At the back of the ship Howylos sat looking at the island. He had done much thinking over the five months that they'd been away. One thought still remained unchanged. He wanted to kill Nickataten. Howylos held a wooden pendant that Meritaten had given to him on their wedding day. It was a symbol for loyalty. How ironic, Howylos bitterly thought. Taking his knife from his belt he started to scratch at the wood. Before long he had changed the symbol for another. This one meant traitor. Standing up he hurled it into the green-blue sea.
"Have it back and burn before Hathor!" Howylos shouted as the pendant sank beneath the waves.
Kevinutahn had seen his friend hurling the pendant and ran back down the ship to him. "Howylos! What's wrong?"
Howylos gripped the wooden rail that ran the length of the ship.
"Just say I can sort him." Howylos's words were barely a whisper.
"We may not need to."
Howylos turned on Kevinutahn taking him by surprise. He shoved his friend to the floor.
"I have every reason in the world to want him dead so don't stand in my way Kevinutahn!"
Kevinutahn sat up and stared at Howylos.
"What's happened to you? You've changed so much. What happened to the old you?"
"The old me was with Meritaten."
Kevinutahn sighed and stood up.
"You've got to stop living in the past friend."
Howylos looked away. Kevinutahn smashed his hand down on the wooden rail.
"For Isis sake! I've tried Howylos I really have, but I cannot take this anymore! Get over it!"
Howylos watched Kevinutahn storm away to his bunk below deck. He knew he was being rash but he couldn't stop himself feeling the way he did.
Nickataten held Meritaten's hand. She was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Around them in the room were several others. Carolatahn and Jessitahn, and a midwife from the servants of Hathor's order.
"Be strong my love."
Nickataten breathed the words into her ear.
"Don't leave me!" Meritaten practically screamed the words out.
They cut through Nickataten. They made him feel odd. It was almost as if a destiny had been decided with those words. He shrugged off the feeling.
A servant of Hathor appeared at the door to the room.
"Nickataten. A guard is asking for you. Brianahtan wants to see you right now."
Nickataten felt Meritaten tighten her grip on his hand.
"I have to go."
He kissed her tenderly on the forehead.
Meritaten made as if to reply but the contractions started again and she was unable to answer.
Nickataten left the room giving her a final look.
Meritaten concentrated on breathing and became aware of the midwife saying to Carolatahn.
"This isn't good. Fetch warm water."
"What's not good?" Meritaten gasped.
"Er...nothing, just relax."
Meritaten lay back for a second and looked at the ceiling. Something was wrong. All she wanted was for Nickataten to be there beside her and he wasn't.
At the palace Nickataten rushed to Brianahtan's chambers. He knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Nickataten stepped through the door and bowed before Brianahtan.
"Sire?"
"I want you to go the hill outside the city and check it."
Nickataten frowned. He was getting fed up of Brianahtan's stupid missions. The man was obsessed with the rebels.
"Why sire?"
"I think the rebel hideout is there. We've looked everywhere so they have to be there!"
"Yes sire."
Nickataten headed for the hill. He went alone, as he knew he wouldn't find anything. When he got there he stood and looked out over the city. He'd lived here most of his life. Looking to the horizon he was sure he could see like a cloudbank or something. He lay down on the grass and closed his eyes. He smiled. Soon he would be a father. The atmosphere was drowsy and before long Nickataten was fast asleep.
Nickataten awoke with a start. He could not say why but his chest felt tight. Looking around him everything was as it was. He put a hand to his chest. Getting to his feet he saw Carolatahn running up the hill towards him. News! Smiling Nickataten ran to meet her.
His smile soon faded as he saw she was crying.
"What's happened?" Nickataten grabbed her shoulders.
"You've had a son...Aaronaten."
"A son! Yes! That's the best news..." The strange tight feeling he had felt a moment before returned.
Carolatahn seemed to want to say something but couldn't say it.
"What's wrong with him?"
Carolatahn took Nickataten's hand and pulled him down so that they were sitting on the grass.
"The problem isn't with your son."
Nickataten felt as if the large space they were sat in was closing in around him. Tears poured down Carolatahn's face as she finally blurted out her message.
"Meritaten is dead."
Nickataten stared at the horizon. He did not feel the sun's rays or the gentle breeze.
