House of Scorpion Read online

  “Matia serves her father almost daily in his audience hall,” I replied. “She says she pays attention to what goes on. She expects to be married to a ruler one day and wants to be able to help him make decisions.” I exchanged a glance with Sety. “She’s very bright, Father.”

  “You could tell Matia’s bright based on a few hours’ acquaintance?” Minnefer queried. “Or were you simply blinded by the first woman of high rank to pay attention to you?” He laughed.

  Father ignored Minnefer’s insult to me. Then he ignored me. “Do you think Sabu and Antef are serious?” he asked the others. “Will they convince their fathers to agree to an alliance?”

  I interrupted before anyone could answer. “Father, I know how to stop Sabu’s alliance before it goes any farther. Matia and I worked it out.”

  “You negotiated with the daughter of an enemy king? Please!” Perneb laughed. “You don’t have the authority. Much less her. A girl!”

  “An alliance between Tjeni and Nubt, Father. Sealed with a marriage.”

  Father stared at me for a moment. “Tjeni and Nubt instead of Tjeni and Nekhen.”

  “An alliance with our most dangerous enemy instead of our least dangerous,” Sety said approvingly.

  “The alliance was really your idea, Iry?” Father probed.

  “Yes, Father.” I was proud of having come up with it.

  Father studied me for a moment, then smiled. “You’ve done well today, Iry. You saw an opportunity to make Tjeni greater and you seized it. You’ve laid down a foundation I can build on. I want you to stay close to Matia the rest of the time we’re in Nekhen. Tomorrow, ask her how King Ika reacted to the news. Tell her I intend to use the two of you to pass proposals for an alliance to her father.”

  “Yes, Father,” I said happily. I could tell from the pride on his face that I’d risen considerably in his estimation today. And Sety’s. Plus, he’d just given me permission to be with Matia as much as I wanted.

  “Mekatre should spend time with Matia too, Majesty,” Minnefer said haughtily. “Since Lagus will rule Tjeni, Mekatre will naturally rule Nubt. He’s the one who should marry Matia to seal the alliance.”

  “I disagree, Minnefer,” Perneb countered. “Lagus should marry Matia. He’ll be able to control both Tjeni’s and Nubt’s thrones that way.”

  I kept my face impassive. Yes, Mekatre outranked me. So did Lagus. By rights, Lagus should have Matia. But neither Minnefer nor Perneb knew about Sety’s dream or its implications. I did. Neither of my brothers was going to succeed Father because of it. I intended that my child would. To pull that off I had to make Matia my wife. With the daughter of the king of our most dangerous rival by my side I’d be able to take Nubt’s throne and pave the way for Matia’s and my descendants to rule the valley. If either of my brothers married her I’d end up with Heket and Nekhen and spend my life in oblivion. Luckily, I was going to be involved in the negotiations with King Ika and my brothers weren’t. I was perfectly positioned to outmaneuver both of them for her hand.

  “Don’t mention this alliance to either Lagus or Mekatre,” Father ordered everyone. “I won’t risk it falling apart because they’re fighting over the same girl. Matia’s important to the upcoming negotiations. Leave her to Iry. For now. Understood?”

  “Yes, Majesty,” Minnefer and Perneb said less than enthusiastically.

  “Majesty, might I have a word alone with you and Iry?” Sety asked. “I have some more important news.”

  Father nodded.

  The two elites left grudgingly. Both were jealous of Sety’s relationship with Father.

  Sety lifted his talisman with his fingers when the three of us were alone. “Majesty, as you know, the falcon god has sent dreams to a handful of talisman bearers over the centuries. They’ve always come true. I had a dream the night I wore this for the first time. I dreamed it again the night before we arrived at Nekhen. Matia was in my dream. I recognized her the moment I saw her today. In my dream she was holding a child in her arms. The royal blood of both Tjeni and Nubt flowed through its veins. The god showed me a future where that child’s descendants ruled a completely unified valley.”

  Father stared at Sety. For a moment the only sound was the sighing of the wind and the river flowing past our boat.

