Arthur's crude rhymes about the king's penis spark a chaotic chase through ancient Babylon.
Deathfaking is up for review, and not in a tidy boardroom way. After Pip's dedication to Ryan O'Mara and the usual credits, the founders start asking whether their odd little trade has any future. The past year has been ugly. Egypt, Nubia, Urartu, Israel, Judah, and the entire Assyrian Empire have all thrown them out, which makes for a grim client list. Travel was meant to bring stories, changed lives, and a look at the world. Instead, Arthur and Caleb are crawling from country to country with botched faces and angry rulers close behind. Babylon only makes things louder. The pair are in hiding after being chased, though Caleb is very clear that he put himself in a trance and did not simply fall asleep. Outside, the city seems calm for a moment. Then the Akitu festivities start again, and nobody can tell whether the king's guards have truly gone. Arthur grabs at hope too fast. He takes the noise as proof that Majuk has forgiven his jibes, then climbs onto the roof to check. Of course, he keeps talking. His praise still sounds like insults wearing better clothes, with compliments about the king's judgment, heart, temper, and mercy landing about as badly as expected. Caleb spots the crowd forming below. Babylon stretches out beneath them, the Euphrates cuts through the city, and the temple draws people back in. Bags are being passed around. The joke curdles before Arthur catches up. The fugitives may be safe, which somehow makes things worse, because Caleb realizes someone else is still in trouble. A squabble about whether deathfaking has a future turns into a rooftop crisis where bad jokes, royal power, and escape plans all get shoved into the same mess.
