"Let me tell you a story, khered." Yuya said to his grandson Amenhotep in the morning, as they sat around the breakfast table. "About the olden days, before the first pyramid, before the first dynasty, of the evils beyond the desert."
"Am I not too old for stories? Is this another sabayt?" Hotep sighed as he rested his face in his palms, still tired from last nights festivities and a little hungover from the generous libations of irep he had shared with the visiting nobles.
"I have fourfold the number of years as you, boy, and I am not too old for stories," he winked. "You looked bored. Besides, it is a good story, and there is wisdom in all good stories."
"Go on then, grandfather." Hotep smiled unconvicingly as he picked at some bread and dates.
"In those days, in those golden days, in those nights, in those bewitching nights, in those years, in those distant years; in days of yore, before bread had been tasted for the first time there was a tree. The first tree." Yuya's eyes twinkled as he spoke. "During the Great Flood the force of the sea and the force of the wind uprooted the tree, but there was a woman who took the tree and planted it in her garden. She pressed the earth down with her feet and watered it with her milk. At the base of the tree a serpent immune to magic wrapped itself around its roots. At the crown of the tree a winged beast who breathed fire and water made its nest. At the centre of the tree, in the heartwood, the maiden made her home. The maiden who laughs with joy in her heart."
"This is a story from the east, isn't it grandfather?" asked Hotep. "I heard a similar story from the Babylonian ambassador. The guardian of the forest was slain by the hero Bilgames, the ancient king of Unug, so they could cut down the cedar trees to build cities and make boats and build the 'greatest' civilisation ever known."
"There are always two sides to every story." Yuya said. "This story is indeed thought to be about the Cedars of God, in the divine forest fought over by gods and men. In the east they will tell you it is a story of victory and cheer, their hero is celebrated for his bravery in slaying the 'beast' that lived in the forest. But even in their lands, among the people of the forgotten villages, there is another version, of the noble, humble, horned guardian of the forest who was beloved of all the gods. A man came and was overpowered by the guardian, but the man tricked him, he offered himself up in service and as soon as the guardian's back was turned he killed him and destroyed the forest. This version is about the pride and vanity of men. The so called hero had seen the impermanence of human life and wished to establish his fame, and through fame immortality, ensuring his name would live forever. He cared not for the forest, or the birds, or the noble guardian who lived within it."
"So what's the wisdom in this story?" Hotep asked, sitting up straight, suddenly interested. His grandfather always knew how to capture his imagination. "A warning against pride?"
"What do you think, ibib?"
Hotep sat for a moment as he thought to himself. Comfortable in silence together, Hotep looked across the Nile from the white stone balcony, watching the play of light over the water, while his grandfather sipped some sweet shedeh from a golden cup. "Well, there are two sides to the story. I suppose the lesson could be to not form an opinion until you have heard both sides, particularly when they are so vastly different."
"Very good! That is a very important lesson for any official, prince, or Pharaoh." Yuya praised his grandson warmly, his eyes creasing as an easy smile lit up his face. "What else?"
"Beware of deceit. You said the hero offered himself up in service to the guardian of the forest, but when his back was turned he attacked."
"Yes, exactly, exactly, another excellent piece of wisdom. As a prince, as a member of this family, you must always be wary of the motives of the people around you. If someone offers you something, ask yourself what do they gain from this? What is it they desire? Many Pharaohs have been stabbed in the back."
"Or had an asp slipped in between their bedsheets. Have you ever been deceived so terribly, Grandfather?"
"Many people have tried to deceive me, some have succeeded. When you get to my age you learn how to spot deception. There are some things you can only learn through experience, and that is why a young man like yourself must learn to listen to the advice of his elders. Remember the maxims of Ptahhotep: no one is born wise. That is why your father has named Djhutmose as co-regent, as other Pharaoh's have done with their sons, so that he may pass along his wisdom, and the wisdom of his predecessors to his successor while he lives. Intelligence is something you're born with, wisdom is something you must earn with patience."