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ithout ceremony； here upon the battlefield so； that his soul shall wander through all eternity seeking but never finding a home。'
They murmured with awe for this was the most dreadful punishment that could be devised。
The other enemy dead are to be treated with all respect； and allowed embalmment and a decent burial。 The name of Trok Uruk shall be erased from every monument and building in the land； and the temple that he erected to himself in Avaris shall in his stead be dedicated to the winged Horus in memory of the victory that he gave us this day before the city of Gallala。'
They shouted their approbation at this decree； and Nefer went on； 'All the possessions of Trok Uruk； all his treasure and estates； his slaves and buildings； his warehouses and goods of whatsoever nature shall be forfeited to the state。 Send water wagons back along the road to Safaga； with grooms and surgeons to bring in all the horses； chariots and men that Trok Uruk left along the way during his arrogant march on our capital here in Gallala。 If they repudiate the false pharaohs and swear allegiance to the House of Tamose the prisoners shall be pardoned and recruited into our armies。'
By the time Nefer had given his last order； and issued his last decree for that day； his voice was hoarse； he was pale and almost exhausted。 As they carried him through the city gates he asked Mintaka quietly； 'Where is Taita？ Has anybody seen the Magus？' But Taita had disappeared。
* * *
Taita watched from the hillside above the battlefield as the jaws of the trap closed on Trok's army and his chariots were smashed by the rock…filled wagons； the arrows and the javelins falling like nights of locusts upon the survivors； when a single bizarre figure caught his eye in the chaos。
Ishtar the Mede scampered between the rocks。 Like a running hare he disappeared from sight only to reappear further up the slope； ducking and dodging。 By some chance or magical charm he avoided the arrows and javelins of Nefer's troops and at last dived over the crest and disappeared from sight。
Taita let him go。 There would be time for him later。 He watched the climax of the battle； extending all his powers to act as a shield over Nefer during his single bat with Trok at the base of the rock。 Even at this distance he managed to deflect many of Trok's blows that should have been fatal； and when Trok went for the final thrust into Nefer's thigh his blade might have found the great femoral artery if Taita had not used all his influence to turn the point aside。
Since that time long ago when Taita had saved Mintaka from harm during the encounter with the cobra of the goddess； she had bee a subject who responded readily to his influence。 She had the intelligence and imagination that opened her mind to him。 It was impossible to influence a fool。 He had summoned her back to Gallala to show herself to Trok at the head of the valley； and to lure him into the trap。 Then； when she had stood frozen with horror on the rock above the fighting pair； Taita had bent her to his will once again and put into her mind the impulse to reach down for the javelin that lay at her feet。 He had bolstered her right arm as she steadied her aim and threw。 Then； as the life went out of Trok； he had rushed down the slope to minister to Nefer and to bind up the wound that had cut so perilously close to the pulsing artery in his thigh。
When his brother warriors of the Red Road lifted the young pharaoh on to the litter of spears； Taita with his duty done for the present drifted away into the throng。 Nobody paid him any heed as he went。
He picked up the tracks that Ishtar had left as he escaped out of the narrow valley and followed them until they were impossible to discern on the earth on the top of the hills； which was baked hard as mosaic tiles by the sun。
Taita stopped and crouched down。 From his pouch he took out a sliver of dried root and slipped it into his mouth。 As he chewed on it； he opened his mind and reached out to detect the Mede's aura； the trace he had left as he passed。 As the root sharpened his senses Taita saw the aura in the corner of his vision。 It was a shadow； dirty grey and ephemeral； that vanished when he looked directly at it。 Each person had his own aura。 Nefer Seti； on account of his noble and divine inner being； threw a rosy essence that to Taita was readily detectable。 Taita had followed that faint rosy emanation to find Nefer after he had been mauled by the lion and he and Mintaka were lost in the desert beyond Dabba。
Ishtar the Mede's aura was dark and tainted。 Taita stood up and went on again after it； striding out on his long legs with his staff tapping on the stones。 Every so often he saw physical confirmation that he was on the right track； by a smudged footprint in a softer patch of earth or by a recently dislodged pebble。
Ishtar had circled round to the south then e back towards Gallala。 Taita was alarmed and lengthened his stride。 If Ishtar was trying to get close to Nefer again to work some mischief； Taita must intercept him。 However； the pursuit led him to one of the chariots Trok had abandoned on his march up from the coast。 From the wreck Ishtar had salvaged something； and Taita closed his eyes and worked out what it was。
'A waterskin；' he murmured； and Taita saw where he had scraped away the earth to drag the skin out from under the side of the capsized chariot。 Another dry and empty skin was still hanging there。 Ishtar had left it； probably because he knew he could carry the weight of only one full skin。 Taita picked up the empty skin and slung it over his shoulder。 He left the chariot； with the dead horses in the traces already beginning to stink； and followed Ishtar onwards。
Carrying the waterskin with him； Ishtar had gone back towards Gallala。 When he topped the ridge above the city he had crept down to the bank of the closest irrigation canal。 The imprint of his knees was clear in the wet clay where he had knelt to drink and then to fill the skin he carried。 Taita drank himself。 After that he filled his own waterskin。 Then he rose and followed the traces Ishtar had left as he started back eastwards along the road towards Safaga and the coast。 Taita strode after him。
Night fell and Taita kept on。 Sometimes the aura of the Mede faded away pletely； but Taita followed the road。 At other times it grew stronger； until Taita smelt it； a faint； musty； unpleasant odour。 When it was this strong he could fathom the essence of the Mede。 He could detect his vindictive and vengeful nature。 He divined that Ishtar was frightened and demoralized by the turn that the fates had taken against him； but his powers were still formidable。 He constituted a great and real danger； not only to Nefer and Mintaka but to Taita himself。 If he were allowed to escape and regenerate his scattered powers； he might threaten the future of the House of Tamose and Apepi。 Ishtar was one of the higher adepts； an evil one； which made him all the more dangerous。 He could certainly overlook his selected victims； and conjure up all manner of profanities to bring down disaster on Nefer and Mintaka。 He could sicken and sour their love for each other； bring down suffering； miscarriage and plague； pains and disease with no focus or reason； mental aberrations； madness and eventually death。
Even Taita was not immune to his baleful spirit。 If he were allowed to escape； Ishtar might gradually erode Taita's powers and frustrate his work。 Unless Taita acted now； while he had the opportunity； to destroy him utterly。
The gibbous moon rose over the stark hills and lit Taita's way。 He was in that long swinging stride with which he could cover the ground as swiftly as a mounted man。 He could sense that ahead of him Ishtar was unaware that he was being followed and his pace was much slower。 Every hour that passed Taita felt his aura stronger and nearer。 I will be up to him before sunrise； he thought； and at that moment he doubled over and vomited in a projectile stream on to the stony track。 Overwhelmed with a sudden； terrible nausea； Taita almost co