Chapter One

"Two Ships in the Night"

Seti's Palace

Thebes, Egypt

1307 BC

The day was hot, as it usually was within the Two Lands and the sun was relentless. Workers strived to meet their deadlines, sweating from the infernal heat, which beat down on their golden city of Thebes. Pharaoh Seti I had ordered that a new monument be constructed in his likeness before the entrance to his grand palace. The unfortunate workers could be seen lifting and pulling huge blocks of stone every which way by the hundreds. Many of them staggered from the ungodly heat, as well as from exhaustion, but somehow they managed to hold on to what little strength they still possessed, while others chiseled away pieces of the stone.

A young boy followed closely behind his father through the halls of the palace, passing by the many ill-fated slaves, who labored below. Neither took any pity on these workers. It was common to see such a display and it was none of their concern what these men did, for their status was far greater than any common man's.

The elder, walked with silent determination, a serious air about him. He was somewhere within his early to mid thirties, but still managed to appear younger than he actually was. His duties were to his pharaoh and to the gods above and below, but mainly he was High Priest to Osiris, and keeper of the dead. He was tall, at least six feet in height and his head completely bald. His body was strong, golden skinned, and donned in a long, black robe with an ornamental necklace of a scarab beetle accompanying it. His son quickened his pace to catch up.

Imhotep was smaller than his father, but being only fourteen, he would no doubt eventually outgrow him, for he was already tall for his age. His head, also bald in the customary Egyptian tradition, glistened in the sun's rays, as he made his way through the halls, dressed in his black loincloth, which stopped just above his knees. He was slightly built, thin, and very handsome for his age. Many said he looked much like his father. In his hands, he carried the sacred scrolls needed for the daily ceremonies at the Temple of Osiris, located just outside the palace grounds. Imhotep helped his father out usually every day at the temple. It appeared that he was destined to follow in his father's footsteps; there could be no other obvious path for him to take.

The two of them carefully made their way down the many steps, which led out of the palace, taking them into the masses of commoners who roamed about the palace grounds. Amidst them, Imhotep saw his friend, Asim, leaning up against a wall all by himself with a look of sheer annoyance upon his face. This made Imhotep smirk, but just then his father groaned, interrupting his amusements.

"Imhotep, wait here. I have an errand for which I have forgotten. I must go to pick up some more papyrus from my dear friend, Jahi. I will return shortly, My Son," said Hamadi, as he quickly turned and headed back up the long staircase.

Now alone, Imhotep wasted no time and made his way over to Asim, relieved that he could actually have a few minutes of freedom.

Asim was a Med-jai warrior and a year older than he. He wore all black from head to toe and wielded a scimitar, among whatever other weapons lay beneath his flowing robes. He had long been a good friend of Imhotep's, even teaching him how to fight, though that fact had had to be kept secret from Imhotep's father. In his opinion, no son of his was going to partake in such a barbaric course of action.

" Imhotep, " Asim greeted his friend, somehow forcing a smile to come to his usual seriously clad face. "It is nice to see you again, My Friend. Though I wish you had caught me at a better time. Unfortunately, as of today, I have been assigned to guarding the princess," he exclaimed rather dryly. Imhotep gave him a confused look.

"And what is so bad about that? You should be honored to receive such an assignment at your age."

"No, it is not that I am ungrateful, My Friend. It is a great honor that the pharaoh bestows upon me to guard his eldest daughter, but… I would much rather be off spending my time elsewhere. There are far better things than babysitting some spoiled princess," he said.

Imhotep nodded. He understood; his friend had never been one to take the lying down and getting stuck watching a ten year old probably was at the bottom of his list for adventure.

Their attention was suddenly turned when a series of screams came echoing from around the corner of the building. Asim and Imhotep shared a look and immediately darted off in the direction from whence it came.

Asim drew his scimitar and readied himself for a fight, running out just ahead of Imhotep; however, the excitement soon died down for him upon his arrival, for before them was a very heartfelt scene, quite different from what they had anticipated.

A little girl of about seven stood before her parents in absolute tears. She was pleading with them desperately, as behind, some soldiers stood only a few feet away in wait for something. Imhotep and Asim listened carefully to what was being said.

"Mother, please do not leave! Why are you doing this! Please! Do not go!" cried the little girl, in hysterics. She latched on to the bottom of her mother's tattered dress as if it would ensure her stay.

The woman was at a loss for words. She turned and looked her husband in the eyes, while hers were welled up with tears. Her face looked tired and worn for such a young woman, it was obvious she was upset and judging by the looks of the whole family, they were also pretty poor.

"Garai, must we really go through with this?" she asked with a look of hope that maybe he would change his mind, call this whole thing off, and go on home, though she knew in her heart that this was the way that things had to be.

