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Nefer hurried to meet her and led her to her a giant kigelia tree under whose spreading branches a breakfast feast was laid out in the shade。 At first the young couple were restrained and shy； still overawed by the momentous awakening that they had shared； but soon their natural high spirits reasserted themselves； and they joined in the banter and the chatter； although their eyes kept meeting and almost every word they uttered was aimed at the other。
Mintaka loved to riddle and she challenged him to an exchange。 She made it more difficult for Nefer by couching her clues in the Hyksosian language。
'I have one eye and a sharp nose。 I run my victim through and through； but I draw no blood。 What am I？'
That's easy！' Nefer laughed triumphantly。 'You are a sewing needle。' And Mintaka threw up her hands in surrender。
'Forfeit！' cried the slave girls。 'Pharaoh is right。 Forfeit！'
'A song！' Nefer demanded。 'But not the monkey。 We have had enough of him for one day。'
'I shall give you 〃The Song of the Nile〃；' she agreed； and when she finished Nefer demanded another。 'Only if you help me； Majesty。'
His voice was a robust tenor but whenever he slipped off…key she covered his mistake and made him sound much better than he was。
Of course Nefer had brought his bao board and stones。 Taita had taught him to love it； and he had bee expert。 When he tired of the singing he inveigled Mintaka into a game。
'You will have to be patient with me。 I am a novice；' she warned him； as he set out the board。 Bao was an Egyptian game； and this time he expected confidently to outmatch her。
'Don't feel bad about it；' Nefer encouraged her。 'I will coach you。〃
Taita smiled because he and Mintaka had wiled away a few hours at bao in the palace of Bubasti when they were nursing her little brother。 Within eighteen moves her red stones dominated the west castle and were menacing his centre。
'Have I done the right thing？' she asked sweetly。
Nefer was saved by a hail from the riverbank and looked up to see a galley flying the Regent's pennant ing swiftly down the channel。 'What a pity。 Just when the game was getting interesting。' He began to pack up the board with alacrity。
'Can't we hide from them？' Mintaka asked； but Nefer shook his head。 They have seen us already。' He had been expecting this visitation all morning。 Sooner or later the Regent must hear about this illicit outing and send Asmor to bring in his errant charge。
The galley nosed into the bank below where they sat and Asmor sprang ashore。 He strode up to the picnic party。 'The Regent is much displeased by your absence。 He bids you return at once to the temple； where matters of state await your attention。'
'And I； Lord Asmor； am much displeased by your ill manners。' Nefer tried to retrieve some of his hurt dignity。 'I am not a groom or a house servant to be addressed in that manner； and neither have you shown respect for the Princess Mintaka。' But there was no escaping that he was being treated like a child。
Still； he tried to put a good face on it and invited Mintaka to sail back with him in the skiff while her maids followed in the second vessel。 Taita kept tactfully to the bows as this was their first opportunity to hold a private conversation。 Not quite certain what to expect of her Nefer was startled when； rather than bothering with polite niceties； she launched immediately into a discussion of the chances of success or failure of the peace conference between their opposing sides。 She soon impressed him with her political acumen and her strong views。 'If only we women were allowed to run this world； there would never have been a stupid war in the first place；' she summed up； but he could not let that go unchallenged。 They argued animatedly all the way back to the temple。 The journey was far too short for Nefer's liking； and as they came into the landing he took her hand。 'I should like to see you again。'
'I should like that well enough；' she replied； without withdrawing her hand。
'Soon；' he insisted。
'Soon enough。' She smiled and gently took back her hand。 He felt strangely bereft as he watched her walk away towards the temple。
* * *
'My lord； you were present at the divination of the Mazes of Ammon Ra。 You know of the dire charge placed upon me by X。 V JL the gods。 You know that I can never flout their express wishes and that therefore I am mitted to your interest。 I had good reason to assist the boy in what was only； after all； a harmless escapade。'
Naja was not so easily placated。 He was still furious that Nefer had given Asmor the slip and managed to spend the morning out in the swamps with the Hyksosian princess。
'How can I believe that when you aided Nefer？ Nay！ You instigated this piece of folly。'
'My lord Regent； you must realize how crucial to our enterprise it is that I retain the young Pharaoh's plete trust。 If I appear to flout your orders and authority； then this will make the boy believe that I am still his man。 It will make the difficult task laid upon me by the Mazes easier to acplish。'
Diplomatically Taita turned aside each of the Regent's accusations； until he was no longer ranting but merely grumbling bitterly。 'It must not happen again； Magus。 Of course I trust your loyalty。 You would be a fool indeed to fly against the express strictures of the gods。 However； in future whenever Nefer leaves his quarters he must be acpanied by Asmor and a full escort of his men。 I cannot take the chance that he will disappear。'
'My lord； how goes the negotiation with the Shepherd Chieftain？ Is there aught that I can do to help you ensure a successful oute in this matter？' Adroitly Taita set the hounds on a different scent； and Naja followed them。
'Apepi is indisposed。 This morning he had a coughing fit so intense he brought up blood and had to leave the conference chamber。 Even though he cannot attend himself； he will not let any other speak on his behalf； not even Lord Trok who usually has his confidence。 Only the gods know how long it will be before the great bear returns to the conference。 We may be forced to waste days or even weeks。'
'What is Apepi's ailment？' Taita asked。
'I do not know…' Naja broke off as an idea occurred to him。 'Why did I not think of it before？ With your skills； you will be able to cure whatever ails him。 Go to him at once； Magus； and do your utmost。'
As he approached the king's apartments； Taita could hear Apepi from across the courtyard。 He sounded like a black…maned lion caught in trap； and the roars grew louder as Taita entered the chamber。 As he stepped over the threshold he was almost knocked over by three priests of Osiris fleeing the royal presence in terror； and a heavy bronze bowl crashed into the doorsill。 It had been thrown across the room by the Hyksosian king； who sat naked on a muddle of furs and tangled bedsheets in the middle of the chamber。
'Where have you been； Warlock？' he roared； as soon as he saw Taita。 'I sent Trok to find you before dawn。 Why do you e only in the middle of the afternoon to save me from those infernal priests with their stinking poisons and hot tongs？'
'I have not seen Trok；' Taita explained； 'but I came as soon as Lord Naja told me you were indisposed。'
'Indisposed？ I am not indisposed； Warlock。 I am 。at the point of death。'
'Let us see what can be done to save you。'
Apepi rolled over on to his hairy belly and Taita saw the grotesque purple swelling on his back。 It was the size of both the king's bunched fists。 When he touched it lightly with a fingertip Apepi bellowed again and broke out in a running sweat。 'Gently； Taita。 You are as bad as all the priests in Egypt together。'
'How did this e about？' Taita stepped back。 'What were your symptoms？'
'It started with a bitter pain in my chest。' Apepi touched it。 'Then I started coughing； and the pain became sharper。 I felt something move in here； and then the pain seemed to