Murder at the Feast of Rejoicing lm-3

by Lynda S. Robinson

  "It is called Green Palm, my lord."

  "Ah, yes. Not far from Baht. There will be a shore market near the village. We'll beach there."

  Paser walked back to the awning, rubbing his bare upper lip. He'd made a great sacrifice, all in order to concoct a clever disguise. No one was going to accuse him of not being quick-witted. Still, it was hard to accustom himself to having no mustache or sophisticated pointed beard. He ran his palm over his skull. He'd even shaved his head. But what he missed the most was his fly whisk, the mark of a man of rank.

  What he went through for advancement! He prayed to Amun, Osiris, and Ra that all these discomforts would be rewarded. Once ashore, he would send a sailor to the village to make discreet inquiries, to listen to the news of the great feast of rejoicing held for Count Meren. It would be one of the signal events of the year for those lesser beings.

  No one was going to tell him to go home. No insufferable know-all was going to tell him that Kysen would leave pharaoh's side for a mere feast. He knew deep in his bones that Meren would only leave court to spin plots in secret. Something was going on in that peaceful country estate. And he was going to find out what it was.

  All he had to do was be patient. Sooner or later Meren would make a mistake, one Paser could use against him at court. After all, the path to power lay over the bodies of one's enemies. And Paser's path to the favor of

  Tutankhamun, may he have life, health, and prosperity lay in the rise of Prince Hunefer and the fall of Lord Meren.

  Chapter 12

  The door to Sennefer's room opened to reveal Nebetta and Hepu huddled over their son's body. Nebamun stood beside the table with the flagon of pomegranate wine. Meren stepped into the corridor and closed the door. With his back to it, he appraised the sea of startled and agonized faces. Everyone was crowded into the narrow corridor-servants, his sister, his daughters, even Wah.

  Great-Aunt Cherit occupied the threshold to the hall in her carrying chair. And Kysen stood near Bentanta. Meren gave him a wordless signal and glanced at Bentanta. Kysen nodded in response.

  "Well?" Idut asked, her eyes shining with tears. "His ka has flown to the netherworld?"

  "Yes. We'll have to send him to Abydos with Anhai tomorrow morning."

  As Nebamun had predicted, Sennefer had died before dusk. Long before this Meren had given confidential orders to his men that the entire estate be searched and all the pomegranate wine confiscated. Their task had been made easier since all the family except Ra, who was still asleep, were keeping vigil in the guest house.

  The family began to talk together in that quiet way people employed at a death. As at Anhai's death, none of the women fell to wailing and moaning. The only noise of that kind came from Nebetta. The others were too frightened to think of the proprieties.

  A hand slipped into his. He glanced down at Isis and saw fear in his daughter's eyes. He pulled her against him, and Bener slipped beneath his free arm.

  She pressed against his side and whispered, "This is terrible. There's some evil loose among us."

  "I'm scared," Isis said.

  Meren frowned at Bener. "You mustn't frighten your sister. Both of you take heart. I won't let evil come near you. I'm here. Your brother is here, and we have a dozen charioteers to protect us."

  "They haven't done Anhai and Sennefer any good," Bener said. She seemed to have lost her enthusiasm for mystery.

  "I didn't tell them to protect Anhai or Sennefer, but I am going to order them to protect you. You will be safe."

  Wah thrust his way past a couple of serving women to approach Meren. "Perhaps I should leave."

  "No," Meren said.

  "Oh, of course," Wah said smoothly. "You need my assistance in this time of difficulty. I am honored to be of aid to my future brother. You have only to tell me what I may do for you. Anything-"

  "Wah, not now." As he spoke, Meren glanced at Reia, who squeezed past Cherit and saluted him.

  "Idut," Meren said. "Will you take everyone back to the garden? There's nothing to be done here."

  "There's much to be done," she said. "I have to look after Aunt Nebetta and Uncle Hepu. They'll want mourners and ashes, and Sennefer must be prepared for the journey to Abydos. I must summon priests."

  "Not now, Idut."

  "Meren, you've grown callous, and I won't-"

  "No!"

  Idut jumped and scowled at him. Before either of them could speak, Cherit held up a wrinkled hand for silence.

