I entered the sunlit hall, crossed to the far end where Father’s throne rested atop a dais, proceeded to a small secluded nook to its right and readied a jar of wine and a solid-gold cup and arranged treats on a platter. I’d come, as usual, with Pentu’s blessing, to serve Father during his daily audience. They usually lasted most of the morning.
The hall filled slowly, various petitioners taking positions to the right of the central aisle, standing, a handful of officials opposite them, also standing. The heads of two elite families, Ani and Maya, were present, though my cousin Bebi wasn’t. There was a low murmur of conversation as everyone awaited Father’s arrival.
He eventually entered along with Pentu and Sabu. Baki was with them. He motioned me to leave again; I ignored him. Father was wearing Nubt’s red crown and carrying a solid gold crook in one hand, a leadership relic from ancient times when patriarchs led bands of hunters across the savannah. He ascended the single step of the stone dais and seated himself on his throne. A girl stationed herself behind him and began to swish a fan of brown ostrich feathers. Baki joined the officials in the crowd facing Father. Sabu seated himself in a chair at the foot of the dais, to Father’s right. Pentu ascended the dais and stood a step to the left of and behind Father, close by in case Father needed to confer before making a decision. Father always needed to confer.
I moved to Father and offered him a solid gold cup brimming with wine. He took a quick sip, grabbed a honeyed cake off the platter, then nodded to his herald. The herald loudly announced the first petitioner. He stepped into a vacant space directly in front of Father and bowed low. I returned to my nook and seated myself on a stool. From the nook I could observe Father and Pentu and Sabu and the current petitioner, but no one in the hall could see me.
The audience took hours, petitioner after petitioner droning on and on. Most had come to resolve issues with the boundaries of their farms, though there were as well a few accusations of theft and one of adultery. Sabu nodded off from time to time; he scarcely paid attention on the rare occasions he graced the hall with his presence. I, on the other hand, was always attentive. I prided myself that I knew more about Nubt than anyone except Pentu, and both of us knew more than Father.
From time to time I refilled Father’s cup or offered him more food, which he accepted without thanks or acknowledgment.
At long last, the final petitioner pled his case. Father issued his decision in conjunction with Pentu. Almost everyone departed the hall, including Father’s officials and fan bearer. The herald exited as well, closing the door behind him. Sabu and Pentu and Baki and Ani moved closer to the throne. I remained in my nook, as usual, in case Father had need. He often spoke with my husband after audiences ended, often to disparage various petitioners’ requests, sometimes to gain an understanding of a decision he’d issued at Pentu’s suggestion.
That Ani had stayed behind was unusual. Sabu and Baki too. They normally raced from the hall.
“Have you considered my proposal, Father?” Sabu asked.
“An alliance to attack Scorpion?” Father sighed wearily. “You’ve been pressing me for six years, Sabu. My answer isn’t going to change. Scorpion’s blockade has weakened us and made him stronger. We can’t defeat him. I will not provoke him. Nubt has too much to lose.”
“Lose? For six years Nubt’s elites have been deprived of Northern luxuries, Father. All because you refuse to stand up to Scorpion!”
Baki stepped to Sabu’s side. “Reconsider, Majesty. We cannot go on this way.”
Father scowled. “I see you’re aligned with my son against me.” He glared at Pentu. “Have you changed sides too? Is Baki speaking for your family?”
“Of course not, Majesty,” Pentu replied. “Baki’s speaking out of turn.”
“Form an alliance against Tjeni, Majesty,” Ani insisted. “If you’re afraid, step aside in favor of your son.”
“You’re advocating treason!” Pentu snapped.
“I speak for many who aren’t here.”
Father leaned back on his throne. “Ah! So I’m afraid, am I, Ani? Do you fancy yourself a kingmaker, to challenge me?” Father stood and pointed his crook at Ani. “I won’t give up my throne!”
“Then you’ve sealed your fate, Majesty,” Ani said without emotion.
Baki had slowly sidled behind the dais while Father and Ani were arguing. Suddenly, he stepped behind Father and slit his throat with a flint knife.
Father stared at Ani and Pentu for a moment. His crook clattered to the floor. He clutched at his throat with both hands, dropped to his knees. Then he toppled face-first onto the dais. His crown went flying. He came to rest with his head hanging over the dais’ step. Blood began pooling beneath him and running onto the floor.
