The Amarnan Kings, Book 2: Scarab - Smenkhkare

by Overton, Max

  When the priests had eaten their fill, the sailors were served, and then the servants had their turn at the bread and vegetable stew, fried fish fresh from the river and thin, sour beer. Khu took two servings back to Scarab by the eastern railing and squatted beside her. Wordlessly, he held out the bowl of food and a mug of beer.

  Scarab took the food with a smile and ate hungrily. When they had finished she motioned Khu to stay and picked up the bowls and mugs, taking them back to the cooking fires and the buckets of water, to wash them out. She kept her ears tuned to the snippets of conversation around her, and when she returned to Khu in the starlit darkness of the night, she was grinning.

  "We are stopping at Akhet-Aten. The priests think Akhenaten was on that barge we passed and they want to know why he travels to Waset."

  The moon rose, casting a weak silvery path over the rippling water just before they saw the lights of the city. Mooring at a vacant dock was a tricky business in the darkness, but the sailors were experienced and the task was accomplished with no more than a single jarring shock and two oar blades snapping. Ephenamen organized the priests and as soon as the gangplank was down, marched them off into the city. Because of the lateness of the hour, few people were near the docks and the sight of priests of Amun in the city of Aten did not excite as much interest as might be expected.

  Scarab and Khu sauntered over to the gangplank but were turned away by a guard. "Nobody goes ashore," he said in a bored voice. "The priests will be back soon and we leave then."

  They wandered back to their position by the railing and leaned close to each other, Scarab whispering, "We'll have to go over the rail, and soon. It won't take those priests long to find out Akhenaten has not left the city."

  Khu stared down at the dark lapping water with distaste. "If we have to," he grumbled. He scanned the barge, noting the huddled mass of servants preparing for sleep, the sailors sitting around waiting for the return of the priests, and the guards. Looking toward the stern, he saw the only relatively deserted part of the boat. "We'll have to leave through the latrines."

  Picking up their small bundle of clothing, he walked casually to the stern, followed a few moments later by Scarab. The latrines were used by both sexes as Kemetu were used to the naked human body and bodily functions were regarded as quite normal. Two sailors were present when they walked behind the low screens that divided the latrines from the rest of the boat. The screens served the purpose of deflecting any smells that might waft from the area, rather than protecting the privacy of the occupants. A framework of timber hung out over the side, with a chair suspended over the water. A hole cut in the seat allowed for the elimination of waste in such a way as to not soil the sides of the barge.

  The sailors talked as they urinated, two curved streams splashing into the water below. They did not even look up as Scarab and Khu entered, merely shaking their members dry and leaving.

  "We've got to go silently," Khu said. "Lower yourself into the water rather than jumping in."

  Scarab nodded and slipped her kilt off, standing naked in the darkness.

  "What are you doing?"

  "I want my kilt to remain as dry as I can and unsoiled by anything we may touch as we leave," Scarab murmured. "I can swim holding my kilt out of the water."

  "Good thinking," Khu agreed, taking off his own kilt and adding it to his bundle. He pointed to a mooring rope coiled by the screens. "I'll lower you first." Fastening one end to the railing, he lowered the other end into the water. Scarab climbed over the rail and gripped the rope, going down hand over hand before slipping into the cold water. She floated, holding her kilt out of the water, and looked up at the dark shadow that was Khu, framed against the starlit heavenly body of the goddess Nut.

  The rope shook, then began to rise as it was pulled upward. "What are you doing?" she hissed. Khu did not reply but continued pulling until the rope disappeared entirely. Moments later, two ropes snaked down to the water and soon afterward, she saw Khu's naked body just above her. He slipped into the water and grinned.

  "What were you doing with the ropes?" Scarab asked, kicking gently with her legs as the gentle current tugged her away from the shore.

  "I realized if we left the rope tied to the railing, someone might notice we had left." He tugged sharply on one of the ropes and the other flicked up. "So I looped it instead of tying it." The rope flew free and splashed into the water beside them, sinking rapidly out of sight.

