A Journey Undertaken

By Stephanie Jefferson

Much has happened in the life of Princess Kandake since being named as heir to her father’s throne. From winning the release of Prince Alara captured by unknown enemies to saving the life of the pharaoh of Egypt and preventing the usurping of that throne, situations that have refined Princess Kandake’s warrior skills and queenly diplomacy to well-honed expertise.
Now Princess Kandake must journey to the kingdom of Scythia to confirm an alliance between Nubia and that kingdom. But Scythia is a place where women are viewed as weak and unintelligent. In in that kingdom it is unlawful for a woman to ride a horse or carry a weapon, both of which Princess Kandake does every day and with absolute proficiency.
As representative of the throne of Nubia, Kandake is forced to deal with the Sovereign of Scythia who questions her abilities because she is female. And more, she must rescue her sister from a power-hungry, throne-craving prince, and defend a friend whose honor could cost him his life. Such circumstances have placed Kandake in a position where she must choose between using her warrior skill or the diplomacy of a future queen. The princess is speaking, but Scythians are not listening.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephanie Jefferson
• Release date: May 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311782564

Stephanie Jefferson

I love story! I love it in all forms: oral, written, cinematic, and any other way I can get it. Now I write story! It makes my brain feel great. I'd love to share mine with you. Check out my latest offering.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Kandake watched Naomi follow the animal’s tracks. The ground was hard, but a layer of fine dust held the marks made by the cloven hooves of the goat they were trailing. The prints circled the base of an acacia tree, overlapping in several places, leading off in different directions.

Good! Kandake encouraged as Naomi chose a path to follow. You have chosen the correct path. There are so many things the child needs to learn. How will I be able to teach them all.

No matter how long Kandake worked Naomi at following trails, the child never complained. Life in Nubia was very different than living in the palace of Egypt, but Naomi appeared to be making the change without great difficulty. She had been born to Irty, a Nubian warrior serving as Protector to the Egyptian Pharaoh Nakhtnebef. Her father had been a Hebrew artisan. With both parents dead, Naomi was now living in Nubia and the adopted daughter of Princess Kandake.

Kandake slowed her pace allowing the young girl to get some distance ahead of her. How did Mother do it all, Kandake muttered, thinking of the things that made Nubia what it was and how her daughter must learn them. Four children, her responsibilities to the kingdom, and still she had a moment for her friends or kind instruction for the servants. Naomi has already reached her ninth year. Will I be able to teach what she needs. She watched the young girl study the goat’s tracks and choose which trail to follow. I have only five years beyond hers.

Kandake and Naomi reached the end of the trail. Amhara stood waiting with the tethered goat. "You have done well, he said. The smile of encouragement he offered Naomi warmed Kandake’s heart.

I have chosen well. The lessons he sets for Naomi are always just within her grasp and when she falters, he is there with gentle correction. I have brought our midday meal, Kandake said. The goat will provide us with drink.

May I milk her? Naomi asked. Grandmother says that I am learning well. Given permission, she walked to the head of the animal and whispered into its ear. She murmured gentle noises and ran her hand along its back as she approached the udders. After kneeling at the goat’s side and placing a deep bowl beneath, she grasped the teats and worked them for the milk they would give. Naomi presented the filled bowl to Kandake and Amhara and turned the goat loose to graze on the nearby grasses.

Thank you, Daughter, Kandake said, accepting the bowl of milk. The word added a thrill to Kandake’s heart. It reminded her of the future she would have with Amhara. She sat on the cloth Amhara had laid out for their meal. Naomi helped arrange the packets of food.

Naomi, how has your practice with your sling progressed? Amhara asked, passing her a round of bread.

It is going well. She tore off a piece and passed the round on to Kandake. Yesterday, Kheb and I played a game where we had to sling stones into a faraway pot and I was able to put more into it than I missed.

The look of pride that etched itself upon her face was mirrored by the expression upon Amhara’s. Kandake held these pleasures within her heart.

You and Kheb are becoming very good friends, Kandake said.

We were, but Kheb says that we can no longer be friends.

Why is that? Amhara asked, his brows drawn together and his lips pressed into each other formed a line of displeasure.

Kheb says that now that I am your daughter, she and I are cousins and that is better than friends. We are family!

Kandake sat at the table of the council chamber. A tapestry depicting the boundaries of the nearby kingdoms covered the wall facing her. Scrolls and clay tablets covered the tabletop to her left while stacks of fresh papyrus sheets and a bowl of ink set to her right. She reviewed the account of her visit to Egypt that she had scratched out on the sheets of papyrus in front of her.

