Fall of the House of Ramesses, Book 3: Tausret

by Max Overton

  "Son of Re..." Besenmut started, but was shouted down by Ament.

  "Unless this is what you believe, Son of Re, you must order his arrest."

  Siptah sighed and nodded. "I accuse no one," he whispered.

  "You heard the king. Guards, arrest Commander Besenmut and confine him to await the king's pleasure."

  The soldiers rushed forward and grabbed Besenmut, hustling him off toward the door while the other Councillors looked on with mixed reactions--some were horrified at what had just happened, others nodded their heads in agreement.

  "Will you have me killed too, Ament?" Besenmut yelled as he was dragged away. "Am I to be executed because I oppose your ambitions?"

  "What about you, Emsaf?" Ament asked as Besenmut's cries were cut off by the closing doors. "Everyone knows you were a confidant of the traitor Bay."

  Commander Emsaf shook his head and seemed to shrink in his seat, as if to distance himself from his recent claims.

  Ament looked around again. "Is there anyone else who believes Queen Tausret has acted improperly?"

  "No one doubts the Queen," Setnakhte said. "I am satisfied she acted properly here."

  "You all agree that Bay was executed under law? By order of the king?"

  Siptah stared at Ament again, but said nothing. The Councillors looked at one another and slowly began to nod, offering their agreement.

  "Then let a proclamation go out to all of Kemet, to every village, town and city between the southern borders of Kush and the borders with the Hittite, from the Ribu in the west to the desert tribes in the east. Let it be known that King Akhenre Siptah, Life! Prosperity! Health! issues this proclamation, dated in the royal palace of Men-nefer, on this twenty-seventh day of Shemu III, Year Five of the reign of Akhenre Siptah, Life! Prosperity! Health! that this day he has killed the Great Enemy Bay."

  There was a profound silence in the throne room, broken only by the quiet sobbing of the king.

  Chapter 37

  Akhenre Siptah speaks:

  It has come to pass as my Uncle Bay said it would. The Queen Regent and her dog have acted coldly and viciously to kill those closest to me and isolate me from the affections of my subjects and the protection of those whom I relied upon. My uncle Bay is dead, struck down by the Regent's dog himself, using a warrant that bore my seal but did not reflect my will. Yes, it has all the right phrases written upon it, but I know...I think...no, I know that the phrases that carried death were not there when I affixed my seal. They were added later, but how can I prove that? Even if I could prove it, to whom would I take my concerns? Bay is dead, Commander Besenmut is dead, and any others who had crowded around the throne in the hopes of favour or advancement have fled.

  I am alone and afraid.

  Yes, I know that it could be said I have brought this on myself. I could have refused to countenance the killing of Seti-Merenptah, but I was fighting for my life. The way Bay told it, the Regent was about to tip me off the throne and consecrate her own son in my place. A King of Kemet does not step down, and if he is removed from the throne his life span is reckoned in days. Look what happened to my father, Menmire Amenmesse. He was a legitimately anointed king, yet he was toppled and then killed. That would have been my fate too, if I had not acted. I had no choice; it was Seti-Merenptah's life or mine. It grieves me though that my Uncle Bay, my only close family member, had to pay the price, but he offered up his life for his king, sacrificed his own life for mine.

  I honour him for it and would give him a royal burial if I could. He has a fine tomb in Ta-sekhet-ma'at that could swiftly be prepared for him, but his body is lost. Not content with murdering him, the Regent's dog threw his body in the river for the crocodiles and fish to eat. How can Bay possibly live again in the Field of Reeds without a body, without the necessary ceremonies and offerings. His shade will wander homeless and wailing for eternity.

  I wake up in the night, tears streaming from my face, for he comes so often into my dreams, showing me his wounds and silently demanding justice. I would give him justice, but I don't know how. Before, I was a powerless king with a champion, someone to fight for me. Now I am just a powerless king.

