by Max Overton
* * *
A few months later, I sent for Merysekhmet again, and asked him what had become of the girl Tiaa. He bowed to me and looked at me with compassion in his eyes. Instead of comforting me though, his pity tore my wounds open once more.
"I arranged a marriage between her and the heir of a vineyard near Iunu," he said. "You will be glad to hear she is already with child, and will never return to court."
"Is she happy?"
Merysekhmet looked at me strangely.
"I do not wish her ill," I explained. "Just gone from here."
"She is as happy as any other woman, I suppose. She has a husband, a little wealth, and a child on the way."
"Then she is happier than me."
I turned away, feeling my grief overwhelm me once more. Only a month ago, I lost my son. Three times now I have tried to bear my lord and husband a child, and three times I have failed, a boy, a girl, and now this last time another boy. I was assailed with doubts. Perhaps Seti would be better off with another wife, even that Tiaa. It was an agony in my breast as if a bronze spear plunged into my heart, but I may have to encourage him to marry another woman. A king must have an heir and I have not been able to give him one. I thought about it, and I saw I was mistaken to insist on being the only one. I can still be Great Wife, but I must allow my Bull of Heru to rut with other cows and perhaps bear him a bull calf. I wept, for the days of our youth were over and the world was a harsh place, even for a queen.
Chapter 10
Year 1 of Userkheperure Seti
Userkheperure Seti settled into his reign and started mapping out the things he wanted to accomplish in the years ahead. He was a young man and he had no reason to think the gods did not mean him to have a long and illustrious career like his grandfather Usermaatre. Almost everywhere he looked in Kemet reminded him of the great future that awaited him, though some things were less than perfect.
Not least of these was the continued coolness of his Great Wife Tausret. He had returned eagerly from the round of coronations and display of the king's person to the northern cities and towns, only to find her little changed. She still refused to lie with him, despite assurances from some physicians that ploughing the Queen's field while the crop was maturing would not harm it. Seti looked for the girl he had enjoyed before he went away, but she was gone and Merysekhmet was unaccountably vague about what had happened to her. He sampled a few other girls whose looks or inviting bodies aroused him, but none pleased him after his body's urgency had been satisfied. Putting his desires aside, he sought out the Tjaty once more to discuss the nature of his coming reign.
"There are many things that will attract your attention, Son of Re," Merysekhmet said. "You must beware of spreading your energies too widely."
Seti looked at his Tjaty through narrowed eyes, wondering if this was some reference to the several girls he had recently spent pleasant times with. "What things?"
"I'm sure you know them as well as I, Son of Re."
"No doubt, but enumerate them anyway."
"Your role as High Priest and Lawgiver is paramount."
"That goes without saying, Merysekhmet. Tell me of the other things by which my reign should be known."
"First you must honour the gods," Merysekhmet said. "I have drawn up a list of the temples and shrines that need repair, together with an approximation of the gold it will cost. It is somewhat more than is held in your treasury."
Seti grunted. "There are always ways to find gold. Go on."
"Hem-netjer Roma-Rui has added a number of cities and towns that he feels should be consecrated to Amun. That will involve extensive building."
"Perhaps Amun can be persuaded to contribute from his own overflowing coffers. I had better talk to Roma-Rui, I suppose."
"He has returned to Waset, Son of Re."
"Good, I will be spared the trouble then. He is a humourless man who cannot think beyond the furthering of his god. What else is there?"
"Pertaining to the temples, there is the priesthood and priestly rituals. There are a number of priests who do nothing but suck off the teat of the kingdoms. We should have capable, hardworking men in the priesthood. You, Son of Re, as chief priest of every god, should set an example by cleansing the local temples."
"Yes, approaching the gods in praise is the greatest honour a man can have. The priests must be worthy. Have a scribe draw up a memorandum. What else is there?"
"The Law is also important, Great One. You are often in the law courts and when you are not, your Tjaty shoulders the burden. However, most laws have been in place since the time of Nebmaatre Amenhotep or longer, and need revision."
