Murder in the Palace: A Nikolas of Kydonia Mystery

by Iain Campbell

  Over the next two weeks a steady flow of information concerning who was visiting Sennedjem and Bakenmut, and in Bakenmut’s case what was discussed at table, was accumulated. The guest lists of both houses was nearly identical. At Bakenmut’s table were muttered discussions of output at several mines, particularly gem mines, and strengths of town garrisons by men who should have had no interest in such topics. Agents were dispatched to other houses implicated in the meetings. Kahun wasn’t able to determine the precise nature of the plot, but clearly something was going on and Kahun made an appointment to see Zineb and Pharaoh to discuss progress.

  On being admitted into the aXnwty per aa Private Audience Room in the late afternoon, where Ramesses sat with Chamberlain Zineb and Grand Vizier Rahotep, Kahun addressed his ruler. He described progress and the evidence and concluded, “It would appear that there is some sort of fairly wide plot against your rule in the South. Although we are aware of at least some of the participants or suspects, we cannot yet advise what is intended. We have a list of correspondents and contacts from the South which we can pass on to Nikolas and Lorentis. I’d doubt we’ll receive further information from our sources here in Memphis unless we arrest and interrogate some of the suspects, which would show our hand. There’s a very long list of suspects with a motive to kill the prince.”

  Ramesses thought briefly and then said, “No. Nikolas’ party is now some weeks’ journey to the south and any message sent is unlikely to reach them in time to be of assistance. No, you continue your investigations here and let’s see what they come up with when they reach Thebes.”

  Kahun remained worried that Nikolas’ party was blundering unknowingly into a seemingly wide conspiracy. He nodded his acknowledgement of his instructions, but shortly afterwards two chariots sped south, bearing identical message bags with a coded message from Kahun to Pamose.

  CHAPTER 5 – THEBES

  Year 52. Month Mesut-Ra. 4th Shomu.

  Mid July 1223 BC

  The wind remained sufficiently favourable that Breath of Bubastis was able to make slow but steady progress to the south. Seven days after leaving Memphis they had reached Hut, the capital of the Seventh Nome of Upper Egypt. There the Eternal River started its huge bend to the east. The westerly wind pushed them swiftly to Dendara, in the Sixth Nome, where the river again turned south for the short remaining distance to Thebes. They were travelling just a week or so before the waters of the Inundation were due to arrive and were making much better time than would then be possible against the strong flow of the river.

  T T T T

  Ten days after the start of their journey they reached their first destination, Thebes. As they neared the city river traffic grew dense, requiring Captain Hunnifer to carefully navigate to avoid collisions. A noble’s personal barge passed slowly southwards, draped in funereal decorations and with a catafalque mounted high for all to see. The use of oarsmen, together with the sail, allowed the barge to proceed faster than most of the river traffic. All aboard Breath of Bubastis called out their greetings and respects to the dead lord as his barge passed nearby before it turned west toward the Necropolis. As with most Egyptian cities, most of the living of Thebes resided on the east bank and the dead on the west bank, although with an Egyptian sense of the important, the temples and the Necropolis lay on the waste land just to the west of the cultivable land.

  Nikolas presumed that the barge carrying Ra-em hotep’s mummified body would arrive in several weeks after the seventy day process of its mummification, and then its transportation south for interment on the royal tombs to the west of Thebes.

  As they approached the northern outskirts of the city the agriculture on the riverbanks became more intensive, villages and individual houses were more numerous and just north of the city were the mansions and plantations of those nobles and officials who wanted to live close by the capital of the South, but without the noise and inconvenience of the crowded city. Numerous fishing boats bobbed about on the river with the fishermen tending nets spread in the shallows. Reed-cutters could be seen at work on the banks, slashing and bundling papyrus and rushes. Some loaded the bundles onto donkeys, others struggled along the pathways towards the city stooped under the weight of bundles carried on their own backs. On the outskirts of the town the walls and massive pylons of the temple of Karnak could be seen with the stones shining golden as they were hit by the angled light of the late afternoon sun. On the West Bank the pylons and columns of the funerary temples of various Pharaohs and Ramesses’ own Temple of a Million Years, also called the Ramesseum, were silhouetted against the light of the setting sun. As they passed the Amun Temple at Karnak, with its own small canal and harbour, Nikolas noticed workmen cleaning and repairing the stone Nilometer ready for it to measure the Inundation.

