In the eerie glow of the torchlight, their faces glows. The flames looked like small sunsets flickering about their faces. The women looked to Sabra as their leader. She had just read out the letter from Ismara. An eerie silence filled the ancient tomb, was it indecision? Surprise? Or weariness?
"Can I rely to your allegiance?" she asked them.
There was ripple of nods. Sabra felt relief, but also guilt. These women had barely been free for two days, and yet she was asking them risk their freedom. But no one seemed reluctant. Well that was what she could see from her eyes only.
She had already formulated a plan in his mind, it was just a matter of reaching them on time.
"What is the first part of the Plan?" asked a young girl.
Sabra smiled "We free the workers then we free the condemned also known as our former king, his brother and good friend."
-----------------------------
Kahmunrah had him hoisted on his shoulders. They were only six and three, but already Kahmunrah was tall and strong, in fact he looked like a ten year old. Ahkmenrah had his hands covering his older brother's eyes as they walked through the garden. It was a game they would play, Blind Man's Trust.
"Left!" he called. Kahmunrah turned left, three year old Ahkmenrah giggled at the motion of Kahmunrah turning left. "Right! Left! Now Spin!" the little toddler cried.
Kahmunrah gave smile, his beautiful smile that would become oh so rare in years to come, and spun around, Ahkmenrah still on his shoulders. Young Ahkmenrah giggled with delight. "Faster! Faster!" he cried. Kahmunrah heeded his word and spun faster.
Finally dizzy and out of breath both of them collapsed in the flowerbed laughing and smiling, out of breath.
Ahkmenrah never felt so alive. He could hear Kahmunrah panting beside him laughing uncontrollably. Kahmunrah soon sat up and Ahkmenrah being the little brother he was followed suite.
Kahmunrah then said "I'm surprised I didn't bump into a tree"
"Why?" asked the toddler.
"I don't know."
"Don't you trust me?"
"I trust you more than anyone else."
"Really?"
"Of course. Mama says you trust the people you love. I love you more than anything."
Ahkmenrah's face contorted into horror "But I don't want to marry you!" he exclaimed.
"That's not what I mean silly."
"Oh!"
"Do you want to play again?"
"Yes please! Can I carry you?"
Kahmunrah burst out laughing.
Ahkmenrah woke with a start. His heart sank to the very depths of his soul. His eyes filled with tears. That was thirteen years ago. Life had been so simple then. He had been happy. Most of all they had been together. They had not been alone.
"I love you too Kahmun..." he whispered. Though he knew Kahmunrah would never hear him.
He hadn't seen Kahmunrah since two days ago. What had happened to him? He couldn't get rid of the sinking feeling as a result he couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned until he eventually sat up. He turned to see Sabaf already awake. Looks like not many people could sleep tonight.
"Couldn't sleep?" asked Sabaf in a low voice so not to wake up the two new recruits. Ahkmenrah nodded in response. "Nightmares?" asked Sabaf.
"No more like good dreams"
Sabaf cocked his head to the side. Then he realised. Good dreams at a bad time can haunt you in a way nightmares can't.
"Do you know what happened to Kahmunrah?" asked Sabaf.
Ahkmenrah shrugged, not wanting to express that the source of his grief lay in that very question.
"Wherever he is...he probably is doing brave things...its what he does best." Despite trying to hide his emotions grief was evident in his every word.
"You miss him don't you?"
"Is it that obvious?
"Ahk, the whole of Egypt literally watched you grow up together. How can I not know? Besides I've known you for over ten years."
Ahkmenrah sighed and looked out the window. "How do you think Ismara is faring?"
Sabaf paused "She is deathly ill" he said obviously not wanting to reveal her condition "I doubt they would have harmed her."
"She's ill? How come? How did I not hear?"
"She didn't want people to fuss over her. She's always hated that."
"What happened though?"
"We do not know...look Ahk it doesn't matter anymore. We're on the losing side. We are going to die any day."
