by Lady Bast
The banging on the door of his chambers could not be ignored.
Tetiun made a little noise of dissatisfaction as he rolled off the couch and groped for a kilt. Trowa stretched and watched him lazily from beneath his light sheet. He had not been intimate with the body servant since the day of the sandstorm, but the night was often chill, bringing the desert's cold into the city, and the mere presence of a warm body offered more comfort than a brazier or a warm blanket alone. Tetiun, for his part, was not adverse to the contact and even seemed to relish it in a way that made Trowa think of a pet cat.
He lay on the couch for several moments after Tetiun had slipped through the curtained doorway that separated the sleeping room from the receiving room, absorbing his servant's lingering heat. Then, with a sigh, he threw back the sheets and hauled himself upright, winding a kilt around his hips as he did so. Tetiun would send the callers away, of this he was certain, but he had come to look forward to a morning swim and he was already late in rising.
He reached the doorway just as Tetiun pulled back the hanging, his face pale and frightened. "M-master, the Prince would like to speak with you," he said weakly.
Over his servant's shoulder, Trowa could see the Prince, his hair covered by a simple headcloth edged in gold, his eyes a piercing blue. Four guards stood at his command. "Thank you, Tetiun," said Trowa firmly, holding back the hanging with his own hand so that his servant might bow and appear to do all those things which were good and proper. "Forgive my appearance," he said to the Prince as he stepped into the front room, "I was not expecting guests. Tetiun, serve us wine and the rest of the dates."
"That won't be necessary," said Quatre coldly. "I won't be staying.
Trowa had already been aware of a serious issue at hand - one did not dismiss an armed guard at one's door - but it was the tone of the Prince's voice that truly put him on edge. It also angered him. "What is it that you want, Quatre? Why are you terrorizing my servant? It's obvious that you have something to say so let's not play these diplomat's games. Tell me what you want."
For just a moment, Quatre looked shocked, and then his eyes narrowed. "I am still the Prince of this nome and you will show me respect!"
"You are the Prince of the nome and I am the Prince of my people and your political guest. A guest," repeated Trowa, "whose health is in your interest. When you treat me with respect, I'll return the favour. Now tell me what you have to tell me."
"Well, I had only come to issue a warning, but such an attitude makes me wonder if you aren't involved as well," said Quatre, his mouth twisting into a bitter smile.
A finger of fear touched Trowa on the back of the neck, sending a chill down his spine. "Involved in what?" he asked hoarsely.
"The treason, of course," said the Prince.
Trowa guessed that his face must have betrayed his shock for Quatre laughed, a strangely hysterical sound. "Oh, you look shocked enough, but not entirely surprised. Shall I tell you what I know? That my orders have been directly disobeyed and that messages have been travelling regularly between my greatest potential enemies? Oh, don't tell me you don't know about Wufei's wife and those of all my closest servants," snapped Quatre as Trowa opened his mouth to speak. "Against my wishes a regular system of communication has been set up between them. Isn't that convenient? A way to weaken my power, perhaps, to have contact made with those sisters and their husbands who might want to replace me."
"My master is not a part of your conspiracies!" shouted Tetiun. "He hasn't been here long enough to do such a thing and knows nothing of your family!"
"Sit down, Tetiun!" said Trowa more sharply than he'd intended. He had visions of the young man being dragged away by the guards and tortured for the information he might know. Startled by the force of his command, the body servant dropped into a cross-legged position at his feet, eyes lowered.
Cold eyes glared at the servant though he sat now, obedient and silent. "I may have questions for you yet, Tetiun, but not now," said Quatre crisply before turning his attention back to Trowa. "For now, because he has been put in his place, I will not take offense. A servant's first concern is for his master and in this he has acted well. More so, he is right. This system has been in place far longer than you have been living in Nekheb and though you might have played a part - either by withholding information or actively participating - you would not know enough about it yet to be a threat on your own. No, neither you nor the Lord Heero, but you have both had close ties with my betrayer and until I have passed my judgment, neither of you will be permitted to leave your chambers. Heero's men have been dismissed from your door. My palace guards have replaced them. They will be joined by the finest fighters of the mazoi, the city guard. What you need will be brought to you, your servant is not to leave. You will receive no visitors who are not my messengers. Your window, too, is watched. You will not see Duo again."
