However it was Neti who replied, “We bring no bad news and only ask you to answer several questions.”
“Then ask your questions,” the woman flatly decreed, however remained stationed at her position at the door, which caused Neti to glance at Shabaka.
“Our questions are for the first wife,” Shabaka said.
“And I do not look like the first wife?” The woman angrily demanded in return.
Neti held up her hand in an attempt to calm the woman as she spoke, “Our apologies, we have grown accustomed to servants answering the door.”
The woman looked at Neti and scoffed, “You royal types are all the same.”
Neti turned to Shabaka as she spoke, “My name is Neti-Kerty and this is my partner Shabaka. We are investigating the death of one of your husband’s crafters.”
“Let me guess – Heki. He seems like the type that gets intro trouble.”
Shabaka shook his head, “We have no idea who Heki is. We are investigating the death of Geris.”
“Geris?” The woman asked shocked.
Her reaction caused Neti and Shabaka to look at each other, however Neti was the one to speak.
“You know him then?”
The woman nodded her head. “It is a long story, so I think you had better come in,” She said then stepped aside to allow them in.
The interior of the house was comfortable with grass mats and cushions scattered throughout the main room. A toddler crawled along the floor, but stopped on seeing them.
The woman bent down and scooped up the child before turning to them, “Let me just give her to one of the older ones, then I will be with you. Would you like some wine?”
“Yes, thank you,” Neti said before Shabaka could even answer.
“Do you think that is wise?” Shabaka asked as the woman left.
“Considering all the children, I would think it would be greatly watered down.”
“Also possible,” Shabaka said as he looked about the room. He was quiet for some time before Neti asked, “What are you thinking?”
“That he probably had enough reason to take the gold.” Shabaka said then looked to Neti, “…there seems to be a great many stomachs to fill.”
“That still does not make it right.” Neti countered.
“No it does not.” Shabaka said.
“Does not make what right?” the woman asked as she entered the room carrying two cups.”
“You are not having?” Neti asked as she took hers from the woman.
“My daughter is bringing mine,” the woman said and turned towards a younger woman, about the same age as Seota.
“You have a great many children,” Neti said as they moved towards the pillows.
“They are not all mine.” The woman said flatly, almost resentfully.
“Your husband has more than one wife?” Shabaka asked.
The woman seemed hesitant to answer the question, but eventually nodded.
Neti found her actions strange, since it was not entirely strange for the first wife to feel threatened by the other wives. Most however enjoyed the company of other women.
“How many children do you have?” Neti asked as they sat down.
“I have four: two boys and two girls. Hepa has six, the youngest one is hers.”
“Hepa is the other wife.”
The woman shook her head before speaking, “She’s not really a wife in the sense of a wife.”
“I don’t understand.” Neti said, before taking a small sip of the wine, only to find that it was sweet, more grape juice than wine.
The woman looked at Neti before she spoke, “The grape wine is more for the children.”
“It is quite refreshing,” Neti said in response.
“You were telling us about Hepa,” Shabaka pressed.
The woman looked about the room, before again speaking to them, her voice somewhat lowered. “It is not that I don’t like her or her children but they are a burden on us.”
Neti tilted her head for a moment before saying, “You specifically mention her children; does that mean they are not your husband’s children?”
The woman released a heavy sigh, “No, they are not, but they are family.”
Shabaka’s brow furrowed and Neti said, “They are his brother’s children?”
The woman nodded, “Seto was a wonderful husband and a caring father.”
“What happened to him?” Neti asked.
“About two moons ago, he came off his donkey and hit his head against a rock. By the time we found him, he was dead.”
“And as with tradition your husband inherited not only his property but his wife and children as well,” Shabaka said, adding more for himself. “It explains the sudden change of conditions.”
The woman looked at Shabaka, confused, however continued. “My husband has not taken the loss of his brother well and to be honest he does not want Hepa for a wife. But with traditions being what they are, he had no choice but to accept her and her children.” The woman remained silent for several moments before continuing. “That is why we… introduced Geris to her. We knew it was too soon after her husband’s death but they somehow appeared to relate. My husband would have, I guess, he still would be willing to release Hepa if she was to find someone else.”
Shabaka became noticeably uncomfortable the longer Neti remained silent and pondering matters. Neti again looked at the woman as she spoke, “On our arrival, we told you that we are investigating the death of Geris. We weren’t fully truthful.”
Shabaka immediately sat upright and prepared to counter Neti who continued, “Geris did not die, he was murdered, and we are trying to find the person responsible.”
Shabaka immediately relaxed however a look of horror came over the woman’s face.
“You mentioned that you’ve recently had contact with him,” Shabaka said and the woman nodded. “Do you know of anyone who would want him dead or to whom he owed payment?”
