The sandstorm had delayed their travel for more than a week, trapping Stephanos and his company of soldiers in the city. Anzety had been more than happy to provide them with lodgings (maybe too happy, though Stephanos couldn't prove the Pharaoh had anything to with the storm), and many of the soldiers would have been happy to spend a good long time there. Which would be unavoidable if they didn't leave soon; the cold season was coming, and if they didn't start back to Rome then they'd be stranded here until the spring.
"How long do these storms normally last?" he asked, peering through Anzety's magnifying device.