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"What is this wondrous thing?" asked the Prince, when all had finished admiring its workmanship. "Is it a gift that you bring me from the King of the East, Shabaka?"
Since you have said it, however, I will tell you something which hitherto I have hid even from you. I have a right to that name, for if your blood is high, O Shabaka, so is mine. Know that this poor dwarf whom you took captive and saved long years ago was more than the petty chief which he declared himself to be.
Moreover, her whole aspect had changed, for now she was no longer a priestess sworn to mysteries, but just a lovely and a loving woman. "It is done, Shabaka," she whispered, "and thou art mine and I am thine." Then I opened my arms and she sank upon my breast and for the first time I kissed her on the lips, kissed her many times and oh! my heart almost burst with joy.
But do not leave me to discover it afterwards when I may not forgive. Perchance during your journeyings in the East " "Nothing, nothing," I exclaimed joyfully, who during all that time had scarcely spoken to a youthful woman. "I am glad that nothing happened in the East that could separate us, Shabaka, though in truth my thought was not your own, for there are more things than women in the world.
Now in the midst of an intense silence Peroa answered, "Amada, the Royal Lady of Egypt, cannot be sent to dwell in the House of Women of the Great King without the consent of the lord Shabaka, whose she is." "Shabaka for the fourth time!" said Idernes, glaring at me. "Then let Shabaka come too.
Then, if nothing comes between us during those twenty-seven days, it shall be announced that the Royal Lady of Egypt is to wed the noble Shabaka." "Twenty-seven days! In such times much may happen in them, Amada. Still, except death, what can come between us?" "I know of nothing, Shabaka, whose past is shadowless as the noon." "Or I either," I replied.
But this I say to you, that if you break the spirit of your bond and suffer yonder Shabaka to go hence with a bitter heart, trouble shall come on you. All the Great King's armies did not die yonder by the banks of Nile, and mayhap one day he will journey to bury the bones of those who fell, and with them /yours/, O Pharaoh.
Be not angry with the dwarf, Niece. Had it been Shabaka who gave your name, the thing would be different. What happened next, Bes?" "Only this, Prince," said Bes, looking upwards and rolling his eyes, as was his fashion when unloading some great lie from his heart. "The King sent his servants to bring my master from the boat, that he might inquire of him whether he had always found me truthful.
I would send the archers of whom there are more than thirty thousand, under the command of Shabaka along that road which leads them past Amada. On its farther side are low hills strewn with rocks. Here I would let the archers take cover and wait for the breaking of the dawn.
"In the name of the Great King, greeting, my lord Shabaka! "In the name of the Great King, greeting!" I answered. "What would you with Shabaka, Officer of the King?" "Only to do him honour. The word of the King has reached us and we come to escort you to the Court of Idernes, the Satrap of the King and Governor of Egypt who sits at Sais." "That is not my road, Officer.
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