CHAPTER 2

Ra–baby

“Kiya, what are you doing to poor Ra?” Pharaoh demanded.

“I’m dressing him up, Daddy!” Kiya held me so her father could see.

“Well, I don’t think he likes it, Kiya.”

“Sure he does, Daddy. He’s my Ra-baby.”

I twisted in her hands and bolted down the deck, leaving the head scarf behind. She gathered the linens and started to stalk me. “Here, Ra-baby! Come and play!”

No way. I leaped onto the roof of Pharaoh’s royal cabin.

“Leave Ra alone, Kiya, and come here. I have news for you.” Pharaoh motioned to a tall boy behind him. “And for Dedi, too.”

Maybe you’ve heard of Ramses Dedumose, Pharaoh’s oldest son and heir? We call him Dedi, and he’s the Great Son, the crown prince. Not that he looked too princely that morning. He was just a twelve-year-old boy with long, skinny legs and a thoughtful expression in his eyes. Still, I was fond of him. He had a real talent for mischief, like his sister, but fortunately he had a smidgen more sense. For one thing, he had never tried to dress me up.

Kiya skipped over to Pharaoh. “What is it, Daddy?”

“I have to stay here in Thebes for a few more days,” Pharaoh said. “Something has come up.”

“Daddy, no!” Kiya cried. Dedi looked disappointed. But not as disappointed as I was. What about my oxtail?

“Never mind,” Pharaoh told his children. “There’s no reason why you two shouldn’t sail today. The festival is over, and your royal mother will be longing to see you.”

Well, that would put plenty of distance between me and Kiya. I stifled a yowl of delight.

Pharaoh added gravely, “Besides, Thebes isn’t the best place for you to be right now, under the circumstances.”

I couldn’t agree more: Thebes was definitely not a good place for Kiya to be. Not while I was in it, anyway.

“What circumstances?” Dedi asked. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing for you to worry about,” Pharaoh said. “The point is that you will set out today. Lady Satiah has invited you to spend the night at her palace on the Nile.”

“Lady Satiah?” Dedi wrinkled his nose.

I wrinkled my nose, too. Despite her beauty, Lady Satiah isn’t the kind of person who warms anyone’s heart, including mine. I don’t think she even warms Pharaoh’s heart, although she’s one of his wives. His father set up the marriage as a favor to one of Egypt’s most powerful lords. Like most political matches, it didn’t work out. Pharaoh and Lady Satiah haven’t lived together for years.

After Lady Satiah had her royal son, Ahmose, she went to live in one of the more remote palaces. The Great Wife insisted on that. As everyone in Egypt knows, the Great Wife is Pharaoh’s real wife: the partner of his heart and the mother of almost all of his children, including Dedi and Kiya. (Plus she’s fond of cats—especially me.)

“We can’t stay with Lady Satiah!” Kiya cried. “She hates us.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Pharaoh said patiently. “Lady Satiah does not hate you.”

“Yes, she does,” Kiya insisted. “She’s awful.”

Pharaoh frowned—a sight that made even Kiya go quiet. “Lady Satiah is a noble and gracious lady. If she was strict with you two last year, it was because you deserved it. Have you forgotten that you stuck a lizard in her bed?”

Kiya and Dedi exchanged a joyous look.

“Oh, we remember,” Dedi said.

“We did it because she was so horrible,” Kiya explained. “She was horrible first. She—”

“I don’t want to hear any more,” Pharaoh said, his voice a low rumble of thunder. “Lady Satiah is one of my wives, and she deserves your respect. That is final. Understood?”

Dedi bowed his head. “Yes, Dad.”

Kiya pouted at first, but when Pharaoh’s frown deepened she gave in. “Yes, Daddy.”

“Very good.” Pharaoh put his arms around them both. “Judging from her letter, she is eager to see you. If you mind your manners, all will be well.”

“Can’t you come with us?” Kiya pleaded.

“I wish I could,” Pharaoh told her. “But never fear, you’ll have plenty of company.”

I listened with half an ear as he explained who was going: Kiya’s nursemaid, four of Pharaoh’s guards, and a whole boatload of sailors. They were also taking a cook, but that didn’t bother me. Pharaoh has dozens of cooks, so there would be plenty of them left to make my snacks here in Thebes while I waited for Pharaoh to finish his business.

“You will also travel with Ra the Mighty,” Pharaoh told the children. “He is a favorite of the gods, and he will keep you safe.”

What?! My ears swiveled, and I lost my balance. I fell from the cabin roof.

Pharaoh, Dedi, and Kiya turned around as I landed feetfirst.

“Silly Ra-baby,” Kiya said fondly, coming up to me. “Isn’t it great that you’re coming with us? We can play dress-up all day!”

“Noooooooooooooooo!” I yowled.

“Ah!” Pharaoh said, looking pleased. “That’s the sound he makes when he’s warding off intruders. He’s trying to protect you already.” Bending down to rub the fur between my ears, he added, “I know I can trust you, Ra. Do what you must to keep my children from harm.”

Never let it be said that Pharaoh’s Cat doesn’t know his duty. If Pharaoh was ordering me to protect his children, then protect them I would. But as Kiya grinned down at me, I only had one thought:

Who was going to protect me?