Page 35 of Over the Emerald Valley
Would his life go back to normal when Solon left, or would there be a Solon-shaped hole he could never fill? He was safe here and comfortable. Still, what would it be like to ride on a chariot or sail on a ship?
What would it be like to serve only one kind, gentle man?
CHAPTER11
Solon
Though Khu’stour had been mostly useless, spending the afternoon with Temaj made up for it. Who needed feeling in your legs when you had a lover in your lap? Not Solon.
Afterward, he’d declined dinner with Abasi in favor of eating with his men, but an audience with the viceroy loomed like an oncoming dust storm.
Stars twinkled overhead as he walked from camp back to the palace. Cooler air swept in from the highlands. His thoughts were uncharacteristically scattered, his normal easy focus elusive. The day had been full of highs and lows, but what would the night hold? A straightforward answer to the mystery of the missing emeralds? Somehow, Solon doubted it.
The slow trickle of information only gave the men in charge more time to sort their stories. Uncovering the truth would be as grueling as digging up the jewels themselves.
Solon trekked up the palace steps, intent on getting to the bottom of things.
Abasi and a contingent of guards awaited him in the same parlor where he’d met with Khu. A servant brought him forth with a formal introduction as if he hadn’t already been there for days. He repressed the urge to roll his eyes.
“How are you finding the accommodations?” asked the viceroy with a wink-wink-nudge-nudge lilt on the last word that made Solon uncomfortable. But Temaj would want to be praised, so he forced himself into an answer worthy of the concubine.
“Theaccommodationsare most obliging, thank you. Exquisite beyond compare.” There, hopefully he’d done Temaj justice with the remark. “I’m here to discuss the mine’s production.”
“Have a seat.” Abasi gestured to the chair opposite.
“Thank you, but no. I’d like to see the emeralds. Where are they kept?”
Abasi clasped his hands at his navel, rings glaring from every finger. The man was overdecorated from wig to sandals. Too much jewelry, too much fine linen and silk, too much perfume, and too much powder—his skin was made unnaturally pale. But Solon cared little for appearances. He needed answers.
“I’m afraid the location of the product is a closely guarded secret. It’s not safe to take you there.”
That was an excuse if he ever heard one. Not safe? Bah. “Nevertheless, I must insist. The pharaoh requires a thorough accounting. I’ll set eyes on the stones myself without further delay, or I’ll think you have something to hide.”
Abasi’s expression hardened. A cold glare crossed his gaze. “Nothing to hide, General, I assure you. Only a secure storage facility I’d like to remain that way. The more people know its location, the more suspects there are if trouble should arise.”
“Are you implying there will be trouble?”
“Of course not. However, let me present a compromise. I’ll send Khu for a full accounting and have the palace scribe make a copy for you to take back to Horemheb for the royal records.”
“That will not be adequate, Viceroy. My orders are clear.”
Abasi huffed an irritated sigh through his nose. “Very well. I see you’re a scrupulous man who’ll settle for no less than diligent obedience. Horemheb must admire that in his commanders. I shall stand in your way no further, but I must insist on the time to enact a series of protocols. For the safety of the pharaoh’s emeralds, of course.”
“What protocols?”
Abasi signaled to one of his guards, and the man bowed his head and made his exit. “Walk with me,” he said to Solon, then to the others, “You’re dismissed.” The men left in the opposite direction.
If only he had insisted Neku be admitted to the palace, just to have a set of eyes on those guards, even though it would be an unusual request.
He walked at Abasi’s side as the viceroy led them toward the inner courtyard. Abasi had dodged the question, and Solon found himself forced to repeat it. “Tell me about these protocols.”
Abasi threw a sideways glance his way. “To be perfectly honest with you, we’ve experienced certain…issuesregarding the transport of the emeralds that have led to tighter security measures. I’m sure you understand.”
Solon understood gems were missing but wasn’t surprised Abasi wouldn’t come right out and say it. Especially since he was the most obvious suspect. “And these measures are?”
Abasi waved the question away. “Standard procedure. The guards report directly to me, and so does Khu. Not even Irsu is left unchecked. Each time the storage facility is accessed, records must be drawn up, approved, filed. It won’t take long. In the meantime, tell me about your stay. How do you find Sikait?”
In all that chatter, Abasi didn’t give any proper answers. Solon wouldn’t be cajoled into discussing his mission as if it were a vacation rather than a directive straight from Horemheb.
