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her. She was pondering. “Sister, do you
think . . .”
    “No,” said Nutnefer promptly. “But maybe . . .”
    “No, not that one, either. And as for . . .”
    Nehsi was used to these cryptic conversations. The twins had
a magic of sorts: each always seemed to know what the other was thinking. They
spoke aloud out of a native courtesy, but broke off in midsentence, since there
was so clearly no need to go on. It could drive a listener to distraction.
    Nehsi set himself to be patient. Nothing they ever did could
match the queen in one of her moods.
    As he had expected, after a while they looked at one another
and nodded. Then they seemed to remember that he was there, and more to the
point, that he had to hear words in order to understand them. Mutnefer said,
“There are one or two who might do, and who would be willing. Three, even.
Maybe. Four?”
    “Enough to choose from,” Nutnefer said. “Come, we’ll look
for them. But you have to promise something.”
    Nehsi raised a brow.
    “You can’t have any of them,” said Mutnefer. “Even the ones
who don’t go to the king.”
    “That’s hard,” Nehsi said.
    “Promise,” said Nutnefer.
    He heaved a sigh. “I could simply do my own searching.”
    “Yes, and there are hundreds of women in the palace, and
dozens are pretty enough at least to be considered. How long will it take you
to examine them all?” Mutnefer demanded.
    “He might enjoy it,” Nutnefer said, “till the queen ran out
of patience and came looking for him.”
    “Indeed,” said Mutnefer. She ran a light hand across his
shoulders. “I should so hate to see this beautiful panther-hide ruined with
whip-scars.”
    He shook off her hand. “Enough, enough! I yield. I promise.
As long as I enjoy the delights of your companionship, I won’t cast my eye on
one of the king’s women.” They considered that, narrow-eyed. Nutnefer looked
ready to argue, but Mutnefer said, “It will do. Come, let’s to the hunt.”
    Nehsi paused. “And this?” He tilted his head toward the
baskets and the swaths of drying linen.
    “It will wait,” Nutnefer said. She tugged at his hand.
“Quick! Time’s flying.”

5
    The queen inspected the women whom Nehsi had brought to
her. She had taken pains with her appearance: had put on one of her state robes
and the tall crown like plumes of gold, and under that an elaborate wig. Her
jewels were pure gold, her collar as broad as a breastplate, the wealth of a
kingdom weighing down her neck and shoulders.
    She received her servant and his hoard of living treasure in
one of the audience chambers on a throne of faience and gold, with her maids
about her and a company of guards standing at rest along the walls. It was no
more state than she was entitled to, but for receiving half a dozen trembling
maidservants it was slightly overdone.
    Nehsi was wiser than to remark on it. For what she intended,
which was to terrify his charges into silence, it succeeded admirably. One,
ironically enough the most robust-seeming of the lot, looked ready to faint.
    She did not disgrace him, however. Nor did the rest. They
entered in procession, knelt each as he had instructed, and did obeisance. He
observed them out of the corner of his eye. The center of his focus was the
queen.
    The twins had guided him well. All six whom they had aided
him to choose were young—none more than three years past first womanhood—but
skilled in the arts of love. They were all beautiful, all lissome and graceful
of body. Most could sing well, and one sang remarkably. All played an
instrument, none badly. And every one was prepared to offer allegiance to the
queen whose whim had raised her fortunes.
    Nehsi named each as she came forward, with her age and rank
and service and her particular talents. They were all servants, some of the
palace, some in lords’ houses. Two had been noblemen’s concubines, but one lord
had died and the other set all his women aside when he married a jealous