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Updated: June 26, 2025
This was Amathel, the Prince of Kesh, whose father, an aged king, ruled at Napata, a great city far to the south, situated in a land that was called an island because the river Nile embraced it in its two arms.
"Yes, I remember," said Tua. "But then why is not Mermes King of Kesh?" "Because the people of the city of Napata raised up another house to rule over them, of whom Amathel is the heir." "A usurping heir, surely, my father, if there be anything in blood." "Say not that, Tua," replied Pharaoh sharply, "for then Mermes should be Pharaoh in our place also."
Doubtless it had been done to gratify the pride of Amathel, not by Pharaoh, who would know nothing of such matters, but by some bribed councillor, or steward of the household. Rames was of more ancient blood than Amathel, and by right should be the King of Kesh, as he should also be Pharaoh of Egypt; therefore, to humble him he was set to wait upon Amathel.
Instead, she thanked Amathel coldly but courteously, and without looking at his gifts, told the royal Nurse, Asti, who stood behind her, to bear them away and to place them at a distance, as the perfumes that had been poured over them, oppressed her. Only, as though by an afterthought, she bade them leave the ivory harp. Thus inauspiciously enough the feast began.
At the sight of his tall and noble form and fine-cut face rising above the coarse, squat figure of the Ethiopian prince, Tua blushed rosy red, but Pharaoh noting it, only thought, as others did, that it was because now for the first time her eyes fell upon him who would be her husband. Why, Tua wondered, was Rames chosen to attend upon the Prince Amathel? At once the answer rose in her mind.
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?"
At it Amathel drank much of the sweet wine of Asi or Cyprus, commanding Rames, who stood behind him, to fill his cup again and again, though whether he did this because he was nearest to him, or to lower him to the rank of a butler, Tua did not know. At least, having no choice, Rames obeyed, though cup-filling was no fitting task for a Count of Egypt and an officer of Pharaoh's guard.
Now that he had seen her in her loveliness and glory, he announced that he was well satisfied, which was but half the truth, for, in fact, she had set all his southern blood on fire, and there was nothing that he desired more than to call her wife. On the night which had been appointed for Amathel to meet his destined bride, a feast had been prepared richer by far than any that went before.
But Prince Amathel grew angry and said: "Some might have been pleased to keep the priceless gift of the best singers in the world." "Do you say that these sweet-voiced women are the best singers in the world, O Prince?" asked Tua, speaking to him for the first time.
He stood at the head of the steps, a huge, coarse, vigorous man of about sixty years of age, on whose fat, swarthy face there was still, oddly enough, some resemblance to the delicate, refined-featured Pharaoh. Tua summed him up in a single glance, and instantly hated him even more than she had hated Amathel, Prince of Kesh.
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