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Hi all - this is my first Civ story, and in fact the first story I've written in years. Be gentle, please. This is the first part only - will follow with the final part soon.
A beautiful, serene peace settles over the palace when night falls. During the day, the halls and grounds are filled with people rushing here and there, each one intent on his or her private affairs. The air resonates with the trampling feet and babbling voices of merchants and priests, scribes and supplicants. The world is noise and motion from the moment the sun appears until long after she sinks into the western sea. Privacy and silence are treasures that I never have the chance to hold during the day, but at night . . . then I can finally be alone, if I choose. Then I can sit on the balcony overlooking my private garden, and breathe the clean salt air borne on the cool night breeze without thinking even once about the thousands of lives I hold in my hand. At night, there are no crucial decisions to make, no supplicants to hear. The night is the only time of peace I am ever allowed . . . and so it was that I found myself deeply resenting Atemkah's intrusion even before she began to speak. Still, I had no real choice but to listen . . . a true leader rules with his intellect, not with his emotions. So I listened, and felt my heart grow heavier with each word.
When she had finished speaking, I sat and thought for a long while. Atemkah knelt in respectful silence on a cushion beside me, awaiting my response. She knew me well enough to understand the effect her report would have on me. At last, I sighed and turned to face her.
“So this is the way you truly believe it must be?” I said.
She raised her head to look at me, and as always I found myself stirred by the clarity and intensity of the emotion that simmered in her dark eyes. Her voice was calm as ever, though. “Yes, my lord.” She shrugged lightly, her slender shoulders bathed for just a moment in the pale moonlight. “The Romans are our friends for the moment, but either we fight now on our terms, or we die later on Caesar’s terms. It is inevitable.”
I nodded slowly. “So . . . the rebels in Veii have won enough support to oust the governor, and turn the city over to us. What about the common people of the city? How will they react to suddenly being a part of the Egyptian empire?”
Atemkah smiled slightly. “I am certain the commoners will be even more eager than their leaders to embrace your rule. Almost half the population of Veii makes the annual pilgrimage to the temple in Heliopolis. A number of them even travel all the way to Thebes herself to worship at our great temple here! Many of the noble families are tied to us through marriage and trade . . . some of our soldiers are even allowed to live in Veii herself, and train with the city garrison!” She smiled confidently. “The city is ours, if we want her.”
Directly across from the palace, at the opposite end of the Street of Song, the Temple of Heaven sat in her majestic beauty. Moonlight gleamed from the pure white marble – marble cut and carted to us from the quarries outside Rome. A gift from Caesar himself, to thank the Egyptian people for supplying the Romans with rich pelts from our southern jungles . . . and now we were to repay him for his friendship with this betrayal. Still, Veii was a fine city, and would bring even more wealth and resources to my empire.
“Very well,” I abruptly announced. “I will fold Veii in my arms, but I am still not certain of the need for war. You must convince me.”
Atemkah nodded obediently, then paused to prepare her thoughts. She followed my gaze, and suddenly pointed toward the temple. “My lord, I will state this as plainly as I can. If we do not take this chance now, then within a few years you will see Roman soldiers burning and pillaging in that very temple. You will see the Street of Song stained with the blood of our own people. It is inevitable. For the time, Caesar has spread his kingdom too thin in his eagerness to expand his control throughout the north. He has founded cities in every available space, but has neglected to properly develop these areas. His military is weak, but it will not remain so for long. The iron mines west of Rome have seen greatly increased activity in recent months, and the first Legion has been trained and outfitted in Rome herself. Given enough time, Caesar will strengthen his forces, and soon his infantry will march down the Merchant Road directly into the heart of our empire. Caesar is too power hungry to do anything else.” She smiled at me sadly. “Not all rulers prefer peace, my lord. Building a temple in each of our cities has made your people happy and wealthy, my lord, but it has also created a tempting prize for our northern neighbors. So . . . we strike first. When Veii turns, it will completely disrupt the Roman government. They will take some time to determine a response, but before they can make a decision, our armies will be on the move. Our elite charioteers in Elephantine are poised to invade the eastern half of the Roman empire. With Veii in our hands, we are only a short step from Rome herself and the grasslands north of Veii will allow our chariots easy passage. Before Caesar knows anything is amiss, his kingdom will be split in half, and his capital will belong to us. Once this initial step is complete, we can take his remaining cities at our leisure. Then the land will belong to us, and you can throw all your energy into building cities which will be the envy of the entire world!”
In the face of her enthusiasm, I could not restrain a smile. “You truly understand me, Atemkah. And you could always convince me to listen to you. You are by far my most trusted advisor, and I will heed your words. Put your plan into motion, then. If we must strike, let us strike hard and fast.”
Atemkah smiled. “You have made a wise decision, my lord. I salute you for your wisdom.” She bowed low, and touched her forehead to the floor. “Now, if you will permit me, I will withdraw to pass word to my agents.”
“No,” I shook my head, and grinned slyly at her. “Tomorrow is soon enough for war. Tonight, I require your expertise in.. another area.”
