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of well water。 By next morning the fever had broken and Khyan was resting more fortably。 He urinated at last； which Taita declared to be beneficial； even though his water was dark yellow and acrid。 An hour later he passed more water； lighter in colour and not so evil…smelling。
'Look； my lord；' Mintaka exclaimed； stroking her brother's cheek； 'the red blotches are fading； and his skin feels cooler。'
'You have the healing touch of a nymph of paradise；' Taita told her； 'but do not forget the water jug。 It is empty。'
She raced away to the kitchens； and came back almost immediately with a brimming jug。 While she gave it to him； she began to sing a Hyksosian lullaby； and Taita was delighted by the sweetness and clarity of her voice：
'Listen to the wind in the grass； little darling；
Sleep； sleep； sleep。
Hear the sound of the river； my little baby；
Dream； dream； dream。'
Taita studied her face。 In the Hyksosian way； it was a little too broad； and her cheekbones too prominent。 Her mouth was large； her lips full； her nose strongly bridged。 Not one of these features was perfect in itself； but each was finely balanced with and matched to all the others； and her neck was long and graceful。 Her almond…shaped eyes were truly magnificent under arched black brows。 Her expression was alert and bright。 Hers was a different kind of beauty； he thought； but beauty none the less。 'Look！' She broke off the song and laughed。 'He is awake。'
Khyan's eyes were open and he was looking up at her。
'You have e back to us； you horrid little beast。' When she laughed her teeth were square and very white in the lamplight。 'We were so worried。 You must not do that again； ever。' She hugged him to hide the tears of joy and relief that suddenly sparkled in her eyes。
Taita looked beyond the pair on the bed and saw the bulky figure of Apepi in the doorway。 Taita did not know how long he had been there； but now he nodded at Taita without smiling； then turned and disappeared。
By that evening Khyan was able to sit up with a little help from his sister； and to drink from the soup bowl she held to his lips。 Two days later his rash had disappeared。
Three or four times a day Apepi visited the chamber。 Khyan was still too weak to rise； but as soon as his father appeared； he touched his heart and his lips in a gesture of respect。
On the fifth day he tottered from the couch and tried to prostrate himself before the King； but Apepi stopped him and lifted him back on to the pillows。 Even though his feelings for the boy were clear； Apepi had little to say and left again almost immediately； but in the doorway he looked back at Taita and ordered him to follow with a curt inclination of his head。
* * *
They stood alone on the summit of the highest tower of the palace。 They had climbed two hundred steps to reach this height； and from here they had a view upriver over the captured citadel of Abnub； which lay ten miles upstream。 Thebes was less than a hundred miles beyond that。
Apepi had ordered the sentries to go down and leave them alone in this lofty place； so that they would not be spied upon or overheard。 He stood staring out over the great grey river towards the south。 He was in full war costume； hard leather greaves and breastplate； sword…belt studded with gold rosettes； and his beard was plaited with crimson ribbons to match his ceremonial apron。 Incongruously he wore the golden uraeus； the vulture and cobra crown； over his dense silver…shot curls。 It infuriated Taita that this invader and despoiler considered himself Pharaoh of all Egypt； and wore the sacred regalia； but his expression was serene。 Instead he tuned his mind to catch Apepi's thoughts。 They were a tangled web； so deep and devious that even Taita could not discern them clearly； but he could sense the force within that made Apepi such a dreadful adversary。
'At least something they say of you is true； Magus。' Apepi broke the long silence。 'You are a physician of great skill。' Taita remained silent。
'Can you work a charm to heal the plague in my army as you have in my son？' Apepi asked。 'I would pay you a lakh of gold。 As much gold as ten strong horses can carry。'
Taita smiled bleakly。 'My lord； if I could work such a charm I could as well conjure a hundred lakhs out of the thin air without the effort of curing your ruffians。'
Apepi turned his head and returned his smile； but it lacked any humour or goodwill。 'How old are you； Warlock？ Trok says you are over two hundred years old。 Is that true？'
Taita gave no indication of having heard him； and Apepi went on； 'What is your price； Warlock？ If not gold then what can I offer you？' The question was rhetorical and he did not wait for an answer； but stamped away to the northern parapet of the tower； and stood with his fists on his hips。 He looked down over the encampments of his army； and the cremation fields beyond。 The fires were still burning and the smoke drifted low across the green waters of the river and out into the desert beyond。
'You have won a victory； my lord；' Taita said softly； 'but you do well to contemplate the pyres of your dead。 Pharaoh will have reinforced and regrouped his forces before the plague burns itself out and your men are ready to fight again。'
Apepi shook himself with annoyance； like a lion shaking off flies。 'Your persistence irks me； Warlock。'
'Nay； lord； it is not me but the truth and the logic that irk you。'
'Nefer Seti is a child。 I have defeated him once； I will do it again。'
'What is more crucial to you； there is no plague in his army。 Your spies will have told you that Pharaoh has five more legions at Aswan； and another two at Asyut。 They are already on the river ing north with the current。 They will be here before the new moon。'
Apepi growled softly； but made no response。 Taita went on relentlessly； 'Sixty years of war have bled both kingdoms white。 Would you pass on the legacy of Salitis； your own father； sixty years of bloodshed？ Is that what your sons will inherit from you？'
Apepi rounded on him； scowling； 'Do not press me too hard； old man。 Do not insult my father； the divine god Salitis。' After an interval long enough to express his disapproval； Apepi spoke again。 'How long will it take you to arrange a parley with this so…called Regent of the Upper Kingdom； this Naja？'
'If you give me safe conduct through your lines； and a fast galley to carry me； I can be in Thebes in three days。 The return with the current will be even swifter。'
'I will send Trok with you to see you safely through。 Tell Naja I will meet him at the temple of Hathor on the west bank at Perra beyond Abnub。 Do you know it？'
'I know it well； my lord；' Taita said。
'We can talk there；' Apepi said。 'But tell him not to expect too many concessions from me。 I am the victor； and he the vanquished。 You can go now。'
Taita stood his ground。
'You may go； Warlock。' Apepi dismissed him a second time。
'Pharaoh Nefer Seti is almost of an age with your daughter； Mintaka；' Taita said stubbornly。 'You might wish to bring her with you to Perra。'
'To what purpose？' Apepi stared at him suspiciously。
'An alliance between your dynasty and that of the Tamosian pharaohs might seal a lasting peace in the two kingdoms。'
Apepi stroked the ribbons in his beard to hide his smile； 'By Seueth； you intrigue as cunningly as you mix a potion； Warlock。 Now； get you gone before you irk me past forbearance。'
* * *
The temple of Hathor had been excavated out of the rocky hillside above the river in the reign of Pharaoh Sehertawy hundreds of years previously； but had been added to by every pharaoh since then。 The priestesses were a rich； influential sisterhood who had contrived somehow to survive during the long civil wars between the kingdoms and even to prosper in difficult times。
Dressed in their yellow robes they were gathered in the courtyard of the temple； between the