of Egypt.
Aniya turns around to see Nehi staring at her with wide, open eyes. She wonders if he sees the same look of fear on her face as well. She pulls within herself for more magic, maybe she could even turn back time a few minutes and keep her and Nehi from walking across the great hall, but there is no magic left. She is empty. She reaches out her mind to Nehi, to feel if there is any magic left in him, but the vessel is empty. The magic is gone.
“I understand, my lord,” she answers.
“Then will you, Aniya, agree to become the third wife of your Pharaoh?” he asks, his eyes full of hope and promise of an heir to come.
“Yes,” she answers. “I will.”
EIGHT
What have I done? What have I done? What have I done?
Aniya paces the floor of the palatial bedroom she has been given. This single room is larger than her father’s entire house, and more splendid than any other she has ever seen before. Skins of zebras, tigers, and even a lion are draped on the floor as rugs. Exotic and expensive gauzy fabrics drip from the ceiling to surround a bed large enough for five men to sleep on. A wardrobe full of the finest, softest linens of the purest white and dazzling hues dyed from every color of the rainbow, takes up an entire wall of the room. But it isn’t the opulence of her chambers that has caught her attention, but the wedding gown draped over the bed waiting for her to wear. The fabric is so fine it is translucent.
Aniya brushes the tips of her fingers against the gossamer threads and holds the dress up to her chest. She can barely feel anything. A shiver runs down her spine as she imagines wearing the fine gown in front of Pharaoh and the assembly of nobility gathered for the wedding celebration. A gentle knock taps against the door and Aniya lays the garment back down on the bed, her hands shaking.
“Enter,” she calls, trying to keep the tremble from her voice and failing.
The door opens and an entourage of servants enter the room. Most are women, but a few male servants come bearing trays laid with precious jewels and adornments. The female servants go to work laying out the jewelry on a long table. A familiar face enters behind the crowd and Aniya’s face breaks into a smile.
“Nehi!” She realizes too late that she probably seems over-anxious to see him. His smile mirrors her own, and he seems truly glad to see her as well. It was only yesterday that she was trying to escape the dungeon with his help. The moment she agreed to marry Pharaoh she was whisked away by servants to be prepared for today’s marriage ceremony. Although the servants were gentle as they washed her body with sweet-smelling herbs and oils and shaved her head for the ornately braided wig they placed on her, it was nice to finally see someone she recognized.
“My queen.” He bows at the waist, and rises with a smile. “How do you like your new home?”
Aniya motions at the room with a dismissive wave. “I suppose it will have to do, though I must admit, there is a lot more light in here than my previous room in the palace.” She leans in to whisper, “However, it seems to be missing the charming odor of stale urine that I was becoming so accustomed to.”
Nehi stifles a laugh, but his smile is genuine. Aniya notices again how beautiful he is with his bronzed skin and darkly lashed eyes. His smile is wide and exposes his straight, white teeth that look even brighter against his dark skin. Goosebumps run up her arms as he looks down at her and she finds herself wondering what his lips might feel like against her own. She blushes, and looks down.
Stop thinking about kissing him. You’re about to become another man’s wife. Pharaoh’s wife.
Her eyes light on a scroll in Nehi’s hand. “What is that?”
Nehi blinks as if she caught him in the middle of his thoughts. “Oh, this..” he stammers for a moment. “It’s the marriage agreement. I was asked to bring it to you for review. So you would know
Aniya turns around to see Nehi staring at her with wide, open eyes. She wonders if he sees the same look of fear on her face as well. She pulls within herself for more magic, maybe she could even turn back time a few minutes and keep her and Nehi from walking across the great hall, but there is no magic left. She is empty. She reaches out her mind to Nehi, to feel if there is any magic left in him, but the vessel is empty. The magic is gone.
“I understand, my lord,” she answers.
“Then will you, Aniya, agree to become the third wife of your Pharaoh?” he asks, his eyes full of hope and promise of an heir to come.
“Yes,” she answers. “I will.”
EIGHT
What have I done? What have I done? What have I done?
Aniya paces the floor of the palatial bedroom she has been given. This single room is larger than her father’s entire house, and more splendid than any other she has ever seen before. Skins of zebras, tigers, and even a lion are draped on the floor as rugs. Exotic and expensive gauzy fabrics drip from the ceiling to surround a bed large enough for five men to sleep on. A wardrobe full of the finest, softest linens of the purest white and dazzling hues dyed from every color of the rainbow, takes up an entire wall of the room. But it isn’t the opulence of her chambers that has caught her attention, but the wedding gown draped over the bed waiting for her to wear. The fabric is so fine it is translucent.
Aniya brushes the tips of her fingers against the gossamer threads and holds the dress up to her chest. She can barely feel anything. A shiver runs down her spine as she imagines wearing the fine gown in front of Pharaoh and the assembly of nobility gathered for the wedding celebration. A gentle knock taps against the door and Aniya lays the garment back down on the bed, her hands shaking.
“Enter,” she calls, trying to keep the tremble from her voice and failing.
The door opens and an entourage of servants enter the room. Most are women, but a few male servants come bearing trays laid with precious jewels and adornments. The female servants go to work laying out the jewelry on a long table. A familiar face enters behind the crowd and Aniya’s face breaks into a smile.
“Nehi!” She realizes too late that she probably seems over-anxious to see him. His smile mirrors her own, and he seems truly glad to see her as well. It was only yesterday that she was trying to escape the dungeon with his help. The moment she agreed to marry Pharaoh she was whisked away by servants to be prepared for today’s marriage ceremony. Although the servants were gentle as they washed her body with sweet-smelling herbs and oils and shaved her head for the ornately braided wig they placed on her, it was nice to finally see someone she recognized.
“My queen.” He bows at the waist, and rises with a smile. “How do you like your new home?”
Aniya motions at the room with a dismissive wave. “I suppose it will have to do, though I must admit, there is a lot more light in here than my previous room in the palace.” She leans in to whisper, “However, it seems to be missing the charming odor of stale urine that I was becoming so accustomed to.”
Nehi stifles a laugh, but his smile is genuine. Aniya notices again how beautiful he is with his bronzed skin and darkly lashed eyes. His smile is wide and exposes his straight, white teeth that look even brighter against his dark skin. Goosebumps run up her arms as he looks down at her and she finds herself wondering what his lips might feel like against her own. She blushes, and looks down.
Stop thinking about kissing him. You’re about to become another man’s wife. Pharaoh’s wife.
Her eyes light on a scroll in Nehi’s hand. “What is that?”
Nehi blinks as if she caught him in the middle of his thoughts. “Oh, this..” he stammers for a moment. “It’s the marriage agreement. I was asked to bring it to you for review. So you would know
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