Fall of the House of Ramesses, Book 2: Seti

by Max Overton

  "Was it worth it?" Neferronpet asked quietly. "I'd say you've managed to alienate the whole city by not taking Amun into your titles."

  "I refuse to be bullied by those cursed priests of Amun," Seti growled. "I will rule by the light of Re and the wisdom of Ptah rather than the darkness of Amun."

  "So you will head north now? Coronations in Iunu for Re and Men-nefer for Ptah, I suppose."

  "And Hut-waret to honour Set. My place is in the north. I will rule from there."

  "What of Waset, Son of Re?" Merenkhons asked. "Are we to be abandoned?"

  "Never. I am king of both kingdoms, and I will return to Waset when I am able, or if I am needed. Build up your legion, Merenkhons, and keep a watchful eye on Kush, Tjaty Neferronpet. I have a feeling my brother will cause trouble before long. We must be ready for him."

  Chapter 8

  Year 1 of Userkheperure Seti

  The coronation ceremonies that took place in the cities of Ta Mehu were an altogether different affair from the sombre and dark rituals in the ancient temple of Amun. White-walled Men-nefer was decked out in gaily coloured banners; incense burned in all the temples, and the voices of the common folk was raised in joy at the accession of their young king. No man living could recall the last time Kemet had rejoiced in a young king, not since the days of Usermaatre Ramesses, and everyone foretold a time of prosperity and glory.

  The granaries were opened, and herds of cattle slaughtered, meat and bread and beer being made available to all on every street corner. The coronation of Userkheperure Seti was a reason to celebrate, and not just in Men-nefer. Similar ceremonies were enacted in the city of Iunu, the Place of Pillars, with its many temples. The gods Re and Atum presided over the rituals, and though the form of the ceremonies was similar to the southern ones, the tenor was different. Re as the principal god of the sun brought light and warmth in place of darkness, and Atum the creator promised new things in place of the old. Priests and commoners alike lifted their voices in songs of praise and joy, and not a few heads were sore the next day after celebrating heartily with the donated meat and beer.

  The north-eastern city of Hut-waret, now hardly more than a suburb of Per-Ramesses, contained the main temple dedicated to the god Set, lord of the desert, of storms and disorder, of violence and the unknown foreigners. Dreaded by many people, he was not a god to ignore or avoid, as even the god Re employed Set as a counter to the serpent of chaos on his daily voyage across the heavens. Kemetu society was ever a balance of dualities, of the black soil of Kemet and the red deserts of Deshret, of the continual battle between Set and Heru. Moreover, the king himself had honoured Set by taking the god's name, and for that reason alone the people of Kemet would celebrate at Set's red sandstone temple. The drinking and rejoicing were slightly more restrained at Hut-waret for fear of disturbing the Ma'at of the Kingdoms by lending strength to the god of disorder, but people enjoyed themselves nonetheless.

  But all this happened later, after Seti returned from Waset.

  * * *

  Tausret had not been happy to be left behind when her husband journeyed south. Seti said the reason had been her pregnancy. She had been quite happy to go with him as a voyage would not tax her strength and she was early in her pregnancy, but her husband would have none of it.

  "I'm taking the full strength of the Ptah legion with me. Doesn't that tell you something?"

  Tausret grimaced. "I'm no stranger to battle, remember. I should be at your side."

  "Not while you are with child. I will not risk it."

  "It is my risk and..."

  "Enough, Tausret. In this you will obey me."

  Tausret remained behind and governed Men-nefer, assisted by Tjaty Merysekhmet in the king's absence. Seti was gone a month and then returned, grim-faced, before setting out once more with the body of his father. Tausret had protested anew.

  "He was my father too. I should be there for his burial, not to mention your coronation afterward."

  Seti laid his hand gently on his wife's belly, where their child was just starting to show. "Now, more than ever, should you remain at home. Say your farewells to our father in the Place of Beauty and wave goodbye as we sail. Your duty is to carry my son safely for the next few months."

