The Forgotten Pharaoh

by David Adkins

  “No … yes … but it was all right. Akhenamun promised me that you would not be harmed if you were planning anything but he did not really believe me anyway. He said you were not capable of such a plot and my imagination was running wild.”

  “I would not be harmed, but what about the cobra, Nebetah?”

  “Yes, that worried me for a while as you know but Akhenamun assured me that he had nothing to do with the cobra and so it must have got in from the gardens.”

  “Have we returned to that silly explanation? Open your eyes, Nebetah. Do you really believe that Akhenamun intended me no harm? What has happened to Coreb?”

  “I do not know,” she cried. Taduheppa pulled at her hair and gave her another kick. “I really do not know!” she screamed.

  “Let her go,” I said to Taduheppa.

  I thought for a moment that my wife was going to continue her assault on my sister but then she shrugged and released her grip on her hair. Nebetah rose unsteadily to her feet. “Just go,” I said.

  Taduheppa moved to stop her. “Are you really going to let her walk out of here after what she has done?”

  “Yes, I am. Let her go, Taduheppa.”

  My wife took a step back and glared at Nebetah. “I suppose she is of no further use to us.” Nebetah limped painfully and sadly out of my apartment and I felt that I had lost my lifelong friend. I could not believe that Nebetah had betrayed me to Akhenamun.

  “Now what are we to do?” moaned Taduheppa. “You really have messed this up, Smenkhkare.”

  I shook my head. “I do not know. I have sent Murat to Coreb to find out what the situation is at the army encampment. Perhaps we should flee the palace, though you are not in as much danger as me. You are a Mitanni princess and I do not think that Akhenamun would harm you – but I am an Egyptian traitor.”

  “Perhaps then you should flee the palace to save your life and I should stay,” she offered.

  “But you are my wife and I am sorry I accused you of betrayal, Taduheppa.”

  “They could come for you at any time.”

  “I am still the son of the pharaoh.”

  “Let us walk around the palace, act as if nothing has happened and try to gauge the situation in Malkata and then see what Murat has to report when he returns. If we feel you need to flee then you can do so,” she suggested.

  I nodded, for it was a sort of plan.

  The corridors of the palace were empty except for a few servants rushing around. It seemed that the members of the royal family were still in their apartments and that was hardly surprising after the hard work and festivities of the funeral. After we had made our way around the palace we decided to go back to the gardens and here we were rewarded. Taduheppa pointed to Nefertiti sitting on a bench near the lake and we decided to join her. As the intended great royal wife of Akhenamun and the daughter of Ay she seemed like a good person to question on the state of current palace affairs.

  She looked up with surprise on her beautiful face as we approached her. “Can we sit with you?” I asked.

  “It is good to see my greatest friend looking so relaxed,” added Taduheppa.

  “I am not relaxed, far from it,” she mused.

  “Is there something troubling you?” Taduheppa asked. I did not speak for Nefertiti was my wife’s friend and so I left the questions to her for she might be able to learn something if Nefertiti indeed knew anything.

  Nefertiti hesitated. “I was considering coming to see you.”

  “What did you wish to tell us?” Taduheppa probed.

  “I know we have had our differences, Taduheppa, but we have been friends ever since you arrived in Thebes and I would not wish to see harm come to you.” She looked at me. “To either of you, you are my cousin, Smenkhkare and I know you did what you did because you felt your life was threatened.”

  “I did feel that,” I said with feeling.

  “I do not think Taduheppa is in real danger, but you, Smenkhkare, I fear for you. I was coming to see you to warn you to leave Thebes and disappear into the desert. You must go soon for I do not think there is much time and you must not go to the army encampment.”

  “Why do you fear for me and why must I not go the army camp?” I sought for an answer.

  “Thebes, the palace and the army camp are no longer safe for you. You should leave immediately but I cannot tell you any more details.” She rose from the bench and hurried off before another word could be said.

  I turned to my wife. “She is right and she was good enough to warn us. I will leave Malkata and Thebes immediately. Are you coming with me, Taduheppa?”

