Egypt

23

The next morning we set out into the Upper City, accompanied by Simut’s and the Hittite guards. The ambassador and Nakht conferred together, while Simut and I concentrated on making sure nothing went wrong, as we made our way through hostile crowds of Hittite men. Finally we reached a wide limestonepaved street between two large complexes of buildings. Two monumental pylons built of enormous blocks of stone faced each other, flanked by sentry rooms. This was the entrance to the Sanctuary of the Storm God.

At a gesture to the guards from the ambassador, we were allowed to pass under the pylons, into the sudden cool of the shadows. We came out into an open area, with offices and narrow storage rooms full of large jars on either side on the ground level, and stairs leading up to more offices on the upper floor. This in turn gave way to an enormous paved courtyard, within which the temple itself stood.

Whereas our temples are ancient, and every surface of their massive structures is covered with hieroglyphs and reliefs, here the decoration and carving in the stone friezes was sparse and basic, and portrayed the Hittite Gods, who were of modest stature. They wore pointed hats with little horns attached, and slippers curled up at the toes, and carried axes-but this was not my image of a powerful God of Storms. All around us, Hittite priests, dressed in the strangest clothes-long robes, shoes with upturned toes and skullcaps-and carrying staffs that curved upwards in spirals, went about their business, with a pomp not unlike that of our own priests.

‘On the northern side is the House of Purification, where all worshippers must wash themselves before entering the temple itself. The King enters through the nearby gate, crosses the courtyard, purifies his hands, and then enters the shrine to enact the rites,’ said Hattusa.

‘Fascinating. May we enter?’ asked Nakht, his eyes glittering with curiosity.

‘Not into the shrine itself, of course. But come with me…’

Hattusa led us around to a portico, and we passed through that into an inner courtyard. In front of us were two doorways set into decorated stone walls. Priests coming and going looked askance at us, disconcerted by our presence in their sacred temple.

‘This is as near as I can allow you to the sanctuaries themselves,’ said Hattusa quietly. ‘Any closer, and we would commit an act of desecration. But in the right-hand room stands the statue of Arinna, the Sun Goddess, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Queen of the Land of Hatti. And in the left, that of the Storm God. Unlike your sacred shrines, which are dark, ours are full of light. Each sanctuary has many windows. Our Gods are everywhere. Every rock, every tree, every spring in our land has its God, and here in this temple we serve and worship the greatest of them. And we provide them with food offerings of perfect cleanness, and entertainment. “Are the desires of Gods and men different? In no way! Do their natures differ? In no way!”’ he declaimed.

I had the strange sensation that Hattusa was talking slightly nervously to pass the time, as if waiting for something to happen. And then something did. From out of the archway of the Temple of the Sun Goddess emerged a foreign woman of astounding beauty, her head covered with a magnificently embroidered cloth. She was followed by a small retinue of young women. Instantly, Hattusa sank to his knees, his head bowed, and we followed suit.

She spoke to him in the Hittite language. She then turned to gaze imperiously at Nakht. Her face was ravishing but also full of elegant sorrow. She was Babylonian. Hattusa introduced her formally as Queen Tawananna of the Hittites-but she politely interrupted him, and spoke in competent, beautifully accented Egyptian directly to Nakht. I was sure now that this was an ‘arranged’ meeting.

‘Wise old Hattusa, why have you not brought this nobleman into my presence before? One hears so much about the Egyptian Royal Envoy Nakht.’

Nakht bowed.

‘And I of Your Highness. It is an honour to be in your presence. The Gods have smiled upon us,’ he said.

‘May they continue to do so,’ she replied.

They regarded each other for a moment, and I saw Hattusa looking at both of them, as if waiting for a play to begin.

‘Shall we walk together a little way?’ he suggested. They both inclined their heads to offer their assent, and our little group moved back across the huge courtyard. The women kept careful vigil around the Queen. Although there were many priests and servants going about their business, the open air made for a safe place to converse in private for Nakht and the Queen.

‘By chance, I was here to perform the rites and to consult the oracles,’ she said.

‘And may I ask: were the oracles favourable?’ Nakht said.

Queen Tawananna spoke more quietly now.

‘Both favourable and unfavourable.’

‘May I know more?’ asked Nakht. ‘What exactly did they foretell?’

