Suzanne Robinson (17 page)

Her improvised club came down on the count’s head before he could finish. Without a sound, Seth crumpled forward. Anqet wasn’t practiced in violence and hadn’t thought out the consequences of her attack. Seth’s body started to fall over the side. Dropping the whip she clutched at him. She managed to hook him under the arms and pull, but his hips and legs slipped down. Although slender, the count was tall and muscled, and Anqet was no match for him. Inexorably, she was dragged along with him until she was bent across the rail with Seth hanging in her arms. It didn’t take long for her strength to give out. She lost one arm, then the other, until she held him only by one wrist. The ship swayed, and he slipped out of her grip into the water.

“Mother of Isis!”

Anqet strained to see Seth’s body floating facedown in the water All thought of freedom vanished. Fear paralyzed her for only a moment. Anqet jumped up on the rail, shouted for help, and plunged into the black water. She landed near Seth, grabbed a handful of hair and dragged him close. He was still, and she listened for breathing. Treading water with Seth’s head held above the surface, Anqet said a fervent prayer that she had not managed to kill him with her stupidity.

Shouts and splashes cut through the night air as Dega and a helmsman swam toward them. With the aid of a rope, all were soon back aboard. Anqet pushed the anxious Dega and several crew members away from Seth’s unmoving body, turned him over on his stomach, and pushed on his back. Nothing happened. Anqet caught her lower lip between her teeth and pushed harder. Seth coughed.

Dega knelt beside her. “Lady, let me help.”

Together they forced the water from Seth’s lungs until, with a wrenching gag, he began to breathe normally. Dega helped her turn the count over Oblivious of everyone else, she pulled Seth into her arms. Anqet searched his face in an effort to assess the damage she’d done. He lay quietly, his head resting on her breast. Dega ordered the crew about their own business. He lifted Seth over his shoulder and carried him into the cabin. Anqet followed.

Dega laid Seth on the bed. He stripped the count, ignoring Anqet, who was so worried about Seth that she had no time to consider that this was the first time she’d seen him nude. She watched his chest with its molded contours and tight hills of muscle, anxious at any gap in the steady rise and fall of that perfect male anatomy. Wrapping his commander in a clean sheet, Dega motioned for Anqet to bring a lamp, then turned Seth’s head to the side. He leaned close to examine a small lump near the back of the skull. Bending near, the equerry listened to Seth’s breathing.

What he heard must have satisfied him, for he straightened
and turned to Anqet. “Tell me why my lord is unconscious and half drowned. I didn’t hear him fall from the ship.”

Anqet set the lamp on the floor She cast an embarrassed glance at Dega. Wet and miserable at the thought of what she had almost done, the last thing she wanted was for Dega to be angry at her for injuring his precious commander.

“You tried to get away again, didn’t you?”

Anqet shivered and nodded.

“But you couldn’t leave him to die.”

Anqet stared at her damp feet. Her head shot up at Dega’s laugh.

“I suppose I can’t blame you,” he said. “I’ve been tempted to crack his skull more than once these past few weeks.” Dega fastened a severe look on her “May I have your promise that you won’t hurt him again?”

“I won’t. I only hit him once.” She hunched her shoulders. “But he slipped out of my arms.”

Dega grinned at her His eyes lowered to her hips and slid away. Anqet blushed. She must look ridiculous in her wet, overlarge gown. Dega muttered something about clothing and rushed out of the cabin. He returned with a bundle that turned out to be her belongings from the palace. She changed while Dega went in search of medicine.

She was combing her hair when Seth stirred. Anqet flew to the bed and took his hand in both of hers. Seth moved his head. She bent over him, uncertain what to do. As she examined his face, Seth’s brows drew together as if he were in pain. Anqet patted his bare shoulder. At the fifth path, Seth’s eyes opened, slowly, as though weighted with lead. Anqet brought her face close to his. At first his expression was blank, but gradually the verdant eyes focused, and Seth smiled at her. She had to lean closer to hear him.

“Beloved,” he said. “Forgive.”

Anqet put a finger to his lips, but he went on.

“There’s something I must tell you.” The words trailed away. He grimaced. “Bareka! I drank too much cheap ale, and it’s given me a demon of a headache.”

“Serves you right,” Dega said. Anqet looked up. Seth’s friend stood over them. He held out a cup full of an amber liquid. “Drink this. It will help the pain.”

