Battle of Egypt

Chapter 1 Ka

"My prince, my prince, Bakari called behind me. I sighed letting my arrow fly hitting the target. I turned and saw my closest friend and brother in arms running to me in the courtyard. We had become fast friends when we trained together as children. He had come to our palace seeking refuge after Sutekh's forces raided his village on the border. Killing both his parents, rendering him an orphan in one night. My father took pity on him and made him my companion growing up. We trained everyday together, and were both given the same tutor. In time even my father called Bakari his own. 

"Please Bakari, stop calling me that. We have known one another for too long, for any formalities" I replied. Bakari laughed and pulled the arrow from the target. Walking toward me with the arrow. I had pictured the target being Sutekh for as long as I could remember. Both my father and I wanted nothing more then to see his reign end.

"Ka, your father has summoned you to his presence chamber. There has been news from the Land of the Reeds," Bakari said, handing me the arrow. I put the arrow back in the sheath. Father almost never summoned me. Something was going on, something important. Or Bakari and I were in trouble. This would not be the first time we had been summoned to my father's presence chamber to be scolded.

"What did we do this time? Or is it actual news from the south," I asked with a chuckle. Recalling the events of the past. Bakari seeing my face laughed with me. 

"No this time we didn't do anything. Though last night at the tavern,  I thought for sure we would have been caught by those gaurds. Thank the gods for that bar maid," Bakari laughed. I chuckled and remembered the events of last night. We often snuck out of the palace to enjoy the local taverns and women who poured drinks. Bakari and I often had to bribe guards to keep our whereabouts secret. Though, sometimes father did find out. He did not like the crown palace wandering from the palace. We never knew who was hiding in the city. Sutekh had spies everywhere like we did in his kingdom. This war had made all men paranoid of one another.

"Thank the gods above that we were not caught last night, come let us see what my father wants," I said, taking off my sheath of arrows. Setting my bow down beside it. I picked up my sword and strapped it to my waist. I made my way to my father's presence chamber. It is said that the gods had built this palace. That the great god Osiris lived here himself. You could still feel their presence here from time to time. We entered my father's presence chamber. The six pillars on either side of the room decorated with scenes of our different gods in various poses and scenes. A lotus pool was in the center. The lotuses bring in color to this somber room. Often filled with somber news about our war with Sutekh.

I can remember as a boy, my father telling me stories about the times the gods and goddesses walked among men. How he would listen to the great god Thoth in his wisdom teach the young Horus. Father spent most of his childhood and young adulthood with Horus in exile. I knew that one day, I would rule over this kingdom. And I hope that the god Thoth grants me the same wisdom like he did my father. As I walked over to my father he was hunched over his map of Egypt. I cleared my throat. He turned and smiled. I was his only son and heir. My mother had died of a fever not long after I was born. My father never talked about my mother. But many in the court said she was beautiful and a strong warrior in her own right. She had more courage than most men. My parents married for love. Having fallen in love while fighting alongside the hawk god. I hoped that I could do the same one day. Though I was only 20, I knew that I would have to marry soon and produce a son of my own.

 "My son," he said. I bowed at his feet to show respect to him as my king and father. He laughed and I rose up. Clasping him round the shoulder. My father the great king Ahmose was a mighty warrior, broad shouldered. He was still lean and fit at the age of 45. He was clean shaven and had thick lines of kohl round his eyes. The crown of Lower Egypt on the table beside him.