Destiny

As the quarantine burns; Tut prepares to retire to his rooms. Ay approaches the pharaoh with the news that Suhad has not been seen for several hours. Ay tells Tut that the palace has been searched and that Suhad perhaps went into the city. When Tut discounts the possibility of Suhad leaving without speaking to him first; Ay reminds the pharaoh that Suhad would have done so being that she is used to her independence and not used to palace life. Lagus interrupts them to report that Suhad was seen leaving Ankhe’s chambers earlier in the evening.

Tut immediately seeks out the queen to question her. Ankhe admits that Suhad had been there hours earlier and spoke of seeing her parents. Tut questions why Suhad would take the matter to Ankhe. Ankhe spins a story about not burdening him when thousands of Thebes citizens were about to be burned alive. When she asks if she was wrong to do so; Ay moves to support the queen’s decision but Tut is having none of it. He orders his own elite guard to question everyone in the palace; including Ankhe’s own personal guard. In addition he orders a search of the entire city; Lagus assures that he will personally lead the effort.

Nakht having recovered from his own bout with the illness now ignores his father’s wishes to remain confined and soon learns of Suhad’s disappearance. Nakht goes to his father to question him. A visibly stressed Ay denies any knowledge of Suhad’s whereabouts. Nakht is suspicious of his father’s words pointing out that Ay’s version of truth is a matter of perspective. Ay then reveals the fact that Suhad is pregnant; letting Nakht think about what it means to their own chance at gaining the throne.

With the rising of the sun; Lagus makes his way through the now burned out quarantine searching for Suhad among the dead and injured while Tut meets with his advisors. Amun is still upset by the measures taken and falls to bickering with Horemheb. Tut tells them that they must present a united front to the people and that the burning of the quarantine was not done on a whim but with a purpose. Amun nastily agrees with the pharaoh’s orders.

As he makes his search through the quarantine; Lagus speaks with a soldier noting that some of the infected are still alive. The soldier reveals that they are to burn them and bury them in pits. Continuing his search; he comes across Suhad placed on a cart with the dead and checks for life. Seeing that she is still alive; he orders her removed to be taken to the palace for treatment in Tut’s name.

With Amun now gone back to his duties; Horemheb reveals to Tut and Ay that the Mitanni have moved to ally themselves with the Hittites and other nomadic tribes against Egypt. Horemheb also lays out Tushratta’s battle plan to choose ground where Egypt cannot win against them. Horemheb wants to gather the army to present a show of force with the remaining men; but Tut realizes that the disease has taken too many to attempt such a maneuver. As Horemheb departs; Lagus arrives with word of Suhad.

Tut’s physician informs the pharaoh that while she is alive; her condition is critical, yet by some miracle of the gods; she has not lost the baby. Lagus reports that Suhad was in the quarantine. Ankhe now arrives and Tut asks if she knew about Suhad going to the quarantine and the queen, of course, lies and denies any knowledge of what happened to Suhad. Tut orders the interrogations expanded; he is determined to discover what happened to Suhad.

While Tut holds vigil at Suhad’s bedside; Ay speaks to Ankhe to point out her reckless plans. Ankhe accuses the vizier of distancing himself from the situation. Ay correctly points out that he was not the one who sent Suhad into the quarantine zone. While Ay feels that Ankhe’s behavior was reckless and that the queen cannot afford to take any more chances; he also vows to always protect her. He then questions Seti’s loyalty to the queen. Ankhe takes responsibility to ensure that Tut’s guards cannot get to Seti and that Seti would give his life for her. Ankhe immediately goes to Seti and kills him to keep him from revealing her plot against Suhad.

The Mitanni now make their move with Prince Tis’ana arriving in Thebes to carry terms of surrender to Tut. Even

    with Egypt’s weakened state; Tut holds court with the arrogance of a powerful king. Tis’ana lays out the Mitanni demands; that Egypt vacate Thebes and control of the Nile or face a brutal invasion from the overwhelming force gathered by Tushratta. Tut agrees to consider terms in order to gain time to come up with a plan of his own. Tut realizes that no matter which choice he makes, accept Tushratta’s terms or fight, Egypt will fall.