I was horrified, in shock at the suddenness and brutality of Baki’s attack. I couldn’t make myself move. Pentu was looking down at Father, paralyzed, Father’s blood coloring his feet and kilt. I felt sick. First Hetshet assassinated in front of me. Now Father. Sabu responsible both times. Baki had warned me to stay away from the hall. This assassination had been planned in advance. Sabu had just made himself king, but at a price. Baki and Ani had placed him on his throne. They’d control him from now on.
Pentu forced himself to move. “What have you done?” he cried, at the same time kneeling beside Father. He took Father’s head in his hands and cradled it on his thighs. He looked at the rest of the men. “Traitors! Every last one of you!”
Baki bent and wiped his knife on Father’s kilt, the stain bright red.
“My own son!” Pentu’s voice was anguished, his face etched with betrayal.
I covered my mouth with both hands to keep from screaming. Tears sprang to my eyes. Father had been a poor king, barely competent, malleable, indecisive. I’d loved him as was his due, but to him I’d simply been an asset he’d used to secure his throne. Father had truly loved only one person – Sabu. His favorite. His downfall. His murderer.
Baki moved away from Father’s corpse. He descended the dais, dropped to his knees in front of Sabu, faced him. “And so your reign begins, Majesty,” he said grandly. “I pledge you my fealty and service.”
“Afraid not,” Sabu said matter-of-factly.
“What?” Baki asked.
“You’re going to expect me to be your puppet, the way Father was your father’s. I’m no puppet, Baki. You just betrayed my father. You’ll betray me the first chance you get.” Sabu swung his arm forward, plunging a flint knife to the hilt in Baki’s chest.
Baki fell backwards onto the floor with an agonized cry, hands clutching the hilt. His chest began turning crimson. More blood started trickling from a corner of his mouth.
Sabu looked down at Baki and smiled. He put his foot on the end of the knife and pushed it farther in.
Baki jerked upwards, then his body went slack, his eyes staring unseeing at the ceiling. His hands dropped to his sides.
Pentu was still kneeling beside Father, watching his son die, frozen.
I stood in my nook, petrified, overcome by a second shock.
“Guards!” Sabu cried.
The door swung open and heavily armed men rushed in.
“Pentu just murdered the king!” Sabu charged.
“I didn’t!” Pentu protested.
By the gods! Sabu was blaming Father’s assassination on Pentu! Only Pentu and Sabu and Ani and I knew the truth. Ani wouldn’t challenge Sabu’s claim because he was in on it. I couldn’t. The guards would believe I was lying to protect my husband. Sabu would accuse me of being involved and he’d kill me. He was going to get away with murder – again. He was going to sit Nubt’s throne. My quest to avenge Hetshet and destroy Sabu had failed. My alliance with Scorpion. My near-marriage to Iry. My marriage to Pentu. All attempts to stop Sabu. All futile. I’d sacrificed myself for nothing.
Sabu glanced at Ani and nodded slightly.
“Pentu assassinated King Ika!” Ani proclaimed. “He’s covered with the king’s blood!”
&nbs
p; “Arrest Pentu!” Sabu ordered.
Guards seized Pentu and lifted him to his feet. Father’s head rolled from Pentu’s thighs back onto the dais. Guards pinned Pentu’s arms behind him.
“After he murdered the king, Pentu ordered Baki to kill me,” Sabu told the guards. “But Baki was too slow.” Sabu bent and pulled his knife from Baki’s chest.
More guards rushed in.
“Fetch me Father’s mace!” Sabu demanded.
A guard ran from the hall.
My heart fell. I knew what was going to happen. I started shaking uncontrollably. Tears began streaming down my cheeks.
Pentu knew what was going to happen too. “You’re going to be sorry, Sabu,” he said with all the dignity he could muster. “You’re going to be the death of Nubt.”
“Gag him,” Sabu ordered.
A guard stuffed a piece of linen into Pentu’s mouth.
