The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen (48 page)

“And if the people make more than expected, they could keep the rest for their own profit. Then they would have more to trade and in turn increase the market’s activities… I like it. Come to me later with more details.

“Now, we are left with reclaiming what is ours.” Tutankhamun tapped his gold-tipped finger coverings together in thought. “I think Horemheb would be useful by my side. Since I have made known that he will be my heir until my own child is ready to take the crowns, I should not be putting him in harm’s way as much as I have been. He would be very good recruiting and training our regimens at home. I also believe he would also be very valuable with negotiations between our neighbors. He is a good speaker, and he knows the neighbor countries. After the banquet today, please bring both General Horemheb and General Nahkt-min to me.”

Maya and Pa-ramessu bowed a final time before they left. Ay stood like a withered old lion gathering his strength before attempting to strike his prey.

“General Horemheb has had very successful raids just a few years ago. He brought us slaves, timber, gold, and a piece of our lands back. Why are you so ready to dismiss his service?” Tutankhamun asked.

“He is more ambitious than you realize. He has made himself a very powerful man. And powerful men always crave more.”

“Well, I don’t.” Tutankhamun replied sharply. “Like I need more lands to keep safe and feed? It is purely on
your
advisement that I make war on others. What is the point of it all? It drains our resources and destroys the lands they fight on. If that attitude makes me too much like my father,
the heretic
, then you will have to pardon me. And what about you and your grandchildren? I ask you, Ay, what kind of man are you? A powerful man or a man of your family?”

Ay seemed to choke for a moment before replying, “That choice was taken away from me long ago. Your father did many things, but one of them was to save me from what I was left with when
my
military service was dismissed. When others do not perform their given tasks, they deserve the same fate as mine was. I failed my king, and you should not be so light on those surrounding you. It reflects upon your success.”

“My father gave you mercy, so now you have none?” Tutankhamun sighed. “When I woke up, I was so looking forward to this day’s festivities. I now have a headache, and the day has barely begun. Please remove yourself from today’s duties and go spend time with your family. You need a rest.”

“Surely your majesty is merely weary from all this upcoming excitement with the ships arriving this morning. Let me stand beside you as you greet your visitors --”

“I’m not a child anymore, Ay, and you are overstepping your office. I’m sure your daughter would love to hear your backing of her husband to the army’s commanding general, wouldn’t you think?”

Ay’s face scrunched, and he swept out of the room.

Tutankhamun rubbed his temples in a circular motion after Ay had left. “What is wrong with him? How do you share his same blood?” He asked me.

“Mutbenret, her children, they’re all so caring and sincere. He is the only one in his family that is so, so…”

“So Ay-like?”

I smiled. “Yes, so Ay-like. Neither of his daughters seemed to possess such an angry ba. None of my sisters did either.”

“It amazes me that something so negative can create such beautiful life in the world, especially that which sits before me.”

The doors to the room opened. The door keepers parted to allow in a herald to announce our visitors. It was Maya who strode back into our midst.

“My Lord, the esteemed Viceroy Huy’s fleet is within sight. Your litter is ready to carry you and the queen to the docks.”

Tutankhamun stood and clapped his hands as he did so. He had clapping tics in which he would strike his hands together for no apparent reason that would surface every now and then.

“Lead on then!” he said.

He took my hand, and we walked to the outer courtyard where a decorated transport waited for us. It was a canopy-covered chair shrouded in linens that four long poles were attached to. It was wide enough for the both of us to sit. Fourteen men lifted us into the air. While some noble men and princes felt honored carrying the king in a procession, today we were to be carried by slaves.

As we paraded to the royal quay, I could see many citizens bustling about and scurrying for the best view of our arriving guests. Through the hanging linens floating around us, due to the breezes coming in from the Nile, I could also see the ships beginning to dock. Already myriad objects were glittering underneath the rising of the sun boat.

Or maybe it was Aten casting those rays…

I suddenly felt torn. I had not thought about Aten in a few years. The fact that He popped into my thoughts now made me wonder what precipitated it. I had been comfortable adapting to Amun-Ra and so many others. But now? It seemed a strange time to be remembering things best kept forgotten.

