Chapter Forty Seven: The Thieves Return
Kiya slept badly that night. A low wall around the roof separated them from their neighbours and she could hear the sounds of other people snoring, arguing and, from the furtive rustling sounds, making love. She was used to the quiet of the countryside and every new noise disturbed her.
The others were downstairs when she woke in the morning. She descended the narrow staircase to join them.
“You look tired,” said Laylos.
“We are going to the kitchen for breakfast, are you coming?” said Huy.
Kiya shook her head. The thought of breakfast made her queasy.
“You two carry on,” said Laylos. “We women need more time to get ready.”
When Huy and Sabu had gone she turned to Kiya. “I have never known you lose your appetite before.” Laylos sat down and patted the seating ledge beside her.
“I just feel a bit sick in the mornings,” said Kiya and joined her aunt on the bench.
“How long has this been going on?” said Laylos with a frown.
“A month, two months, I’m not sure.”
“Are you still getting your monthly flow?”
Kiya knew where the conversation was headed. The fear which had been lurking in the back of her mind could no longer be ignored. Her last flow had not come. She had persuaded herself that its absence was the result of stress. But her next one was now overdue and she must face the possibility that she was pregnant. She opened her mouth to answer Laylos but no words came. Instead she broke down into tears.
“Poor darling,” Laylos’s arms were around her, soft and comforting. “Does your mother know?”
“Nobody knows,” sobbed Kiya. “I have only just realised it myself.”
“Who is the father?” asked Laylos.
“I don’t know.”
“For Thoth’s sake, child. How many lovers have you had?”
“None.”
“What nonsense, Kiya. It must have been Anubis. Were you not married to him as High Priestess?”
“Yes, but that’s impossible,” protested Kiya. “We lay together but did not make love. I am still a virgin, Laylos. I swear it.”
Her aunt did not look convinced. “If you say so, dear, but few will believe you.”
“Oh, no!” Kiya buried her head in her hands and wept.
Laylos hugged her more closely. “Most girls are happy to be pregnant. It is my one regret that I have been unable to conceive. What to do when your baby is born is a problem for the future, Kiya. We have a more immediate challenge facing us.”
“You are right.” Kiya dried her tears. “I must finish my mission before my condition becomes a burden. I think I know where Osiris’s body is hidden - in a locked room in the sacristy. I have to get near enough to discover the odour of his soul.”
“He probably smells of putrefaction by now,” said Laylos.
Kiya shook her head. “His body is miraculously preserved. Isis is determined to bring him back to life and she is an immortal with many powers.”
Huy and Sabu returned with bread and dates. “They are packing up breakfast,” said Huy. “You are too late so we brought you back these. What a shame. You missed some delicious smoked and salted fish.” Kiya gave a moan as her stomach churned at the thought. “I’m off to work. I will try to organise a month’s leave for this project of yours, Kiya. In the meantime lie low and stay out of trouble.” He kissed Laylos and departed.
Laylos ate breakfast while Kiya and Sabu went up to the roof and spread out the straw on which they had been sleeping.
“That is the housekeeping nearly done,” said Laylos when they came downstairs. “We just need to wash up the breakfast things.” She looked in the bucket. “We have run out of water. I will have to go down to the river and get some.”
“I will carry the bucket,” said Sabu.
“And I’ll come with you,” said Kiya.
Laylos looked worried. “Should you not stay at home?” she said.
“Of course not!” said Kiya. “How can I find a way into the sacristy if I am stuck here? Besides I would go mad confined to this room for long.”
Laylos gave in. “Oh, very well. But try not to draw attention to yourself.”
The three of them set off through the camp to reach the river. They passed brick makers treading chopped straw into clay. Thousands of bricks lay in rows drying in the sun. Further on, men were digging the foundations of houses on either side of the street along which they walked.
“It will not be long before this is a proper city,” said Laylos. “Half of Egypt seems to be here, helping to build it.”
A quay had already been constructed beside the Nile. Moored to it was a barge being unloaded by workmen, who strained to lift the heavy stones it contained. A row of donkeys with plaited reed panniers stood ready to receive their loads. One of them looked balefully at Kiya.
She stared at it in dismay “Is that Enno? Surely it cannot be!”
“It might be,” said Laylos with a shrug. “All donkeys look the same to me.”
“I thought he was eating grass in a compound somewhere,” said Kiya.
“He has to earn his keep like everyone else,” said Laylos.
“Don’t worry, Enno, I will come and get you soon,” Kiya called out to the donkey.
“You keep your thieving hands off my donkey!” shouted a man, who was supervising the unloading. He advanced towards them. “I’ll show you what happens to donkey robbers around here.”
“For Thoth’s sake, Kiya,” muttered Laylos. “I told you not to draw attention to yourself!” She raised her voice. “I am sorry Sir, it was just a joke. No harm meant.” She grabbed Kiya’s arm and hurried her away, but not before many heads had turned in their direction.
A little further down the river a sandy bank sloped to the water. Sabu went down and filled the bucket. They were walking back to the road when three men emerged from behind a wall.
“I thought I recognised you, arguing with the donkey man,” said one of the two soldiers. “You are the girl from Mitry’s inn.” He turned to Sabu. “And you are the miserable little turncoat who spoilt our fun.”
Kiya hardly heard him. With a shock of surprise she recognised their third ambusher. The man from Thebes, who had alerted the soldiers to her wealth, was not the lurker but the goldsmith’s son - the one who had been on the rooftop with a throwing spear. He knew at once that he had been identified and he glared at her.
“Does your father know you are here?” she said.
“No, and he will not find out,” he snarled. He drew back his spear.
“Run, Kiya, run,” screamed her aunt. Kiya heard Sabu unsheathe his sword as she turned and fled.
She had gone but a few steps before the spear hit her between the shoulder-blades with such force that it sent her sprawling to the ground. Laylos’s screams rang in her ears and for a few seconds she lay still, winded by the fall. She heard a clatter as the spear fell to the ground beside her and she rolled over so the shaft was beneath her body.
The goldsmith’s son ran up to her. Beyond him she could see a fight going on. Laylos was swinging the bucket at one soldier while Sabu was in a sword duel with the other.
“Why are you not dead? You must be a witch!” The man tried to pull the spear out from under her but she hung onto it. “See if you can survive this!” he said and drew a knife from his belt. “Even a witch cannot live without a head!”
With desperate fingers she clawed a handful of sand from the ground and threw it in his face. He dodged it easily. “Witch,” he growled and raised the knife high.
A hand came from nowhere and gripped his wrist. “Not so fast,” came a familiar voice. “You are under arrest.”
“Huy!” Kiya sat up and saw that her uncle had arrived with several soldiers. The two thieves who had been fighting with Sabu and Laylos had their arms firmly pinioned. She watched as the goldsmith’s son was dragged back to join them, struggling violently with his capt
ors.
“I tell you, that girl is a witch!” he shouted.
Kiya got to her feet and pointed to the trio. “I accuse these men of robbing me and trying to murder me!”
“Do you have a witness?” asked Huy.
“Yes, I am her witness,” said Sabu, stepping forwards.
“Then we must take this matter to the King,” said Huy.
The robbers hurled threats at Sabu as they were hauled away.
“Traitor!”
“You will get what is coming to you!”
Kiya glanced at her bodyguard and saw that he had paled. “Thank you for all you have done, Sabu,” she said. “With you as a witness, I am sure that justice will prevail.”
Sabu nodded but still looked worried. “Men like those have long memories,” he said.