed her cheek. “I think I understand more now, having seen you here in Thebes. What I proposed to you originally wouldn’t have worked, would it?” Not waiting for her answer, he continued, “The queen warned me I’d failed to give proper consideration to what I was asking of you and she was right, as usual. You’re like a special lotus, which can only grow in one place in the Black Lands, in the Ibis Nome, am I right? Take you away from your sheltered cove for too long and you won’t thrive.”
She took a deep breath. Time for truth. Either I trust this man with the full story of my past and how it affects me to this day, or I let him go forever. “No, I can’t thrive, as you put it.”
“So I must think of another solution, because I still intend us to be together as man and wife, with our son.”
Surprised, her heart aching, Tyema twisted to gaze into his face. “There’s no solution, my love. Your destiny calls for you to stay here, in Thebes, where you can do great things for Pharaoh and Egypt. Mine calls for me to stay in Ibis Nome. ”
“I refuse to accept your dreary interpretation of our fates. Just as I refused to become your temple guard.” His tone was intimate and teasing. He kissed the soft spot where her neck joined her shoulders and she arched against him to invite more caresses. It was like a dream to be back in his arms, held close against his strong body. Unable to stop herself, Tyema ran a hand down his arm, tracing the curves of his muscles, well developed from all the military arts he excelled at.
Sahure whispered in her ear. “I want to understand the underlying problems because clearly there’s something I don’t know yet. Most of all, I want to apologize for being so high handed and arrogant on our final evening in your rooms. I was wrong to assume you’d give up all you’d achieved in your life for me and my precious career. I spent many a sleepless night in regrets.”
She was too tired to keep her secrets from him anymore. He deserved to know what separated them. Let me tell him with no softening of the ugly truth, put his surety we can overcome anything to the test. And if his love fails the test, better for us both to know. “When I was born, my right leg was withered, misshapen.” Pulling aside the sheets, she extended her right leg as if to be sure the limb hadn’t reverted to its childhood state, pointing the toes and flexing them. “My mother said someone had put the evil eye on her, cursed her, that I was demon spawn, an animal, and should be killed,” Tyema said. “Or so I was told, over and over.”
His arms tightened. “Set’s teeth, what mother would say such a thing of her baby? A child is a gift from the gods.”
Somehow it was easier to talk because she couldn’t see his face, yet his strength and love were wrapped around her. “My half-sister Merys saved me, treated me like her own child, saw I was given to a wet nurse. My father was the town’s chief scribe at the time so there was plenty of deben, although Merys had to shame him into hiring the woman. Merys raised me. She taught me to walk as best I could, forced me to do exercises to strengthen my withered leg. She also taught me the traditional songs of the priestess since the gods had gifted me with a strong voice and sense of music.” Tyema wiped away a tear. Speaking of it is like reliving the horror.
And yet somehow it wasn’t. Telling Sahure was curiously simple, inflicted no pain. Maybe even felt good, like lancing a wound? Tyema decided to give him more details. “Other children in the village taunted me, threw stones at me sometimes when I tried to play with them. I’d no friends but Merys.”
He rubbed her arms gently to warm them. “Children can be cruel to those who are different.”
“In my tenth summer, the Hyksos raided the village. Merys was—was killed on the beach, below the old temple.” She took in a breath, gulping as the tears threatened to overwhelm her. Even though she knew Merys was safe now, beyond the ability of anyone to harm her, the memories were overwhelming tonight. She’d never spoken of these matters to anyone and found she couldn’t stop.
Turning her to face him, he put a gentle finger on her lips for a moment, before resting her head on his chest, holding her close, curled against him. “I know the unspeakable acts the Hyksos commit, no need to say more unless you wish to continue. May your sister’s ka be at peace. And you?”
“When the Hyksos attacked the town, I was taken prisoner, along with most of the other women and children. The Hyksos commander said although I was flawed, I’d make an interesting sacrifice to their god. Something amusing for the demons to chew on, he said.” Tyema knew if she closed her eyes she would still see the man, as if he’d stood taunting her now, not fifteen years ago. “We were carried away up the Nile in ships. I hadn’t been on a ship since that day, in fact, until I had to sail to Thebes to bring Pharaoh the new crocodile for the temple. What an ordeal the journey was, but Sobek ordered me to come.” She did close her eyes then, biting her lip. Treading too close to the true reason why I’m here.
“If sailing causes you distress, which I can understand it might, how did you manage the voyage to Thebes? Did your physician give you a potion or a spell?”
She shook her head slightly. “I thought of taking such an easy way out, drugging myself to make the journey, but my son—our son—was on board with me. He needed me.”
“You could have left him in Ta’sobeksef, with a wet nurse.”
Indignant, Tyema sat up. “I’m not a coward. I knew you might be in Thebes, the nomarch told me. I wanted you to know your son. I never intended to keep you from him.”
Capturing her hand and bringing it to his lips for a kiss, he made reassuring noises. “No need to be so defensive, I believe you. So resuming your tale of years ago, how were you rescued from the Hyksos?”
