Page:Wisdom's daughter; the life and love story of She-who-must-be-obeyed (IA wisdomsdaughterl00hagg 0).pdf/196

178 the deck outside my cabin, noting that the eyes of Nectanebes were troubled and that his fat cheeks had fallen in.

So you are returned to us, Oracle-of-Isis, he said in a hesitating voice, scanning my form, for my face he could not see because it was veiled.

I am returned, O Pharaoh, I answered, bowing before his Majesty. It has pleased Her whom I serve to deliver me out of the hands of King Tenes of Sidon, to whom Pharaoh offered me as a gift.

Aye, I remember. It was at that feast when the water in the cup you held turned to blood. Well, if all I hear is true, there has been blood enough out yonder.

Yes, Pharaoh, the Sidonian seas run red with it. Tenes, Egypt's ally, surrendered the city to Ochus the Persian, thinking to find great advancement, which he won by death, whereon the Sidonians burned themselves in their houses with their wives and children. So it comes about that all Phoenicia is in the hands of Ochus who advances upon Egypt with a mighty host.

The gods have deserted me! moaned Nectanebes, waving his arms.

Aye, Pharaoh, I answered in a cold voice, for the gods are very jealous and seldom forgive those who forsake them and betray their servants into the hands of enemies that hate them.

He understood and answered in a low, babbling voice,

Be not angry with me, Oracle-of-Isis, for what else could I do? That Sidonian dog, whom may Set devour eternally, was mad for you. Always I mistrusted him and I was sure that if I refused you to him, he would make his peace with Ochus and bite me in the back, as indeed he threatened at the feast.