Jewel Of The Nile [COMPLETE]

Chapter Eighteen

The sound of cutlery clashing against one another filled the dead air. Not one person uttered a word. I did not even want to be here; Smenkhkre forced me to. Huy kept trying to catch my eye, but I constantly avoided her gaze. I could not look at her. How could I? My friend had been arrested and tried for treason. I did not even know what she did.

As soon as I recognised her in the Grand Chamber, her smile had vanished and she bowed her head, ashamed. I just stood there, dumbfounded. This was the girl Smenkhkre had warned us about? The one who was dangerous? Who prevailed in magic? Who was a threat, even to us? 

"Ankhesenpaaten, I saw Kahmose! He told me what happened!" she tried to shout, but of course - Smenkhkre and Ay heard. Smenkhkre glanced at me, confused.

"You know this girl?" He asked.

"I used to," I replied quietly. "What did she do?"

Suddenly, Huy bowed, and began to weep. "I promise you, Pharoah Smenkhkre, that I am innocent! I did nothing wrong!"

"Lies," my brother hissed at her. To me: "How do you know this...this..."

"I know her because it was her brother who was sick. She is my friend who I spent two months with," I cut in, preventing him from finishing his sentence.

Smenkhkre looked shocked. "So you come here, experience the hospitality of myself and my staff, and then do this? We fed you, clothed you, gave you a decent shelter for two months, and then you do this to Egypt. You are a traitor to your country!"

"No, you don't understand! I -"

"Silence! What you did was inexcusable! Evil! Chaos - Isfet. What good is my job of trying to restore Ma'at to the world if there are people like you who constantly defy it!" Smenkhkre boomed, but Huy did not flinch. She was not afraid.

"Many people do this everyday, yet you only come down on me? You live a sheltered lifestyle, you don't understand the city. If you did, you would know that not everything you see is the truth," Huy protested.

 The court fell silent. Not even the worst criminals defied their Pharaoh. They would always take their punishment with a solid heart. But not Huy. Which was a dumb move.

"Death," Smenkhkre said quietly. "Death. Drown her in the Nile. How is that for a bit of irony? Drown her in the Nile, right now!"

The guards seized her and Huy's face paled. For the first time, she looked scared. 

"No!" I shouted, stopping the guards. "Do not kill her! What did she even do that is so terrible, anyway?"

"I am the Pharaoh!" shouted Smenkhkre. "I make the final decision! Drown her in the Nile, and let her body be eaten by the crocodiles. I must restore Ma'at to Egypt. That can only be achieved by getting rid of all the followers of Isfet, chaos. You shall not interfere with political affairs again, and you too will be punished for your insolence!"

"Smenkhkre," Meritaten said gently, walking up to the altar. "Perhaps our sister has a point. Let the accused stay alive for one night in the palace. Perhaps we can learn more. We will have a mature conversation with her. The final choice remains yours, of course. If, tomorrow, you feel no different about her fate, so be it. Drown her then. But give us one day to allow her to explain herself."

"Fine," he grumbled. "You are granted one extra day of life. You may stay in the palace, but tomorrow you will die."

Huy let out a huge sigh of relief, and smiled at me. I turned away from her. 

Meritaten smiled tightly. "You shall eat with us tonight. We will listen to you then. Until then - Ankhesenpaaten, let us go."

And that was how we wound up here. Meritaten took me back to her chambers and questioned me on whether or not I knew anything. I kept insisting that I was left in the dark, which was the truth. Then a servant fetched us to eat, and here we were.