Sphinx's Queen

How happy I was to see the Aten’s bright disk bring the day’s first light! It had never looked so beautiful. I raised my arms and called out a prayer of praise.

 

That morning, as Mahala, Nava, and I approached Thutmose’s apartments, I became aware of a faint tension in the air. Without knowing why, I doubled my pace until I was almost flying through the palace halls. My friends were carrying their instruments and couldn’t hope to keep up with me, and so I was the first to reach the prince’s door. It stood wide open, and the sounds coming from inside were not good to hear: shouting, wailing, the desperate sound of many people running as if from some disaster, scuffling, and uncounted voices calling on the gods for mercy.

 

I crossed the threshold into chaos, dodging the slaves and servants who seemed to be coming from every direction at once. I soon saw that this wasn’t true, and my heart fell as I realized that the source of all that tumult and confusion was the doorway to Thutmose’s bedchamber.

 

“Lady Nefertiti, what are you doing here?” A very disheveled Uni staggered toward me and blocked my way. “You mustn’t stay.”

 

“Think about your words,” I told him as calmly as I could.

 

“Oh! Pardon, pardon me, I should not have said—” He gulped for air. “I meant that you will not want to stay here this morning. My lord Prince Thutmose can see no one. Last evening he complained of a dizzy feeling, and he spoke harshly to the servant in charge of changing the bandages on his leg. He hasn’t acted like that for—for—well, since your visits began. Toward dawn, we heard a crash from his bedchamber and found that he’d tried to get up and walk.”

 

“His ankle hasn’t mended enough for that,” I said. “He knows it. Why did he try such a foolish thing?”

 

“He—he—I think he did not know anything when he made the attempt.”

 

“Sleepwalking?”

 

Uni shook his head. “When we came to pick him up off the floor and settle him on his bed again, his skin felt like fire. His eyes were open, but he didn’t recognize any of us, his loyal servants, and he was babbling. I fetched Pharaoh’s own physician at once. He is with the prince now.” He glanced at the commotion still boiling out of the bedchamber door and sighed. “My lady, there is nothing anyone else can do.”

 

“I don’t know if I can do anything more than the doctor,” I said. “But I will see my friend.”

 

No one stopped me from entering Thutmose’s bedchamber. The room was brightly lit by the daylight streaming down from the high, narrow windows as well as from a grove of lamp stands, all ablaze. A brazier smoldered in one corner, perfuming the air with sweet incense. Slaves carrying water vessels, bowls, and clean linen strips came and went, their eyes wide with apprehension.

 

I saw a tall, dignified man standing at the head of Thutmose’s bed and guessed this must be the doctor. I was glad to see he was not old Master Ptah-Hotep. Bitterly I recalled that other physician. On Thutmose’s orders, he’d tricked me into swallowing a potion that had made it impossible for me to speak in my own defense when I was tried for Ta-Miu’s “death.” I had forgiven Thutmose for the past, but I dearly hoped that old man was no longer practicing the art of healing. A doctor who could be corrupted was no doctor at all.

 

The physician’s keen eyes flashed when he caught sight of me. “You are Lady Nefertiti?” he asked crisply. I nodded. “We have never met, but I have heard you are a very beautiful girl. I see that the gossips are right, for once. Come here. He’s been asking to see you.”

 

“Is he—is he better?” I asked.

 

“Stop wasting the doctor’s time with silly questions, Nefertiti. I can speak for myself.” Thutmose waved at me from his bed and propped himself up on his elbows.

 

Oh, how happy I was to see that provoking grin of his! His face lacked healthy color and his cheeks were a bit sunken, but otherwise he looked like himself. I came close but remained standing at his bedside instead of taking a seat on the edge the way I often did during my morning visits. His hand shot out, closed on my wrist, and pulled me down to my usual place.

 

“You can stop acting as if I’m made of flower petals,” he said. “I had a bad night, that’s all. It was caused by a sudden fever, but the doctor had my attendants wash me with cool water and crushed herbs and now the fever’s gone.”

 

“Almost gone, my prince,” the physician corrected him. “It burns low, like an ember. I will deal with it so that it is completely quenched.”

 

“While you’re at it, do you have any remedies for pain? The place where I cut my leg is hurting more than usual.”

 

“I am told you fell on it last night. You are lucky you did not do additional damage to your broken bones. Does your ankle hurt as well?” He looked pleased when Thutmose shook his head. “Good. That means the broken bones will soon be whole. As for the pain, I will make you a compound of willow bark for that and poppy juice later, if something stronger is needed.”

 

“You should talk to Nefertiti. She’s got experience prescribing poppy juice.” Thutmose’s smirk became a long, loud yawn. He lay back on the bed and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry, Nefertiti. I’m worn out from last night’s fever-dance. I wanted to see you this morning, but I think I’m too tired to appreciate your songs and stories. Come back tomorrow?”

 

“I will,” I said, leaning over to kiss his brow as I rose to go. “I promise.”

 

I found Nava and Mahala waiting for me just inside the door to the prince’s apartments. I explained to them what had happened and they made sympathetic noises.

 

“The doctor said his ankle will soon be healed,” I told them, wanting to keep our minds on good things.

 

As we walked down the hall, Uni came hastening after us, carrying a basket. It was meowing loudly and irritably, in a familiar voice.