  Holding his own bundle out of the water as best he could, Khu worked his way along the barge. Scarab followed, stifling a cry as something live brushed her leg. Not a crocodile , she realized with a gust of relief. Probably just a fish or an eel . The water shallowed rapidly and they stood in the mud with the water still up to their waists, contemplating the open area they would have to cross to reach the relative safety of the shadowed streets. To make matters worse, the few lights at the head of the dock lit the area and anyone watching from the dock or the barge would be sure to see them.

  "If you can't hide, be obvious," Scarab murmured. She took Khu's hand and waded out of the river onto the bank, clambering onto the open area sloping up to the darkened streets. As Khu joined her, she put her arm about his wet, naked body and walked slowly into the light, keeping her back turned toward dock and barge. She moved slowly, as if she had not a care in the world, exaggerating the movement of her hips. Glancing toward Khu, she saw him struggling to keep calm, his body betraying the turmoil in his mind. "Just pretend we are lovers, out for a stroll on the river bank," she whispered.

  The challenge came, a loud shout followed by a chorus of ribald remarks from the sailors.

  "Ignore them," Scarab said calmly. "Walk slowly," she hissed as Khu started to move faster. She pulled him to a halt then threw her arms around his neck, pulling his head down and kissing him. The catcalls and whistles of appreciation grew louder. Without looking toward the barge, Scarab gave them a rude gesture and resumed her slow gyrating walk toward the shadows, laughter following them as they disappeared into the darkness of the street.

  "Oh gods," Khu muttered. He leaned against a mud brick wall, breathing hard. Refusing to face Scarab, he struggled to wrap his kilt about him, taking rather longer at it than normal. He jumped when Scarab lightly touched his arm.

  "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, Khu, but it was necessary. You mean a lot to me and I would not hurt you for the riches of Kemet but the best way to hide is to be out in plain view. Those men did not see anything suspicious, just two young lovers."

  "So...so what's next," Khu asked, his voice unsteady.

  "The palace. We have to try and find Akhenaten."

  "I don't imagine we are going to get in to see him dressed like this." Khu fingered his rough weave kilt and glanced at Scarab, hurriedly looking away again as he realized she was still naked.

  Scarab smiled, a touch sadly, at his reaction. "You've seen me naked before, Khu, and I've seen you naked. Why does it embarrass you now?"

  The young man hung his head and looked down the street, away from the naked girl beside him. "Seeing is one thing," he muttered. "But you held me close and kissed me as a lover. You are a princess, my lady, and I am just the son of a dirt farmer. It is not right and...and I don't know what..." He broke off and took several deep breaths. "Forgive me, lady, I am thinking thoughts that are not proper."

  Scarab shook her head gently before slipping her kilt around her waist. "Khu, you are a dear friend but you are also a handsome young man. Can I be blamed for taking a kiss, even if it was necessary to elude our enemies? Please do not think less of me for it."

  "Less?" Khu whirled and confronted her. "I think less of myself for lacking control. I would do anything for you, my lady, even die for you."

  "Let us hope it won't come to that. Now, I think we had better get to the palace. We can probably slip in as servants and when we find the king, we can change into our gowns."

  Entering the king's palace in Akhet-Aten was less difficult than they imagined. The
palace was in an uproar with all authority gone, the chamberlain and nobles striving to maintain order, but the servants giving only cursory obedience before hurrying off on errands of their own. Scarab and Khu came in through the kitchens, carrying empty baskets found outside. Putting them down, they tried to look busy, moving things or dusting objects with a cloth whenever anyone came close. They strained their ears to hear what people were saying.

  "Tutankhaten's not here," Khu said, after two nobles had walked past them, arguing loudly. "He's gone down to Waset to be crowned co-regent."

  "We suspected that, but where is Akhenaten? I cannot believe the palace would be so chaotic if he was here."

  "Do you think we can make it to the king's apartments--wherever they are?" Khu looked up and down the corridors. "At this time of night, he'd be there if anywhere."

  Scarab led the way, wending a path through the maze of rooms and corridors, into the great palace. Before long they stood outside the king's apartments, standing alone outside the doors. There was no sound, and no guards outside. A single torch burned in a wall sconce a few paces down the corridor.

