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Updated: June 21, 2025
On their return to Memphis Hotep was made fan-bearer in Har-hat's place, and for the remaining fourteen years of Meneptah's reign practically ruled over Egypt. Vastly different, however, was his favoritism from the favoritism of Har-hat. During the wise administration of the young adviser Egypt recovered something of her former glory, lost in the dreadful plague-ridden days preceding the Exodus.
"The gods keep thee, Son of the Sun," Hotep said. "So it is thou, Hotep. Nay, but I am glad to see thee. Methought Ta-user meant to visit me just now. Is there a taboret near?" "Aye, but I shall not sit, my Prince." "Go to! It makes me weary to see thee stand. Sit, I tell thee!" Hotep drew up the taboret and sat. "I come to thee with news and a petition," he began.
When Kenkenes alighted at the door of his father's house some time later, Hotep leaned over the wheel of the chariot and put his hand on the sculptor's shoulder. "Thou hast met Har-hat and, by his own words, thou hast had some unpleasant commerce with him. What he did to thee I know not, but I shall let thee into mine own quarrel with him.
"Thy pardon, Hotep," Kenkenes replied, advancing into the chamber, "I had an errand of much importance to Masaarah and it was fruitless. It shall trouble me no more." Hotep lifted his brows, as though he exclaimed to himself, and made no answer. Kenkenes greeted the guests with a wave of his hand and did obeisance before Rameses.
The omission seemed intentional, as if the young man had meant to contrast the ornament of young strength and grace with the glitter and magnificence of the other guests. He had succeeded well. Perhaps to most of those present, the young man's presence was not unusual, but Hotep was not blind to a manifest alteration in his manner.
"Nay," he exclaimed. "Never!" "Wherefore, I pray thee?" Hotep asked with a deprecating smile. "There is no mating between the lion and the eagle; the stag and the asp! They could not love." "Thou dreamy idealist!" Hotep laughed. "The half of great marriages are moves of strategy, attended more by Set than Athor. Ta-user is mad for the crown, Rameses for undisputed power.
But chiefly he pondered on Har-hat and the Israelite. When Hotep returned he carried his cowl and mantle, and a scroll. "I too, am become a messenger," he said, "but I am self-appointed. This note was to go by a palace courier, but I relieved him of the task." The pair made ready and departed through the still populous streets of Thebes to the Nile.
Hotep, who knew the provocation of his friend and interpreted the menace in his manner, walked swiftly over to Kenkenes, as if to caution or prevent. But the young sculptor undid the small hands of the king, clinging to his arm, and gave them to Hotep, halting, by that act, all interference from the scribe. Then he crossed the little space between him and the fan-bearer.
Behind followed Kephren and Seneferu, the two generals, who, with the exception of Har-hat, the commander-in-chief, were the only arms-bearing men away from their places among the soldiers; after these, Hotep and Nechutes, Menes of the royal body-guard, the lesser fan-bearers, the many minor attaches to the king's person in all a score of nobles. They came upon a portentous scene.
But there was a hopelessness in the droop of the bowed head and a tenseness in the interlaced fingers of the clasped hands, which proved that Athor's answer had not been propitious. Hotep knew at once who besought the goddess. Setting his offering of silver and crystal on the altar, the scribe departed with silent step. But without, he ground his teeth and execrated the giver of pain to Kenkenes.
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