"Nickataten your hand!"
He looked down at his hand. He had dug his nails into his palm so much that it bled. He looked around him. Why did he feel so numb? What was wrong with him?
"Leave me alone."
"But Nickataten you're in no..."
"I SAID GO!" Nickataten smashed his fists into the ground.
Carolatahn leapt to her feet, "Come for your son soon," and with that she fled the hill. Nickataten staggered to his feet. He looked up towards the sky, then down across the city. Nothing had changed. Life carried on as usual. How could it, though? The tension Nickataten felt was finally dispersed with an almighty cry.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
He fell to his knees on the ground and allowed the tears to run freely down his face. If only he hadn't left her. His mind was flooded with all the things he had wanted to say to her but had never got the chance to say. Now it was too late. In the distance he heard a baby crying and was reminded of his son. Drying his eyes he strode purposefully towards the city.
Jessitahn opened her sore eyes. How long she had slept she didn't know. Lying next to her was Aaronaten. She looked at his sleeping face and felt the tears well up in her eyes again. Suddenly she was aware that she was being watched. Looking up sharply she saw Nickataten sitting on a chair watching her. He looked terrible. Jessitahn sat up and picked up the baby. She got up and gently placed him in Nickataten's arms.
"Your son." She whispered.
She quietly left the room to fetch Carolatahn.
Nickataten looked into the face of his son. He smiled. Aaronaten had Meritaten's eyes. As he looked at his son he realised the responsibility he now had. He may be devastated by Meritaten's death but he had to carry on, for Aaronaten's sake.
The infant woke up and stared up at the man holding him. Nickataten immediately felt a strong bond with the child. Aaronaten didn't cry but simply looked up at his father's face.
"You know me don't you?"
Nickataten spoke to his son. Aaronaten made a gargling noise and waved his small arms in the air. Holding his son to him Nickataten closed his eyes wearily. The child's breathing became regular as he fell asleep. Nickataten smiled. Sleep sounded like a good idea.
Jessitahn quietly stepped back into the room. Carolatahn followed her in. They looked at the scene before them. Nickataten was snoring gently with Aaronaten cradled asleep in his arms. Both women looked at each other and collapsed in laughter. They immediately felt better for it. Yes, Meritaten was dead but life had to go on. The laugh was the start of the new life.
"What's so funny?"
Nickataten frowned at them.
"Sorry," Jessitahn smiled, "you looked so sweet. It sort of didn't seem you."
Nickataten smiled, "Hmm, I do seem to have a bit of a reputation."
Jessitahn went to the window and looked out over the desert. Earlier she had noticed the dark shape on the horizon. It seemed closer than before. Could it be Kevinutahn? Behind her Carolatahn was explaining about the wet nurse for Aaronaten.
"It would only be until he can take solids."
Nickataten looked down at his chest, "Well, seeing as I'm hardly in a position to feed him myself I guess that's fine!"
"I'm glad you're feeling more...yourself."
"I'm sorry about earlier."
"LIKE that. Not quite the same thing."
Carolatahn smiled, "Ok, so you did scare me."
"I'm off then."
Nickataten and Carolatahn frowned at Jessitahn.
"Off where?"
"To see Alexatros."
Carolatahn nodded and Nickataten looked at the floor. As she left the room Jessitahn put a hand on Nickataten's shoulder.
"Bye."
Jessitahn hurried down the steps to the door that led to Alexatros's secret passageway. It had been a horrible day and night. All she wanted was to feel his arms round her. Jessitahn stopped dead in her tracks. She could hear someone breathing. She started to back away up the spiral stairs. The sound of someone running up the steps was getting closer. She turned and ran up the stairs as fast as she could. Near the top she tripped and fell. A hand on her leg made her scream.
"Calm it Jessitahn!"
Alexatros pulled her close and held her tightly.
"I thought it was Brianahtan!"
"I'm not sure whether to be insulted by that!" Alexatros smiled at her.
"How's everyone upstairs then?" He asked.
Jessitahn felt the tears well up again. She explained about Meritaten's death to Alexatros.
He held her tightly and kissed her forehead tenderly.
"I'm so sorry."
Jessitahn pulled back and looked at Alexatros.
"Would that happen to me?"
Alexatros opened his mouth to reply but realised he had no reply.
