by Gary Gygax
The druid raised an eyebrow and made a wry face. "No keeping anything from you, Magister Inhetep. It's a bit more than a mile to the citadel from here, and we have placed a hundred of our best men along the route—just to be certain, you know. It is most likely that Aldriss was the one commanding the pack of jackals, but . .."
"Most judicious, my lord," Inhetep said. "Far better to be a trifle overprotective than to find oneself again out-foxed."
Five minutes later they rumbled under a stone arch and along a deep passage through the wall surrounding the palace complex. They entered a small and absolutely private courtyard reserved for the royal household and those special visitors who were not to be seen coming to the citadel. Steps were rapidly set in place beside the carriage, footmen opened the doors, and the three descended. A silent officer of the guard bowed to the druid, then to the two foreigners. Tallesian recognized the fellow with a curt nod in return, then said to Inhetep and Rachelle, "Please follow Captain McFlood. I must go to make my report personally, but I'll rejoin you two in a very short time."
Rachelle was clad in finery filched from the villa. Although she looked the part of a beautiful woman consort of an aristocrat, Setne knew that somewhere beneath her velvet and lace the amazon was armed with all manner of weapons. Rachelle was most distrustful of the Lyonnesse after their accusations against him. That was excellent, for the girl would be extra alert in all respects, and that was most needed now. "Here," the soldier informed them as they stepped into a secluded lounge. "Please allow me to get whatever you need for comfort."
"This is quite sufficient, Captain McFlood," Inhetep told the guardsman. "If we require anything during the course of our wait, I shall summon a servant."
"The bell pull is here, Magister Inhetep," the soldier said. Then he left the two alone, departing with a stiff, half bow.
"Stuffy martinet," Rachelle snapped. The guard officer hadn't so much as glanced at her. That was most unusual, for Rachelle was used to being stared at by soldiers, especially when she was dressed as she was.
"He was impressed, never fear," Setne said drily. "He was radiating it profusely, along with worry about his position if he so much as made a single mistake. Orders from above command especial attention and utmost respect for both of us.
"So they are trying to make amends now," Rachelle said with satisfaction. "After the shameful way they treated you, Setne, that is the very least these barbaric Westerners can do!"
Further discourse on that subject was cut short by the arrival of the Behon and Crown Prince Llewyn.
"Again, as when we first met, Magister, Lady, please do not stand on formalities. This time, however, you may use my proper form of name and title when addressing me—Crown Prince Llewyn or Royal Highness," he said seriously. "In any event, our Chief Druid will join us in a moment, and then we can put this whole nasty business to rest once and for all."
Of course both Rachelle and Setne had risen when the heir apparent to the throne of Lyon-nesse entered, and when he had finished speaking both sat quietly. "Thank you, Royal Highness," the girl said carefully. Inhetep cleared his throat and shifted a little, then spoke.
"It is evident from our reception, Crown prince Llewyn, that you have removed official suspicion from the two of us." His gesture brought Rachelle into the statement to make the point clear. "Likewise, I assume that you agree with Lord Tallesian's assessment of the situation. Blame is squarely placed upon the dead bard, Lord Aldriss."
"He was a shame to the grand title of Great Bard!" The Behon had come into the room silently as Inhetep spoke. "Of course His Royal Highness now fully comprehends the situation, for Tallesian made the facts absolutely plain to us."
If the man's serving as a mouthpiece for him bothered Prince Llewyn, he didn't so indicate; in fact, he displayed not the least annoyance. Instead, he nodded affirmatively as the ovate spoke. Then he nodded to the Egyptian. "You have put it succinctly, Magister Inhetep. Some few loose ends need to be tied fast, and then we will reward you and see that you are safely away to whatever place you deem a desirable port of call."
"I say, Inhetep," the Behon said, beaming. "What a wonderful life you lead. What with the beautiful Lady Rachelle to serve as companion and exotic places to visit, I'll wager you'll be glad indeed to bid farewell to this little island of ours." He punctuated the statement with a sigh. "Would that I were able to be so free of care and duty of statecraft!"
