by Overton, Max
Servants and slaves crowded the palace halls and porticos, held in rapt fascination by the spectacle of the king in custody. They watched in silence save for a few muffled sobs and a collective sigh as the procession passed. Ankhesenpaaten watched too, from the entrance to the women's quarters, apprehension and excitement gripping her heart. A little further down the hall leading to the main palace gate, they passed prince Tutankhaten, standing with his two Nubian friends. Psenamy hesitated, as if to speak to the prince, but Akhenaten did not pause, walking swiftly toward the gate, so the general passed by the young prince with merely a nod.
As the king and his guard passed from the palace, the servants started to disperse, slowly finding their way back to their duties, though moving half-heartedly, as though unsure of themselves. Ankhesenpaaten left the women's quarters and headed for the palace gate, where Tutankhaten still stood, talking to his friends.
Hiknefer was the first to greet her, his voice warm and pleasant, the smile in his eyes matching the white sparkle of his teeth against his dark skin. "Welcome, princess Ankhesenpaaten. Perhaps you can tell us what is happening. We were playing outside when someone said the king was dead. Great is our relief to find that the rumor is unfounded."
Ankhesenpaaten smiled in return, then became serious. "The king is dead, but not my...my father Akhenaten. It is the co-regent in Waset who has died."
"Then what is happening to King Akhenaten?" Khai asked. "Where is he being taken? He did not look as if he went willingly, despite his hurrying step."
"I do not know. You have heard nothing?"
"If my brother Smenkhkare is dead, then I can be king," Tutankhaten said brightly. "Does this mean we will be going down to Waset? Are we going to marry, Khese?"
"Hush, you silly..." Ankhesenpaaten caught herself. "Be circumspect, Tuti," she said calmly. "Let us wait and see what other news there is first. We need to find out what is happening to my father."
"I thought he was your husband now," Khai said. "But then you Kemetu change family relationships so often it is hard to know. Tomorrow, he will no doubt be your aunt...ow!" Hiknefer's hand cuffed his wooly-haired head.
"Keep a civil tongue in your head, Khai," the tall Nubian admonished. "Your pardon, lady, but I agree, we need to know what is happening here in Akhet-Aten. There may not be much we can do, but we should know the situation."
"There may be more I can do," Ankhesenpaaten reminded them. "I am queen, after all, and that must still mean something." She caught sight of a nobleman coming out of the Chamber of Justice. "Wait here," she ordered, hurrying down the corridor. "Lord Mahmose, a moment if you please."
The nobleman was standing by the door of the chamber with a group of men and women. He looked bemused, unsure what to do, but on hearing his name called, a look of relief crossed his face. He was a man happiest when told what to do.
"Ah, my lady...I mean your majesty. How may I be of service?" He gave a deep bow, edging away from his companions.
"Lord Mahmose, you were in the Chamber with the king, were you not? What happened in there? Where is my...husband going?"
The man looked uncomfortable and he looked up at the painted ceiling as if for inspiration. "Ah, General Psenamy brought news of the death...of the most unfortunate death of the co-regent Smenkhkare. It appears that he..."
"That much I know. The how and why of it can wait. What else did the general say? About my husband the king?"
"Ah...er, your majesty...ah, he...he is deposed. Or so I understood," Mahmose rushed on. "I suppose I could be mistaken. I do not have any real understanding..."
"Stop it!" Ankhesenpaaten stamped her sandaled foot, cutting off the flow. Heads turned, curious, and she moved closer to the nobleman, lowering her voice. "Just tell me exactly what was said by the general."
Mahmose flushed and stammered, finally getting a measure of control before starting again. "General Psenamy reported that co-regent Smenkhkare died on a hunting expedition. When the king gave him leave to go, he refused, saying...saying his rule had come to an end and that he would be imprisoned in the North Palace. The general stripped his majesty of the crown, crook and flail and marched him out."
"Did the general say anything about...about me or prince Tutankhaten?"
"Not about the prince, your majesty. The king asked whether you would be allowed to join him in prison..." Ankhesenpaaten gasped, partly in shock, partly in outrage. "...and the general replied he had other plans for you."
"Did he say what they were? Or what he planned to do next?"
