Sting of the Scorpion by Carole Wilkinson Page B

Right of the Pharaoh,” said the vizier.
    The crowd responded. “Hail Ramose.”
    Not everyone joined in the response this time. Ramose could see his sister and Queen Mutnofret staring at him with tightly closed mouths.
    Tuthmosis climbed back onto the chair and was carried out into the sunlight. Four geese were released symbolising that news of the new pharaoh was to be carried to the four quarters of heaven. The pharaoh himself was to be taken across the river and carried around the walls of the Temple of Amun, so that the people of Thebes could honour him. After that he would have to travel throughout the land so that all Egyptians would know that chaos and disaster had been averted. Egypt had a new pharaoh.

    Ramose lay on the bed in a guestroom in the palace, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. After months of endless waiting, after weeks of wandering about Egypt at a snail’s pace, his world had changed in a matter of hours. He stared up at the bulls’ heads painted on the ceiling. His dream of becoming the pharaoh was over. His half-brother was now king of all Egypt. Keneben, the tutor who had risked his life for him before, now served his sister. He still hadn’t spoken to Hatshepsut, and now he wasn’t sure if he wanted to.
    There was a knock at the door and Vizier Wersu entered. That was another thing he’d been trying to come to terms with. This man, who, since his childhood, Ramose had considered to be his worst enemy, had turned out to be a friend.
    “I have been unable to arrange a meeting with your sister, Your Excellency,” he said, bowing.
    Ramose sat up. “Where is she?”
    “She has left for the women’s palace again. She won’t return until your father’s funeral.”
    “Sit down, Vizier. There are some questions I’d like to ask you.”
    The vizier gathered his robes over one arm and sat down on a stool.
    “What is it you want to know, Highness?”
    “How exactly did you discover that I was still alive?”
    The vizier smiled his crocodile smile. “I have spies all over Egypt. A little gold can be very persuasive. I heard that Keneben had hidden someone in a temple and then I learned that he was secretly arranging a position for an apprentice scribe in the Great Place.”
    “Why didn’t you come and get me back then?”
    “I believed Keneben’s plan was a sound one. You were far safer there than in the palace. I had tried to keep an eye on you, but I did not know that Queen Mutnofret would stoop to murder. If Keneben and your nanny had not taken the precautions they did, you would have been poisoned.”
    “What about when I left the Great Place?”
    “I lost track of you, I am afraid. I had people searching the country, but they couldn’t find you. It wasn’t until I heard news of tomb robbers in Lahun that my spies tracked you down. And then you slipped through their fingers again. Your skills at staying hidden are very impressive.”
    Ramose laughed. “There was no skill involved. I was just blundering around the country getting into trouble at every turn.”
    “Praise Amun, you are safe now.”
    Ramose looked at the vizier. “Why did you go to so much trouble to help me?”
    “I serve the royal family,” said the vizier. “You were the future pharaoh. It was my job to tend to your welfare.”
    “Did you suspect Queen Mutnofret?”
    “No, Highness. I underestimated her. I wasn’t concerned for your life, just your happiness. When your mother died and then your brothers, I could see that these losses affected you more than your sister. I did what I could to make them easier to bear.”
    “I had no idea.”
    “I convinced Pharaoh to delay your military training. I stopped him from taking Keneben to Punt with him. I saw to it that Heria, your nanny, stayed in the palace long after her duties were finished.”
    “It’s hard for me to believe you have been looking out for me all this time. I thought you were my enemy.”
    “It was necessary to be stern.