Ramesses looked at her, somewhat perplexed, before he spoke. “I hear what you say, and it all makes sense, but I cannot see him as the mind behind it all. He is not a vengeful person.”
“As I said, my Lord, he is the one I suspect. He has the opportunity and the means. I still have several other inconsistencies to resolve before I will be willing to disclose all my findings.”
“What do you suggest we do now?” Ramesses asked.
“We continue on to Memphis as originally planned, and you will meet with the delegation of princes there. Then we will return to Pi-Ramesses, where Shabaka and Maathorneferure will be returned to the palace by chariot.” Shabaka was about to object, but Neti held up her hand. “Your weakened condition and Maathorneferure’s previous exposure to the poison would render both of you more susceptible to it. This would make it more believable for whoever is behind this to interpret our claim of stomach ailments as the result of the poisoned wine.
In this manner we will bait whoever is responsible or those helping him into revealing themselves. In order to achieve this, no one other than the people here can speak of the matter or reveal that the wine was tested before being drunk.”
Ptahhotep looked at her for a moment before asking, “And what do we do until then?”
“I need some time to work through the remainder of the inconsistencies. Also, the messenger and Vadahar still need to identify Ghazeb, who must then identify who he took orders from.”
“It seems you have everything planned,” Ramesses said calmly.
“I pity the one who thought he could outsmart our Neti here,” Maathorneferure added.
Neti took a deep breath, hoping her assessment was correct and that it would only be a matter of time before she could return home. She looked at the flatbread on her plate and lifted it to inspect it closer, sniffing it before placing it back on the plate, no longer feeling hungry.
Maathorneferure saw what she did and asked, “You think it’s poisoned?”
“I was just thinking of the little girl yesterday,” Neti replied, nudging the bread. “We have no idea whether someone in the kitchen is also involved.”
Maathorneferure gasped. “The girl had a sore stomach yesterday after eating.”
Neti nodded. “She would have been too weak to fully fight off the effects of the poison. I never even asked how she was this morning.”
“You don’t think they would poison her, too?” Maathorneferure asked hesitantly.
“I don’t know. The messenger this morning said that Neferronpet was also complaining of a stomach ailment. There is no way to tell.”
Their trip to Memphis was cut short. Ramesses was eager to return to the palace in case someone made an attempt to poison Ri-Hanna. Neti did her best to limit her interactions with Shabaka, hoping to stave off the strong awareness she felt in his presence, and spent most of her time in Maathorneferure’s company.
17
THE SUN HUNG LOW ON THE HORIZON when the royal bark moored in Pi-Ramesses. A runner was dispatched to summon the chariots while the oarsmen and servants began the task of securing the ship and offloading the remainder of its contents.
A low murmur could be heard from the crowd that had gathered to welcome back the pharaoh, and many were glancing about uncertainly as the pharaoh and the queen failed to alight from the bark.
They dispersed rapidly at the sound of clattering hooves and the jangling of harnesses. The royal chariot and several other chariots made their way to the ship, and only on its arrival did the pharaoh and queen emerge from the bark. They carefully made their way over to the chariot, and much murmuring could be heard as the crowd took in the demure appearance of their queen and Ramesses’ visible concern. Once the queen was safely in the chariot, Ramesses took the reins and guided the horses toward the palace, raising his hand to his subjects in greeting as he passed them.
Neti and Shabaka followed the same procedure, but their chariot was driven by one of the guards because the strain would have been too much for Shabaka, who kept his gaze lowered as they proceeded to the palace.
Neferronpet and Djet met them on arrival. Both were looking over the king and queen, and Neferronpet asked, “My Lord, what is the matter?”
“We seem to have picked up a stomach problem during our trip. My wife is feeling decidedly weak,” Ramesses answered as they alighted from the chariot, the pharaoh handing the reins to one of his guards.
“Should I summon a healer?” Neferronpet asked.
