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House of Scorpion

Page 27

by Mark Gajewski


  “Never!” Father thundered. He glared at me. “I will not sacrifice your brother!”

  The way Sabu had sacrificed Hetshet. Which Father still didn’t know and would never believe.

  “We have to do something, Majesty,” Pentu said soothingly.

  “What do you propose?”

  “Send me to Tjeni, Majesty. A peace mission. Let me try to convince Scorpion to lift his blockade.”

  “Why would he?”

  “You represent stability and peace, Majesty. Sabu represents war. Inevitably, we must yield to Scorpion – that’s a fact. Uniting with Scorpion peacefully will be cheaper for him. That should be reason enough for him to lift his blockade – to keep you on Nubt’s throne and keep Sabu at bay. If Scorpion agrees, he’ll deprive Sabu of the one thing he can use to wrest the throne from you – dissatisfied elites.”

  “Do what you must, Pentu. Anything – except handing over Sabu. That’s one condition I won’t agree to.”

  “Understood, Majesty.”

  I thought Father’s condition absurd.

  ***

  Tjeni came into view from where I was standing in the bow of Pentu’s boat. I’d been pleasantly surprised when he’d asked me to go with him on his mission. I placed my hands on my belly. Two months more and I’d bear Pentu’s child, a child who, according to Pentu, represented Nubt’s future. Thus my presence on his mission. I didn’t love Pentu – ours was and always would be a marriage of convenience – but between us there was warmth and comfort and companionship. He actually made me fairly happy and provided me with the best that Nubt had to offer. Because he was in love with me. He dared not say so, but every look and action proclaimed it. Sometimes I felt bad that I didn’t feel what he felt, but in a perfect world I’d never have chosen him as my husband, so there was that. Still, true to his word on the night of our marriage, Pentu had included me in every facet of his work to keep Father on his throne ever since. He treated me like a trusted advisor as well as a beloved wife. That treatment had raised a wall between Baki and me and Baki and his father. Baki resented that I’d replaced his dead mother in Pentu’s affections, for I made sure, in public, to play the part of loving adoring wife. But Baki’s impression of our marriage, and his resentment, were his problem, not mine. Plus, it turned out he wasn’t all that pleased with Nebetah. Now that he’d gotten the woman he’d wanted, he didn’t want her anymore. He wanted me.

  We were greeted as we tied up at Tjeni’s quay by armed guards, their faces grim. Father’s golden standard, the dog-like image of Seth set amidships in our boat, made clear where we were from. Pentu had made a point of not arming our crewmen. They watched uneasily from the deck as Pentu and I clattered down the gangplank, Pentu giving me his arm so I wouldn’t stumble.

  Tjeni’s chief guard was waiting at its foot, backed by six of his men.

  “I’ve been sent by King Ika with a message for King Scorpion,” Pentu announced.

  The chief regarded us suspiciously, then sent one of his men running up a broad street into the settlement. Pentu and I seated ourselves on the gangplank to wait. The guards didn’t move.

  Observing Tjeni, I wished Sabu had come with us. I wished he could see what I was seeing. Everything about Tjeni dwarfed Nubt – the number of quays along the river, the number and size of the boats moored there, the crowds filling a warren of streets lined with huts and houses. So many columns of smoke spiraling into the air – most from cookfires, the rest from at least twice as many workshops as we had in Nubt. Tjeni had no walls like the southern section of Nubt, but Scorpion would never fight a defensive war – he’d attack. I studied the guards who were watching us. Their weapons were superior to ours. We didn’t have a ghost of a chance of defeating Scorpion.

  Nearly an hour after our arrival Mekatre appeared. I recognized the king’s middle son from my time in Nekhen. He strode haughtily to Pentu, who rose and bowed. As did I.

  Mekatre looked me up and down. “You were supposed to be my brother’s wife,” he noted. “I see you’ve taken a different husband. Or did you bother?”

  Pentu stiffened. But he couldn’t afford to object to Mekatre’s insult. “That would be me, Majesty,” he said respectfully.

  Mekatre snorted.

  “I have a message for King Scorpion,” Pentu reiterated.

  Mekatre made a pretense of scanning the deck of our boat. “Have you brought King Ika’s son Sabu with you, to be executed?”

  “I have not, Majesty.”

  “Hmph. Father may see you. Or he may not.” Mekatre turned on his heel.

