Dedicated to @Shipper249 for being an awesome reader. :D

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Isis looked down upon the mortal world and smiled. She had managed to answer a prayer without straying away from the course of what would happen.

Worse things are yet to come. She needed to protect the royal family during the trip, but after that everything was out of her control.

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They were now at sea heading east towards another opening of the Nile river. They had visited many cities by the banks of the Nile. They had attended ceremonies, gave blessings, speeches and even talked and supped with villagers.

Ahkmenrah was now leaning against the edge of the ship. The wind whipped about. Sabra's long dark wavy hair flew about behind her. Ahkmenrah thought about how strange it was that she didn't try to weigh it down so it was straight, after all that was the custom of Egyptian women.

Somehow his tongue made contact with his lips and he tasted salt.

"It's salty" he remarked.

Sabra rolled her eyes and said "I dare you to drink the water"

Ahkmenrah looked at her surprised. Why would she dare him to do this? Surely the water at sea would be exactly like the water he drunk everyday.

He took a bucket nearby and attached it to a long piece of rope. He threw the bucket in the sea and let it fill up. He then pulled it out not realising the amused expression on Sabra's face. He lifted the bucket to his lips and took a huge gulp.

His face changed and he sprayed the seawater back into the sea and looked at Sabra with a scowl on his face. Sabra was trying control a fit of laughter.

"Clearly you've never been at sea before." She said through her giggles.

"Clearly you have" he retorted. His scowl deepened and Sabra kept laughing.

"It's not funny!" he exclaimed. But she kept laughing. Finally her laughter died down and so did Ahkmenrah's anger of being outsmarted.

So she has been at sea before he thought maybe if I ask she would tell me where she has been. And then I shall get to learn more about her.

"So Sabra, where have been whilst at sea?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, I've been everywhere. I was working for traders for a while." She lied smoothly. So smoothly that Ahkmenrah believed her.

"Was your father a trader?" he asked her.

"No"

"Why don't you live with your parents then?" he asked her. Sabra's body stiffened ever so slightly. Ahkmenrah realised he breached upon a touchy subject. Silence ensued.

"Thank you" he said after a while "For everything" he gave her a meaningful look. She knew he meant. And it wasn't about saving Merenkahre. There was no use lying about it anymore. She had saved his life at the market place and thanks to her eyes (stupid eyes) he had known it was her. Her next words were as good as any confession.

"You're welcome" she said.

Good! I've got a confession out of you! Thought Ahkmenrah Now I shall try and piece together who you really are and what you are hiding.

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Merenkahre was also above deck taking in the sea breeze. He was now contemplating what had happened in the past month. Three attempts on his life, he couldn't take it in. But it had happened. It was all Khufu's doing. He was sure of it. It seemed Kahmunrah was sure of it too.

If he killed off Khufu then Khufu's followers would organize an uprising and turn his own people against him. And besides he couldn't sink as low as Khufu had. But he knew in his heart of hearts he was just trying to find an excuse not kill a family member.

Merenkahre will die in the next few months. That much was clear when he talked to the gods last night. He just hoped that the kingdom would run as smoothly as it will. It had to. With both his sons in charge of the kingdom this dynasty will last forever.

Shepseheret appeared beside her husband and took his hand into hers. She looked at him with her emerald eyes and sighed at his grim expression.

"I just wish you would stop thinking for a while. Nothing is going to happen." She told him.

He scoffed and asked "What makes you believe that?"

"A week ago I prayed to Isis to keep us safe. Three days ago she answered my prayers through that guard Sabra. She saved your life Merenkahre." She said taking his other hand making him face her.

"For that I am grateful." He muttered. He took one hand out of her grasp and pointed towards the very calm sea. "There is a storm approaching"

"How would you know?" asked his wife.

"It is calm now. Both at sea and the attempts at my life. The calm before the storm Shepseheret. Do you not see? Because it is far too calm there are worse things to come. Both at sea and our dynasty"

Shepseheret sighed at his pessimism and let go of his hand. But Merenkahre caught her wrist she looked back and saw a plaintive plea. Don't leave me. His eyes seemed to say. She knew then and there that she simply couldn't. This was his time of need. When his spirit was down and life threatened a blow, he needed her. After all behind every great man was an even greater woman. She had to be that greater woman for him.

Someone cleared his or her throat behind both of them. Merenkahre and Shepseheret found themselves being interrupted by Kahmunrah who seemed very abashed in seeing the intimate spectacle before him.

"Am I interrupting anything?" he asked with tinge of pink on his cheeks.

"Not at all son" answered Merenkahre letting go of his wife.

"Is it alright if I talk to you then?" he asked.

Merenkahre nodded and Shepseheret left them.

"You haven't impregnated any girl yet have you?" asked Merenkahre.

Kahmunrah looked up at his father in horror. Sure Kahmunrah was a womanizer but he wasn't that careless. He black eyes filled with grief.

"Do you really expect so little of me father?" he asked in a sad tone.

"No I don't, I was merely joking. Do lighten up Kahmun!" he exclaimed nudging him playfully "I expect great things from you. Now tell me what do you wish to see me about?"

"A week ago we came to an understanding that Khufu..."

"Not so loud. He has spies everywhere." Whispered Merenkahre.

Kahmunrah lowered his voice and continued "That Khufu was behind all of this. But why father? He has no reason to do so."

Merenkahre decided this was the right time to tell his son of Khufu's history.

"Power does a great many things you to. Khufu was the rightful heir to the throne as he was the eldest son of Sneferu, your great grandfather. At the age of 65, nine years through his reign, Sneferu chose your grandfather Menkaure as heir over Khufu. Khufu was jealous of his younger brother but he kept quiet. This hatred had been bubbling for thirty-three years. Khufu had been planning and scheming during those years. He probably had many plans. Plans within plans. If one fails the other will succeed it."

"I never knew this, I always thought that he hated us ever since Ahkmenrah broke off with Ismara. I never would have thought that he wanted the throne for himself."

"Khufu is able to disguise his motives well. But enough of these depressing thoughts or your mother will kill us both. Enjoy this trip, don't be so gloomy..."

But he was interrupted by a flash of the heavens and the drum-roll of the ominous clouds above. Neither father nor son had seen the sky darken. A sea storm, as Merenkahre predicted was ahead. He didn't like using people to man the oars unless it was necessary. The manning of the oars was needed now.

"Take your place!" ordered Merenkahre to all aboard. He too took his place with an oar in front of him. Kahmunrah followed suit.

Sabra and Ahkmenrah also took their places behind the oars. Even Ismara joined in on the action. To the surprise of the sailors and guardsmen Shepseheret took her place at the front of the ship with something that resembled a modern day telescope. Shepseheret was a sailor's daughter before she became queen, resulting in her gaining navigational skills aboard a ship.

She barked orders for everyone to start rowing. They followed her. She navigated her way through treacherous, rough seas, picking the calmest waves to ride upon. The sea storm lasted a long time. The rowers' muscles and eyes twitching with overuse. Shepseheret shook with cold, she had nothing upon her to protect her from the chill of the storm for she had been called to her station with abruptness. But she fought through it. The storm lasted at the least three hours.

Finally a glimmer of hope. A warm welcome ray of sunshine kissed the faces of all aboard. Collectively hope filled them all. Overcoming their aching bodies they rowed faster and more strongly. Lifting the telescope like device to her eye Shepseheret smiled. There destination was just a few hundred feet ahead of them.

The storm upon the sea had come and gone. But another storm more sinister and tragic was to follow.