Chapter 2
Absolution
Minbarkept her head held aloft and her expression stern as she ventured into the chamber depths where the enemies of the pharaoh were kept. No guards challenged her being there. The marks on the older woman’s face identified her as a priestess, and none of them were willing to intercept her or order her out. To do so would incur the wrath of thegods upon them and their families.
The corridor was sparsely lit. The sputtering reed torches did little to dispel the gloominess. Nor could they cover the stench that fogged the air.
She finally came to a halt inside a small antechamber where two soldiers were working. One sat behind a small table. The other sat on a stool. Both men were talking when she entered, butwent silent as she approached them. She also noted they did not get to their feet, an honor which she was due.
“I am here to seeGarenthbin Al-Emin.” She kept her tone hard and demanding.
“We have orders that he is to see no one,” the man on the stool remarked almost condescendingly. Apparently they believed their pharaoh’s orders preempted those of a god. Well, sheknew how to get around that obstacle.
She gave them her best threatening glare. “I amMinbar, Priestess of the Temple ofMontu. Give me your names so that I may tell my god of your disobedience to one of his acolytes.”
A feeling of satisfaction went through her as the men’s faces went white, and they hastily stood. The last thing they wanted was to anger the god ofwar.
One bowed his head at her. “Forgive us, Priestess. The lack of adequate light prevented us from recognizing you.”
It was a brazen lie, but she let it go…for now.
“The gods have sent me,” she informed them. She didn’t tell them why she’d been sent. It was none of their business, anyway, and they couldn’t force her to reveal that information. Although it was notunusual for a religious follower to seek out the condemned prior to the prisoner’s death, it was rare for a woman of such stature to come below with a request.
The man behind the table scanned her from head to toe. “Are you armed?”
“Of course I’m armed.” She showed him the blade she kept tucked in her narrow belt. Knowing he would ask for it prior to her going to visitthe prisoner, she withdrew it and handed it over.
The man thanked her and gave a nod to his assistant, who motioned to her. “This way, Priestess.”
He grabbed a torch from its sconce and led her down an adjacent tunnel. Here, the putrid smell was thicker and more cloying, a morass of excrement, urine, and blood. The only thing missing was the rot of dead flesh, whichshe knew she wouldn’t find. Once a soul was cast from the body and claimed by the gods, the vessel had to be removed immediately.
They reached a rush-covered doorway where the soldier stopped. “He’s in here.”
She took the torch from his hand without asking. “Good. Now leave us.”
“Priestess…” The man started to object, but she quelled it with another disapprovinglook.
“I said leave us. I am to deliver the gods’ message to his ears alone.”
“How long will you need—”
“I will return when I am done,” she curtly remarked, cutting him off.
The soldier hesitated, thought better of it, and bowed. Not saying anything further, he left.
Minbartook a deep breath through her mouth. This was herfirst and hopefully last excursion into the pharaoh’s den of horrors. Reaching out, she drew the reed door to the side and went inside.
The man she sought was chained to a large slab of rock, as she’d expected. Still, to see the kind of torture that had been inflicted upon him was sickening. Unable to take any more, she leaned against the wall and vomited. When she was done, shespit and wiped her mouth with the hem of her robe. Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed the man had not moved. Afraid she may be too late, she hurried over to the still body. His bloodied chest barely moved, but it was enough to reassure her he was still alive.
Setting the torch on the ground, she perched on the edge of the rock and placed a hand to the side of the man’s face.Gently turning it toward her, she stared at the bruised and swollen features. This man had been beaten almost to the point of death, then left alone in his suffering until it was time to inter him.
Alive.
“Garenthbin Al-Emin.”
The man didn’t respond.
Pulling the vial from where it nestled between her breasts, she uncapped it. Prying openhis mouth took no effort. Making sure he would swallow the liquid, she poured a little on his tongue. His body reacted, automatically swallowing the draught. She gave him a bit more, which he also downed.
