The Heretic Queen (17 page)

"Nefer?"
he mouthed.

I smiled to let him know it was me. Then I saw that he was wearing the ox-hair necklace on top of his cloak, and my breath caught in my throat.

"You may meet him in the courtyard," Woserit whispered. "But you will only have a few minutes after the chanting is done."

I was never so impatient for my time in Pharaoh Seti's temple to be finished. Every hymn to Amun felt like an eternity. When they had finally finished, I glanced at Woserit and she smiled to indicate that this was the time. In the courtyard outside the mortuary temple, Ramesses and Asha moved through the crowd. "Nefer!" Ramesses shouted, and when he saw me beneath the statue of Amun, I restrained myself from rushing forward and embracing him.

From his side, Asha regarded me with wide, approving eyes. He took in my netted faience dress under which my breasts had been carefully hennaed. "Nefertari, you've become a real princess."

"And you've become a real soldier," I complimented, noting the heavy sword at his side.

Ramesses looked between us, and I'm sure that I saw his shoulders stiffen. "Where have you been?" he exclaimed. "Did Woserit tell you we've been to the temple
six
times?"

I refused to show that I was shocked by the news. Instead, I smiled. "Yes, but priestesses are forbidden from seeing anyone outside the temple during their apprenticeship," I reminded him.

"But we came inside twice," Asha interrupted, "pretending to worship just to look for you!"

I laughed, to hide my surprise. "And you think Woserit didn't know? She wanted to keep me away, in case I should change my mind about the temple!"

Ramesses met my gaze and stepped closer to me. "And now?" he asked quietly. I could smell the mint on his breath, and if I reached out slightly, I could have touched the ox-hair's necklace. "You aren't dressed in the robes of Hathor," he said. He looked down at my beaded dress, and a brilliant flush crept into his cheeks.

I glanced at Asha, who was looking between Ramesses and I with a curious expression. "Because I'm not certain I want to be a priestess," I said. Before they could question me, I continued with the speech that I had rehearsed. "I don't know where my place is at this court, or in the temple."

"Then you should come back!" Asha exclaimed.

Ramesses searched my face, to see if I truly meant what I was saying, and suddenly Iset was at his side. "There you are!" Iset laughed easily. "Henuttawy told me you had gone, but I knew you wouldn't leave without telling me."

"How far could he have gone?" Asha scowled. "It's the Feast of Wag."

Iset ignored him and put her arm around Ramesses's waist. I was surprised by her familiarity, and the confident way she met his gaze.

"Have you seen Nefertari?" Ramesses asked.

Iset looked at me. "Nefertari." She smiled and even managed to sound delighted. "I didn't recognize you in so much paint." She turned back to Ramesses. "There is an emissary who would like to speak with you," she said. "He wants to bring news back to Mitanni about your victory in Kadesh, but he only speaks Hurrian."

"Then perhaps Nefertari can converse with him," Ramesses said, looking at me. "She's probably better at Hurrian than I am. Could you speak with the emissary from Mitanni?"

I gave Ramesses my widest smile. "Why not?"

As the four of us crossed the courtyard, students from the edduba recognized me and called out my name. "You see how much you've been missed?" Asha asked. "I can't imagine why you'd want to be a priestess of Hathor."

"I think she'd make a wonderful priestess," Iset offered. She hooked Ramesses by the elbow and led him on.

Asha leaned over to me and whispered, "Of course she does. Without you here, there's no other woman Ramesses is interested in."

Asha and I trailed behind Ramesses and Iset, our voices lost in the cacophony of feasting. "So is she always with him?"

"Yes. It's unbearable. The only place she won't follow him is the Arena. She even tries to stop Ramesses from racing, or hunting in the marshes."

I inhaled sharply. "And does he listen?"

"With one ear. He promises her that he will always be careful and tries to quiet her whining with gifts."

"Why does he put up with it?" I exclaimed.

