Chapter Two

Dominic sent Liven away, his valet was a godsend but he wanted to be alone. It was not fair to inflict his foul mood on another, but he also needed not to dwell on the long and difficult week he'd endured.

He'd meant for tonight to take his mind off his demons, or rather a particular demon, who he should have known better than to be tempted by. Henry Wellin was an arse, a cheating one at that, who had been a friend before he became a lover, and Dominic had been mistaken in thinking that Henry was a decent man. His actions had said otherwise, and Dominic had hoped being away for awhile would have abated his annoyance. Unfortunately, absence hadn't made the heart grow fonder but had increased his displeasure, and when Dominic had seen Henry was present, he walked past without an acknowledgement and had not let Henry corner him alone.

Dominic would not mope, and he had many other options, and he would be sure to call on them to help remind himself he was a far better man than Henry Wellin deserved.

He should have retired earlier, but instead he'd gone and played cards and got into a betting war in a game he was never going to win with the hand he'd been dealt because his opponent was lovely-looking and as far from Henry's colouring as he could get. The delectable Callum Gething was all blond-haired and blue-eyed, with not a hint that the midday sun touched his skin. What had he been thinking, offering the ushabti as collateral? Milias would have a fit if he ever found out, his brother-in-law not the sort to understand the casual handling of artefacts and to have given one away on a whim might be considered a crime against archaeology.

He helped himself to the large measure of whisky Liven had left out for him. Drowning his bad mood would not work, but he'd made plenty of poor decisions of late, one more wasn't going to make a difference. In the morning, he'd get one of the servants to find the address of the Gething residence, it should be easy enough since Callum's father was one of a new wave of rich entrepreneurs who had more money than most landed gentry, and with the desire to buy status not available to them by birth. It might be nice to cultivate a friendship, possibly more, with a man like Callum. He'd be a different type of man from those he usually socialised with. Callum was much closer to his academic contacts, though they were more acquaintances than friends. For all Dominic knew Callum might be every inch the pampered fop Dominic was beginning to bore of. There were only so many conversations about brocade and silk a man could endure.

The attraction to Callum surprised him, it was rare he was drawn to someone on first meeting, but stranger things had happened, and he'd learnt that not everything could be explained, nor did he wish them to be. With his thoughts turning too philosophical for his level of sobriety, Dominic shed his clothes, leaving them over the back of a chair by the door so they could be collected while he slept. Liven, always three steps ahead, had laid out his nightshirt. Once dressed for bed he extinguished the candles and slipped under the covers. He was so tired, and even though his mind was heavy with thoughts, sleep would be quick to claim him.

He wasn't wrong.

The fragrance of lotus blossom reminded him of his last visit to a perfumer, his stall buried within the hustle and bustle of the bazaar where life was a heaving mess. He loved the smell, or rather he loved the smell of Osahar when he was coated in the body oil he'd had made for him, braving the markets for the best oils. Nothing was too good for Osahar, his precious scribe.

He had other business now and needed to see the old man a friend had told him about. This would be the perfect gift, for the most perfect man. The idea made him feel giddy, so he picked up his pace and headed into the warren of the old town, where the best of the worst type of people were to be found.

No one would question him being here, he was allowed to move freely. As a senior priest, there was very little he couldn't do, especially as he had the pharaoh's blessing. And for now he could do no wrong having overseen the prayers and spells that had ensured the baby had been born healthy, and more importantly male. It would only be a matter of time before he was elevated further. High Priest Baniti had a nice ring to it.

He dodged past two women who were in no rush to get wherever they were going, and turned into a courtyard and saw the red swathes of cloth that he'd been told would mark the house he needed.

A man who reminded him of a shrivelled fig shuffled into view, bent and crooked he was like the knobbly old stick his mentor used to support his weight. "Baniti, I knew you were coming."

He was taken aback, he'd not told anyone he would visit. His friend may have told Baniti of this man, but he'd not made any noise he would seek him out. "How did you know?"

The old man chuckled and beckoned him to follow. "Come inside, I have what you seek."

Without waiting he returned inside and Baniti hurried after him into his home. It was a basic dwelling, mud walls and a few sticks of furniture, but Baniti knew not to judge as there were few who had the luxury of living within the confines of the pharaoh's palace as he did, and as a favourite, there was little Baniti wanted for in life.

"You said you knew why I was here," he said, trying not to make his concern evident.

