KIYA: Rise of a New Dynasty (Kiya Trilogy Book 3) Read online

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  © 2017 Katie Hamstead

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  he doors swung open, banging loudly as they hit the walls. I jumped and looked up from my weaving to see my son march across the entryway of Horemheb’s house. He looked across and saw me, and with a gleam in his eyes called out, “Follow me servant, and quickly.”

  I stood and rushed after him. I came up behind him as he marched through the house and called out, “Horemheb, you old fool! Come out here at once!”

  Horemheb appeared from one of the offices and folded his arms. “Watch your tongue, Tut.”

  Tut walked straight over to him and pushed him backward into the room again. He motioned for me to enter and he shut the door behind us.

  Then he turned and wrapped his arms around me. “Mama, I’ve been dying to see you again!”

  I wrapped my arms around my son and held him tightly. “My Tut, it has been far too long.”

  Tutankhamen was now sixteen years old, and tall and lean like most boys his age. He kept his head shaved, but never bothered to wear a wig or hat. He claimed they slowed him down because they didn’t stay on, but they didn’t stay on because he raced around like a wild thing. I could see his father in his face; he had similar eyes and gentle smile, but he lacked the deformities. I did see myself in him, too. His nose was mine, and he wasn’t as dark-skinned as most Egyptians.

  He kissed my cheek and turned to face Horemheb while keeping his arm around my shoulder. “I have some wonderful news.”

  Horemheb rested his hands on his hips. He was in his late thirties, but his age didn’t seem to have weakened him; he, in fact, looked stronger. His shoulders were broader, his arms and legs thicker, and his eyes firm and steady. “Well boy, go on, speak your mind.”

  Tut grinned and squeezed me tighter. “Ankhe has carried a child into the second half of her pregnancy. It looks like she may finally be able to have a baby. I will have an heir!”

  “Oh Tut, that’s such good news!” I turned to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m happy for you both.”

  “Mama, I wish you could come to the palace. I’m certain if everyone were to discover you were alive, they would—”

  “No, Tut.” Horemheb folded his arms. “No one can know. Do you want to put your mother in danger?”

  “Of course not.” Tut frowned. He pulled away from me and looked across to Horemheb. “But she should come and see Ankhe. She’s a good wife. She is gentle and understanding and I believe she loves me and is loyal to me, like Mama was to my father.”

  Horemheb scowled. “Tut, your mother was an exception, not the rule. She was not born a royal and so never succumbed to the deceitful ways of―”

  “Horemheb, you’re bothering me.” Tut pressed his hands on his hips. “Stop talking.”

  “Tut, have some respect,” I said.

  He looked down at me and kissed my head. “Mama, I love you.”

  I couldn’t help smiling proudly up at him.

  He walked over and looked Horemheb in the eyes as he spoke. “So, how is the family, Mama? How are Hepsati, Itani, Rachel, and the boys? Oh, and of course, how is dear old Malachi?” He rested his hand on Horemheb’s shoulder and smirked at him.

  “Tut,” I said, walking toward him and pulling his hand away as Horemheb scowled across at him. “The family is doing well. They would very much like to see you again, especially the boys. They miss their older brother.”

  He turned to me as he rested his hands on his hips and stuck his chest out to mimic Horemheb. “It’s been quite a while, hasn’t it? I have been very busy up at the palace. There have been some problems with the Hittites, so much so I had to send the Hittite princess back because she threatened to assassinate me. She was a wretched woman anyway. She never smiled. Worst wife ever.”

  He stared at Horemheb until he looked over at him. He then punched him on the shoulder. Horemheb spun and grabbed for him but he leaped back, dodging his grasp. “Too slow, old man!”

  Horemheb charged him, grabbed him firmly around the waist, then lifted him over his shoulder. Tut laughed as he thumped him across the shoulders. I leaned back into the wall as the pair wrestled and broke several items in the room, which caused Horemheb to snap, “Look at what you made me do, you silly boy!”

  Finally, Horemheb got the better of him and Tut yielded. “For an old man, you still fight well, Commander.”

  “I’m not that old,” he grumbled.

  Tut turned his focus back to me. “Mama, tonight I will come visit you. Have the family gathered so I can see them all.”

  I smiled at him excitedly. “I will. They will be very happy to see you.”

  He looked at Horemheb again. “You better be treating my mother well, and paying her a good wage.”

  “Of course I am!” Horemheb folded his arms. “I have been looking after her much longer than you have been around, boy. So don’t start thinking I am―”

  Tut laughed and slapped his back. “You are too easy!”

  Horemheb looked at me and scowled. “Where does he get this from? It was certainly not his father.”

  I shrugged. “He was always headstrong.”

  “Oh, is that what it is?” Horemheb looked him over. “So he gets it from you, Naomi.”

  “I never had an invincibility complex.” I laughed. “That’s all him. I think it’s because his father spoiled him.”

  Tut’s smile faded as he muttered, “I don’t even remember my father.”

  My heart sank at the thought. Akhenaten had loved Tut so deeply and placed all his hopes in him. The thought that Tut was unable to remember him saddened me. But Tut’s smile returned, and he wrapped his arm around Horemheb’s shoulders. “But Horemheb has made a good father figure for me, haven’t you?”

