Theodosia and the Last Pharaoh

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE A New Wrinkle

THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION as to what Major Grindle should carry with him into the heart of the enemy. "The Orb of Ra, most definitely," he and Khalfani agreed. It was pistols and knives they were in disagreement over.

"They are not going to let me waltz in there carrying a pistol," the major pointed out.

"We do not know this. It is worth trying to slip one in," Khalfani said.

"Then we risk losing what little trust our white-flag venture might gain us."

Khalfani sighed and I almost stepped in to tell him it was hopeless. I was sure that Major Grindle's skewed sense of sportsmanship had much to do with his decision, and how could one argue with something as odd as that?

In the end, it was decided that he would walk in carrying the orb so they knew he meant business. Of course, this necessitated a whole new debate: carry it concealed or out in plain sight?

Khalfani argued for plain sight. That way, everyone who saw the artifact, even if he didn't understand its power, would know that it was very valuable. It would ensure the major got to the top levels of the organization quickly. Second, Grindle could access it more easily should he need to use it.

"Do you know the proper sequence to tap in order to activate it?" I asked.

Khalfani shot me a glance. "Our Rekhet never ceases to surprise with the vast scope of her knowledge."

"Tell me about it," the major muttered.

"There are many sequences that can be used, but the one to emit a controlled burst is this." Khalfani's fingers twitched out a sequence over the orb's surface, careful never to actually touch the orb itself.

I leaned as far forward as I could without tipping over and watched as he went through the sequence a second time.

Major Grindle nodded. "Got it." He repeated the maneuver three more times (also careful not to let his fingers touch the orb) while Khalfani watched. Then it was time to go.

"Will they bring a horse around for me?" the major asked.

"No," Khalfani said, eyes sparkling. "We have a better way to travel unobserved." He led Major Grindle to one of the far doorways on the south side of the chamber. No one told me not to follow, so I did.

Khalfani stopped in front of the doorway. "This is an underground path that leads directly to the Luxor Temple. It mirrors the Avenue of the Sphinxes."

"By Jove!" Major Grindle was agog at this marvel. "You can come and go between the two temples with no one the wiser."

"Exactly so. It will bring you up just outside the Luxor Temple, and then it is but a short distance to the market area."

I meant to wait up for Major Grindle's return, because honestly, who could sleep at a time like this?

Apparently, I could. I was absolutely knackered after the long march through the desert. The minute I collapsed onto a bedroll, Isis hurried to my side, as if she, too, was wanting a bit of a nap. With her warm presence cuddled next to me, I closed my eyes and slept like the dead.

I was awakened by a flurry of excited voices. Someone called out, "He's coming!" I sat up and pushed my hair out of my eyes, disoriented for a moment by the dark chamber and the flickering torches. It took me half a minute to realize I wasn't stuck in a nightmare involving the Arcane Order of the Black Sun and was, instead, stuck in a rather shocking bit of reality.

Wondering where my cat had gotten to, I pushed to my feet and straightened my frock just as Major Grindle strode into the chamber. Jadwiga, Rumpf, Khalfani, and the others pressed around him, hungry for news of what had happened.

I hurried over so as not to miss out.

"It is exactly as Jadwiga and Rumpf reported. The market area runs the entire length of the street and spreads out to include the streets on either side. It is a veritable rabbit warren of crumbling buildings, dilapidated shop fronts, and men with hardened eyes and no smiles. It's hard to say how many live there. It could be one hundred; it could be three hundred. There's no telling."

Khalfani swore in Arabic. At least, I think he was swearing. He sounded an awful lot like Father when he is swearing. "Then we cannot risk slipping in and rescuing him by stealth?"

The major shook his head. "I don't think so. Not without risking many of the women and children who also live in that area." Major Grindle's face looked drawn and grim. I could not help but feel that a second shoe was about to drop.

"Did they agree to the exchange? Did they let you see the boy?"

Slowly, Major Grindle raised his eyes and looked straight at me. My stomach dropped all the way down to my toes as I prepared myself for his next words.

