Son of the SunLij, the Pharaoh Knefer-Lijedefer- ElijahSen-Adom, the harpist - Dominic Neferura-Ulive, Lij's wife and sister - Liv Menkh, Chief Advisor - Viggo Pen-Nekeb, A eunuch; body slave to Lij - Sean Astin Seti-Hop, a physician - Ian Mckellan Nefer-Aru, Lij's mother - Cate Blanchett Merit-Aton, Liv's mother - Miranda Otto Setep-Aton another royal physician - Chris Lee Orem, a eunuch, Liv's lover - Orli Captains of the Guard, Zeser-Amon - Sean Bean and His brother, Ankh-Aton - David Wenham Imhotep, the Royal architect - Billy Menep-Atifer-Ankh-Ra - Lij's Granny - An old woman with heart. Sennacherib, King of Assyria - Karl Urban Argamus of Kishlan - Hugo Weaving Garmen - Craig Parker Iri-Natjer - Lij's cousin Pretep-Ra - Lij's cousin and Nat's wife Agor - Kishlan captain Soraya - Kishlan healer Lygia - Mistress of the Slaves Leila Khatun - Keeper of Mysteries Ahmose - Lij's chief concubine Peri - Aton - Another concubine Chief Herald Several friends, aquaintances and folks who merit mentioning, but no names, please! Part 28 - Reunions and Revelations There had been much joy in the king's apartments when Lij returned. His wife and his mother as well as sundry other relatives - some welcome, some not -turned up during the space of the morning to rejoice with him on his recovery from serious sickness. Semenue had a private interview and was kissed by her cousin and promised huge rewards for allowing herself to be incarcerated on his behalf for such a long time. She smiled at Lij. "Anything to escape mama, cousin! Besides, Lij," she confided to him, as they were alone, "I wrote a few good songs about love that I'll share with you and Dom when he returns." She winked cheekily at Lij as she bowed herself out of the chamber. Iri-Natjer and Pretep brought him some figs, which he accepted graciously - and which Nekeb threw in the nearest slop pot - and Nat offered the hope that his cousin would soon be attending to his business, as he'd been sorely missed during his sickness. Pretep nodded her agreement. "No one, Lord, could be more happy than I, to see you recovered," she said, sincerity oozing out of every pore. Lij looked tired, so the visitors, mindful of his recent recovery, left him to rest. Seti-Hop returned later with Menkh's letter. Lij read it, and looked at the physician with calm eyes. "Yes, of course I knew of this. Did you think I did not? I am not so green, I assure you, Seti-Hop. Give me credit for a little intelligence." Seti-Hop bowed low in acknowledgement, then told the king of his secret interview. Lij immediately sent for the other person involved. When that worthy arrived, and gave the pharaoh the information that had excited so much feeling in the physician, Lij rubbed his chin. "We must tread carefully, friends. This is dangerous ground." Lij's informant put a gentle hand on the king's shoulder. It was not rebuffed. "Not dangerous, Great One - deadly." Lij could only agree. They would be vigilant. That was all they could do. Until Pretep moved it was all conjecture. And she was of royal blood - it was impossible to prove her guilt as there was no real evidence...yet. And if they tried to stop her now, before she acted, they would not apprehend her accomplice, who would then be free to pounce. Lij rested for a brief spell, until Nekeb came to inform him that the caravan was approaching. The majority of the army had been disbanded, but there were still a thousand foot soldiers escorting Argamus to the palace. "Three hours or so, Lord," Nekeb offered to the query, glancing at the water clock. Try as he may, Nekeb could not bring himself to call his god "Lij" - not even in private. Lij let it be. He was content with his friend, and he knew some barriers were better not breached. Lij knew he was cherished, and that was enough. Lij pondered on how best he could reward Pen-Nekeb for his actions in bringing his little party to Kishlan in safety. He had been to his women and Orem, and loaded them with gifts and honours, which they all wanted to refuse. Ahmose, coming in from her desert adventure dusty but calm, spoke for the rest of the women. "It was enough to be able to serve you, Great One...we are not exactly overworked here, since you...since Dom..." He blushed, and without hesitation gave them leave to seek discreetly what pleasure they could. He had all he could ever desire in Dom. Others must not suffer because of that. He grinned. So for Nekeb? ...Very well! That would do. It would put noses out of joint, but Lij's immense riches - apart from those he controlled as king - were his