Read Gary Gygax - Dangerous Journeys 1 - Anubis Murders for Free Online
Authors: Gary Gygax
grateful for your not mentioning my name, Magister. You of all people are aware . . ." and the Behon allowed his words to trail off.
"You do me too much credit, Ovate. I am but a simple priest, a servant of the Wise One, Thoth, who knows a few little tricks and cantrips. I understand the power of the true name; Isis herself was able to utilize Ra's to gain her surpassing skill in heka by such means," Inhetep said, then paused to sip a little of the tea brought to refreshing coolness by means of an enchantment he had placed upon a vessel belonging to the villa. "Please don't confuse my undeserved reputation solving crimes with a special skill in dweomercraefting. The two are quite removed, you understand. More tea, gentlemen?"
The Behon smiled broadly this time. "But of course, Magister. I most assuredly do comprehend. And no, I have still half a glass to finish. Aldriss? Tallesian?"
The bard opted for a second of the sherbet; Tallesian made sport of that, but himself had both more of the sweet, minty tea and another cake. It was plain from Rachelle's expression that she was wondering how those two men stayed so gaunt while eating so ravenously. "Perhaps as you do," Setne supplied under his breath. Rachelle quickly looked away from Al-driss and the druid, hoping that those two and the mage with them were not reading her as easily as was the Egyptian.
"As I stated, august sirs, I am quite honored to be your host. At the same time, I am quite at a loss to understand why three of Lyonnesse's noblest men seek out a poor Egyptian priest, one without so much as a local shrine to attend, on holiday in the wilds of Iberia. Will one of you be so kind as to enlighten me?" He looked at the Kelltic mage as he spoke, but he seemed to be aware of the other two at the same time.
Rachelle knew that trick of Setne's well. He would pick up many signs from secondary persons while seeming to concentrate on the chief member of any gathering. Aldriss, the bard, was eager to respond. He fairly wiggled but watched the gray-locked ovate for permission, with fingers seeming to stroke an invisible harp as he did so. That one would make an epic of whatever was to be said, the girl knew, for the fame of the Avillonian bards surpassed all others in vTropa. A quick glance at the druid, Tallesian, told Rachelle that he was more reserved but hardly less eager to speak. He sat erect, tense and ready.
Then she saw a slight motion from the Behon, a finger twitch signal. Both of his companions settled back and looked at the Kelltic master of dweomercraeft.
"If I may, Magister Inhetep, I will attempt your request. My friends will fill in anything I've missed when I have finished."
"That is splendid, Behon. Say on." Setne now positioned himself so that he could observe all three of the strangers.
"One month ago there was a terrible killing in Ys. . . ."
Inhetep frowned. "Come, come my good magus, be more direct and forthright! In a place such as Ys is said to be, there must be a dozen murders a night."
"The reputation of the city is overstated. There aren't that many murders in a day and night there. So ... no matter. This one was different. It involved the arch demonurge of the Academie Sorcerie d'Ys."
"I see. Hmmm . . . Isn't the fellow's name Fontainnoir?"
The Behon was secretly pleased that the Egyptian had missed the mark. "Very nearly correct, Magister Inhetep, very nearly. The Haut Omni-urge of the college was Bertrand Frontonac."
"You speak in the past tense. Interesting. I had thought that the fellow in question had committed murder, not become the victim of such a crime. To slay a sorcerer of such power takes the most insidious plotting or a skillful foe. Was it political? Personal grudge?"
"You strike to the crux of this affair, Magister," the elderly sage answered. "It was a shocking murder because it had been announced beforehand. Frontonac knew, took precautions, and then derided the unknown enemies who had announced his death."
Inhetep
"You do me too much credit, Ovate. I am but a simple priest, a servant of the Wise One, Thoth, who knows a few little tricks and cantrips. I understand the power of the true name; Isis herself was able to utilize Ra's to gain her surpassing skill in heka by such means," Inhetep said, then paused to sip a little of the tea brought to refreshing coolness by means of an enchantment he had placed upon a vessel belonging to the villa. "Please don't confuse my undeserved reputation solving crimes with a special skill in dweomercraefting. The two are quite removed, you understand. More tea, gentlemen?"
The Behon smiled broadly this time. "But of course, Magister. I most assuredly do comprehend. And no, I have still half a glass to finish. Aldriss? Tallesian?"
The bard opted for a second of the sherbet; Tallesian made sport of that, but himself had both more of the sweet, minty tea and another cake. It was plain from Rachelle's expression that she was wondering how those two men stayed so gaunt while eating so ravenously. "Perhaps as you do," Setne supplied under his breath. Rachelle quickly looked away from Al-driss and the druid, hoping that those two and the mage with them were not reading her as easily as was the Egyptian.
"As I stated, august sirs, I am quite honored to be your host. At the same time, I am quite at a loss to understand why three of Lyonnesse's noblest men seek out a poor Egyptian priest, one without so much as a local shrine to attend, on holiday in the wilds of Iberia. Will one of you be so kind as to enlighten me?" He looked at the Kelltic mage as he spoke, but he seemed to be aware of the other two at the same time.
Rachelle knew that trick of Setne's well. He would pick up many signs from secondary persons while seeming to concentrate on the chief member of any gathering. Aldriss, the bard, was eager to respond. He fairly wiggled but watched the gray-locked ovate for permission, with fingers seeming to stroke an invisible harp as he did so. That one would make an epic of whatever was to be said, the girl knew, for the fame of the Avillonian bards surpassed all others in vTropa. A quick glance at the druid, Tallesian, told Rachelle that he was more reserved but hardly less eager to speak. He sat erect, tense and ready.
Then she saw a slight motion from the Behon, a finger twitch signal. Both of his companions settled back and looked at the Kelltic master of dweomercraeft.
"If I may, Magister Inhetep, I will attempt your request. My friends will fill in anything I've missed when I have finished."
"That is splendid, Behon. Say on." Setne now positioned himself so that he could observe all three of the strangers.
"One month ago there was a terrible killing in Ys. . . ."
Inhetep frowned. "Come, come my good magus, be more direct and forthright! In a place such as Ys is said to be, there must be a dozen murders a night."
"The reputation of the city is overstated. There aren't that many murders in a day and night there. So ... no matter. This one was different. It involved the arch demonurge of the Academie Sorcerie d'Ys."
"I see. Hmmm . . . Isn't the fellow's name Fontainnoir?"
The Behon was secretly pleased that the Egyptian had missed the mark. "Very nearly correct, Magister Inhetep, very nearly. The Haut Omni-urge of the college was Bertrand Frontonac."
"You speak in the past tense. Interesting. I had thought that the fellow in question had committed murder, not become the victim of such a crime. To slay a sorcerer of such power takes the most insidious plotting or a skillful foe. Was it political? Personal grudge?"
"You strike to the crux of this affair, Magister," the elderly sage answered. "It was a shocking murder because it had been announced beforehand. Frontonac knew, took precautions, and then derided the unknown enemies who had announced his death."
Inhetep
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