House of Scorpion Read online

  “Yes.”

  “He definitely chose the better sister.”

  Confirmation that Iry had embraced the idea of sharing his life with me. He’d bought my performance as real. He’d advocate my position with Scorpion. Boldly, I rose up and kissed him again, long and passionately, to give him even more to think about.

  We encountered Sety not long after, near the oval court workshops. I assumed he’d been inspecting them. He was heading towards the river.

  “I’m glad I’ve run into you, Majesty,” Sety told me, bowing.

  “Iry’s been telling me stories about your family today, Sety. In fact, we just located Tiaa and Amenia’s kiln on the heights.”

  “Really?” Sety asked, intrigued.

  “Etching and all. I’ll take you to see it tomorrow,” Iry promised.

  “Wonderful! Majesty, do you have a moment?” Sety asked me. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  What could this stranger possibly have to tell me? That he was interested in me? He’d missed his chance. He was in line behind Iry now. “Of course.”

  We moved into the shadow cast by a stunted acacia tree where it was slightly cooler.

  Sety fingered the falcon-shaped talisman dangling around his neck. “In my family, we believe the falcon god cast this talisman from the sky in a fireball and led my ancestress Aya to it more than two millennia ago. We believe that ever since Aya’s time the talisman’s bearers have been guided by the god everyone in the valley now calls Horus.”

  “Iry told me.”

  “The falcon god occasionally sends a dream to the talisman’s bearer, a dream that comes true in every detail.”

  “Such as?”

  “Did you tell Matia about Tiaa confirming Kairy as Nekhen’s ruler?” Sety asked Iry.

  “I did. When we were touring the oval court.”

  “Tiaa grew up on the shores of a playa hundreds of miles south and west of here, hundreds of years ago,” Sety said. “When her grandfather died and she became the talisman bearer the falcon god sent her a dream. He showed her confirming a man as ruler on a ceremonial ground in front of thousands of people. When Tiaa had her dream she’d never been within a hundred miles of the river. She’d certainly never heard of a settlement named Nekhen. Shortly after she dreamed, a trader from the valley visited the playa – the first time that had happened in decades. Tiaa returned to the valley with him – a long story. They drifted past Nekhen on his boat. She immediately recognized it as the place in her dream. Years later, after many adventures, she returned. Not only did she confirm Kairy as ruler, she convinced the patriarchs of surrounding hamlets to pledge him fealty.”

  “Making him the first ruler of a region. Iry told me. An interesting story, Sety.” I shrugged. “What does it have to do with me?”

  “The falcon god sent me a dream many years ago, Majesty, the night I wore this talisman for the first time. He sent it again the night before I arrived here at Nekhen, the settlement sacred to Horus. My dream was exactly the same both times. It was about you.”

  I was startled. “Me? Why would Nekhen’s god send you a dream about me?”

  “Because you’re destined to play a vital role in the future of this valley, Majesty.”

  I tried not to laugh. Sety obviously believed what he was saying. But me? I was pledged to Baki, and Antef, and possibly Iry. All at the same time. I was a woman with a very uncertain future. How could I possibly play a vital role in anything?

  “The dream’s cryptic, Majesty. I was high over the valley. I could see every inch of the river from the cataract to the sea – every settlement, every hamlet, every farm. You were sitting with a child in your arms under a tree of solid gold, an obvious reference to Nubt, the golden settlement. But the tree was growing in front of King Scorpion’s per’aa in Tjeni.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I’ve been there dozens of times.”

  “I haven’t even once.”

  “Be that as it may, a root suddenly snaked from the tree, arrowing swiftly alongside the river, headed south from Tjeni. By the time it reached Nubt, half a dozen children had joined you beneath your tree, one at a time. The root continued on to Nekhen’s per’aa and planted itself. Then a grown man joined you. Roots without number immediately started shooting forth, north and south simultaneously, planting themselves in every settlement and hamlet that lined the river from the Far North to the Deep South. When the entire valley was entwined in the roots of your tree, with a great cry the falcon god swooped to a landing on the topmost branch, wearing the very talisman that dangles around my neck.”

  I had no idea what to think. Sety’s dream made no sense. A golden tree? Roots? Children? A god? “You’re sure this dream is about me?”

