Chapter Explanations:
-I struggled to find an accurate military hierarchy in Ancient Egypt, and so I simply decided to use the military ranks of the current Egyptian army. For senior officers only and from the highest rank to the lowest:
Commander-in-Chief - Field Marshal - General - Lieutenant General - Major General - Brigadier General - Colonel - Lieutenant Colonel - Major/Commandant - Captain - First Lieutenant - Second Lieutenant.
-Little reminder: Horus, God of order and Pharaohs, is in Egyptian mythology the eternal rival of his uncle Seth, God of disorder and storms. In this context, the rare times when a thunderstorm broke out in Egypt, it was said that Horus was facing his uncle Seth during yet another confrontation.
"So we have eighteen companies of 250 men each, grouped into four divisions themselves counting over 5.000 men, as well as two supply ships that can also hold around 250 men each, which gives us an army of 20.000 men in all. "
"With the strong possibility that Kerma will outnumber us by at least 5.000 more troops? "
"Yes, your Majesty. "
"I see. Good job. "
Ahmes bowed respectfully at his words and took a few steps back to leave the young king to his thoughts. He was still unaware of the reason for his presence in this place, he a simple second in command who only rubbed shoulders with the high ranking officers on very rare occasions found himself suddenly fast-tracked to the title of adviser to the Pharaoh. He couldn't be there. He was not to be there. If the general Neheb ever learned that he had overstepped his rank and thus appropriated his place, he would not give much for his life.
I'm probably gonna be lynched in the public square...
He was completely overtaken by the situation, and at that very moment, trapped in the apartments of his sovereign, the pressure was only becoming a little more overwhelming. If he had feared for his life for a moment when the personal guard of the king of Egypt had burst into his garrison to force him out of it, he now deeply regretted not having refused to follow them. It made no sense to him, what could he report to the Pharaoh that the latter did not already know? And what kind of military strategy could he possibly need to learn when he happened to be endowed with an analytical intelligence beyond that of the greatest army chiefs in history?
Turning his head, the commandant found himself observing a sun shining brightly in the azure sky. Noon had just struck, and with it, six hours had passed. Six long hours he'd spent indiscriminately explaining everything he knew about the enemy's tactics and the terrain they were going to fight on rather than training the troops and organising the baggage train.
"Commandant? " suddenly called a voice near him.
"Hmm? " he mumbled absentmindedly before realising his mistake and abruptly turning his gaze to the young king, stammering awkwardly: "I-I mean… your Greatness? "
But the sovereign did not seem to take offence at his fault and, straightening up on his seat, began to say calmly:
"I guess you're wondering why I wanted to see you specifically. And the reason for this is quite simple; I recently decided to change some attributions within the command, attributions by which you are of course directly concerned. For you to adapt to your new functions as quickly as possible, I have chosen to let you know right away rather than going through, let's say, more official means. I believe that the responsibilities that will become yours following my announcement will offer us a clear advantage over our enemies for the battle ahead. "
"I am at the command of my king and god. " Ahmes replied apprehensively.
"Commandant, I have decided to appoint you as the head of the Ptah and Thoth divisions. " declared Atem in a firm and final tone.
"The Ptah and Thoth divisions?! But my Pharaoh, these regiments are under the responsibility of the Lieutenant General! "
"That is to say Mahad, who also happens to be my Field Marshal. Yes, I am fully aware of that. " the Pharaoh indicated with a slight smile as if seeking to comfort the soldier whose features were already drawn in worry. "However, given the information that I keep receiving since the proclamation of this war, it seems obvious to me that your role should not be limited to simple logistic management. "
Well, blow me down!
The young king's news caught him off guard, and he took another step back, lowering his head to the ground in confusion. In front of him, Atem was watching him with his forehead wrinkled, his head tilted to the side, probably waiting for an answer. But things weren't that simple.
At least not in the world he lived in.
A sovereign barely mature to ascend the throne, yet too young to go to the battlefield, had no idea of the habits and customs of a regiment. He was ignorant of the loyalty and consideration of an infantryman to his hierarchy or of a leader to his troops. What would the others say? What would they think of him? While he had spent years building himself a reputation, that he had sweated blood and tears to always follow orders without ever offending either his superiors or the gods he believed in...
He just couldn't… not if he wanted to retain the respect of his hierarchy, not if he expected for his troops to continue to obey him and to look at him with admiration.
"Majesty... " he articulated hesitantly, unsure of what to do next.
"You have served this army faithfully since you joined its ranks. You have shown yourself worthy of the greatness of Egypt. I have no doubts about your success at the helm of these divisions. " the Pharaoh praised him with a nod, and Ahmes felt even more overwhelmed.
"Why me? " he enquired at once, raising an inquisitive glance at the young king who huffed with amusement at the question.
