The Forgotten: Aten's Last Queen (36 page)

“I never wanted this.” He sighed.

“I know. Of course, I’ll come today. I’ll come every day.” I took his hand in mine. “I’ll do what I can to help you make sense of all of this.”

“Thank you.”

We looked out at the world hand in hand for a pause, letting the world take notice of us. Here stood two children about to be leaders of all men and women.

The sun boat had almost climbed to its peak, and our shadows were disappearing in its wake. The day was so pervasive with heat that even our shadows sought shelter from it beneath our feet. But I was used to Aten’s gaze. The heat did not bother me.

“These lands we pass,” Tutankhaten said, “I think I’ve seen new animals. Do you think they have always been there, or did Aten create them just now for our passing?”

“I think there is a lot we do not know. How could Father turn his back on so much?” I replied. “This will be a magical journey.”

“Ay told me there are pyramid-shaped monuments rising higher than Aten, Himself, can climb. I cannot believe such things. It sounds like blasphemy!”

“Are they monuments to Aten or Amun? We’re supposed to be saying Amun now, right?”

Tutankhaten sighed at my question, but his eyes quickly glowed again as he spoke about the monuments more. “They are tombs for the ancient pharaohs! They have stood for a thousand years! It makes me wonder if I can build something so amazing. Something to outlast time itself!”

I could tell the 9-year-old boy was speaking and not the pharaoh. This was where I would be needed, even though I was only four years older. “All that matters is that the gods do not forget our names. I do not think that means large building projects. Maybe it just means living in the hearts of our people. If we do them right, perhaps they will sing about our deeds for eternity.”

Tutankhaten paused at my words. “You are such a dreamer. It sounds nice, but I think gold will help me live forever. I will carve my name throughout the country!”

I laughed. “You are wrong, brother, for it is you who have always been the grand dreamer. I think you will do much good for our country and not just with gold. Though I think there is a need for rebuilding. Perhaps we could hire some of those people left behind in Akhenaten and help them back on their feet.”

“I like that. That is why I need you. Let’s throw away the titles. We will rule together side by side.”

“One step at a time, brother. I’m sure Ay would object.”

“Bah, he is an old man with old ideas.”

“Still, we should proceed with caution. Father’s new ideas brought about much discourse. Now we leave his legacy behind.”

“Then let it be our secret. We will both live as pharaoh. Side by side, this country will find glory again thanks to the pair of us.”

The lights on the water suddenly seemed to dance before us at his words. My heart leapt with excitement. I had a purpose again. I could help my people, including my daughter, who was now just a face in the crowds to me.

A hand dropped onto both Tutankhaten’s shoulder and mine. We looked up to see Ay. I shivered slightly at the thought of what he might have heard. He was the one rallying the temples behind us and building our support. Speaking ill of him could prove costly, blood relative or not.

“It is time for council. You can play husband and wife later, children,” Ay said. He must have heard something, pointedly reminding us of our age.

“Actually, my wife will be accompanying us. I think her insights could prove invaluable,” Tutankhaten said with authority in his tone. I had not heard his voice this way before.

Ay shook his head. “She sat in councils with your father. I am not sure her presence would be welcome. We do not want to revert to those now-unspeakable days. Her views are tainted.”

“On the contrary, Ay, I think my insights might help to lead us away from the path already traveled. Perhaps you would be interested in what I have to say? After all, Pharaoh would like to hear it, and his word
is
law,” I said. I smirked slightly. I could not help it. I was proud of finding the upper hand. There was more to me than just my past, and the past did not define me either.

I continued, “If I do recall, you were also at those meetings, Vizier.”

“I have lived much longer and have been a part of two pharaoh’s reigns. That is the big difference. I know what works and what does not. We will just see what you have learned.” He turned around, and we followed him underneath the mid-ship canopied seating area.

