Rae
That night, in the Garden of the Dead, plans grew.
Rae and Omari met Big Ears at the entrance and provided the Horizon code phrase, though he made it clear they needn’t do so.
“Oh, I know you,” the gruff man said, punching Omari in the shoulder. “If it weren’t for the two of you, I’d be neck-deep in natron, with my guts in a jar.”
“Good to see you up and about,” Omari said.
“And so quickly,” Rae added. Considering he’d had a knife in his belly only a day before, he seemed surprisingly hale. “You hardly look any worse for wear.”
The man waggled his voluminous eyebrows. “Well, can’t look much worse than I already do, can I? Just don’t make me laugh, or run, or get up from a chair.” He laughed, despite himself, then winced.
Rae chuckled. “You know, I’m ashamed to say it, but I don’t actually know your name.” She felt bad thinking of him as “Big Ears” all that time.
“Eh, that’s all right. In our business, sometimes it’s safer not to know. A man’s name is not to be shared lightly. Mine is Menkaura, but you can call me Menk.”
Rae followed him into the grand necropolis with a smile, feeling as if she’d just been given a gift.
The Hesep-Mut was as uncanny as it had been every other time she’d visited, with its high walls and its still, stale air. Asim and some other Horizon members stood leaning against the broken stone altar at its center. It was a smaller group than it hadbeen at their other meetings.
Asim turned to see them, relief washing over his face. “Good, you’re here. We were starting to discuss next steps.”
“Where is everybody?” Rae looked for the shepherd and the grumpy brewer, but neither were in attendance. “I didn’t think we were late.”
“You’re not,” Asim said. “It’s possible Mamet Mut didn’t get the message to everyone in time. Or they decided to lie low until things calm down a bit.” He crossed his arms and sighed. “The raid certainly thrust a stick into the pharaoh’s beehive, so I suppose you can’t blame a man for not wishing to be stung.”
“I can,” Omari complained. “This is our chance to break High Khetara’s hold on us before they can regroup and come back stronger. Any man who deserts us now to protect his own hide is a coward, plain and simple.”
Asim’s nostrils flared. “You’re a very young man to speak with such authority, Omari. I’d advise you to take care with your words. There is nothing plain or simple about any of this.”
Omari seemed surprised by this reaction, and cast his eyes to the ground. “I’m sorry, Asim. I don’t want this crucial moment to be wasted.”
Asim gave Omari’s shoulder a hearty pat. “The heat of your passion is admirable, Omari. Just remember to tend that fire, lest it burn too freely.” He turned back to the others. “Let us not dwell on those who haven’t ventured out tonight but celebrate those of us who have.”
The men nodded in agreement.
“We have much to do,” Asim went on. “News of our victory has spread across Sakesh, but there are those who have yet to hear of our cause. We must ensure every man knows of the coming revolution and our plans for the future—and sees the wisdom of joining us in the fight. We cannot hope to repel theHigh Khetarans as a fringe group. We must do it as one people.”
There was some discussion then, with a variety of questions posed and ideas shared. How could they best canvass the city without the risk of exposure? How should they divide the arms they’d amassed from the raid? And how would they prepare for the Medjay’s return from the north with their reinforcements? Rae listened closely, mustering the courage to make good on her promise to Tam.
“I think we should bring the weavers into these meetings,” she said. “I know for a fact that some of those women want to be involved, and not simply in carrying messages. They are capable of more.”
The other rebels were skeptical.
“I doubt the men of this city would appreciate us placing their mothers and daughters in danger,” one said. “The weavers have stout hearts, but what greater use could they possibly be to us?”
Rae’s anger flared. “Am I also so useless? Have I done so little to further our cause?”
“You’re not like other women, Raetawy. I’d have thought that was obvious,” another man said.
Rae was about to educate him on the immeasurable depths of his stupidity when Asim raised his hands in a calming gesture. “Please. Let us not bicker among ourselves. You both have valid points—perhaps we can speak to the weavers and ask how they’d propose to help. It’s possible they can do more without us having to place them in harm’s way. Does that suffice?”
Rae and the man grumbled their assent.
“Perhaps I’m not the only one in need of fire tending,” Omari whispered in her ear.
“Shut up, oaf,” Rae said and elbowed him.
