No, I think that I should stop in
Napata, which I am told is a rich and pleasant city, and try to put its
affairs in order, trusting that Egypt, to which it once belonged, would
in the end forgive me for so doing."
"I understand," said Rames, "that whatever happens, I alone am to
blame."
"Good, and of course there are no witnesses to this talk of ours. Have
you also been taking lessons in statecraft in your spare hours, Rames,
much as I have tried to learn something of the art of war?"
Rames made no answer, only these two strange conspirators looked at each
other and smiled.
"Your Majesty is weary. I must leave your Majesty," he said presently.
"You must be wearier than I am, Rames, with that wound, which I think
has not been dressed, although it is true that we have both fought
to-night. Rames, you are going on a far journey. I wonder if we shall
ever meet again."
"I do not know," he answered with a groan, "but for my sake it is better
that we should not. O Morning Star, why did you save me this night, who
would have been glad to die? Did not that Ka of yours tell you that I
should have been glad to die, or my mother, who is a magician?"
"I have seen nothing of my Ka, Rames, since we played together in the
temple--ah! those were happy days, were they not? And your mother is a
discreet lady who does not talk to me about you, except to warn me not
to show you any favour, lest others should be jealous and murder you.
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