"Here, now, Lord Justiciar! Lyonnesse needs your counsel and dweomercraeft at all times," admonished the prince. "Be not sighing for such adventures as our two worthy crime-solvers are wont to pursue."
Before the wizard-priest could respond to any of that interplay, Lord Tallesian entered the salon. "My Royal Prince, Lord Behon, Lady Rachelle, Magister Inhetep, I have excellent news!"
"So soon?" Setne murmured. Nobody seemed to notice.
"Tell us," Prince Llewyn commanded loudly.
"It is as you thought, Crown Prince. Although the stripling bards who served Aldriss have eluded the agents sent after them, a whole nest of vipers has been found and captured!"
"Now that's splendid news indeed!" the Behon enthused.
"What do you mean?" Rachelle asked. "Your words fail to convey anything of substance."
The man flushed a little but managed to flash a wan smile in her general direction. "At the urging of our wise and perspicacious crown prince," the archdruid said, "the police authorities went out and began rounding up suspects and cult members as soon as my communication reached here—early this morning. Already some three-score villains have been clapped into irons, and there are a dozen or more babbling their confessions even as we speak!" He looked at Prince Llewyn, then at the Behon, and finally glanced from Inhetep to the amazon warrior. "Now do I make myself clear, lady?"
"A little more, sir," Rachelle replied with serious tone. "Yet I still have many questions. May I have leave to ask them?"
"Certainly!" the crown prince snapped. "His Venerability Lord Tallesian will be honored to answer with full details," he said, staring meaningfully at the druid.
"Your Ladyship . . . ?" Tallesian ventured.
"Have you ascertained who the so-called Master of Jackals was?"
"Not with absolute certainty we haven't—not yet. We do have some conviction as to it being the bard, however, and this is surely going to come out as questioning of other conspirators continues. It is worth noting that we have received neither retribution nor threat of assassination since Aldriss' death."
"You think the Master Jackal would strike in retribution for the loss of one of his—or her— lieutenants?" Setne queried.
"But of course. That's quite in the nature of an assassin such as this fellow is—was, I should say. Think of all he did previously—failure to pay extortion was sufficient cause for foulest murder!"
Rachelle again took over questioning the druid. "What manner of men have the police managed to find? And just how are they connected to the false cult of Set, Anubis, and to the Master Jackal?"
"I have a list of some of the miscreants," the Behon volunteered. "If I have permission, Royal Highness . . ." The prince nodded quickly, and the mage ran down the list of notes on a little scroll of paper: "A defrocked druid, these next five are simple felons of one sort or another, here's a thief of some considerable infamy, here's a dissident spellbinder I met once as an apprentice to the Fellows—don't recall which magus he was serving, and now there are noted two Albish priests and a man we think a spy for that government too . . . interesting . . ." He looked up for a moment as if reflecting, then recalled where he was. "I beg your pardon," he stammered. "I'll continue. The common run-of-the-mill criminals I've passed over, but even so there are another score of names to check here."
Setne inclined his head and spoke. "That is impressive work in so few hours, Lord Justiciar. Was this roundup planned beforehand?"
"Somewhat," the prince interjected. "I saw to it that the cult was infiltrated by our own agents, naturally, as soon as
the first threat to the Crown was manifested."
"Thank you, Prince Llewyn," Inhetep murmured, and before the royal scion could correct Setne as to how to address him, the Egyptian urged the Behon on. "Who else on that list is notable?"
"There are a few more dweomercraefters and other strong practitioners, and an assassin as well, but most notable, dear Magister, are three members of this very household—that is, men in royal service."
"Their positions?" the wizard-priest snapped.
"Pander, the second valet, and the chief clerk of the royal steward—all sufficiently high in position and trust so as to be able to wreak mischief had we not managed to connect them to the plot!"
Setne seemed impressed, but he also made it apparent he had a reservation. "Such a wide and complicated web. I am rather surprised that there are none of your nobles involved. . . ."
That made Prince Llewyn sit bolt upright. "Why do you say that?!"
