Page 29 of Over the Emerald Valley
Solon took the ribbing in stride. He was used to such from Neku and didn’t mind the man’s naturally teasing nature. But he worried for him too. Under another commander, the informal conversation might not be tolerated, and Solon didn’t know how much longer he’d be in charge. “Go on.”
“The men and I have been in the mines yesterday and today, working with the miners and asking questions. This place has a lion’s share of rumors.” Neku’s overly animated face told the story along with his words, eyes wide, brows raised. “But the one we collectively agree must be true, for we were all told nearly the same thing by different people, is that a good chunk of the mine’s stored emeralds—the gems waiting for transfer by boat—goes missing each time they prepare for shipment.”
“Goes missing?”
“Stolen.” Neku emphasized the word. “Every time.”
“Khu mentioned no such thefts.”
“Is he the accountant?”
Solon nodded.
“Well, he wouldn’t mention it, would he? I wonder how much he knows. It looks bad for the men in charge. The jewels are carted away to the palace, kept under lock and key. And while it’s understandable they’d be a valuable target for a thief, what no one can explain is why no vandal has yet been caught. No guard or miner arrested. No man detained.”
Solon considered this. “You’d think after the first time emeralds went missing, they’d escalate precautions. Post more guards. You’re saying they didn’t?”
Neku shrugged. “I don’t know. The miners aren’t privy to what happens to the jewels after they’re inside the palace, but they know that when they cart the gems to the coast, there are fewer than when they carted them to the palace in the first place. Fishy, right?”
“Very.” Solon scowled. “It implicates the officials. The men who should know better.”
“All men should know better than to steal what doesn’t belong to them.”
“Indeed. Still, it will be difficult to get the truth from Abasi’s people if they’re involved. And they must be.”
“What will you do?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ll have to think about it. Tell me of the other rumors.”
“Some of them are wild.” Neku gave a low whistle and rolled his eyes. “Obviously not true.”
“Tell me anyway, if you would.”
“They say there’s a second palace hidden below the original, all underground, like a tomb, but just as splendid as the one we see before us.” Neku cast his gaze to the opulent residence. “That’s clearly impossible. No way could they have dug so far below ground without Irsu knowing, and Irsu claims the men are all talk.”
Solon had noted that. Perhaps he could ask Temaj. Surely, the harem had their own knowledge of the dwelling, their own rumors as well. But could he trust Temaj not to tell Abasi? He thought he could, but it would be unwise to trust so soon. They didn’t really know each other at all, even if it felt that way in bed.
Solon rolled his not-as-sore-as-usual shoulders and shoved thoughts of the flirty concubine out of his mind. “What else?”
A younger soldier, Jontil, appeared before Neku could answer, returning from the direction of the mines and covered in dust. “Is this a private party?”
“No,” said Solon. “Have a seat. Neku is filling me in on what the miners have told you. Add your voice.”
“They’re a superstitious lot, these southerners.” Jontil took a stool and glanced at Neku. “Did you tell him about the blood ghouls?”
“Not yet.”
“One of you get on with it,” Solon snapped.
Jontil conceded the tale to Neku. Neku lowered his voice. “They whisper of legends from the Nubian lands beyond these hills. Legends of blood demons that infect the living during the twilight of dusk or dawn. The infected must kill to stay alive. Those slain cannot pass Osiris’s judgment and thus remain to haunt the mines. And get this.” Neku leaned in. “They think Abasi is one of them. A blood demon.”
Jontil’s hearty laugh nearly startled Solon off his stool. “Such cow piss, all of it. Nothing needs to haunt the mines to make them creepy. They just are.”
“People make things up to explain the unexplainable. But why do they suspect Abasi?” asked Solon.
“The man is never seen in daylight, apparently, which is odd if it’s true, but it doesn’t make him a demon.”
“It is true,” Solon added. “The daylight part. He rises late, around dinnertime, and has yet to eat a single bite in front of me, though we’ve dined together both nights. I can see how such odd habits would inspire rumors. Temaj says he’s never seen before dusk.”
