by Overton, Max
"Always give the impression you are in command, Mintu. Men who are unsure of themselves are more likely to fail."
Any men they met on the way they cautioned to get inside immediately. There were not many as the silence in the city and the presence of armed soldiers warned those sober enough to pay attention that something was amiss. They neared the North Palace when the tramp of feet ahead of them and the wavering light of torches warned of the approach of a body of men. Paatenemheb stopped his men and formed them into a line across the road, bidding them throw their brands on the ground ahead of them. He strode out ten paces and glancing back at his own men could just see his six soldiers standing, armed and ready, in the flickering light. He could see nothing behind those six and hoped that the approaching men would likewise see nothing.
The approaching men marched out of the darkness and hesitated when they saw the figure of Paatenemheb standing stolidly in the road ahead of them. Ay, who had been behind the front ranks, pushed forward as the city soldiers slowed.
"What is the matter? Why have ..." Ay caught sight of the general and stopped abruptly, his men following suit, eyeing their commander and the general uneasily. "Paatenemheb," Ay croaked. "Wh... what are you doing here? I thought you were on the northern borders."
"So I was, Ay, until I heard word of treachery."
"Treachery? What do you mean?"
"What would you call rising in arms against the king?"
Ay said nothing. He stared at the lone man confronting him, then at the six men just visible beyond him. He licked his lips and shifted his weight, his eyes flicking back to the general and away again.
"You have brought the army down with you?" he asked.
Paatenemheb nodded calmly. "Enough to quell a rebellion." He raised his voice, pitching it so the men behind Ay could hear. "The king is guarded as we speak, by men trained for and hardened by battle. It is my hope that the men I see before me, the city garrison of Akhet-Aten, know where their loyalties lie and have turned out to defend their king."
A murmur of voices broke out and Ay shouted to override the babble. "Every man here knows his duty, Paatenemheb. There are no traitors to Kemet here."
"And to the king?"
Ay made no answer but hurried forward, catching Paatenemheb by the arm and leaning close, his voice low. "What is your part in this, Paatenemheb? You stand to lose the most by the continued reign of Akhenaten. I seek only a strong Kemet, one that can regain its rightful place among the nations."
"And to do this you would do what? Kill the king? Or just imprison him?"
Ay hesitated. "Who said anything about that? I want what is good for Kemet, nothing more."
Paatenemheb shook his head. "I will have no part of this." He stepped away from Ay and called out "Mintu, Leader of Ten. You will detail five men and take Tjaty Ay into custody pending my investigation." Stepping past toward the city garrison, he continued. "Soldiers, you have been brought out tonight needlessly and with dubious intent. I ask you to recall your vows of loyalty to the king and to myself as Commander General of the Armies. You will return to barracks. The situation is in hand."
"No," came a strangulated cry from behind him and Paatenemheb heard the whisper of bronze on leather as Ay dragged his sword out. Without turning, he gave a crisp command. "Archers. If that man takes one step forward you will kill him." A heartbeat, then, "Mintu, take the Tjaty into custody. Take him to the Medjay barracks and place him under close guard. Report to me at the palace afterward."
"You are making a mistake," Ay screamed. "Men, help me ..."
Paatenemheb whirled and saw that Mintu and his men had almost reached the Tjaty who stood, sword in hand a few paces behind him. "Mintu, if he says one word more, you will bind and gag him. Take him away now." Ay was bundled away into the darkness and a few seconds later Paatenemheb heard a cry of surprise cut off abruptly. He found he had been holding his breath and turned to face the city garrison alone.
"Who is the ranking officer here?"
"I am sir, Lieutenant Baqet."
"Where is Commander Neshi?"
"He took ten men to guard the queen, sir. In the North Palace." Worry tinged his voice. "Er, general sir, is it true about Tjaty Ay? He told us that we were marching on the palace to put down a rebellion. Now you are saying he was behind it?"
"Are you loyal to the king, Baqet?"
"Of course, sir." Baqet stiffened to attention. "And to you as my commanding general."
