The King's Man

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Authors: Pauline Gedge
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stopped squawking and appeared to be nuzzling her bare legs as she freed its leash and led it back to the group of men by the door.
    “I really am sorry, Captain,” she said while the goose glared balefully around. “I have a dreadful temper. Father can’t seem to beat it out of me.” She turned to Huy. “‘Be serious of heart, steady your thoughts, and do not use your tongue to steer by.’” She smiled at Huy. “But Amenemopet can be very boring and sanctimonious as well as offering good advice, can’t he, Great Seer? My father has me schooled with my older brother Ay and my younger brother Anen. Anen is friends with your nephew Ramose, you know.”
    “No, I didn’t know. What are you doing here without a guard, in the middle of the night?”
    “Nib-Nib is a much better protector for me than any guard,” she replied promptly, “and of course I’m here because I want you to Scry for me.”
    Huy stared at her. She went on smiling, standing loosely and easily with the goose squatting by her feet, the cool wind stirring her linen against a body still largely bony and unformed yet held with confidence. Only her eyes were truly beautiful, large and perfectly shaped, the brows pleasingly feathered above eyelids that were already full. Her mouth in repose turned down, giving her an expression of dissatisfaction. Her nose was too wide. Yet she exuded the force of a powerful though still embryonic personality that suffused an otherwise ugly little face and made it strangely compelling. Her dark red hair fell to her shoulders and gleamed with health in the guttering lamplight. Her fingers held the leash with confident grace. Mitanni blood , Huy thought. Warrior blood .
    “I will Scry for you with your father’s permission, but certainly not tonight,” he said. “Do your parents even know that you’re not on your couch? No, I didn’t think so. Captain Perti and these two men will rouse my litter-bearers and take you home immediately. I hope that Yuya disciplines you severely.”
    “So I have walked all this way for nothing?”
    “Yes. Don’t do it again.” His glance at Perti was a permission to move. “Your selfishness has robbed me of sleep and given these good men an extra duty to perform. Captain Perti will give you into the care of your father’s chief steward with a full account of your behaviour. Then, if your father agrees, you may send to my chief steward for a suitable time to come to my apartments through the front door. Give no more trouble.”
    Her eyes blazed at him and that sullen mouth opened, but the moment of rebellion passed. She bowed. “I have deserved your tongue-lashing, Great Seer. I will behave.”
    Perti left Huy’s side and, sending one of his men for a replacement, stepped to Tiye. “By the time your new guard arrives, I will have the bearers up and ready, Master,” he said. Gently he took the girl’s arm. The goose, after giving him one sharp and beady glance, ignored him. The small cavalcade began to leave, but Huy stopped them.
    “Tiye, how is your grandfather?” he asked on impulse.
    The girl did not turn. “Yey is beyond healing now,” she said sadly. “All that’s left to us will be the Prayers for the Dead in a very short time. Thank you for your concern.”
    Huy did not wait to see her swallowed up by the darkness. Bidding Tetiankh close the door, he swiftly crossed his reception hall, entered his bedchamber, pulled off the kilt, and regained the couch. He was already hungry for more poppy. The encounter with Tiye had agitated him, why he did not know. It was something more than having to deal with the spoilt child of an aristocrat. The incident seemed to have a curious aura around it in his mind, as though every word, every action, even the scents carried on the wind and the flicker of the lamp’s flame in a soldier’s hand, were imbued with hidden meaning. Though he was very tired, Huy knew that without his drug he would be unable to sleep. Sending Tetiankh

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