The large group entered Lapis' study. Thea had never been here before; she immediately loved it. Bookshelves lined each and every wall, one row each to total four, nailed to the wall with wooden brackets supporting wooden shelves. There was a special cubby set up for rolls of scrolls and parchment. There was an offshoot room which they didn't enter, and Thea surmised it was either Lapis' bed chamber or perhaps a separate office.

It was hard for Thea to contain herself. There were two long wooden tables, running parallel to the walls in the massive chamber. Various vials, crude beakers, and cups filled with different liquids sat. Lapis had even created an early sort of Bunsen Burner; a small pile of medium-sized rocks in a circle, with kindle material (partially burned) in the middle. He had even created what looked like a miniature, metal uraeus, attached to the table via a nailed piece of wood, which clearly was used to hold vials over the flames. Thea was delighted and shocked; no one knew something like this existed. Any of those materials that had survived she was sure was viewed parsed out, modern archeologists not realizing that they were together as miniature science sets. Like the uraeus; Thea had seen similar in her studies and at museums, logged as bracelets.

In the middle of the room were various slabs of granite, varying in size. Specimens, both alive and dead, were in bins and boxes. Each was labeled, and various papyrus pages with quill pens littered the slabs. As they walked, following Lapis, Thea couldn't help but look at some of the notes. Lapis was extremely smart, organizing his notes with a precision modern scientists probably lacked. She took note that whenever something had been changed, or was incorrect, Lapis dutifully transferred his notes to a new sheet, scratching out parts of the original document and writing notes for what his findings really were and represented.

In the very middle was the largest slab yet. It appeared to be sectioned off into smaller bins, but they had all been covered by linens to create one huge bin. Laying in it was the huge snake that had been killed, sitting in salt. Thea took note it had been dissected, and Thea looked around for any internal organs that had been removed. Her attention was brought back to the table, where a large roll of papyrus sat, unfurled; Lapis had drawn a detailed chart of the snake, with various lines pointing out what organs were where.

Gyasi walked to the huge snake, curling his lips in a look of utter revulsion. He glanced at Lapis.

"By the God's, Lapis, what monstrosity have you bred now?"

Lapis, looking pleased instead of offended, folded his arms behind his back. "While I thank you, this was not a fruit from anything I did."

Gyasi curled his lip further, his gums and teeth now showing. He picked up its head by its massive hood, shocked by the size, and then let it drop. Still looking genuinely horrified, he looked between Lapis and Ankh. "By the Underworld, what is this thing?"

Ankh exchanged a look with Gyasi. "You don't know?"

Gyasi looked at his nephew. "Clearly it is a cobra of some sort, but this thing is massive."

Thea was watching the man intently. He either could have won an Oscar in the future for his acting capabilities, or he honestly knew nothing about this snake. Gyasi gawked at Ankh and Lapis.

"Where did you get this?"

Lapis deferred to Ankh, who merely pursed his lips into a thin line.

"Look," Gyasi said seriously, "I understand your distrust in me, but I wouldn't be here right now had you thought I was anything but innocent. Please, let me help you."

"Why?" Lapis snapped immediately.

Gyasi viewed Lapis with disdain. "You send word for me, demanding my return without explanation. I am doing rather well for myself in Greece; I have a family, a small plot of land. The sooner we get this out of the way, the sooner I can return."

"We don't want your help," Lapis said before anyone else could speak.

"I have had a change in heart," Gyasi said sincerely, vehemently. "What happened with your mother was-silly."

"Silly?"Ankh barked, enraged.

Gyasi held up his hand. "I apologize, the loss of a loved one is never silly-unnecessary."

"So you admit to it?" Lapis snapped.

Gyasi paused. "I admit to being jealous of Neith-"

Ankh spat on the floor. "Do not refer to my father in such a familiar way."

Gyasi winced. "I apologize, Ankh-Meryneith. I was jealous that your mother had ran away with him even though we were betrothed, and that jealousy turned to fire in my veins once she became pregnant with his children."

"So you do?" Lapis snarled.

"Admitting jealousy is not a confession to a murder," Gyasi corrected. He then viewed his nephew seriously. "I think you and I both know a part of you acted out of grief when you sent me away, Ankh. Your mother's death was unfortunate, and there were no answers. You needed closure, so you lashed out and held onto something that made sense of something unexplainable."

Ankh wasn't blinking, the whites of his eyes becoming red.

Gyasi took a hesitant step forward. "Ankh...the first command you issued when you were crowned Pharaoh, the first thing you did, was to exile me to Greece. Why did you not merely have me beheaded?"

Ankh turned his head to the side.

Gyasi took another step forward. "Ankh," he spoke with such tenderness it caught Thea completely off guard. "I know there was no evidence. I know her death was unsolved. Even without evidence, even though you knew that I wouldn't have been found guilty in a court, you're Pharaoh. You could have called for my death anyway. You have that authority."

Still Ankh didn't view his uncle. Gyasi gently touched the King's shoulder with his fingertips. Ankh looked at him, barely holding back tears.

"Don't touch me."

Instead, Gyasi rested his entire palm on Ankh's shoulder. "Perhaps if we figure out who is trying to kill you, we will uncover who is behind your mother's death as well."

Ankh said nothing.

"Ankh," Gyasi spoke soothingly. "We all were crushed by the death of your mother. She was one of the most pure souls to ever grace Egypt. Why would I ever want to snuff that beauty out?"

Ankh spun on his heel, barked at his guards to stay with Lapis, and barreled out of the chamber. Stunned, Thea looked at Lapis.

"Go," Lapis said, jutting his chin towards the door. "I shall speak with Gyasi. Go."

Without another word, Thea turned around and fled after the Pharaoh.