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position to indicate forbidden entry. In truth, they had a right to be suspicious, for the priest-wizard looked both shabby and soiled after the night's adventure. However, one glance at his emblem of office sufficed for the soldiers to snap to stiff attention and pass him through the gate. Matiseth Chemres was unchallenged. "I see they know you here as well as you know His Excellent Highness's ambitions," the magister remarked.
    "A wise man seeks the counsel of clear thinkers and other clever leaders," the hem-neter-tepi of Set huffed with self-importance. "Here. I'll lead the way." Matiseth strutted ahead, red cape fluttering, passing several more sets of guards as he led his adversary into the main hall and through several antechambers and lesser halls. To their left was a salon of sorts filled with well-dressed folk, but the high priest ignored them and went straight for what could only be the inner council room of the governor.
    "What's this?!" Ram-f-amsu demanded crossly as the outer sentries swung open the doors and
    Matiseth led the wizard-priest into the midst of the prince's private gathering,
    "Mighty Set's blessing upon you, Prince Governor, and upon all who attend you here. I have caught a trespasser who is of such stature that I could not deny his demand to stand before—"
    "Inhetep! By all the knife-eyed fiends of Re-stau, I'll .. ."
    As the man trailed off into sputtering, face livid, the magister bowed, carefully surveying the whole company as he made the gesture. "Thank you, Excellent Prince. It is most flattering to be recognized so readily by a noble of the stature of Ram-f-amsu."
    "Do not trifle with—"
    "Silence!" the governor grated, cutting off Matiseth Chemres in midsentence for the second time. "You have business which allows you to barge in here unannounced, Magister?" The words and tone were laden with dire threat.
    "As a matter of fact, no. It was your associate, Great Seer Matiseth Chemres who insisted on coming straight here. I do, however, have a matter of some import—perhaps a vital business . . . now. That remains to be seen." As Inhetep spoke thus, he looked from face to face.
    Seated around the big table in the chamber were a dozen or so men. Several were ^Egyptian merchants; the unscrupulous banker, Nerhat-ab, was at the prince's left. He wasn't certain, but another fellow there might have been the master of the Nubian Alchemists. The man's hands were stained, and his skin a sallow color typical of one exposed to too many dangerous substances lor extended periods. "I haven't the pleasure of introductions to your guests, Prince Ram-f-amsu." The priest-wizard was gazing openly at the other men present. One was a hard-eyed Yarban, another a bejeweled Levantine. There was a Grecian there, although whether he was from the Achaean Concantonation or one of the independent states such as Lydia or Cyprus, Inhetep couldn't be certain. What attracted Setne's special attention, though, were a trio of slant-eyed men sitting across from the others. Were they Sythians? Hyrkanians? Or possibly even Turks?
    "Nor shall you, ur-kheri-heb!" the prince nearly spat. "Trespassing, bah! Forget the matter, Matiseth. Accounts can be reckoned at some future time."
    "But, Excellent Prince, he came saying—"
    "I find this matter—and you, High Priest-growing most tiresome. Magister Inhetep, my guards will escort you from the palace. If you wish a formal audience, please consult with the major domo for an appointment," Ram-f-amsu said with rapid-fire speech, signaling for his soldiers at the same time. Then, excusing himself, he led the high priest from the council chamber to some inner room. "Pray pardon us, loyal citizens and honored guests. I must needs have a few words with the hem-neter-tepi, Matiseth. I will rejoin you shortly."
    The pair of guardsmen were leading him away when Inhetep heard the governor's words. He glanced back and saw the door close to separate Ram-f-amsu and the befuddled cleric of Set