by David Adkins
He turned to Nefertiti. “As you are in charge here my report is therefore for you. Please convey it to the pharaoh on his return and I will go back to the army camp to put us on a war footing. It may be nothing but it is best to be prepared, your majesty.”
“Indeed and thank you, general Horemheb,” Nefertiti replied.
Horemheb turned to me for a final few words before he left. “I wish you good fortune, Smenkhkare, and I advise you to be on your guard for bandits, Kushite scouts and anyone else who might pursue you.” I nodded but I could not forgive him for what had happened to Coreb. I watched as the general walked away. I had no idea whether I should fear him or not.
“Now you must be gone, Smenkhkare,” said Nefertiti. I watched as she hugged my wife and then Taduheppa climbed into her wagon with a little help from a servant. I kissed Nefertiti on the cheeks. “Thank you cousin and thank my brother, too, and tell him that his little brother is sorry that he suspected him of complicity in the murder of Thutmose.”
“I will,” she smiled. “May the gods ride with you and with Taduheppa.”
I mounted a horse which was brought for me. It seemed that I was not to ride in the wagon with Taduheppa and Turet but I was not prepared to argue about it. I just felt so happy that my execution had been postponed and I hoped it had been postponed indefinitely.
We rode out of Malkata heading towards the desert to the east. Once again I was striding into the unknown but this time I had my wife at my side.
Part 2 – The Desert
Chapter 15
Our plan was to head due east across the desert until we reached the vast stretch of water known as the Red Sea. We would then head north along the shore of the great inland water, stopping at some of the settlements along the banks. Then we would cross the huge desert known as the Sinai until we reached the vassal state of Canaan. The rulers of the small land of Canaan were in the main loyal to the Egyptian throne though there were always troublemakers to be subdued. From Canaan we would enter the land of the Mitanni and proceed to the Mitanni capital at Washukanni. All of the lands we would pass through paid homage to Egypt and the pharaoh and so we hoped there would be no enemies to be faced. However, it was a hazardous journey through lands that,though friendly, could suddenly become hostile, and there was always the possibility of encountering bandits.
Taduheppa and her loyal Mitanni servants had made the journey from Washukanni to Thebes and so for them it was merely a question of retracing their steps. Their journey to Thebes had been one with no incidents and so they were confident that the return journey would be equally without difficulty. The small number of palace guards took their orders from me and the Mitanni took their orders from Taduheppa and so the great journey began with much optimism. I felt elated that, for the moment at least, I no longer felt the terror of imminent execution, and Taduheppa was obviously delighted to have escaped the clutches of Ay and to be returning to her homeland.
The eastern desert, unlike its western counterpart, was not vast and we made steady progress towards the Red Sea, named because of the many red blooms that flowered seasonally near the water’s surface. I slept in a tent that was put up each night, while Taduheppa slept in her wagon. Our discourse was friendly but never intimate though I longed for her love and the feel of her perfect body next to mine. It seemed I was still a boy despite everything I had been through, or perhaps she just did not like me in that way. The situation caused me distress but I did not dwell too much on it for I still enjoyed the glowing sensation of being free and relatively safe. I would bide my time with Taduheppa for that was the advice my brother, Thutmose, had once given me.
As we drew ever closer to the great inland sea our situation changed dramatically. I cursed at our bad luck and the new extreme danger that now confronted us. Our small wagon and camel train had driven straight into the large Kushite army that Horemheb had warned Nefertiti about. They had obviously sought to march north from Kush close to the shores of the sea in an outflanking manoeuvre which they hoped would not be detected by the Egyptian army. I assumed they then intended to attack Thebes from the north while the Egyptian army sought to locate them to the south of Thebes. We had simply wandered straight into them, and though their main army was distant it was visible and we were surrounded by Kushite scouts. We had been seen and there was no hope of escape.
