by Max Overton
Merenptah and Seti stood in the royal chariot as the scores of chariots drove past, then watched as they flowed into various formations, wheeling and making mock attacks on infantry troops. The king called the commanders together and discussed the results, making suggestions and trying out variations.
After two days, they organised a hunt, and roamed out into the eastern desert looking for gazelle. Small herds of these delicate but swift animals were started and the chariots raced after them. They were swift but lacked stamina and the horses ran them down until they stood, limbs shaking with exertion, awaiting the arrow that robbed them of life. The royal party camped out in the desert, huddling close to the campfire as the heat of the day was sucked up into the chill night air, grilling gazelle meat, drinking wine, and telling tales.
Seti's favourite stories were of his grandfather Usermaatre, and how he had lived longer than any other man and had conquered every nation, subjugating them and forcing them to pay tribute to Kemet.
"I want to be just like him," Seti said. "I will lead my armies to conquer the world."
Merenptah enjoyed his son's excitement and glowing ambition and though he hesitated over some of the details of old battles; he embroidered the accounts in a suitable fashion. After all, as he told himself, a King of Kemet does not lose battles to men of the Nine Bows.
Word came from the hunters who ranged widely looking for game, that a leopard had been spotted in a low range of hills almost within view of Per-Ramesses. Merenptah grimaced, for his body was already complaining about the nights spent lying on the hard cold ground, but he could not deny his son the opportunity. Twenty men in chariots and on foot moved toward the hills and up to the base of the broad and stony gullies that dissected the rocky terrain. The royal party camped once more and discussed the whereabouts of the leopard with the hunters, deciding that the next day; the king would take a few men and skirt the foothills, while Seti would venture up into the rocky crags.
"Won't you come with me, father? The leopard is far more likely to be up there."
Merenptah drew his son aside and whispered, "Old bones. You will be my heir, and it is only right that you claim your first noble kill."
They were off at dawn, Seti heading into the hills on foot, and the king circling the range on the plain below. The prince disappeared from sight, and Merenptah signed to his hunters to slow down. Hunters and servants waited for the sound of a ram's horn signalling a kill, scanning the hills for any sign of movement.
One of the servants looked back across the open plain, and tapped a hunter on the arm. The hunter looked and murmured to the king, "A chariot approaches, Son of Re."
At once, the attention of the group turned toward the approaching stranger and two chariots swept out to intercept it, only allowing it near to the king once the occupant had been identified as an official messenger from Tjaty Merysekhmet.
The messenger knelt and offered up a clay-sealed document. "Son of Re, a message of great importance from Tjaty Merysekhmet."
Merenptah fingered the scroll but did not break the seal. "How do you know it is of great importance?"
The messenger licked his lips and his downcast eyes flicked left and right. "Son of Re, the...the Tjaty impressed on me the urgency and...and it is common knowledge within the palace. Your Majesty, the Ribu have invaded Kemet's holy soil."
The king grunted and turned away, breaking the seal and unrolling the message. "Give him bread and beer," he murmured, and started to read Merysekhmet's letter. The news was alarming, and Merenptah was very glad he had left an experienced man like Merysekhmet in Men-nefer. He would be able to quell rumours and hold the government together in the face of this serious threat to the Ma'at of the kingdoms. Merenptah tried to recall what he knew of Merey son of Dedy but could think of nothing. A map of Ta Mehu appeared in his mind's eye and he imagined the route he would have to take to intercept a swarming enemy moving past the western city of Perire. "It can be done," he muttered. "But I'm going to have to meet them between the rivers somewhere."
He turned back to his waiting men in sudden decision. "Back to Per-Ramesses, as fast as possible. Huy, take a chariot and runner and find Prince Seti. Bid him make all speed to the city." The king heaved himself into his chariot and grasped the reins, urging his horses into a gallop, most of the rest of his group following, though Huy urged another team toward the hills.