  We followed him into Tjeni. People lined both sides of every street, watching; word of our arrival had spread. Some regarded us with curiosity, most hostility. A few jeered. Guards flanked us on all four sides; I was glad for the protection. After a fifteen-minute walk we reached Scorpion’s per’aa, the most magnificent structure I’d ever seen. We weren’t yet even close to the center of Tjeni. The settlement was frighteningly big. Mekatre ushered us inside and along several corridors and into the audience hall.

  I estimated more than one hundred men were present, with space for more. Tjeni had far more elites than Nubt. They turned to watch us enter. Sunlight streamed through four windows high up. Motes of dust danced in sunbeams that angled downward, forming bright rectangles on the packed-clay floor. The hall was wider and longer than Father’s, though lacking in gold decorations. King Scorpion was waiting at the far end of the hall, seated on a throne atop a three-step stone dais, his white leather crown on his head, crook and flail in his hands. He was as handsome as I remembered. Gold jewelry sparkled on his chest and arms. His kilt was hemmed with gold thread. A girl in a white skirt stood behind him waving a fan of brown ostrich feathers slowly back and forth. A guard was directly behind her, holding a tall ebony shaft topped with a solid-gold scorpion, the king’s standard. Two guards flanked him, also holding standards – a falcon representing Horus, a jackal representing Wepwawet. Two bodyguards stood at the two bottom rear corners of the dais, watchful. Mekatre led Pentu and me to an open space directly in front of the king, then stationed himself beside his brother Lagus on the right side of the dais. I quickly scanned the hall, seeking Iry. I was both relieved and disappointed he wasn’t present. A friendly face would’ve been welcome. But Iry and Pentu in the same room might’ve been problematic, especially because of my condition.

  “You’re bringing me a message instead of the man who ordered an attack on my daughter?” Scorpion charged as soon as Pentu and I rose from our knees. “A man who bribed two of my guards?”

  “Two? I only know about one, Majesty. And I promise I didn’t when we arranged our alliance,” Pentu replied.

  “My son Iry discovered another. He’s dead. Along with his wife and children. And the other traitor’s.”

  I wondered how Iry had discovered him. I shivered. If King Scorpion was vindictive enough to execute the innocent along with the guilty, gods help us if he ever unleashed his wrath on Nubt.

  “My message is for your ears alone, Majesty,” Pentu said.

  “You can’t be serious!” Mekatre protested, taking a step towards us and twisting to face the throne. “Father – we all deserve to hear what this… barbarian has to say!”

  Nothing like setting the tone for a negotiation.

  Scorpion held up his hand to quiet Mekatre. “Tell me now, Pentu. Or go home.”

  It’d been worth a try. As I well knew, it was harder to have a fruitful discussion in front of spectators. Posturing always got in the way of true negotiations.

  Pentu sighed. “As you wish, Majesty.”

  Scorpion leaned back in his throne and regarded Pentu skeptically. “Are you speaking on King Ika’s behalf, Pentu – or yours?”

  “We’re of the same mind, Majesty.”

  “Yours, then. Just like at Nekhen.” Scorpion looked at me. “King Ika’s daughter. You and my son Iry were go-betweens.”

  He didn’t appear to have guessed that I’d manipulated Iry into proposi
ng the alliance. I wondered if Iry had ever figured it out. “Matia, Majesty.”

  “You were momentarily Iry’s wife.”

  “Yes, Majesty.”

  He stared at my belly. “And now?”

  “Pentu is my husband, Majesty.”

  “I brought Matia with me as a sign of good faith, Majesty.”

  “But you didn’t bring Sabu.”

  “No, Majesty,” Pentu said patiently.

  Many murmurs throughout the hall.

  Scorpion leaned forward on his throne. “Why are you here, Pentu?”

  “To negotiate the lifting of your blockade, Majesty.”

  Scorpion laughed.

  His courtiers joined in.

  “Why would I get rid of a blockade my spies tell me is having such a dramatic effect on Nubt after being in place for only two years?” Scorpion asked.

  “Because it’s having a dramatic effect on Nubt, Majesty,” Pentu replied evenly. “After only two years.”

  More laughter.

  “Explain yourself, Pentu.”

  “The king’s son, Sabu, wants war with Tjeni, Majesty. He’s agitating for war among Nubt’s elites. They’re listening, because your blockade’s depriving them of luxuries. It won’t be long until the elites turn on King Ika. Then Sabu will take the throne and war will be a certainty.”