A group of about 30 horseman started riding slowly towards us. I knew that resistance was hopeless as we were heavily outnumbered and we were watched by further more numerous horsemen at a distance. They obviously did not see us as a threat and unfortunately they were right in their assumption. I waved and made gestures of peace but I was acutely aware that some of us were Egyptian and Egypt was their enemy. I dismounted from my camel and was promptly joined by Taduheppa who had emerged from her wagon.
“Tell them we are Mitanni,” she suggested.
“The problem is that only half of us look like Mitanni and the other half, including the palace guard, look Egyptian.” I was rapidly trying to think of any credible lie that might explain the reason for such an unusual contingent in the eastern desert. I could hardly admit that I was an Egyptian prince. If I did that I was sure that I would not be treated with the respect my position deserved but instead I might be murdered or held as a hostage.
The leader of the Kushites approached me. “Peace to you and your soldiers,” I said meekly.
He looked about him at the two wagons. “Who are you and what business do you have in the land of Kush?” he asked brusquely.
I could hardly point out that he was mistaken and this was Egyptian territory. “We are traders travelling to the Red Sea and beyond,” I replied.
He looked about him again. “You do not look like traders, especially them.” He gestured towards the palace guard.
“They are here for our protection. There are many bandits in these lands and we are most fortunate that it is you and not bandits who have found us.”
He dismounted and ambled over to one of the wagons and peered in at the Mitanni servants. “They do not look like traders either,” he observed. He walked back to me and Taduheppa. “You look like Egyptians but those in the wagon do not. You are a curious group.”
“Traders are often a mixture of races travelling together,” I offered.
“Most traders carry merchandise for sale but strangely you do not seem to have any wares, unless the women in the wagon are the merchandise.”
I shrugged, not really knowing how to answer the question. “The horses are the merchandise and we keep the camels,” Taduheppa helped me out.
“Then you are poor traders for you do not have that many horses. I think Prince Lisore may have some questions that he would like to ask you. You will follow me and I will escort you to our main camp. Consider yourselves prisoners until the prince decides what to do with you.”
He remounted his horse and he and his soldiers led the way and we were expected to follow. We had no choice but to do so and my heart sank for once again I was a prisoner along with my wife, guardsmen and servants. I watched with dismay as the large cloud of dust that signalled the position of the main Kushite army grew ever larger. They were coming towards us as we were approaching them. Eventually the dust settled and I could see the Kushites more clearly. It was a very large army and I could not help but feel dismay for not only were my wife and I in danger but they also threatened Thebes and the whole of Egypt. There was no Thutmose or Coreb to deal with this threat and I was not sure how Akhenamun and Horemheb would cope.
“They have now made camp for the night,” the Kushite leader informed me as we drew ever closer.
I nodded acknowledgement of his words while I tried to think of what I might say to the Kushite prince. My mind would not function and indeed I felt that what I said would make little difference for we were probably doomed. We entered the Kushite army camp and made our way through hundreds if not thousands of resting and eating troops. They looked exhausted for they must have marched at great spe
ed in the hope of enjoying the element of surprise over an unsuspecting Egyptian host. They watched us with a little curiosity but were too tired to take too much interest in their surprise visitors.
At last in the heart of the encampment we reached the headquarters of the Kushite prince. It was an impressive system of luxurious tents which stood out against the background of vast numbers of ordinary soldiers sleeping and eating without shelter. The leader that we had followed once again turned to me. “You are young but you seem to be the leader of this motley band. Is that correct?”
“That is so,” I answered.
He then went over to the wagon and looked again at the Mitanni servant girls. He selected one and gestured to her to follow him. “Why do you require her?” I asked when he came back to me.
“She looks very frightened which is why I selected her. If you refuse to answer questions truthfully then I am sure she will. Now I want both of you to wait here while I seek out the prince and see if he wishes to speak with you.” He entered one of the large tents and disappeared from view.
