Horemheb did not move. “My men are not murderers,
“He is a traitor to the crown!” Amunhotep seethed. “A blight on the mighty glory of Aten!”
“Then I will arrest him and bring him here. In peace.”
I could see Amunhotep’s desire to lash out, but he needed Horemheb; the job was not finished. Nefertiti stepped forward, placing her lips against Horemheb’s ear, and I could read what she was saying. “Amun’s reign is over,” she whispered threateningly. “Aten watches over Egypt now.” They looked at one another, and a dozen messages were concealed in that glance. Horemheb made a bow, then turned to leave.
Amunhotep looked to Panahesi. “Follow him,” he commanded.
There was a meeting in my chamber that night.
“You let him kill the High Priest of Amun!” my father raged. He paced the bedroom and his cloak swirled violently around his heels.
Nefertiti sat on the edge of my bed. She was visibly shaken. “He refused taxation,” she said. “Had he gone in peace—”
“Panahesi didn’t give him the chance to
“The goddess understands—”
“Does she?” he demanded. “Are you willing to risk your
We both looked at Nefertiti.
“Nothing can be done now,” she replied. “He’s dead, and…and Amunhotep expects me back in his chamber.” Her voice disappeared into itself. “There will be a feast tonight.” She stole a glance at my father. “He expects you,” she said hastily. “And Panahesi will be there.”
Our father didn’t reply. Horemheb hadn’t betrayed the king, but something far worse, far more lasting had occurred. This deed of Amunhotep’s wouldn’t echo just on earth, it would echo among the gods. My father stormed from the chamber, and Nefertiti looked at me sharply. Then she disappeared after my father, and I was alone in my room.
When Merit arrived with instructions to wear my finest jewels to the feast, I shook my head angrily. “But the queen has requested it,” she replied.
“Then tell the queen she will simply have to be the only daughter of Ay who looks stunning tonight. If I’m not mistaken, the court should be in mourning, not celebrating.”
Merit looked puzzled.
“The High Priest has been killed!”
She drew her head back in understanding. “Oh. Yes. May Osiris embrace his soul,” she mumbled. “I will return with your answer to the queen, my lady. But you will be going?” she confirmed.
“Of course,” I snapped. “But only because I have no other choice.”
She looked at me curiously, but I didn’t care. I didn’t care who knew I didn’t think we should be celebrating the death of Ma’at. But in the end, I knew even my father would attend Pharaoh’s feast. No one was above Pharaoh.
I stood in the center of my room and closed my eyes. “Ipu,” I called. She didn’t answer. “Ipu?”
My body servant appeared. “My lady?”
“I am to attend a feast tonight.”
I could read the shock on her face, although for once she kept her silence. The High Priest of Amun, Holiest of Holies, had been dead for seven hours and a feast was being held. I sat silently while my hair and nails were done, even allowing my feet and breasts to be hennaed. When the door to my chamber swung open, I knew who it was before she appeared.
Her wig was shorter than the one she usually wore. The hair curved around her ears, showing her double pierced earlobes and then cutting straight to her chin. She looked beautiful and fearsome. She sat down next to me, but I ignored her.
“You aren’t sulking, are you? We did what had to be done,” she swore.
“Murder?” I exclaimed. “The gods will punish this family,” I forewarned.
“We set an
“What
“Of course, he should be feared!” Nefertiti straightened. “He is Pharaoh of the mightiest kingdom in the world, and there are only two ways of ruling. With fear or with rebellion.” She held out her arm. “The building of our temple will begin tomorrow. It is a night for celebration no matter what you think.” She smiled, indicating with her chin that I should stand up and walk with her. “Did you know the Elder sent his general here to find out what was happening?”
My breath came faster. “General Nakhtmin?”
“Yes.” We moved swiftly through the halls of the palace.
“But what does the Elder expect the general to do?”
“He can do nothing,” she said merrily. “You heard, of course, that the Elder has married again. A little princess from Nubia. Twelve years old.”
I winced.
“But what do I care? A new sun has risen, and it will scorch every other star out of the sky. Including the Elder.”
I was shocked by her aggression. “And our aunt?”
“Tiye is strong. She can take care of herself.”
We walked briskly through the painted halls to the sprawling room she shared with the king. Amunhotep emerged from the inner chamber, and the sight of him drew my breath away. His kilt was long and formfitting, and his golden pectoral was one I had never seen him wear before. Perhaps it was from the treasuries of Amun. They kissed, and I turned my head.
“I said you would succeed,” Nefertiti said softly. “And this is only the beginning.”
The Great Hall opened its doors to us and trumpets blared.
The feasting stopped so the people could watch Pharaoh’s entrance. I followed my sister, and behind the three of us trailed Ipu and Merit with beads of lapis and gold in their hair. I scanned the faces, but didn’t see the general among the crowd. My parents were at their table beneath the double thrones. The architect was there, with Kiya and Panahesi. I was disappointed to see that Horemheb was also among them.
I took my place at the table and Amunhotep led my sister to her throne. The people watched as they ascended the dais together, looking like gods who had just come to earth. There had never been such a striking couple in Egypt, with their gold and faience beads and jeweled scepters of reign. The court shook their heads and there was a murmur of awe. Then dinner resumed, and everyone chatted merrily, as if a murder had not just taken place. I looked at my empty plate and handed it to Ipu so she could prepare a dish for me. Only Horemheb and I remained taciturn at the table.
“You are silent tonight, General.” Kiya was sitting next to him, her pretty breasts exposed and her stomach an attractive mound beneath them. “Aren’t you enjoying the feast?”
Horemheb regarded her incredulously. “I am here because those were my orders. Otherwise, I would be preparing for battle with the Hittites, who are raiding our villages and encroaching on our land.”
Kiya laughed. “Hittites? You would rather be fighting Hittites than eating with Pharaoh?”
The general looked at her without saying a word.
“Are the Hittites really stealing Egypt’s land?” I asked him.
“Every day that we let them,” Horemheb replied.
“Do you think there will be war?” I asked quietly.
“If Pharaoh lives up to his word. What does the Sister of the King’s Chief Wife believe?”
Kiya made a dismissive noise in her throat. “What do
