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eds that those two monsters have perpetrated。 They have the blood of true and noble kings upon their hands。 They are the murderers of King Apepi； who was the father of the noble lady at my side； and they slew my own father； Pharaoh Tamose。' The guests were silent and puzzled now； looking at each other for guidance。 Then Hilto rose to his feet。 Nefer had primed him； and placed the question on his lips。 'Divine Majesty； forgive my ignorance for I am just a simple man； but I do not understand。 All the world knows that King Apepi died in an accident when his barge caught fire while anchored at Balasfura。 Now you lay the guilt for his death on the pretenders。 How can that be？'
'There is one among us who was a witness to the true events of that tragic night。' Nefer reached down and drew Mintaka to her feet。 The pany cheered her； for they had all e to love her for her beauty and her gracious spirit。 When Nefer held up his hand they fell silent and listened to her with all their attention as she related the story of the murder of her father and brothers。 She used simple words and spoke to them as friends and rades； yet she was able to share with them her own horror and grief。 When she had finished they were growling like a cage of hungry lions at feeding time。
Now Shabako rose and asked his prepared question： 'But； divine Pharaoh； you spoke also of the death of your own father； King Tamose of blessed memory。 How was he murdered…and by whom？'
'For the answer to this question I must call upon the Magus； Lord Taita； from whom no secret； however devious and grisly； can be hidden。'
Taita faced them and spoke in a whisper that riveted their attention。 His every word carried to the ears of even those on the outskirts of the gathering； and the softness of those words contrasted so effectively with the gruesome circumstances they described that men shuddered and women wept。
At the end Taita held up the broken arrow with its crimson； green and yellow feathers。 This is the instrument of Pharaoh Tamose's death。 The arrow that bears the signet of Trok； but which was loosed by Naja； the man whom Pharaoh loved and trusted as a brother。'
They howled their outrage and their craving for justice to the starlit skies above Gallala。 Taita hurled the arrow on to the nearest fire over which one of the oxen was roasting。 It would not have borne closer inspection； for it was not the arrow that had killed Pharaoh but one of those he had taken from the buried chariot。 He sat down and closed his eyes； as if posing himself to sleep。
Nefer let the guests give full vent to their feelings and when they began to quieten a little he signalled for more wine flagons to be carried out。
There was one last proclamation he had to make； and he waited until the mood had mellowed further before he stood up again。 All fell silent and watched him in anticipation heightened by the good wine from Busiris。 The night had already held so many marvels and they wondered what was yet to e。
'Before a king leads his armies against the enemies of this sacred land of our forefathers； he should be a king indeed； a true and veritable king。 I purpose to lead you against the usurpers； but I am not yet ordained as Pharaoh。 I can achieve this confirmation if I wait until the year of my majority； but that is still far off； and I do not choose to wait that long。 Nor will my enemies allow me that grace。' He paused and they watched him； fascinated…so young yet so tall and straight； as his father had been before him。 Now he raised his right hand in the gesture of oath…taking。
'In the sight of my people and my gods； I will run the Red Road to prove to you that I am your king。'
Some sighed and shook their heads； others started to their feet and cried out； 'No！ Pharaoh； we will not see you killed；' while others called； 'Bak…her！ If he fails then he fails as a brave man。'
That night Mintaka wept as she asked him； 'Why did you not tell me first？'
'Because you would have tried to stop me。'
'But why must you do it？'
'Because my gods and my duty require it。'
'Even if it kills you。'
'Even if it kills me。'
She stared long into his green eyes and saw how steadfast was his resolve。 Then she kissed him and said； 'I am proud that I am to be wife to such a man as you。'
* * *
The astrologers among the priests of Horus； assisted by the Magus； consulted the calendars and set the date for the trial of the Red Road to be held on the day of the new moon of the god。 Therefore； as Taita had remarked； Nefer had little time to prepare for the ordeal。 He withdrew from all his other duties； leaving even the conduct of affairs of state to Taita and the council while he gave all his attention to the first task required of him。 Before a novice could present himself for trial he must break and train his own team of horses to carry him on the Red Road。
Nefer had to pick out a team of horses from the herd they had captured at Thane； then train them to the shaft of the chariot。 He would have liked to ask Socco to help him with the selection of his team： not only was he a famous horseman but he knew each of the captured animals。 However； Socco was one of only five Red Road warriors in Gallala and was one of those who would examine Nefer。 He could not assist him in his preparations for the ordeal。
There was another to whom Nefer could appeal： Taita's knowledge； understanding and experience of horsemanship and chariot tactics exceeded even Socco's。 Yet Taita was not a Red Road warrior。 His physical imperfections precluded him from the brotherhood； and added to that he had religious scruples。 He would never forswear Horus and the other gods of the pantheon to pledge himself to the mysterious Red God of war； a god whose name was known only to his adepts。
