In the morning, I summoned a messenger and asked him to inform the Pharaoh that I wished to see her.
The throne hall was filled only with guards and court officials. Sobekneferu sat in her place, regal as always, though there was a trace of weariness in her eyes – as if she hoped that after all these years of war, peace had finally come.
I bowed and began:
"Great Queen, we have secured power in the south, just as you commanded. The cities have been rebuilt, the trade routes are open, and taxes are being collected regularly. The people once again look to you as their ruler."
Her eyes lit up with satisfaction. "That is good news, Amenemhet. I thought we might finally give the weapons some rest."
I took a deep breath. "I hoped for that too. But during the last reports from the south, we discovered something important – all the tribes that refused to submit have moved north. They have joined forces, and from what we know, they are preparing for a counterattack. If we leave them be, they will return with even greater strength."
Sobekneferu frowned. "So you are saying we must march against them? Now?"
"Yes," I nodded. "If we strike first, we will break their strength where they gather. This will be the final campaign to bring true peace and prosperity, so that Egypt will no longer be plagued by uprisings. If we wait, we will be fighting again and again."
Silence fell over the hall. Then she leaned forward slightly. "Why have I not heard of this sooner?"
"Because we wanted you to be certain that the south was truly secured," I explained calmly. "We had to make sure the supply lines were strong, the garrisons ready, and our allies loyal. If we had told you earlier, you might have been forced into a hasty decision. Now we are ready. Now is the time."
The Pharaoh studied me for a long moment, as if weighing my words. After all these years, she knew I would never lie to her. I saw that her trust in me remained strong.
"Very well," she said at last. "I trust you, Amenemhet. If you say this is necessary, so it shall be. Prepare the army. You will have everything you need."
I bowed my head. "Thank you, Great Queen. I swear this will be the last war we fight. After this, peace will come."
Sobekneferu allowed a small smile, though there was something serious in her gaze. "Let it be so, Amenemhet. I trust you – as I always have."
The next day, a war council was called in the throne hall. Sobekneferu sat on the raised platform, with priests and scribes standing by her sides holding scrolls. In the center, they brought a large wooden board with the northern lands drawn in sand – the river branches, the villages, the roads.
I stood beside Karem, who kept a serious expression, though I could see determination burning in his eyes. He was ready.
"Today," the Pharaoh began, "we decide the future of Egypt. You all know the south is firmly under our control. But in the north, a new threat is rising. Those who refused our rule have gathered there and are preparing to strike. We cannot wait for them to come. We must be faster."
She gestured to me. "Amenemhet, you will lead the strategy. Karem," her gaze shifted to him, "you will be his right hand, commander of our armies in the field."
Karem bowed slightly, and I felt his pride.
"We have all the supplies ready," I added, "but we will need precise troop distribution. These five settlements in the north are key – if we take them, the enemy will lose their supply lines. Their alliance will fall apart."
One by one, we began placing small stone markers on the sand map. The scribes wrote down every decision.
"This will not just be a military campaign," I continued. "We must convince the people of the north that the Pharaoh is their ruler, not their enemy. Every city we take must stay loyal – there must be no more uprisings."
Sobekneferu nodded. "So it shall be. Any who surrender will be pardoned. Any who resist will feel our strength."
I glanced at Karem. "We must prepare the men. They need to know this will be a long campaign. We'll be far from the palace, maybe for months. They have to believe they will return as victors."
"I'll see to it," Karem said firmly. "I will turn them into an army that will crush the enemy."
The council went on for hours. We went over grain, water, the number of carts and animals. Finally, Sobekneferu stood, her gaze sharp enough to pierce through every man in the room.
"Let this be the last war we fight. Bring peace to Egypt. Bring it to me."
I bowed my head. "I swear it will be so."
Karem did the same. When we left the hall, we both felt the weight of the entire kingdom resting on our shoulders.
"Well, old friend," Karem said with a half-smile, "looks like we're going to war again. Just like on the southern front."
"Yes," I replied. "But this time, it will be bigger."
And in my thoughts, I added — and far more dangerous.
Preparations began immediately. The palace courtyards filled with movement — smiths hammered out new spearheads, leatherworkers shaped belts and shields, scribes counted and redistributed supplies among the units. Each day carts arrived with grain and water, healers checked herbs and basic medicines that would be taken on campaign.
