But Hattie hadn’t been trained and educatedfor that. She wasn’t a fearless warrior. She was simply an artist,sadly out of her depth in the mysteries and intrigues of anancient, bloodthirsty world.
A fragrant breeze caressed her cheek.Startled, she looked around for the source. It was a hot, windlessday, as were most days in Egypt. The curtain over her door didn’tmove, yet she felt the sensation again—this time, more strongly. Itwas like the presence she had felt in the museum, the voice thaturged her to touch the necklace. “Trust Senemut,” the etherealvoice whispered.
Hattie whipped around. She and Senemut werethe only ones in the room. She strode to the door and jerked openthe curtain. The hallway was empty. Was she going crazy? Or had themysterious voice followed her from her own time?
“What is it, Hattie?” Senemut’s voice brokein on her thoughts.
Turning back to face him, she sighed.“Nothing, nothing. I just thought I heard…never mind.” Shedismissed it with a wave of her hand. Regardless of the source ofthe voice—her subconscious or a ghost—the advice was sound. She hadto rely on Senemut’s counsel and her own commonsense to guide herin this crisis. She had no choice.
“I agree Nubia’s rebellion must be put down,”she told him. “What do you suggest?”
“You must crush the uprising,” herepeated.
“Aye, but how? I mean, how many troops shallI send? What kind of equipment? What about a battle plan? Whatshall I tell General Snefru? You agreed to be my advisor, Senemut.I need your recommendations.”
“I see. Very well. I would suggest…” Hepaused and pursed his lips. “I suggest you send six hosts ofinfantry and charioteers, together with their horses and equipment,up the Nile to quell the uprising at once. That should besufficient. Tell the general to accept nothing less than totalsurrender. He will know what to do.”
“Aye, that seems logical, I suppose. You arecertain there is no way to avoid bloodshed?”
Senemut slowly shook his head.
Hattie sighed with resignation. “All right,it shall be done. But no women and children are to be killed—onlysoldiers. I want that made perfectly clear.”
“I do not think that is wise. The Nubiansmust be shown that they dare not rebel against the forces ofEgypt.” His jaw tightened. “Mercy will only convince them you areweak, and they will try again.”
Hattie shook her head. “This point is notnegotiable. No women and children will be killed. That is myorder.”
“As you wish.” Senemut looked unconvinced.“There is one other point. It is customary for pharaoh to lead histroops into battle. Of course, Tuthmosis is too small and youare…well, under these circumstances, Snefru will lead the troops.He will—”
“Why do you think I would shrink from myduty?” she interrupted. Her stomach quivered wildly and her heartpounded, but she was determined to fulfill the role that had beenthrust upon her. If she were to live Hatshepsut’s life, even for ashort space of time, she must live it the way Hatshepsut would. Shehad no right to change things to suit her own twenty-first centurysensibilities. Besides, what would happen if she changed the coursethat history had followed? Would she be unable to return to her owntime, marooned forever in the past? She shuddered at the thought.“If it is customary for pharaoh to lead the troops, then as Regent,I shall do so. And you shall accompany me.”
Senemut stared at her, his eyes narrowed. Afrown etched lines in his forehead. She matched him stubbornly lookfor look and waited an endless moment to hear his reply. What if herefused to go with her to Nubia? She needed his help and advice—sheknew nothing about combat tactics and battle strategies. She didnot dare make a fool of herself in front of her soldiers.
Even worse, what if he laughed at thethought of a woman as head of the armed forces? In her own time,women still struggled for equality in the military, and inantiquity, a female soldier was nearly unheard of. If she couldn’twin his respect, shehad no hope of commanding a division of soldiers. Everythingdepended on him.
At last, his gaze softened. He lifted hishand to his shoulder in a salute. “Fierce little warrior,” hemurmured. “It will be my very great honor to accompany the Lady ofthe Two Lands into battle. And I swear upon my eternal ka, I willprotect you with my life.”
Hattie swallowed convulsively over the largelump that had suddenly materialized in her throat. She took hishand and kissed the palm swiftly. “Send the message, Senemut. Thencome to my chambers. We have many preparations to make and a battleto plan.”
* * *
“The favor of the gods is with us,” Hapusenebsaid, rubbing his hands together. “She has decided to lead thetroops herself into battle against the Nubians. With any luck, ourproblem will be taken care of for us by Egypt’s enemies. Whatdelicious irony! I could not have planned it better myself. Ishould thank the Nubians for rebelling.” He grinned. “But, ofcourse, your carefully placed rumors of a weak woman on the thronegave them the…push they needed to decide the time was right for anuprising.”
“How did she come to this decision to leadthe battle herself?” Snefru asked, lounging arrogantly in a carvedwooden chair in Hapuseneb’s chamber. “I am astonished, I admit.Hatshepsut was ever a meek, timid woman. This is not like her.”
“I did not need soil my hands. Thattraitor, Senemut, must have convinced Her Majesty to go. Littledoes he know that, in his own bumbling way, he is servingourends.” Hapuseneb was pleasednow that he had drawn Snefru into the conspiracy. Snefru couldoversee the Nubian campaign personally, and make sure thatHatshepsut met with a fatal mishap. Such things were regrettable,but they happened often on the field of battle and thus would notbe deemed suspicious.
Snefru nodded. “Aye! And when we are rid ofher, we shall rid ourselves of him as well. Then you will ruleEgypt, through the boy, and I shall be Steward of Amun. Together,we will conquer the world!”
The two men laughed, then raised their winegoblets in toast to the gods.
CHAPTER 10
With Senemut at her side, Hattie left hercabin in the center of the two-hundred-foot ship, moved past theoarsmen rowing, and leaned over
