Magic of the Nile (30 page)

“Sing to me, sing only to me,” Sahure said. “Pretend we’re in the garden back at your temple. Or on the beach along the Nile. Sing what you sang for me on those occasions. I’ll stay in your line of sight the whole time.” He took the cloth sitting under the wine and gently wiped her face, trying to repair the damage to her makeup. “Sing two songs and in case he asks for an encore, have a third one ready. Then sit down and I’ll get you out of the banquet hall as soon as I can.”

Clinging to his sleeve, she took a deep breath. “You promise?”

“I swear, my oath as an officer.” He kissed her forehead. “You’d better warm up your voice.”

After taking another deep drink of the fortifying wine, Tyema stood. She smoothed her dress, closed her eyes and tried to picture her own garden. Experimentally she sang a few notes, which echoed pleasantly in the small room. Before she knew it, she’d sung half of the hymn of the inundation.

“Sounds fine.” Sahure hugged her. “Are you ready?”

She sipped a little more wine, welcoming the warmth, and nodded.
Sobek, please lend me strength.

He took her hand and escorted her back to the large chamber. After Edekh got the crowd’s attention and announced she was ready to sing, a hush fell. Sahure escorted her into the center of the room. Detaching her hand from his, he bowed and walked to sit among the diners, but close to the head table, so she was able to keep him in her peripheral vision as promised. Tyema drew in a deep breath, crossed her arms over her chest and bowed to Pharaoh and the queen. She sang, trying to tell herself she was alone in her own garden, with only the royal couple and Sahure to hear. Her voice was wobbling during the opening verse. Clenching her hand in the fabric of her dress, tapping one toe on the marble floor, she made herself slow down to the appropriate tempo and lost herself in the music. She finished the first song and rushed into the second without stopping, afraid to lose the moment, and was surprised by the applause at the end of the last verse. Realizing she’d closed her eyes at some point, she opened them, focusing on Sahure, whose face bore an encouraging grin. He nodded.

“Lovely, Lady Tyema,” Pharaoh said. “You’ve an exceptional voice.”

“It’s kind of you to say so, Great One,” Tyema answered. Remembering Sahure’s advice, she decided to offer the encore.
After all, my voice is fully warmed up now and the breath moves freely in my chest.
“If it pleases you, I have one more song prepared, a seafaring tune from the Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor.”

Smiling, Pharaoh gestured. “By all means, I’d enjoy hearing it.”

She kept her eyes open this time and gave the rollicking song her all. The audience was clapping along by the time she reached the last verse and as she crossed her arms and bowed in respect again at the end, the applause was thunderous. True to his word, Sahure reappeared at her side and escorted her to her seat as a new troupe of dancers somersaulted and tumbled into the space she’d just occupied.

“Well done,” he whispered as he handed her into her chair. “Do you want to stay after all?”

“Oh please, all I want is to retire to my room and lie down,” she answered, trembling with reaction to the performance.
I’m just glad I survived and didn’t disgrace myself or Sobek.
“Will you take me there?”

“You have to wait until Pharaoh and the queen have left the gathering,” he said. “Hang on, have some more wine. But don’t get tipsy.” He waggled a cautionary finger at her.”I’ll escort you gladly once the evening is done.”

He made his way back to his own companions. Tyema drank wine and accepted congratulations from the women around her and other members of the court who came to pay her compliments. In between accepting praise, she stared at the dancers without seeing them, desperate to escape the crowd and the noise. Her head was pounding. Baufratet sat in her chair scowling, drinking wine as if it were water. Tyema eyed the other woman with misgivings.
I hope she isn’t going to make another scene, now that her plan for my downfall has gone awry.

Unnoticed as he approached her, Edekh tapped her on the shoulder, causing Tyema to startle. “The queen has requested you sing for her in private.”

“Now?” Tyema was confused.

The Chief Scribe pulled her chair away from the table, making it seem he was merely being courteous, subtly forcing her to rise. “Indeed.”

