Explanations of the Chapter:
-Bedtime story: Every evening, when the sun is setting, it is said that Ra goes to the kingdom of the dead by crossing the Nile aboard the sacred boat of Tefnut, the water goddess. To bring light back to Earth the next day, he had to face the serpent god Apophis through twelve stages, the douat. With the help of the god Seth, the goddess Isis, and the goddess cat Bastet, he succeeded in these trials and could be reborn under the name Khepri at dawn, to become Ra at the zenith, and finally Atum at twilight.
-Queen Katimala, of the Kerma Kingdom (which is the ancient name of Nubia, now representing southern Egypt and northern Sudan), is a character who really existed according to the registers. However, no information about her was found in addition to her name, so I allowed myself to describe her as I wanted.
"It's a small village called Aldawminu, in the west of the Valley of the Kings. From what I understood, they were three when they disappeared. "
"Very well. We will send soldiers there to warn the families. "
"Thank you. "
Atem let himself fell against the backrest of his throne, sighing. Resting his head in one of his hands, he offered a sweet smile to the grey-haired old man standing in front of him, asking with curiosity:
"Anything else, Shimon? "
The grand vizier looked around him suspiciously before approaching the Pharaoh, and holding a hand against the corner of his mouth, he murmured in a whisper:
"About the boy... "
"Heba. "
"Yes, that's it. I'm afraid there are already rumours that circulate within the palace. "
Frowning, the sovereign straightened up in his seat to lean slightly forward, intrigued.
"What kind of rumours? "
"Well... your resemblance didn't escape to anyone and... some people are wondering... " the former holder of the millennium key told hesitantly.
"For Ra's sake Shimon, stop the mysteries and tell me clearly what it is! " said the young king impatiently.
"These are just unpleasant gossips... but I heard some servants claiming that the boy and his Majesty would be bound by blood, but that you sent him away to evict him from the throne... "
"What?! "
Standing up hurriedly while exclaiming, Atem, eyes wide with surprise, froze a few seconds in front of his adviser.
"These are just rumours, Pharaoh... do not pay attention to them. "
Getting a grip on himself, the Pharaoh slowly sat back in his seat, stunned.
"We must be understanding... We all have questions here... "
"But to think that I would be capable of such a thing... "
Tilting his head to the side, Shimon frowned in his turn, questioning his sovereign, perplexed.
"Is that what bothers you the most? That some would believe that you're capable to oust your own brother because of power lust...? "
"Isn't it obvious?! " shouted Atem, getting up again, taking a few steps in the throne room to reach the balcony where he had once been proclaimed king.
"I am not going to take offence that some think that Heba and I are related. There would be no inconvenience to such a situation. "
Clutching the ledge tightly to the point of bleaching his phalanxes, he sighed, whispering to himself.
"Everything would have been much simpler this way... "
Joining the young king outside, Shimon put a comforting hand on his shoulder, smiling gently.
"Maybe the Gods have heard your prayers... "
"You really think so? "
"That's what I like to believe, at least. "
"My Pharaoh... "
Turning abruptly at this call, the sovereign and the grand vizier watched with amazement as Mahad stood a few meters away from them, Mana and Heba beside him.
"I'm going to silence the nasty mouths that dare to spread these lies. " the old man announced, taking his leave, being held back at the last second by the Pharaoh, who declared in a calm voice:
"Shimon... some temperance... "
"As always, our Pharaoh shows great leniency. "
Once the adviser had left, Atem returned to his throne, stopping however just in front of the steps to look intensively at his double.
Dressed in a long cotton cream tunic tied up by a purple silk belt, and adorned with gold jewellery similar to his, he looked ill at ease, standing far away from the two magicians, his amethyst pupils locked on the ground.
"Is everything fine? " he finally asked to the ring holder's attention while greeting the little priestess with a discreet movement of the head.
"Mana has to go back to her studies. " simply stated Mahad.
"I would have rather stayed! But Mahad insists so much... " the girl said boredly.
"Of course I insist! How do you want to progress if you never train? " the priest gets annoyed, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I see... " the young king replied, an amused smile on his mouth. "Unfortunately, I still have businesses to deal with, so I can't take care of Heba right now. "
"I can take care of myself very well! "
The sudden sound of the teenager's voice, until then stubbornly silent, forced the other three people present to turn to him, surprised.
The features of his face relaxing slightly, Atem stepped towards the latter, indicating gently:
"I just didn't want you to be left to your own devices in a place you know nothing about, but if you don't mind waiting for me alone until I'm done with the affairs of the kingdom, very well. "
Nodding his head in the affirmative, the boy also smiles at the sovereign before the magician quickly added:
"All right. In this case, we go. Mana! "
Shaking a hand toward the young girl as a goodbye, Heba began to follow the Pharaoh who was also walking away, the latter questioning him when he arrived at his side.
