Chapter: The pyramid architect

THE CURSE OF Fidelity

Prolog:

The sun was high in the sky of the Nubian desert. The heat seemed unbearable on the already dried up earth. For months this murderous climate has prevailed for all those present in the desert in southern Egypt. The Nile no longer rose very high and famine swept the land.
As if the god Re were ill-disposed towards them. They had done everything necessary: ​​performed the morning rituals, laid out the offerings, the Temple of Re was always clean and the servants worked tirelessly.
Nevertheless, the time was anything but harmonious and satisfactory. The Pharaoh had become seriously ill. Evil wizards put deadly curses on him to weaken his ka. Because the young Pharaoh had many enemies who wanted his death in order to ascend the throne.
A time of betrayal and fighting began.

Chapter 1: The Pyramid Architect

The first rays of the sun fell on the face of the sixteen-year-old Pharaoh through the large window of his bedroom.Slowly he opened his eyes, blinked briefly, but then looked the sun in the face. He knew that the god Re had accepted him and was his ally, because if he hadn't, he would have stolen his eyesight. He had this knowledge with him since he had to face this test in the house of life in Heliopolis.
The Pharaoh was slim and tall. He had a straight nose, proud purple gradient eyes, and a very reluctant hairstyle that the best in the country had to fix every morning to keep it from falling on his face. This unique hairstyle consisted of a spiked head that was predominantly black, but had the same distinctive gradient as his eyes along the shiny edges. From his forehead fell the ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt four blond strands, like lightning bolts, in the face.
The young Pharaoh was expecting a healer today to relieve his chest pain.Constantly his heart pounded or the young man had to cough terribly until he could hardly breathe any more air. He also often got dizzy and almost collapsed. He, the Pharaoh, the Almighty, was sick.
Many at court rumored that he was possessed by an evil demon. That is why he would receive this healer today to help him.
The young man leaned on the edge of the bed and was about to get up when the door swung open and a servant entered. She had long black hair, light green eyes, and a normal stature. She wore a simple linen robe and bronze sandals. Her suit had to be tailored to her position.
“But, my Pharaoh. You shouldn't get up without your doctor's permission. ", she said furiously and ran towards him.
<Why is everyone treating me like a child? I am sixteen years old! >, thought the person addressed stubbornly and straightened up completely.
"So stay in your bed."
“You have nothing to order me, Lelanta.Where's my family doctor? "
He looked challengingly at her. She was one of his best maids, but she was also quite indecisive and easily intimidated. Her ka was very volatile. He didn't think much of weak-willed people. His father had hired her when ... when he was alive.
Yes. His father, the Pharaoh of Upper and Lower Egypt, was dead. Murdered. Since then he has ruled Egypt with the help of five experienced holy priests and one priestess. Six people stood by his side and supported him as best they could. They have been specially chosen and tested by the House of Life.
He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not notice how Lelanta was already refreshing his night stay and covering it with new towels.
“What are you so preoccupied with, sir? "she asked curiously.
“It's none of your business. Now get my family doctor so that he can finally give me information about my condition. "
Lelanta saw the look that brooked no contradiction and immediately set off.After the door was closed, the Pharaoh sighed and sat on his bed. It was not easy for him to play the authoritarian, strong person, but he had to get through it - for his father's sake.
<By the eye of Horus! > he cursed. <This stabbing pain strangles my air. Which son of a desert snake wants to drive out my ka? >
He wanted to lie down on the red linen sheet on his freshly made bed and take a moment to take a breath so that the pain could escape his body for a brief moment. How long had he not had the feeling of fresh, cool air in his lungs?
But once again the door of his bedroom swung open and Leanira, Lelanta's sister, entered.
“Venerable Pharaoh. The palace doctor will arrive shortly and I have been given the dignified task of dressing you. "
Grumbling reluctantly, he got up and went to her. She took off his thin linen shirt, which he wore when he slept.<I could also dress myself alone ... You don't let me do the simplest tasks myself, and when it comes to difficult decisions that affect the whole people of Egypt, you let me decide alone.>
He was still washed and anointed. As Leanira did this, he gazed at the desert that was revealed in front of his palace in Thebes. Often he felt the need to just run away, to escape from everyone here, to live his own life, but then the image of his dying father kept appearing before his eyes and he knew that he still had a job to do here.
