Usurper's Rise

the polished marble floors. The palace buzzed with its usual rhythm-servants moving in quiet efficiency, guar

k, lined with deep sapphire embroidery. Gold cuffs encircled her wrists, catching the sunlight with every movement. The weight of the broad

cate golden chains that wove through her dar

h hips, her toned arms a quiet boldness against the delicate image of a royal daughter. Where other women of the court were s

today," Sitra murmured,

I turn them whethe

hat is not alway

a gift and a burden, one that men resented, and women envied. But tod

ainst the smooth stone railing. The city stretched beyond the palace walls-Thebes, her kingdom, her people. The streets below were alive

d to see

, slipping off the elaborate robe until she stood in only a simple linen tunic. From ben

y day, a sha

he servant's passageway, her pulse steady, her mind sharp.

unning from duty. She was

-

of beasts carrying goods along the crowded roads. The pulse of Thebes was

between the vendors shouting their wares, the children darting betwe

and, pretending to examine a

e slowed again," a man m

ook more than half for t

e ceramic vase, the Pharaoh had no

eneral ordered for it to

iced entwined with growing disgust. Before she

for the dagger hidden beneath her clo

i

ing with amusement. She wore the same loose, dark garments that al

"For someone who shouldn't be here

xing slightly. "And y

d a brow.

ound. "You shouldn't stay long. Rahotep's men are s

frowne

ak, she pulled out a sealed parchment, the wax bearing

iya said, "but i

ttling between them. Kiya was no friend, no enem

u want?" Ne

en the time comes

but Neferet had never

eneath her cloak. "Then let's hope I'm

e shadows. "Be careful, Princess, yo

e street had gone still, his eyes locked onto her. Another man whisper

gnit

ret turned sharply, her hea

-

lace, the tens

ncess is

ke wildfire, murmurs growing louder a

pression unclear, though his voice carri

ty without guards, without care, should we not que

ward, her chin lifted. "The Princess is a

ng. "And yet, we have no word of her w

kened, but then-

oug

ned forward, his dark eyes sharp d

said, his tone firm. "Do you

m fell

flick of anger in Rahotep's eye

is place and deep beneath the surface

-

rs, her breath steady, though her heart st

y cloak, stuffing it behind a pillar as she stepped int

h

act, a hand wrapped around her wris

, low a

have yo

s stomac