that I think there will be fighting soon."

"Yes, Bes, but being newly married you will do well to leave it to
others."

"No, no, Master. Battle is better than wives. Moreover, could you think
that I would leave you to stand alone in the fray? Why if I did and harm
came to you I should die of shame or hang myself and then Karema would
never be a queen. So both her trades would be gone, since after marriage
she cannot be a Cup, and her heart would break. But here are the gates
of Memphis, so we will forget love and think of war."

An hour later I and my mother, the lady Tiu, stood in the banqueting
hall of the palace with many others, and learned that the Satrap Idernes
and his escort had reached Memphis and would be present at the feast. A
while later trumpets blew and a glittering procession entered the hall.
At the head of it was Peroa who led Idernes by the hand. This Eastern
was a big, strong man with tired and anxious eyes, such as I had noted
were common among the servants of the Great King who from day to day
never knew whether they would fill a Satrapy or a grave. He was clad in
gorgeous silks and wore a cap upon his head in which shone a jewel, but
beneath his robes I caught the glint of mail.

As he came into the hall and noted the number and quality of the guests
and the stir and the expectant look upon their faces, he started as
though he were afraid, but recovering himself, murmured some courteous
words to his host and advanced towards the seat of honour which was
pointed out to him upon the Prince's right. After these two followed the
wife of Peroa with her son and daughters. Then, walking alone in token
of her high rank, appeared Amada, the Royal Lady of Egypt, wonderfully
arrayed. Now, however, she wore no emblems of royalty, either because it
was not thought wise that these should be shown in the presence of the
Satrap, or because she was about to be given in marriage to one who was
not royal. Indeed, as I noted with joy, her only ornament was the rope
of rose-hued pearls which were arranged in a double row upon her breast.

She searched me out with her eyes, smiled, touching the pearls with her
finger, and passed on to her place next to the daughters of Peroa, at
one end of the head table which was shaped like a horse's hoof.

After her came the nobles who had accompanied Idernes, grave Eastern
men. One of these, a tall captain with eyes like a hawk, seemed familiar
to me. Nor was I mistaken,