  "And your coronation? Am I to miss that? Did you not once say I was to be your Queen? I feel more like one of the cows in your herd."

  "You will be Queen, my love, but you will be crowned here in Men-nefer where people love you, when I return."

  And so Tausret stayed behind again, grinding her teeth at the enforced inaction, and desiring more than anything to be with her husband in the south. Another month passed, and Seti returned, now officially as King Userkheperure Seti, and though a youth had left Men-nefer, a confident man returned, radiating kingship and positively glowing as god-on-earth. Officials and the nobles were delighted to bow down before him, for Ma'at had been restored to Kemet, and the gods smiled once more.

  * * *

  Seti's coronation took place in Men-nefer, and on this occasion Tausret was invested as Queen, taking her place on a throne beside her husband, though of course on a lower level, and being guided through various rituals by priests of the gods and priestesses of Auset, Mut, Nut, Sekhmet and Wadjet. She was now addressed as Tausret Setepenmut, and bore the titles of Great Royal Wife, Chief King's Wife, Great Lady and God's Wife.

  Her face was creased in a smile when she entered the royal bedchamber later that day and greeted her husband. She bowed and then burst into laughter. "Ah, husband, it feels good to be Queen and wife of the god."

  Seti laughed too, and tossed the ceremonial Khepresh crown aside, taking Tausret in his arms and kissing her. He pressed up against her, but Tausret, feeling his urgency, drew back, her hand cupping her belly protectively.

  "We must not, husband. You have already sown a son inside me. Start another and they will fight within me, for it is in the nature of boys to contend with each other."

  "I have need of you, Tausret."

  "And I of you, husband, but we must restrain ourselves until after the birth."

  "That is months away."

  "It will pass quickly," Tausret said with a smile. "You will be so busy making your royal progress in the north, and going through more interminable coronation ceremonies, that you will hardly notice the days passing."

  "That does not help me today," Seti muttered.

  Tausret hesitated, frowning. Then, with an effort, she spoke calmly. "Take a slave or a young girl from among the maidservants then, my husband. Take her to your couch and plough her field until you are weary and your lust is spent."

  Seti's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You would not mind?"

  "I am Queen," Tausret said slowly. "Nothing can alter that. What does it matter if a man, or even a king, scatters his seed among lesser women? It does not lessen me."

  "Nothing could lessen you, my love. You are truly a Queen among other women and one of great beauty as well. You have a nobleness of spirit and..."

  "Enough, husband. I know well the love you have for me, for we have shared it since we were children. Go now and take your pleasure with a pretty young girl, but do not forget our love."

  "I will not be able to find a girl to match your beauty, my Mighty Lady. Every girl in the palace is ugly and hunch-backed compared to you. I will spend my lust on some hag while I think of you."

  "Now you are talking nonsense, husband. The palace is full of beautiful women with the bloom of youth upon their cheeks, their bodies firm and inviting. Choose one of them and take pleasure in her, for you are the king and all things in Kemet belong to you. Just do not forget me when you lie with her."

  "Never, my love." Seti kissed Tausret once more and hurried off, scarcely able to disguise his eagerness.

  Tausret grimaced as she watched her husband go, knowing that ultimately she had no hold over his actions. As god-on-earth, he could do whatever he liked, within law, and every custom of the land allowed him to take as many wives and con
cubines as he liked. So far, he had limited himself to one wife, and possibly a handful of bed warmers over the years, but Tausret knew that situation could not continue forever.

  "As long as I am always foremost in his mind," she murmured. "As long as he takes no other wife, I am content."

  Seti left Men-nefer a few days later, travelling north to Iunu and the next round of rituals, leaving Tausret behind as usual. At the wharf, when she bade farewell to her husband, she noticed a young woman, a girl really, weeping as she stared after the Royal Barge. Calling one of her maidservants to her, she pointed out the weeping girl and asked, "What is her name?"

  Her maidservant hesitated and lowered her eyes. "That is Tiaa, Great Wife."

  "And who is she?"

  "The daughter of Panare, the Overseer of the Palace Granary, Great Wife."

