Lynda Robinson - Drinker Of Blood

"Sorry, lord."

"Follow me."

He left the main room through a guarded door in the back stairwell. It led to a courtyard that had been turned into a garden. Dark and deserted, it afforded a secluded place to talk. Meren found the blackest shadows under a spreading fig tree. Once they were alone, Abu and Reia pleaded for an explanation.

"They hunt you from Nubia to the delta, lord."

Meren told them all he knew, but when he was finished, it was obvious that he knew too little.

"Someone saw me leave camp, stole my weapons, and used them against the king," Meren said.

Abu asked, "One of the war band?"

"I don't think so," Meren said. "But anyone can be corrupted if offered something he dearly wants, or if he has a shameful secret. Everyone was celebrating that night. Vigilance was lax and drink plentiful at pharaoh's order. No doubt the guards at pharaoh's tent fell asleep from too much drink and afforded the traitor the opportunity to attack and escape while they were floundering in drunken confusion."

"And you say Karoya was wounded, so he wasn't with the king," Abu said.

"Pharaoh was generous and allowed all the men to celebrate at once. I should have objected."

Reia's soft voice came from a shadow. "Horemheb should have known better, too."

"Enough of this," Meren said. "I can't remain here much longer. What did you find?"

Abu came closer and lowered his voice. "The matter is grave, lord, for the plan was quite simple. Not long ago a traveling barber stopped in the village near Baht to ply his trade. Eventually the doorkeeper at Baht went to him, and after this barber trimmed his hair, the doorkeeper says he revealed himself as a secret messenger from you."

"From me," Meren repeated. "Why would I send messages to my doorkeeper through a barber?"

Abu and Reia exchanged glances.

"Forgive me, lord, but there have been times when I've traveled as a wood chopper, a faience maker, even a slave."

Reia cleared his throat. "And the Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh is well known for his use of indirection and concealment."

Meren waved his hand. "Go on."

"The barber said that you'd sent a parcel to be hidden at Baht until you came for it and gave the doorkeeper a sealed wooden box."

"The gold," Meren said.

"Aye, lord," said Abu. "The doorkeeper took the box and put it among dozens of others in the kitchen storage room at Baht."

"Where it was discovered by the king's men," Meren said. He leaned against the trunk of the fig tree. "And the barber has vanished."

"We think he probably waited long enough to send an unsigned message about the gold to the mayor in Abydos," Abu replied.

"Have you learned nothing of where this cursed barber went?" Meren asked without much hope.

Reia stirred and said, "He has truly disappeared, lord. Which means that once his task was finished, he ceased to travel as a barber."

"Aye," Abu said. "I asked the doorkeeper to describe him. Unfortunately, his description is of little use-a man of middle height with a shaved head, of middle years. He had a few scars on his left arm, but other than that, there was little to set him apart from any commoner."

Meren said nothing and closed his eyes at this latest piece of ill luck.

Abu went on. "It's fortunate that I continued to question him, for then he began to complain of the barber's lack of skill. The doorkeeper said that he cut hair as if he was trying to do battle with it-grabbing hunks and slicing. His method of shaving was no better, and the doorkeeper swears the man was trying to cut his head off."

"A man better trained in violence than grooming," Meren breathed.

"A soldier," Reia added.

"From Yamen," Meren muttered.

Abu nodded. "Or a mercenary."

"Employed by Dilalu," Meren said on a sigh. "By the wrath of Amun, we must find this barber."

"He's disappeared, lord," said Abu.

Meren held up his hand. "What of this new steward of mine at the delta estate, Reia?"

"Your sister hired him by letter on the recommendation of a friend, lord. I talked to the steward, who is arrogant beyond his station and a fool. I think he's puffed up by having gained such an influential position with a great one. He assumed you conducted your affairs as did his last master, cheating where you could. He takes credit for obtaining necessary labor for you and faults the priests of Amun for objecting to a slight delay in getting the conscripts."

"So you're not certain whether the timing of this discovery is purposeful or just ill luck," Meren said.

"As you say, lord."

"Who was the friend of my sister who recommended this steward?"

Reia's smile was knowing. "Prince Hunefer's sister, my lord."

As if by signal, Meren and Abu cursed at the same time. Slowly Meren sank to the ground, crouching on the backs of his heels. He felt as if the tentacles of some hideous netherworld demon were closing around him, blocking his every escape attempt, squeezing him until his chest collapsed and he strangled. Don't give in to the fear. Confusion of your wits is a greater danger than this unseen enemy . He drew in a long breath and let it out. Lowering his head, he traced patterns in the dirt at the base of the tree trunk while he thought. Neither Abu nor Reia spoke. Both were accustomed to his long silences.

Finally Meren raised his head and stared at the patterns of light and dark shadow in the courtyard. "We will never catch these small fish who swim among the millions in the Nile. Like a good spear fisher, we ignore minnows and must stand still and wait for a giant to swim by."

"But, lord," Abu said. "We haven't much time. Pharaoh's troops are searching for you, and eventually-"

"Watch Dilalu and Yamen," Meren said. "This barber may return to one of them."

"Yes, lord."

"And don't try to send news of me to Kysen. My family mustn't be dragged into this any more than they already have been. I know they are worried about me, but they're safer in ignorance."

"Lord Kysen will try to help you."

"Curse it, Abu, he should do nothing. If I could risk it, I'd send a message ordering him to remain idle."

"But then he could be accused of concealing knowledge of a traitor if the messenger was discovered."

"Exactly," Meren said. "See if you can discover how my family does without endangering them." They lapsed into a morose silence.

Eventually Reia asked, "Shall we meet here again, my lord?"

"Not too soon, or we'll be noticed. Return in two days. Come."

Meren took them to a door in the wall that surrounded the courtyard and knocked on it. The portal swung back to reveal a muscled and looming doorkeeper.

Abu followed Reia through the doorway, then turned to Meren. "Are you certain you're safe with the pirate, lord?"

"As safe as anyone can be when hunted by the forces of the empire."

"And General Horemheb," Abu said.

"There is the danger." Meren shook his head wearily. "Horemheb knows me too well."

Reia appeared behind Abu. "Lord, flee the kingdom. Go to-"

"Where?" Meren asked. "It must be out of the empire and not to any ally of Egypt. Would you have me throw myself on the mercy of the Hittite king? Or shall I become a Greek pirate in earnest?"

Reia lowered his gaze, and Meren put his hand on the younger man's shoulder.

"I am grateful for your loyalty, Reia."

"You allowed me to become what I most wanted, lord. A charioteer. Even though I was a clumsy boy whom no one thought clever enough not to get trampled by his own stallion."

The sentry drew near, made curious by their prolonged leavetaking.

Meren stepped back into the courtyard. "May Amun protect you."

"And you." Abu glanced at the sentry and left off Meren's title.

The door swung shut, leaving Meren alone in the garden. Two days. He must wait two days, hiding and worrying and feeling helpless. As he turned his steps toward the Divine Lotus, Meren realized he'd go mad if he didn't do something. Yet he couldn't go out during the day. There was too great a risk that someone would recognize his face, even beneath this exotic wig.