Ankh and his uncle exchanged a quick glance at Lapis' utterance.

"It has to be him," Lapis said. Seemingly in a daze, Lapis fumbled forward, groped around for a chair, and then sank into it.

Thea was alarmed. "Lapis, are you alright?"

"No," Lapis replied, looking like death warmed over. "I hate that man. I hate him."

Thea looked at Ankh, who merely shook his head curtly. Thea looked back at Lapis in worry. For a few tense moments, there was silence. Then Ankh spoke gently.

"Lapis."

Seeming to come out of a trance, Lapis blinked several times before focusing his eyes on Ankh.

"I need you to go down to the docks and view the manifests."

Lapis nodded and lurched to his feet. Still looking dazed, he made his way to the door.

"Lapis," Ankh called. His vizier halted and turned around. "Take guards with you."

Lapis nodded and then seemed to float out of the room. Once the door was shut again, Thea turned to Ankh in great alarm. "Is Lapis alright?"

"Chisisi holds Lapis personally responsible for his loss over the throne," Gyasi began to say, "he—"

Ankh cleared his throat. Both looked at the Pharaoh. "I think Lapis should be the one to recant the tale, if he chooses to do so."

Gyasi slammed his mouth shut and inclined his head. "I do apologize, my King."

Ankh waved a hand dismissively. "You did not know."

"So what does all this mean?" Thea asked slowly, tucking some hair behind her ear.

"I believe by now, especially of Chisisi has spies looking at us, that he knows we're onto him. I am sure whomever is doing his bidding took note of my uncles arrival. Seeing as he wasn't put to death immediately—"

Gyasi paled slightly.

"—Chisisi must know that he is a suspect now. I imagine things to escalate quickly from here on out."

"That's why Lapis was attacked," Thea muttered, but then her eyes went wild. "Ankh! You sent Lapis to the docks!"

"Yes," Ankh replied gravely, "it had to be him."

Thea recoiled. "Why? Why must you continue to use your best friend as bait?!"

"Thea, please, you must understand." Ankh moved his hand in a patting gesture. "Yes, at first I attempted to lure out the assassin using him. However, as previously discussed, it was his idea—"

"And you are the Pharaoh!" Thea admonished. "You could have ordered him not to do such a thing!"

"You clearly are not from here," Gyasi broke in, snarling at Thea, "but you dare speak to a King like that?"

"Uncle, please."

"But—"

"Gyasi! Think of the words you just told my friend."

With a huff, Gyasi crossed his arms and glared to the side.

"Thea—I am showing that we are not afraid by sending Lapis. I am acting under the assumption that Chisisi knows that he is now a suspect. To show fear is to show weakness—"

"What if something happens to Lapis?" Thea argued. "Could you live with that guilt?"

Ankh looked away.

"Ankh?" Gyasi cried out. "Do you plan to wed this woman? That would be the only way it would be acceptable for her to address you as much, and even then—"

"Enough!" Ankh snapped, his voice raising.

There was a tense pause.

"I thank you for your concern, uncle, but we are done here.. I wanted to discuss Chisisi, and Chisisi we have discussed."

Gyasi frowned deeply. Even with his reservation, he pushed his chair back, bowed deeply to Ankh, and then stalked out of the room. As soon as the doors were shut, words came spewing from Thea's mouth. 

"Ankh, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to upset your uncle, is there--"

Ankh once again waved his hand. "Do not worry about it a moment farther."

Thea tucked the other side of her hair behind her ear. "I don't mean to cause you any trouble. If my demeanor is making those around you uncomfortable, then--"

The Pharaoh cut her off. Smiling, he gracefully got to his feet, went to her, and kissed her. Then, the King smiled down at her, his entire face lighting up. "If you are making anyone uncomfortable, well." He shrugged. "Not only do I not care, but they would have to bring it up with me."

That made Thea smile. Gently, Ankh took her hands and lifted her up. He then hooked his arm within his own, and he led her towards the door. Quizzically,  Thea looked at him.

"Come," he said with a mighty grin. "There is something I want to show you."

Intrigued, Thea let him led the way. They wound their way through the magnificent halls that were lined with beautiful paintings and pristine hieroglyphs. It still was a marvel to her the amazing architecture that surrounded her. The ceiling was as tall at the museum she had worked at, and that housed a dinosaur!

Guards joined them, keeping their distance to allow the pair some privacy. They walked, arm in arm, down a hall Thea had never been to. She was surprised when out of the corner of her eye she caught a small garden. Seeing her intrigue, Ankh stopped, turning towards the small courtyard. 

"Would you like a look?"

Thea looked up at Ankh. "Oh, I couldn't, you wanted to show me something--"

Ankh grinned again. "It can wait. I do not have a stately agenda today; my time is yours."

Thea could feel herself blush. The King grinned wider still, taking her hand. "Come."

The courtyard was subterranean, lowered by three stone steps. In the very middle sat a small, square pond, in the middle of which sat a stone basin. Both the basin and pond were decorated with floating white and blue lotus flowers. Surrounding the pond on every side were low lying reeds.

The entire thing was exploding in brilliant colors and aromas.  Purple mandrake grew, sprinkled with daisies. Brilliant chrysanthemum's  of yellow and red spread outward, accented by the white and black features of anemones. Perhaps the most eye catching contrast were the next bunch, jasmine mixed with poppy flowers of vibrant reds. Then, all along the first step was a line of red roses.

Thea gasped, walking to the edge of the steps, hands clasped at her chest in wonder. Ankh walked forward, walked down two steps and then sat, left leg outstretched as he lounged. 

"I come here sometimes to meditate."

Thea looked down at Ankh, surprised. "You meditate?"

Ankh gave a sort of shrug. "Pray, meditate--they are similar. I come here to do both."

Thea sat next to Ankh. Giving a furtive glance around, she lowered her voice. "I thought you weren't religious?"

"I occasionally pray to Aqen."

Thea paused, trying to decide on how best to broach the subject. "Why, if you don't mind me asking, are you so devoted to Aqen? I noticed a statue of him in the middle of town."

A small smile played on Ankh's mouth. "I have a riddle for you."

Thea laughed. "Oh, you're the Sphynx now?"

That made Ankh chuckle. "Hardly. It's a fairly lame riddle, but it's a means to an end."

"Alright, Pharaoh Sphynx," Thea teased, "what is it?"

"What is the only thing that binds all people together, cannot be started nor stopped?"

Thea blinked and thought. She then laughed. "And you said you're not good at this. It seems like a fair riddle that the Sphynx would ask."

Ankh smiled at her. "Give up?"

"Yes."

Ankh's smile slipped away, and he looked back to the pond. A serious expression took over his features. "It's time, dearest Thea. You could argue that life and death also is something we all have in common, but time is endless. People are born--time just is. People die--time never stops."

Thea watched him in wonder.

"You have no control over it. Even death, well, sometimes you can cheat death. Look at my brother, stillbirthed, and yet began to cry a minute later. Or Lapis--he was poisoned and yet still walks among us, praise be to the Gods."

Thea was deeply moved.

"I pray to Aqen and have his statue here because he is described as The Rope of Time. He controls it. The only thing that is certain, and the only thing that doesn't change Thea, is time. When all else fails...when your life gets turned upside down and everything seems to stop making sense...when the tides of the river change, when night turns to day and day into night...no matter what happens, time moves on. Empire's rise and fall. People come and go. Something as static and assured as time is very comforting." Ankh looked up at her and gave her the saddest smile. "Don't you think?"