There is Seneferu, the faithful, whom the Rebu dreads. Next is
Kephren, the mohar,[1] who would outshine his father, the right hand of
the great Rameses, had he but nations to conquer. After him, Har-hat--"
"Hold! He is not appointed of the prince. He was Meneptah's
choice--and his alone," Nechutes interrupted. "It is rumored that
Rameses is not over-fond of him."
"He will be put to it to hold his high place in the face of the
prince's disfavor," Kenkenes cogitated.
"Nay, but he presses the prince hard for generalship. It must be so,
since he could win the king's good will over the protest of Rameses.
So I doubt not he can hold his own at court by prudence and strategy."
Meanwhile Ta-meri, in the depths of her chair, gazed at the pair
resentfully. They had grown interested in weighty things and had
seemingly forgotten her. So she sighed and bethought her how to punish
them.
"What a relief it will be when the Pharaoh returns to Memphis!" she
murmured in the pause that now followed. "He will be more welcome to
me than the Nile overflow. The city has been a desert to me since he
departed."
Nechutes looked at her with reproach in his eyes.
"Consider the desert, O sweet Oasis," Kenkenes said softly.
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