  Oh, the servants obey me readily enough--with the little things at least. If I command obedience on anything of note, though, they bow and hurry away to the Regent, and she gives me permission or not, as if I was a servant like them, and not a king. I am still required to lead the dawn services to the gods, for as king I am High Priest of every god, and I still sit in judgment in the law courts, but Tjaty Mentu relieves me of most of my duties there.

  Queen Tausret came to see me unbidden the day after the Council meeting.

  "You need to know what will now happen," she told me without preamble. She also did not use any of my titles or honorifics. "As you know, the agreement that you become king was a temporary affair that would last until my son Seti-Merenptah was old enough to assume the throne alongside you. He was your heir, and in due time would become sole king. Until the time of his ascension to the throne, I would act as Regent, making decisions for you and him. It was my intention that I would resign the regency at the end of this year and allow the two kings to rule in their own names.

  "That has all changed," she went on. "I will not now resign the regency, but continue to rule Kemet in your name."

  "If I was capable of ruling before, I am capable of ruling now," I pointed out.

  "And I say not."

  "I am nearly sixteen floods old," I said. "Old enough to be sole king. There is no reason for you to remain as regent."

  "Except that I cannot trust you."

  I stared at her, feeling righteous anger grow in me. "You doubt the word of your king?"

  She smiled coldly. "I doubt the word of a boy who can be swayed by treasonous words. I doubt the word of a king who would sanction the slaughter of an innocent child."

  "So what is to become of me?" I demanded.

  "You will remain king for now, and I will continue to rule for you. You will carry out such priestly and kingly duties as I deem you are capable of performing. More than that, I will have to see."

  She left me then, and I have been afraid ever since. I am to remain king 'for now', whatever that means. I fear it is what I think it is--that she means to raise up another to sit on the throne of Kemet in my place. But who is this incipient king? I can think of no one that has a claim to the throne, no one in the line of Baenre Merenptah. She must mean to look further afield then--among the numerous descendants of Usermaatre Ramesses. I cannot find out, for whom can I trust enough to ask?

  What can I do? Queen Tausret plainly wants me to remain a figurehead, a king in name only while she rules Kemet and looks for my replacement. She wants me to remain a lonely and frightened boy; reliant on her servants and dogs, having no power of my own, but can I do anything else? I have few resources and no friends...yet, I am king. Surely even a figurehead king has some power? I can perform my duties to the best of my abilities, converse with the priests of every temple, show myself to be a man who holds the gods in high regard, and be as generous as I am able to every temple. I must show myself to be a good king, merciful and just in all my actions.

  Such a plan is good, but it lacks one essential component--a king must be a fit and active man. During the festivals, a king is supposed to carry the paraphernalia of the god and run ahead of the god's barque during the holy processions through the city, but with my withered leg that is an impossibility. Up until now, I have had to forego that aspect of kingship or have another stand in for me. When the people see a weakling playing the part of king, they lose confidence in me, so I must do something to restore that confidence.

  I cannot go to war, leading my armies into battle, for Tausret would not allow it--and Kemet is at peace right now--but there is something else. I can hunt, but not just any beast. I must hunt the royal lion, subdue it with an act of bravery that will raise my standing in the eyes of all men. My withered leg will mean nothing if I can show people that de
spite this infirmity I am a strong and capable huntsman, worthy of leading my people.

  Perhaps then I can make a case for ruling alone.

  Chapter 38

  Year 6 of Akhenre Siptah

  The inundation was late that year. Some eight days into the second month of Akhet, the Great River still flowed sluggishly with only a slight stain of discoloured water that was the harbinger for the flood that everyone looked for. Along with that stain came the news that Siptah was awaiting, a response to the word he had sent out to all the huntsmen of all the cities and towns within a three day barge trip from the capital. 'Search for lion' had been the command, and now word had come in from the Overseer of the Hunt in Henen-nesut on the eastern bank. Two male lions were wreaking havoc on the royal herds.

  For a moment, Siptah toyed with the idea of sneaking out of the palace, but knew he risked humiliation if he tried and was caught. There was only one thing for it--he would have to try and convince the Regent to let him go. On past experience, it was unlikely she would let him hunt such dangerous beasts, but then again, he was older now and more accomplished. He set off to find the Queen and found her sitting with Ament under the shade of a blossoming tree in the palace gardens.

