Delivering Hearts: Ch 2

Brought to the Palace and Questions

Two rather bored looking young men stood beside Pharaoh Seti's throne. They were listening, or at least trying to pretend they were listening, to two priests who were to be going on and on about some trivial point about palace life. It was a great relief to them when the guards interrupted the meeting, dragging a strangely dressed woman who was bound and blindfolded behind them. Pharaoh Seti demanded, "What is the meaning of this?"

One of the guards walked over towards the royals and said, "Pharaoh, we've found this woman near the slaves. She's an outsider and possibly a spy. She wouldn't say where she is from."

The younger man, Prince Moses, turned and winked at the other whispering, "This ought to be more interesting."

Pharaoh's firstborn, Prince Rameses, nodded in agreement. He ordered the guards, "Bring her here." His voice was not loud, but it was powerful and commanding. This man was obviously someone to be obeyed. When the guards did as they were told, they dropped the woman as she fell on her side. Both men then stepped forward to examine this stranger.

While Moses stood looking her up and down, Rameses walked a slow circle around her. Moses commented quietly, "She is certainly oddly dressed. I don't think I recognize such clothes. She is no Hebrew slave nor does she look like any Midianite I have ever seen." Rameses queried in the same commanding voice he used with the guards, "Who are you? Where do you come from?" Indicating the woman's captors with a wave of his hand, Rameses said, "You may have refused to speak to them, but you would not dare to refuse to answer in front of Pharaoh." He glanced over at his father and nodded respectfully, then he returned his eyes to the girl and waited for her reply.

The girl lying on her side struggled to get up and said as she turned her head to the sound of Rameses' voice, "If I told you where I'm from, you wouldn't believe me. For starters, I'm not a spy or even a sorceress. I can go on that I'm not a witch, an enchantress, a siren, or even an oracle. I can't even move my hands or see. I don't know anything about spells or witchcraft." Victoria managed to get up, but was still wobbly on her feet and close to falling on her knees. Before she fell, one of the guards held her upper arms and stopped her from falling over.

Moses asked, "What makes you think we would not believe you?" He was looking at the ropes used to bind her and the blindfold upon her eyes. A part of him almost felt sorry for her. It was true that she could be a spy or some sort of threat and it was for his family's own protection, but yet it still somehow didn't sit well with him.

Rameses said thoughtfully, "You say you are not a sorceress or a spy, yet you are unwilling to answer my questions. That does not work in your favor. If you are telling the truth, then you should have nothing to hide." His black eyes were riveted to the young woman and he said, "I will ask you one more time, prisoner. Who are you and where do you come from? If you refuse to answer me this time, I will have you locked up."

A sudden thought occurred to him and he cleared his throat awkwardly, turning his gaze to his father. "That is, of course, if that is what Pharaoh desires." He didn't want Pharaoh Seti to think that he was trying to take over duties that were not his or that he was too eager to become Pharaoh before it was his time. He could hear Moses choke back a snicker and shot him an impatient glare. Why couldn't his brother ever take things seriously? Why did he always delight in seeing Rameses get into trouble with their father?

Victoria's wrists behind her back began to chafe as she tried to get her hands free, but she winced and thought to herself, Oh, boy. I better tell them the truth before I'm locked in prison, tortured, or even put to death. But they won't believe me if I said that I'm American or from the future, then they'd lock me up for being crazy in a heartbeat. I hate lying, but this is the only way. I hope this works. Okay, here goes nothing.

Thinking of something, she said, "My name is Victoria and I'm from Greece. My family were rich merchants from Athens who sell pottery, fabrics, and wine. I went with them to see Egypt for starting a new trade, but we were attacked by bandits when we got to shore at night. The boat was destroyed and everything was stolen. My family was killed and I tried to run away, but they caught up to me and I blacked out. All I remember was that I woke up in the sand the next morning to see some slaves working. I tried to ask them where I am, but they were frightened and the guards came. I was too scared to tell them because of my family's murder. That's all I know. As for the clothes, I wear these because they're easier to move around in and I wouldn't be scolded for making my dresses dirty. Please, I'm telling the truth."