I wanted to rush to Pentu. I wanted to shield him with my body, protect him from Sabu. I wanted to take him in my arms and comfort him. He’d truly loved me. I’d used him in return. I’d been so focused on stopping Sabu that I’d never opened my heart to Pentu. I should have. Pentu had treated me better than anyone I’d ever known because I’d meant everything to him. Despite that, at Tjeni I’d cast him aside without a moment’s hesitation, volunteered to become Mekatre’s wife even though I’d been carrying Pentu’s son. I’d been so obsessed with stopping Sabu I hadn’t cared about what I was doing to Pentu. He’d never recovered from my betrayal. We’d continued to live together, but we’d merely existed, not lived. His eyes had never been free of hurt when they fell on me after Tjeni. I wanted to hold him now, apologize, tell him I’d been a fool. But it was too late. Pentu was going to die alone, never knowing that, in the end, he’d won my heart.
A guard returned with a mace.
“Make Pentu kneel,” Sabu ordered the guards.
I clapped both hands over my mouth. My eyes filled with tears. I choked back sobs.
They forced him to his knees.
I forced myself to watch. Pentu deserved that.
Sabu seized Pentu’s hair and twisted it in his hand, from behind. He didn’t have the courage to face Pentu as he murdered him. Sabu raised the mace high in his right hand, paused, then swung it against the side of Pentu’s head. Pentu’s skull shattered. Blood splattered everywhere and on everyone. Sabu released Pentu’s hair. Pentu crashed to the ground, dead.
I doubled over, bereft, hands still over my mouth. I closed my eyes tight, as if I could shut out the world. My tears splashed the ground.
“You – go tell the elites to assemble,” Sabu ordered a guard. “I’m going to inform them they have a new king.”
I straightened, shaking, fighting back sobs.
Sabu picked up the crown that had tumbled from Father’s head and placed it on his. He ascended the dais and seated himself on Father’s throne. Ani picked up Father’s crook and handed it to Sabu with a smile. Sabu surveyed the hall, with its blood and dead bodies, and smiled back.
I wasn’t going to stay around to watch Sabu’s triumph. I was going to get out of the audience hall before he or Ani remembered I was here. I knew what was going to happen now – Ani’s relatives would be raised to positions of power, Bebi’s would be demoted, Maya’s – who knew? His support of Sabu had been lukewarm at best these past years, though it had been support, and had grown stronger as Scorpion’s blockade had made life more and more difficult for the elites. As quietly as I could, my back pressed against the wall, I slipped from the hall, overcome by grief and fear. Sabu was in charge of Nubt. Nubt was doomed.
Sabu would come for me. I was sure of it. He knew I’d seen him murder Hetshet. I’d supported Pentu and opposed him too many times during his meetings with Father for him to let me live. I had to get home as quickly as possible, get Pabasa, run. I’d take him to Harwa’s farm. He and Khentetka would keep me safe for now. After that, what? Flee? To where? To whom?
I stumbled from the per’aa down the lane to my nearby home, numb, awash in tears. Pentu was dead. Father was dead. Just like that. My brother had murdered them. I was a widow now, with a child to raise on my own. What was going to happen to me and Pabasa? What was going to happen to Nubt with my reckless brother in charge? I reached my house. The mat over the door had been torn off and lay on the threshold. Something was terribly wrong. With a feeling of dread I rushed inside. Pentu’s servants were nowhere to be seen. They were always present. I dashed to the women’s quarters at the back of the house, called Pabasa’s name. No answer. Still no one. I entered my room. I saw blood on the floor before I saw Pabasa’s mangled body. I fell to my knees beside him.
This time I screamed.
***
I lost track of time. I was keening beside Pabasa when strong hands seized me and bound my wrists behind my back with rope. Two men yanked me ungently to my feet and each took an arm and they dragged me out of my house and through Nubt’s streets to the per’aa. I was recognized. Men and women stopped and stared as I passed, conversation swelling behind me. We breezed through the entrance of the per’aa and down a long corridor and into the audience hall.