"Then you and ten men will accompany me to see the queen. She and the Tjaty have conspired against the king. This conspiracy will be investigated and if indeed the Tjaty believed he was acting for the best, you can be certain the king will be merciful. In the meantime I will have order in the city. Have the rest of the men return to barracks. They are not to leave without my express command. Do you understand?"
Baqet saluted and in a flurry of shouted orders, sent the main body of garrison troops marching back to their barracks. He waited with his selected ten men to accompany Paatenemheb. When the general started walking toward the palace, he turned and looked toward the guttering torches in the street.
"What about your men, general? Will they be accompanying us?
Paatenemheb smiled. "No." He turned back to face his supposed army and called out loudly, "Blue Company of the Re Legion, you will await my return in perfect silence. Let none pass." He whirled and strode past Baqet. "Well, come on then, I do not have all night."
Neshi's men challenged them as they entered the palace and without breaking stride, Paatenemheb rode over their challenges with a bellow. His anger and the presence of Lieutenant Baqet reduced them to confusion and they trailed along behind Baqet's little force as Paatenemheb strode toward the queen's apartments. More guards stood outside the apartments and again they were thrown into confusion by the attitude of the general and the presence behind him of their fellow soldiers. Paatenemheb threw open the doors and marched in to find Nefertiti and Neshi drinking wine together in the vestibule to her bedchamber.
Nefertiti rose to her feet, her wine goblet falling with a clash to the tiled floor, the wine spilling out in a pool at her feet. Her hand went to her throat and her eyes widened. "What is the meaning of this intrusion? How dare you...Paatenemheb? Where...what are you doing here?" Her eyes flicked behind her to the knot of soldiers outside the bedchamber, all wearing the insignia of the city garrison. "Are those Neshi's men with you? Where are your own? Neshi," she wheeled to face the garrison commander who was just rising to his feet, a puzzled look on his face.
"They are my men, Nefertiti," Paatenemheb growled. "I am General of all Kemet's armies. They obey me--as your father has just now found out."
Neshi cleared his throat. "Er, general, there seems to be something amiss, by your demeanor. Is it anything I can assist with?"
"What do you mean?" Nefertiti said. "Where is my father?"
Paatenemheb ignored Neshi, focusing on Nefertiti. "Your father is in custody already and will face the king tomorrow on charges of sedition and treason. You also will face charges."
Neshi paled. "I say, general, this must all be some ghastly mistake."
Nefertiti gathered her composure and stared contemptuously at General Paatenemheb. "You dare to accuse me? The queen? You must be mad. No-one will believe you."
"I have a witness to your words. To the plans you made with your father, in this very room, on the night of the full moon."
"Impossible," Nefertiti sneered. "My father and I were alone. And I state now, in the presence of Commander Neshi that I am innocent of these heinous charges ..."
"I did not say the witness was in the room with you. Only that you were overheard."
Nefertiti laughed. "So you will trot out the testimony of some slave or palace servant who has no doubt been tortured or bribed to bear false witness. Do you think the king will weigh their word against mine? I am the queen."
"My witness is more royal than you, Nefertiti. She will be believed."
"
Royal? She?" Nefertiti's laugh faded, to be replaced by a frown. "Beketaten? That little bitch Beketaten lives? She is your witness? I will kill that little bitch. She ..."
"Silence!" Paatenemheb roared. "You are under arrest for treason, madam. You will sit down and utter no further word or I will have you gagged."
Nefertiti's lips trembled and abruptly she sat down, covering her face with her hands.
Paatenemheb at last turned to Neshi who gaped at him. "Commander Neshi, are you a loyal servant of the king?"
Neshi opened and shut his mouth several times, looking at Nefertiti then back to the general. "Yes," he squeaked.
"Do you also recognize my authority over you, as General over all the Armies of Kemet?"
"Yes." Neshi nodded.
"Then here are my orders to you, which you will obey without question. You will return alone, now, to the army barracks where you will find your men awaiting you. You will lock the gates and barricade yourselves inside and stay there until I or Commander Baqet says you can leave. Do you understand?"
Neshi nodded then looked questioningly at Baqet. "You mean Lieutenant Baqet?"
