Tam rolled her eyes. “Any news?” she whispered.
“Yes! I found out where they’re keeping the prisoners!” Rae said proudly.
“Oh! Good!”
Rae’s shoulders slumped. “You knew already, didn’t you?”
“I found out yesterday. It’s helpful information, though. Really it is!”
“Don’t patronize me.”
“I’m not!”
Rae raised an eyebrow.
Tam shifted the conversation. “Don’t you want to hear what I’ve learned?”
Rae wanted to be annoyed but couldn’t manage it. She’d never seen Tamerit so excited, soalive. Apparently, the subterfuge that made Rae’s skin itch made Tam feel right at home. Rae wanted to kiss her. “Tell me.”
Tam’s eyes darted back and forth, ensuring no one was within earshot. Then she proceeded to share all she’d heard from the other servants—about Amunmose’s personal guard and servants’ death at the hand of the new king, the princess’s flight, Queen Bintanath’s strange behavior in the aftermath of the coronation, and the many theories as to why the Iteru had temporarily turned the color of blood. It spilled out of the weaver in a great torrent, and Rae struggled to absorb everything she was told.
“All this you learned sinceyesterday?” Rae asked.
Tam nodded. “Nebet is especially happy to speak with me. She’s been quite lonely since Sitamun left.”
“Do you knowalltheir names?”
Tam looked offended. “Of course I do!”
By the gods, Rae thought miserably,I am terrible at this.
“And,” Tam added, almost as an afterthought, “I’ve received an invitation. Well, more of a summons, I suppose.”
Rae felt a twinge of apprehension. “An invitation to…?”
“To a party of some kind.” Tam bit her lip and looked away. “In the pharaoh’s chambers.”
A rush of heat flooded Rae’s face. “What?” she exclaimed, too loudly.
“Shh!”
Other servants passed by carrying bowls of fruit and gave them a curious look. Tam smiled and nodded hello. The two women greeted her—by name—and continued on.
“Keep your head, will you?” she whisper-shouted at Rae. “This is exactly why we came here! Who knows what kind of secret information I might glean from being close to the king?”
“Too close, in my opinion…” Rae muttered.
“I can handle myself. Or don’t you trust me?”
Rae closed her eyes, willing the fury building inside her torecede. She took several deep, cleansing breaths, then replied, “I trust you.”
What she didn’t say was:It’s the king I don’t trust. It’s everyone in this accursed palace I don’t trust.
“Good,” Tam said. “I’ll go to the party tonight, and you find that chamber where they’re holding the prisoners. We’ll figure out what to do next in the morning.”
Before the weaver could resume her duties, Rae reached out with her free hand and grabbed Tam’s wrist. “Please be careful.”
Tam—or, rather, “Herit”—gave her a single crisp nod and departed.
