Thank the gods for the hours I’d spent with Harwa and Khentetka on their farm, fishing. I poled the punt south keeping as close as possible to the shore where the north-flowing current was weakest. I covered ground more quickly than I had before, but soon my arms were aching and my hands blistered. I stopped occasionally to rest and forage in reed patches, though I found little to sustain me. My belly rumbled with hunger. It got harder and harder to climb back onto the punt after each stop, even though I knew being caught would lead to far worse pain than I was enduring now. Late in the afternoon I began to pass small hamlets, then numerous farms. And then, around a slight bend in the river, I sighted Tjeni.
I nosed my punt into a patch of reeds and stepped onto the riverbank. I removed my skirt and washed out as much blood and dirt as I could, then bathed. The water stung my various wounds, especially when I tried to clean my knees and elbows. They’d scabbed over after I’d taken to the river. I put my skirt back on, still wet, then set out for the settlement on foot. I knew my skirt would dry in the heat as I walked. My dripping hair cooled my back and shoulders.
I timed my arrival at Tjeni for just after sundown, when my bedraggled state would be less likely to draw attention. Having visited King Scorpion’s per’aa along with Pentu, I didn’t have to ask for directions. I kept my head down, acted like I belonged in the settlement. I soon reached the per’aa. Guards flanked its entrance. A problem I should’ve considered in advance. I had no idea how I was going to get past them and inside, much less convince anyone to let me talk to King Scorpion. What if he refused to see me? What if he heard my name and ordered his guards to lock me away somewhere? Had I come this far only to fail?
“Matia?”
I froze. I’d been recognized. One of Antef’s men must have tracked me all the way here. I turned, frightened, hopeless. Then incredulous. “Iry?”
He was with a woman. A beautiful woman with golden hair, her braid falling over her left shoulder and onto her chest.
“The Matia?” she asked Iry.
“Yes.” Iry addressed me. “My wife, Tamit. What are you doing here?”
As I’d long suspected. Married. To a woman who, surprisingly, knew about me. Irrelevant. “I need to see King Scorpion.”
“Why?” Iry’s voice was suddenly cold. Oddly cold. Quite different from the last time we’d spoken in Nekhen. But he’d been under my spell then. Promised to me as husband. Before the alliance we’d arranged had been ripped apart. Our fathers were enemies now. He must think of me the same way.
“Please. Not here, Iry,” I pled. “Inside. I have news about Sabu.”
Iry studied my face, skeptical.
“What happened to you, Matia?” Tamit asked concernedly.
“Please. Inside,” I begged. “I’ll explain.”
The guards stepped aside at Tamit’s command and let the three of us pass. That surprised me. Guards obeyed her without question?
Iry grabbed my elbow and propelled me into the first empty storeroom. Right where my arm was badly scraped. I winced.
Iry didn’t care. “Speak,” he ordered harshly.
He wasn’t my friend anymore. That was going to make stopping Sabu harder. “Sabu’s formed another alliance against Tjeni,” I reported. “More extensive than his first one.”
Iry snorted. His eyes narrowed. “I’m aware your husband and his son killed your father and tried to kill Sabu.”
Why was Iry ignoring my news? Why was he focused on the lie Sabu had spread throughout the valley? “That’s not true!”
“Really? Convince me you didn’t talk Pentu into trying to kill Sabu, Matia. All those years ago you wanted me to do it. But Pentu failed. So you’ve come here with a story about a supposed alliance to manipulate Father into killing Sabu for you.” He shook his head. “You’re so transparent. As always.”
Iry’s hostility was shocking. What had I done to provoke him? I had the feeling he wasn’t going to let me see Scorpion. I had to make him change his mind. “Baki murdered Father on Sabu’s orders so Sabu could seize the throne,” I said earnestly. “Then Sabu killed Baki and pinned the blame for Father’s death on Pentu and executed him. I was there, Iry. I saw them die.”
“Why did Sabu let you live?” Still skeptical.
“To humiliate me. To make me suffer.” All at once the world was pressing in on me. I was so exhausted and hungry and afraid. Did I have enough energy left to fight, to make Iry believe me? “As if murdering my father and husband wasn’t enough. And my son.”
