Seknut's plump fingers tightly clutched the white veil around her head, it was the tightest around her ears. She couldn't bear to hear the sounds of discord and rumors. She could take the sound of discord, the constant battle between two evils, greed and hunger. The overpricing of food verses the growing hunger of the people. But the rumors were things that hurt.
"They are dead!" one man would stay.
"They have abandoned us!" said another woman.
"They have stolen our sympathies and left us all for dead!" Said another.
She couldn't believe it. The two young boys who had suckled from her breasts, then the niece she had only seen after ten years. Dead or traitors. She couldn't believe it she wouldn't believe it. It wasn't right.
Getting her meager supplies for the week she made her way out of the bustling square. Despite her blocked ears he heard the loud clear voice of the executioner. Almost involuntarily she turned her head just in time to see the blade fall.
She felt no more emotion. It was sad she realised that these executions were so common she felt no emotion for them anymore. Turning her head away from the pool of blood she made her way home.
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Ismara invited Anbir to sit with her.
"I hope you're not risking you're life for me Anbir to get the food."
"I'm not." He said. "Even if I was, I consider it an honor, my wife back in Sumer too is in this condition."
"How many children do you have?"
"Three, two boys and girl."
"What are their names?"
"The boys are Utu and Yam and there is my precious daughter Ishtar."
"Do you love them very much? No that is stupid question. Of course you do."
"You will understand when you will have your own child, my lady."
"Yes, yes I see."
"My Lady may I permit to ask, why do want to talk to me today."
"Anbir, I am often deprived of company. You must understand, I will go crazy if I don't talk to anyone. But do tell me why do you look so strong and healthy while I see sick and starving people out of my window every day."
"My lady, it was by the order of king. There is enough food to go around to feed everyone for a month but it's a power struggle. Right now food is power and you know how much his highness adores power."
"Where is all this food stored? Surely of the king has put it in some sort of protected place."
"Its in the usual storage room but is heavily guarded."
"Define heavily guarded?"
"Twenty heavily armed guards."
Ismara's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Twenty men, was over kill in her opinion, but Anbir was right, in this day and age food was power.
"Where does all this food come from? Egypt is dried up."
"Sumer, My Lady, in caravans. Every week now, they arrive at the palace in the dead of the night."
"The horses must be quite fast."
"No, My Lady, Sargon had established this system long before Egypt was conquered. For the soldiers, if the Egyptians wouldn't provide us with food."
"He must really want to rule Egypt."
"He wasn't always so ambitious."
Ismara cocked her head. "What happened?"
Anbir shook his head. "It is not my story to tell. Besides, I have work to do. It was lovely talking with you My Lady."
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Sabra opened he letter from Ismara. One line struck her very much.
Over here food is power. People have gone mad for power. It seems to me Sargon is the maddest of them all. He has 20 men guarding supplies for food.
Was this really what Egypt had come to, a mad power struggle for food. Khufu's first stage of the plan to siphon the king's food supplies had proved its worth. If food was power they needed to be the most powerful in order regain the throne.
The next supply caravan was to come in two days.
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The rogues of the Nile as they had been dubbed all stood in one large chamber. Sabra had effectively taken the real leadership over these rebels. One may be asking what were the positions of the brothers? If you must know in reality they were the symbols of the rebellion. In very modern terms, the mockingjays.
All stood silent as Sabra told them of the situation.
"I will need six men or women for this mission..." said Sabra. "Those capable of stealth. Is there anyone willing?"
There was stillness, the type that is born from great adrenaline and excitement. A myriad of hands shot up. Amongst them was Tchanun and Ammon the younger. Both filled with passion that usually visits a youth. Ahkmenrah and Kahmunrah also volunteered even though they knew they would definitely not be chosen.
Sabra sighed. She despised having to choose from so many willing people. But nonetheless she chose, and among them were the two youths brimming with passion.
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Later that night in complete darkness, Ahkmenrah and Kahmunrah lay in their cots. An icy silence had fallen over them. They hadn't talked to each other since their disagreement back with Khufu.
Where his eyes could not search Ahkmenrah used his ears, to listen to the oh so familiar sounds of Kahmunrah's breathing patterns. He discerned his brother was not asleep, and was indeed pretending to do so. It was strange how some people know you better than you know yourself.
"Kahmun?" he whispered out.
"What?" came a gruff yet weary voice of Kahmunrah.
"I'm sorry."
There was silence. Suddenly he could hear Kahmunrah shift a little.
"What for?"
"For saying all that, about father."
"Mmmm..."
"And for shouting at you..."
"Mmmm..."
"And for...wait are you asleep?"
"Mmmm..."
Ahkmenrah sighed, got up and leapt on top of Kahmunrah as if tackling him.
"Oof! Ahk! Get off me!"
"Not until you say you forgive me!" retorted Ahkmenrah hugging his brother tighter almost burying his face in his chest.
"If some one walks in, they will mistake us for being in such a scandalous position."
"You're my brother its doesn't matter. We used to sleep like this in the same bed when we were children."
"We were children then."
"You're still my brother. Besides can I not be a child for one more night."
"I swear if anyone walks in..."
"They won't. If they do, they won't judge us. We are brothers. The best of brothers in Egypt as they say. Surely our love could surpass all boundaries."
Kahmunrah merely chuckled and shook his head. But his heart was overwhelming with love.
"I forgive you..." whispered Kahmunrah.
"I know." Said Ahkmenrah. He let go of Kahmunrah, but moved no further. The familiar sounds of his sleeping breath reached Kahmunrah's ears in a matter of seconds.
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Hi! Yay! Another Update! We've entered into a new dimension of this power struggle and also a new dimension of Ahk and Kahmun's brotherly love. Looks like Tchanun and Ammon will now be working together.
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