Power

**Childhood**

Nine year old Tutankhamun learns a harsh lesson in being a ruler as he is forced to watch the public execution of Paraneffer. The man, who is a servant of the Pharaoh Akhenaten, is charged with Treason. In an attempt to discover other collaborators; Paraneffer’s wife is dragged to her death behind a chariot before General Horemheb slices open the man’s stomach killing him. When Tutankhamun attempts to look away; Vizier Ay turns the boy’s face back toward the carnage.

Later the boy is brought before his father, Akhenaten. Akhenaten reveals that the poison he was given by Paraneffer has no cure. Akhenaten questions Tutankhamun on his readiness to take the throne and orders a marriage between Tutankhamun and his sister. Paraneffer’s son is brought forward and Akhenaten demands that Tutankhamun kill the boy but the young boy refuses. Vizier Ay assures the new pharaoh that he will be able to do so in time but that Ay will protect him and serve him as he did his father Akhenaten.

**Ten years later**

Tutankhamun has grown into a young man. We next see him sparring with his closest friend, Ka. As they train it is revealed that the training sessions are kept secret from Vizier Ay. This opens a line of discussion about the state of Egypt. While Tutankhamun sees Ay as a trusted servant; Ka brings up question about Ay’s true motives. He then reveals a list of problems within the kingdom; pointing out that Tutankhamun does not see the state it is in because he has never been out among his people. Later when High Priest Amun comes to the pharaoh to gain permission to make tributes to the temple required; The Vizier Ay discounts Tut's questions and concerns as does General Horemheb, Tut immediately sets out to see for himself problems that Ka has pointed out which have been kept from him.

Tut disguises himself and leaves the palace that night to mingle among the people of Thebes. The pharaoh quickly learns that crime is a problem as he comes across a man accosting a woman and goes to her aid. He soon finds himself being attacked by both for his trouble. It is the timely intervention of Lagus; part of the City Watch that allows him to escape the two without serious harm.

In the morning; Ankhe notices that the pharaoh seems tired and anxious. She remarks on it and Tut assures her that he did not sleep well; but is also concerned that they have not produced a rightful heir and that it puts them at risk. At the same time; High priest Amun and the vizier discuss the fact that Tut seems restless and is rumored to have left the palace. The high priest advises Ay to keep close watch on Tut.

Tut once again sneaks out of the palace this time during the day. This leads to a meeting with Suhad a half-Mittani woman from Amurru. When a soldier accosts her after they share a drink of beer; Tut comes to her aid. Once again Lagus comes to the defense of Tut; believing him to be in the city seeking work. Tut picks up a pouch of seeds that Suhad had dropped during the altercation and follows her from the bar; but she is nowhere to be found. Lagus thinking Tut is just another drifter to Thebes; conscripts him to assist in seeking out Mittani assassins rumored to be coming into Thebes.

Lagus with Tut and a handful of men moves to attack the camp of the Mittani assassins. After warning Tut that the Mittani often hide ‘one in the dark'; Lagus sends Tut to approach the camp acting as bait. When the Mittani make move to attack him Tut kills the two assassins who were in the open before Lagus kills the third. Lagus makes an off-hand remark about the pharaoh; leading to Tut questioning him. Lagus reveals that rumors spread about people in the palace moving against the pharaoh who is rumored to be a cripple with a “face so scarred children weep in his presence.” He tells Tut that the pharaoh is weak and the Mittani know this and it is why they try to take advantage.

When next the pharaoh holds court; he uses the opportunity to assert his authority. He berates the general for not dealing with the Mittani threat sooner and also shows that he is not the child the court believes him to be as he realizes that the kingdom has been thrown into a panic and the man who puts an end to the Mittani threat will be a hero to the people. Rather than allow General Horemheb to use the opportunity to seize more power; Tut declares that it is time to face the threat and drive the Mittani from Egypt’s borders.

The day before the Egyptian army sets out for Amurru; as Tut and Ka spar; Ka is impatient with the pharaoh. When Tut questions him Ka is upset by Tut’s impatience and points out that he all but accused General Horemheb of Treason and that it is not the way to gain the trust of the army. Tut reveals that he will gain their trust on the battlefield with Ka. When Ka suggests that Tut is attempting to steal the general’s glory; Tut tells him that he is claiming what is rightfully his. Tut then asks if Ka also seeks to claim what belongs to the pharaoh revealing that he knows of Ka’s affair with Ankhe. He then tells Ka to put Ankhe from his heart so the gods will grant the royal couple a healthy child.