  “No, Smenkhkare, I am safe at the palace for they would not dare harm a Mitanni princess and there is no proof that I was involved in your scheming. I will look after your interests in Malkata.”

  “As you wish,” I replied. I was disappointed but I sensed there was little time to argue and why should I inflict hardships on my wife. “Let us hurry back to my apartment for if I am to leave I need money to survive and I have a good sum back in my chambers.”

  She nodded and we made our way quickly back to my apartment. I gathered up a bag of coins and a robe for the cold nights that sometimes occur in the desert but I felt I had no time to pack anything else. I wanted to take Taduheppa in my arms and tell her how much I adored her, but reading my thoughts she took a step backwards to deter me. “Smenkhkare, find Coreb and see what has happened. You have no time to wait for Murat to return. Be careful and do not enter the army camp without first observing it. Your chief royal wife will expect to see you back in Thebes at the head of an army when you will take your place as pharaoh. Now go.” She had also sensed the urgency of the situation.

  “May I kiss you first, Taduheppa” I asked.

  She nodded and planted a kiss on my lips which made my whole body tingle with pleasure. I returned the kiss and we lingered for a moment and then she broke away. “Now go, Smenkhkare.”

  I reluctantly left her and opened the door to exit my apartment but my way was blocked by the royal guard.

  “What is the meaning of this?” I blurted out as I retreated back into my room to find myself once again alongside Taduheppa. Four well-armed members of the palace guard entered closely followed by Ay. He was smiling that mocking, mirthless smile. “Are you going somewhere, Smenkhkare?”

  “Is that any of your business, Ay?” I was trying to sound bold.

  “I have had a little chat with your sister, Nebetah, and it was most interesting.”

  “I will kill her,” said Taduheppa.

  “Do not be hard on her for she meant you no harm. She was worried about you and where your pathetic plotting might lead. Her brother, Akhenamun, would not listen to her concerns and so she came to me. I also pretended not to listen but I sensed there was an element of truth in her fears. You are a stupid boy, Smenkhkare. Did you really think that you could outwit the chief vizier? I have years of political intrigue and experience to call upon and you are nothing but a child.”

  “What is it to do with you? This is between me and my brother.”

  “How wrong you are. Let me tell you something, Smenkhkare. I had served your father, Amenhotep, for many years but your headstrong brother, Thutmose, wanted to dispense with my services. I was not going to allow that to happen.”

  “You had Thutmose killed?” I gasped.

  He smirked and this hideous smirk answered my question. “Akhenamun will make a better pharaoh and he will listen to his most valued advisor.”

  “You were working for Akhenamun when you had Thutmose murdered?”

  “Indirectly. He was a bit reluctant to agree to the death of a brother, but now the deed is done he is suitably grateful.”

  I wanted to throw myself at this vile man and tear off his head but Taduheppa put a restraining grip on my arm. I forced myself to calm down as he studied me with a knowing smile that showed his arrogance and disdain. She was right, for he was flanked by well-armed guards and any hopeless attempt to take revenge w
ould have resulted in my injury. I could not trust myself to speak and instead stared at him with eyes full of hate.

  “I want to introduce you to someone,” he said. He clapped his hands and a large but young military man entered my chamber. I recognised the man, for I had seen him a number of times at the army camp.

  “He is one of Coreb’s officers,” I said.

  “You are wrong, Smenkhkare. May I introduce you to Horemheb? He is the new general of our illustrious army. He is now in complete control of our armed forces.”

  I stared at Horemheb. “Is this true?” I asked him.

  “It is very true,” Horemheb replied.

  I saw the coldness in his eyes and I sensed the extreme danger I was in and so did Taduheppa. “How dare you bring this man uninvited into the apartment of Smenkhkare, the son of Amenhotep and the brother of Akhenamun,” she blustered.

  “I thought your husband might like to meet our new general,” Ay replied with a measure of contempt as he uttered the word husband.

  “Where is Coreb?” I asked.

