by David Adkins
The first was my sister Iset. I welcomed her enthusiastically for except for servants I had spoken to no-one for the past three days.
“Welcome sister,” I enthused. I never thought I would ever be so glad to see Iset but I knew that I would get a reliable update on my situation from her.
“Greetings, brother, you really have got yourself into a mess.”
“Tell me what is happening in the palace. I have not spoken to anyone for days. It seems as if my entire family has deserted me and are not willing to hear my case.”
She sat down and sighed. “It seems Ay discovered your conspiracy and engineered a successful mutiny in the army.”
I sat opposite her. “I know that, but why am I not being allowed to put my case.”
“Because you have committed treason against your brother, or at least that is the way the family sees it and the way that Ay has presented it.”
“If I had not done so then I would have been murdered. It was the only way I could survive.”
She leaned closer. “I believe you, Smenkhkare, but I am the only one who does. Ay has seen to that.”
“Even mother,” I said sadly.
“Particularly mother,” she sighed. “She relies heavily on Ay and believes everything he tells her. She believes you have betrayed Akhenamun. Ay advises her not to see you as she may feel pity and she has agreed to his wishes, but she still refuses to sign your death warrant despite his urging.”
“Ay had the snake put in my room. Ramose placed it under my bed. Ay admitted it to me but it is my word against his and who would believe me?”
“I do, but that is of no value to you.”
“Could you not plead my case, Iset,” I begged.
She shook her head. “If I were to do that then I might also end up a prisoner in my apartment, such is Ay’s power at present. He brooks no opposition. I am sorry, brother, but for my own preservation I will keep quiet. However, I will try to discreetly persuade others to see you though I cannot be seen to be supporting you.”
“Thank you, Iset. I suppose that is as much as I could ask for.”
“It is a tragedy, brother, for you will never get the chance to prove that you are not a fool. You are still very young and you could have made a good pharaoh. Akhenamun will probably be a tyrant who relies too heavily on the chief vizier.”
“You think that I am doomed.”
She nodded her head. “Ay will do things properly but he will get that warrant signed sooner or later. I wish I could have helped you, Smenkhkare. I would have made you a good chief royal wife but it is not to be,” she smiled sweetly.
“What of Taduheppa?” I smiled back.
“I would have had her disposed of, for after all she is hardly a wife to you.”
“She is the only one supporting me at the moment while my own family has abandoned me.”
“She may appear to be, Smenkhkare, but I am not sure that she is trustworthy. She was quick to jump into Akhenamun’s bed.”
“And she regrets it,” I replied.
She shrugged. “That is what she now says. I would not trust her, Smenkhkare. She may only now be backing you because she has lost out to Nefertiti.”
Now I shrugged. “It seems the world is against me and it is only a matter of time before Ay gets his warrant signed.”
“It looks that way, but do not get too despondent for things can change quickly and unexpectedly in Malkata. I will suggest to your mother, brother and sisters that they should see you because you genuinely accept your wrongdoing. Then if I am successful the rest is up to you. That is the best I can do and now I must go.” She stood up and I followed suit. She kissed me on both cheeks. “Farewell, brother. If I am successful then I will deserve a reward.”
“Farewell, sister,” I responded.
She turned and left my apartment. Iset had given me some hope but I knew she was only looking after her own interests but, as she said, things could change swiftly in Malkata. I could not blame her for that.
My next visitor a few hours later was a surprise. My servant showed in Turet, one of Taduheppa’s handmaidens, into my apartment.
“Greetings, your majesty,” she said, smiling at my surprise.
“How is your mistress?” I inquired, eager for information.
“She is well, but can we talk in private?” she asked, glancing at my hovering servants.
Her words intrigued me for, unlike Rana and Taduheppa’s other servants, Turet seemed to hold a privileged position. I dismissed my servants with a wave of my hand. “Come into my inner chamber, Turet, where we can have complete privacy.” I walked into my bed chamber and she followed and I closed the door behind her. I beckoned her to sit down and then I sat next to her, eagerly looking into her dark Mitanni eyes that resembled those of her mistress.
“I have much to say on behalf of my mistress,” she smiled.
“Is there no written message from Taduheppa?” I asked, feeling the first pangs of anxiety beginning to cancel out my eagerness. How did I know that she was still serving Taduheppa and that she had not been got at by Ay? I would have to be cautious in what I say for I did not want to give more weapons to Ay in his bid to have me executed.
“No, she feared that anything in writing might fall into the hands of your enemy. She has fully authorised me to speak on her behalf.”
I realised that I would have to trust this pretty Mitanni servant. “How were you able to get permission to see me, Turet?”
“I did not get permission but I am able to come and go as a servant. The guards recognised me as a servant and as such they do not prevent my entrance.” She smiled. “It also helps when I flutter my eyelashes at them and engage them in conversation.”
This Mitanni girl had some of the fire of her mistress. “Please tell me everything that has been happening these past few days.”
“My mistress has been talking to all the members of the royal family. Your mother and Sitamun are furious with you and have washed their hands of you though your mother refuses to sign Ay’s death warrant. Iset sympathises with you but will not help you in any way.”