"How can you be so hopeless?" asked Ahkmenrah. "We could still win this."
If only the rain would come. He added in his mind.
Sabaf only gave him an ironic smile "How can you be so hopeful?"
Ahkmenrah shrugged "Kahmunrah says it is an annoying trait of mine."
"Where he creates wrath you create hope. Wrath and hope together can be quite powerful. Yet it's a miracle you two get a long. You are the complete opposites."
Another sad smile emerged from his features and he shrugged and looked out the window. The sun was emerging from horizon. He grimaced. Ra was supposed to be his Patron god, the one who was to protect him. But all the accursed sun had done was bring them suffering.
But the sun was rising that meant the guards were coming soon. They had had the day off yesterday, which came as a surprise. They hardly had days off. For some reason Ahkmenrah had a bad feeling about the day to come. He couldn't quite place it, but he knew he was right.
Sure enough the guards came. Normally they never came in the huts. This increased Ahkmenrah sense of foreboding.
The guard's expressions were naught. He could decipher no emotion from them. One of the guards gestured towards Ahkmenrah and Sabaf as...and...woke up.
"You two!" he said. "We have special orders for you."
Special Orders? This couldn't be good...
-----------------------------
Thirst.
The one thing he could register. But if the 'king'...couldn't even get a decent amount of water a day (for he had heard the guards complain about it) how can he expect even a droplet of water. He had heard, the fields had dried up, cattle had died and the Nile was getting smaller and smaller by the day. Kahmunrah could barely support himself now. He had lost much blood, water and nutrients in the two days they had kept him, he hurt from everywhere. He felt slightly ashamed in this thought but he was glad they had spared his manhood. Sometimes people aren't that generous.
He sat there thinking. If Ismara was right, he execution was planned to be today. Maybe that was why they were giving him a break today.
He didn't even bother trying to get up. But even if he did bother, he was sure he was incapable of that feat. So he sat there with his thoughts fingering the cheap kilt around his waist. Even though he acted brave and calm in the face of death, his heart was raging with every emotion he had ever felt. It scared the living daylights out of him. But he kept calm and emotionless.
The door opened. It was a guard.
"Get up!" he barked. Kahmunrah tried his best, but he couldn't do it. The guard groaned in annoyance and proceeded to use force. But a voice interrupted him.
"Can't you see he's barely alive...give the man some mercy."
Kahmunrah recognised him as the man who had led Ismara in last night to see him. Ismara had told him a name? Anbir? He was sure this was so. He breathed a sigh of relief. He felt Anbir's strong arms lifting him off the ground.
"How is she?" asked Kahmunrah is low whisper.
"Safe" answered Anbir.
"The child?"
"Safe"
"Look after them."
Anbir gave the slightest of nods before leading him out of cell.
Weary as he was he couldn't help but let the smile come to see his face when he saw his brother and Sabaf. Both Sabaf and Ahkmenrah looked in horror at how badly Kahmunrah's condition was.
What? Were they to be executed too?
Why? They had done nothing wrong.
His mind wandered back to Ismara's word.
I'm doing everything I can to protect Egypt and save you.
An uprising of course! That is why they were going to kill the three of them off. They were the symbols of hope. You want to crush the hope? You kill it at the source. After all if Sargon let them s thrive maybe they would start an uprising. But even so it would be futile without rain.
The three of them were lead into a separate room. This one was well kept, not barren yet not lavish. But better, a lot better, than the conditions they had recently been accustomed to.
Anbir walked to the front and unrolled a scroll.
"Ahkmenrah, Sabaf and Kahmunrah. You have, by the Order of Sargon King of Sumer, Pharaoh of the Nile and Emperor of Nubia, been sentenced to death. For treason and defiance of the King. The execution will take place at sundown. Do you have any last requests?"
"You've shown me my brother...I have nothing else to ask." Answered Kahmunrah confidently. Ahkmenrah nodded.
"My mind lies with that of my brother's. I have nothing to ask."
Attention was diverted to Sabaf. He drew a breath.
