Chapter 14

"He wasn't in his room," one servant whispered.

"Or in his wife's room," another added.

"Where do you think his highness spent his..." the discussion came to an abrupt end when the group spotted the queen. They all bowed obediently.

Queen Tuya nodded and continued down the hall.

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The people in the street stared at me as I made my way down the narrow ally. My white clothing was a stark contrast to the dirty clothes of the people who brushed passed me. I gripped the scroll tighter in my hands and pushed onward. No had seen me leave this morning, not even Ramesses, who I had left dead to the world in my bed.

I looked up at the mud brick house; it's aged door that was now in front of me looked like it was only being held in place by sheer will power. I knocked lightly on the door afraid it might fall in.

A small, old woman opened the door. She had a scarf wrapped around her head and no shoes on her cracked feet. I could hear muffled voices from the room inside.

"Hello, how can I help you, my lady?"

I looked down at clothing realizing how I must appear to these people. They had so little, while I had never even known true hunger or cold. Was it not my duty to try and help them?

I held up the scroll in my hands.

"Your petition, I read it and came to see what could be done."

"You read it?" the woman asked eyeing me.

"Yes, me,"

The old woman moved away from the door, as I walked in the small cramped room. There were thin mattresses on the floor and dirty blankets warped around small children. Mothers with sunken cheeks sat next to their children eyeing me uneasily.

"I do the best I can, but I only make so much money selling goods," the old woman explained as I walked around the room looking at the large, dead eyes staring at me. I face in the back caused to take a second look.

The old woman nodded sadly.

"She lost her hand a few months back and was unable to continue her work."

I didn't need her to explain. The memory was still fresh in my mind even after all the months that had passed.

"The hero returns," Adom greeted Ramesses as he walked on the room. "Come, sit, drink, you have earned it."

Ramesses lay down on the rich fabrics that covered the bench, "We still haven't reclaimed all our lands yet. Another war will come." He took the long drink of wine.

"Can't you just enjoy the victory and think of the future tomorrow?" Adom asked.

Ramesses laughed and took another drink, "Perhaps when I have been made into a god after death, I will be able to enjoy all my victories then."

"All?"

"Yes," Ramesses looked at Adom, "I am going to do more than just regain our lands, I am going to expanded our territories and put my mark on every monument along the Nile."

Adom smiled back, "I hope to be by your slide for all of it friend. Speaking of by your side," Adom said, "how is your wife?"

"The baby is due any day now..." Ramesses pauses, "Have you seen Natalie today?"

Adom looked confused, "No, why?"

"No reason... Isetnofret was asking me about her.

Adom looked over at Ramesses... "Was she now?"

It was later than I had thought as I ran through the streets. If someone noticed I was gone, Nabneteru would make sure I was never left alone again.

The sun was setting over the river as I took a short cut along its banks. Something caught my foot, and I feel to the ground. As I raised myself up, I saw the dark eyes staring back at me.

"My my, I didn't expect to see you alone in the streets."

I froze, my words were lost as I recognized Rania's frame.

"But I'm not surprised. You don't have a history of making good decisions."

I stood up backing away from Rania. "I'm not falling for your tricks again," I said.

"It's not you who needs to be worried," she said, "I still need a life for my ritual. And since I couldn't take yours I had to find an alternative source. But don't worry you are still of some use to me."

A chill went up my spine as I realized what she meant.

"Natalie," Ramesses called as I entered the palace, "what's the matter?" he asked when he saw my face.

"Where is Isetnofret?" I asked.

"In her room, she was..." he was cut short when a servant entered. My stomach turned into knots at the servant's words.

"Your highness your wife has been taken to the birthing pavilion."

Ramesses face broke into a smile. "I may have a son by tomorrow. Thank you," he said waving his hand in dismissal.

It's too early, I thought

"I need to go to her," I said.

"You can't. They only allow trained midwives in the pavilion," he put his hands on my shoulders, "What's wrong Natalie?"

You're overreacting, you don't know what Rania was talking about. Everything is going to be ok, I thought. "Its nothing, I just wanted to be there for her."

Ramesses took my hand as he led me deeper into the palace, "Isetnofret is stronger than she looks. She will be ok."

I nodded as Ramesses led me away.

Isetnofret's labor went on for six long hours. Each minute felt like an eternity as I waited with Ramesses for news of the baby. The palace was oddly silent. Not even the birds in the river sang tonight.

Ramesses paced the room. I watched his go back and forth and back and forth.

A woman entered the room. I knew the words before they left her mouth.

"I am sorry your highness, the baby did not survive the birth."

Silence.

That was all I heard. All anyone would here. There would be no cry of life. No small hands to hold. Just silence.

Ramesses just nodded. He didn't look at me, "I should go to my wife."

I nodded and sat there alone with my thoughts. This place with its beautiful art and massive temples held so much uncertainty and covered it up death behind it is a gilded facade. I don't know how much time had passed before Nabneteru appeared next to me. He held my hand pulling me out of my trance.

"There is nothing sadder than the loss of a life not yet lived," he said. Nabneteru looked at me. "You must get some sleep, Natalie. There is nothing you can do."

"It's my fault."

"What is? The baby?" he asked, "No, we have no control over who the gods call home."

"Yes, it is." I paused, "I saw Rania today," I said blankly.

"In the palace," alarm rose in Nabneteru's voice.

"No, in the city." I felt his anger rise a little.

"You know you aren't supposed to leave the palace alone. If Ramesses knew."

"I know."

"Why did you go out there?" Nabneteru asked.

I shook my head, "It doesn't matter now. On my way back, Rania found me. She said she still needed a life because she failed to take mine."

We were silent.

"If I had never come here that baby would be alive," I could feel my voice catch. I swallowed the tears remembering my promise, "I want to help, but I only seem to cause more problems."

Nabneteru pulled me close, "You can't blame yourself."

If I was not to blame then who was? I was the wrinkle in time. The thing that didn't belong.

My dreams were fitful that night. Faces flew by me all calling my name. Why couldn't they just shut up and leave me alone!

I suddenly sat up. The sweat was now cold against my skin.

A figure at on the window ledge. "I couldn't sleep either," Ramesses said.

Both of us remained silent watching the moon crept across the cloudless sky.