own to dispose of as he saw fit. He allowed himself to be bathed and dressed for the audience. His heart was fluttering madly - but not for the sight of the Kishlan king. *** Argamus and Garmen were met at the Great Doors in royal state. Dom, walking in beside Menkh with a veiled Menep on his arm, hid a grin, as he heard the unctuous platitudes fall from the courtier's lips. Argamus and Garmen were escorted to their apartments, and told the Great One would grant them Audience in one hour in the throne room. They would be escorted there when it was convenient to them. Argamus thought longingly of a hot bath, a good dinner, and a real bed, but Garmen, having been at this point before, was used to palace protocol, and its lack of consideration of a weary traveller's needs. The Kishlan servants prepared a hasty bath for their lord. Dom disappeared into Menep's apartments, and sent a message to his love urging patience. He would not see Lij until after the Audience, otherwise, he indicated, he would not be able to tear himself from his lover's arms. And he remembered with clarity it was Menkh they had hinted to Argamus that was supposed to be enamoured of Dom, and that to all intents and purposes, Dom was still Lord Payankhi. Payankhi and his alter ego Sen-Adom would remain hidden until the Kishlanites had left. Lij took the stick off the slave and read his lover's words carved thereon with eagerness. Indeed, he was the only other person in the country except Dom, who could read them. There was no need to seal documents between them since Lij, a quick study, had learned two of Dom's languages. Dom was right, of course. Lij knew he could not keep the love he felt for Dom from his face if they should meet... or keep from grasping him in his arms. Most unseemly in public. He sighed, and prepared for the meeting with Argamus. *** The room was crowded. Everyone who had any reason whatsoever to be there, had demanded entrance. The court had missed its Lord, and his hand on the rim of their world. Argamus of Kishlan realised that he was king of very little when he heard the titles and names of some of those at court. Liv came in with her mother and Menep and the announcement of their titles, honours and lands took several minutes. He had earlier been announced to a virtually empty room. "Argamus, Lord of Kishlan, and Lord Garmen of Kishlan", the bored herald had intoned to several uninterested dignitaries, courtiers, and slaves. Argamus trembled in his red leather shoes. Here, he was a very small fish in a very big pond. He waited with bated breath for the Great One to approach. The brass horns sounded. Everyone turned to the doors, which opened slowly. Lij appeared framed in the doorway. Argamus forgot to breathe. Lij was dressed in a peacock blue silk robe that fell from his neck to his gold brushed sandals. Around his waist was a gem studded belt, on his arms bands of adamant and sapphire. The pectoral on his chest was inset with enamel, lapis lazuli and jewels. On his head he wore a nemes, the striped cloth headdress with the cobra resting on his forehead. He wore a cloak of finest peacock feathers that dragged on the floor for some distance behind him. In his hand he carried the kingly staff. The court noticed with great interest that the staff had a length of red cord wound around it. This meant an unalterable edict would soon be pronounced. The court fell to its knees. So did Argamus and Garmen. There was so much power and authority invested in the small figure that for the first time Argamus felt the stirrings of real fear. Lij bent and took his wife's hand and helped her rise. She shook her head. Today the dais was his. She would sit in the company, and watch him from there. Chairs were brought forward for the royal ladies. Lij proceeded to his throne, and turned and sat. "Argamus of Kishlan begs audience, Exalted One", Menkh knelt at his cousin's feet. He looked around him. There was no sign of Dom, but Lij detected a movement at the grill of the observation room situated behind the wall high above him. Dom, hidden from view, was watching him. Lij shivered slightly in anticipation of later delights. "Let Kishlan approach us", Lij spoke in haughty tones so unlike the voice he used in private. He glanced briefly in their direction, poker faced, and Gia and Raya supressed a smile. The very look he had worn over the cucumbers! Argamus came forward and knelt at Lij's feet. He looked up into his Lord's face. He was stunned by what he saw, therefore he committed an error of protocol. He spoke without being