A cold fear seized Trowa's heart. "W-what do you mean by that?" he stammered. "Are you saying that Duo is your betrayer?"
"What I know or suspect is no concern of yours."
"He can't!" cried Trowa. "He wouldn't! Do you know what he thinks of you?"
Quatre offered him a withering glare. "Less than he claims if he is willing to commit such crimes. I will question him, he will be dealt with appropriately. Then, perhaps, I will see what you know. Good day Prince Trowa. You will be brought wash water and your morning meal."
As the Prince turned to leave, one of the Saracen guards - Selim, was it? - seemed to cast him a look of pity and helpless understanding and Trowa realized just what it was that Quatre had found. He had always suspected, he supposed, but he had not fully realized it. Now it all came into focus: Duo's casual chat with Rashid about an axe handle that was perfectly sound, his sneaking around, his attachment to the lower classes, Selket-em-paf's suggestion that he was the only tie between the palace and the people...
Duo was the hub of a wheel of communication revolving around the scattered wives of the palace servants. Duo loved his Prince, his childhood friend, so deeply that he had devised the perfect system of torment and control for him, but he loved people so much that he had tried to ease their pain. That they loved him still...no doubt he had thought he could change his Prince's mind.
But he had not...and now it was too late. Trowa could not warn him, Heero could not warn him, and the guards would not warn him. Who could blame them? The lives of their families were at stake. They could not make the sacrifice...and Duo would not forgive them if they did.
"I hope your gods are with you," he murmured before a soft, shuddering breath drew his attention.
Cross-legged on the floor, Tetiun fought to control his emotions. Of course he was upset...he had been Duo's body servant and still thought of his past master with affection.
Kneeling, he urged the servant to his feet. "They might enter here," he said, "but they will not come into the back."
In the semi-darkness of the inner chamber, the window shuttered against the rising sun, Trowa lay sprawled upon the couch with Tetiun's dark head against his chest. He drowned his fears in the heat of flesh against flesh while his servant's tears traced cool pathways over his skin. The only sound was the feathery breath of quiet sobbing. There was a second knock at the door, but Trowa ignored it.
Soon enough, it went away.
"My love laughs not gently, she craves no placid water. Wild is she, and brave; the shield and the sword."
Duo sang softly as he walked, shifting the box from one arm to the other. It was heavier than he remembered it, but his heart was light. His fingers trembled against its cool, gilded surface, but he braced himself against the tremors.
No, he decided. He would take no more of the bread. It would be a difficult morning, but he would sleep with essence of poppy in the afternoon. After he bought his service from the Prince, that was. After he had spent time with the physician. After he had spoken with Hilde...but before he left Nekheb.
He met Ahmad and Auda as he turned down the corridor leading to Quatre's private chambers. They seemed oddly ill at ease. "Oy! Auda! My apologies for not asking about your month away. I'm afraid I've been helping to restore the Chief Wife's garden."
"I understand," said Auda awkwardly. "My duties have had me working nights anyway. We would not have met. May I ask where you are headed?"
A faint feeling of dread intruded upon Duo's good humour, but he held his smile. "I am going to see the Prince about my duties."
"A fortunate chance for us," said Ahmad. "The Prince has summoned you. Now we will not have to search."
"Two guards?" It was difficult to hold the smile, difficult not to run. "Is Inuiu on an errand? What is this about?"
"We cannot say, " replied Ahmad. "The Prince tells his guards nothing. He simply asked us to find you and bring you to him."
"This is true," agreed Auda. "Please, ask us no questions. I would like to see my family again."
"I see." Hands trembling, Duo hitched the case up under his arm and set his jaw. "Take me to him then, and we'll see if the matter can't be cleared up."