“But I was told not to leave until Pharaoh had departed—”

“You may leave at the queen’s command,” he said with a laugh, taking her elbow. He steered her out a side door, into a long passageway. Queen Ashayet came down the hall, accompanied by her guards, fan bearers, and maids.

Tyema bowed her head as the queen walked up to her. “It will be my pleasure to sing whatever your majesty desires to hear.”

Ashayet laughed and put a gentle finger under Tyema’s chin, lifting her face. “Misery was written all over your expressive face, my dear. I told Pharaoh we needed to let you retire early, in gratitude for your amazing performance,” she said, patting Tyema on the cheek as she might a young daughter. “Do you have a headache?”

Confused, Tyema looked from the scribe to the queen. “Indeed I do but—”

“Your songs were lovely and I hope to hear many more of them while you’re in Thebes, but for tonight, I command you to seek your bed. Edekh, ensure Lady Tyema a safe arrival at her rooms.”

Hand over his heart, he bowed low. “Yes, your majesty.”

Ashayet leaned closer. “I warned Sahure you might find life here in Thebes quite a bit different than the pace you’re used to in Ibis Nome. I think he begins to understand your qualms now. I pray to Isis the two of you can find some solution.” Straightening and stepping away from Tyema, the queen said in a louder voice, “Have the Royal Physician attend our guest with his best remedy for headache.”
 

Edekh bowed again and Ashayet continued on her way, the members of her retinue trailing behind her, a few casting curious or pitying glances at Tyema. Holding her head high despite the pounding in her temples, she ignored them. As the last guard marched away, the Chief Scribe took Tyema’s elbow. “The route to your suite of rooms lies in this direction, my lady.”

“I’ll escort her.” Sahure came striding up.

“As you wish.”

“As Pharaoh commands,” Sahure contradicted.

 
Acknowledging the point with a slight tilt of his head, Edekh said, “I’ll send for the Royal Physician to meet you at her chambers.”

“No, please, I’ll be fine,” Tyema said. “I’ve a potion of my own to take, a recipe of my late grandmother’s. Always effective.”

Nodding, Edekh seemed happy to be relieved of any further duties in this case. “Until tomorrow, then.” He left them, no doubt returning to the banquet.

“You won’t get in trouble, will you? For leaving the dinner?” Tyema asked as Sahure walked with her in the direction of her chambers.

“Let me worry about any consequences,” he said. “So tell me, how did it come about Pharaoh was told you’d sing tonight? Since you obviously didn’t volunteer.”

Hand pressing on her left eyebrow in an attempt to subdue the pain, Tyema stared at the floor. “I only have a suspicion. I can’t very well name names with no evidence. Perhaps there genuinely was a misunderstanding.”

“You pulled it off brilliantly. If someone was hoping to embarrass you, make you a laughingstock or worse, cause you to offend Pharaoh, they failed. He and the queen were highly entertained.”

“Thanks to you.”

“My pleasure,” he said, taking her free hand.

***

Under the influence of her late grandmother’s headache potion, Tyema slept well, dreamlessly. She was actually famished in the morning, sampling a variety of the dishes the steward’s staff brought. Renebti wanted to hear all about the formal dinner of the night before, so Tyema indulged her with a cheerful version of the evening. “And then I had to sing for Pharaoh,” she said.

Renebti’s eyes grew wide. “You never sing for people outside the temple, do you? Only lullabies for the baby and of course songs for Sobek, when he visits.”

“Well, I had no choice last night.” Tyema laughed. She had to admit performing hadn’t been such an ordeal, once she’d started.
 

A rapid knock at the door and Sahure came in, his face set in serious lines that smoothed away as he saw Tyema and Renebti sitting and laughing together. “I’m happy to find you so recovered,” he said to Tyema.

She couldn’t help smiling at him. The world was a wonderful place this morning. “Thank you for all the encouragement last night. I never would have managed to please Pharaoh and the company without you. The evening would have been a disaster.”

“You were taken by surprise, nothing more.” Sahure snagged a piece of fruit. “Are we still going to visit the crocodile today?”
 

“Indeed.” Tyema felt buoyant, cheerful, and optimistic. She was looking forward to this trip.