invited. "Men speak truly, Great One. Thou art indeed the beauty of Egypt." No one there denied the fact, even to themselves. Garmen looked at the slim figure before him with undisguised admiration. Not for one second did he connect this princely being with a slave boy he had met once some weeks before. Lij looked bored. His top lip lengthened. His chin rose, and the look became more imperious. His eyes shone like sapphires, cold and beautiful. One was caught within their compelling gaze. Gia bent her head. She was grinning like a marmoset. He was so good at this, it was almost beyond belief. "You are very gracious. However, we have strong words for you, Kishlan. We have something to say with regard to the treatment my most beloved kinsman received at your hands." Argamus rose at Lij's signal and stepped back a few paces, his eyes never leaving the pharaoh's face. *** Pharaoh had been brutal but fair to Argamus. His government of Kishlan, his foreign policies, his greed for riches, his alliance with dubious kingdoms all were examined, dissected and thrown in his face by the Pharaoh, whose grasp on the politics and movements of the small countries surrounding Egypt astonished Argamus. He could deny none of it. Argamus felt he was fortunate to be allowed to leave Egypt alive. Garmen, riding beside him down the Royal Road the following morning, was inclined to agree with him. Neither man found they wished to take up the gracious but coldly forbidding royal invitation to remain and discuss the situation further. Therefore they took their leave as soon after the morning meal as could be deemed polite. Argamus felt he had been badly advised on the matter of Lord Payankhi, who was, according to the Great One, so shocked by the severe treatment meted out to him in Kishlan, and still so distressed over the loss of his little slave boy, that he felt unequal to the task of meeting the Kishlanites that day. The Kishlan king felt so grateful to his Liege Lord for allowing him to keep his life... and his kingdom, under conditions... that the increase of ten percent yearly in tribute to Egypt seemed as nothing in comparison with what might have been. *** Dom had waited until Lij had finished flaying the Kishlanite with his words, and Argamus had retired quaking with fear to his apartments, before he went to seek out his beloved. He found Lij resting on their bed, gowned in cream silk, and staring anxiously at the door. When it opened and Dom appeared in the doorway, Lij cried out, and leaping up, flung himself into Dom's open arms. "Oh, gods of my father!" Dom whispered, as hot trembling flesh pressed itself against him. "My love. My love." Lij breathed hotly into his shoulder, as pinned against Dom's body, he tried to kiss him. But Dom held him so tightly against his chest, panting into his neck, there was no room for kisses, and no breath for them, either. Dom eventually loosened his vice-like grip and pushed Lij away slightly so that he could rejoice in the sight of him. "Argamus was right, my love...thou art indeed the very beauty of Egypt, " Dom murmured hoarsely, as his eager, trembling mouth crushed down on Lij's. *** Outside Pharaoh's apartments his guard stood on watch. Kerasonb was alerted by faint sounds filtering through the door, breaking the silence - urgent cries, muffled utterances. He smiled, relaxing his stance. A minor official came up asking for admittance to the king on urgent business. Sen-Adom had been in the room with his God only a short while, but the Captain and his companion knew better than to allow anyone to enter at this time. They sent the ruffled visitor away. The cries grew louder. Kerasonb allowed himself a smile. God was indeed cured of his sickness, if the signs read true. His companion grinned at him. "The Great One is recovered, my friend. Who but Sen-Adom could tear such sounds from the Master's heart, eh?" "Dom! Oh, Isis!" Kerasonb leaned into the door, listening intently. "Lij, don't stop...gods...Lij...more!" One last groan, then silence. The captain grinned. "No, no one else, friend - but the Harpist. May he be blessed for bringing such joy to the Lord." All was silent, now. The two men continued their watch. All was well with the world. *** The next morning in the Throne Room the assembly noticed that the cord was still wound about the staff. Gia and Raya were placed in front of the throne. Gia smiled inwardly. She had noted with some pleasure that there was a huge difference between their Lij - the man who had winked at her just hours before, when she teased him about the