  "He's not here." Scarab pushed open the door of the suite to reveal chambers clothed in darkness. "Where can he be?"

  "We'll have to ask somebody and hope they don't recognise you."

  They walked quickly back into the main halls and headed for the servants' areas, avoiding any nobles or officials they saw. Nearing the kitchens again, they came across a young girl carrying a load of old bed linen.

  "'Oo are you?" she asked. "I 'aven't seen you before."

  "We're new," Scarab replied. "We are supposed to be serving the king but we don't know where he is. Can you tell us?"

  "Ee, listen to 'er stuck up voice. Where you from then, ter talk like that?"

  "Waset. We were servants in a temple there and the priests sent us up as a gift for the king. You must know of the barge that arrived tonight."

  "Nah, they don't tell me." The girl shrugged, her bare breasts rising and falling in a way that mesmerized Khu. "You look pretty ratty though. Are them your best kilts? The king won't like you being dirty."

  Scarab nudged Khu hard in the ribs. "Keep your mind focused," she muttered. "We'll clean up before we see him, but where is he?"

  "North Palace, don't ya know nuthin'? 'E's under guard by troops from Waset." The girl regarded Khu with a sparkle in her eye. "Come an' find me after. I be Wai an' I works in the washroom." She turned and hurried off.

  "Nice girl," Khu commented, watching her walk.

  Scarab rolled her eyes. "The North Palace it is then."

  "What about these troops guarding him? They must be Ay's men."

  Scarab led the way out of the palace and into the Great Royal Road that ran the length of Akhet-Aten. The city lay dark and silent under the moon that glowed like polished electrum in the clear night sky. They started north, past the huge open portico of the temple of Aten. Looking in, they saw a huge open area silvered by the moonlight, the many carvings of Akhenaten that lined the walls standing like alien watchmen, hooded eyes dark over carved inscrutably smiling lips.

  "It's more open and honest than the dark temple of Amun," Khu muttered. "But the god is distant and unconcerned with men. At least Amun speaks to men."

  "The Aten only ever spoke to one man, my brother Akhenaten." Scarab turned away from the temple and started toward the North Palace once more. The streets were almost deserted, save for a drunk staggering out from a side street, looking blearily around him and moving back into the darkness. A dog ceased its scratching to follow the young man and woman, its tail signaling hope that slowly died as the streets passed and no food was forthcoming. At length it sat on its haunches and barked once as if in reprimand, before resuming its teeth-baring hunt for vermin.

  The palace loomed out of the night at last, the guards at the main gates shadows backlit by the fire burning in the guardroom. The walls of the palace compound stretched into the darkness on both sides, too high to scale and offering no place of entry.

  "We're not going to get past them," Khu said gloomily.

  "There's another way. Remember I left this palace at night when I discovered Ay's plot--his first plot." Scarab led the way along the shadowed street that skirted the wall, heading further north. She pointed at another opening in the wall, guarded by a single figure lounging against the wall, apparently picking his nose. "The servant's entrance. We should be able to get in there."

  "He'll just let us in?" Khu's voice resonated with doubt.

  "Well, we are servants." Scarab thought for a moment then held out her hand. "Give me the bundle of clothes." She unwrapped the garments still damp from the river and shook out her gown and Khu's ceremonial robe. "It'll have to do. Follow me."

  The guard looked up from his studied contemplation of a dried piece of mucus to see a young man and woman walking slowly toward him, talking in low voices. He flicked his hard-won trophy away and pushed himself away from the wall, blocking their way.

  "'Oo are you, then? What are you doing out so late?"

  Scarab broke off her supposed conversation and turned toward the guard. "You don't remember me from earlier this evening?" She sniffed loudly. "I am insulted."

  The guard grinned. "I only came on an 'our ago. That must 'ave been Menes you saw. I wouldn't forget a beautiful girl like you." He leered, running his gaze over Scarab's body.

  Scarab preened, thrusting out her breasts and dipping her head in what she hoped was a gesture of coyness. "Mm, I can see now I was mistaken. You are much manlier than the other one. What's your name?"