  “I thought you might ask that question, and so very shortly I will be giving you an eloquent answer. Please be patient for a very short time for I will not keep you waiting long.”

  “Akhenamun is not stupid. He will not tolerate your wickedness and your ambition.”

  “I have no ambition except to remain chief vizier, the next most powerful man in Egypt after the pharaoh but the man who really runs Egypt. Akhenamun knows this and he knows he owes his position to me. Without me he had no hope of becoming pharaoh and he would have ended up a priest, a position for which he had no desire. You are right that Akhenamun is not stupid and for that reason he will do as I advise.”

  “Thutmose saw through you and therefore you had him murdered.” My words were spat out with hatred.

  “Yes, Thutmose was stupid but Akhenamun is not.” He turned to Taduheppa. “You also have been very foolish to support this boy, but I will overlook that. You are a Mitanni princess and it would not be diplomatic if any harm was to come to you. As the second most powerful man in Egypt I may, at some point, take you for my wife for I am not immune to your great beauty.”

  His words staggered me and enraged Taduheppa. “You are a vile and ugly man and I will never be your wife. You cannot even believe that such a gross thing will come about. I am a Mitanni princess.”

  He smiled at her tirade. “We shall see but that is something for the future. Now return to your room for what will soon entail is not for your delicate eyes.”

  His words sent fear coursing through my body. Was he going to order the palace guards to kill me right now in my own apartment? Surely not for I was still the son of the last pharaoh and his wife Tiye, who now currently ruled, and the brother of the new pharaoh-to-be. He would not dare.

  “I will stay,” said a shocked Taduheppa.

  Ay must have read my fear and laughed. “You will die, Smenkhkare, but not yet. I always do things properly. I will ask your mother to sign your death warrant but I rather regret that she will refuse despite my persuasive tongue and so when Akhenamun becomes pharaoh I will try again. Unfortunately for you I have no doubt that he can be convinced that this would be his only sensible course of action.” He looked round as Ramose entered the room carrying a wicker basket. “This is what I have been waiting for, Smenkhkare. I promised you a gift when we spoke on the royal barque, and an eloquent answer to your question.”

  I stared with horror at the basket for it was identical to the one that had contained the cobra. The basket rekindled all my fears regarding the deadly snake which had almost taken my life. I felt Taduheppa gripping my hand as she also gaped with trepidation at the innocent-looking basket. “You placed the snake under my bed,” I said with revulsion.

  Ay smiled. “What snake was that?”

  I looked at Ramose. “Did you place it in my apartment?”

  He grinned, which for me was ample confirmation. “My sister loves you,” I uttered.

  “I am fond of her,” he replied.

  “Fond,” I gasped. “She loves you and she was willing to become a minor wife of the new pharaoh just to be able to stay in Thebes with you.”

  He shrugged and pushed the basket towards me with his foot.

  “Your sister was useful,” said Ay. “Now, Smenkhkare, it is time for you to take the lid off the basket and see what is inside.”

  I looked again at the basket. “And have a second confrontation with a cobra, I think not Ay.”

  “Foolish boy, do you think I would be standing this close to the basket if it contained a cobra,” said Ay with disdain.

  He had a point. If the basket contained a snake he was as close to it as I was and would be in equal danger for the snake could strike in any direction.

  “Shall I remove the lid?” offered Ramose.

  “No, let the honour go to Smenkhkare,” replied Ay.

  Ay, Ramose, Horemheb, flanked by the palace guards, stepped back and looked at me with expectant and amused eyes and indicated for me to proceed. Taduheppa still gripped my hand and almost restrained me, fearing another deadly cobra.

  I released her hand and moved her behind me and I took one pace forward so I was standing over the innocent yet dangerous wicker basket. Slowly I bent down and removed the lid. Inside was a large object covered in a cloth and I breathed a sigh of relief that it did not appear to be a snake. Then I saw there was a bloodstain on the cloth and I was filled with apprehension. In one sweeping movement I pulled the cloth aside and retched. I was filled with a whole series of emotions – from horror to sadness to revulsion. The unseeing eyes of my friend and general looked lifelessly up at me from the bloodstained sockets within his severed head. I shuddered with grief and misery.

