Flail of the Pharoah (22 page)

‘My dear wife, what has happened here?’ he asked. ‘Your fundament is sorely injured!’

‘There is something I must confess to you,’ she began circumspectly. ‘I’m afraid I have lied to you. I did not visit my mother’s tomb on the West Bank.’

‘What?’ Seti seized her shoulders fiercely, all his energy suddenly returning. ‘Then where did you go? Speak!’

‘I went to the Valley of the Tombs, but only to where Charmian was being held captive by ruffians. I had a different mission to perform.’

The king frowned at her. ‘Explain!’

‘You know how our son located her. Well he sent word back to me and Tut-Tut that the tomb had been defiled and needed re-consecrating. As a sovereign of Egypt I took part in the ceremony, but an act of attrition had to take place in order for the tomb to be considered clean again.’

‘Whose tomb was it?’

‘Only that of Ankhotep. But he has served us well, and I should hate to think he was denied access to the Afterlife just because we failed to cleanse his tomb.’

The king’s mood was softening. ‘Of course, you are quite right. But why did you not send for me?’

‘We did not wish to trouble you, so soon after Opet,’ she lied smoothly. ‘Besides, speed was of the essence. The tomb had been badly polluted by those infidels and needed sorting out straight away.’

‘But this was a serious matter, my dear. Are you quite sure it was done properly?’

‘Oh yes. We performed the ancient ceremony of the Chastening of Nut. Tut-Tut will confirm this.’

‘I do not need that man’s confirmation if I have your word for it. But tell me more. This is not a rite I have met before. Is it to be found in the ancient tablets, in the House of Life?’

‘I know not. Tut-Tut led the proceedings and made imprecations to the Lord Ra. The rite involved me bending over the profaned sarcophagus while he used his priestly belt on me.’

‘That fat scoundrel dared to assault a Queen of Egypt? But that’s outrageous! The man shall be whipped for such impertinence!’

‘Please, husband, hear me out. Remember that I was standing in for the fallen goddess, making good her fault in disobeying the God of Light. It was a holy deed that was done there, and the proof is plain to see.’

‘How so?’

‘Our enemies have instantly retreated, have they not, leaving our borders secure?’

The Pharaoh could not deny this. He looked thoughtful, then said, ‘Perhaps you are right and this sacrificial act on your part has had beneficial results. But I would still have preferred to be informed first.’

She smiled, stroking his cheek. ‘I told you, dearest, there was no time. Those impious creatures who kidnapped Charmian bound her up like a living mummy. There was no telling what pollution lingered in that tomb.’

‘What happened to the men, were they captured?’

‘Yes. Led by our son the soldiers caught them before they could flee into the desert and their bodies are now food for vultures.’

‘So all ends well, eh wife? But you are a brave queen indeed. Turn over again and let me examine your rear. Is it very sore?’

No more so than Charmian’s, Mira thought with a smile as she presented her naked buttocks for inspection. He kissed each in turn, and then patted the rotund spheres softly.

‘I always did like your bottom, my dear.’

She looked up at him coyly. ‘And you like to spank it too, don’t you? I remember, not so long ago…’

He laughed. ‘Trust you to remember that. But you are right. There is something very satisfying about laying one’s palm upon a firm, springy cheek.’

He gave it an experimental tap and Mira moaned with pleasure. Seti looked surprised. ‘I do believe you rather like it. Perhaps submitting to the high priest’s lash was not such a sacrifice for you after all.’

She giggled coyly and stretched out with a sigh. At last the Pharaoh was getting the message. ‘I would rather be subject to your discipline than his, any time.’

The king rose from the bed and drew on his robe. ‘You have given me much food for thought, wife, but the people will be expecting us to appear on the balcony at sundown. Return to your chamber now, my dear, and make yourself ready. Oh, and look in on Charmian too, will you? I hope she is suffering no after-effects of her ordeal, poor thing.’

‘Poor thing?’ Mira hissed under her breath, once his back was turned. But she did carry out his order and made her way to the harem, where she found Charmian dozing on her bed in a secluded corner. ‘Are you awake?’ she asked.