"How was the day? "
"Pretty good. But to be perfectly honest, winning at every turn ends up becoming tiresome... " related his double, chuckling embarrassingly.
"For her, this isn't a big change since she was constantly losing with me too. " disclosed Atem, nostalgic. "That said, losing when you're not used to it can be as much fun as winning too. "
"This game against me the other day, was it the first time you did not win? " the boy inquired, eagerly waiting for the answer from his "other me".
"That's right. " the sovereign revealed in a breath, still smiling.
"I'm sorry... "
"What are you sorry for? I told you, I found this refreshing. Of course, don't think I'm not resentful. I absolutely want a return match! "
"Okay! "
Stopping at the threshold of two large golden doors, Atem drifted his purple pupils to the corridor in his left, asking one last question to his game partner while raising a hand towards the panels.
"Will you be able to find your way back to my apartments? "
"Yes, definitively! " Heba said with haste, wanting to be reassuring.
"Perfect. The meeting with the Council should not last long, if you need anything, you just have to call Nailah. "
"I know. Everything will be all right... hmm... Atem... "
His eyes widening in astonishment for the second time that day, the Pharaoh took a moment to make sure he had heard correctly, before quickly replacing this expression with a face of pure rapture.
His lips stretching as far as they could, he winked connivingly to the boy and said in laughing:
"Wonderful! I see you finally understood. "
##########
It was a twilight like so many others for the land of Egypt. Bathed in shades of orange and pink, the sun god Khepri had disappeared at the zenith to become Ra before finally setting under the name of Atum.
And this night, again, he would travel in the sacred boat of Tefnut, in the underworld, to fight the serpent Aphosis and bring back the light into the world from above before the chaos engulfs it.
Closing his eyelids while resting the papyrus he had in his hands, Atem let himself be lulled by the quieter sounds of the city.
The hours seemed to have flown by at full speed, and when he had been finally able to join his game partner in the room, this one had fall half-asleep.
Spread-eagled on the bed, surrounded by his clay figurines and other toys, he looked like a child. A comparison that would probably not please him given the reaction he had the last time the sovereign had made him the remark.
The Pharaoh smiled, looking away, touched. He who had wanted to escape to his obligations by pretending to have to take care of his double had inevitably ended up working.
The millennial puzzle around his neck began to shake suddenly while producing a powerful golden glow and he frowned, turning to the doors of his apartments as they opened in a din, awakening the sleeping boy at the same time.
"Atem! "
"What's going on, Seth? " he asked as he put his pupils towards the worried teenager, reassuring him with a nod, before returning his attention to the priest.
"Assassins have slipped into the palace! " replied the latter, his face tense of annoyance because of such a breach in the security of the royal residence.
"How?! " questioned the young king in standing up, narrowing his eyes as he approached the bearer of the millennium rod.
"Unfortunately, we still ignore it... I wonder what the hell Mahad is doing! "
"No need to blame the others. What are the orders? "
"The guards inside the palace as well as the magician went to their search. Isis is ready to tell us their positions as soon as she has had the vision of it. I advise you to stay locked here with the boy until we have captured them. " declared the icy-eyed man in one breath, raising a hand towards two soldiers who were standing behind him so they place themselves in front of the doors and keep access of it.
"Very well. For the safety of Heba, I will follow your advice. For this time only... " announced the Pharaoh, smiling maliciously, as if trying to tease the priest.
"I am delighted to finally have succeeded in convincing you, Dear Cousin. " Seth simply related with a knowing smile, adding before leaving: "We will call on you when all danger will be warded off and when it will be time to judge these criminals. "
The doors closed on the shadow of his cloak flying in the wind, and Atem held his forehead with one hand, preoccupied.
Again, assassins were targetting his life, trying to get rid of him, contesting his title and his legitimacy... did their motivations find their source in old conflicts, or did the rumours about him and Heba also spread in the city, causing confusion among his people ...?
"Dear cousin? "
The Pharaoh turned abruptly at these words, offering a reassuring smile to his partner while joining him on the bed, explaining:
"That's right. Seth and I are cousins. His father and mine were brothers. It's something well known here, but I guess that kind of story does not get to distant villages like yours. "
"Yes. "
"Myself, I only discovered this fact just a few years ago. "
"How is it possible? " Heba dared to ask, bowing his head in embarrassment.