"He is promoted temporarily to Commander. He will assume command of the city garrison until such time as I can determine your part in tonight's events. Neshi, you will now obey my orders."
Neshi saluted, his face very pale, and marched out of the room, his back straight, refusing to look at his men.
Paatenemheb called Baqet into the room. "You are promoted to the rank of Commander of the city garrison. However, your command tonight is the twenty men you have here. You will secure this woman, the former queen Nefertiti, in her suite. Guards are to be posted outside the windows and doors. She is allowed one lady in waiting but once she has entered she is not to be allowed out again. No-one is to have access to these rooms and there will be no form of communication between anyone in these rooms and the outside. Neither you nor your men will answer if you are spoken to, nor will you speak. Is that understood?"
Baqet nodded, smiling. "Yes, general, I understand."
Paatenemheb nodded. "Very well, post your men. I will wait here until the guards are in place." He waited until the man had left the room before addressing the woman on the chair, his voice cold and impersonal. "Your rebellion has failed, Nefertiti. If the king is just, you will die. If he is merciful, you will be banished. Either way, I will see to it that you are punished for your treachery." He nodded at Baqet when he returned and then walked outside, checking the disposition of the guards as he went. Paatenemheb left the palace and walked down the dark streets toward the main palace, relief washing over him. When he came to the empty place where one of six torches still smoldered in the dust, he picked it up and blew on it, encouraging the flame.
"Blue Company, Re Legion," he called out into the empty street. "I thank you for your service, and dismiss you." Paatenemheb solemnly saluted before roaring with laughter. Still chuckling to himself he set off with brand held high toward the palace and his king.
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Chapter Thirty-Eight
For the first time since Akhenaten moved to the City of the Sun, he did not offer the morning hymn to his god in the temple. Another priest offered it in his place as Paatenemheb refused to let the king out of Ay's chambers.
"Until I know how far the poison has spread, I cannot guarantee your safety, my lord. I ask you to remain within these rooms until I can convene a court and put the conspirators to the question."
"Who are these conspirators?" the king asked.
"Tjaty Ay and his daughter, your wife Nefertiti. I told you this last night."
"Did you? I don't remember. Well, never mind, I'm sure they did not do it."
"They have admitted it, or at least Nefertiti has. Ay fell short of confessing but I have no doubt he will when my men start on him."
"No." Akhenaten shook his head vehemently. "I will not have them put to the question. They are my family; mother and grandfather of my dear girls. I will not have confessions wrung from them by torture."
"It is customary in cases of treason. We cannot put a man to death unless he confesses, and he is not going to confess unless we persuade him."
"I'm not going to put Nefertiti to death," Akhenaten said, a shocked expression on his face. "Nor Ay. I shall probably forgive them. I'm sure it was a temporary aberration. Yes, I'm sure that was it. They merely lost sight of the love of Aten. I will recall it to them."
"I would strongly advise against that," Paatenemheb grated. "If you forgive them they will try again."
"Nonsense, Paatenemheb. I listened to you last night because I was still befuddled with sleep, but I have had a chance to think today. Both Ay and my wife love me dearly and would never hurt me. You are mistaken and I will prove it to you in a court of law. Bring them both here this morning and I will judge them myself."
"Gods above and below, I cannot do that, my lord. A trial takes time. I have to bring the witnesses together for one thing and the chief one is still en route to Akhet-Aten. She won't be here for another day or two. Then there are the statements from the palace officials, servants and slaves. Some of them may have seen or heard something and it will take time to make enquiries."
"I don't need witnesses or statements from anyone," Akhenaten said with a smile. "I will have them swear to tell the truth on the Aten himself. No-one can lie under those circumstances. Now go and fetch Ay and Nefertiti. Oh, and by the way, tell the servants I shall want my breakfast immediately."
Paatenemheb groaned but could see Akhenaten's will on this matter was unshakeable. "As you command, my lord." He bowed low and left the chambers, walking quickly to the Medjay barracks where Ay was held. He found the barracks still bereft of Medjay but Ankhtify had Ay locked in a windowless stone cell.