‘Yes, your majesty.’ The girl yawned and stretched; rather too dramatically, Mira thought.

‘And how do you feel after your ordeal?’

‘Which one, your majesty: being abducted by ruffians, or whipped by your son?’

‘I see you have lost none of your proud spirit. But I must say I cannot blame you. You have been through a lot, and no doubt your spirit is chastened.’ The queen reached out, stroking some of the girl’s blonde hair back from her brow. ‘Did my son really hurt you?’

‘Yes.’ There was no resentment in her voice.

Mira felt the old curiosity return. She felt oddly close to the girl, knowing they had both suffered a beating recently. ‘What did you feel when he was punishing you?’

Charmian turned onto her side, an enigmatic expression in her blue eyes. She looked for a moment as though she was going to unburden her soul to the queen, but then she grew more circumspect.

‘I felt contrite, ashamed of what I had done.’ She paused, then added, ‘Even though I was not sure exactly what I had done. I was accused of being too proud, but why should I not be proud of being made the Queen of the Carnival?’

‘Queen of the Carnival is one thing; Queen of Egypt is quite another,’ Mira responded tartly.

Charmian looked shocked. ‘But I would never presume, your majesty. How could I, not being of Egyptian birth? You are queen of this land and always shall be.’

Mira felt gratified. But she could not resist probing further into the girl’s feelings. ‘I thank you for your loyalty. But I am also interested to know how you felt when my son, the crown prince, chastised you with his belt. Come, you may speak freely.’

‘I… I found it a strangely satisfying experience, your majesty,’ she replied hesitantly. ‘Why, I cannot tell. Perhaps because I knew I had felt proud up there on the carnival litter, lording it over the crowd, having them cheer and praise me. Perhaps I felt guilty because it was you they should have been cheering, their rightful queen. Not me, a jumped-up carnival queen. At any rate, once the first stinging blow of his belt fell across my buttocks I thought, “It serves me right”. And I felt… well, it sounds strange, but I felt honoured to be on the receiving end of his powerful strokes.’

‘You did?’ Mira felt a thrill as she heard her words.

‘Yes. Your son is a fine young man. He is handsome too, and strong in character. He will make a wonderful Pharaoh some day.’

‘Do you really think so?’ Despite her misgivings, Mira felt gratified. It was not often that she heard Neshi described with such glowing praise. Yet her pride as a mother was inextricably mixed with jealousy. It came as a shock to realise that she feared Charmian might take her son away from her, as well as her husband.

‘Oh yes, he is so proud, his bearing so regal. And he wields his right arm with such strength. I can vouch for that.’ Charmian smiled ruefully. But then her expression changed to one of fear. ‘Your majesty, please do not think that I have set my sights upon your son. Nothing could be further from my thoughts. I know I am not worthy to kiss the hem of his tunic or to fasten his sandals. Forgive me, my queen, if my praise of Prince Neshi seemed too fulsome. I meant no harm… no harm.’

Mira smiled inwardly, realising the girl was genuinely afraid she would accuse her of having ambitions above her station. She spoke soothingly. ‘I know, Charmian, you were praising him as any girl might praise a handsome man out of her sphere. I did not imagine you had designs upon him, even though I know he is attracted to you.’

‘He is?’ The blue eyes gazed wonderingly.

‘Of course. It is natural that he should find you as exotic and beautiful as his father does. There is none to equal you in the Pharaoh’s harem, my dear. That is why you were made Queen of the Carnival – with such unfortunate results.’

Charmian turned away with downcast eyes, and Mira could only guess at the feelings churning away within her. Were they similar to her own? She probed again. ‘But tell me, Charmian, did you mind the pain of your chastisement very much?’

‘At first, yes,’ the girl replied softly. ‘But by about the third stroke I found it quite… stimulating. The whole of my lower body was on fire, you see, back and front…’ She hesitated, unsure whether to elaborate further.