“No. Neti will be here soon enough to see to me,” Maathorneferure replied as Ramesses guided her into the palace. Djet remained silent on the matter.
Just then, Neti and Shabaka’s chariot arrived, and Neferronpet turned toward them in greeting, his brow marring as he watched Neti assist Shabaka out of the chariot. She smiled at him in greeting as they passed.
The following morning, Neti was summoned once again to the whipping yard. She followed the messenger through the doorway, uncertain as to whom they would be questioning this time, her skin already crawling in anticipation.
An attractive enough man was strapped to the post, his back bare. The whip-wielder was flicking his whip and loosening up his wrist. Ramesses and Shabaka stood to the side, and though Shabaka stood tall and upright, Neti could see by his rigid stance that he was still in a lot of pain. Her attention was drawn to the other Nubian men. She recognized one as Prince Azar, Shabaka’s elder brother. Next to him stood a tall, well-built man holding the chain end to Vadahar’s shackles.
Ramesses turned toward Neti as she bowed before him. “Good morning, my Lord, you have sent for me.”
“Yes. Please rise, my child,” Ramesses said. Indicating the other man, he said, “You have met Prince Azar?”
“Yes, my Lord, I have,” Neti said, inclining her head toward Shabaka’s brother.
“Good morning, Neti-Kerty.” The warm baritone of Azar’s voice filled the air. Neti looked at the other man, then at Vadahar. “He is to return to Nubia, where my father, the king, will decide on a suitable punishment for his actions.”
Neti saw Shabaka cringe at the words and returned her attention to Ramesses. “My Lord?”
“It appears that during our absence, the palace guards managed to apprehend Ghazeb,” Ramesses began, indicating the man tied to the post. “They also searched his home and found these.” Ramesses indicated one of the nearby guards, who extended a sheaf of papyrus sheets to her.
Neti looked quickly over the sheets. There were five in all, each still bearing the seal it had been sent with.
“I will leave them in your capable hands to evaluate their worth.”
“Thank you, my Lord.”
“Now we will start the questioning. Are there any questions you want to ask this man?” Ramesses invited, causing Neti to look at the man, who had started to squirm and tug against his restraints.
“How often did you perform tasks for the palace?”
“Often enough. You have the sheets there, why don’t you read them? If you can,” the man answered snidely.
Ramesses signalled and the whizzing sound of the whip flying through the air was followed by the sickening sound of leather hitting bare flesh. The man bellowed in response.
“You will answer in a respectful manner,” Ramesses decreed.
Neti watched as a thin line of blood trickled out of the lash-mark. Her heart leapt in her throat and she swallowed repeatedly, hoping to settle her nerves.
“What kinds of tasks did you perform, and for whom?”
“Most of my tasks were for the vizier,” the man replied.
“Which vizier? Neferronpet or Khay?”
“The old vizier,” the man quickly confirmed. Trying to look over his shoulder, he continued, “There were times I got tasks from others, but it was mostly Khay.”
“What did these tasks involve?”
“Most often it was collecting taxes from non-paying citizens in the more hazardous areas of the city.”
“And from the
others?”
“We would collect things or make arrangements in areas they would rather not be associated with.”
“What was the last task you had to perform for Khay?”
“It was a strange request, but who am I to question what he needed it for?” the man said. He quickly shifted his response when Ramesses shifted his weight. “He requested we find him a jackal.”
Neti looked at Shabaka, who demanded, “When was this?”
The man shifted his gaze to Shabaka. “It was some time ago. A few moon phases. I’m not certain. The instruction is among the ones she holds.”
Neti looked at the papers before taking a deep breath. “Other than Shabaka, have you ever killed or injured anyone?”
“Ugh,” the man grunted in disbelief. “Most of the tasks sent our way involved injuring someone. Why else do you think I would have men like Vadahar in my employ?” Ghazeb turned his gaze toward the Nubian.
