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Nafretiri had been asked to procure a morning sickness potion for the queen. It occurred to her as she had been mixing it that now might be a good time to ask the queen for her royal protection for Aneksi. She really had no idea why she hadn't...Nafretiri stopped the thought in its tracks. Yes, she did. Fear. Fear, it seemed, held her back from a lot. However, it was possible that Her Majesty might wonder why Nafretiri had waited so long. The more complicated answer was that she wasn't aware how it worked- or rather, that she was, but she didn't want just anyone to overhear her circumstances, particularly in the commoner's court. Technically, as a priestess, she might have been a higher class of citizen than most, but the fact remained that she was not noble and therefore it was a real possibility that what she feared might happen. And it couldn't happen, at all costs. What if such information found the wrong ears?
Aneksi. "She belongs to me."
At the thought of why she had chosen her daughter's name, a lump came into her throat. She'd sworn that no matter what happened, this baby would be hers for always, because she was the only thing she could really call her own.
But she had just turned two in Tammuz. What if two years was too late? And what if someone already knew?She prayed that since Hathor was indeed the goddess of joy and music as well as fertility that she would help her to argue her case well.
Although she was terrified and would have to be extra vigilant, Nafretiri knew that she would have to bring Aneksi with her. If the queen could only see her, then she might understand.
If only she knew how it would turn out already! The anxiety was killing her, and she just managed to keep calm as she packed her things, checking one more time to make sure her nervousness hadn't caused her to forget something in the potion. Hopefully it would help, as it contained some ginger root. That had helped Nafretiri during her pregnancy.
She made her way to the palace, and was stopped at the gate.
"I've come from the temple of Hathor with a potion for the queen's sickness."
"This way..." the guard started to say, but was stopped in his tracks by the sight of little Aneksi staring with huge eyes.
"Your daughter. ma'am?"
"Yes..." Nafretiri felt strangely uncomfortable.
But the guard made no further comment as he led her through the halls to the throne room.
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Nafretiri had been asked to procure a morning sickness potion for the queen. It occurred to her as she had been mixing it that now might be a good time to ask the queen for her royal protection for Aneksi. She really had no idea why she hadn't...Nafretiri stopped the thought in its tracks. Yes, she did. Fear. Fear, it seemed, held her back from a lot. However, it was possible that Her Majesty might wonder why Nafretiri had waited so long. The more complicated answer was that she wasn't aware how it worked- or rather, that she was, but she didn't want just anyone to overhear her circumstances, particularly in the commoner's court. Technically, as a priestess, she might have been a higher class of citizen than most, but the fact remained that she was not noble and therefore it was a real possibility that what she feared might happen. And it couldn't happen, at all costs. What if such information found the wrong ears?
Aneksi. "She belongs to me."
At the thought of why she had chosen her daughter's name, a lump came into her throat. She'd sworn that no matter what happened, this baby would be hers for always, because she was the only thing she could really call her own.
But she had just turned two in Tammuz. What if two years was too late? And what if someone already knew?She prayed that since Hathor was indeed the goddess of joy and music as well as fertility that she would help her to argue her case well.
Although she was terrified and would have to be extra vigilant, Nafretiri knew that she would have to bring Aneksi with her. If the queen could only see her, then she might understand.
If only she knew how it would turn out already! The anxiety was killing her, and she just managed to keep calm as she packed her things, checking one more time to make sure her nervousness hadn't caused her to forget something in the potion. Hopefully it would help, as it contained some ginger root. That had helped Nafretiri during her pregnancy.
She made her way to the palace, and was stopped at the gate.
"I've come from the temple of Hathor with a potion for the queen's sickness."
"This way..." the guard started to say, but was stopped in his tracks by the sight of little Aneksi staring with huge eyes.
"Your daughter. ma'am?"
"Yes..." Nafretiri felt strangely uncomfortable.
But the guard made no further comment as he led her through the halls to the throne room.
Nafretiri had been asked to procure a morning sickness potion for the queen. It occurred to her as she had been mixing it that now might be a good time to ask the queen for her royal protection for Aneksi. She really had no idea why she hadn't...Nafretiri stopped the thought in its tracks. Yes, she did. Fear. Fear, it seemed, held her back from a lot. However, it was possible that Her Majesty might wonder why Nafretiri had waited so long. The more complicated answer was that she wasn't aware how it worked- or rather, that she was, but she didn't want just anyone to overhear her circumstances, particularly in the commoner's court. Technically, as a priestess, she might have been a higher class of citizen than most, but the fact remained that she was not noble and therefore it was a real possibility that what she feared might happen. And it couldn't happen, at all costs. What if such information found the wrong ears?
Aneksi. "She belongs to me."
At the thought of why she had chosen her daughter's name, a lump came into her throat. She'd sworn that no matter what happened, this baby would be hers for always, because she was the only thing she could really call her own.
But she had just turned two in Tammuz. What if two years was too late? And what if someone already knew?She prayed that since Hathor was indeed the goddess of joy and music as well as fertility that she would help her to argue her case well.
Although she was terrified and would have to be extra vigilant, Nafretiri knew that she would have to bring Aneksi with her. If the queen could only see her, then she might understand.
If only she knew how it would turn out already! The anxiety was killing her, and she just managed to keep calm as she packed her things, checking one more time to make sure her nervousness hadn't caused her to forget something in the potion. Hopefully it would help, as it contained some ginger root. That had helped Nafretiri during her pregnancy.
She made her way to the palace, and was stopped at the gate.
"I've come from the temple of Hathor with a potion for the queen's sickness."
"This way..." the guard started to say, but was stopped in his tracks by the sight of little Aneksi staring with huge eyes.
"Your daughter. ma'am?"
"Yes..." Nafretiri felt strangely uncomfortable.
But the guard made no further comment as he led her through the halls to the throne room.
Feeling a bit queasy, Hatsepshut had retired from the throne room to the seek solace and privacy of her opulent chambers. Sitting upon a stool in her presence chamber, dressed in a loose semi-sheer gauzy kalisaris that left little to the imagination, she plucked the strings of her harp, coaxing a beautiful and haunting tune from the elaborately-carved instrument. Music was soothing to the soul and to the body and it helped to settle her churning stomach.
The sickness hit her at odd moments throughout the day and into the evening, sometimes completely incapacitating her for hours at a time. She had spent about fifteen minutes heaving into a basin held by one of her retainers. The young Queen felt a bit better now, and hoped that it would soon abate entirely, though she had no desire to leave her rooms for awhile.
Losing herself in her music allowed her to forget her troubles for a time, and she felt she needed a brief respite from her duties. It wasn't as if her husband couldn't handle things himself. He had been doing just that since their marriage, ruling her kingdom as if he had been the one born to it. Hatsepshut was pleased not to have to speak publicly much anymore, but she didn't like relinquishing her power to him. He was only Pharaoh because of her, and somehow she had to make sure he never forgot it.
The door opened and one of her guards stepped inside, bowing respectfully. “A Priestess of Hathor has come to see you, Your Majesty. She is being conducted here and should arrive in a few minutes.”
Hatsepshut had sent to the temple for a potion to ease the nausea, and she assumed that the Priestess would have it with her. Calling to one of her retainers, she asked her to help her dress more appropriately. The loose kalisaris was untied, falling to the ground at her feet. It was replaced with a form-fitting sheath and then it was arranged around her again, held together with a bejeweled brooch. A simple beaded collar was placed around her neck and golden bracelets slid upon her upper arms. Her long ebony hair was left loose, tumbling down her back in soft silky curls and a modest circlet adored her forehead. Earrings that matched her collar sparkled in her ears.
When the priestess entered, she was ready, sitting on a carved wooden chair inlaid with gold and precious stones. Nefret sat on a cushion beside her, the monkey's wizened little face trained on the stranger and the little girl who accompanied her. Hatsepshut had never paid much attention to children before she became pregnant, but now she noticed them all the time. She smiled at the child, who must be the Priestess' daughter because of the resemblance between them.
”Greetings, Priestess," the petite Queen said. "Have you brought the potion I requested?"
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Feeling a bit queasy, Hatsepshut had retired from the throne room to the seek solace and privacy of her opulent chambers. Sitting upon a stool in her presence chamber, dressed in a loose semi-sheer gauzy kalisaris that left little to the imagination, she plucked the strings of her harp, coaxing a beautiful and haunting tune from the elaborately-carved instrument. Music was soothing to the soul and to the body and it helped to settle her churning stomach.
The sickness hit her at odd moments throughout the day and into the evening, sometimes completely incapacitating her for hours at a time. She had spent about fifteen minutes heaving into a basin held by one of her retainers. The young Queen felt a bit better now, and hoped that it would soon abate entirely, though she had no desire to leave her rooms for awhile.
Losing herself in her music allowed her to forget her troubles for a time, and she felt she needed a brief respite from her duties. It wasn't as if her husband couldn't handle things himself. He had been doing just that since their marriage, ruling her kingdom as if he had been the one born to it. Hatsepshut was pleased not to have to speak publicly much anymore, but she didn't like relinquishing her power to him. He was only Pharaoh because of her, and somehow she had to make sure he never forgot it.
The door opened and one of her guards stepped inside, bowing respectfully. “A Priestess of Hathor has come to see you, Your Majesty. She is being conducted here and should arrive in a few minutes.”
Hatsepshut had sent to the temple for a potion to ease the nausea, and she assumed that the Priestess would have it with her. Calling to one of her retainers, she asked her to help her dress more appropriately. The loose kalisaris was untied, falling to the ground at her feet. It was replaced with a form-fitting sheath and then it was arranged around her again, held together with a bejeweled brooch. A simple beaded collar was placed around her neck and golden bracelets slid upon her upper arms. Her long ebony hair was left loose, tumbling down her back in soft silky curls and a modest circlet adored her forehead. Earrings that matched her collar sparkled in her ears.
When the priestess entered, she was ready, sitting on a carved wooden chair inlaid with gold and precious stones. Nefret sat on a cushion beside her, the monkey's wizened little face trained on the stranger and the little girl who accompanied her. Hatsepshut had never paid much attention to children before she became pregnant, but now she noticed them all the time. She smiled at the child, who must be the Priestess' daughter because of the resemblance between them.
”Greetings, Priestess," the petite Queen said. "Have you brought the potion I requested?"
Feeling a bit queasy, Hatsepshut had retired from the throne room to the seek solace and privacy of her opulent chambers. Sitting upon a stool in her presence chamber, dressed in a loose semi-sheer gauzy kalisaris that left little to the imagination, she plucked the strings of her harp, coaxing a beautiful and haunting tune from the elaborately-carved instrument. Music was soothing to the soul and to the body and it helped to settle her churning stomach.
The sickness hit her at odd moments throughout the day and into the evening, sometimes completely incapacitating her for hours at a time. She had spent about fifteen minutes heaving into a basin held by one of her retainers. The young Queen felt a bit better now, and hoped that it would soon abate entirely, though she had no desire to leave her rooms for awhile.
Losing herself in her music allowed her to forget her troubles for a time, and she felt she needed a brief respite from her duties. It wasn't as if her husband couldn't handle things himself. He had been doing just that since their marriage, ruling her kingdom as if he had been the one born to it. Hatsepshut was pleased not to have to speak publicly much anymore, but she didn't like relinquishing her power to him. He was only Pharaoh because of her, and somehow she had to make sure he never forgot it.
The door opened and one of her guards stepped inside, bowing respectfully. “A Priestess of Hathor has come to see you, Your Majesty. She is being conducted here and should arrive in a few minutes.”
Hatsepshut had sent to the temple for a potion to ease the nausea, and she assumed that the Priestess would have it with her. Calling to one of her retainers, she asked her to help her dress more appropriately. The loose kalisaris was untied, falling to the ground at her feet. It was replaced with a form-fitting sheath and then it was arranged around her again, held together with a bejeweled brooch. A simple beaded collar was placed around her neck and golden bracelets slid upon her upper arms. Her long ebony hair was left loose, tumbling down her back in soft silky curls and a modest circlet adored her forehead. Earrings that matched her collar sparkled in her ears.