‘Back and front, yes I see.’ Mira smiled, because she recognised the feelings of arousal that Charmian had undoubtedly felt. Pain and pleasure exquisitely mingled. She knew it well by now, and secretly cherished it.

‘And afterwards, how did you feel after the beating?’

‘Oh, a great mixture of feelings. I knew I had deserved the punishment, but not exactly why, so I was a little bewildered. But my body felt more alive than it had ever felt before. The pain was bad, yes, but I felt such a tingling all over and a throbbing excitement.’

‘Where, exactly?’ Mira asked, eager to know whether she had felt the same erotic sensations as herself.

The girl pointed to her crotch. ‘Around here.’

Mira felt a great sense of satisfaction. So this alien creature was not so different from her, after all. They had both taken part in the Mysteries, in that dark tomb so far from the palace. Each had explored their own private hell and heaven, and emerged the stronger for it. It surprised her to find she now felt so much closer to Charmian. Mira had experienced flashes of this almost sisterly feeling before, scarcely recognising it for what it was, but now she was closer to understanding the nature of the bond that united them. At first she had resented it, but perhaps something new could be forged out of their shared experience. Only time would tell.

She stroked the girl’s soft cheek in a gesture part motherly, part erotic. ‘There now, you rest as long as you like. The Pharaoh will not impose upon you for a while.’

After their intimate chat Charmian found her feelings changing towards Mira. At first she resented the fact that the queen had ordered her own son to chastise her sorely. But now she found that two deep bonds had been forged in her heart; one with the queen, who now seemed like a solicitous mother to her, and one with her son, Prince Neshi, whose attractions were growing almost irresistible by the day. As for the Pharaoh, Charmian found him rather distant and cold towards her, despite his show of sympathy. It was all very confusing, and the girl did not know what to make of her strange feelings.

When she was feeling stronger, however, King Seti sent for her. It was late in the evening and every woman in the harem gazed at her enviously when the keeper of the king’s harem arrived and told her to make ready.

‘Her majesty the queen says you may go to her chamber first and her maid will see to your toilet,’ he informed her. ‘Then you will be summoned to his majesty’s bed.’

Charmian found her heart filled with dread at these words. Although she knew she’d been brought across half the world to be the plaything of the Pharaoh, he seemed to have tired of her since the carnival and it was possible she was not being called to his bed but for a more unpleasant reason. Perhaps he thought she was soiled goods, seeing as she’d been abducted by his enemies. All Egyptians were superstitious, but the royals were more so than most.

When she arrived in the queen’s chamber though, she found her all smiles.

‘So you are favoured again, little one,’ Mira said. ‘Are you quite ready for the king’s pleasure?’

‘Oh,’ Charmian almost found herself at a loss for words, ‘I did not think…’

‘Your body is healed after your ordeal, is it not?’

Mira’s voice had an edge to it, forcing the girl to reply quickly, ‘Oh yes, I am quite better now, your majesty. I have rested almost constantly since my return, and my body feels quite rested and refreshed.’

‘In that case you have nothing to fear. Except, perhaps, that you might be a little out of practice in the bedroom arts.’ She clapped her hands, and to Charmian’s shock the prince suddenly appeared. ‘I thought you might like to practice on my son,’ Mira explained. ‘The king cannot always be as ready for love as a young man. I shall teach you a few tricks to get him aroused. Neshi, sit here as if on your throne and allow the girl to do her work.’

Neshi sat on a high-backed chair, still grinning, with his thighs spread apart in manly fashion. Iras was commanded to douse his burgeoning erection with cold water and then he raised his short tunic to display his private parts, flaccid and shrunken in his lap. Charmian could hardly take her eyes off that area of his anatomy, but the queen led her behind a screen and began to instruct her.

‘The way you enter the royal bedchamber is very important. You should walk slowly, like this.’ She swayed her hips suggestively as she took a few paces. ‘Let me see you do it.’ Charmian imitated her. ‘Good. Then when you get near the man you must fix your eyes on his and start to do your little dance.’