House of Scorpion

by Mark Gajewski

  Sety gazed in her direction. “So it would appear.” He chuckled. “Where did you find her?”

  “She found me. She overheard me say I wanted to get the handling of goods under control. She figured out how, then hounded me – forced me – to listen to her ideas. Then she insisted she was the only person who could implement them and continued insisting until I had to admit she was right.”

  “A self-made overseer?”

  “Tamit’s smart, Sety. She’s invented multiple improvements to her original labeling system already. Father needs to implement it throughout the valley. Urge him to visit Ptah’s Settlement, Sety, so he can see it in action. He’ll immediately understand the power Tamit’s simple ivory labels represent.”

  “I’ll let him know, Iry,” Sety promised.

  I glanced in Tamit’s direction again. Our relationship had evolved greatly this past year – at first rocky, then business-like, then cordial, now friendly. I’d warmed to her slowly – we’d mostly argued and fought at first. My experience with Matia had made me suspicious of every woman’s intentions. But I was no longer suspicious of Tamit. Quite the opposite. A month ago, seeing her laughing with a boat’s captain, I’d felt a surge of jealousy. Something I’d never felt before, ever. Not even when Mekatre had expressed an interest in Matia at Nekhen. In that moment I realized I’d fallen in love with her. Not the infatuation I’d experienced with Matia, but real love. A love doomed to be unrequited. Tamit didn’t feel that way about me. I could tell. I didn’t blame her – I cringed now every time I recalled the way I’d treated her the first month I’d been in the settlement. I wouldn’t want to be with someone who’d treated me like that either. And so I suffered now, watching from a distance as other men courted her.

  “But perhaps it’s best Father doesn’t know I’ve appointed a female overseer, Sety. I should probably break that news to him in person.”

  “You’ll get no argument from me.” Sety laughed.

  A serving girl approached carrying a wooden box. “Are you ready, Majesty?”

  “I am. Time for the best part of the evening, Sety.” Together, we strolled towards the house. I left Sety with Merit beside a small lily-choked pond and stationed myself in front of the musicians, facing the garden. The serving girl joined me, box in her arms. “May I have your attention?”

  Conversation ceased. I motioned everyone to come closer.

  “My father, King Scorpion, is well pleased with what we’ve accomplished in the past ten months at Ptah’s Settlement. We’ve put in place controls over the valley’s goods. We’ve partly erected a wall to protect our warehouses and granaries. We have the beginnings of our own fleet. We’ve added craftsmen and workshops. My friends – I believe that before too many years pass our settlement will be the largest and most important in the entire valley.”

  Cheers.

  “We just won’t tell Father,” I said, and winked.

  Laughter.

  “Because Father’s pleased he’s sent objects of solid gold to reward those who’ve made the greatest contributions to our success.” In actuality, Father had no idea what I was about to do. I’d obtained all the golden objects on my own. But the rewards would make more of an impact if their recipients believed they’d come from Father. “Paser, come forward.”

  Though forceful at work, he was by nature a shy man and joined me hesitantly.

  “I thrust you into oversight of our harbor on a moment’s notice, Paser. Under your leadership since, our harbor has become the finest and most well-organized in the entire world. For that, Father awards you this pectoral of gold.”

  I removed it from the box. The four-inch-wide pectoral consisted of five rows of large gold beads. People gasped as I held it up, glittering in the torchlight. Paser humbly bent his head and I slipped it over. He straightened. The pectoral lay against his chest, magnificent. After a moment he returned to his place in the crowd, embarrassed, to cheers.

  Several elite daughters moved next to him, inspecting his prize.

  “Niay.”

  He came forward briskly, smiling.

  “You volunteered to build me a fleet. You’ve built me the finest, most innovative boats anywhere in the world. You’ve made me independent of the whims of the valley’s boat captains. For that, Father grants you this pectoral.”

  “Meru. With a hastily-assembled skeleton crew you made the beginnings of a wall that’ll protect the goods we store in our settlement. For that, Father grants you this pectoral.”

  “Sety.”

  He moved from between Merit and Senebi to my side. Merit gazed at him with pride.

