Page 143 of Conspirators' Kingdom

Serfka held Radjedef back as Mereruka smirked, touching his jaw.

“He doesn’t mean that, Meri,” Serfka said, ever the peacemaker, his eyes apologetic.

“Oh? But he’s entirely correct.” Mereruka groaned as he stood. Already his ankles were submerged. Now, in this dire situation, he had nothing left to do but use it for the likely doomed yet potentially golden opportunity it was.

Radjedef shoved out of Serfka’s grip and prowled the room like a restless lion. He rested his forehead against a stone wall and pounded the rough-cut rock in hopeless frustration. Serfka, entirely bewildered looked between the two of them.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m certain Khety will deal with Itet, but only after we die, gasping for air with our faces pressed against the iron grate above.”

“He wouldn’t—”

“He would. He knows I plan to kill him for the throne. Khety has already calculated that my death is worth Radjedef’s life and yours.”

“You… you—” Serfka stuttered as the truth sank in. He looked as if Mereruka had stuck a knife in his heart. “All this time, I protected you. I defended you!”

“Tonight seems to be one for revelations,” Mereruka noted dryly.

“But I’m thevizier! I run the whole of Maat! Khety needs only nod his head and use his seal and his job is done!”

Mereruka nodded sagely, enjoying Serfka’s rare outburst of temper.

“And yet, you are disposable, as are we all. Though, try not to think too much of your own fortunes, brother. Pity Betrest.” Mereruka did his best to hide his grin as he twisted the blade further in Serfka’s heart.

Serfka rounded on Mereruka then, grabbing him by the arms with his four grey-blue hands, shaking him violently.

“What about Betrest?”

“Think for a moment. I walked into this trap to free the one meant as bait for me. The scroll was meant for Khety. How long will it take Khety to realise that Betrest was the bait meant for another?”

Serfka’s face was a study in devastation. Mereruka pressed his advantage.

“Poor woman. Married to a man who cared not a whit for her, refusing to even give her the comfort of children. But you can absolutely believe that her infidelity will infuriate him. He’s not one for sharing. And to think, what Khety has could all have been yours, Serfka.”

“How did you know..?”

Mereruka blinked in surprise. The vizier had known that dark secret all along? He couldn’t help but laugh.

“The scroll, Serfka. It was Mother’s will. It confirmed what I always suspected—that mother died because she was going to ignore tradition and make you king upon her death. So, if you knew this, why didn’t you fight?”

A whole kingdom had been on the line. Serfka had already been well-loved and highly competent back then as well, only a step away from being vizier. The crown could easily have been his, with only Khety’s anger to deal with.

Serfka glared, hopeless fury burning in his silver eyes.

“Because I wanted to live, damn you! I didn’t want to have to kill my own brother just because of Mother’s bloody whims!”

Mereruka scowled. Yet another brother proved craven. Serfka’s weakness sickened him. He’d been strong enough, politically and magically, to put up a real fight. If he’d just taken the crown, Nefertnesu would still be whole and alive.

“Well, it seems Mother was wrong about you anyway.” Mereruka glared back. “Because your cowardice has only benefitted Khety in the end. Nefertnesu sacrificed her heart for his cowardice. Inkaef died because of his cruelty. While you run the whole of Maat, he does as he pleases. And it pleases him that we three shall die.”

“If you hadn’t coveted the throne of Maat, then—”

Mereruka shoved Serfka away with a snarl.

“When I am King of Maat, you will get to live as you please, Serfka. Betrest will be yours, no more subterfuge. You will never need fear for your life, becauseIunderstand its value. If you want proof of my fairness, you need only ask Radjedef.”

Radjedef scoffed.

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