<You cannot escape your fate ...> he thought sadly.
,,So. Done, Your Majesty. ", Leanira confirmed what she had done and smiled happily. It was seldom granted to her to fulfill such a high task. She looked very much like her sister. She also had long, black hair and light green Apophyllite for the eyeballs her demeanor and her voice, especially since all servants had to wear the same robe.The Pharaoh was now wearing a plain white linen cloth and a gold loincloth adorned with malachite decorations hung from his waist down. Bronze-colored sandals and jewelry of the same kind on his arms and legs surrounded his body. A heavy gold tiara tamed his wild head of hair and turquoise earrings, the gems of the goddess Hathor, had still been put on him.
But there was something none of his followers was ever allowed to touch: a piece of jewelry that his father had left him. It was made of pure gold that glittered in every possible shade of color when you showed it to Re. According to an old legend, this memento of his father is one of the seven objects with whose power one can subdue the whole world. How often had Isis preached to him that he should never dirty his ka in order not to be eaten by Ammit, the terrible monster from the world of the dead. As if I didn't know.In the 125th chapter of the Book of the Dead, >> The Last Judgment << is clearly explained. The deceased must stand before the judgment of the god Osiris. On one scale the >> pen of truth << is placed, on the other the heart of the dead as a symbol of the soul with all the sins ... if the heart weighs more than the pen, the deceased is accused of the monster Ammit.
He loved his subject more than anything. It looked like a pyramid and had been put together from many small puzzle pieces. Had his father done that? He would have wanted to ask him so many more questions ...
Sadly, he turned over his puzzle. His >> Millennium Object << as the seven sacred objects were called. Each one had tremendous power and a very special ability.
Before he could brood any further, his family doctor entered his room.
"My Pharaoh."
He bowed briefly. His doctor was called Sharif and was nicknamed the Merciless.
<Unfortunately his nickname still matches his behavior ...> thought the young Pharaoh with a heavy heart.“You certainly haven't rested again, sir! ", accused his family doctor.
Concerned, the ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt lowered his gaze and thus gave the submission as confirmed.
“But I can't just lie lazily in bed and do nothing. I need a job. "protested the boy.
Sharif smiled stiffly. How much he was like him when he was his age. Yes, he became a doctor to alleviate people's suffering, but now he had already saved the lives of many citizens and he felt that his life was slowly going by. Why could he save other lives but not his own?
Sadly, he let his gaze wander over the large room. There were two windows that let in a lot of light - he thanked Re for that. Two large, long linen cloths were stretched over the ruler's pompous bed and the countless pillars were adorned with old characters or incantations - for a long and healthy life.Unfortunately, they didn't do their job.
The Pharaoh had been seriously ill for several months. Even he, the royal palace doctor, had no advice. There has never been such a disease in all of Egypt. Yes, he had checked all the archives and hoped for possible answers, but to no avail.
,, Um. Sharif. Should I wait here forever? ", asked the young ruler, a little surly. He seemed irritated.
"Sorry. I lingered too long in the world of thoughts. Please clear your upper body. "
The ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt did as he was commanded. The palace doctor listened to him and felt his upper body. But, as always, he found nothing; no ulcer or similar bulge-like signs of malignant disease. But what-?
"What month is it today, Your Majesty?"
“The third solar month. Why do you ask?"
The young Pharaoh slowly turned his head in Sharif's direction.
,,What is wrong with you? Why don't you go on? "
But the doctor didn't answer.Small beads of sweat ran down his forehead, his eyes were wide open with shock and he was breathing heavily.
,,So what's going on? ", asked the Re-loved one. Fear spread through him. A creeping fear that slowly comes closer and closer until it wraps around your ka like a snake, and then to eat it piece by piece with relish.
"Finally answer!"
Now he had turned completely and saw only how his family doctor collapsed in front of him. Very pale in the face and the eyes very rigid with fear - they looked almost glassy.
He lay lifeless at his feet and no longer moved. Saliva ran out of his mouth.
The Pharaoh couldn't believe it all! He felt his feet lose their grip and he sank to the floor next to his doctor.
<It's so pleasantly