King's Jubilee

Please note this is the short story version of Egypt's Second Born.

Perfect for fans of Michelle Moran, Amy Tan, and Stephanie Dray.

Anyone who loves sweet stories and Ancient Egyptian historical retellings, this Lost Pharaoh Chronicles prequel offers a compelling and imaginative take on the early life of the prince would become known as the heretic king.

With its richly detailed world-building and complex characters, King's Jubilee is a must-read for anyone who loves coming-of-age tales.

Grab this gripping historical drama today.

Author Rating:

The author rated this book for ages 13+ for bullying.

Chapter 1

“Son,” Pharaoh Amenhotep III placed one hand on Thutmose’s shoulder, “Egypt’s Crown Prince.” Placing his other hand on the other shoulder, he leaned in close. “One day, you shall be celebrating in my stead. At my next Sed Festival, you shall be named Coregent. When the time comes that you stand alone to rule mighty Egypt, Amun will transfer his power to you as his divinely appointed King.”

Thutmose beamed and stood tall under his father’s firm grasp.

“I will not fail you, Pharaoh.” Though his lips spoke Pharaoh, his heart said Father. However, there was a certain way he had to speak to this great man who ruled both the Upper and the Lower of their great empire.

I will be the best Pharaoh ever to have lived. When you are no longer here, you will look down from Re and smile at what I have accomplished. It will all be for you, Father.

His lungs expanded to welcome a full, satisfying breath. Pharaoh pulled away from his son and lifted his hands from his shoulders in a grand sweeping motion. “You are the perfect son of Pharaoh. You are mighty and strong and quick with your reason.” His hands fell to cup Thutmose’s face. “You are wise and will do well in Pharaoh’s place. Now observe this time carefully, as it will be yours in the coming years.”

He scowled as his eyes darted to his second-born son shouting praise in the courtyard to the sun disc, the Aten. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he shook his head. Gripping his son’s neck and pulling his forehead to his, he whispered to Thutmose. “Look after your brother, for he lacks all you are.” Pharaoh removed his hands from Thutmose’s neck and stood erect once again. “Even if you must keep him secluded in my great palace, Malkata.”

He gestured for Thutmose to walk with him down the courtyard’s open corridor to Malkata’s impressive lake called Birket Habu.

Thutmose peered over his shoulder to observe his eleven-year-old brother standing out in the sun without so much as a heavy linen wrap around his body despite the unusually chilly day. I don’t think I will take care of him. He doesn’t even honor our father during this time. He turned up his nose and walked with a proud chest alongside Pharaoh.

“Thutmose, when you become Pharaoh, you will face a growing threat to your throne. The priesthood of Amun-Re grows in power every day. I have made strides to keep them from overtaking the throne, but Meryptah appointed himself as First Prophet of Amun, an action traditionally reserved for Pharaoh.” His father sighed and squinted from the sun’s rays sparkling over the lake in the distance. “This is why we do not celebrate my Sed Festival in the temple of Amun. If we did, we would only increase their power over the throne. Pharaoh is the true First Prophet, not some priest. Thus, we celebrate here at Malkata.” His gaze turned inward. “In times before, the Pharaohs ran with the Apis Bull to show their strength and shot arrows in each of the four directions to show their dominance over the lands. Yet I will sail across Birket Habu and return, symbolizing Osiris’ death and resurrection, and it will be known that I have made the same journey. Pharaoh returns to his people renewed with the lifeforce of the gods.”

Thutmose nodded his head, soaking in all that his father said. “I understand, Pharaoh.” He bit his lip, afraid to ask the questions that raced through his mind.

His father chuckled, but his eyes remained bright as he glanced toward his son. “No, you do not.”

Thutmose’s chest caved a bit. “I need more time to understand.”

“Yes.” Pharaoh nodded, seemingly pleased with his son’s response. “Your mother, my chief royal wife and Queen, Tiye, will help you before my next Sed Festival,” Pharaoh said as a relaxed smile crossed his lips. “Then you will be crowned Coregent, and you will understand. You shall train as a priest of Ptah in Men-nefer to further draw power away from the priesthood of Amun.”

Thutmose’s heart sank. He did not want to leave Malkata, but at least it would be a few years before he was crowned Coregent and could return. “Does Amenhotep know about this threat to the throne?” Thutmose asked as he peered up at his father.

“No, that boy wouldn’t understand a rock if it was laid at his feet.” He clenched his jaw and shut his eyes. “Your poor brother–”

“He can’t even throw a rock.” Thutmose smirked, remembering his brother’s sad attempt when competing in sports and how he habitually dropped every weapon with which they trained.

“He was a sickly child,” Pharaoh nodded in an attempt to hide his smile at Thutmose’s comment. “I always thought he would grow into a man, but his time dwindles, and I have little hope he will ever reach the expectations for a son of the king.”

