Arachne — Volume 05

In the Nile Delta, a violent fire razes a prominent house and almost consumes a rescued statue of Demeter, triggering an inquiry that draws in a blinded sculptor, magistrates, and island communities. The artist wrestles with despair, memory, and the possible loss of his sight and vocation, while authorities probe coastal vessels, question sanctuary rights, and face local superstition. The narrative interlaces investigations of theft and disappearance with tensions over artistic reputation, jealousies, religious devotion, and the efforts of friends and officials to soothe the wounded, protect sacred objects, and uncover who engineered the attack.