The man on the couch gave a last heave before expiring the light passing from his eyes for the last time. The woman who had been tending him burst into tears. One of the young men who stood a little apart in the room in the painted palace moved forward and placed his arms on the shoulders of the weeping woman. “Mother your highness come away he is gone to the happy after life he drew her to her feet and lead her away the woman continued to weep.
Pharaoh was dead her light her sun had died the light gone from her life they had been companions for a very long time he had been her brother her king her beloved Tuthmosis ruler of the two lands was now nothing more then a carcase for the butchers block. She thought for a moment of the tomb that he had, had build for them the care with which he had taken in its construction not to many days hence he would be laid to rest in there eternal home. But the thought brought only sadness she thought of the lonely years that lay before her with out her beloved husband. How would she bear it she did not know. As she wept the heavy makeup which the queen of Egypt wore begun to run down her cheeks she whipped her tears on her sleeve a dark stain appearing on the sleeve of her robe. Grief was a natural part of life morning the death of a love done Pharaoh was dead and now Egypt would morn for 80 days the passing of the king she turned once more and looked with a great sadness back at the body on the couch “leave it mother said the young man. Soon the news would be spread to the two lands the embalming priests would be coming to take the body of the pharaoh to the mortuary temple were they would preserve the body for eternity.
Queen Nefertiti was weeping once again she had been weeping almost continuously for the last three days now her son entered the room and drew up a low stool Mother my queen please stop your weeping for a moment and consider that my father Pharaoh has gone to the afterlife to the great banquet which is prepared even now he is making ready to enter the presence of Osiris when he has passed all there tests I am sure he will enter the afterlife to spend eternity at the feast table with the Gods Amun, great Osiris, Isis Hathor And Ra- hekcerty be not sad my mother rather rejoice that the pharaoh has entered into a place of rest one day when it is our turn we to will join him in the happy after life. Now I bid you mother as your new pharaoh take food wash dress and make up your face for Egypt wants to see there dowager queen so please mother weep no more appear before the people of Egypt as there queen stand tall let them see that even though our father Pharaoh Tuthmosis has gone to the afterlife we are happy and joyful for there is a new pharaoh who reigns in his stead come mother your hand maiden is here with water for you to wash I will instruct the servants to bring milk and honey when you are ready to eat.
As the young man left the hand maiden came forward to minster to the needs of her lady Aya the Nubian slave had been with her lady now for about twenty years she had known no other home then the painted palace for the last twenty years her life before was like a dream she had been taken at a very young age from her home far to the south where her people had been cattle breeders living pretty much the life of nomad tribesman but of this life she remembered little most of the memories she had blocked at an early age because they were not happy ones the tribe been over run by the armies of Pharaoh Tuthmosis the killing of her family she seldom thought on it was just to painful now as she hurried forward for a moment her mind flashed back to the day when as a small child she had wandered from body to body in the dust as the war chariots moved around her killing of the last few members of her tribe that offered resistance to enslavement. She had been a loyal servant to the lady of Egypt and had learned much in Egypt brought into the royal household because she had a pretty look about her she had been trained to wait upon the lady of Egypt and had fur fulled her duties well been rewarded with little objects which in themselves had little value yet when placed together they made quite a valuable collection with which she hoped to buy her freedom. Of returning to Nubia there was little hope now she longed for the day when she could buy her freedom and live as a free person in the two lands belonging to no one but herself liberty was a word unknown to her but the concept was one which she understood and longed for.
Washing and been dressed Queen Nefertiti ate a small meal then set out for the apartment of her son the new pharaoh of the two lands. As she moved through the palace followed by the loyal Aya a few steps behind in case she needed any thing attended to the servants and nobles bowed low as the lady of Egypt passed averting there eyes some had tears in there eyes as they thought of the sorrow of Egypt at losing the man who had ruled and made Egypt great heart ach followed the lady of Egypt at every step she took arriving at the chamber she entered to find her son adjusting his head dress before setting out to the open balcony from which they would address the crowed before making obedience to the gods.
The young man looked at his mother and gave a small smile we are ready now lets get it over with said he as he lead the way to the outer chamber the light of the torches burning bright casting long shadows as they passed on the walls of the painted places.
The servants hurried before them throwing open the doors which lead to the great balcony below them stood thousands upon thousands of troops and thousands of civilians come to do homage to the new pharaoh and to morn the old. As the emerged from the palace the troops came to attention the thunder of thousands of feet stamping onto the hard packed earth like a thunder burst.
The priests did homage to the now deified Pharaoh Tuthmosis a young bull been slaughtered the blood running down the alter some of it splattering the crowds below other priests chanted charms and prayers to the late King. The lady of Egypt watched all the while the pain in her heart grew worse the sorrow oh the sorrow would it never end.