We jerked slightly as the litter was set down. Tutankhamun stepped out first, and I followed closely behind. Before us, Huy was the first off his long ship. He was flanked by his sons. When they came up to us, they dropped to their knees.

The viceroy of Kush, Huy, spoke. His voice was rich and deep, “My Sovereign, may Amun grant you health and prosperity. I present to you these gifts in your honor. Your new slaves will unload them for you.”

Tutankhamun bade them to rise. “Then let us lead this procession of your generosity back to my home where I may show
you
my appreciation of your faithful service.”

It was amazing what populated our parade. Besides a collection of fresh slaves, there were heaps of gold rings the size of a child’s head as well as ivory and ebony pieces twice that size. There were tall, speckled animals that Huy called “giraffe” and a heard of plump Nubian cattle. The array of linens, furniture, foodstuffs, and precious stones seemed an endless pile. The bounty was so enormous that they were presented in the outside courtyard of the palace where we had not so long ago boarded our litters. Who could ever imagine that there could be a collection of gifts so grand that they would not even fit inside a palace!

In return, and in front of the gathered city’s inhabitants, Tutankhamun presented Huy with a golden wasekh. Made from the god’s skin with rows of leaf-shaped beads, the collar was a great honor to receive from Pharaoh and only reserved for “favorites” of the king.

In the evening, we sat within a night swollen with laughter. Even before the wine was dispensed, the citizens were loud and boisterous. Huy and his family sat at our table and told us stories of the lands deep to our south. It was an amazing and glorious day, Amun be praised.

*****

I was now sleeping in for half of a day almost every day. My legs and back ached worse than ever. I had overdone it with all the festivities this past week since Huy’s arrival. I should have sat during the gift presentations or the speeches or many other occasions, but awe and excitement had kept my back rigidly upright and taut. It’s strange how excitement can make your body unnaturally straight and stiff while at the same time it brings about joy to your heart.

My belly was rotund enough now that it blocked most of my feet from view. Only my toes could be seen as I wiggled them over my belly button. I could only imagine how swollen my ankles were this morning. Tia sat at the end of the bed rubbing out the tension. I always appreciated when she would accompany Pharaoh and I to Man-nefer.

“I heard that the cliff wall has been marked off and the doorway begun to be chiseled out,” she said. She was always good at making conversation.

“Maya has also given Pharaoh a grand gift, land to build a temple in his memory. There are gardens for growing and enough animals to sustain a priesthood there to tend to the temple. Even after death, he will continue to be worshipped,” I said while still in between sleep and waking.

“I have been overjoyed to see your likeness on the walls next to Pharaoh. I have never seen such a happy couple. I rejoice at his love for you. But I wonder about
your
temples and tomb? Have the rock walls been explored for you as well?”

“It was his idea to include me in the monuments. I still don’t know what to think of them. They’re a little personal. It was all right when I was a child being kissed by my parents, but being intimate with my husband, well, it’s a little embarrassing when people watch us. As for the Afterlife, I will be happy wherever I am laid to rest.”

“Men can easily forget the details not readily before their eyes. Ponder these things and perhaps ask him another day. If not for you, then for me. I want to make sure you are cared for after I am gone.”

Fear tickled my heart now as unspoken worries began to creep into my thoughts again. “Tia… I asked my sister this once, but with all the talk, will I love this child even if it is a girl? Will people
want
to remember me if I fail Pharaoh in this? Everyone says a girl means… means that my husband is not strong enough to rule. Only strong pharaohs produce sons. Is this true?”

Tia stopped rubbing and scooted along the bed to my side. She took my hand. “What the people say is cruel. Daughters bring the sweetest love to their parents. I have watched over yours as my own, and she is amazing.”

I held up my hand to make her stop. “I think it would be best if I knew no more.”

“An, listen, she is so beautiful. She looks like your mother. She laughs all the time. She and Amyntas’s son are the best of friends, and they are always getting into some sort of mischief.”

