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Hands clasped behing his back, Brianamun stood just off to the left of the royal dais where the Pharaoh and his Great Royal Wife were enthroned. One of the top officials in Tutankhaten’s court, Brianamun was always seen but rarely heard. He belonged to the king’s advisorary council, where his advice was very influential to the ruling of Egypt. His opinions were not spoken forcefully, but his relaxed advice was always impressive to the young, inexperienced king.
The courtiers all looked at Brianamun with envious, yet curious eyes. He was a bachelor at twenty-six--an age when most men were settled down with several kids already. He didn’t have a different mistress each night, and he only associated with his close group of friends. Thus, he was a peculiar individual to the gossiping nobels.
He was known to be the second prophet of Amun, whose name was no longer forbidden. (Tutankhaten and his queen, Anhkhsenpaaten, even paid homage daily to the god.) Brianamun was even respected for his high position.
A convoy of Nubians had arrived, bearing gifts for their sovereign. Brianamun watched with his winning smile on his face.
****
Also among those present was Alexhotep, chief of the palace security. He stood to the left of Pharaoh’s dais with the king’s personal bodyguard and the commander-in-chief of the Egyptian army.
Alexhotep had faired well in the first two years of Tutankhaten’s reign. Like Brianamun, he was a bachelor at twenty-three, nearly twenty-four. Unlike his friend, however, Alexhotep had his share of mistresses and lovers.
He kept his attention focused on the Nubian gift-bearers and diplomats. Yet one ceremmony was like the next, and they had begun to bore Alexhotep. Slipping through the crowd, he made his way to Brianamun.
“Where’s Kevinkare?” Alexhotep asked his friend.
“He has better things to do other than being at court for insignifigant ceremonies such as this,” Brianamun replied in a hushed tone.
“I’m sure!” Alexhotep laughed heartily. “Two cildren in two years, and I”m sure there’ll be more where they came from.”
“Have you seen them lately?”
“No. Meritaten’s much too busy with her toddler and newborn. Kevinkare also has his career to think about.”
“For which he should be here, and Meritaten’s still a royal princess despite whoever’s king and whoever she is wed to. Besides,” Brianamun laughed, “If I could find a good excuse, I wouldn’t be here either.”
Alexhotep rolled his eyes with good humor. “So boring...” he mumbled. The ceremony eventually ended.
The two friends were approached by a well-built, shorter man. “Howymose!” Alexhotep exclaimed, pulling his friend into a good-natured embrace. “I haven’t seen you in ages!”
“It has been too long,” Howymose agreed.
In the two, short years of Tutankhaten’s reign, Howymose had remained chief scribe as he had been for the late Pharaoh. He was also on Tutankhaten’s advisorary coucil with Brianamun and Alexhotep. Howymose was the one who recorded the entire meeting as it was occurring. This made him a silent member of the group. Though when two sides of the council were at each other’s necks, he was the one who ended it with a simple, carfully thought out comment.
On the personal side, he had just married. He had met her while vacationing in the Delta. Then she had come down to Akhetaten for a surprise visit. Soon thereafter, Howymose had proposed, and she had moved in.
“How’s Wia?” Alexhotep asked indifferently. He and Wia weren’t on the best of terms. In fact, one could say they hated each other.
“Fine, but, surprisingly, she didn’t want to come today.
“Has Tutankhaten thought about our suggestion?” he asked, changing the subject away from his wife.
Alexhotep grinned. “Which one? We’re trying to push him into changing all Akhenaten did in one swoop.”
“The change of the capitol city from this scorchingly hot, desoloate place south again to Thebes of course.”
“Tutankhaten isn’t rash for so young a boy and king; he listens to his advisors and allows Nefertiti to help him run the Two Lands,” Brianamun explained.
“Why wouldn’t she change it? She’s always been on our side.”
“But she’s a good ruler, Howymose. You forget that. She knows her people even if she is only Queen Mother. The whole change has to be gradual. Nefertiti knows that. All the damage Akhenaten did has to be slowly wiped away until nothing is left.”
“Even Wia thinks the time has come to banish Aten entirely,” Howymose stated.
“Wia doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” Alexhotep snapped.
Howymose shrugged. “Probably not, but still... We’ve waited long enough. It’s time we acted. We did what we had to do to Akhenaten. We can’t just wait--having let him die, but yet do nothing!”
“Spoken like politician.” Brianamun smiled. “It’s always politics with you, my friend.”
“I just like to work,” Howymose mused aloud. “Besides, Wia’s not eactly the most--”
“Trouble in paradise?” Alexhotep asked with an amused gleam in his eye. Howymose shook his head vigorously. “Wia would just prefer lazing around all day instead of working. I, on the other hand--”
He was interrupted by in adolescent clapping his hand down on Brianamun and Alexhotep’s shoulders.
