Unholy Empire: Chronicles of the Host, Vol 2: Chronicles of the Host, Book 2 (34 page)

He poured his cup of dark red wine out on the ground.

“Would that the crocodiles had finished with him! But the gods have left it for me to complete the work. I should have him arrested and executed on the spot for the murder of that Egyptian in my father’s time.”

He stroked Neferteri’s cheek softly.

“But rest assured, my pet. We will deal with this man Moses, my one-time brother, and his god quickly. Maret-men has assured me that the gods of Egypt shall prevail over the Hebrew god of the desert.”

“You have certainly become religious of late, my king,” said Neferteri coyly.

“Not religious, my queen,” said Rameses. “Merely prudent.”

Michael, Crispin, and several other powerful angels walked alongside Moses as he traveled the long corridor toward the official reception room in Rameses’ palace in Thebes. They carried a special anointing of protection, from the Lord Himself, that would protect Moses from any harm. As they approached the great bronze doors that were intended to impress foreign heads of state, diplomats, nobles, and priests, Michael also noticed the great numbers of fallen angels who were watching his every move.

“This is reminiscent of the visit that Lucifer made to the Throne during the trouble with Job,” he commented. “Only this time it is we who are entering the enemy’s camp!”

“Yes, Michael,” said Crispin. “This is indeed a vile and wicked place. The heart of the enemy. Lucifer has staked a great deal personally in Egypt. A model of his ability as ruler over this world, so to speak.”

Moses looked at Aaron as the bronze doors swung slowly open, with the words bidding their entrance: “Enter ye into the dread presence of the great Ra! Beloved incarnate of Amen; servant of Isis and Osiris; protector of the holy places; and of upper and lower Egypt, Pharaoh! May he live forever!”

Moses and Aaron entered the vast reception room. It was decorated in motifs celebrating the various victories and accomplishments of the great dynasty to which Rameses belonged. The pharaoh sat on his receiving throne of state, his wife next to him on a lesser throne. His greatest political advisors and military commanders stood at one side. To the right of the throne were the priests of Amen-Ra, god over Egypt and ruler over Thebes in particular—the chosen deity of Rameses’ dynasty.

All eyes were upon the desert prophet and his troublemaking brother. The court had heard much in advance of Moses’ mission and were interested to see how Rameses would deal with this insolence.

Unseen by the humans were Lucifer, Kara, Rugio, and Pellecus, along with the other principle rulers over Thebes. Some of them appeared in the guise of the gods they represented, including Sobek, the Nile god who had missed his chance with Moses years earlier.

Kara was proud of the way he had managed Egypt and was anticipating a great victory that would forever place him at Lucifer’s right hand. He addressed Michael as the archangel entered behind Moses.

“Welcome to Thebes, archangel!” said Kara. “Welcome to my little domain!”

Michael ignored Kara and maintained a strict watch of the situation. Crispin, however, felt compelled to answer Kara.

“Thank you, Kara,” said the scholarly angel. “You have done well in Egypt. The Hebrew slaves have built for you an incredible empire. It’s unfortunate for your king that the Most High God has other plans for his source of labor.”

“We shall see who is king and who is slave soon enough,” Kara snapped.

“Moses,” said Rameses. “I never thought to see you again—alive.”

Some of the men in the room snickered.

“Rameses, you know why I have come,” said Moses, looking at his brother Aaron. “You know why we are here.”

“Yes, I understand there was quite a stirring in Goshen when you arrived there a few days ago. News travels fast in Egypt. Perhaps too fast!”

The court again laughed. Aaron began to speak.

“The Lord God, the great I AM, says to Pharaoh, ‘Let My people go that they may worship Me freely in the desert.’”

Rameses sneered at Aaron.

“Why must you speak for Moses?” he asked. “As I recall, Moses, when you were in my father’s house you were quite an orator. Has service to your god also caused you to be slow of speech?”

Again the room filled with muffled laughter.

“Hear me, Rameses,” said Moses. “The Lord demands of you that you let His people go.”

“Great priest of Amen-Ra!” called Rameses.

Kephti came forward, bowing low.

“What is it, great one?” he asked.