Quatre sat in his inner chamber, perfectly groomed. Het-Hori filled his cup from a jug of flavoured wine while Wufei stood behind and to the right of his chair, a silent statue. To one side sat Anpu-nakht, his empty pallet resting on his crossed legs, hands folded upon it. This conversation would not be recorded.
"My Prince," said Duo, bowing as low as he dared with his arms encumbered.
"Duo," nodded Quatre. Then he gestured to the guards. "Thank you, Ahmad...Auda. You may leave. Stand guard outside."
Duo did not look around when he heard the sound of movement behind him. He focused only on the prince, trying to remain as casual as possible. "A strange coincidence," he said cheerfully. "You summoned me just as I was coming to see you."
"Yes," said Quatre. For a moment, he appeared lost and alone, his eyes fever-bright and distant, but it passed and the look he offered was dispassionate. "Please...sit. Het-Hori, food and drink for the Pure One. Duo, you will speak first. Why did you seek me out?"
"My duties," said Duo, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "I...you know that I've been sick for some time." Quatre nodded coolly and Duo took it as a signal to continue. "I feel it may affect my work. I need a physician and time to heal."
"You would leave me?" Quatre raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "After being so concerned that I would send you away?"
"I don't want to leave you," replied Duo, taking a sip of wine. The taste of exotic spices refreshed him. "You are my closest friend, Quatre. More than a friend; a brother, my sun. I love you, honestly and truly, but I cannot serve you as a priest any longer. I would give up my life for you if it was necessary, but what you need from me can be done by anyone."
Quatre's features softened. "Not everything," he said quietly.
"Yes...everything," said Duo with an apologetic smile, "but...certain...duties I can reassume once I'm well if I'm the one that you prefer. It's just that...I can't sacrifice my health anymore." He looked down at his hands. "I don't know if it's possible to be cured, but I would like to try."
"You could have come to me at any time. Is there a reason you ask now?"
Duo felt his cheeks burn, the blush surprising him into an even deeper shade of red. "I...I think I would like to marry," he said. "I'd like a wife and children while I'm young enough...while I'm alive to enjoy them. I can't do that the way I am now. I can't burden a family with my health. Please," he said, pressing one hand to his chest in the depth of his sincerity. "I need time away...quiet time...to heal and to make arrangements through the temple. Then I can return, if you'll still have me."
Quatre raised his eyebrows. "If I'll still have you?"
"You might like my replacement much better," grinned Duo without humour.
"I see. And who is this girl you wish to marry? I assume there is one if your plans are fixed in your mind. Would it be Lord Heero's little nursemaid?"
The faintest trace of scorn coloured the Prince's words and Duo stiffened involuntarily. "Hilde is very nice," he said, "and good with Bakara. I think she would be a fine mother. More than that, she makes me smile...and she isn't afraid of me."
"Hmm...a very important quality, that." Quatre's smile was brittle in the soft lines of his face. "I suppose you hoped to get assistance from my personal physician. He is very good, but very expensive. Not even princes are treated for free. I could ask him for you, but his fee is very high and he has a right to charge it. How, then, will you pay for it? I know that most of your property rightly belongs to the temple. The fees I give you are used to purchase exotic ingredients and insure their safe arrival. The rest, those little trinkets you bestow on all my servants - and, really, you should know better than to tempt them that way - are gifts from the people in the city. Obligations and payments that you take because the people feel safer giving gifts to the god, but which you feel guilty about keeping. Had you amassed them, you might have enough, but these few beads and bangles," he reached out and caught a long strand of brown hair, plaited with gold, "these will not buy you a consultation. Unless, perhaps, you wished for a gift. A little marriage present between friends, perhaps?"
Something in the Prince's voice was cold and alien. Duo suppressed a shiver and tried to think of it as jealousy. Jealousy, if tempered, might pass. What he had to say now...that might not.
"I would never ask you for such a thing," he said, choosing his words carefully. "It's true that , because I was raised by the temple, most of my possessions belong to the temple, but I do have something else. Something that belongs to me alone. I could give it to you. You will know its value if you see it."