Anqet held the cup to Seth’s lips. The count drained the cup and lay back.

“I don’t understand,” he said. His hand shook, and he didn’t quite manage to lift it to his head. “I don’t usually have this trouble. Must have been something in the ale.” Seth blinked at them and yawned. “Dega, my lips are … heavy. What was in that drink? Never mind.” Seth squeezed Anqet’s hand. “Dega, don’t let her out of your sight.”

Making a determined effort to stay awake, the count beckoned to his equerry. “Keep her here, Dega. He said I could tell her Released me from my pledge … of … of silence. Have to tell her the truth.”

Dega put his hand on Seth’s shoulder “Yes, lord. Sleep. She will be here when you wake.”

Seth’s eyes were shut, but he smiled. He drew a deep breath and let it out as though a heavy burden had lifted from him.

“Tell me what?” Anqet asked when it was apparent that the injured one slept.

“It is for Count Seth to speak of, lady,” Dega said. He bowed and left her.

For a long time, Anqet stayed beside Seth and watched him sleep. In rest, his face lost its haughty, taunting expression, and his mouth relaxed into a half smile that spoke of a gentle innocence one dared not trust.

Anqet sighed, exhausted and angry with herself for feeling so protective of this perverse wanton. What did he have to tell her that was so important? He was so anxious to speak to her Seth said he’d been released from a pledge of silence. That could have taken place only since she last saw him. What had happened to make him want to confide in her?

Anqet’s heart pounded in her chest. Seth wanted to tell her the truth about himself. Did she want to hear it? Anqet drew the sheets up under the count’s chin. She
settled on a pallet close to his bed after putting out the lamp. She slept lightly, always alert to any change in Seth’s respiration, any shift in his position. She dreamed of Seth’s eyes glowing at her, and his voice calling her Beloved.

Hauron bowed to the departing guests and watched them drive away from his dead brother’s house. He’d been the eiptome of bereavement. Rahotep’s friend, a priest of Ptah, believed him. He wasn’t worried about Oubainer; the man had the wits of a grasshopper. Lord Menana was different. The boy was shy, but Anqet’s disappearance had brought forth a hidden strain of temerity and distrust that Hauron couldn’t afford to arouse to greater levels than he already had by losing the girl in the first place. He’d have to watch Menana.

The rustle of luxurious cloth signaled the approach of Thanasa. Not bothering to look at the man he’d installed as Nefer’s steward, Hauron walked back into the house. Thanasa followed him to the hall and stopped before him when he sat down. A slave poured wine, but Hauron growled a dismissal. The steward waited in silence while Hauron drank a whole goblet. Running the back of his hand across his lips, Hauron at last looked at the man.

Thanasa bowed. His electrum necklaces swung forward. Bracelets clanked together. Thanasa straightened and put a hand to his chest to still the swing of jewelry. Hauron noted the smooth slickness of the steward’s skin and curled a lip in disdain. Unguents were one of Thanasa’s favorite indulgences.

“Don’t stand there with your knees stuck together like a simpering concubine. What news?”

“There is none, my lord.”

Hauron finished off another goblet of wine.

“It’s been weeks. She has to be somewhere, you leg-spreading hornet. I pay you well, and I’m beginning to think you’re not worth it. That girl nearly made me a eunuch, and while such a fate might not bother you, I nearly died from fear alone. I want her back.”

“But my lord, the men have searched every village between the place where she disappeared and Nefer She’s never been seen.”

“Shut up.”

Hauron took the flagon and lifted it to his lips. Downing its contents failed to wipe memory of the eternity of pain he’d suffered because of his niece. It didn’t help that he had to put on a mask of concern when he wanted to howl his rage. The anger built in him. He could feel it churning in his breast and in his groin. He was in no mood to be subjected to the spectacle of Thanasa’s mincing walk and whimpering voice. If the man wasn’t good at managing rebellious slaves and organizing households, he wouldn’t put up with his prissiness.

“I beg the master’s indulgence,” Thanasa said.

Hauron grunted.

“A few moments ago, I was with the scribes directing the reapportionment of the harvest according to your desires when I noticed the woman Bastis. She was bringing flowers in from the garden, she had one of the most beautiful lotuses I’ve ever seen.” At Hauron’s curse, Thanasa left his elegy to the lotus. “My lord, as I watched the woman, it came to me that she wasn’t worried.”