"I wish to write to my sister."
Anbir frowned "Is she here? In the palace? In the city?"
"In the palace I am sure..."
"What is her name?"
"Ismara..."
---------------------------------
Worry filled Sabra's heart. The execution was due to commence at sunset from her sources.
It was already sundown. She had freed the male workers, but she regretted doing that. She should have gone to save Ahkmenrah and the rest first. But she needed people in numbers to support if she wanted to save them. All she had to do is get their on time She gestured for her small army of women and men to go faster. Their walking turned into running.
If she didn't save them what would happen? But most of all what will happen to her heart? No she couldn't think like that. She shouldn't. She hadn't let feelings conquer her before. She wont let them conquer her now. She had a whole life ahead of her. What did it matter if he died? What did it matter of they all died?
But a little voice inside her said said:
Everything
--------------------------------
The sunset was the most beautiful he had probably ever seen in his entire life. It will be his last and he knew it. Kahmunrah had prayed while they waited for their doom. He didn't pray t be saved, but to be able stand strong enough and long enough for people to know there is hope because he was not conquered.
But the sunset gave him a new kind of energy one that the gods never could. On the other side the moon was rising. Incandescent and full. It gave him power, it was the last full moon he will ever see.
At least when died he will see his father. But he half dreaded it. How would it all go down when he asked why Ahkmenrah was chosen over him. He shook the thought away. Whatever happened he had to brave, not only for his people but for his brother.
They were lined up, their hands tied behind their backs. Then at spear point they were turned and led out in single file. Kahmunrah was at the head. He was glad to find he could walk without support. They were lead out of the dungeons, out of the palace out of the gates down the streets to a stage in the heart of the city
Kahmunrah knew this place well. Yet it was never used. Merenkahre did not approve of the death penalty and it was one of his wishes that it be removed. Yet he hadn't found time to do so, but he did make sure no one was executed. Even the worst of criminals.
There were already people here. Briefly Kahmunrah wandered whether they were forced here to watch. Because none of the people he saw and recognised had a thirst for blood. Or maybe it was all a lie. That wouldn't be a surprise considering how his life turned out.
The forced upon the stage. There was dead silence. For Kahmunrah it seems as if no one was breathing.
Finally a Sumerian man walked up with same scroll Anbir had held.
"Ahkmenrah, Sabaf and Kahmunrah. You have, by the Order of Sargon King of Sumer, Pharaoh of the Nile and Emperor of Nubia, been sentenced to death. For treason and defiance of the King. The execution shall take place now. May this be an example to all who dare oppose the king."
Dead silence.
"Kahmunrah!" his name was called. He inhaled a deep breath, despite the spear poking at his ribs. He walked forward hands tied behind his back. He held his head high, looked back at his brother and Sabaf and flashed them a smile.
Ahkmenrah couldn't help but stand in awe at the majesty and beauty commanded by his brother. Then Kahmunrah turning he smiled to the crowd. He looked like a hero of legends past.
Then he turned to his executioner, a burly intimidating looking Nubian man, and smiled at him too.
"Commence!" called the Sumerian man.
Kahmunrah kneeled, head held high smiling still.
The executioner raised his sword.
Kahmunrah saw the salute given to him by his people. An act of defiance. Telling him they loved him all along. Telling him they will not be defeated he will be remembered. He had stood on top the world, he had gone through many trials and tribulations. But the love of his people shown through their salute warmed his heart more than anything. He wanted this to be his last memory.
He closed his eyes.
The sword was raised. He heard it whistle through wind coming at him at lightning speed. Life and death were one to him now.
Blood was spilt.
There was chaos.
------------------------------
Yes you may kill me. But please don't give up on this yet, Ahkmenrah still has a long way to go. Yes I screwed up the plot majorly once again.
Please tell me what you think and by all means hate on me.
Still love you!
Dedicated to Camp_Half_Blood2 for her lovely comments. And yes Cheesy_Bread537 by all means you may choke me.