Duo bent to lift his case onto his lap - how he wished he could stop his hands from trembling! - and carefully broke the seal. The box was filled with scrolls. Sorting through them, he pulled out the one he wanted and handed it over to the Prince.
Quatre examined it carefully, the stern look fading from his face, only to be replaced with one of confusion. "This is my father's seal," he said.
Duo nodded. "That is the official copy. The transcriptions are open, but I wanted to prove to you that it was genuine and unbroken."
Carefully breaking the seal, Quatre unrolled the papyrus. In another instance, he might have given it over to a servant to read aloud, but the strangeness of the situation gave him pause. Instead, he read it himself, silently, his eyes growing troubled as they scanned the page."This is a deed," he said, perplexed. "It is made out to your father and to yourself in the event of his death, but these properties...they're mine. They've been laboured and tilled, harvested and taxed since the signing of this document."
"I know," said Duo quietly. "They're good fields, their returns over the years have no doubt paid for a physician's services many times over. I will give you the documents...all the documents...and erase my claim. They'll be yours forever."
"Why did you never claim them?"
Duo looked into the Prince's wondering eyes and smiled wryly. "I didn't need them. I had you, my position, enough food and trinkets to keep me going. Why would I want to deal with lands as well? I was happy to let you keep their treasures. I'm happy to turn them over to you."
Quatre frowned in anger. "And why didn't you tell me about this before? Why leave it hanging over my head?"
"I didn't know until after my father had died and by then it didn't seem to matter."
"You were waiting for a more advantageous time?" said Quatre drily.
"No..."
"Don't lie to me, Duo."
"I don't lie!" snapped the priest in return. "I don't lie," he repeated, his voice trailing away. "It wasn't for me."
"Then why?" shouted Quatre, flushing with anger. "Why? This document is dated from the year of my birth! Our fathers didn't even know one another then! He hired your father for protection because I was the only son and even then, it was the temple who chose your father for the position. What would this mean and why would you keep it from me?"
Cowed by the hurt and anger in Quatre's eyes, Duo spoke in a voice low and miserable. "Because I didn't want you to ask those questions."
"Why not?"
"I didn't want you to see the...the letter."
"Letter?"
Duo felt his tongue wrap around the word and tried to bite it back, but he could not keep these secrets from a friend. "The contract."
'WHAT CONTRACT?"
Looking into Quatre's face, livid, eyes blazing, Duo felt a sudden calm descend upon his shame and fear. "Do you trust your servants?" he said quietly.
The Prince looked at the people around him. Not one of them dared to meet his eyes. "If I single word spoken in this room is repeated," he spoke slowly an deliberately. "I will kill them."
Duo considered this for a moment. "It would have been easier to trust them," he said, delving back into the case of documents. "There is no official record, of course," he said, handing Quatre a tube containing several scrolls of papyrus. "Only a letter, a notice and my father's notes for the accountants...but I think they speak for themselves."
Quatre pulled the scrolls from their sheath, barely noticing the trembling of his fingers. They were of different sizes and fell apart, tumbling into his lap. He looked at the one that remained in his hand. It was a letter that bore his father's seal and was addressed to Set-Meketra. The date was a little more than a month before his birth. He skimmed through the titles and usual greetings until a familiar name caught his eye.
Liddi.
He lifted his eyes to stare long and hard at Duo. "Liddi was my birth mother," he said, but the priest refused to look at him. He returned to the letter.
Liddi approaches her time, you should make your way to the city. Arrangements have been made with the inn keeper Pedkhu. If the child is a boy, I will not need your blessing, but the midwife is certain that I will have yet another daughter.
"Blessing?" Quatre's voice was hard, but Duo was not swayed. The priest looked into his wine cup, holding it tightly with both trembling hands to prevent the liquid from spilling.
I have tried to keep the midwife's continuing visits to Nefermeri a secret. She remains in her chambers, feigning illness. There is a chance that it will be a boy. If Liddi's child is male, this will make no difference in your service. I will take the lesser son. If Liddi's child is female and Nefermeri's is not, then the boy will be my sole heir and should be protected.
