The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen (52 page)

Around us, workers stood ready to assemble the timber shrines. When completed, the doors of the shrine would open toward the west. So once his ka opened the doors, the king would emerge in the land of the gods and would step into the Eternal West.

As we walked out into the first chamber, I noticed my gift to him had been placed inside. It was a wood shrine covered in gold sheets. Inside it was another golden image of my Tutankhamun. The gold exterior winked at me by reflected sunlight bouncing off the work mirrors. The tomb workmen would use these mirrors to harness what light was left to the world and finish filling the tomb with his possessions before night fell. By then, demons roamed the places where death slept, and they would be long gone.

My eyes lingered upon multiple images in the style of my father’s city which decorated this gift. The shrine was covered with pictures of our life together. There were hunting scenes, of course, and a flower reception, worshipping images, even one of Tutankhamun pouring out perfume onto my hands. I remembered that day well. We had been married for five years then. He had anointed me as his co-ruler. We were in the middle of a festival, I could not remember which, but he wanted me to sit equally by his side. Kings did not have to be anointed with perfume, but other officials did before they could appear before the gods. So before we had entered the banquet, he had prepared me for my appearance. He had placed my necklace, my crown, my bracelets upon me, and then poured out jasmine oil from far India upon me. I still remembered the calming, comforting scent of it. Even though Ay refused to let us make the announcement of our co-rule, we knew it in our hearts. It was just like Tutankhamun had said on our first voyage together as we left Akhenaten behind, we would keep the secret to ourselves. It was a touching and simple thing, helping me prepare and presenting me before the gods in prayer. What husband bowed down to his wife as a servant for one entire night?

As the waters of sorrow began to cloud my eyes, I stopped my exit from the tomb and opened the doors of the shrine. There once again was my husband forever shaped in gold. I smiled at him, at his image, and removed the wreath of mourning from around my neck. Stepping one sandal at a time inside the shrine, I placed the wreath over his head.

“Forgive me, Meret.”

Fingers wrapped around my arm and pulled softly. I looked to see Horemheb. I nodded and stepped out. My free hand closed one door, and Horemheb’s hand pushed shut the other. He escorted me out.

As I stepped away from the tomb, my heart filled with anger. Horemheb had not released his grip on me. He was forcing me away from my husband. Was he so eager to set his own plans in motion for the throne that I could not have one more drop of time before my beloved?

“Ay told me he did not murder my husband.” I hissed at him.

“He did not.” His response was clipped. He stared ahead as he walked me over to my place in the procession, which was readying to head back to the waterfront.

“That leaves only one other person that I can think of.”

“Yes.
You
,” he replied, his voice sharp like a dagger that he was trying to plunge into my heart.

I scoffed at such an absurd retort. It was a vicious lash at me. What gave him such boldness?

“I was not with him on the battlefield, General. You insisted on accompanying this raid even though you had been serving in court for years. You stepped out of that role, but for this attack, your final military raid, he died. How dare you speak to me in such a way --”

Horemheb jerked me to a stop and looked into my eyes. “You were not there, but it was you that killed him. You struck the first blow.”

I shook my head, unable to comprehend his words. They made no sense. He was grasping in the dark, speaking blindly. I jerked my arm out of his grasp and walked over to the group preparing to depart.

“You are a fool!” I spat back over my shoulder.

Horemheb’s strides were long, and he leaned in to me as he caught up. His breath smelled heavily of beer as he spoke. “He heard of it. Your actions. Don’t play innocent about you and your lover. You are the one that killed him. You.”

My feet stopped their forward progression. I turned around and looked towards the tomb that would soon be sealed. Men were busy dragging and carrying things in. Commotion was abundant, but their eyes… I could see their eyes. They were lost, vacant. There was no emotion to what was happening right now.

No one cared anymore. My husband died, and they shed no tears. The wails of mourning had been fake, and no real cries had taken its place. There were so many dry eyes around me. Horemheb seemed the only other one truly moved by this day. He was the only one still with tears in his eyes. Even mine had grown dry.

