The Golden Queen

Eight

Eight

AHMOSE was brought back to his chamber so he could rest for the night as he clung to life. It took three guards to carry his muscled body, and I had the honor of bringing his crown. All of the servants became ground statues, and wept miserably as we passed them in the corridors. They gently laid him to rest upon a grand bed of scarlet cushions, and quietly bowed their heads as Ahmose appeared to be in deep slumber.

They started to usher me out the door, but Ahmose awakened and in a soft voice, commanded them to leave me be. After they had gone, I paced furiously in the doorway, silently cursing myself for giving him the anti-venom while all the guards watched. They were now exposed to science, and surely the future would suffer the consequences.

I stopped suddenly to watch Ahmose rest peacefully. The golden framed bed glimmered in the firelight from the alabaster lamps, casting sparkles around him as if he were encased in topaz. I was brooding about everything that had happened, from the guard handing me the dinner platter, to Ahmose's delicate balance between life and death.

He must have noticed my distress. Groaning softly, he stretched his limp hand towards me and called to me in a weak voice. Softly, he whispered my name. I came to him and sunk into the chair by his bedside. He looked at me through heavy lids, his tired eyes struggling to focus on me.

"Your Majesty, do you need something? Should I call for the guards?" I whispered so only he could hear. The guards that lingered near the door watched me with suspicious and angry eyes. They didn't know what to make of me; was I a witch? Could I be trusted? "Perhaps you would rather be with someone of more familiarity? I can send for them, if you would like."

"I want only you," he replied. He lazily raised one of his hands and caressed my cheek. His fingers ghosted over my cheekbone, coming to rest his warm palm against my face. I didn't pull away this time. "Kara...stranger to Egypt, please answer a question that has plagued me since we met. Are you a demon?"

I wasn't surprised-or offended-when he asked me that. The Egyptians didn't have science. And I couldn't blame him if he believed I was. I wasn't even sure myself anymore. After all, I came to be in ancient Egypt as the result of some mysticism.

"I am not a demon," I replied reassuringly. I turned my cheek into the warmth of his strong hand. "And even if I was, I would never harm you, I swear. You cannot believe I would ever do something so frightening...to put a serpent in your dinner platter."

The lines of his mouth relaxed as his smile faded, appearing as if he would faint with exhaustion from even a simple grin. "You are not to blame for this crime that has been committed against me. You tried to save me."

His gentle, unguarded face was that of an angel's; graceful, compassionate, forgiving. Even so close to death, he was dignified.

"You are too lovely to be a demon," he whispered. "You are good and pure, I can see it in your eyes...a pair of blue spheres; it's like gazing into a heavenly sky. But Thutmosis believes I am spellbound, that you have enchanted me. I don't know what to believe, but there is one thing I am certain about. I have found more happiness in my friendship with you than I have ever known in my entire life. I know you didn't plant the asp. You wouldn't harm me."

My heart fluttered, and I glanced at the doorway to ensure it was safe to speak to him. The guards had turned their backs to us, watching the halls as they gripped their ivory tipped spears. I had to tell him about the other guard, and I didn't want them to hear, wondering if they had loyalties to each other. "The guard you assigned to me earlier was the one who gave me the dinner platter. Is it possible he could have a hand in this? Many have become upset over the rebellion in Canaan. Especially Thutmosis..."