Quatre frowned and looked up at the priest, angered by his own feelings of uncertainty. "Explain this to me!" he demanded. "Your father was like you! Blessings and protection are pretty words to hide foul deeds. Nefermeri lost her child...but this makes it sound as though she were hiding it. Did your father see to it that the child died after birth and not before? 'If Liddi's child is male...' Did I have a brother who was killed to put me on the throne? I know the rumours of my father's anger over my mother's...over Nefermeri's inability to conceive a child, but if she did manage to give birth, I can't believe he would put a child to death. Look at me, priest!" Duo did not look at him. "Liddi was not your mother."
"Liddi was the only one of my father's women who was Libu. She was well known for her golden hair!"
"Father told me about Liddi," said Duo quietly. "She was very beautiful for a foreign tribeswoman. She had hair as gold as the sun...and the most beautiful, sparkling brown eyes."
Quatre had intended to argue, but instead a passage in the letter caught his eye.
Jordu must be dealt with at all costs. Allow him to see the child. Do your duty before him, if possible. Then instruct him in the laws regarding noble wives.
Jordu was not a native name. It was not Saracen like Rashid's. Quatre frantically grabbed at the documents that he had fallen into his lap. One was a report of birth. A girl. It listed her size, weight, and birth mother: Liddi, second wife of Amunmose. It was signed by the midwife, but not his father. It had never been entered into the archives.
The other was a simple accounting bearing the name of Duo's father. There were no names...only descriptions and rates for temple use. The price was a parcel of land north of Nekheb. The contract list was short. One child of Kemet...female. One Libu consort...female. One Libu soldier...
Male.
Quatre was no fool. He was a prince educated in the temple of Amun. He could form the sacred words. He could solve simple mathematical problems. He could also deny the answers. Let someone else speak them aloud and the fault would be theirs. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked coldly.
"Your mother was hurt by your father's soured love," said Duo. "Jordu was a high ranking soldier in your father's guard and often sent to protect her when she went out of the palace district. They became quite close. When your father started to...mistreat her..she turned to him. Everyone has it backwards: your blood is fully native, but you have no claim whatsoever to the throne of Nekheb."
"I am officially adopted!" shouted Quatre, rising.
"You are adopted by Nefermeri to make your blood pure, but she is already your mother," Duo corrected him, but gently. "Amunmose made no such declaration. Unless you marry one of your sisters, you have less claim to the rulership of Nekheb than any of their husbands. But there are no worries. All records are destroyed except what you have in your hand, and everyone who knew is dead...except me."
And the servants, thought Quatre in a moment of panic. Then he rallied himself. It would do no good to lose control. "If these are all the documents, then you don't even know for sure. They are...very convincing...but what do they prove, really?"
"Women talk, Quatre," Duo's eyes glimmered with tears. "I went to find my mother in the garden one night when I couldn't sleep. I used to like hiding in the shadows even then, trying to surprise her. The young don't understand much, but they feel much. Your mother was crying between sips of date beer. I think she had been crying for a long time. Jia was tending bruises and a wound. My mother was hold her, stroking her hair. I was afraid so I hid in the bushes. Nefermeri started to talk and though she did not tell the tale from beginning to end, she spoke of Jordu and her fears for you. My mother was regretful, but Nefermeri told her she could not be blamed for her husband and, really, could her husband be blamed for his function? My mother told her my father was tired of these deeds and would return south. Would she join us? She could take you and leave...Amunmose had no claim to you...but Nefermeri said she would think about it. I didn't quite know what to think, but ran away to find my father instead. I don't know if Amunmose overheard or if Nefermeri confronted him, but a week later, she and Jia were dead and we were running for the south. Only my father and I made it."
"You told me none of this," said Quatre, hoarse with rage. "How could you dare to keep this kind of information from me?"