Laughing slightly, the sovereign lifted it with a finger under his chin, indicating:
"Because Seth too did not know who his father was until... "
"Until? " the boy could not help but repeat, putting suddenly a hand on his mouth, looking shocked. "I'm sorry, it's none of my business. "
"No! No... it's common knowledge so there's nothing wrong with you knowing it too, it's just that... it's complicated. "
Sighing as he made his way to the balcony, not exceeding the threshold, however, of fear of a hidden archer, he leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest and narrated with some sadness in his voice:
"My predecessor is guilty of a crime that would have eternally disgrace our family if he had not saved the kingdom in compensation... Because he is the one who pushed the former Pharaoh to commit this crime, and for fear of reprisals, my uncle, Aknadin, never revealed his true identity to Seth. "
Pacing up and down in the playroom, Atem sighed again, stopping abruptly to watch the sunset.
"But I imagine that past always ends up catching us. A... witness... of this crime presented himself one day to the palace. He had grown up in the hate and anger of this act, and he demanded redress... or rather, he wanted revenge. Whatever it be, my father was already dead, so it was me who took the responsibility to combat this enemy who was threatening the lives of innocent people. I fought against him and I won... and my father's sins became mine... "
Turning to the teenager, the sovereign offered him a weak smile, finding back his place beside him on the bed.
"As a result of this story, Aknadin was forced to tell the whole truth. And that's how we knew... I forgave my uncle, I kept him with me as a High Priest, he's the one who holds the power of the millennium eye. But my father's soul is forever trapped by his actions, and that's something I cannot stand. Nor am I ignorant of his jealousy toward me, of his desire to see his son take my title… But Seth is loyal enough to oppose him, and now, this is the life I live, as sullied as it can be... "
"You are not responsible for what the others have done! "
Shouting hastily, surprising the young king in the meantime, Heba grabbed the hands of his alter ego, squeezing them firmly against his own as he continued in his momentum:
"Whatever that crime is, you did not perpetuate it, and this witness was as ignorant of its authors as you were of this story! "
Unable to utter a single word, the Pharaoh merely nodded, thin tears beading at the corners of his eyes. He had so often wanted to hear these words, the strength that his double put in them only giving them more impact on his guilty conscience.
"Thank you... "
"There is no need to thank me, I'm only telling the truth. "
His mouth stretched in a delighted smile, Heba got up to go toward the desk, looking with curiosity at the many papyri scattered on it, though without opening them, stating calmly:
"Is there a connection between the coming of these assassins and this old story? "
Astounded one more time, the sovereign approached the boy, leaning on the reed chair while expressing himself:
"You're more sharp-minded than you let it be understood... "
Under the embarrassed gaze of the boy, he continued with more seriousness.
"You're right. The revelation of our kinship pushed some of my uncle's followers to believe that the true Pharaoh could only be Seth. I'm not reluctant to give him my place when I will leave this world. On the contrary, I think it's the best choice possible. Despite his blinkered character, he's a fair and good man... But as long as I will live, this throne will be mine! "
"So, formerly, they wanted your uncle to be the Pharaoh, and now they want it to be his son...? "
"They have only in the idea of overthrowing the current ruler to bring the darkness along... a contestation of the power, and this is the whole kingdom that will be in danger. Upper Egypt is fragile, and this chaos would allow our neighbours to invade us. "
Knocks resonated in the room, and the young king walked towards the doors, receiving the visitor with relief.
"Karim... "
"My Pharaoh... We have captured the criminals, their trials are about to start, we are only waiting for you. " the priest revealed, bowing slightly in a greeting way.
"I'm coming right away. " Atem replied, turning one last time to his game partner, indicating calmly, "I want you to stay here, Heba. You don't have to attend that kind of thing. "
Disappearing in his turn in the long corridor, the sovereign moved away without saying anything more, leaving Heba alone in the middle of the room, intrigued.
That kind of thing?
##########
The throne room was nothing more than a huge golden emptiness facing a terrace overlooking the entrance to the palace and offering as the only horizon the entire city of Khemet.
The throne with a triangular top rested against the right wall of the room, above stone steps, its armrests in the shape of a lion's head only making its owner even more intimidating.
The latter was, by the way, sitting on it, his features drawn, sharp-eyed, observing with some disdain the defendants kneeled at his feet.
"Let it be stated the crimes for which these men were judged guilty! "
It was a system that other countries denigrated and praised all at once. A fair and impartial trial, where the accused would be given the chance to prove their innocence if innocents they were.
Heba knew what he had in front of him without even having once taken part in one of them. In distant villages, the old laws reigned supreme, and to those who were accused, no time will be allowed.
