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but he had mixed it with another substance； a yellow crystalline powder； that made it even more so。 Every one of the captured jackals had been treated with this mixture。
With his dagger Nefer cut the twine that secured the vixen's four paws together。 When she sensed freedom； she kicked and thrashed in his grip。 He touched the firepot to her furry brush； which burst into spluttering； smoking flame。 She redoubled her efforts to escape； but before he released her he slipped the point of the dagger between her lips and cut the loop of twine that muzzled her。 She opened her jaws wide and let loose a screech； unearthly and terrifying。 Nefer dropped her to the ground and the little creature shot away； spreading a stream of fire and sparks behind her； howling and shrieking in a fashion that set even his nerves on edge and made the hair rise down the back of his neck。
He pulled another jackal out of the bag。 All down the line balls of flame flared in the darkness and steamed out across the open fields and those terrible agonized howls made the night hideous。 A few of the tormented creatures broke back towards the river valley but the rest headed instinctively for their home in the desert； with the garrison of Thane directly in their path。 In a pack they bore down on the cavalry lines。
As Nefer released the last screaming jackal； he drew his sword and kicked his mount into a gallop。 He raced after the burning animals； and on either hand his troopers rode with him。 They were all yelling like demons； adding their voices to the uproar。
Some of the jackals dragged their flaming tails through the dry horse fodder and bedding； which burst into flame also。 The scene was lit by an eerie flickering light that made the dark riders seem monstrous。
Ahead Nefer saw the nearest sentries hurl aside their weapons and flee； screaming as loudly as the burning animals。
'Djinns！' they howled。
'Save us！ The dark legions of Seth are upon us！'
'The hordes of hell！ Run！ Run！'
The tethered horses were rearing and plunging。 When a stake was pulled up from the earth； or one of the long lines snapped under the strain； twenty horses were freed at once and wheeled away before the line of yelling； shrieking riders that swept into the camp。
Nefer leaned from his horse's back and sabred one of the running guards； striking deeply between his shoulder…blades and letting the slack body slide off the blade。 Then he swerved to where a bunch of terrified horses struggled against a line that resisted their bined efforts to break free。 With a single slash he cut the rope and whooped to send them to join the panic…stricken horde； then rounded up another bunch of milling disorientated animals and pushed them out of the lines into the open fields。 Shabako and his men rode with him； shouting and whipping the horses along； a racing tide of men and animals pressed into a single entity and lit only by the flames of the burning garrison behind them。 The last of the jackals had burnt to death and their black； smouldering carcasses were left in the grass as the riders thundered towards the hills。
Shabako appeared out of the night and rode at Nefer's side。 'By the sweat and seed of Seth！' he shouted。 That was fun！' Then he turned and looked back。 'No sign yet of any pursuit； more is the pity。 A good hack and slash now would be the perfect ending to an entertaining evening。'
'I promise you much entertainment later；' Nefer laughed； 'but now； we must head off the herd； before they run their guts out。'
They pushed their mounts hard； moving through the galloping mass until they rode in the first rank； then cut across them flagging them down from the gallop into a trot and then a walk； turning them in the direction of the open desert and Gallala。
Dawn found the long herd of loose horses spread out down a gaunt； rocky defile； moving at an easy but steady pace with Nefer and Shabako pointing them while Meren and his drovers brought up the stragglers from behind。
Nefer squinted into the first rays of the sun； and called to Shabako； 'Keep them headed up and moving。 I am going back to see if Socco and his men are after us yet。'
As he rode back； Nefer singled out Meren and three others； all skilled with javelin and sword。 He signalled to them and they galloped up to join him。 'If they are after us； we should try to change their minds for them。'
Nefer led them along their back trail； and at a point where the rock defile narrowed they left the three troopers to hold their horses； and he and Meren climbed the steep rock…strewn slope。
By the time they reached the top the sun was clear of the horizon； but had not yet dissipated the cool of the night and the dust and heat…haze had not built up。 The land glowed with that peculiar lambency of the desert dawn。 Each distant detail of rock and dune； cliff and gnarled tree； was etched with breath…stopping beauty。
'There！' said Nefer。 Meren's eyes were sharp； but his were more so。 'Ten riders。' Meren tried to hide his chagrin at not finding them first。 'Eleven；' Nefer corrected him； and he did not argue。 Instead he grinned delightedly。 'Fair odds to our five。'
'We will take them there。' Nefer pointed down into the gorge。 'There； where it narrows。 We don't want them to carry back their news to Avaris。 There must be no survivors。'
'That suits me above all things。' Meren laughed。 They waited among the boulders； standing by the heads of their horses； hands over their nostrils to prevent them whickering or snorting and springing the trap prematurely。 In the middle of the gap； Nefer had placed a leather bag； that had earlier contained captured jackals。 It was now stuffed with their cloaks； which were no longer needed in the rising morning warmth。
