The chariot ride over was somber.

 Silent.

 Not even the cool night breeze kissing my skin could raise my spirits. I could see the glow of stars as they twinkled a greeting, lighting the heavens. Torches aided in guiding our path back to the front of the palace, where the duel was held as there was no moon tonight. Signaling a night for new beginnings, a perfect night for a wedding feast.

The glow above the stone walls radiated with laughter, and warmth as we approached. Bonfires burned high, stoked by guards outside the palace gates. They tipped their heads in greeting as we rolled through. The horses stomped and snorted as they eyed the flames, the orange hue reflecting off their white flanks. We parked by the stables and dismounted, Hotep's hand on my arm to keep me close. He wouldn't even let me take a step out of sight this time.

And what a sight it was. 

All of the nobility had been invited out to feast. Several large suckling pigs turned in an open flame, juices dripping from their skin into the fire as it crackled and hissed. A long wooden table by the spits, was piled high with every manor of wild beast and crop in steaming trays. Flowers and fruit were artfully placed between the dishes, as guests filled their plates, returning to low set tables piled with floor cushions.

The tables had been arranged with seats only on one side. All facing an open square filled with dancing twirling women and behind it, the head table, where my family sat on wooden chairs looking over the crowd.

My chest constricted when I noticed Amon. He had changed into a formal black tunic that fell to his knees with a matching embellished gold collar and belt. I could just make out the tip of the Ankh of life embroidered on the strip that fell between his legs. Anaka sat beaming beside him. Her smile, the widest I'd ever seen, as she tipped a goblet to her lips, before sputtering a laugh at something Zaraha whispered in her ear to her left.

Father sat to the left of Zahara and on the end, consort Hephta in all her guttering jewels. At the far right beside Amon, I spotted Sarena quietly picking at a leg of meat. Her dark blue makeup and dress glittered like the twilight before dawn. Beautiful.

Hotep and Atenekam flanked me, pushing toward the head table. My hands gripped my arms across my chest, as if that would shield the pounding of my racing heart.

"Sister! You're finally here!" Anaka was the first to notice standing as she ran from around the table. Red robes adorned with gold jangling beads and bracelets that ran up both arms.

Amon's gold gaze drifted to me before darting away to spark a conversation with Sarena, her eyes lighting at the attention. Anaka crashed into me wrapping her small arms around my waist in a boisterous hug. The high priests each gave her a wide berth as she all but wiggled in front of me.

"I'm so happy you're here! Your dress is beautiful," Her eyes raked up and down the glitter of white and gold, and in a whisper she added, "Do I look okay? I'm so nervous."

I smiled down at her beautifully lined almond eyes. "You are stunning! The most beautiful bride." Anaka's smile lifted the weight on my chest, her happiness seeping into my heart. She twirled with a laugh, bounding over to find her seat by Amon once more and taking another gulp of wine.

"Slow down," Zahara clawed at her cup as she swung it just out of reach. "You're going to have a headache tomorrow." A chuckle heaved my shoulders but didn't make it past my lips as I drank in the sight of my loud and loving family.

"Nefari! There she is! I was thinking Ra had stolen you for the night!" My father clapped his hands together, head tipped, laughing at his own joke, which Hephta did not find funny. He was clearly already several goblets in. "Have you come to grace us with a dance?"

"Yes," Hotep answered for me.

"Wonderful! We shall toast first, and then my daughter shall honor us with a dance. Clear the floor!" Out of everyone, my father loved my dancing the most. I was sure it was because it reminded him of my mother.

Atenenkam went to quiet the troop of musicians, their drums and horns faltering to a bleating silence, and with it a signal that something was about to begin. A hush fell over the crowd and guests found their way down to their seats as my father rose, tipping slightly with the weight of wine in his gut. A hand rose and not even a cricket hummed as my father's voice boomed over the crowd, bouncing off the large statues.

"Welcome, my honored guests! Children of Ra and Set. It pains me that it is my youngest who will leave my arms first. But tonight is a night for celebration! A night to fill your bellies and goblets. A night where our two kingdoms shall unite!"

Cheers rose, hands slapping the tables and empty goblets banging a chorus. But all fell still once more when his hand raised again. A testament to their respect and reverie of his leadership.

"Amon-Set, please rise to recite the sacred phrase."

Slowly Amon rose, Anaka mirroring him as they faced one another. His hands swallowed her tiny ones as he gripped tight. My heart quickened. For a moment, his golden eyes found mine in the crowd. I turned away, pain rippling up as I heard him utter, "I take you as my wife."

A heartbeat later, Anaka recited her line. "You take me as your wife."

The union was set.

A roar ripped out in waves, guests rising to their feet as all cheered and clapped, hollering their blessing.

Father let the cries die before his hand raised once more. "And now a dance!"

That was my cue as music blared to life in a fast, rhythmic tempo.

Hotep stepped away to stand beside the head table, and I turned to the dance floor bumping into a billow of a blue cape. But before I could apologize, they were gone.

I could feel the heat as all eyes trained to me, the only sound coming from the warble of horns and beating of the drums echoing around the open, lit space. The music commanded my hips to sway. I turned to the crowd, blocking out the ringing in my ears, the pain in my chest and the gaze that I was sure belonged to Amon that heated my back, crawling up my neck. I can do this. Dancing to me was like flight to a bird, effortless and freeing.

My foot work was hesitant at first as I adjusted to the rhythm, hips rolling slowly and picking up tempo with the beat of the drums. Beads shook as I let the quickening drums push my body faster until I burst forth. Hands twirling in offering to the heavens as I lept and spun and arched across the large space, letting my feet and arms carry me like wings across the dirt sky. My feet painted dusty clouds where I stretched my leg, sweeping it low with a long bleat of the horn, mirroring my sister Zahara's fighting footwork.

Leaping backward, I twirled, rising on one leg, like a flamingo, hands twining above. The crowd whooped and cheered, spurring my feet faster as the tempo rose to a climax. I spun faster and faster, the crowd blurring with the orange glow of flickering lights.

I caught my sister Anaka's wide grin. My father's clapping hands.

I lifted higher before leaping and sweeping low. I caught Zahara's lazy smile as she rested a hand on her cheek.

My arms prayed for deliverance, as sweat pooled across my forehead and my skirt twirled like two wings. I spun again, catching Amon's face as he tipped his lips to his goblet.

The music was coming to an end. I could feel it. I saw Amon hunch over as I raised my leg behind, holding it with one arm and arched my back, rising on one foot. Sarena rose from her seat as I spun to a stop with the music and Anaka delivered an ear shattering scream.

"Amon!" She rose from her seat.

He was coughing. I caught sight of blood. Dark blood. It splattered the table as my body heaved to catch my breath.

And then he stilled, slumped over his plate.

A ringing grew in my ears as I heard Sarena scream. Her eyes blazing as a crack of lightning split the warm sky, illuminating the fear in my family's eyes.

"You killed him! Traitors!" I heard Sarena cry as she picked up a meat knife.

The ringing grew louder, drowning out the rest of what she said. Everyone rose to their feet. Tension coating the air, thick as mud. Zahara drew the dagger at her hip.

The shouting grew louder, and I saw Anaka reach for Amon, only to be grabbed by Sarena. Guards drew their blades, both black skirted and white, surrounding the table. The ringing was deafening. Cracking my skull, threatening to explode out. I stood frozen, unable to move, unable to look away.

Dread was the heartbeat between the knife brushing flesh as it slid across Anaka's neck, leaving a red river in its wake. The garble of life leaking, as it bubbled from her lips, and the wailing screech that tore from her mother's throat, finally silenced the ringing in my head.