Chapter 3 Ka

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I have been riding hard for three days, not stopping for anything. Travelling by old supply roads and avoiding both the main roads and Sutekh's forces along the way. I knew that the main roads through his kingdom would be crawling with soldiers. I needed to get there without being spotted. Finally at sunset on the third day I arrived in Hierakonpolis. Capital of the Land of the Reeds. The walls were massive, circling the massive city. The walls were painted with scenes of Set and his conquests including his murder of his own brother on the gates. I dismounted my horse and pulled my hood over my face. I mingled in the crowd to pass the guards stationed at the gates. I made my way to an inn that was the closest to the palace. Many of the residents were gathered in the streets dancing, drinking, and playing music. Some were wearing masks in the shape of hawks. Others had actual hawks perched on their shoulders. I entered the small inn, it was crowded and dimly lit. Men were drinking and gambling. I walked over to a small counter where a woman was pouring ale. She looked up and smiled at me. She had probably been beautiful once. Her hair, once black, was now streaked with greys. Her eyes had small creases around them. But they were a striking blue, as if she could read my mind.

"What can I do for you son," she asked. She eyed me up and down, many thought I was handsome. An exact image of my father when he was my age. I felt my cheeks go red.

"Can I lodge my horse at your stables. Only for a few hours," I asked. She smiled continuing to look me up and down. She licked her lips, desire and lust filling her eyes.

"Are you sure you do want to stay the night, celebrate the feast and festival," she asked. I rolled my eyes and laughed a little bit.

"What is the festival for," I asked. Looking around, many were still drinking. And some had the same masks as outside. They all seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"It is the Feast of Horus. Our great king Sutekh has returned from another conquest, and it has been rumored that he will take a wife tonight. May the gods bless whoever he chooses" she said with a sarcastic grin. 

"You admire your king," I asked, taking light of her tone. Her eyes started to go dark. The moment the words left my lips.

"That man took my youngest boy, took him to staff his army. And he never came back. Killed for Sutekh's glory. I would rather die than be kind to that king," she hissed.

"Are you not afraid of his wrath," I asked. Taking in her words. Sutekh was choosing a wife tonight. My mission had become even more important. That would explain the hawk masks and the hawks. Many were celebrating the great god Horus. 

"Sutekh does not care about people like us. He only cares about himself and his glory. He will lead thousands to their deaths. But it does not matter. If Sutekh does succeed in his plans. We will all be under his thumb anyway," she said. 

"Do not fear sweet lady, things will change, and I will not be staying long. I just need somewhere to put my horse," I said, taking out my pouch and pulling out some gold coins. Her eyes eyeing the coins in my hand. 

"Take your horse out back. The stables are there," she said taking the coins and bringing the cups of ale over to her customers. I left the inn and made my way to the palace gates. As I made my way closer and closer, I realized that soldiers were everywhere. Finally, when I reached the palace gates, two guards were checking everyone in. They would see my sword and take me away. I looked around to find another way into the palace, it was then I saw a lone guard walking to the other gate that was hidden in the shadows. No doubt soldiers used it to get in and out of the palace. Especially if it was anything like the palace in Memphis. I snuck over to him, grabbing him from behind and pulling him into the shadows. Holding him until he stopped struggling, I stripped his armor off and put it on. Securing my helmet over my face and wrapping my cloak around the breast plate. I then resumed my walking through the gate. The guards nodding in consent. I entered Sutekh's palace, it was massive. Where would they keep her? I turned and found myself in the massive throne room. I felt my heart drop, the room filled with soldiers and nobles. Eating and drinking, celebrating not only their king but Horus as well. I looked around and saw him, Sutekh sitting on his throne.  A cup of wine in his hand, and he was talking to one of his nobles. He was much older than I imagined. Almost as old as my father.  I turned and saw her. And I felt the breath leave my body.

It was her, the sorceress, Markara. It had to be her, why else would she be sitting next to Sutekh. My heart thudded in my chest. She was beautiful, more beautiful than spies told us. Her eyes glowed in the firelight, they were the color of emeralds. They were almost memorizing. Her skin is the color of honey. Her hair hung in ringlets, falling to her waist. She was dressed in a golden dress accented with a green jewel collar. Her headdress shaped like a falcon. A pendant of rubies dropping between her breasts. She appeared to be slightly older than Hasina, perhaps by a year or two. She was nothing I imagined her to be. Which surprised me even more. Yet when I looked into her eyes, lined by kohl. I saw pain and agony. Why was she in pain? What did she have to lose? Was she not helping Sutekh in his destruction and chaos? Was she not giving him the victory that meant death for us all? I looked around, trying to find a path to her. A path that would go unnoticed by the soldiers in the room. I then noticed room between the pillars and the walls. Hiding in the shadows. That would work, using the shadows I made my way toward the girl. I was half way there when Sutekh stood up and held his hand up for silence. A hush fell over the room quickly. I stopped leaning against the pillar. I did not want to draw attention to myself. I would appear like the dozen other soldiers in the room. 

"My soldiers and the great nobles of my land, I thank you for coming this evening. Thank you for celebrating another great victory with me and my men. Thank you to my beautiful sorceress for giving us another victory. May the great god Set bless us still," he said holding up his cup. The room joining him.

"We are also to celebrate the great hawk god Horus, the coward god who ran from our own great god in terror. Just like those in the north who cower in their palaces. Behind their great mighty walls while we ravage their lands," Sutekh laughed. I felt anger swell in my chest. Many were fleeing his cruelty and he called us cowards. Many of his soldiers spoke crude words against Horus. I cursed them all. And prayed for Horus to strike them down. They worshipped a god that took without thinking. They were just as cruel as Set himself. If not crueler. 

"Now... now... I also called you here to make an announcement. I decided to take a wife. My dream of uniting Egypt also calls for me to have a queen by my side. With a queen by my side and an heir in her belly. We will secure a dynasty that will last a thousand years," he said. I felt as if this speech would never end. So using the shadows I crept forward. I managed to creep a few more feet.

"And now my great soldiers, my loyal trusted nobles. I name the woman beside me, my future wife and queen of Upper Egypt. The future queen of all of Egypt," he roared. I stopped dead, he wanted to marry the sorceress. If he did that, then my kingdom would truly be doomed. My people would be under oppression and tyranny. My intuition was right. I had to get to her, I had to do it now or else it would be too late. It would be too late for us all.














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