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needed little convincing。 Soon the entire caravan was in full retreat along the road it had e。 Taita went down the hill and scattered the stones； allowing the influences they contained to disperse； and opening the way for the other visitors he was expecting。
They came in the short summer dusk； twenty armed men riding hard； Gil leading them on a borrowed steed。 They swept down past the scattered stones and up to the entrance of the temple； where they dismounted with a clatter of weapons。 The leader was a tall man； wide across the shoulders with a heavy beetling brow and a fleshy hooked nose。 His heavy black moustaches were trained to droop down on to his chest； and coloured ribbons were plaited into his beard。
'You are the warlock。 Yes？' he said； in a thick accent。
Taita did not think it opportune to let them know he spoke Hyksos like one of them； so he replied modestly in Egyptian； neither claiming nor denying magical powers。 'My name is Taita； a servant of the great god Horus。 I call his blessing down upon you。 I see that you are a man of might； but I do not know your name。'
'My name is Trok； Paramount Chief of the Clan of the Leopard； and mander of the north in the army of King Apepi。 You have a token for me； Warlock？'
Taita opened his right hand and showed him the broken shard of blue glazed porcelain； the upper half of a tiny votive statue of the god Seueth。 Trok examined it briefly； then took another fragment of porcelain from the pouch on his sword…belt and fitted the two pieces together。 The broken edges matched perfectly； and he grunted with satisfaction。 'e with me； Warlock。'
Trok strode out into the gathering night with Taita beside him。 They climbed the hill in silence； and squatted down facing each other in the starlight。 Trok kept his scabbard between his knees and his hand on the hilt of his heavy sickle sword。 From habit more than distrust； Taita thought； but nevertheless the war chief was a man to reckon with。
'You bring me news of the south；' Trok said； in a statement； not a question。
'My lord； you have heard of the death of Pharaoh Tamose？'
'We know of the death of the Theban pretender from prisoners captured when we took the city of Abnub。' Trok was careful not to acknowledge by word or inference the authority of the Egyptian Pharaoh。 To the Hyksos； the only ruler in either of the two kingdoms was Apepi。 'We heard also that a child now pretends to the throne of Upper Egypt。'
'Pharaoh Nefer Seti is only fourteen years of age；' Taita confirmed； equally careful to insist on the title of Pharaoh when he spoke of him。 'He will not attain his majority for some years。 Until then Lord Naja acts as his regent。'
Trok leaned forward with sudden intense interest。 Taita smiled inwardly。 The Hyksosian intelligence was poor indeed if they did not know at least that much about the affairs of the Upper Kingdom。 Then he recalled the campaign that； just before the King's death； he and Pharaoh Tamose had waged against Hyksosian spies and informers in Thebes。 They had winkled out and arrested over fifty。 After interrogation by torture； they had executed every one。 Taita felt a smug satisfaction at this confirmation that they had cut off the flow of information to the enemy。
'So； then； you e to us with the authority of the Regent of the south。' Taita detected a strange air of triumph about Trok； as he demanded； 'What message do you bring from Naja？'
'Lord Naja wants me to carry his proposal directly to Apepi；' Taita hedged。 He did not want to give Trok any more information than was strictly necessary。
Trok took immediate umbrage at this。 'Naja is my cousin；' he said coldly。 'He would wish me to hear every word he has sent。' Taita had such control over his emotions that he showed no surprise； although it was a grave indiscretion on Trok's part。 His suspicions as to the Regent's antecedents were confirmed； but his voice was measured as he answered； 'Yes； my lord； this much I know。 However； what I have for Apepi is of such moment 。。。'
'You underestimate me； Warlock。 I have the plete confidence of your regent。' Trok's voice was rough with exasperation。 'I know full well that you have e to offer Apepi a truce； and to negotiate a lasting peace with him。'
'I can tell you nothing more； my lord。' This Trok might be a warrior； but he is no conspirator； Taita thought； but his voice and manner did not change as he said； 'I can give my message only to the Shepherd Chieftain； Apepi。' This was how the Hyksosian ruler was referred to in Upper Egypt。 'Can you take me to him？'
'As you wish； Warlock。 Keep your mouth shut； if you will； though there is no purpose in it。' Trok stood up angrily。 'King Apepi is at Bubasti。 We will go there immediately。'
In stilted silence they returned to the subterranean temple； where Taita called Gil and the sergeant of the bodyguard to him。 'You have done your work well；' he told them； 'but now you must return to Thebes as secretly as you have e。'
'You will return with us？' Gil asked anxiously。 Clearly he felt responsible for the old man。
'No。' Taita shook his head。 'I will remain here。 When you report to the Regent tell him that I am on my way to meet Apepi。'
By the dim light of the oil lamps the horses were harnessed to the chariots； and within a short time they were ready to leave。 Gil brought Taita's leather saddlebag from the chariot and handed it to him。 Then he saluted respectfully。 'It has been a great honour to ride with you； my lord。 When I was a child my father told me many tales of your adventures。 He rode with your regiment at Asyut。 He was captain of the left wing。'
'What was his name？' Taita asked。
'Lasro； my lord。'
'Yes。' Taita nodded。 'I remember him well。 He lost his left eye in the battle。'
Gil gazed at him with awe and wonder。 'That was forty years ago； and still you remember。'
'Thirty…seven；' Taita corrected him。 'Go well； young Gil。 I cast your horoscope last night。 You will have a long life； and attain much distinction。'
The lance…bearer took up the reins and rode out into the night； speechless with pride and gratification。
By this time Lord Trok's troop was also mounted and ready to leave。 They had given Taita the horse on which Gil had returned to the temple。 Taita threw the saddlebags over its withers then swung up behind them。 The Hyksos did not have the same scruples about riding astride as the Egyptians； and they clattered out of the cave entrance and turned west； in the opposite direction to that taken by the column of chariots。
Taita rode in the centre of the party of heavily armed Hyksos。 Trok led them and he did not invite Taita to ride alongside him。 He had been distant and aloof since Taita had refused to give Naja's message to him directly。 Taita was content to be ignored； for he had much to think about。 In particular the revelation of Naja's confused blood…lines opened a host of fascinating possibilities。
They rode on through the night； heading west towards the river and the main enemy base at Bubasti。 Even though it was still night…time； they encountered more and more traffic on the road。 There were long lines of wagons and carts； all heavily laden with military supplies； moving in the same direction as they were。 Returning towards Avaris and Memphis were equal numbers of empty vehicles that had discharged their cargo。
As they came closer to the river； Taita saw the fires of the Hyksosian troops encamped around Bubasti。 It was a field of flickering light that stretched many miles in both directions along the riverbank； a huge agglomeration of men and animals unseen in the darkness。
There was nothing on earth like the smell of an army encamped。 It grew stronger as they approached until it was almost overpowering。 It was a mixture of many odours； the smell of the cavalry lines； manure and the smoke of dung fires； of leather and mouldy grain。 On top of this was the smell of unwashed men and their festering wounds； cooking food and fermenting bee