Chapter 19

"And you will rehearse your lines before the ceremony, correct?"

Kahmunrah smiled, rewarded by a grimace from his 'teacher.' "Yes, of course, Menet. This will be my coronation; do you believe me so imbecilic as to be capable of ruining it?"

"Wouldn't be the first time," Menet mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." Looming over the young man as he feigned interest in his scrolls, Menet rumbled, "Your maturity precedes you, as you may guess. After that little incident in the alleyway... Never before had I realized how much your father's legacy is at stake."

Don't remind me, Kahmunrah hissed inwardly. No words would appease his uncle's bullying (for it was bullying. No one else dared speak to him in such a manner!) He could tell by Menet's subtle sneers and whispers his uncle understood the predicament too well- with the king dying, there was no one else as qualified to tutor the heir than the Grand Vizier. What his brother must be enduring he could only guess; whatever Ahk was suffering, it could only pale in comparison to his own.

"Let us review the history of our beloved kingdom, beginning from the First Dynasty."

Oh no, no no no no. Not this again! A bucket in the corner offered tempting salvation, however dire the consequences may be...

Seti nudged his shoulder. "Come now, Kah, it was merely friendly bantering. I think he's finally accepting you as the heir!"

"After my latest stunt? I doubt it."

His cousin smirked. "Well, perhaps not with a bucket full of dye dripping off his head. Was that really the best response you could think of? Not that I oppose- I think it looked rather fashionable on him. I might have been more creative, though."

"Hmph!"

"Seriously, Kah. I know my father has a long memory; dowsing him in the latest color fashion might not have been wise. Or sane."

Kahmunrah shrugged. "Perhaps not, but it was entertaining while it lasted."

Seti laughed, picturing his dad coated in dye and dripping it all over the castle. Then he remembered who did the laundry in their household. "I didn't get you into trouble with him, did I?" Kahmunrah cast a worried look his way.

Don't you always? "Not at all- I enjoy scrubbing out his undies. You made my night more interesting, that's all."

Kahmunrah cringed.

"It's fine, Kah, really- I'm never on that man's good side, anyway. Don't let father get to you. He's just livid he's not in line for the throne."

"Who isn't? Everyone covets what we have. If only they knew the challenges behind the prestige."

Ha! As if that would deter him- he already knows. "What, you mean it takes work to be a king?" Seti feigned shock.

"Well, how else do you think I maintain my handsome appearance?" Kahmunrah preened, striking a pose that would have put a harem lady to shame.

Seti disguised his smirk with an eye roll. "That's what you call your face? I though it was the rear end of an ass!" He shrieked as Kahmunrah threw a fistful of dirt at him and gave chase. "My guards will string you up and-!" Kahmunrah roared. Only Seti knew the threat was false.

An hour later, having chased each other almost to the sand dunes, Seti asked, "Want to go torment your darling brother? I haven't had that kind of fun for half a year!"

Kahmunrah reared away as if he'd sprouted three heads. "Why would I purposefully seek out baby brother? He's probably in his bedroom, entertaining some servant or whoever is gullible enough to remain in his presence."

"Aw, that is cruel, even for you! Admit it, you're annoyed he had to save your drunken self."

Kahmunrah glared at him, all traces of playfulness vanquished. "You are not to tell anyone about that incident! No one beyond the family- and Menet already lords it over my head."

"There there now, we've been over this, I won't! I promised, remember? Why so nervous? Your father is hunting for the perpetrators, and no one else need know of your... Incapacity."

Kahmunrah harrumphed, unconvinced. "Your tongue has spread more fires than wood and oil!"

"And yours has been down more ladies' throats than I care to imagine!"

An improvised wresting match began.

"Have you seen your brother lately? I thought you'd been more appreciative of your company since..."

"I saved his life? Yes, he was. Then we found out about Father." Ahkmenrah glared into the green, glossy depths of the Nile, tossing a pebble across it; the ripples shredded across its smooth surface like scars against skin. "Now I barely see him anymore. I understand- he has duties, lessons, tasks he must complete before his coronation. Before Father..." He trailed off.

Ahkmenrah's manservant lay a comforting hand upon his shoulder. The prince bit his lip, already regretting his decision to confide in Muruk; the family had sworn secrecy, yet he'd blurted out everything after a single teary-eyed session! Thank the gods Muruk had been the only one around. He knew his friend would keep his secret, but he doubted he himself could for much longer. "It will be all right, Ahkmenrah. Your parents will figure it all out. Your brother will be king; you know your role."

"Do I? I am of little use of late, beyond dancing. And even that I can only do poorly."

"I doubt anyone would agree with you after your performance yesterday. Some of the best harem dancers were not as graceful as you!"

Ahkmenrah blushed. "You only say so because you are my servant; you cannot say anything against me."

Muruk wiggled his eyebrows. "Perhaps, but there is one quality you might lack."

Ahkmenrah looked up in surprise. "And that is?"

"Your fighting skills." He almost swallowed his own tongue- he was speaking to a prince! Ahkmenrah was known for being lenient- the entire royal house was- but that must have been taking it too far. Mocking one descended from the gods!..

"Are you suggesting I lack that single essential skill? After rescuing my brother?" Was Ahkmenrah smirking? No, he could not be...

"Um, what I meant-"

"Are you challenging me?"

"Err-"

"Challenge accepted." Ahkmenrah beamed. A most welcome distraction!

Muruk silently cursed himself- his mother had warned him against bluntness, "As you command, Your Highness." He failed to notice the prince beaming.

The clanging of metal on metal disrupted Kahmunrah's and Seti's 'battle.' "Who would be training this time in the evening?" Kahmunrah panted.

"Probably some fanatics. Knew you weren't the only one, Kah!"

"Come, perhaps we could join them!" Kahmunrah ran off in the direction of the noises.

Both froze when they reached the arena. "Is that your brother? He's looking pretty good out there," Seti said.

"Yes," Kahmunrah couldn't disagree. Not anymore.

In all his hours of helping Ahkmenrah train, he had never seen him smiling while doing it. That smile could ignite Ra's rays! And he had rarely seen it... Kahmunrah knew he'd been the cause for its disappearance too many times for him to care to remember. Yet here some playmate dueling with him, making him laugh! Ahkmenrah was a prince, for the gods' sake! Why should he be associating with the staff? Then again, he was not fighting just anyone; he recognized Muruk as one of his personal servants, one of precious few people Ahkmenrah ever spoke to. He'd once upon teased Ahk about that, claiming they were 'brothers from different mothers,' but looking at them now, he had not recognized how true that statement had become. Rather opposite of what he and Ahk had grown to be, but that mattered little.

"Come on, Let's join them! I'm sure Ahkmenrah could use more practice," Seti urged. He looked ready to leap down there were it not for his cousin's hesitancy.

"Maybe later," Kahmunrah mumbled. If he focused on Muruk's rougher qualities, perhaps he could extinguish jealousy's ting from his soul.

Hello, my lovely readers!

Just in case I don't get another chance to, I'm wishing you all happy holidays now! Enjoy the most of what this season has to offer! ^.^