Moses looked at Shabaka, “Trouble?”

  “Possibly,” Shabaka replied, looking back at the scene, then at Neti and Moses. “Do we have what we need?”

  Both nodded.

  “Then they can clean up here,” Shabaka said, gesturing for the messenger to precede them.

  “You just could have just said Ramesses wants to see us,” Moses said as they descended the steps.

  On their way to the palace, they passed several women, who swept the wilted and crushed flower petals from the paved road with their brooms. The woman did not even look up as the party passed them.

  “I think this is one festival many wish to forget,” Moses said.

  “There were substantial losses,” Neti said, nodding.

  “People forget.” Shabaka said, “Especially peasants.”

  His words had both Moses and Neti look at him in shock.

  “What? All they care about is the festivities and food, who provides it is unimportant. What happened during this festival will be a distant memory when the next one comes.”

  “Maybe for those who did not lose anyone. But not everyone will consider the festivals of the future as a reason to celebrate.” Neti said

  “You are thinking of Suten,” Moses said.

  Neti nodded.

  “I don't think they will forget what happened, with time it would just seem less relevant. People are very resilient; you are proof of that.”

  Shabaka looked pointedly at Moses.

  “She has regained some of her flesh, although with Yani's cooking I dare say I would too.”

  “Food, always food, did your mother not feed you enough as a child?” Neti asked

  “I grew up in the palace,” Moses said.

  “He just likes to eat,” Shabaka said.

  I have sampled some of the best - Yani's cooking. You had better not let Ramesses hear about it; he would be quick to claim her.” Moses said as they entered the courtyard, which was filled with angry citizens. “I have this distinct feeling we are about to walk into something,” Moses said.

  “That is stating the obvious,” Neti replied.

  When they made their way through the crowd, several of the citizens looked at them disdainfully as they pushed their way through. The gathered mob was visibly displeased by their presence.

  “You think they are Roma-Roi’s followers?” Moses asked.

  “It would not surprise me if were behind it,” Shabaka said, ensuring he remained close to Neti.

  When the guards noticed them, they pressed forward to force a way for them to the gate, lowering their spears when the mob started arguing about their right to enter the palace as well.

  “How long have they been here?” Moses asked one guard.

  “All morning,” The man tiredly answered.

  They made their way to the assembly hall and could hear the elders' discussion long before they reached the gilded doors. The noise had reached such a level that the guards had to repeatedly stamp their spears to announce their arrival.

  Ramesses looked in their direction and visibly sighed on seeing them. He gestured for them to approach him.

  “I’m not talking,” Moses whispered as they entered the hall.

  “Pity, you are remarkably good at sharing your thoughts, even if we don't want to hear them,” Shabaka whispered in return.

  They lowered to their knees while their presence caused the room to fall silent.

  “Rise, my prefects,” Ramesses said before turning to the onlookers. “Please allow us a few moments.” Ramesses gestured to the side of the throne, where they could converse out of view of the others.

  “You have no idea how thankful I am to see the three of you together.” For a moment, his gaze moved over Neti “I see that you have recovered, my child.” His eyes narrowed slightly on noticing the absence of the palace's colors in her sash.

  Neti inclined her head in acknowledgment.

  “What is going on?” Moses asked.

  Neti jabbed him with her elbow, “I thought you weren’t talking.”

  Ramesses looked at the two and then at Shabaka.

  “They have been like that all morning,” Shabaka said, shaking his head apologetically.

  “It is good to see her spirits return,” Ramesses said causing Shabaka to jolt and look at Neti.

  “Have you heard the news?” Ramesses asked.

  “What news?” Neti questioned, more seriously.

  “Another body has appeared on a rooftop, this time near the homes of the advisors.”

  “We are just coming from there,” Shabaka said.

  Ramesses breathed a sigh of relief. “That means you can answer their endless questions,” he said, pointing to the group of elders. “The High Priest of Amun has proclaimed it to be a curse that has been placed on the city. Several elders are even threatening defection.”

  “See, I told you he had something to do with it,” Moses said.

  “With what?” Ramesses demanded.

  “When we came here…” Moses started but was cut short by Neti’s “Not now.”

  Ramesses looked from one to the other, “One of those moments,” he said before turning to Shabaka, who just nodded. “I see,” Ramesses continued. “… however is there anything you can tell us, anything that will calm them?”

  Neti sighed. “Sometimes I think Roma-Roi's mother dropped him on his head when he was a baby.”

  “Neti!” Moses said shocked, but added, “It would make sense, though.”

  “Just try growing up as a girl wanting to practice embalming! He was the last to consent to my license as an embalmer.”

  “Wasn't he involved in the matter with the gems as well?” Moses asked.

  “No, why do you ask?” Neti asked.

  “Just something he said gave me the impression that might be greedy,” Moses mused.

  Shabaka sternly looked at both of them.

  “He was also the one to push for the bodies to be burned; he can use his influence over the masses to bring about a rebellion against the pharaoh ,” Moses said.

