Khian Returns to Tanis
Swiftly the Shepherd horsemen galloped back towards Apepi’s forts
across the border line of Egypt, leaving their wounded to follow after
them as best they might or perish, and in the centre of their array,
surrounded by a guard, raced the chariot of Khian. Their captain knew
there was no time to lose, for soon those Babylonians whom he had
spared would be at the camp of the Great King--and then----! What he
did not know was that two hours before Temu had reached that camp and
that already a mounted army was sweeping down to cut him off.
Far away in the desert appeared a cloud of dust. It grew nearer and
more near, and now through the dust shone helms and spears and
burnished chariots. Then the Shepherds knew the worst. Their path was
blocked, Babylon was upon them! Flight was impossible. Their case now
was that of the five thousand whom they had surprised not twelve hours
before, and they must charge as these had done, and with as little
hope of victory.
They drew together; they lined up their squadrons to the shape of a
wedge, skilfully enough, as Khian noted, and rushed forward bearing
somewhat to the right, that they might strike the Babylonian line
where it was thinnest. The two armies drew near together, some twenty
thousand of the Shepherds against fifty thousand of their foes who
were massed in dense squadrons divided by companies of chariots. A
roar of triumph went up from the Babylonians, but the doomed Shepherds
were silent.
Apepi’s captain appeared by the chariot of Khian.
“Prince,” he cried as he galloped, “the gods are against me and I
think that our end is near. Yet I trust to you to remember your oath,
upon faith of which I spared your company, and to make no effort to
escape. If you are captured, it is so decreed, but while you are able,
I repeat I trust to you to head straight for the boundary which is
near, and to surrender yourself to Apepi or his troops. Do I trust in
vain?”
“My honour has never yet been doubted,” Khian called back.
Then that captain saluted with his sword and, spurring his horse,
vanished away.
With a shock and a sound like thunder the hordes of horsemen met. Deep
into the Babylonian array cut the Shepherd wedge, throwing men and
steeds to either side of it, as a gale-driven ship throws waves of the
sea. Yet slowly Apepi’s squadrons lost their speed as more and more of
the Babylonians poured upon their flank. The point of the wedge,
passing through the first group, became engaged with fresh squadrons
beyond, that escorted a company of chariots which had raced in front
to cut them off.
The fighting grew desperate. Slowly those before him were killed,
scattered, or trodden down, so that Khian found his chariot in the
forefront of the battle. At a little distance he perceived a throng of
the Shepherds, some of them dismounted, attacking a few of the
Babylonians who were gathered round a splendid chariot that had
outraced the rest, whereof the wounded horses were struggling on the
ground. In this chariot, sword in hand, was one clad in mail that
seemed to be fashioned of silver and gold, whom he took to be a
beautiful youth, doubtless some princeling of the royal House of
Babylon sent out to look upon the face of war, while on that side of
it on which the Shepherds, six or eight of them, pressed their attack,
stood a black-faced giant hung about with plates of brazen armour that
clanked as he swung his great axe aloft and brought it crashing down
upon those within its reach. One glance told Khian that this was the
mighty Ethiopian, Ru himself! Then with a sick heart he understood
that the figure in the chariot was no noble Babylonian youth but none
other than Nefra, his betrothed.
Oh! she was sore beset. Horsemen were coming to her aid, but the
nearest of them were still a full bow-shot away, for in her fierce
folly she had outdriven them all. Ru smote and smote, but he could not
be everywhere, and while some drew him to the rear of the chariot
which they were striving to enter from behind, others, five or six of
them, ran together at its side, purposing to rush forward and kill or
drag away her who stood therein. It was as if they knew that this was
a prize indeed, one for whose sake all must be risked, and as he came
nearer, Khian perceived how they knew, for now he saw that about her
silver helm she wore the snake-headed coronet, the royal uræus with
the sparkling eyes that proclaimed her Egypt’s queen. The men
gathered, watching Ru as with savage war cries he beat down foe after
foe, and waiting their chance to spring upon their prey and pierce her
through or capture her.