“Have you ever received an instruction to kill someone?”
Ghazeb’s gaze snapped back to Neti. “Do I look a fool? I’m a gleaner, not a murderer.” He braced himself for the lash.
Neti looked the man over. “Have you ever arranged for a woman of pleasure to visit Khay?”
“Are you kidding? You’re talking about one of the most powerful men in Egypt. Women willingly lined up after the death of his wife. He did not need to look for a woman of pleasure to see to his needs; there were numerous women vying for the position of his new wife.”
“Do you know of anyone in particular who caught his fancy?”
“Do I look like his assistant?”
A whizzing sound again went through the air, connecting with flesh with a sickening thwack. Ghazeb bellowed in agony before clenching his teeth and hissing loudly.
Neti turned her attention to Ramesses, noting the seething look in his eyes.
“My Lord?” she said gently, drawing his attention to her.
“Yes, child?”
“I request permission to search Vizier Khay’s home.”
Ramesses nodded and turned to address Shabaka. “You will accompany her,” he said, before turning his attention back to the man tied to the pillar. “He can stay there for the remainder of the day or until the documents he has provided confirm his claims.
Neti and Shabaka entered the opulent home. A dusty note hung in the air, indicating that no one had cleaned the home since their last departure.
Shabaka followed her progress through the home stiffly and silently, eventually snapping, “What are you looking for?”
“Anything that can identify the woman.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” Shabaka asked as Neti neared the vizier’s work area.
“Khay was an organized man who would have kept notes and lists. He must have jotted down something somewhere that can identify the woman. If what Ghazeb said is true, there is a distinct possibility that there is more than one. The competition for his attentions could have resulted in one of the woman planning to rid herself of her opposition, or there could be a jealous male who was in contention for the woman’s attentions.”
“So you no longer think this has anything to do with the queen’s poisoning.”
Neti turned to look at Shabaka and sighed before turning her attention back to the work surface, answering half to herself, “The truth is, as Maathorneferure said, there are several reasons why one of Ramesses’ other wives would want to be rid of her. But as she also stated, she poses no threat to their children’s claim to the throne unless she produces a child, and I have not heard any mention of one of them vying for her position. They all have their own titles and homes. If anything, they would be competing among themselves to decide whose child has a rightful claim to the throne and perhaps attempting to gain Maathorneferure friendship in desperation with the hope of her swaying Ramesses’ selection.”
“But the eldest rises to the throne,” Shabaka countered.
“Yes, provided he is considered wise enough and able to govern the land and its people. Ramesses’ eldest son could be older than you and I combined, but if proven unsuitable, the next eldest is crowned pharaoh,” Neti said as she gathered up the papyrus sheets placed on various area on the work surface.
“What’s that?”
“I’m taking them to compare the hieroglyphs to the notes sent to Ghazeb. Khay would have received notes and messages from all over the kingdom, so anyone in the palace could have sent a scroll to him.”
She handed Shabaka the sheaf of papers, looking at her in astonishment as she returned to the vizier’s bedroom. The room had remained unchanged, and no one was certain what was to happen with the man’s property, since he had no children to pass it on to.
Just then, the front door of the home scraped open, causing both Neti and Shabaka to look at one another questioningly, knowing that the guard stationed outside the door had strict instructions not to allow anyone into the home. Neti rose to check under the man’s divan and then made for the doorway.
Shabaka grasped her arm in an attempt to halt her progress. “You don’t know who it is.”
Neti heard the unspoken words about his condition and his concern for her safety, but she shook her head as she replied, “If they were looking for trouble, there would have been a commotion at the door.”
Sighing profoundly, he nodded and followed her out of the room.
Neti halted on entering the living room. “Neferronpet?” she asked as the man moved toward Khay’s work area.
Neferronpet swung around to face them, his hand going to his heart as he spoke. “Neti! What are you doing here?”
“I could ask the same of you.” Neti countered quickly.
