cold, beautiful face of Nefertiti, the Great Royal Wife of Pharaoh. It’s clear that the queen is truly puzzled by Aniya, her eyes traveling up and down her body, taking everything in. Aniya prays that she successfully scrubbed off every bit of dirt in Nehi’s room.
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Nefertiti says, her words short and clipped.
“Nefertiti, are you coming?” Queen Kiya says as she approaches. “Oh,” she says, seeing Aniya for the first time, “excuse me. I didn’t realize you were engaged with someone.”
Aniya looks to Pharaoh's second wife. Kiya’s face is more open, gives away more of what she is thinking than Nefertiti’s closed-off expression. Aniya can almost see the wheels turning in her head as the queen looks at the clothes Aniya is wearing. She can almost hear the queen thinking to herself, “That looks awfully familiar.”
Aniya pulls the magic together inside of herself. You need to go. She pushes the thought out to the two queens, and sighs a breath of relief when the two women excuse themselves and turn to walk away.
“Thank goodness,” Nehi says and grabs her arm to lead her to the doors. They stop before they’ve even begun. Rahotep is standing just before the palace doors, his arms folded in front of him.
“Rahotep, my friend,” a voice calls from the back of the hall, “come join me!”
Aniya turns to see Pharaoh motioning to the high priest. Rahotep smiles at Akhenaten and proceeds to walk directly toward them.
“Run!” Nehi hisses under his breath, but it’s too late. In a few, quick strides, Rahotep is there, grabbing her arm and pulling her through the palace with him toward the king of Egypt.
“My lord,” Rahotep begins, “If you’ll just allow me a moment…”
Help me.
Aniya pushes the thought out of her along with a great swell of magic, the last she has left. She looks in Pharaoh’s eyes and directs it toward him, the only person in all of Egypt who can save her now.
“Rahotep, is this the one I told you to find for me? I’m delighted!” Pharaoh booms.
“Your highness?” Rahotep says, clearly not understanding.
“Is this the woman I asked you to find for me?”
“Oh, yes...yes, she is,” Rahotep stammers and then bows slightly, pulling Aniya into a bow alongside him. “If you want to live,” he whispers in her ear, “you’ll follow along and do exactly as I say. Or else you and everyone you hold dear will be dead by morning.”
Rahotep rises and releases Aniya’s arm, holding his own arms wide as if showcasing her like a prized calf. “Yes, my lord. Please allow me to introduce the lady, Anuuniya.”
“Aniya, my lord,” she corrects. “My name is Aniya.”
Akhenaten’s grin is wide and his words sincere as he says, “Aniya, I am so glad to meet you.” He turns his attention to the high priest once again. “Rahotep, are you sure she will bear a son?”
Aniya hears a choking sound from behind. Nehi covers his surprise with a cough. She isn’t quite sure she heard Pharaoh correctly herself.
“Yes, my lord!” Rahotep says with a show of complete confidence. “Aten, the One God has foretold it. And she is so beautiful that he is sure to be a very handsome son.”
“A son?” Aniya says, trying to understand the conversation happening around her.
“Surely you know why you’re here, lady Aniya,” Akhenaten says. “I secured Rahotep with the important job of finding a woman who will bear a son for me. My first two wives have given me many beautiful daughters, but I desire a son to inherit my throne.” Concern flickers across his face. “Didn’t you understand that I was looking for a third wife?”
Aniya considers it. This isn’t what she expected when she used the magic on Pharaoh to have him save her. She was ready to gather her family together and flee Egypt. She didn’t know where they would go, and even if they would survive. But here is an opportunity to stay. And not just stay, but to become a queen
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” Nefertiti says, her words short and clipped.
“Nefertiti, are you coming?” Queen Kiya says as she approaches. “Oh,” she says, seeing Aniya for the first time, “excuse me. I didn’t realize you were engaged with someone.”
Aniya looks to Pharaoh's second wife. Kiya’s face is more open, gives away more of what she is thinking than Nefertiti’s closed-off expression. Aniya can almost see the wheels turning in her head as the queen looks at the clothes Aniya is wearing. She can almost hear the queen thinking to herself, “That looks awfully familiar.”
Aniya pulls the magic together inside of herself. You need to go. She pushes the thought out to the two queens, and sighs a breath of relief when the two women excuse themselves and turn to walk away.
“Thank goodness,” Nehi says and grabs her arm to lead her to the doors. They stop before they’ve even begun. Rahotep is standing just before the palace doors, his arms folded in front of him.
“Rahotep, my friend,” a voice calls from the back of the hall, “come join me!”
Aniya turns to see Pharaoh motioning to the high priest. Rahotep smiles at Akhenaten and proceeds to walk directly toward them.
“Run!” Nehi hisses under his breath, but it’s too late. In a few, quick strides, Rahotep is there, grabbing her arm and pulling her through the palace with him toward the king of Egypt.
“My lord,” Rahotep begins, “If you’ll just allow me a moment…”
Help me.
Aniya pushes the thought out of her along with a great swell of magic, the last she has left. She looks in Pharaoh’s eyes and directs it toward him, the only person in all of Egypt who can save her now.
“Rahotep, is this the one I told you to find for me? I’m delighted!” Pharaoh booms.
“Your highness?” Rahotep says, clearly not understanding.
“Is this the woman I asked you to find for me?”
“Oh, yes...yes, she is,” Rahotep stammers and then bows slightly, pulling Aniya into a bow alongside him. “If you want to live,” he whispers in her ear, “you’ll follow along and do exactly as I say. Or else you and everyone you hold dear will be dead by morning.”
Rahotep rises and releases Aniya’s arm, holding his own arms wide as if showcasing her like a prized calf. “Yes, my lord. Please allow me to introduce the lady, Anuuniya.”
“Aniya, my lord,” she corrects. “My name is Aniya.”
Akhenaten’s grin is wide and his words sincere as he says, “Aniya, I am so glad to meet you.” He turns his attention to the high priest once again. “Rahotep, are you sure she will bear a son?”
Aniya hears a choking sound from behind. Nehi covers his surprise with a cough. She isn’t quite sure she heard Pharaoh correctly herself.
“Yes, my lord!” Rahotep says with a show of complete confidence. “Aten, the One God has foretold it. And she is so beautiful that he is sure to be a very handsome son.”
“A son?” Aniya says, trying to understand the conversation happening around her.
“Surely you know why you’re here, lady Aniya,” Akhenaten says. “I secured Rahotep with the important job of finding a woman who will bear a son for me. My first two wives have given me many beautiful daughters, but I desire a son to inherit my throne.” Concern flickers across his face. “Didn’t you understand that I was looking for a third wife?”
Aniya considers it. This isn’t what she expected when she used the magic on Pharaoh to have him save her. She was ready to gather her family together and flee Egypt. She didn’t know where they would go, and even if they would survive. But here is an opportunity to stay. And not just stay, but to become a queen
Similar Books
