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'But you； my brother of the Red Road and my dearest friend；' Nefer turned to Meren； 'what about you？'
'There is nothing more for me here； now that Merykara is gone。 I must go with Taita。'
Nefer knew that there was nothing further to say； that more words would degrade this moment。 He did not even ask where they were going。 Perhaps they did not know themselves。
He embraced them and kissed them； and he and Mintaka stood and watched them walk away； and their distant shapes slowly dwindle in size in the shimmering wastes of the desert wilderness； and they shared the same deep ache of regret and bereavement。
'They have not really gone；' Mintaka whispered； when at last they had disappeared from view。
'No；' Nefer agreed。 'They will always be with us。'
* * *
With the high priestess and fifty acolytes from the temple of Hathor preceding her； the Princess Mintaka Apepi came for her marriage to Pharaoh Nefer Seti。
They stood together on the terrace of the palace of Thebes that overlooked the broad brown flow of the Nile in flood； in the season most propitious to all living things in the land of this very Egypt。
Mintaka had long since recovered from her injuries and her ordeal。 Her beauty was fully restored； and in this joyous moment seemed to be enhanced ten…fold。
It seemed that all of Egypt had e to bear witness to the nuptials。 The crowds stretched back along both banks of the river as far as the eye could see。 When the couple embraced and broke the jars of Nile water； the shout that went up to heaven must have startled the gods themselves。 Then Nefer Seti led his new queen out by the hand and showed her beauty to the populace； who fell to their knees； and wept and cried aloud their loyalty and their love。
Suddenly a silence fell over this vast congregation and slowly every eye turned upwards to the tiny speck in the vaulted sky above the palace。
In the silence there was the wild lonely cry of a royal falcon and the bird began its stoop out of the high blue。 In the end； just as it seemed it must e into violent collision； the falcon flared its wings wide and hovered over the tall figure of Pharaoh。 Nefer lifted his right arm and held it out； and softly as a feather the magnificent bird alighted upon his fist。
A sound like the sea on a stormy day rose from ten thousand throats as they greeted the miracle。 But Nefer's eyes fell on the thin loop of pure gold that was fastened about the bird's right foot above the great hooked talons。 Engraved into the precious metal was a symbol that made Nefer's heart race as he recognized it。
'The royal cartouche！' he whispered。 'This was never a wild bird。 This is Nefertem； my father's falcon。 That is why it came to me so often in times of greatest danger； to warn and guide me。 It was always my father's spirit。
'And now Nefertem has e to affirm before all the world that you are king indeed。' Mintaka stood closer to him and gazed into his face with eyes that glowed with pride and love。
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