since I would be queen of Egypt in all
ways, not in name only."

"Your Highness, how can I say to the Prince--'So much shall you love
this or that woman and no more?' Moreover, why do you fear that which
has not and may never come about?"

"I do not know how you can say such a thing, Scribe, still I ask you to
say it if you can. As to why I fear, it is because I seem to feel the
near shadow of some woman lying cold upon me and building a wall of
blackness between his Highness and myself."

"It is but a dream, Princess."

"Mayhap. I hope so. Yet I think otherwise. Oh! Ana, cannot you, who
study the hearts of men and women, understand my case? I have married
where I can never hope to be loved as other women are, I who am a wife,
yet not a wife. I read your thought; it is--why then did you marry?
Since I have told you so much I will tell you that also. First, it is
because the Prince is different to other men and in his own fashion
above them, yes, far above any with whom I could have wed as royal
heiress of Egypt. Secondly, because being cut off from love, what
remains to me but ambition? At least I would be a great queen, as was
Hatshepu in her day, and lift my country out of the many troubles in
which it is sunk and write my name large upon the books of history,
which I could only do by taking Pharaoh's heir to husband, as is my
duty."

She brooded a while, then added, "Now I have shown you all my thought.
Whether I have been wise to do so the gods know alone and time will tell
me."

"Princess," I said, "I thank you for trusting me and I will help you if
I may. Yet I am troubled. I, a humble man if of good blood, who a
little while ago was but a scribe and a student, a dreamer who had
known trouble also, have suddenly by chance, or some divine decree, been
lifted high in the favour of the heir of Egypt, and it would seem have
even won your trust. Now I wonder how I shall bear myself in this new
place which in truth I never sought."

"I do not know, who find the present and its troubles enough to carry.
But, doubtless, the decree of which you speak that set you there has
also written down what will be the end of all. Meanwhile, I have a gift
for you. Say, Scribe, have you ever handled any weapon besides a pen?"

"Yes, your Highness, as a lad I was skilled in sword play. Moreover,
though I do not love war and bloodshed, some years ago I fought in the
great battle between the Ninebow Barbarians, when Pharaoh call