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You ve got to stop working so hard, my friend. I m
going to make you get outside and exercise more.
Ramses: The Son of Light 289
Well, she wouldn t send out a search patrol . . .
Don t you know about the invisible connection between
Pharaoh and the Great Royal Wife?
I do now, believe me.
Another thing I ve been wondering about: did you
finally scare off Iset? I thought she would have come run-
ning to see me by now.
Ahmeni hung his head. She . . . we were both guilty.
Of what?
She was suspicious of your mother, too, but she
decided to go public with her criticism.
Send for her.
But we were misled by appearances, she
Send for Iset.
Iset the Fair, who hadn t even done her face, threw her-
self at Ramses feet.
Forgive me, I beg of you!
Her hair undone, she shakily grasped the prince regent s
ankles.
I was sick with worry . . .
Is that any reason to suspect my mother of wrongdoing
and, even worse, to go around spreading slander?
Forgive me. Iset wept.
Ramses lifted her up. Still trembling, she cried on his
shoulder.
Who did you talk to? he asked harshly.
I can t remember. Anyone who d listen. I was beside
myself, I wanted them to go out and search for you.
Unfounded accusations could land you in court, Iset. If
290 Christian Jacq
the verdict is high treason, you ll be sent to prison or
exiled.
Iset the Fair broke out in sobs, clinging desperately to
Ramses.
I ll plead your cause, he told her. I can see you re truly
sorry.
Pharaoh lost no time in taking the helm again. Tuya had
steered a steady course in his absence; high-ranking officials
trusted her to focus on matters at hand, not the power
struggles that wasted so much of most noblemen s time.
When Seti was forced to leave Memphis, he could rest
assured that his wife would never betray him and would
govern with wisdom and lucidity.
Of course, he could have involved Ramses more directly
in government matters, but the king preferred to proceed by
osmosis, transmitting his experience mystically, rather than
sending his son unarmed into the political fray.
Ramses was a person of strength and scope. He had all
the qualities necessary to rule and overcome obstacles of
any nature, but how would he adapt to a pharaoh s over-
whelming solitude? To prepare him, Seti had made the
crown prince travel, both physically and mentally. They still
had a long way to go.
Tuya introduced Nefertari to the king. Awed, the young
woman said not a word, but bowed low. Seti studied her
closely for a few seconds and urged her to carry out her
duties with the utmost care. Directing the Great Royal
Wife s household demanded a firm hand and sealed lips.
Still unable to look up at the Pharaoh, Nefertari withdrew.
Ramses: The Son of Light 291
You were rather hard on her, observed Tuya.
She s very young.
Don t you think she s capable?
She has exceptional gifts.
I found her in the temple, where she wanted to stay for-
ever.
I can understand that. The palace must be a terrible
ordeal for her.
True.
Then why did you bring her here?
I don t quite know. As soon as I saw Nefertari, I sensed
how special she was. The religious life clearly suited her, but
my instincts tell me she has another mission in life. If it
turns out I m wrong, she can go her own way.
Ramses lunched with his mother, bringing Watcher and
introducing the Nubian lion Fighter, now grown to alarming
proportions. As if aware they were honored to be in her pres-
ence, the two pets were on their best behavior. After a meal
prepared by the queen s personal chef, they curled up head to
toe for the ineffable pleasure of a nap in the shade of a palm
tree.
This has been pleasant, Tuya conceded, but I m sure
you ve come for a reason. What is it?
Iset the Fair.
Is your engagement off ?
She s done something very wrong.
How bad can it be?
She slandered the Queen of Egypt.
How so?
292 Christian Jacq
She thought you arranged the king s disappearance and
were to seize the throne.
To Ramses amazement, his mother seemed amused.
Almost every last person at court would have agreed with
her. I was criticized for not sending out a search party, when
all along I knew you and Seti were perfectly safe. For all our
temples and rites, few people understand that psychic com-
munication is possible.
At court . . . will you be bringing charges?
Iset s reaction was nothing unusual.
Doesn t it bother you that everyone was so ungrateful,
so unfair to you?
It s the way of the world. We must only take care not to
run the country that way.
A young woman laid some documents on a low table to
the queen s left, then slipped silently from the room. Her
brief appearance was like sunshine through leafy branches.
Who was that?
Nefertari, the new mistress of my household.
I ve met her before. How did she end up in such an
important position?
Circumstances. She was called to be a priestess in the
temple of Hathor. I picked her out at the induction cere-
mony.
You took her away from the temple?
A harem education is excellent preparation for all kinds
of work.
But she s so young. It s so much responsibility.
You re only seventeen yourself. In the king s eyes, and
mine, what a person is and does are all that matter.
Nefertari s otherworldly beauty had stirred Ramses; her
brief appearance was stamped in his mind like a miracle.
Tell Iset not to worry, Tuya continued. There will be
Ramses: The Son of Light 293
no repercussions. But she must learn not to get so carried
away, or at least to hold her tongue if she can t help it.
forty-three
n ceremonial dress, Ramses paced the landing stage of
I Memphis s main harbor, known as Safe Journey. His
entourage included the mayor, the head of the harbor
patrol, the secretary of state, and an impressive security
force. The fleet of ten Greek boats was due to arrive any
time now.
At first, the coastal patrol had thought it was an attack.
Part of the Egyptian fighting fleet had been dispatched in
answer. But the foreigners had displayed peaceful intentions
and expressed a wish to sail on to Memphis and meet the
Pharaoh.
Under close escort, they came up the Nile and reached
the capital late on a windy morning. Hundreds of curious
onlookers crowded the banks. This was not the time of year
when shipful after shipful of foreign dignitaries came to pay
tribute. However, these imposing vessels were obviously
from some rich land. Had they also come with costly offer-
ings for Seti?
294 Christian Jacq
Patience was not Ramses strong point, and he was afraid
his diplomatic skills were close to nonexistent. Welcoming
this foreign delegation was a chore. Ahmeni had written out
some sort of official greetings, so dull and boring he could
not even recall the first sentence. It made him miss Ahsha
just the man for the job.
The Greek ships had suffered heavy damage and would
need major repairs before heading out to sea again. Some
even had burnt timbers; they must have run into pirates on
their way across the Mediterranean.
The lead ship steered skillfully into harbor, although a
part of its rigging was missing. A gangway was thrown
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