by Overton, Max
"May you never find otherwise, friend. Do we see him alone?"
"The heir is with him constantly now." Benalu halted outside the doors to the hall and dismissed the guard, ordering them back several paces. "The king is changed," he said softly. "Do not remark on it and ask no one but myself. He fell for no reason just after you left and his speech was slurred for a day or two. He has recovered but he loses his temper easily now."
"No change then?"
Benalu grunted. "You will get yourself killed. I would count it a favour if you didn't drag me down to Sheol with you." Benalu rapped on the door and opened one of them wide, ushering in Ashraz and Scarab before stepping through and closing it behind them all.
"Your majesty, Ashraz has returned with the prisoner."
King Aziru and his son Abi-Hadad sat at the far end of the small hall, drinking wine and apparently in earnest conversation. Aziru looked up when Benalu spoke and beckoned. The two men watched as the trio walked across the stone-flagged floor. Abi-hadad's eyes opened wide as they drew near and he rose to his feet.
"This is the Kemetu princess, Lady Beketaten?" Abi-Hadad asked.
"It is, your highness," Ashraz replied. "She goes by the name of Scarab."
"Let her speak for herself. Lady Beketaten," the heir said slowly, "Can you understand me? Can you speak the tongue of Amurru?"
"If you talk slowly and clearly," Scarab replied. "Your language has similarities to Khabiru, the tongue of my mother's people."
"You will address the heir as 'your highness' and the king as 'your majesty'," Ashraz said quickly.
Scarab smiled at the prince. "I too am royal, as you well know. I could insist that you call me by my titles too, but what say we dispense with formalities and forget titles for now? My name is Scarab, your father over there is Aziru and you are the heir Abi-Hadad."
"Impertinence," Aziru muttered.
Abi-Hadad frowned and then nodded. "Within the confines of this room then, Beketaten. The commoners shall continue to use the proper modes of address."
"I have given Ashraz permission to call me Scarab. I would rather you used that name too."
Aziru stared at his spymaster. "Did you now?" His voice was low and hoarse. Ashraz looked down at the floor, avoiding his king's suspicious gaze.
Abi-Hadad sketched a small bow. "Please be seated, Scarab. May I offer you wine after your journey?"
"Thank you, water perhaps if it comes from a pure well. Otherwise water mixed with wine."
Benalu acted as servant in the absence of one. He poured wine for the king and the heir and watered wine for the woman.
Scarab sipped and expressed her satisfaction. "Thank you, Abi-Hadad, it was a long, dry journey. Now that I have arrived, may I ask why I'm here?"
Aziru turned away and waved a hand for his son to conduct the conversation. He sat to one side and nursed his wine cup.
Abi-Hadad seated himself opposite Scarab and leaned forward, eagerly examining her features. "First, Scarab, will you clarify the situation for us? Who are your parents?"
"Nebmaetre Amenhotep, king of Kemet, and his Queen Tiye."
"Ah, good, good. So it's true. What is your relationship to his successor Akhenaten?"
"I was his full sister."
"And to Smenkhkare?"
"Half-sister."
"Tutankhamen?"
"The same."
"What of the present king, Ay?"
"He's no relation to any member of the royal family of Kemet. He stole the throne and married his granddaughter Ankhesenamen, attempting to give his reign legitimacy."
Abi-Hadad nodded. "We heard. That's a common practice in Kemet, isn't it? Marrying your close kin?"
"It's done to prevent men outside the family gaining power through marriage. Brother marries sister and father marries daughter. Sometimes it's abused."
"You are a royal princess; in fact, the only surviving one. Have you never thought of raising a man up of your own choice to sit on the throne of Kemet?"
"I choose to believe my life is worth more than as a man's stepping stone to power. Besides, there are none I would judge worthy of my father's throne."
"None? Not even Lord Horemheb, General of all the Armies of Kemet?"
"He is not even a noble - a commoner."
"May not a commoner better himself, rise to power?"
"Yes, but not that high, not using me."
"Yet if Horemheb desired the throne of Kemet, marriage to you would be his surest route."
"I imagine having the army behind him would be more certain."
"That too," Abi-Hadad agreed.
"Get on with it," Aziru growled.