"Because half the men at court are in love with her. All of Thebes is singing her praises, and the people are hopelessly charmed."

We both looked at Iset. She was not as tall as Ramesses, but tall enough that everyone in the courtyard noticed when she passed by. Students may have waved and smiled at me, but it was Iset their eyes followed.

"And you?" I asked curiously as we walked together. "Is she charming to you?"

"I see her for what she is. A fool. And she's completely lost in the Audience Chamber."

"But Ramesses loves her, doesn't he?" I asked, and Asha studied me by the light of the torches. "Oh, no." He shook his head. "Not you as well! All of the priestesses fawn over Ramesses. Visiting princesses practically throw themselves at his feet, begging to be his wife!"

"Who said I wanted to be his wife?" I exclaimed.

"I saw the way he was looking at you! And you were looking back," he accused. "Nefer--"

"Nefertari," I corrected, and I could see that Asha was hurt.

"Nefer
tari,
" he repeated indignantly. "I have always been like a brother to you. And so has Ramesses. To change that relationship now would be to risk great danger."

"I don't see why," I lied.

"Then think of Iset! Of Henuttawy! The High Priestess instructs Iset in everything she does. You would be making enemies of all of the women who want Ramesses for themselves. Why sleep in a bed of scorpions, when you could marry a nobleman and live in peace? Your mother was forced to become Pharaoh Horemheb's wife, and she hated it every day she drew breath."

"How do you know that?" I demanded angrily.

Asha gave me a look. "You know it as well as I do! So why follow in her path?"

But Asha was cut off when Ramesses recognized the emissary from Mitanni. Although the Hittite empire had crushed their kingdom, the Mitanni people still had their own leaders, and there always smoldered a hope of rebellion. I watched as Ramesses strode ahead. I tried to avoid Asha's interrogating gaze, since I already knew the answer to his question.
Why follow in her path?
Because unlike my mother, I was in love.

"You are Kikkuli of Mitanni?" Ramesses asked.

The fat man paused in his conversation with an emissary from Assyria. "Yes, Your Highness." He bowed his head, and the Assyrian emissary did the same.

"My wife tells me you have some interest in our victory over the Hittites," Ramesses said in Hurrian.

"Yes. Very, very interested," Kikkuli replied.

"Then perhaps the princess Nefertari can explain, since her Hurrian is much better than mine."

It was true. My Hurrian was better, but Ramesses seemed to follow all that was said. I introduced myself and Kikkuli bowed again.

"I am glad to make your acquaintance, Princess. I have been sent to the court of Egypt to learn how to speak your language."

I was surprised. "Aren't there any teachers of Egyptian in Mitanni?"

"Plenty! And all of them speak worse Egyptian than I do!"

Ramesses and I both laughed, while Asha and Iset stood quietly.

"But I believe you wanted to know about Pharaoh's victory in Kadesh," I said. I told him what I had learned while at the temple. When I was finished, Kikkuli looked humbled.

"Thank you, my lady. I had no idea that anyone in the court of Egypt spoke such fluent Hurrian."

"Many royals study your language," I flattered. "And we greatly admire the captive kingdom of Mitanni."

Kikkuli's eyes widened. "I shall be certain to report such warm feelings to my people."

"Yes, please do," Ramesses said. "For Egypt hopes to remain great friends with Mitanni, and we trust that your governor would send word if ever your invaders planned an attack against us."

Kikkuli bobbed his head like an ibis. "If the Hittites should dare to march south through Aleppo, or even Nuzi, you have our word that Egypt will know of it."

Ramesses smiled, but Kikkuli only had eyes for me. "Your princess is exceptional," he complimented.

Ramesses met my gaze. Although he didn't reply, his eyes said more than his words ever could, and I knew that I had made him proud.

"What? What did he say?" Asha asked.

Next to him, Iset had gone still and hard as stone. Her beauty might fascinate men, but it was difficult to charm them when she stood mute as an obelisk.