By the time Seti returned to Per-Ramesses, without his leopard, his father was in hurried conference with the commanders of the Re and Ptah legions, Disebek and Besenmut. The prince burst in upon them in the throne room, still sweaty and travel-stained, demanding of his father to be told the news.
"I had some incoherent tale spun of an invading army, father. What's the truth of it?"
Merenptah glanced at his son but held up a hand while he listened to Disebek's last comments. "Thank you Commander. Yes, Seti, the Ribu have invaded from the western desert, just north of Perire. They are heading east, into Ta Mehu."
"Give me leave to command the chariot squadrons, father, and I will smash them into the ground for you. Great will be the slaughter."
"Where would you do battle?"
Seti shrugged. "Wherever I meet them. The Ribu are mere tribesmen, ill-disciplined and cowardly. My chariots will reap them like a field of wheat."
Merenptah sighed. "Commander Ikeni, explain to my son the problem we face."
Ikeni, Chariot Commander of the Re legion, flushed and bowed in deference to the king's son. "Prince Seti, it has been three days since the message was sent from Men-nefer, and possibly two more since it left Perire. By now the Ribu army will be deep into the farmlands of Ta Mehu, perhaps even between the rivers. The ground is soft, and unsuited for chariot charges. If we meet the enemy on Kemet's farmland, we will be outnumbered and must fight on foot. Our main strength, our chariot squadrons, will be all but useless."
"Then we must meet them on firmer ground," Seti declared.
"And how will you do that?" Merenptah asked. "It is too late to meet them in the west and the only alternative is to draw them through to our eastern borders, or risk our beloved capital by inducing them to march south to Men-nefer."
Seti scowled and shook his head. "What do we do then?"
"What we must. We march westward to meet the enemy, and hope that where we meet is suitable for chariot warfare."
"Son of Re," Besenmut said. "We have not the strength. The report said there were thousands, but we have only two legions, one under strength."
"What are you saying? That we should do nothing?" Merenptah glared at his legion commander. "The gods gave Kemet into my care. I will defend this glorious land to my last breath, whether my commanders follow me or not."
"Son of Re," Commander Disebek said, "I am certain Commander Besenmut did not mean we should do nothing. If he had not spoken out, I would have, for it is only sensible to face up to the problems that beset us. We are likely outnumbered and possibly cannot use our chariots, so we must devise other means of defeating the enemy. Our men will fight to the death to protect our homeland and our king."
Besenmut joined in, declaring that Disebek had stated the case accurately. "That is exactly what I meant, Son of Re."
Merenptah nodded. "We shall prevail, gentlemen, for the gods will not let Kemet be overrun by barbarians. Exactly how we will prevail is unknown, but we cannot waste any more time talking about it. Prepare your legions. We travel fast and light, so we take no supplies. We will live off the land. Seti, you have command of all chariots. I want your lightest ones out as scouts ahead of the legions, and the others as rearguard."
"Father, they should lead."
"The wheels and horses' hooves will cut up the land and make it harder for the legions to march. Let them follow along." Merenptah glanced out the window and then looked around at his military commanders. "Time is of the essence. I want to be on the march by midday. Our route will be by the main roads as much as possible, so we can use the boats at every town to ferry our
army across the rivers."
The city of Per-Ramesses was in an uproar as the two legions prepared to leave. Despite the king's order to take no supplies, each Commander and the Leaders under them was determined that each man would carry a pouch of basic supplies, bread, meat and water, and take an extra sword, spear or axe. The city granaries were depleted, the streets of the butchers and armourers ransacked, and by noon each legion was drawn up on the docks ready to board a flotilla of boats to be carried across the first branch of the Great River. The Re legion led the way, and was half embarked when a chariot raced into view from the southern road. The messenger leapt off at a run and pushed his way through the throng toward the figure of the king.
"Great One, an urgent message from Men-nefer, from Lady Tausret."