I looked up into his eyes, which were lit up with anger. It was more brilliant and terrifying than the sun boat.

“I loved Pharaoh.” It was all I could say. What else was there? I had been caught. I would not deny that I had loved another.

“Not enough.” He finished. Then he stepped away from me and left me alone.

My selfishness had caused all this. Me.

Chapter Seven

According to the Design of My Heart

1324 B.C. – Seventh year of Tutankhamun’s reign

One of the first people brought to my court was the man who tried to kill me.

After Tutankhamun had left, Horemheb circled me like a vulture. I hoped he meant well, but there was something about his gaze that intimidated me. He did not look on me like someone who was there to help would. For me, his eyes were outlined with suspicion.

I would not wear the king’s crown. It did not feel right. The one time it was placed on my head, I saw an image of my sister, Mayati, and had it taken away. I wore my circlet for court business. And while I did not mount the crown atop my head, I did clutch the crook and flail within my gold-tipped fingers. I wanted to at least attract their attention to the fact that I was the power to answer to in my husband’s stead.

On my first day of administering over law issues, a gangly youth was thrown at the foot of the stairs rising up to the throne on which I sat. His hair was clumped and looked streaked with blood. His face appeared to have been washed in dirt. His clothes were ratty and colored in plain shades of brown. His feet were calloused and bare. He was brought in by two Nubian guards with Ay strolling close behind. Hanging down from Ay’s neck and resting in the middle of his chest lay the golden pendant of Ma’at. It was a pendant that all law officials wore. Now I saw how Horemheb was planning to keep him busy.

“Your highness, we have found the trader who conspired to murder you in your mother’s tomb.” Ay said. He sounded scratchy and hoarse as if his own voice was fighting with him.

“What proof do you bring with you today?” Horemheb asked. He stood at my left. To my right was Tia. She held a perfumed ostrich-feather fan and was keeping me cool with it. I felt guilty making her toil so, but it was felt to be an honor serving as a fan bearer to royalty in public. It showed my trust in the person who stood beside me.

In response to Horemheb, Ay held up a small lute. “He is a snake charmer.”

“Surely you have more than that? There are many men who entertain on the streets with such magic,” Horemheb retorted.

“He is also a worshipper of Aten. He proclaims to be a faithful servant of this God and says he is doing His bidding.”

My emotions hardened into a lump, which stuck in the middle of my throat like too large a bite of bread. “What do you mean, doing His bidding? Explain.”

Ay kicked the boy in the ribs. He fell over onto his side and gasped for breath.

“He cannot speak very well if you kick the wind out of him, Vizier,” I remarked with a glare at Ay.

The boy quickly found his breath and spoke quickly. “I proclaim that Aten is the rightful God to this land, and one day He will return and smite all those who have turned against Him. You turn your back on Him, and so you and your husband must be killed. Aten will return as ruler of all!”

There were jeers throughout the onlookers. People spat at the boy.

“And He has spoken to you?” I asked, my heart slowed almost to a stop.

He sat up to face me, but the guard on his left swiftly kicked him in the back. He collapsed onto the tiles face first with a crack. I looked away as he pulled his shirt up to his nose. It quickly was soaked in red.

“I know what He wishes.” The boy spoke through his linen shirt. “In my dreams, I see your death. I see the sun rising brighter than before. I see the lands rejoicing.”

I looked down at the gold tips on my fingers, my calm becoming overpowered by sadness. The lands rejoicing at my death? A God had once spoken to me in a dream. I could not bear to think that this is what was being said to other people. Had I misinterpreted my past dream?

“Surely he is not alone,” Horemheb cut in. “We must find this group and get them off the streets. They poison the lands with their voices.”

“He was alone when we found him in an abandoned house. I will make sure the grounds are searched thoroughly,” Ay said.

Horemheb leaned closely to me and spoke in my ear. His breath was warm and smelled of meat. “He should be put to death. I would avoid placing him before the Court of Examination. The people do not need to hear that Aten still has followers in the city. Send him away and have him executed.”