  “You two are aware that Ramesses right here in front of you?” Shabaka cautioned them.

  Moses looked at Shabaka and then at Ramesses, “I have found that Neti's manner of rambling through her thoughts at times actually works.”

  “Time is not a luxury we have right now.” Shabaka seethed, “So less rambling, more sense.”

  “Is there anything you can tell them that would appease the elders?”

  They them looked at each other.

  “Well, they are not going to listen to me,” Neti said. “Roma-Roi has probably filled their heads with tales that I seek to bewitch them.”

  “She's good,” Moses said, pointing at Neti. At Shabaka's glare he added, “Well, that is what he tried to get us to believe!”

  Neti looked at Shabaka, “You will have to address them.”

  “And tell them what?” Shabaka irritably replied. “We have not even agreed on a motive behind these murders. We have loose ends at best, nothing that will satisfy them.”

  “Just answer their questions as best as you can,” Neti said. “I think some answers would be better than none. It is far better than not saying anything to them at all. That would allow Roma-Roi and any of the others to manipulate the situation. “

  “But what if I can't answer their questions?” Shabaka asked, swallowing.

  “Then just say we are looking into it.”

  Shabaka finally nodded.

  “Good, come then,” Ramesses said, turning to lead them back.

  During their absence, the murmurs in the hall had again built up to a cacophony of voices speaking simultaneously. Ramesses raised his hands and moments later the people in the room fell silent again. “Elders of Thebes, my prefects have better answers for your questions than I could offer. They have just returned from the body that has caused your distress.”

  Neti and Moses came to stand on either side of Shabaka. He looked from one to the other, thankful for their silent support.

  The gathered crowd remained silent for a short while, almost as if suddenly struck speechless.

  “Any questions?” Shabaka asked, and with that everyone started talking simultaneously.

  Shabaka held up his hands, “Calm down! I can only answer one at a time. You here,” he said, pointing at a man at the far end of the group.

  “Have we been cursed by the gods?” the man demanded,

  but Shabaka shook his head in reply.

  “I don’t believe you!” another shouted. “We have been hit by a plague and now this! No one is safe anymore! The gods will strike us all down!”

  “Please, calm down,” Shabaka firmly requested. “Nobody was struck by the gods.”

  “Then explain this morning’s body, it was found just like the others!”

  “The body we saw this morning was… murdered,” Shabaka said. “As were the other two.”

  “If they were murdered, it means that the murderer has not left with the traders, that he is still here, and we are all in danger.”

  Shabaka released a heavy sigh and glanced at Neti.

  She stepped forward, firmly projecting her voice, “We cannot tell if anyone is in danger.” Her voice brought everyone to order. “The body discovered this morning had been resting in natron for several days already; he was not murdered recently. He may even have died of the plague.”

  “You are just guessing, How long has he been resting in natron?” another man demanded.

  “We have not had the opportunity to determine that, we were called here to answer your questions.”

  “Is it true that you no longer work with the prefects?” Neti knew the voice. She would have recognized it anywhere. She did not even have to look in its direction as she replied. “I have been tending to my own matters and assisting with the plague in my capacity as both embalmer and prefect, reverend High Priest of Amun.” She turned to face him. “I have been away for several moons and needed some rest to regain my strengths after our last assignment. But, as you can see, we are here as the unit Ramesses has put together.” Neti did not see how Shabaka glanced her way before standing taller.

  “Do you know who is doing this?” another elder demanded.

  “If we did, he would be in the holding chambers,” Neti replied, her response kindling a murmur between the attendees. “But what we do know,” she said, and the hall fell silent again . “… is that the murders are religious in motivation and that the killer is targeting travelers.”

  “You don't know that for sure, we haven't looked into the latest one,” Moses mumbled.

  Neti lowered her voice, “It will calm them. It does not help if the entire city thinks they may be the next victim, it will only turn them against each other.”

  Ramesses stepped forward. “There, my people, you now have answers. The gods have not cursed you or the city. And even though some would have you believe otherwise, you can trust my most loyal prefects. They are looking into the matter and will catch this madman.”

  “No pressure,” Moses mumbled.

  “When?”

  “As soon as possible,” Neti replied.

  “There, now please go and calm your families. There is no curse,” Ramesses said dismissing the gathered assembly.

  Several men looked at them in hesitation but finally turned and exited the hall.

  Ramesses sat down on his throne, “I am getting too old for these matters.” No one knew how to respond to him. “Ah, I can already see there will be more to come forward to challenge my ability to rule.”

  “My Lord?” Neti asked, concerned.

  “Fear not my child, this happens every year. Do not concern yourself with it. I have seen it in countless forms. This year the High Priest of Amun is the leading the charge. He knows that if he creates enough instability, they will call for me to step down.”

  “But he stands to gain nothing - he cannot become pharaoh.”

  “A younger pharaoh could be convinced to seek advice from him and the advisors. Roma-Roi would have an ear, something he does not have at the moment since I mostly ignore him.” Again they had no response. “While you are here, let me inform you that I have decided to hold a series of hearings in the morning. Rameke’s case will also be addressed. Nothing like a trial to reaffirm one's position in life.”

