Nezzar

Part Two: The Promise

Like a fool, Amytis had hoped Nezzar would at least see her off. On the morning of her departure, she had woken with a desire to see him. She could not tell if it was because of her concern regarding the coming war or her heart simply being the weak thing it was.

So, as she was bathed and dressed, that senile love-sick part of her had hoped. Her meals were back to tasting like dust but she understood enough to know the importance of eating. The journey back to Media would be long. But even as she chewed and mindlessly sipped tea, she had hoped he would make an appearance.

Nothing of that sort happened.

Now her journey to Media had begun and they had already ridden past the gates of Ishtar not too long ago. His absence during her departure should not hurt this much but it did. Too weak to fight the pain, Amytis let it wash over her. At least there was light ahead. Media and the love of her parents awaited. And her heart must find a reason to rejoice in this fact.

A smile touched her lips. She would be seeing mother and father soon. And leaving them as well. Though there was no Usman to aid her escape from Nezzar this time, her determination was strong.

Amytis tensed at the sound of thundering hooves and the raised voices of guards. Was this an attack? And so close to Babylon? Heart racing, she sunk back to that horrifying night when Nezzar's men ambushed her and her mother. This time, there was no Usman to protect her.

Carefully pushing the window covering aside, Amytis peeped. Though she could not see much, she observed that the guards within her line of sight appeared relaxed, not at all bothered by whatever extra company had come. Were more guards sent? Perhaps, Nezzar was being careful. It was understandable. She shuddered at the thought of the number of enemies the man must have.

Her coach slowed and then came to a stop. The guards were talking and soon enough Amytis recognised one voice. Nezzar. Her heart did a little leap of excitement. She did not bother berating the unruly animal. No matter how hard she tried to tame or make her heart see reason, it stubbornly acted as it pleased.

The door swung open and Nezzar made his way in. He seemed too large for the small space like his presence had suddenly halved the available air.

"My king." Amytis offered a respectful bow. She fixed her eyes on his chest, unable to get herself to meet his eyes. The memory of her mother's lesson came to mind, the one about the burning leaf called Shame. Maybe she should have practised it more because what she was feeling now was close to shame. Nezzar had nothing to do with this feeling. It was more of her own resolve, how it was crumbling before this man despite those endless months of clutching resentment to survive.

"Initially, I planned to use the Mediterranean Sea. Stop at a hidden shore in Thonis and take the Tell el-Farama route. We would take the Egyptian forces by surprise in the Sais planes and before they can adequately organise their forces, we will slaughter them all. But this plan, something I had considered and looked at from hundreds of angles, had been leaked to the enemy."

Amytis looked up. What she saw was unexpected. Exhaustion was etched in every line of Nezzar's face. His focus was fixed on the sheathed sword resting across his thighs.

"I had spent the last week purging my court of snakes. The weeks before that, I had to behead the snakes among my fighting men. Formations and strategies I was proud and confident in had to be overhauled. I would not deny that I am obsessed with winning this war and that it has consumed me for the longest time." He sighed and shut his eyes. "But understand that my absence today was not intentional. It slipped my mind that you were to leave this morning."

Amytis wanted to rip out her foolish heart and fling it out the window. The stupid thing was cartwheeling and gleefully ululating at Nezzar's words.

When he lifted his head and looked at her with tired eyes, her heart began spewing excuses.