just…time. Time and poppy and pain.
And then less poppy and more pain. And somehow, the realisation that he was going to live.
CHAPTER 10
There had been no more poppy this morning. So when the King arrived Narmer was fully awake, for the first time since the pain had begun to rule his life.
His father had been alone when he came before, usually at night, to sit with his son in the darkness. But today he came as the King, attended by his guards, his sandal bearer and his fanners, with their giant ostrich-feather fans. He waved them away at the door and entered alone.
Narmer watched as Nitho and the Trader bowed, picked up their medicine bowls, and left. The cat stalked out after them, her tail waving.
‘I’m sorry, Father,’ Narmer whispered.
The King touched his cheek gently. ‘I’m sorry too, my son. More sorry than you can ever know. This was why I made you promise never to hunt alone. You promised—’
‘But I wasn’t alone!’ Narmer rasped. ‘Hawk was with me!’
‘Hawk was asleep in the palace. The first he knew of the accident was when they brought you back.’
‘He told me there was a hippo by the top dyke! We went together! He must have run away and left me!’
‘Hawk knew nothing of this.’ His father’s voice was firm beneath its gentleness. ‘You must have dreamt it in your delirium.’ Or lied. The words hung in the air, almost as loud as if he’d said them.
He wanted to yell out, Hawk did this to me! Hawk tried to kill me! But he was too weak to say the words. Words like those would mean a battle. He would fight that war when he was stronger. Hawk will not get away with this, he told himself.
His father took his hand. ‘My son…’ The King hesitated, as though he too were looking for the strength to find the words that must be said. ‘You are going to live,’ he said at last. ‘But you may never walk again. Or run. Or hunt. Or fight.
‘Narmer, do you remember before…before the crocodile? I told you that a king lives for his people, not himself. So today I have to ask you to be a king, while you’re still a prince…to sacrifice yourself for your people, just as you might do in battle.’
Narmer stared at him, not understanding. Then comprehension dawned. ‘No!’ he whispered desperately.
‘My son…My dear son…The people of Thinis need a king who can lead them in war. A king the other towns will fear.’
The King’s voice grew stronger. ‘I will not—cannot—make Hawk my heir instead of you. The people respect you. Love you. They would never give Hawk their love and obedience if they thought I had taken the kingship away from you. When I died they would be waiting, always waiting, wondering if you would try to take the throne from your brother.’
The King paused. And then he added, ‘So it has to be your choice. A true king’s decision: to give that kingship up.’
The cold flooded Narmer’s body. It was as though his blood were seeping out of him again. But this time, he thought, it is my life, not my blood.
To give up everything he was. No longer Guardian Prince of Thinis. No longer heir to his father’s throne.
And to give it up to Hawk! Hawk, who had schemed to kill him, to gain the kingship for himself!
It was almost unthinkable. But there was no one else. The King’s words hung in the silent air.
Narmer glanced out the door. All he could see was part of the courtyard: the lily pool, the tiles. But it would be his last glimpse of his future kingdom. Did he really have a choice?
He took a deep breath. His voice must remain steady. He struggled to sit up. It took his whole strength. But he would not say this lying like a child in bed.
His father helped him. But the King’s hands shook as they arranged the pillows to support his son, and tears ran down his cheeks.
‘I resign all claims to the kingship.’
Seknut brought him stuffed dates and honeyed lotus seeds, treats that he’d loved when he was small. He nibbled a few to make her happy,
And then less poppy and more pain. And somehow, the realisation that he was going to live.
CHAPTER 10
There had been no more poppy this morning. So when the King arrived Narmer was fully awake, for the first time since the pain had begun to rule his life.
His father had been alone when he came before, usually at night, to sit with his son in the darkness. But today he came as the King, attended by his guards, his sandal bearer and his fanners, with their giant ostrich-feather fans. He waved them away at the door and entered alone.
Narmer watched as Nitho and the Trader bowed, picked up their medicine bowls, and left. The cat stalked out after them, her tail waving.
‘I’m sorry, Father,’ Narmer whispered.
The King touched his cheek gently. ‘I’m sorry too, my son. More sorry than you can ever know. This was why I made you promise never to hunt alone. You promised—’
‘But I wasn’t alone!’ Narmer rasped. ‘Hawk was with me!’
‘Hawk was asleep in the palace. The first he knew of the accident was when they brought you back.’
‘He told me there was a hippo by the top dyke! We went together! He must have run away and left me!’
‘Hawk knew nothing of this.’ His father’s voice was firm beneath its gentleness. ‘You must have dreamt it in your delirium.’ Or lied. The words hung in the air, almost as loud as if he’d said them.
He wanted to yell out, Hawk did this to me! Hawk tried to kill me! But he was too weak to say the words. Words like those would mean a battle. He would fight that war when he was stronger. Hawk will not get away with this, he told himself.
His father took his hand. ‘My son…’ The King hesitated, as though he too were looking for the strength to find the words that must be said. ‘You are going to live,’ he said at last. ‘But you may never walk again. Or run. Or hunt. Or fight.
‘Narmer, do you remember before…before the crocodile? I told you that a king lives for his people, not himself. So today I have to ask you to be a king, while you’re still a prince…to sacrifice yourself for your people, just as you might do in battle.’
Narmer stared at him, not understanding. Then comprehension dawned. ‘No!’ he whispered desperately.
‘My son…My dear son…The people of Thinis need a king who can lead them in war. A king the other towns will fear.’
The King’s voice grew stronger. ‘I will not—cannot—make Hawk my heir instead of you. The people respect you. Love you. They would never give Hawk their love and obedience if they thought I had taken the kingship away from you. When I died they would be waiting, always waiting, wondering if you would try to take the throne from your brother.’
The King paused. And then he added, ‘So it has to be your choice. A true king’s decision: to give that kingship up.’
The cold flooded Narmer’s body. It was as though his blood were seeping out of him again. But this time, he thought, it is my life, not my blood.
To give up everything he was. No longer Guardian Prince of Thinis. No longer heir to his father’s throne.
And to give it up to Hawk! Hawk, who had schemed to kill him, to gain the kingship for himself!
It was almost unthinkable. But there was no one else. The King’s words hung in the silent air.
Narmer glanced out the door. All he could see was part of the courtyard: the lily pool, the tiles. But it would be his last glimpse of his future kingdom. Did he really have a choice?
He took a deep breath. His voice must remain steady. He struggled to sit up. It took his whole strength. But he would not say this lying like a child in bed.
His father helped him. But the King’s hands shook as they arranged the pillows to support his son, and tears ran down his cheeks.
‘I resign all claims to the kingship.’
Seknut brought him stuffed dates and honeyed lotus seeds, treats that he’d loved when he was small. He nibbled a few to make her happy,
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