"Ammut take you, Quatre! Because the fewer who knew it, the easier it was to hide it.!" snapped Duo, slamming his cup on the table. He stood and faced his Prince. "What is can be changed if everyone believes differently! If I never speak a secret, then I know the secret is safe. I'm only telling you now because you asked about the land deed. I would never have claimed the lands or even mentioned them if I didn't need their value. I don't care if you believe it or not, but I love you! Like a brother and more than a brother...you've always been my sun. Even now, you make the darkness easier to bear because I remember what you were. I remember you throwing yourself into the river to help Wufei. I remember that would have given your life to Uatchet herself to protect us. I wanted to protect you in return and would have said nothing at all if I didn't need your help. Please!" he cried, the trembling uncontrollable. "Look at me! I don't want to die younger than my father. I don't want to die alone. I want a wife and children and I will even send them to Amun's temple in Weset if that's your blessing , but please...help me!"
Quatre looked around at his servants and Duo understood. "I can't...don't make me do it, Quatre. They won't say anything. I trust their loyalty...I would never have let any of them get this close to you otherwise. I would have killed them at the first sign of treachery."
"A sign like this one?" said Quatre, pulling a folded sheet of papyrus from his belt. Every space of the paper was covered with cramped glyphs of unfamiliar design. Duo stared at it, transfixed. The Prince smiled coldly. "Funny that. I saw you talking to a messenger in the garden the other night. He must have been quite inexperienced as he walked right up to you in the light. I had him questioned and, fearing me, he told me that he had been told to deliver a packet of messages to you from my sisters' estates. I suspected what they might be and even went so far as to have your rooms searched...but I found nothing. I had meant to question you about it, but the guards - and my, but they are cooperative when they're afraid of being implicated - caught another messenger at the gate. He was from Iras' estate." Quatre's smile widened, drawing his lips into thin, bitter lines. "Apparently one was late. Mao-ren used to write like this and I know that he taught his son. Wufei, read the message."
Pale, but without expression, Wufei took the note and unfolded it. Slowly, unaccustomed to the sound, he began to read the glyphs in a strange, almost harmonic language.
Quatre frowned. "In the right tongue...none of those barbaric noises."
"I only wanted to hear it again," said Wufei blandly. "I may be slow. The translation is not direct." Quatre's expression of distaste deepened, but he waved his acknowledgement.
"Dearest husband," said the steward. "I miss you terribly. The message will be short today...there has been much activity and I am afraid of being caught. Lung Yi is growing strong and bold. He terrorizes the servants - and yes, his mother too - with his daring escapes and dangerous challenges. We have fashioned a leather girdle with a tether so that he can explore, but not escape, even if we simply must look away from him for a moment. He seems to know this and has decided to put things in his mouth instead. I think he may be as stubborn as his father, but you will be able to judge this for yourself soon enough. For once, I miss the heat of the dry season because I know it will bring you with it..."
Quatre raised a hand. "Enough," he said. Wufei stopped and returned the letter to him. "Hearing this letter, I took the liberty of questioning my guards," said the Prince, bending to retrieve a cedar box. He unhooked the catch and lifted the lid, tipping the box to spill its contents. Folded wads of papyrus fluttered like summer birds to the ground. "You told them to burn the letters, didn't you? But it seems that some of them are rather sentimental."
Duo's mouth went dry as Quatre stepped over the folded papers and circled him. "You have been running communications between the men and their wives when I gave strict orders regarding contact, yet you speak of the treachery of others?"
"It isn't treachery," said Duo, eying him warily.
"Not treachery?" snorted Quatre. "I asked you to find a way to put my servants under my complete control so they will not be a risk to myself as they were to my father."
"I did that," said Duo, "and I warned you about the consequences of separating families."
"And so I have allowed them their month of visitation."
"A month is not enough...they need constant reassurance that their families are safe. Otherwise, they have only your word that no harm will come to them."
"And my word isn't good enough?"
Duo licked his lips. He could feel the sickness creeping upon him, making him dizzy. "No. You punished them when they had committed no crime. Why should they believe you?"
"So they do not trust me, but you would give them the means to plot against me?" said Quatre, eyes blazing anger.
