City of the Dead

and cradling herself in his arms. He held her gently, saying nothing.
    At length she was quiet. The kohl around her eyes had run with her tears and he dabbed at it with a fold of his shawl, eliciting a smile again.
    ‘What shall we do?’
    ‘No one is going to betray you to Kenamun,’ said Huy, ‘but you must go back home.’
    ‘No!’
    ‘It will not be for long. How much have you told Hapu?’
    ‘He knows that Merinakhte is not welcome. He hates him anyway. That house was as much Hapu’s home as mine.’
    ‘Whatever happens, Hapu must stay there. You must not make it look as if you are leaving.’ He held up his hand as she opened her mouth to object, it is all right. We will be able to make arrangements for Hapu to follow us after we are gone, if he wishes it.’
    ‘And when will that be?’
    ‘Soon.’
    ‘But my father - ’
    Huy looked at her. ‘There is no time to talk of that now. But do not worry. I will come to you soon. I will take every precaution. I must arrange for the queen’s departure. Ay has agreed to it but I must move fast in case he changes his mind.’
    ‘Can I help you?’
    ‘Your help will be vital, if all goes well. But not yet.’ He made a move to go.
    ‘Huy.’ She touched his lips with her fingers.
    ‘Be brave.’
    ‘I am terrified.’
    ‘So am I.’
    They smiled at each other, touched foreheads, and kissed. ‘Now go,’ he said.

    As Senseneb drew away from Huy and hurried into the night Horemheb, in the low dark workroom of his palace, angrily crushed a document in one large fist and glared up at the two men who stood opposite him. Illuminated from below by the lamps on the table, they looked like demons. One wore an expression of uneasy pleasure. The other looked taut, and angry.
    ‘What Ineny has just told us is very interesting,’ Horemheb said, turning from Ay’s servant to Kenamun. it makes me wonder what our people have been doing. From your reports I thought that everything was in order.’ it is. This is a new development, but not unexpected.’ Kenamun ran his tongue over his lips. Huy again. He had not forgotten their encounter years earlier, and his regret was that he had not finished him then. His misguided gratitude for the little scribe’s help in solving a case was rebounding on him now.
    ‘This man Huy is a former servant of the Great Criminal,’ put in Ineny.
    ‘Yes,’ replied Horemheb. ‘I met him once myself. We have underestimated him.’
    ‘He is nobody,’ said Kenamun. is he? He has managed to be a thorn in our side.’
    ‘I know where he lives. I’ll deal with him,’ said Kenamun, eager to recover lost ground.
    ‘Be careful,’ said Ineny. ‘He is under Ay’s protection.’ Kenamun looked at him with contempt. Horemheb ignored them both, retreating into his thoughts. Ineny’s information had come too late. If the man had decided to change sides earlier, things might have been different. He smoothed out the paper he had crumpled. It was a summons from Ay to a meeting, to be attended by the chief priest of Amun and the vizir of the Southern Land, the following morning. That Ay should suddenly have the assurance to summon him to a meeting was a shock. His shoulders slumped. At least he had the advantage of knowing what to expect. They might be able to block him, but they could not destroy him. And if it meant that he had to let Ay wear the pschent and become pharaoh, what then? He had ten years on the old man, and Nezemmut was young. She would have more children.
    Still he could have done without this. He looked up at the two greedy, sullen, expectant faces above him. A pair of Set’s vampires, and worth about as much. Perhaps he had used the wrong tools to climb with.
    Irresistibly, his thoughts turned to the armies in the north. He had always been more of a soldier than a politician. He would see what could be salvaged from the wreck. In the meantime...
    Pointing at Ineny he looked at Kenamun. ‘Pay this shit off and get Huy,’ he said. ‘Now. Tonight. Yourself.’
    He rose and crossed to the window, dismissing them with his back. A petty revenge, killing Huy. Like stamping on a scorpion after it had stung you. He heard the men leave the room, the hasty scuffle of their feet on the floor. But if Huy killed Kenamun, that would be no loss. Kenamun had ceased to be useful now.

    After leaving Senseneb, Huy returned to his house, but he did not stay long. He washed and changed quickly, filled his purse, and made his way quickly