When the priestess entered, she was ready, sitting on a carved wooden chair inlaid with gold and precious stones. Nefret sat on a cushion beside her, the monkey's wizened little face trained on the stranger and the little girl who accompanied her. Hatsepshut had never paid much attention to children before she became pregnant, but now she noticed them all the time. She smiled at the child, who must be the Priestess' daughter because of the resemblance between them.
”Greetings, Priestess," the petite Queen said. "Have you brought the potion I requested?"
"I have, Your Majesty." Nafretiri answered with a bow. "Among the ingredients, I've added ginger root, which helped me greatly when I was sick while expecting Aneksi." She smiled reassuringly at her little daughter, who did not seem quite sure what to do, and was eyeing the palace furnishings in wonder.
Now came the hard part. On one level, she hated to do this to the queen when the woman was so ill. On another, it might be her only chance to address her problem discreetly, if ever.
By the gods, why did life have to be so blasted uncomfortable? If you weren't, someone else surely was, and half the time it seemed to be because you made them that way. She hesitated briefly. "I hope the potion will be of help to you, Your Majesty. But now, I wonder if I might discuss a problem with you. It concerns why I've brought my daughter; normally she is watched by an acolyte or two while I complete my own duties. I almost balked at doing so because you're so ill, however, it is a rather...delicate situation, one I'd prefer not to have spread about in the commoners' court. People talk, you see, and the person who might be looking for us is...is connected with someone very powerful."
She gulped nervously, dreading the rest, and hoping the queen would not mind her just plunging ahead with her story, for it really was of the utmost importance to get help for herself and her daughter as soon as possible.
"You see...before I became a priestess, I was freed by the wife of the steward of the H'Moghadam house, where I had been made a slave after being captured on the way here to avoid a famine in my native Judea. It may or may not be common knowledge, but the steward, Badru of Thebes, has a wife who is, as of the present, anyway, infertile. Meritaten is a sweet woman, and quite embarrassed by the whole ordeal, not least because their marriage happened to be one of those relatively rare love matches...."
Nafretiri's voice cracked despite her resolve to remain as composed as possible. Seeing the couple together when she had had the opportunity made her more than a little jealous. Even though she was free now, did she have hope of finding a relationship like that- where a woman's beauty might just be a bonus, not something used to take unfair advantage of her?
Little Aneksi would probably not understand every word, but it was possible that she might catch on to Nafretiri's tone of voice and become nervous. At least for now, the child seemed blissfully unaware, though the little girl's shyness would likely not go unnoticed by the queen. For that matter, Nafretiri's own might be just as apparent, despite her many words.
"Long story short, Badru tried to take matters into his own hands. While I certainly was not the first- as Meritaten later informed me- I was probably the first to become pregnant, unless the other women kept their condition a secret, or did not know they were expecting yet, which is equally possible, of course." She sighed.
"Whatever else happened, Meritaten had been through this before, and though she freed me and promised she would not seek the child, she could make no such promise of Badru. And though I am a priestess now, the fact that I am in public sometimes for religious ceremonies poses more danger than I might be capable of telling you. I'm tall, as you can see, and quite obviously not from Egypt."
Actually, Nafretiri would not have been entirely able to say where she was from, ancestrally speaking. Though she was Jewish in parentage, there was that skin tone of hers that even she found strange, looking sometimes olive and sometimes a little darker....
"And, if you'll please pardon the cultural criticism, the thin fabric of most veils and headscarves does almost nothing to help me hide my face. It's certainly not the kind of fabric I've been accustomed to wearing. And when one needs to remain hidden for safety's sake..." Nafretiri sighed and shrugged, as if the criticism meant very little in the scheme of things, but it did leave her with one less option in what seemed like a shallow pool of options in the first place.
"What can I do but ask for your assistance, Your Majesty? I stay hidden in the temple whenever possible, but even I know it is not wise to fear my past- and mine and my daughter's possible future- forever. And Badru of Thebes is...maybe not powerful, not like the H'Moghadams themselves, but as someone connected to them, it is possible that great damage could be done if anyone else learned of this. Do you perhaps see why I don't feel safe telling a story like this one where quite literally anyone could hear it?"
As a priestess, Nafretiri was in fact a second-class citizen now, highly respected at least for religious associations, but anyone might be considered a commoner to the Pharaoh and his wife. And commoners, the other kind of commoners, tended to feed off of gossip, though she supposed in that way, nobody else of any other class was better at keeping secrets- often because they chose not to be, but still.
And she is mine. I named her what I did because she is the only thing I have.... At this thought, Nafretiri's poised facade nearly shattered, tears pricking and burning behind her eyelids.
Perhaps, though gods forbid, she had been too bold for the queen to find entirely appropriate. In its own way, it was the boldest Nafretiri had ever been in her entire life. She couldn't say that she was sorry, exactly, this was for Aneksi after all, but if she had botched the whole thing....
Nafretiri stopped herself right there. She must not think that way- for her daughter's sake. And in any case, it was much too late to take all the words she had said back now.
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"I have, Your Majesty." Nafretiri answered with a bow. "Among the ingredients, I've added ginger root, which helped me greatly when I was sick while expecting Aneksi." She smiled reassuringly at her little daughter, who did not seem quite sure what to do, and was eyeing the palace furnishings in wonder.
Now came the hard part. On one level, she hated to do this to the queen when the woman was so ill. On another, it might be her only chance to address her problem discreetly, if ever.
By the gods, why did life have to be so blasted uncomfortable? If you weren't, someone else surely was, and half the time it seemed to be because you made them that way. She hesitated briefly. "I hope the potion will be of help to you, Your Majesty. But now, I wonder if I might discuss a problem with you. It concerns why I've brought my daughter; normally she is watched by an acolyte or two while I complete my own duties. I almost balked at doing so because you're so ill, however, it is a rather...delicate situation, one I'd prefer not to have spread about in the commoners' court. People talk, you see, and the person who might be looking for us is...is connected with someone very powerful."
She gulped nervously, dreading the rest, and hoping the queen would not mind her just plunging ahead with her story, for it really was of the utmost importance to get help for herself and her daughter as soon as possible.
"You see...before I became a priestess, I was freed by the wife of the steward of the H'Moghadam house, where I had been made a slave after being captured on the way here to avoid a famine in my native Judea. It may or may not be common knowledge, but the steward, Badru of Thebes, has a wife who is, as of the present, anyway, infertile. Meritaten is a sweet woman, and quite embarrassed by the whole ordeal, not least because their marriage happened to be one of those relatively rare love matches...."
Nafretiri's voice cracked despite her resolve to remain as composed as possible. Seeing the couple together when she had had the opportunity made her more than a little jealous. Even though she was free now, did she have hope of finding a relationship like that- where a woman's beauty might just be a bonus, not something used to take unfair advantage of her?
Little Aneksi would probably not understand every word, but it was possible that she might catch on to Nafretiri's tone of voice and become nervous. At least for now, the child seemed blissfully unaware, though the little girl's shyness would likely not go unnoticed by the queen. For that matter, Nafretiri's own might be just as apparent, despite her many words.
"Long story short, Badru tried to take matters into his own hands. While I certainly was not the first- as Meritaten later informed me- I was probably the first to become pregnant, unless the other women kept their condition a secret, or did not know they were expecting yet, which is equally possible, of course." She sighed.
"Whatever else happened, Meritaten had been through this before, and though she freed me and promised she would not seek the child, she could make no such promise of Badru. And though I am a priestess now, the fact that I am in public sometimes for religious ceremonies poses more danger than I might be capable of telling you. I'm tall, as you can see, and quite obviously not from Egypt."
Actually, Nafretiri would not have been entirely able to say where she was from, ancestrally speaking. Though she was Jewish in parentage, there was that skin tone of hers that even she found strange, looking sometimes olive and sometimes a little darker....
"And, if you'll please pardon the cultural criticism, the thin fabric of most veils and headscarves does almost nothing to help me hide my face. It's certainly not the kind of fabric I've been accustomed to wearing. And when one needs to remain hidden for safety's sake..." Nafretiri sighed and shrugged, as if the criticism meant very little in the scheme of things, but it did leave her with one less option in what seemed like a shallow pool of options in the first place.
"What can I do but ask for your assistance, Your Majesty? I stay hidden in the temple whenever possible, but even I know it is not wise to fear my past- and mine and my daughter's possible future- forever. And Badru of Thebes is...maybe not powerful, not like the H'Moghadams themselves, but as someone connected to them, it is possible that great damage could be done if anyone else learned of this. Do you perhaps see why I don't feel safe telling a story like this one where quite literally anyone could hear it?"
As a priestess, Nafretiri was in fact a second-class citizen now, highly respected at least for religious associations, but anyone might be considered a commoner to the Pharaoh and his wife. And commoners, the other kind of commoners, tended to feed off of gossip, though she supposed in that way, nobody else of any other class was better at keeping secrets- often because they chose not to be, but still.
And she is mine. I named her what I did because she is the only thing I have.... At this thought, Nafretiri's poised facade nearly shattered, tears pricking and burning behind her eyelids.
Perhaps, though gods forbid, she had been too bold for the queen to find entirely appropriate. In its own way, it was the boldest Nafretiri had ever been in her entire life. She couldn't say that she was sorry, exactly, this was for Aneksi after all, but if she had botched the whole thing....
Nafretiri stopped herself right there. She must not think that way- for her daughter's sake. And in any case, it was much too late to take all the words she had said back now.
"I have, Your Majesty." Nafretiri answered with a bow. "Among the ingredients, I've added ginger root, which helped me greatly when I was sick while expecting Aneksi." She smiled reassuringly at her little daughter, who did not seem quite sure what to do, and was eyeing the palace furnishings in wonder.
Now came the hard part. On one level, she hated to do this to the queen when the woman was so ill. On another, it might be her only chance to address her problem discreetly, if ever.
By the gods, why did life have to be so blasted uncomfortable? If you weren't, someone else surely was, and half the time it seemed to be because you made them that way. She hesitated briefly. "I hope the potion will be of help to you, Your Majesty. But now, I wonder if I might discuss a problem with you. It concerns why I've brought my daughter; normally she is watched by an acolyte or two while I complete my own duties. I almost balked at doing so because you're so ill, however, it is a rather...delicate situation, one I'd prefer not to have spread about in the commoners' court. People talk, you see, and the person who might be looking for us is...is connected with someone very powerful."
She gulped nervously, dreading the rest, and hoping the queen would not mind her just plunging ahead with her story, for it really was of the utmost importance to get help for herself and her daughter as soon as possible.
"You see...before I became a priestess, I was freed by the wife of the steward of the H'Moghadam house, where I had been made a slave after being captured on the way here to avoid a famine in my native Judea. It may or may not be common knowledge, but the steward, Badru of Thebes, has a wife who is, as of the present, anyway, infertile. Meritaten is a sweet woman, and quite embarrassed by the whole ordeal, not least because their marriage happened to be one of those relatively rare love matches...."
Nafretiri's voice cracked despite her resolve to remain as composed as possible. Seeing the couple together when she had had the opportunity made her more than a little jealous. Even though she was free now, did she have hope of finding a relationship like that- where a woman's beauty might just be a bonus, not something used to take unfair advantage of her?
Little Aneksi would probably not understand every word, but it was possible that she might catch on to Nafretiri's tone of voice and become nervous. At least for now, the child seemed blissfully unaware, though the little girl's shyness would likely not go unnoticed by the queen. For that matter, Nafretiri's own might be just as apparent, despite her many words.
"Long story short, Badru tried to take matters into his own hands. While I certainly was not the first- as Meritaten later informed me- I was probably the first to become pregnant, unless the other women kept their condition a secret, or did not know they were expecting yet, which is equally possible, of course." She sighed.
"Whatever else happened, Meritaten had been through this before, and though she freed me and promised she would not seek the child, she could make no such promise of Badru. And though I am a priestess now, the fact that I am in public sometimes for religious ceremonies poses more danger than I might be capable of telling you. I'm tall, as you can see, and quite obviously not from Egypt."
Actually, Nafretiri would not have been entirely able to say where she was from, ancestrally speaking. Though she was Jewish in parentage, there was that skin tone of hers that even she found strange, looking sometimes olive and sometimes a little darker....