The woman shook her head. “My husband suggested him for Hepa because he was such a calm and steady man. Everyone knew him to be such. He was distant after his wife but I imagine he greatly loved her and his son.” She released a heavy sigh before continuing, “When we introduced them, I think our minds were more centered on the practicalities. She could tend to the home and possibly feed him, while he would provide her and the children with a home. They both would have benefited from the arrangement.”
“He may have objected to the children.” Shabaka said.
“I cannot see why. Their father taught them well. They are already producing enough food between them to fill the table.”
“Your husband has them tending the gardens?” Neti asked.
“No, they do it all of their own. Well, I suspect that Hepa may have something to do with it, but I have never had as much fresh food on the table. The oldest son fishes while the younger one tends to the goats and milks them. The girls spend a great deal of time in the garden and weaving mats for the market.”
Neti looked towards Shabaka and asked, “Would you like to speak with Hepa before we leave?”
Shabaka shook his head before adding, “No. We can always come back.”
Neti and Shabaka rose from the pillows. The woman followed their example.
“We will be returning to the palace now, thank you for your assistance,” Neti said.
She walked them to the door and saw them off.
Neti and Shabaka slowly made their way along the path towards the estate’s entrance, watching the children as they went about their chores.
“As much as I want to, I find it difficult to accept things at face value,” Shabaka said as they turned onto the road.
Neti looked at him in question before asking, “Why not?”
“Because if I were to, we have nothing else other than a dead man’s rumor to follow. We do not even have the Pharaoh’s suspicion to go on since that too has now been resolved.”
Neti remained silent for some time. It was only as they app
roached the palace that she suddenly said. “Not quite.”
The unexpectedness of her outburst caused Shabaka to stop and turn to her, demanding, “What did you say - mean?”
“I just thought of something.” Neti said, somewhat animated.
Shabaka lifted a brow and hesitantly said, “I hope it is not something to do with Hepa.”
“Well yes, and no, there is another way.”
“You already have me confused.” Shabaka said,
“Has the Master Craftsman reported the gold I’d taken as missing?”
“Not that I know of – why? What are you thinking?”
“That we question him with Ramesses present or possibly even have Ramesses question him.” Neti said.
“That way we will learn why the gold has not been reported as missing.” Shabaka said, and he could not question the pharaoh.
“Yes, and if it was not missed or reported as missing, it would bring forward the suggestion that he may not be accurate as to whether or not gold is disappearing.”
“He would be forced to account for all the gold in the hall,” Shabaka said. “And since the stolen gold would most likely have been used in barter it cannot be replaced as easily.”
“We also know that any sudden changes to how they obtain the gold from the hall could flush out those who are guilty.” Neti added.
“That is also true, the longer these networks operate the larger and greedier they become,” Shabaka said. “…and more likely it is that someone will make a mistake.”
11
Chapter Eleven
It was after the afternoon meal that two guards accompanied the Master Craftsman into a private chamber within the palace. Neti and Shabaka stood either side of the seated pharaoh as the guards lowered their heads and announced their detainee.
The man hesitantly looked between the prefects and then towards the pharaoh before also lowering to his one knee and addressing the pharaoh.
“You requested an audience with me, my Lord.”
Ramesses made a dismissive gesture with his hand towards the guards, and firmly said, “The two of you can wait outside.”
The guards lowered their heads respectively before turning and exiting the chamber. Ramesses waited until the gilded doors had closed before addressing the Master Craftsman.
“Rise Jode.”
The Master Craftsman rose from his position, his gaze periodically shifting between Neti and Shabaka as he brought his unbound hands before him.
Ramesses gestured first to Neti then to Shabaka as he spoke, “You have met my prefects.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“On their arrival in Pi-Ramesses, I asked them to look into a mater that concerned me. What they have gathered and uncovered since has caused me far greater concern. Thus, I have called you here to account for these findings.”
Jode looked about the room before asking, “Why am I expected to answer such questions without any others present, with not even a court scribe to act as witness?”
“Because not only are the claims serious enough that I should consider immediate punishment in the presence of others, my prefects have not yet concluded their findings.”
“So, they expect me to plead guilty to crimes I have not committed.”
“You do not even know what charges we have brought before the pharaoh.” Shabaka firmly avowed.
Ramesses held up his hands to silence all present before turning his attention to Jode. “My initial concerns regarded the sudden alteration in your lifestyle. Reports had reached me that you had taken another wife and had gathered a large amount of goods within a relatively short time.”
“I can explain that, my lord.”
“No need to, my prefects have assessed the situation and have informed me of your brother’s death.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Jode said, lowering his head.
“There is the matter of taxes, but that I will leave up to my scribes to establish.”
“And that is why you have brought me here today?” Jode asked.
“No,” Ramesses firmly said. “There is a far greater matter, to which you appear to be guilty of.”
“I have done nothing wrong,” Jode countered.