As Tut once again holds vigil at Suhad’s bedside; Ankhe interrupts. Tut reveals to her that he was aware of her relationship with Ka all along comparing his relationship with Suhad to Ankhe’s with Ka. He points out that Ankhe did not seek him out for concern of Suhad and Ankhe confirms it wanting to know what Tut’s answer to Tushratta’s demands will be. Tut tells her that he will reveal his answer to the prince.

As court reconvenes Tut admits that Tushratta holds the advantage but that he would rather see the Bile red with blood before giving up Egypt without a fight. Tut offers counter terms to Tis’ana. Just as Egypt has suffered from illness; The Mitanni have also suffered from drought and famine. Tut declares that he will send 100 carts filled with food and wine to the Mitanni to feed them until the rains come again.

Tis’ana reminds Tut that his last gift was not so well received. Tut tells Tis’ana that Herit had been sent as a gift for the prince himself. This gift is meant for the Mitanni people. Tut also makes clear his determination to defend Egypt to the last man and they we will burn Egypt to the ground himself before seeing it fall to Mitanni hands.  As Tis’ana is escorted from the room; Horemheb and Ay question Tut’s plan of feeding their enemy thinking that Tut intends to send tainted food. Tut points out that the food would be tested. Then he reveals that he knows the way to the Mitanni palace. He orders Horemheb to prepare 40 of his finest men and Lagus to ensure the carts be heavily stocked with wine.

Amun now moves to demand tribute to the gods. Tut tells the high priest that the gods will be devoted to the pharaoh by the time the war ends. Tut dismisses everyone but tells Lagus to remain. He then asks Lagus for his opinion. Lagus points out the Amun should be arrested as the priest plots against him. Tut realizes that the illness that decimated the army has left the priests more powerful than the army itself. While tut is aware of Amun’s plotting; he chooses to take on one enemy at a time.

Tut and Ay visit the Valley of the Kings and the site where Tut’s tomb is being built. As they walk Tut questions what the gods will think of him if he fails against the Mitanni. Tut questions if he is deserving of such an honor as his tomb will bring him. He compares it to a smaller tomb being built for a commoner and points out how that tomb will be swallowed by the sands of time and the man buried in it forgotten (Yes more foreshadowing since we know where this leads). Ay points out that he will be entombed in a lesser structure while Tut is destined to rise as god. Tut now questions which gods will watch over him in the afterlife. He then tells Ay that he trusts him to see Amun from power but that exiling him will not be enough.

Ay immediately meets with Amun to tell him that Tut intends to return Aten to his status as the god of Egypt. Tut

   takes leave of Suhad with a promise to make her his queen upon his return then takes leave to head into battle against Tushratta’s army. As the Egyptian force leaves Thebes Amun performs a ceremony to call for blessings from the gods. Instead of blessing the pharaoh’s effort in defending Egypt; Amun calls for his priests to revolt against the pharaoh during the upcoming feast of Ra.

   With Tut gone from the palace; Ankhe enters his room where Suhad is still unconscious. Ankhe upset by Suhad’s pregnancy storms into Ay’s study. Ay advises the queen to calm herself; but Ankhe fears what will happen when Suhad awakens. Ankhe grabs a dagger her intent to harm Suhad is clear to Ay who attempts to stop her and is sliced across his palm for the trouble. Chasing Ankhe to the pharaoh’s chamber the two are shocked to find Suhad now awake. Sending the attendant to fetch the physician Ankhe and Ay question Suhad to find out what she knows. Suhad appears to have no memory of what has happened to her.

As Ankhe tends to Ay’s wound. Ay once again counsels caution. He tells the queen to wait; if Suhad does not remember how she ended up in the quarantine; the two have time to figure out what to do about her.