Khian thought for a moment.
“I swore not to escape, but never that I would not fight upon my way
to doom,” he said to himself and pulled at the reins, turning the
rushing horses straight upon that knot of men. As he came the first of
them leapt at Nefra. She smote with her sword and the blow fell upon
his thick headdress. He shot out his long arms, for he was a great
fellow, and gripped her round the middle, dragging her to him. The
others stood waiting to seize her as she fell to the ground and carry
her off if they could, or kill her if they could not. So eagerly did
they watch that they never saw or heard the white-horsed war chariot
thunder down upon them from where they knew there were no foes. Khian
called to the stallions, beasts trained to war, and turning neither to
left nor right they rushed on. They smote those men and down they went
beneath the hoofs and wheels. Only one remained standing, he who
dragged Nefra from the chariot. In Khian’s hand was a spear. He hurled
it as he passed and it pierced that man through and through, so that,
loosing his grip of Nefra, he fell to the ground and died.
Now Ru had seen and was rushing back. Nefra, freed, stared at her
deliverer--and knew him.
“Khian!” she cried. “Khian! Come to me.”
Ru knew him also and shouted:
“Halt, Lord Rasa!”
But Khian only shook his head and galloped on.
Then the Babylonian deliverers came up as a flood comes along a dry
river bed and covered all. But already Khian was far off with the
remnant of the Shepherd Horse.
The battle rolled away. Of the twenty thousand Shepherds or more but
some few hundreds escaped; the rest were cut or hunted down before
they reached the border line of Egypt. But among those who came
unharmed to the army of Apepi was the Prince Khian, for through all
that fray it was as though some god protected him and the horses that
drew his chariot. On he drove till he saw where a general’s standard
flew. Then he halted the bloodstained, weary beasts and called aloud:
“I am the Prince Khian. Come, bear me hence for I am hurt and cannot
walk.”
The officers who heard him saluted and their men cheered, for they
thought that the Prince Khian whom they loved and who had been their
comrade in the Syrian wars had escaped from the Babylonians that he
might fight against them with his own people. Tenderly they lifted him
from the chariot and gave him wine and food, the best they had, then
placed him in a litter such as they used for wounded men and bore him
to the royal encampment in and around the new-built forts. Over these
forts flew Pharaoh’s banners, yet when they came to them they found
confusion and open gates. Pharaoh, heralds announced, had been called
back to Tanis, leaving orders to his armies to follow after him, that
they might re-form there to protect the great city and Egypt.
Now when the captains heard these commands they stared at each other
and murmured. But Khian, looking back across the frontier line,
learned their reason. Yonder the sands were black with all the ordered
hosts of Babylon. On they came, foot and horse and chariots, a mighty
flood of men, before the shock of whose onslaught the army of the
Shepherds must have broken and gone down. Therefore it was that when
he learned that his flank attack had miscarried and saw all the might
of Babylon sweeping down upon him, Apepi had fled to Tanis, leaving
his troops to follow as best they could.
Understanding at last how matters stood, some of the chief officers
came to Khian and prayed him to take command of the army, by right of
his rank and repute in war. But he smiled and remained silent, as they
thought because he was sick and could not stand upon his feet. While
they still pressed him there came that captain to whom he had sworn
the oath and who, like himself, had escaped the slaughter of Apepi’s
horsemen. Calling them aside he told his comrades of how he had
captured the Prince among the Babylonians, and the rest. Then they
pressed Khian no more, though had he chosen to put another colour on
the tale perhaps they would still have listened. Or had he offered to
go to the Babylonians and pray the clemency of the Queen of Egypt and
of the Prince Abeshu their General, for Pharaoh’s army, perhaps they
would also have listened. But as he did neither of these things, they
yoked fresh horses to his chariot and setting him in it, took him with
them in their flight to Tanis.