  "Idut, you're a fool. There's evil rampant in this house, and you're worried about conventions."

  Wah sidled over to Idut. "The venerable Lady Cherit speaks with wisdom, my dear. Two people have died suddenly. This is no longer an ordinary matter. Let us all retire to the garden as Lord Meren requested."

  The family complied, but as Bentanta tried to follow them, Kysen delayed her. Meren joined them.

  "Lady, where is the pomegranate wine you brought with you?"

  "Most of it has been drunk. Why?"

  "You gave some to Sennefer?"

  "Yes, this morning. He was distraught over Anhai. What's wrong?"

  "But there's some in his chamber."

  Bentanta glanced at Sennefer's door. "At the feast he asked for some. I had two jars sent to his chamber."

  "When was this?"

  "Early, not long after the feast began. He tasted it and couldn't stop praising it."

  "So you instructed a servant to bring jars to his chamber. And the jars were sealed."

  "Of course they were sealed." Bentanta looked at him closely. "My pomegranate wine couldn't have killed him."

  "Not the wine, no."

  "I'm not lackwitted, Meren. You think his wine was poisoned, so you suspect me of killing him. Use your own wits, will you? Why would I want to kill Sennefer?"

  Meren glanced at Reia. "Escort Lady Bentanta to her chamber."

  "I do not allow anyone to send me to my room, Meren."

  "Then allow me to explain something," he said. "My cousin is dead from drinking tainted wine that you provided. His wife is already dead after quarreling with you.

  She held something of yours that you wanted back, which you refuse to explain. You deny any evil-doing, but can't prove your innocence. This is no longer a matter between friends, Bentanta. It's an official inquiry into two deaths by the Eyes of Pharaoh, not a plea for help by your playfellow. Go to your chamber."

  He signaled to Reia, who bowed to Bentanta and indicated the way to her room, which lay on the opposite side of the house. Bentanta pressed her lips together, but said nothing. Turning her back on Meren, she marched out ahead of the charioteer.

  When she was gone, Meren opened the door to Sennefer's room and summoned Nebamun. Nebetta was rocking back and forth on her knees beside Sennefer's body while Hepu stood over her. The physician came out holding the cup and flagon of wine. Kysen went in and retrieved the opened jar. Then Meren shut the door on the grieving parents.

  He led the way to the hall, took a chair on the dais, and waited while Kysen set the round-bottomed jar in a stand. "Now, tell me again what's in the wine."

  "I'm not certain, lord, but I think it's been tainted with a poisonous plant, the tekau. It has long, deep-green leaves and purple-black berries. My physician's book lists the signs that come upon one poisoned with it, and states that it is an illness one cannot treat if too much has been eaten or drunk."

  "And so far the only wine that's been tainted is this we have here," Meren said.

  "Iry has examined all the other jars," Kysen said. "When she arrived, Bentanta had twelve jars delivered to the kitchen storage. Most of it was consumed at the feast with no ill effects. There were three jars left in storage, and they have been found untainted. It seems the only poison is in this one open jar."

  Meren rose and bent over the vessel to study the bits of clay clinging to the twine fastened to its neck. "It could have been poisoned before it was sealed, I suppose."

  "Or someone could have tainted it after Sennefer op
ened it," Kysen said. "If he opened it after the feast, in his chamber, someone still easily could have stolen into his room after he was asleep and put the poison in the jar. Anyone in the guest house, that is."

  Meren went back to his chair. "True. You've been invaluable, Nebamun. Please go back to my aunt and attend to her."

  "She is making herself ill with grief, lord. Shall I give her a draught to calm her?"

  "Yes, if she'll take it."

  When Nebamun was gone, Kysen lowered himself to the floor of the dais and shook his head. "I don't suppose you've thought of a way to blame a servant or a slave."

  "Ky, all of them have been with the family for generations, and most were too busy at the feast to be involved with Anhai's death. Kasa has worked with my men to account for their whereabouts that night. As for Sennefer, only those who handled the wine or had the opportunity to taint it concern us."

  "Who brought the wine to Sennefer's room?"

  "Kasa," Meren said. "And I don't think Kasa had a reason to harm Sennefer or Anhai. He barely knew them and had no dealings with either."