  “Majesty, Iry and Matia discussed forming an alliance an hour before I told the two of them about my dream,” Sety said. “It can’t be a coincidence that alliance and dream and Matia have all come together here, in the settlement sacred to the falcon god.”

  “Did you really tell Matia about your dream, Sety?” Father asked.

  “In explicit detail.”

  “So, when Matia tells King Ika what happened today on the heights she’ll also tell him about Iry’s idea for an alliance and tell him about Sety’s dream and her supposed future,” Father mused.

  “Without any doubt,” Sety said.

  “She’ll be the mother of a king,” I said.

  “King Ika will have every reason to negotiate with us,” Father averred. “Especially if he believes in dreams sent by gods.”

  “Even if he doesn’t,” Sety said. “His daughter will benefit either way.”

  “Keep your dream secret until I tell you otherwise, Sety,” Father ordered. “That goes for you too, Iry. In the wrong hands it could be dangerous.”

  Meaning Minnefer and Perneb and Mekatre and Lagus would figure out none of Father’s sons were going to succeed him. That’d put the life of Matia’s child in serious danger, no matter which of my brothers was its father. Or me. “Yes, Father.”

  “Yes, Majesty.”

  ***

  A soft warm breeze swept across the top of the outcrop. Lights in Nekhen’s huts and Nekhbet’s across the river and on scattered farms north and south on both plains twinkled like fireflies. Distant sounds of revelry carried to me; one of the nightly banquets preceding Khab’s coronation was in full swing adjacent to the oval court. The area was ringed with blazing campfires; it was the brightest spot in the entire valley. The stars were nearly washed out by a full moon shining so brightly that the few scraggly trees on either side of the wadi path between the river and the heights were casting long spidery shadows. Moonlight revealed a solitary figure striding up the wadi path towards the outcrop. Matia.

  Before long I heard her carefully climbing, the sound of small pebbles bouncing down the sides of the outcrop and landing amidst the boulders as she dislodged them from footholds. The top of her head came into view, then her face. Particularly beautiful in the moonlight. I gave her my hand and helped her up the last step. I couldn’t help gazing at her possessively. She gave me a glorious smile. Then we sat with our legs dangling over the edge of the outcrop, so close our arms and legs touched. I’d been waiting anxiously all day to talk to her, filling the hours since dawn conferring with Father and Sety, debating terms of an alliance. Father had decided only the three of us would be involved in the negotiations to keep them as secret as possible. Father was placing great trust in me after the news I’d brought him yesterday and I was determined not to let him down. Or me.

  “How did your father react to what happened yesterday, Matia?”

  “I decided not to tell him.”

  That was unexpected. A major setback. “But I thought…”

  “I told Pentu.”

  “The elite who put your Father on his throne?”

  “You remembered. He’s the real power in Nubt, not Father. He’s the one we need to convince about an alliance. I discussed it with him. He’s amenable.”

  A relief.

  “If I’d told Father he’d have told Sabu,” Matia explained. “We have to keep Sabu from finding out what we’re doing at all costs.”

  “I agree.”

  “How about you, Iry?”

  “It went well. I told Father and his advisors what we overheard and told them about my idea for an alliance.”

  “A brilliant idea, Iry.”

  I was pleased by Matia’s praise. “They were
n’t happy I’d discussed it with you.”

  “Because men don’t think a girl should be involved in such things. Right?” Matia asked disgustedly.

  “Something like that. Sety won Father over to our side when he told him about his dream. Father believes in dreams. Father’s absolutely convinced he’s supposed to ally our settlements so you can bear a child with dual royal blood.”

  “So the battle’s already won,” Matia said with satisfaction.

  “Except for the details. Father and Sety will negotiate for Tjeni, with me as go-between.”

  “Pentu and me on Nubt’s side.”

  “The basis of the deal will be an alliance as we discussed yesterday, sealed by marriage, that’ll tie Tjeni and Nubt together in peace.”

  “With Nubt in fealty to Tjeni, I assume.”

  “Yes. Father insists on that.”

  “What about my father?”

  “What do you propose?”

  “Pentu believes that if King Scorpion lets my father rule until he dies, then replaces him on the throne with a man loyal to Tjeni, that Nubt’s elites will accept the takeover. A takeover we both know will be the ultimate outcome of this alliance.”

