"I have made arrangements for you to visit the village in three days time."
"What for?" Atem asked, lounging on a couch watching the birds fly through the clear blue sky. He closed his eyes, listening to the waves beat against the side of the ship.
"Just a public appearance. To get the people used to seeing you."
"Alright," he responded lazily. He didn't want anything to trouble him right now.
"By the way, you might want to do something about your slave girl before she falls into the Nile."
Atem looked around abruptly, alarmed to see Nefret hanging over the edge of the ship. Despite her apparently perilous situation, he couldn't help but notice fleetingly her round backside sticking up into the air.
"Nefret, be careful!" he said, sitting up. She turned around, a smile on her face.
"Do not worry. I was just talking with the fishermen."
"Well be careful. The crocodiles are dangerous in this area."
"I do not fear them," Nefret said, turning back to face the river. "They tend to leave the fishermen alone this time of day."
Atem watched as Nefret turned around again and began chatting with some fisherman out of his view. He leaned back down on the couch, content to let her continue. But he kept watching her out of the corner of his eye.
Soon Atem began to notice a rising level of noise coming from Nefret's side of the boat. She was still leaning over the edge of the boat, but now had a pile of assorted treasures lying beside her, everything from fishbone combs to exotic fruits.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Atem stood and walked over to the edge of the boat, looking over the side. To his amazement, the water all around the boat was swarming with small fishing vessels, all crowding close to the keel of the royal vessel.
"What's all this?" he asked, looking around at the gathered people, all holding up trinkets towards him.
"Your people are bringing you gifts to celebrate your birthday, Prince," Nefret said, taking a melon from a man and giving it to Atem happily. Atem took it awkwardly, and set it with the other goods next to Nefret.
"Thank you sir," he said, nodding at the fisherman, who beamed, and quickly moved out of the way as more fishermen came closer to the boat, holding out gifts.
As they neared the outskirts of the village, the pile had become enormous, standing a foot tall with a three-foot diameter. The crowd had finally started thinning, when an elderly man pulled his boat up beside the royal vessel, his son, who was no more than five years old, sitting in the bow.
"My lady!" the man called, looking up at Nefret. She turned back from the pile, where she had been depositing an exotic bird feather, and looked upon the man with a smile.
"My lady," he repeated, bowing his head. "My son Hoten has a gift for you."
The little boy looked up at Nefret shyly, before holding out a pure white lily towards her. Eyes shinning, she bent down, but was too far away to reach the flower. The old man picked up his son, and put him on his shoulders, so he was now level with the deck of the royal boat. He held out the flower once more, and Nefret took it, her face shinning as she looked at the boy Hoten.
"Thank you Hoten," she said softly, clasping the flower to her chest. She leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the forehead. The boy turned bright red, and looked away shyly as his father took him off his shoulders.
Nefret stood straight again, looking down at the father and son with a warm smile, which faded a moment later. She looked around quickly as she felt the lily removed from her hand. Her eyes fell on Prince Atem, who smiled at her, reaching up and gently moving her hair behind her ear. He then placed the lily in her hair, where it shown radiantly in the Egyptian sun as it contrasted with her dark hair.
Instantly, Nefret's smile returned. It was not the happy child's smile she had worn before, but a much deeper, womanly smile. Its brilliance caught the prince off guard, and he could not take his eyes from her perfect features.
The moment ended, however, as a great clanking sound announced Sekhmet had found a toy to play with among the prince's gifts.
"Sekhmet! No! Stop it!" Nefret said exasperatedly, hurrying over to rescue a rather large melon from the enthusiastic lion cub. Atem snapped out of his reverie, and watched the girl wrestling the melon from Sekhmet. He turned back towards the river, and looked down at the pair in the boat.
"Thank you," he said quietly, nodding his head towards them. They both bowed as they were left behind, the larger vessel catching a current as it left the village. Atem's gaze met his father's briefly, and he knew without asking that his father wanted to have a serious chat with him, alone. Choosing to ignore the inevitable for the present, Atem instead went to round up the feisty lion cub and her mistress, who were causing trouble for the captain and his crew.
"Atem, as soon as we get back to the palace, I would like a word with you."
