Uncle?

Thea's mind whirled. Uncle—Ankh's uncle. That held importance. As the pair continued their quarrel, Thea tried to remember.

"Ah," the man snarled now, face twisting in disapproval. "There's the boastful rat who I know and love."

To Thea's surprise, Ankh spat. She still couldn't quite remember what was going on, or why the fact this man was the Pharaoh's uncle made her uneasy. She knew it was a discussion she had with Lapis...

Thea tapped one of the guards on the shoulder, beckoning him close so she could whisper directly into his ear. "Fetch Lapis, please. Discretion is important."

Thea watched as the guards whispered to one another. Finally, one near the back silently crept backwards, making sure to move only when either Ankh or his uncle were speaking to cover the sound. It took much longer than Thea would have liked, but eventually he reached the door in the back and disappeared. Luckily, the arguing men were so engrossed they didn't notice.

"I am Pharaoh—" Ankh started to say, but was cut off by his relative.

"Which means little to me, a mere Grecian commoner." The man appeared to look at his nails a moment before continuing. "That said —what have I done that I would be summoned, especially so abruptly? You exiled me, and then you called for me? Highly unusual, if I say."

"Did you enjoy the games?" Ankh rose his eyebrows.

"Rather boring," the older man drolled, "compared to the Greek games. It was like children squabbling outside on the veranda in between lessons."

"But you were there, yes?"

"Of course," the elder replied, trying to mask his curiosity.

"Were you with anyone?"

Now he was starting to look annoyed. "Why am I being interrogated, Ankh?"

Just then, the door banged open and everyone looked. A panting Lapis stood there, trying to collect himself. As soon as he set eyes on the man surrounded by guards, his eyes flashed with a furry that seemed supernatural.

"Gyasi!" Lapis bellowed, and it was with that explosion of unbridled rage that jarred Thea's memory.

Gyasi, Ankh's unlcle, had killed Ankh's mother.

As Lapis stalked forward, looking a mixture of pained and angry, Gyasi sneered. He once more held open his arms.

"Ah yes, and here she is, dearest Lapis. Still wearing that ridiculous beard I see?"

Lapis came right up beside Ankh, who shot out his arm to keep Lapis from moving any father.

A look of mocking contorted Lapis' looks, and he puckered his luscious lips. "You're just jealous because you couldn't grow one of your own; it always came out patchy, and you ended up looking like a diseased jackal."

Gyasi smiled thinly. "And you still look like a little girl playing dress up."

Thea felt compelled to step in. "Actually, Lapis is male, not to mention when we first met I assumed he was."

Lapis gave Thea a quick look of gratitude, and then sneered back at Gyasi. "And you are still grasping at reeds taller than you as they blow in the wind, just out of your grasp."

Gyasi was offended, but then cooly looked at Thea. He viewed her through slitted eyes. "And who might this beautiful face be?"

Before anyone could answer for her, she replied smoothly, "Thea Amaris."

Gyasi reached out, took her hand, and began to uplift it towards his lips. Instead, Thea yanked her hand out of his grasp and glared. Gyasi looked deadly for a moment, but then smoothed over his looks with a placating smile.

"An interesting name for an interesting woman. Your skin looks better suited in Greece than here." He squinted his eyes in suspicion. "Plus I have never seen you before."

Thea tried to think of something cocky to retort, but instead Lapis put his hand on her shoulder. "She is a friend of ours, and her presence here is of no concern to you, Gyasi."

"I wasn't speaking to you, lapdog."

Ankh physically wrapped his arm around Lapis' waist and yanked him back. Now standing in front of both Thea and Lapis, effectively blocking them, he grimaced. "You will not speak to the royal vizier in such a manner. This is your only warning, uncle."

Gyasi looked amused. "Or what? You'll send me back to Greece? Oh, how terrible. I am simply quivering in deep fear."

"Have you been to the dungeon?" Ankh replied, his voice silken. "There were recent renovations. I would love to show you."

Finally, Gyasi looked angry and dropped any and all pretending. "I tire of this back and forth. What do you want, Ankh?"

"Several attempts have been made on my life."

Gyasi rolled his eyes. "Oh, how dreadful."

"What have you done?"

"Nothing."

Ankh glared. What happened next genuinely surprised Thea. Gyasi pressed his open palm to his chest, speaking sincerely and urgently. As the words came out of Gyasi's mouth, Thea glanced at the Pharaoh and Lapis. Both remained neutral. "Ankh, I swear upon the God's that I have nothing to do with any of this."

No one spoke. Gyasi looked between Lapis and Ankh. "Do you honestly believe that I give a damn enough to try and have you killed from a different country? Ankh, as far as I'm concerned our business is done. You have made it very clear I am unwelcome in Egypt, so I have moved on in Greece. If I might be so bold, I fear you've become rather delusional and self-centered to believe I had anything to do with this."

"You killed his mother!" Lapis shouted. Thea watched in horror as he yanked up his robes, revealing his still-patched taught stomach. Two guards grabbed him from under the armpits to prevent him from moving closer to Gyasi. "You took away the only thing Ankh ever cared about! I have been shot and nearly died! Who else would be a suspect?"

Ankh now gently moved Lapis back a few feet. Looking embarrassed for the both of them, Ankh gently took his vizier's robes and put them back down. Thea barely heard Ankh muttering to Lapis.

"Lapis, please, control yourself."

"I hate him," Lapis spat, looking near tears.

"I know," Ankh whispered hurriedly, "as do I, as do I. But we must try to keep our composure, alright?"

"He hurt you," Lapis snarled, and Thea looked elsewhere when a tear dripped out of his eye. "He hurt me—"

Ankh quickly turned Lapis around, walking him away a few feet, a hand on his forearm, his other arm wrapped around his shoulders. "I know. Collect yourself a moment, please."

Lapis nodded. Ankh walked back to Gyasi.

"Ankh," Gyasi implored, "I know we have a muddied past, but what's done is done. I truthfully haven't thought of you in fortnights."

Ankh pursed his lips.

"Truthfully."

After a tense moment, Ankh turned to Lapis, whose back was to them. "Vizier—do you have the specimen on hand?"

Lapis, dabbing his eyes on his sleeve quickly, turned to them. He looked confused.

"The unusual one. The one you were interested in."

Realization caught onto Lapis' face. "Oh—well, yes, it's sitting in salt as we speak—"

"Let's all go have a viewing of it, shall we?"

Lapis looked slightly thunderstruck. "Oh. Well, yes. Yes. This way, if you please."

The large gathering followed Lapis as he led them out of the royal chambers to his own personal study, clear on the other side of the palace. Thea, not knowing what else to do, followed. She kept looking over her shoulder at Gyasi, who looked as confused as she felt.