<p> Young Tutankhamun is ready to claim his birthright?a vast, powerful, and opulent empire troubled by foreign wars, corruption, and court conspiracies. He plans to return tolerance and enlightenment to Egypt. </p> <p> But when horrific ?gifts? begin appearing in the royal palace, he commands Rahotep, chief detective of the Thebes division, to investigate. Rahotep realizes the sinister objects have much in common with a series of cryptically mutilated young murder victims discovered across the city. </p> <p> Rahotep vows to protect the young king from the dark forces that threaten the future of the empire, but what he discovers will put everything he loves in terrible danger. </p>