Thebes, 1355 B.C.

THEBES, 1355 B.C.

In the twilight of the Eighteenth Dynasty, as treachery blooms within the palace walls and the ancient gods’ grip begins to slip, two Medjay Seshta—secret agents whose identities are known only by High Priest Ramose—serve as Egypt’s most discreet line of defense. Master Awi and Apprentice Masud are sworn protectors, intelligence-gatherers, and covert operatives trained to read lies like hieroglyphs… and move through Thebes unseen.

When whispers of a cursed illness and forbidden rites surround a dying king, and a cult of Set begins to infest the realm, Awi is summoned into the High Priest’s hidden chambers and given a mission no soldier can be trusted with: uncover the truth—and cut out the rot—before fear fractures the empire. At his side is a new recruit, Masud—brilliant, impulsive, and desperate to prove himself—forced to learn that survival in Thebes isn’t won with a blade alone, but with patience, perception, and the willingness to bargain with darkness.

As the investigation tightens, the palace becomes its own battlefield. Prince Amen moves like a man already measuring the throne, while his wife, Nefertiti—“the beautiful one has come”—glides through court with a smile that could mean salvation… or strategy. In a world where alliances shift with the incense smoke, Awi and Masud must decide who is truly loyal to Egypt—and who is loyal only to what comes after the king.