  Kysen turned around and clasped his arms around his knees. "But Bentanta had a reason to harm Anhai, and if Anhai shared her secret with Sennefer, she had a reason to harm him too. What was this great secret?"

  "She won't tell me, and the search of her chamber and possessions has yielded nothing, especially not torn papyrus."

  "Then you haven't seriously tried to make her tell you."

  "Don't worry. I'm through being the gentle courtier and hesitant childhood friend. I'm going to her chamber now." Meren rose and smoothed the pleats in his over-robe. "However, I almost feel like changing into armor."

  "Fear not," Kysen said with a wry smile. "Reia will be there to protect you."

  "You think yourself fortunate, but you, my dear son, are going to question my dear sister's proposed husband."

  "Not Wah!"

  "I can't talk to everyone, Ky, and he's the only stranger who was here for both deaths. Perhaps the gods will bless us, and you'll find out he's the murderer of both. Unfortunately…"

  "Ra?"

  "Yes," Meren said. "Ra was at Green Palm, and he could have stolen back to kill Anhai and poisoned Sennefer's wine too."

  "An evil prospect, but how likely?"

  "I'm not sure," Meren said. "Once I would have said Ra doesn't care deeply enough about anyone or anything to be provoked into action. But if Anhai used him, and Sennefer laughed at him for it-" Meren threw up his hands. "I don't know anymore. At times he's rabid with anger. He thinks he's been persecuted his entire life, mostly by Father and by me, but he's fed this grudge for so long that he's made a habit of seeing injustice toward himself from countless sources."

  "And he drinks."

  "Wine has ruined many a man's judgment," Meren said.

  Kysen rubbed his chin and stared at the flagon and wine cup. "The doorkeepers for both houses were back at their posts after the feast. Anyone outside would have had to avoid them, and none of them saw anyone sneaking around the grounds. I suppose it's possible that someone from outside could have used a rope to climb the outer wall and steal up the back stairs to the roof to enter." He rose and stood beside Meren.

  "You're going to question Aunt Idut?"

  "Yes, and Great-Aunt Cherit," Meren said. "I wish you could do it, but they wouldn't listen to you. And I'll have to talk to Hepu, and perhaps Nebetta. Gods, this day seems endless."

  "I'll visit the temple tonight. You get some rest."

  "After this day, I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep. I'm not going to rest until I find out who's killing people in my house. And gods, what a choice of culprits!"

  "You've thought of the possibility that Sennefer could have killed Anhai, and someone else killed him in revenge?"

  "Which leads to Ra again," Meren said.

  "I'll find Iry and see if his searches have revealed anything else."

  "Ky," Meren said as his son walked away, "while you're doing that, assign Reia's brother Simut to guard Bener and Isis. I don't think they're in danger, but I'll rest easier knowing someone is watching them."

  "I should have thought of it earlier."

  When he was alone, Meren summoned a servant and had him take the wine jar, flagon, and wine cup to his office. They would be safe there with a sentry posted outside the door. He could think of nothing else to do that would delay his visit to Bentanta.

  The women's quarters lay on the opposite side of the house. As he directed his steps in that direction, he realized that he'd been hampered from the beginning of this inquiry. It was almost impossible to intimidate people who remembered him as a muddy, sticky-faced boy. He dreaded demonstrating his power and authority, but his family-and Bentanta-were fast forcing him into a position in which he'd have no choice.

  Reia was outside Bentanta's room with another charioteer. He almost went inside alone but instead gave an order to Reia. Reia left, and Meren paced outside the door while he waited briefly for him to return.

  Leaving the second man outside as guard, Meren stepped back from the door to allow Reia to knock and throw open the portal. Bentanta was stalking around the chamber and paused in midstride when they appeared. Her brows drew together as her gaze fell on the charioteer. Reia had a scimitar stuck in his belt and was holding a scribe's palette and papyrus.

  "I've told you I didn't poison Sennefer or kill Anhai, Your trained colts have searched every possession I brought with me. My patience is wearing, Meren."

