“The gift you’ve been keeping for me all this time,” Tam said, weaving her fingers through Rae’s hair.
Rae let out a shuddering breath. She’d been holding back for so long that when she finally let go, the force that drove her into Tamerit’s arms was as strong as the khamasin wind.
When their lips met, it was tentative, barely a touch. But once Rae felt Tam’s body pressed against hers, felt it fill all her empty spaces, she kissed her with a hunger that couldn’t be sated. Everything beyond sensation fell away—the pain of her wounds, the dark room, the city that balanced on the edge of violence—it was all gone. There was nothing but breath and heat and softness and desire.
The doors of her heart were hopelessly, blissfully open.Come inside—her body spoke the words even if her voice did not.Come inside and see everything that I am, take everything that I am. It is yours, it is yours, it is yours.
They held each other until the sun went down, and all the light went out of the world.
16
Sita
The sight of Maet’s still form lying on the ship’s deck sobered Sita in an instant. Without hesitation, she leaped into action.
“Oarsmen,” she shouted, “Take us back to the palace at once!” She turned to one of the servants. “You—take a skiff to the temple and summon the physician-priests. Tell them to meet us in Maet’s bedchambers. And someone bring some water! We must try to rouse her.”
The servants, unaccustomed to taking orders from Sita, all hesitated.
“What are you waiting for?” Sita exclaimed. “Go!”
With the application of a cool compress to her forehead, the little girl’s eyes fluttered open. “My belly hurts so much, See-See.”
Sita pulled the girl’s head into her lap and rubbed her arm. “I know. We’ll be home soon, and the priests will take good care of you.”
Maet groaned and closed her eyes again, falling quickly intoa restless sleep.
The ship was moving swiftly now, the oarsmen keeping a brisk stroke as they cut through the water.
Mery appeared at Sita’s side, looking no worse for the crocodile encounter that had nearly killed him a few minutes earlier.
“For a moment,” he said, “I thought it was Mother here on the ship, ordering people about! I didn’t know you had it in you, Sitamun.”
Sita blushed. “What was I supposed to do? Maet needs help.” In fact, she’d surprised herself. Normally, she wouldn’t think about taking command of a critical situation like that. There was always someone else to do so instead.
Mery’s eyebrow quirked. “Your concern for the girl is… admirable.”
It sounded like a compliment, but Sita knew better than to accept her brother’s words as they appeared. He often used language like pawns in a game, to feel out his opponent’s weaknesses. And he’d played with Sita enough times to know hers by heart. Mery knew her true feelings, sometimes before she even knew them herself.
Was she really acting out of love for Maet?
You feel guilty, don’t you?
The truth stung.
She’d been bitterly jealous of the little girl and the way her father favored her. Loved her. She was only six years old, and yet Sita remembered wishing the little girl would disappear, so she wouldn’t have a constant reminder of the relationship she didn’t have. And now, it felt as if her jealousy had taken physical form and inflicted pain upon an innocent child. Sita knew it wasn’t true, but itfelttrue.
You’re just helping her to make yourself feel better. You’re not doing it for Maet.
She looked down at the girl’s pale little face, her eyes movingrapidly beneath the eyelids as if caught in a nightmare.
Perhaps Father was right not to love me, after all.
***
“Away, disease demon!” the old priest commanded. “Be gone from this place, and injure this child no longer. She is a child of Amun and is protected by his unseen hand. Away!”
Sita watched as the man used a polished stick to draw a circle of protection on the ground around Maet’s bed as he repeated the spell over and over again. The girl looked very small, wrapped in fresh bed linens. The old ones had been taken outside and burned. Sita had remained with her since they’d arrived back at her bedchamber. Several bald-headed priests had arrived shortly after, filling the room with frenzied activity. Sita backed out, feeling like she was in the way. They closed the curtains, and Sita watched through the gauzy fabric as they bade Maet drink a cup of water poured from a jug painted with images of Isis. She reluctantly obeyed, rivulets spilling over both sides of her tiny lips before collapsing, exhausted, back onto the pillow.
