The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran Page B

the priestess's hand beckoned to me. "Come. She is willing to see you."
    She let me pass into Woserit's private chamber, and as I entered the room I tried to hide my shock. Three chairs had been placed around a lit brazier sunk into the tiled floor, and one of them was taken by Paser. Instead of wearing his hair in a severe scholar's knot, it was now tied back in a lapis band. In the firelight, I could see a cartouche hung at his neck, engraved with Ramesses's full title in gold.
    "You may close the door, Aloli." The priestess did as she was told, and Woserit pointed to a seat across from her. "Nefertari," she began when I was seated, "I am sure you are surprised to see your tutor here, especially as he has now become vizier."
    I looked at Paser to see how being part of Pharaoh's court had changed him. Wearing a vizier's tunic made him seem somehow different.
    "Paser has many new duties in the palace now," Woserit explained, "but he has agreed to continue your education. Every morning, before he reports to the Audience Chamber, he will come to the temple to tutor you in the languages that you have studied with him."
    "At sunrise?" I exclaimed.
    "And earlier." Paser nodded.
    "He knows you will not disappoint him," Woserit said. "You have mastered seven languages in the edduba. This is what will separate you from Iset and make you invaluable."
    I frowned. "To Ramesses?"
    "A queen's job is more than bearing children," Paser replied. "It is speaking with the people, meeting with viziers, and greeting dignitaries who come into the palace. With a command of Shasu, Hittite, Nubian, who will be best suited for entertaining princes?"
    "Of course, Henuttawy will be whispering into Pharaoh Seti's ear," Woserit warned. "And Iset is beautiful. Courtiers already adore her, and with Henuttawy at her side they are a perfect pair. Entertaining and pretty . . . But pretty doesn't mean useful."
    "And I am to be the useful princess?" I asked, hurt.
    "Hopefully, you will be more than that," Woserit replied. "It will take much more to make you Chief Wife when everyone is looking to Iset. This means that every morning, at sunrise, you will meet Vizier Paser in this room."
    " Your room?"
    "Yes, and you will come prepared. I hope never to hear that you have been careless or idle in your work. Paser has told me that there have been times when you did not attend classes in the edduba. That will never happen here. Once you are finished with your lessons, Aloli will meet you outside these doors and instruct you in the morning's ritual. When your duties as a priestess are finished, we will meet in the Great Hall and you will sit with me, where I will instruct you on how to behave when you are dining with the court."
    Woserit saw my look and added, "I hope you don't think that you know how already." She waited for my response, and I dutifully shook my head.
    "Good. When our meal is finished, you will accompany Aloli to the eastern sanctuary where she will teach you harp."
    "But I already know how to play harp," I protested.
    "Properly? Like my sister or Iset?"
    "No, but my talent is in languages--"
    "And now it will be in harp, as well."
    I looked to Paser, as if he might offer me some reversal, but his face was set.
    "When you are finished with harp," Woserit continued, "you may return to your chamber to study. Then I expect that you will join the priestesses in their sunset ritual. When your day is finished, if you would like to join the priestesses at their dinner, you may go to the Great Hall. Otherwise, you may enjoy a quieter meal in your room." She stood to excuse herself. "I know this sounds like a great deal to learn," she said softly, "but there is a purpose for everything. The longer you are away from Ramesses, the more he will miss you, and the more time we will have to transform you from a sapling into a tree that can withstand even the strongest winds."
    I nodded as if I believed her, and when she left, Paser said quietly, "And there will be