Thutmose nodded. Amenhotep only had four years left before he was considered old enough to marry, and he would lose his sidelock soon, too. The sidelock, a lock of hair amid a bald head, braided to show youth and childhood. He thought his brother might as well be hopeless as a man, listening to the remnants of his odd worship of the Aten echoing off the stone wall as they walked.

“That is why the gods granted me a perfect firstborn son,” Pharaoh wrapped his arm around Thutmose and pulled him into a side embrace. He stopped short of the shadow’s end and turned to Thutmose again. “I am proud to call you mine.”

He dropped his arms, and the royal guards, who had lingered behind them, came forth and escorted Pharaoh from the shadow toward the nobles who had gathered for this last day of his Sed Festival. The commoners watched from the other side of the Nile River. Thutmose found his mother, Queen Tiye, waiting for his father to join her.

Thutmose ran around the courtyard and, out of fun, pushed his brother Amenhotep from his worship before heading to the balcony where their sisters awaited him. He heard his brother curse him and his footsteps behind him, but Thutmose went to a full sprint and lost him. After a moment, he stopped and turned around, not even winded. At the end of the corridor, Amenhotep stood hunched over, struggling for breath.

Thutmose laughed and, knowing his voice would carry across the stone, said, “That is why I am Crown Prince, and you are not.”

His brother’s response came back to him. “I never wanted to be Crown Prince. Just let me be.”

Thutmose sneered. Only my foolish brother would not want to rule Egypt. Weak. “Are you coming to watch Pharaoh?”

“No. Kasmut is coming to–”

“You are a fool,” Thutmose said as he walked away.

“No, you are.” Amenhotep’s voice trailed him.

Thutmose shook him off. No need to waste time on him. Even Father doesn’t want him depicted as his son on the reliefs and statues in the temples.

He made his way to the balcony where sat his two eldest sisters, Sitamun and Iset, who were also married to their father, and his two elder sisters, Nebetah and Henuttaneb, whom his father said would marry Thutmose when he became Coregent. The four sisters dipped their heads to Thutmose as he took his seat.

“You were almost late, Thutmose,” Sitamun chided.

He looked at her. There was an elegance in the way she held herself, her chin perched parallel to the ground at all times, and her voice flowed as smoothly as the Nile River.

“Crown Prince Thutmose to you,” he jested.

“I will call you by your appropriate title when you choose to be on time, my dear brother,” Sitamun said and turned to peer at him.

He narrowed his eyes at her. “I am on time, sister.”

They both looked forward and watched their father address the large mass of nobles and officials. Thutmose found his eyes wandering the crowd, trying to pick out a certain officer’s daughter.

“You are to watch Father, brother,” Iset chimed in, her voice a little higher than Sitamun’s.

Thutmose realized he had leaned forward to scan the crowd. He shot her a glare.

“I am watching Father.”

“Nefertiti can wait,” Sitamun said. “Tonight is about Father. You should watch and listen as you will be by his side at the next Sed Festival.”

“I already know what to say and what to do,” he sneered and continued to look for Nefertiti.

Henuttaneb tapped his shoulder and pointed. He followed the indication of her finger before she lowered her hand, not to make it obvious to any noble who looked up at them that they were not watching the king.

He spotted her. Standing tall, wrapped in a linen cloak, her sidelock shining in the sun’s rays, she stood next to her father Ay, Overseer of Pharaoh’s Horses and brother to Queen Tiye. He felt his sidelock against his ear and knew in one more year, it would be removed. His heart raced, waiting for that day. For the rest of the Sed Festival, his eyes darted between his father and Nefertiti.

Priests began placing the animal representations of the gods onto Pharaoh’s barge and, once finished, Pharaoh disembarked to sail across his lake. It was as if the gods wanted the scene to appear surreal, as a light fog arose from the waters and a sudden cold breeze pressed upon the people. Pharaoh disappeared into the mist.

A great murmur swept through the nobles. Was Pharaoh to return from the dead as Osiris once did?

Thutmose saw his sisters wringing their hands and realized his own were clenched into fists, waiting to see if his father succeeded. Then, a hush fell upon the people as they leaned toward the lake, their eyes searching and scanning for any sign of their Pharaoh.

What seemed like a lifetime passed until the tip of the barge struck through the fog, and Pharaoh came sailing through. The people erupted in victory. Thutmose felt his heart well within his chest, proud his father had made such a journey. The abundant offerings to the gods had not been in vain, for they granted him successful passage.

eBook File Size: 740 KB

Book Information

Publisher: LLMBooks Publishing
Published: December 2019
ISBN-13: 978-1961759107
Genre: Historical Fiction

Audiobook Information

Narrated by: Eli Snuggs
Series: The Lost Pharaoh Chronicles Prequel, Book VI
Length: 35 mins
Release date: 03-02-23
Language: English