The Pawn of Isis by Catherine Schaff-Stump

Author:Catherine Schaff-Stump [Schaff-Stump, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781794127920
Published: 2019-03-18T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The Desert Outside of Alexandria, May, 1842

Carlo breathed in the baked air of the desert outside of Alexandria. He was much better prepared to be in the desert this time around. Last time, he had come under less than ideal conditions. Balthazar, the efrit who was the Solomon Scroll's mystical guardian, had transported Drusus and Carlo out of the Italian countryside, after a battle in the swamp with a possessed Octavia. Dark clothes, covered in mud, were not ideal garb for the desert.

This time, Carlo dressed in light reflective clothing. Like many desert travelers, Carlo traveled at night and camped in the worst heat of the day. He stumbled over scrabble and sand. Since he was approaching the temple from a different angle than before, Carlo was grateful he didn't have to climb over a loose rock wadi once again. He mounted the final dune overlooking Erasmus' temple, bleached by the grinding desert sand, reflecting the sun bright enough to hurt Carlo's eyes. He shielded them momentarily, needing more protection than his hat allowed, until his eyes adjusted to the glare. Carlo cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. "Hello!"

Balthazar emerged from underneath the temple, climbing up the ramp, which led to the honeycomb of tunnels below. Today, Balthazar was more man than efrit, wearing a light galabeyah, which hung down to his ankles and a small round hat to cover his bald head. His skin was a burnished red and he carried a massive spear, round as a tree and taller than Balthazar himself, impressive. Sand dust muted his clothes and skin.

"Welcome." Balthazar's deep voice carried.

"You never visit me," said Carlo, "so I have to come to you."

"No doubt for your own gain," said Balthazar.

"No doubt," said Carlo. He and Balthazar had gotten past the awkward period when they'd first met, when he wanted to kill Carlo because he was Isis's grandson. Carlo shrugged his pack off his shoulders. "With your permission, I want to camp nearby."

"I would suggest in the temple rather than out. I will build a fire. Outside. I will cook."

"Don't go to any trouble."

Balthazar smirked. "I have some skills in that arena, and seldom use them."

"Thank you, then."

Carlo picked up the backpack again. Did Balthazar get lonely? He'd had a lot of practice being alone, waiting for hundreds of years for Erasmus to take up the agreement in the Solomon Scroll. Carlo wondered what was in the arrangement for Balthazar, or if, as the efrit professed, it was merely his duty.

The first room which branched off the tunnel was a decaying chamber full of the bones of countless fortune hunters who had come to seek the Solomon Scroll over the centuries. Carlo was not squeamish, but he found the idea of camping in the former scroll chamber depressing, so he set up a camp cot in a smaller stone alcove two doors down. By the time he settled himself and went outside, the desert was cooling. Evenings in the desert were cold. Soon the goddess of night, Nuit, would be above them.

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