  Meren didn't answer. Reia walked past Bentanta, picked up a chair, and brought it to him. Meren sat down, gathering the complicated folds of his robe around his legs. Reia drew his weapon, sat on the floor, and placed it beside him. Then he took a rush pen from his palette and mixed some ink with water. Placing the papyrus on the length of his kilt that stretched between his crossed legs, he dipped the pen in the palette inkwell. All the while, Meren remained silent.

  "What are you doing?" Bentanta demanded.

  Meren studied her as he would any person whom he had cause to suspect of a great evil, assessing, probing, looking for any sign of guilt. Sometimes this treatment worked, but often, with the quick-witted or those with experience at the imperial court, he was met with a facade of impenetrable innocence. Unfortunately, Bentanta stared right back at him without guilt, but with a bargeload of anger. Ah well, he hadn't expected her to succumb to simple tactics.

  "Lady Bentanta, I'll send for another witness to this examination if you wish it."

  "Examination?" Bentanta walked over to face him and put her hands on her hips. "You're going to examine me like a common thief who steals honey from your beekeepers?"

  "Then you don't require another witness," Meren said. "Very well. We'll begin, Reia." He leaned over the side of his chair and glanced down at the charioteer. "Count Meren, son of Amosis, the Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh, Nebkheprure Tutankhamun-may he have life, health, and prosperity-year five, season of Drought. He speaks as follows: the examination of the Lady Bentanta, widow of Lord Hekareshu the justified, in the matter of the deaths of Lord Sennefer and Lady Anhai."

  He waited, staring impassively at Bentanta as Reia's pen brushed across the polished paper. She looked from him to the paper and back. Her eyes grew wide, and her hands dropped to her sides. He watched the muscles in her throat work as she swallowed. Other than this movement, her face was still. She'd learned to conceal her thoughts at the side of two queens.

  "I've told you I've done nothing," she said.

  "And I will have Reia record all your answers to me. I remember all of them. But now I will ask you what it was that Anhai and Sennefer held against you. And you will give me the truth."

  Bentanta walked away from him. She paused beside a table laden with cosmetics-kohl tubes, unguent containers, spoons, tweezers, an ivory comb, and a bronze mirror. She touched the polished surface of the mirror. He could almost see the rush of her thoughts. Best not to give her too much time.

  "Answer me," he sai
d.

  Her hand jerked back from the mirror. She clenched it and thrust it behind her back. Turning his way, she lifted her chin and gave him a slight smile.

  "The Lady Bentanta answers thus. I wish to consult with my family."

  "In time," he said. Bentanta's family was a powerful one. In one way or another she was related to Meren's friend, the royal treasurer Maya, to General Nakhtmin's wife, to the high priest of Osiris, and to the divine adoratrice of Amun.

  "No, Meren. I want to consult my family now. Send for my father and for Maya. Both Anhai and Sennefer provoked anger from many people, and I'll not submit to your hounding without my family near me to help." She walked back to him again, her carriage erect, her manner confident.

  Drumming his fingers on his chair arm, Meren leaned back and studied her. Suddenly he quit tapping the wood and closed his eyes. He summoned the spirit of warfare, that attitude that allowed him to face his own death and the deaths of friends and remain calm and battle-ready, When he opened his eyes, Bentanta blinked at his expression. Her lips moved soundlessly, but he spoke first.

  "I had hoped to spare you humiliation and pain. You refuse to answer, and I will not allow this." He stood abruptly.

  Using the advantage of his greater height, he looked down on Bentanta, unsmiling. "I've questioned those far greater than you. If you think I'll spare the whip and the cane because of our past, you're wrong. Someone is killing people in my house, and I'm going to find out who it is. I want the truth from you, Bentanta. It's your choice as to whether I use force to get it."

  She was staring at him, eyes round, body rigid, like a startled ibex. At last he'd force her to take him seriously. He took a step toward her, and she backed away. Nodding to Reia, he went to the door.

  "What are you doing?"

  "A forced inquiry takes preparation," he said as Reia opened the door to reveal the sentry. "Perhaps by the time I return, you'll have realized you have no choice but to answer my questions."

  He left quickly with Reia, before she could protest. For the first time there had been alarm in her voice; perhaps a night spent alone in fear would loosen her tongue. She would start each time she heard a footfall. Her fear would grow at every whisper, every raised voice. He had much to do to keep him busy in the meantime.