  Horemheb glanced at me. “I promised your mother I would always watch over you, and so I have.”

  I couldn’t help blushing and turning my gaze away from him.

  Tut rushed over to me and held my hands. “Well, Mama, I came to give you my news and inform you of my visit, so now I must go.” He kissed my cheek. “I have a chariot race to win.”

  He reached for the door.

  “Tut, please be careful,” I said, remembering the last chariot race. He had turned the chariot and torn half his skin off, and caused his opponent to injure one of his horses so badly it had to be destroyed.

  Tut beamed. “Mama, you worry too much. I’m Pharaoh, after all. I will be fine.”

  He pulled open the door and marched back through the house.

  I stood and watched him go, twisting my fingers with worry. Horemheb rested his hand on the small of my back as he whispered, “Don’t worry yourself, Naomi.”

  I turned and looked up at him. “He is so reckless. It frightens me.”

&nbs
p; He chuckled. “He is still a boy. He will bounce.”

  I covered my face and groaned. “Don’t say that.”

  Horemheb laughed. “He will be fine. He is against one of the young noblemen who is no more aggressive than a mouse.” He rested his hand on my shoulder. “Why don’t you go home and prepare for his visit tonight?”

  “Yes, that’s a good idea. As long as my employer will allow it.”

  He sighed and shook his head. “That may be hard. He is a cruel taskmaster. He may assign you extra chores if you ask him, so you better just sneak out and hope he doesn’t notice.”

  I giggled. “I might just have to do that.”

  I turned to leave but he caught my arm. I turned back to look up at him and saw a glint of despair in his eyes, but it was gone in a flash. “Naomi, it’s a good thing Ankhe’s pregnancy has finally lasted. With an heir, his life will be in less danger.”

  “I know.” I smiled. “I know how things are in the royal family.”

  He let go of my arm and said softly, “Hurry home, my queen. Your children will be eager to see their brother.”

  I had my one-year-old strapped to my back as I knocked on Itani’s door. She had married a few weeks earlier and now took her younger brothers and sister once a week while I worked. I heard the sounds of Aaron, who was five, and Saul, who was three, begin fighting as Itani opened the door.

  She smiled at me, relieved. “Mama, I’m so glad to see you.”

  She stepped back so I could enter.

  I looked down at the two boys wrestling on the floor, pulling at each other’s curly brown hair. “All right, enough!”

  The two boys jumped at the sound of my voice. Aaron was first to my side. “Mama, Saul is annoying me. He won’t give me my toy back.”

  I looked down at the small carved horse Saul held. “That’s his horse, Aaron. Yours is painted red, remember?” I glanced around the room and saw it sitting in the corner. I pointed to it. “Go pick it up and apologize to your brother.”

  “Thank you.” Itani sighed as Aaron huffed before obeying. “They have not stopped fighting all day. I don’t know how you do it.”

  I touched her hair affectionately. “Sometimes I wonder myself, but I think because Tut was such a handful the rest of you seem easy.”

  She laughed and kissed my one-year-old, Ezra, on the head. “I miss him.”

  “Where are Rachel and Zakkai?” I asked

  “Zakkai went with Nathaniel to help Joshua and Papa, and Rachel was cleaning up after Aaron threw milk over her.”

  Nathaniel was Itani’s husband. He first saw her when she was nine years old, while she helped me in the marketplace during my pregnancy with Aaron. He had been fifteen at the time.

  A few years later, just after she had come of age, he found her at a festival and convinced her to dance with him. Afterward, she had talked to us the whole way home about how he told her she was beautiful and tried to kiss her. Malachi had scowled, and I had laughed.

  A week later, he came to our home and offered a very generous bride price for her, along with three years of service on our farm and Joshua’s. We accepted his offer, but told him to help only Joshua because they struggled with his physical limitations and their three children.

  I turned and stepped out the door. “Rachel, where are you?”

  “Mama?” I heard the six-year-old voice call, and a few moments later, her head appeared around the corner of the house, her long wavy hair bouncing as she ran for me.

  “Good, all are accounted for.” I smiled as I took her hand.

  Itani lifted Ezra onto her hip as I guided Aaron out the door. We walked to our farm, and talked as we went. On the way, we saw Hepsati with her children; and I called her over. She was twenty-one, and every bit like I remembered her mother being when she died. She had long, dark hair that curled at the ends, and was dazzlingly beautiful with her light brown skin and dark eyes. She ushered her children over to join us, and soon we arrived at the house where we sat outside to watch the children play together while we talked.

  “How are you faring, Hepsati?” I asked.

  She sighed. “Poor Joshua still struggles with his wooden leg and crutch. He says it hurts him, but I think his biggest problem is how it affects the way he sees himself. He has been better since Nathaniel began working with him, but he still feels he doesn’t care for us the way he should.”

  “He has been very brave,” I said. “I’m so glad the infections have finally stopped. I was terrified that we would lose him.”

  “As was I.” Hepsati frowned. “But, we have been blessed abundantly. I’m grateful every day that my husband still lives.”