"And, if you'll please pardon the cultural criticism, the thin fabric of most veils and headscarves does almost nothing to help me hide my face. It's certainly not the kind of fabric I've been accustomed to wearing. And when one needs to remain hidden for safety's sake..." Nafretiri sighed and shrugged, as if the criticism meant very little in the scheme of things, but it did leave her with one less option in what seemed like a shallow pool of options in the first place.
"What can I do but ask for your assistance, Your Majesty? I stay hidden in the temple whenever possible, but even I know it is not wise to fear my past- and mine and my daughter's possible future- forever. And Badru of Thebes is...maybe not powerful, not like the H'Moghadams themselves, but as someone connected to them, it is possible that great damage could be done if anyone else learned of this. Do you perhaps see why I don't feel safe telling a story like this one where quite literally anyone could hear it?"
As a priestess, Nafretiri was in fact a second-class citizen now, highly respected at least for religious associations, but anyone might be considered a commoner to the Pharaoh and his wife. And commoners, the other kind of commoners, tended to feed off of gossip, though she supposed in that way, nobody else of any other class was better at keeping secrets- often because they chose not to be, but still.
And she is mine. I named her what I did because she is the only thing I have.... At this thought, Nafretiri's poised facade nearly shattered, tears pricking and burning behind her eyelids.
Perhaps, though gods forbid, she had been too bold for the queen to find entirely appropriate. In its own way, it was the boldest Nafretiri had ever been in her entire life. She couldn't say that she was sorry, exactly, this was for Aneksi after all, but if she had botched the whole thing....
Nafretiri stopped herself right there. She must not think that way- for her daughter's sake. And in any case, it was much too late to take all the words she had said back now.
“Thank you,” Hatshepsut said sincerely. The priestess confirmed that the child she had brought with her was her own and she trusted that the woman knew what she was talking about, having gone through at least one pregnancy by herself. It seemed a bit odd that she brought her daughter with her. The young Queen had never seen the children of priestesses in the temple before, though she was aware that not all of the women who served Hathor were childless.
She looked over at the little girl again. The child seemed entranced with the luxurious furniture in her chamber. Likely she had never seen a room so adorned with priceless objects. Nefret was gazing at her curiously, and when Hatshepsut saw her muscles tense as if ready to move, she placed a restraining hand on her collar, not wanting the monkey to frighten the girl.
Her gaze returned to the priestess when she spoke again, expressing the usual hope that the potion would be beneficial. Yet she didn’t stop there, and one ebony eyebrow rose slightly when she mentioned discussing a problem that concerned her daughter. Someone with powerful connections was looking for them? Was the priestess a slave who had run away so that her child would not be taken from her? Or had the child’s father been cruel and abusive? There were many possibilities, and when the priestess gulped and hesitated, Hatshepsut smiled reassuringly and nodded for her to tell her the entire story.
The priestess’ tale was horrifying to the newly pregnant queen, although she wouldn’t be surprised if such things happened regularly. All men wanted heirs and most women longed for children. Slaves were easily taken advantage of because they could not refuse their master’s orders. Hatshepsut wondered how many children were born by slaves but passed off as the offspring of ladies who were infertile. She noted that the man who had forced himself on this priestess was the steward of Hei Moghadam. Osorsen would likely be livid if he found out what his servant had done.
At least the priestess had been freed and had found a home in the temple of Hathor, where her daughter would have food, shelter, clothing, and a good education. She had done what was best for her little girl, but was understandably frightened that the steward would come for his child. Hatshepsut doubted that would care much for a daughter and if he had any respect for his wife, wouldn’t insist on raising her as his own. If that was all the priestess feared, she was fortunate. In the petite Queen’s opinion, the man might seek to kill the girl so that he wouldn’t have to worry about his master’s wrath if the truth was discovered. No child meant no accusations against him.
Hatshepsut’s heart went out to the young woman and she agreed that living in fear and hiding forever wouldn’t be beneficial for either mother or child. The little girl needed the normal childhood that she herself had been denied. And the priestess needed peace of mind and assurance that her daughter would not be snatched away from her or harmed.
The priestess was indeed tall and foreign, and also very pretty. She would be noticed, and if an acquaintance of the steward recognized her, that person might tell him where she was. The queen could sense the priestess’s terror and saw that she was fighting to keep herself composed. No woman should have to go through this heartache, she thought. If I accomplish nothing else in my reign, I vow to make Egypt safe for my female subjects.
After the young woman finished speaking, Hatshepsut remained silent for a few moments, several possible solutions running through her mind. “I completely understand why you do not wish to tell your story in public,” she said finally, concern coloring her voice. “And I am pleased that you have shared it with me. Both you and your daughter deserve a life free of fear and I can help you achieve that.”
She leaned forward in her chair. “However, I would like to know your thoughts on what form you would like my protection to take. For example, do you wish for Badu of Thebes to be removed from his position and spend the rest of life in prison? One word from me can make it so."
She might need the assistance of her mother or permission from the Council, but considering the injustice done to this young woman, she believed that they would support her in whatever choice she made. Osorsen would certainly be on her side. Her beloved would be appalled at his steward's behavior. But if that was not what the priestess believed would keep her and her daughter safe, there were many other options.
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“Thank you,” Hatshepsut said sincerely. The priestess confirmed that the child she had brought with her was her own and she trusted that the woman knew what she was talking about, having gone through at least one pregnancy by herself. It seemed a bit odd that she brought her daughter with her. The young Queen had never seen the children of priestesses in the temple before, though she was aware that not all of the women who served Hathor were childless.
She looked over at the little girl again. The child seemed entranced with the luxurious furniture in her chamber. Likely she had never seen a room so adorned with priceless objects. Nefret was gazing at her curiously, and when Hatshepsut saw her muscles tense as if ready to move, she placed a restraining hand on her collar, not wanting the monkey to frighten the girl.
Her gaze returned to the priestess when she spoke again, expressing the usual hope that the potion would be beneficial. Yet she didn’t stop there, and one ebony eyebrow rose slightly when she mentioned discussing a problem that concerned her daughter. Someone with powerful connections was looking for them? Was the priestess a slave who had run away so that her child would not be taken from her? Or had the child’s father been cruel and abusive? There were many possibilities, and when the priestess gulped and hesitated, Hatshepsut smiled reassuringly and nodded for her to tell her the entire story.
The priestess’ tale was horrifying to the newly pregnant queen, although she wouldn’t be surprised if such things happened regularly. All men wanted heirs and most women longed for children. Slaves were easily taken advantage of because they could not refuse their master’s orders. Hatshepsut wondered how many children were born by slaves but passed off as the offspring of ladies who were infertile. She noted that the man who had forced himself on this priestess was the steward of Hei Moghadam. Osorsen would likely be livid if he found out what his servant had done.
At least the priestess had been freed and had found a home in the temple of Hathor, where her daughter would have food, shelter, clothing, and a good education. She had done what was best for her little girl, but was understandably frightened that the steward would come for his child. Hatshepsut doubted that would care much for a daughter and if he had any respect for his wife, wouldn’t insist on raising her as his own. If that was all the priestess feared, she was fortunate. In the petite Queen’s opinion, the man might seek to kill the girl so that he wouldn’t have to worry about his master’s wrath if the truth was discovered. No child meant no accusations against him.
Hatshepsut’s heart went out to the young woman and she agreed that living in fear and hiding forever wouldn’t be beneficial for either mother or child. The little girl needed the normal childhood that she herself had been denied. And the priestess needed peace of mind and assurance that her daughter would not be snatched away from her or harmed.
The priestess was indeed tall and foreign, and also very pretty. She would be noticed, and if an acquaintance of the steward recognized her, that person might tell him where she was. The queen could sense the priestess’s terror and saw that she was fighting to keep herself composed. No woman should have to go through this heartache, she thought. If I accomplish nothing else in my reign, I vow to make Egypt safe for my female subjects.
After the young woman finished speaking, Hatshepsut remained silent for a few moments, several possible solutions running through her mind. “I completely understand why you do not wish to tell your story in public,” she said finally, concern coloring her voice. “And I am pleased that you have shared it with me. Both you and your daughter deserve a life free of fear and I can help you achieve that.”
She leaned forward in her chair. “However, I would like to know your thoughts on what form you would like my protection to take. For example, do you wish for Badu of Thebes to be removed from his position and spend the rest of life in prison? One word from me can make it so."
She might need the assistance of her mother or permission from the Council, but considering the injustice done to this young woman, she believed that they would support her in whatever choice she made. Osorsen would certainly be on her side. Her beloved would be appalled at his steward's behavior. But if that was not what the priestess believed would keep her and her daughter safe, there were many other options.
“Thank you,” Hatshepsut said sincerely. The priestess confirmed that the child she had brought with her was her own and she trusted that the woman knew what she was talking about, having gone through at least one pregnancy by herself. It seemed a bit odd that she brought her daughter with her. The young Queen had never seen the children of priestesses in the temple before, though she was aware that not all of the women who served Hathor were childless.
She looked over at the little girl again. The child seemed entranced with the luxurious furniture in her chamber. Likely she had never seen a room so adorned with priceless objects. Nefret was gazing at her curiously, and when Hatshepsut saw her muscles tense as if ready to move, she placed a restraining hand on her collar, not wanting the monkey to frighten the girl.
Her gaze returned to the priestess when she spoke again, expressing the usual hope that the potion would be beneficial. Yet she didn’t stop there, and one ebony eyebrow rose slightly when she mentioned discussing a problem that concerned her daughter. Someone with powerful connections was looking for them? Was the priestess a slave who had run away so that her child would not be taken from her? Or had the child’s father been cruel and abusive? There were many possibilities, and when the priestess gulped and hesitated, Hatshepsut smiled reassuringly and nodded for her to tell her the entire story.
The priestess’ tale was horrifying to the newly pregnant queen, although she wouldn’t be surprised if such things happened regularly. All men wanted heirs and most women longed for children. Slaves were easily taken advantage of because they could not refuse their master’s orders. Hatshepsut wondered how many children were born by slaves but passed off as the offspring of ladies who were infertile. She noted that the man who had forced himself on this priestess was the steward of Hei Moghadam. Osorsen would likely be livid if he found out what his servant had done.
At least the priestess had been freed and had found a home in the temple of Hathor, where her daughter would have food, shelter, clothing, and a good education. She had done what was best for her little girl, but was understandably frightened that the steward would come for his child. Hatshepsut doubted that would care much for a daughter and if he had any respect for his wife, wouldn’t insist on raising her as his own. If that was all the priestess feared, she was fortunate. In the petite Queen’s opinion, the man might seek to kill the girl so that he wouldn’t have to worry about his master’s wrath if the truth was discovered. No child meant no accusations against him.
Hatshepsut’s heart went out to the young woman and she agreed that living in fear and hiding forever wouldn’t be beneficial for either mother or child. The little girl needed the normal childhood that she herself had been denied. And the priestess needed peace of mind and assurance that her daughter would not be snatched away from her or harmed.
The priestess was indeed tall and foreign, and also very pretty. She would be noticed, and if an acquaintance of the steward recognized her, that person might tell him where she was. The queen could sense the priestess’s terror and saw that she was fighting to keep herself composed. No woman should have to go through this heartache, she thought. If I accomplish nothing else in my reign, I vow to make Egypt safe for my female subjects.
After the young woman finished speaking, Hatshepsut remained silent for a few moments, several possible solutions running through her mind. “I completely understand why you do not wish to tell your story in public,” she said finally, concern coloring her voice. “And I am pleased that you have shared it with me. Both you and your daughter deserve a life free of fear and I can help you achieve that.”
She leaned forward in her chair. “However, I would like to know your thoughts on what form you would like my protection to take. For example, do you wish for Badu of Thebes to be removed from his position and spend the rest of life in prison? One word from me can make it so."
She might need the assistance of her mother or permission from the Council, but considering the injustice done to this young woman, she believed that they would support her in whatever choice she made. Osorsen would certainly be on her side. Her beloved would be appalled at his steward's behavior. But if that was not what the priestess believed would keep her and her daughter safe, there were many other options.