  “You want me to remove the blockade so Nubt’s elites will settle down and Ika can keep his throne,” Scorpion inferred. “And if I do there won’t be any hostile moves by Nubt against me.”

  “Yes, Majesty. Exactly.”

  “What’ll happen when Ika dies, Pentu? Surely Sabu will seize the throne then. Meanwhile, I’ll have given him years in which to build up the army and supplies and weapons he needs to wage war against me. Lifting my blockade will help Sabu immensely. I don’t see how lifting my blockade will help me at all.”

  “I promise Sabu will never take the throne, Majesty. I promise Nubt’s next ruler will be your ally.”

  “Who, Pentu? Who’ll sit the throne after King Ika?” Scorpion pressed.

  Pentu stood silent. I supposed he was debating with himself. There was no chance of Scorpion lifting his blockade if he didn’t know the answer to his question. But answering his question, in a hall where Sabu likely had a spy, would mean that Sabu would know the fate we intended for him. He’d likely kill Pentu and me to make sure he’d succeed Father.

  I placed my hand on my belly. My eyes met Scorpion’s and held for a long moment.

  “Clear the hall,” Scorpion ordered.

  Looks of surprise on courtiers’ faces.

  Relief on Pentu’s.

  “But, Father!” Mekatre protested.

  “You too,” Scorpion said. “And Lagus. Everyone! Out!”

  Gradually the hall emptied. Guards were the last to exit. They pulled the door closed behind them.

  Scorpion sat back in his throne, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Afraid of word getting back to Nubt, Pentu?”

  “Yes, Majesty.”

  “You’re a purported kingmaker, Pentu. Who’d sit the throne?”

  I placed both hands on my belly this time. “My son and Pentu’s, Majesty. King Ika’s grandson.”

  “With me serving as his regent until he’s old enough to pledge you fealty and rule in your name,” Pentu said.

  “Instead of Sabu.”

  “I guarantee Sabu will never take the throne, Majesty,” I said icily.

  “How will you guarantee it, Matia?”

  “I’ll either kill him myself or hand him over to you the day my father dies. Your choice. Though I’d prefer to execute him myself.”

  “Interesting.” Scorpion studied me for a moment. “Why are you so eager to turn on your brother, Matia? Do you crave power so much?”

  “Power has nothing to do with it, Majesty. Sabu murdered my brother Hetshet. I saw him do it. I heard him negotiate an alliance with Pe and Dep without my father’s knowledge, as you well know. He turned against Nubt in pursuit of personal power. I believe I’m doing what’s in Nubt’s best interest by keeping him from the throne. If that’s turning on him – well, he deserves it.”

  “Hmm. You claim the throne for your child, Pentu, but King Ika has a wife, doesn’t he?” Scorpion queried. “Wouldn’t their child take precedence over yours? Assuming you kill Sabu, as you’ve promised.”

  “The king’s wife is my daughter Nofret, Majesty,” Pentu said.

  “She won’t give my father a child,” I said. “I’ve made sure of it.”

  Scorpion pursed his lips. “Will Nubt’s elites support Matia’s child over Sabu, Pentu?”

  “I guarantee he’ll have the backing of all the elite families who aren’t related to Sabu’s mother. I guarantee Sabu’s relatives will be disposed of and won’t be a threat to peace,” Pentu replied.

  “What if your child’s a girl?” Scorpion asked.

  “I’ll keep trying until I give Pentu a son.”

  “But if you fail?”

  “I assume you’ll place your son Mekatre on Nubt’s throne instead.”

  “A good assumption.”

  “He’d do well to make Pentu his advisor in that case, Majesty, to help him control Nubt’s elites.” Time to remind Scorpion of something important. “Perhaps one day Mekatre’s child will marry mine and blend the blood of Tjeni and Nubt together.”

  “As in Sety’s dream,” Scorpion said. “A descendant to rule a unified valley.”

  Scorpion remembered. That was promising. It might be the edge we needed to get Scorpion to agree to our proposal. Once upon a time Iry had expected the descendant in Sety’s dream to be his and mine. What difference did it make if Mekatre was involved instead?”

  Scorpion gazed at Pentu thoughtfully. “And in the meantime? Between now and King Ika’s death?”