"We have it in mind to offer you to Horemheb for some suitable recompense. What do you think of that?"
Scarab laughed. "That might be how you arrange things in Amurru, but in Kemet, women are not bought and sold. Horemheb cannot buy me, nor can he own me. For one thing, I outrank him - considerably. For another, I will not be forced - either into bed or into marriage. Haven't your spies told you of the power of my gods?"
"We have been told, but we can scarcely credit it."
"Then ask Ashraz. He was with me in Jebu's camp."
Abi-Hadad turned his attention to the spymaster. "Speak Ashraz. Are the stories true? Do Kemet's gods speak through this woman?"
"Your highness, I can only speak of what I saw with my own eyes. A man ran at Scarab with a raised knife, hurling curses at her. Then just before he reached her, he reversed the blade and fell on it, killing himself."
"You saw this yourself?"
"Yes, your highness. The soldiers in the camp told many other stories and if even a tenth were true, then the gods of her land do indeed smile upon her."
"Every man who sought to harm her died?"
"No, your highness. Only those who sought to do her great harm."
"Interesting." Abi-Hadad's eyes gleamed. "So if I ordered you to cut her, you would turn the blade upon yourself? That merely tells me you are held in thrall by her. I am minded to try myself, for I do not care if she is hurt a little bit."
"I ask you not to, Abi-Hadad," Scarab said quietly.
"Ah, so you cannot protect yourself."
"The god will protect me, but I do not wish you to come to harm on my account."
The crown prince pursed his lips and after a few minutes thought, walked over to the hearth and picked up a short stick. He flexed it and handed it to Ashraz. "Hit her with it."
Ashraz frowned and hesitantly extended the stick, lowered it, and then raised it again. "I...I don't want to hit Scarab, your highness."
"I order you to."
Ashraz sighed. "I'm sorry, Scarab." He reached out and tapped her on her arm.
"Nothing happened," Aziru growled. "Do it again, harder."
Ashraz cringed but obeyed his king.
"Why is nothing happening?" Abi-Hadad asked. "Are you protecting yourself, Scarab?"
"No, I see no need to. Ashraz is not attacking me for the order comes from you."
Abi-Hadad grabbed the stick and swung it viciously at Scarab's arm. Despite her not moving, he missed and cracked it hard against the back of her chair, jarring his fingers. He dropped the stick with a cry of pain and clutched his fingers with his other hand. "You bitch!" he shouted.
"Have a care, Prince Abi-Hadad," Scarab warned. "My gods are powerful. Do not strike in anger." Abi-Hadad flushed and his good hand clutched the hilt of his dagger.
"Hold!" Aziru rose from his seat and confronted his son. "Sit down and conduct yourself in a proper manner. You will not put this woman at risk. She is too valuable." Abi-Hadad snarled but sat down again.
"I don't know why you consider me valuable," Scarab said. "You may offer me to Horemheb but I won't cooperate. I will not be used by him."
Abi-Hadad flexed his numb fingers and took a deep breath, calming himself. "He's not the only one interested in buying you."
"Really? He is the most powerful man in Kemet. No other man could even m
ake an attempt to snatch the throne."
"This man does not need to snatch it for his father sits upon it already. The crown prince Nakhtmin, backed by the treasury of Kemet, will also bid for you."
Scarab sipped at her watered wine. "Ay and Nakhtmin will kill me if they get hold of me."
Abi-Hadad smiled coldly. "What is that to me?"
Scarab bent her head over her wine cup but when she looked up she was smiling. "When is this auction to take place, and where?"
"We haven't yet decided, but soon," Aziru said. "As to where, well, it must be somewhere both parties feel secure. The heir of Kemet and its foremost general would not willingly walk into an Amorite city, and I don't want to send my son and heir into Kemet."
"Perhaps one of the Kenaanite cities on the Great Sea," Scarab suggested. "Gizer perhaps, or Ashkelon. Tyre? Sidon?"
"They are hardly neutral," Ashraz commented.
"True, but where are you going to find a city that does not sway to one or the other king? They are better than many others."
"Gubla?" Abi-Hadad queried.
"That is far inside Amurru," Aziru objected. "I cannot see the Kemetu daring to venture that far north. Gizer might be better."