Seti sighed. "That will be a tiresome occupation."
"I can draw up a list of the ones most in need of rewriting. I can have scribes trained in each facet of the law draw up suitable changes for you to look over."
"Do so, Merysekhmet. What else?"
"War. The Nine Bows are restive, the Hatti, the men of Retenu, the Ribu, the Sea Peoples. Possibly even the Kushites."
"Khaemter will look after the south. As for the north, well, I need to exercise the legions. Have my generals report to me, Merysekhmet."
"There is the ongoing problem of your brother Messuwy. It is unthinkable that he should be allowed to get away with ignoring you, Son of Re. He should be forced to kneel before you and beg your mercy."
"You'll have to find him first."
"I am certain Khaemter knows where he is. My spies have intercepted letters that could be construed as a dialogue between them."
"That is disturbing. Keep a close watch on Khaemter and see if you can find out where Messuwy is."
"Of course, Son of Re, but perhaps you should send out a royal command for Khaemter to appear before you and to bring Messuwy with him. Have them swear allegiance or throw them into prison."
Seti thought about it for a few moments and then shook his head. "Messuwy is my brother. I do not wish to openly show my distrust of him."
"Khaemter then? You have a right to the absolute loyalty of all your officials."
"He is openly loyal, but if I summon him, he may decide he has nothing to lose by rebellion. I'd rather just leave them both alone for now."
"As you wish, Son of Re. On a related note, the production from the Kushite gold mines is down again."
Seti looked at his Tjaty. "Why is that related?"
"Production was low when Messuwy was King's Son of Kush because bandits plundered the donkey trains coming from the mines. There was talk that the bandits were in the pay of a certain Sethi, military adviser to Messuwy. Whether or not that was true, the depredations eased when Messuwy was relieved of command, but have now fallen again."
"That is serious. We need that gold for my building program."
"More serious if Messuwy is stealing it again. Gold will buy many men for his cause."
"There is no proof of that, is there? That Messuwy would steal the king's gold?"
"Not as yet, Son of Re, but my spies are ever vigilant."
"Send word to Khaemter that I desire gold production to be increased and that it is his responsibility to guard both the mines and the gold caravans. If he thinks I am watching, he may be more reluctant to let others steal my gold. All right, what else?"
"Your tomb in the Great Field, Son of Re."
Seti frowned. "What of it? I had that message when my father died that there was a problem, but a mistake must have been made. When I was in the south, I found out there had been no problem after all."
"You have some good masons and artists in the Workmen's Village, and they accomplish much with the gold you have allocated to them, but now you are king you should be spending more. Have the size and grandeur of your final resting place increased. It is one thing to be Crown Prince, quite another to be Lord of the Two Lands."
"I will discuss it with the treasurer, and the Scribe of the Great Field, what's his name?"
"Kenhirkhopeshef, but he's an old man now."
"There
is nothing wrong with an old man being scribe. I think he was scribe under my father and grandfather, and if it is the same man, he will be experienced."
"That is true, Son of Re, but the men under him, the Foremen of the teams are at odds, I understand. One of them, Neferhotep, has an adopted son Paneb who often drinks and gets in fights with Hay, the Foreman of the other team."
"Is it affecting their work?"
"Not yet, but it is not a situation that can continue."
"I will look into it when I am next in Waset."
Tjaty Merysekhmet raised his eyebrows in surprise. "You are thinking of going south again?"
"Sooner or later. I am king of Ta Shemau as well as of Ta Mehu. I cannot appear to favour one kingdom over the other."
"Go in strength when you do, Son of Re. Trust no one."
"And what sort of comment is that on the love the people of Kemet have for their king?"
"The people love and respect their king. So do most of the nobility and priests. It is only a handful of the royal family members and high priests who bear you animosity. You know of whom I speak, so let me send the legions to arrest these men and restore Ma'at to the land. I don't mean just Messuwy and Khaemter, but the priests of Amun too."
"No. Those men must be given the opportunity to remain loyal."