Atemkah stared in surprise for a moment, then returned my smile. “My lord, it has been so long since you needed my . . . companionship. I thought perhaps your feelings for me had changed.”
I sighed and shook my head. “You know better than that, Atemkah. You know well the pressure the nobles put on me when our son was born four years ago. If I could have taken you as my bride, you know I would have done so. I may be the Supreme Ruler of our empire, but even I cannot blatantly flout generations of tradition and marry a commoner. I have taken care of you as best I could, and kept you as close to me as possible. Do you not realize that many of my nobles cried for your head?” I laughed bitterly at the sudden surprise that bloomed in her lovely eyes. “Yes, its true! They felt that word of this ‘scandal’ might interfere with their desire to have me wed the daughter of Caesar. They demanded I remove you and the boy immediately!”
She shook her head numbly. “But . . . you have fathered other bastards. Why was it so different with me?”
“Atemkah,” I said in exasperation. “You are not that naïve. There is a difference in a child from a concubine and a child from a free woman whom I have publicly admitted to loving. A concubine is accepted and expected, but a free, willing lover . . . “ I shrugged. “That is another matter. Appearances must be maintained.”
We were silent for a time then, as she pondered this revelation. “I did not realize –” she finally said. “I did not know that our lives were actually in danger. How did you . . . save us?”
“That was a simple matter, my love. I held a private audience with the nobles who demanded your death, and I was able to convince them of the depth of my feelings for you. Once they understood that, I was quickly able to make them see that their own health would mirror your own. You would have smiled to see how suddenly your greatest enemies became your staunchest supporters!”
She smiled a little then, but her words were bitter. “So, the stick and the carrot. First you threatened them, and then . . . then you agreed to wed the Roman *****.”
Something in her voice spurred my anger, and I stood abruptly, towering over her. “Yes! I married Caila! Politics demand sacrifices, and that was the price I had to pay to appease my people! They wanted peace, and they wanted strong ties to Rome . . . and that is what they received! I did my duty as a ruler, and I do not care to be questioned for that! How dare you speak to me in such a manner? I would not tolerate such impudence in one of my own children, much less – “ I stopped then, and stood still.
“Much less what, my lord?” she asked. Her eyes were on the floor, but her voice fairly shook with emotion.
“Nothing,” I sighed heavily. My anger was spent as suddenly as it had appeared. “Atemkah, please, let us not fight.” I knelt before her and took her in arms. At first her body was stiff with anger, but gradually she relaxed. “Be with me tonight. We will talk about the past later.” Slowly, her arms rose to embrace me, and her lips met mine . . .
A beautiful, serene peace settles over the palace when night falls. During the day, the halls and grounds are filled with people rushing here and there, each one intent on his or her private affairs. The air resonates with the trampling feet and babbling voices of merchants and priests, scribes and supplicants. The world is noise and motion from the moment the sun appears until long after she sinks into the western sea. Privacy and silence are treasures that I never have the chance to hold during the day, but at night . . . then I can finally be alone, if I choose. Then I can sit on the balcony overlooking my private garden, and breathe the clean salt air borne on the cool night breeze without thinking even once about the thousands of lives I hold in my hand. At night, there are no crucial decisions to make, no supplicants to hear. The night is the only time of peace I am ever allowed . . . and so it was that I found myself deeply resenting Atemkah's intrusion even before she began to speak. Still, I had no real choice but to listen . . . a true leader rules with his intellect, not with his emotions. So I listened, and felt my heart grow heavier with each word.
When she had finished speaking, I sat and thought for a long while. Atemkah knelt in respectful silence on a cushion beside me, awaiting my response. She knew me well enough to understand the effect her report would have on me. At last, I sighed and turned to face her.
“So this is the way you truly believe it must be?” I said.
She raised her head to look at me, and as always I found myself stirred by the clarity and intensity of the emotion that simmered in her dark eyes. Her voice was calm as ever, though. “Yes, my lord.” She shrugged lightly, her slender shoulders bathed for just a moment in the pale moonlight. “The Romans are our friends for the moment, but either we fight now on our terms, or we die later on Caesar’s terms. It is inevitable.”
I nodded slowly. “So . . . the rebels in Veii have won enough support to oust the governor, and turn the city over to us. What about the common people of the city? How will they react to suddenly being a part of the Egyptian empire?”
Atemkah smiled slightly. “I am certain the commoners will be even more eager than their leaders to embrace your rule. Almost half the population of Veii makes the annual pilgrimage to the temple in Heliopolis. A number of them even travel all the way to Thebes herself to worship at our great temple here! Many of the noble families are tied to us through marriage and trade . . . some of our soldiers are even allowed to live in Veii herself, and train with the city garrison!” She smiled confidently. “The city is ours, if we want her.”
Directly across from the palace, at the opposite end of the Street of Song, the Temple of Heaven sat in her majestic beauty. Moonlight gleamed from the pure white marble – marble cut and carted to us from the quarries outside Rome. A gift from Caesar himself, to thank the Egyptian people for supplying the Romans with rich pelts from our southern jungles . . . and now we were to repay him for his friendship with this betrayal. Still, Veii was a fine city, and would bring even more wealth and resources to my empire.
