Usurper's Rise

ir as Neferet stepped into the sacred bath. The scent of lotus and sandalwood

ore, but she knew she could never wash away the weight pressing on h

of perfumed water over Neferet's skin. The servant's gaze linge

obles would be watching her today, ogling her under the guise of reverence. The ritual dress left nothing to the imagination-a shee

li

hate

it, just as she end

uffs of lapis and gold encircled her wrists, heavy with tradition. A golden belt, adorned with symbols of Ma'at and Amun-Ra, rested against her hips

f divine power. A

oner i

back. "It is d

he mirror, staring at t

not reco

_

step, a sharp pain lan

r around her neck. Her vision blurred, the ch

h

ld turn

ing chamber anymore. S

darkness. The air smelled of blood. The golden throne-her father's

sat upon

igh P

st. Beside him stood Rahotep, watching with a smirk as the nobles and warr

th caught. No.

d her, swallowing the pillars, the walls, the ceilin

as suddenly

as g

shing. Her vision returned in a rush, the famili

ugh the haze. "Princess! What is

er maid rushed out. She pressed a trembling

was

never spoken

y

down the hall-h

fa

canning her face. For the first time in her life, s

" he said. "The

ed, forcing her ha

frown deepene

d sent her a warning, then she had to go through with the ri

long moment before exhaling

_

a'at, the first step in her purification. The water was cool ag

low, rhythmic voices. The purification of Ma'at was the cleansing of the bo

er skin. "The balance must be upheld, my Princess," she murmured, her voic

ath the water. How could she rid herself

anning out around her. Her father's throne, the ritual's true purpose, and

ses lifted her from the water, droplets moving down

e an obsidian basin filled with water blessed in Amun-Ra's name. Neferet stood at the

to the water, "the hidden one who watches all. To stand before him is

ed with unease, but sh

black kohl onto her arms and legs, painting div

on her forehead. "By the hidden one'

sins, the scent of myrrh and cedarwood heavy in the air. As she lowered herself,

almost as if the gods themselves were pr

l not

the oil clinging to her skin

th was unlik

d more than water-he required s

leading her toward the temple's stone altar, wher

he High Priest murmured, lifting the bowl. "To

e Neferet. "Princess,

wil

the scorching-hot ash over her hands. The burning sensation cla

ght power, and Neferet w

st wiped her hands clean. "You have endured," h

burning oils filled the air. Neferet walked forward, t

temple priests. At the front, the statues of Ma'at

n the gods to grant us sight. Let the daughte

nt us your sight. Show us the w

ple fel

h

ffing out half the torches. The flames of the

g heat bloomed i

tiffening as an unseen

back-turning c

ugh the temple. Some gasped

s had a

, guided by a force greater than herself. Rahotep straight

raised

fro