The two princes exchanged glances after they heard the young woman's story while the priests Hotep and Huy looked at the bound woman with raised brows. The messages expressed in the looks the brothers gave one another were very different. Moses' face revealed his excitement and interest in the woman's story. He had heard of Greece a few times and was curious about what Athens was like. This Victoria sounded as though she had quite a bit of fascinating information to share.

Rameses' expression showed frustration and disdain. Inside, however, was all confusion. A story that fantastic had to be a lie, didn't it? Then again, stranger things had happened. The prince was momentarily conflicted. He loathed that feeling! He was going to be Pharaoh someday. He needed to be certain of things not compromised by indecision and confusion. When he spoke, it was this anger that echoed in his words, "A likely story. Guards..." He was cut off by Moses touching his arm and shaking his head softly. What was he doing now? Why was he interfering with Rameses decision?

Moses whispered, "What about Father? You had best let him give the order."

Rameses glared at his brother, "A moment ago, you saw me do the same thing and you laughed. Now you are concerned about me making a fool of myself in front of Father? What are you up to Moses?"

Before turning his attention to the woman before them, Moses shrugged, "Nothing. I just want to help you save face in front of Pharaoh."

Rameses rolled his eyes. He didn't believe what his brother said. He was up to something. Nevertheless, that would have to wait. He needed to deal with this prisoner and do it without embarrassing himself. Why was it anytime Moses was in the same room with him, he couldn't keep out of trouble?

Then again, it was just as much his father's fault as it was Moses'. He only kept slipping up like that because Pharaoh Seti was watching. The same way Moses made him feel like a playful and foolish boy, but his father made him feel the pressure to grow up and to be a great Pharaoh. Sometimes he just tried too hard to impress and usually it had the opposite effect. Frustrated, he shook his head slightly and then returned his gaze to Victoria.

Suddenly, he had an idea. If he could catch this girl in a lie, it would impress his father. This might be a way to make up for the two near attempts to overstep his bounds. Rameses snapped at the woman, "How old are you?" Moses was watching him with a confused expression as if to ask what it would matter. A cocky smile crept over Rameses' chiseled features. He had her now!

Victoria spoke up, "I'm 21 years old, Your Grace."

Moses nudged Rameses and said, "She sounds pretty young though, maybe around 16 or 18."

Rameses ignored Moses and cried triumphantly, "Aha, she is lying! A woman at that age wouldn't still be traveling with her parents. She would be married and involved in her duties as a wife, as well as a mother. She's making this other story up. She may well be a spy or criminal. I do not know, but it's clear she is a liar!"

Moses' eyes were wide. He hadn't expected that at all. Why was Rameses so determined to have this woman locked up? He'd never responded this way to a prisoner before. It had always been a rather dull matter and one that was usually left up to Pharaoh. Was his brother really in that big of a hurry to be Pharaoh or was it something else?

Victoria shook her head and said, "No, I really am 21 years old! I was born during the beginning of autumn, which is the beginning of the September equinox during the 22nd day in honor of our harvest goddess Persephone! So what if I sound young for my age? You're right that I should've been married, but I rejected every suitor I meet because they're only interested in just taking away a woman's virginity. Each one would be leaving her off with a broken heart, bearing a child that is unlawfully his, or leaving her to be humiliated publicly for adultery. As for my parents, they asked me to come along and help them with some of the heavy loads. Ask me another question and if I answer correctly, you untie me. I'm also unarmed."

Moses looked at his brother and the young woman, then at his parents. Pharaoh Seti and Queen Tuya look at the young woman when Rameses begins to scowl at her, feeling that he is being mocked. Victoria bit her lip as the ropes binding her wrists dug into her skin and blood started to ooze. She said defiantly, "Go ahead and give me your best shot. I'm up for a challenge."

Everyone heard the fire in the young woman's voice, which made Hotep mutter to Huy, "Looks like the Athenian rose has a thorn that needs to be plucked off." Huy hissed, "She's going to get it!" Moses noticed the look on his brother's face as Rameses clenched his fist and nearly raised his hand to smack the blindfolded woman, but the eldest prince refrained in doing so. The eldest prince took a slow deep breath as he let his hand drop back to his side, but curiosity had Rameses when he looked at the blindfold on Victoria's face.