  The boat tied up on the East Bank, not using the large but crowded harbour that had been excavated on the West Bank. Hunnifer navigated carefully in the heavy river traffic and had some difficulty in finding a free place to use at the stone wharf. Nikolas sent a runner to the house of Netjerikhet’s family to advise the servants of their invitation and arrival. Netjerikhet’s family home was located near the river bank close to the temple of Luxor and not far from the centre of Thebes. Having previously received clear instructions from Netjerikhet on how to find the house, Nikolas’ party set out without waiting for the runner’s return. Hunnifer watched them leave with a scowl as he remembered the lost passage money.

  Pamose slipped off to the local army barracks to arrange overdue payment and supplies for his men and to establish contact should any assistance be needed. He expected all necessary assistance as showing Pharaoh’s Seal avoided the need for any explanation; unquestioning compliance was required no matter how highly placed the official. He was also to call into the local secret-police headquarters to enquire progress in the investigation and make arrangements with the local imy Hry-ssta secret police chief for passing on and receiving information.

  Netjerikhet’s house was a very large three-storey building made of whitewashed mud bricks, located near the riverbank on the western side of the square in front of the entrance to the Temple of Luxor. The setting sun shone on the giant Pylon of Ramesses located in front of the temple, turning it golden yellow. Tutu checked with the doorkeeper of Netjerikhet’s house that they had found the right place and were expected.

  The formal townhouse was much more lavishly decorated than the country house at Asyut. A small pool and fountain were located just inside the front door, with large fish swimming in the pool. Beautifully carved delicate wooden furniture filled the rooms. Exquisitely executed frescos adorned the walls of the public rooms in a variety of themes – coastal, marine, river and agricultural with bright blue and green hues. The columns in the formal rooms were painted a rich red with geometric patterns in bright blue. On the riverbank at the rear of the house was a small but beautiful garden which was given both structure and shade by four large sycamore-fig trees, densely planted with herbaceous flowers and surrounded by a high stone wall for privacy. The house was a virtual mini-palace able to accommodate over twenty guests, but at this time of the year the townhouse was empty except for servants. At the end of the hot season in two months the family would travel south with the royal court to spend the winter season at Thebes.

  Kiya’s eyes gleamed as she toured the townhouse, calling out and commenting excitedly on the features and furniture of each room in turn. As a child of the slums she had never seen the like before. Even Lorentis and the others who had visited the royal palaces were impressed at the quiet and understated luxury of the surroundings.

  “Definitely a good return for an amphora of wine and a sachet of herbs,” said Nikolas. “It’s nice to have generous friends!”

  It was fully dark outside by the time they had settled in and lamps were lit in the dining rooms and hallways. When the evening meal was served Djau the house major-domo said, “I apologize for the poor fare at the table, but we had no warning of your coming. I’ll
see that for the rest of your stay proper provender will be obtained to allow the cook full rein of his talents.”

  “Djau, please don’t worry,” said Pamose. “This is the best meal that I have eaten for many a week,” as he disposed of a large serve of baked fish in vegetable and herb sauce, using a section of bread torn from a triangular flat loaf to soak up the sauce. Kiya, who had done most of the cooking during the trip south, kicked him hard on the shin under the table and stuck out her small pink tongue at him.

  The continuing hot dry weather and the strain of travel had taken its toll and after the sumptuous meal the party retired early. Nikolas accompanied Kiya to the bedroom with a large curtained bed that they had been provided. His robe joined hers, abandoned in a heap on the floor.

  T T T T

  Next morning the shutters on the windows overlooking the river to the west were open, allowing light and air to stream into the townhouse. They gathered in the small garden to eat breakfast al fresco.

