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I have to win him that time and keep him safe until he is ready。
Next he went to the women's quarters of the palace。 Because he was a eunuch he could pass through the gates； which were barred to other men。 It was three days since the princesses had learned that they were soon to bee brides； and Taita knew he should have visited them before。 They would be confused and distressed； and sorely in need of his fort and advice。
Merykara was the first to see him when he entered the courtyard。 She sprang up from where a priestess of Isis had been instructing her with writing tablet and brush； and flew to him on those long legs； her side…lock bouncing on her shoulder。 She flung her arms around his waist and hugged him with all her strength。 'Oh； Taita； where have you been？ I have searched for you these last days。'
When she looked up at him； Taita saw that she had been weeping for her eyes were red…rimmed and heavily underscored with dark bruises。 Now she started again； her shoulders shaking with her sobs。 Taita picked her up and held her in his arms until she had quieted a little。 'What is it； my little monkey？ What has made you so unhappy？'
'Lord Naja is going to take me to a secret place and do terrible things to me。 He is going to put something huge and sharp inside me that will hurt me and make me bleed。'
'Who told you that？〃 Taita controlled his anger with difficulty。
'Magara and Saak。' Merykara sobbed。 'Oh； Taita； can't you stop him doing these things to me？ Please； oh； please。'
Taita should have known that the two Nubian slave girls had been responsible for her terror。 Usually their tales were of African hobgoblins and ghouls； but now they had something else with which to torment their charge。 Grimly Taita swore retribution on both little hussies； and set about calming the princess's fears。 It needed all his tact and gentleness； for Merykara was terrified。
He led her to an arbour in a quiet corner of the garden； sat down and she scrambled up on to his lap and pressed her cheek to his chest。
Of course； her fears were unfounded。 Even after marriage； it was beyond nature； law and custom that Naja would take her to the marriage bed before Merykara had seen her first red moon； and that event was still years away。 He succeeded at last in calming her then took her down to the royal stables to admire and fondle the colt that had been born that morning。
When she was smiling and chattering again； Taita led her back to the zenana； and performed a few minor miracles for her amusement。 He transformed a jug of Nile water into delicious sherbet by dipping his finger into it； and they drank this together。 Then he threw a pebble into the air； which turned into a live canary and flew to the top branches of a fig tree。 There it hopped and trilled while the child danced and squealed with glee beneath it。
He left her； went to find the two slave girls； Magara and Saak； and gave them such a verbal lambasting that soon they were clinging together and wailing dolefully。 He knew that Magara was always the ringleader in any such unpleasantness； so he produced a live scorpion from her ear and held it inches in front of her face； which reduced her to such paroxysms of terror that she urinated in little squirts down her legs。
Satisfied； he went to look for Heseret。 As he had anticipated； she was down on the bank of the river with her lyre。 She looked up at him with a sad little smile but went on strumming。 He sat down beside her； on the grassy verge under the trailing branches of the willow。 The tune she was playing had been her grandmother's favourite。 Taita had taught it to her； and now she began to sing the words。
'My heart flutters up like a wounded quail
when I see my beloved's face。
and my cheeks bloom like the dawn sky
to the sunshine of his smile。'
Her voice was sweet and true； and Taita felt his own tears brimming。 It was as though he were listening to Lostris once again。 He joined in with the chorus。 His voice still clear and steady； without the quavering of age。 Out on the river the rowers on a passing galley rested on their oars while they listened with rapt expressions as the current carried the vessel past where the pair sat together。
When the song ended Heseret laid aside the lyre； and turned to him。 'Darling Taita； I am so glad you have e。'
'I am sorry to have kept you waiting； moon of all my nights。' She smiled faintly at the pet name； for she had always had a romantic side to her nature。 'What service do you wish of me？'
'You must go to Lord Naja； and present him with my sincere apologies； but I cannot marry him。'
She was so much like her grandmother had been at the same age。 Lostris； too； had saddled him with an impossible task； with the same assurance and confidence in his ability to acplish it。 Heseret now turned those enormous green eyes on him。 'You see； I have already promised Meren that I will be his wife。' Meren was the grandson of Kratas； and the boon panion of Prince Nefer。
Taita had noticed him looking at Heseret with calf's eyes； but had never suspected that she returned his feelings。 Fleetingly he wondered how far they had gone towards the consummation of their passions； but put aside the thought。 'Heseret； I have explained to you many times that you are not like other girls。 You are a princess royal。 Your marriage cannot be undertaken in the light fancy of youth。 It is something of dire political consequence。'
'You don't understand； Taita；' Heseret said softly； but with the sweet obstinacy he dreaded。 'I love Meren； I have loved him since I was a little girl。 I want to marry him； not Lord Naja。'
'I cannot overrule the decree of the Regent of Egypt；' he tried to explain； but she shook her head and smiled at him。
'You are so wise； Taita。 You will think of something。 You always do；' she told him； and he felt as though his heart would break。
* * *
Lord Taita； I refuse to discuss your access to Pharaoh or my impending marriage to the royal princesses。 In both these matters 'my mind is set。' To emphasize that he had closed the subject； Naja returned his full attention to the scroll spread on the writing table in front of him。 Enough time passed for a flock of wild geese to rise from the swampland on the east bank； cross the wide grey Nile waters on heavy wingbeats and pass over the palace gardens where they sat。 At last Taita brought his eyes down from the sky； and rose to leave。 As he bowed to the Regent and began to back away； Naja looked up at him。 'I have not given you leave to go。'
'My lord； I thought you had no further need of me。'
'On the contrary； I have the most urgent need。' He glared at Taita and gestured for him to sit again。 'You are testing my good temper and favour。 I know that you were wont to work the Mazes for Pharaoh Tamose whenever he called upon you to do so。 Why do you procrastinate with me？ As the Regent of this land； I will brook no further delay。 I ask this not for my own profit； but for the very survival of our nation in this war with the north。 I need the guidance of the pantheon of the gods。 You are the only one who can provide that for me。'
Naja stood up so suddenly that the table in front of him overturned； spilling scrolls of papyrus； brushes and ink on to the terracotta tiles。 He paid it no attention； but his voice rose to a shout： 'I mand you； with all the authority of the hawk seal 。。。〃 he touched the amulet on his right arm '。。。 I mand you to work the Mazes of Ammon Ra on my behalf。'
Taita bowed his head in theatrical resignation。 For weeks past he had been prepared for this ultimatum； and had delayed only to extend to the limit that period of grace during which Nefer would be relatively safe from the ambitions of the Regent。 He was still convinced that Lord Naja would make no fatal move towards Nefer until he had been given the sanction of the Mazes。
'The full of the moon is the most propitious period for the Mazes；〃 Taita told him。 'I have already made the preparati