  “Would that be the judgment of both Rameke and Garagh?” Shabaka asked.

  “I have promised Garagh a more lenient sentence in exchange for his help. He has kept his side of the promise. Therefore, it is only proper that I keep mine. He can go back to Nubia to complete his studies. Upon his return, he may work with the medjay. He will be a good healer, and they are often in need of treatment.”

  Shabaka nodded, “Then I will prepare for Rameke’s hearing.”

  Ramesses nodded and then dismissed them.

  Chapter Eleven

  Yani put the flatbread by the soup taking up the space right next to Moses. Neti called Seota who demurely came to join them sitting between Moses and Neti.

  Neti took a moment to take in the familiarity of the moment and admitted, if only to herself, that she had missed these gatherings. Yani handed each a bowl of soup. Neti reached to break off a piece of bread and dipped the end in the soup, thankful for the fragrant scent that filled her senses. She ate the piece of bread savoring the taste. Ever since her return from Syène, she appreciated her meals even more and took her time. When she noticed Shabaka's hesitation, she looked at him. “Is something the matter?”

  He shook his head, but Neti had spent enough evenings with him to recognize his disquiet.

  Moses was his entertaining self all throughout the meal, complimenting Yani's cooking several times. It was only as the meal came to a close, when Yani and Seota clearing away their bowls, that Moses reached into his satchel and pulled out a series of papyrus sheets.

  “What's this?” Neti asked as he held them out towards her.

  “Those are the drawings I made; you mentioned I should bring them. There are a few notes, too; things we have learned thus far.”

  Neti looked over the notes and raised her eyebrows., “You wrote here that other than them being traders there was little else to connect them to each other.”

  Moses nodded. “We managed to determine that they were traders, but they traded in different goods, so there were no similarities.”

  “So the killer did not choose them because of the goods they traded,” Neti said.

  “What we determined with the first two was that they were traders originating from the west and north.”

  “What do you mean?” Net asked.

  “The man who faced north came from the north, and the one that faced west came from the west. We haven't had time to establish the origins of this morning's victim. But chances are he is from the east.”

  “Which only leaves the south, someone from Nubia perhaps,” Neti mused.

  “It also shows that the killer must have had contact with them before the murders,” Shabaka added.

  “That would not be too difficult, considering they were traders,” Neti said.

  “And that is what makes it difficult for us. None of the traders we spoke to could single any one person out,” Moses said.

  Neti turned to look at Shabaka but noticed his distant gaze. She called his attention but only got a belated response, and he looked at her in confusion, “Did you say something?”

  “Where were you? You seemed somewhere else.” Neti said

  “I am sorry, I should rather have remained at the barracks this evening.”

  “What do you mean?” Neti pushed.

  “My mind is on other matters; I doubt I can make a meaningful contribution.”

  “What has you this concerned?” Neti asked placing her hand on his arm. It was only when Shabaka looked at it that she realized the intimacy of the gesture, yet none of the others seemed to notice. She withdrew her hand, for a moment feeling insecure.

  “I have to prepare for Rameke’s hearing tomorrow, and just thinking about it angers me.”

  “He cannot show emotion tomorrow,” Moses injected.

  “Why not?” Neti asked.

  “Because then the elders could get the impression that the charges are personal, and they could question Ramesses' judgment,” Moses said.

  “You also cannot stand with us; Ramesses was specific on that instruction,” Shabaka added.

  “Why not?” Neti demanded.

  “If you do, it is personal, and any ruling Ramesses passes could be viewed as in favor of his prefects. And as it is Ramesses has enough to contend with when it comes to Roma-Roi.”

  “Not that it would make any sense to me, but if I am not required at the hearing, it will give me time to consult with the Keeper of the Truth.”

  “I feel as if I am only hampering your work since my mind is consumed by this matter,” Shabaka said.

  “Then, by all means, feel free to leave, we will not keep you here. Moses can answer any questions I have.”

  Shabaka looked hesitant and finally released a heavy sigh. “My apologies for ending such a pleasant evening, It was nice to dine with all of you again.”

  “We won't hold it against you,” Moses said.

  “Unlike myself, who feels I should remain to help you find that madman.”

  “The hearing is in the morning; I doubt we would manage to identify him by morning, with or without your help,” Neti said. “Rather go and prepare yourself.”

  They watched him leave, and Yani brought another lamp into the room.

  Neti looked at the various drawings, asking Moses to identify which was which. She turned the sketch to face the direction it represented but shook her head after placing the first one on the mat. “The lines don't make sense. They seem pointless.” She looked at the next papyrus, placing it next to the other one on the mat. When she lowered the last drawing onto the mat, she looked at the others, tilting her head.

  “What is it?” Moses asked when Neti started turning the papyri.

  “On their own, they don't make sense, but when put together look.” Neti's said, pointing to the sheets.

 

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