Disclaimer: Usual routine. Mummies Alive is property of DIC Entertainment. I will probably make references to the book Shadow Hawk by Andre Norton in this chapter and chapters to follow. No copyright infringement is intended. Rhett belongs to Cyrus and Rathera is Rathera's character, and a great big thank you goes out to them for letting me use their characters in this story. This story is not part of the normal MA fic-verse, which is kind of obvious if you take note of the way I fiddle with some character histories to make them fit the story better. Also, don't look for accurate historical facts in this fic. If there's something I don't know, I make it up.
Warning: This story contains mature themes not suitable for young children. So, if you have a problem with the portrayal (either directly stated or implied) of sex, blood, murder, violence, incest, and homosexuality then go find something else to read. I really don't care about the ages of whoever reads this because I feel that if you think you can handle it, then you can read it. However, I wouldn't want to be accused of warping the minds of young children and/or destroying their faith in their favorite characters, so take note of the fact that you have been warned.
Time Note: This chapter takes place over a period of several months.
Scarab Saga - Chapter 3: Nubia
Standing beside the throne of King Teti, Seneb glared out at the Egyptian diplomatic party, wearing an air of superiority about himself. Flames leaped up from the central firepit, crackling and snapping. Crimson shadows danced across Seneb's dark skin. As if warding off a chill, Seneb pulled his leopard skin mantle, a sign of the priesthood, more tightly about his shoulders.
The pale, lank Egyptian knelt before the throne, making a speech to Teti. Seneb paid no attention to the Egyptian's words, having heard such pretty little speeches before. The Egyptian was honored to meet the king of Nubia; seeing Nubia had given the Egyptian's life its crown; he hoped peace could be brought between the two nations. Pah! Couldn't these fool ambassadors show a little more imagination?
Grateful that he need not listen to the Egyptian, Seneb let his eyes wander over the most unusual member of the group. Seneb's gaze traveled appreciatively up and down the dark-haired woman's body. Perhaps she was meant to be a tribute. In that case, because of a simple twist of fate, Seneb knew that Teti would be enjoying the woman instead of himself. When in private, Seneb tended to rail against the cruel destiny that allowed Teti to be firstborn and therefore king, while Seneb must languish in the priesthood.
With a start, Seneb realized that the woman, obviously aware of his eyes upon her, was staring back at him. Seneb flashed the woman a quick smile, his pearly teeth bright against his dark skin. The woman merely eased aside her cloak, revealing a dagger hilt. Startled, Seneb averted his eyes; no offering was this! Seneb realized that should Teti try to approach this woman, he would be in for an unpleasant surprise.
Seneb turned his attention away from the woman as Teti began speaking. Good. This whole pointless ceremony was almost done with. Teti would thank the Egyptian for his compliments and then have the whole company escorted to their quarters. Unless requested otherwise, the soldiers would be placed in the barracks. The ambassador, woman, and servant would be given rooms within the palace. Sure enough, Teti offered no surprises as he split up the Egyptian party.
Once the Egyptians were gone, Teti turned to Seneb. "Well, brother," he asked. "What do you think?"
Seneb shrugged, not wanting to reveal his thoughts to the king. "I believe, Majesty, that they are as any other foreigners come to Nubia." With a wave of his hand, Teti dismissed Seneb from his presence, and Seneb rushed to his quarters. He'd sensed something unusual in the foreigners, but could not say what. He needed to find a way to get closer to the Egyptian party and learn what motives had truly brought them to Nubia.
*~*~*~*~*
Rathera kept close to Scarab as the Nubian servant led them to their rooms. She was trying to keep her emotions under control, but hiding her anger was difficult. How dare that Nubian stare at her so? She was no piece of meat to be ogled at by these Nubian dogs!
As if sensing her frustration, Scarab laid a calming hand on Rathera's shoulder. "Steady, beloved sister," Scarab murmured. With a brief smile and a nod, Rathera showed she understood Scarab's unspoken warning. Making enemies in a country where they were the minority would surely be their deaths.
Rathera watched with an amused smile as Nubian servants rushed hither and thither to prepare a room for her. She'd enjoyed seeing the courtiers' faces when she'd been by Scarab's side through the meeting with King Teti. No one had expected a woman to be part of the diplomatic party. She wondered if Scarab would cook up an explanation for her presence or if he would just let Rahotep and his men spread word of what had happened during the Bwedanii attack. Most likely the latter, Rathera decided, though Scarab would tell her his plans at the earliest convenient moment. First, though, they would have to persuade any spies around to turn their attention elsewhere.
