I still couldnt believe that the great pharaoh, Seti, had been murdered and in my courtroom no less. What was even stranger was that for the first time I had actually uttered kind words to Toman. My throat hurt from the effort. Ramesses II Thutmose stood there regally watching over everyone. He would never be his father, but then no one would.

I looked around at the people clustered...er...confined in the courtroom. Gone was the joviality of the morning that had plagued the room and grated at my patience. And gone was the prosecutor...and Roxanne Chabrias. I had a feeling that his idea of an interview was more thorough and more delving than my idea.

I walked across the room to the area where Gnaeus was conducting his interviews, my sandals making sticking sounds with each step. I wondered what had more pastry sugar...the floor or the stomachs of the people in the courtroom. People would have to eat soon though, otherwise they would start to get mean. I wondered what kind of food was appropriate under the circumstances. I was sure Toman would be willing to feed the multitudes at his own expense.

"Most people call me honeybuns", I heard Roxanne tell Gnaeus. I held my temper, no easy feat in the best of times. She was definitely flirting with MY Prosecutor. That would not do. I waited, wondering where this honeybuns stuff was leading and then she mentioned the promise of a nice meal in an out of the way Inn. That was not going to happen. I could see that this floozy needed an education. I stepped into the room. Gnaeus was leaning forward and peering down the front of her garment. Typical. He could enter and win a contest for Mr. Dung Beetle of the year.

"Gnaeus, dont lead the poor girl on and make promises you cant keep", I smiled at the floozy. I could be quite the actress when the need arose.

"But Aura...", Gnaeus began, his forehead furrowing in dread.

"What are you saying?", Roxanne the floozy asked innocently. Innocent...come on...she hadnt been that since the age of nine was my guess.

"Gnaeus likes to take girls to out of the way Inns. Then he makes them pay for dinner. He has no money you see. That is why he is my kept man. Lucky for him he is a relative or I would have booted him out years ago...a war injury you know", I smiled and decided to go console Toman, a sure runner up for Mr. Dung Beetle of the year. *S*