Thus it came about that when the Babylonians poured up to the camp of
the Shepherds to give them battle, save for some sick and wounded men,
they found them gone. Learning the truth from these men, who by Tau’s
command were spared and cared for, also that the Prince Khian had come
in safety to the camp and been welcomed there and, as some said, was
now in command of the retreating army, at once they started in
pursuit.
At their first bivouac Tau, with some of the generals under him,
waited upon Nefra, there being present also Ru, Temu the priest, and
the Lady Kemmah. By the wish of Tau, Nefra and Ru told all the tale of
their meeting with Khian in the battle of the horsemen and of how he
had driven his horses over those who attacked Nefra, thrust his spear
through him who was dragging her from the chariot, and then, when they
called to him to stay with them, had shaken his head and fled away,
making no attempt to check the horses, as he might have done, thereby
escaping from the Shepherds if he were their captive.
Now when he had heard this strange tale, Tau asked those present to
interpret it. The Babylonian Generals, one and all, answered that
either this Prince was mad, or evidently he was a traitor. It was
clear, they said, that otherwise he would have escaped when he had
opportunity, and it was also clear that being a Shepherd and the son
of their King, he had followed his heart back to the Shepherds and to
his father. Kemmah, who spoke next, held that certainly he was mad,
for how, she asked, could a sane man fly away from the loveliest woman
in the world, to whom he was affianced, and one who was a queen as
well?--Unless, indeed, she added as an afterthought, since they parted
he had met one yet lovelier, words at which Nefra sharply bid her be
silent.
Then Temu, who had been the Prince’s companion in his captivities and
flights, was called upon. But all he could do was to mutter, “Faith!
Have faith!” adding that in this matter it was easy because he could
not believe that any one who had once tasted of the palace dungeon at
Tanis or of the tomb chamber in the dark of the pyramid could wish to
return to either of them again. Then he began to set out the tale of
their escapes and of all that he had suffered on horseback and in the
chariot, until an officer pulled him back to his seat.
Then spoke Nefra, asking angrily of the Babylonian Generals:
“Have you ever known, Lords, of a man who wished to play the traitor,
who began his treachery by killing sundry of those to whom he had sold
himself? Do you not understand that if this Prince wished to be rid of
me in order that in future he might lay an undisputed claim to the
double throne of Egypt, all he needed to do was to pass on and leave
those Shepherd knaves to kill me as--Ru, after his fashion, being
elsewhere when he was wanted--doubtless they would have done. Yet he
drives his chariot over four of them and pierces the fifth through
with his spear. Then--the gods alone know why, though I doubt not for
some good reason, other than that advanced by the Lady Kemmah,” she
added acidly, “he departs, shaking his head, and so swiftly that he
could not be caught, as yonder priest says, to taste once more of
Apepi’s dungeons, or”--here her voice grew faint and her eyes filled
with tears--“of worse things.”
When they had finished Tau said:
“All who know the Prince Khian have learned that in some ways he is
different from most men, and it is probable that among those
differences the truth may be found. Indeed I think that I have
discovered it, but if so, as we have talked enough, I will keep it to
myself until I know whether I be right or wrong. Meanwhile, I would
ask you all to listen to the prayer of our brother, Temu, and have
faith, such as that which her Majesty of Egypt showed when she rushed
forth alone into battle against the commands of those set over her,
and now again shows in him who preserved her from death.”
Then he rose and departed from the tent, leaving Nefra abashed and yet
indignant.
Those who remained of the army of the Frontier came at length to Tanis
which was strongly held by Apepi’s second army of reserve. They were
not many, for the Babylonian pursuit had been sharp and captured
thousands. Moreover, when in this way or in that it became known that
none of these were put to the sword or set aside to be sold as slaves,
but that all asked of them was that they should take an oath of fealty
to Queen Nefra of Egypt and serve under her banner, other thousands
grew weary of that rapid march and lagged behind until they were
overtaken by the Babylonian pickets.