It was important that she describe the facts as they occurred, but she must also capture the nuances of Prince Khabebesh’s personality and his opinions about Nubia. This rendering would become part of Nubia’s history and would also set the tempo for Nubia’s relationship with Egypt during her rule. Images of the pharaoh’s son came to her mind—the young irresponsible child he appeared to be upon her arrival. She compared that to the image of him at her departure—a young man determined to become a great ruler to those subject to his reign.

Tabiry entered the room, took the seat across from her, and glared. Her concentration broken, Kandake withheld the sigh that struggled to escape her lips as she set aside her reading and met her sister’s gaze. It would appear from the expression on your face that I have yet again done something that does not meet with your approval. What would that be?

You know very well what it is. Uncle Dakká assures me that he has discussed the matter with you. Tabiry folded her arms over her chest and increased the intensity of her scowl.

I have discussed many things with our uncle. We have had conversations about the Scythian prisoner. We have debated over my being prepared for the assessment of my change in rank as a warrior. We have even conferred about his training of Naomi, which matter is this?

The one that will place Nubia’s future queen into a hole and cover her with the very ground she is expected to sustain and defend! Child stealing!

Chapter 2

Kandake stared at Tabiry. Has my sister hit her head? I had hoped marriage would settle her thinking. Are you not supposed to be with your husband, learning his ways and he yours?

Do not evade my question, Sister. Tabiry leaned across the table. Will you not tell Naomi of her family? Can you not allow her the opportunity to be something other than a warrior? Or, will you take what is left of her family from her?

Kandake harnessed the anger that grew within her, pressed it into a tight nugget, and forced it down to a place she could not reach. It is good you remind me that you are my sister. My love for you carves what I am about to say. I am a woman of Nubia. One day I will rule this kingdom. I am aware that every decision and choice I make affects all that live within its boundaries. You will one day protect the wealth of this kingdom, but today your duty lies in learning the man your husband is and how to build a strong family with him. I suggest you tend to that.

Tabiry exploded to her feet. Her brows drew together over bulging eyes. No words came from the mouth that worked like a fish snagged from the Nile. Even a queen requires an advisor, she said as she found her voice.

That is true, Kandake said, grasping the sheets she had pushed aside and returned her attention to them, but that would not be you.

Tabiry straight-armed Natasen to the side as she pushed through the doorway leaving the room as he entered. He stared at her back, walking backwards as he approached the table.

It does not appear that marriage has calmed our sister overmuch. What has upset her this time? He pulled out the chair nearest Kandake and sat down.

Our sister believes that I will bring shame to the crown of Nubia by being buried for stealing a child.

What child have you stolen? Natasen looked about the room in jest as if to find it there.

She is concerned that I am keeping Naomi away from her family. Kandake pushed away the scrolls and tablets she had hoped to review. Naomi has one remaining relative within the kingdom—the sister of her mother’s mother. She is an old woman and alone. I have been asking her to make her home within the palace so that she and the child could build a relationship.

From the look on your face, I would say that she has not agreed.

She has not. Even worse, she is not asking that Naomi come to live with her. It would seem that there was great unpleasantness surrounding Irty’s decision to become the pharaoh’s protector.

Has she met Naomi? Natasen served himself from the pitcher of pomegranate juice that set on the table.

She has refused. But Amhara has told me that he has caught glimpses of her watching the child from a distance. Kandake’s hands dropped to her lap. The tension of concern climbed her neck as it encircled her heart.

Perhaps she requires more time to become accustomed to the idea of having family again. He offered his sister a comforting smile.

That is my hope, but Amhara believes we must address the situation immediately. It is his worry that Naomi will discover she has family and that the woman will reject her. Kandake took a sip from her brother’s cup. Such rejection would break the child’s heart. If that happens, Amhara will be angered over Naomi’s injury and a tree of resentment toward the old woman would grow within his heart. That is a root that will run deep. She sagged against the back of her chair.

Then we must make certain that does not happen. He took hold of his sister’s hand.

Later that afternoon the members of the council of King Amani entered their meeting chamber with him. Many matters of the kingdom had been brought before the king for discussion, one of which was that of the prisoner captured in Egypt.

My King, the warrior Shen has requested to take the Scythian he holds prisoner to his home to be judged by his Sovereign. Uncle Dakká said.

King Amani stared at his brother. His stare questioning. His head held at an angle. In his silence, he turned to Tabiry as if awaiting her explanation. Tabiry’s silence rivaled her father’s.

Shen has chosen to leave his new wife? King Amani asked.

If you grant him permission, Uncle Dakká said, He would travel with her.

The tension in the king’s face appeared to relax, but only by a small amount. Does the return of this prisoner bear such weight that he would disrupt the discovery of his wife and the establishing of his new home?

