Crucible of Fate

have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “What’s Koren doing here?”
    “I thought he must have come with you.” I was indignant as the sound of horns filled the hall, and the silence that came afterward was instantaneous.
    All eyes trained back on me as I stood once more, walked to the edge of the dais, and stared down at the priest, who started to object.
    “You have lost your reason if you think I would allow a man not—”
    “Silence!” I said, my voice rolling through the room. “I make the decision. Only me. You have no say, as you are no more divine than I am. And if you like, I can separate your head from your body and show everyone the color of your blood.”
    The color drained from his face, and I could tell that he was smart enough to know what was about to happen.
    “The temple of Satis will no longer house the priest of Chae Rophon, because from this day forward, there will no longer be a priest of Chae Rophon. I strip you of your title and station and banish you to the tribe of Mafdet, there to serve the semel-netjer. You will understand real power when you stand before him.”
    “I—”
    “Satis will become a school,” I said, my voice rising. “Where anyone may go to learn and live as they study the law. All the vaults and rooms there will be opened and the contents catalogued. No mystery will remain—all artwork and treasure found there will be shared, and any wealth hidden in Satis will be restored to the tribe of Rahotep.”
    The roar of approval made the priest shudder.
    “All staff at Satis will remain, as they will all report to Jamal Hassan, who will take the position of guardian of the law, or menthu, of Satis.”
    I was smiling as I did a quick spin on my heel and found Jamal staring up at me like he had seen a ghost.
     “You are worthy of the title,” I proclaimed, enjoying myself, “and the Shu will guard you and no longer serve me, the semel-aten. My sheseru and my private guard will see to my protection. They perhaps both thought I have lost faith in them, which I have not.”
    I didn’t even have to see Taj to know he would be struck by my faith in him and his khatyu.
    Almost.
    I had almost made the mistake of distancing myself from my own house, putting faith in assassins instead of those loyal to me. But now the Shu had their own commander to protect, and that would please them, as there was no longer a divided loyalty. I had reclaimed my own sheseru and my khatyu, and they would swell with pride. It took me a while sometimes, but I could make everything work.
    “I will no longer be the semel-aten, but as our beloved priest, Hamid Shamon, baptized me, will now truly be akhen-aten. I will change the direction of my reign and will bring about great change. The new era for Sobek will be Harmakhet, the new dawn.”
    The hall exploded with cheering.
    “We will sweep away the old Sobek and create a new modern city that will rise from the ashes of the old and be a mecca of prosperity. The outside world will be allowed in Sobek, industry will thrive, and nothing will be as it has been.”
    No one could hear a thing over the din of hundreds of voices raised together.
    There would be resistance, I knew, but the old Sobek was over and a new one was coming. It would take me years, I knew, but the building would start immediately.
    I needed werepanthers from all over the world to come and make their homes in Sobek. I wanted diversity and change, and because the city and all the land belonged to me (it was deeded to each and every semel-aten), I could make that happen. I would find the best people, the smartest, the most ingenious from every tribe in the world, and together we would build our new state.
    Of course, I had just put a giant bull’s-eye on my back, but change was scary. I would just have to be careful. The Shu themselves had tried to kill me and been unsuccessful; standing against anyone or anything else would be easy. I hoped.
    I descended to the floor and moved until I stood in front of Asdiel Kovo, only my khatyu and Taj keeping the crowd out of the small circle of men.
    “My lord, you—”
    “No.” I stepped in close so he could hear me over the joyous noise of the gathered throng. “Your time is past. We don’t need a priest of Chae Rophon anymore; we don’t need the same rules and penalties. The tribe of Rahotep is still just a tribe. It can’t function in this bubble anymore. Instead it will be like every other family headed by a semel the