Heretic of Set

Others, who Anok suspected were the sons of the very rich, the

very powerful, or even the priests themselves, had been given the

yoke of a full acolyte and sent home early. For them, becoming

clerics of Set was a matter of appearances, a stepping-stone to

power and respect for those who could afford it. It was an elite status

that apparently even Dejal’s father’s wealth was not sufficient to buy,

or that, perhaps, he was not generous enough to bestow on his only

son.

The food was spread out on a long table near the kitchen door.

There were steaming bowls of spiced beef, baked sole, smoked

clams, boiled yams, and grape leaves stuffed with crab. Beyond this

were platters of flatbreads, olives, fresh and dried fruit, sweet cakes

dripping with honey, and small jugs of wine.

His stomach rumbling, Anok grabbed a heavy earthenware plate

and heaped it with food.

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