Ay’s son Nakht returns from the desert and questions the vizier about rumors that the pharaoh no longer listens’ to Ay’s counsel. Ay points out that there will soon be a new dynasty on the throne. It is revealed that Ay is not Nakht’s biological father; but that it does not matter to him.Until the time presents itself; they will remain loyal servants to Tutankhamun.

Later that day everyone prepares in their own way to face Mittani. Tut takes time to reflect on his family history with General Horemheb and discusses his reasoning for leading the army to Ay who feels the pharaoh is not prepared to lead the army. Tut once again shows his maturity by pointing out that allowing the general to lead the army puts him at the mercy of Horemheb while leading the army from the front he creates a strong bond with the people of Egypt. Ka and Ankhe choose to spend the time making love despite Tut’s warning to Ka.

The next morning after the pharaoh bids goodbye to the queen; Tut sets off with Ka, General Horemheb, and troops from Thebes. Ay, noticing a look between Ka and the queen, warns her to use discretion. Tut is more observant than they all believe him to be.

**First Battle of Amurru**

As Tut and the generals discuss strategy; Lagus arrives bearing a papyrus for General Yuya. The general introduces a shocked Lagus to the pharaoh praising him as the man who discovered the assassins in Thebes. Neither Tut nor Lagus mentions their prior meetings. Lagus is dismissed and the group returns to drafting plans for the upcoming battle. Tut puts forth a plan to trap the Mittani and General Horemheb agrees to consider it. Horemheb counters by suggesting the Egyptian forces invade Mittani lands to destroy them once and for all but Tut is adamant that the only goal of the army is to secure Egypt’s borders. Tut fears that a prolonged war will draw allies to the Mittani. The general understands that his desire to eliminate the Mittani is falling on deaf ears. Within the Mittani fortress King Tushratta and his son Prince Tis’ana prepare their own forces to meet the Egyptians.

After the meeting with his generals; Tut seeks out Lagus to thank him for not revealing the fact that they knew each other. The pharaoh also tells Lagus that he would have Lagus by his side during the battle. Tut then gives him a mission to find Suhad, who is from Amurru, and return the pouch of seeds she had dropped in Thebes but not to reveal who they were from.

As the two armies clash; Ka reports to General Horemheb that while the Egyptian line is holding; casualties are mounting and they are making no headway but simply maintaining a stalemate. Tut then orders General Horemheb to instruct the archers to concentrate on the southern group of the Mittani forces so that he can draw them into an ambush along with Ka and Lagus. Horemheb points out that it will take time to position the men but Tut reveals that he has already positioned them and they were waiting for the pharaoh’s order. Lagus attempts to convince the pharaoh that he does not need to fight and that the men would fight for him. Tut insists that he does need to fight. Ka then joins them and expresses doubts of his own but Tut will not change his mind.

Tut, Ka, and Lagus mounted on chariots draw a large number of Mittani into the path of the archers then lead the Mittani into the an abandoned village where the Mittani are quickly cut down. However success does not last long as Mittani reinforcements pour into the village causing them to battle hand to hand instead safely firing arrows at the enemy. During the close quarters fighting; Tut is wounded. Tut orders Ka to finish the battle. Lagus promises he will not leave the pharaoh’s side but with more Mittani pouring into the village; Lagus has no choice but to find as safe a spot as possible to leave the pharaoh and draw the Mittani from him. Lagus is quickly overwhelmed by numbers as Tut watches from among the dead and wounded Lagus has hidden him among.

In the aftermath of the battle; General Horemheb comes across the wounded Tut, Instead of seeking help or carrying the pharaoh to a physician; Horemheb leaves Tut to die. Tut sees Horemheb standing over him; but soon passes out again. Back in the Amurru encampment; a scout reports to Horemheb and Ka that the Mittani were lying in wait for the Egyptians to cross the border and the army would have walked into a trap. The Mittani forces suffer massive casualties as do the Egyptians but the Egyptians count the battle as their victory.