"Do you want the truth? I don't have time to waste doubting any information I will receive because it will come from people I don't fully trust. " revealed Atem, waving a hand in the air with indifference. "You're of a rare liveliness, Commandant Ahmes, much more than one might think at first glance. I noticed it right away. And with this liveliness of yours, you must have noticed the flaws that exist within this army. "
"I wouldn't call them flaws strictly speaking. "
"Yet that's what they are. And they are as much of a burden for my reign as an obvious disadvantage for the war which is brewing. "
"Despite this, one cannot doubt the many victories that this army brought to the kingdom. "
"Nothing is that simple, Commandant. So far, I have respected the tradition and have ignored the excesses, but I would not accept under any circumstances that these latter undermine my success. Lives are at stake. My crown is at stake, and I did not survive the darkness itself to be dethroned by a pseudo queen of disproportionate ambition! "
Biting his lip in embarrassment, the commandant shook his head deferentially, approached the sovereign, moved the chair all the way to his left to sit on it, and took a deep breath before finally expressing his thought.
He seemed to have changed completely, from a timid and fearful soldier to a mature, confident man, his more self-assured and sharp demeanour attesting to such a metamorphosis. In his cinnamon pupils, Atem could read the tenderness of a father face to his child's silliness. In his cinnamon pupils, the Pharaoh could see the wisdom of a man who had escaped despair countless times and who now sought to instil that wisdom into the incompetent king that he was.
"You want to put words on things? Very well. Yes, General Neheb tends to take credit for others' victories out of thirst for glory. And some regiments are far from not being guilty of theft and murder simply for the lure of profit. If you look for the perfect army, it doesn't exist. But if you accept to ignore what cannot be changed and concentrate your efforts on what deserves to be changed, then, indeed, you will have the greatest army there is, and you will crush your enemies with as much bravery and greatness as any of your predecessors. "
"And what do you suggest in this regard? " asked the young king while raising an eyebrow, puzzled.
"If the fact that the Field Marshal Mahad and I exchanged positions on the battlefield allows you to better focus on the manoeuvres to be undertaken, then so be it, I accept. As long as it is temporary and you promise me I'll get my former title back when this war is over. If I ever had to become a Lieutenant General, I would prefer it to be because I would have stood out on the battlefield. "
"And after that? "
"You let me handle things my way. I do not promise you a miracle, but if you do trust me, I shall prove my allegiance to you. "
Atem sighed while standing up, approaching the balcony and leaning nonchalantly against the doorframe, a thin smile on his lips and his arms crossed on his chest.
"Does that seem good enough to you? " he questioned loud-mouthed, surprising the soldier who suddenly stood up as he recognised the figure emerging from behind the wall and revealing himself through the satin curtains.
"Quite good, yes. " Seth acquiesced, sharing the Pharaoh's smile, his hand resting on the head of his millennium rod hanging on his belt.
"High Priest... "
"Now that I can be sure to count on the second Major General, all that remains is to convince Mahad. "
"Do you think it will be easy? " asked the sovereign, pouting.
"Knowing him? " Seth said sarcastically, his gaze still on the commandant Ahmes who remained dumbfounded in front of the two cousins. "You better call on Shimon to temper him... "
##########
The darkness enshrouded Abydos, the black clouds in the grey skies forming a misshapen mass concealing the divine light of Ra and casting an ominous shadow over the mortuary city of Osiris. The waters of the Nile were choppy, rising with each gust of wind that was picking up before crashing against the harbour ramparts in small-scale destructive waves.
Silent, the city was standing still, traders stopping their business, tourists shortening their tour, fishermen hauling their nets up and hurrying out of the river out of control. Frightened, the inhabitants were trying to find refuge in any building that could accommodate them, from houses to temples, and waited patiently while watching in terror as Horus and Seth were clashing, praying that order will triumph over chaos and that peace will return on earth as in heaven.
An icy cold ran through her body, and she tightened around her shoulders the linen sheet that served as a shawl. Her gaze scanned the surroundings of the market with concern, and letting out an inaudible sigh as she was turning round, she strode away from the window.
"This may delay our departure a bit longer. "
"How cynical of you! Are you so unafraid of the gods? "
"Unafraid of the gods? No, but I fear e'en more teh be abused by these third-rate nobles an' never see me daughter again! "
"You're exaggerating. They got us this far, didn't they? "
"And who tells yeh they're not goin' to abandon us 'ere, Shani? Yeh saw as I did tha' this emissary would rather take care o' anythin' else but us! "
Tiye frowned as she was sitting back down on the bunk she shared with Rana. This sort of speech was not unusual for Khaba. Teana's father had never trusted the upper-class people, often telling anyone who would listen that nobles like members of the royal palace were nothing but lies, hypocrisy and betrayal.
