Meren took the stone, grabbing it by the end. Something in that gesture bothered Kysen, but he couldn't decide how. They stared at the black stone together. The surface was smooth from constant grinding and had a dull sheen. Kysen rubbed it with his fingers, but they came away clean. No trace of any substance at all. He returned the stone to its quern.
As he did so, he passed a water jar hanging suspended in a net. The vessel was made of clay, allowing some of the water to seep and keep the rest cool. He picked up a pottery cup and poured water into it. He drank all the water before he rejoined Meren, who was standing at the base of the granary in which Anhai had been found.
While the laborers and Hray filed out of the granary court, they stood contemplating the tall structure.
'Reia and the others have collected reports on all the servants and guests,' Meren said. 'We have yet to question Wah, Idut, Sennefer's parents, and Aunt Cherit.'
'You don't think Aunt Idut or dear old Cherit-'
'Of course not, but they may have seen something.'
'You spoke to the Lady Bentanta?'
Meren kicked at the door in the base of the granary. 'That woman has more boldness and insolence than a she-falcon. I swear when she looks at me she sees a boy with a sidelock.'
Kysen's glance took in Meren's greater height and charioteer's build. 'I don't think so.'
'She must, or she wouldn't have refused to answer my questions. I subjected her to a formal inquiry, and she threw it back in my face. She's hiding something, Ky, and I'm going to find out what it is. If she doesn't give in tomorrow morning, I'll-curse it-I don't want to do what I'm going to have to do.'
'Don't worry. If you tried to frighten her, you succeeded. You're good at it.' Kysen glanced around the courtyard. 'It's growing dark. Time to eat. And I'm going to get some sleep before I have to go to the haunted temple.'
'At least we've been successful there,' Meren said.
'And what of Ra?'
'I'm going to Green Palm tomorrow morning and talk to those tavern women myself. Then I'll confront Bentanta.'
'Which of them do you think did it?' Kysen asked.
'I don't know.'
'Would you rather find Bentanta guilty?'
Meren's head jerked in his direction. His eyes widened, and Kysen heard a sharp intake of breath.
'Of course,' Meren said. 'Of course, I'd rather it was her than my brother, no matter how irritating he is.'
'It's just that you seem uncertain.'
Meren fixed him with a forbidding stare. 'I'm uncertain about who has committed this evil, and I'm worried about the danger to the rest of us.'
'Of course,' Kysen said. 'Shall I have the cook send food to your chamber? I don't think you want to eat in the hall with Idut.'
After the evening meal, Kysen left Meren to deal with a pile of correspondence and went upstairs to the office. He was going over the results of questioning the servants and slaves when Iry arrived, escorting Wah. The man had been an ubiquitous presence at Baht. He hovered over Idut dispensing sympathy, compliments, and gifts. He listened to Great-Aunt Cherit's numerous stories of people long dead, nodding and feigning interest. He had tried to gain interviews with Meren, even tried to waylay him during Sennefer's fatal illness. Meren had remarked with venom that if Wah tried to leave as Ra and Hepu had, he might be tempted to let him go.
Now Wah trotted into the office, eager as a hound, his ever-present basket of dates in one hand, the other wiping runny kohl from his eye. Kysen offered him a stool and took Meren's chair. He had to force himself to do this, for his impulse would be to take the stool. But Meren wouldn't have approved. His rank as a royal inquiry agent demanded that he present an air of authority. Iry settled himself nearby to take notes.
Wah gave the charioteer an apprehensive look before folding his long frame to fit on the stool. 'Such terrible happenings, dear Kysen. I've tried to comfort your aunt and the Lady Cherit. They need me, since you and your father are so busy trying to find the evil one responsible for these deaths. Poor Anhai and Sennefer. Have you found out who it is? I hear the Lady Bentanta is confined to her chamber, as is Nakht-um, Ra, that is.'
'The charioteer Reia tells me you agreed with reports that during Hepu's Instruction at the feast Bentanta left with Anhai.'
'Yes,' Wah said as he popped a date in his mouth. 'I saw them quarrel. Quite a few people did. And later they left together, which I thought odd considering how little tolerance they seemed to have for each other. Forgive me, but I don't understand why the Lady Bentanta was here at all. I know Idut said she was visiting Sennefer and Anhai when the invitation arrived for the feast.'
This was why Meren disliked Wah. The man probed and pried and busied himself in affairs that didn't concern him, and he wouldn't stop talking. Kysen found himself trying to strangle the arms of his chair and grinding his teeth.
'Did you see Anhai at all after Hepu finished his Instruction?'
'No, but I saw Sennefer.' Wah laughed. 'I remember being able to spot him no matter how thick the crowd because he had a fresh unguent cone on, and it was lopsided. It was a wonder it didn't fall off before it melted.'
'And this was after Hepu had finished?'
'Oh, yes. Sennefer was talking to one of Antefoker's daughters. The poor girl was blushing and hiding her face behind a fly whisk. I never did understand how Sennefer escaped being garroted by some irate father or abused husband.'
'Do you know of anyone like that who might have wanted Sennefer dead?'
'I hear there were many,' Wah said, giving Kysen a curious glance. 'But I thought Sennefer died of poison wine, Lady Bentanta's pomegranate wine.'
'And your servants at the guest house say you retired from the feast along with Nebetta and Hepu, before Sennefer.'
'Am I under suspicion?' Wah drew himself up, but failed in his attempt at dignity; in his position on the stool, his knees stuck up nearly to his ears.
'I'm merely making a thorough inquiry,' Kysen said.
'Well then, I retired after thanking Idut and your father for an enjoyable feast, and I slept through the night. You may ask my servant.'
'I have,' Kysen said. 'And I've made other inquiries. You were with my aunt for most of the feast, and you even remained in the hall listening to Hepu's entire Instruction.'
'I found it most rewarding. Your uncle is a man of high character and honor.'
'You think so?'
Wah bit into another date and contemplated the remaining half fruit in his fingers. 'I've tried to speak with your father several times without success, my boy. I'm worried about your aunt and your sisters. It might be safer for them if I took them to Memphis until you've solved this crime.'
'You?'
'After all, I'm Idut's proposed husband. It's my duty to look after her, and as a future member of the family, I'm concerned for the well-being of my little nieces.'
Kysen had no intention of letting this date-munching place-seeker get his hands on his sisters. 'I thank you, Wah. I'll put your suggestion to my father. In the meantime you'll continue to lend your support to Aunt Idut by remaining with us.'
'Of course. My, you've been busy making so many inquiries. I had no idea you'd checked my every movement at the feast.'
'Not just you, but yes, we have. We know that you rose late after the feast, after Anhai's body was found, and that you spent the morning lending comfort to the family. I also know that you didn't speak with Sennefer until everyone went to the garden to eat. He fell sick while you were nearby, on the couch.'
'You're surpassing thorough.' Wah set his date basket down on the floor. 'So you already know that I didn't come near poor Sennefer.'
'But did you see anyone go near Sennefer's wine cup when he was in the garden?'