"Gubla is deep inside Amurru, but its allegiances are not. Further, it trades with both Kemet and Amurru. I do not think the ruler of Gubla will risk the enmity of either kingdom."
"Well, we can investigate it," Aziru said. "In the meantime, make our guest comfortable. I would not want anything to happen to her just yet."
Scarab rose to her feet and put her wine cup down. She bowed to the king and his heir and turned toward the door.
"Remember," Abi-Hadad said to her back. "We have your friend Khu and he will surely die if you attempt to escape or do us harm."
Scarab did not turn or pause on her way out. She murmured a response but only Ashraz and Benalu heard her. "I have not forgotten, and one day I will repay."
* * * * *
The city of Gubla lay on the shores of the Great Sea, its back turned to the mountains of Amurru and the wars and skirmishes that racked the region over the years. An outpost of the Sea People, Gubla, like its sister-cities of Tyre and Sidon, regarded itself above the petty squabbling of its neighbours. The cities had been founded on trade, and success lay in being able to deal with anyone and everyone. Timber from the great cedar forests of Amurru flowed into Gubla, to be joined by papyrus shipped up on the great sea-going vessels from Kemet. From Gubla, the ships of the Sea People carried these valuable commodities, and a hundred others, to every port on the Great Sea.
The delegation from Amurru arrived in Gubla a month after Scarab learned of her fate in the city of Taanach. Aziru had broached the idea of the negotiations taking place in Gubla to Nakhtmin's representative and to Paramessu, who had decided to represent Horemheb. Both were in favour of the northern Sea People city and a joint Kemetu-Amorite delegation then approached Agos, the ruler of Gubla. Wishing to please both kingdoms, Agos had agreed to host the talks, putting the Lesser Palace at the disposal of the negotiators.
Men from all three parties gathered at the Lesser Palace ahead of time, each seeking accommodation that was both secure and that offered some advantage over the others. After much argument, the Amorite contingent took over the eastern wing of the palace, and Nakhtmin agreed to the western wing, whereas Paramessu resigned himself to a small temple of Marduk with its priests' quarters just behind the palace.
Abi-Hadad led the Amorite party and, with Scarab, arrived in Gubla two days before the Kemetu vessels were due in port. They set up their quarters in the eastern wing and settled down to await the arrival of the bidders in the auction. Nakhtmin arrived the next day in one of the navy ships, along with chests of gold and a hundred soldiers. He left the gold on board with half his men and came ashore. Agos of Gubla turned out his own small army and insisted in attaching a squad of men to both delegations. Ostensibly, this was to honour his guests, but he also knew the effect on his independence if an assassination should occur. Armed men escorted Nakhtmin to the palace, where others also guarded the heir to the throne of Amurru.
The heir of Kemet asked to see the heir of Amurru but was politely turned away. No discussions would be had until all parties were present. Luckily for Nakhtmin's peace of mind, he did not have long to wait. Paramessu arrived the following day in a bireme of the Sea People. Horemheb, not having access to navy ships, had hired a mercenary to bring his envoy north, and also to provide an armed escort. Paramessu arrived with only a handful of picked men and no soldiers. Horemheb had explained his reasoning before the ship sailed.
"You will be bidding against the heir of Kemet. If it should come to bloodshed, soldiers of Kemet could refuse to fight against him. Better to have well-paid mercenaries backing you up."
"As long as they are well paid," Paramessu grumbled. "I'd rather have Kemetu men with me than men only hungry for gold."
"I have spent almost everything I have getting you there. Do not let me down, Paramessu. Promise anything--whatever you have to. Secure her for me if you can, but if you cannot, make sure Nakhtmin dies. Either will suit my purpose."
Paramessu, his men, and his mercenaries were escorted through the winding streets by another contingent of Gubla troops. He was met at the palace entrance by Agos' chamberlain and Ashraz, representing the Amorites. His men were led to their quarters in the temple at the rear, and Paramessu was informed of the whereabouts of the preliminary discussions that afternoon.
"Why preliminary?" he asked. "We all know why we are here. Why do we not get it over with?"
"Because this is the way Crown Prince Abi-Hadad wishes it to be," Ashraz replied with a smile. "Shall I tell him you will be there, or will you be returning to your ship?"