"I don't have time for this," Merenptah muttered, and then held out his hand. "Give it to me." He ripped apart the seal and scanned the message, his lips moving silently as he formed the syllables. For a long moment he just stared at the message, read it again, and stared some more. "The little fool." Turning to Disebek, who was overseeing the embarkation of his troops, he said, "Get the senior officers back to the palace. Quickly." Merenptah started toward the gangplank.
"Yes, Majesty, but do I tell my men to keep boarding the boats?"
"Yes."
Back in the throne room, Merenptah paced up and down, a thunderous expression on his face. His legion commanders did not dare ask what was wrong but Seti, impatient to get going, interrupted his father.
"Are we going? What's happened?"
"This is what's happened." Merenptah waved the letter in the air. "That fool daughter of mine has taken it into her head that she is a soldier. I thought the last months of instruction from Lady Nebettawy had actually worked. Instead, she has...the little fool."
"What has Tausret done, father?"
"She has stripped the troops from Men-nefer and marched north to Perire to delay the enemy. She bids me...bids her king, by all the gods; as if I was her servant...bids me make all haste to come to her relief."
Seti stared and then guffawed. "That's Tausret. I thought her domestication was too good to be true."
"You find it amusing do you? Your wife-to-be has just marched out of Men-nefer at the head of a few hundred men to meet an enemy numbering in the thousands. She could well be dead by now."
Seti's mood swung violently and he said in a stricken voice, "What can we do?"
"Just what we started to do," Merenptah replied heavily. "March as fast as we can to meet the Ribu, defeat Kemet's enemies and now avenge my daughter's death."
"Son of Re, it may not be as bad as you think." Chariot Commander Ikeni stepped forward nervously, exposing himself to the king's anger. "I know Perire and its people. They will fight if led properly. Lady Tausret may be just the person to do this."
Commander Besenmut added his thoughts. "Perire has walls. At worst, Lady Tausret will hole up in the city. If she delays the enemy by even a day or two, she gives us the opportunity to come upon the enemy before they expect it."
"And the land around Perire is prime chariot country," Ikeni said.
"Could it be?" Merenptah asked. "Could Tausret still be alive?"
"When was the letter sent, Son of Re?" Disebek asked.
Merenptah scanned the short missive again. "It doesn't say, except it intimates it went out just after Merysekhmet's. That means three days ago."
"So if she left at once, she would just be getting to Perire about now. It will take us how long to cross Ta Mehu, five days?"
"Could she hold them at Perire for five days?" Seti asked.
"I doubt it," Merenptah said. "A trained commander might, with an adequate army, but she's an untrained young woman with a few hundred city guards. She might buy us a day, maybe two, if she risks all."
"Then if she has sacrificed all, we must make sure it is not in vain," Disebek said quietly. "The Re legion is embarking now. We can be on our way immediately."
"By what route?" Besenmut asked.
"What do you mean? By the most direct route, of course."
"Forgive me, Son of Re, but the most direct route may not be the best one. If Lady Tausret has been unsuccessful and has not delayed the enemy, then the best route is straight across Ta Mehu to meet the Ribu head on. If she has delayed them, however, even by a day or two, then we might be better off sailing up this branch then down the next, or even the most westerly branch. We'd arrive sooner; the men would be fresher..."
"And if we guess wrong, then we allow the enemy to get past us into the heart of the Kingdom."
"It is a gamble," Besenmut allowed.
"I think we should take the faster route," Seti said. "Tausret will delay them or die trying."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Merenptah said. "Your advice, gentlemen?"
The commanders shuffled their feet and looked at each other. Ikeni was the most junior so he shrugged and said, "By river."
"I agree," Besenmut said.
"By land," Disebek said. "I'm sorry, but I don't think it's worth the risk."
"River," Seti said.
Merenptah considered the advice of his commanders, and looked closely at the map before nodding. "Then the river it is and let's pray to all the gods of Kemet we're right."
Chapter Thirty-Three
Year 5 of Baenre Merenptah
"Are you sure this is going to work? If it doesn't and the king finds out my part in it, it'll be death. At least," he added after a few moments of consideration.
