away to get it, sitting under his sheet and waiting, he clearly saw those strong little fingers controlling the recalcitrant bird, the downturned mouth widen in a smile of great sweetness, the big eyes light up in a flash of anger at once subdued.
Tetiankh returned promptly, and as Huy downed the opium, he found himself hoping that Yuya would allow her to come to him for a Seeing. He wanted a glimpse into her future.
4
BEFORE HUY HAD EVEN OPENED HIS EYES the following morning, he could sense a change beyond the walls of his apartment. An air of muted excitement drifted into his bedchamber. When Tetiankh placed the tray of water, fruit, and bread on the table beside the couch and went to raise the hanging on the window, Huy saw that it was still early. The sky was only just beginning to flush pink with the dawn.
“I apologize for rousing you at this time, Master,” Tetiankh said, “but you are required to present yourself at His Majesty’s apartments as soon as you are ready. Chief Steward Nubti respectfully asks that you take no more than two hours for your feeding and ablutions.”
Huy sat up, reaching for the vial of poppy beside the food and welcoming the familiar taste of its bitterness. “I suppose the King will be greeting his uncle informally before the public celebration of the Prince’s return. What are the servants saying about it, Tetiankh?” He drank the water and began to pull the warm bread apart without much appetite. The poppy had set up a dull ache in his stomach, but he forced himself to eat, knowing that he needed sustenance against the demands of what would surely be an exhausting day. Like all the others since I left Hut-herib , he reflected, and pushed the invitation to self-pity away.
Tetiankh was opening Huy’s tiring chests, methodically setting out linen and jewels. “They are curious, of course. Some of them remember the Prince before his exile. Many are behaving like good servants, refusing to gossip, but others whisper that the King has put himself in danger by allowing a contender for the Horus Throne to return to Egypt.” He straightened, frowning down at the pair of ornately decorated sandals in his grasp. “I spoke briefly with Pa-shed yesterday. He’s looking forward to taking up his old position as chief steward to the Prince, who had already sent a formal request on the matter to His Majesty. It seemed to Pa-shed and also to me that all speculation is vain at present anyway. Master, if you wear these sandals you’ll need the moonstone earrings and plenty of gold on your wrists to offset their simplicity.”
Huy told him to choose whatever he felt would be appropriate, and forced himself to swallow a fresh date. Its sweetness revolted him.
By the time he returned to his bedchamber from the crowded bathhouse with Tetiankh, his stomach had ceased to burn and his head was clear. Absently he gazed at his reflection in the small copper mirror propped behind the litter on his cosmetics table while the body servant kohled his eyes and combed and braided his oiled hair. His last encounter with Prince Amunhotep had been rife with his, Huy’s, misery and guilt over failing to expose the younger Prince Thothmes’ sphinx dream as a blatant fabrication designed to advance his wholly spurious claim to the throne. Prince Amunhotep had been far more gentle with Huy than he deserved. Those negative emotions came back to Huy as Tetiankh fastened his thick rope of hair with a narrow strip of leather and a golden frog ornament.
“The gold-bordered kilt, I think, Master, and the green turquoise circlet for your head.” Huy, fighting the vision of his cowardly self, bit back an impatient retort. Tetiankh’s deft hands dressed him, put on him his jewellery and his sandals, pressed perfumed oil onto his neck, arms, and chest, and Huy was assailed by a sudden and infantile desire to get back onto his couch and bury himself in his sheet.
“Tell Paneb to pick up his palette and meet me in
Tetiankh returned promptly, and as Huy downed the opium, he found himself hoping that Yuya would allow her to come to him for a Seeing. He wanted a glimpse into her future.
4
BEFORE HUY HAD EVEN OPENED HIS EYES the following morning, he could sense a change beyond the walls of his apartment. An air of muted excitement drifted into his bedchamber. When Tetiankh placed the tray of water, fruit, and bread on the table beside the couch and went to raise the hanging on the window, Huy saw that it was still early. The sky was only just beginning to flush pink with the dawn.
“I apologize for rousing you at this time, Master,” Tetiankh said, “but you are required to present yourself at His Majesty’s apartments as soon as you are ready. Chief Steward Nubti respectfully asks that you take no more than two hours for your feeding and ablutions.”
Huy sat up, reaching for the vial of poppy beside the food and welcoming the familiar taste of its bitterness. “I suppose the King will be greeting his uncle informally before the public celebration of the Prince’s return. What are the servants saying about it, Tetiankh?” He drank the water and began to pull the warm bread apart without much appetite. The poppy had set up a dull ache in his stomach, but he forced himself to eat, knowing that he needed sustenance against the demands of what would surely be an exhausting day. Like all the others since I left Hut-herib , he reflected, and pushed the invitation to self-pity away.
Tetiankh was opening Huy’s tiring chests, methodically setting out linen and jewels. “They are curious, of course. Some of them remember the Prince before his exile. Many are behaving like good servants, refusing to gossip, but others whisper that the King has put himself in danger by allowing a contender for the Horus Throne to return to Egypt.” He straightened, frowning down at the pair of ornately decorated sandals in his grasp. “I spoke briefly with Pa-shed yesterday. He’s looking forward to taking up his old position as chief steward to the Prince, who had already sent a formal request on the matter to His Majesty. It seemed to Pa-shed and also to me that all speculation is vain at present anyway. Master, if you wear these sandals you’ll need the moonstone earrings and plenty of gold on your wrists to offset their simplicity.”
Huy told him to choose whatever he felt would be appropriate, and forced himself to swallow a fresh date. Its sweetness revolted him.
By the time he returned to his bedchamber from the crowded bathhouse with Tetiankh, his stomach had ceased to burn and his head was clear. Absently he gazed at his reflection in the small copper mirror propped behind the litter on his cosmetics table while the body servant kohled his eyes and combed and braided his oiled hair. His last encounter with Prince Amunhotep had been rife with his, Huy’s, misery and guilt over failing to expose the younger Prince Thothmes’ sphinx dream as a blatant fabrication designed to advance his wholly spurious claim to the throne. Prince Amunhotep had been far more gentle with Huy than he deserved. Those negative emotions came back to Huy as Tetiankh fastened his thick rope of hair with a narrow strip of leather and a golden frog ornament.
“The gold-bordered kilt, I think, Master, and the green turquoise circlet for your head.” Huy, fighting the vision of his cowardly self, bit back an impatient retort. Tetiankh’s deft hands dressed him, put on him his jewellery and his sandals, pressed perfumed oil onto his neck, arms, and chest, and Huy was assailed by a sudden and infantile desire to get back onto his couch and bury himself in his sheet.
“Tell Paneb to pick up his palette and meet me in
Similar Books
