“But she refused for you to travel with your father, to learn the trade you are to inherit?”
Rameke’s gaze remained fixed to the ground as he spoke, although his shoulders had stiffened, “You must understand that my mother was very protective of me, I am her firstborn and my father’s eldest son. She did not want anything to befall me and kept me to the school and the city.”
“You did not object?”
Rameke looked up, “Yes, I did my Prince, several times. She would not even allow me to go with my friends to the islands during the harvest season.”
Neti believed his answer as it was spoken firmly, as she would expect from someone who felt wronged by his mother’s veto. She turned to look at Shabaka but did not voice her thought or her opinion that the woman had used her son to hold on to her position as best she could, and that nothing good ever came from coddling a young man so much.
“You received an allowance from your parents?” Shabaka continued.
The young man nodded, “Yes, my Prince, my parents have been very generous. I never went short on anything. My father is a successful man with many contacts.”
Neti also came to the conclusion that the young man liked to hear the sound of his own voice.
“And are there any among these contacts that you suspect to benefit from his demise?”
The young man shook his head; then he said, “To be honest my Prince, the only ones to benefit from his demise are those who desire Aya for themselves. She is a beautiful woman. But as with our custom she will become my wife should my father pass, so even there, there would not be any gain for them.”
“And you have no problem with this arrangement? I would not like to inherit my own mother as a wife even though I love her dearly.”
“As you know, my Prince, Aya is not my blood. She is neither my mother nor my mother’s sister . I have no problem with taking her as my own wife, she is a beautiful woman many men would go to battle for her. It would be no hardship for me to have her as a wife.”
“Then you are not upset about her role in your mother’s death?” Shabaka chanced to ask.
“My Prince, I don’t know what you have heard or what she may have claimed, but I can say with great certainty that she is too naive a person to have played any role in my mother’s capture. My mother even once removed a servant who had exerted an undesirable influence on her. She often claims to have always had the closest relationship with my father, but that is only recent, after my mother’s judgment. I would urge you not to listen to her folly. She speaks without experience. The medjay caught the men in the desert who identified my mother; she had no hand in it.”
“Yet you are still willing to take her as a wife?” Shabaka asked disbelievingly.
“As you know, my Prince, a man is willing to put up with much stupidity when choosing a wife. Aya is a good worker, and I dare say there are other areas where she will fulfill her obligations as a wife. I have need for little else. A man does not necessarily require an intelligent wife.”
Neti found his opinion disturbing, the manner in which he spoke alone made her dislike him even though he did not give her any other reason. She also did not like the sly way he looked at her, as if expecting her to be dumb as well. Her parents had always taught her to respect the opinions of others, but here she found she could not. There were many men who thought like him, but not many who would be bold enough to say it in her presence. Her shoulders stiffened and she wrestled with the desire to clench her fists, because she knew she was just as much under scrutiny here for her behavior as Rameke was.
“I fear you will then soon grow tired of her and want another.” Shabaka said.
“There is no wrong in having more than one wife, a man can have as many as he wishes.” Rameke cockily replied.
“Provided you can care for them all and your children”, Shabaka countered, concluding, “The scribe will add your name to the list of those invited for the stick fighting festival, hopefully you can recover from your injury until then.”
“Thank you, my Prince, it is a great honor.” Rameke said and bowed.
Shabaka nodded and indicated that he was dismissed.
Rameke left with the others and Neti turned towards him, disbelievingly asking, “You invited him to the festival of stick fights?”
“Yes. I know he won’t stand much of a chance, but it will keep him in the city. There is great honor in the title of a champion, and I know of several young men who had choice of the young women after winning it. He will be lured by that and it makes him easier to find.”
“You also got that impression.”
Shabaka hesitated to reply, “I have never known a young man so… unlikable in my time.”
11
Chapter Eleven
They were summoned to the midday meal, and as they settled on the pillows to a selection of fresh fruits, fried plantains, flat breads, fruit wine and fried meat, Hazim again joined then; having washed since the morning’s tournament he seemed no worse off for the exercise.
Shabaka and Hazim discussed his performance that morning and Neti was quick to notice the regard the young boy had for his uncle. She took only a small amount of the fried plantains, since she had never tried them before.
“They come from the islands”, Shabaka explained and she looked at him. “My father had several trees brought in and planted them there. The trees prefer wetter climates but took well to the palm groves, they grow nicely there.”
Neti nodded and tried a piece. They were sweet and a little slimy but altogether quite pleasant.
She felt more like an onlooker at the table as Hazim informed Shabaka of recent developments, at times falling back to their language when he had difficulty in finding the right Egyptian words.