  “That the men and women and children of this settlement eat well is thanks to you and the estates you’ve established in the delta. In addition, the settlements you founded drove our competitor, Maadi, out of existence. You’re responsible for the success of Sakan. You’ve provided Father with invaluable advice for years. For you I have no pectoral. I know how important the talisman is that dangles against your chest and that you’d never detract from it with other jewelry. So, for you, I have armbands of solid gold, and a stick of solid gold to replace the one of ebony you carry.”

  He took them. “I’m beyond grateful, Majesty.”

  “And I’m grateful for your friendship and for everything you’ve taught me, Sety.” I placed my hand on his shoulder, affectionately. I glanced at the crowd. “Merit, join me.”

  She looked at Senebi, as if she wasn’t sure she’d heard her name.

  He gave her a little push.

  She walked to me.

  “For you, Merit, I have a necklace of gold, to reward you for the months you’ve spent alone as your husband has gone about my father’s business.”

  There were tears in her eyes as she bent her head.

  “Something to impress elite women in Tjeni and Nekhen,” I said cheerfully.

  “Thank you, Majesty,” Merit said, her voice choked, fingering the necklace.

  Sety put his arm around her shoulders and led her back beside Senebi.

  “Tamit.”

  The loudest and most enthusiastic cheers of all.

  “No one who works in Ptah’s Settlement doubts the contribution you’ve made to controlling the goods that pass through our harbor and warehouses. They see its fruits every day. They all know what it was like around here when everything was confusion and madness, and how different it is now. That you invented labels and how to use them by yourself was genius. For all you’ve done, I award you this necklace.”

  It was delicate, less ostentatious than the pectorals I’d awarded the men, quite similar to Merit’s, more suited to Tamit’s lesser stature, but the most magnificent object of all those I’d presented tonight, its craftsmanship the finest. She unfastened the necklace she was wearing, then lifted her long hair with both hands. I fastened my gift around her neck. It dangled against her chest, glittering in the torchlight. Tamit lowered her eyes, humble. A hint of red touched her cheeks.

  “You also deserve these gold armbands and bracelets, Tamit.” I removed them from the box and held them up. “Let everyone who sees you wearing them know how pleased King Scorpion is with you.”

  “Thank you so much, Majesty,” Tamit said, her dark eyes meeting mine.

  The cheers as she returned to her place in the crowd were even louder than when she’d come forward.

  It was late when the party finally wound down and everyone left to seek their beds. I seated myself on a block of stone in the garden, amidst fragrant flowers at the edge of the pond, not yet ready to sleep. Servants bustled about, clearing away the evening’s detritus. A couple of torches were guttering, providing a fitful light. The majority had burned out.

  “Majesty?”

  I looked up, startled. Tamit was standing before me. My heart gave a little leap. “I thought you’d gone home.”

  “I wanted to properly thank you for your gifts, Majesty.” She held out her arms. The bands glittered on her biceps. The bracelets pinged against each other on h
er wrists. “Such magnificent gifts!” She touched her necklace with her fingertips. “I never imagined I’d ever own such wonderful things.”

  She smelled intoxicating, like lilies. She’d applied some type of perfumed unguent. I wanted to take her in my arms, run my fingers up and down the soft warm skin of her back, let them linger at her waist. “You earned them, Tamit. I meant what I said. Ptah’s Settlement is on the right track because of you.”

  “That’s important to you, isn’t it, Majesty? That the settlement’s on the right track?”

  “Very much so.”

  “Why? Because it’s where you plan to spend the rest of your life?”

  So many times I’d longed to proclaim the future I envisioned for myself to someone. Keeping it secret made it feel less real, less achievable. I’d told a woman once, Matia, but she’d tried to take advantage of my ambition to advance hers. I knew Tamit wouldn’t. I scooted over on the stone. “Please, sit.”

  She did, careful to keep her distance. Unfortunately. Proof Tamit wasn’t interested in me. Any other woman at tonight’s party would have been pressing close, her leg and arm touching mine. As Matia once had, and for the same reason.

  “I intend to be king of Tjeni, Tamit. I intend to succeed my father.”

