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Did not that Ka of yours tell you that I should have been glad to die, or my mother, who is a magician?" "I have seen nothing of my Ka, Rames, since we played together in the temple ah! those were happy days, were they not? And your mother is a discreet lady who does not talk to me about you, except to warn me not to show you any favour, lest others should be jealous and murder you.
Also Pharaoh, still senseless but breathing quietly, was carried to his bed, and the dead were taken to the embalmers, whilst Tua, so weary that she could scarcely walk, departed to her chambers leaning on the shoulder of the royal Nurse, Asti, the mother of Rames. Still robed Tua lay upon a couch, for she would not seek her bed, while Asti stood near to her, a dark commanding figure.
Now with one voice the Council and all the guests, and especially the guards themselves who were on their trial, save Rames, who still knelt in silence before the Queen, cried out that it was very good.
Let the troops and the ships be made ready this very night, and meanwhile, save when he appears before us to take his orders as general, in token of our wrath, we banish the Count Rames from our Court and Presence, and place his companions under guard."
"I don't think that we will go to see the holy crocodile, Rames," she said, looking at him thoughtfully. "Why not?" he asked amazed. "There is no one about, and I have put fat upon the key so that it will make no noise." "Because my Ka has been with me, Rames, and told me that it is a bad act and if we do trouble will come to us." "Oh! may the fiend Set take your Ka," replied the lad in a rage.
"Well, as a queen I should have praised him much, since then Egypt would have been spared great trouble, but as a woman and a friend I should never have spoken to him again. Honour is more than life, Mermes." "Certainly honour is more than life," replied Mermes, staring at the ceiling, perhaps to hide the look upon his face, "and for a little while Rames seems to be in the way of it.
So for a while Tua sat splendid on her golden seat while the people adored her, but in that triumphant hour her eyes searched for one face only, that of the tall and gallant captain, Rames, her foster-brother, and for a moment rested there content. Yes, their eyes met, those of the new-crowned Empress on her throne and of the youthful noble in the throng below.
If love brings death upon us, as well may chance, at least the love will remain which is worth it all, and beyond death there is something." "Only this, Tua, I seek the woman not a throne, and alas! through me you may be torn from your high place." "The throne goes with the woman, Rames, they cannot be separated.
This, indeed," she added slowly, "I should wish to do, since although Rames had suffered intolerable insult such as no high-born man can be asked to bear even from a prince, and he and all of them were but fighting to save their lives and to show the Nubians that we are not cowards here in Egypt, without doubt they have conquered and slain the heir of Kesh and his black giants who were our guests, and for this deed their lives are forfeit."
Then, at length, the doors were thrown open and the company dispersed, Rames and the guard being led away by the Council and placed in safe keeping.
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