Nafretiri sighed, adjusting her shawl to try to stop her sudden shivering. Perhaps the shivering was a sign she was under too much stress.
"I am not sure, Your Majesty. It depends on several things. In the first place, I quite liked Meritaten. I don't wish to cause her pain. She has suffered enough-is still suffering, if I don't miss my guess. If I loved someone the way they love each other...I could not stand it were he to die. I don't think that is the answer. Prison, however, could be a somewhat kinder possibility, and I would still be safe- but even that depends on how much Lord Osorsen- the younger- would know, or care. At this moment, I am a priestess, but I was a slave first, and so might not matter much in the scheme of things. I-I do think about...worse things than I have mentioned. I fully realize that if he should find us, Badru could kill both myself and Aneksi. I think about it, yes, but I have not said it aloud until now, because I didn't want to just... snap. Such thoughts would cut the last threads of my sanity, if you will. If I think of that, I may become paralyzed with fear in a way I have not quite been before now, and become even less capable of protecting us. You need to know also, Your Majesty, since you have so graciously agreed to help me, that there have been rumors spread around about me by some of the acolytes and the newly initiated priestesses. People love to speculate about curiosities like a tall foreign girl with a young child. I have shared the truth with very few, and those I have know that they cannot stop such speculation. The rumors say that in 675 I was part of a dance troupe who came through here, and that I danced for the previous Pharaoh and he took me to his bed. My daughter was born in Tammuz 674. But I swear...I never...I never!"
Though she was not quite so nervous anymore, it was as if her body didn't quite know there was no longer anything to fear, or maybe it was that everything was hitting her at once. Her legs were shaking so violently she thought they might shoot out from under her. She might need to sit down before she fell, though to her knowledge she had not been invited to do so.
"And the rumors that war will come soon actually make the situation worse. If nobles go to war, their stewards are expected to stay behind and look after their estates. At least if she had been sired by a noble they'd likely be gone for awhile." Nafretiri sighed.
"Perhaps his final punishment should be discussed with Lord Osorsen.But I do have an idea- I think. If nothing else- for now- I would like to learn how to use a weapon. Perhaps not a sword- that might be too heavy." She had to laugh at the thought of a sword in her tiny little hands, though there was no mirth in the laughter. "But a bow, a knife- something. Then if he does try to kill us, gods forbid, I'll be ready. Might you know of anyone who could teach me such a thing? I cannot help but feel sometimes that though I have been honored to serve the goddess, a temple full of women is...not much protection for me if the worst should occur."
Hatshepsut need not have worried too much about Aneksi- the little girl found the monkey interesting and had been staring at the little creature with longing, though she waited until Nafretiri had finished speaking to approach her mother. Her words might have been unintelligible to most who did not spend time around very young children, but Nafretiri heard her clearly enough, and chuckled. Young as Aneksi was, the two-year-old usually seemed to know when her mother needed a distraction.
"Can I pet the monkey, Amma? Your Majesty...please?" Aneksi turned on her biggest and hopefully most charming smile, the one she reserved for very few. "It is cute. Hathor doesn't have any."
"She always did like animals, my queen- and truthfully, I was thinking an animal of my own might make me feel guarded, indeed. Perhaps a lion or tiger, if trained well- but no, those are too big. Something to bite intruders, though." Serious as the subject still was, there was a real smile in Nafretiri's voice this time.In that moment, she could almost believe everything would be all right, and what was more, she didn't know a single person from royalty to commoner who wasn't charmed by an animal at least once in their lives, so it was also likely, in a sense, a kind of common thread between them all.
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Nafretiri sighed, adjusting her shawl to try to stop her sudden shivering. Perhaps the shivering was a sign she was under too much stress.
"I am not sure, Your Majesty. It depends on several things. In the first place, I quite liked Meritaten. I don't wish to cause her pain. She has suffered enough-is still suffering, if I don't miss my guess. If I loved someone the way they love each other...I could not stand it were he to die. I don't think that is the answer. Prison, however, could be a somewhat kinder possibility, and I would still be safe- but even that depends on how much Lord Osorsen- the younger- would know, or care. At this moment, I am a priestess, but I was a slave first, and so might not matter much in the scheme of things. I-I do think about...worse things than I have mentioned. I fully realize that if he should find us, Badru could kill both myself and Aneksi. I think about it, yes, but I have not said it aloud until now, because I didn't want to just... snap. Such thoughts would cut the last threads of my sanity, if you will. If I think of that, I may become paralyzed with fear in a way I have not quite been before now, and become even less capable of protecting us. You need to know also, Your Majesty, since you have so graciously agreed to help me, that there have been rumors spread around about me by some of the acolytes and the newly initiated priestesses. People love to speculate about curiosities like a tall foreign girl with a young child. I have shared the truth with very few, and those I have know that they cannot stop such speculation. The rumors say that in 675 I was part of a dance troupe who came through here, and that I danced for the previous Pharaoh and he took me to his bed. My daughter was born in Tammuz 674. But I swear...I never...I never!"
Though she was not quite so nervous anymore, it was as if her body didn't quite know there was no longer anything to fear, or maybe it was that everything was hitting her at once. Her legs were shaking so violently she thought they might shoot out from under her. She might need to sit down before she fell, though to her knowledge she had not been invited to do so.
"And the rumors that war will come soon actually make the situation worse. If nobles go to war, their stewards are expected to stay behind and look after their estates. At least if she had been sired by a noble they'd likely be gone for awhile." Nafretiri sighed.
"Perhaps his final punishment should be discussed with Lord Osorsen.But I do have an idea- I think. If nothing else- for now- I would like to learn how to use a weapon. Perhaps not a sword- that might be too heavy." She had to laugh at the thought of a sword in her tiny little hands, though there was no mirth in the laughter. "But a bow, a knife- something. Then if he does try to kill us, gods forbid, I'll be ready. Might you know of anyone who could teach me such a thing? I cannot help but feel sometimes that though I have been honored to serve the goddess, a temple full of women is...not much protection for me if the worst should occur."
Hatshepsut need not have worried too much about Aneksi- the little girl found the monkey interesting and had been staring at the little creature with longing, though she waited until Nafretiri had finished speaking to approach her mother. Her words might have been unintelligible to most who did not spend time around very young children, but Nafretiri heard her clearly enough, and chuckled. Young as Aneksi was, the two-year-old usually seemed to know when her mother needed a distraction.
"Can I pet the monkey, Amma? Your Majesty...please?" Aneksi turned on her biggest and hopefully most charming smile, the one she reserved for very few. "It is cute. Hathor doesn't have any."
"She always did like animals, my queen- and truthfully, I was thinking an animal of my own might make me feel guarded, indeed. Perhaps a lion or tiger, if trained well- but no, those are too big. Something to bite intruders, though." Serious as the subject still was, there was a real smile in Nafretiri's voice this time.In that moment, she could almost believe everything would be all right, and what was more, she didn't know a single person from royalty to commoner who wasn't charmed by an animal at least once in their lives, so it was also likely, in a sense, a kind of common thread between them all.
Nafretiri sighed, adjusting her shawl to try to stop her sudden shivering. Perhaps the shivering was a sign she was under too much stress.
"I am not sure, Your Majesty. It depends on several things. In the first place, I quite liked Meritaten. I don't wish to cause her pain. She has suffered enough-is still suffering, if I don't miss my guess. If I loved someone the way they love each other...I could not stand it were he to die. I don't think that is the answer. Prison, however, could be a somewhat kinder possibility, and I would still be safe- but even that depends on how much Lord Osorsen- the younger- would know, or care. At this moment, I am a priestess, but I was a slave first, and so might not matter much in the scheme of things. I-I do think about...worse things than I have mentioned. I fully realize that if he should find us, Badru could kill both myself and Aneksi. I think about it, yes, but I have not said it aloud until now, because I didn't want to just... snap. Such thoughts would cut the last threads of my sanity, if you will. If I think of that, I may become paralyzed with fear in a way I have not quite been before now, and become even less capable of protecting us. You need to know also, Your Majesty, since you have so graciously agreed to help me, that there have been rumors spread around about me by some of the acolytes and the newly initiated priestesses. People love to speculate about curiosities like a tall foreign girl with a young child. I have shared the truth with very few, and those I have know that they cannot stop such speculation. The rumors say that in 675 I was part of a dance troupe who came through here, and that I danced for the previous Pharaoh and he took me to his bed. My daughter was born in Tammuz 674. But I swear...I never...I never!"
Though she was not quite so nervous anymore, it was as if her body didn't quite know there was no longer anything to fear, or maybe it was that everything was hitting her at once. Her legs were shaking so violently she thought they might shoot out from under her. She might need to sit down before she fell, though to her knowledge she had not been invited to do so.
"And the rumors that war will come soon actually make the situation worse. If nobles go to war, their stewards are expected to stay behind and look after their estates. At least if she had been sired by a noble they'd likely be gone for awhile." Nafretiri sighed.
"Perhaps his final punishment should be discussed with Lord Osorsen.But I do have an idea- I think. If nothing else- for now- I would like to learn how to use a weapon. Perhaps not a sword- that might be too heavy." She had to laugh at the thought of a sword in her tiny little hands, though there was no mirth in the laughter. "But a bow, a knife- something. Then if he does try to kill us, gods forbid, I'll be ready. Might you know of anyone who could teach me such a thing? I cannot help but feel sometimes that though I have been honored to serve the goddess, a temple full of women is...not much protection for me if the worst should occur."
Hatshepsut need not have worried too much about Aneksi- the little girl found the monkey interesting and had been staring at the little creature with longing, though she waited until Nafretiri had finished speaking to approach her mother. Her words might have been unintelligible to most who did not spend time around very young children, but Nafretiri heard her clearly enough, and chuckled. Young as Aneksi was, the two-year-old usually seemed to know when her mother needed a distraction.
"Can I pet the monkey, Amma? Your Majesty...please?" Aneksi turned on her biggest and hopefully most charming smile, the one she reserved for very few. "It is cute. Hathor doesn't have any."
"She always did like animals, my queen- and truthfully, I was thinking an animal of my own might make me feel guarded, indeed. Perhaps a lion or tiger, if trained well- but no, those are too big. Something to bite intruders, though." Serious as the subject still was, there was a real smile in Nafretiri's voice this time.In that moment, she could almost believe everything would be all right, and what was more, she didn't know a single person from royalty to commoner who wasn't charmed by an animal at least once in their lives, so it was also likely, in a sense, a kind of common thread between them all.
Her question had been designed to discover what kind of person this priestess was. Was she kind or vengeful? It seemed to be the former, which pleased the young queen. She didn’t want her rapist to to be executed because she was fond of his wife, her former owner, and didn’t want to cause her any more pain. Barrenness was enough sorow for one woman to endure.
One of Hatshepsut’s hands, her fingers sparkling with rings, unconsciously fluttered to her flat belly. She knew what would have happened if she had been barren. Iahotep would have found a way to get rid of her and all the tasters and guards in the world wouldn’t be able to save her. How many other wives had suffered that fate? This priestess’s former owner was lucky to have a husband who loved her.
More words tumbled out of the young woman’s mouth. She had already thought of the worse case scenario … that the steward could kill both her daughter and herself. Hatshepsut was already protective of the little life inside her. She could only imagine the terror one must feel if one’s child was in danger. The rumors about the priestess and her father caused her to raise one dark eyebrow. The woman was not only compassionate but brave to mention the former Pharaoh’s supposed affairs to his daughter. Hatshepsut was glad she hadn’t spoken to her mother instead of her. Even though that tidbit of information had no basis in truth, Isetherperu would have been livid at the idea that her husband was still being gossiped about.
Hatshepsut noticed how shaky the woman was on her feet and ordered a slave standing nearby to bring a chair and place it in front of her own. “Please sit down, Priestess” she said, waving one graceful hand toward the chair. With the other, she kept a firm hold on Nefret’s collar. The little girl was gazing at the monkey and Nefret was staring back. The child didn’t look scared, but that could change if the curious little creature leaped toward her.
“I’ve known General H’Moghadam since I was a small child.” How well she knew him now must remain a secret. “He would be infuriated about what his steward did to you and he would be punished in a manner that would remove all threat to you and your daughter. He would not just dismiss him and let him go. The man would definitely come after you then. I can suggest imprisonment, but the decision will be up to the General.”
