Gary Gygax - Dangerous Journeys 3 - Death in Delhi (2 page)

"How so?"

"The author of that plea had no assurance t hat such a valuable piece of jewelry would actually arrive here, even though he wrote to the contrary. Topping that, he failed to Identify himself clearly, saying only thai he was a rnaharajah."

Inhetep smiled. "Do you really like that necklace?"

"Setne! Of course I'd like it! It's stunning, but . . ."

He lifted his hands, turned them palm upwards, and extended them toward her as he said, "Then it is a commission which I cannot refuse."

"Nobody would refuse such a gift, but the rest? You don't know who you are to serve."

"Oh, but I do, my dear," Inhetep told her. "I admit to having a little fun with the pompous Djemer-t. He needed to be reminded who is master here."

"And you've been doing the same with me, haven't you, you swine?" There was no anger or actual insult in her voice, but rather familiarity which acknowledged long experience at being heckled thus. "Come on, Inhetep. Give it to me straight."

The magister didn't push his luck. "Of course," he said in a businesslike voice. "You of all people must know, for if you really want me to keep that bauble and undertake the case, then you too will be involved.

"First, immediately upon seeing that the necklace was real, not some bit of costume jewelry of paste and glass, I knew it never came by post. The one who delivered the parcel was surely one high in the ranks of those serving the sender. Naturally, considering the distances involved, the dangers of a journey over land and water, that one could not have come by regular means. Thus, old Djemer-t's confusion regarding the fellow's horse. It was no normal mount; it could only have been a steed of magickal sort, dweomered by high heka to move as the wind above desert and sea. That assured its swift and safe arrival. Only a fool would trust such an object to a normal courier. Then again, the package was unbonded by cord and seal and bore no franking of any kind, either Eastern or Egyptian. I submit that its arrival at the usual time for such postal delivery was coincidence."

She made a sign of shame in his direction.

"You had arrived at those conclusions before vou queried Djemer-t about the matter, hadn't you? You were just making him squirm." She couldn't remain serious as she said that, for the thought of the stuffy old butler caught thus made Rachelle giggle. The household's major domo had tyrannized her more than once.

"Yes. It is amusing, isn't it?" Setne drawled rhetorically. "But there is the second, more important matter ..."

"Oh, yes. Sorry, Setne. Do go on."

"The Guldir Maharajah Sivadji, Sivadji Guldir iis he is known generally, identified himself immediately in his missive—name, rank, location, all."

"How so? You skipped something just to keep me in the dark, didn't you? That's not fair!"

The magister arose, took the necklace from Rachelle's hands, and bestowed it upon her with ceremony. "This is your gift now, my dear. The maharajah who sits upon the grand Peacock Throne in the city of Delhi has made me an offer which neither you nor I can refuse. We must prepare for immediate departure."

— 2 ——

TO GO QUICKLY

"But my lord, what about your
guests?"
Djemer-t was actually wringing his hands and pleading. "What am I to
tell
them?"

Inhetep smiled. "You have been the major domo of this manor for far too many years to need my advice, my good Djemer-t," he said heartily and then gave the stricken butler a familiar pat on the shoulder. "But you might find it helpful to tell the truth."

"Truth? What does Your Lordship mean? Are you implying—"

"Of course not, Djemer-t! Perish the thought. I meant that you merely need to state the facts of the matter: 'Magister Inhetep has received a royal summons which he deemed impossible to refuse.' Obviously I regret the inconvenience to Tarina Bilkhnu and Lady Atamati, Repa Min-hoten and Repat Hatamet, General Smer Khnemos and his . . . ah . . . friend. You will, naturally, convey that regret, Djemer-t." With that little bit of instruction, Inhetep returned to readying his traveling gear.

The usually implacable butler was unable to hide his stricken expression. He actually groaned. The first named of the guests that he, Djemer-t, a mere major domo, must break the bad news to was Tarina, Minister of Noble Affairs, a prince and blood relation, no matter how distant, to Pharaoh. It was no better in regards to the Duke Minhoten and Duchess Hatamet. The militaiy officer was a count with a hero's record and vast estates. What was he to do? "Begging your pardon, my lord, but wouldn't it be possible for you to delay your departure just a little . . . ?"

