Guardian of the Horizon - Elizabeth Peters [172]
“I was looking for you when they caught me.”
It was a fairly pointed reminder of what we owed him. He had obviously stopped to change from the priest’s robes to the MacFerguson disguise before going in search of us. He would have to have done so, I supposed, since even Sethos could not maintain the priestly role with anyone except Amase. He certainly had not wasted his time if he had managed to suborn the aged High Priest of Isis. I wondered what he had promised Amase in exchange.
“Er—ladies?” said Sethos. One of the guards had a sword at his throat. “I believe the—er—new monarch is waiting for your reply.”
“Oh, very well,” I said. “What do you want us to do, Merasen?”
Merasen stood up and advanced toward us. “Come,” he said, and took Nefret by the wrist. I struck him smartly on the arm with my parasol.
“We will follow,” I said. “Lead on.”
I had delayed as long as I could. The room was darkening, lighted by torches and braziers. We had gone only a few steps when a man burst into the room and dropped to his knees before Merasen. He wore the feathered helmet of the royal guards and his chest heaved like that of a winded horse.
“They are coming,” he panted. “Save yourselves. The battle is lost!”
“Huzzah!” I shouted, waving my parasol.
Merasen’s royal foot knocked the legs out from under the messenger. “You lie!” he screamed, his eyes bulging.
He was the only one in the room who clung to that fond belief. There was a rush to the window. I hardly need say I was in the fore-front, pulling Nefret along with me.
At Merasen’s orders the plaza had been packed with spectators. Many of the rekkit were there; the village must have been emptied, at swordpoint, to behold Merasen’s triumph. The word had already reached the audience, for they were swaying back and forth and crying out, but the spears of the soldiers flanking the staircase held them back. As yet there was no sight of Tarek’s advancing army.
When I turned I saw that the room was emptying with a speed little short of miraculous. Some of the priests hoisted their robes to their knees in order to run faster. Merasen stood over the body of the messenger. He had met the fate oft meted out to bearers of bad news; Merasen’s sword had cleaved his skull. A good third of the guards had also melted away, including the two who had held Sethos. His eyes met mine across the width of the room. For a moment he wavered, balanced on one foot as if about to spin round, and I fully expected he would beat a hasty retreat. Then he said, in a voice that carried clear across the room, “Goddamn it, Amelia, watch out!” and ducked efficiently as a spear whizzed over his head and clattered against the wall.
Not all the guards had retreated. There would be a last stand, with us in the middle of it. My shout of “Surrender! Lay down your weapons!” had not the slightest effect on any of them. Selim had acquired a spear, whence I did not inquire. Moroney took hold of me. “Get behind me, Mrs. Emerson,” he cried.
“Nonsense,” I replied. “Look after Nefret and get out of my way.”
Merasen stood motionless, his bloody sword in his hand. He did not move until the commander of the guard touched him on the shoulder. “We await your orders, prince,” he said. Then he looked at me. “Fear not, lady, none will harm you. But I have betrayed one king and I will not betray another.”
“But he isn’t the king!” I shrieked. “He killed his father and his brothers. If that isn’t just like a man…” The commander looked bewildered, and I realized I had spoken English. Before I could try again, I heard a commotion in the corridor. It heralded the arrival of Ramses, who pushed his way past two surprised guards and came to a stop, struggling to catch his breath. His black hair was wildly windblown and the linen kilt that was his only garment was in tatters. However, he did not seem to have acquired any new injuries.
“Your father?” I cried.
“Safe. I came on ahead.” He didn’t waste breath asking after the rest of us, he could see for himself. He looked round the room. His brows lifted at the sight of Sethos, but