"A simple matter of deduction, Highness," the green-eyed priest of Thoth supplied mildly. He sat back, relaxed, even as the royal scion of Lyonnesse remained tense. "You see, the Master of Jackals was after more than a few million in gold, great as such gain might be to most of us here. The demands for replacing the established pantheon of Avillonia with the pseudo-Egyptian ones, and giving over your mighty Wheel of the Tuatha de Danann, point to no less than an attempt of rebellion."
"Rebellion?" The prince seemed shocked.
"Just so. Think you it unlikely that the folk of this kingdom would stand still for the imposition of foreign gods and a rabble of outlaws in government? Impossible! Murder if you don't comply and civil war at the hint of acceptance. And, my dear Crown Prince, whomever led the law-abiding folk of Lyonnesse against those who supported the Master of Jackals, or even bowed to that one's demands, would be a hero and more. I suggested some involvement of aristocratics and nobility, for what better opportunity to gain the throne of this land than with that?"
"Damn, Inhetep!" blurted Tallesian. "You might have something there!"
"Yes," the Behon said in a serious tone, "I believe he does. Have I your leave to—" He was looking at the crown prince as he spoke, and he left his sentence unfinished.
The prince had a somber expression as he nodded. "I understand, Lord Justiciar. You have my leave to depart. Tell the inquisitors that I would have knowledge of any noble name even hinted at by their prisoners. Tell them that I am most anxious for speedy news. Then return."
The man bowed and took leave immediately. While the Behon was absent, the remaining four sat and said little. After a few minutes thus, the prince signaled to Tallesian, and the druid stood up and hurried to Llewyn's chair at the table's head. "My liege?" The crown prince whispered something, then added in normal voice, "And have servants bring us a course of refreshment, too." Tallesian hurried off to do whatever the prince had ordered. Rachelle looked inquiringly at Setne, but he seemed distracted and did not respond in any fashion.
"Your Royal Highness."
"What is it, Magister?"
"Have you considered the possibility, however slight it might be, I will hasten to add, that one or both of the men now absent from us might be involved in the plotting and murder?"
Llewyn opened his mouth quickly as if to speak, then shut it with an audible click of teeth, and his ruddy complexion seemed slightly more flushed for a moment. He stared hard at the Egyptian for several seconds, then dropped his gaze from the unwavering eyes of the shaven-headed priest. "Very well, I shall tell you, but it must never pass beyond the walls of this chamber. Do you both agree to that? Swear on honor and life?"
Both Rachelle and the ur-kheri-heb nodded, and the nobleman seemed satisfied by that small affirmation. "I am destined to sit on the throne one day, and as the future king of Lyonnesse, I am trained to trust no one entirely and to investigate any and every small suspicion. When the blackmail first began, I had my own secret agents delve into the activities of all three—the Behon, Tallesian the Archdruid of our Realm, and, yes, the Gwyddorr as well."
He paused and thumped a fist on the rosewood table to emphasize what he said. "The two former vassals were found absolutely upright and above reproach in all respects, but there was some slight question as to Aldriss—mainly a matter of his morals. I ignored the report. That is a hard lesson, Magister Inhetep. It is one I shall never forget!"
"By the Black Bull of Apis," the wizard-priest murmured as he shook his head in sympathy. "I don't envy your position now, Prince Llewyn, but the cares of crowned heads are ever thus, I suppose."
A very odd expression crossed the royal prince's face as he digested what Setne said. There seemed to be an irony in the Egyptian's words, and a tone of voice which wasn't quite right. There was a sharp rap at the door. Prince Llewyn bade the one without to enter, and a line of servitors filed in with all manner of food and drink. These were placed on the table at the prince's order, and then the servers departed. "Help yourselves to whatever you like," Llewyn said, but he still eyed Inhetep oddly as he toyed idly with a plate of fruits and sweetmeats which had been set before him. As if on cue, both the Justiciar and Lord Tallesian returned before the three had had more than a mouthful to eat or drink. "Well?" demanded the prince, pushing aside the refreshments before him.