  "User-Re. And yours?" The guard ran his hand over Scarab's arm, the back of his fingers brushing her breast. Khu growled softly and moved closer. User-Re's eyes narrowed and his hand moved toward the sword in his belt. "And 'oo might you be?"

  "He's my brother. Don't mind him, he's a bit simple in the head but he means no harm." Scarab thrust the damp clothes into Khu's arms and pushed him toward the gate. "Take these in and let me talk to this nice man. I'll be along in a few minutes." Khu stumbled off, risking a look back as he went through the gate and turned the corner. He saw Scarab standing close to the guard.

  "What's yer name?" User-Re asked, his voice rough and his eyes gleaming.

  "Nefer."

  "Beautiful, eh? Well named." He moved closer and stroked Scarab's arm again. "'Ow about it? We could 'ave a quick one up against the wall 'ere in the shadows." His hand dropped and he flipped his kilt aside, exposing himself. "All ready for you, eh?"

  Scarab laughed. "Later, User-Re. My mistress will skin me if I'm late back with her gown."

  "Yer brother's got it," User-Re said sulkily. "'E'll take it to yer mistress. I could still give yer a quick one."

  "I told you my brother's simple. He'll stand in the hall all night waiting for me and my mistress will be screaming the walls down." Scarab smiled and walked her fingers up User-Re's arm. "Besides, why should I have a quick one when I can have you all night? What time do you get off duty?"

  User-Re swallowed noisily and adjusted his kilt. "Midnight."

  "Then wait for me, my big man." Scarab turned and ran lightly in through the gate and almost knocked Khu over in the darkness.

  "Simple am I?" Khu growled. "You couldn't think of a better story?"

  "It worked, didn't it?" She shuddered and glanced back toward the gate. "I need a bath. I can still feel that man's hands on me."

  "I thought I was going to have to kill him. I wanted to."

  Scarab flashed a quick grin. "I'm just glad men think the way they do. It makes them easy to manage." She put a hand on her friend's arm. "Not you, Khu. You're different."

  Khu allowed himself to be persuaded. He shook out the clothing he had crammed under one arm and handed one to Scarab. "Time for these?" he asked.

  Scarab held up her gown and examined it critically in the light from the open doorway to the servant's wing of the palace. "I had intended to wear these to gain access to Akhenaten, but I don't th
ink they will do." She flicked at a large smudge of dirt on one shoulder and grimaced at a tear in the front.

  "And who might you be?" A high-pitched voice had them jerking round toward the doorway. A large, fat man stood blocking the entrance. Clothed in a gown that stretched from his waist almost to the floor, the folds of his stomach and breasts, together with rolls on his cheeks and neck, gave him the appearance of a gluttonous child, despite a few wisps of gray hair above his ears. His voice further confused the picture, being that of a young adolescent in tone and timber, but of an adult in content. A petulant expression crossed his face, decided it liked the neighborhood and settled in for the evening.

  "The Aten knows I have enough to do around here without two grubby urchins wasting my time. Who are you and what are you doing here? Smartly now, before I call the guard."

  "Sethos, overseer of the kitchens, a eunuch," Scarab murmured out of the corner of her mouth before bowing toward the fat man. "Lord Sethos," she continued out loud, "My brother Khu and myself...my name is Nefer...were sent from the main palace to help attend on the king. At your direction of course," she added hurriedly.

  Sethos beckoned them into the light and looked them over slowly, waddling around them, a sneer on his face. "And who sent you?"

  Scarab racked her brains, covering her lack of knowledge of the current members of the court with another bow. "The chamberlain, Lord Sethos. I cannot remember his name as we are just arrived from Waset, but he picked us out to come and give you our service."

  "Wenner." Sethos looked as if he had a mouthful of vinegar. "That misbegotten son of a...never mind." He smiled craftily. "I shall see to it that the king hears of his generosity." Shaking his head, Sethos ordered Scarab and Khu to follow him and led them into the bowels of the kitchen, wheezing and sweating. "Put your rags over there." He pointed to a pile of sweepings and refuse, waiting until they had tossed their gowns aside.