The priest rallied his strength and glared back. "Did you hear anything threatening in the letter Wufei just read to you? Don't tell me that he hadn't finished...I'm sure you've had him read the whole thing aloud once already. And the other notes, those in hieroglyphs, have you found anything there? Of course not. I checked them myself. I consented to do this because it keeps everyone content. Not happy, no...but satisfied enough to leave you be. I was protecting you, Quatre."
"You disobeyed me!"
"If you cut off their communications, they will riot and then where will you be?" said Duo quietly.
"Nekheb runs smoothly because it is perfectly controlled!"
"Those are your father's views. You are not your father."
"No!" snapped the Prince, facing the priest. "I am not! He did not keep control of his servants and look what happened to him!"
"He lost his wife to a soldier because he beat her..."
"SHUT-UP! It's not true! I won't hear it!" screamed Quatre. "I mean them! Him!" Trembling with anger, he pointed toward Wufei. "My father poisoned by his own steward and I am supposed to place my trust in the son? In any of them?"
Duo stared at him long and hard. "Did you ask Wufei if this was true?"
Quatre looked back and Wufei and then at Duo. "What do you mean," he asked, his voice low and dangerous. "Everyone knows that it's true."
"Mao-ren did not kill your father, Quatre. I suspect it was the other way around." Duo's expression saddened as the Prince glared at him, flushed with confusion and anger. "I said that everyone who knew about your birth was dead except me because no one knew what I'd overheard. At the time of my father's death, only two other people knew what had happened: my father...and Mao-ren, the steward. My father is easy enough to explain. Amunmose used a few threats and paid the priests of my temple a substantial amount to take care of him." Quatre did not look convinced. Duo smiled bitterly. "Would you like to see the order? Just another item of business."
The Prince appeared unsympathetic. "And what does this have to do with Mao-ren?"
"Well," said Duo, looking past him to Wufei. "I'm not the only one who can't sleep at night."
Quatre turned quickly to look at Wufei, but the steward had not moved. Did not appear to have reacted in any way. "What is he saying, Wufei," he demanded.
"It was not night time," said Wufei hesitantly. It was in the heat of the day when everyone should have been asleep. I wanted to go to the garden to sleep in the shade because my room was too hot. I could hear an argument and a cry that stopped abruptly. This was not too long ago - just after Duo's visit on the way to the Delta - and I was not a child. I was wise enough to creep forward quietly. By the time I was near enough to see, Amunmose was choking the last life from my father. I said nothing then because I was too late to save him and it would have cost me my life. When Duo returned from the festival of Bast, I told him about it because it bothered me so."
"And you said nothing to me?" Quatre's voice was cold and sharp.
"I did not want to worry you and it would not have brought my father back."
"For all I know you're lying or killed my father yourself."
Wufei mustered his pride. It was considerable. "I would do no such thing. A steward's loyalty should be beyond question."
Quatre turned to Duo, his voice faint, lost in the whirlwind of revelation. "And you believed him?"
"Of course," replied the priest. He was shaking quite obviously now, but he rallied his strength and a malicious light gleamed in his eyes. "Our temple is strange. You can pay us to turn against one of our own, but we really can't stand to be used." Quatre stared at him, unmoving. Duo continued. "I grew up in the temple and all my possessions return to it if I die without a wife, but even I would have to do more to earn anything as grand as a chariot and a skiff. I think they sent me because they thought they would be rid of me, but I surprised them. I was quite good at my job. Your father was dying before he put his hands around Mao-ren's throat. It's a pity the poison didn't affect him a little bit sooner or Wufei's father might have lived."
"You lie," whispered Quatre.
"I. Don't. Lie." Duo spoke slowly and deliberately. "Do you want to see my contract?"
He did not see Quatre move until the Prince's fist connected with his jaw. Stumbling back, Duo nearly lost his balance, but clutched at the chair, turning the stumble into a step that put the furniture between himself and the threat. Instinctively, he drew his daggers, the one with the red scarab at the fore. Realizing what he had done, he paled, but did not put the blades away. Quatre did not seem to notice. He was screaming for his guards.