  We fell silent, remembering how their uncle Enoch had not returned from the campaign where Joshua lost his left leg from his knee down. Enoch’s wife Nisa had been devastated by the loss, and with three children, she was beside herself with what to do to survive. Luckily, Tobiah stepped in and took her as a second wife, and cared for her and his brother’s children ever since.

  I noticed four people on the road walking toward us and smiled. Joshua walked with a slight limp between Nathaniel and Malachi, while Zakkai trotted backward in front of them. Suddenly Nathaniel charged Zakkai, and he dodged, but was swept up by Malachi and held upside down. He swung his arms around wildly as Joshua and Nathaniel laughed.

  Hepsati, Itani, and I stood as they approached and greeted them warmly. “I’m glad you’re all here,” I said, wrapping my arm through Malachi’s. “I have good news for you all.”

  “You’re not pregnant again, are you?” Malachi teased.

  “No.” I slapped his chest playfully. “But it appears Tut may finally be giving me a grandchild.” There were excited glances exchanged before I continued, “And he will be visiting us tonight.”

  “Tut is coming here?” Zakkai exclaimed excitedly. “He never comes here anymore!”

  He ran over to his younger siblings and told them of Tut’s impending visit.

  I glanced up at Malachi, who looked concerned.

  “I haven’t seen Tut in over a year,” he muttered.

  I was still pregnant with Ezra when Malachi had tried to see Tut at Horemheb’s estate. When Tut saw Malachi, he exclaimed his name excitedly, which drew Horemheb to us.

  Furious at the sight of Malachi in his house, Horemheb drew his sword. I stood between them as I forced Malachi from the estate, then returned and found myself being scolded by Horemheb for bringing Malachi onto his property and mocking him with Malachi’s presence. He didn’t speak to me for two weeks, and when he finally did talk to me again, he told me Tut would no longer be allowed to visit the farm because of my selfishness. I tried to slap him, but he caught my arm and kissed my hand. That only made me angrier, and I pulled away and refused to talk to him until after I had given birth and returned to work.

  “We should hurry and make sure everything looks perfect!” Itani exclaimed, grabbing Nathaniel’s hand and pulling him into the house.

  “I’ll go get some lettuce,” Joshua said. Hepsati rushed to his side and they walked together to the garden.

  Malachi and I herded the children inside and had the small boys pick up all their toys, while Zakkai fed the fire and Rachel helped me prepare a meal for us all. Once the work had been done, I stirred a pot of vegetable stew while the children sat to play a game, with Itani and Nathaniel as judges.

  Malachi came up behind me and rested his hands on my waist.

  “I’m nervous and excited to see him again,” he whispered, pulling my hair back from my ear. “It’s been so long. Last time when I hadn’t seen him in several months, he came to us, angry with me. I hope he doesn’t hate me again.”

  “He doesn’t,” I answered, touching his hand. “When he asks me about you, he calls you ‘dear old Malachi’.”

  He chuckled. “Old? I am not yet forty! Now my brothers, they are growing old.” I giggled as he kissed my ear. “Oh Naomi, I’m eager to see him and discover how much he has grown, but I do miss the s
mall boy who rode on my shoulders to the fields.”

  I sighed. “Yes, he did grow up much too fast.”

  Malachi’s arms wrapped tighter around me and he whispered in my ear, “When he’s gone and the children are in bed, we should―”

  “Mama!” Rachel screeched.

  I jumped and turned to her. “What is it?”

  “It’s nothing, Mama,” Itani said, grabbing Rachel. “She thinks Zakkai is cheating, but he’s not.”

  “He is!” she wailed in a high-pitched voice, then screamed. Itani grabbed her and held her mouth before slapping her across the rump. She bit Itani’s hand and screamed again.

  I moved to step over, when the door burst open and an Egyptian man grabbed Rachel around the waist and lifted her into the air. Startled by her unexpected assailant, her screaming ended abruptly.

  Tut laughed and tickled her. “You noisy child. This is why I hate sisters.”

  The children rushed at him, grabbing at his arms and skirt.

  “Stop!” He laughed, trying to push them back. His glance met Itani as she stepped over to him. He smiled at her and pulled his hand out of Aaron’s grasp to reach for her. “Itani, come here.”

  She wrapped her arm around his waist and kissed his cheek. “It’s been too long, big brother.”

  “I know! I heard you found yourself a husband.” He glanced around and saw the new face. He nodded to Nathaniel. “Is that him?”

  “Yes, it is.” She motioned to him.

  Nathaniel approached hesitantly and bowed. “Great Pharaoh—”

  “Oh, stop!” Tut grabbed his shoulders to look at him. “How old are you, twenty?”

  “That is correct, my lord.” Nathaniel’s gaze dropped.

  Tut scoffed. “Itani, what is this? He has no courage. We are brothers and he won’t even look me in the eye.”

  “Tut,” I interrupted. “You know you can be rather intimidating.”

  He shoved Nathaniel aside and grinned at me.

  “Mama!” He rushed to me and threw his arms around me. “Oh Mama! Come walk with me, I have so much I wish to talk with you about.”

  “Why don’t you join us for our meal first?” I gestured at the table. “The family would love to spend some time with you.”