Nights of the Round Table by Tanya Huff

Author:Tanya Huff [Huff, Tanya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Publisher: Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.

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"I could not get near to her." Neithhotep sank down on a gilded bench, and began to pull off her court finery. "In the one moment that could have been mine, my feet were trapped in shifting sand and I could only watch, mouth agape, as my husband and the Vizier swept the child away."

"I don't understand why this child is so much more dangerous than the temptress you expected, my queen."

"Then allow me to gift you with the details, Hemon." She all but threw her collar at the slave waiting to take it. Would have thrown it had she not been so tired and it so heavy. "The child is a pawn in this game, her unfortunate fate to be born with beauty and grace and a ba so pure it lights her from within. She is as trusting as an ibis in the reeds. Methethy has probably been searching for one such as she for as long as he has been at the Court of the Pharaoh – one of the right face and form to enchant an old man who needs to be reassured of his physical power, and of the right age and innocence to be used in enchantment."

"Magic," the scribe breathed.

The Great Menes believed in science and had constructed his capital around a massive temple to Ptah. His court welcomed doctors and astronomers, artisans and scribes, but there were no wizards.

Until now.

"Magic," Neithhotep agreed, removing wig and band both in one irritated swoop. "He will use her youth and her purity, he will bind it with the first blood of her body, and he will bring our husband to her when the auguries are right, bring her somewhere hidden from the eyes of Hathor, and he will give the Great Menes a son."

"Your pardon great queen, but is that such a bad thing?"

She stared at the scribe for a moment then shook her head. "For the Pharaoh to have a son? No."

The Pharaoh had, in point of fact, seven sons and twenty-two daughters, but they were not the issue at this time. All seven of his male children had been born of concubines or slaves, not one of his wives had given him a living son although two had died trying.

"It is the way of the having," Neithhotep continued, pulling an offered shawl around her shoulders. "If we ignore, for a moment, the magics; who do you think will control this son when he is born? And when Khepri comes in his own good time to carry the Pharaoh's ba to the underworld, who will hold power in this son's place?"

"The Vizier."

"Indeed. The girl will not be able to stand against him, in fact, she will turn to him for he is all she knows in this strange place. He will wed the son to the mother to gain the sovereignty and will, for all intents and purposes, rule Egypt. Will likely rule in truth the moment the child names him heir."

"But for that to

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