Free Tiy and the Prince of Egypt by Debbie Dee Page A

and then continued his path toward the class, his conversation directed toward Ramose. Kepi stumbled at his side, so he slowed his long strides to match her smaller gait. Kepi couldn’t look more pleased with herself. She flicked her shining hair behind her shoulders and smirked at Tiy, a smirk that Tiy wanted to slap off her pretty little face.
    Fortunately for Kepi, Tiy didn’t have to. Amenhotep strode up to a couple of boys their age and jabbed their shoulders with his fist. They laughed, happy to receive such casual attention from the prince. And then he did the most wonderful thing. Amenhotep caught Tiy’s gaze and walked over to her, jabbing her shoulder as well. She had never been so happy to be punched in all her life. It didn’t hurt, of course. It was nothing more than a friendly gesture. But it meant she was a buddy, just like his other friends. Kepi scowled and huffed off to her pack of hyena-friends, most likely looking for them to tell her how wonderful she was and how insignificant Tiy was.
    Menkheper cleared his throat to regain the class’s attention. “Welcome back, Prince Amenhotep,” he said. “We are happy for your safe return.”
    “I’m glad to be here,” Amenhotep said. He glanced at Tiy.
    Menkheper bowed and then turned toward the students. “Young ones first. Please line up over here. Draw your bows to your ears.”
    While healing, Tiy enjoyed watching the adorable four- and five-year-olds fumbling with their bows and accidentally sending their arrows into the trees. Nervous servants scurried about to retrieve the errant shafts, their heads ducking every few seconds. Encouraging the students as he explained proper technique, Menkheper urged them to try again. The six- and seven-year-old students were lining up when Amenhotep nudged her arm.
    “Let’s go wait over there,” he said, pointing to a low garden wall.
    Tiy nodded and followed him. Ramose, Petep and a muscular boy joined them as well. They lined themselves along the edge of the wall and dangled their feet above the ground.
    “How was your journey from Akhmim ?” Amenhotep asked her. They sat near the center of the group, their shoulders touching. The muscular boy sat on Tiy’s other side, watching them.
    “Fine ,” Tiy said. “I got a little wet.”
    “Is that what we call near dro wning these days?” he asked with a hint of a grin forming on his lips.
    Tiy’s jaw dropped . “You heard?” She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to believe it.
    He flashed a smile.
    “Word travels fast,” Tiy mumbled.
    “You have no idea. But, I was curious, so I asked Siese what really happened.”
    “And what, may I ask , really happened?” Tiy folded her arms and tried to act perturbed, although she was far from it.
    “He said you jumped in for a swim and got a lit tle carried away.” He was biting his lip now, hiding a laugh.
    “Oh, did he?” Tiy said, suppressing a smile of her own. “Well yes, I was going for a leisurely swim when a giant crocodile rolled me under the water with him. I thought he was just trying to dance, but it turns out he was trying to eat me. So rude. I said thanks, but no thanks, and got back on the barge.”
    A burst of laughter broke from Amenhotep’s mouth. He clamped his lips shut, his eyes sparkling with enjoyment. “How nice of the crocodile to let you go.”
    “Oh he didn’t have much of a choice . I sent my pet hippopotamus after him. Nothing to it.”
    Amenhotep grinned, and they laughed. The muscular boy laughed too. Tiy couldn’t help but enjoy their silliness together. She almost dropped her wooden writing board, wondering why she had even brought it. She wasn’t even paying attention to anything Menkheper was saying. Holding the board in front of her chest, she relaxed a little on it. Did everyone feel so happy and wonderful around Amenhotep?
    They s poke of silliness for the next half hour, giggling back and forth and telling tales of exaggerated adventures. It was the