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'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 two massive statues of the goddess。 One of these depicted Hathor as the piebald cow with golden horns； and the other was her human manifestation； the tall； beautiful lady wearing the crown of horns and the golden sun disc on her head。
The priestesses chanted and rattled the sistrum as the suite of Pharaoh Nefer Seti filed into the courtyard from the eastern wing； while King Apepi's courtiers entered through the western colonnade。 The order of arrival at the conference had been a matter of such heated debate that the negotiations had almost broken down before they had begun。 The first arrival would have the prestige of the incumbent in the position of power； while the second arrival would appear as the supplicant begging for peace。 Neither side had been willing to forgo the advantage。
It was Taita who had suggested the expedient of a simultaneous arrival。 He had also tactfully settled the equally vexing question of the regalia to be worn by the two protagonists。 Both would eschew the double crown。 Apepi would wear the red deshret crown of Lower Egypt； while Nefer Seti would confine himself to the white hedjet crown of Upper Egypt。
The entourages of both rulers packed the spacious courtyard； their ranks facing each other unsmiling and grim。 Only a few paces separated them physically； but the bitterness and hatred of sixty years' strife formed a mighty barrier between them。
The hostile silence was shattered by a rolling fanfare of rams' horns； and the thunder of bronze gongs。 This was the signal for the royal parties to emerge from the opposite wings of the temple。
Lord Naja and Pharaoh Nefer Seti paced out solemnly and took their places on the high…backed thrones； while the two princesses； Heseret and Merykara； followed them meekly and took their seats at the foot of Naja's throne； for they were his betrothed。 Both girls were so heavily made…up that their faces were as expressionless as that of the statue of Hathor in whose shadow they sat。
At the same time the Hyksosian royal family emerged from the opposing wing of the temple。 Apepi led them； an impressive； warlike figure in full battle armour。 He glared across the courtyard at the boy pharaoh。 Eight of his sons followed him； only Khyan； the youngest； had not recovered sufficiently from the plague to make the journey upriver。 Like their father they were armed and armoured； and strutted and posed with the same bravado。
A formidable coterie of bloodthirsty ruffians； Taita thought； as he surveyed them from where he stood close to Nefer's throne。
Apepi had brought only one of his many daughters with him。 Like a desert rose in a thicket of spiny cactus； the contrast to her brothers made Mintaka's beauty shine out。 She picked out Taita's tall lank figure and silver hair in the crowd opposite and her face lit in a smile so radiant that it seemed for a moment that the sun had burst through the awnings stretched over the courtyard。 None of the Egyptians had ever laid eyes on her before； and there was a subdued 。rustle and murmur through their ranks。 They had been unprepared for her。 The myth was that all Hyksosian women were as heavily built as their menfolk and twice as ugly。
Pharaoh Nefer Seti leaned forward slightly and despite the solemnity of the occasion tugged at his earlobe under the bottle…shaped white crown。 It was a habit Taita had tried to break； and Nefer only did it when he was intensely interested in something； or when he was distracted。 Taita had not seen Nefer for over two months…Naja had kept them separated since his return from Apepi's headquarters at Bubasti …yet he was so familiar with the boy； so attuned to his mind； that he could still read his thoughts with ease。 He sensed that Nefer was in a ferment of elation and excitement； as intense as if he had just spotted a gazelle moving within arrow range； or was about to mount an unbroken colt； or had launched a hawk at a heron and was watching it begin its stoop。
Taita had never known him react like this to the presence of a member of the opposite sex。 Nefer had always looked upon all females； including his sisters； with a regal disdain。 However； it was less than a year since he had been launched on to the troubled waters of puberty； and most of that time he had been sequestered with Taita in the wilderness of Gebel Nagara where there had been nothing to rivet his attention in the way that Mintaka was now doing。
Taita felt smug at what he had achieved with so little effort。 It would have plicated all his plans and enhanced the danger in which they found themselves if Nefer had taken a violent dislike to the Hyksosian girl。 If the two married； Nefer would be the son…in…law of Apepi and e under his protection。 Even Naja must pause before giving offence to someone so powerful and dangerous。 Mintaka might unwittingly save Nefer from the Regent's machinations and ambitions。 That at least was Taita's intention in fostering the union。
During the short time they had nursed and cared for her brother Taita and Mintaka had formed a firm friendship。 Now Taita nodded almost imperceptibly and returned her smile。 Then Mintaka's gaze moved past him。 She looked with interest at the noble Egyptian women opposite her。 She had heard much about them； but these were the first she had seen。 Swiftly she singled out Heseret。 With sure feminine instinct she recognized someone as attractive as herself； and a possible future rival。 Heseret reacted to her in exactly the same way； and they exchanged a brief but haughty and mutually hostile glance。 Then Mintaka raised her eyes to the impressive figure of Lord Naja and stared at him with fascination。
He was such a splendid sight； so different from her own father and brothers。 He shone with gold and precious stones； and his linen was dazzling in its purity。 She could smell his perfume across the distance that separated them； like a field of wild flowers。 His face was a mask of makeup； his skin almost luminous and his eyes outlined and enhanced with kohl。 Yet she thought that his was the fatal beauty of a snake or a poisonous insect。 She shivered and turned her eyes to the figure on the throne beside the Regent。
Pharaoh Nefer Seti was staring at her with such intensity that she caught her breath。 His eyes were so green…that was the first thing that struck her and she wanted to look away but found she could not。 Instead she started to blush。
Pharaoh Nefer Seti looked so dignified and divine under the white crown and with the false goatee beard on his chin that she felt flustered。 Then； suddenly； Pharaoh gave her a warm and conspiratorial smile。 Instantly his face was boyish and appealing； and unaccountably her breath came faster and she blushed deeper。 With an effort she tore away her eyes； and studied the cow statue of the goddess Hathor with great attention。
It took her some time to bring herself under control； and by that time Lord Naja； the Regent of Upper Egypt； was speaking。 In measured tones he greeted Apepi； diplomatically referring to him as King of the Hyksos but avoiding any reference to his claims to Egyptian territory。 Mintaka watched his lips intently； but she was aware of Nefer's eyes on her； and determined not to look at him。
Lord Naja's voice was sonorous and boring； and at last she could hold out no longer。 She sneaked a quick sideways glance at Nefer； intending to look away again immediately； but his eyes were still fastened on her。 They glinted with silent laughter and fascinated her。 Hers was not a timid nature； but this time her smile was shy and hesitant； and she felt her colour rise again。 She dropped her eyes and looked at her hands in her lap； twisting her fingers together until she realized that she was fidgeting and stopped herself。 She kept her hands still； but now she was irritated with Nefer for having ruffled her calm。 He is only a precious Egyptian fop。 Any one of my brothers is more of a man and twice as han