  “I recognized you the moment I saw you standing on the quay today,” Sety said with assurance.

  “That’s why you stared at me.”

  “Yes, Majesty. I couldn’t help myself.”

  At least he hadn’t stared because he desired me. “What does your dream mean?”

  “You with a child in your arms sitting under a golden tree in Tjeni? You’re going to have a child, Majesty, a child that will mingle the royal blood of Nubt and Tjeni. The children that appear as the first root travels to Nubt? They’re your descendants. The man from Nekhen? A king. He’ll marry one of your descendants. The roots spreading everywhere? The king will rule the entire valley with your descendant at his side. The falcon in the tree? Your line and my line are going to join once the valley’s united, Majesty. Our descendants will marry. The child of their union will rule the valley under the protection of the falcon god.”

  I felt equal parts overwhelmed and baffled. My descendant, ruling the valley? Me mingling the blood of Nubt and Tjeni when Nubt’s very existence was threatened by King Scorpion, thanks to Sabu? When I was pledged to Baki, a non-royal, who wasn’t in line for any throne? Or Antef if Sabu’s alliance held, a man as far from Tjeni as anyone could get? “Ridiculous.”

  “Maybe, Majesty. I can only tell you what I saw in my dream and that it’s about you.”

  “Frankly, Sety, no disrespect, but that dream could mean almost anything.”

  “Or Sety’s interpretation could be entirely correct,” Iry said. His eyes caught mine. “Especially after what we just discussed.”

  An alliance between Tjeni and Nubt. An alliance sealed with a marriage between me and Iry. Of course! Our child would mingle the royal blood of Nubt and Tjeni. Our child would be born into a family with the means to conquer the valley. Suddenly Sety’s dream didn’t seem so far-fetched.

  “Now even more reason for what we talked about, Matia,” Iry said.

  He was right. Before encountering Sety I’d been plotting with Iry to stop Sabu. Now it was entirely possible that Sabu was nothing more than an unimportant minor blip in the valley’s story. I, on the other hand, might have an important role to play in unifying the valley. If Sety’s dream was true. If Iry and I were able to forge an alliance between Nubt and Tjeni. If we were given to each other in marriage. If if if… I needed to be alone. Too many thoughts, too many possibilities, were crowding my head. I needed to mull over everything I’d learned today, slowly, bit by bit. I needed to take some time and try to make sense of it all. I needed to escape these two men. “Thank you for telling me, Sety. I’ll think about what you said. But it’s late and I must attend Father. Goodbye for now, Iry, Sety.”

  “Goodbye, Majesty.” Sety bowed.

  “Goodbye, Matia,” Iry said. “We’ll talk again. Tomorrow?”

  When we’d both have reactions to a possible alliance to share with each other. And a night to consider Sety’s dream. “Yes. Tomorrow, Iry.”

  I hurried east on the wadi path. First things first – as intriguing as my encounter with Sety had been I had an immediate problem to deal with. I assumed Father was in Khab’s per’aa. I had to go to him and report what Sabu was up to. Scorpion would soon know, thanks to Iry. Father needed to be aware that Nubt was
truly in imminent danger. He also needed to know I’d planted a seed that might grow into a way for Nubt to survive Sabu’s treachery – reinforced, unexpectedly, by Sety’s dream. Whether the dream truly meant what Sety claimed wasn’t even relevant – the fact it fit into a strategy Iry and I had devised to stop Sabu was enough. I was furious with Sabu. He’d put me in a horrible position. I didn’t doubt that after I reported him to Father he’d brand me a liar, probably demand that I be punished. Sabu might even murder me the way he’d murdered Hetshet. By revealing Iry’s and my discussion of an alliance I’d be making it that much easier for Sabu to stop it. But I had to risk the consequences of telling Father everything, as Iry’s ancestress Abar had done. I had to put my loyalty to Nubt ahead of fear for myself. I had to stop Sabu.

  But the closer I drew to the per’aa the less wise that course of action seemed. The more I thought about what I needed to do, the more I sensed that Father was the wrong person to tell. He wouldn’t believe me. He’d take Sabu’s side. He wouldn’t do anything. But one man would. Maybe. Pentu. He was the power behind Father’s throne. He was the man who actually looked out for Nubt’s welfare. Father relied on Pentu for advice in his audience hall – in fact, except for the most routine decisions, Father always parroted what Pentu advised him to do. If anyone could figure out how to take full advantage of everything I’d set in motion to keep Sabu from launching a senseless war it was Pentu.

