I’d arranged to have Heket seated to my left, with Iry on her left. I hadn’t spoken to Iry since his arrival, because I assumed Mekatre would have spies watching us and I didn’t want to give them a reason to claim Iry and I were conspiring. Mekatre was my avowed enemy now, after the garden and wine incidents. He didn’t even pretend to be cordial when we encountered each other.
A flock of servants descended upon us, bearing heaping platters of foodstuffs and jars of wine. I’d spared no effort to make the feast a display of Scorpion’s wealth. Every cup was solid gold, every platter and bowl copper. On one side of the hall, at the end of the royal row, a group of female musicians were playing, their music nearly drowned out by numerous conversations and much laughter.
“What will we women do while the men are hunting?” Heket asked as she sampled a date.
“We’re going to sail to Abdju to inspect Scorpion’s grave,” I replied. “Niay’s going to captain our boat. We’ll be transporting a load of luxuries from Tjeni to the warehouse in Abdju where Scorpion’s accumulating his grave goods. We’re going to visit that warehouse.”
“To impress the wives with Scorpion’s wealth and might, so they’ll tell their husbands?” Heket guessed.
“Exactly.”
Heket laughed.
“After we return to Tjeni, I’m going to present each woman with a gold necklace made by Nubt’s goldsmith.”
“What woman doesn’t crave gold?” Heket observed. She picked up and munched a piece of watermelon.
“Nofret’s coming with us, Heket.”
“I’m so glad. I’ve missed her since she left Nubt.”
I leaned close and tilted my head towards Nofret.
Niay said something and she laughed.
“She looks happy,” Heket said. “Happier than I’ve seen her in a long time.”
“Niay’s been good for her, Heket. I think she might finally be putting Sabu behind her.”
“That’s not an easy thing to do,” Heket said, “as I well know.”
“How about you, Heket?”
“I’m happy enough. I’ve settled into life with Iry. He doesn’t ask anything of me. We’re content being companions. I love Abar and Neith and they love me.”
“Have things improved at Nubt the past couple of months?”
“Marginally. Iry appreciates how you straightened out the overseers when you visited. You truly put the fear of Scorpion into them. They haven’t backslid since.”
“Any news from Nekhen?” I knew from experience that Iry would share what was going on there with Heket, unlike Scorpion, who still kept me in the dark about the valley beyond Tjeni. The opportunity to probe Heket for information was not one I was going to miss.
Heket looked towards her parents. Khab and Ini were holding court with a small group of Nekhen’s elites. “Father’s boats are trading directly with the North for the first time in two hundred years, thanks to King Scorpion. But, as usual, Father’s talking tough. He told his elites he forced Scorpion to allow free trade.” She shook her head. “Father’s lies will catch up to him someday. I wouldn’t be surprised if your husband removes him from Nekhen’s throne.”
“If he does, I think Scorpion will replace him with your brother Kama.”
“I agree. Weret’s given Kama a son mixing Tjeni’s and Nekhen’s royal blood. Iry and I won’t produce a challenger.”
“Does that bother you, Heket? That you’ll never have a son sitting Nekhen’s throne?”
“It would have, once. But I’m content being mother to Iry’s girls. I don’t much care about Nekhen anymore.”
The feasting went on for another hour. Then girls began circulating through the hall with bowls of water and lengths of linen to wash and dry fingers. All at once, with a wild cry, a dozen dancing girls swept into the open space between Scorpion’s family and the visitors. All were young, beautiful, flexible, their hair long and unbound, eyes painted with malachite, thighs tattooed. Some wore opaque skirts, some only girdles. All were bedecked with bracelets and anklets that jangled as they leapt and dipped and swirled in time to the music and clapping and cries of spectators. Gold necklaces flashed in the torchlight. Men crowded close to the front of the hall, as did Scorpion and Lagus and Mekatre. I noted that Iry had disappeared.
I left my seat and went to look for him, now that Mekatre was occupied. I found him at the side of the hall, out of the way, talking with Sety and Merit.
“Majesty,” Merit said, bowing.
“I wanted to thank you for how kind you were to me when I visited your estate, Merit,” I said. “I needed someone to talk to and you knew just what to say.”
