Free Ancient World 02 - Raiders of the Nile by Steven Saylor

drink, Gordianus?”
    I looked at him sidelong. “I’m not sure I should accept a drink from the man who deserted me on the waterfront that day. You and the others left me to fend for myself.”
    “Deserted you? You weren’t exactly in dire straits when I last saw you. You were napping quite peacefully, with a full stomach and a bellyful of beer, all of which I generously provided.”
    “I was unconscious. Any thief who happened by might have robbed me blind.”
    “ If you had anything worth robbing. But to be honest, your well-being was not my primary concern at that moment. The fact is, the rest of us all left in a bit of a hurry.”
    “Why?”
    “Because you were snoring so loudly!”
    He laughed at his own joke, then saw the forlorn look on my face.
    “All right, Gordianus, here’s what really happened. I sent one of the young flute players to scout the perimeter, as I do on a regular basis, and just as I was nodding off, the boy came running back, all flushed and alarmed. ‘A troop of royal guards is heading this way!’ he said. ‘And what of it?’ I said, because most of those fellows in royal uniforms are so stupid, they never have a clue who we are as long as we keep the monkey quiet. But the boy recognized the leader of this contingent, a commander who has a grudge against us.”
    “A grudge?”
    “I’ve been known to do an impersonation of the fellow—uncanny, if I say so myself—and for some reason he finds it insulting. So we gathered up our things and were out of there in the blink of an eye. And yes, we left you just as you were, snoring as loudly as those navigation horns on the lighthouse.”
    “What about Axiothea? And Bethesda?”
    “Axiothea is perfectly capable of fending for herself. I assumed that sooner or later she and your slave would return from the market and wake you up, probably long after the soldiers passed by.”
    “And what would I have told Axiothea, when she asked where you were? I had no idea where you’d gone, or why.”
    He shrugged. “Sometimes the troupe has to disperse and disappear on short notice, as well she knows.”
    “But Axiothea never came back,” I said. “Or if she did, she didn’t wake me. And I never…” My throat constricted. “I never saw Bethesda again.”
    “Oh, I see. That’s when the slave girl went missing?”
    I nodded.
    Melmak looked thoughtful. “I haven’t seen Axiothea since that day, either. You haven’t seen Axiothea, have you?”
    “No. But I spoke to someone who may have seen her leave the market that day.”
    “Alone?”
    “Not exactly. She may have been following a little boy.”
    Melmak smiled. “Ah, well, there you have it. You’ve just confirmed my suspicion, that Axiothea received a summons from her patron. There’s a boy he sends to deliver messages, who knows Axiothea by sight. No doubt that was the boy, and he was taking her to his master.”
    I felt a chill. “But that must mean…”
    “Yes?”
    That the woman abducted by the two ruffians was indeed Bethesda, and not Axiothea , I thought. “So, after you left me at the waterfront, you saw neither Axiothea nor Bethesda again?”
    “That’s correct.”
    “Then Axiothea was the last of us to see Bethesda. I need to speak to her. Where is she, Melmak?”
    “I have no idea.”
    “You say she must be with her patron.”
    “Yes, but I don’t know where he lives. I don’t even know his name.”
    “How can that be? Aren’t you curious?”
    “Indeed I am. But whenever the question comes up, Axiothea makes it quite clear that whatever relationship she has with this man, she intends to keep it private. I bite my tongue and mind my own business. Not an easy thing for me to do, I’ll admit.”
    “But I must talk to Axiothea. I’ve got to find her.”
    He shrugged. “You managed to find me.”
    “After days of looking—and then purely by chance!”
    Melmak nodded blearily, then brightened. “And look who else you’ve just found—Lykos!”
    I turned