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d shale hills that danced and wavered in the heat mirage。 She knew she was lost。 Have I drifted too far eastwards？ she wondered； glancing up at the sun and trying to calculate its angle。 At her feet Nefer stirred and moaned； and she looked down with a brave face and smiled。 'Not much further now； my heart。 We should see the river over the next crest。'
She rearranged the sheepskin from the bedroll under his head； then stood up； gathered the reins and braced herself。 Suddenly she realized how exhausted she was： every muscle in her body ached and her eyes were sore and red from the sun's glare and the dust。 She forced herself and the team onwards。
Soon the horses were showing signs of distress。 They had stopped sweating and the salt rime dried white across their backs。 She tried to urge them into a trot but they could not respond； so she climbed down； took the stallion's head and led them on。 Now she was staggering herself； but at last she found the tracks of a chariot in a sandy valley bottom； and her spirits lifted。
'They are heading west；' she whispered； through lips that were beginning to swell and crack。 'They will lead us back to the river。' She kept moving along the wheel ruts for some time； until she stopped in confusion as she found her own footprints in front of her。 It took her some time to realize that she must have walked in a circle and was following her own tracks。
At last despair overtook her。 She sank down to her knees； helpless and lost； and whispered to Nefer as he lay； still unconscious； 'I am sorry； my darling。 I have failed you。' She stroked the matted hair from his face。 Then she looked up at the low hilltop to the east； and blinked。 She shook her head to clear her vision； glanced away to rest her burning eyes； then looked back。 She felt her spirits surge upwards once again； but still she could not be sure that what she was seeing was illusion or reality。
On the crest of the hills above them； a gaunt figure stood on the skyline； leaning on his long staff。 His silver hair shone like a cloud； and the hot light breeze off the desert flapped his skirts against his heron…thin legs。 He was staring down at them。
'Oh； Hathor and all the goddesses； it can't be so；' she whispered。
Beside her； Nefer opened his eyes。 Taita is near；' he murmured。 'I feel him close。'
'Yes。 Taita is here。' Her voice was faint； and she held her own throat in shock。 'But how did he know where to find us？'
'He knows。 Taita knows；' Nefer replied； closed his eyes and slumped back into unconsciousness。
The old man was striding down the rugged slope towards them now； and Mintaka pulled herself to her feet and tottered to meet him。 Swiftly her fatigue fell away and she waved and screamed greetings at him； almost delirious with joy。
* * *
Taita drove down the escarpment towards the river and the village of Dabba。 The horses responded to his touch； moving to an easy motion that cosseted the wounded boy on the footplate。 Taita seemed to have known with some deep instinct just what medicines and dressings Nefer would need； and he had carried these with him。 After he had re…dressed the wounds he had led the horses to a hidden water seep nearby； where the bitter water had revived them。 He had taken Mintaka up on the footplate and turned the horses' heads unerringly in the direction of Dabba and the river。
Beside him； Mintaka had pleaded with him； almost tearfully； to explain to her how he had known that they needed him； and where to find them。 Taita had smiled gently； and called to the horses； 'Gently now； Hammer！ Steady； Stargazed'
On the floorboards Nefer was deep in the drugged sleep of the Red Shepenn； but his wounds were staunched； cleaned and bound with linen bandages。
A red and angry sunset was fading over the Nile like a dying bush…fire。 The boats of the fleet were still anchored in the stream； like children's toys in the fading light。
Apepi and Naja rode out to meet them from the village of Dabba。 Lord Naja was highly agitated； and Apepi bellowed at his daughter as soon as they were in range of his bull voice； 'Where have you been； you stupid child？ Half the army is out looking for you。'
Lord Naja's agitation abated as soon as he came close enough to see Nefer bandaged and unconscious in the bottom of the chariot cockpit。 He became almost sanguine when Taita explained to him the extent of Pharaoh's injury。
Barely conscious； Nefer was carried down to the riverbank on a litter and lifted gently aboard one of the galleys by a party of boatmen。 'I want Pharaoh taken up to Thebes with all possible speed；' Taita told Naja； 'even if it means a night journey。 There is a very real danger that the wounds will putrefy。 This happens with injuries received from one of the great cats。 It is almost as though their fangs and claws are steeped in some virulent poison。'
'You can order the galley to sail at once；' Naja said； in front of the pany； but then took Taita's arm and led him a short way along the riverbank to where they could not be overheard。 'Bear in mind； Magus； the charge laid on you by the gods。 Clearly I discern their divine intervention in these extraordinary circumstances。 If Pharaoh were to die from his wounds no person in either kingdom would take it as unnatural。' He said no more but gazed into Taita's face with those piercing yellow eyes。
'The will of the gods will prevail against all else；' Taita agreed quietly； but enigmatically。
Naja read in his reply what he wanted to hear。 'We are in accord； Taita。 I place my trust in you。 Go in peace。 I will follow you back to Thebes after Apepi has been taken care of。' The phrasing of this last remark struck Taita as unusual； but he was too distracted to ponder it。 Naja smiled mysteriously and went on； 'Who knows？ We may have momentous news for each other when we meet again。'
When Taita hurried back on board the galley； and went to the small deck cabin in which Nefer lay； he found Mintaka kneeling beside the litter in tears。
'What is it； my darling？' he asked her gently。 'You have been as brave as a lioness。 You have fought like a warrior of the guards。 How can you dissolve into despair now？'
'My father is taking me back to Avaris in the morning； but I should be with Nefer。 I am his betrothed。 He needs me。 We need each other。' She looked up at him piteously； and he could see that she was both physically and emotionally exhausted。
She seized his hand。 'Oh； Magus！ Will you not go to my father and ask him to let me go back to Thebes to help you to take care of Nefer？ My father will listen to you。'
But Apepi snorted with laughter when Taita attempted to persuade him。 'Place my lamb in Naja's pen？' He shook his head with amusement。 'I trust Naja as I would a scorpion。 Who knows what tricks he would try if I gave him that coin to bargain with？ As for that young puppy； Nefer； he would be up her skirts as quick as a hawk on a bustard； if he hasn't travelled that road already。' He laughed again。 'I don't want to debase the currency of her virginity。 No； Warlock； Mintaka es back under my wing to Avaris until her wedding day。 And none of your magic spells will change my mind on that。'
Sadly Mintaka went to take her leave of Nefer。 He was on the edge of consciousness； weak from the blood he had lost and the drug。 But when she kissed him he opened his eyes。 She spoke quietly； pledging her love； and he watched her eyes as she spoke。 Before she rose to leave him； she took the golden locket that hung at her throat。 'This contains a lock of my hair。 It is my soul； and I give it to you。' She placed it in his hand and he folded his fingers tightly around it。
So Mintaka stood alone on the bank of the Nile as the swift galley bearing Nefer and Taita breasted the current。 With twenty oarsmen a side and a white curl under her prow she headed upstream towards Thebes。 Mintaka did not wave at Taita's tall silhouette on the stern； but watched him forlornly。
* * *
The next morning there was a final meeting be