What followed was to prove Masanath's willingness.
Rameses stood in the center of a slightly raised platform, which was
carpeted with gold-edged purple. Behind him was his great chair. But
for the badge of princehood, the fringed ribbon dependent from a
gem-crusted annulet over each temple, his habiliments were the same as
the Pharaoh's.
Masanath gave him a single comprehensive glance. She was to wed against
her will, but she noted philosophically that she was to wed with no
puppet, but a kingly king. With all that, admitting herself a peer to
this man, it wrenched her sorely to acknowledge subserviency to him.
Hope dead--the hour of her trial at hand--nothing was left to uphold her
but the memory of the good she might do for Hotep. Her face fell and she
approached the prince with slow steps. Within three paces of the
platform she paused and sank to her knees.
It was done. She had acknowledged the betrothal and knelt to her lord.
Somewhere in that assembly Hotep had seen it, and she wondered numbly if
he understood why she had submitted; wondered if she had saved him;
wondered if she could endure for the long life they must spend under the
same roof; wondered if the gods would take pity on her and kill her very
soon.
Pages:
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590