Colossal Legs of Stone

Chapter 11

Ozymandias trudged past the rows of tents that dotted the barren landscape. His face was drawn and weary. He stopped at a heap of lifeless bodies that lay in a pool of dried blood. He knelt down and gently lifted the head of a woman who clutched a child to her chest. They were both dead. Gashes and slashes were torn in their flesh. "They didn't spare anyone," he murmured to himself, his voice cracking with grief.

He rose to his feet, his fists clenched, and his teeth gritted. In the sky, the sun was setting in a blaze of red and orange. He raised his sword high and shouted, "I will not give up and let them destroy Egypt. To the last breath, I fight!"

General Horemheb met him outside his tent. "My lord, you should rest. You have been up all last night and all of today."

"How can I rest while they are out there?" Ozymandias snapped, pointing at the horizon.

"We have done all we can for today. We have buried the dead and tended to the wounded. We secured the camp and sent scouts to watch for the enemy. What more can we do?" Horemheb said calmly, trying to soothe his king.

Ozymandias sighed and nodded as they entered the tent. They had no idea where to go next. Lamps cast a warm glow on the sturdy wooden table with a map of Egypt in the center of the room, surrounded by scrolls and parchments.

Ozymandias sat down at the table and studied the map intently. Horemheb stood beside him.

"They would go to Karnak next," Ozymandias pointed to the map.

"But what if they're headed to Memphis?" Horemheb countered, "It's in the opposite direction."

A knock came at the door.

"Enter," Ozymandias commanded.

A guard came in with a young man dressed in rags. He carried a bag over his shoulder. His eyes were wide with fear and exhaustion. "My lord, I have urgent news for you," the guard said.

"What is it?" Ozymandias asked impatiently.

"This man is a refugee. He says that the League is approaching Karnak."

"Is that true?" Ozymandias fixed his gaze on the refugee, who flinched under his scrutiny.

"Yes, my lord, it's true. I saw them with my own eyes."

"How many are there?" Ozymandias demanded.

"Many tens of thousands. They have horses, camels, elephants, chariots with scythes, and catapults." The refugee said in a trembling voice.

Ozymandias turned to Horemheb. "We'll leave at daybreak tomorrow and head to Karnak. We will not let them take the home of Amun-Ra, the king of the gods. We will leave those who are too tired to come with us to pray for our victory and, when they have recovered sufficiently, to travel to the other cities and set up a scouting network. Who do you recommend organizing this?"

"I can think of none better than the young man from Memphis, Ahiqar." Horemheb replied. "He has a keen intellect, and he is loyal. He was bitten by a small cobra a few days ago, but he came with us anyway. While he recovers, he can serve as a leader of your scouts."

"Ah! Ahiqar." Ozymandias remembered him. "Yes, he'll do nicely."

They left Abydos at dawn. The weary men went as fast as they could. Out of the ten thousand who had left with him, Ozymandias had less than seven thousand left.

They reached Karnak by the next morning, but it was too late. The sacred city was already under siege by the League. Smoke rose from its buildings, and screams echoed in the air. Ozymandias felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. Karnak was the most magnificent temple complex in Egypt, dedicated to Amun-Ra, the supreme god and creator of all things. It was where Ozymandias had been crowned as pharaoh, and where he had made many offerings and prayers.