Among the faithful that at length straggled through its gates,
however, were the Prince Khian and that captain to whom he had
surrendered and sworn a certain oath. Together these two, between whom
there was now a bond of lasting friendship, were brought to the palace
and to the wonder of Khian placed in the apartments that had been his
own when he was Prince and heir apparent of the North. Here slaves
waited upon him, his own slaves, and doctors came to treat his knee,
now much inflamed and swollen with so long and rough a journey. Yet,
as Khian noted, with all of these were mingled spies and guards: spies
to watch and note every spoken word and guards to frustrate any effort
at escape. In short, he was now as close a prisoner as he had been in
that dungeon whence he escaped with Temu.
There in his own place Khian, who had been brought to it at dawn,
rested till the third hour after sunset, sleeping the most of this
time, save when he bathed and ate, for he was very weary. At length
came an officer and soldiers with a litter to bear him into the
presence of Apepi, his father. At the head of this company was Anath
the Vizier who, as Khian noted, had grown thinner and more gray and
whose quick black eyes darted from place to place as though everywhere
he expected to see a murderer, and following after him a sharp-faced
scribe whom Khian took to be a spy.
Anath bowed a greeting nicely judged, neither too scanty nor too full,
saying:
“Welcome home, Prince, after long travels and many adventures. Pharaoh
needs your presence. Be pleased to accompany me.”
Then he was set in his litter borne by eight soldiers, at the side of
which walked Anath, while the captain followed after. In turning the
corner of one of the passages the long litter tilted and Anath put out
his hands to steady it, or to save himself from being pressed against
the wall, while the spy for a moment was left out of sight and hearing
on the farther side of a corner. Swiftly Anath whispered into Khian’s
ear:
“The danger is great. Yet be calm and keep courage, for you have
friends, ready even to die for you, of whom I am the first.”
Then the spy appeared and Anath straightened himself and was silent.
They came into the presence of Pharaoh who sat in a low chair clad in
mail with a sword in his hand. The litter was set down and its bearers
helped Khian to a seat that was placed opposite to that of Pharaoh.
“You seem to have taken some hurt, Son,” said Apepi in a cold voice.
“Who gave it to you?”
“One of your Majesty’s soldiers during a fray in a pass of certain
hills, who overtook me when I was flying from Egypt a while ago,
Pharaoh.”
“Oh! I heard some such tale. But why were you flying from Egypt?”
“To save myself and to win another, Pharaoh.”
“Yes, again I remember. The one you have done so far, though with
damage; the other you have not done and shall never do,” Apepi said
slowly. Then he looked at the captain, who accompanied Khian, and
asked:
“Are you that man whom I sent in command of some five and twenty
thousand horse to fall upon the flank of the Babylonians? If so, tell
me why you failed in your task.”
In brief, soldierlike words the captain told him all the story: how he
had met the body of Babylonian Horse during the night and become
engaged with them; how in the end Khian had bought the lives of those
of them who remained by his surrender of himself; how they had fallen
in with the great force of mounted Babylonians and chariots which in
the end destroyed them nearly all; how the Prince Khian had kept his
word when he might have escaped, and thus was now a prisoner at Tanis,
and the rest.
Apepi listened till he had finished and said:
“Enough, man. You have failed and by your failure have brought me to
the gates of ruin. My army is dispersed and the Babylonians, under the
command of one of the accursed wizards of the Dawn, sweep down on
Tanis to capture it, after which they purpose to seize all Egypt and
set this girl Nefra as their puppet on its throne. All these things
have happened because you failed in the task I laid upon you and
instead of falling upon the Babylonian flank, were trapped and wasted
your strength and time in a petty fight with some few thousand men.
For such as you there is no more place upon the earth. Get you down to
the Underworld and there learn generalship, if you may.”
