Discord entered the house of the ka-priest Imhotep with Nofret, the beautiful young concubine from the kingdom of the North. Strident hatred echoed within the walls of the women's quarters, while in the fields, Imhotep's sons muttered against the scheming, secret-smiling usurper. Nofret's violent death brought no peace to the house, only a chill, unearthly dread, as an unseen hand felled, one by one, those near Imhotep's heart.