The Sekhmet Bed Read Online Free PDF Page A

stomach hurt and rumbled. It was well past the dinner hour. Ahmose had eaten nothing all day. She rose, peeked outside Meritamun’s door, spotted a serving woman, and sent her for food. Thank the gods, it wasn’t long before a tray of bread and figs arrived with a cone of soft white cheese and a jug of beer.
     
    The queen arrived as well. Ahmose was stuffing figs into her mouth when Meritamun swept through the door. “You thought to send for food. Excellent. I’ll join you. I haven’t had more than a sip of milk all day.”
     
    Ahmose nodded, blushing and swallowing hard around the half-chewed fig.
     
    “ Quite a day.” Meritamun sighed. She folded a bit of bread, pinched up some cheese and popped it into her mouth with none of her typical courtly grace. “A regular show at court. I suppose that’s why you’ve come to talk to me.”
     
    “ Yes,” Ahmose admitted. “This has to be a mistake.”
     
    “ It’s no mistake, Ahmose.” Meritamun leaned an elbow on the table, rested her forehead against one strong, slender hand. The queen breathed deeply. Ahmose looked at her mother’s swollen eyes and wondered whether she’d weep again for the dead king. But then Meritamun straightened, as resolute as ever, and said, “Nefertari was quite adamant that you should be Thutmose’s Great Royal Wife.”
     
    “ You’ve been planning this since before the Pharaoh died.” It was not a question. There was simply not enough time between Amunhotep’s death and that spectacle in the throne room. Not enough time for Thutmose to find out, and to accept the order of the God’s Wife with as much composure as he showed before the court. No man could have remained so calm amidst so much chaos; not even a general.
     
    Meritamun nodded. She drank beer straight from the jug, then passing it to Ahmose. “I loved your father, but he was a stubborn, stupid man. He simply refused to name an heir after he fell ill. Refused! He thought he’d recover. A man of his age.”
     
    “ He was ill? I didn’t know.”
     
    “ Mm,” Meritamun said, biting a fig in half. She must truly be hungry, to eat with so little poise. Ahmose was still hungry, too, for that matter, in spite of the fear clawing at her belly. The queen chewed, swallowed, then said, “Late in the month of Djehuty he collapsed with a pain in his chest. The physicians made him rest for weeks. When they finally let him out of his bed he couldn’t remain active for more than a few hours. His breath was always short. Nefertari and I knew he was preparing to leave this world. We begged him to name an heir. He wouldn’t. He was certain his health would return.
     
    “ Putting one of his sons on the throne was never an option. Can you imagine, a harem girl’s suckling babe with the Nemes crown on his head? No. Your grandmother and I saw how it would go – see how it will go. The situation with the Hyksos is tenuous. Since your dear grandfather, may he live forever, drove them out of the kingdom they’ve been itching to take Egypt back. A decisive ruler is needed now, one the Hyksos will fear. One for whom Egypt’s soldiers will fight with confidence and pride. Not a baby. We were in despair, Ahmose, I tell you truly. Then Nefertari had the idea of…”
     
    “ Of a common-born soldier?”
     
    “ Of you . I confess I’ve paid less attention to you than I should have over the years, but you are god-chosen; that I know. The gods speak through you. Did you think only the House of Women knew of your gifts? You have a reputation among the court, Ahmose. Oh, yes,” she said, for Ahmose’s mouth had fallen open. “You’ve been bleeding for – how long? – five, six months? A short time only, but word has made its rounds. You have a way with dreams, or so the women say. And omens. How often do you read dreams at the House of Women?”
     
    “ Every fifth day.”
     
    “ You should do it more. You’re so accurate, they say, the nobles’ wives have come to look