I looked at the young Mitanni servant. I did not even know her name. “Do not be frightened. Leave the talking to me and you will be fine.” Taduheppa joined us and softly gave further words of encouragement to her servant. “I will come with you both. It will be difficult to talk our way out of this.” A brief nervous smile crossed her face.
I nodded but could not return the smile for I felt the situation was hopeless. They were not going to let us go and they might even murder us. “He will see you now.” The Kushite had returned. “You will come with me, but not you.” He gestured that Taduheppa should return to her wagon and she did so reluctantly. I followed him with the Mitanni servant at my side into the largest and most luxurious of the Kushite tents. I never imagined that the leader of an army on the march might enjoy such extravagance.
Then I saw him. He was lounging on an opulent chair, dressed in a rich array of multicoloured robes which not only covered his body but also the top of his head. He looked to be in his mid-20s and I was sure that under those flowing robes he was muscular and powerful. There were also several powerful-looking guards watching us closely.
“I am Prince Lisore, son of Ka, King of Kush and general of the formidable and invincible army that you have just observed.”
I bowed. “I am Metos, a humble trader.
He smiled. “You are no humble trader. You are a man or boy of some consequence. Do not insult my intelligence any further. You are also obviously Egyptian and so please reveal your true identity.”
“I am Metos, a prosperous trader of some consequence,” I answered.
The smile disappeared. “I cannot be bothered with a long drawn-out process of extracting the truth from you which is why she is here. She will quickly tell me who you are, so save her the pain and give me the truth.”
I looked at the servant and she was shaking with fear. “I will tell you if you would send the poor girl back to her mistress.”
“Her mistress, is it?” He nodded and a guard escorted her back to Taduheppa. “Now tell me who you are and who her mistress is.”
“I am Smenkhkare, prince of Egypt, and her mistress is my wife.”
He grinned. “You are the brother of Akhenamun, pharaoh of Egypt and she is Taduheppa, daughter of Shatuarra, king of the Mitanni. I have stumbled across a rare treasure trove. Both of you would no doubt provide me with a huge ransom if that is what I required.”
“I doubt that you would get a ransom for me,” I said.
“Why were you wandering across the eastern desert?”
“We were heading for Washukanni to start a new life together in the Mitanni capital.”
“I know you Egyptians are a strange lot, but even with you the wife lives in her husband’s land and not the reverse. Why have you left Thebes?”
“I was accused of plotting against my brother and we were fleeing from Thebes.”
“Were you plotting against your brother?” he inquired.
“Yes, but only in order to survive. I was perceived as a threat and so I became one.”
“It seems, at the moment, we are almost equals, but you are also my prisoner. If circumstances were to change would you become my vassal, Smenkhkare?”
I wondered where he was going with this. “That would seem unlikely, Lisore.”
He smiled. “I am going to conquer Egypt and decimate your army. The present regime in Thebes will fall. I envisage a situation where I might need to put a vassal king on the throne of Egypt who would be acceptable to the common people; a person who would owe his good fortune to me and be loyal to me. It seems that I might just have found such a person. You must hate your brother for putting you to flight.”
“I do hate the present regime in Thebes and I do find your words interesting.” I needed to go along with the Kushite prince in order to secure the safety and comfort of my small group of Egyptian guards and Mitanni servants and indeed the safety of my wife and myself.”
“So, Smenkhkare, you do not find my suggestion abhorrent?”
“I do not find your suggestion abhorrent,” I agreed.
“There would be no need to go into exile in Washukanni. You could return to Thebes, a man of power.”
“And a Kushite servant,” I said.
He laughed. “You would be a servant who rules his own land in another’s name; that is better than a life of exile.”
“You assume you will defeat my brother’s army,” I reminded him. “You do not have a good record in such matters where Egypt is concerned.”
“We will achieve victory for we will take them by surprise and my army is large and well trained. We shall win, Smenkhkare. Of course surprise is important and so you realise we cannot let you and your people go.”
“I realise that.”