There were many new faces with us. As the newly self-appointed grand vizier, Ay had the power to appoint men to government offices, and during the past 70 days, he had quickly gathered together a fresh group of officials to launch this new kingship. Ay and Horemheb were, of course, still a part of the council. Mutbenret was there along with Ay’s wife, Tey. They were helping to coordinate our parade through the city and making sure to educate us on what we would see in Waset. I was happy to see that Amenemose had been retained. He would help direct the new jobs and organize the craftsmen. A new face, Maya, was installed as the Overseer of the Treasury. He was one of the younger men in the room. His face was oval in shape with narrow eyes, a bulbous nose, and small lips. His skin was olive in color, and his clothing was simple. I liked the look of him, coming to us without wearing half the nation’s gold around his neck and arms as so many of my father’s overseers had. I wondered where Ay had found this person. Then there was Pentu, former royal physician, who had become vizier of Lower Egypt. I could not make sense of that decision, but the appointment was final.

As my eyes circled the table, more new people were taking their seats. Usermontu was the vizier of Upper Egypt and Huy, Viceroy of Nubia, were present as well. Lastly were two men from the army that I had not met before other than in name, General Nakht-min and Officer Pa-ramessu. Pa-ramessu was a high-ranking solider in Horemheb’s favor. They would be a part of the military revitalization. Most of these men and women had been introduced to us at the beginning of our voyage, and since then I had had my servants quiz me on their names so I would remember. It truly seemed impossible that Ay could amass so many new governors, but I was sure he had planned Smenkhkare’s overthrow for some time.

Ay began, “There are many things which must be reestablished. Sekhmet still sits angry at being ignored. She cursed the lands with a plague not only in Akh… the City of Sorrows but around the entire country. We must avoid this at all costs at the onset of Pharaoh’s reign and leave her heavy honors. She should be one of the statues we appear before early in our visits. Of course, the
first
would be Amun. Waset was established through the Amun temples. We must make peace with the priests to assure a smooth transition for Pharaoh Tutankhaten.”

“Pharaoh, I would humbly like to introduce myself.” Usermontu said getting to his feet. His body language was nervous and stiff. “I am son of Maia, your appointed guardian, who has passed into the next life. I just wanted to say, it will be my honor to serve you.”

I had not heard of Maia’s death! Tutankhaten’s face visibly tightened, but overall, my brother was doing a good job keeping his emotions in check. I could not tell if Tutankhaten knew who Usermontu was before this or if he was merely reacting to a reminder of the woman he had once called Mother.

His voice was thin. “I have requested that your mother accompany us from my father’s city. I will have a tomb prepared for her. I look forward to seeing her again many years from now in the West. I hope this does not upset you or your family, for I considered her a part of mine.”

Usermontu bowed his head. “Oh no, Pharaoh! Blessings upon you for such kindness. We are honored. I know she would be happy.”

“It is the least I can do for her service. She stayed behind and distracted the guards while I escaped. If it were not for her, I would not have gotten out of the palace with my life. For it, she was killed by He Whom Is Forgotten.” Tutankhaten spat upon the ground at this mention. I could tell he was still pained. “For me, she… I owe her more gratitude than I can give in my single lifetime. So I will make sure she is remembered for a thousand lifetimes.”

I wished I had asked him about her absence.

“If we may forego this –” Ay began but was cut off by Tutankhaten.

“I want my father to rest in the Valley of the Kings. There should be time to accomplish this while we are at Waset. My sister, stepmother, and Maia are to have burial grounds in Saqqara. See to it before our arrival in Man-nefer.”

Ay huffed, “I doubt the citizens of Man-nefer would appreciate us burying members of your father’s court there. It is a city which is both ancient and beautiful. Impure souls may --”

Tutankhaten slapped the flat of his hand on the table in front of us. Everyone was silent for a breath. “They are not impure souls. They are our family. They supported their pharaoh as you support me. We cannot deny the role we have played in the past. We can ignore it, but we will not deny it. They will be buried in Saqqara. I will hear no more of this, or perhaps we forget who sitting here is the pharaoh?”