"AUDA! AHMAD!" he shouted, the men appearing as if by magic. "Take this man away from here! He has until sundown to leave the city. After that, if anyone sees him within its walls, they are to kill him on the spot."
Duo, wan and trembling, promptly sheathed the daggers. "Quatre...please..." He reached out, pleading, but felt the guards take his arms.
"I am your Prince, priest...you will not be so familiar with me," snapped Quatre. "Gather your things - take only what you brought with you - and run back to Kom Ombo, traitor. You are lucky I don't have you killed on the spot."
Duo strained to reach past the guards' hold. "My case..."
"Those documents are treasonous and forfeit," replied Quatre coldly. "They are mine now. Get out of this city and never return."
"Quatre..." whispered Duo, but he was already being dragged toward the door of the chamber. In his weakened state, he could do nothing to prevent it.
Outside the chambers, Auda and Ahmad released him. "I'm sorry," said Ahmad. "We have to obey."
"I know," said Duo thickly.
"I think he meant for us to accompany you, but he didn't say as much," the guard continued. "We can let you wander free until sunset, but if you are seen after that we will be forced to do our duty."
"I know," Duo repeated. "I'm...I'm sorry." A shudder ran up his spine and he stumbled against the wall.
"Are you alright?" said Auda. "Do you want us to go with you?"
Duo shook his head. The world was dark...he would bring no one with him. "I'll be fine. I will. I will rest, then leave. I..I'm sorry I couldn't do more."
Bewildered, the guards watched as Duo stumbled away from them and disappeared down the hall.
Khemti-nub shifted the weight of the serving board. Fortunately, it was currently empty or she would have spilled its contents all over the floor. Her arms were tired and her back was sore. She hoped the guests would not be trapped in their rooms for much longer. Supplying them and the foreign guards was taking its toll.
She turned a corner and her eyes were drawn to a stumbling figure on the far end of the corridor. A servant? Drunk at this time of the day? She grimaced in distaste and pressed herself against the opposing wall. It was not until she drew close enough to make out the long braid and finery of his red and gold ornaments that Khemti-nub realized who he was. A flash of annoyance twisted her face into a scowl - she had not quite forgiven him for making her drop her loaves - but the way he shuddered and fell against the wall chased the negative though from her mind.
Leaning her serving board against the wall, she ran to his side. "Pure One?" she said cautiously. "Are you well? What's wrong?"
His head inclined in her direction as though trying to absorb her words, but neither his face nor his eyes gave any indication that he had understood her. He stared ahead at some distant point, one hand pressed to his chest as if to catch and hold the breath that shuddered in and out of him through moving lips. A prayer? A litany? Khemti-nub leaned in to listen, but Duo pushed himself from the wall and took a few more steps before his trembling legs gave way. Khemti-nub caught him and lowered him gently to the floor. Her slim and youthful body had been made strong by years of service in the kitchen, but she could not carry the full weight of a man for long. Sitting him against the wall, she heard a murmur near her ear.
"Hilde...love me...be my sun..."
Khemti-nub leaned in to hear the phrase repeated and then Duo convulsed in her arms. Startled, she scrambled back and scanned the corridor for assistance. Seeing no one, she paused. The situation was strange. She feared to leave him alone and did not know where to go for assistance. Instinct caused her to shy away from palace officials. If no one had helped him before now...
"Hilde...love me...be my sun..."
Leaving her serving board, Khemti-nub turned and ran back toward the guest wing.
"The Prince of Nekheb" copyright A.C.Smith (aka Lady Bast), 2002. Send comments to asmith@ican.net Please do not repost or print (other than for personal use) without permission. The Gundam boys and all their paraphenelia belong to whomever currently holds the rights...I'm just borrowing them for a while. No infringement is intended, really. Really really. Please don't sue me, I have no money. If, however, you have a burning desire to hire me and PAY me money to write this kinda stuff, feel free to track me down.