Kandake examined her sister’s face hoping to understand why she and her new husband would turn from the Nubian convention of nuptial separation. What she found was the complete neutral expression Tabiry always wore when there was a matter she was not willing to discuss.

It is Shen’s belief that this prisoner intended to use the power of Egypt’s throne to usurp that of his Sovereign, Uncle Dakká said. He wishes to return this prisoner for judgment and insure that the danger to that throne has ended.

If I grant this permission, how will that affect this kingdom? King Amani asked of Princess Alodia, his sister and advisor.

It would be an opportunity to strengthen the new alliance with the Scythian Sovereign, Aunt Alodia said. Princess Kandake could return with him to represent the throne of Nubia.

The king nodded his head. Should we call Alara from Egypt that he might attend the princess in his role as advisor or wait for his return to Nubia?

I do not believe that either will be necessary, My King, Aunt Alodia said. "Princess Tabiry can serve as advisor to Princess Kandake for this journey. Princess Tabiry is shrewd in her dealings of trade. She can apply those same principles in matters of diplomacy. It would also afford her an opportunity to learn of the ways of her husband’s people and in so doing she will be able to teach them to her children.

Kandake stared first at her aunt, then at her father, not believing that such a burden could be placed upon her. Tabiry as my advisor? What could they be thinking? It is true that my sister is shrewd in matters of trade, but in matters of diplomacy? There is also Tabiry’s strong belief that she knows better than I how I should live my life, order my steps. You cannot make her my advisor! Kandake brought her gaze to rest upon the face of her sister. She found the neutral expression had become an unpleasant smile.

Chapter 3

Kandake stalked around her rooms, moving from chest to chest and shelf to shelf.

I do not understand, Naomi said. Why are you so angry?

It is because of the role my sister will be taking on the journey to Scythia. Kandake sorted through her belongings, determining what she might need for her travels to the newly allied kingdom. She chose one length of fabric and then another and cast them into a pile with much more force than was needed.

Uncle Natasen said that Auntie Tabiry will be your advisor because Uncle Alara remains in Egypt. Naomi stared out of the window of Kandake’s rooms. She turned her face toward Kandake. Are you angry with Uncle Alara for not returning?

No. It is not that. What Alara does preserves the strength of relationship with our ally. This keeps both kingdoms safe from our enemies. Kandake sat on the window sill beside her new daughter and gazed out at the land beyond it. Nubia is a beautiful land and so are the people within it. There is much to do to protect it and keep them from harm.

Uncle Natasen says that is why you are traveling to Scythia. He said that you must build a relationship there and return Uncle Shen’s prisoner so that he can harm no one else. Naomi laid her hand upon Kandake’s arm. It is a good thing. The one Uncle Shen calls Kuska is a very dangerous man. In Egypt he harmed many people. Pharaoh Nakhtnebef would have died had you not discovered the poison Kuska was giving him.

Kandake nodded her head in agreement with Naomi, but continued to watch a small boy herding a mother goat with her young lamb. The mother heeded the boy’s efforts of encouraging her to walk forward, but the lamb’s attempts to suckle impeded much of their progress. The scene brought a smile to her lips. She turned to face the young girl seated with her.

What Natasen says is true and Kuska should not be allowed to spread his evil any further than he already has. The journey to Scythia is very important to the kingdom and despite how I feel about my new advisor, Nubia will have what it needs. She moved away from the window, gave Naomi a brief squeeze, and returned to her sorting.

Are we not having evening meal in the palace with grandmother? Naomi asked.

Not this time, Daughter, we are sharing the meal with my dearest friend. Kandake took hold of Naomi’s hand. Certainly the girl was old enough to walk without guidance, but it gave Kandake pleasure to be reminded that someone she had grown to love was now a part of her life.

They walked through the courtyard and beyond to the marketplace. Those she passed dipped a knee in their show of respect for their future queen. Many of them stopped to express their kindness toward her new daughter. As they came upon the last pavilion offering goods for trade, Kandake recognized the older woman within it sorting nuts into baskets.

Today I will not be put off. Naomi will know her family!

As the two approached the entrance, the woman turned her back as if pretending she had not seen them and struck up a conversation with her only customer. Kandake waited in silence for their discussion to end. The customer, now aware that Kandake waited to speak with one of them, ended her portion of the exchange and lowered herself to one knee.

My apologies, Princess, the woman said. I did not intend to cause you to wait.

Please rise, Kandake said. Your trade is important. I will wait until it has been completed.

The woman concluded her transaction and left the pavilion. The owner of the small booth made a slow turn to face Kandake.

"Naomi, bring the bench over here so that she may sit. I am certain she has had a long day of trade