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Taita rose softly and left the tent； and they stayed together all the rest of that day； speaking softly to each other。
In the evening Nefer sent for the others。 When they had gathered around Mintaka's couch； Nefer looked at their faces gravely and saw that all of them were there： Taita and Meren； Prenn； Socco and Shabako moving stiffly from the pain of his wounds garnered on the battlefield of Ismailiya。
'You have e to see justice done；' he told them； then turned to the guards at the door。
'Bring in the woman named Heseret；' he ordered。
Mintaka started and tried to sit up； but he pushed her gently back upon the bolster。
'Where？ How did you find her？'
'Our pickets found her wandering in the desert on the road back to Ismailiya；' Nefer explained。 'At first they did not recognize her or believe her claims to be a queen。 They thought her a mad woman。'
Heseret came into the tent。 Nefer had allowed her to bathe and provided her with fresh raiment； and Taita had treated the cuts and grazes on her face and body。 Now she shrugged off the hands of her guards and looked around her with a regal lift of her chin。 'Prostrate yourselves before me；' she ordered the men who faced her。 'I am a queen。'
No one moved； and Nefer said； 'Bring her a stool。' When she was seated upon it； he stared at her so coldly that Heseret covered her face and started to weep。 'You hate me；' she blubbered。
'Why do you hate me？'
'Mintaka shall tell you why；' he answered； and turned to the girl on the couch。 'Please describe to us the manner of the death of Princess Merykara。'
Mintaka spoke for almost an hour； and during all that time one in the tent moved or uttered a sound； except to gasp and exclaim in horror at the most dreadful parts of what they were hearing。 At the end Nefer looked at Heseret。 'Do you deny any part of this testimony？'
Heseret returned his cold stare。 'She was a whore； and she brought shame on my husband； the Pharaoh of Egypt。 She deserved death。 I am pleased and proud that I was able to be the instrument of justice。'
'Even now I might have forgiven you；' Nefer said softly； 'if you had shown a grain of remorse；'
'I am a queen。 I am above your petty laws。'
'You are a queen no longer；' Nefer replied； and she looked confused。
'I am your own sister。 You would not harm me。'
'Merykara was your sister also。 Did you spare her？'
'I know you well； Nefer Seti。 You will not harm me。'
'You are right； Heseret。 I will not harm you。 But there is one who will not scruple。' He turned to his assembled captains。 'It is the ancient law of the rights of the one most injured。 Stand forth； Meren Cambyses。'
Meren rose and stepped forward； 'Pharaoh； I am your man。'
'You were betrothed to the Princess Merykara。 Yours is the greatest injury。 I give into your keeping the body and the life of Heseret Tamose； who was a princess of the royal house of Egypt。'
Heseret began to scream as Meren placed a golden chain around her neck： 'I am a queen and a goddess； you dare not harm me。'
No one took notice of her cries； and Meren looked at Nefer。 'Your Majesty； do you place any restriction upon me？ Do you urge or order me to show mercy and passion？'
'I give her to you without reservation。 Her life is yours。' Meren loosened the sword in its sheath on his hip； and pulled Heseret to her feet with the chain。 He dragged her blubbering and wailing from the tent。 Nobody followed them。
They sat in silence； and through the linen walls listened to Heseret's wailing； entreaties and blandishments。 Then there was a sudden silence and they steeled themselves。 They heard a high； piercing shriek that ended as abruptly as it had started。
Mintaka covered her face with both hands and Nefer made the sign against evil with his right hand。 The others coughed； and moved restlessly。
Then the curtains at the entrance parted and Meren stepped back into the tent。 In his right hand he carried the naked sword and in the other a dreadful object。 'Your Majesty；' he said； 'justice has been done。' By its dense hair…tresses he held high the severed head of Heseret； the wife of Naja Kiafan； the false pharaoh。
* * *
It was five more days before Mintaka had recovered sufficiently to begin the long journey back to Avaris。 Even then Taita and Nefer insisted that she be carried in a litter to ease the jolting and lurching over the rough road that lay ahead。 They travelled slowly； and it was fifteen days later that they reached the escarpment and looked down from the arid wastes upon the wide green valley of the Nile。
Nefer helped Mintaka from the litter； and together they walked a short way from the road； so that they could be alone and savour to the full this joyous moment of homeing。 They had not been there long when Nefer stood up and shaded his eyes。
'What is it； my heart？' Mintaka asked。
'We have visitors；' he said； but when she exclaimed with annoyance at the intrusion he went on； 'These visitors are always wele。'
She smiled then as she recognized the two mismatched figures approaching them。 Taita。 And Meren！ But what strange attire is this？'
They were both dressed in simple robes and sandals； and slung on their backs they carried the leather satchels of holy men on a pilgrimage。
'We have e to say our farewells； and to take our leave of you；' Taita explained。
'You will not leave me now。' Nefer was dismayed。 'Will you not attend my coronation？'
'You were crowned upon the field of Ismatliya；' Taita told him gently。
'Our wedding！' Mintaka cried。 'You must stay for our wedding。'
'You were married long since；' Taita smiled； 'perhaps on the day of your birth； for the gods intended you for each other。'
'But you； my brother of the Red Road and my dearest friend；' Nefer turned to Meren； 'what about you？'
'There is nothing more for me here； now that Merykara is gone。 I must go with Taita。'
Nefer knew that there was nothing further to say； that more words would degrade this moment。 He did not even ask where they were going。 Perhaps they did not know themselves。
He embraced them and kissed them； and he and Mintaka stood and watched them walk away； and their distant shapes slowly dwindle in size in the shimmering wastes of the desert wilderness； and they shared the same deep ache of regret and bereavement。
'They have not really gone；' Mintaka whispered； when at last they had disappeared from view。
'No；' Nefer agreed。 'They will always be with us。'
* * *
With the high priestess and fifty acolytes from the temple of Hathor preceding her； the Princess Mintaka Apepi came for her marriage to Pharaoh Nefer Seti。
They stood together on the terrace of the palace of Thebes that overlooked the broad brown flow of the Nile in flood； in the season most propitious to all living things in the land of this very Egyp