Tamit gasped. She immediately put her arm around my shoulders and drew me close. “I’m so sorry, Matia.”
The first time anyone had comforted me since the day of the murders. A complete stranger. I fought back tears. I thanked the gods for putting Tamit in my path. “Your father needs to know, Iry – Sabu’s going to attack him.”
“We’ll take you to Father right away,” Tamit said firmly.
She was close enough to Scorpion to call him “father?” She must have some influence at court. She hadn’t questioned or challenged my story. She believed me. Only Iry and Pentu had ever taken me at face value before. Or, at least Iry had once.
We headed directly to the audience hall. I could barely keep up with Tamit and she took hold of my hand and helped me along. She brushed right past the guard at the door without asking permission to enter. The hall was dark except for the area around the dais, where linen wicks burned in bowls of oil. King Scorpion was seated on his throne, his crown and scepter at his feet. He must have finished with petitioners and officials for the day for, aside from a fan bearer and cup bearer, both girls, only his son Mekatre was present. Scorpion and Mekatre were quietly conferring.
The three of us stepped into the ring of light. Scorpion spotted me. He recognized me. He stiffened. “So… your husband tried to seize Nubt’s throne and died for it, Matia. Sabu is king. Which Pentu promised me would never happen. I’m surprised Sabu let you live after your husband murdered your father. Escaped him, have you?”
“Pentu didn’t try to take the throne, Majesty,” I said.
“Matia told us what really happened, Father,” Tamit said. “She was a witness.”
“Witness, huh?” Scorpion looked unconvinced.
“Tell Father, Matia,” Tamit said gently.
I couldn’t help notice that Tamit was taking my part and Iry wasn’t saying anything. He’d changed since the last time we’d been together. His animosity was palpable. Nothing I could do about it now. I threw back my shoulders. “Almost sixteen months ago Sabu and his uncle, Ani, tried to force Father to go to war against you, Majesty. I’d been serving Father during the day’s audience. I was standing in the shadows and no one remembered I was still in the hall. As they argued, Baki, my husband’s son, stepped behind my father and slit his throat. Father toppled to the floor, dead. Sabu then plunged a knife into Baki’s chest and killed him. Sabu immediately summoned his guards and accused Pentu and Baki of killing Father and trying to kill him. Sabu executed my husband on the spot. When I returned to my home I found my son had been murdered.”
Tamit put both arms around me again. Tears splashed her cheeks.
I wiped mine away.
Scorpion and Mekatre and Iry stared at me stonily, unmoved.
After a moment Tamit released me.
“Why have you come to Tjeni?” Scorpion asked, his tone slightly gentler than before. “How did you escape Sabu?”
“Majesty, a little over a week ago Sabu arranged an alliance with Antef of Pe and Dep and King Khab of Nekhen and the rulers of numerous smaller settlements. And with Abedu, chief of a tribe of barbarians from the desert west of the delta. They’re going to attack Tjeni and Ineb-hedj. They intend to divide the North and South between them.”
“I place no stock in rumors circulated by women,” Mekatre told Scorpion disparagingly.
“Majesty, I was present when the alliance was arranged. I heard everything with my own ears.”
“Sabu allowed you to take par
t in such a sensitive discussion?” Mekatre probed.
“Ever since he took the throne Sabu’s forced me to drink his wine and taste his food so his enemies won’t poison him. He wasn’t worried about me overhearing his negotiations. He was worried about his own life.”
“Sabu has enemies?” Mekatre asked.
“Some elites would rather see someone else on the throne.”
“You expect us to believe those elites care more about keeping you alive than removing Sabu?” Mekatre queried.
“It’s the truth.”
“Why warn us?” Mekatre was still extremely suspicious.
“I want Sabu dead.” I addressed Scorpion. “As I told you before – that’s all I care about. Now more than ever.”
“You haven’t told Father how you escaped yet,” Tamit reminded me.
“Sabu gave me as wife to King Ny-Hor to seal the alliance. Ny-Hor’s son Antef was taking me to Pe and Dep. All the rulers from the middle section of the valley and the delta were in our party. Plus their entourages. We traveled north on obscure desert trails west of the river for a week. Last night we camped alongside the river a dozen miles north of Tjeni. I slipped away, ran most of the night, stole a fisherman’s punt at dawn, came here.”
