Salvation in the Sun by Lauren Lee Merewether

Author:Lauren Lee Merewether [Merewether, Lauren Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781523205882
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2018-05-12T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

THE TIME OF DECLINE

“Pharaoh Akhenaten.”

The messenger bowed before the straight-backed Pharaoh seated in all of his golden glory, shimmering underneath the rays of the Aten. Most could not look at him because the glory that surrounded him shone so brightly, and the messenger kept his eyes closed as he looked to the Pharaoh. It had been a year since Neferneferuaten Tasherit was born, and, much to Nefertiti’s despair, Pharaoh’s delusions had only become more intense.

“Speak, messenger,” he commanded.

“Word has been sent from Master of Pharaoh’s Horses, Ay, in Waset, and from vizier Nakht, in Men-nefer. The lashes are numbering close to a million and each city has collected two years worth of taxes in these fines alone since the Pharaoh’s edict was carried out: worship of any god except the Aten shall be punished by one hundred lashes and a fine to the Aten.”

Two years means we can turn Egypt back to Amun-Re more quickly now, Nefertiti thought—but Pharaoh focused on the first part of the message.

“One million lashes in the past year.” Pharaoh pressed his lips together. He lifted his face toward the sky in his roofless throne room and began to pray to the Aten as his great heat fell upon his face. “Oh great sun-disc in the sky, the great and all-seeing Aten . . . the people continue to worship Amun-Re. How shall you wish, O great Aten, for Pharaoh to proceed?” He forced his eyes to remain open to receive the Aten’s visions as he stared into the blinding sunlight.

The reflection from his golden collar reflected the light back underneath his jaw, and Pharaoh Akhenaten imagined what he looked like to those in the throne room and knew they believed he was the Aten’s chosen link to the people.

Closing his eyes and dropping his head just as a cloud passed by overhead, he announced, “The great and glorious Aten has given me a vision.” Opening his eyes, he could see nothing but blurry objects, and the vision came to him in that blur. With a long face, he stayed quiet until the rays of the Aten were on his shoulders once again. “Thus was the vision from the Aten: General Paaten, Master of Pharaoh’s Horses, Ay, and Commander Horemheb will send the military through the streets of Waset and Men-nefer to destroy the statues of Amun and overturn the worship sites. The people will not find a place to worship Amun in all of Egypt to spare their lashes.”

The people will love me now that I have removed their temptation, he thought.

Queen Nefertiti and Queen Tiye sat silent, theirs jaws tightening and their shoulders rising to their necks.

“Thus Pharaoh says,” he ended, and stood with his arms outstretched. “Thus the Aten says.”

Queen Nefertiti tried to garner a look from Queen Tiye as shallow breaths made their way out of her nostrils. What is he doing? she thought. We will now more than ever have another rebellion, if not an assassination. What of our children?

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