They were almost finished with their meal when Shabaka turned to her, and said,
“I need you this afternoon to watch the men coming in”,
Neti seemed confused for a moment, since she had no idea what men he was referring to. But he clarified his request as he continued. “These tribunals can become rather challenging and demanding, I do not always have the opportunity to assess those who speak.”
“You have called the tribunal for this afternoon?” Neti asked. She was surprised. “Would they not need more time?”
“Remember what I told you this morning”, Shabaka said. “Besides, if the matter was of pressing urgency and those who complained felt they were justified, they will attend. If not, they had their chance.”
“You have no intention of actually hearing them”, Neti said, taken aback.
“I will give them as good a hearing as any other, but my intention is rather to identify anyone who knows of Dagi’s involvement with the craftsmen and whether they might seek vengeance, for whatever reason. They will be given their opportunity to voice their grudges and concerns, and if necessary we will have a vote to determine if those present are for or against the arrangement for the craftsmen.”
“But will the people listen to you if they decide against it?”, Neti asked.
“It would be the people’s decision, not my own; they have to accept the outcome of such a tribunal. Besides, I do not need them to listen to my instructions or even agree with me or the outcome. I only seek to identify any suspicious persons amongst them, which is why I need your assistance.”
“And you will have them investigated?” Neti asked.
“I will instruct some of the guards to follow them and to arrest them if they were to approach Dagi’s house tomorrow evening. As you pointed out, we do not know if this beast Menwi spoke of is a man or a beast, but I intend to keep both from him.”
Neti found the change in his behavior disconcerting as she was too used to them having to track down people themselves. Although the medjay in Thebes had assisted on several occasions in the past, even then it had never been a matter of simply handing the bulk of the work over to them. Yet at the same time she understood the reasoning behind it; they did not really know whom
or what they were up against, so it was best to take a wider approach.
Neti nodded and turned her attention to Hazim as he spoke, “Can I sit in as well? I have always wondered what it is you do together.”
Shabaka looked at the young man and nodded, “You can translate for Neti, and I think your father would approve of you learning matters of state. It is not long before you, too, will be sent to Ramesses.” Shabaka then turned his attention back to Neti “Afterwards we will meet with the medjay to discuss their findings. And this evening I have arranged for us to have our meal with Aya and her husband. I think it would give Dagi some peace to know what we have done to ensure his safety.
Neti nodded, even though she had no desire to sit with a man who, as her instincts told her, was a living dead.
They finished their meal and then moved to a side room of the main assembly hall, while the hall itself started filling with citizens. Neti was surprised at the number of people in attendance, especially given that the notification had only gone out that morning. She was hesitant, because she did not want for there to be any problems between Shabaka and his father, and she feared that this could possibly cause some.
They were joined by the court scribe and the formal speaker and both addressed Shabaka in their own language for some time before they entered the assembly room.
On entry Neti noticed a distinct order in the room. There was the immediate circle of attendants who were all seated and then there were those, who kept to the sides and remained standing.
There were several stools placed on the platform they approached, while those already seated rose. The speaker turned to address everyone gathered in the hall while they knelt in turn.
Neti heard a low level of murmuring fill the hall as they took their places. Her heart pounded as she looked at the sea of faces. In the past she had always been one of those looking up to nobility, so it was disconcerting to be looking down on others. She shot Shabaka a glance and saw him standing just as straight and confidant as he always did.
Shabaka addressed the people while Hazim translated for Neti.
Shabaka instructed everyone to sit. Neti and Hazim took their seats as Shabaka continued his address before handing matters over to the formal speaker who proceeded to explain the proceedings and the subject to be discussed to the attendees.
The scribe handed him a name which was called out, and the first complainant rose from his seat. He was an elderly man who directed his addresses to Shabaka.
“Every day we see these people use expensive materials, their access to such goods is unknown, yet we have to barter intensively for the limited supply there is. They are using it all to make things that others may not want.”
“This is your full complaint?” Shabaka asked.
The elderly man nodded his head and then proceeded to sit down again.
The complaint that followed was along similar lines, “We can no longer secure supplies of our own, and we are forced to purchase their goods.” There were several nods and the low murmur in the hall increased until the official speaker demanded silence.
Neti felt more like a hindrance than a help and she did not know how much of the murmuring was directed at her presence there. She did not understand their language and even with Hazim translating for her it was difficult not to feel useless. As the proceedings continued, she became more aware of the stares from the crowd.
Several men had lodged their complaints and they all seemed so similar that even Hazim stopped translating exactly what was said and simply said, “The same complaint as the others.”
The speaker eventually turned to the room and requested if there was anyone there to answer such matters on behalf of the craftsmen.
A man stepped forward from the back group and said, clearly and firmly, “Since the establishment of the craftsmen circle, the trade in raw materials has increased; there are almost three times the traders who bring nothing but raw materials to the city.”
