by Max Overton
The villagers turned out to cheer their king the next morning as the oarsmen propelled the barge out into the current once more, but the praise soon fell into silence as the land slipped past. They entered a stretch of river with few villages and where the cliffs on either side approached the life-giving water, constricting the belt of farmland and field to scarcely more than a stone's throw in width. Siptah sat with Bay under an awning and watched the swirl of waters and the white birds fleeing from the passage of the barge, while Tausret sat with her court officials and army commanders further back and dealt with the everyday business of the kingdoms.
A cry from an oarsman caught their attention--a cry filled with dread and apprehension. Other men looked round and took up the cry, pointing at the sky.
"Set is attacking Re!" one man called, and others fell to their knees, stretching out their arms toward the sun, wailing their fear and grief.
"What's happening?" Siptah asked. He sprang to his feet and limped to where crew members were gathered.
"The sun's face," Bay muttered. "There is something wrong with it."
Siptah squinted, peering up at the sun through slitted eyelids. "I can't see...what is that? Is something eating the sun?"
Tausret turned to the priests and scribes in her party and demanded an explanation. "What is happening?"
The priests, who had been muttering and praying to their various gods, looked from one to another, not wanting to voice their concerns to the regent. Eventually, a senior priest of Re cleared his throat and turned his face from the heavens.
"Re will overcome," he stated, though his voice shook with emotion.
"Is the god being attacked?" Tausret asked. "By Set, as those sailors think?"
"That is a vile calumny," declared a junior priest of Set. "Set would not attack a fellow god."
"Why not? He has before," a priest of Asar said. "Set seeks disorder."
Tausret motioned the priests to silence and bade the barge captain turn the craft in to shore. "We will offer up prayers and sacrifices to all the gods."
It was difficult to watch the battle between the sun god and his unknown adversary as the light from Re's face blinded them, causing them to squint and look away blinking. Even so, it became apparent that Re was losing the battle as more and more of the disc of the sun was overcome by shadow.
"What else can we do?" Tausret demanded. "We cannot just stand idle and watch the light of Re being eaten up."
Siptah clung to Bay's robe and turned his face away. He was close to tears, but Bay exhorted him not to show fear.
"Remember you are the king and a god. Re is your father, and you must stay strong in the face of his distress."
"Majesties, I believe there is no great cause for concern."
"Who speaks?" Tausret asked. "Stand forth and explain your words."
One of the scribes pushed his way through the knot of priests. "I am Pepy, son of Anapepy, Chief Scribe to the Court at Men-nefer. Majesties, this thing has happened before, and therefore we need not be concerned that the sun will suffer lasting injury."
"I have never heard of such a thing," Tausret responded.
"Nor I," Commander Ament added. "Have you actually seen it before, Pepy?"
"No," admitted the scribe. "Nor have few living men, I think, but the records speak of such a thing happening early on in the reign of Usermaatre--around year twenty-two I think--and before, in the time of the Heretic and his successor Nebkheperure Tutankhamen."
"If it has happened that often, why do we know nothing about it?"
Pepy shrugged. "If only peasants saw it, they could only speak of it to those they met. There would be no written record."
"But there is a written record," Ament said. "For you say you have read it. Where was the attack on the sun seen?"
"The vision that appeared to the Heretic was seen in Akhet-Aten, while that of Nebkheperure was in Aniba of Kush, and that of Usermaatre in Waset. It may be that it has happened more often, in places where only peasants saw it."
"But what does it mean?" Tausret asked. "If this has happened before, then Re is able to fight off his attacker, but what causes it? Who or what is attacking the sun?"
"That is only known to the gods," said a priest piously.
"We can only offer up prayers that the gods will come to the assistance of Re."