"He said he would bring back the news of how powerful Egypt's army has become to his people," I translated.

Next to Kikkuli, the emissary from Assyria cleared his throat. "And if the Hittites try to reclaim Kadesh?"

Ramesses shook his head. "I apologize, but your Akkadian is one language I cannot speak."

"He is asking what will happen if the Hittites try to reclaim Kadesh," I relayed, and turned to the emissary. "Then Egypt will march north with the might of twenty thousand men," I promised, "and take it back for a second time."

Ramesses stared at me. "Since when have you spoken Akkadian?"

"Since I've been at the Temple of Hathor."

Ramesses regarded me with deep admiration, and Iset announced, "Look, it's your aunt!"

I caught Woserit's gaze across the courtyard, and I knew what was about to happen. When she smiled at Ramesses, my heart raced. "Enjoying the Feast of Wag?" she asked him. "I'm sure you were surprised to see Nefertari."

"Yes," he said, and his eyes lingered on mine. Standing beside him, I was aware of how fighting had sculpted him into a man. "Well, Nefertari," Woserit said. "I believe you still have to visit the mortuary temple in Djamet tonight. Are you ready?"

"Perhaps we can go with you," Ramesses offered.

But Woserit shook her head. "Nefertari should pay her respects alone."

Ramesses and Asha both looked at me, as if I could offer them some reversal, but I understood Woserit perfectly. "Ramesses, Asha." I smiled at each of them. "I very much enjoyed seeing you tonight. Iset," I acknowledged.

"Will you bid us farewell at the procession?" Ramesses asked quietly.

"What do you mean?" I looked to Asha. "Pharaoh's army just returned from Kadesh! You're not going to war
again?
"

"The Nubians are rebelling. Ramesses is going to teach them a lesson."

Ramesses nodded, and his eyes were fixed on mine.

"Then we shall see when the time comes whether Nefertari will be there," Woserit said. "Until then, or perhaps until the next Feast of Wag, wish Nefertari well on the path she has chosen."

This time, Iset's smile was real. I followed Woserit dutifully beyond the courtyard, where Merit was waiting with chariots for hire. "Take the princess and her nurse to Horemheb's mortuary temple in Djamet," Woserit said.

The young man helped me into the chariot, and as the horses pulled away, I looked behind us. The court had left the mortuary temple, and Ramesses was gone.

"Well, what did he say?" Merit asked.

"I . . . I don't know," I said breathlessly. "But he looked different. Older."

"But what did he
say?
" she repeated.

"He asked me to speak with the emissary from Mitanni." I looked at Merit as we sped through the night and wondered aloud, "What if he only values me for my talent?"

"Would it matter, my lady, as long as he's interested? Your goal is to become Chief Wife."

"No." I shook my head in realization. "It's not. I want him to love me."

We had reached Djamet, and Horemheb's temple rose from a vast plateau of sand. Its wide black gates were thrown open, for pilgrims who wished to remember the Pharaoh who had eradicated the Heretic King's influence. Only members of Seti's court could visit the temple at any time, but on the first night of Wag the doors of every temple were opened to anyone. Merit brushed the dust from my cloak, then paid the boy who had driven us through the night. Her steps slowed as we approached the heavy gates. On every Feast of Wag, I entered the temple alone, while Merit left to pay obeisance at the small shrine her father had built nearby. "Shall I leave you here?" she asked quietly.

I nodded. "Yes."

"Of course, you will not talk with anyone," she warned. "And raise your hood." She handed me my bowl. "Can you see where you are going?"

"There are reed torches inside. I have good eyes."

I watched as Merit disappeared into the darkness, then I passed through the gates of Horemheb's temple. I tried not to think of how it had once been the exclusive shrine to my
akhu.
It had been built by my grandfather, Pharaoh Ay, but all that was left of him now were the paintings in his tomb, somewhere deep within the Valley of the Kings.