  “I’ll pass that on to Father. I can’t see why he’d be opposed.”

  “What about your brother? Mekatre expects to rule Nubt, doesn’t he? Just as you expect to rule Nekhen?”

  I had no idea how she’d figured that out. But she had. I wasn’t going to lie to her. “Yes, Mekatre thinks he’ll sit Nubt’s throne.”

  “And you Nekhen’s?”

  “When Father learned of King Khayu’s death a few weeks ago, he considered arranging a marriage between me and Heket to create an alliance with Nekhen, Matia. He was trying to take advantage of the fact that we were coming here and she’s available.”

  “That’s why you asked me about her.”

  “Yes. I share your opinion, by the way.”

  “Is that still your father’s intention, Iry? That you marry Heket?”

  “Whatever any of us wanted before Sety revealed his dream yesterday and made it clear you’re part of it doesn’t matter anymore, Matia. Whatever plans Father may have had, he knows your descendant – his descendant – will unify this valley. Not him. Not my brothers. Not me. The falcon god has spoken. Everything Father and the rest of us do from this point forward must be in accordance with the falcon god’s will. We’re all servants of the god now, Matia.”

  “Then why is your father insisting that my father pledge him fealty as part of an alliance?”

  “Unification of the entire valley has to start somewhere. Joining Tjeni and Nubt immediately is a solid first step.”

  “I suppose it won’t matter in the long run, Iry. If I truly have a child with both Tjeni’s and Nubt’s royal blood, he’ll rule both settlements after your father and mine are dead.”

  “That’s right. Whoever your husband it, Matia, you’re going to be the mother of a king. You deserve to know – the elite who backs Mekatre wants him to marry you. Same for the elite who backs Lagus.”

  “Your elites are fighting over me?” Matia seemed amused.

  “As surrogates for the brother they’ve tied their futures to.”

  “Futures? They haven’t figured out King Scorpion will pass over his sons and make mine his successor in line with Sety’s dream?”

  “They don’t know about Sety’s dream. Sety kept it from them on purpose. Only Father and me and you know.”

  “And Pentu.”

  “Tjeni’s elites see marriage to you as a way for their chosen brother to gain Nubt’s throne. They don’t understand its real importance. Father wants to keep it that way, for now.”

  “Because if they or your brothers learn about the dream they’ll know your father will make my son his heir and neither Lagus nor Mekatre will sit Tjeni’s throne. They’ll kill him.”

  “I told Father you were very bright, Matia.”

  “What else did you tell him?” she asked coyly.

  “I didn’t tell him we kissed, if that’s what you’re asking.” I was glad it was dark so Matia couldn’t see me blush. “One of the elites accused me of caring only about you, not the alliance.”

  “Was he right?”

  “I do care about the alliance – a little.”

  Matia giggled and snuggled closer.

  I thrilled to her touch. “The falcon god’s shown us the future, Matia. It’s up to we few who know about the dream to make it real.”

  “Will either of your brothers, once they find out? They’ll have to some day.”

  “I doubt it. They’re both obsessed with being king. I can’t imagine either Lagus or Mekatre yielding the throne to your son, even if he’s the father, even knowing it’s the god’s will. They won’t fight the succession while Father’s alive. But the moment he dies they’ll marshal their supporters and remove your son from the throne.”

  “What about you, Iry?”

  “Before yesterday I wanted to succeed Father,” I admitted. “But when Sety told us about his dream I knew my purpose in life was to pave the way for your descendant to unify the valley, not be king myself.”

  “My descendant? Not our descendant?”

  “I truly hope ours, Matia. I believe a political marriage with me would be better for you than with either of my brothers. But it’s going to be Father’s decision.”

  Wisps of long hair blew about Matia’s cheeks. She was so beautiful. I wanted her like I’d never wanted any woman.

  “I’ll get Pentu to insist that you and I marry to seal the alliance instead of either of your brothers, Iry.”

  “You’ll really do that?” My heart was instantly soaring.

  “If you agree to two demands. First, you’ll get rid of Sabu.”

