Lynda Robinson: Murder at the God's Gate

Two priests threaded their way through the fabulous litter, bearing a casket between them on carrying poles. They set it before Ebana, who removed the lid to reveal an interior filled with jewels, products of the workshops of Amun. Meren saw several necklaces fashioned of electrum, the links in the shape of beetles. There were diadems, fillets and headbands of gold, pectoral necklaces with inlay of carnelian, lapis, turquoise, and malachite.

Anklets of beaded amethyst rested on top of gold falcon collars and long, heavy earplugs of the same metal. There were several collars made entirely of thick lenticular gold beads in five rows each. The weight of just one of these made them a burden to wear. Ebana lifted a belt of electrum and deep green malachite. Bowing low, he placed the token at pharaoh's feet.

"Life, health, and strength to the living Horus, son of Amun, shining seed of the god, great of strength, smiter of Asiatics, he who-"

"Yes, yes," Tutankhamun said. "My majesty acknowledges this… small expression of the good will of the god my father."

Ebana straightened and waited. Tutankhamun stared at him wordlessly until Ebana resorted to glancing at Meren. Meren let him suffer a few moments longer before whispering to the king.

"Majesty, this humble cupbearer believes the Servant of the God begs privy speech."

A scepter waved in the air, causing overseer, priests, and guards to vanish. Once they were alone, Tutankhamun nodded to Ebana. Ebana gave Meren an uneasy look before speaking in a voice just above a whisper.

"The chief prophet of the god greets the divine one and asks if the matter discussed with Lord Meren has been agreed upon."

Still Tutankhamun didn't speak. A bead of sweat appeared from beneath Ebana's wig and snaked down his forehead to stop at his scar. The golden crowns remained motionless. Held in crossed hands, the crook and the flail seemed immobile. Ebana's gaze darted to Meren. Meren kept his expression as blank as the face of a desert cliff. When he thought Ebana's jaw would break from being clenched, pharaoh broke the silence.

"My majesty has listened to the speech of the Eye and Ears of Pharaoh, the Lord Meren. Even now criminals are being sought for their transgressions against us." Tutankhamun shifted on his throne and rested his arms on those of the golden chair. "As we speak, my wrath seeks out those who would destroy the order of my kingdom. Justice and balance will be restored, according to the eternal and everlasting harmony between my majesty and the god, my father. There will be peace."

"Thy majesty's will is accomplished in its utterance," Ebana replied.

Tutankhamun waved a hand in dismissal. "My majesty's heart desires harmony and order above all things."

"As does thy father, the king of gods." Ebana bowed and retreated through the forest of boxes.

When the doors shut behind him, Tutankhamun let out a long breath. The scepters faltered as he slumped from his rigid posture. Meren found himself the subject of scrutiny from those great, dark eyes.

"Your wound doesn't trouble you?" the king asked.

"No, majesty."

Tutankhamun rose, and placed the scepters on the throne. Meren helped him lift the heavy headdress and set it beside the crook and flail. The king ran his fingers through his hair, then rubbed his temples.

"By the gods, those are heavy. They make my head ache."

"Shall I send for the royal physician?"

"No," Tutankhamun said. "No. I wanted to ask about Tanefer's men."

"Several of his officers tried to flee the city. I sent Kysen after them, and he's turned them over to Horemheb. They've been questioned about the location of Tanefer's mercenaries, and Rahotep is pursuing them. None of them seems to have been told about the desecration of the royal tombs."

"And the actual violators of the tomb?"

"No word, majesty. I begin to think they never left Egypt. The criminals are most likely living among us." He didn't mention Parenefer or Ebana. It was unnecessary. "No doubt they're busy dismantling the jewelry, melting down the gold into ingots, prying out stones, and so on."

They both glanced at the boxes full of ingots.

"So that the source of the gold and stones can never be discovered," Tutankhamun said.

"Yes, majesty."

"You see that I've taken your advice. Both Ay and Horemheb said you were right, but I did so want to feed Parenefer to the crocodiles."

"Thy majesty needs time and peace in which to gain experience."

"I'd rather have revenge."

Meren turned away from the brilliant piles of loot to face the king. "Revenge might cost you your throne."

"Ay said you would say that." Tutankhamun lowered his gaze to the floor. He cleared his throat.

"Um. I haven't had a chance to tell you that Maya has remembered that it was from Tanefer that he first heard the rumors of Horemheb's treason."

"I thought it might be so, majesty."

Tutankhamun looked away. "And while you were gone chasing Ahiram, Tanefer kept reflecting upon the past, about how greatly you suffered at the hands of my brother, how Akhenaten had your father killed and tortured you." His voice faded and he gave Meren a look of appeal.

"I see, majesty."

"Do you?"

Meren heard the distress and pain in those two words. All at once he realized he'd just received for the second time something unheard-of in Egypt, a pharaoh's apology. Just as suddenly, his spirits lifted, and he smiled for the first time since Tanefer's death.

"Yes, majesty, I do."

He nearly jumped back when Tutankhamun gave a joyful whoop, dashed at him, and gripped his wrist. Although startled at the contact, Meren returned the gesture, gripping the boy's wrist, warrior to warrior.

"I've missed you," the king said.

"I have longed for thy majesty's presence as well."

Tutankhamun dropped his arm and peered into Meren's face. "You look weary."

"I'm well, divine one."

"I don't think so. Ay says you aren't sleeping."

Meren cursed Ay's inquisitive and interfering nature, which caused the king to laugh.

"Now that I see you, I agree with him," the king said. "Once we're certain we've purged ourselves of traitors at court, you will go to the country and rest."

"But, majesty, there is much to do."

"And Kysen will go with you to see that you abide by my orders."

"There's no need," Meren began.

"There is a need," Tutankhamun said. "Because my majesty declares it to be so. Now go home and rest. Ay says you've been working since before sunrise, and it's almost dusk. You must recover your full strength."

As Meren stepped down from the dais, a suspicion snaked into his thoughts, and he turned back to the king. "You want me to recover so that I'll take you on a raid."

"You did say I needed experience. Now that we have a truce with Parenefer, I have the time and freedom to get it. And those bandits are still plundering villages to the south."

"I knew it. Majesty, thou art shrewd and full of guile, like the cobra."

Tutankhamun walked over to him, folded his arms over his chest, and smiled. "I'm apprenticed to a master skilled in shrewdness and guile. How could I be otherwise?"

Meren shook his head as the king gave him a parting smile and left the audience chamber through a door behind the dais. Meren left the way he had come, and outside found Kysen coming toward him, flanked by Abu and Reia.

"Horemheb has just sent three of Tanefer's officers into the desert."

Nothing else had to be said. Criminals had been sent into the desert since before the time of the god-kings who built the pyramids. Meren wondered if Horemheb would be merciful and allow the men to kill themselves rather than be staked out in the sun and elements to die slowly. It was a matter in which he couldn't interfere. Meren fell into step beside his son.