A Book of Shorts
By Kirstyanne Ross
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2011 Kirstyanne Ross
Smashwords
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Deceit Before The Gods.
His eyes flicker from side to side, and the hairs on the back of Pharaoh’s arms stand rigid amongst the goose bumps. A prickling sensation traverses his spine and a glistening of sweat appears on his brow. In the temple the smoke from the incense is so thick that the High Priest isn’t able to see the images. They are meant only for the Pharaoh who can see them as clearly as his own image in the Nile. He can see a felucca travelling down his Nile, carrying only two people. He can also see me, Osiris, Lord of the Underworld, sat in my throne on the other bank while Anubis stands waiting for him. The sun will continue on its daily journey across the sky and the business of Egypt will continue, just as it has everyday previously, for Pharaoh is the ‘divine on earth’ and only he knows his fate. If Pharaoh doesn’t follow the laws of Ma’at, chaos and confusion will descend on Egypt. Not even the high priest is able to predict the future to such an extent. It is a blessing from the Gods. With the guidance of Amun-Re, Pharaoh’s last day has begun.
The high walls of the palace shimmered into view as Pharaoh’s chariot speeds through the streets of Thebes. As he comes to a halt he jumps off the chariot and hands the reigns to a stable boy before striding up to his apartments for a bath. He finishes drying his body before lying down on the massage table. His taut muscles begin to relax as the Master of the Royal Scents covers his body in olive oil, softening the skin and muscles. A servant helps Pharaoh into a fine linen kilt before adorning his body with gold amulets and precious jewels. He is the ruler of all Egypt and as such needs to show the people that the treasury is in abundance with gold. After collecting the crook and flail, another servant places a wig and the dual crown of Egypt on his head. Pharaoh makes his way to the throne room flanked by Magi, the warriors sworn to protect the ruler of Egypt at all costs, followed by an assembly of nobility.
As the sun travels to its pinnacle, Pharaoh listens and judges on the cases put before him by his people. Pharaoh is the nation’s Judge, Jury and Executioner. This morning has been different though. As Pharaoh has ruled on the cases placed before him, his gaze criticises everyone in the room discreetly, picking out all the flaws and weaknesses of each person without them knowing. Commoners and close friends alike are all under scrutiny. Who will it be? How? Scarcely minutes pass between each decision or decree as people are shepherded in front of Pharaoh in seated his golden throne, barely giving the Royal Scribe time to make his notes.
Having passed through the morning without incident, Pharaoh is able to take a meal of sweet meats, bread and wine with his principal wife in the Royal Chambers. As they sit on the balcony over-looking the Palace Gardens, Pharaoh catches a glimpse of his eldest son sitting under an Acacia tree; he is studying a papyrus in his preparation to become Pharaoh himself one day. Aware of his father’s eyes on him, the boy looks up and waves nonchalantly. He is blissfully unaware that everything he knows is about to change and that soon he will be pulled away from his studies to deal with things much older than his own age.