“Working on the farm.”
Rae went rigid.How could he possibly know?
“The tan lines, the state of your hands—everything about you gives it away,” the prince said casually, reading her thoughts. “I’m curious what brings a young woman of your obvious skills and unusual stature to a position serving in the palace. Pardon me for saying so, but you seem ill-suited for the job.”
Rae considered her next words carefully. Like Nefermaat, theprince had an uncanny ability to see to the truth of things. “I did it for my father,” she said.
Her answer seemed to sting the prince. “I see.”
Does he mourn his own father?Rae wondered. She didn’t like to think of Amunmose as a real person with grieving children, and yet Bakenamun’s pained expression forced her to.
The prince held up Neff’s scroll. “Thank you for this,” he said thickly, and turned away.
Rae hurried back to the palace, chilled by the encounter. One more trip to see the prince, and he’d have her whole life story figured out! She’d have to do her best to avoid him.
She touched the Sekhmet scroll at her belt, wishing it was the sekhem scepter instead. Ever since she recovered it from the House of the Medjay, the weapon had become part of her, and she felt naked without it. She knew it was safe at their camp by the river, but her fingers itched to grip something real, something more than all the secrets and intrigue she found herself handling in the palace. A force was building inside her, like water behind a dam, demanding release.
Not yet, she told herself.Soon, but not yet.
***
After delivering the scroll to Nefermaat’s chambers and assisting with the midday meal, Rae searched the palace for the entrance to the subterranean level while delivering clean linens. It was a massive building, so it took her the better part of the afternoon to locate the proper stairwell. As she walked by, she noted the single guard, and a shadowy corner behind a column where she could conceal herself to keep watch. When the guard inevitably left his post to make water that night, she’d make her move.
The rest of the day flew by. Between all her household duties and dealings with the bad-tempered cook, Rae barely had amoment to sit down.I wish I were back in the fields,she thought wearily. At least the zebu didn’t complain about the quality of her work.
That evening in the maidservants’ chambers, she noted how many women—Tamerit included—didn’t return from their duties. How seven beds remained empty, even after thick darkness fell.
Some of the other women whispered about it, but none of them whispered to her. Unlike Tam, she hadn’t made any friends. Trying not to think about what might be happening at the party, Rae lay down, closed her eyes, and pretended to sleep.
She waited until every last candle had been blown out, until the sounds of shifting bodies had mellowed to soft, rhythmic snores. Then, she rose on silent feet, changed her clothes, and slipped into the dim corridor and through the quiet palace halls. She’d spent the evening planning her route, setting out the loose black dress she’d acquired so that she’d be less visible, deciding how she’d deal with the guard if he refused to leave his post. She was ready for anything.
Rae reached the end of a corridor. To the right was the path to the stairwell leading underground. To the left was the king’s chambers.
She paused, listening as the lilt of music, peals of laughter, and feathery, hair-raising cries of pleasure floated into her ears like an intoxicating breeze.
Rae’s carefully laid plans suddenly vanished from her mind. All she could think of were those sounds, and whether Tamerit was the one making them.
The voice of reason pleaded with her.Father is waiting for you!
The roar of the lion was louder.
She turned left.
***
Rae intercepted one of the seven missing servants on her way to the king’s chambers. The young woman staggered, carrying a blue long-necked wine jar painted with lotus flowers.
“Why don’t I take that?” Rae said, reaching out for the jar. “You look like you’ve had enough for one night.”
“Hey!” The servant wrenched the jar to her chest. “I didn’t see you at the party. Were you even invited? Only the king’sfavorite girlswere invited.” She hiccupped.
“Yes, well, he saved the best for last,” Rae said.
“Maybe thebiggest…”
Rae drew herself up to her full height. “You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”
The servant shrunk under Rae’s imposing gaze and released the jar. “I’ll go to bed.”
