CHAPTER 12

 

Hattie awakened the next morning stiff and sore, but strangely at peace. She opened her eyes slowly. Senemut was gone. She seemed to remember him whispering something about keeping watch outside once the sun rose.

The bathtub was still in place. She arose from the bed and splashed some water on her face, then reached into a trunk for a fresh gown. She was struggling to fasten it when Senemut entered without ceremony.

He took in the scene at a glance and strode to her side. “Let me help you, Hattie.” Swiftly, he fastened the gown over her left shoulder. “Did you sleep well?”

“Aye, I did.” Hattie blushed. “Thank you for your help last night, and for saving my life. I fear I gave you poor recompense.”

Senemut reached out and touched her cheek lightly with his fingertips. “You were most merciful on the battlefield yesterday. Your soldiers can speak of nothing else.”

“It was certainly the least I could do, considering I sent them into the slaughter,” she mumbled.

“Aye, well, that is the nature of battle.” He shrugged. “Are you ready? Snefru has been holding the leader of the Nubians, as you requested. Will you sentence him now?”

Hattie sighed. “Aye. Of course. Bring him to my tent.”

Senemut left, and shortly returned. Snefru followed close at his heels, dragging a nearly naked Nubian warrior behind him, trussed up in shackles like a runaway slave.

“Majesty…” Snefru cuffed the prisoner and forced him to his knees. “This…this jackal is the leader of the rebels. What is Your Majesty’s pleasure? Shall I have the royal archers put him to death? Or mayhap Your Majesty would like to return him home to Egypt, and hang him by his heels outside the palace walls for all to see what becomes of those who rise up against pharaoh.”

“Be silent.” She waved her hand at Snefru, and then turned her attention to the prisoner. “You, there, what is your name?”

The man raised his head. Bruises covered his dark face; one eye had swollen almost shut. Cuts and scrapes covered his muscular torso, and a long gash ran the length of one forearm. Obviously, he had personally led his soldiers into combat. She saw fear shining from his eyes, but also a great deal of pride. He clenched his jaw tightly shut and said nothing, flexing his strong arms against the chains that bound him.

“Remove his chains,” she ordered quietly.

“But, Majesty—” Snefru began. She cut him short with a glance and he hastened to do her bidding, though he threw more than one critical look over his shoulder. As soon as he was free, the Nubian rose to his feet and massaged his chafed wrists. He did not respond to Hattie’s question.

“Come, now. I will see you come to no harm. What is the danger in telling me your name?”

He raised his eyes to hers briefly. “My name is Piye, Royal One. I am chief of the Nubian bowmen, and commander of the army.”

“Thank you, Piye. I am Hatshepsut, queen regent of Egypt. Do you know that your country is a vassal state of Egypt, and bound to obey her rule?”

“Aye, Royal One,” he ground out from between clenched teeth. “We are your slaves and your property.”

“Nonsense. You are under the protection of Egypt—an arrangement that can be mutually beneficial.”

“It has not been so thus far,” he muttered, shaking his head.

“Then we will have to change that.” She clapped her hands for her scribe.

“What does Your Majesty have in mind?” Snefru asked, suspicion evident in his narrowed eyes.

Hattie beckoned the scribe to take a seat. “I will offer a treaty to the Nubians. They will remain loyal subjects, in return for which, I will promise them trading and other benefits.”

This was too much for Snefru to stomach. “But, Majesty!” he cried. “They are Egypt’s vassals! You need not promise them anything. It is their duty to obey.”

Senemut leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I fear Snefru is right. If you treat them kindly, they will take advantage of it. You must be firm.”

“I intend to be firm,” she retorted. “But I also intend to be fair. I would rather have Nubia as my ally than my enemy. A friend will guard you from assault, but an enemy will stab you in the back.”

Senemut shook his head, but subsided into silence. Piye glanced at her, surprise written across his strong features.

“I will ask you to sign this papyrus, Piye, promising that you and your people will be loyal subjects of Egypt. You will obey our laws, and send your annual tribute as required. You will not rebel against us. Your signature will be your sacred oath.” She held up her hand to stop the prisoner from speaking. “In return, I will promise you that none of your countrymen will be harmed if they obey our laws. Egypt will trade frequently with your country. In addition, we will send soldiers to your assistance if it is required, just as you will assist us when necessary. Do you agree?”

Piye’s jaw dropped. “Royal One, I…I know not what to say. Forgive me, but pharaohs have never dealt with us thus.”

“You have never dealt with me before. Come, give me your answer—will you be Egypt’s enemy or Egypt’s ally?” Hattie stared at him, chin held high.

“Ally, Royal One,” the man at last responded in a whisper. “Ally! I will serve Your Majesty until the day I die.”

* * *

Hapuseneb stared at Snefru in openmouthed horror. “He what?”

“Aye, you heard me aright,” Snefru said bitterly. “That commoner Senemut saved Hatshepsut’s life, dispatching the Nubian soldier who was directed to kill her. And Senemut received barely a scratch in the process.”

“Ast! Senemut should be dragged into the desert and left to die! He is a scourge upon Egypt.” Hapuseneb slumped heavily onto a stool. “And that woman must be protected by Horus himself.”

“Horus or no, we must do something before she brings Egypt down…and us with it.” Snefru glared at Hapuseneb. “Not only did Senemut save her life, but somehow—I know not through what magic or spell—he convinced her to offer a treaty to the Nubians instead of punishing them as they deserve.”

“A treaty?” Hapuseneb’s stomach plunged sickeningly. His beloved Egypt would be brought to ruin in Hatshepsut’s foolish hands. “What will become of Egypt under the rule of that woman? With Senemut at her side, she will destroy us all, leaving Egypt’s bones to be picked over by the scavengers. We must stop her!”

“Aye, we must. Have you other ideas?”

“Give me time, give me time…” Hapuseneb steepled his hands and tapped his index fingers together. Then the glimmering of an idea appeared in his desperately searching mind. It was preposterous, but it just might work. “Aye! I have it! I know how we will bring her down. It is risky, but it will work—it must! Here is what we will do…”

Snefru leaned his dark head close to Hapuseneb’s shaved one, and they murmured together until dawn broke in the eastern sky.