“We have not seen any of this”, the first complainant interjected.
“There is more cloth, more…”, Hazim could not translate fast enough for her because the men got into an argument, with several others joining in.
The official speaker called them to order and then turned to the man who had volunteered to speak on behalf of the craftsmen, asking him to step forward and identify himself. The man identified himself and was invited to sit with the others, so he would be given an opportunity to present his case.
The speaker then continued with the names on the list, and another affluent-looking man stood up to speak, “I do agree that there are more goods available”, he began, looking towards the craftsmen’s representative. “But there are a lot of inferior goods being produced. Since they no longer accept commission work, we are faced with having to buy whatever they offer. And more often than not exceptional or decent goods have been sold a long time ago.”
In response the speaker gave the craftsmen’s representative a chance to respond. The man confidently stated that there were thousands of people in Syène, many who could not afford the goods the man had spoken of, but many who could make them and earn an honest living in doing so. “All craftsman need to learn about business, it is far better for them to learn in our community than cheat others or be cheated. I have seen more complaints for poor quality commissions, than for goods of poor quality the craftsmen have made on their own account.” The man argued.
Another objected that the craftsmen were setting their own prices and were often not open to negotiations and very expensive.
Their representative replied, that in the past the trader had to purchase the goods and then seek a craftsman to do the work. “Too many of you then decided how much our work was worth to you and underpaid us. Some even declared the work to be worthless and refused to pay. And with the work already done, the craftsmen had no means to barter payment. I have heard many of you brag that they paid less for something they commissioned, while many craftsmen went hungry.”
Many in the room grew quiet at his words. “The prices they calculate are what they deem the goods to be worth, and is based on the amount work and time they put into it, as well as the level of their skills. If you do not like the price then seek the same from another. Only the really exceptional pieces are expensive and these are frequently bought by traders who know and appreciate their worth.”
“Which still leaves us with the inferior goods?” A man in the group shouted out.
“Is it not easier to choose a craftsman who can display his crafts and his skills rather than taking a chance on someone unknown? Have you approached any of them with a fair commission or asked any of them if they would make you whatever you desire?”
The man who had spoken out of turn shook his head.
“Then I may deduce that like many others you sought goods for less than their worth, and because you could not cheat a craftsman, now you feel cheated yourself.”
Suddenly, the man looked quite embarrassed.
“We demand to know where these craftsmen get their goods from; some of the materials they use are not even available here”, another demanded, but the official speaker did not reprimand him for it. Again he turned to the craftsmen’s representative to answer the question.
“Ever since the craftsmen circle began, there has been an increase in trade of these raw materials”, the man started although many murmured and claimed that it wasn’t true, yet he continued undisturbed by their rambles. “Many traders now bring in raw materials and our pharaoh has made warehouses available for the storage and safekeeping of these goods. This moon cycle alone there have been two bark-loads of dark wood from farther up the river. They were not bound for the Egyptian pharaoh, his palace is complete now. The goods were brought in for the craftsmen. Many of these people worked for the pharaoh but are no longer needed. Many of them had to make things for you on their free days in the past, which gave them little rest, and often left things incomplete. Now you no longer have to wait for your goods
to be made nor risk for them never to be completed. You can visit the market where you can purchase your goods and take them home. There is no more waiting until somebody has the time to do your commissions. There is a greater variety of goods. Many craftsmen have now been given the opportunity to make the things they could previously only dream of and never would have had the chance to actually make. They may make stools or tables but each is different, so there is an even greater chance of having more extraordinarily beautiful pieces than there have been before. These people work hard; they do not beg for food or clothes, would you want to take that from them because of your fear that there may not be enough profit for you when they do your commissions?”
Many of the people present nodded their head at the man’s words.
“But is still does not answer where the goods come from, and how they can so easily afford them. We still have difficulty securing raw materials and they are wasting them.”
“Have you ever gone to the warehouses to purchase some of these goods?”
“No, I do not know where they are”, the man honestly replied.
“Then how can you be so sure anything is being wasted? Any craftsman will think twice before wasting anything, because they have to pay for the material just like anybody else. They are not free. You may just as easily purchase goods from the warehouses as any of the craftsmen. Those in charge will simply order more materials, or do you have a problem with the craftsmen possibly becoming wealthy from their craft?”
The man took offence to that, and shouted. “If they become wealthy by such means, they are cheating the average citizen and it should be stopped. We demand to know who is in charge of this! Who is the man behind it all.”
“The warehouses are overseen by scribes and men appointed by our pharaoh. It does not belong to any one person, they pay the craftsmen in exchange for their goods and barter the goods for the raw materials from the traders.”
The Forgotten Papyrus (The Mummifier's Daughter Series Book 5) Page 11