"The Gods work in strange ways. Perhaps she was being punished."
"Oh Alexatros! Don't say things like that!"
"Sorry. Anyway, what I came to tell you was that I'm sure I can see Kevinutahn and the others on the horizon."
Jessitahn nodded, "I saw them too."
"Trouble is," Alexatros said, "I think Brianahtan has seen them too."
"You're sure?"
Nickataten stood before Brianahtan. He had left Aaronaten with Carolatahn as soon as he got his summons to the palace.
"My men have all looked to be sure. It's them all right!"
Brianahtan sat on his throne with Tiy sat to one side on another throne. Nickataten could see the sparkle in her eyes. The thought of her real love's return had cheered her up.
"Nickataten!"
"Sorry, I drifted off for a minute then."
"Never mind that, how am I going to defeat them?"
Nickataten frowned. He didn't want to defeat them. What was he going to do now?
"I think...er...that we should post guards all along the city walls and then decide what to do when they get here."
Nickataten watched Brianahtan think the plan over. If he agreed to it then it would give the rebels time to get in through all their secret passages. Nickataten caught Tiy's eye. She smiled and gave the smallest of nods. Nickataten smiled. She thought he'd agree to it.
"Ok. Sounds good enough to me."
"I'll send the guards out at once."
Nickataten walked away with a smile on his face. The advantage was now to the rebels.
Nickataten opened the door to Alexatros's room. As he walked in Alexatros leapt from his bed like a snake had bitten him.
"Easy friend. I have some information for you and Jessitahn."
At the mention of her name Jessitahn shyly peered out form under the cover on Alexatros's bed.
Nickataten smiled, "I won't be long."
Alexatros cleared his throat and blushed.
"Brianahtan has the guards posted around the walls to wait and see what Kevinutahn will do first. That should give plenty of time for them to use a secret entrance."
"We'll have to be ready to rendezvous with them when they get in." Jessitahn looked at him pleadingly.
"You know I can't just disappear."
"Not even for Meritaten?"
He looked at Jessitahn. She was still young. What did she know about this sort of thing?
"I can't and you know it!" Nickataten looked to Alexatros.
Alexatros turned to Jessitahn, "It's too complicated, and he has a child to think about."
Jessitahn didn't say anything.
"I have to go now. Good luck."
"Thanks." Alexatros smiled at Nickataten.
Nickataten left the room.
"Why won't he help?"
"Jessitahn," Alexatros sat next to her on the bed, "it really is complicated. He's on our side though."
He put a hand to her cheek and gently kissed her. She smiled and put her arms round him pulling him down onto the bed.
Kevinutahn stopped the rebels a short way from the main walls.
"If we get any closer they'll pick us off." He called to the army at his back.
Kevinutahn turned to Howylos, "I'll ride up and see what they have to say." He climbed up onto his horse and rode towards the gates. As he got closer they opened slightly and Nickataten stepped out. Kevinutahn stopped by him and dismounted.
From the distance the army could see clearly. Howylos squinted at the figure that stepped from the gateway. Nickataten! Narrowing his eyes he drew his sword and began to walk towards them.
"Kevinutahn," Nickataten said quietly, "I have news and messages."
"Are you a friend?"
"Yes."
Kevinutahn smiled, "Go ahead."
"Jessitahn is safe and waiting with Alexatros for you at the palace gates."
"And the news?"
"Meritaten is dead."
Kevinutahn saw the look in Nickataten's eyes as he said this. He looked devastated.
"She died in childbirth."
"Was it your child?"
Both men turned to see Howylos dismounting and walking towards them. His sword was drawn.
"Howylos go back! That's an order!"
"I just want some answers Kevinutahn."
Howylos turned to Nickataten, "Was it your child?"
"It IS my child."
"You mean she died and IT lives?"
Nickataten was clearly getting distressed.
"Can we talk about this after the war?"
Howylos spat on the ground before Nickataten, "I'll see you burn before Horus first!" <
Kevinutahn grabbed Howylos by the arm and walked towards the horses.
"Thank you Nickataten. If I defeat Brianahtan I shall want an advisor."
"As you wish." Nickataten walked back through the gate.
Brianahtan stood the other side.
"What did he say?"
"He's not prepared to compromise."
"Then when they try to attack we'll finish them off!"