I left Lotus below and went to walk up on the deck of the barge.

I had purposely ordered the captain to keep the boat sailing up the nile, prolonging the inevitable meeting with Lotus's mother.

She was below sleeping. I could tell she was horribly tired and I left her to her dreams.

I had recieved a notice from Kasbah 30 minutes ago when we docked nearby saying that the Per'a'a was currently in
a meeting to see how they would proceed with a war against Meroe.
The anger was evident.
'I could kill him!' I thought to myself.

"You must be patient my lord." Nasadi said coming up behind me.

I turned on him releasing all of my pent up anger and wrath.
"How the hell do you expect me to be patient?!" I shouted while walking toward him menacingly.

"Why must you continue to tell me to wait and be patient.." I sneered. "You all coddle me like some wimpish babe suckling upon his mothers tit! This is my country, my home, my heritage that my cousin...my cousin is speaking of invading! I could give two damns whether he killed his father or not! But I will not sit and allow him to destroy my father or control my land! And I will not be put off and told to wait quietly like a woman because you say so!" I stared at him hard ready to litrally strangle him.

"My lord I understand..." I cut him off quickly. "You understand nothing Nasadi! You have been with me for years, but now i'm beginning to wonder if my suspicions are right."

Nasadi glared at me intensely and quietly he said. "What suspicions?"

I looked at him equally intensely and replied.
"I'm starting to wonder if you really are on my side or on Ramesses! Im wondering if I can truly trust you!"
His face blanched at this and he pursed his lips, his eyes flashing and put his head down turning around and quickly departing. I watched him leave and my heart fell, but the anger was still there.

It was then that I felt another presence. I turned and saw that it was Lotus.

"Darling." I said not really knowing what to say.
She walked toward me and and hugged me.
"What will we do?" She asked "What will we do?"