“Has he admitted to releasing the snake on me?” I asked him quietly, “And perhaps we could find more people associated with his cult if we did put him before the court.”

“Majesty, this is the most capital of offenses. I know what your husband would do. He would make this man suffer for trying to take your life. It is best that he was brought before you. Perhaps you can give him a merciful death, end this quickly. The people do not need to hear more of his talk.”

“The people have already heard it! He is not alone! Many people gather for worship in homes. Aten worshippers could be everywhere, General. Is it really wise to kill him now before we could get further information from him?”

“He is not likely to give us his compatriots. If they all die, then the movement dies with them. He will protect them with his life. I have seen this type before, Queen.” His words were clipped.

“Any witness he would bring before the court to testify on his innocence would likely be another follower of Aten. We could gain much by further –”

Horemheb’s voice was becoming urgent as he cut me off. “It is pointless to drag this out. News will spread much faster if this man is not dealt with now.”

My heart spun with a flurry of thoughts. I still did not understand why this boy would want to kill me. My family established worship of the Aten. Now my husband and I were being blamed for abandoning the worship? The
people
had cried out for more. I had to give them more. This was not about
me
. Or was there something in my heart Aten knew that I did not?

Aten… the thought built up within me. The thought of His name felt safe and secure. I missed that feeling.

“What is your name?” I asked the boy.

He looked up, his body quivering. His eyes were rounded wide in fright. His face looked as old as mine though more blotched and lined from the years working outside. He had the body frame of a farmer. His nose was so swollen that its size had doubled.

“My name?” He asked it as if he had forgotten, as if it was something new to him.

“Yes, your name. I would like to know your name.”

“Khety, your grace.”

“Khety, why would you want to kill me? What would my death gain for you and your followers?”

Ay stepped forward. “This is nonsense. Queen, he has been found and confessed to attempted murder of the pharaoh’s chief wife. For that, he must be put to death.”

I could feel heat coursing up and down my body at his intrusion. I held his gaze as I spoke. “I guess I am not as decisive at doling out executions as you seem to be, so I apologize for asking such nonsensical questions. I believe I have the right to face the man who attempted my murder and ask him why. He has not confirmed his guilt to me, only that he follows Aten. Even if I were dead, a pharaoh is always crowned under Amun’s name. My death would change nothing. I am trying to make sense of the facts before me. So before you let your mouth rush away from you, I ask that you consider who you are speaking to. Now please depart this chamber so I can avoid further interruptions.”

Ay silently bowed and strode quickly from the room. I could see the top of his head redden as he broke through the doorway.

“I ask you, Khety, what would my death accomplish? Your motives do not make sense.”

The boy stammered for a moment. Then he shook his head fiercely and did not answer.

“He’s a stupid boy, Highness.” Horemheb said loudly. Some in the crowd laughed at his remark.

I got up and stepped down to where he lay. The guards stepped around me and pointed their spears toward the boy. The tips were poised barely a hair’s width from his flesh, ready to strike should he move. Slowly, I crouched down.

“I will ask again, why did you want to kill me?”

The boy whispered, and I could only just make out the words. “Please be sure my family gets the extra rations as promised.”

I kept silent, waiting for more. After a pause, he continued.

“Your vizier said my family would be spared if I confessed. Please, I accept any punishment you give, but spare my family. We have suffered greatly these last two harvests.”

I stood up quickly and walked back to the throne. I knew what this meant, but I could not speak aloud my thoughts without them getting back to the source. I would have to keep Ay under surveillance and speak with Tutankhamun when he returned.

“He will be beheaded. Make sure the blade is sharpened and clean. He has confessed his crime and asked for forgiveness. His heart has been released from this burden. If anyone takes arms against his family, they will be punished in the same manner. He acted alone.”

I could hear a wail from the crowds gathered outside. A family member I assumed.

“Say your goodbyes. The guards will take you to your home. You have until the sun boat is at its peak, and then your sentence will be carried out.”