  She didn’t seem particularly surprised. “I don’t really know much about kings or what they do, to tell the truth, Majesty. But I know that an overseer’s oldest son in this settlement always takes his place. Don’t you have older brothers?”

  “Two. But rule isn’t hereditary in Tjeni. Father wants to change that. He’s been positioning my oldest brother, Lagus, to follow him on the throne. But once Father’s dead the elites will pick the man they believe can best provide for them.”

  “You believe making a success of Ptah’s Settlement will prove to Tjeni’s elites that you’re the most qualified brother.”

  Not a question. Tamit always figured things out. “I do.”

  “So someday you’ll leave us and never look back.”

  There was something in Tamit’s voice I hadn’t heard before. Regret? Disappointment? Maybe she didn’t want to be separated from me. Did I dare hope that to be the case? “Not necessarily, Tamit. Who knows? I may make Ptah’s Settlement my capital instead of Tjeni. Because here’s something few people have figured out – Father will control the entire South once he captures Nubt and Nekhen pledges him fealty. Once I’m king I intend to join the North to the territory he leaves me – and I meant what I said earlier this evening – I expect Ptah’s Settlement will be the most important in the North.”

  “I hope you do if you become king – make Ptah’s Settlement your capital.” Tamit’s eyes met mine. “Face it, Majesty. If any man but you becomes ruler here my days as an overseer will be over. You’re the only man in the valley who’d give a girl like me such responsibility and authority.”

  I hadn’t considered the impact my ambition might have on her. Tamit was right. Her future was tied directly to mine. Now I knew how to take her earlier comment. She was concerned for herself. It had nothing to do with me. But I realized if I left Ptah’s Settlement I’d likely never see her again. I didn’t want that. I wanted to be king, and I wanted her in my life. “Would you like to work for me always, Tamit? Even if it wasn’t in this settlement?”

  “You’d take me with you to Tjeni?” she asked hopefully.

  “Of course I would.”

  “I’d be very happy, Majesty.”

  That made me very happy too. I didn’t have to lose her. “Then I will.”

  “Thank you.” She seemed relieved.

  “We’ve come a long way these past months, haven’t we Tamit? Remember how I treated you when we first met? Doubting you? Accusing you without cause? Giving your ideas to men to implement simply because you’re a girl?”

  “And a commoner, Majesty. Don’t forget that. I didn’t treat you so well either. I remember falsely accusing you and spitting at your feet and shouting at you in front of porters and craftsmen.”

  “And hurling a pouch of labels at me.”

  “I’m still surprised you didn’t have me punished for that.”

  “You were infuriating and maddening back then. But I saw something in you, Tamit – ability, intelligence, persistence, belief in yourself. I’m glad everything’s worked out the way it has. And I’m glad for what you’ve taught me – to look beyond status and gender and seek out ability and use it. Niay and Meru have their jobs as overseers because you blazed their paths.”

  “That’s very kind of you, Majesty.”

  We’d never had such a frank discussion. I wanted to learn more. “I’ve revealed my secret, Tamit. What about you? What do you want out of life?”

  “I’m content doing what I do, Majesty. I love my life. I have more authority than any woman in the valley. I can’t possibly rise any higher. I’m still bursting with ideas. I guess what I want is the chance to put them into practice. Wherever in the valley I am.”

  “But eventually – a husband, children?” That was inevitable. A woman like her wouldn’t remain alone her whole life. The best I could hope for was to have her near me. To pine for her from a distance.

  “Only if I can find the right man, Majesty.”

  I laughed. “Seems to me you have your pick, Tamit. All the men who were swarming around you tonight are proof of that.”

  “Doesn’t matter who’s swarming if the right man’s missing,” Tamit said enigmatically. She stood. “It’s late and I must be up early in the morning. Good night, Majesty.”

  “Goodnight, Overseer Tamit.”

  3258 BC: 8th regnal year of Scorpion, King of Tjeni

  Akhet (Flood)

  Matia

  “We can’t survive Tjeni’s blockade much longer, Majesty,” Pentu warned Father.