Unfolding a scroll, the Grand Vizier Shimon began to read aloud:
"Aharon and Jabare, arrested by the guard as they tried to access the royal apartments. The charges are: the assassination attempt on the person of the king of Egypt, the Pharaoh Atem. "
The two men so named struggled in the hands of the soldiers who were holding them on the ground before finally calming down when one of them threatened them with the tip of his sabre.
"The witnesses are: the High Priestess Isis by the influence of the power of her millennium necklace, the nobleman Ammon who caught them in the act during-"
"What happened to the two other men? " inquired the sovereign, interrupting his adviser.
"The two other... by the name of Nephi and Adir, were killed while trying to flee... "
Hidden behind a pillar, Heba abruptly turned at these words. Leaning his back against the granite, he covered his mouth with his hand, preventing a hiccup of horror from passing his lips while the two criminals exclaimed with the same angry voice:
"Death to Pharaoh! Death to Pharaoh! "
"ENOUGH! "
The cry of the young king resonated sharply between the walls, and a deathly silence settled down suddenly. Getting up slowly, Atem crossed the room to join the two accused, frowning a little more while asking:
"Given the speed with which you were found, and the obvious lack of practice that resulted in the loss of your accomplice, I am of the opinion that you are no professionals. However, someone did hire you and I want to know who. Even though he does not seem to be the smartest since he has recruited amateurs like you. "
Seeing the culprits remained stubbornly silent, the Pharaoh sighed, turning away, waving a hand in the air:
"Behead them. "
"Majesty! " Mahad yelled vehemently, terror, mixed with surprise in his eyes echoing the one shared by all the other people in the room.
"There are reliable witnesses, they have committed the act they are accused of. Behead them! "
With a hesitant step, Karim stood in front of the assassins, announcing with authority though still shocked:
"By decree of Pharaoh Atem, you have been sentenced to decapitation... "
Endless tears began to flow down Heba's cheeks, and retaining a groan, he was about to run out of the room when one of the defendants' voices was loudly heard.
"Her name is Adina! She's one of the companions of the Queen of Kerma! Have mercy! "
Atem smiled knowingly at these revelations. Turning back to his court and the two guilty ones, he declared while tilting his head to the side.
"Thanks for this information. It will be duly rewarded, that's a promise! "
Back on his throne, the sovereign waved a hand again in the air, and still smiling, quickly ordered:
"May the millennium trial begin! "
Heba stared in amazement as the priests succeeded one another in front of the prisoners, using their divine items to extract a frightening monster from their chests, apparently the symbol of their bad deeds, and then sealing it into a large stone slab before they were dragged out of the palace, their freedoms regained.
"Great One... " called the bearer of the millennium key as he stepped toward the young king. "So, was all this a trick to find the real culprit? "
"Sometimes, Shada, you must know not to play by the rules to get what you want. " replied the Pharaoh, crossing his legs, his chin resting in his right hand.
"What if they had not spoken? " Seth said, frowning in his turn, still astonished by his cousin's own audacity.
"I said it, they are just amateurs. Of course, they were going to talk! They value their lives more than the cause they defend. "
Still a little stunned, the viziers, nomarchs and other nobles started to disperse slowly, leaving the sovereign alone with his priests and his adviser.
"It was very daring on your part, Majesty. " Isis stated, her looks fixed. "Myself, I did not realise this was playacting. "
"But it was cleverly performed. " indicated Aknadin, sharing his nephew's smile. "Thanks to that, we know who has attempted to the life of our king. "
"Still, I'm not sure to like these methods... "
"Your opinion doesn't matter, Mahad! We have exactly what we want, isn't it the most important! "
"Come on, come on... Calm down. The Pharaoh has acted in all good conscience, he's the only one who can judge his actions. "
Observing absently Shimon pronouncing these words, Atem looked around him, his purple pupils lingering on each of his priests.
"I agree that my method is not very ethical, and I promise in future to use more conventional ploys if that can reassure you. "
Acquiescing softly, the wearers of the millennial objects approached the young king, and Karim, first to speak, argued seriously:
"Now it is important to know what should be done against Queen Katimala in retaliation for her actions. "
Heba discreetly walked away to the royal apartments, the rest of the discussion not concerning him.
He was completely exhausted by the continual flow of different feelings that overwhelmed him. At once terrified and fascinated by what he had seen, he felt especially reassured. Yes, reassured that his "other me" was not as cruel as he had made it believe a moment before.
He certainly would not have been able to stay by his side if that had been the case. Even though they had become so close... it would have been so painful not to see him again, much more painful than it had been with Jouno or Teana…