“How did you slip away? Weren’t they watching you?” Mekatre asked.
“I created a diversion.”
“How?”
“Abedu – the barbarian I mentioned – was in our party. I’d heard Sabu tell his uncle Ani that he and Abedu were going to turn on Antef after they conquered the North. I told Antef how Abedu had betrayed him. Predictably, Antef dashed to Abedu’s campfire to confront him. I ran.”
“Magnificently done!” Tamit told me.
“Any idea what happened afterwards?” Scorpion asked.
“One or the other may be dead. Or not. Hopefully I’ve driven a wedge between Sabu and Antef. With luck, there’s at least a crack in Sabu’s alliance that he doesn’t know about. It may have even crumbled.”
“A crack you purposefully created,” Tamit said admiringly.
“Tell me what Sabu’s planning to do,” Scorpion demanded.
“I will, but I want something in return, Majesty.”
“Ah!” Scorpion leaned back in his throne. “Now we come to it. The real reason you’re here. What, Matia? Wealth? To let your son rule Nubt in fealty to me?” He glared at me. “To rule yourself?”
“I don’t have a son anymore, Majesty.” An unintended sob escaped my lips and Tamit’s hand sought mine. I composed myself. “All I want is your solemn promise that I can hand you your mace when you execute Sabu.”
Scorpion smiled. He glanced at his sons, then me. “That’s all? I promise, Matia.”
“And I want to be involved when you plan your attack on Nubt.”
“A woman? What possible use can you be?” Mekatre sneered.
“Women can be quite useful,” Tamit averred. “As you well know, Father.”
Scorpion smiled again. I wondered what use the king made of Tamit. A topic to explore later.
“I can guarantee an internal uprising in Nubt to coincide with your army’s attack, Majesty,” I said. “Sabu will never expect the elites opposed to him to follow me. But they will. Sabu has enemies, as evidenced by making me taste his wine. Those enemies will support me. I’ll convince them to support you.”
“What do you know about Sabu’s war plans?” Scorpion asked.
“Not so fast,” Mekatre said, scowling. “I don’t trust her, Father. I think Sabu sent her here to lead us into a trap. Matia claims she can guarantee an internal uprising. Where’s her proof? She wants us to believe she escaped men involved in a conspiracy against you and paddled a punt all night to reach Tjeni. A woman alone in the dark? Really? Are our enemies so hapless they’d let her escape? Ridiculous! Matia was supposed to marry Iry once upon a time, after all. Maybe Sabu’s counting on that for her to sway him, and him to sway us.”
“Mekatre may have a point, Father,” Iry said. “Matia lied to me at Nekhen. Very persuasively.”
My eyes met his. I was shocked by his accusation. Shocked that he’d made it – not the accusation itself. I had lied to him. Had he found out?
Iry addressed me. “I overheard you tell your sister how you made me believe you loved me so you could shape the alliance to benefit you personally, Matia. How you fooled me. I heard you laugh.”
He’d heard? Why had I been so stupid and boasted to Nebetah? Why had I been so careless? No wonder Iry had been treating me so strangely and keeping me at a distance all evening. I suddenly felt so small. On top of everything else, a deception from years ago was coming back to haunt me. Was my cause lost? Was I going to fail to stop Sabu again? “Iry… I...”
“You should all be ashamed of yourselves!” Tamit scolded. She took my hand again. “I know everything about Matia and Iry at Nekhen. He told me. She lied. So what? She was a kid. She used the only weapon she had to keep her brother from the throne – herself. She was right to try. Sabu’s a monster! He’s killed her father and husband and son and brother. Look at her! You think Matia’s trying to trick us? She’s exhausted! She’s half-dead on her feet, cut, scraped, hands blistered, bloody! Probably starving! And not one of us has so much as invited her to sit, much less eat or drink!”
Tamit led me firmly to the dais and I sank to the bottom step, grateful. I was so tired. I didn’t care if I was offending Scorpion. I was beyond caring anymore.
“I believe Matia,” Tamit declared, crossing her arms over her chest, looking Scorpion in the eye. Then she sat down next to me.
