Inanna was no longer just a prey, but a liar who held the key to another's lie.

Things had suddenly turned very interesting. She wasn't feeling as scared of Alexandros as before, and unlike previous times, she saw the innate courage to face him rise after today's accident. The blond medjay no longer had the same control over the secret mage.

"Souls don't lie," Inanna hummed to herself while scooping in her mouth the last shred of duck left. Poor Alexandros would be prohibited from these luxuries for a few days. What excited Inanna more was that she was eating from the stock that was kept reserved for Alexandros. Him being restricted to a temporary green diet, the cooks made the duck for her instead.

"I snatched his food. So now, I am the Head." She laughed. "Although," her lips twisted, "I got it because he is sick. He would not have given me this on his own."

She shrugged. When he would be back to barking orders and lashing at his men, Inanna would keep an eye on this curious specimen of nature, one with wonderful red eyes and a husky voice erupting out of an icy core. She would find out who he really was, what was his true calling.

Is he one among us?

"The child said Alexandros was able to see him. Instead of panicking, like any human would upon seeing a spirit for the first time, he helped the baby by fighting off the scorpion." She crossed her arms, watching through the window the villagers return home. "And if I remember correctly, the baby hinted at Alexandros being able to touch him. Master Hor-Aha says only special Necromancers can do that. Ones who have trained for long and are here to make a drastic change."

Clouds gathered around, occluding the crescent moon. Darkness descended on the village. Foxes howled in the distance, a distinct call of mating resounding in the soothing air. The last remaining men shut the doors to their house. The only ones standing were the scouting medjay.

"Well, it all means," Inanna smirked, "that he has seen spirits before."

And if that is so, he is bound to be a Necromancer.

Inanna tapped her fingers on the scraping wall, her gaze narrowing and filtering the moonbeams. A fog captured her vision, a mischievous smile playing on her visage.

She curtained the window, put out the lamp and retreated to her bed. A victorious rhythm coursed through her body, quivering roars of joy setting wavy ripples to the breeze flowing in. Finally, she knew something that no one else did. She couldn't be bullied no more.

"But I won't tell anybody. This will be my little secret. Or rather, our little secret, Alexandros. I will use it to have my power over you."

She rubbed her palms, a conspirational buzz whistling through her mouth. "This is why he has been doubting me," she clicked her fingers, "because he can see what I can see. He knows what I am. But darling, now I know you too!"

"And I know you both."

Startled, she jerked upright. Beside her was sitting the rainbow patchwork spirit. He wiggled his brows and threw glittery sparkles at her direction. She sneezed, so loud that it shook even the eternal spirit.

"What are you doing in my room?"

"Spirits can go anywhere. And at this point, you better get habituated to it. Don't be afraid of me; I am not like those heartless spirits who go around torturing people."

She gritted her teeth. "That doesn't mean you will enter the abode of a sleeping lady."

"My maiden, you weren't sleeping. You were being sadistic. You were laughing at the misery of another."

"No, I–" She choked on her words. Perhaps she was making fun of his wound. "It's not like I invited the scorpion."

"An exceptionally good memory, Inanna."

"What do you mean?"

"Go get yourself checked by a healer. Because as far as I remember," he struck the strings of his harp, "someone had cursed him to be bitten."

Inanna's eyes widened. She pursed her lips, hands balling into fists. "It's not like I intended for it to happen. Maybe he hurt me so much that my words travelled back to him."

"You are right, yes. He has been very cruel, unnecessarily. But does that dilute what you did?"

"I haven't sinned!"

The spirit wheezed. "You sure haven't, but if you two keep on hitting each other, being the worst, Anubis will come to take you together."

Inanna gasped. The spirit waved his hands. "No! That was a joke. I am sorry, it was rather insensitive. Don't blame me though. Your company affects me. Alexandros and you get on my nerves."

"Then just leave."

"I can't." He banged the bed. "Stupid! I can't, because I am here to show you light. Spirits and Necromancers help each other, you fool!"

"So is he a Necromancer too?"

He winked. "The answer is obvious."

Inanna twirled a lock of hair. "Tell me, what should I do?"

"Heal Alexandros."