“I know for she came to see me,” I interrupted.
“My mistress has also spoken to Akhenamun who seems to be in torment but will not help for he insists that you deserve everything you get. The one who is most sympathetic is your cousin, Nefertiti, who has promised to do her best to save you. She is Ay’s daughter and he does listen to her, and she will soon be chief royal wife and queen when she marries Akhenamun.”
“Why does she wish to help me?” I wondered out loud.
“She is the only one, apart perhaps from Akhenamun, who believes that Ay tried to murder you with the cobra. She knows how ruthless her father can be when his position is threatened. My mistress now believes that Akhenamun knew nothing of the assassination of Thutmose or the attempt on your life. However, he will not help for he is a brutal man who is happy to benefit from the crimes of Ay even if he did not sanction them.”
“How can Nefertiti help me?” I asked.
“She is a great friend to my mistress and my mistress is working on her. She seeks to persuade Nefertiti to influence her father into offering you a pardon in return for you taking an oath to behave and proffering loyalty to your brother. My mistress then believes that once you have your liberty you can continue with your plans.”
“My wife never gives up. Has it not occurred to her that, if in the unlikely event I am offered a pardon, I might rather take the safe course and give up my ambition?”
“You would never be safe.” I stared at Turet for it could almost have been Taduheppa speaking these words, such was the vehemence in which they were spoken.
“Ay will not agree to me being pardoned,” I replied with certainty in my voice.
“My mistress tends to agree with you and that is why she believes you must have an alternative plan – an escape plan.”
“How am I to escape for there are guards outside my door all day and all night?
I am not at liberty to even leave my apartment.”
“My mistress is working on that. Akhenamun will be crowned as the new pharaoh a week today even before your father makes his final journey and so she realises how urgent your escape will become. She fears that Akhenamun intends to sign your death warrant as soon as he becomes pharaoh. Ay will certainly try to persuade him to do so.”
I sighed with misery. “So I may only have a week.”
“Do not despair, your majesty, my mistress works tirelessly on your behalf and she can be very persuasive and resourceful.”
I smiled. “I know. Will you be able to keep me informed?”
“I will visit you daily as a servant so as not to arouse suspicion,” she replied.
“How could I escape?” I mused.
“All things are possible,” she assured me. “Now I must return to my mistress.”
“One more thing, Turet, do you know what happened to my loyal servant Murat? I have not seen him since I began my confinement.”
“I do not know. I do not think he has been seen at the palace since you were made a prisoner. Now I must go, your majesty.”
I nodded and sighed as she hurried from my apartment. I was very pleased to have the support of my inventive wife but I was aware that she did what she did out of ambition to become the chief royal wife of Egypt and out of hatred for my brother, Akhenamun, who had scorned her.
I did not have time to dwell further on the words of Turet for she was promptly followed by another visitor. My sister cautiously entered my apartment, unsure what type of reception she would receive. I stared at her with a certain degree of contempt but then reminded myself that this was my sweet sister who had been such a good friend to me virtually all my life.
“Greetings, Nebetah,” I said formally.
“Greetings, Smenkhkare. Iset said that you wanted to see me. I wondered if we could play senet like we used to do.”
I removed the senet board from a drawer and placed it on the table and indicated that she should sit and she did so. I sat opposite her and stared at her nervous face. “We will play senet while the death sentence hangs over my head. Excuse me if I do not play as well as usual.”
Tears started to run down her pretty face. “I have been to see Akhenamun to plead with him to spare you. I have told him that you were under great strain and did not know what you were doing and that perhaps Coreb persuaded you towards insurrection.”
“Is that what you think, Nebetah?”
“Yes, that is what I think. Akhenamun had nothing to do with the death of Thutmose or the snake in your bed chamber.”
“I forgot, the snake entered from the garden and made its way through the palace,” I said sarcastically.
“No, that was stupid of me, I realise that now. It is as mother said, a servant tried to kill you for an unknown reason.”
I shook my head with disbelief. “My name was and still is on a death list and that list was compiled by Ay and will soon have the consent of Akhenamun.”
“No, you are wrong brother. Ramose has told me that Ay had nothing to do with it.”
“Your lover, Ramose,” I said contemptuously.
“Ramose is a good man and he loves me,” she whimpered.
“Ramose is the servant who placed the cobra in my room on the instructions of Ay.”
Nebetah was shaking violently and stood up. “I must go,” she said.
I gripped her arm and forced her to sit down. “You have forgotten our game of senet, sister.”
“I cannot listen to your accusations.”
“Ramose admitted it to me. He is using you, sister, as are Ay and Akhenamun.”
“I do not believe it. Ramose loves me and I love him. Akhenamun has been kind to me and he will let me stay at Malkata with Ramose.”
“It is true that Ramose put the cobra under my bed, and it is true that he does not love you and is using you. I know you did not mean to sister, but you have brought about the death of the loyal Coreb who loved Thutmose, and you have brought my death closer.” She broke down in floods of tears with her whole body shaking and out of control. My words had been too cruel and I got up and took her in my arms. “Sister, I love you as did Thutmose, and I know you did not mean any harm to us. You were beguiled by an unscrupulous man and did not know what you were doing.”