“I’m glad I could help, Majesty.”
“We need to talk,” I told Iry and Sety.
“Should I leave, Majesty?” Merit asked.
“No, Merit. No one will think Iry and Sety and I are conspiring if you’re with us.”
“You mean Mekatre won’t think we’re conspiring,” Iry said.
I glanced at the front of the hall. Mekatre was so close to the dancers he could reach out and touch them. I had no doubt one would end up in his bed before the night was over.
“I don’t think he’s paying any attention to us right now,” Iry observed.
“He’s leaving that to his spies,” I said.
Iry shook his head in disgust. “Even here in Tjeni. Incredible. Anyway, Sety and I were just about to discuss the North.”
“King Scorpion’s losing his grip on the delta,” Sety reported. “Lagus has alienated everyone. So far I’ve managed to keep all the Northern settlements loosely allied. But Antef’s waiting to pounce if Lagus makes a mistake.”
“Lagus needs to be replaced at Ineb-hedj by someone competent,” Iry said. “I hope Father realizes it before it’s too late.”
“Scorpion will never take Ineb-hedj away from Lagus,” I said. “It’s his way of placating him, knowing Lagus will never sit Tjeni’s throne.”
“Foolish. But I’m afraid you’re right,” Iry said.
“How are Harwa and Khentetka?” I asked Sety.
“They’re doing quite well,” Merit replied. “Their estate’s about five miles from ours. I spent a couple of weeks there, helping Khentetka get everything set up. I can see why you like her, Majesty.”
“She and Harwa will be good allies,” I said.
“What’s going on in Tjeni, Matia?” Iry asked.
“Mekatre’s openly seeking the throne,” I replied. “He’s lured Perneb away from Lagus. He’s promised me to Perneb as wife. He’s acting like he’s already king.”
Iry looked appalled. “Does Father know?”
“That he’s angling for the throne? Yes. That he’s acting like he’s already king when Scorpion’s in Nubt? No. Can you imagine – Mekatre stole wine from your father’s warehouse of grave goods.”
Merit gasped.
“Father doesn’t know?” Iry asked.
“I dealt with it. I stole the wine back from Mekatre. Plus his private supply. Then I convinced Scorpion to appoint me overseer of his grave goods, like Tamit was. Then I told Mekatre I knew about the wine. He’s my sworn enemy now.”
“Which means he’ll definitely come after Gehes as soon as Father officially names him heir,” Iry said grimly.
“With luck, we’ll have many years to prepare to counter whatever Mekatre tries,” Sety said.
I left them shortly thereafter to circulate among the rest of the guests, before any of Mekatre’s spies got too suspicious. Before long I encountered Antef.
“Congratulations, Antef. I understand Satiah’s pregnant. It doesn’t seem so bad now, I suppose, that Iry and I pried your sister away from your father. She’ll be the wife of Tjeni’s next king.”
“Do you take me for a fool, Matia?” Antef shook his head. “Oh, wait. You do. Did. I have to admire how you singlehandedly destroyed Sabu’s alliance. Claiming I helped you escape – not true, but Sabu believed it. Anyway, Lagus will never be king.”
�
�Oh?” I asked innocently.
“Even in the North we know that Mekatre’s lured away the few supporters Lagus once had. Satiah will never be the wife of a king. More likely the widow of a murdered king’s son.”
“You think Mekatre will kill Lagus?”
“Probably Iry too. Then he’ll come after you and your son. What’s his name?”
“Gehes.”
“When Scorpion dies your life will be at risk, Matia,” Antef warned. “Flee to Pe and Dep. Be my wife, as you should already be.”
“You’ll protect me from Mekatre?”
“I’ll do more than that,” Antef replied. “The North’s vulnerable now, thanks to Lagus. Once Scorpion’s dead I’ll take the entire delta for myself. Once I control the delta I’ll control the river, and once I control the river I’ll control the South. Tjeni will fade away, and with it, Mekatre.”
So. Antef still had designs on the North. Information I intended to pass on to Scorpion and Iry and Sety. Mekatre wasn’t the only danger to Gehes.
