Chapter 20: Chapter Twenty – Old Moon

Chapter 20 

 

???????????????????????? - Ugarit, 1264 BCE

 

'Pharaoh Nefertari the Great, the Chosen of Ra, the Beloved of Mut, Keeper of Harmony and Balance, Strong in Right, summons the guardian of Ugarit, ????????????????????????, to the Ipet Resyt of Thebes."

I run my fingers over the Pharaoh's divine seal, the simple words of her short message echoing in my mind, louder than my footsteps on the ashlar stone floors of the royal palace of Ugarit. I walk briskly. The short message made no mention of why I was summoned to Egypt, but there could only be one reason.

It's time to reveal ourselves to the human world. It's time for the spawn of ???????????? to step out of the dark. I must inform my Queen.

Long shadows flicker against the bare stone walls, dancing in the light of dozens of small candles lining the floor on my walk to the queen's chambers. Faint light from the waxing gibbous moon streams into the palace between the thick stone pillars of the outer walkway.

I pull my lion pelt tighter around my shoulders. It's cold tonight, unusually cold for Ugarit, even for winter. My thin bronze breastplate presses into my chest with each breath. The cold metal stings my skin. My short bronze sword lightly clatters against my bronze plated leather skirt with each step I take. The palace is empty at this time of night. I don’t see a single other soul before arriving at the royal chambers. 

Bang

I crash into the queen's outer sanctum, nearly throwing the heavy wooden doors off their hinges. Two massive spearwomen snap upright, into an aggressive fighting stance, pointing their spears directly at me. They stand nearly as tall as I do, with fierce determination on their faces. Their heads are clean shaven, and the woman on the left is missing an ear, sporting a thick scar running vertically from jaw to scalp on the right side of her face. The two women’s bulging muscles tense behind their bronze armor. 

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Loyal women. I trained them well. 

The two guards quickly identify me, and relax, raising their spears in a salute. 

"I must wake the queen." I say, not waiting for their reply as I push past them and throw open the door to the queen's chamber. The small woman jumps upright in bed, her long black hair flowing down over her thin white sleeping gown. Her face shows no fear or panic at my sudden intrusion. I kneel at the foot of her modestly small bed.

“Rise ????????????????????????. What is it? What has happened?” Queen Ahatmilku asks me calmly.

“I’m sorry to wake you my queen, but it’s time. I have been summoned to Thebes.” I present the papyrus scroll to the queen, the Pharaoh's wax seal shimmering in the moonlight from the queen's large window.

The queen looks at the message in my outstretched hand. Now her face shows fear and worry. 

“It’s too soon.” She says, her soft voice shaking.

I swallow a lump in my throat. “I know.” I say, sharing her fear.

“I-I thought we had more time.” Ahatmilku jumps out of bed and begins rapidly throwing on clothing.

“It's the Pharaoh. I have to go.” I say.

“You’ve known Nefertari much longer than I have. Does she know what she’s doing? Does she know what this could mean?”

I hesitate. “I hope so.”

My queen doesn’t look reassured. “She is the only Spawn of Lamaštu that rules over humans. Her making this move now, it won’t look good. It looks like a power grab.”

“I know.” I frown.

The queen sighs. “Go then. Don’t keep the Pharaoh waiting. I’ll put the palace guard on alert and make preparations to raise the army. Tell Nefertari that Ugarit is hers to command.”

“Yes my queen.” I bow deeply before slipping into my shroud, and leaping out of the queen’s bedroom window.

---

The sun looms high in the sky as I land in front of the Ipet Resyt with a grunt, tossing up a small cloud of sand and dust. I take off my Lion pelt and stretch my arms out, drinking in the sun with my body.

Ah, it’s nice to be somewhere warm!

I make my way down the last steps of the grandiose road leading to the temple, past the last few sphinx statues, and between two large obelisks at the temple’s entrance. The sheer opulence of the building still impresses me, despite visiting frequently. My heart swells with pride for the human species that I have become so fond of.

It feels like just yesterday they were wandering aimlessly on the steppe, barely able to erect simple tents and huts.

I pass through two massive statues of Nefertari, and finally find myself in the temple interior. I’m greeted by one of Nefertari’s advisors, a tall, slender, human woman who I recognize, but who’s name I can’t remember.

She greets me with a warm smile. “????????????????????????! Thank you for joining us. Please follow me, and sample the Pharaoh's hospitality while you wait for the others to arrive.” The human bows to me, with an outstretched hand directing me deeper into the temple.

I return her bow, and follow her. “How many of the others have arrived so far?” I ask.

“You are the fourth. So far Taygete and her thrall Artemis have arrived from Κυλλήνη to represent Mycenae, and Istustaya is here from Enkomi to represent Alashiya.”

Oh no

I begin to panic slightly, but try my best not to show it. “Please tell me you didn’t leave those two in the same room together!”

The woman pauses, turning her hands nervously. “We did, but we have some of our finest soldiers in the room with them. I’m sure nothing will happen.”

My eyes bulge as I try to contain my frustration. “No human will be able to stop Istustaya! We cannot leave them alone, please, let us hurry. Has Istustaya tried to dismantle Artemis yet?”

“They were fine when I left them. Not friendly, they were sitting on the far ends of the room from each other, but as far as I know no violence occurred.” The woman tries to reassure me, but her pace quickens.

