Pharaoh's Desire (5 page)

From then on, he had been totally dependent on the royal advisors, who raised him until he could successfully rule on his own. With corruption running rampant in the palace, it was amazing that he had not been killed—ascension to the throne by violence occurred frequently. As a precaution, he was kept sequestered for most of his adolescence.

He soon developed a loathing for the warring tribes that incessantly threatened the stability of the kingdom. As a young man, he surrounded himself with the brightest advisors and the smartest military strategists. He soaked up knowledge like a dry desert receiving its first rain. By age twenty, he had gone to war with eight neighboring tribes. Five years later, he’d doubled the size of the royal coffers, and he’d recovered a vast amount of land that had been stolen from weaker kings.

All his victories were hard won. His father had tried to do the same, and Amonmose felt he carried on his father’s legacy. He hoped his own heir would follow his example, but first he must find a wife. A fact his advisors would not let him forget.

Women were mere playthings to him. He loved their ripe forms, their soft bodies, and their willing dispositions. But they were all fluff and no substance. He’d yet to find one he felt he could regard as his equal.

Amonmose pushed the map aside and poured himself a goblet of wine, made from the grapes of his own vineyard. The sweet liquid felt warm going down his throat.
 
He savored the effects that rippled slowly through his body.

He walked over to his large, bronze mirror and stared into it. Most women would consider him handsome. For certain, he’d had more than his fair share of conquests. The concubines he’d had in the past had stirred his blood, but only briefly.
 
Nevertheless, he must find a wife soon. She would need to be fiercely loyal to him, but she should also have the best interests of Egypt in mind. She must realize he is the link between the people and their gods, and she must believe that when he prospers, Egypt prospers.

He wanted her to understand his duties as the supreme ruler. She would also have to appreciate her role as his queen and know how her actions affected the citizens. And of course, she would have to be attractive. He could not be expected to sire a legitimate heir with a woman who had the face of a goat!

Amonmose swallowed the last of his wine and turned away from the mirror. He would have to devote his time to finding a wife later. Right now, he had business with the Nubian woman. He’d learned that Kama had dismissed all but one of her ladies-in-waiting. She refused to eat any of her food, and the servants reported that she cried herself to sleep each night. Apparently, she preferred to starve herself to death rather than suffer in captivity.

He smirked. Something about her tempestuous nature drove him wild with passion and the need to possess her. Night after night he’d been plagued by her image. He remembered every detail about her, from her sparkling onyx eyes to her luscious body. Even surrounded by his army, she’d tried to hide her fear with her haughty stare and her biting tongue. Kama was a force to reckon with. But he could be just as powerful. He smiled to himself. On the morrow, he would make certain they were reintroduced.

Chapter Three

The next day Dyzet did not visit Kama. Despite her obvious desire to be alone, Kama had grown used to the young girl arriving promptly at sunrise and interrupting her cherished silence with her endless chatter. The room was eerily quiet without her.

Kama surveyed her surroundings. Her eyes rested on the mahogany three-legged table and two matching stools. Dyzet’s Senet game was still there. The other furniture in the room consisted of three chests made of woven reeds, a massive bronze mirror polished to perfection, various wooden lamp stands with oil to light the room, and her large bed. She had to admit, the bed was comfortable. It was piled high with soft pillows and linens for cushioning. Since her arrival, she’d spent most of her time in this room. Perhaps she could sneak unseen from her chambers and see the rest of the palace.

She donned a simple, long white sheath dress but did not bother to belt it at the waist, as was customary. In Kerma, she’d always worn her clothing loose, preferring comfort to style. She glanced briefly at her new sandals lying at the foot of her bed. She would leave them behind. The tough leather rubbed against the arch of her foot, irritating it. Furthermore, she knew she would not step outside the palace walls.