  By chance, I spotted him far ahead of me, striding the narrow path through the cultivation towards Father’s boat. A lucky break – neither Sabu nor Father would see me with him and question what we’d been discussing. Abandoning propriety, I hiked my skirt to my knees and ran after him as fast as I could, my feet kicking up dust on the path. A few farmers working their fields adjacent to the path looked up at my passing. I caught Pentu a dozen yards from the boats lining the river, pulled up beside him after a long run, panting, sweating. “We need to talk, Pentu,” I gasped.

  “Majesty?”

  “Where we won’t be seen or overheard.”

  He glanced over his shoulder towards Nekhen, then at the boats, then said “follow me.” He led me to the riverbank and then a little north to an isolated grove of willow trees. He pushed through the thin drooping branches. I seated myself with my back against a wide gnarled trunk, still breathing hard, sweat dripping down the sides of my face. Pentu seated himself facing me. We were screened from sight in the gathering darkness, though we could glimpse the river and fields as the breeze swayed the branches. And see anyone who happened to approach.

  “What’s so important we need to talk in secret, Majesty?”

  “I was on the heights a little while ago, Pentu. I overheard Sabu and Antef, King Ny-Hor’s son, arranging an alliance.”

  “Alliance?” He immediately tensed.

  “Against King Scorpion.”

  “Are you certain you heard correctly?” Pentu was skeptical. As expected.

  “Antef is to block all river traffic from reaching Tjeni, provoking Scorpion to take his army north. Once Tjeni’s defenseless, Sabu will attack. Afterwards, Sabu will sit the combined thrones of Nubt and Tjeni. Antef will rule the delta.”

  “Boys posturing, Majesty,” Pentu said dismissively. “Exaggerating their importance to impress each other. That’s what competing kings’ sons do. Don’t give what they said a second thought.” He started to rise.

  Pentu didn’t believe me. If I couldn’t convince him Nubt was lost. “Sabu’s going to marry King Ny-Hor’s daughter, Satiah. He promised Nebetah to King Ny-Hor. He promised me to Antef.”

  Pentu sat heavily. “But you’re pledged to Baki!” he protested. “Sabu’s pledged to Nofret!” At last. Incensed. But only because of his self-interest. Without me and Sabu married to his children he’d have no influence over Nubt’s throne.

  “They weren’t posturing, Pentu,” I insisted. “They committed to each other. Antef’s going to feel out his father. Sabu’s going to approach other rulers while we’re at Nekhen. Sabu’s deadly serious.”

  Pentu’s eyes said he finally believed me. “Thank the gods you overheard,” he said fervently.

  “There’s more, and it’s bad. I wasn’t alone, Pentu. I was with Iry.”

  “King Scorpion’s youngest son?”

  “He heard everything Sabu said. Scorpion will soon know everything I just told you if he doesn’t already.”

  “What were you doing alone with Iry?” Pentu didn’t look pleased.

  “He came along when Heket gave we royal daughters a tour of Nekhen. He first claimed Scorpion had ordered him to watch over his younger sisters. Later he confessed he just wanted to see Nekhen. I think Scorpion intends for Iry to rule Nekhen some day.”

  “Iry told you this?”

  “No. But I inferred it, from many different things he said during the tour. I’ll explain later. To answer your question, I was alone with Iry because when Heket led everyone back to Nekhen he stayed on the heights to search for an ancient kiln. I volunteered to help him. I thought it an excellent opportunity to find out what Scorpion might be up to. I thought maybe Iry would let something slip. He did.”

  “It was fortunate you had presence of mind enough to stay with him, Majesty,” Pentu admitted. “Otherwise, Scorpion would know what Sabu’s up to and we wouldn’t.” He sighed deeply. “How did Iry react to your brother’s conspiracy?”

  “He told me he’s going to report everything he heard to Scorpion.”

  “Naturally. It’s his duty.”

  “But he promised he’d try to talk Scorpion into staying his hand and out of attacking Nubt.”

