Read Online Orphan of the Sun by Gill Harvey - Free Book Online

way up the steps to the rooftop. There, they could hear the murmur of voices from the street below, and it was evident that Userkaf was still the main topic of conversation.
    â€˜He was lucky the council did not respond more harshly,’ commented Meryt, as they settled themselves on the reed matting.
    â€˜Yes. Father says he is tough to work for,’ agreed Kenna.
    Meryt frowned. ‘I meant Userkaf,’ she said.
    Kenna stared at her, surprised. ‘Userkaf?’
    Meryt nodded, studying her fingernails as Kenna strained the beer into the cups. ‘I think he is lucky the council did not punish him for making such an accusation. Nebnufer hasn’t done anything different from usual,’ she said. ‘He has always pushed the men quite hard, hasn’t he?’
    â€˜Judging by Father’s endless complaints, I’d say so,’ said Kenna humorously, handing her a cup.
    Meryt smiled, but her mood was serious. ‘The men are bound to grumble,’ she commented, thinking of her uncle. ‘Working in the tombs isn’t easy for either gang.’
    â€˜True,’ said Kenna. ‘So what are you getting at?’
    Meryt took a sip of the beer. It was fresh, and still had a pleasant, bubbling tang as she rolled it overher tongue. ‘I think Userkaf is up to something,’ she said. ‘I don’t think he has anything real to complain about. He is trying to make trouble.’ She paused, wondering whether to mention Nofret’s amulet, then decided against it. The power of such objects was not to be trifled with, and she would not want to unleash something that she could not control.
    â€˜I can’t see why,’ said Kenna. ‘Surely he’s just lazy. He was hoping that Nebnufer would be forced to make life easier for his gang.’
    It seemed so simple, and for an instant Meryt latched on to Kenna’s view with a lighter heart. But then she thought of the foreman Nebnufer walking solemnly through the crowd, his wife at his side, and how he had sat apart from his fellow council members. A different outcome would have rocked the whole village.
    â€˜Think about what might have happened,’ she said. ‘If the council had judged in Userkaf’s favour, Nebnufer’s authority would be greatly diminished among his men. A rift would have been sown between the two foremen. And that would have been the least of it. In the long run, who knows where it would lead? It could be disastrous for Nebnufer’s family – all of them.’ She thought of her friend’s engagement to Neben-Maat. ‘Even Dedi.’
    â€˜Dedi?’ A smile flashed across Kenna’s face at the mention of her name, and Meryt looked at him sharply.
    â€˜Yes, Dedi,’ she repeated, watching Kenna closelyin the flickering light of the lamp. ‘She is engaged to Neben-Maat. If Sennedjem and Nebnufer were pushed apart, such a marriage might not take place.’
    A strange, soft look had come across Kenna’s features, and Meryt stared at him in disbelief. Surely Kenna had not fallen for her friend’s charms along with everyone else?
    Kenna gazed into his beer cup. ‘I would not want any harm to come to Dedi,’ he murmured, almost as though Meryt were not there.
    Meryt felt a strange, unfamiliar twist of pain. ‘Well, Userkaf might yet make sure of it,’ she snapped, springing to her feet.
    Kenna looked up at her in astonishment as tears pricked at the back of her eyes. ‘What’s wrong?’ he demanded. ‘What did I say?’
    Meryt glared down at him, full of dismay and rage. ‘Nothing,’ she managed to respond. ‘I’m going home.’
    By the time she had reached the first street corner, Meryt regretted behaving so impulsively. Kenna must have wondered what had come over her. She felt wretched and ashamed, but too proud to go back. It wasn’t wise to roam the streets alone after darkness, and Tia would