foot. Meren stepped back, bent, and snatched the sandals from his unwanted servant.
Sliding into the footwear, he said, 'Othrys wants to be rid of me because he fears for his own head. That's why he's so anxious to help.'
'He considered giving you to pharaoh,' Naram-Sin said softly.
Meren paused in running his fingers through his wet hair. 'Oh?'
'But I convinced him that in doing so he would invite inconvenient royal attention. I said that pharaoh is wise beyond his years and might ask himself why you sought the protection of a man who is supposed to be but a Greek ship captain and trader.'
Meren didn't reply at once. He studied Naram-Sin, trying to divine the man's motives. Was his obvious interest that of one who preferred men, or was it but a ruse?
'What do you want, Naram-Sin?'
'Only for the lord to allow me to aid him.'
'And in return?'
Meren stiffened as Naram-Sin came closer, but the scribe stopped when he was within a pace of him.
'In return,' Naram-Sin whispered, 'I want… friendship.'
Turning, Meren walked to the door and opened it. 'I can't be the friend of a man whose very name is a lie.'
'Kysen told you my name is that of an ancient king,' Naram-Sin said.
'Yes.'
'But that doesn't mean that the spirit of the name is a lie.'
'I have no time for or interest in this game,' Meren said. He pushed the door open wider. 'Wait outside while I finish dressing.'
With Naram-Sin out of the bathing chamber, Meren put on a new wig that the scribe had provided, along with a clean loincloth. Meren would have traded either for a dagger or scimitar. Outside, Naram-Sin was draped across Ese's sleeping couch. He got up as Meren entered and spoke before they reached the antechamber.
'If you live…'
Meren glanced at him and lifted a brow. 'Yes?'
'If you live, perhaps I'll tell you my real name. If that will bring your friendship.'
'I don't care what your real name is. I'm going to find Ese and arrange to sleep here tonight.'
Naram-Sin shook his head. 'Othrys commands that you return to his house. You can be better concealed there. I know a safe route that runs through the houses of friends.'
'As long as I don't have to step in any more dung piles.'
Meren followed Naram-Sin downstairs and into the main tavern room. They were passing the great circular fireplace when someone crossed their path. Flame light touched a robe of crimson sewn with roundels of gold. A hand burdened with rings of amethyst, green jasper, and chalcedony flashed out and caught Naram-Sin by the shoulder. Meren was forced to stop behind his escort.
'Naram-Sin,' said the owner of the hand. 'May Baal and Ishtar bless you.'
The scribe bowed with the ease of the finest courtier. 'Zulaya. Good fortune to you. We thought you'd gone to Byblos.'
'I'm honored that Othrys speculates upon my whereabouts.'
'Only in passing,' Naram-Sin replied with another bow. 'Your pardon, but I'm on an errand for the master.'
The scribe moved, but Zulaya stepped into his path and waved at Meren with the cup of wine he was holding. 'Othrys has a new servant?'
Meren kept his mouth shut. He didn't trust his ability to play a common Greek sailor before this well-traveled merchant. Naram-Sin glanced over his shoulder at Meren as if he'd forgotten him.
'New servant? Oh, no. This is Tros, a friend.' Before he could react, Naram-Sin wrapped a hand around his arm and pulled Meren against him. 'Tros is from Mycenae. His family is high in the favor of the prince.'
'Ah,' Zulaya said as he bowed to Meren. 'I have many dealings with other Greek cities, but not Mycenae. Perhaps we could share wine and speak of trade?'
Meren opened his mouth, but Naram-Sin spoke first.
'A most tempting invitation, but we have promised to be elsewhere, and it's getting late. Perhaps another time?'
Zulaya inclined his head and stepped aside. As Meren passed, he said, 'It's a dark night, Tros. Be careful.'
Meren nodded and hurried after Naram-Sin. He caught up with the scribe as he stepped outside. One of Othrys's guards was waiting. Meren kept silent until the guard led them into a deserted house. Then he stopped Naram-Sin.
'Where did Zulaya come from? How long was he in the Divine Lotus tonight?'
Naram-Sin gave an impatient sigh. 'By the earth mother, you demand the impossible, lord. I cannot know everything, even for you.'
The guard suddenly became interested in the plaster on the wall in the next room as Meren stalked closer to the scribe.
'I've practiced the patience of Isis with you, Naram-Sin.Give me an untwisted answer before I tie your legs around your neck.'
Holding up his hands, Naram-Sin chuckled and said, 'I obey, great lord, but you won't like my answer. No one knows when Zulaya arrives or when he leaves, not even Othrys.'
'So he could have just arrived. He could have been in the streets earlier in the evening.'
'He could have been in the netherworld,' Naram-Sin replied, 'and neither you nor I would know it.' The scribe lowered his voice. 'It is said that Zulaya's power comes from demons of that place.'
'Power comes from wealth ordained by the gods, Naram-Sin.'
'And birth, lord.'
'Do you know a well-born man without wealth?' Meren made a slashing motion with his hand. 'I've no time for useless speculation. You've ruined my plans for this Zulaya. He's seen me, and now I can't make his acquaintance as Lord Meren.'
'In truth, lord, you're more likely to gain Zulaya's trust as a Greek. He leaves the trading matters here to his underlings and has few dealings with Egyptians.'
'When will he come to the Divine Lotus again?'
Naram-Sin shook his head and gave Meren a smile that irritated its recipient with its familiarity. 'His visits to the city are brief and rare. A merchant prince must travel ceaselessly, for he trades in countless places. As for finding him again-'
'I must find him again,' Meren said.
The scribe hesitated, his brow furrowing as if he struggled with some elusive thought. 'Lord, Zulaya is like the desert storm-winds; he appears from nothing and vanishes into nothing.'
'Nevertheless-'
Meren went silent and raised a warning hand to Naram-Sin. They had been standing in a narrow room, the roof of which was supported by a single column. The house itself had no second story, and the roof served as a living area. He'd heard a distant thump on the roof, as if someone had landed on it from the second story of the building next door. Meren signaled to their guard. The man hurried through the house to the rear door, but as he disappeared Meren heard scurrying from above. Launching himself after the guard, he burst past Naram-Sin.
'Come, quickly!'
He ran through the house to the rear door, which stood open. Throwing himself beside the portal, he grabbed Naram-Sin before the other man could run outside. The guard reappeared, beckoning. Meren slipped out of the house, followed by Naram-Sin. Keeping their backs to the house walls, they hurried for the shelter of an alley shrouded in blackness. As they gained concealment, Meren glanced back and saw movement on the roof of the house they'd just left. Then a shout cut through the quiet.
'They've gone out the back.''
Naram-Sin grabbed Meren's arm and whispered furiously, 'Follow the guard. I'll go separately, and they'll have to chase us both.'