Horemheb orders the men to celebrate before they return to Thebes. Ka points out that they cannot return without the Pharaoh’s body. Horemheb gives him several explanations of why Tut’s body could not be found but assures Ka that if Tut survived; they would find him. Once Ka leaves Horemheb orders his men to spread word that they are looking for an Egyptian spy and if Tut is found to kill him. He then sends word to Thebes of Tutankhamun’s death.

Ay moves to comfort the queen as he and Nakht both recognize the opportunity this presents while Lagus has been taken prisoner by the Mittani.  King Tushratta notes that General Horemheb avoided the trap set for him. He notes that allies move to join them against the Egyptians.

General Horemheb and Ka return to Thebes as heroes. Horemheb names Ka as the victor of the battle in order to see Ka gain favor at court. When the Queen asks about Tut’s body Horemheb accepts the blame claiming that the slaves who buried the dead must have buried the pharaoh without knowing who he was.

Ka moves quickly to take advantage of the opportunity and put himself forward as a prospective husband. The queen lashes out at Ka for not being at Tut’s side and says the pharaoh was not ready to lead the army into battle. Ka admits to her that Horemheb had lied to clear the way for them to marry. Ay also moves quickly to put himself forward as a possible husband after speaking with high priest Amun. They agree that Ka would follow General Horemheb’s counsel taking power from both the vizier and the temples.

Near the battlefield; Suhad stumbles across the injured Tut. When she calls out to some of General Horemheb’s men for help; Tut tells her that he cannot be found. Suhad directs them to the body of a dead Mittani soldier. When questioned about the Egyptian spy she says that she has seen no Egyptians.  When the soldiers move on to continue the search; she takes the pharaoh to a small abandoned hut where she treats his wounds.

In Thebes; High priest Amun takes a moment to speak with General Horemheb and suggests that Horemheb’s hands are stained with the pharaoh’s blood due to the extraordinary amount of time the general has been spending in prayer. Horemheb insists that he did not directly harm the pharaoh. Amun counters by saying even with clean hands one who caused harm to the pharaoh would still carry the stain of guilt.

Ay makes another attempt to convince the queen to marry him by pointing out that Marrying Ka would give General Horemheb the means to rule Egypt. He then attempts to point out to Ka that the general is not his friend. Ay reminds Ka that he was raised in the palace as a brother. Ka confident that Ankhe will choose him; tells Ay he will continue to be a loyal servant when Ka is pharaoh.

Tut is well on the road to recovery under Suhad’s care. He is soon able to get up and start walking around. He also seems to be growing a bit more than grateful to Suhad. As they are walking through the village; they come upon a priest demanding tribute from the village. Suhad moves to interfere and the priest angered by Suhad’s interference moves to strike her causing Tut to intervene. Suhad’s father quickly figured out that Tut is the pharaoh.

Upon hearing of the queens upcoming wedding Tut makes the decision to return to Thebes. Knowing that he cannot return alone he questions Suhad about where the Mittani would hold prisoners. When he asks her to tell him the way; she insists that she will show him as her grandmother had shown her since only those who know where to find water along the trail can pass through it.

The two travel across Egypt stopping to view the pyramids. Tut and Suhad give in to the feelings growing between them and make love. Suhad shows Tut where to find water along the desert trail. After crossing into Mittani territory; the two sneak into the Mittani capitol.

In Thebes Ankhe seeks out ay and asks him if he truly believes that Horemheb would really rule if Ka was pharaoh. Ay reiterates that Ka would follow Horemheb’s orders while he would keep the general under control. Ankhe thanks him for his honesty but tells him that she has chosen to marry Ka. She then tells him to make the arrangement because she does not want to wait any longer.

Inside the Mittani capitol; Tut and Suhad make their way to the prison. Suhad distracts the guard while Tut hits him from behind with a rock. Lagus, quickly catches on and follows Tut and Suhad escaping the Mittani prison. The three are chased through the city by guards and while slipping through a passageway are confronted by dead bodies hanging from hooks in the ceiling.

While Ka and Ankhe make love; Nakht confronts his father for failing to convince Ankhe to marry him. Ay is angered when Nakht claims that the throne was rightfully theirs and Ay had let it slip away. Slicing open his palm he berates Nakht for expecting the throne to just be given to them and tells him that they are of common blood but that an opportunity will present itself again.