"Good morning general," Ankhtify said. "That was some bluff you made last night. I thought for sure somebody was going to discover you only had six men."
"It did work rather well, didn't it? But you're wrong about the number of men, Ankhtify. I had thousands." Paatenemheb smiled at the complete look of mystification on his Leader of Fifty's face. "Everyone knows I command all of Kemet's armies. Nobody expects to see me except at the head of an army. All I did was foster that impression."
"Well, it worked, sir. When Ay saw there was nobody behind us, he almost had a fit. I had to knock him out to keep him quiet. I hope that was all right, sir?"
"Perfectly. Now, how is he feeling this morning?"
"Angry, sir." Ankhtify hesitated then hurried on. "Permission to speak, sir?" He waited for the general's nod before continuing. "I know we caught the Tjaty at the head of the city garrison, marching toward the palace and he looked guilty, but...he is not acting guilty this morning."
"How so?"
"As I said, sir, he's angry. I have seen men accused of far less serious crimes go to pieces when captured. They plead and whine and make excuses, but Ay does none of these things. He orders us to release him so he can protect the king. He is enraged that we will not obey him."
"Ay is a general of the army and a brave and resourceful man," Paatenemheb commented. "Do not expect him to act as lesser men would. Still, that is interesting. I think I will see for myself."
Ay's cell was dark and stuffy, a revolting smell emanating from a pottery jar in one corner. Old rotting straw covered the floor, from which came muffled squeaks and scuffles. Ay sat in one corner, his head resting on folded arms on his knees. He looked up as the door creaked open, spilling a shaft of daylight into the dank cell.
"Come to gloat, have you, Paatenemheb? You are making a big mistake, one of the biggest of your entire career." He pushed himself to his feet with a grimace of pain and leaned against the far wall, scratching at one leg.
"Really? Suppose you tell me what my mistake is."
"No, I don't think I will. Bring me before the king and I will tell him. Then you will find yourself in the wrong."
"Well, you will get your wish,
Ay. The king is going to judge you himself. I managed to persuade him not to put you to the question...yet." Paatenemheb smiled as if mildly amused at Ay's expression of horror.
"He would not do that. I am the Divine Father."
"A pity you did not think of that earlier. You will not be tortured if you tell the truth. Akhenaten will make you swear on the Aten that you tell the truth and he may believe you, he is easily persuaded. However, I am not that easy. If I suspect you lie, I will have you questioned most thoroughly on my own authority. Do not think the king can protect you."
"You think highly of yourself," Ay sneered. "Almost as highly as if you were king in place of that short-sighted fool. Is that your intention? To use this as an excuse to take power--keeping the king in custody for his own protection?"
Paatenemheb barked out a derisive laugh. "I am an army officer dedicated to Kemet's protection. I do not want to become king and I have no claim to the throne, whether by family or marriage. Rather I could believe it of you." The general scratched at his leg below his kilt, then again below his knee. Looking down he saw a tide of tiny black specks seething in the moldy straw and ascending his legs. He stepped back rapidly, toward the door, slapping at his legs. "Come now, Tjaty Ay. You are called before the king to answer charges of treason."
The Hall of Justice stood almost deserted. Soldiers guarded the doors, refusing either to let anyone pass or even speak of what took place within the chamber. King Akhenaten and Queen Meryetaten sat on the official thrones of the judges at one end of the Hall, on a raised dais. The usual array of courtiers--scribes, fan-bearers, and servants were missing, the only other people in the room were guards made up from Paatenemheb's men. Others had straggled in during the night and he now commanded forty-two of his own, in addition to the city garrison. In the continued and inexplicable absence of Mahu and the city Medjay, Commander Baqet had his men all over the city organizing a cleanup and maintaining order.
Paatenemhet led Ay into the Hall of Justice alone. Ankhtify and a small squad of soldiers had formed a close guard around the Tjaty as they escorted him from the cell to the Hall. Ay acted as if it were an honour guard, giving all sorts of unnecessary commands to Ankhtify, which the Leader of Fifty ignored.