Merysekhmet could plainly see that he was not going to sway the king, so he left the subject alone, turning it back to the northern borders and the more appealing subject of warfare. "You will have to settle with the Ribu and Sea Peoples soon, Son of Re, but the Kanaanites are of more immediate concern."
"Oh? What have you heard?"
"Rebellion, as in your father's time."
"Therefore I shall deal with it in like manner," Seti said grimly. "Though it pains me to kill men in such a dreadful way, it seems the Kanaanites have not learned their lesson. What legions have we at our disposal?"
"Ptah, of course, near Men-nefer, Re and Set on the northern borders, Heru at Per-Ramesses."
"More than enough. I'll take Set on a punitive expedition into Retenu, impale a few chiefs, lop a few heads, burn a few villages, capture a few slaves. A month should do it."
"Very good, Majesty. I'll send a messenger to alert Commander Iurudef that you are on your way."
* * *
Userkheperure Seti set off a few days later with a squadron of chariots for Per-Ramesses and beyond to the legions on the northern borders. Before he left, he called on Tausret to bid her farewell. He was hesitant, for she still grieved over the loss of their son, and was inclined to snap back at any injudicious remark. It was useless him assuring her that he felt the loss too, because the truth was he had formed no attachment to the dead child and had difficulty accepting it as a real person. 'Unformed clay on the potter's wheel,' he had been overheard to say, and the phrase, carried back to the queen, had provoked a burst of anger and renewed coolness.
"I am leaving, Tausret. I should be no more than a month, maybe two if the rebels put up a fight."
"I wish you joy of them, husband. Take no risks though, for Kemet needs its king."
"As the queen needs her king?"
"Of course, my lord."
"Yet you still do not allow me to bed you, although you are no longer..." Seti shrugged. "I am sorry. I know you do not believe I...I do love you, you know."
"I am, of course, yours to command, my lord. If you wish to bed me you have only to say so."
"A plague on it, Tausret. That is not what I want and you know it," Seti snapped. "You took joy in our coupling once, and it was my delight to plough your field all night long, but you have turned our bed into a dry and barren dustbowl where none can find pleasure."
"That is just it, Son of Re. I am effectively a barren field for I cannot give you a living heir. Though you have promised to keep me as Great Wife, a promise I will hold you to, you must look elsewhere for the mother of your son and heir. I should not be angry with you for seeking your pleasure in another woman's bed, but rather than bedding common women, you should marry again. It would not be seemly for you to have a son by a common woman."
Seti stared, his heart swelling in his throat and tears pricking his eyes. "I do not want to marry again, Tausret. I have you, and my Great Wife is all the wife I want. Relent and be again the wife of my youth, for I want you to be the mother of my heir."
"I thought perhaps Takhat. She is family and Kemet would accept her."
"Takhat? You want me to marry the mother of Messuwy? She is far too old to bear children anyway, even if I did desire her, which I don't."
Tausret laughed, a sharp bark devoid of amusement. "Not that Takhat. Her daughter, and your half-sister."
Seti frowned. "That's right, there is a daughter, but I do not know her, for I have not seen her since she was a child."
"She is in Per-Ramesses and is sixteen, ripe for marriage. See her when you pass by the city and if she finds favour in your eyes, marry her and beget an heir on her. Then your son will be born of royalty on both sides."
"I don't want her."
"I am told she is beautiful and probably fertile."
"Tausret, we can have other children. Some couples lose far more than we have and eventually bear strong healthy children."
"Perhaps, but you must have a son and heir. It is essential for the well-being of Kemet. Marry this girl, have a son by her and maybe we can try again if you still want to."
* * *
Seti gave his grudging promise to see Takhat when he passed through Per-Ramesses and departed Men-nefer, he and his chariot squadron being ferried over the Great River so they could take the East Road. They raced along the road, churning up clouds of dust and scattering farmers bringing their goods to market, flocks of sheep and goats and herds of wide-horned lowing cattle. Any yells of displeasure were quickly stilled when the people saw who drove the lead chariot and they fell to their knees in the dust and waited for the squadron to pass. Then they set off to gather their scattered animals and pick up vegetables and fruit spilled on the ground.