Her husband lowered his eyes and slowly let out a breath. This was one of the hardest things that he had ever had to do, even harder than the constant scraping for food that he had to go through day after day, never knowing where the next meal would come from. He slowly opened his eyes and brought his gaze to meet his dear wife's. He too seemed at a loss for words for the longest moment, but then somewhere found the courage to speak what must be said.

"I am so sorry, my love, but my dear Dalila, we have no more money. I cannot find any work. Our crops have failed and our home is so small. We cannot give our daughter the life that she needs and deserves. The plague that is spreading through our village has already claimed our dear Nailah and Auset."

He ceased a moment as the words he had just spoken rested in their minds, a painful reminder. His wife's face became even more heartbroken as she thought of her two daughters, her precious little ones. How young they had been.

"I do not wish the same fate for our eldest and only remaining child," he continued. "We have already discussed this at least a dozen times. You know this. It is the only way. I know that it is hard, but we are doing this for her, for her future."

Dalila nodded and fought back the tears, she did not wish for her daughter to see her like this, to remember her in this way. She had to be strong for her.

She carefully knelt down so that she was eye level with her little one and placed a hand on each of her shoulders. Looking her in the eyes, she spoke, "Anck-su-namun…please, listen to me. We love you! We love you so much…never forget that…" Her voice began to falter and she had to stop a second to look up at the sky for strength before returning back to her daughter's gaze.

"Your father and I have to go away. These nice men are going to take you to your new home." She pointed to the soldiers standing off to the side. Anck-su-namun looked back at her mother with the most hurtful look upon her face. How could they do this?

Dalila began to adjust her daughter's dress as if to make her look more presentable in the little rags that she wore. She gazed at her with so much love, but Anck-su-namun only stared back with tears in her eyes and a look of abandonment. She did not and could not fully understand why her parents were doing this. They said they loved her, but then why were they leaving her?

"Mother, I do not understand," she whispered as the tears began to fall again as she stuck out a quivering lip. Dalila quickly wiped the tears away from her tiny face and brushed the hair out of her eyes. She saw herself in her little girl's eyes; she resembled her in so many ways, right down to the very last drop. Dalila took in a deep breath, just barely catching herself from losing all control. It was like the Great God Anubis was standing before her to claim her last remaining child. Though she knew she would live, it felt like she was gone.

Dalila finally gave into her grief, giving Anck-su-namun the tightest, longest hug that she had ever given anyone in her life. It seemed like an eternity that she held onto her and she gladly would have, but eternity could never be and she would have to let go. Garai placed his hand upon her shoulder. It was time.

She ended the embrace and looked deeply at Anck-su-namun, for the last time, as if to memorize her every feature before she rose. Garai looked down at Anck-su-namun, he longed to hold her one last time, but he knew if he did, he might not have the strength to let her go, and so he only smiled at her, but Anck-su-namun did not smile back.

Taking a final breath, he stepped toward the soldiers and signaled for them that it was time. They nodded and made their way toward the girl, each grabbing her by an arm. Dalila quickly spun her head away in absolute tears, placing her face into her husband's chest.

"Ny!" screamed the little girl with all her heart and soul. She was now hysterical, kicking and screaming with all her might. She kicked one of her captors and bit down on the other one's hand before making a break for her parents, but found them missing from where she had last seen them. She looked around frantically, only to find that they were gone. Desperately, she searched for someone, anyone who could help her, and that was when she saw the two young boys, standing there silently. She ran to them and falling to her knees she looked up to Imhotep.

"Please! Please help me! Take me back to my parents! Tell me where they are! I will be good, I promise! Please! PLEASE!"

Her tears drowned out her pleas. Imhotep just looked down at her, completely stunned. He didn't know what to say to her. Her eyes seemed to be boring into his very soul; she looked at him with so much intensity. His father had never been particularly close to him, and his mother, Femi, had died giving birth, so he himself could never understand her pain; however, he felt so sorry for her. It was almost like he could feel her pain. He almost wished it were him going through such an ordeal. She was just so desperate and…heartbroken.

His thoughts were interrupted; however, when the two soldiers, having recovered, came to carry her away once again. One came around the side and grabbed her by the shoulders and the other by the feet. They weren't going to take the chance of another "attack."

Asim and Imhotep could only stare as Anck-su-namun was carried off into the palace, crying for them to help her.

"Another present for Seti," stated Asim, shaking his head. He had to admit, even he felt sorry for this one. "At least, when she is old enough."

"Imhotep!"

Imhotep quickly turned around and saw that his father was calling to him. He had apparently retrieved the papyrus for the day's practices at the temple.

Imhotep turned back to Asim, " I have to go. Temple duty. Good luck with your princess. I shall see you again, My Friend," he called back as he ran toward his father.