  "Son of Re," Tausret said pleasantly as the king limped toward her. "It is good to see you outside. Will you sit with me?"

  Ament rose to his feet and indicated the bench he had been sitting on. "Majesty."

  Siptah sat down, not so much because he desired to sit next to the Queen, but because his leg pained him. Also, standing in the presence of the seated Regent lessened his status.

  He came straight to the point. "Lady, I have received news that lions are plaguing the royal herds in Henen-nesut."

  "Yes, we had heard the same," Tausret said. "I was just suggesting that Commander Ament should go there and kill them."

  "They are royal beasts, Lady, and should be killed by a king."

  "I daresay neither the cattle nor the herders will care who kills them," Ament said. "Majesty," he added as an afterthought.

  "I would like to hunt them," Siptah declared.

  Tausret looked at him for what seemed like a long time. "Have you come seeking my permission?"

  Siptah clenched his jaw and looked away. "I should not have to seek permission from anyone to hunt in my own lands."

  "I still rule Kemet in your name, and for your benefit. It does not hurt to ask."

  "Lady, I have said I would like to hunt them. If you have little regard for the king of Kemet, you will refuse permission, but if you truly believe I am king, you will wish me good fortune."

  "May the gods go with you," Tausret murmured.

  Siptah's eyebrows rose. "You mean..."

  "Providing you take due care, I have no objection if you go hunting lion."

  Siptah leapt up and almost fell as his leg lurched beneath him. Despite his determination to appear serious and calm, he grinned as he stammered his thanks.

  "Do not thank me, Son of Re," Tausret said. "You are king and it is high time you hunted a lion."

  **

  The king's barge pulled out of the swift current and into a backwater in the lee of the eastern shore. Henen-nesut sprawled untidy from the low hills down to the water's edge, where a crowd was gathering by the city docks. The captain of the barge rapped out his orders and the rowers tugged once more on their oars and then raised them aloft, the water streaming from the red-painted wood. Perfectly timed, the barge surged forward and then lost way, drifting slowly in toward the dock. Sailors leapt ashore, carrying ropes, and secured the vessel as it delicately nudged the wooden dock. Woven linen ropes protected the paintwork on the royal barge, and now city men ran forward bearing lengths of brightly coloured cloth to drape over the sides of the barge to welcome their young king.

  Siptah leaned on his cane and limped toward the gangplank. He hesitated for a moment and then plunged ahead down its short but narrow length, reaching the firmness of solid ground before he could lose his balance and risk humiliation. The city governor greeted him as did the High Priest of Heryshef, the ram-headed Ruler of the Riverbanks, whose temple dominated the city.

  "Greetings, Son of Re," said the Governor. "I was about to send out huntsmen to rid ourselves of the lions when I heard your Majesty was on the way here. We are honoured that you would attend to this matter yourself."

  "I will need your huntsmen to guide me," Siptah said. He looked up at the sun to judge how much daylight was left. "Tomorrow morning at dawn."

  "I am delighted that you will be able to sample our hospitality tonight, Son of Re."

  "And perhaps you might offer at the temple of Heryshef?" asked the High Priest.

  "Of course. I shall do that now."

  Siptah limped, leaning on his cane, up the low hill to the temple of Heryshef and through the first pylon. The forecourt was small, and Siptah went further in with the High Priest beside him, through the second pylon and into the multi-columned hypostyle hall. Here, columns carved in the form of lotus stems topped with carved lotus blossoms supported the heavy stone ceiling, dimming the afternoon light to a dusky gloom. The public figure of the god awaited him here at the entrance to the shrine itself, a gigantic stone statue of a man, ram-headed and crowned. Siptah paused and then passed through into the torch-lit Holy of Holies where the priest presented him to the god, smaller and sheathed in gold. The king stood here in the presence of the god for some time, communing in silence--god to god--while the priest waited in silence. At last, Siptah finished and after bowing respectfully to the presence of Heryshef, limped out again into the late afternoon sunshine.