My fear boiled over into anger. I was being told of the precious moments I was missing and would continue to miss. I had been fine, just fine, without thinking of her. But now… that moment when I kissed her goodbye was overpowering all other thoughts. It felt like a lump of stone dragging my heart down.

I reached over to my side table and picked up a statue of Hathor. With all the strength I could muster while laying on my back, I swung my arm and threw the figure across the room. It smashed against the bronze mirror, bending and cracking it. The figure collapsed into two pieces and continued to clatter as they struck the tiled floor. Tia jumped to a standing position at my sudden outburst.

“Why do you insist on reminding me? She is no longer my daughter! Now my heart will have to say goodbye to her all over again!” I snapped.

Tia bowed to me quickly. “I will draw your bath, Highness. I apologize for my slip of the tongue.” Then she left.

I slowed my breathing a bit when she left. My forehead was damp with sweat. Looking down, I wiggled my toes. They looked so small, so childlike, exactly how I felt. I responded to her kindness with anger. In my temper, I shattered something more amazing and wonderful than a statue. Our friendship had been sewn together for years, but with one errant pull of the thread, how quickly it could unravel. What had I just undone?

This wasn’t my first outburst of anger at her either. I had felt this rush of emotions foremost back in Smenhkhare’s Hall. I shivered that someone so dear to me could also elicit those feelings. Was I turning into a monster, lashing out when I felt uncomfortable? Or was it jealousy?

Yes, jealousy. It was an overwhelming feeling. Sadness had pushed the memories of my daughter aside, but jealousy had roused up something much worse. I refused to live in the happiness of others. My daughter was loved. Why could I not be happy for her? I knew deep down that I was, but when I was reminded of her, I got angry and hurtful. I knew now that I had not outgrown my selfishness.

Slowly sitting up, I swung my feet over the side of the bed.

“Tia, are you there?”

Silence.

She must have gone out to fetch hot water. I walked over to the broken figure instead. It was made from wood with gold coverings. Picking up the broken body, my thoughts were swept up into a dream I had experienced years ago. It blurred my thoughts as tears do one’s eyes:
You will feel love and pain like you have never felt. It will fill you with unimaginable joy and make you want to cry out in terror. I am sorry
.

“Well, now I’m sorry, Hathor,” I said as I stood looking at the broken goddess statue.

I started to walk to the bathing area, when my right foot slipped across something viscous and smooth. My legs kicked up from beneath me, and I fell backward onto the floor.

With an aching back, which had taken the brunt of the fall, I felt like an upturned beetle struggling to right myself. My hands and legs felt soaked, and I could not figure why. But when I brought my hands up in front of my face, I was stricken with terror.

It was blood.

Looking down, I realized it was coming from me. It was slipping out from between my legs.

I screamed as loud as I could. I was filled with a fear that made my hands tremble uncontrollably.

What did this mean? Was I going to die like Meketaten?

My guards outside of the door rushed inside, but they froze in place as if turned to stone when they caught sight of me. Their senses were lost, unable to act upon what they were seeing. Women from the bathing area filtered in as well and came to my side to help me up.

“Somebody get the doctor!” Tia rushed to me and scooped me up into her arms.

“Hurry!” Her voice was as shrill as mine. She rushed me to the bed.

“Tia, I’m sorry. I should not have yelled at you.”

She shushed me. “My queen, I will take care of you. Relax. The doctor will be here soon.”

“What does this mean? Why is this happening?” I asked as my vision began to blur. The room was becoming dark. The edges around my eyes faded into obscurity. All I could see was Tia’s face above me. Her hand was stroking my forehead.

“I am here for you, An. I’m always here.” She kept saying it over and over again.

The ceiling began to swirl. I could see the richly painted stars above me. They began to move and twist before my eyes. I remembered that night with the fireflies back in Akhenaten. They had tumbled and spun within my gaze just as the painted sky above me did now.

My words from that night came back to me:
“She died so you could live. It’s not a burden you should carry.”