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twice as handsome。 He is only trying to make me look a fool by staring at me in that boorish way。 I will not look at him again。 I will ignore him pletely； she decided； and her resolve lasted until Lord Naja stopped speaking； and her father rose to answer him。
She shot Nefer another quick look from under her thick dark lashes。 He was gazing at her father； but the moment her glance touched his face his eyes swivelled to her。 She tried to make her expression severe and forbidding； but as soon as he smiled her lips twitched in sympathy。 He really is as handsome as some of my brothers； she conceded； then took another quick peek。 Or perhaps as any of them。 She looked back at her lap and thought about it。 Then she took another peep just to make certain。 Perhaps even more handsome than any of them； even Ruga。 Immediately she felt that she had betrayed her eldest brother and qualified her opinion： But in a different kind of way； of course。
She glanced sideways at Ruga： with his beribboned beard and dark brow； he was all warrior。 Ruga is a fine…looking man； she thought loyally。
In the ranks opposite； Taita did not seem to be watching her but he missed not a single nuance of the surreptitious exchanges between Nefer and Mintaka。 He saw more than that。 Lord Trok； Naja's cousin； was standing close behind Apepi's throne； almost within arm's reach of Mintaka。 His arms were folded over his chest； and he wore embossed wristlets of solid gold。 Over one shoulder was slung a heavy recurved bow； over the other an arrow quiver covered with gold leaf。 Around his neck were the gold chains of valour and praise。 The Hyksos had adopted Egyptian military honours and decorations as well as their beliefs and customs。 Trok was watching the Hyksosian princess with an unfathomable expression。
There was another brief exchange of glances between Mintaka and Nefer； which Trok followed with his dark； brooding gaze。 Taita could sense his anger and jealousy。 It was as though the hot and oppressive cloud of the khamsin； the terrible Saharan sandstorm； was building up on the desert horizon。 I had not foreseen this。 Is Trok's interest in Mintaka romantic or political？ he wondered。 Does he lust for her； or see her merely as a staircase to power？ In either case it is dangerous； and something else we must take into account。
The speeches of greeting were ing to an end and nothing of significance had been said： negotiation of the truce would begin in secret session the next day。 Both sides were rising from their thrones and exchanging bows and salutations； and the gongs began to beat and the ram's horns to sound again as they withdrew。
Taita took one last look at the Hyksosian ranks。 Apepi and his sons disappeared through a gateway guarded by tall granite pillars； topped with the twin cow heads of the goddess。 With a final backward look Mintaka followed her father and brothers。 Lord Trok followed her closely； and also shot a last glance at Pharaoh Nefer Seti over his shoulder。 Then he； too； strode out between the pillars。 As he did so the arrows in his quiver rattled softly； and their coloured fletchings caught Taita's eye。 Unlike the workaday leather war quiver with its stopper to prevent the arrows spilling out； this ceremonial one was covered in gold leaf； and the barrel end was open so that the fletched tips of the arrows protruded above his shoulder。 The feathers were red and green； and something evil stirred in Taita's memory。 Trok marched away through the gateway； leaving Taita gazing after him。
* * *
Taita returned to the stone cell in the temple annex that had been allocated to him for the duration of the peace conference。 He drank a little sherbet； for it had been hot in the courtyard； then went to the window in the thick stone wall。 A flock of bright…coloured weavers and tits hopped and twittered on the sill； and on the flagged terrace below。 While he fed them with crushed dhurra millet； and they sat on his shoulders or pecked from his cupped hands； Taita thought about the events of the morning and began to piece together all the disparate perceptions he had garnered during the opening ceremony。
His amusement and pleasure at what had transpired between Mintaka and Nefer were forgotten as he went on to think of Trok。 He considered the man's relationship to the Hyksosian princess； and the plications that might ensue when he tried to force through his plans for the young couple。
His train of thought was interrupted as he noticed a stealthy shadow creeping along the edge of the terrace outside the window。 It was one of the temple cats； gaunt； scarred and flayed in patches with mange。 It was stalking the birds that hopped on the flags outside the window； picking up the spilled grains of dhurra millet。
Taita's pale eyes slitted as he concentrated on the cat。 The old torn stopped and peered around suspiciously。 Suddenly its back arched and every hair on its body stood erect as it stared at an empty spot on the stone flags in front of it。 It uttered a spitting shriek； spun round and raced away down the terrace until it came to a palm tree。 It flew up the tall trunk until it reached the crowning top fronds where it clung pathetically。 Taita threw another handful of grain to the birds and picked up his thoughts。
Even during their long ride together； Trok had kept his war quiver firmly stoppered and it had not occurred to Taita to pare one of the arrows it contained to those he had found at the site of Pharaoh's murder。 How many other Hyksosian officers had red and green fletchings he could only guess； but it was probably a great number； though each would have his unique signet。 There was only one way to connect Trok to the death of Pharaoh Tamose； and through him to implicate his cousin Naja。 That was to study one of his arrows。 How to do this without arousing his suspicions； he wondered。
Once again he was distracted from his thoughts。 There were voices in the passage outside the door of his cell。 One was young and clear； and he recognized it at once。 The others were gruff； pleading and protesting。
'Lord Asmor has given specific orders…'
'Am I not Pharaoh？ Are you not bound to obey me？ I wish to visit the Magus； and you dare not prevent me。 Stand aside； both of you。' Nefer's voice was strong and manding。 The uncertain timbre of puberty was gone； and he spoke with the tones of a man。
The young falcon is spreading his wings and showing his talons； Taita thought； and turned from the window； dusting the millet powder from his hands； to greet his king。
Nefer jerked aside the curtain that covered the doorway； and stepped through。 Two armed bodyguards followed him helplessly； crowding into the doorway behind him。 Nefer ignored them and faced Taita with his hands on his hips。
Taita； I am much displeased with you。' Nefer said。
'I am distraught。' Taita made a deep obeisance。 'In what way have I given you offence？'
'You have been avoiding me。 Whenever I send for you they tell me that you are gone on a secret mission to the Hyksos； or that you have returned to the desert； or some other such moonlit tale。' Nefer scowled to mask his delight at being with the old man again。 'Then suddenly you pop up from nowhere； as though you had never left； but still you ignore me。 You did not even look in my direction during the ceremony。 Where have you been？'
'Majesty； there are long ears about。' Taita glanced at the hovering guards。
Immediately Nefer turned upon them wrathfully。 'I have ordered you more than once to be gone。 If you do not go this instant I will have you both strangled。'
They withdrew unhappily； but not too far。 Taita could still hear their murmurs and the clink of their weapons as they waited in the passage beyond the curtain。 He jerked his head at the window and whispered； 'I have a skiff at the jetty。 Would Your Majesty like to go fishing？' Without waiting for his reply； Taita hitched up the skirts of his chiton and hopped on to the window…sill。 He glanced over his shoulder。 Nefer had forgotten his anger and was grinning delightedly as