With a start, Rathera realized she was thinking like Scarab. He was the one who should be figuring out the next move, not her! Rathera's job was simply to go along with Scarab's cover story and deliver their child. Gods! She hated being in such a passive position.
Pulling back the doorway curtain to what would be his room, Scarab motioned both Rathera and Rhett inside. As Rathera slid by Scarab, she brushed up against him, enjoying the seemingly accidental contact. As the curtain swished back into place, the contact stopped being quite so accidental as Scarab drew Rathera into his arms. Rathera laid her cheek against Scarab's bare chest, listening to the steady calming beat of his heart.
Scarab slid his slender fingers under Rathera's chin and coaxed her gently into looking up. Rathera stared into Scarab's face, feeling herself drowning in his deep blue gaze. She started to seek out Scarab's lips with her own, but the sound of Rhett clearing his throat reminded them both that now was not the time for tender moments.
Silent rage smoldered in Rathera's breast. Were she and Scarab to be denied all time to each other? She watched as all tenderness left Scarab and he began stalking about the room, fingers flicking quickly in a spell. The casting of subtle magic teased at Rathera's senses. She watched as Scarab stroked the walls as if trying to persuade them to give up their secrets. He brushed his reed-thin fingers through bright linen hangings. With a sudden snap of his wrist, the magic flared up momentarily and then faded. "For the moment, we are safe from eavesdroppers," Scarab announced, stroking the head of his golden serpent-shaped staff.
Heka blinked and came to life, curling sinuously in her master's arms. Rathera paid no attention to the snake, never once taking her eyes off of Scarab as he began pacing back and forth in the confines of the room with barely contained energy, almost like a loping gazelle. Rathera schooled her expression into one of blank neutrality, not wanting Scarab to lose his train of thought. Privately, though, she was amused. She'd seen Scarab like this before and knew that he found this sort of constant movement conducive to thought.
Scarab, Rathera had learned, had two telltale signs of deep thought. Often he would get so still that only the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest showed that he still lived. If Scarab was getting ready to lecture, though, he became a bundle of energy. Few ever saw this side of Scarab, but Rathera knew it well from her lessons.
Suddenly Scarab stopped, his eyes gleaming bright with fervor. "The plan," he began, "is simply to stall." Rathera nodded, expecting as much. What she wanted from Scarab, though, were details. Pausing to organize his thoughts, Scarab spoke again. "I shall, of course, work at the negotiations. I should be able to draw them out long enough.
"Rhett," Scarab snapped, starting to assume the air of a general commanding his troops. Startled, Rhett pointed to himself, seeking confirmation. Scarab nodded. "You will pass messages between myself and the body guards, as well as bring me any scrap of information you get hold of. I need as many eyes and ears in this place as possible."
Heka started to make a snide comment to the young servant, but Rathera reached out and clamped the snake's mouth shut. Interrupting Scarab while he was planning would be an idiotic move. Rathera noted that thus far Scarab seemed to be getting a feel for the situation. Once he managed to put together a rudimentary spy network, his plans would become more elaborate. Now, though, the first few strands of Scarab's web were going into place.
When Scarab's attention turned back to Rathera, she reached out and took his hand. A tremor passed through Rathera at Scarab's touch. "My love," Scarab murmured, his manner softening. "You have a difficult role to play. You will be presented as my apprentice, yet you must add a touch of mourning to your posture for a time. We will claim that you were married, but that your husband has gone before Ma'at to be judged." Rathera nodded, accepting the story that would be her truth for their stay in Nubia.
"Lord Scarab!" A small shaven-headed young boy peered into the room. Skittish at having three sets of eyes upon him, the boy started to take a step back. "Lord Scarab," the boy repeated. "The lady's room is ready." Casting a last longing look back at Scarab, Rathera followed the boy to her quarters.
*~*~*~*~*
Clutching his coin purse tightly, Arakh braved the Semna marketplace with young Nefer by his side. On either side of the men, merchants proclaimed the wonders of their wares for all the world to hear. Arakh grimaced and tried to ignore the noise and jostling crowds. They'd been in Nubia for almost a month and Arakh was starting to feel stifled in the city. He was a soldier and a hunter, not some fool house-dweller. All this sitting around was driving him up the wall! He hoped some thief would be fool enough to try to cut his purse just so that he would have a chance to retaliate.
Reaching out, Nefer gave Arakh's arm a friendly squeeze. Arakh tensed under the unexpected pressure, and managed not to slap the boy's hand away. "You don't like this either, do you?" Nefer asked. Arakh merely grunted a noncommital response.