"I'll be there," Paramessu growled. He looked around at the echoing marble halls and the numerous servants. "Is Nakhtmin here?"
"Lord Nakhtmin, son and heir of the king of Kemet, is in his chambers. He will be present this afternoon."
Abi-Hadad took up his position in the meeting hall early, positioning his guards at strategic places and, because he was acting as host, arranged for plentiful supplies of wine, water and beer to be on hand. Scarab sat in a small room at the rear of the hall, ready to be brought out as needed.
Paramessu and Nakhtmin arrived outside the hall together, and immediately entered into an argument on who should enter first. Voices were raised and their armed guards were staring fixedly at each other when the Gubla guards intervened. They blocked Paramessu from entering and allowed Nakhtmin to take his place first.
"He is the son of a king," explained the captain of the Gubla guard. "With respect, General, he takes precedence."
Paramessu put the best face on it and entered with his men, stationing himself on the other side of the hall. One of his aides brought him a cup of wine and he sat at the table provided for him. His table was one of three that formed part of an open-ended triangle, with Nakhtmin at another and Abi-Hadad at the third. Behind the tables were seats for aides and positions for the allocated guards. The captain of the Gubla guard, together with twenty of his men, remained by the door of the hall.
Agos' chamberlain made the introductions and then issued a short communication about the reason for the meeting and how no violence of any sort would be tolerated within the city limits. Abi-Hadad and Nakhtmin ignored the warning, but Paramessu nodded his head sharply in acquiescence.
"Very well," Abi-Hadad said. "We know why we are here. Amurru has in its possession a woman of the royal household of Kemet, namely, Lady Beketaten, known commonly as Scarab. My father, King Aziru of Amurru wishes to return her to her homeland but seeks recompense for the considerable expense he has put himself to in rescuing this lady from the straits in which she found herself."
Paramessu snorted. "I do not wish to call Lord Abi-Hadad a liar, so I assume he has been misled as to the nature of this rescue. Call it what it really is, Amorite. She is your captive and you wish to sell her."
"Forthright as usual, General Paramessu. Your hatred of all things Amorite clouds your thoughts and leads your tongue astray. I will not take offence this once, but have a care; else I shall dismiss your delegation and deny you any possibility of success."
Nakhtmin smiled thinly. "You would do well to do so anyway, Amurru. He is but a common general and this matter rightly concerns kings and nations."
"Nevertheless, it pleases my father the king to allow Lord Horemheb a part in these discussions. Incidentally, the title of 'Amurru' rightly belongs to the king, not to his heir." Abi-Hadad looked pleased nonetheless.
"How do we know you even have her?" Paramessu said. "This may all be a waste of time."
Abi-Hadad turned to his aide and nodded. The man got up, went to the back of the hall, and opened the door. He held it open as Scarab, now clad in clean white linens in the Kemetu fashion, walked through into the main hall. Though unadorned by gold or precious stones, she held herself regally. She advanced to Abi-Hadad's table and looked coolly at the Kemetu delegations.
"Lord Nakhtmin, General Paramessu, I present Lady Beketaten, known in the common tongue as Scarab."
Paramessu rose to his feet and bowed. "Scarab, it really is you."
"So it would seem, Paramessu. How is Set?"
Paramessu hesitated. "My son Seti is well. He grows apace."
Nakhtmin remained seated and waved a hand dismissively. "I can see that this woman is the one they call Scarab. Return her to her room and let us start the bidding."
"I choose to remain," Scarab said. She sat on one of the chairs set out for Abi-Hadad's aides. "My presence may help to keep these men focussed on the business at hand."
"As you will," Nakhtmin said. "I care not. Now, Prince Abi-Hadad, how do you wish to conduct this farce? I can outbid anything this...this mere general puts up. I have the wealth of Kemet behind me."
"Indeed," Abi-Hadad agreed with a greedy smile, "But perhaps there are other things of interest to Amurru besides gold, ivory and slaves."
"Such as?" Paramessu asked.
"Such as friendship."
Paramessu laughed. "Now you insult me, Abi-Hadad. Since when has Amurru sought the friendship of Kemet?"