Karem kept the men in constant motion. At dawn he lined them up, drilled them in formations, taught them how to cross river fords and respond to signals for retreat or encirclement. Watching them from the high ground, I could feel the chaos slowly becoming an army I could rely on.
Meanwhile, I oversaw logistics — mapped out the supply routes along the river, selected which towns would serve as bases, and ensured everything worked flawlessly. If we were to finish this campaign quickly, nothing could go wrong.
At the end of the day, when the men rested, I made my way to Neseret.
When I reached her house, Neseret was just finishing her work. Nakht sat by the door carving a small wooden figure, and when he saw me his face lit up. He ran toward me and I knelt so I could look him in the eyes.
"Are you going to fight again?" he asked. He was old enough now to understand what the movement of soldiers in the courtyard meant.
"Yes," I said honestly. "We have to, so that there can be peace."
Nakht was quiet for a moment, then handed me the little figure. "So that it protects you," he said seriously.
I felt a tightness in my chest. I took the gift and nodded. "I'll keep it with me."
Neseret came out and sat beside us. Her face was calm, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. She knew what was coming.
"How long this time?" she asked.
"I don't know," I answered. "Maybe months. Until it's finished."
She nodded slowly. "I knew this day would come. I just thought we'd have a little more time."
I sat down beside her and for a while we were silent. Nakht leaned against her knees, playing with a bit of rope.
"Neseret," I began carefully, "this one will not be easy. It might be the last campaign I lead. That's why I want you to know…" I hesitated, searching for the right words. "When I come back, things will be different. Maybe there will finally be peace. And I… I want to be here. With you both."
Her eyes filled with tears, but she smiled. "I know. I've been waiting for that every day. And I'll wait again."
Nakht looked up at me and said: "Mama said you protected us when I was born. Now you'll protect Egypt?"
I put my hand on his shoulder. "Exactly. I'll protect it so that you can grow up in a land where you don't have to fear war."
Then I stood. I had to leave — if I stayed any longer, I might not have the strength to go. I hugged her once more, breathing in the warmth of her skin and the scent I wanted to remember.
"Come back," she whispered into my ear.
"Always," I answered, and let her go.
---
That night in the camp, I gathered my commanders. The stones on the sand map marked the targets, the supply routes, and the plan of attack. Karem stood beside me, arms crossed, ready.
"This has to be fast," I said. "If we move too slowly, they'll regroup. Each town must fall before the next one hears what happened. We take their supplies, break their lines, and leave them no choice but to surrender."
The men's eyes shone with determination. They knew this was the final campaign.
---
A few days later, just as the army was ready and assembled, a messenger arrived. He knelt and handed me a sealed scroll bearing the queen's seal.
I broke the wax and read. The more I read, the tighter my jaw became.
"What is it?" Karem asked when he saw my expression.
I handed him the scroll. "New orders. No prisoners. Every enemy must be executed. All of them."
The camp fell silent. The men waited for me to speak.
"We can't do this," I said finally. "Not all of them are warriors. There are women and children."
"It is the queen's order," one of the senior commanders said.
"Perhaps," I said slowly, "but I will change it. Mothers and children will be spared. I'll explain this to the queen myself. This isn't just a war for land — it's a war for the hearts of the people. If we slaughter them all, they will never see us as their rulers, only as murderers."
Some of the commanders exchanged uneasy looks, but none spoke against me. They knew that if I gave my word, I would make sure it was kept.
"Tomorrow we march," I said firmly. "And remember — we take what belongs to Egypt. But we do not kill anyone without a weapon in their hand. I will stand before the queen myself if I must, let Ra judge me."
Understanding flickered in their eyes. They knew I was risking myself by defying a direct order, but they also knew it was the right thing to do.
---
That night I sat outside my tent and stared at the stars, holding Nakht's little wooden figure in my hands.
"I do this for you," I whispered. "And for every child yet to be born. Let them grow in a land where their parents are not killed just for being born in the wrong place."
When dawn came, Karem was already waiting for me, armored and focused.
"So, we go?" he asked.
"We go," I nodded.