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I spun and ran.
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CHAPTER 9
I did not account for the guards.
They flanked the entrance, staffs and spears at the ready, their
expressions grim, and eyed everyone who approached with wary
hostility. I would never make it past them, not without the key as
my pass. I would have to find some other way.
Nafrit s kitchen, I thought suddenly. It sat against the palace
wall. And she knew me, was fond of me. She might let me in, if I
could find her.
I skirted around the palace grounds, through the low brush that
did nothing to hide me. I kept close to the wall and wondered in
passing if I might be the only man in the Two Kingdoms who
found himself grateful for the blanket of darkness the eclipse had
thrown over our land.
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I crept down the length of the wall, trying to match my
movements to the haphazard map I kept held in my thoughts.
When I d reached the place on the wall that I thought stood
opposite Nafrit s welcoming kitchen, I gazed up at the crest of the
wall, hoped I was right, and jumped.
My fingers caught at the edge of the bricks and I clung on just
barely, but already I could feel my hold slipping, my grip
weakening. I scrabbled at the wall s smooth-polished surface with
my sandaled feet, propelling myself up in small increments,
slipping back down almost as much as I dragged myself up.
At last, I hauled myself up high enough that I could lean my
chest against the flat top of the wall and drag my legs over. I lay
there for just a moment, catching my breath, before I rolled and
dropped down to the other side.
Who s that? a booming voice demanded, sending me
cowering back against the wall. If you lot think you can come into
my kitchen and steal my cooking
Nafrit? I rushed forward, then had to leap back to avoid a
wild swing from Nafrit s heavy stirring spoon. Nafrit!
She faltered. Who s that? she demanded again, wondering
now rather than belligerent. Seth? Gods above, I near took your
head off. What are you doing climbing walls like a thief?
I shook my head, ignoring her question. There wasn t time.
Please, do you know where Aten is?
She pulled a face and shrugged as she set her spoon back down.
Hiding from the eclipse, same as everyone else. She cast a look
up at the sky and snorted. Except me, because gods know, even
when the augurs are foretelling doom and destruction, people want
their supper on time. She dropped her gaze down and pierced me
with it. And you. What are you doing running about climbing
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over walls? You look like death.
I shook my head again and waved her questions away. I know
he s hiding. Where? Please, Nafrit!
She shook her head slowly, frowning at me. You think I know
that? Why would he tell me such a thing?
I groaned and pushed past her, through the door that led back
into the palace, open and unguarded. She called out after me in
bewilderment, but not alarm.
I just ran. Explanations could wait until later.
But where? That was the question. Where? Not his chambers,
with the window that looked out over the city and would provide
easy access to anyone intrepid enough to climb through it. He
would want somewhere more secure than that, somewhere with
only one entrance to worry about, locked and guarded and now
jeopardized because he d placed his trust in a fool.
I searched the meeting chambers we had visited, which seemed
a likely choice given the enclosing walls and limited access, but
they were all vacant. The High Council s court was similarly
unoccupied, and the store room that I thought might have provided
an innocuous place to shelter proved to be unlocked, unguarded, its
door ajar and the sounds of idle conversation coming from within.
I ran, ignoring the indignant cries of those I nearly crashed into
in my haste, dodging around anyone who stood in my way,
searching, praying with all the strength I had in me.
A flash of movement caught my eye and I skidded to a stop.
My body went cold at the brief, liquid gurgling sound that came
from the adjoining hallway.
I crept back and peered around the corner in time to see
someone down the hall slump to the floor, joining another body
already there. They lay in a spreading crimson pool. I recognized
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the man who stepped over them with a jolt of fear and resolution.
I d found Aten, but Khenti had found him first.
I darted down the hall as he unlocked the door and stepped
through, out of sight. The bodies he d left in the hall were Aten s
guards, their throats cut through and gaping red.
I shuddered and crouched to take the knife from the limp hand
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