Ay bowed. The top of his balding head was red with anger, but he relented.

“After the Man-nefer coronation, I want all of my governors here to depart from us and report on the state of the country. My wife and I have much to learn. We have never been away from our birth city. Tell us what the people see in us as rulers. From what I have witnessed, they watch us with a wary eye.” Tutankhaten continued. “I want to know the greatest needs of our people. Do they want comfort, assurance, a strong hand to guide them? What do they expect from me?”

I was impressed with how he was taking control of the room. In the corner of my eye, I could see Horemheb smile slightly. I wondered if he had talked to Tutankhaten about these plans earlier in the day. It occurred to me that there might be a conflict of interest between him and Ay. While Tutankhaten kept his eye on the country, I would want to keep my eye on them.

The rest of the afternoon was spent discussing what to expect and how to act. We reviewed rituals and what was to be said during offerings. They made it sound as if everything would move through time with precision.

Again, men tried to control what they did not possess and attempted to make the lands bow before us. They worshipped gods but also thought themselves god-like.
We
were the ones in possession of the lands and the time that surrounded it, or so men thought it to be… or so men desired.

*****

Everything in Waset was enormous! The blocks themselves used in the buildings were larger than I had seen before. Akhenaten was able to be built quickly because of the size of the blocks used in its construction. A talatat could easily carried by one man, known as the stone of two-handed width, which accelerated construction of Father’s temples. Hundreds of men had quarried stone, dug ditches, and shifted the previously untamed sands into a suitable foundation. While this would seem a daunting task for most, Father had found a way to make it happen. Artists in vast numbers carved and painted scenes on walls while their children ground the paints and worked as an apprentice would, fetching water and replacing broken chisels. I could not imagine how much time it took to build at such a large scale as Waset was measured up to!

We were carried through the streets on a litter glowing gold. This way, Tutankhaten’s withered gait could be kept secret. We sat side-by-side carried by slaves who looked like they were too old to be doing such labor. They must have been at the palace since my grandfather’s time waiting for a pharaoh to return.

I noticed people here were thinner than those who had come from Akhenaten. I could see bones poking from underneath their skin. Their eyes were hollowing out. I doubted Tutankhaten would need to send emissaries out. I could see their needs clearly.

The crowds around us cheered and proclaimed Tutankhaten as their savior. Flowers were thrown and praises sung. It was a stark change from what we expected. Everywhere around us was cheerful chaos. I was used to a different chaos, not this type which was filled with excitement and song. The joy-filled noise was louder than the charge of an army. People shouted out thanks for driving out Isfet, the evil one who had left injustice and disorder in the city as well as tainting the citizen’s heart with darkness while this evil spirit had roamed the streets. At least, that was their belief. I had never heard of such a thing.

Could the gods, so wondrous and wise, be corrupted as easily as a man? I thought Seth and Apep were the only gods of chaos! Now I learned that Isfet was also a part of their baneful ranks. How much evil existed in the Afterlife, and was the Afterlife really so much better than this world?

Walking before us, a priest recited a poem, The Restoration of Ma’at, as we moved through the city streets congested with jubilation. Though Tutankhaten and I could hear him, I doubted the citizens could, so loud was their fervor.

Rejoice, all the land!

The good times have arrived
.

A lord, may he live, be robust and healthy, has appeared in all lands
.

Ma’at has returned to her place
.

All you just ones, come and behold
:

Ma’at has vanquished injustice
.

The evil ones have fallen on their faces
.

The greedy ones are all despised
.

The water stands and does not dry up
.

The inundation rises high
.

The days are long; the nights have hours
.

The moon appears at the right time
.

The gods are pacified and satisfied
.

One lives in laughter and wondering
.

Our procession led us to Ipet-isut where the Temple of Amun rested and where our father had dished out his harshest punishment against the god he most hated. Ay had assured us that this would be a civil meeting. A new high priest had been selected and would be a part of the coronation ritual.