"Very few visit me to pass the time, you are looking to ensure your afterlife is as happy as you have it now." The old man's grin was toothless. "Tell me, what is it you wish to take with you? Great wealth? Power?"

"Neither of those."

"Then a wife."

"Not exactly…"

"A lover then." He peered at Baniti. "What is her name?"

"It is not a woman." The old man was canny, and there was no need to hide his desires. "I wish for us to spend eternity together, but I am searching for a way as it is not as if I have a great tomb to have us interred together."

"Eternity is a long time. You may tire of him, are you sure he is worth upsetting the flow of the River of Styx to keep him by your side."

"I… yes… but I don't understand what you mean."

With a great huff, the old man settled himself onto a stool. "You wish to entwine your souls, it can be the only way for the body will perish. To do that you must make sure you do not cross over separately and that is not an easy path as one may need to wait for the other to arrive."

He had not thought too deeply on the mechanics but the old man was right, he wanted to be entwined with Osahar forever. "I am prepared for it not to be easy. If there is a way then I will do it."

"Would you make a pact to pass at the same time?" The old man eyed him carefully and Baniti thought it part of the test.

"I would want us both to live our full lives. I will not take him early. And he would not wish that for me either."

The old man sniffed. "That is a good sign. I have heard of you, Baniti. You are a man of great fortitude and kindness and because of that I will help."

His reputation of helping those he could, and living a good, if not blameless, life seemed to be paying off. "Thank you. I had heard that there are special types of magic that might be what I need."

"There is a way, a spell that you can cast on an ushabti, and then you must place it in a burial chamber, hidden amongst all the others of its creed where it will be safely tucked away."

"Others of its creed?"

"You are not the only one who would wish to carry something special to the afterlife. But they are not your concern."

There was a tomb near completion, it wouldn't be unheard of for the main occupant to want to take his favourite with him but he did not think the old man would confirm his suspicions. It should not matter because, with his position, Baniti could be assigned to assist with the burial trinkets and place his own ushabti without being observed and stopped. "What do I need to do?"

"I will give you a list of ingredients and you will brew a potion and let your vessel steep in it for three nights of the waning moon."

He rattled off the list, nothing too difficult to get and while he didn't particularly like the idea of gathering dung from the sacred crocodiles, it would be a minor inconvenience and the rewards would be worth enduring. The stars were in their favour and he should be able to get everything together in a matter of days. "Is that all?"

"Then together, you and your beloved, bleed onto the ushabti and recite the spell. In life and death we are together, no mortal path will limit us, and we will journey to the edge of time. Blessed be the eternal heart, bind souls never to be apart. Through the ages we will always be as one."

Baniti muttered the words under his breath to ensure he did not forget them, and as he did, he felt his heart flutter, this was powerful magic. He had some concerns, and he didn't know if he should voice them but the old man might be the only one who would be able to answer. "From what you said, I would infer the pharaoh has the same plan, and I know he has a favourite wife and a male courtesan, if I place my own token amongst the ushabti already there, will it still work?"

The old man chuckled. "If anything, it might work better. You have no reason to worry. Go and do as you must, and you will keep Osahar at your side forever."

He didn't think he had mentioned Osahar's name, but he would not say anything as there were powers at work he did not understand. "What should I gift you in return for your help?"

"I do not need much these days, but if you can ensure my belly remains full and my beer cup never runs dry that should suffice."

It was a small price to pay. "I will arrange weekly deliveries, you'll never go hungry and will never fear having to sleep under the stars."

The old man waved him away. "I am sure you are busy, do not let me keep you any longer."

Baniti left, he wanted to speak to Osahar. He would be so happy, they had a way to be together forever.

Dominic startled awake, he stared around his room, still the same place it had been when he'd fallen asleep although the sun was up and daylight was beginning to work its way through the gaps in the drapes. His dream had been so vivid, he couldn't shake the feeling of the dry air and smells of old Cairo. He really must stop drinking so much, if it was causing such vibrant dreams. He remembered the all-encompassing love he had for Osahar, and that his name was Baniti, but had never heard of either name before. For now, he would bathe and get ready for his day. He thought to send a servant with the money but now he had the desire to retrieve the ushabti himself, it seemed important to have it back in his possession.

The words from the spell crossed into the foremost of his thoughts, and he felt compelled to say them out loud. " In life and death we are together, no mortal path will limit us, and we will journey to the edge of time. Blessed be the eternal heart, bind souls never to be apart. Through the ages we will always be as one ."

Dominic shivered, he should eat and put the silly dream out of his mind.