Chapter 2

"Hey Kahmun, you ready to go? The crocodiles will be sunbathing soon!"

Kahmunrah looked up with a grin as his cousin, Seti, stood near the doorway. Standing would be a generous way of putting it- more like hopping back and forth on his feet, the image of impatience. "I'm almost ready, Seti. Mother merely wants me to look after baby brother again," he explained, rolling his eyes for emphasis.

"What we doing, Kah?" An eager voice squeaked out. Both boys rolled their eyes as a tiny boy waddled into view. Though already four years old, Ahkmenrah still sucked his thumb, only popping it out of his mouth when he sensed Kahmunrah was watching. All the adults considered him to be the definition of cuteness; Kahmunrah considered him to be a mild nuisance.

"Nothing that concerns you," Seti teased. He yanked on his friend's arm, almost dragging him to the door before the latter relented. "Come on, Kah!"

"All right, all right! Just let me make sure he doesn't follow us," he whispered. He knew a single surefire way of keeping Ahkmenrah from tagging along. Paradoxical, but it had worked every time so far. "Come here, little brother. Want to race?"

Ahkmenrah squinted at him. "No."

"Aww, and why not?"

"I lose."

"Maybe not this time. Do you remember what I told you? If you can be as fast as us, you can play with us. Otherwise..."

"But Mama said-!"

"I know what Mama said, but I'm your big brother; you listen to me when she's not around. I promise we'll run slower this time, ok?"

"Okaayy," Ahkmenrah pouted.

"Good! Now, on your mark, get set, go!" As they had every time before, Kahmunrah and Seti lurched ahead before Ahkmenrah could even begin, showering him in sand. Unconsciously, Ahkmenrah resumed thumb-sucking as he watched his older brother disappear into the horizon. Lips trembling, he wandered back inside to find his Mama.

"Thank you, Aziza. You may return to your duties." The maid bowed her way out as Shepseheret began cradling her youngest in her lap. "So, big brother ran off again?"

Sniffling, Ahkmenrah nodded, practically chewing his thumb off from distress.

"When I get my hands on those two... There there, stop that! Terrible habit," she said, gently pulling his hand away from his mouth.

"Kah mean! He never let me play!" The waterworks began in earnest as Ahkmenrah started wailing.

"There there now, I know you want to be with him, my little Ahkmen. Do not worry, don't fret..." Only her lullaby soothed him to sleep.

"He adores you, you know."

Kahmunrah glowered at her from his corner of the room, trying and failing to appear tough and intimidating. "So? He's still a baby, Mother. How many four-year-olds still suck their thumb? He's not ready for our games."

"Will he ever be ready if you never give him the chance?" Kahmunrah winced- Shepseheret's tone of moderate disapproval was worse than her shouting.

"Why can't you find someone else to babysit him? We have servants, do we not? I have better things to do!"

"We have been over this. He doesn't want strangers looking after him, he wants you! And you're fortunate he still does after all the times you have abandoned him! He is your brother, Kahmunrah- you should be honored to watch over him! Especially after all the heartache it took to bring him into this world," she trailed off, her gaze flitting back to memories of the children she had lost.

Kahmunrah winced again. Ahkmenrah's birth was considered a miracle by all; though he loathed to admit it, he himself remained awed by the fact he'd survived. Then again, that was probably why everyone treated him so special, almost like he were a glass figurine, ready to shatter. He would not be part of it. Why him and not his other siblings? Maybe they'd have been more fun to be with. "If you like him so much, you play with him! See how much you enjoy endless rounds of tag and hide-and seek!"

"Enough! It is not Ahkmenrah's fault he's considerably younger than you and so cannot play at your level yet. How would you like it if the roles were reversed and he left you behind?" Silence answered her adequately as Kahmunrah glared stubbornly at the floor. "I can't force you to enjoy your brother's company, but it is your duty to protect him until he's more independent. Until you understand this, no more playtime with Seti."

"WHAT? But that's not-"

"Fair? Neither is it fair to your brother to come home crying day after day, wishing you would grant him an ounce of his time. Go to your room, now!" Before he left, she called out, "Please, Kahmun, give him a chance. He might surprise you."

Kahmunrah didn't dignify that with a response as he slammed the door.

He hated admitting it, but his mother's authority still clearly triumphed over his will; a quick word to his uncle, and his sessions with Seti were put on hold. All because of baby brother... Why did grownups have to be so tyrannical? He was bloody eleven years old- there were kings his age! And yet he was stuck with babysitting duty. What a glorious beginning to his reign!

On the other hand, Ahkmenrah was ecstatic. He loved yanking his brother along, oblivious to his growls and complaints as they played repetitively. On the best days, the boy's enthusiasm was contagious, and he and Kahmunrah ended up rolling around on the ground in fits of laughter. Those days gave their parents hope for the future. They were careful to conceal their spying of course, for if the oldest son were to spot them eavesdropping, he'd instantly resume skulking around.

Sadly, most of the time Kahmunrah longed to escape from his brother's chattiness and his clinginess. He missed Seti, and blamed Ahkmenrah for separating them. How many hiding places could one find in Egypt's desert?! And yet Ahkmenrah managed... Not that they were any better than hiding behind a desert dune. Yet he had to act surprised every time! Sometimes, all he really wanted to do was shake that perpetually cheerful expression off the boys face, even as he reminded himself his brother was barely more than a toddler. Yet his mother's words rang too loudly in his head to ignore- duty and honor must win out, especially if he was to become king someday. So he stayed... And babysat. Until he almost begged to resume battle training and tactical maneuvers with the Head Guard, which was typically the only opportunity for him to shirk protector-duty. Being heir to the throne had its privileges.

Meanwhile, Ahkmenrah sensed his resentment, but didn't understand it. What more could he do? He let Big Brother chose the best hiding spots, and he usually let him win at tag and Blind Man's Bluff. What would it take for Kah to like him?

At last, weeks after Shepseheret's lecture, the queen relented and allowed Seti to join Kahmunrah and Ahkmenrah during their playtime sessions; Kahmunrah had behaved himself, and a punishment dragged out too long spelled trouble. "I hate punishing either of our sons, especially Kahmunrah." She and her husband were secretly observing the three children roughhousing near the palace's pond. "We ask so much of him already, and-"

"It will only get worse as he grows up," Merenkahre finished. "I know. But with great privilege must come great discipline and responsibility. If Kahmunrah refuses to learn those, how can I leave my throne to him? You did what you had to, and look! He seems to be over it already."

"We both agreed ours would be different from other royal families, those torn apart by intrigue and betrayal. Siblings kill each other for a noble title! We swore to help Ahkmen and Kahmun be friends instead of enemies- Egypt needs them both if it is to remain great. Yet I fear Kahmunrah resents his brother more than loves him. At the very least, he doesn't yet care for him as much as he should."

"My love, however much we'd like to, we cannot force them to become best friends. We're doing all we can for them now, and we will continue to do so as they reach manhood."

Shepseheret looked less than satisfied with that. Taking her up in his arms, Merenkahre added, "They are still children, and have a chance to grow together. Have faith in our sons!"

Smiling up at him, she relented slightly. "I promise I will try."

Hmm... Promising start to their relationship, eh? I almost sympathize with Kahmurah- being the significantly older sibling sucks at times.