May the gods protect me from his wrath." "Tell me, if it pleases your Majesty, what is my fate?
I have been named General of this expedition over the heads of many, I who am but a captain and a young man and an evil-doer.

Am I to be killed on the journey, or am I to be executed by the King of Kesh ?" "If any kill you on the journey, Rames, they shall render me an account, be it the gods themselves, and as for the vengeance of the King of Kesh--well, you will have two thousand picked men with you and the means to gather more as you go.

Listen now, for this is not in the decree or in the letters," she added, bending towards him and whispering.

"Egypt has spies in Kesh, and, being industrious, I have read their reports.
The people there hate the upstart race that rules them, and the king, who alone is left now that Amathel is dead, is old and half-witted, for all that family drink too much.

So if the worst comes to the worst, do you think that you need be killed, you," she added meaningly, "who, if the House of Amathel were not, would by descent be King of Kesh, as, if I and my House were not, you might be Pharaoh of Egypt ?" Rames studied the floor for a little, then looked up and asked: "What shall I do ?" "It seems that is for you to find out," replied Tua, in her turn studying the ceiling.