A moan of fear went up from the sailors as the light visibly dimmed. A large shadow now lay across most of the sun's disc and the birds in the palm trees and scrub started twittering loudly. The shadow seemed to move more swiftly now, as if certain of victory. A chill swept over the watchers as the last of Re's light was extinguished. The sailors grovelled on the ground in awe and fear, and Siptah wept softly. It was all the rest of them could do to not cry aloud, but Pepy stood with face upraised, a rapt expression on his face.
"Oh, look," he cried out. "A wash of pearly light sweeps out from the vanished sun and the stars in the body of the goddess Nut shine forth as if it was night time."
As they watched, a flash of light appeared, slowly growing as the shadow withdrew. The stars paled and disappeared and light washed over the land once more.
"Re conquers his enemy," cried a priest of the sun god. "Rejoice, for Re is powerful."
"The Akh of Re is abroad in the kingdoms once more," said another priest. "See how the shadow flees."
As they continued to watch, the sun grew stronger and before long it was apparent that the sun had suffered no harm. The barge captain drove his men back to their stations, and Tausret gathered her officials, the priests and scribes together.
"I accept that we cannot know what this shadow is or what makes it attack the sun, but there is another question that must be answered," Tausret said. "Why has it occurred now, in the second year of Sekhaienre Siptah?"
Heads turned to look at the scribe Pepy, son of Anapepy. He frowned and hesitated before answering. "It might be better to enquire of the priests, Majesty. Knowledge of the gods is their purview."
"Do any of you priests know why this has occurred now?"
None of the priests was prepared to offer up an explanation so Tausret gestured for Pepy to reply.
"I cannot be certain," the scribe said, "but it would appear that such things happen at a time of crisis for Kemet. That it happened in the time of the Heretic is no great surprise as that man raised up the sun's disc to the exclusion of the other gods. Again, in the days of Nebkheperure Tutankhamen, Kemet faced warfare between brothers."
"And in the days of Usermaatre Ramesses?" Ament asked. "Kemet was at peace."
"The treaty with Hatti had just been signed," Pepy said. "Perhaps that had something to do with it."
"There have been plenty of other crises," General Iurudef said. "Even as in the days of Nebkheperure. Why did nothing like this occur when brother fought against brother in the last few years?"
"Perhaps it did, but nobody of note saw it or recorded it."
"Then what is the point of it? Gods battle in the heavens for us all to see. It must mean something."
"And what does it mean for us, today?" Tausret asked. "The gods made sure we saw it, so it must pertain to those of us here."
"They would not bother for ordinary men," Ament said. "There are only two people it could relate to--Queen Tausret as Regent and King Sekhaienre Siptah."
"More likely the king," Bay murmured. "Re overcame the shadow and the king is Son of Re. A son supports his father and I am certain that on the spirit level the Son of Re aided his heavenly father in his struggle. Sekhaienre is the living Akh of Re."
"He whom Re causes to appear has become the living spirit of Re," breathed the senior priest of the sun god.
Tausret shook her head in annoyance. "He is still just a young boy guided by my experience. I think we should resume our voyage as we have wasted enough time here."
The barge sailed on, but the people on board were very much quieter after the great event that had taken place in the skies. Small groups of people huddled to
gether and talked, discussing what it all meant. The priests were content to leave it all in the gods' hands and Pepy occupied himself with paper and ink, busily recording every detail while the events were clear in his mind. Tausret was advised by the senior priest of Re to get the opinion of the Hem-netjer of Atum at Iunu, as Atum-Re was the principal incarnation of the sun god. Bay, meanwhile, talked quietly to Siptah, discussing the wonders they had seen and what it meant for the future of his reign.
"Something like this divides our lives in two--what went before and what comes after, as I'm sure the gods meant it to. I don't know how many people saw the sun god conquer the shadow, or even realise that you as Son of Re played a part in that struggle. I think that we must impress on the rest of Kemet just how important you are to the continued Ma'at of the Two Lands."
"How, Uncle?"
"I don't know. Let me think on it."