"No, your majesty, save that he was escorting the king to the North Palace." Mahmose hesitated and stuttered again as he raised a topic that was seemingly now in everyone's minds. "Er...what will happen now, your majesty? If...er, if both kings are...are gone, who will rule us? Are we to...to see a queen rule over the Two Lands as in the days of Ma'atkare Hatshepsut?"
"Would that be so bad, Mahmose?" Ankhesenpaaten smiled grimly. "However, you may rest easy. I have no desire to rule as king. Besides, my husband has a brother, the prince Tutankhaten. He surely has the greatest claim to the throne of Kemet. Remember, he is the son of the great Nebmaetre Amenhotep himself."
"Ah." Mahmose nodded sagely. "A wise choice indeed your majesty. May it come to be so."
"A king needs a queen though, Mahmose, a royal wife," Ankhesenpaaten said softly. "Who can you suggest as a suitable queen for King Tutankhaten?"
Mahmose raised his eyebrows. "I, your majesty? Well, let me think." He frowned, stroking his chin with one hand. "There are not many royal women, unless we count the daughters of lesser wives and concubines."
"Let us not consider them. He needs a truly royal wife, one of the line of Amenhotep."
"There is your elder sister Meryetaten."
"She is barren. After the birth of her daughter Tasherit, she has not had another child to Smenkhkare in three years. A queen must be fertile. Who else is there?"
"Er, Beketaten?"
"Too old and too independent. She was infatuated with Smenkhkare and I cannot see her being subservient to a young king. Who else?"
"There is no-one else, your majesty."
"What of myself?"
"B...but you are already queen and married to...to the king, your father."
"He is king no longer. You just told me. And if he is not king, I am not queen." Ankhesenpaaten preened, smoothing her fine linen gown with her hands, gazing into the nobleman's eyes. "I am royal by birth, of the ancient line of Amenhotep. I am fertile, having borne a daughter already, and I am close to the age of prince Tutankhaten. Do you not think I am the logical choice, Lord Mahmose?"
Mahmose, caught between truth and expediency, bowed deeply. "I am your servant, your majesty. Tell me what to do and I will do it."
"You are a rich man, Lord Mahmose, one of the richest in Akhet-Aten. You know every family of influence here in the City of the Sun. I ask you to remember your princess Ankhesenpaaten and your prince Tutankhaten. Talk to others, persuade them, converse with the general and use all your gold and influence. You will not find the next king and queen of Kemet ungrateful. Think how high the house of Mahmose could rise in the land."
Greed flared in Mahmose's eyes. "Indeed, your majesty. It will be my pleasure to champion your cause. Surely you and the prince are the only hope for our poor lands." He bowed again. "With your leave, majesty, I will set about my business at once." Mahmose hurried off toward a small group of nobles that were leaving the palace.
Ankhesenpaaten smiled and nodded before walking sedately back to where her uncle and his two friends waited, the Nubians patiently, the young prince fidgeting and chattering.
"What happened, Khese? What did you talk about? Can we go now? I want to go and watch the soldiers."
"Yes, Tuti, I think you should go and do something more interesting, but it might not be a good idea to be near the soldiers just now. Why don't you go and practice your archery?"
"I don't want to," the boy whined. "I want to see the soldiers."
Ankhesenpaaten dragged the prince to one side and, gripping his arm tightly, leaned close and whispered fiercely, "Do you want to become king? Then you will do as I say, right now." The boy's eyes widened in shock and she forced a smile. "I really do love you, Tuti, and want what is best for you. Right now you need to be away from the soldiers. Will you do that for me?"
Tutankhaten nodded, still frightened of the girl. "Yes, Khese," he whispered.
Ankhesenpaaten nodded and released the prince's arm, stroking his shaved head and the black lock of hair on it. "Hiknefer, will you and Khai take the prince to archery and see he remains dutifully at his lessons? I ask this favour as queen."
Hiknefer smiled broadly, his teeth sparklingly white against the blue-black sheen of his skin. "Yes, your majesty."
Ankhesenpaaten watched as the three ran off until they rounded a corner and disappeared. Noticing the Under-Chamberlain of the Bed Linen nearby, she called him over.