She quietly ventured from the room. To her surprise and relief, no one stood guard. As her bare feet touched the cool tiles of the floor, she felt a sense of trepidation slither through her, as if someone were watching her. She shrugged the feeling off and continued her walk, passing through the endless corridors of the palace. It was like a giant maze. Each hall emptied into another with no rhyme or reason. Her eyes widened in surprise at the opulence. Even the walls were engraved with ivory and gold inlay, depicting scenes of royal life, hunting, and chariot races. Ebony and teak wood sculptures lined the long halls. Ornately carved bronze and gold mirrors flanked her on all sides.

She looked at her reflection in one of the mirrors. She appeared calm and cool. No one would guess that only days before she had fled from a devastating fire, lost most of her family members, and barely escaped being raped by barbaric savages. She felt a rush of sadness at the memories, but no tears came. It was just as well. Tears were no use to her anyway. She had to use her brains and not her emotions to secure her freedom.

She kept walking, determined to explore the rest of the passageways. Gigantic stone torches lit each end, casting a brilliant glow over everything. When she reached the end of the corridor, she saw it opened into a magnificent receiving room filled with rows of marble stools. In the center of the room was a large platform raised several inches off the intricately tiled floor. Just beyond the platform sat a solid gold chair encrusted with precious, colored gemstones. The arms of the chair were shaped like animal limbs, and the ends formed lion’s claws.

She marveled at the exquisite display of turquoise, coral, and onyx. Mesmerized by the strength and power it exuded, she tentatively reached forward and stroked the chair’s hard surface. It was cool to the touch.

This chair could belong to only one person. A sarcastic smirk crossed Kama’s lips. The Pharaoh must be a vainglorious ruler to liken himself to a lion. Either that or a man with a sense of humor. She doubted it was the latter.

“This is where I hold court,” a voice called out behind her. “Are you here to be judged?”

Kama whirled around. Even though he stood in the shadows, she could tell it was the Pharaoh by his masterful stance. He was an impressive figure, draped in a long, blue, pleated tunic and elaborate sandals. A majestic gold headpiece adorned with lapis lazuli and red coral stones covered his head. He wore thick gold bracelets on both arms and a bronze Ankh on his neck. The brilliance of the metal complimented his darkly tanned skin. His handsome features appeared stoic, but his eyes seemed to burn with a wild heat. He did indeed remind her of a lion, fierce and strong.

She felt her hands instinctively drop to her sides. Once steady fingers now trembled in the presence of her captor. Her heart hammered in her chest, as her eyes roamed muscled body. He was the same as she remembered. Tall. Intimidating. Handsome. So, he’d finally come to lay claim to his prize, to show her what her intended place in his kingdom was. That must have been the reason Dyzet had not shown herself today.

She’d both dreaded and anticipated the moment she would come face to face with him again. She’d stewed in her own anger, outraged that he had the audacity to make her his prisoner. She’d prayed to the gods to give her courage and refused all food so she could keep her mind sharp and her hatred strong. Now, she finally had the confrontation she’d been anticipating. Her heart raced with the speed of a thousand chariots. But for some reason, she was not nearly as prepared as she thought she would be. Her head pounded. She wanted to say something, but as her lips parted for air, her lungs suddenly deflated. She took a step back and wavered, woozy. The Pharaoh suddenly blurred before her eyes.
 
She blinked rapidly, trying to control the distorted image. Kama frowned at his furrowed brow and then swooned, crumpling to the ground.

Amonmose’s quick reflexes allowed him to catch Kama before she fell. He heard his own sharp intake of breath loudly as she collapsed against him. He’d never held anything tighter in his life. He stared at the ripe beauty in his arms. Her parted lips beckoned him like a siren. His first thought had been to take her to his chambers, but he decided against it. When she regained consciousness, she would feel more comfortable in her own familiar surroundings. He still remembered what a hellion she was the night he met her. If she knew she was in his private room, she would wake up fighting.

