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to enter the presence of the young consort； but many others were ahead of him。
They say that Trok has been cruelly treated by his young wife。 She will not allow him into her bed。' Nintura chuckled。 'He is wild for her； like a stag in rut； but she keeps her legs crossed and the door to her chamber locked。 Trok is trying to win her favours with expensive gifts。 They say he will refuse her nothing。 Also she buys everything that is offered to her and then； to spite him； she immediately resells it for a fraction of what he was forced to pay and distributes the proceeds to the poor of the city。' He slapped his knee and roared with laughter。 'They say she buys the same things over and over； and Trok keeps paying。'
'Where is Trok？' Taita asked。
'He is campaigning in the south；' Nintura replied。 'He is stamping out the flames of rebellion； but no sooner does he turn his back than they flare up again behind him。'
'Whom should I approach to enter the presence of this Queen Mintaka？'
'The palace vizier。 Soleth； is his name； the fat； gelded freak。' Nintura had not realized Taita's own physical status。
Taita knew Soleth only by reputation and that he was one of the secret brotherhood of eunuchs。 'Where can I find him？' Taita asked。
'It will cost you a gold ring just to enter his presence；' Nintura warned him。
Soleth was sitting beside the lotus pond in his own walled garden。 He did not rise when one of the harem…keepers brought Taita to him。
The Hyksos had so forsaken their ancient customs； and taken to Egyptian ways； that they no longer kept their wives sequestered in the zenana。 The eunuchs still exercised much of their former power over the royal women； but when suitably chaperoned their charges were allowed much freedom。 They could walk abroad； sail on their pleasure barges on the river； have merchants visit them to display their wares or dine； sing； dance and play games with their friends。
Taita made a dignified salutation as he introduced himself to Soleth under an assumed name。 He followed that with the recognition sign of the brotherhood； crooking both his little fingers and touching them together。 Soleth blinked with surprise and ran his eyes down Taita's lean frame： he did not have the shape or the look of a eunuch。 Nevertheless he waved to Taita to seat himself on the cushions opposite him。 Taita accepted the bowl of sherbet a slave offered； and they talked for a while of seemingly trivial matters； but swiftly they established Taita's credentials and mon acquaintances within the brotherhood。 Without seeming to do so； Soleth was studying Taita's features thoughtfully； looking beyond the veil and the dyed hair。 Slowly recognition bloomed in his eyes and at last he asked softly； 'In your travels you might have met the famous Magus； known through both kingdoms； and beyond； as Taita？'
'I know Taita well；' Taita agreed。
'Perhaps as well as you know yourself？' Soleth asked。
'At least as well as I know myself；' Taita affirmed； and Soleth's chubby face creased in a smile。
'Say no more。 What service can I perform for you？ You need only ask。'
* * *
That evening Nefer； Meren and Hilto were on the carpet load when Taita drove the creaking wagon； its incorrigible back wheel wobbling lopsidedly； up to one of the side gates of the palace where a gang of ragged urchins skulked in the mean； narrow lane。 Taita gave one a copper ring to guard the wagon； then banged on the gate with the butt of his staff。 It swung open at once； but they were confronted by a file of levelled spears。 The entrance to the zenana was heavily guarded： Trok was taking good care of his little hind。
Soleth was not there to greet him…obviously； he was keeping his nose clean…but he had sent one of his underlings； an old black slave； to usher Taita past the guards and to act as a guide。 Although Taita was armed with the papyrus scroll that Soleth had given him； the captain of the guard insisted on searching them before he would allow them to pass。 He ordered Hilto to unroll the carpets and prodded every fold with his spear point。 At last he was satisfied； and waved them through。
The ancient slave hobbled ahead of them； guiding them through a labyrinth of narrow passages。 As they progressed the surroundings became grander； until they stopped before an elaborately carved sandal…wood door guarded by two huge eunuchs。 There was a whispered exchange between them and the old slave； then the sentries stood aside and Taita led the others through into a large airy room redolent of flowers； perfume and the tantalizing aroma of young womanhood。 Beyond there was a wide terrace； from which floated the sounds of a lute and feminine voices。
The old slave went out on to the terrace。 'Your Majesty；' he quavered； 'there is a merchant with fine silk carpets from Samarkand to wait upon Your Grace。'
'I have seen enough rubbish for one day；' a woman's voice replied； and Nefer thrilled to those familiar well…beloved tones so that his breathing came short。 'Send them away。'
The guide looked back at Taita and pulled a face； spreading his hands helplessly。 Nefer dropped the rolled carpet off his shoulder on to the stone floor tiles with a weighty thump； and strode to the entrance on to the terrace where he paused。 He was dressed in tatters and a grubby cloth was wrapped around his head； covering the lower half of his face。 Only his eyes were visible。
Mintaka was sitting on the parapet wall with two of her slave girls at her feet。 She did not look in his direction but started singing again。 It was the monkey and donkey song； and Nefer felt every word twist his heart as he studied the sweet curve of the cheek turned half away from him and the tresses of thick dark hair that hung down her back。
Abruptly she broke off and looked at him with annoyance。 'Don't stand there gawking at me； you insolent oaf；' she snapped。 Take your wares and go。'
'Forgive me； Majesty。' He spread his arms in supplication； 'I am but a poor fool from Dabba。'
Mintaka screamed and dropped her lute； then covered her mouth with both hands。 Patches of bright crimson rouged her cheeks and she stared into his green eyes。 The black slave drew his dagger and tottered forward feebly to attack Nefer； but Mintaka recovered herself at once。 'No； leave him。' She raised her right hand to reinforce the mand。 'Leave us。 I will speak with the stupid fellow。' The slave looked dubious and hesitated； the naked dagger still aimed uncertainly at Nefer's belly。
'Do as I tell you；' Mintaka snarled； like a leopardess。 'Go； fool。 Go！'
Confused； the old fellow sheathed his blade and backed away。 Mintaka was still staring at Nefer； her eyes huge and dark。 Her girls could not fathom what ailed her。 They knew only that something strange was afoot。 The curtains over the entrance fell back into place as the slave withdrew。 Nefer whipped off the cloth that covered his head and his curls fell to his shoulders。
Mintaka screamed again。 'Oh； by the grace of Hathor； it i