Upon seeing the state Djemer-t was in, the magister took pity. "No, it isn't. However, in conveying my apologies and deepest regrets, do extend the hospitality of my home to them. You have my permission to bring forth whatever you deem suitable under the circumstances, from larder, buttery, and wine cellar. I believe that chilled Francian champagne, the Haut Kristal, would be refreshing to dry palates upon arrival. Then some cold roast fowl, fruit, more champagne—you know the routine."

"You mean, my lord, that I may actually . . . ?"

"That's correct, Djemer-t. Don't spare the vintage wines, the best ales, or the most ancient of the liquors. There's sufficient quantities of them to keep even those six happy here for a fortnight or more! Send someone to buy any provisions if you run short. Here's five
atens,"
he added, dropping the heavy gold coins into the butler's hand as he paused in his packing to dig them from his purse, "in case the household treasury is strained, or you need something where I haven't established an account on credit. The staff will be under unusual demands during the coming days, I'm sure, so do feel free to give them some special treats, also. When I get back, I'll consider other things—depending on my guests' satisfaction and the state of the manor."

That more cash would be required for so few visitors to the villa was most unlikely. Hardly an establishment within a dozen miles and more didn't happily sell to Inhetep on credit. He never quibbled about price and paid promptly. Most unusual in an aristocrat. Besides, the household budget was ample, and there were several thousand dinars in coin on hand. Such liberality with regard to the wine cellars was most unusual, indeed! Whatever the magister was up to, thought Djemer-t, it was of utmost importance to Inhetep to get to it, and in a hurry. With wealth such as he possessed, it could hardly be a case of avarice. Still, the necklace he had noted was itself worth enough to buy an estate. What
could
be the incentive? It had to be uncountable wealth! Never had he seen the wizard-priest so liberal with his coin.

Ah, yes. With so much he would be able to add a few dinars to his retirement cache, too. . . . Putting such thoughts aside, Djemer-t replied, "It will all be as you wish, my lord. Have a splendid journey. It goes without saying, sir, that all will be in order here upon your return."

When the butler departed, Setne turned to Rachelle. "Amazing. Did you see how quickly he went from near hysteria to perfect composure? The fellow is in absolute control once again!"

Rachelle was long finished with her packing, but the magister always fussed over not only his magickal equipage but clothing as well, so he took twice as long to ready half as much as she carried on any journey. This time t hey were traveling light, but he was exceeding even his usually lengthy preparation. Resisting an urge to comment on his painstaking progress, Rachelle said, "It was a good idea to extend the full hospitality of your villa as you did, Setne. Those folks will never know you're not here to play host to them after the first hour. In fact, they'll be glad you weren't on hand, for never would the potables flow so freely otherwise." She saw his grin and knew he was thinking how clever he had been to think of that very thing. Rachelle thought she would deflate him a bit.

"However, dear Setne, weren't you too generous with the money? After all, you know that a good bit of it will end up in the servants' pockets!"

"Of course," he replied easily. "But to gain and hide such . . . gratuities, shall we say, they will have to keep our guests happily entertained here for a long time—as long a period as the six desire to remain. They'll dream up special feasts and entertainments to have an excuse to spend the money and be able to hide a little overage that way. That keeps our guests happy, thus you and 1 are happy, and the staff is happy, too. I'm sure that old Djemer-t will tell them that their mad master even plans to give them yet more reward when he returns to find that the unhosted guests had a rollicking good time without him!"

Rachelle was shocked at such profligacy on his part. "Setne! You won't actually give out bonuses, will you?"

"Certainly I will—provided all was successful. The whole affair here won't be more expensive than the necklace you have just gained, something I'd have bought for you had you asked. We are about to go on an exciting journey to solve a challenging mystery, to bring a criminal to justice, if we are successful. What fun! Lastly, I will receive for my efforts a fabulously high payment, a reward for what I love to do. My dear girl, how can I not be generous to all under such circumstances?"

