I had realized that this must happen, but I had refrained from warning either Tanus or my mistress of the likelihood, for I did not wish to add to the feeling of gloom, and heighten the despondency of our people. His chariots are so fast that he can swing around our positions as he did at Asyut. We can wait for him behind walls of stone, or behind barriers of the sharp staves that Taita has equipped us with. 'I can slow him down, perhaps,' he replied frankly. I tried to sit up, but my head ached abominably and I groaned, then clutched his arm as it all came back to me. Their horses are in the traces and they are coming on a cloud of dust, swiftly as the flight of the swallow. They swam the horses over as they did before, but this time there were none of our galleys ready to turn back their boats.

The messenger stuttered in fear of his life, 'Divine Majesty, while our fleet was busy at Asyut, the barbarian made another crossing at Esna. We cannot prevail against their chariots.'

'I can fight on, of course,' Tanus agreed.

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