Bright sunshine burned into Prince Ramses II's eyes interrupting his deep sleep. "What's going on?" he asked testily.
"Prince Ramses, it is time for you to get up. The Nile is flooding. Your eighteenth cycle has begun. This is an important day," his personal assistant Anen replied as he pushed aside the tapestries covering the windows. "The vizier Paser will be here soon to begin the next round of your education."
"What?" Ramses's mind was still clouded from sleep. He wasn't quite sure what else Paser could teach him. Since his father, the Great Pharaoh Seti I had appointed him as Prince Regent five cycles ago, he had been trained on all the things a Pharaoh needed to know. How to handle the religious ceremonies, how to read and write hieroglyphics, how to act towards his servants and subjects, and even the slaves, how to handle diplomacy with other kingdoms, how to fight with the sword and drive a chariot in battle, how to come up with strategy to win those battles. What else was there? He voiced his confusion to Anen, "Really? More training. What else do I need to know? Haven't I learned everything yet?"
Anen responded with a grin, "Oh, my Prince. There is so much more to life than what you have been taught so far. You will see. Trust me."
Ramses grinned. He trusted Anen. He trusted him with his life. So he would have to trust him this time too. "Very well. I'll get ready and see what Paser has for me today."
"Cleanse yourself in the bath I've prepared my Prince. It is waiting for you in the bath room."
That was strange. Ramses usually took his bath after training with Paser, not before. "Won't I be all dirty after the training? Won't I need another bath afterwards?"
"Perhaps. But it is important for today's lesson that you are clean beforehand."
"Very well," Ramses relented though he was still confused.
So Ramses did as Anen had suggested and headed to the bath room. As promised, a fragrant steaming bath of warm clean water awaited him and Ramses gratefully lowered his body into the water. "Ah..., he moaned as he felt the water surround him. Anen snapped his fingers and two slaves quickly entered the room with cloths and began washing his body. He relaxed back and let them do their duties.
His mind wandered. He let thoughts of Paser and his training sessions drop from his mind. Instead he thought about a young maiden he had noticed tending the gardens the last few weeks. Her long dark hair shone in the sun as she moved around. Her movements had afforded him brief glimpses of her youthful breasts moving freely around under her linen dress. He had tried not to stare but she mesmerized him. He was sure that as he had looked closely he had also been able to see the darkness of her nipples. They had pushed against her light dress and seemed to beg for his touch. Her long dress had covered her legs but as she did her duties moving around and bending down, he was able to make out the strong muscles of her calves. He remembered the feeling of arousal that had come over him and he could feel it overtake him again as he relaxed in the bath.
Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by Anen's quiet whisper, "My Prince. Your bath is complete. Let us dry and dress you now."
He shook free of his daydream and nodded. As he stood to rise out of the bath, the water ran down his young muscular body. The hard training that Paser had put him through had tanned and hardened his muscles. He felt that he was no longer the young boy that had started training. His penis rose into the air as if it wanted his attention. Thoughts of that gardener had caused him to get excited. Though he had often masturbated to relieve those tensions, he had only done so in private and did not feel comfortable doing that deed with Anen and the slaves in attendance.
Of course no one dared mention anything about his condition as they proceeded to dress him. Skillfully they worked their way around his penis and by the time they were done, it had dropped back down to its normal state. Ramses made a note to himself that he needed to find some time after training to daydream some more and relieve the tension.
"Have your nourishment now," Anen now told him gesturing towards the other room where his morning meal was now laid out for him.
As Ramses entered the room, he saw that Paser was already there and waiting. Quickly Paser rose and bowed before him, "Prince Ramses, good morning. Did you sleep well last night?" he asked.
"Not bad Paser. Not bad." Truthfully though, the thoughts of that gardener had made sleep difficult to come by. That is, until he had relieved the stress by masturbating in the middle of the night.
"Good, my Prince. That is good. Today is a big day. You have many things to do today."
"Yes, Anen mentioned that my eighteenth cycle begins today. What is so special about it?"
"All in good time, my Prince. All in good time. First, let's go over the latest information from our frontiers." Ramses nodded his agreement and as he ate his meal, Paser brought him up to date on the goings on throughout the Upper and Lower Kingdoms of Egypt. It had taken a few years to understand all the nuances that Paser brought him in these briefings but finally Ramses felt that he was starting to understand. Paser nodded in approval as Ramses asked the right questions at the right time.
"Very good, my Prince. You will make a great Pharaoh when your time comes."
That brought thoughts of his father to his mind. "How is my father doing?" Ramses asked. Though Seti I was not an old man, he had always been frail and was not feeling that well lately."
Paser hesitated before responding. "Pharaoh Seti is, I'm afraid, not doing too well these days. He continues to have that shortness of breath that has come over him the last few years."
Ramses nodded. He had noticed that as well in his father and was glad that Paser felt comfortable enough to share this information with him. "I'm aware of that. Thank you for sharing with me. I worry about his health."
"Pharaoh Seti chose well when he picked you as his successor, Prince Ramses. Though I pray that Osiris does not come for our Pharaoh for a time yet."
"Yes." Ramses agreed and finished his meal in silence. He loved his father and worried about him. He knew that if he died, that he would become Pharaoh immediately. He wasn't sure he was ready for that just yet.
"So, Paser, what do you have in mind for me today?" Ramses asked as he sat back after satisfying his hunger. "More chariot work. Perhaps some sword play."
Paser smiled and shook his head. "No, my Prince, nothing like that. I really think you'll enjoy what's planned for you today though."
He raised his eyebrows. "But I enjoy chariots and the sword."
"Ah, but you didn't when we started. I remember a young boy complaining about all the sword repetitions I put you through. And today, we're going to start something new again. This time I think you'll be ok with it though."
Ramses was interested now. "Oh really? And what would that be?"
"And ruin the surprise? No, just follow me and you'll find out."
"Ok. Lead the way I suppose," he relented.
As Paser led the way from the room, Ramses followed. As they made their way down the corridors, he tried a couple more times to pry information from Paser, but to no avail. As they passed by the inhabitants and workers at the palace, they all bowed deeply as they saw their future Pharaoh pass them by. Ramses, remembering what Paser had taught him, greeted each person by name - where he could. And when he couldn't, he made sure to get that person's name from Paser and commit it to memory. "Remember my Prince," Paser reminded him, "to always greet your subjects by name. You are a God in their eyes and to be recognized by a God will bring them all great joy."
After some more twists and turns down the hallways, Ramses now realized that their travels were bringing them towards the women's harem on the other side of the palace. "Why are we going to visit the women?" he asked.
Paser smiled. "Soon, my Prince. You will know soon enough."
As they approached the entrance to the harem, the eunuch guards stationed there nodded at Paser and parted to allow him entry. Ramses followed, not quite sure what was going on.
Upon entering the large room, Ramses looked around. The large windows were covered in billowing cloth as a light wind moved them around like sails on the feluccas on the great river Nile. Scattered throughout the room were a collection of soft feather cushions covering chairs and sofas. And reclining on these cushions were a large number of women of all ages. When they noticed who had entered their room, they all immediately stood and bowed to their prince. Ramses nodded back in response. He was still feeling a little confused as to why they were here.
