cat of Bubastis, the sun-boat of the discredited god Amen-Re. Some were simple like the flail of kingship, perhaps, or the leg-shaped symbol of the Goddess Isis; or simpler still like a huge bronze arrowhead, painted red. Some were complex and beautiful: a reed-boat with a fisherman catching Nile perch; a flight of flying ibis, legs trailing. All of them were decorated with ribbons and flowers.
This wasn’t the whole army, of course. This was a representative selection of officers, come to hear what their King the lord Akhnaten wanted to say. They would relay his message to the armies camped outside on the hot plain surrounding Amarna.
My dearest love Kheperren was beside me, mostly hidden behind a massive bull’s hide shield studded with metal rivets. I was pleased at being under the canopy which had been erected for the King to rest under during the sed festival, for we were waiting for noon and the sun was already hot.
I was also very pleased to see him again. He was very weary. I had promised him a real wash in real water, a massage from Meryt, a splendid feast and a night spent making love—all his requests—but still he was grim and distant. I was worried that he was concerned about the lady Mutnodjme, but it did not seem to be that.
I had told him about her and he had kissed me—he tasted of sweat and copper from his helmet-strap, a very male taste—and bade me not to fear, he was assured of my love. He had yet to meet my lady Mutnodjme but I was sure that they would be friends.
‘Here is my General,’ he said in relief, and I saw the strong figure of Horemheb appear under the balcony beneath the King.
‘Why, where did you think he might be?’ I asked.
‘I thought he might be dead,’ replied Kheperren.
Clearly there was more to tell and just as clearly I could not ask it, so I held my peace. The King stretched out both hands and called ‘Soldiers of the Aten! I have a great task for you! The foes of Egypt are not inside her borders alone!’
The soldiers roared, ‘Show us your enemies, lord!’ and the King held out his arms again.
‘They are here, in the Black Land!’
He paused, and I saw helmeted heads turn to each other. What did he mean?
I looked at Horemheb. I had never seen a face so set. The General had aged well. He was strong and heavily muscled, with a broad chest and legs like columns. The long wig mingled with his own harsh black hair, which still bore many locks tipped with blue beads. His arms were heavy with arm rings given to him by Pharaoh, and his breastplate was almost covered with the golden flies awarded rarely and only for extreme bravery. My lord Akhnaten cried out again.
‘They are the followers of the name of the cursed so-called god, Amen-Re!’
The soldiers were silent. This did not seem to be something against which they could use sword or spear.
‘I will send you out, brave warriors of the Aten, to remove the trace of the name of Amen-Re from this Black Land! I will reward you, my brave ones, for every inscription defaced, every name removed, every text burned! Let the foes of Egypt tremble on the borders, they will not attack us while the Aten rules us! Hail to the Aten!’ he screamed, and stared straight up at the sun.
The soldiers roared approval.
‘Why do they cheer? This is no task for a soldier,’ I protested, very close to Kheperren’s ear.
‘This task is easier than fighting the vile Kush where every bush contains an enemy. This is more amusing than arriving, footsore and weary, at an oasis where the wells have been broken and the trees cut down by the shepherds, the Shasu. This is much less dangerous than crawling through the sand to attack the Apiru, where every dune has its asp,’ he said bitterly.
‘But who will guard the borders?’ I gasped.
‘The Aten, apparently,’ he said very quietly. ‘Let us hope that his god is heavily armed.’
Pharaoh Akhnaten lifted a huge basket and began to throw handfuls of small glittering objects into the mass of soldiers and they scrambled for them, breaking ranks. I flung up a hand and caught one.
‘What is it?’ asked the General, taking his eyes off the Window of Appearances. I opened my hand. I have never seen such a look of complete disgust on a human face. In