Second Mitanni Battle

The food Tut ordered delivered to Tushratta arrives. Tushratta and Tis’ana wonder about Tut feeding the army poised to destroy him. With food available; Tushratta orders Tis’ana to allow the men to feast. Tut, Lagus and Horemheb spy on the Mitanni seeing them eating and drinking thoughts of battle far from their minds. As darkness falls; Tut’s purpose in the feeding Tushratta’s army is revealed. While the food is fine; the wine is mixed with pitch. As the Mitanni slowly discover that the wine is spoiled; Tut orders Horemheb and his archers to fire flaming arrows at the Mitanni camp devastating the infantry.

As Tushratta figures out his army is under attack from the balcony of his palace he orders out his guard. The Egyptian force now sweeps down to take advantage of the chaos. And they are faced with Tushratta’s advancing guard. The Egyptians press forward and into the palace itself with Tut and Lagus leading the way. While it seems the room they enter is empty; Tushratta’s guards are lying in wait. As the battle rages; Tis’ana enters into the fray. Managing to separate Lagus from Tut; Tis’ana wielding a large war hammer strikes Tut in the leg bring the pharaoh to his knees. Before he can strike a killing blow; Lagus comes to Tut’s aid by decapitating the Mitanni prince.

A visibly injured Tut makes his way to Tushratta’s chamber. Tushratta tells tut he was expecting him. Tushratta makes no attempt to defend himself; he simply tells Tut that the Mitanni will not bow to him. Tut replies they will not have to before thrusting his sword through Tushratta’s skull in the same way a spear had been thrust through his cousin Herit’s skull. Lagus arrives and sees the extent of Tut’s injury noting that the pharaoh’s leg is broken.

Horemheb and his remaining soldiers arrive as tut is insisting on returning to Thebes to deal with the high priest. Horemheb immediately kneels in respect to his pharaoh telling him that he has his army now; all of them including the General. Tut orders the general to rise and names him as friend.

In Thebes; Suhad meets with Ay and spin him a story about how she believes the vizier is protecting her from the pharaoh’s wrath for wanting to see her parents. Unfortunately for Suhad she is out of her depth; Ay is more than used to palace intrigues. Suhad’s actions far from settling things makes them worse as Ay realizes that Suhad knows more about how she ended up in the quarantine than she lets on. Ay pretends to accept Suhad’s story but he has not been fooled. Ay tells Ankhe that Suhad knows what happens and it appears Ankhe is the one who know counsels caution.

Nakht visits Suhad claiming to be friends with Suhad who asks for his help. Suhad intends to send a message to Tut through Nakht and Suhad makes her second mistake by trusting Nakht to deliver her message.

Ay now meets with Amun to confirm prior promises between the two. Ay suggests that Horemheb should be brought into the plot against Tut. When Ay returns to the palace he finds Nakht waiting for him. Nakht reveals the message that Suhad asked him to take to Tut and asks if Ay intends to kill her to prevent the pharaoh’s heir from being born. Ay admits that he plans to kill Suhad.  Then at the question from Nakht of whether or not Ay killed his mother; Ay reveals that Nakht’s mother committed suicide but reiterates that Nakht is still his son and will be at Ay’s side. Nakht proves that he is indeed Ay’s son while he liked Suhad he was not really her friend. Nakht also realizes that Suhad’s child is a threat; both Ay and Nakht realize that Ankhe will never bear the pharaoh a child and is no threat to their ambitions.

Ay once again proving that he is a master of palace intrigue takes Suhad’s message to the queen. As Tut and Lagus travel back to Thebes; Ankhe moves to permanently remove her rival aby attempting to bludgeon Suhad to death in her sleep but Suhad awakens. Ankhe only manages to stun Suhad and the two struggle. As the pharaoh enters the palace courtyard; Ankhe manages to strangle Suhad.

