Chapter One hundred and twenty seven: Attack of the Harpies
Kiya thought she would have trouble sleeping but she felt relaxed in her old room, surrounded by the finery of her life in the palace. Everything was as she had left it – the stands with their fine clothes, the dressing table with bottles of rich perfumes and creams, the beautiful wigs. It was as if she had returned to another world, far removed from the anxieties of this one.
She woke at dawn, rose from her bed, put on her old shift and tucked the star-metal javelin into her belt. There was no sign of life in the harem. She suspected that Laylos and Itet had stayed up talking far into the night and would sleep late.
There was still dew on the grass as she crossed the garden. She looked back at the house and saw a trail of her footprints, dark against the sparkling droplets. Soon the traces of her passing would disappear as the sun evaporated the moisture. With one last loving thought of her aunt, she turned and hurried away.
The army was already assembled in the huge, communal kitchen of the barracks. The men were seated at many long tables in the open air. They were eating porridge and bread and drinking beer. The cooks must have been up all night preparing such a meal, thought Kiya as she found a place upon a bench between two soldiers.
“What are you doing here?” grunted one of them.
“I am a soldier just as you are,” said Kiya, helping herself to bread.
“A whore after a free meal, more like,” said the other. But he filled her goblet from the jug of beer and gave her a good-natured wink when she thanked him.
Dennu sat at the head of one of the tables. Kiya craned her neck and could see Huy and Nakht seated on either side of him. She looked for Ana and Sabu, but there was no sign of them. Silence fell on the busy kitchen as Dennu rose to his feet. He was ready for battle, the wide leather straps across his chest decorated with bronze rivets and with a star-metal sword at his side.
“Welcome to you all. Eat and drink well, for it will be a long and challenging day. As you know, we have had warning that the city will soon be attacked by an army of monsters. Whence they come, and under whose command, are things that need not concern you. It is enough to know that Akhetaten is in grave danger and depends upon your strength and bravery for protection.” All around Kiya men stirred and gasped, surprised that the rumours had been proved true.
“The first wave of monsters are to be let through the city,” continued Dennu. “On no account must they be shown aggression or they will attack. Brigade One will be under my command at the temple. Brigade Two will be under Captain Huy's command at the riverside.” He indicated Huy, who stood up.
“My men will tackle any creatures who might come from the Nile,” said Huy. “We know of one and there may be others. A pit has been dug during the night into which severed heads can be contained.”
“Good man,” said Dennu. “The rest of the army will be under Lord Nakht’s command on the south side of the city ready to repel the second wave, which must be defeated at all costs.” He bowed to Nakht, who rose to his feet to address the assembled men.
He looked old, thought Kiya. Though he wore an expensive corselet of copper scales he looked more like an administrator than a warrior. When he spoke his voice was so weak it barely reached her table.
“Half my men will be deployed within the city until the vanguard has passed through. They will then rejoin the main army at the southern flank.”
Nakht sat down and Dennu once more took command. “Princess Ana and her war chariots will hold back, ready to charge where needed. Nomads will guard the cliffs and we are expecting archers to arrive from...” He broke off and stared upwards, his mouth still open and his eyes wide with surprise.
There was a screaming sound and dozens of winged creatures descended upon the tables. The air was full of whirring feathers and the sound of crashing crockery. Kiya raised her hands to protect herself from flying debris and, with a sinking heart, she realised that the attack had begun.
“Do not fight them!” The command from Dennu was echoed by others down the tables.
Kiya watched in disgust as the winged creatures threw food around and defecated on the dishes. Everything was being spoiled.
At first glance their attackers looked like large birds, but Kiya could see that they had been created by mixing the life forces of birds and humans. Their front ends were bare of feathers and on their chests were two rounded globes topped with nipples, like the breasts of young women. They had arms as well as wings and with these they were tearing and throwing bread and tipping over bowls of porridge and flasks of beer.
Most horrible of all were their heads which had the faces of ugly hags surrounded by tangled grey hair. One of the creatures peered at Kiya with the mad, round eyes of a raptor and then snarled at her, drawing back its withered lips to reveal pointed teeth.
The soldier standing next to Kiya drew his sword.
“No,” screamed Kiya, but she could not stop the fatal blow, which lopped off the hag’s head.
There was pandemonium as the creatures became aware of their companion’s death. They turned from despoiling the food and threw themselves at the surrounding soldiers. The fighting was fierce but brief and ended when the screeching flock rose into the air and flew away.
Many hags had been killed, their feathered bodies lay in the mess that had been breakfast. Thick, red blood mingled with beer, porridge and faeces in a disgusting mixture, the smell of which made Kiya want to vomit.
Soldiers too had been killed, their throats ripped out by sharp teeth and claws.
“That was an unnecessary sacrifice!” shouted Dennu from the dais. “Those creatures were after our food. They attacked only to defend themselves. Let this be a lesson to you. Keep tight discipline and attack only when commanded to do so.”
The soldier who started the fracas had paid with his life. He lay at Kiya’s feet, a gaping wound in his neck from which blood still pumped. His sightless eyes stared up to the sky. Kiya stepped over him. The time for grieving was after the battle.
Kiya and the God of Chaos Page 127
