Gary Gygax - Dangerous Journeys 2 - Samarkand Solution by Gary Gygax Page B
Authors: Gary Gygax
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business interests in On, Antioch, Trebizond, and Serai. Prince Ram-f-amsu enlisted my aid as he did that of Master Nerhat-ab."
"Lord Pyronos of Cyprus," the third man said brusquely. At Inhetep's continued stare, the bearded fellow added, "I have manors and ships. Your governor sought my connections."
Four men arose as if in sequence. "Nenef-Kheru, merchant of On and Memphis," the fat one who stood up first called with a tentative smile towards the wizard-priest. "We met—"
"Yes," Inhetep said curtly. "Your associates?"
"Emptah-hiash. Thunun-maat. Hatsotef.'" Each bowed as the obese /Egyptian spoke his name, "Honest traders and good citizens as am I."
Although the four were probably unaware of it, the magister knew that they had frequently combined to comer markets in commodities, fix prices, and eliminate competition. Those illegal manipulations weren't particularly germane to the murder, but might prove useful as the investigation progressed. "Your collective reputation and activities have come to Pharaoh's attention," Inhetep noted with a judicial tone. "Your complete cooperation here might prove beneficial in that regard. Next!"
"Shaik Yasik ibn Okhdar," rattled the hatchet-faced Yaxban with a black stare which met Jn~ hetep's own green eyes without flinching. "My people control caravan routes and also trade much."
"No doubt in goods which are not theirs," the wizard-priest said levelly. "What business called you to this place?"
"My own!" the nomad chief snarled back. Then, considering his position, he added, "I am chief of the Al-Heshaz, and master of the city of /Elana."
"Most commendable. We are honored by your presence here, lord." Inhetep was hiding surprise, for the miserable town the Yarban named was the only port at the eastern finger of the Mare Rubine, the Red Sea. Yasik ibn Okhdar's admission announced a shift in strength, for the Al-Nabatt had held it the last he had heard. "And you, sir?"
"Vert. I am an explorer and a cartographer of some note. As I travel much and know much of trade routes and roads, I was asked to furnish my knowledge to Governor Ram-f-amsu. I was promised payment. His death does not obviate the agreement!"
"If there is such a contract, it will be honored in due course." He looked from the /Eropan to the dusky man next in line, whose stained hands showed he worked with chemicals.
"I am Jobo Lasuti, imprimus of the Nubian Alchemists and also one trained in certain arts of thaumaturgy. You are well aware of that, ur-kheri-heb-tepi, I know."
Inhetep inclined his head slightly. "Imprimus Lasuti, I find honor in greeting you again. What was your reason for being here?"
The Nubian smiled. "You are well aware of our desire to expand our markets for the chemicals and other materia we produce, Magister. Isolated as our main bases are, this has been proven difficult in the past."
"Your route would be by sea to /Elana, of course."
"That was proposed," the Nubian alchemist said in his richly accented basso voice.
"Shamish authorities might have objection, but perhaps that is moot now under the circumstances," Inhetep murmured. He looked at the eleventh of the company, a nondescript /Egyptian whom he didn't recognize. "You?"
"Aufseru, Magister Inhetep. I am merely an aide to the governor," the man said with a deprecating wave of his hand. "In fact, I am no longer even that now, I suppose. Under the circumstances, tomorrow I shall have to seek new employment."
"Quite possibly. How long have you been on the staff of the governor?"
"But a few days. That's why I was included in this meeting—Prince Ram-f-amsu desired my indoctrination in his style of conducting business."
Magister Inhetep started to point at the trio who were the last of the fourteen, but turned back to Aufseru again, saying, "You have a northern accent. Rosetta, perhaps?"
"Quite the opposite direction, Magister. Tanis was my home."
"That shows how rustic a fellow I am," Inhetep replied with a smile. "I've never
"Lord Pyronos of Cyprus," the third man said brusquely. At Inhetep's continued stare, the bearded fellow added, "I have manors and ships. Your governor sought my connections."
Four men arose as if in sequence. "Nenef-Kheru, merchant of On and Memphis," the fat one who stood up first called with a tentative smile towards the wizard-priest. "We met—"
"Yes," Inhetep said curtly. "Your associates?"
"Emptah-hiash. Thunun-maat. Hatsotef.'" Each bowed as the obese /Egyptian spoke his name, "Honest traders and good citizens as am I."
Although the four were probably unaware of it, the magister knew that they had frequently combined to comer markets in commodities, fix prices, and eliminate competition. Those illegal manipulations weren't particularly germane to the murder, but might prove useful as the investigation progressed. "Your collective reputation and activities have come to Pharaoh's attention," Inhetep noted with a judicial tone. "Your complete cooperation here might prove beneficial in that regard. Next!"
"Shaik Yasik ibn Okhdar," rattled the hatchet-faced Yaxban with a black stare which met Jn~ hetep's own green eyes without flinching. "My people control caravan routes and also trade much."
"No doubt in goods which are not theirs," the wizard-priest said levelly. "What business called you to this place?"
"My own!" the nomad chief snarled back. Then, considering his position, he added, "I am chief of the Al-Heshaz, and master of the city of /Elana."
"Most commendable. We are honored by your presence here, lord." Inhetep was hiding surprise, for the miserable town the Yarban named was the only port at the eastern finger of the Mare Rubine, the Red Sea. Yasik ibn Okhdar's admission announced a shift in strength, for the Al-Nabatt had held it the last he had heard. "And you, sir?"
"Vert. I am an explorer and a cartographer of some note. As I travel much and know much of trade routes and roads, I was asked to furnish my knowledge to Governor Ram-f-amsu. I was promised payment. His death does not obviate the agreement!"
"If there is such a contract, it will be honored in due course." He looked from the /Eropan to the dusky man next in line, whose stained hands showed he worked with chemicals.
"I am Jobo Lasuti, imprimus of the Nubian Alchemists and also one trained in certain arts of thaumaturgy. You are well aware of that, ur-kheri-heb-tepi, I know."
Inhetep inclined his head slightly. "Imprimus Lasuti, I find honor in greeting you again. What was your reason for being here?"
The Nubian smiled. "You are well aware of our desire to expand our markets for the chemicals and other materia we produce, Magister. Isolated as our main bases are, this has been proven difficult in the past."
"Your route would be by sea to /Elana, of course."
"That was proposed," the Nubian alchemist said in his richly accented basso voice.
"Shamish authorities might have objection, but perhaps that is moot now under the circumstances," Inhetep murmured. He looked at the eleventh of the company, a nondescript /Egyptian whom he didn't recognize. "You?"
"Aufseru, Magister Inhetep. I am merely an aide to the governor," the man said with a deprecating wave of his hand. "In fact, I am no longer even that now, I suppose. Under the circumstances, tomorrow I shall have to seek new employment."
"Quite possibly. How long have you been on the staff of the governor?"
"But a few days. That's why I was included in this meeting—Prince Ram-f-amsu desired my indoctrination in his style of conducting business."
Magister Inhetep started to point at the trio who were the last of the fourteen, but turned back to Aufseru again, saying, "You have a northern accent. Rosetta, perhaps?"
"Quite the opposite direction, Magister. Tanis was my home."
"That shows how rustic a fellow I am," Inhetep replied with a smile. "I've never
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