Sethi soothed Messuwy once more, as he had numerous times on the long voyage down the Great River from Napata in Kush. It had been an arduous trip, having to disembark the troops and manage the ungainly barges through the white water of the cataracts, but they were now sailing smoothly on the current toward Waset.
"We'll have word by the time we get to Waset. If it has failed, you just turn around and go home, but if it succeeds, you either sail north with all speed and come to the aid of your father, earning his gratitude, or even better, declare yourself king. I've explained this before, Messuwy. There's very little risk."
The two men sat below an awning on the deck of the viceregal barge, sailors and soldiers keeping a discreet distance and making a point of not even looking in their direction. Messuwy looked beyond the barge railing to the thin strip of farmland drifting by, and to the tall desiccated cliffs beyond, but his advisers words failed to still the worms of worry in his belly.
"Tell me again," Messuwy said.
Sethi looked around carefully and inched closer to his Lord. He lowered his voice to a murmur, holding one hand casually in front of his face in case any of the sailors or soldiers was able to read lips.
"My man travelled to the land of the Ribu and spoke with Merey, son of Dedy, promising him much wealth if he would undertake to invade Ta Mehu. In your name, we assured him that he would be faced by the king without the support of the southern legions, and would be able to defeat him if he met him in the moist, soft-earth farmlands between the rivers, where chariots could not be used. Merey agreed, and my man entered upon an informal alliance on your behalf."
"He should not have used my name," Messuwy complained. "What if word gets back to the king?"
"Merey would not invade without the promise of your support. My man told him that while he engaged the king in battle, your army would strike at the king's belly and rip him asunder. Merey would then take the northern kingdom as his reward, while you took the south."
"What? I agreed to no such thing. I can't let a barbarian..."
"Hush, my Lord. It was a ploy, nothing more. The reward had to be large to get Merey to move, but after he has defeated the king, you will fall upon him with your army, and destroy him. Even if Prince Seti survives, you will be king by acclamation on the field of battle."
"Will the nobles support me?"
"Some will. Governor Amenakht for one. His city of Perire controls the western border. I promised him that his reward was worth a little risk, so he
will let the enemy past. Afterward, he will persuade others that you are the logical choice for the throne. Most of the nobles are realists, they will support a winner."
"When is all this going to happen?"
Sethi shrugged. "Very soon; this is why we are en route to Waset. It would not do for the invasion to take place while you are in Napata, and too far away to make a difference."
"Waset is still a long way away."
"Indeed, my Lord. It will take you at least ten days to bring your legion up, but if you move sooner, it will hint at collusion. People may ask whether you knew the Ribu were going to invade, and if you did, why you gave no warning."
"It won't matter if I'm king."
"But if Merenptah survives, it will matter. You will have to give a good reason to the king why you brought your Kushite legion north, out of your province."
"Why did I?"
Sethi stifled a sigh of exasperation. Why can't this would-be king keep anything I tell him in his mind? "I told you, my Lord. You heard rumours that the Ribu were planning an attack through the Kharga Oasis to Waset. You sent a warning, but something must have happened to the messenger. That is why you brought your legion out of Kush."
Messuwy frowned. "But if they attack Waset while I'm in the north, I'll be cut off."
"They are not actually attacking in the south, my Lord. That is just the story we have prepared."
"Ah, I see..." Messuwy still frowned and appeared lost in thought, so Sethi kept quiet, not wanting to confuse him further.
"Suterere is with child," Messuwy went on after a few moments. "My firstborn son and heir. It is good to have an heir now that I'm going to be king."
"I didn't know, my Lord. Let us pray to the gods it is a boy."
"How could it be otherwise? Suterere was a virgin, she ate the right foods, was impregnated on a night of the waxing moon, and all the prayers were said in the temples. The physician also tested her urine and the wheat germinated before the barley...or was it the other way round? No matter, he assures me it is a boy."
"Have you thought of a name?"