Aligning an Alliance

CHAPTER 2

Aligning an Alliance

In Kush, the Deep South

Viceroy Kashti looked at each man sitting around the table one by one. He was trying to assess the reactions to his announcement. His daughter stood to the side of her father’s seat, head down, avoiding looking at any of the military men.

He noted the controlled scowl on General Piya’s face. Piya had hinted strongly over the years about his oldest son being an excellent match for Kashti’s daughter, Carmiya, as they had grown up. But the Viceroy knew that Carmiya was more useful as a pawn in the great Egyptian chess game. He admired his general’s forcefulness in promoting an idea, though.

If Kashti had been blessed with a second daughter, the two men could have become family. There was nothing like the bond of matrimony and ensuing children to cement allegiances. It was angering that his only fruitful wife had died in childbirth with his only child, a girl at that. Fate decreed that the girl would be useful nonetheless. His other wives had produced no progeny; they were all barren!

“Sir…” Captain Ursis interrupted his Viceroy’s private thoughts. He waited for his superior to look at him. "I want to be the first to say how excellent this marriage will be! How very wise this decision is for gaining an ally…”

Kashti’s raised hand ended what could have been another lengthy show of subservience. Still, it never ceased to please the viceroy when his underlings praised him. Ursis was rewarded with a smile. The sting of the interruption vanished.

“Since I hear no dissenting voices, I will explain further this plan of alliance,” the tall, bearded supreme leader of the Kush said. He felt the keen interest from his men to hear more.

“May the gods bless my daughter with many children!” Kashti intoned a short prayer. “Because I have no other progeny, the agreement of marital bonding includes the term that the firstborn son between Carmiya and Prince Tashelot will be mine.”

Carmiya’s head lifted with a jerk. Her large brown eyes expressed shock. I did not want to marry a Ma! I did not want to leave my home! I will know no one in my husband’s country. And now I have to give up a child?! Her head lowered so her father would not see any trace of the fear and anger that was in her private thoughts.

“May the gods bless this marriage!” The men shouted in open relief.

Increased rumors had whispered among the military as year after year had passed with no son from Viceroy Kashti. There had been one man, General Piya, who had had opposing prayers. He had several sons. If Carmiya had happened to have an unfortunate accident then whom else would ascend into the leadership but one of his sons.

The Viceroy raised his sword in the Kush’s salute of steel. Piya raised his sword with the other men, but he mirrored the same shock as Kashti’s daughter had. Just for very different reasons.

Viceroy Kashti smirked. Did Piya really think that he had no idea of his treachery? Check mate, my friend! That game was over.

The Viceroy had won.

In Meshwesh, the Far North

“I’m not sure how I feel about this marriage, father, ” Prince Tashelot answered King Osorkon’s question. He shrugged his shoulders and continued, “She’s pretty, but she’s so quiet!”

Several months ago the two factions had had a major meeting down south. The Prince of the Ma, Lord Tashelot, had come so he could see what his potential future bride looked like. He was not dissuaded by Carmiya’s petite stature with plenty of curves and big brown eyes in a fairy like face.

But he was still very disappointed that he was not going to get to marry Princess Alara of the Hyksos. She was a vibrant personality with wavy blonde hair and ice blue eyes that had mesmerized the prince instantly. He sighed with longing when his thoughts strayed to that lovely picture in his mind. It was no use to mention her again.

It was Osorkon’s turn to give a similar shrug of his shoulders. His hand waved off that negativity.

“With a bit of determination you can bring her out of her shell,” the King encouraged. “Just look at her father! Wouldn’t you be suppressed by that man?! So stern of face and blunt of speech. I didn’t see him even glance at his daughter once during the entire discussion of engagement. And the poor girl never knew her mother. Maybe she’s never known affection. Use patience. How could she not love our people!”

King Osorkon smiled warmly. His people might be raucous at times and not have the cultured ways of the Hyksos or the stiff, exacting military way of the Kush but they were the happiest people of Egypt. They were proud of their love of the earth and all that it held. From the herbs to the quality animals they bred to the blacksmiths that worked with the best ores. And they sure knew how to enjoy a festival!