Chapter 10
Year 2 of Sekhaienre Siptah
Back in the capital city of Men-nefer, Siptah resumed his studies. Tutors schooled him in every aspect of the law and such learning as a king would need, and Bay oversaw everything. Nothing the king did, from rising from his bed just prior to dawn, until retiring for the night, escaped Bay's notice. He insisted the young king learn the prayers of the dawn services for Khepri, the light of the rising sun; the morning services for Heru of the ascending light; the worship of Re of the noonday sun; and the evening ceremonies dedicated to Atum the unified light as he dipped below the western horizon.
"You are the Son of Re," Bay reminded him. "Especially now that you, as god-on-earth have aided your heavenly father in his struggle against the shadow."
Siptah's other duties were not neglected. He had sat in judgment over the Servants of the Place of Truth when he was in Waset, and even though the men and women there had recited their lines as if play-acting, he faced the real thing in the law courts of Men-nefer. Tjaty Hori ruled here, sitting in judgment over the disputes of noble and peasant alike whenever the regent was busy elsewhere, and the young king was required to sit and listen, and even comment if called upon to do so. Siptah much preferred sitting in on Hori's court than that of Tausret. The Queen Regent made him feel like a boy--a naughty boy--whereas the Tjaty treated him with at least a modicum of respect, instructing him as to why each decision was made, and making a show of asking his advice.
The other duty of the young king was in the training in arms. His father, at his age, though only a prince with no likelihood of becoming a king, was expected to become proficient in at least some aspect of warfare. The nobility would lead the army in times of war, and had to learn how to command men. While a Commander or General was not required to excel in all weapons, he was expected to be good in some. An army commander would likely fight from a chariot and so had to know everything about the vehicle and the team of horses that drew it. Not only did he drive a chariot, but he must expect to fight from it, to engage the enemy hand to hand, and the commonest form of attack was the bow. Siptah was handicapped by his withered leg, but his instructors found ways by which he could be strapped into the chariot unobtrusively, and without having the worry of keeping his footing, both drive a chariot and fight from one. The young king developed great strength in chest and arms to compensate for his weaker lower limbs.
He took part in regular army manoeuvres, racing his chariot against others, leading mock charges, and loosing arrow after arrow at targets while bouncing and rolling across sand and soil at great speed. Siptah may have been still technically a boy of eleven, but he was also a king and showed great determination to prove himself a warrior and leader of men. Bay lost no opportunity to build up his confidence and warn him of his enemies.
"Do not imagine Queen Tausret will let you just cast her aside in a few years' time. Her son Seti-Merenptah is your heir, but you may be sure she will want him to take his place beside you on the throne--or even supplant you. Your only chance of ruling as sole king is through strength. You must become a skilled warrior and a popular leader of men."
"How can I do that when I am under the hand of instructors, Uncle? I need to lead men against the Nine Bows."
"Kemet is at peace."
"Then how can I become a leader of men?"
"The hunt is an acceptable alternative to war, and is good training besides."
"I have been on hunts. Ducks are not the same as men, and skewering a hundred wildfowl is no training for war."
"Perhaps I could organise a hunt for...for gazelle."
"Find me a lion, uncle."
Bay frowned. "The Regent will not allow such a dangerous hunt. Perhaps some other beast?"
"The Regent is not here. She has gone downriver to see about some temples."
"But when she finds out..."
"By then it will be too late. I am the king, and I command it. Find me a lion."
***
It may have been Siptah's understanding that Tausret had gone downriver to 'see about some temples', but that had been only an aspect of her absence. The governing of the kingdoms was in the hands of Tjaty Hori and Tjaty Paraemheb and Siptah was being trained in Men-nefer, so she took herself off to attend to other matters.
