Era of Nitocris

Nitocris, a contentious daughter of a pharaoh, tried to legitimize her hold over Egypt using sorcery as the only means that might enable the imposter to add her name to the sacred list of kings. Such a list was assembled and sealed by high priests in tablets and manuscripts. The superior clergy had grown in power over many dynasties, painstakingly documenting the names of monarchs in special potions before engraving the names of ancient kings, thus guarding the records for eternity. It was believed that replicas of the list existed and left in scattered sanctuaries across the kingdom but only one was known to be preserved intact. One temple kept the manuscript, the rest of the copies were most probably washed away in floods that attacked many temples along the Nile, to be resurrected for posterity through the medium of visions, dreams or seances. If the document could be found and the name of Nitocris added among the kings, then the people of Egypt would be forced to accept the evil reign. Nitocris hoped to prevail as queen using any means necessary to control large swathes of the land, if not all of it.

The conniving methods used by Nitocris alerted spirits far and wide who lamented the weakness of the land of Egypt, that led to the presence of such a woman on the throne. Wizards and phantoms invoked their elders whose intervention led to magical battles in an already embattled country, eventually Nitocris was cornered into a war for survival against two women and many ancient priests. The disarray was brought about after the death of the pharaoh, King Pepi II, unleashing anarchy and magic became the solace of broken spirits. The land of Egypt peaked to the height of might only to fall temporarily in the wake of the death of the incumbent king. With Pepi II gone, chaos reigned, ambitious men and women, whose lust for power knew no bounds, pillaged tombs and fought each other.

In the middle of the drama surrounding the kingdom, Nitocris claimed the throne under the pretence of being a daughter of Pepi II. The demonic royal allied herself with insidious concoctions, rallying masses and threatening to rip the country apart unless proclaimed regnant queen. The usurper, driven by an unquenchable thirst for the throne of Egypt, might succeed in rewriting the history of the entire kingdom in pursuit of eternal rule. Two women from different time zones, crossed her path in an attempt to stop her. Riva, an untalented actress metamorphosed upon a serendipitous encounter with the spectre of an ancient princess, Nebet, the legitimate daughter of a pharaoh, to battle the ancient queen.

Nitocris succeeded in the first round to take over the kingdom when she looked down at King Pepi II who lay on the floor covered in blood at the foot of the throne. Nitocris, dishevelled in a bloody diaphanous robe, bent over the king with a dagger in her hand. A few feet away another body, her brother Merenre, curled in agony, breathing his last, hot fumes spilling from his lips and from pores on his shrivelling skin. In that first round, after Nitocris killed her brother the legitimate king, she settled in the underground she settled in the underground labyrinths of the Temple of Abydos, a day's journey from great Thebes, building her own cult among the destitute, using torture and magic to subjugate the dissenters and consolidate a reign of fear.

Spirits and phantoms tried to meddle in the affairs of state, eventually triggering a wave of incidents which caused the pharaonic princess to flee the ancient realm. Nebet, the young royal, was helped by an old priest who taught her benevolent magic and love of country under orders from the king. Nebet left the palace and the realm through a portal and landed in present times befriending the would-be actress, Riva.

About the Author Started a career in media, at the age of nineteen, that lasted forty years, during which she was promoted to the most prestigious ranks. Joined the European Radio service, based in Egypt, in 1979. Audiences recognized her as a news reader, a short stories narrator, and a main host of live programs on the morning show. Worked as a television investigative journalist, a master of ceremonies and a simultaneous interpreter. Received a PhD in English and Comparative Literature from Cairo University. Era of Nitocris is her debut novel on the intriguing sorcery of ancient Egypt.