About this book:

"The Scribe of Hattusa" chronicles the journey of Hanni, a young apprentice scribe in the Hittite capital, as he uncovers a vast conspiracy that threatens to unravel the empire's diplomatic integrity. Initially tasked with mundane copying, Hanni's keen eye leads him to discover irregularities in the royal archive's western correspondence, particularly suspicious Arzawan clay tablets and mismatched seal impressions. His findings expose a deliberate manipulation of historical records, designed to provoke conflict with the kingdom of Arzawa and undermine Queen Pudu-Hepa's conciliatory diplomatic efforts.

The conspiracy, orchestrated by high-ranking military advisor Armaziti and executed through his agents Kupapa (a former queen's attendant) and Murta (a supposedly deceased master seal carver), involved the suppression of the queen's peace-offering letter and the introduction of forged documents to justify an aggressive stance against Arzawa. The plot culminates in a devastating fire that guts the outer archive, an attempt to destroy all evidence. However, Hanni, guided by the cautious Chief Scribe Zida and the astute diplomat Tarhunta, manages to save crucial documents, including fragments of the queen's hidden letter and evidence of a counterfeit royal seal.

The discovery of the forged seal, painstakingly crafted by Murta to mislead the Arzawan envoy Piyama-Radu, forces the king to convene a public inquiry. Through Hanni's detailed testimony and the confession of another implicated scribe, Tarkasnawa, the full scope of Armaziti's network is revealed, extending from hidden palace chambers to Kaska mountain tribes. The inquiry exposes the systemic corruption within the palace's record-keeping and highlights the profound danger of unchallenged power over the written word.

In the aftermath, the Hittite court undergoes significant reform. Armaziti, Kupapa, and Tarkasnawa face judgment, and the king approves the creation of a "double archive" system—a decentralized method of record-keeping with duplicate copies stored in separate, secure locations—to safeguard against future manipulation. Hanni, now elevated to Scribe of the Royal Seal, becomes a key guardian of this new system, dedicated to maintaining the integrity of all official documents. The book concludes with Hanni's realization that the archive's endurance relies not on its physical indestructibility but on the unwavering vigilance and honesty of the scribes who serve it, ensuring that truth, however fragile, will always find a way to emerge from concealment.