  “Why would Iry do that?”

  “I convinced him, Pentu. Right after I made him believe I’ve fallen for him.”

  “You did what!” Pentu’s brow furrowed. He was instantly angry. As I’d expect the father of my future husband to be.

  “At first, after we met, I flirted with Iry, hoping he’d let down his guard and tell me about his father’s ambitions in the valley. He did, a little. After he overheard Sabu I knew I needed to turn Iry from an enemy into an advocate for Nubt. So I did.”

  “An advocate?”

  “If I was Scorpion, and I learned about Sabu’s alliance, I’d immediately return to Tjeni and launch an attack on Nubt. We’d be crushed. So I assured Iry that Father was a man of peace. I begged Iry to talk Scorpion into staying his hand until we had a chance to deal with Sabu ourselves. Then I kissed Iry, to make him believe I had feelings for him, that I couldn’t stand the thought of a war driving us apart.”

  Pentu’s eyes narrowed. “Were you truly acting, Majesty? Or are you actually attracted to Iry?”

  “Don’t insult me, Pentu. Falling for a boy I’ve never met before in an hour? What kind of girl do you think I am?” I shook my head. “It worked, too. I prompted Iry to propose the obvious solution to our problem.”

  “An alliance between Nubt and Tjeni?”

  “You saw it instantly, Pentu. So did I. But it took some doing on my part to make Iry suggest it.”

  “Why didn’t you simply tell him?”

  “How would you have reacted to a girl’s suggestion, Pentu?”

  He chuckled. “I see your point. At any rate, I have a starting point for negotiations with Scorpion.”

  “We have a starting point,” I corrected.

  “You’ve done enough, Majesty. Leave the rest to me.”

  “No, Pentu. You wouldn’t even know Nubt’s in danger if not for me. You need my help. I can communicate directly with Scorpion through Iry. You can’t.”

  Pentu looked at me as if he’d truly seen me for the first time. “Impressive, Majesty. You have enough diplomatic skill to outmaneuver an enemy. And enough logic to convince me.”

  “I do my best, Pentu.”

  “Wielding skills and logic you’ve learned while observing in your father’s audience hall?”

  “I pay attention, Pentu. Which Father and Sabu never notice. Neither did Hetshet.”

  �
��I’ve noticed, Majesty. I watch you attend carefully to every decision your father makes while taking pains to seem like nothing more than a serving girl.”

  “You mean, decisions you make.”

  He smiled.

  “I’m surprised you pay attention to me, Pentu.”

  “There’s little that goes on in Nubt that I don’t know about. Especially if it concerns you, Majesty.” He smiled again. “Harwa’s farm, for example.”

  I had a sudden awful feeling in the pit of my stomach. My face grew hot. “How long have you known?”

  “Since your first visit.”

  So much for taking pains to keep my escapades secret. “Why haven’t you stopped me?”

  “Why needlessly crush your spirit, Majesty? You asked what kind of girl I think you are? I know exactly. There’s no harm in you escaping chores that a common servant should be doing, and instead roaming the countryside and seeing how people really live.” Pentu let out a long sigh, his face suddenly serious. “You were right to come to me, Majesty. Your father wouldn’t have the slightest idea how to negotiate with Scorpion. He’d get so wrapped up in defending Sabu he’d be useless.”

  “If Father’s so incompetent, why did you put him on the throne?”

  “Because he’s malleable. Because he’s never had an independent thought his entire life.”

  “Enabling you to rule Nubt from the shadows.”

  “Yes. It works better that way.”

  “So now… what?”

  “Spend as much time as you can with Iry the next few days, Majesty. Make sure he’s totally convinced you’re interested in him. Do whatever you have to. Get him to tell you how Scorpion reacted to Sabu’s treachery and what he might be planning to do. Assure Iry I’m committed to using you and him as a conduit between our two kings to maintain the peace.”

  “What about Baki?”

  “I’ll tell him I’ve ordered you to probe Iry for information. I’ll make sure he doesn’t ruin things by playing the jealous lover.”

  “Baki jealous? His heart’s set on Nebetah, Pentu, not me. I’m too much for Baki to handle. He told Sabu so. He said he prefers my submissive half-sister to me. Sabu promised her to him as soon as he takes the throne.”