A chuckle started in Osorkon’s chest as he imagined that little girl’s image loosening up with the proper help.

“Just get some of our magnificent wines and beer in her belly and who knows if she’ll be up dancing around the campfire! You might be surprised,” Tashelot’s father winked and slapped him on the shoulders.

Tashelot sighed for a second time when he thought of all the preparations he would have to oversee for this wedding.

“But there’s so much to get ready for, too! Planning meals, getting our finest grapes barreled and bottled…is there even time for that?!” he complained.

Sometimes his son could be too dramatic. He got that from his mother, poor boy.

“Let’s not start talking about eloping again! We’d have the whole of our people angry with us for ducking out of the best event of the decade!!” King Osorkon put on a mockingly stern face, deliberately reminiscent of Viceroy Kashti.

“Aheeeem, Lords…” said Elder Nimshenq as he stepped forward. “May I remind you how competently I have handled past preparations. You may relax, Prince Tashelot. I have already begun setting up help from our people. We will be having a series of contests so that all of Egypt may be involved in this most important of events! Even the Hyksos royalty has agreed to allow their people to engage.”

Both father and son turned to stare with shock at the tall, thin man’s last statement.

“Have you lost your mind, Elder?!” King Tutimaos had turned down his daughter’s hand in marriage to the Meshwesh’s son, Lord Tashelot. “Are you trying to get us in a war?!”

“I sent felicitations and the most beautiful of our flowers to Princess Alara along with the request. I am hurt by your lack of faith in my wisdom, ” the Elder retorted with confidence. He laced his hands behind him as he added, “Do you think the Hyksos nation’s economy would thrive without our tools, fine cattle, pigs and other livestock, not to mention our ability in herbiculture to help stave off diseases?”

“Hmmm, true words, “ Osorkon agreed.

He smirked after noting how much his Elder’s pose was like the straight spears in a Kush soldier’s hand. Sometimes he wondered if his elder was purely Meshwesh. His mother was definitely from the Ma, but maybe she had dabbled with the enemy…

“Alright,I do concede that you have acted wisely, Great Elder. It will be interesting to see which faction comes up with the best meals and herbs for this feast.”

Tashelot was relieved and smiling. “Thanks Nimshenq! I’ll leave the planning to you!” And he was out the door, glad that this conversation was over and he could continue on his merry way until the marriage. All that sowing of wild seeds would shortly come to an end.

In the Hyksos Palace, in Central Egypt

“Yes, please have these notices painted and printed by our finest artists and calligraphists!” Princess Alara instructed Elder Dudimos as she handed the fine drawing to him. Colorful blooms drawn in graphite and painted with pastel watercolors adorned the papyrus. The princess was an accomplished artist.

Elder Dudimos took the scroll and gave a bow in respect to his princess.

It was probably a good thing that the young lady knew nothing of her father’s rebuff to an offer of wedded bliss with the Meshwesh prince over a year ago. She was destined for greatness as the next leader of the Hyksos. Majesty would befit her. He strode off the balcony and out the door just as King Tutimaos the III strode in.

“Making plans for your Blooms of the Year contest, my Dear?” the king amiably inquired of his daughter.

He would not spoil her excitement with the uncomfortable reality that this wedding was supposed to be with her as the bride. Declining a bonding that the Meshwesh king had asked for had been common sense.

“I gave my drawings to the elder, father!”

Her sweet smile warmed his heart. So like her mother, that beautiful radiance was, he thought with a pang in his heart. He stopped to stand next to her on the balcony.

“You possess such a giving heart, my daughter. Never change. To treat our enemies with such goodness is rare,” the king replied and touched her face gently with his palm.

The sun was setting in a brilliant display of fading azure skies, pink and peach colored cirrus cloud wisps framing the horizon.

I must begin searching for a man of strength, wisdom and intelligence for Alara, he contemplated. Someone who would treasure her as much he did. Perhaps a young male nobility from his relatives still back in their ancient homeland. He knew his kin were deep in a battle with neighbors of late. They would understand the hard realities of life better than this daughter who had been raised in comfort.