“I’m looking for a list of quantities; I need to do a comparison,” Neferronpet began, looking at the work surface. “However, it appears as though someone else has come and taken the scrolls.”
“We have all of the scrolls that were there.”
“Then you would not mind handing me the one I’m looking for.”
“You will have to wait until we have had time to go over them first,” Shabaka replied firmly.
“It is an urgent matter; I would not expect you to understand,” Neferronpet dismissively replied.
Neti felt Shabaka stiffen behind her and quickly countered, “It can wait until this evening, certainly. We just need to go over all the documents first.”
“In hopes of finding what?” Neferronpet harshly replied, looking her over.
“We’re looking to identify someone who could have been at odds with the vizier,” Neti replied. She felt Shabaka shift behind her again, standing closer in response to their brushing against each other for a moment. A heat emanated from their location, and Neti fought to maintain her train of thought as her skin became hypersensitive to his presence.
“You will not find that in the list of palace supplies,” he firmly decreed before looking her over and grunting in disgust. “Next time you are otherwise engaged with helping your friend there, you might consider cleaning the dust off your knees before facing someone.”
Neti looked at him in confusion before looking down at her slip and noticing the dust marks, and then she looked back at Neferronpet. “I was just…”
“I have a very good idea what you were just doing. Some advice: maybe if you saw more to the matters at hand than you did to tending to your friend there’s needs, you might come to some conclusion as to what is going on here.”
Neti looked at him, shaking her head and lifting her hands, fully aware of how tense Shabaka had become behind her. “How dare you!” he said harshly.
“Oh, come off it, prefect.” the last word was practically spat out. “You have not moved from behind her; are you hiding something?” Neferronpet taunted.
Neti threw up her arms. “I have no idea what you two are prattling on about, but I have a room to check,” she said, stepping past Shabaka and back into the room, leaving the two men to glare at each another.
“She deserv
es better,” Shabaka said finally.
“Well, you’re welcome to her. I would not have her after she’s been with the likes of you,” Neferronpet sneered.
Shabaka just shook his head. “It’s never been like that.”
“Tell that to someone who did not just see what I have.”
Shabaka clenched his fists as he seethed, “Maybe you should not be so quick to draw conclusions.”
Neferronpet took a visible breath before speaking. “At least I found out now; it saves me the dishonor of seeing her condemned to stoning for adultery.” He made to leave but halted at the door, flinging over his shoulder, “I would like that list as soon as your supposed inspection of the documents is complete.” He left before Shabaka could reply.
Shabaka turned and re-entered the room, finding Neti standing to one side and taking several deep breaths.
“How are you feeling?”
Neti simply held up her hands as she fought the stinging sensation in the back of her eyes. She turned away from him, brushing the dust from her knees, a frown marring her forehead as she pulled a hair from her slip. She lifted it to take a closer look before throwing it to the ground.
Shabaka maintained a steady distance from her, watching as she moved dejectedly about the room looking things over, until she finally declared that they could return to the palace.
Neti secluded herself in her chamber, at times calling on several individuals to verify scrolls but remaining distant from everyone.
Shabaka found her amid a puzzling outlay of paper and notes that were laid out in some form of order that made sense to her. Several of them were grouped together, forming four distinct groupings. She explained her approach to him and how the death of the healer, the queen’s poisoning, and their poisoning on the bark were related. The deaths of the nursemaid and the vizier were also related. Then there was his own incident. She banished him from her chamber, professing that he was involved and therefore could not be impartial.
At dinner later that evening, while Neti was deep in thought, one of Ri-Hanna’s cats entered the hall carrying a mouse. One of the servants chased it quickly from the room, much to the princess’ dismay, and turned to look at the girl, noticing Maathorneferure shake her head at the same time. The atmosphere around the table was solemn. Neti returned to her room to go over the papers.
Princess of Egypt (The Mummifier's Daughter) (Volume 2) Page 17