As before, she traveled in the litter provided by Pharaoh, with attendants and guards, and Sahure trailed her little procession in his chariot, the horses high stepping as if in a parade, the ostrich feathers on their harness rippling in the breeze. Tyema thought they made a fine show and found the idea of being a two person parade through Thebes amusing today.
Am I becoming accustomed to life here? Maybe a bit.

 
Lemertet met them on the steps of the temple.

“It’s good to see you again,” Tyema said as she was handed out of the litter.

“Welcome to our temple.” He bowed. “I trust you’ll find Sobek’s crocodile has made himself at home already.”

“Established dominance, has he?” Sahure climbed the stairs beside Tyema and the priest.

Lamertet beamed with satisfaction at the crocodile’s behavior as if he could take credit for it. “A few small skirmishes with some of the older bulls, yes.”

“But some fighting is to be expected,” Tyema said. “It means he feels at home, in charge.”

“Well, the females seem to find him fascinating.” Lemertet grinned. “Maybe it’s the purple belly. Our breeding program languished a bit under the old bull, but I’m expecting wondrous results this next time, with the addition of Sobek’s gift to the bask.”

As they walked across the grassy lawn to the pond, Tyema was surprised to see how many people were there on an ordinary day. “He apparently draws quite a crowd as well.”

“The offerings have been bountiful, as I’d hoped.” Lemertet all but rubbed his hands together in pleasure. “Right now we’re mostly getting citizens of Thebes, but as word of the gift from Sobek spreads, including the details of the small miracle when he went into the pond wreathed in Sobek’s magic flames, I’m sure we’ll see pilgrims from afar as well. Our temple runs a bustling inn close to the harbor, among other businesses. If a pilgrim stays at our inn, he or she can receive an additional blessed amulet at the temple.”

Tyema seized upon the opening to discuss business and soon was deep into the details of what other opportunities the priests in Thebes had explored, to bring more funds into the coffers of Sobek. Some, like the inn, were quite unique. At first Lemertet seemed only too happy to boast of what his temple had accomplished, but then Tyema felt he became a bit distant as her questions continued and grew more detailed. “I’m sorry,” she said with a laugh, “But it’s so rare for me to get an opportunity to talk business with someone who understands the workings of a temple. I’m afraid I’m boring you.”

“Not at all,” Lemertet answered, but his tone was cool. “I can fetch our chief scribe if you need to know more specifics of the sums and accounts.”

“Well, I’ve been watching your crocodile while the two of you explored ways to increase temple revenue,” Sahure said, breaking the tension of the moment. “He’s doing nothing, as far as I can tell.” He pointed to the small center island in the pond, which held the intricately carved statue of Sobek in full crocodile form.

Sure enough, the crocodile from Ibis Nome was sprawled across half the island’s surface, basking in the sun, for all the world as if he was sound asleep. Tyema wasn’t fooled. “He’s doing what he’s supposed to do, to lure unwary prey close enough to kill.” She stared at him, a bit sad the animal made no acknowledgment of her presence, but he was being true to the cold nature of his kind. “He seems healthy.”

“The purple color on his belly is the talk of Thebes, even as you predicted,” Lemertet said.

“My crocodile keepers will be pleased to hear all is well. We got a bit attached to this one.” Tyema realized some of the bystanders were pointing at her and whispering.

Sahure followed her line of sight and stepped closer, taking her elbow. “I’m afraid you’re nearly as famous as your crocodile, my lady.”

“A novelty in Thebes, both of you.” Lemertet’s comment wasn’t entirely complimentary. “Shall we go inside? You did say you’d like to see some of the interior features when you visited us again.”

“I’d love to. I remember you mentioned having some truly outstanding murals.” Tyema was happy to leave the pond area, now she knew her duty was fully discharged. Being an object of public curiosity was always a difficult thing for her to bear. Sahure’s presence was comforting. “I’d like to meet your priestesses today, if I could.”

Lemertet stumbled. “Priestesses?”

“It’s just, I’d enjoy comparing notes with some of the female celebrants,” she said. “If any are available today of course.”