Egyptian Timewave

Chapter 47

The Pharaoh beckons them forward, and the group crosses the expanse of the large room to stand just at the foot of the dais. It's now, when they are surrounded by people at all sides, that Abayomi realizes there is an audience. She should have expected it. This is a trial, after all. She glances around nervously.

From what she can see, the audience isn't mere onlookers. They are high ranking court members, and they may even weigh in on what they think should become of her. Abayomi moves to wrap her arms around herself, only to abort the motion. That's not one of the things she should be doing here, not in a trial.

If she shows weakness, she'll be swarmed like a piece of meat among dogs. They may even interpret her discomfort as an admission of guilt. She squeezes some of her dress in her left fist instead. The Pharaoh raises his hand into the air and immediately, the crowd hushes. He leans forward slightly, to look down upon those at the base of the dais.

"Why have you come before me today?"

The words are spoken by rote, this must be a standard thing to start off trials. If only Abayomi could report back to those at home what she's learned here, it's been so much about aspects of life that they didn't know before. But no one would believe her if she told them, and she would probably end up being taken to be assessed at a psych ward.

The prince bows. "My lord Pharaoh, we have brought this one before you to stand trial for the charges of treason against you."

"How has she been accused of committing treason?"

"We believe that she has been working with the Demon Snake to spread corruption within the court and to corrupt Aten Himself. The High Priest himself has confirmed that Aten's messages are becoming murkier, and those from Amun-Ra did confirm that Aten is being corrupted."

Shouting echoes around them, the crowd panicking. The Pharaoh raises a hand to call silence down once more. He turns to the guards and Prince Amenhotep once more.

"Have you brought evidence to prevent to attest to her wrongdoing?"

One of the guards bows. "We have, my lord."

The Pharaoh leans back in his seat. "Then present your evidence to the court."

As the guard steps back, Imenand steps forward. "The evidence is as follows. The accused was witnessed eavesdropping on private conversations with the priests on two occasions, being arrested for one of them."

Abayomi makes to open her mouth and refute that, but something, some internal voice, says no. She swallows back her rebuttal with nothing more than an acid-filled look at Imenand when no one is watching her.

"On top of the eavesdropping incident, she comes from outside Waset and perhaps even outside of Kemet, as is attested to by her strange accent, yet she claims to be a lesser noble. The girl also behaves as if she doesn't know the rules and societal norms here. Surely, if she's only from a bit farther away than Waset, that those customs of her own home are not that different than those here, she should not be so confused."

Abayomi has to choke back a snort of laughter. He should travel a couple thousand years back in time and see how well the customs change and try to adapt to them.

"Is this all your evidence?"

"No, Pharaoh. I have one more thing to present. Just before we arrested the handmaiden, I was witness to her participating in a conversation with the Princess Anippe and one of the priests. They were speaking of a task she needed to complete and how she needed to listen for guidance from Him. Considering that we know the Snake is spreading an influence within the court, there is nothing else she could be doing but working for the Snake, and she must be influencing the princess and the priest for them to be helping her."

Pharaoh turns slightly, looking towards Abayomi and where Anippe stands as close to her as she can. "Granddaughter, what would you say to this?"

Abayomi can see Anippe lift her chin. "My handmaiden, Abayomi, is not influencing me in any way. Yes, she comes from outside Waset, but many of our staff do, and it is not an uncommon thing for a lesser noble to come to serve within our court. Imenand says that she eavesdropped on two occasions and only mentions repercussions for one such occasion, one which he does not mention she was released on account of having not been determined to be eavesdropping."

Imenand frowns. "Be that as it may, she was still arrested for it!"

Pharaoh holds up a hand. "Let her speak."

Anippe dips her head in thanks. "My handmaiden was walking in the temple and ran into a guard who was leaving a conversation. After getting up, she turned around and went back the way she came because she was only wandering while I was participating in a private conversation of my own, she had no need to go in that particular direction.

"In addition, the other eavesdropping incident Imenand mentioned, would he care to share what it was? For I have heard no mention of it, and no one had come to speak to my handmaiden of it. The conversation Imenand also mentioned, of my handmaiden completing a task, was in no way connected to the Demon Snake."

"And what proof do you have of this?"

"Because I was a participant of said conversation, and Imenand was not. For him to have known of it, he must have eavesdropped and so would not have the full context. The task we were discussing was in fact for Amun-Ra, and the nature of it is between Him and her. That is all I have to say."

The Pharaoh nods. "Does anyone have a rebuttal to the princess' words?" Silence greets him and he leans back. "If no further words are to be spoken, then hear my decision. For now, I proclaim the handmaiden innocent. She will be held for a time in isolated chambers to be watched. If she fails to act out of place, she will be confirmed innocent of any wrongdoing, even if any corruption spreads as she could not possibly be the cause. Granddaughter, I am afraid you will have to go without your handmaiden for a time, though I will give you leave to visit her."

As a group, those standing at the dais bow to the Pharaoh and turn to leave.
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Well that seems to have gone well, doesn't it? Do you think Abayomi has got off completely free? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out