Free The Sekhmet Bed by L. M. Ironside

their way.
    “ Yes?” Ahmose said when her cousin stayed silent.
    The plump woman shook her head. “Just…be careful, that’s all.”
    The litter bumped and rocked, raised into the air. Men’s voices called out to one another. They were underway. Ahmose breathed deeply to loosen the stiffness of her neck and shoulders. As confident and splendid as a goddess , she reminded herself.
    “ Be careful of what?”
    Renenet sighed. They traveled in silence for some time. At last Reni said, “I’ve known you and Mutnofret all your lives, dear Ahmose. I know what she’s like. Be careful of her . She’s not happy with her station, no matter what she may tell you. And when Mutnofret is unhappy, the very gods are unhappy. I know she loves you, but I don’t know how strong her anger may be.”
    When they arrived at the palace, Mutnofret’s litter was already in the courtyard, curtains drawn. A servant appeared to help Ahmose to her feet. As she rose, Ahmose caught a flicker of movement from the other litter. A curtain twitched back, and Mutnofret’s eye peeped out. The curtains whipped shut again. A hand emerged to twiddle its fingers in Ahmose’s direction; a greeting, she supposed. Ahmose shrugged. She did not return the wave.
     
    ***
     
    She had arrived early, as it turned out. The magnificent expanse of the great feasting hall was lively with servants. They re-arranged tables, laid bundles of flowers and cones of scented wax here and there. Great bronze braziers were alight at the foot of every pillar, sending streamers of fragrant smoke high into the air to pool like river fog against the painted ceiling.
    She could not stay here, drifting about the hall while the servants prepared her feast. She was about to ask Renenet to stroll with her in the courtyard when she saw a few of her friends from the House of Women, standing together in a corner. The women were gathered in a tight circle, listening to Iryet, whose smiling mouth was half-hidden behind the conspiratorial cup of her hand. Ahmose headed toward them with Renenet in tow, drawn by their merry laughter. It would be good to laugh today.
    Iryet saw her coming and broke off, bowed her head. “Great Lady, you honor us.”
    “ Stop that, Iryet! Don’t go treating me like I’m a goddess’s backside.”
    Iryet looked genuinely confused. “But you’re the queen now, Great Lady.”
    “ And my name is Ahmose. That’s what you’ll all call me. Please. I’m not used to this yet.”
    Iryet threw an arm around Ahmose’s shoulders and pulled her into the circle. Ahmose flushed with pleasure and relief, linking arms with the women.
    “ We were just talking about your husband, Ahmose. Isn’t he fine! He has teeth like a hare, but that can be forgiven with such muscles to make up for it. Ooh, how I’d like to get my hands on him!”
    Tuyu grinned like a cat. “Soldier’s arms. Much better than fat noble’s arms. I hope he likes to visit the House of Women once in a while. I’m first in line.”
     
    “ Oh, but you don’t really want to do that , do you? I mean, I have to, but you can just…avoid it.” Ahmose looked at each woman’s face in turn. Some of them looked startled. Others were clearly amused. “But doesn’t it hurt?”
    Iryet shrugged. “Maybe the first time. It’s not so bad.”
    There was an awkward silence. Ahmose blushed, ashamed. She had intended to look like a confident queen, and instead she had revealed her fears and made herself out to be a terrified child.
    The women glanced about, as if daring one another to speak first. Tuyu opened her mouth, smiling, but blinked as if her thoughts had caught up with her, and shut it again. They must not want to admit they don’t like it. It’s just as Mutnofret said .
    “ Your gown is pretty,” Tuyu said at once, apparently reaching for a change of subject. “The color agrees with your complexion.”
    “ You could use more jewels, though,” said Khamaat, slipping an ivory cuff off her