  “You asked me where Coreb was and now you have your answer,” said Ay coldly. I threw myself at Ay but the guards blocked my path. “Coreb was a traitor and paid for it with his life as you will, in due course, Smenkhkare.”

  “You are the traitor, Ay!” I shouted with frustration. “You murdered the rightful pharaoh, Thutmose, and you tried to murder me with that vile snake.”

  “Akhenamun will be pharaoh and I will be his chief vizier. It is done and so are you, Smenkhkare.”

  “You are despicable and reprehensible. Even Akhenamun will not let you get away with this.”

  “Yes he will,” he smiled. “Now, what to do with you in the meantime?” he mused.

  “My mother will hear of this,” I stormed.

  “Your mother will hear how you plotted to overthrow your older brother. She will have little sympathy and she trusts me implicitly as did your father.”

  Taduheppa gripped my hand again and looked into my eyes. “Ay and Akhenamun have won and Egypt belongs to them. They are the victors and we must accept that.” Her eyes belied her words and I knew my wife did not mean a word that she had just said.

  “At least one of you speaks sense and you should listen to the good counsel of your wife,” said Ay. “Taduheppa, you will return to your apartment. You will have the freedom of the palace and the gardens but do not attempt to leave Malkata. If you tried you would quickly be found and punished. As for you, Smenkhkare, you will be confined to your apartment and guards will be placed outside. You will continue to be attended by servants except for the servant Murat wherever he may be.”

  “I am a prisoner in my own chambers,” I retorted.

  “You conspired against the pharaoh and so you are under house arrest for treason until it is decided what to do with you.” He grinned and added: “And your death warrant is signed.”

  “My wife will stay with me,” I said.

  “She will not,” he retorted. “Do you think I would leave you two together to do more plotting? She will not be visiting you.”

  He addressed Taduheppa. “Now leave, and if you behave things will not change for you.” Taduheppa glanced at me and obediently hurried from my apartment.

  “As for you, Smenkhkare, you also will be trea
ted well until a decision is made on your punishment for we will not forget your royal status and so think yourself lucky.”

  “I am so lucky,” I sneered.

  “If you need anything then a guard will take a message to Ramose and he will decide on your request. Be realistic though, for we will ignore any inappropriate demands. Your confinement will not be uncomfortable if you are sensible.” There was an obvious threat in his final words as he left my apartment followed by Horemheb.

  “How could you treat Nebetah so badly?” I asked Ramose as he replaced the lid on the basket and picked it up. “She loves you.”

  “I told you I am fond of her and she was useful. She has a lovely little body and I have enjoyed it.”

  I knew he was provoking me, so I did not rise to the bait. “Am I allowed visitors?” I asked.

  “You may not make requests but if anyone asks to visit you then their request will be considered.”

  “I see,” I said, hopeful that I might get to speak with my mother and other members of my family. I still had my case to put to them.

  Ramose must have read my thoughts. “Suitable visitors only,” he added.

  “You would prevent me seeing my family?”

  “It depends. Ay will have the final say, but I would prevent it if it were up to me.”

  He turned and exited my apartment followed by the palace guards.

  Chapter 12

  In the ensuing days, after my incarceration in my chambers, I took to spending time on my balcony overlooking the exotic gardens of Malkata. I was rewarded on numerous occasions with the pleasure of seeing Taduheppa. She would wave and I would wave back but we could not talk for we would have had to shout and she was closely followed by a guard and our words would have got back to Ay. I also saw Akhenamun and Nefertiti as well as Sitamun but I was ignored by all except by Nefertiti who gave me a pitying look. Three days passed and I had not had any visitors, not even members of my family. I was desperate to see my mother and put my case to her but she never came and I guessed she was under the sinister influence of Ay. Then on the fourth day I had three visitors.