“Come back?” she repeated, growing more agitated by the moment. “Where are you going?”
“I have to get something to heal him,” I said, keeping my words calm. “Honey. Bees sometimes make nests in dead trees, and I saw some dead trees earlier today, while you were fishing.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Good luck. I’ll take care of him for you. Come back soon.”
“I’ll try,” I said, taking a small brand from the fire to light my way.
As I walked through the night, backtracking along the path we’d taken next to the irrigation ditch, I was beset by guilty thoughts. Holy Ma’at, forgive me for what I’ve done. Everything I said to Nava was true, but some lies are like scorpions; they hide themselves in the words we choose not to say. But I had to do it, even though I will suffer for this when my heart is judged. If Nava or Amenophis knew what I’m really going to do, they’d move the mountains to stop me.
I don’t know how long I walked before I saw the dots of fire in the distance. Thutmose’s encampment was in sight. I extinguished my makeshift torch and moved on, letting the moon and stars and those campfires guide my ever-more-careful steps.
When I determined I was close enough to risk being seen, I got down on my belly and studied the scene before me. Everywhere I looked, I saw men sleeping on the ground, their gear within easy reach. There were no sentries. Why would there be? Though these soldiers were escorting the crown prince of the Black Land, they did so in the heart of Pharaoh’s realm. Prince Thutmose could sleep safer here than in Thebes, where the royal palace often hummed with the schemes of power-hungry men and women.
Sleep safe, Thutmose, I thought, my eyes on the lone tent that stood some distance away from the common soldiers’ encampment. Sleep safe and sleep deep until I’m gone. O Isis, lend me your magic! Give me the keen eye of your son Horus to let me find what I seek in Thutmose’s tent. And seal his eyes with slumber as heavy as clay until I’m far away. I paused for five heartbeats, gathering my nerve, then crept forward.
The goddess heard my prayer. I was able to work my way silently around the campground where the men slept and slip into the big, square tent. It was almost perfectly dark inside, though my eyes were able to pick out the shape of the field bed where Thutmose lay. It stood directly across the tent from the doorway where I now crouched, waiting. The slow, regular breath of a man enjoying peaceful sleep and pleasant dreams filled my ears. Could he really have no regrets about hunting us so ruthlessly? He’d condemned me to die, and on top of that, he’d tried to destroy me before the lawful sentence could be carried out. He’d never made a secret of how deeply he despised his brother, and he’d probably relish coming up with a merciless punishment to inflict on Amenophis for the crime of helping me. Did none of this trouble his soul?
I wish I knew, I thought, gazing at the dark form resting on the field bed. And if it’s true, I wish there were a way to draw all that venom out of your heart. I don’t like you, but you’re Amenophis’s brother, and he loves you in spite of everything. For his sake, I wish I had the power to heal you, Thutmose.
Once I was convinced that Thutmose was sleeping soundly, I tucked the door cloth a little to one side so that a small spill of light came into the royal tent. It was enough to let me see what I sought: the sturdy shape of a wooden chest set against the tent wall to my left. I moved toward it on hands and knees, my prayers now begging the gods to grant me the skill and luck to open it without making a sound.
If there was any honey to be found in this camp, it would be here, among the prince’s things. This was no formal military expedition—more like a hunting party, traveling light for maximum speed—so there’d be no doctor along to look after the men. That meant no doctor’s kit, but it didn’t mean Thutmose would travel without basic remedies, in case of accident or emergency. He valued his own life too highly for that. A jar of honey and a roll of linen to dress wounds were as basic as could be.
I laid my hands on the lid of the wooden trunk.
“Rrrrrr?”
The musical rumbling of an inquisitive purr took me by surprise. I gasped as my hands touched a warm, furry, living shape. Two luminous, bright green eyes met mine for an instant before the cat perched atop Thutmose’s travel chest leaped right at me. I tumbled backward, holding in my cry of alarm. My small attacker dropped gracefully into my lap and began kneading my legs, purring ever more loudly. Tiny claws pricked my flesh through the thin layer of my shabby dress until I couldn’t take any more. I picked up the cat and set it on the ground before getting back onto my knees to lift the lid of the chest.
Two strong hands shot out from behind me to grab my wrists, and a well-known voice spoke softly in my ear, “What do we have here? A thief?” I was forcibly turned around, my back pushed painfully against the hard edge of the wooden chest. “Who are you … girl? You’re a brave one, daring to rob me. What shall I do with you? Hmm. Maybe I should let my soldiers decide that. Come.” He hauled me to the doorway of his tent and flung back the door cloth. By moonlight and starlight and firelight, I saw Thutmose’s cold, handsome face once more, and he saw mine. If I live to greet endless dawns, I will never forget the cold-blooded, gloating sound of his laughter, low in his throat, as he recognized me.
“Nefertiti.” He pressed his mouth to mine hard enough to erase all doubt: It was a conquest, not a kiss. “Welcome home.”
5