“What has she to worry about? I haven’t thrown her out, or any of the other useless old ones. Not yet.”

“But lord, you said yourself the woman is like a mother to Lady Anqet. It’s been almost a month. If Bastis doesn’t wail for her mistress, it must be because she knows there is no need.”

Hauron paused in lifting another flagon to his lips. He set it down and perused the bedecked, clever man in front of him. “Send for Nebre and the woman Bastis. Have them brought to the workroom, and get rid of the house slaves for a while. Bring three of your guards.”

It wasn’t hard to make Bastis speak. Hauron had but to ask questions while Thanasa held a white-hot brand close to Nebre’s eyes. The old man’s skin was only singed a bit before the woman broke. Nebre’s sight was unimpaired.
He’d need it when Hauron threw both of them out without even clothing to protect them.

Hauron left the workroom in a fury Thebes was the last place he’d have searched. It was far away, and he would never have known that Anqet had taken refuge there. A pity she hadn’t told the old woman where in the city her former servant lived. Still, finding her wouldn’t be so hard now. Anqet gathered notice as easily as an ostrich grew feathers.

Throwing himself down on a couch in his brother’s old bedchamber, Hauron let his wrath bubble and churn while he drank wine. It grew harder and harder to subdue as he realized how close he was to finding Anqet. He was near revenge, so close. She’d made the obsession worse, the little whore. He’d taken three successive wives to enhance his wealth and his standing and had five concubines to fulfill his pleasure, yet he couldn’t forget the two women who’d denied him.

Gods! For a while he’d been sure he was impotent. He’d sent for three of his women to pleasure him, and it took days for their attentions to take effect. With blurred vision, Hauron looked around him.

It was dark. Someone had lit the lamps and gone away. Three empty flagons lay about the couch on which he reclined. He levered himself to a sitting position, then stood. Shuffling into the corridor, he pushed open the door to the women’s room. They were all asleep And he couldn’t rest for fear of dreaming of pain and Anqet.

“Lazy sluts.”

Hauron swept across the room to the nearest concubine. Grabbing a handful of black hair, he jerked the woman upright. Hauron slapped her, and she began to cry. Hauron dragged her back to his chamber and threw her on his bed. She was naked. Hauron kept his hold on her hair while he tore at his own clothing. Baring his penis, he shoved it inside the woman as she wailed.

Hips pumping, lungs heaving, Hauron rammed inside her and pulled out, shoved in again and withdrew, while he grunted at the woman beneath him.

“This is what I’ll do, Anqet. Do to you. Ram you, pound you until I burst. Use you until I’m purged.” Hauron groaned rhythmically as he came to orgasm and dropped on top of the concubine. The woman whimpered and moved her arms.

“Be still. I’m not going to bother with mounting you again.” He sucked in his breath as he swelled with another erection. Grinding his hips, Hauron let the image of Anqet fill his heart. It would be thus with him—this unending arousal—until he sated himself on the one he couldn’t forget.

The day after her attack on the count, Anqet stood beside Seth in a chariot as he drove down a tree-lined path to his estate at Annu-Rest. The late-afternoon sun cast dappled shadows across their path. Dust billowed under the hooves of the pair of thoroughbreds that trotted before the vehicle.

Anqet had awakened that morning to find Seth missing from the cabin and the galley under sail. Dega had been left in Thebes. She spent the day in Seth’s company. As always, it was an unpredictable and enticing experience.

Overcome with guilt at almost killing the young man, Anqet was surprised to find that Seth remembered nothing of the attack. Dega hadn’t enlightened him, and the count assumed he’d fallen by his own clumsiness.

Seth devoted himself to Anqet throughout the short voyage. He displayed an uncharacteristic shyness and uncertainty around Anqet that both startled and intrigued her. He stood with her at the prow and pointed out ships that passed on their way downriver. Once he spotted one of his own headed north bearing a cargo of Nubian goods: ostrich eggshells and feathers, ebony, ivory, leopard skins, and a dog-faced baboon.

He described his visit to Prince Khai’s tribe far to the south, and the strange circular houses the prince’s people built. Seth’s recounting of a leopard hunt was so vivid that she felt herself with him and the prince as they crouched
in the tall yellow grass. She suffered with him in the heat and flies as he waited to catch sight of the cat.