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The palace had escape routes that only the royal family knew about. Kashmet was waiting for them outside Khan's chambers, chatting casually with the other Medjai that stood guard.
"There you are. I was wondering what the hold-up was," he said, looking between Khan and Fen like he knew they were the ones to blame.
"Let's go. We are running out of time," Khan said shortly. He smiled at the guards as he walked past them, his fingers tightening around Fen's when the Medjai looked her over.
"Should they know that we are sneaking out?" she whispered.
"Those two are friends of Kash's and will look the other way. What a prince does is his own business." Khan stopped at a wall covered in carved glyphs. He pressed the eye of a bird-headed god, and part of the wall slid back.
"These passages were built in case the royal family needed to escape in a hurry," Khan explained, stepping into the darkness. His magic flared, and a ball of fire appeared in front of them to light their way.
"I bet they have been used more for the pharaohs to sneak in their lovers in recent years," Kashmet said from behind them, making Fen grin.
"Or for them to run away from their wives."
Khan's smile flashed in the shadows. "I've used them more than once to hide from courtiers and advisors."
"After the party the other night, I can see why." Fen paused mid-step to study a carving on the wall. It was of a river scene with bright green dragons in the water. "What are these dragons? I saw them on your guard's armor too."
"They aren't dragons. They are crocodiles. Animals that live in the rivers. There is a god with a crocodile head called Sobek. The Medjai come from his House," Khan explained.
"Kashmet almost got his ass bitten off by one when we first moved here," Kemes said, her smile wide with impish glee.
"Well, no one told me that you couldn't swim wherever you wanted in the Iteru! I thought those clever brains over at the Thothi would have set something up to keep the crocodiles away," Kashmet grumbled.
"They do, but not all along the river, only in certain clean sections." Khan began walking again. "Like the fish life, the crocodiles are an important part of keeping the river healthy because they eat the trash and other rotting things."
"Like my brother," Kemes said, pulling on Kashmet's braid.
Fen clicked her tongue. "They seem like a great way to get rid of a body."
"They are," Kashmet said, sounding like he knew from experience.
"I'm surprised Hasina hasn't put them in the arena."
Kashmet chuckled. "What's the matter? Two big cats and a chimera wasn't enough for you?"
"Crocodiles are sacred to Sobek. Otherwise, I'm sure Hasina and Nektos would have them eating unfortunates for entertainment," Khan said, an edge in his voice that hadn't been there a moment before. Fen bumped her shoulder against his, a silent comfort.
The tunnels led them underneath the palace walls and into dense, green gardens filled with flowering plants and trees. Water tinkled from a fountain nearby, and statues of different gods lined the paths.
A large building with carved columns came into view. One side was made of golden sandstone, and the other was made of black basalt. The sweet smoky smell of incense wafted out of the windows and hung like fragrant shades in the trees.
"What is this place?" Fen asked, staring up at it. People carrying bowls of fruit, flowers, and grains went past them, dressed in pale yellow robes.
"This is the temple of Amun and Amunet. They are the greatest of the gods," Khan explained, pointing to a colossal statue of a man. "Amun is the god of creation and of the sun. Amunet, the Hidden One, his consort, is the goddess of night. Her temple doesn't open until the sun sets. That statue there? That is their son, Khonshu, the god of the moon."
Fen stared at the black goddess standing regally with diamonds as big as fists in her crown. She felt a whisper of power and tasted the night on her tongue.
It is an honor to meet you, Hidden One,Fen prayed, acknowledging the goddess.
"What just happened?" Khan asked softly.
Fen opened her eyes. "I felt her power."
"Even in the day? Fascinating." Khan smiled down at her. "The goddesses of this land recognizing you is something we need to look into."
