The Pharaoh's Daughter Read Online Free PDF Page A

of her wig hide her gathering tears. “Yes, my king?”
    â€œYou will do as General Horemheb commands.” His tone was suddenly resigned, the anger gone. Why? What had changed?
    Anippe dared lift her eyes to the god on the throne and saw the same blank expression that shadowed Tut’s face on the day he married Senpa. “Our lives have never been our own, sister. Horemheb has always protected us—me on Egypt’s throne and you, when he adopted you and named you
Anippe
.” He paused, staring hard at Horemheb, and finally nodded what seemed like silent gratitude before returning his attention to Anippe.
    â€œHonored daughter of General Horemheb and beloved sister of the good god King Tut—I proclaim Sebak, commander of the Ramessids, is your husband this day. The royal family will attend the wedding feast at Sebak’s Avaris estate in the Delta upon the completion of the king’s royal Fayum hunt.” Then, leaning forward to address Sebak, Tut’s eyes narrowed, sharpening the sign of Horus. “Commander Sebak, Horemheb’s fears for Anippe may be unfounded, but she is not only his treasure—she is Pharaoh’s beloved sister. Protect her or die.”
    Anippe wanted to scream,
No! I don’t know this man, and I don’t know the Delta!
But she remained silent, an obedient daughter, sister, woman.
    Sebak stepped closer and placed a possessive hand at the small of her back. “It is my honor and pleasure to protect Anippe, great god of the Two Lands. Every Ramessid in the Delta will see that she is safe at Avaris.” His voice rumbled low, and his intimate touch sent a surge of fear through her.
    Anippe knew little of the Delta except that it contained Hebrew slaves, grain fields, and Egypt’s fiercest soldiers—the Ramessids. And Senpa’s baby had died there.
    She peered up at the giant beside her and looked into his warm brown eyes. They sparkled and laughed. Could eyes laugh? Perhaps not, but the lazy grin on his face was infuriating.
    He reached for her hand, cradled it like a fragile glass bead, and placed a tender kiss on her palm.
    Fire raced up her arm. She snatched her hand away, and her breaths came in short, quick gasps. Was it the commander’s nearness or Tut’s rising anger?
    The king glared at his vizier. “General Horemheb left the battlefield because he believed you were a threat to my sister. I’d like to assure him this is untrue, but how can I, when I hear rumors of your conspiracy with Nakhtmin in Nubia?”
    â€œI am as loyal to you as I’ve always been, great and mighty son of Horus,” the vizier protested. “My messages to the commander in Nubia were to arrange my daughter’s marriage. I, like General Horemheb, feared for my daughter’s safety here at Gurob and took steps to safeguard her from those loyal to the general.”
    â€œThose loyal to the general?” Tut’s voice squeaked like a boy becoming a man. “Is no one loyal to King Tut anymore?” His words echoed in the near-empty hall, a reminder that Tut was Amun-Re, god of the sun on earth.
    A shiver crept up Anippe’s spine. Tut had been acting more like Abbi Akhenaten lately—impulsive, easily agitated—all signs of an unbalanced
ma’at.
The seasons, the sun and moon, justice, truth, and relational harmony hinged on the divine equilibrium of the earthly
Lord of Ma’at
seated on Egypt’s throne.
    As Anippe’s concern mounted, Tut breathed deeply, crossed the golden crook and flail against his chest, and stared into the distance. She could almost see him return the balance of ma’at.
    â€œGeneral Horemheb, do you have proof that Vizier Ay has been involved in any treasonous activity?” Tut asked.
    â€œVizier Ay has amassed too much influence in southern Egypt. By marrying his daughter to Commander Nakhtmin, he secures military allegiance with the Nubians in Cush and