"We're men of action," Arakh mumbled, stopping to drop a coin into the hand of an old woman selling beer, the milk of Hathor. In a single deft motion, the woman pocketed the coin and scooped up a dipperful of the dark, foamy brew. Arakh drank deeply, savoring the flavor, and then passed the dipper back to the woman.
With a manly belch, Arakh continued on through the market. "Ammut devour these Nubians!" he cursed. "Why must it be so hard to find a damnable scribe? You'd think that there'd be one on every street corner, eager to take our money and do nothing more than write a single letter in return!"
Arakh's ramblings were interrupted by a soft, servile voice from behind. "Pardon, good masters, but I could not help but overhear that you are in need of a scribe." Coming to a halt, Arakh and Nefer spun to face the eavesdropper, fingering their weapons lightly.
The tall, skinny Nubian priest made no move as the Egyptians watched him. Nefer was the first to pull his hand away from his bronze-bladed dagger as he recognized the priest. Arakh snorted as he followed the boy's example. "I know you," Arakh said, turning the simple statement into an accusation.
The lanky priest inclined his head in acknowledgment, the pale tattoos on his scalp seeming to writhe with every moment. "Good master is correct," the priest nodded, bowing his head down so that he stood lower than Arakh. "Dedun has blessed me with the honor of standing at King Teti's side." Arakh nodded, impressed with the way that the priest gave himself and Nefer proper deference, though the mention of the Nubian god left him feeling a slight chill.
'A soldier's superstitions, that is all,' Arakh told himself.
*~*~*~*~*
Nubian guards smiled and nodded their heads in greeting as Rhett made his way to Rahotep's quarters. Rhett's yellow eyes lit with amusement as he remembered the first time he'd come down this way to see Rahotep. These self-same guards had tried to deny him access. After Rahotep had given his men a stern talking to, Rhett was always welcome. How welcome, though, these men would never know.
Rahotep glanced up from a series of maps, a look of open delight brightening his face. "Rhett, my wandering heart," Rahotep exclaimed. "You came!" The captain embraced Rhett like an old friend, though they'd only known each other for a few months now. The kiss that followed was decidedly more familiar.
Rhett slipped his hands through Rahotep's open robes and began stroking the captain's chest. Rhett still pined for Armon, but Rahotep was just as special. Around Rahotep, Rhett did not have to hide his feelings. Rahotep understood! Somehow, that made all the difference in the world.
Rahotep's gaze turned suddenly serious and Rhett felt the pit fall out of the bottom of his stomach. 'Trouble,' that look said. 'Big trouble.' Rhett surpressed a sigh. He wasn't built for the political game, and yet here he was right in the middle of it. The Sight rose up within him, and Rhett promptly shut it off. Whatever it was, he didn't want to know. All Rhett wanted was this day, this moment, for his very own without worry of the rest of the world intruding.
"You and your master must be careful, Rhett," Rahotep murmured as he nuzzled the Seer's neck. So what else was new? Years in Amenhotep's court had taught Scarab caution, and Rhett had been learning. "Seneb has been asking questions," Rahotep continued. Rhett blinked in utter surprise. That was it? Rahotep was frightened for him because Teti's precious pet priest had been "asking questions?"
Incredulity must have shown plainly on Rhett's face, for Rahotep sighed. "Do not underestimate Seneb, Rhett. He is more powerful than a mere priest, for he is also King Teti's brother." For the second time in less than a minute, Rhett found himself blinking in surprise. This time his jaw also unhinged and fell open.
"This is unexpected," Rhett croaked when he at last found his voice. Rhett's opinion of Teti rose a few notches. Men talked to priests, said more than they would have to others. No one wanted to get on the wrong side of the gods. Seneb made a perfect spy.
The Sight rose up again and swallowed Rhett. He flashed not on the future, but the past. A bodiless observer to the scene stretched out before him, Rhett did the only thing he could do and paid attention to the montage of sights and sounds.
A bedchamber... Darkness... The grating of stone against stone... Stirring on the bed... Someone awakened? The flash of a knife blade... Shouts, screams... Feet pounding the floor... The would-be assassin... King Teti... Men rushing to help and Seneb at the doorway, his face twisted with hate.
"Gods," Rhett breathed as he returned to the present, shivering in Rahotep's arms. Now he knew and understood. Seneb was a dangerous man, and his methods were unnatural. Rhett would never forget the sight of the assassin, not a man, though it moved like one, but a burial statue... A Shabtie.
*~*~*~*~*
(The end of chapter 3. Next chapter, look for the birth of Scarab and
Rathera's child. [Thanks again for letting me write this, Rathera!], new
alliances, and the beginning of the end for Rapses. And I do mean the
beginning since this story still has a span of approximately 8 years left
to cover.)