“You all are still hanging around here?” the thirteen year old Pharaoh asked, his tone was that of amusement.
“Just catching up with one another, Majesty,” Brianamun stated, stepping back and bowing.
“Where’s Kevinkare and Nickathor?”
“We don’t know where Kevinkare is, Sire,” Alexhotep replied, “but Nickathor is on one of is missions.”
“But I thought you all knew...? I sent messages to your houses earlier... Oh, well. I suppose yoy left beforehand. Anyhow, I’m calling a meeting, and I want my entire inner-circle there.”
*****
A tall, blonde haired, blue-eyed Greek threw open the doors that led into Pharaoh’s meeting room.
At least, he claimed he was a Greek. Many at court believed he was one of the fair-skinned people from the north. His thick golden hair fell about his ears. Unashamed, he kept it uncovered by a dark wig that wouldn’t match his waxen complexion, only slightly darker from the harsh, desert sun.
Blue eyes sparkling, Nickathor took his assigned seat. With Nickathor’s conncetions to foreign countries, Tutankhaten--under Nefertiti’s influence--had made Nickathor into the head of Pharaoh’s secret spy service whose purpose was to watch the hostile Hittites to the north. Nickathor performed his job with care and wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. He was fearless when it came to possible capture and death.
Back in Egypt, he had his wife, Aneski, awaiting him while the two of them were expecting their very first child. According to the tests, it would be a boy. He had just returned from a scouting expection in northern Syria.
“Nickathor!” Brianamun exclaimed, collapsing in his chair next to his best-friend. Nickathor grinned.
“When did you get back?” Brianamun went on.
“Just this morning afternoon actually. I haven’t even seen Aneski yet... She’s going to murder me.”
Brianamun thought of his friend’s wife for a moment. “Yes, she is.”
“Oh, well. I’ll find a way to make it up to her. Besides, Pharaoh said jump so I have to jump.”
Brianamun grinned.
Alexhotep and Howymose entered and took their places. The other seats rapidly filled until only three seats were empty--those of Pharaoh, the Queen Mother, and Kevinkare.
The door flew open, hitting the perfectly painted wall in the process. Kevinkare flew in, diving into his seat. The two years had been two of utter happiness for him. A little after Smenkhkare had been mummified and buried, Kevinkare had married Meritaten. The baby had been born. Everyone still believed it belonged to Smenkhkare, but those who were intimate with the couple knew better. He was still the palace physician. His reputation had increased greatly, and he was an honorary member on Pharaoh’s council.
Just as the twenty-nine year old doctor had made himself comfortable in his chair, Pharaoh entered, escorting his mother-in-law on his arm. Nefertiti took a seat just off from the long, wooden table while Tutankhaten took his place at the head of it.
“You are all probably wondering why it is I’ve called you here...”
Chapter Two

“You are all probably wondering why it is I’ve called you here on such short notice,” Tutankhaten began. The commander-in-chief of the Egyptian forces, General Horemheb, shot out of his chair. “Is it war, Majesty?”
Tutankhaten looked slightly alarmed. He quickly glanced back at Nefertiti. “No... um, of course not... Speaking of war, Nickathor, what’s happening to the north?”
“The Hittites have stopped advancing, but what’s left of our northern protectorates are fringed and wounded. The only way to get it back--”
“Is to go up and pulverize them,” Horemheb exclaimed.
“Sit down, Horemheb,” Tutankhaten snapped.
Elderly Ay, Nefertiti’s father and also Vizier, stood up. “ Majesty, about the Hittites--” “I did not call this meeting to discuss the Hittites!” Tutankhaten cried angrily, relapsing toward his childhood temper-tantrums.
Sheepishly, Ay once again took his seat, and the council quieted. “I have come to an important decision,” Tutankhaten went on. “The queen and I will be moving the capitol to Thebes. Akhetaten will never again be visited by the royal couple. Along those lines, the queen and I will also be changing our names. No longer will Her Majesty be Ankhesenpaaten, but she will be Ankhesenamun. I will be Tutankhamun on all Stella and royal documents from now and into eternity.” Murmuring started up within the council while the five top officials remained uncharacteristically silent. Horemheb turned to Alexhotep, his chief rival. “Does this not startle you whatsoever, Alexhotep?”
Alexhotep smiled icily. “On the contrary, my good man. Whatever Pharaoh wishes to do should not be taken as though he was committing treason. He is king and half god. We shall obey his command.”