“Just think, Matia – marry me, and you can be the wife of the most powerful king the valley’s ever known.”
“I already am, Antef,” I laughed. “I already am.”
***
Scorpion tossed and turned on sweat-soaked sheets in our bed. Lamplight played on his features, drawn, anguished. For the first time since I’d known him he looked older than his fifty years.
I dipped a cloth into a basin of cool water and bathed his brow. His head was burning. His fever was getting worse.
A healer was sitting in a corner, watching. He’d given up trying to save Scorpion a day ago. The man who’d preserve Scorpion’s body with a mixture of resin and herbs and resin-soaked linen once he died was on alert nearby. Scorpion’s daughters, Weret and Heria, were asleep in their rooms. They’d been sharing the watch along with me and Nofret and Iry and Sety and Heket the past week and they were exhausted. Iry was also asleep. While his brothers Lagus and Mekatre had been meeting repeatedly with Tjeni’s elites, each trying to convince them to name him Scorpion’s successor, he’d spent every waking hour in this room.
Scorpion’s right leg lay atop the sheet, the deep claw marks that ran from hip to knee packed with herbs and potions. I’d slathered the wound with honey several times every day. Nothing was working. The lion that had mauled Scorpion during his hunt had killed him. Scorpion’s actual death was just a matter of time.
A week ago the hunting party that had set out so enthusiastically for the desert had returned to Tjeni bearing gravely-wounded Scorpion on a litter. The rulers and elites were still here in Tjeni, awaiting Scorpion’s death and subsequent burial. It promised to be the most extraordinary funeral ever seen in the valley.
Gehes squawked in a corner. Nofret picked him up and rocked him in her arms. Nine months old, he was my pride and joy, and Scorpion’s. I doted on him, as did Nofret. With Khentetka residing in the delta and Heket in Nubt, she was my constant and only companion here in Tjeni besides Scorpion, for everyone still considered me to be an outsider and interloper. Now, fourteen months after her liberation from Sabu, Nofret was gradually reverting to the woman she’d been before being so insidiously abused by Sabu. Niay was playing a major role in that.
Scorpion stirred at Gehes’ cry. His eyes fluttered open.
“You’re awake, My Love.” Though there was no love between us, at least on my part, I wasn’t going to deny a dying man that small comforting illusion. I pressed a cup of water to Scorpion’s lips and lifted his head a bit so he could drink. I gently laid his head down afterwards.
Scorpion licked his lips. “Watching… alone?” His voice was barely above a whisper.
“It’s late, My Love. Sety and Iry and Heket and your daughters went to bed an hour ago. Nofret and Gehes are here.”
“Lagus… Mekatre?”
“I haven’t seen either of them the past three days.” I didn’t hide my disgust.
Scorpion shifted a bit. He grimaced, drew a deep breath. “Campaigning for… throne. Making promises… to elites.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
“I thought… more years!” Scorpion exclaimed weakly. “I thought… Gehes grown.” He took several more deep breaths, collected himself. “Those vipers… kill him.”
And me.
“Iry must… succeed me,” Scorpion said urgently. “He’ll protect Gehes… yield throne.”
“All the important elites back Mekatre. None back Iry.”
“Blind... misguided... greedy fools.”
“They are, My Love. I’m afraid the rulers from the North will assert their independence and head for home the moment the elites name Mekatre. Antef’s the most aggressive; he’ll seize Ineb-hedj. Unless Sety beats him there and rallies all of Tjeni’s farmers who’ve settled the delta and uses them to keep Antef at bay. Best case – disruption of the valley’s supply routes for a few months. Worse case – Antef defeats Sety and cuts Tjeni off from the delta permanently. Either way, we have to hope Iry escapes to Nubt before Mekatre can seize him and makes an ally of Khab. And takes Gehes and me with him.”
“Everything worked for… gone.”
“Let me summon Minnefer and Perneb, My Love. Tell them you want Iry to be king after you. They’re the only elites who truly count. Convince them. They’ll convince the rest. It’s the only way to stop Mekatre.”