The two spent the first day on the hillside above the green fields where the unbroken horses grazed。 They sat together and watched the animals below them； discussing those that caught the eye。 Nefer pointed out a handsome white colt； but Taita shook his head。 'A grey looks good in the traces； but I have always been wary of them。 I have found they lack stamina and heart。 Let us look for either black or bay； matched in colour。'
Nefer picked out a filly with a white blaze on her forehead； but again Taita shook his head。 The Bedouin say that a white mark is the touch of a devil or a djinn。 I want not a trace of white on the animals we choose。'
'Do you believe what they say？'
Taita shrugged。 'A blaze or a sock mars their symmetry。 You and your team should have the look of a pharaoh when you ride out。'
Taita and Nefer stayed on the hillside until nightfall； and went out again the next morning； as soon as it was light enough to see the path； with Meren and three grooms。 They began to sort the horses； driving any imperfect animal into the adjacent field。 By noon they had whittled down the herd to twenty…three animals； all clean…limbed and strong； no scars； no blemish； no obvious impediment in their gait。 There was not a single white hair on any of them。
They let them settle down； and when the horses were grazing quietly they sat in the grass and watched them。
'I like that black colt；' Nefer said。
'He is lame。 Almost certainly he has a cracked left front hoof。'
'He does not limp；' Nefer protested。
'Watch his left ear。 He flicks it at every pace。 Tell Meren to drive him out。'
A little later Nefer marked a black filly。 'She has a fine head and a bright eye。'
'She is too highly strung。 The eye is more nervous than intelligent。 She will wilt in the din of battle。 Meren can let her go。'
'What of the black colt with the long tail and mane？'
The tail disguises the fact that he is half a thumb's length short in the back。'
By late afternoon there were only six horses left in the field。 In a pact of silence； they had avoided speaking of one particular colt。 He was too obviously the choice they must make。 He was a marvellous beast； not too tall or heavy； well proportioned； with strong legs and back。 His neck was long and his head noble。 They watched him a while longer。
At last Magus spoke； 'I can find no vice in him。 There is a spark in his eyes that es from the fire in his heart。'
'I will call him Krus；' Nefer decided。 'It is the Bedouin name for fire。'
'Yes； the name is important。 I never knew a good horse with an ugly name。 It as if the gods are listening。 Let Krus be your right…hander； but now you need a left hander。'
'Another colt…' Nefer started； but Taita stopped him。
'No； we need a filly on the left。 A feminine influence to keep Krus in check； and steady him in the heat of the fight。 A great heart to pull with him when the road is hard。'
'You have chosen already； have you not？' Nefer asked。
'And so have you。' Taita nodded。 'We both know who she must be。'
Their eyes went back to the filly grazing placidly beside the main irrigation channel； a little separated from Krus and the rest of the herd。 Almost as though she knew they were speaking about her； she raised her head and stared back at them； with large shining eyes behind thick lashes。
'She is beautiful；' Nefer murmured。 'I would love to take her without having to put a rope on her。' Taita was silent； and after another minute Nefer said impulsively； 'I am going to try。' He stood up and called to Meren。 Take the others out of the field。 Leave only the bay filly。'
When Nefer and the filly had the field to themselves； he left the fence； and moved casually in her direction； not going straight at her but strolling obliquely across her front。 As soon as she showed the first sign of agitation he squatted down in the green grass and waited。 She began feeding again but all the while she was watching him from the corner of her eye。 Nefer began to sing the monkey song softly； and she raised her head and looked at him again。 He took out a dhurra cake from the pouch on his belt； and without standing up offered it to her。 She flared her nostrils and snuffled loudly。
'e； my darling。'
She took an uncertain step towards him； then stopped and threw up her head。
'Sweetheart；' he crooned； 'my lovely darling。'
A step at a time she came in； then extended her neck to full stretch and sniffed noisily at the cake。 Terrified by her own audacity she jerked back and galloped away； making a wide circuit of the field。
'She moves like the wind；' Meren called。
'Dov。' Nefer used the Bedouin word for the north wind； the soft cool wind of the winter season。 'Dov； that is her name。'
Having shown him her feminine capriciousness； Dov circled back flirtatiously and came to him from the other side。 This time she accepted his offering readily and drooled saliva as she crunched it up。 She ran her velvet muzzle over his open palm searching for crumbs； and when she found none she reached for his pouch and bumped it so demandingly that she knocked Nefer over backwards。 He scrambled up and fished out another cake。
While she ate it he touched her neck with the other hand。 As though flies were crawling over her； she made her dark mahogany…coloured hide dance； but did not pull away。 There was a tick in her ear…hole； and Nefer plucked it off then crushed it between his fingernails and offered the bloody fragment for her to smell。 She shuddered with disgust and rolled her eyes at the offensive odour； but allowed him to examine and fondle the other ear。 When he left the field she followed him like a dog to the fence。 Then she hung her head over the rail； and whickered after him。
'I am consumed with jealousy。' Mintaka had watched the encounter from the temple roof。 'Already she loves you almost as much as I do。'
The next morning Nefer came down to the field alone。 Taita and Meren were watching from the roof of the temple。 This was something between Nefer and Dov。 No others should interfere。
Nefer w