"I have a list of several nobles, Royal Highness," the Behon said, as if he were reciting some lesson in a classroom. "Two are mentioned here who are thegns." At this juncture the man swallowed and gave dramatic pause. "These nobles pretended to be friends and counsellors of your own Royal Father."
Prince Llewyn waved to silence the shocked gasps from Tallesian. "How many?" he demanded of the chief judge. "You have men ready, Archdruid?" he asked.
"Aye, Prince Llewyn, I do," the druid murmured.
"In addition to the two thegns, Highness," the Behon said as soon as his compatriot had ceased speaking, "there are a baron, two lairds, and an assortment of bannerets, vavasors, and landed knights."
"I'll stake my reputation on the fact they possess unusual riches and seemingly have utmost loyalty to the Crown," Inhetep said loudly, looking with fixed stare at the reader. That made the Behon uneasy.
"How did you know that?"
"Treachery is most often apparent and predictable," the ur-kheri-heb announced to the room, giving especial attention to the Kellts. "Treason even more so, it would appear," he added. Then looking only at the prince, Setne asked, "And you, Crown Prince, I think you have anticipated something of this nature too, haven't you? Lord Tallesian, your trusted cleric, has a force of agents now ready to hunt down these offenders, right?"
"Exactly, sagacious priest and magus. It seems you anticipate all I do here. Your Pharaoh is not well-served by your wanderings, Magister. You should be in your native Egypt to assist and counsel your king!"
Inhetep smiled. "Thank you, but I wouldn't miss this sort of adventure for the vice-royalty of all imperial lands ever ruled by a Pharaoh," he responded. "So you have the whole affair wrapped up in a neat and tidy package after all. The dead Gwyddorr, Aldriss, was none other than the Master of Jackals, all of his minions are safely shut fast in dungeon cells, the treasonous nobles will be brought to justice—and the extortion money?"
"Unrecovered save for a drib and drab, but a cheap enough price, all in all," the royal prince commented.
"That's so, for those who are found guilty forfeit all—" Tallesian started to say, biting off his words when Prince Llewyn gave him a withering look of reprimand.
"Nothing left to do, then, but report the whole nasty affair to His Majesty, King Glydel," Setne said with finality.
"What? What did you say?!" The royal prince of Lyonnesse, first son of the king, was near purple with anger. "If you so much as breathe a word of any of this I'll have your headl"
"I see," Inhetep responded calmly, laying his hand on Rachelle's, for the girl was about to draw a weapon from her garments. No one could safely threaten Inhetep's life in her presence.
"My Royal Prince simply means tha
t this sort of thing must be kept from our monarch. The king is no longer young, and Prince Llewyn fears for his health. If he found out this dark treachery, why it would break the good king's heart." The Behon was conciliatory.
"The Crown Prince will see to the scourging of the traitors," Tallesian added stoutly. "I am his instrument in that regard."
"You and the Behon there, and Prince Llewyn are instruments of perdition," Magister Setne Inhetep said harshly. "The king must be told, for his heir and trusted advisors are the ones who plot treason and murder—have committed those crimes, too. I am here to tell you that I know the whole truth, my lords, and to tell you that you will be brought to justice!"
"I had planned for this contingency, too," Llewyn snarled. Inhetep's chair suddenly dropped through the floor. Rachelle's fell with it. "You, Egyptian dog, will now serve to be the greatest of the offenders, the Master of Jackals himself. Too bad that neither the magick of the Behon or prayers of our Archdruid will ever be able to discover your true motives." The two men laughed as their prince closed the yawning trapdoors. They had assisted in the preparations, so both knew neither magick nor physical prowess would enable the two victims to escape the certain death awaiting them below.
—— 14 —
THE JACKAL'S PACK
"So much, Myffed, for the dupe you planned for."
The Behon bowed at his prince's scornful words. "Even the greatest magicks can not always accurately predict human irrationalities, my Royal Lord," he said humbly. "Yet now we have what we desired anyway."
