Jewel Of The Nile [COMPLETE]

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Being the heiress was hard work.

In the couple of months after my wedding, I was expected to attend many more offical events and the like. I barely had a moment to myself. Most mornings, I was expected to attend prayers, and then I would have one hour for lessons. Ahmose would have to squeeze in anything he could, as for the rest of the day, Tutankhaten and I would have a full schedule. Whether it be having a luncheon with esteemed guests that turned into our evening meal, attending trials with the Pharaoh and Queen, accompanying them to view something in the city - we would always be busy. Often, as soon as I got back to my bedchamber, I would simply plonk on my bed and fall asleep. I had not even seen Kahmose since the wedding. We were that busy.

We were constantly tossed into the public eye. I suppose it was because if Smenkhkre died suddenly - and without an heir as he now was - and any time soon, we would be handed the kingdom of Egypt. We had to know what we were dealing with from the start. We had to learn.

Today, as I left lessons, I was informed that surprisingly, I had nothing to do. Meritaten and Smenkhkre were attending the execution of all the rebels, and saw fit not to include my brother and I in this occasion. It had taken a few months to round up all the participants in the plot and many interrogations but they had finally all been found and gaoled. And now, they were being executed as traitors for their crimes against their country. 

I must admit, they chose a good day for it...or perhaps a bad day, depending on whose perspective you look at. It was cloudy, and had been raining on and off all day. The wind had a cold aspect to it, making me shiver every time a draft came in. It did not rain often, but when it did, the results were usually much worse than this. The rain often lasted for days and sometimes even developed into storms. 

As today was the first free day I had had in so long, I was at a lost of what to do. Stay for a longer lesson? Go to the garden? See what Tutankhaten was doing? 

Well, it was raining, so I suppose that the garden was ruled out of my options. I knew I could not go see Kahmose; what if they needed me back here? Maybe I should see Tutankhaten. I knew he would be at no lessons either, unless he asked for longer ones like I was considered.

I stopped a servant who was walking past me. "Excuse me, do you know where Prince Tutankhaten is?"

She bowed and proceeded to answer me. "I believe he is in his chambers, my Princess."

I nodded, thanked her, and went to my brother's chambers. I was not often in this section of the palace; why would I be? There was no need to be in the men's wing, nor was there often any need for them to be in the women's wing.

Over the years it had gotten considerably smaller. Even originally, it was small. Only three royal men would inhabit it at the most. After my father died, that number decreased to two. In fact, some of the important court members, such as Ay and Horemheb, even resided in the men's wing as there were plenty of spare rooms.

I knocked on the doors of his chambers so I would not interrupt anything. Perhaps my little brother was doing something important and was busy.

"Enter," he said in his small, commanding voice. It was quite comical, really.

I walked in with a huge smile. "Brother, we have the rest of our day to ourselves! A free day! What should we do?"

Tutankhaten was bent over an incomplete game of senet. "I watched my servants play a game together, but I still do not understand it."

I meandered over to where he was sitting. "Senet? 'Tis easy! Here, let me show you. Choose a colour: brown or blue. Now, you see these three rows? Each row has ten 'houses' on it. You get seven pieces each, and see these four sticks? When you throw the sticks, each side has a different colour. This side, for example is red while the other is white. When you throw it, whatever colour that shows up allocates how many moves you get..."