One side of her lips turned up in a slight smile. “As for those rumors, you have nothing at all to worry about. The former Pharaoh passed away ten years ago. There is no way he could be the father of your child.” It was surprising how many foreigners weren’t aware of that. Hatshepsut knew that in most kingdoms, a new king was appointed as soon as the old one died. It was usually his son, but if he had only daughters, a grandson, brother, or nephew would sit on the throne instead. People from those kingdoms naturally believed that Egypt's customs were no different.
Learning self defense was an excellent idea. Both sides of her lips curved upward. Her half-brother Sutekh would be a perfect tutor, if he did not think that instructing a woman was beneath him. She rather doubted that he would be, as he had several sisters. “I do know somebody who can teach you and he is a man I trust with my life. I shall ask him if he is willing to take on a student and will send you word if he agrees. If he doesn’t, my guards are trustworthy as well.”
The little girl spoke up then, asking her mother and then Hatshepsut if she could pet Nefret. She was a pretty child and that enchanting smile was adorable. Her mother agreed and the Queen beckoned her forward, still keeping a tight hold on the monkey’s collar. “Her name is Nefret,” she told Aneksi, "and she’s very friendly.”
The priestess spoke of acquiring a large cat to guard her. “Big cats are unpredictable. You don’t want a lion or a tiger around your daughter. I have a caracal. They are smaller but quite vicious. I will keep her well away from my own child when he is born. I suggest getting a dog for protection. They are obedient and easily trained.”
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Her question had been designed to discover what kind of person this priestess was. Was she kind or vengeful? It seemed to be the former, which pleased the young queen. She didn’t want her rapist to to be executed because she was fond of his wife, her former owner, and didn’t want to cause her any more pain. Barrenness was enough sorow for one woman to endure.
One of Hatshepsut’s hands, her fingers sparkling with rings, unconsciously fluttered to her flat belly. She knew what would have happened if she had been barren. Iahotep would have found a way to get rid of her and all the tasters and guards in the world wouldn’t be able to save her. How many other wives had suffered that fate? This priestess’s former owner was lucky to have a husband who loved her.
More words tumbled out of the young woman’s mouth. She had already thought of the worse case scenario … that the steward could kill both her daughter and herself. Hatshepsut was already protective of the little life inside her. She could only imagine the terror one must feel if one’s child was in danger. The rumors about the priestess and her father caused her to raise one dark eyebrow. The woman was not only compassionate but brave to mention the former Pharaoh’s supposed affairs to his daughter. Hatshepsut was glad she hadn’t spoken to her mother instead of her. Even though that tidbit of information had no basis in truth, Isetherperu would have been livid at the idea that her husband was still being gossiped about.
Hatshepsut noticed how shaky the woman was on her feet and ordered a slave standing nearby to bring a chair and place it in front of her own. “Please sit down, Priestess” she said, waving one graceful hand toward the chair. With the other, she kept a firm hold on Nefret’s collar. The little girl was gazing at the monkey and Nefret was staring back. The child didn’t look scared, but that could change if the curious little creature leaped toward her.
“I’ve known General H’Moghadam since I was a small child.” How well she knew him now must remain a secret. “He would be infuriated about what his steward did to you and he would be punished in a manner that would remove all threat to you and your daughter. He would not just dismiss him and let him go. The man would definitely come after you then. I can suggest imprisonment, but the decision will be up to the General.”
One side of her lips turned up in a slight smile. “As for those rumors, you have nothing at all to worry about. The former Pharaoh passed away ten years ago. There is no way he could be the father of your child.” It was surprising how many foreigners weren’t aware of that. Hatshepsut knew that in most kingdoms, a new king was appointed as soon as the old one died. It was usually his son, but if he had only daughters, a grandson, brother, or nephew would sit on the throne instead. People from those kingdoms naturally believed that Egypt's customs were no different.
Learning self defense was an excellent idea. Both sides of her lips curved upward. Her half-brother Sutekh would be a perfect tutor, if he did not think that instructing a woman was beneath him. She rather doubted that he would be, as he had several sisters. “I do know somebody who can teach you and he is a man I trust with my life. I shall ask him if he is willing to take on a student and will send you word if he agrees. If he doesn’t, my guards are trustworthy as well.”
The little girl spoke up then, asking her mother and then Hatshepsut if she could pet Nefret. She was a pretty child and that enchanting smile was adorable. Her mother agreed and the Queen beckoned her forward, still keeping a tight hold on the monkey’s collar. “Her name is Nefret,” she told Aneksi, "and she’s very friendly.”
The priestess spoke of acquiring a large cat to guard her. “Big cats are unpredictable. You don’t want a lion or a tiger around your daughter. I have a caracal. They are smaller but quite vicious. I will keep her well away from my own child when he is born. I suggest getting a dog for protection. They are obedient and easily trained.”
Her question had been designed to discover what kind of person this priestess was. Was she kind or vengeful? It seemed to be the former, which pleased the young queen. She didn’t want her rapist to to be executed because she was fond of his wife, her former owner, and didn’t want to cause her any more pain. Barrenness was enough sorow for one woman to endure.
One of Hatshepsut’s hands, her fingers sparkling with rings, unconsciously fluttered to her flat belly. She knew what would have happened if she had been barren. Iahotep would have found a way to get rid of her and all the tasters and guards in the world wouldn’t be able to save her. How many other wives had suffered that fate? This priestess’s former owner was lucky to have a husband who loved her.
More words tumbled out of the young woman’s mouth. She had already thought of the worse case scenario … that the steward could kill both her daughter and herself. Hatshepsut was already protective of the little life inside her. She could only imagine the terror one must feel if one’s child was in danger. The rumors about the priestess and her father caused her to raise one dark eyebrow. The woman was not only compassionate but brave to mention the former Pharaoh’s supposed affairs to his daughter. Hatshepsut was glad she hadn’t spoken to her mother instead of her. Even though that tidbit of information had no basis in truth, Isetherperu would have been livid at the idea that her husband was still being gossiped about.
Hatshepsut noticed how shaky the woman was on her feet and ordered a slave standing nearby to bring a chair and place it in front of her own. “Please sit down, Priestess” she said, waving one graceful hand toward the chair. With the other, she kept a firm hold on Nefret’s collar. The little girl was gazing at the monkey and Nefret was staring back. The child didn’t look scared, but that could change if the curious little creature leaped toward her.
“I’ve known General H’Moghadam since I was a small child.” How well she knew him now must remain a secret. “He would be infuriated about what his steward did to you and he would be punished in a manner that would remove all threat to you and your daughter. He would not just dismiss him and let him go. The man would definitely come after you then. I can suggest imprisonment, but the decision will be up to the General.”
One side of her lips turned up in a slight smile. “As for those rumors, you have nothing at all to worry about. The former Pharaoh passed away ten years ago. There is no way he could be the father of your child.” It was surprising how many foreigners weren’t aware of that. Hatshepsut knew that in most kingdoms, a new king was appointed as soon as the old one died. It was usually his son, but if he had only daughters, a grandson, brother, or nephew would sit on the throne instead. People from those kingdoms naturally believed that Egypt's customs were no different.
Learning self defense was an excellent idea. Both sides of her lips curved upward. Her half-brother Sutekh would be a perfect tutor, if he did not think that instructing a woman was beneath him. She rather doubted that he would be, as he had several sisters. “I do know somebody who can teach you and he is a man I trust with my life. I shall ask him if he is willing to take on a student and will send you word if he agrees. If he doesn’t, my guards are trustworthy as well.”
The little girl spoke up then, asking her mother and then Hatshepsut if she could pet Nefret. She was a pretty child and that enchanting smile was adorable. Her mother agreed and the Queen beckoned her forward, still keeping a tight hold on the monkey’s collar. “Her name is Nefret,” she told Aneksi, "and she’s very friendly.”
The priestess spoke of acquiring a large cat to guard her. “Big cats are unpredictable. You don’t want a lion or a tiger around your daughter. I have a caracal. They are smaller but quite vicious. I will keep her well away from my own child when he is born. I suggest getting a dog for protection. They are obedient and easily trained.”
Nafretiri considered the queen's words and was comforted by the queen's confirmation that the rumors were false, even though she had known they were false anyway. It would be knowledge she could arm herself with against her tormentors. Really, it seemed odd to her that the priestesses of Hathor would tease her for supposedly being a prostitute when there were times the goddess of love and sex considered such activities worship. But she was a foreigner, and she supposed that was the difference.
She was comforted, too, by the idea that there were things that could be done to help her defend herself, if the person whom the queen had in mind to teach her such things agreed. "If he will consider it, at the least, I would be most grateful, Your Majesty." It was not easy dealing with such a large degree of terror in her thoughts every day. Still, she felt she had to acknowledge the possibility that a man presumably well-versed in weaponry would not want to potentially waste- in his own mind- such knowledge on a woman. Nafretiri had to try to hope, though. Though she potentially had everything to lose if things didn't go her way, what else could she do? She had, however, been brave enough to come here, and to ask for a little of the queen's time so as not to have to tell her story in public. If that could happen, why not dare to hope for a little more? "It feels as though everything probably really is at stake for me, but if he does not wish to teach a woman, I would understand." She only nodded at the idea that the decision as to what to do with Badru would be left up to Osorsen. "Of course, your Majesty, but I would ask that you please send me word upon learning of his decision."
She smiled a real smile at seeing Aneksi pet the monkey, finding herself enchanted with the little animal as well. She nodded in agreement at the queen's comment that a dog might be better as a guard. "I think you are right. Might you know where I could find such an animal?" Her old self- Rivkah of Lael- would have been appalled, as Jews mainly thought dogs were unclean creatures, but she didn't live that life anymore. How far she had come!
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Aneksi was saying, and then too the monkey, she cooed, "You're so cute!"
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Nafretiri considered the queen's words and was comforted by the queen's confirmation that the rumors were false, even though she had known they were false anyway. It would be knowledge she could arm herself with against her tormentors. Really, it seemed odd to her that the priestesses of Hathor would tease her for supposedly being a prostitute when there were times the goddess of love and sex considered such activities worship. But she was a foreigner, and she supposed that was the difference.
She was comforted, too, by the idea that there were things that could be done to help her defend herself, if the person whom the queen had in mind to teach her such things agreed. "If he will consider it, at the least, I would be most grateful, Your Majesty." It was not easy dealing with such a large degree of terror in her thoughts every day. Still, she felt she had to acknowledge the possibility that a man presumably well-versed in weaponry would not want to potentially waste- in his own mind- such knowledge on a woman. Nafretiri had to try to hope, though. Though she potentially had everything to lose if things didn't go her way, what else could she do? She had, however, been brave enough to come here, and to ask for a little of the queen's time so as not to have to tell her story in public. If that could happen, why not dare to hope for a little more? "It feels as though everything probably really is at stake for me, but if he does not wish to teach a woman, I would understand." She only nodded at the idea that the decision as to what to do with Badru would be left up to Osorsen. "Of course, your Majesty, but I would ask that you please send me word upon learning of his decision."
She smiled a real smile at seeing Aneksi pet the monkey, finding herself enchanted with the little animal as well. She nodded in agreement at the queen's comment that a dog might be better as a guard. "I think you are right. Might you know where I could find such an animal?" Her old self- Rivkah of Lael- would have been appalled, as Jews mainly thought dogs were unclean creatures, but she didn't live that life anymore. How far she had come!
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Aneksi was saying, and then too the monkey, she cooed, "You're so cute!"
Nafretiri considered the queen's words and was comforted by the queen's confirmation that the rumors were false, even though she had known they were false anyway. It would be knowledge she could arm herself with against her tormentors. Really, it seemed odd to her that the priestesses of Hathor would tease her for supposedly being a prostitute when there were times the goddess of love and sex considered such activities worship. But she was a foreigner, and she supposed that was the difference.