  Back in the palace, Tausret sent for the girl and received her in the small audience room off the main hall. She had seated herself on the throne there, arrayed in her finest clothes and most resplendent jewellery, and when the girl was shown in, said nothing, just delivering a hard stare.

  Tiaa entered and offered the correct bow due to their respective stations, but then stood and looked back at the queen as if she was, if not an equal, at least in possession of something shared. Her initial expression had been one of smug complacency, but the presence of the silent queen unnerved her, and she again bowed, waiting for the queen to speak.

  "Your name is Tiaa, daughter of Panare, the Overseer of the Palace Granary?"

  "Yes, Majesty," Tiaa whispered.

  "Speak up, girl...and the title is Great Wife." Tausret stressed the latter part of the title and saw Tiaa blush and look down. "What did you think would happen?"

  "A...about what, Maj...Great Wife?"

  "About the king. He ploughed your field did he not?"

  "Y...yes, Great Wife."

  "You did not think to refuse?"

  "No...How could I, Great Wife? He is the king."

  "And my husband. I am Queen and Great Wife." Tausret stared at the young girl a little more. "What do you hope to get from the king's act of lust? Do you think he will marry you? You are only a servant."

  The comments stung and Tiaa's head came up. "I am not a mere servant, but the daughter of an Overseer, and the king was pleased with me."

  "Of course he was, you silly girl. He lusted after a woman, any woman, and you just happened to be there. Now that he has satisfied his desire, he will not look at you again."

  Anger flickered across the young girl's face. "Unless I am with child."

  "What?"

  "The king was most generous with his seed, and sowed my field most diligently. The women of my household are fertile and bear many sons. It may be that I will bear his son. A king must have a son to live on after him."

  Tausret paled. "You dare to say that to me? Even as I carry the king's son and heir within me? Get out. Go!"

  Tiaa stared for a moment, and then fled. Tausret scowled and called for her maidservant. "Send for Tjaty Merysekhmet."

  "Great Wife, I cannot...send for him. He would have me beaten for impertinence, and rightly so."

  Tausret sighed. "Then tell him that the Queen desires him to attend upon her as soon as possible in the Small Audience Chamber."

  The maidservant hurried off and Tausret sat back on the throne to await the arrival of the Tjaty. She thought about the words of the girl and steadily worked herself up into a rage, one that was not confined to the girl but also encompassed the king. Unable to sit still any longer, she leapt to her feet and started pacing, prowling the room like a lioness. Merysekhmet found her like this a little later and bowed to his Queen.

  "You are upset, my lady," he said. "How may I help?"

  "The king has insulted me and...and I will not stand for it."

  "May I enquire the nature of this insult, my lady? In my experience the king is not one to insult those he loves."

  "He has taken another woman to lie with and may have got her with child. If he has, and it is a son, he will marry her and supplant me."

  Merysekhmet frowned. "The king told me a few days ago to find him a suitable young girl. He said that you suggested it because you were indisposed."

  "Does the whole palace have to know? And even if I did, he did not have to do it," Tausret muttered.

  "My lady, with respect, the king is the Bull of Heru and a young man besides. If he desires to lie with a woman, it is his right. Rather than being consumed by anger, you should be thankful that he lay with a common woman."

  "Of course you would say that, Merysekhmet. You are a man too, and you found this...this slut for him."

  "Yes, I did, my lady, and I made sure she was not just a common servant girl, but a decent girl from a lower grade family. Not a slut, nor yet a virgin, but rather a girl who would give the king some pleasure and make no demands upon him. And, my lady, even if she birthed a son he would not marry her or acknowledge the boy. She is too far beneath him and her belly has been visited by other men, he could never be sure whose child it was. Nor would he ever forget himself so much as to put you away, Tausret Setepenmut. You are daughter and granddaughter of kings and Great Wife of King Userkheperure. Your son, when he is born, will be king too. Such jealousy of a common girl is beneath you, my lady."

