“Majesty, I do not want to marry the nomarch,” she said, looking hard at Horemheb. “I see no reason to do so.”
“There are many reasons,” Tutankhamun replied, annoyed. “Not least that I have requested it.”
“The Queen, the Great Royal Wife, the Daughter of Ra, is my niece,” she said proudly, straightening her shoulders and looking pointedly at Horemheb, trying to will him to look at her. “Whoever marries me will gain great power in the Two Lands.”
“The nomarch Tefnakhte is worthy of such power,” Tutankhamun replied.
“Such power, Majesty.”
At last Horemheb looked up and, for a brief moment, met her eyes. His gaze was penetrating and thoughtful, as though at last she had succeeded in attracting his attention.
Tutankhamun was about to reply angrily when he was interrupted. He had set his