Their heads went up as； from lower down the gorge； they heard the click of hoof against stone and the rattle of a dislodged pebble。 Nefer looked across the open ground to where Meren and one of the other men were hidden on the far side of the defile。 He held up his left hand with fingers spread。 The signal for silence and vigilance。 His father had taught him that hand signals were always preferable to spoken mands； especially in the heat of battle when they might be lost and drowned in the tumult； or in situations when stealth was paramount。
Now he picked out other small sounds； loud in the great silence of the sands： the creak of tackle and the rattle of arrows in quivers。 Nefer glanced around the boulder that hid him and two of his troopers。 A scrubby growth of bottlebrush broke up the silhouette of his head。
A rider appeared in the mouth of the gorge； and halted his horse as he saw the leather bag lying in the path。 He looked around carefully and the rest of his troop crowded up behind him。 Even under the crocodile…skin helmet Nefer recognized Socco； and his back itched where the whip had raised a bloody welt。
Time to return a favour； he thought grimly。 Socco took his time； an old soldier； wary and suspicious。 Then he walked his horse forward and the others followed him。 They halted in a tight group； all leaning out and staring down at the bag。 Socco grunted an order； 'Steady now！ Watch my back；' and swung down from his horse。 He stooped over the bag； and Nefer gave the mand； a chopping motion with his raised left hand。
The throwing thongs were wrapped around every one of their right wrists and the range was point…blank。 They threw as one man； and because Hilto and Shabako had trained them to perfection no two picked the same target。 Five javelins buzzed like enraged bees； and struck where no armour could deflect them； three in the throat and two in the back of the neck。 Five men toppled from horseback； and fell under the hoofs of their startled steeds。
Nefer and his men burst from ambush at the gallop； swords drawn and screaming their war…cry； 'Horus and Seti！'
The survivors of that first murderous flight of javelins turned instinctively to meet them but did not have time to clear their swords from the scabbards before they crashed into them； their horses trained to charge in chest to chest。 Two more of Socco's horses were taken off…balance and dashed off their feet； throwing their riders。 Nefer picked the nearest man； who was still mounted； and killed him with a thrust to the throat。 Now Socco cleared his sword and thrust up at Nefer's belly。 Nefer turned the blow and his horse reared and lashed at Socco with both hoofs； one of which struck him a solid blow。 He was thrown sprawling into the sand。 Before Nefer could finish him another of the enemy rode at him； sword lifted high。 Nefer rode in under the stroke and engaged him； cut and parry； as they milled and shouted； struggling at close quarters。
Socco's men had only just rallied from the first shock when Meren chose his moment perfectly and led the trooper with him in a furious charge into the melee。 He sent a thrust to the heart and yelled in triumph。 Then immediately he reversed his blade and killed again； a cut across the neck。 His victim slid down on to the earth with his head half severed from the trembling jerking trunk。
Socco had lost his helmet and his sword and crawled desperately on his knees to try to retrieve the weapon。 He was the only one of all his men still able to resist。 Nefer leaned out from his horse's back and aimed at the opening where his breastplate of crocodile…skin armour was fastened between his shoulder…blades； but at the last moment could not bring himself to drive home。 He changed his blow smoothly； rolling his wrist to present the flat of the sickle…shaped blade and cracked Socco across the back of his grizzled pate。 The man dropped face down in the sand。
Nefer glanced round to make certain that Meren had everything in hand。 Then slid off his horse to the ground just as Socco groaned； shook his head and tried to sit up。 Nefer slammed his heel into his adversary's chest and thrust him back； then placed the point of his sword at his throat。 'Yield； Socco； or I will send the news of your passing to your mother and all the one hundred stinking goatherds who had a hand in fathering you。'
Socco's dazed expression cleared and became a defiant glare。 'Let me reach my sword； puppy； and I will teach you how to lift your leg when you piss。' He was about to add more to the insult； when suddenly the bellicose light in his eyes faded。 He stammered wordlessly。 He was gawking at the cartouche on Nefer's thigh。
'Majesty；' he gasped。 'Forgive me！ Strike！ Take my worthless life as forfeit for those gross and stupid words of mine。 I heard the rumours that you still lived； but I had wept at your funeral and could not believe in such a miracle。'
Nefer smiled with relief。 He had not wanted to kill him…he was an attractive old rogue； and Hilto said that he was one of the finest horse…handlers in all the armies of Egypt。 Hilto should know。 'Will you swear the loyal oath to me as Pharaoh？' he demanded sternly。
'Gladly； for all the earth fears you in your name of Nefer Seti； beloved of all the gods； and light of this very Egypt。 My heart beats only for you and my soul will sing my duty to you until the hour of my death。'
Then； Socco； I promote you to Master of a Thousand Chariots； and Taita had best guard his title of Poet Laureate； for you turn a pretty phrase。'
'Let me kiss your foot； Pharaoh；' Socco pleaded。
'Give me your hand； rather；' Nefer said； seized his horny fist and pulled him to his feet。 ''Tis a pity about your men。' Nefer glanced at the corpses。 'If they had shared your loyal sentiments； they need not have died。'
'They died at the hand of a god；' Socco pointed out。 'There is no greater honour。 Besides； Taita the Warlock may be able to save the few who are still groaning and twitching。'
Three days later； when they rode into Gallala； they were droving nigh on four hundred horses； and Socco rode proudly at the right hand of his new pharaoh with his helmet sitting high on the bandages that were wound around his injured head。
* * *