Phoenix13: Resurrection (Phoenix13 Book 3)

Part #13: Not Easily Conquered: Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Jason walked down brick corridors painted in reds, light blues, and, in places, gilded with gold. Paintings depicted men, women, children, and animals at work, at play, in the fields, riding to war. Pillars inscribed with ancient hieroglyphs rose on either side of the worn stone floor. Although he rationally knew that it was all a dream, a hallucination brought on by whatever Alexx Sullivan had shot him up with, the vision was so vivid and life-like that Jason couldn't have distinguished it from reality.

Up ahead, a courtyard housing palm fronds and huge, draping, pale-leafed plants opened into the throne room beyond. Although Jason couldn't put his finger on how or why, he was distinctly aware that that was his destination. Moving quickly but silently, he approached the sentinels guarding the entrance to the many-pillared stone room.

"Hello?" he said, stepping out of the shadows and into the guards' line of sight. He lifted his hands, palms out, in a sign of peaceful surrender. Even if this was just a dream, he wasn't sure he wanted to find out if the spears the guards held would really hurt.

To his surprise, the guards didn't budge. They stood tall and alert, their sharp, dark eyes scanning the courtyard. Every time their gazes fell on Jason, however, they made no indication of having seen him. After a few moments of silent watchfulness and confusion, Jason concluded that, in this dream, he was merely an observer. He let his shoulder fall as the moment's tension leaked out of him.

Moving past the guards, Jason entered the throne room. For a moment, he stood in the entryway between two muraled pillars, blinking against the sudden gloom. After the brightness of the courtyard, he wasn't accustomed to the shade.

When his vision adjusted and he could see what lay ahead, Jason sucked in a deep breath of surprise. There, perched on the throne with all the upright dignity of a true king, sat a man clothed in what Jason could only assume to be an Ancient Egyptian royal raiment. His crown, gilded in gold, was crafted in the front to look like a massive cobra coiled to strike. The snake's eyes, polished shards of precious stone, glared down at Jason as he boldly approached.

"King Menes!" A female voice sounded behind Jason; although the words he spoke were unfamiliar, Jason somehow knew what they meant. It was an odd feeling. Jason wasn't quite sure how to explain it to himself, but it seemed, at least here in this hallucination, he could understand Ancient Egyptian. Of all the trippy drug-induced voyages Sullivan had sent him on so far, this was the trippiest, he concluded.

Jason turned to face the speaker. It was a young woman, roughly the same age as the pharaoh on the throne, and dressed in queenly garb. The woman's skin and hair were dark, but her brown eyes shone even in the dim light of the throne room. It was clear from her tone and eagerness to reach the pharaoh that the news she carried was good.

"What is it, Neithhotep?" King Menes rose from his throne, stepping down to meet the woman. They reached each other and stood apart, looking into each other's eyes.

Neithhotep smiled at the pharaoh. "The preparations are finished. I am to be your queen. The Upper and Lower realms will be united."

Menes' face split into a wide, satisfied smile. "Good. I've waited a long time for this."

Neithhotep reached out and took the king's hand. "Egypt is united. Thanks to you."

"And you." Menes squeezed the princess's hand. "I'm happy it's you I'm marrying, Neithhotep. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Neithhotep blinked, her smile growing. "I agree. I'm happy it worked out the way it did. Together, we'll make your reign the first of many great dynasties. May our descendants rule for an eternity."