“Sobek himself came to save us. He brought his crocodiles to destroy the enemy ships, just battered them to pieces. He led the attack as the White Crocodile, rescuing me, because he knew how much Merys loved me.” She stared into Sahure’s warm brown eyes, narrowed in concern for her and the painful past she was revealing. “Can I tell you something you must never repeat? I want no more secrets about the past between us, and I have Sobek’s permission. The day he made you the map of the Nile he said I could share this truth with you, although I didn’t understand why he was saying it at the time.”
No hint of amusement in his demeanor, Sahure laid his free hand over his heart. “I swear upon my immortal ka not to ever speak of Sobek’s secrets.”
Satisfied, she nodded. “Not even the other members of my family know this, but S
obek and Merys were lovers. She was carrying his baby. When it came time for the judging of her heart, the goddess Isis granted Merys the special dispensation that she and the child could have eternity in the Afterlife with Sobek in the home of the gods.”
Sahure was speechless for a moment. “No wonder the Great One insisted my uncle place your Merys in a lavish tomb, give her full honors as if she was a member of our family. He attends to its upkeep and protection to this day.”
Tyema nodded. “I used to see Merys occasionally while I was growing up. Her ka was allowed to come from the Afterlife to the old temple every once in a while, and take on human form. She even brought Hathor and Tarawet to save my life and the baby’s life the night he was born, but now Isis has forbidden her to travel to our world again. It’s so strange, Merys is unchanged, and I’m older than she was when she passed into the Afterlife.”
“Does Merys’s spirit tie you to the village and prevent you from leaving?”
“No, I’ll see Merys when I reach the Afterlife, if my heart be judged worthy. I’m not a child any more, Sahure. I don’t need mothering from Merys to get through my tasks, my days. But to finish the tale of that awful day, many years ago, Sobek took us all back to the village, where he straightened my leg. He’s not a healing god, but he said the task was simple to do. My entire life until then I’d been shunned, hated, an outcast, and he made my leg whole in the blink of an eye.”
“But not your heart,” Sahure said, raising his eyebrows.
She nodded. “He declared me to be his high priestess, gave me the six emerald tears. But I’d spent my entire life scuttling out of view, trying to stay away from people, not to disgrace my family or myself, avoiding torment and hurt—”
“And you can’t bear to be in crowds of people unless you’re carrying out tasks for Sobek. I understand now.” He hugged her close to his heart, kissing the top of her head.
“I get physically ill, afraid I’m going to faint, or die, or lose control of some bodily function, which did happen to me on occasion as a child. Often I can’t breathe.” She tried to smile, knew she wasn’t succeeding. “My heart races as if to pound its way from my chest. There are few people I can be comfortable with. Talking about anything besides temple business is hard for me. I never know what to say, my tongue ties itself into the shape of Isis’s knot. You were the first person since Merys I felt completely at ease with, right from the first night. I fell in love with you. I’m sorry my love wasn’t strong enough to overcome my malady.”
“Shh, beloved, we’ll find a way to work around the problem, now you’ve trusted me enough to tell me what the boundaries are.” Stroking her back, he seemed thoughtful, brows drawn together in a frown. “You’ve done quite well here in Thebes though, all things considered. Not just at the temple ceremonies. You sang for Pharaoh in the midst of all his court.”
Snuggling close to the warmth of his body, listening to the steady beat of his heart, she took a breath and pondered his words. “You’re right, it hasn’t been as bad in Thebes as I feared. Of course you were here. And Pharaoh and his queen are so kind. Another odd thing—ever since Seknehure was born, I can be fearless on his behalf, as I am for Sobek.”
“My kitten is a lioness for her cub.” Sahure hugged her.
“I want to be a lioness for you.” She ran her hand over the smooth muscles of his abdomen, traced the raised white lines of an old battle scar on his flank. “You deserve someone who can help you achieve your dreams. They’re good dreams, Sahure.”
“I can take care of myself, sweetheart.” His eyes crinkled as he laughed. “As long as I have you and Seknehure to come home to, I’m perfectly capable of building my own career, molding success. I understand now why you’ll always serve Sobek from your own temple in Ta’sobeksef.”
“Truly?”
With one hand he gently tilted her chin so their eyes met. “Truly,” he said as he lowered his head to hers, kissing her lips with increasing pressure until she yielded, parting to allow his questing tongue entry. For several breathless moments she clung to him, returning his caress with all the pent-up ardor of the long months apart. When the kiss was done, he said, “I just wish you’d trusted me with this information earlier. We could both have been spared much unhappiness.”
“You’re so strong and capable, I didn’t want to tell you how weak I was. I dreaded you’d despise me, regret having fallen in love with me. Or laugh at me.” Even as she spoke, Tyema knew Sahure would never have done any of those things. He might not have understood her problems before seeing how she fared in Thebes, but he never would have disrespected her. She’d done him and herself a serious disservice by not trusting him with her secret challenges.