  “A resumption of our alliance, Majesty,” Pentu replied. “King Ika to continue to hold his throne in fealty to you.”

  “No royal marriages?” Scorpion asked. “No royal daughter pledged to my son Mekatre? Wouldn’t that mingle the blood of Tjeni and Nubt more directly, and even sooner?”

  “It would, Majesty,” Pentu agreed. “But King Ika’s daughters are both married.”

  Scorpion laughed. “So?” He looked me up and down. “Sety’s dream was very specific, Pentu. Matia will blend the royal blood of Tjeni and Nubt. Not her sister. Not her child. Her.”

  I’d given myself to Pentu to stop Sabu. That’s all I cared about. It’s all Pentu had cared about too, until he’d fallen in love with me. The only tool I had to get what I truly wanted was me. I had to wield myself now, no matter how much it hurt Pentu. “If I have to marry Mekatre so you’ll lift the blockade I will, Majesty.”

  I practically felt Pentu deflate. I didn’t dare look at him.

  Scorpion was genuinely surprised.

  “But if I can serve you better by returning to Nubt and killing Sabu – I’ll do that too,” I promised.

  “Heria deserves to watch Sabu die, Matia. So I’ll execute him – no one else.” Scorpion suddenly stiffened. “I demand that King Ika turn Sabu over to me. That’s my condition for peace.”

  “King Ika will never approve the execution of his son, Majesty,” Pentu affirmed. “But perhaps a payment of some kind? Gold?”

  “Sabu’s weight. Annually. Forever,” Scorpion demanded harshly.

  A steep price. Cheaper than a war.

  “I agree,” Pentu said. After a moment, hesitantly – “Will you lift the blockade?”

  Scorpion laughed long and loud. “Apparently no demand I make is unreasonable – except Sabu’s head. I cleared the hall so I could see just how far the two of you were willing to go. Fealty and gold, Pentu. Abandoning your husband to share my son’s bed, Matia. Volunteering to murder your brother. But you two didn’t go far enough because you refused me Sabu. So my answer is ‘no.’ No golden bribe. No marriage. No lifting of my blockade.” Scorpion clenched his fist. “I’ve got Nubt right where I want it. Growing weaker by
the month. My army’s mighty and growing stronger every day. I could crush Nubt tomorrow without breaking a sweat if I wanted. But Nubt will be so much easier for me to conquer if it’s ripped apart from within first. You can’t fight me and yourselves at the same time and win. I’m content to let Nubt’s elites turn on each other, Pentu. I’m content to let them drive King Ika from his throne. My blockade’s working and will continue to work. So, while Nubt falls apart, I’ll continue to prepare for war, and when I’m ready I’ll strike and Nubt will surrender to me with barely a whimper.” Scorpion stood and pointed his crook at us. “Now, get out of Tjeni!”

  Men were milling about outside the audience hall when we exited. They could tell by our faces our mission had failed. The jeers started then and accompanied us all the way to Pentu’s boat, the crowd trailing us growing ever larger and more jubilant and hostile as we passed through the settlement. I thanked the gods we were accompanied by the contingent of guards, though I expected that if the crowd turned violent they’d abandon us. We reached Pentu’s boat and hurried up the gangplank and immediately shoved off, our oarsmen rowing furiously. None of us wanted to remain in Tjeni’s section of the valley any longer than we had to.

  Pentu stood beside me in the stern, watching Tjeni disappear. Normally his arm would have been around my shoulders. Not now. I’d hurt him deeply. “We tried,” he said.

  “And now Nubt’s lost. Maybe in a week, maybe in a decade, but lost.”

  “All we can do is try to prolong our existence.”

  I turned to him, took both his hands in mine. “I’m truly sorry, Pentu. You didn’t deserve me volunteering to leave you for Mekatre.”

  “You did what you had to, Matia. I understand.”

  I knew he’d never feel again about me the way he had before our trip. He’d been holding out hope ever since we’d married that deep down I loved him. Now he knew for sure I didn’t and wouldn’t. He’d continue to love me, certainly, but reservedly, not desperately and completely. I wanted to feel bad, but I really didn’t. I’d hardened my heart years ago, when I’d been no more than a girl and promised against my will to Baki. I’d never share it with anyone. “At least Sabu will never sit the throne,” I said. “Scorpion will eradicate Nubt before Father dies. That’s something, at least.”

 

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