Chapter 20
Brianamun had taken Pharaoh’s wine glasses. There were two. Akhenaten was expecting SmenkhKevinkare. Little did he know that his co-regent would never show up for any appointment again.
Brianamun, Aneski, Meritaten, and Kevinkare were gathered in a small, side room.
The tray with Akhenaten’s drinks were on a table in front of Brianamun. He withdrew the bottle of poison and uncapped it.
“How will you know which one Akhenaten will take?” Aneski inquired as she watched him pour into the goblet.
“I don’t,” Brianamun replied simply, dumping the last half of the cordial into the opposite glass. “Whichever one he settles on will be his death.”
“It will just look as though he died of simple heart failure,” Kevinkare stated.
Meritaten drew closer to Kevinkare.
“Just pray that nothing unexpected occurs,” Brianamun told them. “Now, Meritaten, stay here. It won’t do us any good if you’re spotted this late in the game. Oh, and thank you for guiding us here. Aneski, go to the back entrance to the chapel. Make sure no one goes in or out except for me. The same goes for you, Kevinkare. Only you must take the front entry.
Aneski nodded. “I’ll leave first. You two should follow a little later.”
“We know,” Kevinkare told her.
She shrugged. Making sure that no one was in the hallway, Aneski exited.
Five minutes came and went.
“Let’s go,” Brianamun ordered.
Kevinkare embraced Meritaten, kissing her as if it would be their last--which was entirely a possibility. When they pulled away at last, Kevinkare murmured, “I love you, Merit.”
Then, he followed Brianamun into the corridor.
********
Akhenaten was prostrated before the image of Aten. He was singing the Hymn to Aten, imploring his god to shine his light upon Egypt once again, dispelling the darkness and potential evil that had settled down upon it at that moment.
It was only a small chapel, and all had access to it. However, Akhenaten had banned military personnel from coming before the god with any sort of weapon.
The threatening storm outside broke with as lightening flashed and thunder cackled.
A servant entered, setting down a tray of win.
He was preparing to leave when Akhenaten stopped him:
“A moment please. That is all I ask of your time.”
“Whatever you wish is my command, Majesty,” the servant replied, bowing deeply.
“What is your name?”
“Brianaten.”
“Well then, Brianaten... I need to unburden my soul, and my co-regent, unfortunately, doesn’t listen well. I can feel my time is short. I may not be old and infirm, but I am weak... I have always been a weakling physically, if not mentally. In my thirty-seven years, I have learned enough to know my people despise me. No, don’t object and try to comfort me and tell me I am wrong. Of course there are plenty of yes-men and hypocrites, but my ring of supporters is has fewer and fewer members by the day.
“Smenkhkare warns me of conspirators who are ready to slit my throat if I make the slightest mistake. I don’t know whether or not to believe him, but of course Nefertiti was...”
“May I ask a question, Sire?”
“I value honesty, Brianaten, so of course. Ask away.”
“Why are you telling me all of this?”
“Before you came in here, Aten spoke to me, ordering me to confess my heart to the whoever entered next. Honestly, I thought he was referring to Smenkhkare, who I am expecting, but I guessed wrong.” Akhenaten smiled warmly.
Crazy man, Brianamun thought.
“Have you ever been in love, Brianaten?”
The bluntness of the query startled Brianamun. “Yes, Majesty, I have.” He must really be off his head today to be asking me this...
“Kiya may be pretty, but I’m not in love with her.” He sighed. “I miss Nefertiti terribly.”
Had Pharaoh been taking the special drink [AKA drugs] to invoke his false god? Akhenaten gave another sigh, but this one was filled with bitterness.
“I sound like a fool,” he told Brianamun with a wry smile. “Will you do me the honor of having a drink with me, Brianaten?”
Brianamun froze. He couldn’t drink the poison! Yet if he didn’t Pharaoh, would suspect something was wrong with the wine.
What do I have to live for anyway? Brianamun thought. Nefret is gone, and I can join her in Osiris’s Kingdom this way... May work will be done as soon as Akhenaten drinks that wine, and the others can easily advise Tutankhaten.
Akhenaten shot him a puzzled expression. “Will you drink with me?” he asked again.
Brianamun nodded. “Of course, Majesty.”
A person stumbled in. “Smenkhkare’s dead, Majesty!” It was Kevinkare. In his haste, he knocked the wine glass out of Brianamun’s hand. “Forgive my clumsiness.”
Akhenaten’s eyes widened. His knuckles whitened as his grip tightened around his glass. “How?”
“Murder.”
To keep his emotions steady, Akhenaten gulped down the wine. Then he hurried out.
Kevinkare glared at Brianamun, who glared back.
“Why did you stop me?” Brianamun snapped.
Kevinkare took him by the shoulders. “Nefret may be gone, but she wouldn’t want you to end your life prematurely on account of her. Trust me, Brianamun.”
Reluctantly, the priest nodded. “I know.” He sighed. “Let’s get Aneski, and get out of here.”
“What about Meritaten?”
Brianamun smiled reluctantly. “I foresee a whole lifetime together for you and the princess.”