The two of us burst into the temple’s sanctuary with perhaps more force than is appropriate. I frantically look around, and quickly spot my best friend, Artemis, standing in a corner, away from the large table in the center of the room. My eyes dart around, but I only see a compliment of very nervous looking human soldiers stationed around the room. I see no sign of Istustaya.

“????????????????????????!” Artemis calls out to me with a warm smile.

I return her grin, and quickly make my way across the room to her. Artemis pulls me into a tight hug when I reach her. All the wind rushes from my lungs with a sharp whooshing sound. Artemis must be the only woman in the world bigger, taller, and stronger than me. She wears an ornate and colorful dress, with a long skirt and a small apron sporting intricate blue, red, and green stitching in various patterns. A cutout in the bodice leaves her breasts exposed, hanging from her tight chest muscles. Her massive broad shoulders threaten to crush me in her enthusiastic embrace. A giant bow, larger than herself is slung over her back, and her long silver hair is tied up in an elegant traditional mycenaean style, with a beautiful golden tiara sitting atop her head, glistening with various gemstones glowing and brimming full of aether.

“Artemis, pl-please!” I choke out.

The giant bow wielding woman releases me with a chuckle. “What’s the matter ????????????????????????!? Don’t tell me you’re getting frail?! I thought the Spawn of Lamaštu were immortal?”

“We still have rib cages, you giant beast!” I scowl at my friend.

Artemis gives a booming laugh that echoes around the sanctuary. “Yes, yes, that's what I love about the Spawn! You're all so very crunchy! It’s good to see you, my friend. How are things in Ugarit? How do you like your new queen?”

I smile at my giant friend. “It’s good to see you too! Ugarit is fantastic! Trade is booming, the harvests are plentiful, the royal coffers are full, and the temple of ???????????? is filled with generous offerings night and day. I truly have never seen the city so prosperous, and my new queen is much to thank for it. Ahatmilku’s reign is young, but the woman has accomplished much already. I haven’t seen such potential since Kubaba.”

“Wow, that’s high praise!”

I nod. “I don’t give it lightly. The young human has earned my complete confidence and loyalty. It’s an honor to serve her.”

Artemis nods. “She knows of us then? The Spawn and us thralls?”

“Yes, and she is in complete agreement with the Pharaoh. She sees a future where humans and the Spawn can live in harmony, side by side, in peace and prosperity.”

“Good, we will need as many human leaders on our side as we can get.”

I nod in agreement. “What of Mycenae? Do they know?”

Artemis sighs. “Not yet. I want to reveal myself to them, but Taygete disagrees. There’s been so much internal strife between the city states lately, that it’s impossible to predict what such a revelation would do to the political climate. I think it could unify us, but Taygete has advised caution, and I have headed her council.”

“Perhaps that is best. And how are you Taygete?” I say, leaning around Artemis’ large body to speak to her Spawn.

A very small Spawn timidly peaks out from behind Artemis’ dress. Taygete clings to her thrall’s skirt with one hand, and a stack of papyrus with the other. She is barely tall enough to rise above Artemis’ navel. She squints at me with her poor eyesight, her soft face scrunched up, and her shoulder length brown hair poofing out in a frizzy mess around her tiny head.

“I’m fine!” She squeaks, before dashing back behind Artemis. 

Artemis chuckles in a booming, echoing laugh. “She’s afraid of Istustaya.” Artemis says, reaching behind her to pat her Spawn’s head. 

I nervously look over both my shoulders. “You’re not?! Is she here now?!”

Artemis shrugs. “Of course I am, but if she’s figured out a way to kill a Spawn, then she’d have already killed me by now.”

I lean in close to whisper. “I mean, she can still dismember you, and spread your body parts around the known world, preventing a Lunar Spawn from healing you.”

Artemis gives a sad frown. “I’m sure she’d love too, but she’s no match for me in single combat, and I doubt she got any of her little undead friends past the Pharaoh's guards. Nefertari gave her a couple of human virgins to snack on this morning, so hopefully she’ll be in a good mood for the meeting." 

Artemis sighs, shaking her head. "I just wish we didn’t have to be enemies. I tried to approach her when we arrived, but she wouldn't talk to me. Instead she’s BROODING IN THE CORNER, LIKE A CHILD!” Artemis raises her voice, clearly loud enough for the whole sanctuary to hear, glaring at the top corner of the room where the far wall meets the ceiling.

I notice that the sanctuary is now full of people. Spawns of Lamaštu, their thralls, and a few humans are mingling and socializing around the crowded room. I squint over their heads, and can just barely make out the shape of a dark gray cloud near the ceiling, just out of reach of the light of the many torches scattered around the sanctuary. It’s easy to miss, but there’s no mistaking it.

That’s the shroud of a Death Spawn.

I gulp. “Well…I’m sure she’ll talk to you someday. Just give it time, and remember, you didn’t kill Papaya. You’re not responsible for what the Mycenaean Army did in Knossos.”

Artemis huffs. “Good luck getting Istustaya to see it that way. I command the Mycenaean fleet. I may not have sacked Knossos, but I destroyed the Minoan ships, and landed the soldiers that did. I wouldn’t have sailed that day if I knew what the army planned to do, but regardless of my intentions, I am still responsible.”

I open my mouth to reply, but I am interrupted by the sound of trumpets. I look over my shoulder to see Pharaoh Nefertari the Great, the Chosen of Ra, the Beloved of Mut, Keeper of Harmony and Balance, Strong in Right, enter the crowded room.

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