Once again Kahmunrah found himself in front of Khufu's door. He wanted answers this time. He didn't know what Khufu could offer, but he was hoping that this could all be explained. He wanted the solutions to all his problems.

Khufu answered. He seemed delighted to see his great nephew.

"Well good morning." He said with a smile.

Kahmunrah smiles back before it turned back into a frown.

"I want answers." he said gravely.

Khufu seemed to falter in his thoughts. His expression turned grave.

"We have a lot to talk about then."

———————————————

"I don't like this." Stated Nitocris calmly.

Sabaf merely shrugged. "Sabra's orders."

"Is an armed escort of one hundred truly necessary?"

"Do you not trust us?"

Nitocris could feel herself turning pink under the cloak.

"I trust you." she answered.

"Then know that we are not taking any chances with this," he said to her. "I wouldn't want to lose you before I barely got to know you, do I?"

Sabaf could see a sliver of a smile on her lips.

At that moment Sabra walked up to them. Her blue eyes cool and aloof.

"Are we ready Captian?"

"Indeed we are."

Sabra eyed the men in front of her.

"Let us enter the city then."

———————————————

Kahmunrah sat across from Khufu. Eyeing him carefully. His heart beat fast. This could be the beginning or the end.

"Where should I start?" asked Khufu.

"From the beginning."

"It's a long story."

"I'm prepared to sit the whole day."

"The patience of the saint and the anger of an elephant. Admirable qualities " muttered Khufu. "My son, you have the making of a true king."

Kahmunrah's heart fluttered. At least there was someone here who believed in him.

"Father said my anger would destroy me." Answered Kahmunrah.

"Your father couldn't see your potential." Stated Kahmunrah. "Your anger can be channeled to greatness. If only you let me show you."

"Tell me of this great tale first."

Khufu smiled "It all started when your great-grandfather, my father, Sneferu took the throne..."

—————————————— (Khufu's version so please note that there is a lot of bias but also insight into his character)

Sneferu had succeeded the throne after Huni died, being the closest male relative. He had started the dynasty of the Fourth Kings, his reign was prosperous. He and his beloved wife Hetephres, among their many children, had two sons, Khufu and Kanefer.

Khufu and Kanefer were very close and the best of friends. Khufu was the older and destined to rule over the kingdom, yet it always seemed to Khufu that Sneferu loved Kanefer more.

As the years passed the love Sneferu harboured for Kanefer grew more prominent but as did Khufu's ambition. Khufu in any way he could try to excel and grow under his father's eye, but if only his father's eyes were upon him. They were fixed firmly on Kanefer.

On his deathbed instead of bestowing the crown upon Khufu, he had held Kanefer's hand and whispered.

"May my land prosper under you."

On the day of his death, Kanefer was pronounced King of Egypt. This didn't sit well with Khufu. There must have been something wrong with him for his father not to chose him. The many nights he had spent crying over it, trying to figure out where he had gone wrong were countless. Yet to no avail.

He had let go of these feelings soon enough. Even though he wasn't King he still had a duty to his people.

Yet the reign of Kanefer had started to wilt. Arrogance got to the man, he didn't listen to his brother's advice and spent his days whoring, drinking and spending lavishly. The court became a monopoly of sex, money, and murder. The streets had turned lawless. The Nubians had taken the south of Egypt. These were dark days for the Egyptians.

Khufu seeing his beloved country decay under his brother's hand resolved to the only thing he could conceive.

Murder.

So one night he slipped cobra venom in his brother's ear as he slept. Kanefer had died. Khufu could finally be king. Or so he thought.

He had forgotten about Kanefer's son, the twenty-year old Merenkahre. He used to be such a sickly young boy, a mere sliver of light barely noticeable. He was pronounced King the day after his father's death.

Khufu watched on from the sidelines.

Merenkahre's first act that distinguished his from his father was his marriage to Shepsehret, the Princess of Pirates, yet a mere commoner. She brought along many changes to the court stopping the prostitution that was happening.

Next Merenkahre and Montu had taken back their land from the Nubians when Kahmunrah was mere newborn. Winning favour from the public.

The next thing was the changes to the law, bringing about food and comfort for most people. The economy prospered and so did the kingdom.

Khufu was slightly content. But Merenkahre had his own vices.

————————————

"What happened next?" Asked Kahmunrah.

Khufu gave a sigh.

"After Ahkmenrah was born Merenkahre wanted immortality, so he gathered the priests and grand viziers and fashioned the Tablet of Ahkmenrah. He may have been a strong king but he was maddened by the powers of the tablet. Slowly it grew to his mind. I had wanted to desperately stop it against all odds, but the tablet's power grew so potent that Merenkahre's abilities to make rational decisions had died. Ahkmenrah had taken advantage of the situation and pronounced himself king. Your brother is evil."

Kahmunrah breathed heavily. To see his history painted in such colours, to see Ahkmenrah painted in such colours. He had known it, yet...

"But father didn't act mad..."

"There is a method to everyone's madness. Even to yours."

"The throne is truly mine?"

"Ours Kahmunrah. We were the rightful heirs. We had deserved it."

"I can't take it..."

"Kahmun, I can already see my brother's madness lurking in Ahk. Trust me. Think of your child, think of my daughter. Think of the kingdom."

Kahmunrah thought back. Ahkmenrah had ordered him around like a common servant yesterday. Indeed this madness lurked in the young man's mind.

"What are we to do?"

"Simple. We kill him."

———————————

Ptahshepses almost broke down in tears when he saw his daughter again. Needless to say, he was very happy with her safe return.

Sabra gave a smile of relief. Seker had made no move yet.

The old man turned to Sabaf and Sabra.

"I thank you for returning her safely."

Sabaf smiled at him.

"She would have returned safely on her own." He answered. "She practically saved the city single-handedly. My men and I did nothing."

"Yes and leave poor Sabra out this." scoffed Sabra sarcastically. "The one who had actually negotiated this deal."

Nitocris laughed.

Sabaf could feel himself colour up in embarrassment.

"In saying so." he started regaining his dignity. "It would not have been possible if Nitocris hadn't ridden out to Ineb-Hedg on her own."

Ptahshepses looked on at the scene before him. Young people could be so amusing.

Suddenly the door burst right open. In came a man staggering from an arrow wound to his leg.

"They have attacked again." said the man running in breathless.

Ptashepses frowned "What do you mean? Who attacked?"

"Seker and his men." said the breathless man. "There are more of them now. From All over Egypt. They have lain siege."

"Tell your soldiers to take up arms," said Sabra drawing her sword. "We are going to fight those traitorous bastards! And send a letter to Ahkmenrah, he may be heavily injured but we need more troops. Send letters all over Egypt! We need all the help we can get."

——————————

Hello! Today marks two years since this book began! And what a journey! In honor of this, I have made a new cover for the book. I hope you like it.

Also, I hope you guys got to see more of Khufu as a person.