The Amarnan Kings, Book 4: Scarab - Ay by Overton Max

Author:Overton, Max [Overton, Max]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Writers Exchange E-Publishing
Published: 2012-04-25T16:00:00+00:00

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Chapter Twenty-Two

The Shechite camp displayed every aspect of chaos in the first light of day. Forty or more sprawling tents were scattered haphazardly across the hard-packed clay pan, the goat hide sides flapping in the stiff breeze that blew across the site, lifting sand grains and dust in a stinging tide that swept around the legs of the inhabitants. Hundreds of goats wandered through the camp, browsing on every scrap of green that struggled for existence in the dry environment, and groups of boys wandered among them, guiding and sorting them with shouts and sticks into herds in preparation for the day's foraging. The middle of the open pan was the busiest, where a low circular stone wall marked the only regular source of water for three days in any direction--the Well of Sharn.

Women gathered around the well in the morning light, drawing up leather buckets of water and pouring the precious fluid into pottery jars. They gossiped too, discussing everything, but this morning mainly the arrival of the woman marked by the gods and her two companions. Nobody would say anything to her face, but most of the womenfolk hoped that she would move on soon. Her god-marked eye made them shudder and the fascination the men had with her was disquieting. She had behaved with propriety so far, but that could change. The sooner she was gone, the happier would be the Shechite women.

The men of the tribe spent the early mornings in contemplation of the coming day and their anticipated part in it. They huddled around the fires in front of their tents and sipped a hot, honey-sweetened brew of Kath made from leaves gathered in the less arid parts of the desert. On this particular morning, their attention centred on the chief's tent where he and the elders of the tribe talked with the Kemetu woman and her companions.

Scarab sat cross-legged in front of the fire, her robes tucked in tightly to ward off the stinging wind. Her hands held a pottery bowl that steamed slightly as she sipped, listening to the words of the chief. Khu and Nebhotep sat off to one side, nursing cups of hot water. Khu had nearly caused weapons to be drawn the day before when he was offered a drink of Kath and had spat it out. The physician had drunk it but was more concerned now with its possible medicinal qualities. It was euphoric and sharpened the mind wonderfully, which made him wonder about other possible uses. He drank plain water to keep Khu company while he listened to the chief and his elders discuss their futures.

"We are goat herders, not warriors, Scarab," the chief said. "We survive by staying out in the deep desert rather than contesting for the richer lands." He held up a hand as Scarab opened her mouth to speak. "We are poor and try not to attract the attention of the powerful, yet since you arrived, the eyes of the Two Kingdoms lie upon us.

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