Closing her eyes for a second, she refrained herself from looking on the outside again, and argued in a soft, calm voice:
"Whether he likes it or not, he has to do his duty. What would happen to him if he returned to the capital without us? "
"What if this is exactly what they're lookin' fer?! " Khaba exclaimed defensively. "What if they wanted teh get rid o' us so tha' they could continue to exploit our children?! "
"What on earth are you talking about?! You've completely lost your mind! "
"Yer too naive, Rana! They owe 'em a debt after havin' been saved an' housed by the palace! "
"Silence! "
The scream echoed through the four walls of the room with a crash, ending their argument before it had even started. They then looked up at the person standing in the doorway and held their breath at the sight of the messenger standing there, his face twisted with anger and some kind of deep annoyance.
They felt like children caught in the act after having tried to steal a loaf of bread. Lowering their heads in one motion, they gathered in a semicircle around the emissary and waited in fear for the latter to open his mouth.
"The storm prevents all boats from going down the Nile. However, I have spoken to sailors who have docked recently, and it seems that the bad weather only centres on the Valley of the Kings up to Akhmim. "
Realising immediately that the slightest complaint to this incongruous situation would get them in some trouble, Tiye leaned against Shani's shoulder to her left and squeezed it forcefully. The latter nodded discreetly in agreement and grabbed her husband's hand to keep him from reacting too violently.
"What's— " ended up stammering Khaba, biting his lip and clenching his fist. "What does this mean teh us? "
Raising an eyebrow in surprise at the more calm demeanour of his charges, the emissary allowed himself to relax a little more, explaining in a tone, however, still curt:
"This leaves us with two choices: either we continue to go up the Nile on foot to Tjebu to finally embark towards Khemet, which would lengthen the trip by at least two to three days, or we wait for the storm to pass and for the shipping lanes to be traversable again. "
"And how long can a storm like this last? " Rana dared to ask, anxious.
"The gods alone know it. From a few hours to a few days... "
"And... it is up to us to decide? "
"At your convenience. "
Tiye's amethyst pupils lost themselves in those of her companions, searching for a choice to a decision she didn't feel the strength to make. A single mistake could separate her from her son for longer than she already had been. She didn't know what was right to do. She didn't understand what kind of test the gods were giving her? Hadn't she mourned Heba's disappearance enough? Hadn't she already felt helpless and useless enough…? Unable to protect her own flesh and blood like Isis had known to do it with Horus to protect him from the dangers of the mortal world.
Preferring to remain quiet, she closed her eyelids and contented herself to pray. Pray that this choice was the right one and that very quickly, she could hug her boy in her arms…
"Let's hit the road without further delay! "
##########
He tightened his grip around the inverted pyramid, bringing it close to his chest in an almost overprotective gesture. His trembling, sweaty hands were slipping over the smooth, unadulterated gold, and his wildly pounding heart prevented him from focusing enough on it to not let it escape.
This feeling. This despair fed by defeat. He knew it all too well. It fuelled his rage, brought out his worst sides. He was not called the darkness king for anything. He had the habit of making good use of that nickname. To make it a weapon and a shield against both enemies and allies. He was, after all, a god among men who owed to be as much feared as respected. But now, when that feeling had once been his strength, he had grown to dread it.
May the gods forgive his cowardice for the darkness terrified him now.
Nothing would ever be worse than what he had to face in the first years of his reign, and yet he came to regret his courage of old. He, the chosen king of heaven. The one that prophecies had for centuries predicted the arrival… Something suddenly shattered inside him. As if his soul had been scattered in a thousand pieces which he was now responsible for finding back.
He gripped the object a little more firmly between his fingers, closing his eyes forcefully. He felt like he was trapped, locked in the labyrinth of his mind, trying to find the way out among billions of doors hiding deadly content. An endless void had created in him, sucking memories and feelings, to leave him with nothing.
He needed a light. The light holding the key to his lonely soul. The one able to collect his memories, to open the much sought-after door, to show him the way to the truth. Only one being in this world had such power, such influence over him. Only one...
Atem opened his eyes again, abruptly untightening the millennium puzzle which began to hang in a rocking motion around his neck. Above him, the hot sun and the dry air warmed his limbs frozen by fear and uncertainty.
Nothing can be worse than Bakura…Nothing can be worse than Kul Elna…Nothing can be worse than betrayal and lies… It won't happen again, you made sure of it…
Repeating these words one more time, he eventually turned back, leaving the balcony behind and rejoining his throne on which he settled with presence and authority. It was time to give up the frail and sensitive boy's role and put on the mask of the stable and serene sovereign. He couldn't afford to show his weaknesses and risk losing the trust he had been given after his coronation.
All of sudden, the great doors of the throne room opened, revealing Mahad and Shimon slowly walking towards him. Soon, however, they were followed by Seth, Aknadin and Isis, and the Pharaoh frowned while standing up, clearly displeased.
"I don't remember summoning you all here. Care to tell me what's going on? "
"Majesty... " the magician pronounced first, hesitant.
"No need to be so formal, Mahad. We hardly have the time for this. " Seth argued as he approached the young king, scowling. "Cousin, Hussein and his court have disappeared. "
"What…? "