She was comforted, too, by the idea that there were things that could be done to help her defend herself, if the person whom the queen had in mind to teach her such things agreed. "If he will consider it, at the least, I would be most grateful, Your Majesty." It was not easy dealing with such a large degree of terror in her thoughts every day. Still, she felt she had to acknowledge the possibility that a man presumably well-versed in weaponry would not want to potentially waste- in his own mind- such knowledge on a woman. Nafretiri had to try to hope, though. Though she potentially had everything to lose if things didn't go her way, what else could she do? She had, however, been brave enough to come here, and to ask for a little of the queen's time so as not to have to tell her story in public. If that could happen, why not dare to hope for a little more? "It feels as though everything probably really is at stake for me, but if he does not wish to teach a woman, I would understand." She only nodded at the idea that the decision as to what to do with Badru would be left up to Osorsen. "Of course, your Majesty, but I would ask that you please send me word upon learning of his decision."
She smiled a real smile at seeing Aneksi pet the monkey, finding herself enchanted with the little animal as well. She nodded in agreement at the queen's comment that a dog might be better as a guard. "I think you are right. Might you know where I could find such an animal?" Her old self- Rivkah of Lael- would have been appalled, as Jews mainly thought dogs were unclean creatures, but she didn't live that life anymore. How far she had come!
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Aneksi was saying, and then too the monkey, she cooed, "You're so cute!"
“Even if the man I have in mind disagrees, I will find someone else to instruct you, someone who will not mind teaching a woman.” Hatshepsut smiled, trying to reassure the priestess. “You can practice here in the garden, and I don’t mind staying with you until you’re comfortable.” The woman had been raped once and probably didn’t trust easily. Unless Sutekh agreed to teach her, the young Queen would not be entirely certain that the tutor she chose would not try to take advantage of the priestess. Her royal presence would ensure that nothing untoward happened.
“If I wasn’t pregnant, I would join you. I could use some self-defense lessons myself.” She would ask Osorsen if he would teach her after the baby was born. They would have to meet in secret, but didn’t they always? It was especially important now that she was married to Iahotep.
She held tight to Nefret’s leash when Aneksi began to pet her. The monkey enjoyed the attention and moved a bit closer, sitting right next to the child. Her mouth widened into what looked like a big grin and she chattered cheerfully. “Don’t ask me what she’s saying,” she told the little girl. “Not even Queens know how to speak Monkey.”
Her kind brown eyes spun back to the child’s mother when she inquired about a place to get a dog. “I will find out for you and send the information to the Temple with one of my personal servants.” She had planned to have the herbs the priestess brought to her made into a tea to ease her nausea, but it was going away on its own. That was fortunate, since she had a meeting with the council in about an hour.
“Is there anything else you wish to discuss with me?” Hatshepsut asked, her gaze traveling once more to Aneksi and Nefret playing happily together. “I have duties I must attend to soon. If you need my help again, just come to the palace and I will see that you are brought directly to me. Feel free to bring you daughter. She is getting on quite well with Nefret.”
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“Even if the man I have in mind disagrees, I will find someone else to instruct you, someone who will not mind teaching a woman.” Hatshepsut smiled, trying to reassure the priestess. “You can practice here in the garden, and I don’t mind staying with you until you’re comfortable.” The woman had been raped once and probably didn’t trust easily. Unless Sutekh agreed to teach her, the young Queen would not be entirely certain that the tutor she chose would not try to take advantage of the priestess. Her royal presence would ensure that nothing untoward happened.
“If I wasn’t pregnant, I would join you. I could use some self-defense lessons myself.” She would ask Osorsen if he would teach her after the baby was born. They would have to meet in secret, but didn’t they always? It was especially important now that she was married to Iahotep.
She held tight to Nefret’s leash when Aneksi began to pet her. The monkey enjoyed the attention and moved a bit closer, sitting right next to the child. Her mouth widened into what looked like a big grin and she chattered cheerfully. “Don’t ask me what she’s saying,” she told the little girl. “Not even Queens know how to speak Monkey.”
Her kind brown eyes spun back to the child’s mother when she inquired about a place to get a dog. “I will find out for you and send the information to the Temple with one of my personal servants.” She had planned to have the herbs the priestess brought to her made into a tea to ease her nausea, but it was going away on its own. That was fortunate, since she had a meeting with the council in about an hour.
“Is there anything else you wish to discuss with me?” Hatshepsut asked, her gaze traveling once more to Aneksi and Nefret playing happily together. “I have duties I must attend to soon. If you need my help again, just come to the palace and I will see that you are brought directly to me. Feel free to bring you daughter. She is getting on quite well with Nefret.”
“Even if the man I have in mind disagrees, I will find someone else to instruct you, someone who will not mind teaching a woman.” Hatshepsut smiled, trying to reassure the priestess. “You can practice here in the garden, and I don’t mind staying with you until you’re comfortable.” The woman had been raped once and probably didn’t trust easily. Unless Sutekh agreed to teach her, the young Queen would not be entirely certain that the tutor she chose would not try to take advantage of the priestess. Her royal presence would ensure that nothing untoward happened.
“If I wasn’t pregnant, I would join you. I could use some self-defense lessons myself.” She would ask Osorsen if he would teach her after the baby was born. They would have to meet in secret, but didn’t they always? It was especially important now that she was married to Iahotep.
She held tight to Nefret’s leash when Aneksi began to pet her. The monkey enjoyed the attention and moved a bit closer, sitting right next to the child. Her mouth widened into what looked like a big grin and she chattered cheerfully. “Don’t ask me what she’s saying,” she told the little girl. “Not even Queens know how to speak Monkey.”
Her kind brown eyes spun back to the child’s mother when she inquired about a place to get a dog. “I will find out for you and send the information to the Temple with one of my personal servants.” She had planned to have the herbs the priestess brought to her made into a tea to ease her nausea, but it was going away on its own. That was fortunate, since she had a meeting with the council in about an hour.
“Is there anything else you wish to discuss with me?” Hatshepsut asked, her gaze traveling once more to Aneksi and Nefret playing happily together. “I have duties I must attend to soon. If you need my help again, just come to the palace and I will see that you are brought directly to me. Feel free to bring you daughter. She is getting on quite well with Nefret.”
Nafretiri found the whole experience of the day generally pleasant. She nodded in response to the queen's offer to assist her in finding a dog, and Aneksi grinned widely on hearing she would be allowed to play some with Neferet another time. Nafretiri chuckled at her daughter, smiling at the way the monkey responded to the little girl. "They have made friends, haven't they?" She laughed softly. Aneksi giggled with her eyes sparkling when Neferet chattered, also laughing at the idea of the queen speaking monkey.
Nafretiri considered the queen's question, not wishing to detain her any longer than necessary for now. But she did think of one more thing. "Perhaps, both today and otherwise, you might find a guard to escort us here and home? I'd hate to get accosted at a time when I know nothing of self-defense." She shivered. "On a slightly different subject, just to make the observation. it isn't necessarily easy being a priestess- someone who has to be in the public eye for ceremonies and such." Hatshepsut might find the same thing true, and she smiled a little at the thought that she might not be alone in thinking being in the public eye was hard, but that wasn't why Nafretiri had said it. "I always wonder- will someone find me-unarmed, even if I am in a group? It may or may not help to have the same clothing as everyone else in my group, but still...." Until she learned how to fight, she was vulnerable. "At least for you, Majesty, in public, there are guards. Do you think I will always be so afraid?" she had to add, a little more quietly.
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Nafretiri found the whole experience of the day generally pleasant. She nodded in response to the queen's offer to assist her in finding a dog, and Aneksi grinned widely on hearing she would be allowed to play some with Neferet another time. Nafretiri chuckled at her daughter, smiling at the way the monkey responded to the little girl. "They have made friends, haven't they?" She laughed softly. Aneksi giggled with her eyes sparkling when Neferet chattered, also laughing at the idea of the queen speaking monkey.
Nafretiri considered the queen's question, not wishing to detain her any longer than necessary for now. But she did think of one more thing. "Perhaps, both today and otherwise, you might find a guard to escort us here and home? I'd hate to get accosted at a time when I know nothing of self-defense." She shivered. "On a slightly different subject, just to make the observation. it isn't necessarily easy being a priestess- someone who has to be in the public eye for ceremonies and such." Hatshepsut might find the same thing true, and she smiled a little at the thought that she might not be alone in thinking being in the public eye was hard, but that wasn't why Nafretiri had said it. "I always wonder- will someone find me-unarmed, even if I am in a group? It may or may not help to have the same clothing as everyone else in my group, but still...." Until she learned how to fight, she was vulnerable. "At least for you, Majesty, in public, there are guards. Do you think I will always be so afraid?" she had to add, a little more quietly.
Nafretiri found the whole experience of the day generally pleasant. She nodded in response to the queen's offer to assist her in finding a dog, and Aneksi grinned widely on hearing she would be allowed to play some with Neferet another time. Nafretiri chuckled at her daughter, smiling at the way the monkey responded to the little girl. "They have made friends, haven't they?" She laughed softly. Aneksi giggled with her eyes sparkling when Neferet chattered, also laughing at the idea of the queen speaking monkey.
Nafretiri considered the queen's question, not wishing to detain her any longer than necessary for now. But she did think of one more thing. "Perhaps, both today and otherwise, you might find a guard to escort us here and home? I'd hate to get accosted at a time when I know nothing of self-defense." She shivered. "On a slightly different subject, just to make the observation. it isn't necessarily easy being a priestess- someone who has to be in the public eye for ceremonies and such." Hatshepsut might find the same thing true, and she smiled a little at the thought that she might not be alone in thinking being in the public eye was hard, but that wasn't why Nafretiri had said it. "I always wonder- will someone find me-unarmed, even if I am in a group? It may or may not help to have the same clothing as everyone else in my group, but still...." Until she learned how to fight, she was vulnerable. "At least for you, Majesty, in public, there are guards. Do you think I will always be so afraid?" she had to add, a little more quietly.
“She loves children,” Hatshepsut replied. “She was given to me as a gift when I toured the provinces two years ago. Naqmis is known for its monkeys and its people use them for protection. Nefret was trained to guard her master or mistress and I know I can count on her if I am attacked. You would never know by the way she acts most of the time. I think she must have spent her first few months in a family with children.”
She didn’t worry about how Nefret would react when her baby was born. The monkey would probably become his fiercest protector. Tahira she was less sure of. She had sent to Bubastis for a male caracal, hoping that the two of them would mate. The large feline might be more willing to accept a baby if she became a mother herself. Finding homes for the kittens would be no problem, as they would be gifts from the Queen.
As for guards, Hatshepsut nodded. “I can send one of my servants with you and one can pick you up the next time I need a potion.” She smiled wryly. “I can’t send one of my royal guards. A Queen can’t show favor to the priests or priestesses of any one god. The others might withdraw their favor from me.” Surely a priestess would understand that.
It was, she knew, easier to be a priestess than a Queen, but Hatshepsut understood the woman’s concerns. Ever since she had heard that an assassin had been sent to kill her at her own coronation when she was six, she had become a bit paranoid. Now that she was married to Iahotep and carrying the heir to the throne, her paranoia had escalated. Assassinating her would leave Egypt without a successor. Iahotep would not last for long without her. Ambitious men would compete to be Pharaoh, likely plunging her kingdom into civil war. She was always wary when in the city, but she was truly no safer at home.
Do you think I will always be so afraid?”
“Maybe you will be less so when you are certain that your daughter won’t be taken away from you. Priestesses are usually seen as servants to their god or goddess, not as individuals. As you all dress alike, there is less chance that you will be identified. Even learning to defend yourself will not make you completely safe. There will always be somebody who fights better than you.”
The young Queen tilted her head thoughtfully. Nefret left Aneksi and leapt to her mistress’ shoulder. “Being afraid is not necessarily a bad thing. One should always be cautious. A guard dog will help you, as will learning self-defense. I will assist you with those things. My offer to inform General Moghadam what his steward did still stands if you ever change your mind.”
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“She loves children,” Hatshepsut replied. “She was given to me as a gift when I toured the provinces two years ago. Naqmis is known for its monkeys and its people use them for protection. Nefret was trained to guard her master or mistress and I know I can count on her if I am attacked. You would never know by the way she acts most of the time. I think she must have spent her first few months in a family with children.”