Atem watched his father glide past him as he exited the boat. The Pharaoh didn't look back, but simply mounted his waiting steed and road off towards the palace. Atem thought he knew what his father wanted to discuss, but ignored it as he waited for Nefret, who was attempting to wrestle the lion Sekhmet out from under his couch. After many long minutes of coaxing, the cub finally came out, but did not like it when her mistress picked her up.
Nefret quickly put the irritable beast down once she reached the sand, and Sekhmet scampered away, pouncing on a rock that had moments before been the roost for a colorful bird.
"I am sorry she ate your beautiful pillow," Nefret said sadly, turning to watch the cub as she stood beside the prince's horse.
"Do not worry, I did not much like it anyway," Atem responded with a grin, hoisting her up onto the horse with ease before mounting himself. They began the short ride to the palace, Nefret again trying to remain as far from the horse's head as possible, and the lion cub prancing around the mare's hooves. Atem thought about what a strange group they must look as they broke off from the main group and began riding along the bank of the Nile.
"Where are we going?" Nefret asked when she noticed. Atem smiled, taking her hands in his, and handing her the reigns. Immediately, Nefret stiffened, looking back at him with fearful eyes.
"It's time you learned to ride a horse," Atem said in response to her unasked question.
"But, I can't…" she said, trailing off in a small voice.
"Yes you can. It is not hard. And I am with you every step of the way."
"Thank you for the lesson," Nefret said shyly as Atem handed off his horse to a waiting servant.
"You are most welcome," he responded warmly, nudging the lion cub with his foot as she attempted to bite his sandal. "Now, I must go see my father before I retire. Do you think you can find the room by yourself?"
"I-I think so," Nefret said slowly. "Good night, Atem."
"Good night Nefret," he replied, watching her carry the lion cub up the front steps. After a moment, he followed, but turned left where she had turned right, and followed the hallway to a set of enormous gold doors. He knocked, dreading what he knew waited on the other side. As he heard a voice command him to enter, he took a deep breath, before opening the doors.
"Atem, I think you know why I asked you to speak to me."
"No, father, I do not." Atem in fact new exactly why he was there, but he wasn't going to make it easy for the Pharaoh.
"My son," he said with a sigh, indicating for Atem to follow him out onto the balcony. "You are my only son, and the heir to throne of the world's greatest empire. As a father, I want you to be happy, but as Pharaoh, I need you to be prepared to do what is best for the kingdom. Do you understand me?"
"I am afraid I don't follow," Atem said. He knew it would only be a matter of time before his father grew tired of him playing dumb, but he was going to keep it up anyway.
"Atem," the Pharaoh said, his voice getting stronger, meaning he was losing his patience. "As Pharaoh, you will have to marry someone of royal lineage. It has been the custom for countless generations."
"I do not see the relevance-"
"Enough!" barked the Pharaoh, causing Atem to fall silent. "You are not going to make a mockery of me. This, Nefret, has somehow managed to enchant you, like she did that cat. Don't deny it!" he roared as Atem opened his mouth. "I saw how you looked at her today. She is a slave girl! I am warning you, get rid of her before you get hurt. Your future does not include her. End it now before it is too late."
Atem remained silent, watching his father fume. He had known this was coming, but it still hurt to hear his father say it. Nefret couldn't stay. As much as he wanted her to, it couldn't be.
"Son," the Pharaoh said softly, having calmed down considerably after his outburst. "I wish I could help you through this, but it is something you must do yourself. I know it hurts, but it is for the best."
Atem lay awake long after midnight, pondering his situation. He knew his father spoke the truth. No one in the royal court would allow the Pharaoh to marry someone who had no royal blood. Marry. He knew he would have to marry someone, but the thought had never bothered him before now. Now that he had Nefret. His father was right. There was no denying his feelings for her. She'd been in his home two days and she'd already stolen his heart.
Glancing over, Atem saw her sleeping outline. Sekhmet lay at her feet, a quiet form that gentle rose and fell with her breathing. He'd come to love them both in their short time together. He had met princesses before, and they were all alike. None could compare with the merchant girl and her cat. Even if she left, Atem wasn't sure he would be able to marry anyway. After her, any other girl would seem so plain. No matter how many jewels or fine robes she wore, any woman he would be presented with after this would be just an empty shell.