The squadron came into the outskirts of Iunu toward dusk, and while the squadron camped near a well, and feasted on roasted goats bought from farmers, Seti set off into the city to pay his respects to the gods in their temples and to attend a dinner with Wenefer, the governor of the city. Wenefer spared no expense, entertaining his king with the best foods, the finest wines and the most talented musicians and beautiful dancers. The noble women of the city, both married and unmarried, vied for their handsome young king's attention but Seti's heart was elsewhere and his thoughts concerned only Tausret, so they went home disappointed. Wenefer had prepared a comfortable bed for his king, but Seti preferred the company of his charioteers that night, and the hard sand and desert chill of the campsite.
They drove on the next day and arrived in Per-Ramesses two days later, having camped near small villages along the way. Though Seti was eager to wage a war of retribution against the men of Retenu, he was curious about his half-sister Takhat and ordered her into his presence in the Throne Room of the palace.
She was slim and of medium height, with features that spoke of their father Merenptah, rather than of her mother, but she had taken care in her dressing and cosmetics to show off her assets. Entering the Throne Room in the company of an elder aunt, Nebsitre, she advanced toward the king and prostrated herself before the throne. Seti had not been expecting such behaviour and quickly signed to the older woman to raise the girl up.
"Do you remember me, Takhat? From when we were children together, here in the palace of Per-Ramesses?"
"Yes, Great One," the girl murmured.
"Tausret Setepenmut, Great Wife and Lady of the Two Kingdoms recommends you. What do you say to that?"
"I...I don't...in what regard, Great One?"
"She believes I should take another wife. Not a Great Wife, you understand, for my beloved Tausret is that, but a secondary wife. Would you like to marry me, Takhat? Live with me in Men-nefer and bear my children?"
/> Takhat bowed low. "As...as my lord commands."
"You do not want this honour?"
Takhat flushed and bit her lip, looking at Nebsitre beside her.
The older woman sighed. "Forgive the girl, Son of Re. She has been immured far from the court for too long and has developed an infatuation for one of the many grandsons of Usermaatre. It is a girlish thing and something that would have been nipped in the bud if we had known of your Majesty's interest."
"She is still a virgin, though? Untouched?"
"Of course, Son of Re. It is only an infatuation. She has seen him from afar and been attracted to his good looks, nothing more."
Seti nodded. "So there is no objection to the marriage?"
"None whatsoever, Son of Re," Nebsitre said firmly. "You do the girl much honour."
"And that is what you want, Takhat? To be my wife and bear my children?"
"As my lord commands," Takhat whispered.
"Good, then that is settled. I am heading north into Retenu to dispense justice to some ungrateful tribesmen, but when I return, in a month or two, I will take you as my second wife. I will leave her in your care, Nebsitre. Make all the arrangements, and we'll have it on the first favourable day after my return."
* * *
The Set legion was in a state of readiness for the king's arrival and Commander Iurudef immediately ordered camp to be struck when the dust cloud from the chariot squadron was first sighted. Accepting a flask of water to wash the dust from his throat, Seti rode with Iurudef while the Commander told him of the latest intelligence gathered by his spies.
"Five hundred tribesmen, maybe a few more, gathered in the foothills three days away."
"You have a plan, Iurudef?" Seti asked.
Iurudef grinned. "I do, Userkheperure, and one that I think will meet with your approval." He quickly outlined his idea and his king nodded his agreement.
Three days later, at dawn, the men of the Ptah legion swarmed out of the rocky hills and fell upon the rebel camp, yelling and screaming and beating on their hide shields with the hafts of their spears. There was some fighting, but as the Kemetu soldiers had unaccountably omitted to close the circle before attacking, the bulk of Retenu tribesmen streamed away to the west, away from the hills and toward the broad flat plains.