Tutankhaten winced slightly under the high and heavy flattery. Shaking himself out of it, he went on, “I could have easily made this announcement with Ankhesenpaaten--I mean, Ankhensenamun at the Window of Appearance, but I need advice beforehand. As my head officials, you are to know first so as to get ready to leave. The court will sail in a week exactly.” With that, they were dismissed.
“Kevinkare, Brianamun,” Tutankhamun called, “stay a moment. I need to have a word with you two.”
The two exchanged glances and remained in their seats.
Even though they had never been brothers legally due to Kevinkare’s sister’s premature death, they had remained brothers spiritually and emotionally even though Nefret was no longer there to be with her brother and lover.
The others filed out until only they, Tutankhamun, and Nefertiti remained.
Once they were alone, Nefertiti glided over and embraced her old friends. “It’s always good to see you two,” she said warmly.
Not yet forty, Nefertiti was still as lovely as ever. Though she had obediently and wordlessly given up her position of Great Royal Wife to Tutankhamun’s young wife, Tutankhamun had offered her the position of Queen Mother as a result of the fact that Kiya had mysteriously disappeared around the time of Smenkhkare and Akhenaten’s death two years previous. However, some believed that Nefertiti was the true power behind her step-son’s throne, and perhaps they were right.
At his coronation, Tutankhamun had released Nefertiti and stripped her of her punishment for plotting against Akhenaten with and for The Cause.
“How is Meritaten?” Nefertiti asked her son-in-law.
Kevinkare beamed. “She’s well and hopes to visit with the children soon.”
Nefertiti smiled. “Tell her I look forward to it.”
“I will.”
“How goes it with you, Brianamun?”
“Well, Majesty.”
She arched an eyebrow at him.
He smiled. “I’m sorry... Nefertiti.”
“That’s better.”
Tutankhamun cleared his throat. “If you want a social gathering, Nefertiti, please wait until after I’ve consulted with them.” He grinned at her.
“So regal,” Nefertiti murmured, stepping away from the priest and the doctor. Brianamun turned to the Pharaoh. “How may we serve you, Majesty?”
“Since you are the Second Prophet of Amun, Brianamun, I want you to go ahead to Thebes as soon as possible to prepare a festival upon Ankhesenamun nd my arrival. Also, the New Year is soon, and I need you to begin preparing for that.”
“Yes, Majesty.” Brianamun bowed.
“Kevinkare,” Tutankhamun went on, beginning to blush slightly. “The queen... She is... well, um... Will you examine her? Her attendants believe she is... Well, you know...”
Kevinkare smiled, amused. “Of course, Your Majesty. Have they tested her yet?” “No. Ankhesenamun wanted to wait for the doctor.”
“Yes, Majesty.” Kevinkare bowed and exited.
Brianamun trying not to laugh, also left.
******
Ay and Horemheb had shut themselves up within Ay’s office. “Here we can talk, my young friend,” Ay announced sitting back in his chair and basking in the sunlight.
“About what?” Horemheb asked suspiciously.
“Our plans of course.”
Horemheb raised his eyebrows. “Our plans for what?”
“You really shouldn’t have such a short term memory for a military general!”
“Some things I intentionally block out,” Horemheb snarled. He was an ambitious man and never tried to do anything that would jeopardize his career. However, on the contrary, he was a risk taking man when it came to performing his job. “Oh, come now, Horemheb! Remember...”
“I remember!” he snapped in response. “I want no part in your plans. If we are caught, my reputation will be over and done. I cannot risk such things as that. My career is all I have left.”
“Oh, yes... Your wife.”
“I beg you not mention her further.”
Only several months ago, his wife had died in childbirth. Both her and the child had joined the gods.
“Tutankhaten is only a child--a puppet! We can be the powers behind the throne. You and I! Think of it, Horemheb, I beg of you. I need someone of your intelligence to help me. Please...?”
Horemheb sighed. “I’ll think about it, but I’m not making any promises about what I’ll decide on doing.”
“Just the promise that you will think it over is enough.”
Horemheb pushed himself out of the chair and left the room. Ay leaned back and closed his eyes, happily dreaming of what Egypt could be like if he held the reigns to government.

Chapter Three

Brianamun immediately sailed south to Thebes to prepare for the ceremonies Tutankhamun had requested. However, upon his arrival at the Temple of Karnak, he found the temple amiss. The entire temple was in an uproar. Priests, servants, musicians, dancers, almost the entire population of Thebes was there, running frantically around. Brianamun pulled one of the younger priests aside. “What is going on here?”
“Didn’t you hear? Pharaoh is moving the capitol back down to Thebes, and Karnak is in no shape for the new monarch to lay eyes on it!”
“Of course it isn’t thanks to Akhenaten! Tutankhaten--I mean, Tutankhamun knows that. He may be a teenager, but he isn’t slow.
“Where’s the high priest?”