"I already did. Gave the medicine and bandaged him. He will be fine in a day or two–"

"Such an unprofessional healer." The spirit rolled his eyes. "You can't assume your patient to be fit as a fiddle unless they say they are. You haven't visited him a second time, have you? You will need to. And then heal him properly."

"You mean something was lacking in my treatment earlier?"

"Don't take it to your heart. I am not accusing you of being a completely irresponsible healer, but you must keep aside your bitterness not just for the sake of it, but truly because it is the need of the hour. See, Inanna, you cursed because you felt agony, you felt he was being unjust with you. In the same way, while healing him, you can shower him with affection and respect, because he is doing something righteous by carrying on this investigation."

"I...I understand."

"Take your time. Just, just forget that you hate him. I think you understand it's not so strong as hate, is it? Whatever it be, just forget. Heal him because that is your duty, and it asks you to make him survive."

"Survive? You speak as if he will die?"

The spirit looked down. Raising himself above the bed, he vanished behind a puff of yellow smoke.

Inanna covered her mouth. Death? Alexandros is dying?

The spirit didn't confirm her doubt, but neither did he negate it. Bursting out of her bubble of celebration, Inanna was submerged in guilt.

"I don't want to kill someone." Inanna took her sling back and got out of her house. "I will go see him."

The medjay on guard didn't stop her. Inanna thanked her reputation of being a favourite– it came in handy. Knocking on Alexandros' door, she found it to be open. She entered and saw Grandma Eman sitting beside his head, applying wet cloth on his skin.

Her face was pale and ashen with tears. "He is burning."

Inanna touched his forehead. She removed her hand in a reflex. It felt as if she had dipped her fingers in hot oil.

This doesn't look great.

"Grandma Eman, I need you to bring some aloe, one as a glass of juice and another bowl to mix in with the cold water you are applying."

"I..." She hiccuped. "I will be quick."

Inanna got to work. She sat beside him, curling up his hair. He rolled onto to the side, crawling over and resting his head on her lap. "Grandma..." His whisper was hoarse. "Please."

A tear glistened in the corner of his eye. Inanna gently caressed him. He ran a shivering hand over her touch. "I am sorry. I did not mean to."

Inanna wondered what he was sorry about. "It's alright."

His eyes tried to flutter open. They stared at her, but Inanna didn't know if he could see clearly. Maybe he couldn't, which was why he hugged her by the waist. Inanna looked at the door. Where is Grandma Eman?

As soon as she thought of her, the old woman came back with a glass of aloe juice and some more jelly in another bowl. "What must I do? I..I feel clueless."

"There is a black vial in bag. Please give that to me."

Grandma Eman searched through the things and gave her the vial. Inanna mixed the liquid from it into the juice. "It is willow tree extract." She tilted his head up and made him drink it. His mouth scrunched. "I know, it tastes bad."

Alexandros went back to nudging her belly. Grandma Eman passed her the wet rag. "You do the cold compress. I have dissolved the aloe in it."

"Yes. Meanwhile, you can rub some bee glue and onion juice on his ankle, and do a fresh bandage."

Inanna chanted prayers to Nebet-het and Bastet while washing his forehead with cold water. He moaned in his sleepy state, often pulling at her robe like a child.

"I am not going anywhere," she assured him. She turned to Grandma Eman, who had finished the bandage. "You can take rest, Grandma. I will be there."

"What if he needs me?"

"I will call you, Grandma. I promise he will be fine, trust me."

"You did come without me even summoning you." She joined her hands in gratitude. "You can hear our cries. You are divine."

Grandma Eman left. For hours, Inanna talked to the mumbling, half-conscious man and fed him the willow extract after brief intervals.

She didn't realise how late she had stayed up until the faint light of dawn seeped in. His fever had gone down by then, a sheen of sweat covering his feeble body. Inanna yawned, her eyelids turning heavy. With him still on her lap, she escaped to slumber.

****

A grumble in her stomach awoke Inanna. She blinked to block the sudden barging in of light. Her legs ached, having been stuck in the same position for long. She stretched her limbs and looked around.

Where is Alexandros?

"Morning," came a sweet greeting from the medjay. He carried a plate of fatteh and berries. "I was going to wake you. It's very late. I know you are tired, but you can't skip this meal."

Her stomach agreed with a loud rumble. Alexandros' jaw hung open. He stifled a grin. "Funny. I don't think you should wait to wash your mouth. Come on, gobble up the food."