"Nebre, find General Psenamy and bring him to me."
The Under-Chamberlain gulped. "Your majesty," he said, wringing his hands together. "I am merely in charge of the linen. A great general is not going to listen to me."
"Then you must make him listen. Tell him Queen Ankhesenpaaten commands...no, make that requests, Nebre. Tell him I request an audience with him in..." she thought quickly, dismissing the throne room and the Hall of Justice. She did not want to appear as queen to this man, yet somewhere informal like the gardens would put her at a disadvantage, make her appear empty-headed. She needed to present herself as a woman. "...in my rooms."
Nebre's agitation turned to shock. "My lady, you cannot receive a man in your rooms. It is not seemly."
Ankhesenpaaten raised one eyebrow and drew her slim thirteen year old body erect. "You are telling me what is seemly?"
"N...no, my lady, of c...course not," Nebre stuttered. "I merely wished to...to point out that..." His voice trailed off and he hung his head miserably. "I will do as you command, your majesty."
"Then go and do so, Nebre. You will find General Psenamy in the North Palace, whence he was escorting the king." She clapped her hands sharply. "Go, hurry."
Ankhesenpaaten turned on her heel and stalked back to the women's quarters and her suite of rooms. She called her maids to her and ordered them to prepare a bath, stripping off her linen gown which already felt soiled and tossing her wig onto a chair. While the water and scented oils were prepared, she used the flushing toilet so loved by Akhenaten. She sat and thought on her coming ordeal, knowing she must somehow find the balance between woman and child, showing she was mature enough to be a queen, not just of Akhet-Aten but of Kemet, yet young enough to be a true wife of the young Tutankhaten. She was sure neither Psenamy nor her grandfather Ay welcomed the possibility of another Hatshepsut. That woman had so completely dominated the young Tuthmosis that Kemet had come to hate her.
She flushed the basin, releasing a stream of pure water down the channel, before walking in to the bath chamber where she dipped herself in the cool, scented water then allowed herself to be patted dry on wool towels. Another gown, scents and unguents, a mere hour spent touching up her makeup, a freshly combed wig and a careful selection of jewelry and she was ready to face the general. If he comes , she thought. What if he does not ?
Ankhesenpaaten put that thought firmly from her mind and walked into the large room bordering on her bedroom. Ordering the servants, she arranged the furniture so that two padded couches were pulled close together near the balcony overlooking the Queen's Gardens and a small table, ebony inlaid with lapis and topaz, bore two of her favourite cups--blue faience with the handles being the winged goddess Auset. She smiled wryly as she remembered Akhenaten's anger when he first saw them. They had remained hidden lest they be removed and smashed, but she brought them out now. Hopefully they would help impress the general that she believed in other gods beside the Aten.
She sat on one of the couches and dismissed her servants, instructing them to notify her the instant Psenamy entered the queen's palace. Ankhesenpaaten relaxed, breathing slowly and calming herself. The day was heating and the air still and humid, the scents from the flowering shrubs mingling with her perfumes. She closed her eyes--just to relax--and dozed.
Voices in the corridor outside her apartments woke her. The shortened shadows told her it was near noon as she came instantly awake, her heart speeding up as excitement gripped her. A maid knocked on the wooden doors before opening them and putting her head round the edge.
"My lady, General Psenamy is outside. He wishes..." The maid broke off with a squeak of alarm as the general pushed past her and into the room.
Psenamy glanced round the room, ending with the young woman on the padded bench by the balcony. He grunted and walked into the middle of the room. "What nonsense was that bed linen servant spouting? He commanded me into the presence of the queen. I take it he meant you?"
Ankhesenpaaten forced a smile. "Welcome, General Psenamy. I apologize for the behavior of my servant. I shall discipline him. Meanwhile, please join me in a cup of wine for I really do need your help and advice." She clapped her hands softly. "Hatia, bring wine for my guest."
Psenamy shook his head. "I do not drink wine before the evening. It befuddles the mind."
"Then cool water, General. It is hot outside and I can tell you have been busy. Hatia, quickly now."
Psenamy opened his mouth to refuse but instead nodded and walked over to the balcony where he leaned with his back to the balustrade and stood looking at the queen. "Why did you call me here? If you think to plead for your husband it will do no good."