“Very well,” I abruptly announced. “I will fold Veii in my arms, but I am still not certain of the need for war. You must convince me.”
Atemkah nodded obediently, then paused to prepare her thoughts. She followed my gaze, and suddenly pointed toward the temple. “My lord, I will state this as plainly as I can. If we do not take this chance now, then within a few years you will see Roman soldiers burning and pillaging in that very temple. You will see the Street of Song stained with the blood of our own people. It is inevitable. For the time, Caesar has spread his kingdom too thin in his eagerness to expand his control throughout the north. He has founded cities in every available space, but has neglected to properly develop these areas. His military is weak, but it will not remain so for long. The iron mines west of Rome have seen greatly increased activity in recent months, and the first Legion has been trained and outfitted in Rome herself. Given enough time, Caesar will strengthen his forces, and soon his infantry will march down the Merchant Road directly into the heart of our empire. Caesar is too power hungry to do anything else.” She smiled at me sadly. “Not all rulers prefer peace, my lord. Building a temple in each of our cities has made your people happy and wealthy, my lord, but it has also created a tempting prize for our northern neighbors. So . . . we strike first. When Veii turns, it will completely disrupt the Roman government. They will take some time to determine a response, but before they can make a decision, our armies will be on the move. Our elite charioteers in Elephantine are poised to invade the eastern half of the Roman empire. With Veii in our hands, we are only a short step from Rome herself and the grasslands north of Veii will allow our chariots easy passage. Before Caesar knows anything is amiss, his kingdom will be split in half, and his capital will belong to us. Once this initial step is complete, we can take his remaining cities at our leisure. Then the land will belong to us, and you can throw all your energy into building cities which will be the envy of the entire world!”
In the face of her enthusiasm, I could not restrain a smile. “You truly understand me, Atemkah. And you could always convince me to listen to you. You are by far my most trusted advisor, and I will heed your words. Put your plan into motion, then. If we must strike, let us strike hard and fast.”
Atemkah smiled. “You have made a wise decision, my lord. I salute you for your wisdom.” She bowed low, and touched her forehead to the floor. “Now, if you will permit me, I will withdraw to pass word to my agents.”
“No,” I shook my head, and grinned slyly at her. “Tomorrow is soon enough for war. Tonight, I require your expertise in.. another area.”
Atemkah stared in surprise for a moment, then returned my smile. “My lord, it has been so long since you needed my . . . companionship. I thought perhaps your feelings for me had changed.”
I sighed and shook my head. “You know better than that, Atemkah. You know well the pressure the nobles put on me when our son was born four years ago. If I could have taken you as my bride, you know I would have done so. I may be the Supreme Ruler of our empire, but even I cannot blatantly flout generations of tradition and marry a commoner. I have taken care of you as best I could, and kept you as close to me as possible. Do you not realize that many of my nobles cried for your head?” I laughed bitterly at the sudden surprise that bloomed in her lovely eyes. “Yes, its true! They felt that word of this ‘scandal’ might interfere with their desire to have me wed the daughter of Caesar. They demanded I remove you and the boy immediately!”
She shook her head numbly. “But . . . you have fathered other bastards. Why was it so different with me?”
“Atemkah,” I said in exasperation. “You are not that naïve. There is a difference in a child from a concubine and a child from a free woman whom I have publicly admitted to loving. A concubine is accepted and expected, but a free, willing lover . . . “ I shrugged. “That is another matter. Appearances must be maintained.”
We were silent for a time then, as she pondered this revelation. “I did not realize –” she finally said. “I did not know that our lives were actually in danger. How did you . . . save us?”
“That was a simple matter, my love. I held a private audience with the nobles who demanded your death, and I was able to convince them of the depth of my feelings for you. Once they understood that, I was quickly able to make them see that their own health would mirror your own. You would have smiled to see how suddenly your greatest enemies became your staunchest supporters!”
She smiled a little then, but her words were bitter. “So, the stick and the carrot. First you threatened them, and then . . . then you agreed to wed the Roman *****.”
Something in her voice spurred my anger, and I stood abruptly, towering over her. “Yes! I married Caila! Politics demand sacrifices, and that was the price I had to pay to appease my people! They wanted peace, and they wanted strong ties to Rome . . . and that is what they received! I did my duty as a ruler, and I do not care to be questioned for that! How dare you speak to me in such a manner? I would not tolerate such impudence in one of my own children, much less – “ I stopped then, and stood still.
“Much less what, my lord?” she asked. Her eyes were on the floor, but her voice fairly shook with emotion.
“Nothing,” I sighed heavily. My anger was spent as suddenly as it had appeared. “Atemkah, please, let us not fight.” I knelt before her and took her in arms. At first her body was stiff with anger, but gradually she relaxed. “Be with me tonight. We will talk about the past later.” Slowly, her arms rose to embrace me, and her lips met mine . . .
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