"They would not allow me to see the two prisoners."

"Two prisoners?" Khalfani asked.

The major's sorrowful gaze never left my face. "I'm afraid they have taken a second prisoner. Your mother," he said gently.

My mother. His words reverberated in my mind, so horrible that I could hardly absorb them.

"When they could find no sign of you or me, and none of the locals they questioned would give them any information, they decided to up the ante in an effort to lure us out of hiding."

I think I actually swayed on my feet, and then Jadwiga was there, his big solid presence at my back like a fortress. I let myself lean back against him, just the teeniest bit. Von Braggenschnott was sweet on Mother, I reminded myself. surely he wouldn't hurt her.

Khalfani's face was full of sympathy. "Were you able to verify this with your own eyes?"

The major gave a brief shake of his head. "I was, however, able to hear them speak, and I recognized both their voices."

"What about the exchange?" Khalfani repeated. "Did they agree to that?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes." Major Grindle slowly pulled his eyes from mine and turned to Khalfani. "They agreed to the exchange. However, because of the first botched attempt, von Braggenschnott said that the price had gone up. The new price for releasing Gadji and Mrs. Throckmorton is the Emerald Tablet and the girl. He wants Miss Throckmorton as part of the deal."

There was a moment of dead silence that was filled by the thundering of my heart. Me?

"That is impossible," Khalfani said, and I began to breathe again. I hadn't realized I'd been holding my breath, but the truth was, I had no idea what my actual standing was with the wedjadeen. I'd been half afraid they would have said, Certainly. Here she is, and thank you.

"I'm glad we agree," Major Grindle said.

Fenuku threw me a look that said he did not agree. "Then what do you propose we do to get the Son of Re back?"

"We will alter our plans, that is all. We never intended to let them get as far as the exchange point anyway. We will continue with our plan to intercept them on the way to the exchange and they will never even have to see our Rekhet," explained Khalfani.

Major Grindle cleared his throat, and Khalfani scowled. "What?"

"They have a few more conditions. They will need proof that this tablet is not a fake." His old cheeks pinkened slightly with embarrassment at this reminder of his earlier trick.

A brief smile flickered across Khalfani's face. "Do not worry on that score. Our magic will hold better than yours."

"And they will have scouts in place to ensure Miss Throckmorton is indeed part of the exchange before they will step foot outside their compound."

Jadwiga shouted out, "Impossible!" with such force that it made his mustache quiver.

Khalfani swore again and Fenuku looked almost pleased. "They are not fools," he pointed out.

"No." Major Grindle fixed him with a hard stare. "But they are evil."

Fenuku had the grace to look away.

"We will have to risk storming the market after all."

"But we still have no idea where they are keeping the prisoners," Major Grindle reminded him. "You can be certain they were moved immediately after my departure."

"Not to mention untold innocents may be harmed," Khalfani murmured.

"I am not so certain anyone there can truly be called an innocent," the major said.

"True. But not all are followers of these men of Set."

"We can't risk it." My high voice cut through all their deeper ones. "We were going to trick them anyway; now we'll just add one more element to the trick—I'll be in place long enough for their scout to observe me."

Major Grindle and Jadwiga started to argue, but I held up my hand. "It's my mother they're holding. And I feel partially responsible for Gadji's capture, although it was not all my fault." I cast a sideways look at Fenuku to be sure he heard that part. "All I have to do is be in position long enough for their advance scout to spot me, then give the signal to the rest of the Serpents of Chaos that everything is in order, correct?"

Major Grindle nodded slowly. "Correct."

"Or," I said, a new thought occurring to me, "we could do what they did when you asked to see Mother and Gadji. Just let them hear my voice."

Khalfani and the major exchanged a look.

"There's got to be tons of places where I can hide in that big temple. Then, when they show up, I'll just shout out a hello, and they'll know I'm there."

Major Grindle stared at the map and stroked his chin. "That could work, I suppose."

"Of course it could. And with so many wedjadeen for reinforcement, what could go wrong?" I asked brightly.

"Everything" was Jadwiga's morose reply.