  Nikolas said, “As well as using the townhouse, we’ll rent a room in a local inn or guesthouse for meetings when we don’t feel it is appropriate to bring people here to the townhouse. Tutu, I want you to find a suitable place; not too far away but not too close. The seedier the better, as less questions will be asked and less attention paid to any strange comings and goings, or bodies left on the stairs.” Kiya and Lorentis rolled their eyes at the last comment.

  Tutu returned before midday to advise that he had rented a room at the ‘Fox’s Delight’. This was a substantial guesthouse located not far away, which did most of its business by the hour with resident ladies, and young men, of negotiable virtue. Tutu had rented a room for a month, paid in advance. Nikolas asked Kiya to reimburse Tutu for his expense from the purse she carried. Judging by Tutu’s flushed red face and slightly unsteady demeanour, it was likely that he had sampled some of the ‘Fox’s’ delights before returning.

  Nikolas spent most of the rest of the day out in the streets getting his bearings so that he would know where he was during the rest of their stay. When he returned he had a quiet talk with Kiya in private in one of the many formal rooms.

  “Before we leave we have to make time to visit the Temple of Amun at Karnak. It’s only a mile and a half north. Also the Temple of Luxor, next door to us here, and the Necropolis. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit many of the wonders of this great and historical land, with the comfort afforded by the friendship of local nobles and the Seal of Pharaoh. If we can avoid being killed, of course,” said Nikolas. Kiya gave a brief nod of acknowledgement of the last part of the conversation, but smiled happily. As a poor citizen of Memphis she had never thought she would travel to Thebes, let alone first class and with virtually unlimited funds at her disposal.

  Pamose arrived shortly after and slumped angrily into a chair opposite Nikolas and Kiya. “No progress from the local authorities. They only received their initial instructions less than a week ago and until I presented Pharaoh’s Seal they hadn’t taken the matter seriously. The death occurred many miles away and they were all sitting on their hands waiting for somebody else to do something. I can tell you that after I ‘blew my top’ enquiries are now being actively pursued, but this time without the usual heavy-handed methods. Agents have now been sent to Ra-em hotep’s townhouse and the houses of his henchmen. No progress is expected for at least a week but at least now they’ve now got off their fat arses!”

  Nikolas decided to play tourist in the meantime. The Temple of Luxor stood within a hundred paces of the front door of the townhouse and it seemed an appropriate place to start. Pamose had visited it previously and commented, “Seen one temple, seen them all. I’ll come with you when you go to Karnak; that’s always worth a visit.” Clearly he was not a deeply religious man. Lorentis had not been to the South before, nor obviously had Kiya. Nikolas took only two guards as more than this would smack of ostentation and draw attention and he did not expect any risk… yet. Nikolas was also usually not a great temple-visitor, but the Egyptian temples were massive and impressive edifices which were usually not accessible to any but priests and the royal family and he wanted to make full use of this opportunity.

  The Temple of Luxor had been largely constructed by Amenophis III, and completed by the current Pharaoh Ramesses II. Dedicated to Amun-Ra, the Sun God, in the local form of Min, the huge Pylon of Ramesses and two 50 cubit high red granite obelisks stood before the northern entrance. As they approached the pylon Nikolas viewed the huge engraved texts on the outer wall relating Ramesses’ military victory at Kadesh against the Hittites. Two seated colossal statues of Ramesses flanked the main entrance, smiling down enigmatically.

  The gatekeeper was sufficiently impressed by Pharaoh’s Seal to permit them entry and provide an acolyte priest to act as a guide to show them around, but specified that they would not be permitted into the most sacred areas. On entering the guide showed them the peristyle court of Ramesses with its seventy-four papyrus columns, each with a representation of the Pharaoh with a deity. They visited the chapels erected by Hatshepsut and Thutmosis, before entering the colonnade built by Amenophis III, with its recently added seated colossal statues of Ramesses and Nefertari on the north wall, and statues of Amun and Mut on the south. They were not able to see the inner ‘birth room’ and sanctuary, which were restricted to priests and to Pharaoh and his Great Royal Wife. Nikolas was enthralled by the vividly painted carvings and the majestic architecture.

