wilbursmith_warlock-第20章
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mself among this entourage； but his lanky frame and head of silver hair marked him out； while his fame and reputation were such that he could never have passed inconspicuously anywhere in the land。 Almost immediately a serjeant…at…arms confronted him。 'Greetings； Lord Taita。 May the gods always smile upon you。' Although Pharaoh Tamose had elevated him to the nobility on the day that he had sealed the deed of his manumission； Taita still felt awkward at being addressed by his title。
'The Regent of Egypt has sent for you。' He looked down at the Magus' filthy clothing and dusty old sandals。 'It would be as well not to attend him in your present state of dress。 Lord Naja detests uncouth odours and unwashed apparel。'
* * *
Lord Naja's tent was larger and more luxuriously appointed than Pharaoh's。 He sat on a throne of carved ebony and ivory decorated in gold and the even rarer and more precious silver with representations of all the principal gods of Egypt。 The sandy floor was covered with woollen rugs from Hurria； woven in wonderful colours； including the bright green that signified the verdant fields that covered both banks of the Nile。 Since his elevation to the stature of regent； Naja had adopted that green as the colour of his house。
He believed that pleasing aromas encouraged the gods to draw nigh； and incense burned in the silver pots suspended on chains from the ridge…pole of the tent。 There were open glass vases filled with perfume on the low table in front of the throne。 The Regent had discarded his wig； and a slave held a cone of perfumed beeswax on his shaven pate。 As the wax melted it ran down his cheeks and neck； cooling and soothing him。
The interior of the tent smelt like a garden。 Even the ranks of courtiers； ambassadors and supplicants who sat facing the throne had been induced to bathe and perfume their bodies before entering the presence of the Regent。 Likewise； Taita had followed the advice of the serjeant…at…arms。 His hair was washed and bed into a silver cascade over his shoulders； and his linen was freshly laundered and bleached to purest white。 At the entrance to the tent； he knelt to make obeisance to the throne。 There was a hum of ment and speculation as he rose to his feet。 The foreign ambassadors stared at him curiously； and he heard his name whispered。 Even the warriors and priests nodded and leaned close together as they told each other； 'It is the Magus。'； 'The holy Taita； adept of the Mazes。'； 'Taita； the Wounded Eye of Horus。'
Lord Naja looked up from the papyrus he was scanning and smiled down the length of the tent。 He was truly a handsome man； with sculpted features and sensitive lips。 His nose was straight and narrow； and his eyes were the colour of golden agate； lively and intelligent。 His naked chest was devoid of fat； and his arms were lean and covered with hard muscle。
Swiftly Taita surveyed the ranks of men who now sat closest to the throne。 In the short time since the death of Pharaoh Tamose there had been a redistribution of power and favour among the courtiers and nobles。 Many familiar faces were missing； and many others had emerged from obscurity into the sunshine of the Regent's goodwill。 Not least of these was Asmor of the Phat Guards。
'e forward； Lord Taita。' Naja's voice was pleasant and low。 Taita moved towards the throne； and the ranks of courtiers opened to let him pass。 The Regent smiled down at him。 'Know you that you stand high in our favour。 You have discharged the duty that Pharaoh Tamose placed upon you with distinction。 You have given the Prince Nefer Memnon invaluable instruction and training。' Taita was astonished by the warmth of this greeting； but he did not let it show。 'Now that the prince has bee Pharaoh Seti； he will stand in even greater need of your guiding hand。'
'May he live for ever。' Taita responded； and the gathering echoed his words。
'May he live for ever。'
Lord Naja gestured。 'Take your seat here； in the shadow of my throne。 Even I will have much need of your experience and wisdom when it es to ordering the affairs of Pharaoh。'
'The royal Regent does me more honour than I deserve。' Taita turned a gentle face to Lord Naja。 It was prudent never to let your hidden enemy recognize your animosity。 He took the seat that was offered him； but declined the silken cushion； and sat on the woollen rug。 His back was straight； and his shoulders square。
The business of the Regency proceeded。 They were dividing up the estate of General Kratas： as a declared traitor everything Kratas owned was forfeited to the Crown。 'From the traitor Kratas； unto the temple of Hapi and the priests of the mysteries；' Naja read from the papyrus； 'all his lands and the buildings on the east bank of the river between Dendera and Abnub。'
As Taita listened he mourned his oldest friend； but he let no shadow of grief show on his face。 During the long journey back from the desert； Hilto had related the manner of Kratas' death； then gone on to tell him； 'All men； even the noble and the good； walk softly in the presence of the new Regent of Egypt。 Menset is dead； he who was president of the council of state。 He died in his sleep； but there are those who say he had a little help to start him on the journey。 Cinka is dead； executed for treason； though he had no longer the wits to cheat on his ancient wife。 His estates are confiscated by the Regency。 Fifty more have gone in pany with the good Kratas to the underworld。 And the council members are all Naja's dogs。'
Kratas had been Taita's last link with the golden days when Tanus； Lostris and he had been young。 Taita had loved him well。
'From the traitor Kratas； unto the Regent of Egypt； all the store of millet held in his name in the granaries of Athribis；' Lord Naja read from the papyrus。
That was fifty bargeloads； Taita calculated； for Kratas had been a shrewd investor in the millet exchanges。 Lord Naja had paid himself generously for the onerous work of assassination。
'These stores to be used for the mon good。' The expropriation was qualified； and Taita wondered expressionlessly who would determine the public good。
The priests and the scribes were busily recording the division on their clay tablets。 These would be stored in the archives of the temple。 While Taita watched and listened； he kept his anger and his sorrow locked away in his heart。
'We will move on now to another important royal matter；' Lord Naja said； when Kratas' heirs had been deprived of all their inheritance； and he was richer by three lakhs of gold。 'I e to the consideration of the well…being and status of the princesses royal； Heseret and Merykara。 I have consulted earnestly with the members of the council of state。 All are agreed that； for their own good； I should take both the Princess Heseret and the Princess Merykara in marriage。 As my wives； they will e under my full protection。 The goddess Isis is the patron of both the royal maidens。 I have ordered the priestesses of the goddess to consult the auguries； and they have determined that these marriages are pleasing to the goddess。 Therefore； the ceremony will take place in the temple of Isis at Luxor on the day of the next full moon after the burial of Pharaoh Tamose； and the coronation of his heir； Prince Nefer Seti。'
Taita remained unmoving； his face blank； but all around him there was a rustle and murmur at this pronouncement。 The political considerations of such a double marriage were monumental。 All of those present knew that Lord Naja was intent on making himself a member through marriage of the royal House of Tamose； and thus the next in line of succession。
Taita felt chilled to his bones； as though he had just heard the death sentence of Pharaoh Nefer Seti cried aloud from the White Tower in the centre of Thebes。 There remained only twelve more days of the required seventy for the Royal embalming of the dead pharaoh。 Immediately after the interment of Tamose in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile； the coronation of his successor and the weddings of his survivi