  The Governor had ordered preparations to be made for a feast at his residence, where the officials and overseers of the city of Henen-nesut awaited the arrival of the king. The long drawn-out series of introductions was hurriedly brought to a close only when the king stifled a yawn. They moved on to the feast, with the city and surrounding farmland offering the finest produce the area could find.

  Roasted beef, mutton and lamb was on the top of the menu, along with goose, duck, and a number of dishes that involved shredding the meat and cooking it with onions, leeks, garlic and a variety of spices. Siptah complimented the Governor on the cooks within his palace and arranged for the recipes of some that most took his fancy be sent to Men-nefer. Sweet dishes followed, tarts and puddings made from dates and figs mixed with honey and spices, pastes made from lentils and beans smeared on crusty bread fresh from the ovens, cheese and goose egg custard. Wine was in plentiful supply, as was beer, milk and fresh cool river water.

  Siptah left the feast early, being tired after his day's activities, and wanting to be up early for the hunt. He was escorted to the Governor's own rooms, where the cool night breezes off the river provided a pleasant sleeping environment. The king slept without disturbance and awoke in the pre-dawn darkness. After bathing, dressing and being suitably perfumed and made-up by the Governor's servants, Siptah ate a light meal and was out in the palace courtyard, ready for the day, just as the first of the sun's rays tipped the tops of the palace in rosy and gold hues.

  The king had arrived in Henen-nesut without hunting companions, as Siptah lacked friends, and in the aftermath of his uncle's demise, no longer felt he could fully trust the young men who hung about the court and offered up sycophantic platitudes. Some of the young men of Henen-nesut clamoured for the honour of joining the king on his hunt, and Siptah nodded his agreement, selecting Mentek, son of the Overseer of the City Granaries, and Raia, son of the Governor's Head Scribe. Both young men bowed deeply and then smirked at their companions who had not been selected.

  Siptah led the hunting party out of the city, driving the royal hunting chariot which had been unloaded from the barge overnight. Mentek and Raia drove chariots of their own, and behind them trotted a detachment of soldiers, royal and local huntsmen, and a small procession of wagons containing everything the king could possibly need for a hunt likely to last for two or three days.

  The
huntsmen had informed the king that the lions had recently made a kill some three hours from the city, and such was Siptah's desire to get to grips with the beasts that he pushed his horses on and rapidly outdistanced his companions, with the exception of Mentek and Raia, and two huntsmen that had leapt onto their chariots when they saw them drawing away. Hours passed and the heat grew, but apart from one short stop to drink, they did not pause. Dust stuck to their sweat and caked their bodies, but Siptah revelled in it, welcoming the hardship. He felt the need to push himself, to make his mark once and for all.

  I am sixteen now, he thought. It is time I became the true king of all Kemet and these lions will be the perfect way to show them I am ready.

  One of the huntsmen now called ahead to the king and pointed off to one side. The king stopped and the huntsman bowed and pointed again.

  "Over there, majesty. Where the pasture gives way to scrub. They made a kill two days ago."

  They drove the chariots closer, then tied the horses to low scrub and walked over to an area of flattened and bloodstained grass and sand where the kill had taken place.

  "See here, majesty, where one lion sprang onto the bull...and here where the bull ran, staggering under the weight of the lion. See his paw print, majesty? He is old and lame in the front left foot. And here..." the huntsmen ran a few paces, casting about and acting out the drama that had taken place. "Here the second lion waited and took the bull by the nose, bringing him down. He is younger and appears uninjured. They started to eat him here and then dragged the carcass this way...into the scrub and down here...toward that gully."

  The huntsmen stopped and pointed toward an eroded gully choked with huge boulders. "We followed and saw the hindquarters of the bull poking out from behind a boulder, majesty, but when we moved closer, we heard this deep growl and knew the lions were laid up close to their kill and were watching us. So we came away and reported it."