Lion Head Mesa rekhyt

His words were met with laughter. Laughter. Was Sethnakht a fool? Did he exist for his father's amusement?

The youth caught himself, eyes downcast in hopes Ramesses would not see the fire that blazes there. His divine father was the Pharaoh. Everything that existed within the Mesa was his to control, to use. Seth was included in that. One day, if all went well, he would no longer be the prince of the crimson lands but the king of them.

But wise Sethnakht had been correct. It was intended for him to wed Makono. Was that what he yearned for? Was consort good enough? Before he had time to gather his thoughts and respond, the sun-in-flesh that was his sire was slipping like a fish into the shining waters.

It must have been freezing! But even the aspiring prince was not so much of a fool to deny the god's chosen. Stepping closer to the soft waves, pebbles shifting beneath his paws, he dipped a tentative foot into his reflection. Without giving himself time to doubt he plunged head-first into the serpent.

At once the cold seeped into his bones, but Sethnakht did not return to the surface. He basked in the water for some time, allowing the gentle current to move him as it willed. Perhaps the prince may have stayed under a little too long, he could imagine the fellahin and his father fretting over their lost prince.

Finally, a small head broke the surface, breathing in lungfuls of air as he watched Ra burn brightly above him. Seth was alive, but he had never felt so until now.