Then he made a sign whereon certain armed slaves ran forward. The
captain, answering nothing to Apepi, turned to Khian and saluted him,
saying:
“Now, Prince, I am sorry that I did not loose you from your oath and
bid you escape while you could. For if I am treated thus, what chance
is there for you? Well, I go to make report of these matters to Osiris
who, I have been told, is a just god and an avenger of the innocent.
Farewell.”
Before Khian could answer the slaves seized the man and dragged him
behind a curtain, whence presently one of them reappeared holding up a
human head to tell Pharaoh that his will was done. At this sight for
the first time Khian hated his father and hoped in his heart that
Apepi himself might be overtaken by the fate which he had brought upon
a loyal servant who had done his best.
Now father and son were left alone and stared at each other in
silence. At length Khian spoke.
“If it be the will of your Majesty that I should follow on the path
that has been trodden by yonder victim, I pray that it may be soon,
since I am weary and would sleep.”
Apepi laughed cruelly and answered:
“All in good time, but not yet, I think. Do you not understand, Son,
that you are the only arrow left in my quiver? It seems that by aid of
the arts of these wizards of the Dawn you have bewitched this royal
Egyptian in such fashion that she dotes on you, she, the chosen of
your father, from whom you stole her. Now how do you think it would
please her when she appears before the walls of Tanis with the
Babylonians, as doubtless she will do to-morrow with the light, if she
saw you, her darling, set upon the eastern gate and there about to die
as that fool died or in worse fashion?”
“I do not know,” answered Khian, “but I think that if such a thing
chanced, very soon Tanis would be given to fire and all that breathe
within its walls would also die, and with them one--who does not wish
to die.”
“You are right, my Son,” mocked Apepi. “An angry woman with a hundred
thousand men behind her might commit such crimes upon the helpless.
Therefore I propose to keep your head upon your shoulders, at least
for the present. This is my plan--tell me if you do not think it good.
You shall appear upon the gateway and heralds shall announce, or
perhaps this would best be done by messenger, that you are about to
suffer death for treason in the presence of Pharaoh and his Court, or
as many of them as can find standing room upon that gateway. It will
be announced, however, that Pharaoh, out of his great pity and love,
will spare you upon certain terms. Can you perhaps guess those terms?”
“No,” answered Khian hoarsely.
“I think you lie; I think you know them well enough. Still, Son, I
will repeat them to you, that you may never say you have not been
fairly dealt with. They are short and simple. First, that having
surrendered all its treasure and some trappings such as horses and
chariots and signed a perpetual peace with us, the Shepherds, the
Babylonian army retreats whence it came.
“Secondly, that the Princess Nefra gives up herself to me, that in the
presence of both armies and of the holy gods the priests may declare
her my wife and queen, who brings to me as her dower all the rights
and inheritances that are hers by blood in Egypt.”
“Never will she consent,” said Khian.
“Of course, Son, that is the danger, since no one can tell what a
woman will or will not do. But do you not think that if such should
chance to be her mind and that she should determine that you must be
sacrificed to what she holds her duty, you who otherwise would be set
free among the Babylonians, the sight of a little torture and the
sound of your groans might work the needful change? There are some
clever blacks in this place and by the way, that knee of yours is
still swollen and painful, is it not? They might begin there. Hot
irons--yes, hot irons!”
Khian looked at him and said in a low voice:
“Do your worst, devil who begat me, if indeed I am your son, which now
it is hard to believe. You speak of the priests of the Dawn as
wizards. Know that I am a priest of the Dawn who share their wizardry
or their wisdom, and it tells me that all your plots will fail and
that your wickedness will fall back upon your own head.”
“Ah! does it? I understand your scheme. You think that you will kill
yourself. Well, this shall not happen, for be sure that you shall be
too well watched. Nor will you escape from the palace for the second
time. Good-night, Son. Rest while you may, for I fear that it will be
necessary to awake you early.”