He gathered her in his arms and hastily carried her back to her bedchamber. His loud, booming voice echoed throughout the palace as he called for Latmay, his personal physician. Kama’s body was light as a feather, and he effortlessly carried her to her room and delicately placed her on the soft bed.

As he gently released her from his hold, his palm grazed the soft slope of her buttocks. He felt himself stiffen and then flushed with shame. She was vulnerable, sick perhaps, and he should not take advantage. Still, his breath caught and fingers itched to touch her again.

Amonmose knelt beside the bed and put his ear to Kama’s mouth, making sure she was still breathing. He felt a faint whisper of warm air escape from her lips and sighed in relief.
 
He pulled back, gazing at her, his eyes following the fine lines of her high cheekbones to her sensuous, full lips. On impulse, he reached out and allowed his finger to take the same path. Her flesh was as soft and smooth as a lotus flower. Just looking at her was enough to test the willpower of any man.

Abruptly, Latmay burst through the door. “A thousand pardons, Sire. I came as quickly as I could.” His jaw dropped when he saw the Pharaoh kneeling on the floor beside the woman’s bed. “What fate has befallen her?” he asked.

Amonmose scowled over his shoulder at the physician. “I approached her, and she collapsed.”

Latmay rushed forward and immediately took Kama’s limp wrist in his hand. He pressed the pad of his thumb to her delicate skin, nodding after a few seconds of quiet thought. “I believe she fainted.”

Amonmose let out the breath he had been holding. “Thank the gods. I thought it might be something more serious.”

“I’ll know for certain, once I examine her.
 
Let us give her some space,” Latmay advised. “I will revive her, but she will be disoriented when she comes to.” He cautiously chose his words. “It might be better if…”

Amonmose understood and got up, giving Latmay a look that said they would forget who had been kneeling in whose presence. “I’ll be right outside, awaiting your full report.”

“Yes, Sire.”

As soon as Amonmose left the room, Latmay waved a bitter smelling salt under Kama’s nose. She jerked back to consciousness, and he was startled by the intense pair of dark eyes that fixed on him. “I am Latmay, the Pharaoh’s physician,” he said. “You fainted in the great room.”

“Latmay?” she repeated. “You were the one who tended to my burns.”

“Yes.”

Kama gave him a somber look. “You should have left me to die.”

Latmay stared, shocked, at the woman he had saved. He cleared his throat, and she looked away. “In my opinion, it is better to live in any condition than to give up and die. In any case, I am a man dedicated to saving lives. And someone as lovely as you certainly has a lot to live for.” When she did not answer, he pressed on. “I am told you have not been eating and you do not sleep either. You must eat, or you will never regain your strength.”

Kama looked over at him with a hostile glare.

Latmay gazed back calmly. “I believe the gods are watching over you, Kama. You are strong and resilient. You did not escape fire and tragedy only to starve yourself to death.” He pulled a small vial from his bag. “This will help you sleep,” he said. “Drink it all. I will return later to check on you.”

She took the vial, pulled out the cork and swallowed the contents in one gulp.

“And remember,” he said, “your fasting does you no good. You must eat and learn to adjust to life here.”

Even as he spoke, he could see that Kama had already begun succumbing to the sleeping elixir. She stretched out on the bed and quickly fell into what would probably be a peaceful slumber. Satisfied, Latmay tucked the small pouch of smelling salts back in his bag. He grinned to himself at the thought of this woman fainting at the Pharaoh’s feet. It was not usually the way women threw themselves at him

Latmay checked Kama’s pulse again and found it much stronger now. She would live, even if she did not want to. He stared at her elegant features. With her comely face and young supple body, it was no wonder Amonmose was taken with her. Any man would be.

In his youth, Latmay had been so busy studying medicine, he’d had no time for women. From the time he was seven years old, he could remember being fascinated with healing, and later, he dedicated himself to investigating the mystical powers of plants and other herbs. While most boys his age practiced being soldiers, he busied himself with homemade potions and apothecaries.