Prologue
Palace, Thebes,
Egypt
33 AD
The sun stretched its rays over the glorious city of
Thebes, striking the face of the Nile River. As the peasants retired for the
day, trudging home from the surrounding fields, the pyramids stabbed the sky in
the distance, and the obelisks stood in their stark preeminence.
Within the upper balcony of the palace stood a young man,
clad in a kilt. He stared at the setting sun as it spread its bronze back over
the horizon. He could see the Nile River glistening from his room. A breeze
blew in the balcony, slightly raising the wig off his shoulders. He suddenly jumped when he felt a hand on his
shoulder. He turned to see a beautiful young woman.
“Come, my prince, don’t be afraid of me.”
“How did you enter?”
“Your servant let me in.”
“Come, have a seat,” he said taking her hands and leading
her to his chair. She sat down as he kneeled before her.
“Now rise from your knees Akhom. I will be bowing before
you in the future when you are the Pharaoh of Egypt.”
“No, as long as I’m in your presence I will kneel before
you,” he said.
“Eternity is a long time to stay on your knees.”
“What is it you mean?” He asked.
“Will you take my hand in marriage?”
Akhom suddenly rose, pacing the floor in front of him.
“I’ve surprised you. Is it too soon?” She asked.
“No, but you know I’ve been betrothed to another since the
age of eleven. If I don’t marry her I will forever be shamed in my father’s
sight, and he will most likely give the throne to another.
“You can’t predict the future. You don’t know what your
father will think until it is done. So let’s leave this place and marry. Let’s leave what may happen in the future
behind.”
Suddenly seized by her gaze he came towards her and stopped
in front of her. He looked back at his room longingly and the Nile river before
him.
“Yes, let us marry,” Akhom said. His eyes glittered with
apprehension as he followed her into the unknown.
Chapter One
Upper Nile, Courtyard, Kerma, Nubia
43 AD
The city of Kerma stood quietly. The wind carried dust from
the surrounding desert and swirled up and about. It whistled ever so softly
around Hotep’s sword. Hotep aimed the sword at his brother Caleb who was penned
to the ground under his knee. Caleb squirmed but couldn’t move.
“Yes brother, I surrender. Now let me up,” Caleb hissed.
Hotep put his sword in his sheath, rising to his full six
foot two inches, and held his hand out to Caleb. Caleb grabbed it and rose to
his feet.
“Now can you see why I want to fight?” Hotep queried.
“No, ruling over the whole of Nubia, once our father is
dead seems to be a much better deal,” Caleb said scrunching up his nose.
“I don’t quite understand why you want me to be King when
the position would be given to you if I stepped down.”
“I want you to be King because I see qualities in you that
I can only dream of possessing,” Caleb admitted.
“Name one quality that I possess.”
“Well for one you’re very decisive; when you set your mind
to do something you do it. We need men like you who will fulfill their promises
to the people. Also you’re well loved by the people. People flock to you like
herd, and they eat every word you say. I don’t understand why you haven’t used
this to your advantage with the willing girls by now, but that’s another
debate.”
“You seem to be forgetting something,” Hotep said.
“What?”
“I’m skillful with the sword.”
“Yes that too, but the qualities I mentioned before are
more important. When you are King you can send others to fight your
battles. You are running away from your
destiny, and for what? To be a common foot soldier?” Caleb asked.
“Yes. To be a soldier in our great army. I’d be serving the
people and Apedemak the god of war in a different way. Why can’t I fight for
the safety of the people on the battlefield instead of on the throne?”
“When you are King, you can do both. Fight for the people
and rule,” Caleb said.
“Why should I wait to fight when I am King, when I can
fight right now?”
Summary:
Hotep, a Nubian Prince, travels to Egypt in hopes of gaining military success, a luxury his father withholds from him. When his friend meets with disaster, he loses hope and is enslaved in Egypt.
Mandisa, an awkward 16 year old, becomes intrigued by a stranger who presents her with a truth that could shake her foundations. When her father grows deathly ill, will she trust the stranger or rely on the old ways?
When there two worlds collide, will Hotep lay aside his pain and chase his dreams? Or will Mandisa accept the truth and trust in someone she cannot see?
Hotep, a Nubian Prince, travels to Egypt in hopes of gaining military success, a luxury his father withholds from him. When his friend meets with disaster, he loses hope and is enslaved in Egypt.
Mandisa, an awkward 16 year old, becomes intrigued by a stranger who presents her with a truth that could shake her foundations. When her father grows deathly ill, will she trust the stranger or rely on the old ways?
When there two worlds collide, will Hotep lay aside his pain and chase his dreams? Or will Mandisa accept the truth and trust in someone she cannot see?