“You will be spending the coming campaign with me and my troops. You are a prisoner but you will be treated very well for I hope you will soon be a partner. Think about what I have said for there is plenty of time for you to reach a decision.”
“I think you mean vassal rather than partner, but I will think about it most definitely for it is a very attractive offer.”
“And I will get to know you, Smenkhkare, for I do need to feel able to trust you if you are to be a powerful subordinate. I also need to think about it myself for the idea simply jumped into my head when you revealed your identity. You and your people will march with my army and you will now be heading west instead of east.”
I nodded. “We will travel with you and your army and I will hope for a bright future.” I had secured our immediate safety and had also secured time to think, even if we were heading in the wrong direction.
“Now, Prince Smenkhkare, you are dismissed and I will contemplate the good fortune that we might both derive from this unexpected meeting.”
I bowed. “Thank you, Prince Lisore, I almost think this meeting was pre-ordained.” I left the audience with the Kushite prince with much to tell Taduheppa but I was not sure how she would react.
I went immediately to Taduheppa’s wagon where I found her sitting on a couch and laughing with Turet. Her mood changed rapidly when she saw me. “What did the Kushite priest have to say?” she asked anxiously.
“I am glad you are both able to laugh,” I said smiling at the two Mitanni women. I looked at Turet expectantly.
“You can talk in front of Turet. Surely you have learnt to trust her, Smenkhkare.”
“I trust her implicitly,” I replied and then relayed in full the conversation I had just had with Prince Lisore.
“I am not sure that it was a good idea to reveal our identities,” Taduheppa commented after listening intently.
“I do not think I had a choice. He would soon have found out.”
“I think I would rather be heading for Washukanni than going back to Thebes,” she replied thoughtfully.
“So would I, but that was not an option.”
“Do you think he is genuine in his offer to make y
ou a puppet pharaoh?”
I contemplated the question. “I am not sure, but I think he might be. Anyway we are prisoners and he can do with us as he likes. If we are to stay alive then we go with him and agree to what he suggests. If he is genuine it is a possible way back to power in Thebes and a way to end the domination of Ay.”
“And your brother, Akhenamun, and my friend Nefertiti,” she reminded me.
I nodded. “I have no wish to betray my brother and dispose of him. He did let us leave Thebes whilst Ay sought to have me executed and I certainly wish no harm to Nefertiti.”
She smiled. “But we would become rulers in Thebes and who knows after that.”
I knew my ambitious wife. “You mean we use Lisore to depose Akhenamun and then sometime in the future shake off the Kushite yoke.”
She nodded agreement. “Yes, but it is not that simple. Lisore has to defeat the Egyptian army first.”
“He is confident and his army is numerous.”
“But your Egyptian army is well trained.”
“Horemheb is a young and untried general,” I reminded her.
“Lisore is also young,” she countered.
“I would feel more confident of an Egyptian victory if Thutmose and Coreb were in charge,” I offered.
“But if it is an Egyptian victory what happens to us,” she asked.
“I do not know,” I admitted.
“Then perhaps we should try to persuade this prince of Kush to let us continue unobstructed to Washukanni. I am a Mitanni princess and I am sure he would not wish to make an enemy of my father.”
“He strikes me as being a confident and arrogant prince. I do not think he would much care about your father.”
She sighed and turned to Turet who had not said a word during the conversation. “What do you think, Turet?”
“I think that Smenkhkare is right. With this army at his back this arrogant Kushite prince is not going to care about the reputation of your father who is a vast distance away. I do not think you have a choice either, your majesty, and so you must play along with him and his ambitions. Tell him how you will both help to bring Egypt under his control and how you will willingly accept the role he offers you. Tell him how you wish for revenge on Ay, which will sound convincing because it is true. He will understand the need for revenge and he will believe you. Indulge his ego and reap the benefits. Seek safety for now by allying yourselves to his cause and then the future may bring new chances and new developments.”