Rachelle shook her curls in resignation. "Spare me the recounting of yet more, Setne. I should have known better." Then she brightened. "It will be wonderful traveling to Hind, won't it? I've never been to the East. What is it like? And when we regain the crown jewels for the maha-rajah, do you suppose he'll have more such splendid things to give to us?"

"Hmmm ..." said the magister as if lost in thought, considering several small amulets and scarabs which he had drawn from a small inlaid coffer covered in truly repulsive runes which seemed to wiggle if watched for too long. "The maharajah is a strong and absolute monarch," Inhetep finally said as he completed his selection. "Assuming we do recover his royal paraphernalia, who can say what he will bestow upon you, my dear?"

"Assuming? You never fail, Setne."

"There's always a first time, Rachelle. Do keep that in mind. Well need luck and a lot of hard work to manage this one."

Rachelle was surprised to hear him say that. "Don't be negative. Even I know that disposing of something as well known as jewels of state is almost impossible. It will be demanding— finding how the theft was accomplished, who did it, and where they hid their loot. But surely the jewels are hidden somewhere in Delhi. Your hekau will manage to set matters right, and I'll provide the ready sword as needed."

"Not so fast. First of all, Delhi is a big city.

the territory of the same name a state of tens of thousands of square miles. Even goods so precious and bulky as the crown jewels could be smuggled into the mountain kingdoms arcing above Delhi—Kabul, Kashmir, Sirmur, Ka-tehar. In addition, the neighboring state of Oudh to the east would happily receive the missing treasure. So too Sindraj to the south, a powerful kingdom which happens to be at war with the maharajah at this very moment." He paused a moment to consider, raising a hand to keep her from protesting. "But let's assume you are correct. The loot hasn't been smuggled away but is sequestered somewhere not far from Delhi city. Even then, this will be no easy task."

"And why not?"

"As our hopeful employer was so careful to point out, the crown jewels were taken through means which involved some potent heka. If you will recall, the maharajah stated that they were stolen by 'a magician' who had somehow managed to get into and out of the royal strong room, his 'vault'."

That brought a dubious expression to her face. "A mere magician? You are a true wizard, Setne. Don't the greatest heka-benders come from this land?"

"Well, yes, Egypt does have the longest history of heka use and understanding. But that doesn't mean that someone in some other place can't be truly powerful. It is an individual, not an average, we face."

"Individual against individual, Setne," she said with a confident smile. She looked at him, thinking what an exceptional individual he was. Half a foot over six feet from the crown of his shaven head to the soles of his feet, the magister looked to be somewhere between thirty and forty years of age. It was hard to tell, for his red-hued ifSgyptian complexion showed few wrinkles, and his deep green eyes gave no clue. He was older, Rachelle knew. Not even a child prodigy could be so knowing and able without many years of study and practice. It was the very great amount of magickal power he wielded that made him age more slowly, seem younger.

He was handsome, charming when he so wished, and very attractive in his power. What power! Inhetep was more than a very rich hereditary prince, the scion of perhaps the oldest noble house in the Triple Kingdom, as Rachelle well knew. He was honored in ecclesiastical circles, for he was an ur-kheri-heb-tepi, a high priest and great wizard, possibly the greatest heka-user in the whole of ^Egypt, one who might aspire to become the archpriest of the whole land should he choose—which he didn't. Setne had been a key agent in Pharaoh's service, retiring as an utchat-neb, a colonel, from the Utchatu, the secret service. Thus, he was trained in espionage, crime detection, and detective work in general. Even before joining that elite branch of government he had been appointed magister, a state office which coupled administrative and minor judicial powers, granted because of exceptional capacity for such work as well as the ability to fully employ both magick and priestcraeft. In short, she thought of Inhetep as very nearly invincible in human terms. A bit of dweomercraeft used to spirit away treasure was not only up his alley, so to speak, but discovery of the means and the culprit would be veritable child's play.