Inanna was incapable of any other thought at the moment while the plate in front of her remained full, the delicious smell wafting to her nose. She licked every bit of it and squeezed the berries into her mouth. Ending with a satisfactory belch, she chugged down a glass of water. "I never ate so much in my life."

"Everybody is having their lunch now, and you had your first meal of the day. So I made it extra heavy."

"You?"

"Yes." His chest puffed up. "A medjay is self-sufficient and knows how to cook when in need. Also, I heard that you robbed my duck? That was rude."

Inanna was taken aback by the sudden change in his behaviour. He was being quite polite and, surprisingly friendly. "Are you feeling better? You did not hit your head somewhere, did you? Don't tell me you fell down the bed in sleep."

"No, why? I am not as clumsy as you. And yes, I am feeling considerably better." He averted his gaze, a bashful blush colouring his cheeks. "Thank you."

"What?"

"I said, thank you."

Inanna broke in a fit of maddened laughter. "Oh! I never imagined this day would come!" She mocked him. "Now that we have spent a night together, all alone, we are to be the fodder of gossip. I am a prostitute, after all. I slept with the Head of Medjay, consolidating my position as the sole favourite. Ah, such a lovely story!"

Alexandros grimaced. "Inanna, I–"

"Shut up." Inanna jutted her chin. "You have labelled me a whore and now you are spoilt by being associated with one. Or is it only that girls are impure and boys don't get even a taint?"

"I have disrespected your art of healing." His face looked worn and weak. "It was because I mistrusted you. I shouldn't have."

"You have no right to judge me. You know nothing about healing."

"I am sorry."

Inanna gaped. "What?"

"I am sorry, Inanna," he apologised. "I only saw the suspicious in you, not the auspicious. I have got my punishment, and I am indebted to you for your service." He went to his drawer. "I don't want to belittle you with money. You saved me and kept this investigation going. You have been an invaluable asset. So, I want to give you a gift."

He took her hand, and placed a mirror on it. "This belonged to my mother. She died soon after giving birth to me. I never had the desire to see my reflection in what belonged to someone so elevated as her, but I think you can keep it. The mirror will be happy to have another owner."

Inanna traced the several smooth topaz studded over the brown border of the mirror. But she had no words.

"Take your time. I don't expect you to forgive me instantly, not after whatever I put you through."

Inanna rose up and cleared her throat. "Thank you for the mirror. I will keep it safe."

"It's yours now."

Their heads turned at the sound of footsteps. It was Aswad. "Alexandros, I have some news for you." He gave him a papyrus. "The Pharaoh has asked the investigation to be stopped for two days."

Alexandros' nose wrinkled. "Why?" He read the letter, a frown carving on his chiselled face.

"The Chief Priest of Amun will be doing a ritualistic purification of the graves. We don't know which ones, but maybe only the royal burials. But the Pharaoh has asked us to wait until it's over."

Inanna recalled the dream of Abanoub. The same rage flickered in Alexandros' eyes, the same one which she had seen in the dream. The medjay threw the papyrus on the floor. "Ask the men to revise the records and see what theories we have."

"As you order." Aswad bowed. "By the way, are you two friends?"

"Who?"

"You and Inanna. She told me earlier that she dislikes you."

Alexandros quirked a brow at her. Inanna took her sling bag. "As it should be," she retorted.

"I suppose it will take time for the heat to settle in," Alexandros said. "Are you going home?"

"Where else!" Inanna stomped her foot and hurled off.

Alexandros chortled. "I am very unlikeable."

Aswad leant against the wall, nodding his head. "Of course. You have been a pain to her. You must redeem."

"I will."

"But, I don't think the heat will die," Aswad licked his lower lip. "If only, you two are burning till the end."

Alexandros shot him a glare. Aswad crept out; his daily dose of perturbing Alexandros was met successfully.

The Head of Medjay grumbled. "Silly." Walking towards the bed, his attention was grabbed by the papyrus recklessly rolling on the ground.

"Ritualistic purification? Gibberish." He tore the papyrus to pieces, throwing it in the air. It fell over him, a shower of ominous impediment.

"No one can stop me." Alexandros' eyes glowed akin to a pair of newly born crimson stars. "No one."