Ramesses gestured to Neti and Shabaka as he spoke, “A few days ago, my prefects visited the craft hall. Other than gathering information pertaining to the current matter they are investigating, they took something from the craft hall and handed it in to me.”
“What?’ Jode asked, looking from Neti to Shabaka.
Ramesses held out the two strips of gold. “The test was to see whether you would notice if any gold went missing and these have not been reported as missing.”
Jode noticeably swallowed as he looked at the two gold strips in horror, shaking his head in disbelief.
“As much as you may wish to deny it, these strips were not only taken in your presence. Your failure to report them as missing not only makes you guilty of failing to perform your duties, it has raised the concern, not only with my prefects but also with me, that gold has or could be easily taken from the hall.”
Shocked Jode simply gaped at them and shook his head as he spoke, “When they questioned me about gold going missing, I thought they meant the new process that we use, I did not think.”
“Thus, you understand the reason for our meeting here like this.” Ramesses said, “If there were any of the elders or witnesses present they would request your punishment, outright.”
“But my Lord, I would never.”
“I did not think you would, you have been in my service for a great many moons. But we need to establish if the claims I have received are true.”
Jode stood taller as he spoke, “I will help you in any way I possibly can.”
“I was hoping you would,” Ramesses said then turned his attention to Shabaka.
Shabaka stepped forward then said, “We need a full inventory of the gold and gemstones within the craft hall. Everything is to be accounted for. Ramesses has offered to provide the necessary scribes to assist with listing everything.”
“But you yourself have seen that it is not that simple as the metal is processed there is some loss that has nothing to do wit theft.”
Shabaka held up his hand to silence Jode before continuing, “We have taken this into account which is why gold will now only be released to the craftsmen through three people. You may select these people. You are also to ensure that at least two are present everyday. All gold is to be weighed before and after processing and any alterations noted.”
“It will be difficult to control every heap of gold.” Jode said.
“It is either that or you will face punishment,” Ramesses said. “If gold has gone missing from the craft hall, I plan to halt it.”
“Yes, my Lord, I understand.”
“I will send a scribe to the craft hall tomorrow.”
“What of the other artisans?” Jode asked, “They will be suspicious.”
“You can tell them I requested a complete record of all the gold and gems in the craft hall.”
“How long will we need to record all this?”
“For as long as I deem it necessary,” Ramesses firmly replied. “As it is, I am of good mind to make the arrangement permanent.”
Jode looked shocked and did not reply.
“I will allow you some time to prepare for the new procedures; the remainder of the afternoon should be enough,” Ramesses said, “You can send the names of the men you have selected by runner tomorrow morning.”
Jode nodded in agreement.
“You are dismissed,” Ramesses commanded. Then as an afterthought, he extended his hand that still held the two strips of gold, “You should add these.”
Hesitantly, Jode approached and took the strips of gold before bowing, “Thank you, my Lord.”
Ramesses waited until the man had left the hall and the gilded doors again closed behind him before he turned to Shabaka. “How do I know he is not one of the men involved?”
“Because if he is, he could always tell the others,” Ramesses said.
“Even so, it will only stop them for a short while,” Shabaka said
“You seem sure of that,” Ramesses said.
“During the time that I have spent in your service, my Lord, there are several things that I have become familiar with. And of all of those, I have learned that greed will always get the better of a thief.”
Ramesses turned to Neti, who had remained silent thought out the entire proceedings. “And your thoughts on the matter, my child?”
“I agree with Shabaka.”
“So you think they will continue to steal gold?”
“My lord, you know as well as I do, that gold is one of the easiest objects to barter with. No one questions its origin or how a person came to be in possession thereof.”
Ramesses nodded. “Sadly my child, that is only too true.” Ramesses leaned on his cane as he rose from his seat. “I have received word from Maathorneferure that she and Seota request your company,” the pharaoh said looking at Neti, then turned to look at Shabaka. “Rahann was also here earlier and requested you meet him at your usual gathering place.”
12
Chapter Twelve
It was still early in the evening when Shabaka entered the beerhouse. Even so, the house was filled to near capacity. He approached the counter and the proprietor warmly smiled as he said, “It is always good to see an honest client.”
Shabaka made to pay but the man declined. “You do not need to, the coinage last time more than covered the two pitchers of beer you had,” the man said before placing another on the serving platform. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”
Shabaka nodded in thanks, took the pitcher of beer and made his way to the far side of the hall. He positioned himself in such a manner that he could see most of he occupants in the room before sitting and taking a swig of beer. It was thick, grainy as most of the beers were, but somehow not as tasty as those that Yani made. He smiled at the thought and wondered if Moses and Yani had yet come to an agreement over whatever it was bothering them. Perhaps when Neti, himself, and Seota returned to Thebes, it would once again be easier to spend an evening in each other’s company.
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