  Tausret scowled and turned away, but after a few moments her shoulders slumped. "I am duly chastised, Merysekhmet. How could I so forget my dignity?"

  Merysekhmet recognised that the question did not require an answer, so remained silent.

  "I do not want to see her again," Tausret said after a short while. "She may be nothing to me, but every time I see her I will be reminded of this."

  "Leave it to me, my lady."

  "What will you do?"

  Merysekhmet thought for a few moments. "I will find her a husband in another city. Someone who will soon make her forget her place in the bed of the king."

  "Find her a good man. I would not want her to suffer on my account."

  "As you command, my lady."

  Chapter 9

  Tausret speaks:

  I am so angry I could stamp my feet and scream, but that would accomplish nothing and damage my dignity. What is it about men that they understand nothing of what passes between a man and woman? It signifies little that the man is a king and the woman a queen. A king is used to getting everything he wants, when he wants, but a woman, even a queen, must bow to the needs and desires of her lord. I blame it all on the gods. Atum is the creator and for all he is a god, he is still a male. Existing alone, he became lonely, but instead of simply creating other beings by an act of will, he pleasured himself as a man does and shed semen, from which Shu and Tefnut sprang. A little later he cried and mankind was born from his tears. I think this is why no matter what we do; sorrow is at the end of it. If a woman had been creator, things would have been managed much more reasonably.

  But I blaspheme, and digress. I am angry because I love a man and he repays my love by dallying with other women. Oh, I know, he has every right to do so. He is King, Bull of Heru, and it is expected that he will plough many fields and beget many children by many women, but why must he throw it in my face? Tjaty Merysekhmet is a man and delighted in pointing out to me that I had suggested the king find another woman when I declared myself indisposed, but that is not the point. What was I supposed to do? I have already lost a child, and I do not intend to lose this one. Of course I had to refuse the king, but I could not leave him aroused, for men do stupid things when they are aroused. He had to relieve his lust so I told him to find a girl, plough her field and spend his seed. A suggestion from a queen, a queen who loves him. But he did not have to seek out a beautiful woman.

  My grandfather Usermaatre had two queens whom he loved equally, many lesser wives, and very many concubines. Some people say that half of Kemet is descended from his loins, so widely did he sow his seed. I think that is exaggerated, but I know many officials in the palace and in other cities who are sons or
grandsons or great-grandsons of that king. My real father Sethi had a single wife and loved her dearly and my adoptive father Baenre had two wives. My Seti, when he married me, swore I would be the only one.

  Oh, I know enough not to be taken in by the promises of men, or even by the promises of kings. Seti has sown his seed elsewhere from time to time, it is useless to expect a prince or a king to be utterly faithful, but it is reasonable to expect him to be discreet. As long as he took a lowly servant or comely slave to his couch, I could ignore it, and when I made my suggestion, that is more or less what I expected. Instead, he, or Merysekhmet perhaps, chose a girl from a good, if low-ranked family, and took her to his couch. A servant or slave one can ignore, but the daughter of an Overseer has a measure of standing. Heirs have been born to such women.

  Take the case of Tiye, daughter of Yuya. He was a landowner and Superintendent of the King's Oxen, yet King Nebmaatre took her to be Great Wife and Queen, and she bore the-king-who-must-not-be-mentioned, the heretic. There was a lesson to be learned there, but I could not expect my Seti to learn it while his mind was clouded by lust. Therefore I had to act.

  I called the girl Tiaa to me and confronted her, meaning to shame her. One night with the king, though, had filled her head with all manner of foolish thoughts, as well as her belly with other things. She even suggested that she might bear the king an heir, thereby hinting that she might supplant me. For a few moments I thought I might strike her down, so great was my rage, but I realised it was beneath my dignity to lay hands on her. I sent her away and called Merysekhmet to me. He told me what had transpired between him and the king, and again I felt rage that here was another person seeking to influence the king to my detriment. I ordered the girl be sent away, and I knew that Merysekhmet would not dare to disobey me. If the king had been in Men-nefer, he might have dared, but he was away and she was just a girl.