Doomed princess part 3

                                    

                                          
From distantce came the hum of heavy steps, clinking of armor, rattle of weapons. Pharaoh's soldiers approached. Soon they reached the sanctuary. And then what?.. What will happen? What they'll do?..  
                          
In silent mourning Neferren hugged the child. They are doomed! Soon it all will be over. And nothing, nothing she can do. That two-faced dragons without hesitation will kill her and her baby, as they killed Erra...
                          
Somehow distant memories rises from depths of princes mind. Taking her away from this moment of desparation and fear. Now she remembered all surprisingly clear. 
                          
It happened in the days of the Scorpion- the conqueror. When the priests of Ta-Mech built Sha god to the rank of supreme deity, they commanded to destroy all temples and grab all worshipers of other gods. Soon All heretics where executed. The priests did not spare anyone, even infants were killed.
                          
Fortunately Neferren did not lived at that dark times. She was still a child, when her father was crowned. And with his first decree, Pharaoh re-united all Nom's and stopped all atrocities.
However, the memory of the last execution at the Tjenu place, burned out in the little princess memory. 
                          
After her elder brother repeatedly mentioned that terrible day, in a vain attempt to explain the little girl, what was the cause for the cruelty of the priests.
                          
It was so long ago, but the terrible pictures of the past still appeares in Neferren nightmares.
                          
White square were flooded with sunlight. The crowd that in silent reproach watching what is happening. Templary in long white robes, lined on both sides of the sarcophagus. 
                          
The guards led the young man to the golden altar. He does not have nothing but a loincloth, hands tied behind his back, but he walks majestically, like Pharaoh, back straight and his head held high, as if he was going not for execution but to the throne.
                          
He is calm as Djehuty and determined as Heru. His impassive face illuminated by the invisible inner light. Although a fresh wound is visible on smooth cheek, the beauty of men seems even more perfect.
                          
Neferren remembered how she asked the nurse, clutching tightly in her hand.
                          
"This man is he a human or a neter?"
                          
Wise Nanni did not answer immediately, and when she spoke, her voice was so quiet, full of sorrow and regret, that the princess  began to cry.
                          
"Behold, O beloved daughter of the Two Lands! Look, how the great evil come to pass in the eyes of the father of the gods! May merciful Maat wipe away  blood from the face of Innocent."
                          
Near the altar, where the slaves lit the secret fire, was the sarcophagus. The walls and the heavy lid were covered with bright patterns of lotus, vultures, snakes and sacred images of the ancient texts. 
                          
"Of pure gold it is. The priests have prepared it specifically for the last prisoner", whispered brother. 
                          
He came dawn to where Princess was, and stand by her side, watch silently as always.
                          
Prince leaned over Neferren and whispered in her ear. 
                          
‚They didn't found him at once. The last was caught only, when one of the followers blurted out under torture, where the leaders of the heretics refuge are. It was the last thing he said in his life'. Prince chuckled. ‚Man simply died from wounds. Now for this fake priest a special execution are waiting, the other apostates was simply burned alive'.
                          
Neferren looked up at her brother with eyes full of tears.
                          
‚What cruel thing for you to say, my brother' she whispered with fear. 
                          
‚Do not frighten your sister' Pleaded Nenni pressed child to chest ‚She is just a child.'
                          
‚My sister is not a mare child' Prince protested. ‚She is mistress of  and future Queen of our lands. She must know the true. And she must understand what is happening out there' He pointed down at altar. 
                          
‚She will knew, than time is right'. 
Prince snorted, shacked his head, hugged sister and kissed her in nape.
                          
 ‚Forgive me, my dearest sister.You aren't scared are you?'
                          
Neferren shuddered but said nothing. After her last birthday, brothers attitude suddenly had changed. She receive more and more attention from him now. It scares her. Scares a lot.  
                          
‚Why they doing this?' Neferren whispered. 
                          
‚The High priests want to break the will of rebel, so they chose other punishment for him. Its right thing to do'.
                          
Neferren did not understand her brother, she was just sorry for the strange visitor, thats all.
The uterine tubes called the crowd to silence, although the around the main temple of the Sha already reigned creepy silence. When a new high priest came forward, the guards with a stone-faced stepped back and lowered their lances.
                          
Hanif began with a smooth, well-modulated voice, but Neferren hear just a scraps of phrases.
                          
‚Wretched mortal, stand before the face of your master, the king of Ta-Shema and Ta-Mech, embodiment of Horus, lord of the Two Lands. Repent and ask forgiveness for your and your minions misdeeds. For the great evil was committed by you! And thou shalt be punished.'
                          
In his voice could be heard the burning hatred of the High priest to the prisoner, his every new word was like the venom.  
                          
‚Today, you are given an opportunity to confess their sins and beg for mercy from the king of kings, the lord of Horus-Narmer'.
                          
With that, the High priest pointed a dais, where the royal family were enthroned.
                          
The prisoner looked up, but didn't go to the stone ladder or fall on his knees, didn't prostrate and beg for forgiveness from the mighty Pharaoh. He stood adamant and indomitable, like a great lion Tau, Magnificent in his steadfastness.
                          
When rebel met the gaze of a small Neferren he smiled and proudly squared his shoulders.
                          
‚Who are you to judge me or forgive? Let my deeds be weighs by the Invisible one and with His infinite mercy i may grant the forgiveness or be punish justly.'
                          
This was indeed unspeakable insolence. A quiet murmur of astonishment and fear had swept through the crowd. The pipes called for silence. The pharaoh slowly stand up, his imperious voice spread out over the heads of the silent townspeople.
                          
It was a death sentence that Narmer had pronounced, ‚May the gods grand mercy and forgiveness for the soul that is walking to the West.'
                          
And then the High priest summoned the executioners in the mask of a jackal to had a small ritual concluded laying prisoner in a golden shining sarcophagus. 
                          
The heavy lid was closed and the high priest of the triumph of the people notified, that the enemy of the people of nine bows are dead now.
                          
Neferren did not know what the mysterious stranger was sentenced, but all the time that the priests sang hymns of praise to the supreme deity of the united kingdoms, poured melancholy warble SISTROM in the hands of women, heard the congratulations of the court officials and managers Pharaoh, Neferren continually bitterly mourned his death.
                          
Who knew that this was not their last meeting with the proud rebel.
A sudden flash of insight dawned Neferren clouding mind. Here it is! Those write words!
                          
«Anak Kai Iu tone kun!» exclaimed the princess with joy.
                          
Cheers to the verbal orders of the princess, a mechanism hidden in the walls woke up from a long sleep of a hundred years. Pounding invisible wheels, hidden chains rattled massive stone blocks.
                          
Golden doors slowly slid away. From the opening formed  hit blinding ray of light.
                          
**"
1 Neter - The Egyptian language's terms for deities were nṯr means "god».