Kiya came to a halt, lifting her eyes from the belt to his little face. Essien had always been her intuitive child, the one who could see beyond the façade, beyond the words that one spoke or the gestures one completed. He was interested in people. Though she’d not wept in front of him, he could see it in her eyes.
She couldn’t lie to him.
“I weep because I am afraid,” she said honestly. “I weep because I worry for you and your brother and your sister.”
Essien cocked his head thoughtfully. “But you should not worry,” he said. “We will be safe soon and I will eat cheese.”
Kiya grinned. “You shall, indeed,” she said. “But we must go on a journey first, before you will be safe. Do you remember the journey we took on the boat in the summertime? When we sawJido?”
She was referring to the journey they’d taken across the sea. It had taken half of the summertime to reach a port where her father, Shadhi, the hereditary but deposed ruler of Cairo, had met her and her children. He’d never seen them before. Shadhi had taken great delight in his daughter’s offspring, and in particular Essien, because he bore the characteristics of someone born in Kemet.Egypt. He had fine, sculpted features even at his young age and eyes the color of a tiger’s eye stone. In fact, he looked strikingly similar to hisjido, or maternal grandfather, and Shadhi had naturally taken to him.
Essien remembered it well.
“He called me Horus,” he said. “He gave me sweets.”
Kiya laughed softly. “He did, indeed,” she said. “And your first name is Horus, in honor of the land of my birth. That is why he called you by the name.”
“Adda calls me Essien.”
Kiya nodded, still smiling. “Because that is the name from the land of his birth,” she said. “You are Horus Essien Nazimuddin Mei al-Kort. You are named for the falcon-headed god of protection and healing. Youaredestined to protect, Essien. That is what you must do now—you must protect your sister and your brother, but you must never let them know.”
“Why not?”
“Because Addax would not take kindly to being protected by his younger brother,” she said. “But that is why you were put on this earth, my love. To protect and thrive. The gods of ancientKemet watch over you, even now. They will see you safely through this.”
Essien had to think about that. He didn’t exactly understand all of it, but he felt proud knowing he bore the name of a god of protection. But behind him, his father and Addax had finished their conversation and Amare interrupted Essien’s moment with his mother.
“Where is Adanya?” Amare asked.
Kiya looked up from her youngest son. “She is already at the river with her nurse,” she said softly. “She is so young. She would not understand this parting. But the boys…”
Amare nodded quickly, for there was no reason for her to continue. It would be the last time their sons faced their father, so it was more important for them. And more important that Amare say what he needed to say.
“Thank you, my love, for allowing me to bid them farewell,” he said. Then he cupped her face with one hand and gently kissed her mouth. “You must hurry. I sent word to your father when the army from the north approached. He will not receive the missive for some time, but you must be on your way so his ships can meet yours. The captain of your ship knows the way, and by the time your ship reaches the Red Sea, your father should be on his way to meet you. You and the children will be safe in Cairo.”
Her tears started to come. “And you, my darling?” she whispered. “What about you?”
He forced a smile, kissing her again. “I must do what I was destined to do,” he said bravely. “What I was meant to do. I will burn Lankara to the ground, and when there is only smoke and ashes left, I will kill my brother.”
“What if he kills you first?”
Amare shrugged. “Then I will see you in paradise,” he said. “But know… know that you have made my life paradise on earth,Kiya. No man has ever loved a woman more than I have loved you.”
“And I love you with every breath I take,” she murmured. “That will never stop, not in this world or any other.”
“I know,mere jaan.”
“Promise me, Amare. If you can escape to Egypt, promise that you will come to us.”
“I promise. But if I do not… this farewell was well made. It has given me courage.”
She started to weep. Weeks of being strong had reached the breaking point. But Amare shushed her softly, turning her around and hustling her toward the servants who were waiting for her. Essien grabbed her hand, holding it tightly as they rushed along. Amare took them to the secret palace exit, where tunnels would take them to the river beyond, where ships awaited, and then the river would take them to the sea and westward. At the exit, Amare came to a halt and kissed his wife one last time, kissed Essien, and took a moment with Addax as the boy faced him.
“Be strong, my son,” he whispered, struggling not to weep. “In the face of whatever this life will bring you, be strong, be honest, and be loyal to those you love. Promise me.”
“I promise, Abba.”
Amare smiled weakly. “Good,” he said, turning him to his mother and the rest of the escort bound for the tunnels. The servants were already dressing Essien in a disguise as a servant’s child. “Hurry, now. I will see you soon.”
