Neith

Soon to be Pharaoh

ind words are short and easy to speak but their echos are truly endless.

- Mother Teresa.

Aahotep's Pov

The summer heat was always so bothersome not to mention the evening breeze which was now hot and humid, had attracted flies and mosquitoes that tried to suck me dry.

The palace was noisy with the preparations for the coronation ceremony. I could hear it all the way to my chambers which was situated deep inside the palace. I really didn't understand why so much work had to go into crowning someone the Pharaoh. Too many resources were wasted on something so stupid.

My head hurt as I looked down on the desk covered with books and papyrus. I lay back and massaged my temples hoping it would give me some relief.

Working on a plan to improve communications with the fourth cataract was proving to be quite difficult. I seemed to not make any progress even though I have been working on it for a couple of days.

Egypt ruled a vast empire that stretched from Syria in west Asia, to the fourth cataract of the Nile River. Since my father, Akhenaten died the country was in chaos. I was sure that the Hittites would not let this chance slip by and probably try to wage another war again. For this I had to be able to interact with the borders in a quicker and more efficient way so that I could avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

More than that the riot caused by the nobles was increasing. It's time I shut their mouths for good I thought. They would never have dared to do anything if father was still alive.

My mind wandered towards my father. A great Pharaoh, someone who was kind and compassionate, or so his people labeled him to be. But to me he had always been a vile and vicious man who's main aim was to train me to be a suitable heir to uphold his ultimate vision.

From the day I was born, my fate was sealed. I had to follow in my father's footsteps. Therefore, my father personally trained me in all aspects varying from politics to the art of sword fighting and everything else in-between. It wasn't because he cared for me or loved me that he did so, but because he didn't trust anyone else to do it.

The only people he did trust was his childhood friend Adio, who was now the General of the royal army and his personal servant, Abu. He did not even trust my mother, the queen and his first wife, Nefertiti. Even though I was a Prince, I had trained harder than most of the soldiers in the army. There wasn't a day when I wasn't fully dripping with sweat. Pain was something that I was used to and after a while it had just become normal to be in that pain.

I had hated the man with every fiber in my being but that was until a few months ago.

It was when my father was ill and on his deathbed. I was going to update him about the damages done to a village near the southern border by a group of bandits, when I accidentally overheard the conversation between him and Adio.

It was about how he wanted to be a better father but the circumstances weren't in his favor and so on. At first I didn't buy it. there was no way that man could have ever felt sorry. To me he wasn't capable of those kind of thoughts or emotions but the time after that until he passed away made me realize that he really did mean it.

Even if I knew he felt guilty for the way he treated me I could still never forget what I had been through. I was old enough to know his vision was a good one and knew I had to fulfill it for the betterment of our kingdom. But lately I wasn't sure if I could continue it anymore. Having only a handful of people to rely on and having so many malicious eyes watch every move you take really started getting to me.

I let out a deep breath as I remembered the events of the court that had taken place in the afternoon. For the coronation ceremony I had to get married as it was tradition. I was strongly against this as it wasn't the right time for marriage. I mean the country was in a state of chaos since their most beloved Pharaoh died. Marriage was the least of my problems right now. But the council thought else wise. Did those old nut shells think of anything other than traditions and customs for a change?

I got up from my seat so I could get some fresh air. My head was throbbing now and I was frustrated. Everything was a mess. So much to do and not enough time.

I headed out to meet Adio. Maybe he could provide some insight to a few of these problems.