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had engineered a tryst for Tanus and his beloved Lostris； and the consequences still echoed like thunder down the years。 When Nefer and Mintaka played bao there was always an audience of slave girls； while courtiers and the ubiquitous Lord Asmor hovered nearby。 Nefer had learned his lesson well； and no longer underrated Mintaka's skill on the board。 He played against her as if he were matched against Taita。 He came to learn her strengths； and to recognize her few weaknesses： she was always overprotective of her home castle； and if he pressed her hard in that quadrant she might sometimes offer an opening in her flanks。 Twice he exploited this and broke up her defence； but the third time he discovered too late that had anticipated his tactic and had laid a trap。 When he had exposed his west castle she rammed a phalanx through the gap； and laughed so deliciously when he was forced to capitulate that he almost； but not quite； forgave her。 Their bouts became ever more keenly contested and in the end were of epic proportions； so that even Taita spent hours watching them and occasionally nodding in approval or smiling his thin； ancient smile。
Their love was so apparent that it cast a glow upon all those around them； and wherever they went together there were smiles and laughter。 As Nefer's chariot sped through the streets of Thebes with Mintaka on the footplate as his lance…bearer； her dark hair flowing in the wind like a banner； the goodwives ran out of their houses and the men paused from their labours to shout greetings and good wishes。 Even Naja smiled benignly upon them； and none would have believed that he fiercely resented the attention of the populace having been diverted from his own nuptials and brides。
Lord Trok was the only sombre presence at the hunting parties； the picnics in the countryside and the banquets in the palace。
Their time together sped by too fast。
There are always so many people around us；' Nefer whispered over the bao board。 'I long to be alone with you even for just a few minutes。 There are only three more days before you have to return to Avaris with your father。 It might be months； even years； before we meet again； and there is so much I want to tell you； but not with all these eyes and ears pointed at us like nocked arrows。'
She nodded； then reached across and moved a stone that in his preoccupation he had overlooked。 He glanced down and almost discounted it； until he realized that his west castle was now under a forked attack。 Three moves later she had broken his front。 He kept up the losing battle for a while longer； but his forces were in disarray and the oute was inevitable。 'You caught me when I was distracted by other things；' he groused。 'So much like a woman。'
'Your Majesty； I make no claims to being anything else than a woman。' She used his title with an irony that bit like the jewelled dagger she wore on her belt。 Then she leaned close and whispered； 'If I were alone with you； would you promise to respect my chastity？'
'I swear by the wounded eye of the great god Horus that I will never； as long as I live； cause you shame；' he told her earnestly。
She smiled at him。 'My brothers will not be overpleased to hear that。 They would wele an excuse to slit your throat。' She slanted those magnificent dark eyes at him。 'Or； failing your throat； some other part of you might satisfy them。'
Their chance came the next day。 One of the royal huntsmen came in from the hills above the village of Dabba to report that a lion had e out of the eastern wilderness and raided the cattle pens during the night。 It had jumped the stockade and killed eight of the terrified beasts。 In the dawn a horde of villagers； brandishing burning torches； blowing horns； beating drums and screaming wildly； had driven it off。
'When did this happen？' asked Naja。
'Three nights ago； Your Grace。' The man was prostrate before the throne。 'I came upriver as soon as I could； but the current runs strongly and the winds were flukey。'
'What has happened to the beast？' King Apepi interrupted eagerly。
'It has gone back into the hills； but I have sent two of my best Nubian trackers to follow it。'
'Did any man see it？ What size is it？ Lion or lioness？'
'The villagers say that it is a large male； with a full mane； thick and black。'
Up until the last sixty years lions had been almost unheard…of in the lands along the river。 They were royal game； and had been hunted ruthlessly by successive pharaohs； not only because of the damage they inflicted on the livestock of the peasant farmers but also because they were the most sought…after trophy of the royal hunt。
During the long； bitter struggle of the Hyksos wars the pharaohs of both kingdoms had been preoccupied and the lions had been hunted seldom。 In addition the human corpses left on the battlefields had provided an easy source of food for the lion prides。 In the last few decades they had flourished； their numbers had increased many…fold and so had their boldness。
'I will have the chariots loaded on to the boats at once；' Apepi decided。 'With the state of the river we can be at Dabba early tomorrow morning。' He grinned and punched his fist into the horny palm of his sword hand。 'By Seueth； I would like a chance at this old black…mane。 Since I have had to give up killing Egyptians； I am starved for real sport。'
Naja frowned at the sally。 'Majesty； you are expected to sail back to
Avaris the day after tomorrow morning。'
'You are right； Regent。 However； most of our baggage is already loaded and the fleet lies ready to depart。 Moreover； Dabba lies on my way homewards。 I can afford a day or two to join in the hunt。'
Naja hesitated。 He was not so addicted to the hunt that he wished to neglect the numerous affairs of state that awaited his attention。 He had looked forward to the departure of Apepi； whose boisterous； uncouth presence in Thebes had long since palled。 Also he had other plans afoot； which could only be furthered once Apepi had left Thebes。 Yet he could not allow the Hyksosian Pharaoh to hunt alone in the Upper Kingdom。 Not only would it be churlish to do so； but it would be impolitic to let Apepi behave in the southern kingdom as though he had sole right to it。
'Your Majesty；' Nefer intervened； before Naja could pose a suitable refusal； 'we will join in the hunt with the greatest of pleasure。' He saw an opportunity for magnificent sport； for he had never had the chance to run down a lion in his chariot and test his own courage by standing down the charge。 But； a hundred times more important； the hunt might also delay Mintaka's dreaded departure。 This happy circumstance might even provide the opportunity that had so far eluded them of spending a short time alone。 Before Naja could prevent him Nefer had turned to the huntsman； who still lay with his forehead pressed to the tiled floor。 'Well done； my good fellow。 The chamberlain will give you a gold ring for your trouble。 Return to Dabba at once in the fastest felucca in our fleet。 Make ready for our arrival。 We will go after this beast in full array。'
Nefer's only cause for regret was that Taita would not be with him during his first lion hunt to offer counsel and advice。 The old man had disappeared into the wilderness on another of his periodic and mysterious forays； and no one knew when he would return。
* * *
In the early morning of the next day the hunting party disembarked on the bank of the river below the village of Dabba。 Then all the horses and twenty chariots were off…loaded from the small convoy of lighters and galleys。 While this was being done； the lance…bearers sharpened the spear blades； restrung the hunting bows and checked the arrows for balance and straightness。 While the horses were watered； fed and groomed； the hunters ate a hearty breakfast that the villagers had provided。
The mood was ebullient； and Apepi sent for the tracker who had returned from the hills to report。 'It is a very big lion。 The biggest I have ever seen east of the river；' t