Chapter 11 Chapter nine

The Miscanthus hut next to the paddy fields is deserted at night, which is why Ramses and Iser hid their love pup here, under the protection of the night police, where it can hide from the possible dangers of some nasty ghost. interference. The passions of the young people were perfectly matched, and the two were ingenious, passionate, and energetic, and they gave themselves up to hours of pleasure without needing to speak a word. That night, Esther rested her head wearily but contentedly on her lover's arms, singing under her breath. "Why do you stay with me?" "Because you became a royal clerk."

"Doesn't a person with your conditions yearn for a good marriage?" "Sharing the life of the son of Seti...what could be more amazing?" "Marry the future pharaoh." Esther pouted. "I thought about it...but I don't like him: too fat, too heavy, too tricky. I hate him touching me, so I decided to love you." "Decide?" "Everyone possesses a power of love, and I will not be a man's plaything, even if he is a king; I choose you, Ramses, because we are of the same kind." In the morning, as Ramses walked through the garden of his office, still reveling in the passion of the previous night nestled in the arms of his mistress, Amene came out of his office facing the iris-bed and cut Ramses way.

"I have to talk to you!" "I want to sleep...can you take it easy?" "No! This matter is too important!" "Then give me something to drink." "Milk, fresh bread, dates and honey, your breakfast is already ready. Before that, Ramesses the Royal Clerk should know that he is invited, accompanied by his colleagues, to a royal reception .” "You mean . . . to my father?" "There is only one Seti in the world." "Go to the palace and be a guest! Is this another joke of yours?" "It's part of my job to deliver important news to you."

"Go to the palace..." Ramses had always dreamed of seeing his father again, and as the royal clerk, he might have had the chance to have a brief conversation with his father.What should I talk to him about?To rebel, to ask for an explanation, to refute his attitude, to understand what he asked of me, to ask what kind of fate he has arranged for me... Ramses still has time to think about it. "There is one more strange thing." "say clearly." "Of the ink sticks I was given yesterday, two were of poor quality. I had the eccentricity of trying them out before I started using them, but I have no regrets about doing so."

"Is it that serious?" "The fault is obvious! I want to investigate clearly in your name. A royal clerk cannot accept this kind of behavior." "Whatever you want. Can I get some sleep?" Sari came to congratulate his former students, and from now on, Ramesses no longer needed a tutor to help him prepare for the tough exams.However, the success of the students should still be attributed in part to the teachings of the teachers, so Shali was nominated as the administrator of the noble school, and this nomination ensured him a stable career. "You surprised me, I admit, but don't be complacent about this victory. It cleared you of a wrong and saved Amene, but it wasn't enough."

"I do not understand what you mean." "I want you to distinguish friend from foe, but I've only seen your secretary do it. Your brilliant behavior has aroused some suspicion, but that's all right. The important thing is to leave Memphis and live in the Great South." "Did my brother send you here?" Shali showed a displeased expression. "Don't speculate about some dark conspiracies...don't go to the palace, that reception has nothing to do with you." "I am the Royal Clerk." "Trust me, your presence was neither welcome nor appropriate."

"But what if I insist?" "You'll still be the royal clerk...but without authority. Don't antagonize Shane, or you'll be asking for trouble." One thousand six hundred sacks of wheat and the same amount of flour were sent to the palace to bake thousands of cakes and various small breads, which were good to go with the delicious beer and wine from the Nile oasis.Thanks to the efforts of the butler, the guests who came to the royal clerk's reception were able to taste the masterpieces of the pastry and baker from the moment the first star appeared in the night sky.

Ramses was one of the first guests to appear at the open gates of the royal walls, which were guarded day and night by the pharaoh's personal guard.Although the guards recognized Seti's young son, they checked his royal clerkship credentials before letting him into the expansive garden filled with trees of all kinds.The reflections of the old acacia trees in the garden were cast obliquely in the pool.There are tables decorated with pastries, bread and fruit baskets and small round tables with stepped flower bouquets all over the garden.The sommelier pours fruit wine and beer into crystal clear wine glasses.

The prince's eyes were fixed only on the building in the center, where the VIP room was located, where the walls were covered with glossy tiles, and the brilliant colors awed the guests.Before he became a boarder at the noble school, he played in every room of the palace, even daring to play on the steps of the king's palace, for which he was reprimanded by his nurse, who nursed him until he was three years old.He remembered the pharaoh's throne, which stood on a step that symbolized the maat of justice. Ramses had hoped that the monarch would receive the scribes in the inner hall, but he should have accepted the fact that Seti would only appear in the palace, facing the window of the large square where they were about to meet, to give a short speech , and then re-emphasize to them the importance of their work and their responsibilities.

In this case, how to talk to your father face to face?Sometimes the king would go out to the crowd for a few minutes and congratulate the best of them himself.And Ramesses, the perfect candidate and the only one who has found the answer to the riddle of bringing the tablet back to life, is supposed to be summoned, so he prepares to meet his father face to face and protest his silence.If he had to leave Memphis and live alone in the countryside to play the role of obscure clerk, he wanted to be ordered directly by the Pharaoh, not by anyone else. Those clerks, their families and a large number of high-class people who never miss this kind of reception, chatted and socialized over wine and food.Ramses first tasted the wine brought from the oasis, and then drank some strong beer. As soon as he drank the wine in the glass, he saw the lovers sitting on the stone chair under the flower stand.

Those were his brothers Xena and Esther. Ramses strode forward. "My beauty, don't you think it's time to make the last decision?" Esther jumped to his feet, Shane remained calm. "You have no manners, my dear brother. Have I no right to chat with a noble lady?" "Is she?" "Be less rough." Iser blushed and left in a hurry, leaving the two brothers looking at each other. "You have become unbearable, Ramses, this is no longer your place." "Am I not the royal clerk?" "You're talking big again! You're nothing without my consent." "Your friend Sally has informed me." "My friend? It's yours! He's trying to keep you from making the same mistakes." "Don't approach that woman again." "You dare to threaten me?" "If I'm nothing in your eyes, what have I to be afraid of?" Shane stopped arguing, and his tone softened. "You're right. A woman should be faithful. Let her decide, won't you?" "I agree." "Since you're here, let's have fun." "When did Pharaoh give his speech?" "Ah...you don't know! The Pharaoh is in the north, and he asked me to congratulate the royal scribes on his behalf! Your success deserves the pre-arranged reward: a desert hunting trip." Xie Nayang left. Ramses was so annoyed that he drank a glass of wine in one go.In this way, he never saw his father again, and Xie Na deliberately brought up his father in order to humiliate him.The prince was so drunk that he refused to join the cliques, and their nonsense conversations made him even more angry.He looked gloomy, stumbled, and almost bumped into a handsome clerk. "Ramesses! Nice to see you again!" "Yaxia... are you still in Memphis?" "I'm going to the north the day after tomorrow. Don't you know the big news? The battle of Troy has made key progress. Those Greek barbarians have not given up capturing the city of Praian, and it is rumored that Achilles killed Hector. My first assignment was to stay with the experienced envoys to confirm or refute these rumors. And you... about to take over a great job?" "I have no idea." "Your recent achievements have been admired and envied." "Sooner or later I'll get used to it." "Don't you want to go abroad? Ah, I'm sorry! I almost forgot about your recent wedding. I won't be able to attend, but I do wish you the best of luck." A diplomat grabbed Ya-Xia's arm and dragged him away. The future diplomat's work had begun. Ramses felt a bout of drunken giddiness, and he looked like a broken oar, like a crumbling house.Furious, he threw the cup far away, vowing that he would never sink into such a humble situation again.