"General, you have done me a service," Ankhesenpaaten laughed lightly. "For all that Akhenaten is my father, I prefer him in your care to myself in his."
"Then why?"
"My father was king of Kemet and he started a grand enterprise. At least in the beginning it was, the power of the priests of Amun was too great. Raising the Aten to supreme god undermined that power and in a fashion restored Ma'at to the Two Lands. After all, we are all the children of Re and the Aten is but an aspect of Re. But then advisers counseled him falsely and his wits left him. He made the Aten the only god and attempted to kill the other gods. That was his only real sin. The Aten is but one god of Kemet and all gods should be given their measure of worship."
"Commendable sentiments," Psenamy sneered. "But this story of false advisers is not the tale I heard."
"Then you heard wrong," Ankhesenpaaten said sharply.
"And you are wasting my time." Psenamy pushed himself upright. "I have my duties to perform."
Ankhesenpaaten got up quickly and crossed to the general. "Forgive me, Psenamy. I did not mean to offend you. I can only plead female emotion at suddenly finding myself demoted from queen to nothing."
Psenamy huffed and looked away. "Far from nothing, lady," he muttered.
"Please, General. Stay with me a short while and advise me. Look, here is my servant with water cool from the river. Will you not take a cup with me?" Ankhesenpaaten took the tray from Hatia and set it down on the table, busying herself pouring water into one cup and watered wine into the other. She handed Psenamy his cup with a smile. "Do you like the cup, General? My husband never liked them, so I had to keep them hidden."
Psenamy turned the blue faience in his hands, nodding at the fine craftsmanship of the winged goddess handles. He raised it to his lips and took a long swallow of the water. "You have good water here, my lady."
"It is river water drawn from above the city. I am told it makes a difference." She sipped her wine, gesturing to one of the couches. When the general sat, she took her place on the other one, demurely arranging the pleats of her gown.
"What advice do you seek of me, lady?"
"I am only a woman and understand little of the ways of rulership and governing, but I hoped you could explain a few things for me."
Psenamy nodded. "If I can."
Ankhesenpaaten furrowed her brow and bit her lip gently
as if perplexed, but her eyes watched the general carefully through her long lashes. "If I understand correctly, Smenkhkare has been killed in a hunting accident and you have, for reasons that escape me...no, no, general, I'm sure they are good reasons...you have deposed my husband Akhenaten. Is...is that what has happened?"
"Indeed it has, my lady. You display a remarkable understanding for a woman."
Ankhesenpaaten made a show of being pleased. "Thank you, General. You do me much honour. But what will happen now? Kemet has lost both its kings. Who will ascend the throne?"
"There is only one living male member of Per-Aa. Tutankhaten must become king."
"Oh, but of course! Why did I not think of that?" Ankhesenpaaten laughed gaily, and then suddenly frowned. "But he is only a boy? Will that matter?"
"No, lady. There are experienced men who can support him until he comes of age."
"Ay, you mean?" Psenamy looked sharply at her and Ankhesenpaaten hurried on. "He would surely be the best choice. He has advised three kings already."
"Indeed. Who better?" Psenamy drained his cup and set it down on the tiled floor. "If that is all, my lady, I will be about my business."
"Please, Psenamy. One more question. One that concerns me much, I suppose because I think of womanly things." Ankhesenpaaten took a deep breath and looked the general straight in the eye. "So Tutankhaten will be crowned king but who will be his queen?"
"Eh? As you said, he is only a boy. Time enough to think of that later."
"Oh, I agree, Psenamy. There is plenty of time, but who will it be when the time comes? There are not many choices."
Psenamy looked at the young woman warily. "No? Then enlighten me. Who then, are the choices?"
"He must marry a royal princess of Kemet."
"Must? There is no great necessity, lady. Any young woman of good family will do. Look at the great Nebmaetre, marrying his Tiye, a commoner. And even the Heretic your father married Nefertiti, daughter of Ay." Psenamy smiled. "I'll warrant some nurse has fed you a tale of kingship being passed through the female line. It is not so, lady. A king will marry whom he chooses."
