Book 14, The Holy War Summary

Preparing for war, Horemheb dictates sacrifices to the wealthy, recruits among refugees and prisoners, and races on captured Hittite chariots into the desert to deny their foot soldiers water stored at intervals. In the Sinai, he forces weary troops to prepare obstacles that cost the Hittites greatly during four assaults. The Hittites lose far fewer men than the Egyptians, but their retreat emboldens Syrian cities to revolt against Aziru. A thirsty man coming out of the desert with a password brings the Egyptians to Gaza, where poisoned horses defeat the Hittites. In the dungeon, Sinuhe finds Kaptah, Horemheb's chief spy, who settles for the sole rights to buy and sell war plunder as payment for past services

Horemheb sends spies to proclaim that he comes as a liberator to restore prosperity and warns that any towns that...