‘Negative influences threaten our well-being. There is a shadow. The shadow is angry. The shadow is among us. The sky is dark now, without a moon. But good magic may defeat him. Good magic may reconcile old friends. A large star is predicted in the heavens on a favourable night of blessings.’

Nakht seemed to take this seriously.

‘The Gods have spoken. We heed their warnings,’ he said.

After a little silence, the Queen spoke again, as if she did not wish this meeting to end yet.

‘How is my sister, the Queen Ankhesenamun? I think of her often, and wish her well.’

‘Life, prosperity, health to the Queen, she is well. I have been honoured to offer you her expressions of love. She desires your well-being. She desires you to know she is your friend in all things, at all times.’

The Hittite Queen listened carefully.

‘I have need of her friendship. I am a stranger in a strange land. I am Queen here, but there are some, even close, who are not friends.’

‘We are aware of them,’ said Nakht.

She glanced at him, relieved.

‘The oracle speaks of a shadow. I am afraid of the dark,’ she added.

‘May the Gods protect you,’ he said. ‘We hope to draw the shadow into the light.’

‘I am glad to hear it. Send my love to my sister. I will do all I can to help her in her quest. And I hope the same from her.’

‘The Queen’s gratitude and loyalty to her sister will be boundless,’ offered Nakht and he bowed.

Without looking back, the Hittite Queen and her retinue crossed the courtyard and entered a covered carriage, which jolted away through the gatehouse into the streets, accompanied by a running guard. There was a moment’s silence. Hattusa looked at Nakht.

‘May all go well, brother,’ said Hattusa, as if in response to the strange conversation.

‘I have hope,’ said Nakht, gazing into the distance where the Queen’s carriage was disappearing. ‘Truly, may the Gods protect her.’

Hattusa nodded.

‘We have done all we can for now. I will accompany you to your quarters, to prepare for the Festival of Haste. And then I must go to my prayers in the sanctuary.’

‘No need,’ said Nakht. ‘Stay here for your prayers. Our quarters are near by, and I have my guards with me.’

Hattusa nodded reluctantly.

‘Very well. But take every precaution. The Crown Prince has his allies in the city, and everyone will by now be aware of the nature of our business. We cannot be too careful. The Chief Steward has insisted he accompanies you personally to the Festival of Haste. He will call for you in good time. I will find you there. No doubt you will enjoy the entertainments. There are horse races, foot races, mock battles and the like…’

‘There is nothing I like better than a mock battle,’ said Nakht, politely, and he bowed to Hattusa, who then hurried away into the crowds of the temple.

‘We find ourselves in a fascinating situation,’ said Nakht quietly to Simut and me as we began the walk back down the countless stone steps of the way.

‘The Queen is very much in favour of our proposal, and in sympathy with our own Queen. She understands the value of peace between our empires, and she supports the King in his wish to conclude a treaty. But she finds herself in a difficult position. Both of the older Hittite Princes have their eyes on the succession, but they know that following the traditions of the land, when the King dies, the Queen will inherit his authority for the term of her life. And so she is afraid…’

‘Of assassination?’ I said.

‘Exactly. She needs allies at home and abroad, in order to support her authority, and to protect herself in the event of the King’s death. And she needs the Princes’ powers to be curbed, as much as possible.’

‘So her help comes at a price?’ I asked. ‘She will further our proposal if we commit to supporting her?’

‘Yes. But, of course, it is a very good deal,’ he replied. ‘Our interests match exactly, and she is a far more useful ally on the throne of Hatti than any of the Princes.’

‘But then neither of the older Princes would agree to return to Egypt with us, would they?’ I asked.

‘They would have no choice, if their father ordered it. And to sit on the throne of Egypt is no small thing,’ he replied.

‘I cannot imagine the Crown Prince acquiescing to that. No matter what his father said. And if I may speak personally, I would not relish the prospect of his presence in the Egyptian royal court,’ I offered.

‘I think we may be sure that the second eldest, Telepinu, is the most likely candidate,’ answered Nakht.

We walked on for a little.

‘What was all that about the oracle?’ I said quietly.

‘I understood her meaning,’ he replied.

‘You mean about the shadow?’

He nodded.

‘Have you seen that man again?’ he asked.

‘No,’ I replied. ‘But I find I cannot shake off the feeling that someone is watching us.’

He nodded.

‘I agree. We must take every precaution. Aziru is here biding his time. Things are going quite well. But we are not home yet.’