Chapter One hundred and twenty two: Thebes
“Hurry up,” said Ana. “We must get to Akhetaten before the monsters.” She ran along the path that skirted the cataract and Kiya followed.
When the camp was in sight, Ana called out something and a man emerged from one of the tents. His face lit with joy when he saw the Princess. He gave a mighty shout. Men hurried from the tents and others ran from the scrub, where they had been tending the horses.
Kiya stood back as the soldiers knelt before Ana and she spoke to them in Cretan. Urgently the Princess pointed towards Nubia. They men looked shocked and swiftly rose to their feet and stood to attention. At a word of command from Ana, they ran to fetch the horses and prepare the chariots.
She called one of them back and spoke to him. He bowed low and placed a hand over his heart. Ana turned to Kiya. “I have asked him to fetch us food, but we will have to eat quickly for there is no time to lose.”
While the horses were being harnessed to the chariots, bread and beer were brought to Kiya. Food had never tasted so good, for it was a long time since she had last eaten. But Kiya was in no mood for enjoyment, she kept her eyes fixed to the sky as she ate. Flocks of birds flew overhead, all heading away from Nubia.
“Something terrible must be pursuing them,” said Ana. The Princess gulped down her beer and, still eating the bread, she ran to join her men.
Soon the line of chariots was ready. Ana mounted the leading one and Kiya leapt up beside her. Two soldiers took their places behind. At a shouted command from the Princess, the chariots started to move, gathering pace as they travelled down the road. The horses were fresh from their pasturing and were soon galloping so swiftly that Kiya had to cling tightly to keep her foothold on the bucking chariot.
They were approaching Kiya’s farm when a shadow passed over them. Kiya glanced up and saw, with a chill of fear, that it was the winged snake, heading for Thebes.
Even from a distance, Kiya could see the destruction as the monster attacked the city. Blasts of burning breath ignited the houses and lit the snake in a fiery glow as it twisted and coiled above the blaze. It swooped low and must have come within range of spears for it gave a shriek. As it rose into the air once more, Kiya could see that the leathery membrane of one of its wings was torn. Desperately the creature tried to control its flight but it zigzagged across the flames then crashed to the ground.
Ana whipped the horses, who were slowing, frightened by the drama before them. At high speed the chariots rode through the streets of the city. As they thundered through the market, Kiya saw upturned stalls and scattered merchandise. The way before them was blocked by smouldering debris but Kiya was able to direct the chariots through deserted back roads.
Everyone must be hiding, she thought, but when they reached the harbour they found a group of peasants hacking at the fallen body of the serpent with knives, machetes, axes and any sharp implement that came to hand.
Ana reined in the chariot and Kiya saw that the men had managed to tie the monster down to the quay with mooring ropes. It twisted and turned and she feared that at any moment its bonds might break.
The dragon’s wings beat in huge swathes, felling all who came within their range. Some brave men had managed to dodge the blows and mount its back. One stood between the wings trying to penetrate the scales with a sword. Again and again he struck, but the bronze blade could not cut through the monster’s armoured skin.
Kiya heard the other chariots draw up behind her.
“Our ship is safely moored at another quay,” said Ana. “We must be going.”
“No wait!” cried Kiya. “Your men’s star-metal weapons will quickly kill the dragon.”
“We will waste time,” said Ana.
“I beg of you,” said Kiya.
Ana frowned and then shouted an order to her men. Kiya watched them dismount from the chariots and form into a phalanx. Ana stood at their head with a drawn sword, then gave another order and led them towards the front of the dragon. They skirted around the flapping wings and out of Kiya’s sight.
“Kiya!”
The sound of her name made Kiya look up to see the man between the dragon’s wings waving to her.
“Khamet?”
He chose his moment and then slid down to the ground and ran to her, avoiding the flapping membranes. She hardly recognised him, his cheeks were flushed, his eyes shining, and blood trickled from a wound at his temple.
“Thank the gods you have come back safely, Kiya. You were seen on a Cretan chariot and we feared you might have been captured.”
“No, I was among friends,” she said.
He indicated the snake. “Where did this dragon come from? We were peacefully selling goods in the market when its fiery breath descended from the skies.”
“It has come from Nubia and is under the command of Seth. It is the first of an army of monsters that are advancing upon Egypt.”
There was an agonised shriek and Kiya turned to see the snake’s head rise into the air. Blood spouted from wounds in its neck and, as it screamed, a plume of bloody steam rose from its mouth. Then the head crashed to the ground and the body shuddered and lay still.
“Is it dead?” asked Kiya. She watched the scales of the monster turned from fiery red to a dull grey as its life blood seeped out onto the quay.
“I think so,” said Khamet. “We must thank the star-metal weapons of your Cretan friends. Will they stay to protect us from the ones that follow?”
“No, we are on our way to Akhetaten. We must warn the King. Seth has vowed to destroy Egypt and cannot do so while Meri is alive.”
“You need to defend your son? Then I will join you,” said Khamet. He hefted his sword and Kiya saw him in a new light. He was no longer the boy who had teased her, nor the helpful neighbouring farmer. He was a warrior, as strong and brave as any man.
She laid a hand on his arm. “No, I beg of you, Khamet. Stay here and protect Thebes. Tell everyone to leave the city, if they can, and take shelter in the hills. Those who remain must allow the monsters to pass without hindrance. I believe that their goal is to attack Akhetaten. It is there that we will vanquish them with the strength of the army.”
He looked disappointed. “As you wish, Kiya. Your husband will be waiting in Akhetaten to protect you.”
Kiya was about to tell him that her marriage was over when Ana returned with her soldiers. They were blood spattered and triumphant in their victory. All around them were the flames of burning ships and houses, separated by the great grey wall of the dead serpent.
“If you are satisfied, Kiya, now, perhaps we can get going,” said Ana and directed her men to the neighbouring quay.
“Have we you to thank for their intervention?” said Khamet.
“I suppose so,” said Kiya.
He knelt at her feet, raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. She was taken aback by his gesture of gratitude and felt conscious of the touch of his lips upon her skin.
“Hurry up, Kiya, or we will leave without you!” shouted Ana.
“I must go,” she said. “Look after my parents, Khamet.”
“It will be my pleasure,” he said.
She ran to where the chariots and horses were being loaded onto the Cretan ship. When she looked back for a final sight of Khamet he had turned away and was directing a group of men to use poles to push the burning boats away from the quay.