From the Tomb of Lahmizzash Yak'reb, East Wall, Burial Chamber, Section 11D
"King Lahmizzash and his allies breached the foul tomb of x-x-x-x, sealed within the great blasphemy. They sought to bring out x-x-x-x and execute him along with his subordinates. Alas, when the sarcophagus was opened, a swarm of foul beetles was all that was inside. x-x-x-x was nowhere to be found. Furious, King Lahmizzash summoned his best hunters and trackers and said unto them: 'Seek x-x-x-x; murderer, betrayer, bane of Nehekara. Bring him here or bring proof of his death. This is my last order to you, for this task shall complete your careers or occupy you until death.'"
The main avenue of Numas was lined with the forward troops of King Settra's army. They stood at crisp attention while Lahmizzash and Settra passed in Setta's grand chariot. The company of Ubaid's soldiers were not to be seen, nor were any remaining on the walls. King Settra took no chances- no enemy soldier was to have any possible chance at his person. Lahmizzash understood that paranoia, but found it to be limiting, as a king who only entered perfectly safe situations was a prisoner of his own title. Yet he was not about to tell King Settra his views in regards to that.
The chariot came to a rumbling stop outside the grain silo which so recently became the prison of King Ubaid of Numas. King Settra's soldiers were swarming the area- hundreds of tomb guard stood about, clad in the teal of Settra's house. Their weapons at the ready. King Settra indicated that Lahmizzash should dismount ahead of him, and so he did, turning his back to King Settra and stepping off first. Settra followed, obviously not fully trusting Lahmizzash in this situation, even now.
Lahmizzash lead the way into silo, and found the little office and the hallways also filled with Settra's soldiers. The storage room was no different, except the four guardsmen in House Yak'reb's blue and gold standing close around the seated Ubaid, their blades at Ubaid's throat, unwilling to surrender their prisoner to Settra's soldiers.
King Settra let out a barely audible sigh of satisfaction, then strode ahead of Lahmizzash towards Ubaid. The last drippings of suspicion finally leaving King Settra, allowing his back to face Lahmizzash in genuine confidence. As Settra neared Ubaid, Lahmizzash motioned for his soldiers to give way- they did so.
Ubaid shrank from his impromptu throne and slid to his knees on the ground as King Settra approached. "Glorious King Settra, please understand- I- I- was not standing against you, but gathering more soldiers to better serve you! I didn't intend to resist your command, but- it was Lahmizzash! I didn't know his soldiers were yours! I was defending your city against-"
King Settra moved like a snake- his sword sung from its scabbard and whispered through the still air. King Ubaid's severed head popped upwards like a child's ball, then rolled to a quick stop in the sand on the floor. Ubaid's face held a look of shock and terror for a moment, then he began emitting ear-jarring screeches.
"Yes, I remember what that moment is like," said Khant from atop Lahmizzash's staff.
King Settra picked up Ubaid's screaming head like a melon at the market. "SILENCE!" he yelled, but Ubaid was beyond sanity at the moment- his screaming got louder. In disgust, King Settra tossed the screaming head to one of his soldiers. "Get it out of here! Bury him in the sand until he stops screaming, then bring him back to me!" The soldier quickly exited the room. The screaming head could be heard even as the soldier carried it down the street outside.
King Settra stuck a foot under the limp body of Ubaid and kicked it aside. He glanced up at the umbrella which shaded Ubaid's seat, sneered in disgust, then tore it down with his bare hands. The Nehekaran sun blazed down upon King Settra, his golden sphinx crown gleaming with his armor. He turned and sat in Ubaid's former throne, immediately taking on a regal air- he looked extremely satisfied. Lahmizzash knew that feeling; the success of a campaign, the end of a constant worry, the realization of the additional power and safety that a new subservient throne provided.
"Tell me now; of the other details of your venture last night. Tell me of this rat man and his tunnels."
"Certainly, my King. However, please first allow my guard to lead a company of your men to the tomb we utilized to enter the city. Four of my men remained below to keep the skaven prisoner, and it is infested with ghouls."
"Those pests! They will outlive us all." Settra pointed at one of his guard. "You, take two companies and go to this tomb. Cleanse it, find the opening underground, and secure it. Do so until I order otherwise."
The indicated guard saluted and exited the silo at a fast pace. Lahmizzash turned to his own guard whom were standing near the rear wall of the room. He inclined his head and two of the soldiers moved off, too. After their exit, the room became silent. Lahmizzash stood respectfully in the center as King Settra gazed at him with a sort of benign curiosity.
"You meant it all, didn't you?" said the King of Kings, "All that rubbish about 'allowing yourself to serve me'- it was not rubbish at all. I see it now. I did not believe it- but here I sit in Numas, and you delivered it to me, as I asked. You are a true believer in the mythos my Mortuary Cult weaved for me. Yet you know I am just a man. I know you do. You are not dazzled by that propaganda. So… why? Why not seek the crown of Khemri, as is your right?"
"You built our civilization- I was but a steward. Yes, you were but a man, like me, but we both desire a strong Nehekara. It seems that will require the sword, and that is certainly your specialty over mine. I do not wish to deny all power, but all that I need and desire can be attained in service to you, King Settra. You will not serve, but I am more flexible."
King Settra and Lord Lahmizzash shared a long, appraising gaze- each with their tapestries of title, culture, and history flung away in the sight of the other: two old men, ironically youthful again in undeath, accustomed to power, burdened by the endless labor that leading a kingdom requires. In that brief moment, they were not kings, lords, monsters- but two souls of similar experience, two ordinary people dressed up, like all the world were a piece of theatre, and only they two could see it. They saw each other and laughed, briefly, together- then the spell was broken.
"You will be King of Numas," said King Settra, "I need to take the city of Zandri and the shipyards there. It takes too cursed long to walk everywhere. Meanwhile, you will solidify this city in my Name."
Lahmizzash nodded. "As you wish, but may I ask, I wish to see to my family still buried in my tomb."
"Yes, yes, Nekthop was quite angry with you, but his acolytes are doing as you ask. Zandri is currently held by some northerners- I understand it to be a token force and they are unfit for life in Nehekara as it is now. I will return, victorious, to Khemri in two months. When you are done here, do as you see fit with the rest of that time, but be in Khemri when I return."
"Yes, my king," said Lahmizzash.
"That reminds me: Nekthop and his cultists are very interested in the Erased Name. Perhaps here in Numas or your tomb, you can find more information for them. They are insistent that it is important."
Lahmizzash vaguely remembered King Settra saying something about an "erased name" when they first met, but it had been meaningless then, as well. "The Erased Name?"
"A scratched-out name, a person, or persons, erased from Nehekaran history. You will see it if you look for it- all the carvings and histories of a certain period have names eliminated from them. Judging by how often these vandalisms appear, this person or whomever was important enough to be mentioned in tombs and scrolls across Khemri- if so there, likely here in Numas, too. In fact, your lifespan falls within that time period of edited history. Do you remember anyone who sinned so much as to be erased?"
To be erased from history? Lahmizzash was astonished that such a thing would even be attempted. "I do not, and I'm amazed that such a thing would be undertaken."
King Settra grunted. "It is a scholarly sort of vengeance, to be sure. I fail to see the point. Regardless, if you come across any information... the Cult seems to think it might be important."
"I will do so immediately."
"Good." said King Settra.