“Nothing yet,” Rae replied. She peered over the heads of the people in front of them, who’d assembled in the courtyard before the towering palace gate.
The five designated members of the Horizon had arrived in Thonis two days earlier, after a swift and uneventful journey down the Iteru on their fishing skiff. After making camp on the riverbank, they’d spent the rest of the day doing reconnaissance around the outskirts of the palace, where they suspected the Low Khetaran prisoners were being held. It took the whole afternoon and evening to get their bearings, but on the second day, they’d had a breakthrough.
Rae and Tam had been at the Thonis market with Omari and Buto, trading the perch and mullet that Kay the fisherman had caught along their journey for more supplies, when representatives from the palace came to announce that the king wouldbe selecting a limited number of citizens to fill positions in the palace. It would be menial work—servants for the royal kitchens, attendants, messengers—but the men made it clear that serving the pharaoh in any capacity was a great honor. This created a good deal of excitement in the crowd, which erupted with chatter when the men departed.
“Choosing servants from the common folk!” Rae overheard an old woman exclaim as she served up stewed lentils from a bubbling pot. “My, my! This new king certainly is different!”
Rae was thrilled by the news. “This is our chance!” she told the others. “If we get jobs inside the palace, we can locate the captives and devise a plan to free them.”
Omari crossed his arms and glanced around the busy marketplace. “There will be a lot of competition for those positions.”
Rae followed his gaze. Although it was far larger and more opulent than the Sakesh market, even the pharaoh’s capital city wasn’t immune from the ills plaguing the rest of the kingdom. Beggars lined the streets, and vendors haggled with customers for a fair price that most could no longer afford. On the surface, Thonis glittered. But Rae had known enough strife in her time to see it lurking beneath the surface, like a crocodile in still waters.
“We only need one of us to make it,” Tam said then. “Whoever doesn’t can stay with Kay, gather information from the outside, and help get messages back to Sakesh.”
From the moment Rae had invited Tamerit to join them on the mission, the weaver had made herself indispensable, offering efficient solutions to problems, charming the High Khetaran vendors at the market, and maintaining optimism and pluck despite the grim circumstances of their situation. Rae glanced over at Tam, standing on her tiptoes, the morning light shining on her black curls.
Every day, every hour, Rae fell a little more in love with her.
Now the two of them stood with Omari and Buto near the front of the gathered crowd, waiting for the king to arrive and begin the selection process. Kay had stayed back with the boat to catch more fish to trade.
Buto dipped his head to Tam. “I can put you on my shoulders, if you want to see better.” Then he added, “And later, we can do it again lying down…hmm?” He waggled his eyebrows.
Tam snorted. “Generous, but no.”
Omari’s face reddened. “Shut your fool mouth,” he barked, giving Buto a shove.
Tam put up a hand to pacify them. “Be at peace, Omari. He was joking around. Right, Buto?”
“I’m only trying to lighten the mood,” Buto said.
“This isn’t a game!” Omari snapped. “We need to focus!”
Rebuffed, Tam and Buto turned back to the gates and were silent.
Rae studied Omari with concern. He’d been unusually quiet throughout the whole journey, and he hadn’t said a word about having seen her and Tamerit kissing back in Sakesh. No questions, no teasing…nothing. Then again, they’d been busy, distracted by more important matters. Still, it wasn’t like Omari to lash out. Was he actually angry at Buto? Was the pressure of the situation getting to him? Or was he mad about something else entirely?
You should talk to him.
When would they have time alone for such an uncomfortable conversation? Besides, Omari wasn’t her lover. Did she really owe him an explanation?
No secrets, remember?
Her inner battle was interrupted by the sound of the palace gates opening.
The crowd quieted. King Meryamun, flanked by palace guards dressed in scarlet schentis and Eye of Horus collars, strode intothe courtyard. The young pharaoh was a vision of gold and glory, of glossy black hair and burnished copper skin.
Rae imagined that the High Khetarans must be pleased to have such a man for their king—particularly after Amunmose, who wasn’t known for his good looks. The pharaoh’s shining appearance didn’t impress Rae, though. She recalled the fire that consumed her home, the way it glowed and shimmered in the night. It had been beautiful too.
She clenched her fists and buried her rage deep, where no one would see it.
Meryamun stood with his arms folded over his chest, critically appraising the crowd. It was then that Rae noticed the girl standing at his side, appearing somewhat out of place.
She wore a white dress belted in gold and had short blue-black hair that looked like a very expensive wig. Her hair and heavy makeup aged her, but given her diminutive size and spindly limbs, she was probably no older than thirteen. Despite being dressed like a princess, Rae saw that the girl had a wedjat eye tattoo on each side of her chest.
The mark of the holy.
A pungent, smoky breeze blew across the courtyard, bringing with it a sense of mystery. Rae wondered how such a young girl could find herself both marked by the priesthood and a breath away from the pharaoh.