  Leaving again through the northern entrance, Nikolas saw the one and a half mile long avenue flanked by large identical statues of human-headed sphinxes heading north-east to the temple of Karnak. Drained by the blistering heat, although this had been abated somewhat in the dark interior of the temple, Nikolas felt they had done enough for one day and it was time for an early retirement to bed.

  T T T T

  After rising and an early breakfast Nikolas, Kiya and their guards Ibana and Bengay left to visit the Grand Market before the temperature became too unbearable. The Grand Market was huge, crowded with stalls with each vendor shouting his wares, creating a cacophony of noise. Most stalls had canvas sides and overhead covers to provide some privacy and keep off the burning sun. Hordes of customers thronged the spaces between stalls and sampled merchandise, dickering good-humouredly with the stall-holders. The air was redolent with the smell of food, spices and sweat – and the stench of offal from the fish and meat markets on the north side of the square. At the meat-market the goats, sheep and pigs stood in pens awaiting their fate. Today there were no oxen as beef was an expensive luxury for the rich and was sold by only a few butchers, and even then not every day. Wild birds, caught by net, sat in small cages looking distressed – duck, geese and swan. The fishmongers had shallow tanks in which various fish swam or floated, in some cases belly-up, mainly carp or perch. A few stalls dealt with more exotic meats – crocodile, hippopotamus and game such as gazelle, ibex, hyena and reptiles including snakes and lizards. While the snakes and lizards were alive and in baskets, the larger wild animals were dead and the meat had to be sold quickly. Such specialist vendors usually supplied to order for feats organized by the ‘rich and famous’, arranging hunters to fill specific orders; what was available for sale at the vendors’ stalls were the lesser cuts and surplus from those orders.

  Nikolas and the others shouldered their way through the crowd. Nikolas stopped at a cutler’s stall and purchased two well-balanced bronze throwing-knives and a fighting-knife. In the clothing quarter he spent considerable time considering ladies gowns, measuring them against Kiya. He bought one formal white gown, in thin diaphanous material, and ten cheaper but still presentable coloured and patterned woven dresses for daily use. Kiya was delighted that, for the first time, she had her own wardrobe of clothes.

  Nikolas wasn’t sure if he should consider past cows or future investments, but after the stay at Asyut he was firmly of the belief that Kiya needed to be suitably outfitted.

  By late morning the temperat
ure was again soaring. Walking through the jewellers’ quarter Nikolas spied something he liked.

  Unlike clothing, jewellery could be seriously expensive. None of the items carried price tags, everything being by negotiation. The general rule was that if you needed to ask, you couldn’t afford it. Nikolas was careful not to show much interest as he fingered a set of jewellery gold with lapis lazuli earrings, necklace and two bracelets; the pieces were of exquisite workmanship and superior materials. With the stall-owner hovering behind him and watching the hands of the prospective purchasers to ensure that nothing was stolen, Nikolas turned to Kiya and raised one eyebrow before moving on to look at lesser items and then to the edge of the stall where he looked at some goods from this stall and some from the next. Nikolas knew the basic rules of bargaining.

  As Nikolas moved on to the next stall, Kiya asked indifferently the price of the lapis items. On being told that they were fifty silver deben – 500 copper deben – she snorted and moved to follow Nikolas. The stall-holder called out and started to follow, talking volubly.

  Two stalls up, with Nikolas examining some garnet earrings and a colossal gold necklace, the price for the lapis was forty silver deben and the stall-holder’s voice rose in anguish the further they moved away. Nikolas winked at Kiya and walked on. She offered twenty-five silver deben. The merchant howled in pain. “Thirty-eight,” he wailed. Kiya said nothing but continued to walk after Nikolas for another ten metres and the cry came from behind, “Thirty-five.”