She didn’t worry about how Nefret would react when her baby was born. The monkey would probably become his fiercest protector. Tahira she was less sure of. She had sent to Bubastis for a male caracal, hoping that the two of them would mate. The large feline might be more willing to accept a baby if she became a mother herself. Finding homes for the kittens would be no problem, as they would be gifts from the Queen.
As for guards, Hatshepsut nodded. “I can send one of my servants with you and one can pick you up the next time I need a potion.” She smiled wryly. “I can’t send one of my royal guards. A Queen can’t show favor to the priests or priestesses of any one god. The others might withdraw their favor from me.” Surely a priestess would understand that.
It was, she knew, easier to be a priestess than a Queen, but Hatshepsut understood the woman’s concerns. Ever since she had heard that an assassin had been sent to kill her at her own coronation when she was six, she had become a bit paranoid. Now that she was married to Iahotep and carrying the heir to the throne, her paranoia had escalated. Assassinating her would leave Egypt without a successor. Iahotep would not last for long without her. Ambitious men would compete to be Pharaoh, likely plunging her kingdom into civil war. She was always wary when in the city, but she was truly no safer at home.
Do you think I will always be so afraid?”
“Maybe you will be less so when you are certain that your daughter won’t be taken away from you. Priestesses are usually seen as servants to their god or goddess, not as individuals. As you all dress alike, there is less chance that you will be identified. Even learning to defend yourself will not make you completely safe. There will always be somebody who fights better than you.”
The young Queen tilted her head thoughtfully. Nefret left Aneksi and leapt to her mistress’ shoulder. “Being afraid is not necessarily a bad thing. One should always be cautious. A guard dog will help you, as will learning self-defense. I will assist you with those things. My offer to inform General Moghadam what his steward did still stands if you ever change your mind.”
“She loves children,” Hatshepsut replied. “She was given to me as a gift when I toured the provinces two years ago. Naqmis is known for its monkeys and its people use them for protection. Nefret was trained to guard her master or mistress and I know I can count on her if I am attacked. You would never know by the way she acts most of the time. I think she must have spent her first few months in a family with children.”
She didn’t worry about how Nefret would react when her baby was born. The monkey would probably become his fiercest protector. Tahira she was less sure of. She had sent to Bubastis for a male caracal, hoping that the two of them would mate. The large feline might be more willing to accept a baby if she became a mother herself. Finding homes for the kittens would be no problem, as they would be gifts from the Queen.
As for guards, Hatshepsut nodded. “I can send one of my servants with you and one can pick you up the next time I need a potion.” She smiled wryly. “I can’t send one of my royal guards. A Queen can’t show favor to the priests or priestesses of any one god. The others might withdraw their favor from me.” Surely a priestess would understand that.
It was, she knew, easier to be a priestess than a Queen, but Hatshepsut understood the woman’s concerns. Ever since she had heard that an assassin had been sent to kill her at her own coronation when she was six, she had become a bit paranoid. Now that she was married to Iahotep and carrying the heir to the throne, her paranoia had escalated. Assassinating her would leave Egypt without a successor. Iahotep would not last for long without her. Ambitious men would compete to be Pharaoh, likely plunging her kingdom into civil war. She was always wary when in the city, but she was truly no safer at home.
Do you think I will always be so afraid?”
“Maybe you will be less so when you are certain that your daughter won’t be taken away from you. Priestesses are usually seen as servants to their god or goddess, not as individuals. As you all dress alike, there is less chance that you will be identified. Even learning to defend yourself will not make you completely safe. There will always be somebody who fights better than you.”
The young Queen tilted her head thoughtfully. Nefret left Aneksi and leapt to her mistress’ shoulder. “Being afraid is not necessarily a bad thing. One should always be cautious. A guard dog will help you, as will learning self-defense. I will assist you with those things. My offer to inform General Moghadam what his steward did still stands if you ever change your mind.”
Nafretiri grinned at the picture that suddenly formed in her mind. " I've actually never heard of a monkey being trained to guard. I wonder how it is done? Still, that will probably mean that eventually, she may protect the new prince." Nafretiri watched serenely as Aneksi giggled at the monkey's antics. When Hatshepsut said that she could send only servants, Nafretiri nodded, though the nervousness did not quite leave her countenance. "I understand, Your Majesty. I suppose the priests and priestesses of other gods woould be jealous, wouldn't the?y Still, thank you for even sending servants. I am sure you will choose the best ones for the job." She would have preferred a guard only because they would probably know how to fight better, but she was confident even so that she would be protected. If she had a high opinion of the fighting skills of the queen's guards...well, who wouldn't? After all, didn't the queen and pharaoh deserve the best protection the land had to offer?
She considered for a moment the queen's offer to tell Lord Osorsen about the problem with his steward. "It probably is best he should know," she decided. "It's only that I worry about Meritaten, depending on what his decision of punishment might be. But perhaps he will understand that. Though I am now a priestess, even a servant to a lord is higher than I was, and I have no wish to put asunder what Hathor has brought together between Meritaten and Badru. That might be an offense to my own patron goddess." Nafretiri wasn't really sure, but that was how she saw it. "If you can perhaps find an adequate way to communicate that, I would be most grateful. It is the best I can do. I'm sure it might be the same for you- that trying to please everyone- the nobles and the gods, both at omce- can sometimes be exhausting."
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Nafretiri grinned at the picture that suddenly formed in her mind. " I've actually never heard of a monkey being trained to guard. I wonder how it is done? Still, that will probably mean that eventually, she may protect the new prince." Nafretiri watched serenely as Aneksi giggled at the monkey's antics. When Hatshepsut said that she could send only servants, Nafretiri nodded, though the nervousness did not quite leave her countenance. "I understand, Your Majesty. I suppose the priests and priestesses of other gods woould be jealous, wouldn't the?y Still, thank you for even sending servants. I am sure you will choose the best ones for the job." She would have preferred a guard only because they would probably know how to fight better, but she was confident even so that she would be protected. If she had a high opinion of the fighting skills of the queen's guards...well, who wouldn't? After all, didn't the queen and pharaoh deserve the best protection the land had to offer?
She considered for a moment the queen's offer to tell Lord Osorsen about the problem with his steward. "It probably is best he should know," she decided. "It's only that I worry about Meritaten, depending on what his decision of punishment might be. But perhaps he will understand that. Though I am now a priestess, even a servant to a lord is higher than I was, and I have no wish to put asunder what Hathor has brought together between Meritaten and Badru. That might be an offense to my own patron goddess." Nafretiri wasn't really sure, but that was how she saw it. "If you can perhaps find an adequate way to communicate that, I would be most grateful. It is the best I can do. I'm sure it might be the same for you- that trying to please everyone- the nobles and the gods, both at omce- can sometimes be exhausting."
Nafretiri grinned at the picture that suddenly formed in her mind. " I've actually never heard of a monkey being trained to guard. I wonder how it is done? Still, that will probably mean that eventually, she may protect the new prince." Nafretiri watched serenely as Aneksi giggled at the monkey's antics. When Hatshepsut said that she could send only servants, Nafretiri nodded, though the nervousness did not quite leave her countenance. "I understand, Your Majesty. I suppose the priests and priestesses of other gods woould be jealous, wouldn't the?y Still, thank you for even sending servants. I am sure you will choose the best ones for the job." She would have preferred a guard only because they would probably know how to fight better, but she was confident even so that she would be protected. If she had a high opinion of the fighting skills of the queen's guards...well, who wouldn't? After all, didn't the queen and pharaoh deserve the best protection the land had to offer?
She considered for a moment the queen's offer to tell Lord Osorsen about the problem with his steward. "It probably is best he should know," she decided. "It's only that I worry about Meritaten, depending on what his decision of punishment might be. But perhaps he will understand that. Though I am now a priestess, even a servant to a lord is higher than I was, and I have no wish to put asunder what Hathor has brought together between Meritaten and Badru. That might be an offense to my own patron goddess." Nafretiri wasn't really sure, but that was how she saw it. "If you can perhaps find an adequate way to communicate that, I would be most grateful. It is the best I can do. I'm sure it might be the same for you- that trying to please everyone- the nobles and the gods, both at omce- can sometimes be exhausting."
“I've actually never heard of a monkey being trained to guard. I wonder how it is done? Still, that will probably mean that eventually, she may protect the new prince.”
Hatshepsut’s smile faded slightly. “I hope you never see a monkey attack a person. It isn’t pretty.” She had been given a demonstration in Naqmis so she would know what Nefret had been trained to do. A monkey had assaulted a human shape made of many layers of thick, heavy cloth. It had been extremely vicious, ripping the dummy completely apart. They knew how to use their sharp teeth and claws efficiently and it had been easy to imagine them tearing into human flesh.
“I believe she will appoint herself the prince’s personal protector. Nobody expects a monkey to be capable of much damage, so if somebody tries to harm or kidnap him, they will be unpleasantly surprised.” She had often wondered if she could train Nefret to keep Iahotep away from the baby. Maybe she wouldn’t have to. Animals were sensitive to emotions; if he was in a foul mood, she might not allow him near his own child. He could try to sic his cheetah on her, but monkeys were lighter and more agile than the fastest of the big cats.
The priestess seemed a bit nervous to be entrusted to a mere servant. “The one I will send with you has been trained by the palace guards. Those servants with the potential and desire are taught to fight so that they can defend the palace and its treasures if the guards are needed elsewhere. If they who prove themselves worthy, they can be promoted to guards when more are needed. They are taught just as well as soldiers. You will be safe with one of them.”
Hatshepsut was touched at the woman’s concern for her rapist’s wife and the sacredness of their marriage. Most women would jump at the chance for their attackers to be punished. Some would ask for them to be executed. But this priestess of Hathor wished for neither of those things. She just wanted her daughter to be safe and to please the goddess she served.
“General Moghadam is an honorable and reasonable man. I am sure that something can be worked out that will remove the threat to your daughter without offending Hathor by pulling the couple apart.” It was a tricky situation but she was certain that she and Osorsen could solve it together. The Queen had a few ideas already.
“I'm sure it might be the same for you- that trying to please everyone- the nobles and the gods, both at omce- can sometimes be exhausting.”
Hatshepsut smiled. “I must not only please the nobles and the gods, but also the council, the commoners, foreign dignitaries … and perhaps the scariest of all … my mother. It is indeed exhausting. Be glad you only have to appease one goddess.”
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“I've actually never heard of a monkey being trained to guard. I wonder how it is done? Still, that will probably mean that eventually, she may protect the new prince.”
Hatshepsut’s smile faded slightly. “I hope you never see a monkey attack a person. It isn’t pretty.” She had been given a demonstration in Naqmis so she would know what Nefret had been trained to do. A monkey had assaulted a human shape made of many layers of thick, heavy cloth. It had been extremely vicious, ripping the dummy completely apart. They knew how to use their sharp teeth and claws efficiently and it had been easy to imagine them tearing into human flesh.
“I believe she will appoint herself the prince’s personal protector. Nobody expects a monkey to be capable of much damage, so if somebody tries to harm or kidnap him, they will be unpleasantly surprised.” She had often wondered if she could train Nefret to keep Iahotep away from the baby. Maybe she wouldn’t have to. Animals were sensitive to emotions; if he was in a foul mood, she might not allow him near his own child. He could try to sic his cheetah on her, but monkeys were lighter and more agile than the fastest of the big cats.
The priestess seemed a bit nervous to be entrusted to a mere servant. “The one I will send with you has been trained by the palace guards. Those servants with the potential and desire are taught to fight so that they can defend the palace and its treasures if the guards are needed elsewhere. If they who prove themselves worthy, they can be promoted to guards when more are needed. They are taught just as well as soldiers. You will be safe with one of them.”
Hatshepsut was touched at the woman’s concern for her rapist’s wife and the sacredness of their marriage. Most women would jump at the chance for their attackers to be punished. Some would ask for them to be executed. But this priestess of Hathor wished for neither of those things. She just wanted her daughter to be safe and to please the goddess she served.
“General Moghadam is an honorable and reasonable man. I am sure that something can be worked out that will remove the threat to your daughter without offending Hathor by pulling the couple apart.” It was a tricky situation but she was certain that she and Osorsen could solve it together. The Queen had a few ideas already.