The hall was full of elites and their wives and older children. The hall was hushed. The dead still lay where they’d fallen in pools of their own blood. The crowd was giving Pentu and Baki a wide berth. Sabu was sitting on his throne, crown on his head, Father’s crook on his lap, blood on his hands and chest and arms and legs and kilt. His foot was nearly touching Father’s. Father’s body was sprawled face down on the dais, head still hanging over the step. The pool of blood on the ground had grown. Ani was standing to the right of the throne. Nebetah, Sabu’s full sister, my half-sister, Baki’s widow, was standing to the left. She didn’t look at all upset. Her marriage to Baki hadn’t been a happy one. Nofret, Father’s widow, Pentu’s daughter, was standing next to Pentu’s body, wrists tightly tied behind her back. She was sobbing, eyes shut, avoiding looking down at her father. The guards herded me next to her, a step away from my husband’s body. I was dry-eyed now, filled with utter hatred for the man on the throne. My wrists were throbbing.
“My people, an hour ago Pentu assassinated King Ika,” Sabu announced. “He ordered his son, Baki, to kill me. Baki failed, thanks to a timely warning by my uncle, Ani.”
Lies.
Ani bowed slightly.
“I stopped Baki.” Sabu held up his bloody knife. “Then I executed Pentu for his crime.” He held up his bloody mace.
Much murmuring in the hall now.
“Remove the bodies,” Sabu ordered several guards.
Two carried a litter to the foot of the dais. They reverently lifted Father onto it.
Sabu descended from the dais, stepping around blood. He knelt beside the litter for a moment, then crossed Father’s hands over his chest and placed his crook on the litter beside him. Then he rose and nodded.
Four guards lifted the litter and carried Father through the midst of the crowd and from the hall. Everyone fell to their knees as Father’s corpse passed.
The guards dragged Pentu and Baki out by their arms, leaving a bloody swath behind them on the ground. One last indignity.
Everyone was much relieved when the bodies were gone.
I stood silent. If I spoke up and told what I’d witnessed Sabu would kill me for accusing him. No one would believe me anyway. Aside from Ani, I could tell everyone in the hall had bought Sabu’s story.
Sabu seated himself on the throne again. “Why did Pentu murder Father? For years Father has wanted to go to war against Scorpion. Pentu stayed his hand every time. Isn’t that right, Ani?”
“It is, Majesty.”
“But recently Father had a change of heart. He intended to marshal his forces and make Scorpion pay for the blockade that’s caused us so much misery. Pentu found out, no doubt warned by his wife.” Sabu pointed at me. “Pentu killed my father, King Ika, so he could take Nubt’s throne for himself and thereby protect Scorpion.”
Sabu let that sink in. Many conversations were proof he was believed. But not by all. Bebi and the rest of my relatives looked skeptical. Maya’s eyes were darting in every direction. He was a man who attached his family to the winning side. He wanted to make sure Sabu was winning before committing.
“The moment Pentu made himself king he would’ve surrendered Nubt to Scorpion,” Sabu charged. “Scorpion’s a bloodthirsty king. He would’ve executed every elite man and woman in Nubt.”
A ridiculous accusation. Many outraged cries. Elites were buying it.
“Pentu failed. For that he paid with his life.” Sabu stood. “Bebi, come forward. Your brothers and cousins too – Buneb, Ankhaf, Hor, Huni, Parahotep.”
They stepped to the open space before the dais, nervous, frightened.
“Bebi sided with Pentu in every discussion between Father and me,” Sabu told the elites. “Pentu would no doubt have rewarded Bebi and his family for their loyalty had he taken the throne. They’d have lorded it over us.” He addressed Bebi. “But Pentu’s failure is your failure. You and every member of your family will surrender your sticks of authority immediately. You will not return to your homes – ever. Your possessions are no longer yours. You will not leave Nubt. You will, instead, live and work among the lapwings. You will serve as examples of what will happen to any other elites who cross me, and as symbols of my great mercy. You’re all traitors. You all deserve to die. I grant you your lives.”
Parahotep’s wife, Renut, fainted.
Sabu dismissed my relatives with a wave of his hand. Guards forced them from the hall. Parahotep carried Renut out in his arms.
“Ani.”
Ani moved from the side of the throne to directly in front of the dais, facing Sabu.
“Ani, you’ve never wavered in your loyalty to me. I appoint you my chief advisor and commander of my army. Together, you and I shall lead my army to victory over Scorpion. In addition, you shall distribute the sticks of authority I’ve stripped from Bebi’s family to members of your own. You will distribute the houses and belongings of Bebi’s family to members of your own as well, as you see fit.”
House of Scorpion Page 35