A moment later, Scorpion rose from his throne and descended to the bottom step and sat beside me. “Food and drink!” he snapped at his fanbearer.
She scampered away.
Sheepishly, Iry sat down to Tamit’s left.
Mekatre remained standing, facing us, obstinate. “What exactly do you know about Sabu’s plans, Matia?”
“Who’s involved. Each king’s role. When the attacks in North and South will take place. What’s going to happen after Tjeni falls.”
“As if that’ll ever happen,” Mekatre snapped. “Father, let’s launch a preemptive strike. Today! Your army’s ready. Wipe Nubt from the face of the earth!”
That wasn’t at all what I wanted. I addressed Scorpion. “Majesty, please don’t make the people of Nubt pay for Sabu’s delusions. You can capture Nubt without destroying it. I can help you.”
“You help? Absurd!” Mekatre again.
“Before you attack Nubt, Majesty, let me try to persuade the elites who are loyal to me to abandon Sabu and pledge fealty to you. I could rule Nubt in your name, ease the transition to union with Tjeni. Commoners will follow the elites’ lead. You may not have to fight at all.”
“Elites loyal to you?” Mekatre snapped. “You’re just a woman.”
“Daughter of a king. A legitimate heir. Unlike my brother, who murdered my father to gain Nubt’s throne.”
“Mekatre’s right, Matia,” Scorpion said. “Elites won’t abandon Sabu if the alternative’s a woman. Legitimate or otherwise.”
“Told you!” Mekatre crowed triumphantly.
“They won’t take kindly to being ruled by a man from Tjeni either,” Scorpion continued.
“But Father…” Mekatre whined. I recalled that his ambition was to be king of Nubt.
“The elites might abandon Sabu if they believe King Ika’s grandson will someday rule Nubt in my name,” Scorpion said.
“A child mingling the blood of Tjeni and Nubt,” Iry said thoughtfully. “Sety’s dream.”
I hadn’t thought about that dream since I’d come to Tjeni to try to convince Scorpion to lift his blockade and had volunteered to marry Mekatre. I realized that after a delay of several years that was going to be my fate. Who besides me and Mekatre could produce a royal child? Iry was married to Tamit. Lagus was going to succeed Scorpion and he’d never take to wife the daughter of his settlement’s greatest enemy. Despair washed over me.
Mekatre despised me. At least all the other men I’d been pledged to – Baki, Iry, Antef, Ny-Hor, Pentu – had desired me at one time or another.
“What dream?” Mekatre asked.
“Nothing you need to be concerned about,” Scorpion said.
I inferred the dream was a closely held secret in Tjeni.
“You’ll rule Nubt after it surrenders, Mekatre,” Scorpion said soothingly. “But you’ll yield the throne to my son when he’s of age.”
Mekatre’s brow furrowed. “Your sons are all of age already.”
Scorpion’s eyes met mine.
In that instant I knew what was about to happen. “Not the son I’m going to give your father, Mekatre.”
Tamit gasped.
“You can’t be serious, Father!” Mekatre practically exploded.
“I’ve never been more serious. I’m going to take Matia to wife.”
Because of Sety’s dream. Scorpion and I would be the ancestors of the unifier. Talk about a mingling of royal blood. I glanced at Scorpion. He was twice my age. Even though he was strong and handsome and carried his authority well I’d never have picked him as my husband. As if that mattered. I didn’t have a choice. He’d said it; it was going to happen. But did it really matter if I was forced to share Scorpion’s bed? Years ago I’d pledged myself to Iry, a man I didn’t love, to stop Sabu. I’d married Pentu, another man I hadn’t loved, to stop Sabu. I’d failed to stop Sabu both times. But neither of them had wielded true power. Scorpion did. If anyone could drive Sabu from Nubt’s throne it was him. There was no point fighting the marriage. What it could gain me was all I cared about. And it could gain me plenty.
Scorpion turned to me. “Now, I want details, Matia.”
The girl returned with a jar of wine and a platter containing meat and fruit and bread. She poured me a cup and I drank it down. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was.
“Majesty, Sabu plans to strike during the next inundation, after his farmers have harvested this year’s crops,” I began. “The yield will be small due to this year’s low inundation.” I bit into a slab of beef.
House of Scorpion Page 40