I don’t want to spoil the actual climax of my story, but I am happy with the scene which sets up the murder. Here is the scene with all the characters together right before the murder takes place.
They emerged at last into a room ten cubits square. The light came from two lamps on a bench covered with an assortment of glistening tools and strangely-shaped vessels. Beside this bench were tow seated statues of jackal-headed Anubis. The gold outlines around the narrow jackal eyes stood out against black paint of the god’s head. They seemed to be studying Thutmose as he entered the room. In the middle of the chamber on a thin table or bench a little more than waist high lay a lean dessicated body. Thutmose blinked in the sudden light compared to the darkness of the corridor then stared at the body. After a moment he recognized it. It was his father’s body, looking hardly more dead then the last time he had seen the old man.
Thutmose approached the body reverently. He looked at Jetamesh who was still standing in the doorway of the room and wringing his hands. “Where are the priests to help preform the ceremony?” Jetamesh shook he head and shrugged his shoulders. He seemed barely able to keep himself composed. Something was odd. He walked to Jetamesh and took him by the arm roughly. Thutmose tried to look his friend in the eyes, but Jetamesh refused to look at him.
The sound of a group of people approaching began to echo down the hallway. There was a sinister purpose in the quickness of their steps. Thutmose released Jetamesh. This was a part of the palace Thutmose did not know and he had no idea if the corridor they had come by led somewhere else or if he was trapped in this room. Thutmose looked around the walls of the room and saw no other doors. He took a deep breath and decided to trust in fate. He pictured the calm face of the sphinx he had seen every day for weeks on end. This was the face which had led him on this course. All he could do no was trust in the promise he had received in his dream. Thutmose slowly walked back to the table where Pharaoh’s body lay. He stood beside the head of the corpse and faced whomever was approaching. He assumed an attitude which asserted his right to be here and perform the proper rites upon his father.
In just a few more moments Thutmose saw the thin face and dark robe draped body of his brother Amenmehat, high priest of Amun enter the room. His face pinched in confusion beneath this tall headdress as he saw Thutmose in the room, but he did not break his stride and walked purposefully along the wall of the chamber. Behind him came two of the palace guards. They did not acknowledge Thutmose at all, but took up positions beside the doorway of the room. Next, in clothing as pressed and clean and his own, Amenhotep, Son of Horus, heir apparent of all Kemet. When he saw Thutmose already standing beside their father’s body he stopped short. Thutmose had a glimpse of more palace guards and a priestess behind Amenhotep before his brother commanded all his attention.
“I told you,” the prince pointed at Thutmose savagely with a finger heavy with rings, “never to return to my presence.”
“Nay, brother,” Thutmose shot back, “you said I should not return until the task of uncovering the sphinx was complete. The work is finished.”
Amenhotep was as red as coals. He advanced toward Thutmose, gesturing wildly. “Do not lie to me. That was a fool’s errand.” He smiled savagely, “Fit for a fool like you.”
Thutmose could not remember being openly insulted ever in his life. He flared his nostrils and he felt his body preparing to act. “I have been granted success by my god. Now it is time to take my place as Pharaoh, as Khepri foretold.” He looked his brother in the eye. They were of similar height and seemed evenly matched in that moment.
Amenhotep smiled. “Amenmehat, you have heard the lies and the blasphemy of this traitor.” He continued to fix his glare on Thutmose. “Guards, place this treasonous slave in prison. Pharaoh has spoken!” Thutmose glanced around the room at the four guards. Two were still by the door, but the other two were advancing slowly toward him. He could use some of what he practiced as exercises as fighting methods instead, but he knew he didn’t likely stand a chance again four trained soldiers. He decided he would not resist and again committed himself to let his fate deliver.
The priestess whom he had seen earlier was now inside the room as well. It was hard to be sure since he had only met her once, but he thought she might be the same woman who had attended the opening of the digging at the sphinx. As Thutmose watched the soldiers advance and considered why a priestess of Isis was attending an Anubis ritual, she suddenly shouted. “Strike the bear. The bear must die!”
Right now my word count is 50,204 words.
By now I should have 50,000 words.