“It cannot be true,” she sobbed.
“Beware of Ramose for he will only tell you more lies, and Ay is totally evil and unscrupulous. Work on Akhenamun for me. He is my brother and though he can be a violent man he does love you, sister. I have seen it with my own eyes. Persuade him to spare his brother and promise him that I will never try to take his throne again. He will listen to you, Nebetah. Do this for your little brother and for all the enjoyable times we have had together.”
“I cannot play senet,” she said.
“Neither can I,” I replied sadly. “Will you do this for me?”
“I do not know what to think, I do not know what to believe.” She was crying again.
I had to convince her for she might be my one hope of survival. In a week’s time Akhenamun would be pharaoh and Ay would be pestering him with his persuasive tongue and my death warrant.
“When I asked Ramose if he loved you he shook his head arrogantly but said he enjoyed your body.” I was being cruel again but I had to be. She began to sob violently again. She could not cope with her conflicting emotions.
“Did he really tell you that?” Her voice was barely audible.
“I would never lie to you, sister. I love you too much.”
She brushed the fresh tears away from her tear-stained face. “I believe that you tell me what you believe to be true.”
“In that case please do your best to persuade Akhenamun to spare me and not to listen to Ay. Be persistent on my behalf and Akhenamun may just listen to you. You could be my only hope, Nebetah.” I kissed her on the forehead. “Let us have many games of senet in the future even if we cannot play today.”
She smiled wanly. “I will do my best.”
“May I ask one last thing, sister? Do not tell Ramose or Ay of our conversation for they will try to convince you to ignore my words.”
“But I do love Ramose.”
I sighed. “Please do not tell him but just speak to Akhenamun on my behalf.”
She nodded. “I will only speak to Akhenamun.”
“Thank you, my dearest sister.” I hugged her and then watched as she left my apartment. It had been a very trying conversation for her and I realised just how fragile she was at the moment. I hoped she had the strength to do as I had asked. I felt more hopeful for I now had Nebetah working on Akhenamun and I had Taduheppa working on Nefertiti and if all else failed there was the possibility that my resourceful wife might come up with an escape plan. I did not have much faith in escaping but I still believed that there was a good chance that members of my family could save me from the clutches of the hated vizier.
****
The next day, true to her word, Turet returned to my apartment but she had little more to report though I told her of my conversation with Nebetah and the optimism I derived from it. For the next few days, apart from Turet who still had no further news, I had no other visitors. Neither Nebetah nor Iset came to see me again and I began to wonder if Nebetah was doing as I had pleaded. The tedium of my confinement was making me irritable with the servants and I took to spending most of my time alone on my balcony reflecting on how I had come to be in such dire straits.
Then with Akhenamun’s investiture growing ever closer Turet at last visited me with something to report.
“Greetings, your majesty, I have some news for you,” she smiled.
I indicated that she sit as usual to tell me. “Now, Turet, please go ahead.”
“First I must report that your family are showing no interest in seeing you or coming to your aid. My mistress has spoken to all of them. Your mother, Sitamun and Iset seem to have washed their hands of you. Your mother and Sitamun hav
e disowned you for plotting against your older brother but your mother has refused to authorise your execution. Nebetah seems to have once again fallen under the spell of Ramose and my mistress has despaired of getting help from your ‘stupid sister’ as she puts it.”
I shook my head. “My poor sister is infatuated with the man.”
Turet continued: “My mistress has spoken with Akhenamun and Nefertiti but although Nefertiti shows signs of being receptive to her pleas Akhenamun does not. She despises Akhenamun and finds it even difficult just to speak with him.”
“This does not sound good,” I commented.
“It is not all bad news; Murat has made contact with my mistress.”
“He is still alive.” I was relieved.
“He is on the run, but stays close to the palace. I have spoken with him down by the river and he is willing to give us what help he can.”
“What help can he give?” I asked.
“He can help you escape and find somewhere in the poorer part of Thebes for you to hide.”
“How can he do that?” I was getting interested at the prospect of a possible escape.
“My mistress believes that escape is your only option. You are not going to get help from your family and when Akhenamun is made pharaoh in a few days your fate will be sealed.”
“How do I escape?” I asked.
“My mistress has a plan. In three days’ time Akhenamun will be crowned at the great temple in Thebes even though he has made it clear that he has little time for the old gods. All of the family and most of the palace guard will, of course, attend the coronation as she will have to do.”
“They will still have me well guarded,” I commented. “I will not be able to overcome the guards that are left to look after me.”
“You will not have to. I have made myself very friendly and very popular with the men who guard your apartment. I often flirt with them and make them promises and bring them refreshments. On the day of the coronation I will drug them.”
“You can do that?” I gasped.
“We Mitanni women are good at many things,” she smiled. “Once I have done this Murat will enter the palace with some recruits and free you. He will then take you to the hiding place in the city. You will remain there until your next move is decided upon.”