When her husband Seti had been alive, he saw to it that the gods were honoured throughout the Two Lands, and that his own name and deeds were inscribed on every available surface. The king was dead, however, and a new king reigned in his place. Tausret, as Regent, must now assume those duties. It was her intention to travel up and down the river, visiting all the major cities and temples to make sure Siptah's name was added to the holy places. The boy-king had, as yet, no exploits worth boasting about on stelae or pylons, but simple inscriptions bearing witness to his existence would do for now. If nothing came of his reign, then there would be less to chisel out when her own son assumed the throne.
One other thing was in the forefront of the Queen Regent's mind--the recent attack on the face of the sun. She needed advice on what this meant for Kemet, and the place to find this advice was in the city of Iunu, at the temple of Atum-Re.
The Hem-netjer of Atum, Nefertem, bowed to Tausret when she arrived at the temple at the end of the holy spiral dedicated to the Nine of Iunu. He brought her in to a room not far from the shrine and offered her food and drink. She accepted only a little wine and plain barley bread and Nefertem smiled to see her exercise such restraint.
"How may I be of service, Majesty?" he asked, when she set aside her cup and plate.
"You saw the marvellous thing that happened in the heavens a month ago? When either Re hid his face in the middle of the day, or something attacked him?"
"I did not see it, nor did any priest of Re, but I have heard reports of it."
"How is it that no priest of Re saw this attack upon their god?"
Nefertem hesitated for a few moments. "There are some revelations from the god that I cannot reveal even to you, Majesty, but it is likely that the...incident...was seen by few besides the royal party. It is ever that way. Some may have seen part of the sun's disc obscured, but in this case, only you and the king were granted the full manifestation."
"So what does it mean?"
Nefertem shrugged.
"You do not know, or you will not say?"
"The god has not spoken of the meaning to me."
Tausret started to rise. "Then I will take up no more of your time, Hem-netjer. It seems this was a wasted journey."
"The god does not always speak directly, Majesty. Sometimes his revelations occur silently, or through other aspects of his creation."
Tausret stared at the priest before slowly sitting back down. "What do you mean?"
"The king is styled 'Son of Re' and he was present when Re struggled against the shadow and overcame it. If there is meaning in the actions of the gods, we can assume that they have a message for the king."
"What message?"
"The king was crowned Sekhaienre--he whom Re causes to appear. Now Re is telling him he is more than that. He aided the god in his
struggle and he now represents the god."
"Represents him how?"
"He is the living spirit of Re."
Tausret stared at the high priest, trying to work out what it was that the chosen one of Atum-Re was saying. "The king is no longer Sekhaienre, but is now...Akhenre?"
"It is not without precedent, Majesty."
"I am aware of that."
"And there is something else."
"What?"
"The king must throw off the shackles of the south and embrace the north. No longer Meryamun--beloved of Amun, but rather Setepenre--the chosen one of Re."
"That could cause unrest in Waset."
"Yet it must be done. And there is more."
"Why do I think you want me to do something I don't want to do?"
"Not me, Majesty. The gods require it of you."
Tausret sighed. "Tell me."
"All of Kemet knows that you dislike the boy whom you believe has supplanted your son on the throne."
"That is not true, priest."
"No? Then tell me the truth, Regent of Kemet."
"It is true that my son Seti-Merenptah should be on the throne of his father, but he is too young, whereas the son of my husband's brother is old enough to at least be a figurehead until my son is old enough. I act as Regent to both boys, and if I favour my son, well...that is natural. And Siptah has not supplanted my son. Seti-Merenptah will be king one day."
"If the gods will it. But the gods demand something else, Majesty. They require you to act toward Siptah as if he was your true son."
Tausret made a moue of distaste. "I cannot do that."
"You must. The gods require it of you."
"I knew I should not have come to you for advice."
"But you did. The gods guided you here."
"And if I refuse? Will the gods punish me?"
"The gods will do as they see fit, but a man...or a woman...disobeys them at their peril."
"I do not appreciate being threatened, priest."
"Not threatened, Majesty, only warned. And really, is it any hardship? Love an orphaned boy as if he was your own. Do good by him and your heart will weigh less than the feather of Truth."