“I am familiar with the great gods of Egypt,” Rameses began with mock seriousness. “I am intimate with the living gods of my fathers, the pharaohs. But I am not familiar with this god of whom Moses speaks. Are you?”

“Great Pharaoh, the god of the Hebrews is a simple god of the desert, quite unlike the great gods of Egypt. He prefers to be worshiped as one god. He is a Canaanite deity, therefore far inferior to the gods of Egypt, who are great in power. He truly fell to disgrace when your great fathers expelled the foreign invaders who occupied the kingdom during the time of the Israelite migration into Goshen. It seems that when the Hyksos invaders were defeated, the Hebrew god also fell into impotency.”

“Well said, Kephti,” said Rameses, as the priest bowed and returned to his place among the other priests. “Moses, I see no need to either fear your god or heed his command—if it be His command. I believe that you are a troublemaker with a score to settle. I believe that you have concocted this whole affair for personal favor among the people you abandoned years ago. Go away, Moses. And tell your people that the only place they shall go is back to the brick pits to build cities for my son!”

Michael placed his hand upon Moses to encourage him in his confrontation with Rameses. The devils who filled the room were enjoying the contest; Kara in particular was smiling at being able to host such a spectacle.

“Well, Michael,” Kara finally said. “It looks as if Moses’ message is not getting through to the pharaoh!”

“I thoroughly enjoyed Rameses’ charges against Moses that he is nothing but a pretender. Excellent!” added Pellecus.

“This contest is just begun,” said Crispin. “You, of all angels, should realize how foolish it is to presume upon the Lord—or his messenger!”

“Don’t lecture us here, teacher,” said Kara. “This is not one of your classrooms and we are not your students!”

“Perhaps this is not my classroom,” said Crispin. “But I believe a great lesson is about to be learned here!”

“Rameses, the God of the Hebrews has met with us,” Moses continued. “He demands that you let us worship Him in the desert. He also promises great judgments to befall Egypt should Pharaoh not heed His word.”

A rumbling of whispered conversation broke out in the room.

“Judgment upon Egypt?” asked Rameses. “I alone judge Egypt! I see no need to allow you or your people any such freedoms. In fact I have a report from Anipur, governor of Goshen. Anipur!”

Anipur, Seti’s former advisor and now Rameses’ governor in Goshen, stepped up to the throne and bowed. The old man, still quite adept at statesmanship, was a valuable advisor to Rameses.

“Yes, great king?” Anipur said.

“Tell Moses and the rest of this court the report you gave me of Goshen,” Rameses began. “Tell them of the great disruption that has occurred since Moses’ arrival in Egypt.”

“It’s true, great one,” said Anipur. “The Hebrews are simple people and easily distracted. When Moses arrived with news of a deliverer, the production of these people fell dramatically. Indeed, the taskmasters and foreman report increased instances of outright insolence, as these people talk more and more of their freedom.”

“You see, Moses?” said Rameses. “You and Aaron are causing nothing but trouble. You are filling their heads with nonsense and their work is suffering. Now get back to Goshen. And remove the hope that these people carry in their hearts—for I shall never let your people go.”

Kara moved over to Kephti and spoke into the priest’s mind. Kephti looked at Pharaoh and asked if he might approach. He then whispered into Pharaoh’s ears and returned to his place in the court.

“My high priest has come up with an excellent idea,” said Rameses. “Since the people are so distracted, it is obvious that they need something else to occupy their minds. Therefore I issue this decree: Let it be set down that the Hebrew children will continue to make bricks in Goshen—but they will not be provided straw. They can find it themselves. And to make sure that they are not idle, high priest, I also believe that they will maintain their daily quota of bricks.”

He stood up and walked to Moses.

“Not one brick less per day, Moses” he said. “Perhaps a bit more labor is what is needed. I have been too soft with these Hebrews and they have become lazy. Now go! Tell your people that there will be no freedom for them—now or ever!”

Lucifer turned to Kara as Moses and Aaron left.

“A very gratifying meeting,” he said. “I commend your suggestion about the bricks. That should put Moses in well with the people!”

“He’ll be back,” said Pellecus. “As Crispin said, this contest has just begun.”

“Yes, he’ll be back,” agreed Kara. “Provided his people don’t tear him to pieces!”