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ad e out from the city to the oasis to meet the young Pharaoh Nefer Seti。
On the fifth day the squadron of chariots； dusty and battered from months in the wilderness； trotted into the oasis。 As they entered the shade of the canopy of the palm groves a full regiment of the Phat Guards formed up in parade order to wele them。 The troopers had sheathed their weapons and instead carried palm fronds； which they waved as they chanted the anthem to their monarch。
'Seti； mighty bull。
Beloved of truth。
He of the two ladies； Nekhbet and Wadjet。
Fiery serpent； great of strength。
Horus of Gold； who makes hearts live。
He of the sedge and the bee。
Seti； son of Ra； god of the sun； living for ever and eternity。'
Nefer stood between Hilto and Taita on the footplate of the leading chariot。 His clothing was ragged and dusty； and his thick locks were matted with dust。 The sun had burnt his face and arms to the colour of ripe almonds。 Hilto drove the chariot down the long alley formed by the soldiers； and Nefer smiled shyly at those men in the ranks whom he recognized and they cheered him spontaneously。 They had loved his father； and now they loved him。
In the centre of the oasis an assembly of multicoloured tents had been set up beside the well。 In front of the royal tent Lord Naja； surrounded by a concourse of courtiers； nobles and priests； waited to receive the king。 He was mighty in the power and grace of regency； glistening and beautiful in gold and precious stones； redolent of sweet unguents and fragrant lotions。
On his either hand stood Heseret and Merykara； the princesses of the royal House of Tamose。 Their faces were pearly white with makeup； eyes huge and dark with kohl。 Even the nipples of their bare breasts had been rouged red as ripe cherries。 The horsehair wigs were too large for their pretty heads； and their skirts were so heavy with pearls and gold thread that they stood as stiffly as carved dolls。
As Hilto brought the chariot to a halt in front of him； Lord Naja stepped forward and lifted down the dirty boy。 Nefer had not had an opportunity to bathe since leaving Gebel Nagara； and he smelt like a billy…goat。
'As your regent I salute you； Pharaoh。 I am your foot servant and your loyal panion。 May you live a thousand years；' he intoned； so that all those in the closest ranks could hear every word。 Lord Naja led Nefer by the hand to the dais of council； carved from precious black woods from the interior of the African continent and inlaid with ivory and mother…of…pearl。 He placed him upon it； then went down on his knees and kissed Nefer's grazed and grubby feet without any sign of repugnance。 The toenails were torn and caked with black dirt。
He stood up and lifted Nefer to his feet； stripped away the torn kilt so the pharaonic tattoo on his thigh was revealed。 He turned the boy slowly so that everyone in the audience could see it clearly。
'Hail； Pharaoh Seti； god and son of the gods。 Behold thy sign。 Look upon this mark； all the nations of the earth； and tremble at the power of the king。 Bow down before the might of Pharaoh。'
A great shout went up from the soldiers and the courtiers packed around the dais。 'Hail； Pharaoh！ In his might and majesty may he live for ever。'
Naja led the princesses forward； and they knelt before their brother to take their oaths of allegiance。 Their voices were inaudible until Merykara； the younger； could contain herself no longer and sprang up on to the dais in a flurry of jewelled skirts。 She rushed to her brother。 'Nefer；' she squealed； 'I have missed you so very much。 I thought you were dead。' Nefer returned her embrace awkwardly； until she pulled away and whispered； 'You smell terribly；' and giggled。
Lord Naja signalled for one of the royal nursemaids to take the child away； and then； one by one； the mighty lords of Egypt； headed by the members of the council； came forward to take the loyal oath。 There was one unfortable moment when Pharaoh surveyed the gathering and asked； in a clear； penetrating voice； 'Where is my good uncle Kratas？ He of all my people should have been here to greet me。'
Talla mumbled a placatory explanation。 'Lord Kratas is unable to attend。 It shall be explained later to Your Majesty。' Talla； old and feeble； was now president of the council of state。 He had bee Naja's creature。
The ceremony ended when Lord Naja clapped his hands。 'Pharaoh has e on a long journey。 He must rest before leading the procession into the city。'
He took Nefer's hand in a proprietary manner and led him into the royal tent whose spacious galleries and saloons could have acmodated a full regiment of the guards。 There the master of the wardrobe； the perfumers and hairdressers； the keeper of the royal jewels； the valets； manicurists； masseurs and the maids of the bath were waiting to receive him。
Taita had determined to stay at the boy's side where he could protect him。 He tried unobtrusively to include himself among this entourage； but his lanky frame and head of silver hair marked him out； while his fame and reputation were such that he could never have passed inconspicuously anywhere in the land。 Almost immediately a serjeant…at…arms confronted him。 'Greetings； Lord Taita。 May the gods always smile upon you。' Although Pharaoh Tamose had elevated him to the nobility on the day that he had sealed the deed of his manumission； Taita still felt awkward at being addressed by his title。
'The Regent of Egypt has sent for you。' He looked down at the Magus' filthy clothing and dusty old sandals。 'It would be as well not to attend him in your present state of dress。 Lord Naja detests uncouth odours and unwashed apparel。'
* * *
Lord Naja's tent was larger and more luxuriously appointed than Pharaoh's。 He sat on a throne of carved ebony and ivory decorated in gold and the even rarer and more precious silver with representations of all the principal gods of Egypt。 The sandy floor was covered with woollen rugs from Hurria； woven in wonderful colours； including the bright green that signified the verdant fields that covered both banks of the Nile。 Since his elevation to the stature of regent； Naja had adopted that green as the colour of his house。
He believed that pleasing aromas encouraged the gods to draw nigh； and incense burned in the silver pots suspended on chains from the ridge…pole of the tent。 There were open glass vases filled with perfume on the low table in front of the throne。 The Regent had discarded his wig； and a slave held a cone of perfumed beeswax on his shaven pate。 As the wax melted it ran down his cheeks and neck； cooling and soothing him。
The interior of the tent smelt like a garden。 Even the ranks of courtiers； ambassadors and supplicants who sat facing the throne had been induced to bathe and perfume their bodies before entering the presence of the Regent。 Likewise； Taita had followed the advice of the serjeant…at…arms。 His hair was washed and bed into a silver cascade over his shoulders； and his linen was freshly laundered and bleached to pure