  We were in Father’s room in his per’aa. It was late; flaming wicks floating in a couple of bowls of oil dimly lit the walls and Pentu’s and Father’s faces. Father looked more careworn than I’d ever seen him, his face lined and weary, the lines accentuated by the flickering light

  “Nubt’s elites are angry, Majesty,” Pentu continued. “They’ve been cut off from wine and Northern luxuries for two years. Thank the gods King Khab wasn’t serious when he threatened not to barter with us anymore. Without Nekhen’s luxuries the elites would’ve tried to replace you.”

  “Bebi’s been working hard to keep my mother’s family in line,” I said.

  “What about Hetshet’s family?” Father queried.

  “Maya’s an opportunist,” Pentu replied. “I don’t trust him. He sees himself as a compromise king if the elites strip you of your throne. He’s straddling the line between war and peace.”

  Pentu had made a mistake drawing Maya into our meeting at Harwa’s farm to prepare Nubt for war. Maya’s call that night for Sabu’s head had been tempered ever since by self-interest. I assumed he’d told Sabu everything Pentu and I had told him that night, especially about Hetshet’s murder. What better way for Maya to gain leverage over Sabu? But that meant Sabu knew I’d seen him execute Hetshet. As long as I was alive I’d be a danger to him. Pentu insisted that when I left our house now I always go accompanied by bodyguards, just in case.

  “Sabu’s agitating for immediate war to anyone who’ll listen, Father,” I added. “Has been since the day he sabotaged your alliance with King Scorpion.” An alliance Father still didn’t know that Pentu and I had manipulated him into.

  Pentu nodded. “Sabu overestimates his capabilities and underestimates Scorpion’s. He’s convinced himself that he can invade Tjeni and crush King Scorpion’s army in a few days. He’s wrong. But he has the backing of his family. Ani in particular is calling for war.”

  “How do you know we can’t crush Scorpion quickly?” Father asked. “Sabu tells me his spies have reported that Scorpion’s been sending boatloads of farmers to the North. Sabu claims we can raise more men to fight from among our farmers now than Scorpion can his. Sabu says if we buy mercenaries we’l
l vastly outnumber Scorpion.”

  “We may indeed outnumber Scorpion, Majesty, but we’ve had two low inundations in a row. We don’t have enough grain available to feed everyone who’s dependent on you plus support a military campaign and mercenaries.”

  “Am I really in danger of losing my throne, Pentu?” Father asked plaintively.

  “As long as your son persists in his madness.”

  “How can I get Sabu under control? How long can I hold off the elites who back his call for war?”

  “Not much longer, Majesty,” Pentu averred. “We have to somehow turn our situation with Scorpion around, and soon, if you want to remain king. Maybe even enter into another alliance with him. Because if we go to war against Scorpion Nubt’s doomed.”

  “Are you sure, Pentu? It’s been two years since Scorpion declared war. He hasn’t attacked us yet. Even though our spies tell us he’s preparing. There has to be a reason.”

  “Majesty…”

  “Tell me about our preparations so far,” Father interrupted.

  “We’ve constructed four boats south of here, at Waset. All reed. Easier to build than wood. They won’t have to travel far so they don’t need to be particularly durable. We’ve doubled the amount of cropland in irrigation. We’ve constructed new granaries to hold the excess.”

  “You just said we lack grain.”

  “The new granaries are empty, Majesty, with no prospect of being filled in the near future.”

  “Go on.”

  “We’ve strengthened Nubt’s walls. Our men are patrolling the entire paw of land in the desert west of our settlement.”

  “Maybe Scorpion’s afraid of us, Pentu. Maybe he doesn’t think he can defeat us.”

  I couldn’t believe Father was still living in a state of denial.

  “Seems to me Scorpion’s decided to slowly strangle us and not spend his resources needlessly, Majesty,” Pentu countered. “That’s what I’d do.”

  I was tired of Father’s delusions. He needed to face facts. Sabu was the cause of our troubles. He’d murdered my brother. He’d ordered an attack on a king’s daughter. He’d put the life of every Nubtian at risk. He was the reason Scorpion had declared war. “Hand Sabu over to Scorpion, Father. Save your throne. It’s that simple.”