“You have learnt your part well, Star of the Morning,” said Rames, glancing at her quickly.

“Not better than you, playmate Rames, if I may judge from your sword-play this night.  So it seems that we both of us are in the way of becoming masters of our trades.”

“What am I to say to your Majesty?  You have saved my life when it was forfeit——­”

“As once you saved mine when it was forfeit, and at greater risk.  Look at your hand, it will remind you.  It was but tit for tat.  And, friend Rames, this day I came near to being eaten by a worse crocodile than that which dwells in the pool yonder.”

“I guessed as much, Queen, and the thought made me mad.  Had it not been for that I should only have thrown him down.  Now that crocodile will eat no more maidens.”

“No,” answered Tua, rubbing her chin, “he has gone to be eaten by Set, Devourer of Souls, has he not?  But I think there may be trouble between Egypt and Kesh, and what Pharaoh will say when he recovers I am sure I do not know.  May the gods protect me from his wrath.”

“Tell me, if it pleases your Majesty, what is my fate?  I have been named General of this expedition over the heads of many, I who am but a captain and a young man and an evil-doer.  Am I to be killed on the journey, or am I to be executed by the King of Kesh?”

“If any kill you on the journey, Rames, they shall render me an account, be it the gods themselves, and as for the vengeance of the King of Kesh—­well, you will have two thousand picked men with you and the means to gather more as you go.  Listen now, for this is not in the decree or in the letters,” she added, bending towards him and whispering.  “Egypt has spies in Kesh, and, being industrious, I have read their reports.  The people there hate the upstart race that rules them, and the king, who alone is left now that Amathel is dead, is old and half-witted, for all that family drink too much.  So if the worst comes to the worst, do you think that you need be killed, you,” she added meaningly, “who, if the House of Amathel were not, would by descent be King of Kesh, as, if I and my House were not, you might be Pharaoh of Egypt?”

Rames studied the floor for a little, then looked up and asked: 

“What shall I do?”

“It seems that is for you to find out,” replied Tua, in her turn studying the ceiling.  “Were I in your place, I think that, if driven to it, I should know what to do.  One thing, however, I should not do.  Whatever may be the judgment of the divine King of Kesh upon you, and that can easily be guessed, I should not return to Egypt with my escort, until I was quite sure of my welcome.  No, I think that I should stop in Napata, which I am told is a rich and pleasant city, and try to put its affairs in order, trusting that Egypt, to which it once belonged, would in the end forgive me for so doing.”

“I understand,” said Rames, “that whatever happens, I alone am to blame.”