In the uncertain light of clay bowls filled with oil, Nefertiti could barely make out three men in plain, cheap kilts. One carried an old walking stick, and none had the shaved head of a priest.
Nefertiti stepped from behind Ay and drew back the hood of the cloak she'd worn to conceal her face. Lamplight cast a dull gleam on the gold at her wrists. As the cloak fell away from her face, she heard a gasp quickly stifled. The three men knelt. The fact that they didn't touch their heads to the floor wasn't lost on Nefertiti. She gave permission for the men to rise and took the only chair in the room. Ay took up a stance at her right hand.
From a black corner Shedamun edged forward to stand between the priests and Nefertiti. "I–I told you the queen would come. I told you. Th-they didn't believe me, majesty."
Nefertiti made a slow, economical gesture with one hand. Shedamun quieted. She had to establish dominance at once. Already the man with the walking stick was eyeing her with satisfaction. She could almost hear the man's thoughts. He probably expected an awed and frightened woman.
"Father, you may give me the names of these men."
"Great queen of the Two Lands, beloved of the good god, here stand before you the second prophet of Amun, the divine father Iny, and the lector priest Bekenamun."
The second prophet of Amun stepped forward. With a bow, he leaned on his walking stick and addressed Nefertiti. "Mighty queen, I am Unnefer of Thebes." Unnefer curled bony fingers around his staff and leaned in Nefertiti's direction. "I have come to hear thy answer to the message sent by the revered high priest."
The words were subservient, and Unnefer said them in a deprecating tone. Nefertiti rested her hands on the arms of the chair and looked at the priest.
"Maat has been banished from the Two Lands. The gods punish Egypt and will continue to do so until the divine order is restored."
She received four grateful bows for these words.
"I would know how the high priest of Amun proposes to help me restore Maat," she said.
Unnefer needed no further encouragement. He drew himself up to his full height. "Evil cannot be banished from the Two Lands until the King of the Gods reigns once more in Thebes. Amun demands his house and his possessions. Egypt must worship the Hidden One, beg his forgiveness, supplicate him with gifts. The rage of Amun is great. Witness the lawlessness and plagues that threaten our cities. If we were to offer all the gold in Nubia to the Hidden One, it wouldn't be enough. The god cries out for vengeance, majesty. Without it, chaos will destroy Egypt."
During this tirade Nefertiti kept her gaze on the second prophet. She'd expected anger and demands for restoration. She'd expected the hunger for lost riches and power. All these she perceived. And something more. She saw Akhenaten's intolerance. Unnefer looked nothing like her husband. The priest was short and built like a small crane with narrow bones and legs much too long in proportion to his torso. Age lines made rivulets perpendicular to his lips, and his lower face had that sunken look that went with the loss of teeth. But regardless of his age or god, Unnefer spoke with the same fury she'd heard so often from pharaoh.
Whatever the cost, these two infernos must not meet. Nefertiti held out her hand. Ay placed a cup of wine in it. She let the men wait while she took a sip. The two junior priests exchanged uneasy glances.
"I agree," she said.
Unnefer smiled and took on the air of a basking crocodile.
"The house of the god must be put in order. The old ways must be brought back." Peering at Unnefer over the rim of her cup, Nefertiti paused before she went on. "I'll have to approach pharaoh, and this is a most difficult task. I don't have to speak of pharaoh's attitude. It will take much time, I fear." She saw the three begin to relax. "In the meantime there is much to be done in the service of Maat. I expect the priesthood to labor hard, since I too will be working."
"Labor, majesty?" Unnefer sounded as if the word was one he didn't associate with himself.
"Yes. I know that the servants of Amun have been dispersed from Thebes, but I also know that they remain in the towns and villages of the Two Lands." Nefertiti crossed her ankles and took another drink. "There are pure ones and hour priests scattered from Bubastis to Elephantine, and they all owe allegiance to Amun and the high priest." Without warning she raised her voice. "They will stop preaching against pharaoh."
"The king is possessed by evil demons," Unnefer said.
"Your priests will cease to encourage disobedience and rebellion. You'll agree, or this meeting is at an end." Nefertiti felt Ay stir beside her. She hadn't told her father she was planning to make this threat, but it was her sacred duty to protect Akhenaten. Her husband didn't have the sense to do it himself.
Watching Unnefer's round eyes squeeze shut, she thought the man would dare to curse her. Admiration for the man's discipline came to her as the priest set his mouth in a thin line and muttered an obedient response.
"It's well that you agree." Nefertiti gave them a bright smile and soft laugh. The priests jumped, and Unnefer gave her a long, guarded look. "You see, I don't know where I'd find other knowledgeable priests to staff the newly restored temple if I became displeased with you. Of course there are plenty of courtiers who'd want the positions." Standing, Nefertiti handed Ay her cup. She let the cloak slip to the floor and walked across the room to Unnefer. "Yes, I'd waste a lot of time if I had to recruit priests with the proper devotion to pharaoh." She glanced back at Unnefer with another smile. "I knew the servants of Amun wouldn't fail me."
There was an odd sound. It was the grinding of Unnefer's few teeth.
"Great royal wife," Unnefer said. "Thy will shall be done."
"Yes, it will. But I'm not finished, Unnefer. The priests will also help me in other matters. Food must be distributed from the royal estates. Corrupt tax officers and soldiers must be discovered and punished. The peasants have to be protected against thieves, noble or otherwise. I'll send you lists of tasks, and soon I'll send my own representative to you in Elephantine. Amun's followers are countless; they will be my eyes and ears in this restoration."
"Highness, we are priests," Unnefer said.
"You're going to be much more. You will succor the poor and ferret out corruption. You'll aid the police and army so that peace will reign." She stopped; Unnefer's face had taken on a stunned look. "I'll provide Amun with supplies and slaves from my own estates once pharaoh has been persuaded to agree to the restoration."
She was gratified when the three priests bowed in response to her words. Nefertiti went to her father, and Ay settled her cloak on her shoulders. Unnefer scuttled over to her, bowed, and whispered so that only she could hear.
"I've been remiss, most divine queen."
"Oh?"
"The high priest most adamantly instructed me to pray for the health of pharaoh, may he live-forever."
Nefertiti's hands stilled their smoothing of the cloak. She lifted her gaze to Unnefer and gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"The high priest is concerned about pharaoh's frequent illnesses. The wind Shu carries such news to all parts of Egypt. It is well known that pharaoh is not as he should be." Unnefer lowered his voice. "Many fear that one day soon the hawk will fly to the sun."
She let the priest wait for her reply. She gazed at one of the clay lamps while her fingers continued their slow dance across the fabric of the cloak. When she finally spoke, Unnefer started.
"Pharaoh is in excellent health. The wind distorts sound, Unnefer. Pay no attention to the howling it creates. Those foolish enough to do so imperil their own lives by rushing toward noises that don't exist. They sometimes run off cliffs and get themselves killed."
She got out of the house without doing violence to the priest. Her departure was abrupt, but it was better than murder. When the door shut, she stood with her back to it. Taking deep breaths, she waited for her wrath to ebb.