“Sweetheart, you’re one of the strongest women I know, in so many ways. I think you spoke the truth the other day when you said our relationship was too rushed in Ibis Nome. If you’d known me better, longer, I think you’d have realized my love was true. I’d give anything to protect you, in any situation.” He grinned. “Even in the direst danger of a formal dinner in Pharaoh’s palace.”
They both chuckled and he recaptured her lips for another kiss so passionate she was left thrumming with arousal and desire.
Tyema was first to pull away this time, still curious. “But if we’d had months together in Ibis rather than weeks, if I’d eventually spoken of my concerns about how I could fit into your dreams for a shared future here in Thebes—”
“I have two dreams, which I thought were inextricably entwined, but now I know better. I wanted to rise in power and influence so I could be a builder of the future for Egypt, and I wanted a wife to be my partner. What I didn’t know, being a fool, was if I had a wife who loved me for myself, I’d be truly blessed by the gods, wherever I ended up, whatever I did. We’ll figure out the future, Ema, but we’ll do it together.” He pulled her closer, his tongue once again seeking hers, his arms holding her as if he’d never let go.
Tyema adjusted herself in his embrace as the caress continued, relaxing against his body, feeling the unmistakable evidence of his arousal as his hard cock thrust against her thigh. She couldn’t quite surrender herself completely to the heady emotions, all too aware she hadn’t told him about the black magic. He broke off the kiss, the expression on his face one of concern. “Am I rushing you again? I thought your desire matched mine tonight, but if not—”
Puzzled, she held him closer. “I’ve longed for you, for the intimacy we shared in Ibis, more than I can say. Why are you hesitating?” She stroked one hand across his chest, rubbing her palm ever so lightly on the flat nipple before bending to tease him with her tongue.
“You seem lost in thought. If you have any further doubts of me, I’d hear them now.” His voice was firm.
But Sobek swore me to secrecy, and I’m still not sure how Sahure is involved or affected. She gave his nipple one final caress and sat. “No doubts.” Her hand slid beneath the thin linen sheet, stroking his engorged cock as he took a deep breath in response to her bold possession of his manhood. She clasped her fingers around him, enjoying the feel of all that power, caged in her hand. Leaning forward, Tyema swirled her tongue across the head, savoring the salty taste of the moisture beaded there. Taking his cock into her mouth, she spent a few delicious moments with Sahure at her mercy as she licked and sucked, her other hand caressing his balls and the sensitive skin behind them.
With a groan he pulled her away and rolled her onto her back, kissing his way down her neck. “Many times I’ve dreamt of lying with you again.” His hand parted the hair at the vee of her thighs, the long fingers skillfully penetrating her most private places, to rub and stimulate, coaxing her body into delicious spasms of feeling.
But she wanted more. Tugging at him, she urged him to move over her, plunging his shaft into her well prepared sheath. As she remembered, he filled her completely, even stretched as she’d been by childbirth. She matched her movements to Sahure’s as he pumped in and out, holding him tightly, locking her legs aroun
d him to increase the sensation for them both. He captured her lips for a kiss that went on forever as their bodies moved in a well remembered unison, until the cresting pleasure sent her over the edge and she threw back her head, screaming his name. Sahure thrust deep into her, intensifying her pleasure as he reached his own release.
As they lay together afterward, his body warm against her back, she prayed to Sobek they might have made another child together this day. Nothing would make me happier than to present him with another fine son or a beautiful daughter.
Chapter Nine
The next day’s schedule held plans for the ladies-in-waiting and other high born Theban women to play games and dine at Nidiamhet’s home on the edge of Thebes. Tyema half hoped the event would be canceled after the dunking in the Nile, but word from her hostess came early in the morning by special courier how much Nidiamhet anticipated the gathering, and especially rejoiced in having Tyema as her special guest.
Queen Ashayet was not attending this event. Tyema wished the Great Royal Wife was to be there. She felt safer in the queen’s presence, which of course was ridiculous. Ashayet had no power to thwart a sorceress. But after the incident on the royal barge the day before, Tyema felt she’d narrowed her search down to two candidates, both of whom would be in attendance. She hoped she might observe some sign which would allow her to eliminate either her hostess or Baufratet from suspicion. And then I report to Sobek and to Pharaoh and let them take action while I flee home.
After bidding a lingering farewell to Sahure at midmorning in the privacy of her chambers, giving Seknehure a kiss, she walked through the now familiar halls of the palace to the area where a number of litters waited to carry the invited guests through Thebes to Nidiamhet’s family compound.
The first few hours went well, Tyema gradually relaxing as she saw no vestiges of the black magic. While disappointed to realize her mission wasn’t going to be resolved today after all, she was happy the gathering was so informal and cordial. Since Ashayet hadn’t attended, the guests weren’t required to observe royal protocol and decorum. Tyema was now somewhat acquainted with many of the women in attendance, and as the activity centered around tables of senet and other games, it was easy to relax and let the conversation flow over her while she threw the counters and moved her pawns along with her companions.
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