“Within the sanctuary, praying to Amun for guidance.”
Brianamun stalked away, hurrying toward the Holy of Holies. Clumsily, he threw open the doors. The elderly First Prophet of Amun looked up from his meditations. “Brianamun... you’re back so soon? Your time at the temple doesn’t begging for another three months.”
“I know that, but I’m here on strict business--on the orders of Pharaoh himself.”
“My, how you’ve changed! You say the title ‘Pharaoh’ with respect now instead of the sarcasm you used toward Akhenaten.”
“Tutankhamun will be a great king. I can feel it.”
“If Amun decrees it so, but what does your young sovereign say today?”
“The New Year’s festivities are coming soon, and I’ve been ordered to prepare them--gathering the best musicians, dancers, and all those kinds of things. Karnak cannot be in this kind of state for me to perform my job! We must calm it down.”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried? That’s why I’ve retreated in here to pray for guidance. I’m too old to deal with that insane kind behavior.”
“I can’t do it alone.”
“I’ll help you to the best of my ability.”
After clearing away their footprints and all signs that anyone had been in the sanctuary, they made their way back out in the chaotic outer temple. Eventually, when they put their minds together, they succeeded in calming everyone down.
Brianamun told them the truth of Tutankhamun’s declaration, dispelling all rumors of Pharaoh’s unforgiving wrath. After that, he sent everyone back to work. For the next few days, Brianamun was busy running around, making sure everyone knew what they were going to be doing.
Then, he had just sat down to take a small break when one of the lute players ran up to him. “Brianamun!” she panted. “One of our girls is sick. She won’t be able to play!”
“I knew something like this would happen!” Brianamun sighed. “Okay, let’s not panic...” The girl watched him with nervous, yet eager eyes.
Brianamun jumped up from the bench and ran to the high priest of Amun’s quarters. “We’ve lost a lute player!” he cried.
Undetered, the first prophet responded simply: “Then get a new one.”
“Sounds easy to you because you’re not the one responsible for it!”
“Okay then. Go to Denderah and to Hathor’s temple. She has the best musicians in all the Two Lands.” He smiled. “No doubt you can find a lute player that suffices.”
Brianamun looked blankly at him.
The high priest laughed. “Go on. You don’t have much time.”
What would normally have been a several day journey was shortened to only three and a half days on the fastest boat that Brianamun could employ.
He arrived in Dendera exhausted.
Immediately, he was ushered to see the musicians who were having a recital. Collapsing into a chair, Brianamun watched the young women adamantly. Some were in their own little world, only playing with half a heart and half a mind. Others were so intent on their music that they would easily and commonly make mistakes. One, however, was engrossed with her music and playing the notes correctly.
Brianamun watched her, thinking that she could possibly be the one lute player that Karnak needed. She sat with her legs pulled underneath her with slightly poor posture, with her head bent over her instrument. A mane of thick brown hair fell over her brow. All that could be seen of her face were that her eyebrows were drawn together in concentration. By the end of the concert, he was sure that she was the one he needed for Amun’s band.
He stood up from his seat and clapped politely.
After a brief conversation with the head of the music department, he set off to find the young musician. He found her just about to disappear into Hathor’s gardens. “Miss!” he called after her.
She quickly turned around to reveal brown eyes with a hint of green. Brianamun paused in mid-step and was reduced to only staring.Her eyes were the same as Nefret’s! No, they were not the same shade, but they had the same spark of life and emotion in them that had once been in Nefret’s turquoise eyes.
Brianamun shook himself out of it. This girl was nothing like Nefret. They were total opposites. While Nefret had had a thick head of jet black hair, this girl’s hair was a light brown. Nefret had been beautiful (as her name had declared) while this girl was merely average. Her eyebrows drew together in a slightly annoyed expression, and she turned to continue on her way.
“Miss, I’m sorry for my pause,” Brianamun called after her. “A moment of your time is all I ask.”
“Yes?”
“I am Brianamun, Second Prophet of Amun.” She arched her eyebrows. “I am Nofretke, musician to Hathor.” Her tone was slightly disdainful.
“I have been sent to find a musician to take the place of an ill lute player at the New Year’s festivities. I think you would do very well.”
Her eyes widened considerably. “I’m to be brought to Karnak?”
Brianamun smiled at her. “Yes, if you consent.”
“Well, of course! Is there any way I can be initiated into the rights of Amun? I was told I was too young before, but...”
He couldn’t find it in his heart to tell her no at that point. “Maybe.”
“When do we leave?”
“Immediately.” He blushed in embarrassment. “I’ve already sent someone to pack your stuff.”
While she would have normally been indignant about something like that, she only laughed. “Then let’s go!”

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