any further. She swallows back her anger and nods. Breath catches in her throat as his gaze falls to her lips. Her heart thunders in her chest as she anticipates the feeling of his mouth on hers. Instead, he releases his grip on her and steps back.
“Don’t tell a soul where you’re going,” he emphasizes again and his face softens. “And be careful.”
“Thank you, Nehi,” Aniya says finding her breath again. The words do not seem enough, and she ignores the flighty butterflies in her stomach long enough to put her arms around him and hug him tightly. “Thank you for saving me.”
Nehi’s arms encircle around Aniya’s back and his chin rests atop her head. He squeezes her tightly in his arms and closes his eyes for a brief moment. “I haven’t saved you yet,” he says and pulls back from their embrace. “Let’s get you out of here.”
Nehi leads the way, and Aniya tries to walk with her head held high, imagining how a noble woman might walk through the palace. They’re nearly to the doors when the call of trumpets rings out and the doors to the Great Hall open wide. Servants stream into the palace carrying fans and banners signifying the entrance of the great Pharaoh. Nehi freezes and Aniya follows suit. Trumpets continue to sound as Kiya, Pharaoh’s second wife walks through the doors. The procession continues with Nefertiti, the Great Royal Wife. Nefertiti’s bright blue crown sits high on her head making her seem even taller. While Queen Kiya looks detached, bored even, Nefertiti's eyes sweep across the room taking everything in, including Nehi and Aniya.
The Vizier and High Priest, Rahotep, follows behind. It is clearly evident from his expression that he sees and recognizes Aniya. He scowls, and though he continues to cross the room, his eyes never leave them. He stops in the middle of the hall directly across from Aniya, and she realizes that both queens have stopped as well and are kneeling down on the ground, their heads bowed down and resting on the back of their hands, nearly touching the floor. Rahotep’s eyes finally break from hers as he bows down to the ground as well, though his body lays completely prostrate and flat on the floor. Another swell of trumpets rings through the air and Akhenaten, Pharaoh of all of Egypt, walks through the doors.
Aniya can’t help but stare at the king of all Egypt. She’s never seen him this close before. He’s taller than she thought he would be, and realizes that she’s only seen him from a distance, always sitting on a great settee while he was paraded through the streets of the city. He’s younger than she thought, too. Less than thirty years old, she would guess. And though he is handsome with a strong brow and jaw, she can’t help but compare him to Nehi and find him somewhat lacking.
Nehi falls prostrate to the floor, mimicking Rahotep’s actions as do all the other servants. Aniya kneels on the floor before Pharaoh and lies with her face on the floor next to Nehi as the other servants are doing but Nehi hisses at her, “No. You’re a noble woman, remember. You need to bow down like the queens.”
Aniya pulls her arms back and rests her forehead on her hands, hoping that no one notices her mistake.
“Good servants and Egyptians, rise,” Akhenaten says from the doors, “for Pharaoh has returned.”
Aniya follows Nehi’s lead and rises from the floor, though she continues to keep her eyes downcast. She can feel Rahotep’s gaze burning into her from across the hall.
Pharaoh’s escorts continue to walk through the hall, and Aniya exhales with relief when they pass her by. There are enough servants that she can no longer see Rahotep across the hall.
“You have to go right now,” Nehi whispers into her ear. Aniya nods and turns to leave.
“Who is this?” a silky voice says behind her.
Aniya looks to Nehi. His eyes are open wide, and fear is etched plainly across his face. Aniya turns around to find herself staring up into the
“Don’t tell a soul where you’re going,” he emphasizes again and his face softens. “And be careful.”
“Thank you, Nehi,” Aniya says finding her breath again. The words do not seem enough, and she ignores the flighty butterflies in her stomach long enough to put her arms around him and hug him tightly. “Thank you for saving me.”
Nehi’s arms encircle around Aniya’s back and his chin rests atop her head. He squeezes her tightly in his arms and closes his eyes for a brief moment. “I haven’t saved you yet,” he says and pulls back from their embrace. “Let’s get you out of here.”
Nehi leads the way, and Aniya tries to walk with her head held high, imagining how a noble woman might walk through the palace. They’re nearly to the doors when the call of trumpets rings out and the doors to the Great Hall open wide. Servants stream into the palace carrying fans and banners signifying the entrance of the great Pharaoh. Nehi freezes and Aniya follows suit. Trumpets continue to sound as Kiya, Pharaoh’s second wife walks through the doors. The procession continues with Nefertiti, the Great Royal Wife. Nefertiti’s bright blue crown sits high on her head making her seem even taller. While Queen Kiya looks detached, bored even, Nefertiti's eyes sweep across the room taking everything in, including Nehi and Aniya.
The Vizier and High Priest, Rahotep, follows behind. It is clearly evident from his expression that he sees and recognizes Aniya. He scowls, and though he continues to cross the room, his eyes never leave them. He stops in the middle of the hall directly across from Aniya, and she realizes that both queens have stopped as well and are kneeling down on the ground, their heads bowed down and resting on the back of their hands, nearly touching the floor. Rahotep’s eyes finally break from hers as he bows down to the ground as well, though his body lays completely prostrate and flat on the floor. Another swell of trumpets rings through the air and Akhenaten, Pharaoh of all of Egypt, walks through the doors.
Aniya can’t help but stare at the king of all Egypt. She’s never seen him this close before. He’s taller than she thought he would be, and realizes that she’s only seen him from a distance, always sitting on a great settee while he was paraded through the streets of the city. He’s younger than she thought, too. Less than thirty years old, she would guess. And though he is handsome with a strong brow and jaw, she can’t help but compare him to Nehi and find him somewhat lacking.
Nehi falls prostrate to the floor, mimicking Rahotep’s actions as do all the other servants. Aniya kneels on the floor before Pharaoh and lies with her face on the floor next to Nehi as the other servants are doing but Nehi hisses at her, “No. You’re a noble woman, remember. You need to bow down like the queens.”
Aniya pulls her arms back and rests her forehead on her hands, hoping that no one notices her mistake.
“Good servants and Egyptians, rise,” Akhenaten says from the doors, “for Pharaoh has returned.”
Aniya follows Nehi’s lead and rises from the floor, though she continues to keep her eyes downcast. She can feel Rahotep’s gaze burning into her from across the hall.
Pharaoh’s escorts continue to walk through the hall, and Aniya exhales with relief when they pass her by. There are enough servants that she can no longer see Rahotep across the hall.
“You have to go right now,” Nehi whispers into her ear. Aniya nods and turns to leave.
“Who is this?” a silky voice says behind her.
Aniya looks to Nehi. His eyes are open wide, and fear is etched plainly across his face. Aniya turns around to find herself staring up into the
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