"Possibly a veil," Solomon suggested. "Or a mask that covers his head." He turned away to find the other books, guiding himself based on the grittiness of the shelf and where the dust had been disturbed. He pulled out three more and stepped back, turning, using his shadow and where it intersected with Pepper to tell where she stood so they didn't collide.

"Unfortunately, no," he said dryly. "I should be able to translate good parts of them for you, if you can describe the hieroglyphs. This one has some English translations, though."

He held up the thinnest of the books. "Would you like to stay in here, or move into the living-room? It would--" This last was said dryly. "--be a bit easier for me to maneuver with refreshments if we're out there."