Not until yesterday evening, when all was too late, did I learn that Bai's proposal had been futile.

The chief priest can do much, but he will not oppose the man who made himself my father's ally." "You mean Prince Siptah, Pharaoh's nephew!" cried Joshua in excited tones.

"They intimated to me the scheme they were weaving in his interest; they wished to put me in the place of the Syrian Aarsu, the commander of the mercenaries, if I would consent to let them have their way with my people and desert those of my own blood.

But I would rather die twenty deaths than sully myself with such treachery.

Aarsu is better suited to carry out their dark plans, but he will finally betray them all.