heavy eyed look he wore that morning - and Knefer-Lijedefer, Son of the Sun, King and God. But God was smiling at them, so they smiled back at him. They knew what he was about to announce. "To the gracious ladies Soraya and Lygia, I owe my life. It is not needful that you" - he cast his eyes around the puzzled court - "know why; except that this is so. I therefore grant unto them both the coveted position of Priestess of Amun, to be held by them in perpetuity, to them and their chosen heirs after them, and I endow them with all the powers, privileges and riches appertaining to their state." "These holy priesthood callings are to be upheld and respected by all, and although I will not take them unto myself as some of my forebears did, I will hold them in the greatest respect and love and esteem them as my sisters." "Soraya has consented to the position of physician under the Chief Physician Seti-Hop, as Second Royal Physician, and Lygia is to be given the title of Royal Guardian of the Sons of God." "These gifts in no way lessen the debt I owe these great ladies. May all hold them in honour, as I do." They were allowed to kiss his hand, a signal honour, and return to their places. The king looked for his servant in the crowd. "Pen-Nekeb, my friend, come forward." Pen-Nekeb had no idea he was to be called, and was standing at the back of the room. He came swiftly through the assembly and knelt before his God. "Pen-Nekeb, friend of friends; as a sign of your unfailing devotion during my recent illness, and my eternal gratitude for it, I grant you ownership of all the villages between Haptor and Eccron, all rights and income to the grain stored therein, all honours that the titles of ownership bestow upon you. These to be granted in perpetuity to you and your chosen heirs or assigned as you see fit." Pretep ground her teeth. Grain repositories. Six of them. Wealth beyond measure! That fat eunuch would be a very rich and honoured man - and she was as jealous as only a soulless woman could be. Nat had been overlooked again! True, he had done nothing to merit reward, she thought, but one does not need to deserve it to be honoured by the king. Pen-Nekeb stared at his Lord smiling down on him. The riches did not matter, but to be esteemed as worthy of them by the king was everything to him. "Thank you, Great One", he murmured, tears running down his face. Lij smiled at him, then looked around the assembled court. "I have one more pronouncement to make before we retire. It has become apparent to me during my recent illness that I need a help-meet of equal rank to assist me. I therefore intend taking unto myself a Great Royal Spouse, to help me - and my most beloved sister and wife, Neferura-Ulive - in the onerous tasks devolving upon us as Lord of the Two Lands and Great Royal Wife. This person will be invested with such honours as will be suitable to one already high-born, and therefore eminently worthy of such a position by both birth and station without being granted further titles. These extra honours will, however, be my personal gift to my future Spouse." He handed the staff to Menkh who unwound the cord from around it. "These appointments have been recorded by my Chief Scribe, as unalterable decrees set within the annals of my reign. So be it." *** Pretep grabbed Nat's unresisting arm and dragged him out of the Audience chamber as soon as Lij and Liv had retired. She did not wish to speculate, as did the other members of the court, on who this Great Royal Spouse could be. If it were not Nat, she cared not. And one of her spies had earlier offered her some interesting news. The Lord Menkh had gone out hunting that morning, very early, and had returned with two fine gazelle. He had asked Lij, Dom and Liv to a private feast to be held in honour of the king's recovery. Nothing could be better. Pretep sneaked down to tell Setep-Aton of the development. They both agreed that tonight would be a perfect time to instigate their plan. That evening, alone with Nat in their apartments, Pretep could not face her dinner for the butterflies she felt blooming in her belly. Nat, sipping his wine, looked at his wife's untouched plate, and commiserated with her on her lack of appetite. He rubbed his ample stomach, absently, and remarked that he too felt unequal to the task of eating more than a few morsels. They retired to bed together before the moon rose. Pretep feigned sleep whilst Nat snored loudly beside her. Tonight would all her dreams be fulfilled. Tonight she would become Queen of Egypt. She smiled into the pillow. |