“I'm sure it might be the same for you- that trying to please everyone- the nobles and the gods, both at omce- can sometimes be exhausting.”
Hatshepsut smiled. “I must not only please the nobles and the gods, but also the council, the commoners, foreign dignitaries … and perhaps the scariest of all … my mother. It is indeed exhausting. Be glad you only have to appease one goddess.”
“I've actually never heard of a monkey being trained to guard. I wonder how it is done? Still, that will probably mean that eventually, she may protect the new prince.”
Hatshepsut’s smile faded slightly. “I hope you never see a monkey attack a person. It isn’t pretty.” She had been given a demonstration in Naqmis so she would know what Nefret had been trained to do. A monkey had assaulted a human shape made of many layers of thick, heavy cloth. It had been extremely vicious, ripping the dummy completely apart. They knew how to use their sharp teeth and claws efficiently and it had been easy to imagine them tearing into human flesh.
“I believe she will appoint herself the prince’s personal protector. Nobody expects a monkey to be capable of much damage, so if somebody tries to harm or kidnap him, they will be unpleasantly surprised.” She had often wondered if she could train Nefret to keep Iahotep away from the baby. Maybe she wouldn’t have to. Animals were sensitive to emotions; if he was in a foul mood, she might not allow him near his own child. He could try to sic his cheetah on her, but monkeys were lighter and more agile than the fastest of the big cats.
The priestess seemed a bit nervous to be entrusted to a mere servant. “The one I will send with you has been trained by the palace guards. Those servants with the potential and desire are taught to fight so that they can defend the palace and its treasures if the guards are needed elsewhere. If they who prove themselves worthy, they can be promoted to guards when more are needed. They are taught just as well as soldiers. You will be safe with one of them.”
Hatshepsut was touched at the woman’s concern for her rapist’s wife and the sacredness of their marriage. Most women would jump at the chance for their attackers to be punished. Some would ask for them to be executed. But this priestess of Hathor wished for neither of those things. She just wanted her daughter to be safe and to please the goddess she served.
“General Moghadam is an honorable and reasonable man. I am sure that something can be worked out that will remove the threat to your daughter without offending Hathor by pulling the couple apart.” It was a tricky situation but she was certain that she and Osorsen could solve it together. The Queen had a few ideas already.
“I'm sure it might be the same for you- that trying to please everyone- the nobles and the gods, both at omce- can sometimes be exhausting.”
Hatshepsut smiled. “I must not only please the nobles and the gods, but also the council, the commoners, foreign dignitaries … and perhaps the scariest of all … my mother. It is indeed exhausting. Be glad you only have to appease one goddess.”
Nafretiri relaxed considerably at the idea that some of the servants were trained by the guards if they desired. "That's a wonderful idea. Mother Sekhemu has slaves to guard us, but fearsome as they are, it isn't quite the same, even if other lands do happen to teach different fighting tactics."
She was also encouraged by the fact that the queen seemed to think that her concern for the couple as a whole was valid. Regardless of what Nafretiri had been through, love was love, and to an extent she might have even understood his reasoning, flawed though it was. Therefore, she felt that Hathor's opinion ought to be taken into consideration in this instance, and she was glad the queen seemed to agree.
She smiled sadly and somewhat knowingly herself when the queen mentioned pleasing her mother. "That, I am all too familiar with myself, Your Majesty. I was my mother's only child, and not least because she had a particularly difficult labor, she often told me that she wished I had been a boy. Later in life, pleasing her seemed to become more and more impossible the older I got! She died shortly before I was captured, and I've often wondered if our relationship might have improved had she gotten well. But the gods know best, yes?" Even if the best currently meant more trouble than not, at least Nafr5etiri was spared that particular thorn in her side.
"Though, in my own head, the accusations of not being good enough at what I'm doing continue to resound, but...well, that's why I came here to ask for help, because I can't deal with the situation on my own anymore." She smiled at the queen gratefully.
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Nafretiri relaxed considerably at the idea that some of the servants were trained by the guards if they desired. "That's a wonderful idea. Mother Sekhemu has slaves to guard us, but fearsome as they are, it isn't quite the same, even if other lands do happen to teach different fighting tactics."
She was also encouraged by the fact that the queen seemed to think that her concern for the couple as a whole was valid. Regardless of what Nafretiri had been through, love was love, and to an extent she might have even understood his reasoning, flawed though it was. Therefore, she felt that Hathor's opinion ought to be taken into consideration in this instance, and she was glad the queen seemed to agree.
She smiled sadly and somewhat knowingly herself when the queen mentioned pleasing her mother. "That, I am all too familiar with myself, Your Majesty. I was my mother's only child, and not least because she had a particularly difficult labor, she often told me that she wished I had been a boy. Later in life, pleasing her seemed to become more and more impossible the older I got! She died shortly before I was captured, and I've often wondered if our relationship might have improved had she gotten well. But the gods know best, yes?" Even if the best currently meant more trouble than not, at least Nafr5etiri was spared that particular thorn in her side.
"Though, in my own head, the accusations of not being good enough at what I'm doing continue to resound, but...well, that's why I came here to ask for help, because I can't deal with the situation on my own anymore." She smiled at the queen gratefully.
Nafretiri relaxed considerably at the idea that some of the servants were trained by the guards if they desired. "That's a wonderful idea. Mother Sekhemu has slaves to guard us, but fearsome as they are, it isn't quite the same, even if other lands do happen to teach different fighting tactics."
She was also encouraged by the fact that the queen seemed to think that her concern for the couple as a whole was valid. Regardless of what Nafretiri had been through, love was love, and to an extent she might have even understood his reasoning, flawed though it was. Therefore, she felt that Hathor's opinion ought to be taken into consideration in this instance, and she was glad the queen seemed to agree.
She smiled sadly and somewhat knowingly herself when the queen mentioned pleasing her mother. "That, I am all too familiar with myself, Your Majesty. I was my mother's only child, and not least because she had a particularly difficult labor, she often told me that she wished I had been a boy. Later in life, pleasing her seemed to become more and more impossible the older I got! She died shortly before I was captured, and I've often wondered if our relationship might have improved had she gotten well. But the gods know best, yes?" Even if the best currently meant more trouble than not, at least Nafr5etiri was spared that particular thorn in her side.
"Though, in my own head, the accusations of not being good enough at what I'm doing continue to resound, but...well, that's why I came here to ask for help, because I can't deal with the situation on my own anymore." She smiled at the queen gratefully.
Hatshepsut nodded towards one of her handmaidens, and the woman bowed and backed away toward the golden double doors, Turning toward them, she knocked and a guard opened it and let her out. She would bring one of the combat-trained servants back with her to escort the priestess home.
“My guards are trained in a variety of fighting styles so that they will be able to protect me from foreign attackers as well as those from Egypt. The royal guard is composed of many nationalities who train others in their own traditional techniques.”
The young Queen shrugged. “Or so I have been told. In truth, I can’t tell one style from another. All that matters to me is that they keep me from harm. All rulers have targets on their backs and there have already been a few attempts on my life, including at my coronation when I was six years old. An assassin was hiding in the crowd, but he was stopped before he could carry out his plans.”
The priestess revealed that she’d had a strained relationship with her own mother. Hatshepsut could relate to her story. Her mother had been … and still was … hard on her too. She understood why. Isetheperu wanted her to be the kind of Queen Egypt deserved, and she was very young and needed guidance.
Though she didn’t know the details of this priestess’ childhood, perhaps her mother had just wanted her to make something of herself. She would probably be proud of her becoming a priestess of Hathor. Telling her that she wished she wished she had been a boy was was cruel, though. Isetheperu may have thought that herself, but she had kept those notions from her daughter.
Hatshepsut had no advice to give the woman about not being good enough at what she did, as she herself was insecure, particularly now that she was married to a man who saw her as a child. Iahotep’s view of her made her determined to show him that she was wrong about him, though she had no idea how. Yet. Her beloved Oso could help her as much as he could help her current visitor.
“All will be well,” Hatshepsut reassured her. “You were right to come to me about your situation.”
The doors opened and the servant strode in. He was a tall, muscular man with a kopesh tucked into a plain leather belt over his shendyt. “Your escort has arrived,” Hatshepsut announced. “Thank you for the herbs. They always soothe my queasiness. When I need more, I will send for you.”
And with that, the priestess and her daughter were dismissed.
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Hatshepsut nodded towards one of her handmaidens, and the woman bowed and backed away toward the golden double doors, Turning toward them, she knocked and a guard opened it and let her out. She would bring one of the combat-trained servants back with her to escort the priestess home.
“My guards are trained in a variety of fighting styles so that they will be able to protect me from foreign attackers as well as those from Egypt. The royal guard is composed of many nationalities who train others in their own traditional techniques.”
The young Queen shrugged. “Or so I have been told. In truth, I can’t tell one style from another. All that matters to me is that they keep me from harm. All rulers have targets on their backs and there have already been a few attempts on my life, including at my coronation when I was six years old. An assassin was hiding in the crowd, but he was stopped before he could carry out his plans.”
The priestess revealed that she’d had a strained relationship with her own mother. Hatshepsut could relate to her story. Her mother had been … and still was … hard on her too. She understood why. Isetheperu wanted her to be the kind of Queen Egypt deserved, and she was very young and needed guidance.
Though she didn’t know the details of this priestess’ childhood, perhaps her mother had just wanted her to make something of herself. She would probably be proud of her becoming a priestess of Hathor. Telling her that she wished she wished she had been a boy was was cruel, though. Isetheperu may have thought that herself, but she had kept those notions from her daughter.
Hatshepsut had no advice to give the woman about not being good enough at what she did, as she herself was insecure, particularly now that she was married to a man who saw her as a child. Iahotep’s view of her made her determined to show him that she was wrong about him, though she had no idea how. Yet. Her beloved Oso could help her as much as he could help her current visitor.
“All will be well,” Hatshepsut reassured her. “You were right to come to me about your situation.”
The doors opened and the servant strode in. He was a tall, muscular man with a kopesh tucked into a plain leather belt over his shendyt. “Your escort has arrived,” Hatshepsut announced. “Thank you for the herbs. They always soothe my queasiness. When I need more, I will send for you.”
And with that, the priestess and her daughter were dismissed.
Hatshepsut nodded towards one of her handmaidens, and the woman bowed and backed away toward the golden double doors, Turning toward them, she knocked and a guard opened it and let her out. She would bring one of the combat-trained servants back with her to escort the priestess home.
“My guards are trained in a variety of fighting styles so that they will be able to protect me from foreign attackers as well as those from Egypt. The royal guard is composed of many nationalities who train others in their own traditional techniques.”
The young Queen shrugged. “Or so I have been told. In truth, I can’t tell one style from another. All that matters to me is that they keep me from harm. All rulers have targets on their backs and there have already been a few attempts on my life, including at my coronation when I was six years old. An assassin was hiding in the crowd, but he was stopped before he could carry out his plans.”
The priestess revealed that she’d had a strained relationship with her own mother. Hatshepsut could relate to her story. Her mother had been … and still was … hard on her too. She understood why. Isetheperu wanted her to be the kind of Queen Egypt deserved, and she was very young and needed guidance.
Though she didn’t know the details of this priestess’ childhood, perhaps her mother had just wanted her to make something of herself. She would probably be proud of her becoming a priestess of Hathor. Telling her that she wished she wished she had been a boy was was cruel, though. Isetheperu may have thought that herself, but she had kept those notions from her daughter.
Hatshepsut had no advice to give the woman about not being good enough at what she did, as she herself was insecure, particularly now that she was married to a man who saw her as a child. Iahotep’s view of her made her determined to show him that she was wrong about him, though she had no idea how. Yet. Her beloved Oso could help her as much as he could help her current visitor.
“All will be well,” Hatshepsut reassured her. “You were right to come to me about your situation.”
The doors opened and the servant strode in. He was a tall, muscular man with a kopesh tucked into a plain leather belt over his shendyt. “Your escort has arrived,” Hatshepsut announced. “Thank you for the herbs. They always soothe my queasiness. When I need more, I will send for you.”
And with that, the priestess and her daughter were dismissed.
