Neremhotep awoke and felt a whirling confusion. He sat up on the bad and looked around the tomb. The ancient pyres flared to life, cutting through the darkness and blinding him with their brilliance.
What had happened? He wracked his brain trying to remember. Sabola had vanished on the wind and his enemies had invaded his lands. But without her and the child that was to arrive in a few short months there had been no will in him to fight.
Soldiers had entered the palace and when the infidel had raised his cutting axe Rem hadn't even bothered to fight, merely dropped his eyes and pictures his lovely Sibola.
How had he ended up with a royal funerary? It wasn't possible. He hadn't earned the right to keep his status. He'd turned away from all and as such should have been left to the jackals.
The light had glinted off the axe and he was no longer in his room but standing on the banks of the river. Before him Ammut rose from the waters. Her vicious jaws opened and ready to devour him. His soul would be cursed, denied of paradise forever.
Ammut was indeed fierce to behold. The body of a goddess with the head of a crocodile she waited while the gods presented each soul with their deeds and misdeeds announced. Any who were found to have failed in life were cursed, eaten by Ammut and they would spend eternity being torn to shreds on her jagged teeth in darkness.
His refusal to defend his throne was enough to incur eternal night. His body pulled ever closer to her sharp white teel he couldn't strike the images of SAbola from his mind. Was she even now wrapped in the heavenly light Ra provided? Was she feasting on unending platters of fruits and meats? Was Ra seated beside her?
Ammut lifted her slender shoulders, her claws curled upward. They were transported from the banks of the river to a large sandstone hall. Ammut deposited him before the gilded thrones.
He dropped to his knees before Osiris, the ram god of judgement. He kept his gaze low as he saw Horis the Falcon god, Wapawet, the jakal headed god, Isis, mother goddess, Bast the cat goddess, the goddess Hathor and Ammut seated in his judgement.
We are to decide the fate of this man. What are his deeds?" Osiris asked.
Bast stood, snapped her fingers and a scroll of papyrus appeared. "This man was born only an only son and had distant claim to the throne. The pahraoh who came before this man abused his power and his people. He was cruel and vicious. This man gathered an army and defeated the once king. This man healed his kingdom and returend the people to peace. Even the lowliest of servants were treated with a kinder hand."
This man. Mortal names meant nothing to the gods. According to legend they never reffered to mortalks by their names. Now he knew the legends were true.
"These are his deeds. What of his misdeeds?" Osiris asked.
"This man shamed all of his people. The others invaded his lands, brought their strange gods and this man refused to defend his people. As such he should be branded a coward," Wapwawet demanded.
"But it is only a single misdeed," Hathor argued.
"He took only one wife, contrary to our ways. He had no children."
"But he was to have a child," Isis countered.
Pain ripped into Rem's heart. His Sabola. His child. Lost.
"I still say there should only be death," Wapwawet stated again.
Suddenly a cry pierced the air and before hte group Horus unfolded his wings. "His many good deeds outweigh his false steps," the great falcon god argued.
"No. He allowed a woman to take away his honro. He has shamed us by allowing invaders to walk in and steal his throne." Wapwawet shouted.
The great hall erupted in angry shouts and REm searched hte faces of each god and goddess in turn. They were debating his fate? But this wasn't right. A man who had turned his back on his people, a king who refused to lead his people to vitory did not deserve any peace. "I would speak," he interupted and a hush fell over them.
"How dare you, worhtless mortal," Wapwawet spat as his jaws clamped shut.
"I would speak," Noremhotep said again, unfazed by the angry eyes studying him. "I beg no favor."
"And you shall find none," Wapwawet grumbled.
Rem continued. "I've shamed all my lands and ancestors I deserve no serenity. I have only one request," he turned and stared into each dark eye. "My Sabola. Grant her peace in the eternal sunlight forever."
Murmurs rippled through out the assembly. Faces turned to him and stared then heads bent in whispered voices again. Time stretched and Rem felt his palms sweat. He would be denied. Would they punish her for his audacity? Panic filled him at the thought.
Once more silence filled the room, then it fgrew brighter and brighter. A calm spread over all present. Before his eyes the great Ra appeared, by his side was the ibis god Thoth, keeper of all knowledge.
"There is too much debate over this man." Ra's voice boomed over the group. His deep brown eyes settled on Rem. The god scanned him from his head to his feet and back up to meet his eyes. "You are indeed brave to speak out."
Rem bowed. "Thank you Great One."
"It was not a compliment," Ra replied. "You are causing too much trouble. For this alone you should be cursed to eternal darkness." Ra raised his hand and motioned toward Ammut.
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