Chapter 11: Deception and Intrigue

The meaning of Pharaoh’s dream and portent found no agreement from the assembled priests. Indeed, they even argued over the meanings of the signs and portents sent by their own gods and how they all might fit together. It was obvious to Osiphirah, Pharaoh’s Vizier, that they all were eyeing the first priest of Amon-ra, trying to protect themselves from appearing to be in opposition to Nephura. From Osiphirah’s perspective, the priesthood of Amon-ra was being warned by the gods not to interfere with what was happening. However, as the debate proceeded, it seemed that somehow, the omens were always turned to the advantage of the priesthood of Amon-ra. “Those vultures are too arrogant and self-serving to be true priests,” he muttered to himself, thinking of Nephura, the First Priest, more than the priesthood in general.

His scribe signaling him from the west alcove, off of the Hall of Audiences, caught Osiphirah's gaze. He turned and leaned over to the ear of Pharaoh and said, "Sostris has arrived, O Divine One."

Seti stood and struck the floor with the butt of his staff once, silencing the debate. “I will retire for a while. Continue your deliberations in my absence and have an answer for me when I return,” he said. Turning, he went out through the west alcove to his private audience room. Osiphirah stayed behind on the dais to remind the priests of their duty to Pharaoh.

Sostris bowed with exaggerated reverence as Seti entered the room. The chamber was reserved for private conferences and was situated off of the west side of the main hall. There were heavy tapestries on the wall and the floor was covered with rugs, which both added to the richness of the room and quieted the sound, enhancing the sense of privacy. The tapestries depicted scenes from Seti’s recent conquest of the Shasu, an eastern Bedouin tribe who had threatened the trade routes through the Sinai desert. They made an impressive backdrop to the Pharaoh’s confidential discussions. Sostris reined in his anticipation as Seti seated himself and called for wine. After the steward brought the wine and two cups, the Pharaoh sent him away, leaving him alone with the First Priest.

“How is your new temple? Have they completed the final touches?” Seti said.

“Yes, they have just completed the work, O Divine One," Sostris replied. "Satis is most pleased with the efforts of Pharaoh on her behalf.”

“Good,” Seti said and then was quiet for some time. After what seemed like an eternity to Sostris he simply said, “An interesting day, is it not?”

Sostris knew Seti well, having spent a good deal of time with him over the last twenty years, long before his father Ramses’ ascension to supreme power. He understood that the Pharaoh was prone to severe understatement and translated his remark as saying, “Heaven-shaking events are happening, are they not?” He decided to join in the downplaying the circumstances until he discovered what Pharaoh was up to and replied, “Indeed. How may I be of service to my Pharaoh?”

“I hear my daughter bathed this morning in the section of the Nile that flows past Memphis to the west,” Seti said. “It is also said that she found a gift from the gods. Do you have an opinion on this situation?”

Noticing how much the Pharaoh left out of his statement Sostris answered, “We have studied the matter, Divine One.” He removed the papyrus from his scribe case and started to speak but Pharaoh motioned him to come near.

When he was close enough Seti whispered, “The walls have ears today.” He turned his head and motioned to a shadow barely visible on the floor of the alcove. Then in a normal voice he said, “The room is getting warm. I will walk for a while in my garden while the priests deliberate. Bring the wine.” He turned and left.

Sostris returned the papyrus to the case and picked up the tray holding the wine and two goblets. He followed Seti through the corridors out into a large walled garden. His feelings were now mixed. He was relieved and honored to find that Pharaoh wanted to confide in him in so important a matter, but he was concerned where this might lead. His absence from the assembly exposed him and Sostris did not want to give the priesthood of Amon-ra an excuse to oppose him. As they passed the two guards at the garden’s entrance, Seti told them he did not want to be disturbed.

Pharaoh motioned him to a seat by the fishpond, under a shaded canopy. No one could approach within earshot without being seen. They had complete privacy -- a rare event in the court of Pharaoh.

“Pour us some wine,” Seti said.

“Should I taste it for my Pharaoh?” Sostris asked.

“A wise, but I think unnecessary precaution. Do so if it pleases you,” Seti replied.

As Sostris raised the cup to his lips, his heart skipped a beat as he thought how unfortunate it would be to die at this moment, when so many signs pointed toward the possibility of momentous events just ahead. The strong wine went down without incident, however, and he passed the cup to Pharaoh with a bow. Seti nodded at the container and Sostris poured a second cup for himself.

Seti turned and faced him, looking him squarely in the eye. “Pity he isn’t a younger man,” Sostris thought, “There is the coolness and strength of granite in those eyes. Egypt needs a strong ruler with a long reign after all the turmoil surrounding the fall of the last dynasty. His family's reign was barely four inundations in the making as his father died after only two years on the throne.”

Finally Seti spoke. “I want to hear about my daughter’s dream.”

Surprised that he hadn’t first asked about the child, Sostris told him the content of Asati’s night dream and also about her vision in the temple of Satis. He did not elaborate or attempt to interpret either one, but let the images make their own impact.

Without reacting to what Sostris described, Seti said, “Did you also have omens?”

"Yes we did, Divine One," Sostris said. Being careful to sound neutral while he tried to gage Pharaoh's sentiment, he related the morning's events at the temple. "My servant, while going out to fetch water before daybreak, saw a falling star descending from the eastern sky, which appeared to hit the Nile to west." He noticed an ever so slight tightening of the Pharaoh's jaw at that information. "We also had two falcons land on the temple gates as they were opened. They remained there for over an hour before your daughter arrived and we began the mid-morning devotions."

As Pharaoh sat quietly for a few moments, Sostris could see a warrior's mind working behind Seti’s eyes. For him, each omen or sign was a combatant on the battlefield, influencing the flow of the engagement: a bowman here, a chariot there. Sostris saw other possible players, possible spies working for various factions behind the scenes.

After what seemed like an interminable length of time Seti simply said, “I also had a dream and an omen. They seem straightforward to me,” he added, “but my assembled priests couldn’t find an interpretation if the gods wrote it out and handed them the papyrus.”

“So,” Sostris thought, “he now seeks to compare the meaning of his dream to his daughter’s. He is right in sensing that the signs are the most important consideration at this point. Dynasties rose and fell in the signs and if the child himself turns out to be a sign, then that meaning can be dealt with at the proper time.”

Bowing slightly he said to Seti, “May I humbly hear the Pharaoh’s dream?”

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