Meretneith And Merneptah

The Protectress gazes into the incredible face that is her son. The eons old promise of the coming of the Ptah a’ Tanen is sitting at her feet. After 200,000 years, a male would become the Protector. He is the second born and tribal tradition dictated that he be the consort and brother to the next Protectress. Nevertheless, she understands that her daughter is not suited to assume the role. Only Merneptah could wear the heavy mantle of leadership for both tribes.

Merneptah is the male who has become the Ptah a’ Tanen, god of all.

There is such force in his words. She stares back at him wondering if he could see what she is feeling. These words should be coming from his sister. Anat should be here at her side in this moment. Nevertheless, it is her son’s words of death dealing. Looking into his exquisite face, Meretneith feels conflicted. Yet there is joy in the acknowledgement of his strength.

SHE LAY NEXT TO Saul watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. For the first time in their relationship, he was being untruthful. He fell asleep shortly after takeoff from O’Hare. It had been over six months since making Faiyum his home. This brief visit to Chicago was at the behest of his mother and father. Its impromptu created questions in Meretneith’s mind. She noticed fatigue in the giant. He denied it. Yet clearly, the dreamings were taking their toll on him. She wanted to hold him to take away the misery and bring relief. Her Teacher Athtar had warned her that Saul would experience spiritual pain because of the dreamings. The Chosen One’s second sight was stronger than his ancient father Ba’al and brother Athtar. The stress that came with the dreamings was common to all the males. Still she understood that the ones Saul was experiencing were about a life-altering event about to happen. All the males of the tribe were experiencing the same feelings of foreboding. The coming tragedy that none understood filled the air. There was no timing or reasons, just the need to prepare for battle. The only common thread running through the stream of coming events was the presence of Syrus, the Oldest of the Old Ones.

Meretneith knew that the Hyksos leader was coming for her; there was little that anyone could do to chase away that spectre. As Protector of the tribes, she had killed numbers of Hyksos kind, greater than the sand in the sea. She must pay a price for that. The balance must return to the Ma’at. The Protectress’ only regret in facing her impending death was leaving a male that she had grown to love so much. At each taking of pleasure, there was the need for more of Saul ben Izrael. There were new discoveries about him each day.

The change in Saul caused her body to increase its response to him. In the last few months, she noticed the absence of the monthly cycle. She thought at first that it was because the time to enter the light was growing closer for her and Ptah. Filled with tribal concerns months passed before the Protectress noticed the lack of stamina during training.

Leaving a sleeping Saul’s, she paced through the main cabin. Then she bypassed Ptah’s quarters to enter her own. Closing the door, she pressed the overhead console bringing to life rhythmic music. Stripping she removed the twin training blades from their rack.

The first hour of training came sweet and smooth. The sweat began well into the second hour, but so did the feeling of being tired. Her heart began to pump harder and legs slowed. There was the unmistakable feeling of weariness taking control of her heart and muscles. Meretneith stopped the music then sank on the side of the bed. This had happened many times in the last few months. The Protectress did not share with anyone the fear that gripped her heart. Waiting for the rapid beat of her heart to subside she stared at the training blades lying at her feet. Then placing her hand to her abdomen she inhaled deeply.