Work in Progress: January

Well, this is the start, as it currently stands, of a story.

The palace glittered in the sunlight. In front of him, the huge columns decorated with immense hieroglyphics and bass relief images of the gods cast sharp shadows across the main entrance. To either side, the tall capsulised towers expressed the majesty of the Pharaoh. On the upper half were vivid scenes of Pharaoh’s conquests below which were huge bass-reliefs of the gods paying homage to the Pharaoh. But the splendour of the palace wasn’t what interested Buneb, even though he planned to take it for his own. He still had to fight to take what he’d been promised for the way in was blocked by a solid mass of the Pharaoh’s guard. Shields up, spears poking out and swords at the ready, they presented a formidable obstacle to any attacker. Nevertheless, Buneb sneered at the defenders holding him back.

He called out, “Aruthra, send in your lovelies.”

To his rear, the demon ululated loudly, the cry echoing off the walls. The spears in front of Buneb wavered at the inhuman cry. Lesser men would have fled at the sound. But not these soldiers, they remained at their post. They’d sworn to defend the Pharaoh to the last, and to the last it would be if they resisted.

From behind him, Buneb heard the strange disquieting screeches of the grey-skinned devils Aruthra had conjured up to aid him. He shivered as their shrieking reached a crescendo. A tremendous yelp came from the horde. It began to shift and flow forward.

Buneb stood in Aruthra’s shadow with his immediate guard surrounding him as the devil-monkeys surged forward on either side. These huge demon-apes fashioned in the hell-pit from whence Aruthra came had taloned feet and claws for hands. Their teeth were like those of a sabretooth tiger. Savage beasts whose only intent was to kill. They bounded forwards eager to reach the soldiers.

The first ranks fell to the arrows of the defenders, but others quickly replaced them. Baying like hounds bringing their prey to heal, they charged at the massed ranks. Screams and yells punctured the air as the charge collided with the defenders. A soldier was yanked from the shield wall and set upon by several terrors and torn asunder. Other demons fell to the soldiers’ spears and swords. But there was a never-ending supply of creatures to make up their losses.

Slowly, but surely, the guardsmen were torn asunder by the unrelenting horde until, at a cry, they fell back. Some tried to close the palace door in the face of the onslaught. They nearly managed it except for the dead blocking the gap. It burst wide open. The remaining guards ran off. But far from pursuing the fleeing soldiers, the grey demons pulled back.

It was now his turn. Buneb bellowed, “Forward!” With his guard around him, he went forward. He had to clamber over the dead and dying but once inside the doorway, the antechamber was clear. The immense hall was used to receive envoys. And it was just the first part of the palace. On the dais, the throne and the councillors’ chairs were empty. Soon he’d be sitting there. Buneb salivated at the thought. He searched around examining the various exits. Where might the Pharoah have taken refuge? Without the pharaoh, his victory was empty.

Buneb shouted at his men, “Find him! Show him no mercy!” He turned away as his soldiers spread out to search the palace. He spotted the priest of Set with them. He called out, “Hannu!”

The man turned and seeing Buneb gesturing at him, broke away from the soldiers around him and rushed over.

He fell on one knee. “Yes, my lord?”

“Where is he?” He didn’t need to elaborate. Khaba, the Third, Pharaoh of Aegyptus, was the only one who mattered, though the king’s magicians would also have to be dealt with. Hannu had already despatched the one sent to defend the outer entrance. He lay where he’d fallen, a shrivelled corpse, his clothes in tatters, making him look like an unwrapped mummy. But others lurked in the palace ready to weave their sorcerous spells on his soldiers and him. They’d sworn to defend Amun’s Chosen and would die rather than let Buneb’s soldiers capture the Pharaoh.

“I’ll cast, my lord.” Hannu produced a set of bones from a little bag he had attached to his belt. He threw them on the ground and consulted the pattern for a moment. “They’re in the royal bedroom.”

Buneb smashed his fist into his other hand. “We go at once.” He gestured. “Come!”

With his escort trailing, Buneb strode purposefully through the huge hall and towards the doors beyond. It was time. The attack on the palace was taking too long. The defenders had put up more resistance than he’d expected to Aruthra’s demons. His spies had misled him about the discontent within the guards’ ranks. Each moment allowed Khaba to make his escape.