Tut makes his way to his chambers and finds Suhad’s body. Ay enters into the chamber and offers the pharaoh his condolences telling him that Suhad had just died a short time earlier. Tut directly asks the vizier what happened and immediately goes to confront Ankhe. Seeing the scratches and bruises; Tut correctly realizes that Suhad died at Ankhe’s hand. Ankhe’s excuses and explanations simply anger him and he orders Ankhe imprisoned and sentences her to death after the festival of Ra is over. Lagus sees the queen to a cell and she asks Lagus to stay by Tut’s side.

Amun intrudes on Tut’s grief. As Tut mourns over Suhad’s body; Amun suggests that Suhad’s death was the will of the gods. Tut tells him that if it is the will of the gods; it is more reason to abandon them. Tut accuses Amun of being a false prophet and tells him to pray to the gods for their protection. He then orders the priest to continue his preparations for the Festival of Ra.

Ay visits the imprisoned Ankhe. Weighed by her guilt she tells him that Tut would have known that she was guilty even without the bruises. Ay tells her that he would have protected her. Ankhe however realizes that she has lost any claim she had on Tut and that there was nothing left to protect. Ay tells her that soon it may no matter and that there are forces at work she does not know about.

As Tut’s physician examines the broken bone in his leg; he tells tut that he cannot continue to stand on his leg. Tut tells him that he has no choice. The physician tells him that he is choosing between life and death. Lagus agrees with the physician telling Tut that he must rest. After telling tut that he will die if he continues to stand on his leg and covering the wound as ordered by Ay; the physician follows the vizier’s retreat leaving Lagus with the pharaoh. Lagus expresses doubt about Ay’s loyalty; but Tut tells him that they cannot succeed against the high priest without Ay’s help.

Ay and Amun meet with General Horemheb to plot the pharaoh’s death. Amun reveals his plans to the two. Amun warns that everyone loyal to Tutankhamun must die. As the crowds gather in the palace courtyard for the feast; Horemheb moves his men into position and tut departs from the palace by litter with Ay. The litter is carried to the temple where Ay exits and gives a signal to one of the priests who notifies Amun of the pharaoh’s arrival.

Armed priests move to surround the litter and General Horemheb arrives at the temple. Priests are also making their way through the city to position themselves to strike against Tut’s supporters. As the curtain on the litter is drawn back; a decoy dressed like the pharaoh is revealed and Horemheb’s men move to kill the priests within the temple and throughout Thebes while the citizens continue their drunken revelry.

Amun continuing on with his ritual is unaware that his priests have been killed. Ay, Horemheb, and Lagus stand with the pharaoh. When Amun calls for the priests; Tut tells him that they are all dead.  Amun then attempts to use his position as spokesman for the gods to threaten Tut. Tut stabs the priest and then tells the dying Amun that he will be buried without ceremony; exiling him from the afterlife. As Amun dies; Tut also collapses. Ay leaves to find the physician.

Horemheb carries the dying pharaoh back to his chambers. The physician tells them that there is nothing that he can do and the pharaoh is in the hands of the gods. Ay orders the room cleared to give the pharaoh peace in his last moments. When Ay attempts to force Lagus to leave; the soldier refuses until Tut asks him to bring Ankhe to see him one more time. Lagus leaves to get the queen and only Ay is left.

Ay tells Tut that Egypt has been left free of her enemies because of Tut. Tut reminds Ay of the conversation they had after Ka’s death about who he could trust. He tells Ay that they will both face that truth. Tut lets Ay know that the vizier’s ambitions have not gone unnoticed.

As Ankhe comforts her brother; he tells her that he was not a builder of monuments or conqueror of lands and that he will be forgotten in the sands of time. Ankhe assures him that he will be remembered as a great king who ruled for his people and not himself. He then asks her to stay with him until the end.

The pharaoh’s body is carried from the palace to the Valley of the Kings. In a call back to his conversation with Ay earlier; Tutankhamun is interred in the tomb of the lesser nobleman. His tomb is sealed and left to be buried by the sands of time.