“Agree… to my face,” Scorpion predicted. “After dead… advocate for son who… promises most. Lagus and Mekatre… fight. Civil war.” He grabbed my hand. His grip had never been so weak. “After dead… you must… make them keep promise. Whatever it takes… Matia.”
I couldn’t help reflect how strange a turn Iry’s and my lives had taken. Ten years ago I’d been obsessed with taking revenge on Sabu and Iry had been obsessed with becoming Tjeni’s king. Iry had eventually helped me get rid of Sabu. Now he could be king, but only if I was able to enforce Scorpion’s dying wish.
“How, Husband? I don’t have any authority. Minnefer and Perneb won’t listen to me. I’m from Nubt. I’m a woman. If I advocate for Iry they’ll accuse me of looking out for myself because Iry’s the only one of your sons who tolerates me.” Which was, itself, an amazing development, given how far apart we’d been when I’d escaped Antef and made my way to Tjeni.
“Summon… guard.”
I rose from the side of Scorpion’s bed, went to the door. “The king wishes to speak with you.”
The guard hurried to Scorpion. “Majesty?”
“Bring… overseer of per’aa,” Scorpion gasped. Our long conversation was wearing him out. “Tell him… bring regent stick.”
“Yes, Majesty.”
“Summon Minnefer… Perneb… Sety.”
“Yes, Majesty.”
Scorpion was visibly fading. “Quickly!” I snapped.
The guard dashed from the room.
Scorpion closed his eyes. I put my hand on his brow. He was exceedingly hot. I hurriedly bathed his brow again.
The elites and Sety arrived within ten minutes, the overseer shortly after. He was carrying an ebony stick chased with gold. I dismissed the healer and shut the door behind him. I moved to Scorpion’s bed and knelt beside it. I gently touched his cheek. “They’re here, My Love.”
Scorpion’s eyes opened, mere fevered slits. He was breathing very slowly now, shallowly, his chest barely rising and falling, his breath rattling in his throat. He’d taken a turn.
Inevitability settled over me like a cloak. I gazed at the men.
They’d seen enough death to know Scorpion’s was imminent. They moved beside the bed.
I gave Scorpion a sip of water, lay his head down gently.
He looked up at the three men. “I want Iry… lay me… grave,” Scorpion whispered. “No one else… Understand?”
“We do,” Sety replied.
Minnefer and Perneb nodded.
“Stick.”
The overseer crossed the room and handed it to Scorpion. He gave it to me.
&nbs
p; “Matia… regent. Oversee Tjeni… Nubt… until… successor crowned. Knows my… wishes. Speaks… my voice. Understand?”
“Yes, Majesty,” Sety said again.
“Pledge fealty.”
“I pledge you my fealty, Regent Matia,” Sety said without hesitation. He took my hand in his and kissed my fingers.
Minnefer and Perneb did as well, without enthusiasm, staring at me darkly.
Scorpion took hold of my hand. “Carry out… wishes… Matia. Promise.”
Enforcing his wishes would require a desperate fight by me to put Iry on Scorpion’s throne. Could I win it? I had to, for me and Gehes and the valley’s future. “I promise, My Love.”
Scorpion let go of my hand. He closed his eyes. He was completely spent, fighting for breath, his body drenched in sweat. He started to shiver uncontrollably.
I covered him to his chin with a linen sheet. I dismissed the overseer.
“Should we send for the king’s sons and daughters?” Minnefer asked.
“No. Just us. It’s what Scorpion wants.”
“But…”
“The king has his reasons,” I said sharply. Mainly, that Lagus and Mekatre not be present to interfere before I had a chance to convince these men to back Iry as king. One of whom had been promised me as his wife by Mekatre. The prospect of the fight awaiting me was daunting.
Gehes fussed and Nofret rocked him again.
I continued to sit on the side of Scorpion’s bed. I mopped his brow some more.
The men took seats close to Nofret.
Sweat began pouring off Scorpion. His breaths came at ever longer intervals, ever more ragged. I continued trying to keep him cool, but it was a losing battle. After half an hour he took a deep rattling breath. He opened his eyes, stared unseeing at the ceiling. He roused himself. “Didn’t achieve… dream, Matia! Life’s work… unfinished!”
House of Scorpion Page 55
