Imase pulled his new barge onto the dock and marvelled at the change that had occured over a short period of time. The last time he had ventured to Hut-Sekhrem, the docks had been in disrepair and he had to ferry his cargo to the shore by way of a small skiff. Rumors were circulating that a new Nomarch had been appointed and she was cleaning up the provencial town.

The last time he was in Hut-Sekhrem.....Imase shook his head. It seemed like ages ago. Long before Seth had found him. Long before Seth and his stupid plan. The plan that could still have him executed if he were ever found.

Imase shook his head again.

No matter. Seth was dead and Imase's pocket was full enough to buy the Deshret, a fully equipped cargo bargue - with enough money leftover to live comfortably, of course. He only needed to hide in plain view for no one really knew who he was.

He guided the Deshret up to the newly painted docks and took hold of the moorings.

"Morning!" an old man called out, shuffling to help the capitain secure his boat. "What do we have today?"

"Deliveries," Imased replied, pulling out a scroll with the invoices for various shopkeepers in the town.

"From where?" the old man asked, showing his mouth missing several of his front teeth.

"Waset," Imase replied absent-mindedly as he went over the papryus.

"Waset!" the old man exclaimed. "Isn't there a rumor out of Karnak?"

Imase looked up cautiously. "There are rumors about everything these days," he replied. "What have you heard?"

The man leaned in conspiratorially, seemingly eager to impart his knowledge. "There's a war coming." he whispered, he breath foul of salted fish and fetid beer.

"War?" Imase stepped back, half startled and half repulsed by the old man's breath.

The man bobbed his head up and down. "Some say that that boy of Seti's is going to bring Set down on us all!"

"Wadj!!!" An elderly woman poked her heavily wig head out an upper window of a house on the dock. "It's time for your morning meal!!" she shrieked.

The old man, obviously Wadj, poked his finger in his ear and shook it around as if to banish the sound of the woman's voice. "Hold it down, woman!" he yelled back. "Can't you see I'm working?"

"Working?" she cackled. "You haven't worked a day in your life! Get in here and let that poor man to his business."

"Women!" Wadj threw his hands into the air and shuffled back toward the dockhouse.

Imase watched the man disappear through a low door and wondered what exactly that bit of information meant. And if it was important, who could he sell it to???