Read Online Gary Gygax - Dangerous Journeys 1 - Anubis Murders by Gary Gygax - Free Book Online
Authors: Gary Gygax
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"You seem most thoughtful, my lord," Rachelle whispered to Setne. "Is there something I should know? May I assist in any way?"
That sounded more like his faithful assistant, and the Egyptian smiled a little. It was more in mockery of himself than for any other reason. "I analyze even my own thoughts, Rachelle," he said quietly. "But I am pondering this entire matter now, for soon enough we'll be up to our necks in it. There is more to learn. Tomorrow morning, early, when we are fresh and rested."
"Now?"
"You have been trained, seen much, and what is known about the Master of Jackals and his murderous ways you have heard as I did. Please mull over the whole business. Look for anything unique, anything unusual taken in context of the whole bizarre nature of it, and search for some inconsistency. Before retiring, you and I will meet privately and compare our notes."
Her face was stony as she replied, "Of course.
And thank you, Setne, for your confidence in me.
"You're welcome—but I always rely on you, Rachelle," the wizard-priest added.
The girl shook her head a little, making her dark ringlets bounce even more in the rattling carriage. "No. You include me as a sounding board, a bodyguard, a useful agent at times. This is actually the first time you have asked me to think and share my opinions on an abstract level."
"Bless me, Rachelle," Inhetep murmured, looking away and then back at her as he thought about what she had just said. "You are right! It must be that this is the first time we have actually had so much time to consider information before having to take action."
"Really? Well, shaved-pate, as you are the one renowned for your thinking capacity, it must be as you say. Now, I had better cogitate, if you don't mind."
"Remarkable," Inhetep said before turning away. "My amazonian warrior plays with words as she does weapons. Such fine puns she displays! I believe that now either I am in for trouble, or else the Master of Jackals is doomed. . . ."
"Both," Rachelle whispered.
JACKAL'S MIND
"Why aren't we housed in the castle?" Rachelle asked petulantly. "Is it because we're foreigners?"
"It's because I specifically requested rooms in a quiet place," Setne explained firmly. "Anyone in the royal castle is under constant scrutiny. We need privacy and freedom from observation."
"Oh, but it seems so dreary here, and there's no opportunity to ... to ... You know what I mean!"
Inhetep was tempted to smile, but he decided not to anger her. "Rachelle, we will have ample opportunity to socialize with the court nobility after the problem of this murderous 'Master of Jackals' is solved. Let's put our minds to that."
"I'm sorry, Setne. I guess I am still a foolish little girl at times," Rachelle said with sincerity. "Of course you're right, and we need to be as unobtrusive as possible. This small inn is perfect in that regard. What is it you'd like me to do?"
There was the Rachelle he was used to! Setne began to outline the case as he saw it up to then, asking the girl to follow his own analysis point by point with her own. They agreed on the major features. The one masterminding the extortions and murders was certainly very powerful.
The targets were the great rulers. No victim could be revivified, and that meant a great deal of magick was used in the killings. From what they knew, no duplicate means of murder had been used. The demon in Ys differed from the other "weapons" as markedly as each instrument of death employed previously. The murder had been expected, yet it occurred despite all precautions. Once accomplished, the victim was always beyond any means of magickal restoration to life. Thereafter, the surviving individuals concerned had evidently complied with the demands of the killer or killers and paid over the ransom, tribute, blackmail—whatever the extorted payments might be called.
"We need to know exactly what was demanded from each victim," Rachelle said.
"That's just about impossible," Inhetep
"You seem most thoughtful, my lord," Rachelle whispered to Setne. "Is there something I should know? May I assist in any way?"
That sounded more like his faithful assistant, and the Egyptian smiled a little. It was more in mockery of himself than for any other reason. "I analyze even my own thoughts, Rachelle," he said quietly. "But I am pondering this entire matter now, for soon enough we'll be up to our necks in it. There is more to learn. Tomorrow morning, early, when we are fresh and rested."
"Now?"
"You have been trained, seen much, and what is known about the Master of Jackals and his murderous ways you have heard as I did. Please mull over the whole business. Look for anything unique, anything unusual taken in context of the whole bizarre nature of it, and search for some inconsistency. Before retiring, you and I will meet privately and compare our notes."
Her face was stony as she replied, "Of course.
And thank you, Setne, for your confidence in me.
"You're welcome—but I always rely on you, Rachelle," the wizard-priest added.
The girl shook her head a little, making her dark ringlets bounce even more in the rattling carriage. "No. You include me as a sounding board, a bodyguard, a useful agent at times. This is actually the first time you have asked me to think and share my opinions on an abstract level."
"Bless me, Rachelle," Inhetep murmured, looking away and then back at her as he thought about what she had just said. "You are right! It must be that this is the first time we have actually had so much time to consider information before having to take action."
"Really? Well, shaved-pate, as you are the one renowned for your thinking capacity, it must be as you say. Now, I had better cogitate, if you don't mind."
"Remarkable," Inhetep said before turning away. "My amazonian warrior plays with words as she does weapons. Such fine puns she displays! I believe that now either I am in for trouble, or else the Master of Jackals is doomed. . . ."
"Both," Rachelle whispered.
JACKAL'S MIND
"Why aren't we housed in the castle?" Rachelle asked petulantly. "Is it because we're foreigners?"
"It's because I specifically requested rooms in a quiet place," Setne explained firmly. "Anyone in the royal castle is under constant scrutiny. We need privacy and freedom from observation."
"Oh, but it seems so dreary here, and there's no opportunity to ... to ... You know what I mean!"
Inhetep was tempted to smile, but he decided not to anger her. "Rachelle, we will have ample opportunity to socialize with the court nobility after the problem of this murderous 'Master of Jackals' is solved. Let's put our minds to that."
"I'm sorry, Setne. I guess I am still a foolish little girl at times," Rachelle said with sincerity. "Of course you're right, and we need to be as unobtrusive as possible. This small inn is perfect in that regard. What is it you'd like me to do?"
There was the Rachelle he was used to! Setne began to outline the case as he saw it up to then, asking the girl to follow his own analysis point by point with her own. They agreed on the major features. The one masterminding the extortions and murders was certainly very powerful.
The targets were the great rulers. No victim could be revivified, and that meant a great deal of magick was used in the killings. From what they knew, no duplicate means of murder had been used. The demon in Ys differed from the other "weapons" as markedly as each instrument of death employed previously. The murder had been expected, yet it occurred despite all precautions. Once accomplished, the victim was always beyond any means of magickal restoration to life. Thereafter, the surviving individuals concerned had evidently complied with the demands of the killer or killers and paid over the ransom, tribute, blackmail—whatever the extorted payments might be called.
"We need to know exactly what was demanded from each victim," Rachelle said.
"That's just about impossible," Inhetep
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