  “Get rid of?”

  “Kill. Make disappear. Whatever you want to call it.”

  “Why, Matia? I know he’s sneaky and underhanded. But he’s your brother.”

  “He’s my half-brother and he’s a monster, Iry. I watched him murder our older brother, Hetshet, as calmly as if he was killing a calf or a goat. Without any remorse. He did it so he could be king. I’ve pledged myself to deny him Nubt’s throne no matter the cost. I’m going to avenge Hetshet, one way or another. That’s what I care most about in life.”

  I was shocked. “Does anyone else know he’s a murderer?”

  “Only Pentu. I told him yesterday after I told him about Sabu’s secret negotiations. He believed me. He wouldn’t have before. Father never will. Neither will anyone else.”

  “I believe you, Matia. I promise you’ll have your vengeance on Sabu.”

  “Thank you, Iry.”

  “What’s your second demand?”

  “Convince your father to let you rule Nubt once my father’s dead. Promise you’ll let me help you. Promise you’ll let me advise you. Promise you’ll keep me involved in everything that’s going on. Promise you won’t just lock me away to make babies.”

  That was a big demand. “Father might agree to putting me in charge of Nubt, Matia. But the rest? He’ll never agree.”

  “Does King Scorpion need to know what you and I agree to between us, in private? Future husband to future wife?”

  Marrying Matia would give me Nubt’s throne in fealty to Father instead of Nekhen’s. It’d let me avoid marriage to Heket. It’d vault me over Mekatre. Having Matia’s assistance as I ruled Nubt would likely be a good thing. If her claim of being in the know about Nubt from her time in the audience hall was true she’d be an asset. “I suppose not…”

  “Besides, Iry… I don’t want a political marriage. Don’t you think ours will be far more than that?” She raised my fingers to her lips and kissed them. “After yesterday…”

  “I want it to be,” I said fervently. The thought of being with a woman who actually desired me was intoxicating. I’d never even let myself dream of such a possibility. I’d expected to be forced into a marriage with someone like Heket. A woman I’d have to tolerate,
not love. But Matia and me… I couldn’t imagine a wife as wonderful.

  “Then let me help you rule.”

  “How?”

  “I understand Nubt and you won’t for years, if ever,” Matia replied. “There are four main elite families, all in competition with each other. Father complicated affairs because he married into all of them, and so all believe they should have an equal say in decisions that affect Nubt. I can deliver the support of my mother’s family. Pentu will pledge the support of his. Sabu’s will oppose you. That leaves Hetshet’s, and once I tell his uncle Maya that Sabu murdered Hetshet his family will come to your side too. I can make sure the elites are happy having you as their ruler. Without my support you’ll spend all your time trying to survive those vipers. You’ll always be dealing with petty feuds and looking over your shoulder for an assassin.”

  Matia’s argument was compelling. If I was to eventually press forward unification on our son’s behalf, if I was to solidify Tjeni’s influence in the northern sections of the valley, the South had to be stable. Matia claimed she could assure that. I had no reason to doubt her. There really wasn’t anything to think about. “I agree, Matia. I promise to take advantage of your advice and counsel.”

  “Then I’ll gladly marry you, Iry.”

  I’d never been so happy in my entire life. This time I initiated a kiss.

  “Now all we have to do is get our fathers to agree,” Matia said.

  “The elites who support my brothers would’ve been obstacles. But they won’t get a chance to object to the alliance before Father approves it. The terms are actually very simple. Your father to rule until he dies. Then me. Our son to eventually succeed Father.”

  “We’ll have to keep Sabu in the dark about your role, Iry. He’d do something foolish.”

  “Same with my brothers and our son. As far as Sabu, perhaps Father can promise him one of my sisters so he’ll think he’s still part of Nubt’s future.”

  A man’s low voice carried to us from among the boulders at the foot of the outcrop, followed by a girl’s squeals and giggles. Then a series of endearments. Very explicit endearments. Then animal-like sounds. I glanced at Matia. I wondered if she was as embarrassed as me. After a long while the individuals moved from the outcrop’s shadow into the moonlight, arms around each other’s waists, still pawing at each other.